CBRE completes 24,360 sq ft deal at Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) has agreed a three-year deal on 24,360 sq ft of Grade A office space at City Square, which will become temporary accommodation for teaching staff and students during the major transformation of the University’s Henry Cotton Building. Global real estate advisor CBRE acted for LJMU on the deal, the largest to complete in the city this year.    The fourth-floor office accommodation, on Tithebarn Street in Liverpool’s core business district, will be remodelled over the summer to meet the University’s needs, providing high-quality teaching and student space from next month.  LJMU has taken the final available floor in the building. LJMU’s £12.5m project to redevelop the Henry Cotton Building starts in October this year, and is earmarked for completion by July 2027. The works will decarbonise the building, provide flexible, modern new facilities for students and staff and create a new look. It will support the University’s commitment to sustainability and its ambition to reach net zero carbon. The City Square building, which sits in a major artery with access to the city centre, is spread over six floors and provides occupiers with a wealth of on-site amenities and facilities, including private roof terrace, cycle storage, flexible layouts and more.  Alongside the City Square deal, CBRE also acted for LJMU in a deal to sell the Jo Makin drama building to the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA) for an undisclosed sum.  The 13,551 sq ft building on Hope Place in Liverpool was ancillary space. Andy Byrne, Director, CBRE’s Office Agency team in Liverpool said: “It has been a privilege to work with the team at LJMU to secure accommodation at City Square, a significant deal in terms of significance and scale. The additional sale of the Jo Makin building forms part of the ongoing, wider LJMU property strategy and is an excellent new home for the LIPA.” Mark Askem, Director of Estate Development at LJMU, said: “We are pleased to have secured space in City Square to provide high-quality temporary accommodation while we redevelop Henry Cotton Building. City Square is in an ideal location within our City Campus, making it easily accessible for our students, staff and visitors. Our contractors are currently remodelling our leased space in City Square to meet our specific requirements and enable us to deliver high quality teaching, learning and research from September 2025.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Mace Construct has been appointed as the main contractor for one of the City of London’s most anticipated developments, a 30-storey tower set to rise at 85 Gracechurch Street beside the historic Leadenhall Market. Commissioned by Hertshten Properties, the Woods Bagot-designed scheme will deliver around 235,000 sq ft of prime office space, replacing a 1930s block within the Leadenhall conservation area. The tower is designed to achieve BREEAM Outstanding certification, with an all-electric energy strategy, advanced mechanical systems, natural ventilation, and a commitment to urban greening. The site itself is steeped in history. Excavations have uncovered substantial remains of London’s first Roman Basilica. These will be preserved and displayed in situ as a new visitor attraction, curated in partnership with the Museum of London. This heritage element has shaped both the planning process and the design of the new building. Mace has now entered the pre-construction services agreement phase, with completion scheduled for 2030. Ged Simmonds, managing director of Mace Construct, commented: “85 Gracechurch Street represents a rare opportunity to create a sustainable, forward-looking office development that remains sensitive to its historic surroundings. Our focus is on collaborating with Hertshten Properties and the project team to deliver a building that enhances the City and supports the needs of future occupiers.” Ron Hertshten, chief executive of Hertshten Properties UK, added: “This project will deliver a state-of-the-art office building with approximately 235,000 sq ft of premium workspace and exceptional amenities. Designed to set new standards in sustainability, it will be a benchmark development for the City of London. With Mace’s extensive experience in complex, high-profile projects, we are confident in their ability to bring our vision to life.” The tower at 85 Gracechurch Street is set to become a landmark addition to the City, blending cutting-edge sustainable design with London’s deep-rooted history. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The transformation of the former Filton Airfield into one of the South West’s most ambitious new communities has taken another step forward, with YTL winning approval for Brabazon’s first major office building. Construction on the eight-storey, 123,330 sq ft development is expected to begin before the close of 2025, marking the start of a commercial chapter for the emerging neighbourhood. Positioned beside the new Brabazon railway station, the building will serve as both a workplace hub and a gateway for passengers arriving into the development by train. The Brabazon masterplan, overseen by Malaysian-owned YTL Developments, is nothing if not expansive. It promises thousands of homes, student accommodation, and sweeping green spaces, all built across the historic airfield that once saw the Concorde take to the skies. The forthcoming office will be the first of its kind on the site, designed to appeal to businesses seeking premium space without the constraints of Bristol’s city centre. Sustainability is at the heart of the project. Designs by AHR Architects target an EPC A rating and BREEAM Outstanding certification, alongside NABERS 5* and WiredScore Platinum standards for energy efficiency and digital connectivity. The building will also house a ticket office for the adjacent rail station, integrating public transport access directly into its footprint. The rail link itself is a key part of Brabazon’s vision. Work began earlier this year, with completion set for 2026, promising a direct and sustainable connection into Bristol’s core. For companies considering relocation, the combination of modern office space and rail accessibility could prove decisive. Seb Loyn, planning and development director at YTL Developments, believes momentum is now firmly on Brabazon’s side. “We’re creating more than just new homes,” he said. “We’re establishing a place where people can live, work, and connect. This first office building gives Bristol’s businesses a genuine alternative — a sustainable, well-connected space to grow.” With Waitrose already confirmed as an anchor retail tenant and new community amenities under way, Brabazon is rapidly taking shape as a mixed-use destination. Hundreds of homes have been completed and are now occupied, and by 2026 the site will also boast student housing and a repurposed aircraft hangar serving as a community hub. For a city wrestling with a shortage of Grade A office space, the arrival of Brabazon’s first commercial building is timely. It signals not only YTL’s commitment to the project but also the evolving identity of the development — from a residential expansion into a full-scale urban district with a strong business presence. If the project maintains its current pace, Brabazon will soon offer Bristol a rare combination: the quality and amenities of a city-centre location, with the space and transport links of a purpose-built new town. For local businesses looking beyond the confines of central Bristol, that could prove an irresistible proposition. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals