Operated by North West Academies Trust (NWAT), which operates 14 primary and secondary schools across Cheshire and Shropshire, the new school provides modern teaching and learning facilities across two floors and is now welcoming its first intake of Reception pupils. The official opening was marked with a ribbon cutting by
Future passengers using Elizabeth line services at HS2’s Old Oak Common in west London will benefit from step free access following agreement between HS2 Ltd, Network Rail, Transport for London and the Department for Transport. Located between Paddington and Acton Main Line, Old Oak Common will be the 42nd stop
Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, has been awarded an EcoVadis Platinum medal with an overall score of 88 out of 100, its highest score to date. Signify also received 100 out of 100 in the Environment theme. The Platinum medal places Signify among the top 1% of
A multidisciplinary built environment team appointed to the Rise Construction Framework is preparing to support Raise Up 2026, a careers-focused social mobility event bringing together employers and young people to widen access to information, advice and opportunities. Raise Up will take place at BOXPARK Liverpool on 1 October, bringing together
London’s fast-growing co-living sector could benefit from a clearer route through the planning system under proposals contained within the new draft London Plan, potentially helping developers unlock more purpose-built shared living schemes across the capital. The emerging policy introduces an important change for Large-scale Purpose-built Shared Living (LSPBSL), the planning
Arada, the leading international master developer, has submitted a series of planning applications to the London Borough of Newham to advance the delivery of Thameside West, one of London’s largest and most ambitious regeneration projects, with proposals that would unlock the delivery of affordable housing and connect the area between
Willmott Dixon has reached a major construction milestone at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, topping out the £140 million emergency care building that is set to transform urgent and emergency healthcare provision across Plymouth, South Devon and Cornwall. The project represents the first Wave 1 scheme within the Government’s New Hospital
Alumno has marked a significant milestone in the construction of its new purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) development Woodlands Point on St George’s Road in Glasgow, celebrating the topping out of the six-storey, 262-bed residence. The topping out ceremony marks the completion of the building’s main structural frame and represents an
Property maintenance specialist DMA Group has been approved onto the Government Commercial Agency’s new facilities management and security services framework. DMA Maintenance, known as DMA Group, has been named as a supplier on the Government Commercial Agency’s RM6378 Facilities Management and Security Services framework, Lot 2a: Hard Facilities Management. Through
HG Construction has been appointed to deliver a major residential development on the site of the former Harrison Gibson department store in Ilford, bringing forward 326 new homes on a prominent east London site that has remained vacant for almost a decade. The contractor will deliver the new homes in
Operated by North West Academies Trust (NWAT), which operates 14 primary and secondary schools across Cheshire and Shropshire, the new school provides modern teaching and learning facilities across two floors and is now welcoming its first intake of Reception pupils. The official opening was marked with a ribbon cutting by Mayor of Nantwich, Cllr Kim Jamson, and attended by representatives from Conlon Construction, Cheshire East Council and NWAT, alongside headteacher Sally Burns, pupils, staff and members of the project team. The new school provides eight classrooms, alongside dedicated spaces for learning, sport and play. External facilities include an athletics track, multi-use sports field and kitchen garden, with measures also incorporated to support and enhance biodiversity across the site. Sustainability and social value were embedded throughout the project. Conlon worked with local suppliers and created opportunities to engage with future pupils during construction, including inviting local children to take part in a steel frame signing event earlier this year. Pupils added their initials to a structural beam, leaving a permanent mark within their new school. The project builds on Conlon Construction’s established relationship with Cheshire East Council and its track record of delivering education, regeneration and public-sector projects across the borough. Previous schemes include the transformation of Wilmslow High School and Springfield School in Wilmslow, while Conlon also handed over Crewe Municipal Buildings earlier this year. Guy Parker, Chair and Managing Director of Conlon Construction, said: “Kingsbourne Academy is an important investment in the growing Kingsley Fields community and a project we’re incredibly proud to have delivered. “Our long-standing relationship with Cheshire East Council is built on collaboration, trust and a shared commitment to delivering the best possible outcomes for local communities. It’s fantastic to now see pupils coming through the doors and making the school their own. “Creating places that deliver lasting value is what our work is ultimately about, and we wish Sally, her team and every pupil at Kingsbourne Academy every success in their new school.” Steve Docking OBE, Chief Executive Officer of North West Academies Trust, said: “Today is a hugely significant moment for Kingsbourne Academy and for the Nantwich community. Opening a brand-new school is a rare opportunity, and to see our very first pupils arrive this morning has been a tremendously proud moment for everyone involved. “We are delighted to welcome Sally, her staff team and our founding families to the Kingsbourne community. There is an enormous amount of excitement about what this school can become, and we are looking forward to watching it grow over the coming years.” Councillor Laura Crane, cabinet member for children’s services at Cheshire East Council, said: “It’s fantastic to see Kingsbourne Academy officially opening its doors and welcoming its first pupils. This new school is a wonderful addition to Nantwich, providing much-needed places for local families and creating exciting opportunities for children to learn, grow and thrive. “Kingsbourne is about so much more than a new building. It will become an important part of the local community, providing support for families, helping to meet growing demand for school places, and giving children the best possible start to their education. “I’d like to thank Conlon Construction and the North West Academies Trust for bringing this fantastic new school to life. I’m excited to see Kingsbourne Academy become a valued part of the community and look forward to celebrating the successes of its pupils for many years to come.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Future passengers using Elizabeth line services at HS2’s Old Oak Common in west London will benefit from step free access following agreement between HS2 Ltd, Network Rail, Transport for London and the Department for Transport. Located between Paddington and Acton Main Line, Old Oak Common will be the 42nd stop on the Elizabeth line and one of the UK’s best-connected stations, with trains serving more than 100 destinations. The decision follows extensive technical, operational and accessibility work, including consultation with campaign groups, accessibility panels and relevant train operators. The Department for Transport has approved an exemption from the usual national platform height requirements. This will allow platforms 5 to 8 to be constructed at a height optimised for Elizabeth line trains while complying with applicable accessibility requirements. The reduction in step and gap between Elizabeth line trains and the platforms will enable many passengers with reduced mobility to board and leave trains independently, without the need for a ramp or staff assistance. Level boarding will also make journeys easier for people travelling with luggage, parents and carers with pushchairs, older passengers and anyone who finds it difficult to negotiate the usual step between a platform and train. The HS2 platforms at Old Oak Common, located underground, will also be step-free, so passengers interchanging between Elizabeth line and HS2 services will have a seamless and safe step-free journey through the new superhub station. Under the previous plans, the platforms would have been built to the standard height used across the national rail network, and ramps would have been required to provide step free access to Elizabeth line trains. The engineering solution was made possible by close collaboration through the new Old Oak Common area delivery model. Established as part of the HS2 Reset, the model brings together key organisations involved in the station’s design, construction and future operation. Rail Minister, Lord Hendy, said: “Everyone should be able to travel confidently and independently on our rail network, so I’m delighted that passengers using the Elizabeth line at Old Oak Common will benefit from level boarding and seamless step-free access. “This is a practical improvement that will make journeys easier for thousands of people and shows what can be achieved when the rail industry works together to put passengers first.” Mark Wild, HS2 Ltd Chief Executive, said: “Old Oak Common is set to become one of the best-connected new stations ever built in the UK and delivering step-free access here is vital for passenger safety and accessibility.” “This engineering solution shows what can be achieved when HS2, Network Rail, Transport for London, the Department for Transport, train operators and accessibility groups work together to prioritise passengers.” “The new station is projected to boost the west London economy by £10 billion over the next decade. We remain focussed on safely opening the railway from Old Oak Common to Birmingham Curzon Street in 2037 and creating a station that provides better journeys and supports growth for generations to come.” Rupert Walker, Major Programme Director, Network Rail, said: “Old Oak Common will be one of the UK’s most important transport interchanges, connecting people to more than 100 destinations across the UK. Making sure customers can move through the station and onto Elizabeth line services as independently and seamlessly as possible has been a key priority for everyone involved. “By providing level boarding for customers using platforms 5 to 8, we’re making it easier for Elizabeth line customers to travel independently. This means more people will be able to travel with confidence, access new opportunities and benefit from the exceptional connectivity that Old Oak Common will provide. “This outcome has only been possible through a huge joint effort by teams in HS2, Network Rail, Transport for London, the Department for Transport, train operators and accessibility groups, all working together to create a more accessible railway for everyone.” Andy Lord, London’s Transport Commissioner, said: “Elizabeth line passengers are expected to account for around 90 per cent of interchanges at Old Oak Common, so level boarding is vital for the safety and accessibility of our customers. “The platforms will also be step-free from the street, benefitting local residents as well as those travelling through the station, and supporting the growth in homes planned in the area. “The solution that has been achieved highlights the importance of collaboration in the rail industry and with stakeholders, and it is fantastic news that Old Oak Common will join the Elizabeth line’s 41 stations that provide step-free access.” The engineering solution involves lowering the tracks serving platforms 5 to 8 and installing solid concrete slab track through the station rather than ballast. The platforms will be designed to accommodate a range of passenger and freight services, providing operational flexibility for the railway. Level boarding will, however, only be available to Elizabeth line passengers when services are calling at their usual platforms. Construction of Old Oak Common’s six underground high-speed platforms has been completed, and work will now begin on the eight conventional platforms at ground level. These will serve the Elizabeth line, Great Western Main Line and Heathrow Express. Economic research published by HS2 last year showed that the arrival of the new station could boost the west London economy by £10 billion over a decade. The research, conducted by Arcadis, found that HS2 could support more than 22,000 homes, 693,000 square metres of commercial floorspace and 18,782 jobs within 1.5 miles of Old Oak Common. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, has been awarded an EcoVadis Platinum medal with an overall score of 88 out of 100, its highest score to date. Signify also received 100 out of 100 in the Environment theme. The Platinum medal places Signify among the top 1% of companies rated by EcoVadis during the preceding 12 months and marks the company’s seventh consecutive year of Platinum recognition. The overall score increased from 84 in the previous assessment. “Achieving a score of 100 for Environment is a result our teams can truly be proud of. It reflects the work taking place across Signify, from advancing energy-efficient LED lighting and connected systems that help customers reduce emissions to embedding circularity into product design through Signify Circle. Customers increasingly want clear evidence of how their partners manage sustainability. The EcoVadis assessment gives them greater transparency while helping us identify where we need to improve further,” said Maurice Loosschilder, Head of Sustainability at Signify. Signify’s Environment score reflects its comprehensive approach to climate action and circularity. The assessment highlighted Signify’s strengths in setting science-based environmental targets, improving energy efficiency, while using 100% renewable electricity and advancing circularity. It also recognized its strong environmental governance and product lifecycle programs that support repair, reuse, take-back and recycling. EcoVadis evaluates the quality of a company’s sustainability management system across 21 criteria, grouped into four themes: Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. The overall score is based on the company’s policies, actions, and reported results, supported by documented evidence and external information. More than 150,000 businesses use EcoVadis’ sustainability ratings and related tools. The Platinum medal is awarded to companies ranked in the top 1% of all businesses rated by EcoVadis during the preceding 12 months. Full details of Signify’s EcoVadis recognition are available here: https://recognition.ecovadis.com/GRra9rOSlkSl5MhfgklKmA For more information about sustainability at Signify, please visit: https://www.signify.com/global/sustainability Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A multidisciplinary built environment team appointed to the Rise Construction Framework is preparing to support Raise Up 2026, a careers-focused social mobility event bringing together employers and young people to widen access to information, advice and opportunities. Raise Up will take place at BOXPARK Liverpool on 1 October, bringing together employers and young people from across the region. The event will provide opportunities for employers to better understand the challenges and barriers facing young people not in education, employment or training, while giving young people the chance to meet employers, learn about different careers and explore potential routes into employment. Multidisciplinary team opens up built environment career pathways The framework team is led by ECD Architects and includes Keegans, Stephenson Halliday, RoC Consulting, Nature Positive, Silcock Leedham and Kendall Kingscott – all RSK Group businesses – as well as Evolve for support of the contract BIM consultancy services. The businesses represent disciplines including architecture, landscape architecture, biodiversity, engineering, project and cost management, surveying, building safety, planning, information management and sustainability. Representatives from across the teams are coming together to support Raise Up, demonstrating their collective commitment to the Rise Construction Framework and its social value objectives. With expertise spanning a wide range of disciplines and business functions, the event team will be able to give young people direct access to people working in the built environment and an insight into the breadth of careers available and different routes into the sector. The event organisers have encouraged participating employers to involve people from practical trades, finance, social media and administration, alongside technical and professional roles, to help young people understand that opportunities within the built environment extend far beyond the roles traditionally associated with the sector. Social value extends beyond framework project delivery Social value is central to the Rise Construction Framework. Rise uses profits generated through the framework to invest in initiatives designed to strengthen communities, increase economic participation and reduce pressure on frontline public services. Through its Thrive Careers Hub, Rise supported 172 young people into employment last year, and its work helping young people into education and work received the King’s Award for Enterprise for Promoting Opportunity (through social mobility) in 2024. Rise Construction Framework Director Sarah Lawton said: “Raise Up is an important part of the Rise Construction Framework calendar. Raise Up brings to the fore the importance of social mobility to both business and young people. A one-of-a-kind event Raise Up will see leaders from the world of business, TV, sport and the charitable sector come together to share insights and expertise. Importantly, the event brings together 100’s of employers and young people together under one roof creating opportunity and hope.” ECD Architects Joint Managing Director James Traynor said: “The built environment depends on people with a wide range of skills and experiences. Raise Up gives employers an opportunity to speak directly with young people, explain the breadth of roles available and listen to the barriers they face. By bringing together representatives from across our framework team, we hope to help more young people see a place for themselves in the sector and see the role they can play in addressing climate change and improving the environment in which we all live.” The Rise Construction Framework provides a compliant route to market for public-sector construction works and services across the North West of England, North Wales and Yorkshire and the Humber. It runs from March 2026 to March 2030 and is designed not only to support public-sector delivery but also to generate wider social impact through investment in communities. The framework appointment provides the context for the team’s involvement, while Raise Up offers a way to extend its contribution beyond project delivery. By participating together, the ECD framework partners aim to support Rise’s wider social value ambitions while helping young people understand the breadth of careers available across the built environment and the different pathways through which they can enter and develop within the sector. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
London’s fast-growing co-living sector could benefit from a clearer route through the planning system under proposals contained within the new draft London Plan, potentially helping developers unlock more purpose-built shared living schemes across the capital. The emerging policy introduces an important change for Large-scale Purpose-built Shared Living (LSPBSL), the planning terminology used for developments commonly known as co-living. Under the proposals, co-living schemes would ordinarily continue through the viability-tested planning route and make a payment towards conventional affordable housing. However, developments providing conventional affordable housing on site at the relevant threshold could instead qualify for the Fast Track Route. For developers, investors and design teams operating in the co-living market, the change could provide another option when structuring schemes and their affordable housing provision. The Fast Track Route is designed to provide greater planning certainty for developments meeting the required affordable housing and other policy criteria, reducing the need for the detailed viability information associated with the viability-tested process. The proposal comes as London continues to explore different housing models capable of responding to demand while making more effective use of constrained urban land. Co-living has emerged as one such model, typically combining private living accommodation with considerably larger communal areas and shared facilities. Developments can incorporate lounges, co-working areas, kitchens and dining spaces, gyms, terraces and landscaped areas, with the buildings generally operated under a single management structure. The draft London Plan places considerable emphasis on the quality of these environments. Proposed policy requires shared living developments to focus on communal living, with internal and external spaces designed to encourage social interaction, alongside functional private living areas. Schemes would also need to be carefully located, designed and managed to complement mixed and inclusive neighbourhoods. Management is another important element. Large-scale shared living developments would be required to operate under single management, supported by a management plan addressing the continued quality and maintenance of the building, security, safety and service arrangements. From a built environment perspective, the proposals could have implications extending beyond planning. Greater certainty around co-living development could create opportunities for architects, contractors, consultants, interior designers, landscape specialists and property management businesses as schemes move from feasibility and planning into construction and long-term operation. Co-living is particularly suited to complex urban regeneration and mixed-use developments where residential accommodation can be combined with commercial uses, active ground floors, amenities and new public realm. The draft policy specifically recognises that purpose-built shared living can form part of mixed-use regeneration and redevelopment schemes where locations are well connected to local services and public transport. The wider draft London Plan was published on 16 July 2026 and remains under consultation until 15 October, meaning the policies are proposals rather than adopted planning requirements. If carried through into the final plan, the new approach could give co-living developers a more defined choice over affordable housing delivery while further establishing purpose-built shared living as part of London’s evolving residential and BTR landscape. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Arada, the leading international master developer, has submitted a series of planning applications to the London Borough of Newham to advance the delivery of Thameside West, one of London’s largest and most ambitious regeneration projects, with proposals that would unlock the delivery of affordable housing and connect the area between the Thames and Royal Docks for the first time. Spanning over 47 acres in London’s Royal Docks, Thameside West has a Gross Development Value of £2.5 billion, with the potential to deliver at least 5,000 homes as part of a vibrant new district of East London. Building on the existing hybrid planning permission, the plans set out Arada’s landscape-led approach to the first stage of the project. This stage comprises nearly 1,500 new homes across six buildings, the first two of which will now be 100% social rent and will include three and four bedroom family homes. The plans are also designed to improve the permeability between buildings, which are organised around a network of streets, gardens, parks and shared spaces. New ground floor units facing onto the park will provide space for amenities, such as cafes and restaurants. A coherent architectural character has been applied, which responds to the individual positioning of each building along the dock-facing edge, park and Bell Lane, which now forms part of the site. At the heart of the proposals will be a new seven-acre park, alongside around 1,000 new trees, creating a greener, more biodiverse environment for residents and the wider community. The park will serve both recreational and everyday needs, framed by smaller gardens and planted edges to enhance biodiversity, as well as dedicated play spaces including adventure-filled woodland areas, play trails and play-on-the-way spaces. This is further complemented by a kilometre of active waterfront and a riverside walk along Bell Lane, which marks the south-east border of the site. A community design group of 20 local residents is working with Arada to help shape a section of park around local needs. A series of workshops is now underway, giving residents the opportunity to share local knowledge, explore ideas and inform the design of a welcoming and inclusive public space. Accessible public realm and landscaping sit at the heart of Arada’s vision for Thameside West, creating a new destination for recreation, leisure and community use and forging a new connection between the Thames and the Royal Docks. The rich industrial heritage of Silvertown will be woven into the design through the use of ropework-inspired detailing and paths. This underscores Arada’s commitment to unlocking and delivering high quality, genuinely affordable new homes that meet local need with a focus on nature and wellbeing. Ahmed Alkhoshaibi, Group CEO of Arada, said: “Thameside West is a landscape-led masterplan, composed by nature, open to all and made for London. “This is London’s next social gateway: a new riverfront neighbourhood inspired by the future, where local life meets global ambition once again and where homes, wellness, water, culture and community are connected by design. “This is one of London’s most significant remaining riverfront regeneration opportunities – more than 5,000 homes, over one kilometre of river frontage and over six hectares of publicly accessible amenity. We have the ambition to create more than a new residential district. Thameside West is planned as a neighbourhood within the city, not an enclave at its edge: a new piece of East London where the quality of everyday London life comes first.” Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development, said: “Tackling London’s housing crisis is the Mayor’s top priority and Thameside West will help deliver the new homes Londoners deserve, including much needed social rent and family housing. “By combining affordability, high-quality design and generous green spaces, Thameside West will transform a key brownfield site in the Royal Docks into a thriving new neighbourhood and help build a better, fairer London for everyone.” Situated across the river from Greenwich Peninsula and Canary Wharf, with Royal Victoria Dock, City Hall, Excel and Silvertown to the north and east, Thameside West sits at the meeting point of the Thames, the Royal Docks and some of London’s most significant transport, cultural and regeneration infrastructure. Arada is progressing design development with Transport for London (TfL) on a new DLR station, a major piece of public infrastructure, which it is intended to open in time for the arrival of the site’s first residents. The DLR is one of the UK’s busiest light rail routes with 97.8 million passenger journeys recorded during the year ended March 2025.[1] The wider area is well served by public transport, and a new station will offer enhanced accessibility for future Thameside West residents and nearby neighbours and businesses. Thameside West is being brought forward in partnership with the Greater London Authority’s (GLA) Royal Docks Team, reflecting a shared commitment to delivering new homes, public infrastructure and long-term economic growth across the Royal Docks. Global architecture firm Gensler, global built environment consultancy Arup, and landscape architects Planit are advising on the scheme. [1] Department for Transport, Light rail and tram statistics, England: year ending March 2025 Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Willmott Dixon has reached a major construction milestone at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, topping out the £140 million emergency care building that is set to transform urgent and emergency healthcare provision across Plymouth, South Devon and Cornwall. The project represents the first Wave 1 scheme within the Government’s New Hospital Programme to reach this stage, marking significant progress for one of the NHS’s major healthcare infrastructure investments. Representatives from Willmott Dixon, its supply chain and the wider design team joined University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHP) and hospital staff to celebrate completion of the building’s structural frame. Construction of the frame has required approximately 10,900 cubic metres of concrete and 1,900 tonnes of recycled steel reinforcement, with reducing embodied carbon forming an important part of the structural design from the outset. Around 55% of the cement content has been replaced with ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS), a by-product of iron and steel production. This approach has resulted in an estimated carbon saving of 1,625 tonnes from the concrete used on the project to date. The sustainability strategy forms part of a wider drive to reduce the environmental impact of new NHS infrastructure. The Derriford development is one of the first New Hospital Programme schemes designed to meet the NHS Net Zero Building Standard, placing energy performance and carbon reduction at the heart of its design and construction. Once completed in April 2029, the new building will provide four clinical floors of modern, purpose-built accommodation for urgent and emergency care. An expanded Emergency Department will occupy the ground floor, increasing capacity and providing facilities designed specifically around modern emergency healthcare requirements. Following completion, the hospital’s existing emergency department will be reconfigured to create a dedicated Paediatric Emergency Department. The investment will provide an important upgrade to Derriford Hospital’s healthcare estate while supporting services for patients across a wide regional catchment. Delivery of the £140 million scheme is being undertaken through the ProCure23 framework, which is used by NHS organisations to procure healthcare construction and development projects. With the structural frame now complete, attention will increasingly move towards the building envelope, mechanical and electrical services, internal fit-out and the extensive specialist clinical infrastructure required before the new facility can become operational. The topping out represents an important step towards the April 2029 completion target and provides a significant early construction milestone for the wider New Hospital Programme. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Alumno has marked a significant milestone in the construction of its new purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) development Woodlands Point on St George’s Road in Glasgow, celebrating the topping out of the six-storey, 262-bed residence. The topping out ceremony marks the completion of the building’s main structural frame and represents an important step towards delivering much-needed student accommodation in the city. The ceremony was attended by representatives from Alumno, Henderson Park, international private equity real estate firm, and the main contractor Clark Contracts and members of the wider project team. Located in Glasgow’s west end, close to the city centre, Woodlands Point sits within the vibrant Woodlands district, one of the city’s most established student neighbourhoods. With local shops, bars, restaurants and cultural venues nearby, the scheme has been designed to become part of the existing neighbourhood while responding to the significant demand for student accommodation in Glasgow. The six-storey development will provide a mix of four and five-bed cluster flats and studio apartments, alongside a range of shared amenities. These include a ground-floor common room, sixth-floor dining, study and lounge spaces, and landscaped courtyard areas to the rear. David Campbell, CEO of Alumno, said: “The topping out stage is always exciting as you can really start to see the building and the community it will form. Student accommodation should always feel like part of a neighbourhood, not separate from it and we have worked hard to understand what makes Woodlands Point special and to create a place where students can feel at home, connect with one another and engage with the wider community. We are delighted to reach this milestone and look forward to seeing the project progress towards completion.” Mrinal Jalan, Managing Director at Henderson Park, commented: “Reaching this milestone is an important step towards delivering a high-quality student accommodation scheme in one of the UK’s most sought-after university markets. This project stood out to us due to its excellent location in Glasgow’s West End. Together with Alumno and Clark Contracts, we are creating a modern development that will provide students with a best-in-class living experience while helping to address the growing demand for high-quality accommodation in the city.” Michael Scanlan, Director, Clark Contracts said: “It’s fantastic to reach the topping out stage at St George’s Road and celebrate the progress made on site. This milestone is the result of the dedication shown by everyone involved in the project and demonstrates the strong partnership between Clark Contracts, Alumno and the wider design team. As well as helping address the demand for student accommodation in Glasgow, this development will create a high-quality place for students to live and become part of the local community. We look forward to completing the next phases of construction and delivering a project that will make a positive contribution to the city.” The project is funded by Henderson Park, an international private equity real estate firm, and the professional team includes Stallan Brand Architects, RankinFraser Landscape Architecture, Will Rudd Davidson, Ridge and Partners and Sound Advice Acoustics. With the main structure now complete, works will continue the building’s façade, interiors and landscaping, with completion scheduled ahead of the 2027 academic year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Property maintenance specialist DMA Group has been approved onto the Government Commercial Agency’s new facilities management and security services framework. DMA Maintenance, known as DMA Group, has been named as a supplier on the Government Commercial Agency’s RM6378 Facilities Management and Security Services framework, Lot 2a: Hard Facilities Management. Through Lot 2a, public sector organisations can access DMA Group’s hard FM services, including gas, heating and plumbing, for contracts with an estimated average annual value up to £2m. With a heritage spanning more than 200 years, DMA Group delivers fully integrated hard facilities management, mechanical and electrical maintenance and energy sustainability solutions for a range of private and public sector customers across the UK. Government Commercial Agency (GCA) is the UK’s central commercial and procurement organisation, connecting public and private sectors to achieve the best outcomes for the UK and its citizens. GCA uses its commercial expertise to create a simpler procurement experience that redirects valuable resources into essential public services – creating value for the nation. DMA Group is also a supplier on the RM6264 Facilities Management and Workplace Services DPS, which covers lower value and less complex hard and soft FM services. Together, the two agreements give public sector buyers a compliant route to DMA Group across a broad range of estate requirements. DMA Group Managing Director Wendy Bennett said: “Public sector estate teams are under real pressure to keep buildings safe, compliant and running, often with less resource than they need. Being on Lot 2a means they can bring us in without a lengthy procurement exercise and get on with the work. “As an independent SME, we are proud to have been successful in this competitive framework process. Buyers in this value range want responsiveness and accountability, and that is what we are built around.” With its head office in Rochester, Kent, and working across London and the South East, DMA Group is well placed to support public sector estates across the region, with recent contract wins including the London Borough of Sutton and Thurrock Council in Essex. Key to winning and retaining contracts like these is DMA’s award-winning BiO® service management platform, which gives customers complete visibility of asset condition, compliance status and performance, with automated calls-to-action that remove manual intervention, saving time and cost. All performance data is available to everyone, anywhere, anytime, on any device and at no extra cost, offering a level of transparency rarely seen in the sector. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
HG Construction has been appointed to deliver a major residential development on the site of the former Harrison Gibson department store in Ilford, bringing forward 326 new homes on a prominent east London site that has remained vacant for almost a decade. The contractor will deliver the new homes in residential towers on Ilford High Road for MP Living, the social housing provider established by real estate investment manager Meadow Partners. Main construction work can now move forward after MP Living secured the first tranche of grant funding from the Greater London Authority (GLA), marking an important step towards regenerating the long-vacant town centre site. MP Living is working in partnership with the GLA and the London Borough of Redbridge to deliver the development and will retain ownership and management of the completed homes, providing a long-term approach to the operation of the new residential community. The project represents a significant intervention in Ilford town centre, transforming a former retail site into much-needed housing while bringing a prominent stretch of the High Road back into productive use. The Harrison Gibson department store was once an important part of Ilford’s retail landscape, but the site has stood vacant for nearly ten years. Previous redevelopment proposals failed to progress, before MP Living brought forward a new residential-led vision for the site. Redbridge Council’s Planning Committee unanimously approved the proposals in May 2025, clearing the way for the development team to progress funding and construction preparations. The scheme also demonstrates the growing role of partnerships between private investors, local authorities and the GLA in unlocking difficult urban sites for housing delivery. J. Andrew McDaniel, director of MP Living and co-founder and partner at Meadow Partners, said London continued to experience substantial demand for affordable housing while facing major challenges in bringing forward sufficient new supply. He said the development demonstrated what could be achieved through constructive strategic partnerships between the public and private sectors, with MP Living taking a long-term investment position within the affordable housing market. For HG Construction, the appointment adds another significant London residential project to its pipeline and follows its continued expansion across high-rise housing, affordable homes and purpose-built student accommodation. With grant funding now beginning to flow and a main contractor appointed, the development is positioned to move into its construction phase, bringing a site that has remained dormant for years back to life. Once completed, the 326-home scheme will not only deliver new housing but also contribute to the continuing regeneration and residential transformation of Ilford town centre. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals