While planning reforms are positive steps forward, Lanpro planning professionals believe systemic challenges will prevent the government from meeting its 1.5 million homes target While two-thirds say that planning permission is harder to achieve than last year As World Town Planning Day approaches on Saturday 8 November, a new survey of
Bellrock’s team and its data-driven Concerto CAFM solution improves transparency and maintenance response times Facilities management industry disruptor Bellrock has triumphed in the 2025 IWFM Awards, picking up the IWFM Impact Award for Workplace Experience: Non-office/Corporate Environment, for the deployment of its integrated CAFM (Computer-Aided Facilities Management system), Concerto, with
A major new urban logistics scheme has secured planning in Wolverton, Milton Keynes, paving the way for 200,000 sq ft of Grade A space designed to support jobs, growth and greener operations. The joint venture between Chancerygate and CBRE Investment Management will deliver Axis Park on Blackhill Drive, within the
Willmott Dixon has secured planning permission to deliver the new Outwood Academy Kirkby in Nottinghamshire, paving the way for a full replacement of the school’s dated 1970s buildings. Ashfield District Council has approved the scheme, which is fully funded by the Department for Education through its School Rebuilding Programme, with
IFS, the leading provider of Industrial AI software, today announced the next evolution of its IFS Loops agent platform: 10 Digital Workers with 50 agentic skills, and a near-term roadmap for 100 skills designed for mission-critical workflows in construction, energy & utilities, manufacturing, telecoms, aerospace & defence, and service industries.
Data-driven solution offers predictive maintenance and real-time monitoring, closing the book on reactive, high-cost approaches Facilities management industry disruptor Bellrock has unveiled its Symphony playbook – a proactive approach to delivering M&E maintenance that promises to transform the FM space, ushering in a new data-led era of predictive maintenance and
Panattoni, the world’s largest privately owned industrial developer, has acquired an additional plot at Horizon 120 Business Park in Braintree, Essex, as it continues to expand its footprint in the South East logistics market. Braintree is a well-connected town in Essex, approximately 15 miles from Stansted Airport. The area provides
Plans are moving forward for the first data centre at Blackpool’s landmark Silicon Sands digital infrastructure site, marking a major milestone in the town’s ambition to become a leading hub for sustainable technology and data innovation. An application for planning permission is due to be submitted before Christmas for a
The country’s first NHS National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC), based in Nottinghamshire, will soon open its doors to patients, heralding the beginning of a new era for rehabilitation. The NRC is a 70-bed, state-of-the-art specialist rehabilitation centre for NHS patients who have experienced a life-changing illness or injury and is run
Eric Wright Construction has completed the first care home, Castlewood in Clitheroe, for client Wrightcare. The £14m development comprises 68 en-suite bedrooms with shared living spaces including lounges, dining and kitchen facilities, a café and bar area, hair salon and multiple wellness and activity spaces, supported by integrated technologies to
While planning reforms are positive steps forward, Lanpro planning professionals believe systemic challenges will prevent the government from meeting its 1.5 million homes target While two-thirds say that planning permission is harder to achieve than last year As World Town Planning Day approaches on Saturday 8 November, a new survey of planning professionals at Lanpro reveals a cautiously optimistic yet realistic view about the government’s housing ambitions, even as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill progresses through Parliament. Planning becomes more difficult In the run-up to World Town Planning Day, Lanpro surveyed its planning team on two key questions: whether gaining planning permission has become easier or more difficult compared to this time last year, and whether the government will achieve its objective of delivering 1.5 million homes this Parliament. The results paint a sobering picture. More than half of respondents (62%) reported that it has become more challenging, principally due to the transitional period for changes to be reflected, to secure planning permissionthan a year ago. More strikingly, every single respondent believes the government will not achieve its 1.5 million homes target. This unanimous scepticism comes despite the government’s reform agenda. In her Scene Setter speech delivered this week ahead of the Autumn Budget on 26 November, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves acknowledged that planning reforms are expected to add £6.8bn to the economy over the next five years, but emphasised that “the next part – our planning bill – must complete its passage through Parliament before it can make a difference”. Demand-side measures needed to build confidence Several respondents also stressed the need to balance supply-side planning reforms with demand-side interventions. “Many of the announcements by the government to achieve the 1.5 million new homes relate to supply-side solutions such as planning reform, which I agree are vital,” one noted. “However, this must be complemented by effective demand-side solutions to give the housing sector the confidence that the market exists for the homes to be delivered. Such demand-side policies must balance affordability whilst providing greater access to affordable lending and financial interventions for first-time buyers.” Support for first-time buyers was mentioned by multiple respondents as essential to creating market confidence. One policy change isn’t enough When asked what single policy change would most effectively get development moving, Lanpro’s planners identified a range of interconnected barriers that no single reform can address. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill featured prominently in responses. One member of the team noted that if the Bill “truly reforms the planning and infrastructure system as intended, it could be a game-changer for unlocking development. But actual delivery and implementation will determine how successful it is.” Another simply urged: “Deliver on promises made around the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.” Resourcing pressures in local authorities However, many emphasised that legislative change alone will not suffice without adequate resources to implement it. “There are not enough professional planners within local planning authorities (LPAs) to process applications,” one respondent observed. “The government should make sure it enforces its national scheme of delegation. Many schemes are being refused at committee despite officer approval and then getting overturned at appeal, sometimes with costs. This wastes time and money for all parties.” This resource challenge extends beyond planning teams to include other essential consultees, such as highways officers and environmental health officers, whose input is critical to the process but can be delayed due to capacity constraints. One respondent highlighted delays caused by statutory consultees, noting that: “The need for bodies such as Natural England, the Environment Agency, Highways England, Sport England and Lead Local Flood Authorities to be involved to the extent they are at present is problematic given their lack of resources and long response times.” The solution proposed was straightforward: “Enforce statutory deadlines for consultee responses.” Another reinforced this point: “Any policy change will not work unless there is the resource to implement it. I believe it’s more important to adequately resource LPA planning departments.” Environmental constraints and consultant delays Environmental constraints emerged as another significant concern, particularly in areas affected by nutrient neutrality. “No longer having to deal with nutrient neutrality through the planning system would remove a significant barrier to development,” one respondent suggested. “More broadly, a relaxation of the biodiversity net gain (BNG) requirements for small- and medium-sized developments would significantly improve things.” Development under viability strain Development viability was repeatedly mentioned as a critical issue. “Development viability has been affected by high build costs, low sales rates, nutrient neutrality, BNG and other associated costs,” one planner explained. “Relaxing Community Infrastructure Levy, Section 106 and affordable housing requirements would assist in getting development moving.” The emergency measures announced for London in October 2025, including temporary CIL relief and enhanced mayoral powers, represent the kind of pragmatic viability support that could benefit the rest of England as similar strategic planning powers are rolled out to other combined authorities. The same issue came up again, with another respondent calling for the government to either “reduce affordable housing requirements or increase the flow of money to registered providers.” Local government reform creating uncertainty The ongoing process of local government reform and the establishment of combined authorities with directly elected mayors emerged as a concern affecting planning decision-making. Many noted that the political uncertainty created by structural changes can result in delays and intransigence, as decision-makers may be reluctant to commit political capital to planning decisions when their positions may not be secure in the near future. One team member highlighted the political dimension of planning, suggesting that “greater weight should be given to housing need when balancing competing interests in the planning process”. Another argued for “empowering local authorities with enhanced decision-making autonomy and compulsory purchase powers – delegating the majority of planning decisions to reduce political delays and enable more effective land assembly. Local authorities need power to act with greater accountability to help drive delivery; otherwise, any other related changes may just remain gridlocked.” Some warned against adding further complexity to an already burdened system. “The introduction of new policies runs
Bellrock’s team and its data-driven Concerto CAFM solution improves transparency and maintenance response times Facilities management industry disruptor Bellrock has triumphed in the 2025 IWFM Awards, picking up the IWFM Impact Award for Workplace Experience: Non-office/Corporate Environment, for the deployment of its integrated CAFM (Computer-Aided Facilities Management system), Concerto, with the London Fire Brigade (LFB). In presenting the award, the judges said: “This entry stood out for its exceptional management of complex FM (Facilities Management) environments, making a tangible difference for the front-line teams.” When Bellrock began working with the LFB in 2021, their growing property portfolio was becoming increasingly challenging to manage. With a real estate of 102 fire stations and one river station across the capital – 63% of which were over 50 years old – there was a constant and substantial maintenance requirement, alongside friction among service personnel at the way the process was managed by the incumbent operator. Through partnering with Bellrock, LFB stakeholders recognised an opportunity to better maintain their buildings, freeing up their time to focus on the job in hand – saving lives. Bellrock deployed its data-driven CAFM system, Concerto, across the LFB estate, and embedded a dedicated Bellrock team within LFB’s own team to ensure the system would align with operational realities. The solution includes a web portal where all LFB employees can request new work, track the progress of ongoing jobs, flag any issues with suppliers working on projects, and access a 24/7 helpline. The portal also includes video and user guides, and a roadmap showing how smart technologies can be used to manage buildings more efficiently, and support carbon reduction goals. The solution has been constantly developed and iterated since it was first deployed. Recent enhancements include Escalation Tags to enable personnel to see which jobs need to be escalated; Tiles, which enables jobs in any defined category such as “Urgent” or “Attended but incomplete” to be grouped in one view; and Customised Dashboards, which enable personnel to create their own views of ongoing projects. The portal has created transparency between LFB employees and FM operations. It has also improved customer satisfaction, and reduced administrative overheads and a reliance on phone and email to raise and track issues. As one LFB Borough Commander puts it: “Historically, most of the gripes from staff were about property problems and the systems we had in place to send up faults. The portal has put an end to all this. Officers can track and trace jobs and see exactly what’s happening. It’s cut down massively on repetitive work and frustration for station-based staff.” Between 1st April 2021, when Concerto was deployed, and 1st March 2025, LFB employees have raised 207,044 Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) requests, as well as 47,270 reactive work orders. They have also reviewed 11,345 quotes, and raised 2,576 recalls. In that time, the platform has delivered £1.6m in savings on approved quotes, and the pass rate for PPM Certificates on initial submission has risen from 70% to 92%. Claire Page, Head of Property at LFB, and her team, have demonstrated the successful initiative to multiple other fire services and agencies across the country, including Essex, Kent, County Durham and Darlington fire services and the Ministry of Defence. “This award is testimony to the efficiencies and improvements that Concerto brings to the FM arena,” said Mark Tyson, Managing Director of Bellrock’s Intelligent Asset Care division. “London Fire Brigade employees can now see for themselves how their buildings are functioning, track the progress of repairs and other projects, and easily raise new tickets when they come across a problem that needs addressing. The feedback we have had suggests this has had a positive effect on morale across the service, freeing firefighters up to do what they do best, which is to save lives.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A major new urban logistics scheme has secured planning in Wolverton, Milton Keynes, paving the way for 200,000 sq ft of Grade A space designed to support jobs, growth and greener operations. The joint venture between Chancerygate and CBRE Investment Management will deliver Axis Park on Blackhill Drive, within the established Wolverton Mill employment area. The 10.6-acre development will comprise eight leasehold units ranging from 6,100 sq ft to 67,700 sq ft, offering flexibility for local and regional occupiers. Construction is scheduled to start in November, with the first businesses expected to move in from the third quarter of next year. The location is already home to a strong cluster of manufacturers and logistics operators, including CTDI, Aston Martin, API Technologies and Funrise International. Sustainability sits at the heart of the plans. All buildings will target BREEAM Outstanding certification and a minimum EPC A+ rating, supported by features such as electric vehicle charging points, rooftop solar generation and high-performance building materials to reduce operational carbon. The specification aims to lower running costs while enhancing resilience and compliance for occupiers facing tightening ESG requirements. Chancerygate senior development director, George Dickens, said the scheme responds directly to local market needs. We are very pleased to be able to bring forward Axis Park in partnership with CBRE IM as part of our joint venture to deliver much-needed sustainable urban logistics space throughout the UK. There is strong demand in Milton Keynes for high-specification Grade A accommodation close to key transport links. Our development will meet this demand and provide a thriving long-term economic asset for the area which we estimate could create hundreds of jobs. Founded in 1995, Chancerygate is the UK’s largest urban logistics developer and asset manager, and the only one operating nationwide. The business currently has around 1.41 million sq ft under construction or ready for development across 11 sites, from Edinburgh to Croydon. Tom James, head of UK transactions at CBRE IM, said the investment aligns with the firm’s long-term strategy. This project represents a strategic investment into multi-let urban logistics in a high-demand, well-connected area, offering modern, sustainable space that aligns with our commitment to deliver long-term value creation for our investors. Axis Park will provide state-of-the-art facilities for local and regional businesses for whom there is limited new best-in-class space of this size in Milton Keynes. Cushman & Wakefield and Louch Shacklock are acting as agents for Axis Park. For more information visit www.chancerygate.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Willmott Dixon has secured planning permission to deliver the new Outwood Academy Kirkby in Nottinghamshire, paving the way for a full replacement of the school’s dated 1970s buildings. Ashfield District Council has approved the scheme, which is fully funded by the Department for Education through its School Rebuilding Programme, with completion targeted for the 2028/29 academic year. The project will create a modern, energy-efficient learning environment designed to meet contemporary curriculum needs and community expectations. Central to the plans are improved specialist teaching areas, dedicated sixth-form facilities and an upgraded sports offer, supporting both pupils and local users. The new main building will be constructed on the existing site, with the design focused on durability, low running costs and a better day-to-day experience for students and staff. To maintain continuity of education, the works will be delivered in phases. A temporary teaching block will be installed and operated alongside the retained lower school and existing sports facilities, ensuring classes can continue with minimal disruption while construction progresses. Once the new school is ready for occupation, the current buildings will be safely demolished and the external sports areas completed, providing the final piece of the campus upgrade. Nick Heath, director of delivery at Willmott Dixon, said the scheme reflects the contractor’s long-standing ties to the county and its emphasis on social impact. “With strong roots in Nottinghamshire, we’re delighted to be the selected partner for Outwood Academy Kirkby. The new facility will provide an enhanced offering to the local community, including dedicated sixth-form spaces and the transformation of the current on-site sporting facilities. As part of the project, we will also be engaging with local schools and colleges to provide careers advice and work experience opportunities. Social value is at the heart of what Willmott Dixon does, and we hope to leave a positive legacy by helping pupils prepare for their future. We have already started working with Outwood Academy Kirkby pupils, delivering mock interviews to help hone their skills for future opportunities.” With planning now in place, enabling works and detailed sequencing can begin ahead of the main build. The approved approach balances the need for a safe, live school environment with the delivery of a high-quality education estate that will serve Kirkby and its surrounding communities for decades to come. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
IFS, the leading provider of Industrial AI software, today announced the next evolution of its IFS Loops agent platform: 10 Digital Workers with 50 agentic skills, and a near-term roadmap for 100 skills designed for mission-critical workflows in construction, energy & utilities, manufacturing, telecoms, aerospace & defence, and service industries. The IFS Loops agentic platform delivers templated Digital Workers that autonomously manage high-volume operational tasks, including field dispatch, supplier coordination, customer order manager, and inventory replenishment, across enterprise systems with real-time intelligence, audit-ready compliance, and domain-specific understanding. Unlike traditional automation, RPA, and Generative AI, IFS Loops Digital Workers manage complex workflows, make context-driven decisions, and continuously improve operational performance while working right alongside employees to reduce manual tasks and amplify their impact. Whether embedded in IFS Cloud or running alongside legacy systems, these digital workers provide immediate ROI and operational impact. Somya Kapoor, CEO of IFS Loops, commented: “The pace of operational change is faster than ever, with complexity growing faster than human teams or legacy systems can handle. Operations leaders and CIOs can’t wait for months of IT rollout to benefit from new capabilities. IFS Loops gives companies a digital workforce they can deploy today, orchestrating complex industrial workflows reliably, securely, and contextually, allowing skilled teams to focus on higher-value tasks. For many, this is their first step into agentic AI and a natural entry point into the broader IFS Cloud ecosystem.” Recognising the CIO urgency to plan now for 2026 and beyond, IFS is scaling its agentic AI capabilities with a roadmap of 50 additional agentic skills available in December 2025, ensuring that Digital Workers continue to evolve alongside operational complexity and emerging industrial challenges. IFS Loops Studio, coming Q1 2026, will enable customers to create their own digital workers as needs arise, with rapid workflow customisation. Highlights of IFS Loops today: Mickey North Rizza, Group Vice President, Enterprise Software, IDC, said: “Companies that deploy agentic AI today are positioning themselves ahead of competitors, turning Digital Workers into a differentiator that not only drives productivity but also enhances employee experience and operational agility.” To learn more about IFS Loops Digital Workers, click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Data-driven solution offers predictive maintenance and real-time monitoring, closing the book on reactive, high-cost approaches Facilities management industry disruptor Bellrock has unveiled its Symphony playbook – a proactive approach to delivering M&E maintenance that promises to transform the FM space, ushering in a new data-led era of predictive maintenance and real-time monitoring. Symphony translates constantly monitored building data into actionable insights, allowing expert teams to identify warning signs and fix problems before they even occur. Such predictive maintenance drives cost savings and compliance, in contrast to reactive, high-cost emergency maintenance approaches. “The current approach to building maintenance is broken,” said Mark Tyson, Managing Director of Bellrock’s Intelligent Asset Care division. “Different rooms, systems and estates are managed in isolation, in a way that lacks the intelligence to see when something is wrong, or soon will be. Symphony tackles the problem head-on by monitoring a building’sstatus continually and then feeding alerts, curated trends and expert analysis into the hands of building services engineers and facilities managers.” Symphony learns and adapts to the way buildings are used, their capex investment profile and their energy reduction targets. Algorithms assess a building’s current status, identify inefficiencies and recommend preventative action when performance failure thresholds are close to being breached. Through data, technology and engineers working to a high level of autonomy, Bellrock takes account of different building environments to develop a bespoke preventative maintenance regime that is unique to every space, from hospitals to restaurants to commercial office blocks, based on the specific usage patterns of each one. “If you think of the building as an orchestra, with many different assets, Symphony is the conductor that makes sure they are all playing in harmony,” said Tyson. Symphony has been in development since 2019. Since then, it has been tried, tested, and refined with clients including Legal and General Asset Management (L&G). It is now being used by a range of organisations to save money through the remote triaging of issues, increased uptime, and reduced maintenance costs across their estates. Bellrock CEO, Carlo Alloni, added: “The facilities management industry is ripe for disruption, and Symphony is ready to disrupt it. Companies are missing a trick and wasting money by relying on manual, disconnected systems that only kick in when things go wrong. Individually, isolated incidents concerning a blocked drain or a malfunctioning air conditioning system may seem trivial, but collectively, they are responsible for thousands of pounds of waste every day. The good news is that this is all preventable if organisations invest in a more intelligent facilities management platform.” Ongoing training on the processes and technology is delivered to engineers and facilities managers directly through the Symphony Academy, where users are trained on a data-led approach to building maintenance. In March, the Symphony Academy was recognised for the role it plays in training team members in digital skills and modern maintenance techniques when Bellrock, in partnership with Legal & General and Demand Logic, won the Collaboration category of the prestigious CIBSE Building Performance Award. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Panattoni, the world’s largest privately owned industrial developer, has acquired an additional plot at Horizon 120 Business Park in Braintree, Essex, as it continues to expand its footprint in the South East logistics market. Braintree is a well-connected town in Essex, approximately 15 miles from Stansted Airport. The area provides direct access to the A120 and A131, linking swiftly to the M11 and M25 motorways, and benefits from mainline rail services to London Liverpool Street and a strong local and regional workforce. The newly 10-acre acquired site will form the next phase of Panattoni Park Braintree 1.0, to be known as Panattoni Park Braintree 2.0. The purchase follows 12 months after the launch of the initial phase, which comprises four units, one of which is already under construction. The new phase will deliver an additional 164,000 sq ft across six units, all built speculatively in response to sustained occupier demand in the South East of England. With an estimated Gross Development Value of £50 million, the project underlines Panattoni’s continued investment and long-term commitment to the UK logistics market. Offering a competitive alternative to units within the M25, the scheme is expected to attract a diverse range of occupiers seeking modern, sustainable accommodation with excellent connectivity and value. Full detailed planning consent has already been secured, enabling construction to commence in late 2025, with practical completion expected in late 2026. James Watson, Head of Development – Southern England & London at Panattoni, said: “This acquisition represents an important next step in our long-term commitment to Braintree and the wider Essex logistics market. The area remains significantly undersupplied, particularly for occupiers seeking high-quality, sustainable accommodation within close proximity of Stansted Airport and the M25. Panattoni Park Braintree 2.0 will enable us to deliver additional capacity to meet that demand, continuing the successful rollout of our speculative development strategy.” Panattoni Park Braintree 2.0 will deliver six new mid-box units designed to meet the needs of regional and national occupiers, including those in the aviation, parcel distribution, and local last-mile sectors. The buildings will be constructed to BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and EPC ‘A’ standards, with flexibility for semi-detached units to be combined into larger configurations if required. Panattoni has appointed CBRE and Coke Gearing as leasing agents. For more information, please visit: https://panattoni.co.uk/our-properties/braintree2 Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans are moving forward for the first data centre at Blackpool’s landmark Silicon Sands digital infrastructure site, marking a major milestone in the town’s ambition to become a leading hub for sustainable technology and data innovation. An application for planning permission is due to be submitted before Christmas for a 6MW carbon-friendly data centre alongside 20,000 sq ft of office and research space. The development has already attracted strong interest from private sector investors keen to be part of the Fylde Coast’s emerging digital economy. Located next to Blackpool Airport, the Silicon Sands project builds on the arrival of the transatlantic Aquacomms cable, which connects the UK to North America and Europe. The initiative is designed to position the region as a strategic location for high-capacity, energy-efficient data infrastructure. The proposed data centre will be powered entirely by renewable energy and will feature advanced liquid immersion cooling to maximise efficiency. Waste heat generated by the facility will also be captured and reused to provide energy for nearby properties — a key element of its sustainable design. Councillor Mark Smith, Blackpool Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Built Environment, said the project could be transformative for the area. “Silicon Sands is a transformational opportunity for Blackpool. It can create thousands of well-paid jobs, attract investment, and put us at the forefront of sustainable digital development. That vision is proven by the significant interest we have had from the private sector already. Silicon Sands is about so much more than just data centres though. We are carefully managing the programme so that we can create data centres which are carbon friendly and can even supply waste heat back to local communities.” The first phase of development will be located on the former fire station and engineering yard at Blackpool Airport, which was demolished in 2023, as well as the old administration offices and security point. If approved, the project will signal the start of an ambitious new chapter for Blackpool, establishing Silicon Sands as a pioneering example of how digital infrastructure and sustainability can work hand in hand to drive regional growth. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The country’s first NHS National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC), based in Nottinghamshire, will soon open its doors to patients, heralding the beginning of a new era for rehabilitation. The NRC is a 70-bed, state-of-the-art specialist rehabilitation centre for NHS patients who have experienced a life-changing illness or injury and is run and staffed by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH). NUH has developed the transformative clinical model to be able to deliver more intensive treatments and rehabilitation earlier in a patient’s journey, and has created a bespoke workforce and relevant training to support this. The brand-new facility is co-located with the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) on the Stanford Hall Rehabilitation Estate (SHRE) near Loughborough. The concept of establishing Defence and National Rehabilitation centres on a single site was that of the late 6th Duke of Westminster back in 2009 and he purchased the SHRE for the purpose. At the same time the Black Stork Charity was specifically created to achieve the overall concept – not least by means of a successful funding campaign to raise the necessary £300m to create the Defence establishment and enable the National one. Capital funding for the construction of the NRC was provided by the government’s New Hospitals Programme, and the building is the NHS’s first operationally carbon neutral building, featuring solar panels on the roof of the NRC and four air source heat pumps in the adjacent energy centre. NHS patients at the NRC will benefit from: The NRC will primarily receive patients from across the East Midlands, many of them anticipated to come through the East Midland’s Major Trauma Centre – the busiest in the UK and based at NUH. The national aspect to the NRC is that it will lead rehabilitation research and innovation, as well as providing training and education through an NRC Academy, all in collaboration with a consortium of 26 Universities throughout England. Patients at the NRC will have the opportunity to take part in research during their stay, with the aim of significantly reducing the time between identifying effective new treatments and them benefitting patients. Clinical staff will also all be encouraged to take part in research and educational activity. What happens at the NRC is anticipated to be of international significance too – the research, innovation and evolution in rehabilitation technology and treatment is anticipated to be global in its impact and future potential. The long-term ambition for the NRC is to be the national ‘hub’ in a future ‘hub and spoke’ model, or a single model multi-site service, with regional rehabilitation units (‘spokes’) established across the country to widen impact and benefit as many patients as possible. Anthony May, Chief Executive of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We are proud to be at the point of preparing to open the doors of this pioneering facility to our first patients. The difference the NRC will make to patients and families cannot be underestimated.” “The NRC has been 15 years in the making. I should like to thank all those who have been involved for their perseverance, dedication and determination to make it a reality. I should like to pay a particular tribute to the Black Stork Charity for their considerable and unwavering support since the vision for the Centre was first conceived.” “This is a significant moment for NUH, for rehabilitation medicine in this Country, and for the many NHS patients whose lives will be changed and restored in this groundbreaking facility, set in a unique location. “Moreover, the innovation, research and knowledge generated from the NRC will help develop rehabilitation nationally and internationally.” Miriam Duffy, NRC Director and physiotherapist, said: “I am delighted that we are on the verge of opening the first NHS NRC and beginning the journey of transforming the way we provide rehabilitation in this country. “The impact of timely and effective rehabilitation lasts a lifetime and can be the difference to enable someone returning to the home, work, family and hobbies that they love. “By taking inspiration and learning from other rehabilitation centres across the globe, we are confident that we have delivered the very best rehabilitation facility where our dedicated and motivating staff will work with researchers and innovators to give our patients back their independence and the best quality of life possible. “However, this is just the beginning, and the NRC is much more than just a building. Our aim is to revolutionise rehabilitation across the country so that every NHS patient who suffers a life-changing illness or injury receives the best rehabilitation possible and the best chance to return to living an independent and fulfilling life.” Mark Preston, Chairman of The Black Stork Charity said: “Fifteen years ago, the 6th Duke of Westminster decided to improve the rehabilitation facilities for members of the Armed Forces and, at the request of the Defence Secretary, to extend such provision to the nation as well. His action is why the new National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) building is about to take patients – and that is a very good outcome and NUH has done well to get to this point. “I think we can all be sure that the NRC will bring huge benefits – in this case for the East Midlands region. It promises to return many people to work and life in a way which is currently not the case, bringing in its wake improvements to the national workforce and the economy. “This approach is novel and will need proving in the next couple of years and, if proven, Government should look to such provision across the country in the ‘hub and spoke’ way that is common in the NHS. The Charity and NUH will, together, do all in our power to ensure that this is the case.” Minister of State for Health Karin Smyth said: “This brand-new, state-of-the-art facility, backed by £105 million of government money, will transform care for patients who need specialist rehabilitation support. “The National Rehabilitation Centre embodies the future of the NHS: community-based care, digital innovation,
Eric Wright Construction has completed the first care home, Castlewood in Clitheroe, for client Wrightcare. The £14m development comprises 68 en-suite bedrooms with shared living spaces including lounges, dining and kitchen facilities, a café and bar area, hair salon and multiple wellness and activity spaces, supported by integrated technologies to enhance resident care and safety. James Eager, director of Eric Wright Construction commented “We are proud to handover Castlewood to our client, Wrightcare, on time and on budget. As this is a full turnkey project, our team has ensured that every aspect has been delivered to the highest standards to provide a high-quality, comfortable and safe environment for residents and employees. “Working collaboratively with our consultants, supply chain partners, sub-contractors, and the client team, we successfully addressed a range of technical challenges, turning them into opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement. The valuable experience gained will further strengthen our approach as we also start to move forward with the construction of Wrightcare’s second care home in Lancashire.” Gill Chadwick, managing director for Wrightcare added “This is a significant milestone for Wrightcare, as we celebrate the handover of our first care home, Castlewood. “This is the beginning of creating a community founded on compassion, dignity and the very best person-centred care. I’m looking forward to the journey ahead and to welcoming our first residents.” Castlewood has been designed with a focus on maximising the outdoor spaces including a village green entrance to the property, with greenhouses and raised beds for residents who want to enjoy gardening and private patios to the ground floor apartments. Wrightcare, which is also part of the Eric Wright Group, plans to build, retain and operate a number of new care homes across the North West in the near future and the construction team is due to start on site with the second care home Brindlewood, Grimsargh near Preston. This second development will encompass a 72-bedroom care home, along with 48 bungalows that are being delivered by Applethwaite, also part of the Eric Wright Group. The project team included: Planning – Steve Abbott Associates, Lead Designer / Architect – Cassidy & Ashton, Civil & Structural – JP Structures, Landscape Architect – TEL Landscapes, MEP – TACE, Fire Engineering – Hoare Lea, Acoustics – Cundalls, Transport – Mode, Environmental – Envirotech, Building Control – Sweco. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals