Kenneth Booth
SEGRO goes double platinum for world-firsts in digital excellence

SEGRO goes double platinum for world-firsts in digital excellence

SEGRO V-Park Grand Union has become the first industrial and logistics building in the world to achieve WiredScore Platinum certification Located in Park Royal, SEGRO V-Park Grand Union is a six-storey urban logistics development that has been recognised for its outstanding digital infrastructure. Awarded following a rigorous assessment, the WiredScore

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Canmoor’s Westway Short-listed for Prestigious National Property Award

Canmoor’s Westway Short-listed for Prestigious National Property Award

Development and asset manager, Canmoor, is delighted to announce that Westway at Glasgow Airport has been shortlisted for Best Overall Scheme (Logistics Park) at the prestigious Industrial Agents Society (IAS) Awards 2025. The recognition places Westway among the UK’s most outstanding industrial and logistics developments. The IAS Awards, regarded as

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M&S Powers Growth with Major Investment in Stores and Supply Chain

M&S Powers Growth with Major Investment in Stores and Supply Chain

Marks & Spencer is ramping up its transformation strategy with record levels of investment across both its store estate and food supply chain, underpinning its ambition to deliver long-term growth and become a destination for the weekly shop. This financial year, M&S is investing more than £300 million into its

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Whitbread secures second Premier Inn location in Central Bath

Whitbread secures second Premier Inn location in Central Bath

UK’s largest hotel company signs agreement for lease with Frank Capital for prominent Lower Bristol Road site Whitbread plc, the UK’s largest hospitality business and owner of Premier Inn, has committed to opening a second Premier Inn hotel in Bath city centre after signing an agreement for lease with Frank

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Chopstix Brings Fresh Flavours to Hull City Centre

Chopstix Brings Fresh Flavours to Hull City Centre

Chopstix has opened a new restaurant in Hull, marking its first location in the Yorkshire city. Situated on the corner of King Edward Street and Jameson Street, the new store features the quick-service restaurant brand’s refreshed design identity and upgraded operational systems, creating a more efficient and engaging customer experience.

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124 Extra Care apartments get green light from planners

124 Extra Care apartments get green light from planners

Plans to deliver 124 much-needed Extra Care apartments in South Shields have this week been given the green light by South Tyneside’s planning committee. The much-needed specialist accommodation, to be developed by Karbon Homes in partnership with South Tyneside Council, will be built on the site of the former Chuter

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Latest Issue
Issue 336 : Jan 2026

Kenneth Booth

SEGRO goes double platinum for world-firsts in digital excellence

SEGRO goes double platinum for world-firsts in digital excellence

SEGRO V-Park Grand Union has become the first industrial and logistics building in the world to achieve WiredScore Platinum certification Located in Park Royal, SEGRO V-Park Grand Union is a six-storey urban logistics development that has been recognised for its outstanding digital infrastructure. Awarded following a rigorous assessment, the WiredScore Platinum rating, reflects the building’s high-speed fibre connectivity, strong mobile signal, secure telecoms spaces and future-ready features such as rooftop installation capacity and AV-enabled meeting rooms. It also incorporates sustainability-focused technology like EV charging stations and real-time energy monitoring. The building scored an impressive 91 out of 100, placing it among the best-connected industrial spaces in the UK. Hand in hand with this recognition, SEGRO has achieved Platinum Partner status within the global BCS partner network. This reflects the company’s continued investment in digital expertise and the professionalisation of its Digital function across the organisation. Fewer than 75 organisations worldwide have earned this distinction and SEGRO is the only property company to have reached this level of excellence. Rich Corbridge, Chief Information Officer, at SEGRO, said: “The WiredScore Platinum certification at SEGRO V-Park Grand Union is a powerful recognition of the investments we’re making in digital excellence, ensuring our spaces are not only future-ready but also deliver exceptional connectivity for our customers. “Alongside this, we have also become the first commercial property company to be recognised by the BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, as a Platinum status partner. These achievements, both ‘platinum firsts’, underline our commitment to digital transformation, sustainability and supporting our colleagues with professional development opportunities that keep SEGRO at the forefront of the industry.” William Newton, CEO, WiredScore said:  “Industrial and logistics real estate is undergoing a transformation and at WiredScore, our mission is to accelerate that evolution by setting the global benchmark for digital connectivity and future-readiness. With SEGRO, we’ve found a partner that shares that vision; investing in technology and infrastructure that ensure industrial spaces can meet the demands of modern commerce and urban living. “Achieving WiredScore Platinum at SEGRO V-Park Grand Union is not just a world first for industrial real estate, but a signal of SEGRO’s leadership. The building’s integrated approach to connectivity and sustainability demonstrates what best-in-class looks like.” About SEGRO SEGRO is a UK Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), listed on the London Stock Exchange and Euronext Paris, and is a leading owner, manager and developer of modern warehouses, industrial property and data centres. It owns or manages 10.8 million square metres of space (116 million square feet) valued at £21.4 billion serving customers from a wide range of industry sectors. Its properties are located in and around major cities and at key transportation hubs in the UK and in seven other European countries.  For over 100 years SEGRO has been creating the space that enables extraordinary things to happen. From modern big box warehouses, used primarily for regional, national and international distribution hubs, to urban warehousing, located close to major population centres and business districts, it provides high-quality assets that allow its customers to thrive.  A commitment to be a force for societal and environmental good is integral to SEGRO’s purpose and strategy. Its Responsible SEGRO framework focuses on three long-term priorities where the company believes it can make the greatest impact: Championing low-carbon growth, Investing in local communities and environments and Nurturing talent.  Striving for the highest standards of innovation, sustainable business practices and enabling economic and societal prosperity underpins SEGRO’s ambition to be the best property company. See www.SEGRO.com for further information. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Canmoor’s Westway Short-listed for Prestigious National Property Award

Canmoor’s Westway Short-listed for Prestigious National Property Award

Development and asset manager, Canmoor, is delighted to announce that Westway at Glasgow Airport has been shortlisted for Best Overall Scheme (Logistics Park) at the prestigious Industrial Agents Society (IAS) Awards 2025. The recognition places Westway among the UK’s most outstanding industrial and logistics developments. The IAS Awards, regarded as one of the most respected accolades in the property sector, celebrate excellence in industrial and logistics real estate. Being shortlisted reflects the quality, vision and positive impact that Westway has delivered to both occupiers and the wider community. In particular, the shortlisting recognises Canmoor’s ambitious speculative development programme, which has delivered 300,000 sq ft of high-quality, sustainable industrial space to the Scottish market. This includes the successful completion and pre-letting of two flagship units within the park: Westway 90, now home to sustainable packaging innovator Pulpex, and Westway 200, secured by the UK Government. Designed and built with sustainability at their core, both buildings embody sustainable design, earning BREEAM “Excellent” and EPC “A” ratings. The facilities are all-electric capable and include electric vehicle charging stations, photovoltaic panels, and air source heat pumps. Key amenities include dedicated car parking, HGV parking and extensive yard space, all within Westway’s 24/7 fully secure environment. Gregor King, Scottish Director of Canmoor said: “We are delighted that Westway has been recognised on a national stage. This shortlisting in recognition of Westway 90 and Westway 200 is a testament to our commitment to delivering ‘best in class’, sustainable logistics space on a speculative basis. “Securing Pulpex and the UK Government as occupiers demonstrates both the park’s appeal and the importance of our role in supporting innovation and public sector operations.” The winners of the IAS Awards will be announced at a ceremony in London on Wednesday 24 September. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Procurement 5.0: How AI-Powered Tools Are Transforming Construction Supply Chains

Procurement 5.0: How AI-Powered Tools Are Transforming Construction Supply Chains

Procurement is the beating heart of construction. But for many UK organisations, it still runs on spreadsheets, siloed systems, and countless phone calls. And that inefficiency comes at a price. Research reported by PBC Today shows construction projects in the UK run, on average, 46 percent over budget, with procurement and supply chain inefficiencies playing a major role.  Meanwhile, a study commissioned by procurement software provider Ivalua found that UK procurement professionals spend nearly a third of their working hours on manual processes. A new wave of AI-powered digital tools, aligned with the principles of Procurement 5.0 (a term suggested by McKinsey), is starting to change this landscape. Intelligent document processing, demand forecasting, smart supplier evaluation, and real-time tracking are already helping teams work faster and with more certainty.  One of the most exciting developments is the use of optical character recognition (OCR) and large language models (LLMs) to “read” engineering drawings and blueprints, extracting specifications and pushing them directly into procurement workflows. Add AI agents that can manage orders, chase suppliers, and flag risks instantly, and the result is a smarter, leaner, more resilient supply chain.  The future of procurement in UK construction isn’t decades away — it’s happening now. Five Procurement Challenges Construction is Facing Today Before we look at how AI and Procurement 5.0 can transform your organisation, it’s worth taking stock of the obstacles that UK construction leaders are up against. 1. Fragmented supplier visibility. Many firms manage hundreds of suppliers with no single, consistent record of performance, compliance, or pricing. This can lead to duplication, missed opportunities, and a lack of leverage when negotiating. 2. Budget overruns. According to PBC Today, UK construction projects overshoot budgets by an average of 46 percent, with supply chain inefficiencies playing a major role. 3. Slow decision cycles. Procurement decisions can take weeks when project deadlines demand hours, largely because data is scattered across systems or trapped in paper documents. 4. Compliance pressures. New sustainability regulations and modern slavery legislation place additional reporting requirements on procurement teams, increasing admin workloads. 5. Manual processes. The Ivalua study found that procurement professionals spend around 31 percent of their time on repetitive, non-strategic tasks. That’s valuable labour that could be redirected towards supplier innovation and risk management. These challenges are more than operational headaches — they directly affect margins, project delivery, and a company’s ability to compete. Business Benefits of AI-powered Procurement Tools  For all the excitement about new technology, most construction leaders ultimately want to know one thing: will it deliver measurable returns? Early adopters of AI-powered procurement tools, in line with Procurement 5.0 thinking, are already seeing results that translate directly to the bottom line. Among them are: Shorter cycle times Research from McKinsey shows AI-enhanced procurement can reduce inventory by 20 to 30 percent, logistics costs by 5 to 20 percent, and procurement spend by 5 to 15 percent, meaning critical materials arrive sooner and projects avoid costly delays. Cost savings According to Accenture, organisations implementing AI in procurement typically reduce direct material costs by 5 to 10 percent, driven by better demand forecasting and supplier competition. Fewer compliance breaches Automated risk checks and document analysis have helped some UK firms cut contract compliance issues by over 25 percent, as reported in Supply Management magazine. Improved staff productivity – The Ivalua study found that automation can reclaim nearly a third of procurement professionals’ time, freeing them to focus on strategic supplier relationships. Efficiency and savings uplift – The Hackett Group finds AI-driven procurement outsourcing delivers a 23 percent average improvement in purchase cost savings and cost avoidance, and an 83 percent overall satisfaction rating for service experience and value. These aren’t abstract benefits. Real companies are already seeing results from their pilots and preparing for wider rollouts. The real question is whether your company will be among the pioneering adopters. 5 Key Steps to Implement AI-powered Procurement in Your Organisation For many business leaders in the construction sector, the main challenge isn’t understanding the value of AI but knowing how to start. The key is to approach AI-powered procurement implementation as a business transformation rather than a tech project. Step 1: Define clear objectives Identify the procurement process pain points you want to address first, such as reducing lead time, improving supplier risk assessment, or speeding up contract reviews. Step 2: Pilot with a valuable use case Start small, for example, by using OCR and LLMs to extract specifications from engineering drawings and feed them into your ordering system.AI consulting experts can help you scope, test, and refine your pilot so it aligns with your business goals. Step 3: Integrate with the existing system Ensure AI tools can be connected with your enterprise resource planning (ERP) or procurement management platforms, avoiding duplicate data entry. Step 4: Upskill your team Provide targeted training so staff can interpret the AI solution output, adjust forecasting, and manage AI agents effectively. Step 5: Measure the success and iterate Set measurable KPIs such as cycle time reduction or supplier performance improvements, track results, and scale the AI use once its value is proven. By treating AI as a business goals driver, rather than an innovative add-on, you create the conditions for sustained efficiency gains and competitive advantage for your organisation. Future Outlook: What’s Next for Construction Procurement? In the next few years we will see construction procurement move from reactive buying to proactive, data-led decision-making. Several trends are already taking shape: Trend 1: AI agents with multi-role capabilities Beyond order management, these systems will handle supplier onboarding, performance tracking, and early risk detection without human prompting. Trend 2: Integration of digital twins Connecting procurement platforms with project digital twins will allow teams to model material needs in real time, adjusting orders dynamically as designs or schedules change. Trend 3: Blockchain for contract transparency Distributed ledgers can record supplier agreements and transactions securely, reducing disputes and enabling faster verification of compliance. Trend 4: Sustainability metrics in procurement Environmental performance data will increasingly be built

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M&S Powers Growth with Major Investment in Stores and Supply Chain

M&S Powers Growth with Major Investment in Stores and Supply Chain

Marks & Spencer is ramping up its transformation strategy with record levels of investment across both its store estate and food supply chain, underpinning its ambition to deliver long-term growth and become a destination for the weekly shop. This financial year, M&S is investing more than £300 million into its store rotation programme, with 16 new openings, nine extensions, and 12 renewals planned. These projects will showcase the retailer’s latest store formats, designed around brighter entrances, wider aisles, and modern layouts that bring together Food, Fashion, Home, and Beauty in a more engaging environment. Recent examples include the expanded full-line store at Nugent Shopping Park in Orpington, which now spans 37,700 sq ft and features a dedicated beauty hall alongside an enlarged fashion offer. Similar renewals have been delivered in Aberdeen Union Square, Warrington’s Gemini Retail Park, and Liverpool’s Mersey Retail Park, reflecting M&S’s commitment to creating larger, fresher spaces across the UK. In parallel, the business has unveiled the largest supply chain investment in its history, committing £340 million to a new automated National Distribution Centre at Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal. At 1.3 million sq ft, the site will open in 2029 and play a pivotal role in supporting M&S’s ambition to double the size of its food business. The facility will enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve product availability, while also creating 2,000 construction jobs and 1,000 permanent roles once operational. Combined, these investments illustrate how M&S is modernising both its front-end customer experience and back-end infrastructure. By strengthening its network, expanding its food halls, and rolling out renewed full-line stores, the retailer is positioning itself for sustained growth and sharper customer focus. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Whitbread secures second Premier Inn location in Central Bath

Whitbread secures second Premier Inn location in Central Bath

UK’s largest hotel company signs agreement for lease with Frank Capital for prominent Lower Bristol Road site Whitbread plc, the UK’s largest hospitality business and owner of Premier Inn, has committed to opening a second Premier Inn hotel in Bath city centre after signing an agreement for lease with Frank Capital for a prominent development site on Lower Bristol Road, BA2. The former Beazer House office building, currently vacant, will be demolished to make way for a new six-storey, 68,000 sq ft Premier Inn hotel. The latest-format hotel will feature 152-bedrooms alongside an on-site restaurant and bar on the ground floor. Located within a 10-minute walk of Bath Spa railway station and the city’s iconic Roman Baths, the site is ideally positioned to attract Premier Inn’s leisure guests. Bath welcomes approximately six million overnight and day visitors annually according to Bath and North East Somerset Council[1]. Construction of the new hotel is expected to begin in early 2026, with the hotel targeted to open in 2028. Upon completion, it will expand Premier Inn’s presence in Bath City Centre to two hotels and more than 250 affordable bedrooms. Paul Smith, Acquisition Manager for Whitbread, said:  “Securing a new location for our customers in Bath City Centre is a significant achievement in our south-west growth story. There is a well-known undersupply of budget hotel rooms in Bath, and this new location will help us to meet the consistently high, year-round demand we see for Premier Inn bedrooms in city. “Our guests are sure to love the prime, central location, just minutes from world-famous visitor attractions and Bath Spa train station, and we anticipate they will make a significant contribution to the city’s visitor and business economy through their spending during their stay.   “We are excited to get construction underway next year and add another superb location to our popular network of hotels in the south-west.” The Lower Bristol Road Premier Inn will feature a mix of Premier Inn’s latest format ‘standard’ rooms as well as its popular ‘enhanced’ Premier Plus bedrooms. Whitbread secured the opportunity to occupy the location following a competitive bidding process.   Natasha El Shazly, General Counsel at Frank Capital, said:   “We are delighted to have exchanged contracts with Whitbread and now look forward to working with the design team, led by TP Bennett, to deliver an exemplary new build hotel that is both respectful of its significant heritage context and forward thinking in its approach to sustainability.” In line with Whitbread’s sustainability programme, Force For Good, the new Premier Inn is being designed to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating and will be run solely on electricity generated from renewable sources. Whitbread has a published target to reduce the carbon emissions from its direct operations (Scope 1 and 2 emissions) to zero by 2040.  The acquisition of the Lower Road site is part of Whitbread’s ongoing expansion of Premier Inn and hub by Premier Inn in the UK and Ireland. The company currently offers its customers a choice of 850 locations, and more than 85,000 bedrooms, and sees the potential to grow its hotel network to 125,000 UK and Ireland rooms. Savills led the market engagement for Frank Capital. Whitbread was advised by Sisman Property Consultants. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Chopstix Brings Fresh Flavours to Hull City Centre

Chopstix Brings Fresh Flavours to Hull City Centre

Chopstix has opened a new restaurant in Hull, marking its first location in the Yorkshire city. Situated on the corner of King Edward Street and Jameson Street, the new store features the quick-service restaurant brand’s refreshed design identity and upgraded operational systems, creating a more efficient and engaging customer experience. The opening is the latest in a wave of expansion for Chopstix, following recent launches in Brighton, Wolverhampton, and Huddersfield. The brand’s nationwide growth has been fuelled by investment from QSR group QSRP in 2023, which continues to back Chopstix’s UK development while also supporting exploration into European opportunities. Menashe Sadik, co-founder and director at Chopstix, said:“We’re delighted to open in Hull, bringing our bold Chinese-inspired flavours to another vibrant UK city centre. With its strong footfall and dynamic retail core, Hull is a fantastic location for our next restaurant, and we are confident it will perform strongly within our portfolio. This expansion reflects the momentum behind the brand as we continue to grow across the country.” The Hull launch further reinforces Chopstix’s position as one of the UK’s fastest-growing quick-service restaurant brands, with a strategy focused on high-traffic locations and delivering an accessible, flavour-led menu to a broad customer base. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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McLaren Construction completes 572-bed first phase of student scheme for development JV of Topland and McLaren Property

McLaren Construction completes 572-bed first phase of student scheme for development JV of Topland and McLaren Property

Provider iQ Student Accommodation offers new benchmark for University of Warwick students at iQ Longwood Place. A landmark £100m student accommodation scheme adjacent to the University of Warwick has reached a major milestone, completing its first phase of 572 beds. Developed by Topland Group and McLaren Property, and delivered by McLaren Construction Midlands and North on behalf of iQ Student Accommodation, one of the leading providers of purpose-built student accommodation in the UK, the scheme will provide a significant boost to the city’s student accommodation offer for the 2025/26 academic year. iQ Longwood Place will create a student living campus, offering 1,078 high-quality student bedrooms and 131 co-living rooms once phase two completes in spring 2026. The site boasts extensive community, retail, and leisure spaces just minutes from the University of Warwick campus, and is a 15-minute bus ride from Coventry city centre. It also features social spaces in every block including an arcade, lounge, karaoke room, a range of study spaces, a gym and landscaped outdoor social areas. Replacing outdated office buildings and a former multi-storey car park, the development saw the demolition of Avon House, Swift House, and associated structures to make way for nine new residential blocks over the course of the two phases of construction. Designed to harmonise with the natural surroundings, the development incorporates high-specification landscape finishes, tree protection zones, and enhanced green spaces. Designed with sustainability at its core, the development has officially achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating. Environmental best practices were followed, including recycling demolition materials, sustainable waste management via the SmartWaste platform, and careful protection of nearby woodland and watercourses. Throughout construction, McLaren actively engaged with local businesses and residents and worked closely with Coventry City Council to provide on-site work placements and community updates. Gary Cramp, managing director of McLaren Construction Midlands and North, said: “It’s been a pleasure to see iQ Longwood Place take shape with phase one now reaching completion. This is a transformative scheme for Coventry and the student population of the University of Warwick – not only in terms of quality accommodation but also through our investment in sustainability, landscaping, and community benefit. We’ve worked hard to deliver the project safely and to the highest quality standard, and it’s a credit to all involved with iQ Longwood Place. We are looking forward to finishing the remaining phase by next spring.” William Davies, director of asset management at Topland Group, said: “iQ Longwood Place is the result of strong collaboration across the project team and stakeholders. We are proud to be playing our part in delivering a high-quality, purpose-built scheme that will support students and enhance the area for years to come.” Matt Loughlin, chief development officer for iQ Student Accommodation, said: “The completion of the first phase of iQ Longwood Place is a major milestone, delivering high-quality, community-focused student living for the upcoming academic year, just moments from the University of Warwick. We’re proud to offer a space that blends sustainability, comfort and vibrant social experiences. This achievement reflects the effort of everyone involved, and we’re excited to welcome students to their new home.” Bruce Ruddle, divisional managing director for McLaren Property, added: “We’re thrilled to see phase one of iQ Longwood Place fully realised. The finished phase one demonstrates the power of effective partnership combining McLaren Construction’s technical delivery with the vision shared by Topland Group, iQ and ourselves.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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124 Extra Care apartments get green light from planners

124 Extra Care apartments get green light from planners

Plans to deliver 124 much-needed Extra Care apartments in South Shields have this week been given the green light by South Tyneside’s planning committee. The much-needed specialist accommodation, to be developed by Karbon Homes in partnership with South Tyneside Council, will be built on the site of the former Chuter Ede school and Ede Community Association. The scheme has been designed to help people with differing levels of care and support needs to live well and independently for longer. 25 of the apartments are specifically designed for people living with dementia. Zoey Hawthorne, Assistant Director of Development Delivery at Karbon Homes, said: “It’s great to have the backing of the South Tyneside Council planning committee to bring this exciting, much-needed scheme to fruition. “This project represents a major commitment from us to provide affordable, high-quality homes in the borough, a modern and welcoming place to live for residents with a number of socially-focused features to help facilitate community cohesion. “We have a great working relationship with South Tyneside’s Adult Social Care and Commissioning, who we have worked with on a number of housing projects that support adults with care and support needs. We look forward to further developing this relationship with them as we take this next project forward.” Karbon has worked with Tyne and Wear based JDDK Architects on the design, with apartments sitting across four storeys laid out around a central communal courtyard. The scheme will be highly energy efficient, with heating and hot water to be powered by air source heat pumps, with additional energy generated through roof mounted solar PV panels. The scheme will also have multi-use spaces for activities, which will be open for community groups to use, alongside a bistro café open to the general public. Bringing more housing of this type to the local authority area forms part of the Council’s wider Adult Social Care Accommodation Strategy, aimed at supporting people who may need care and support to live independently in the community. Cllr Tracey Dixon, Leader of South Tyneside Council, said: “I’m delighted this development has been given planning permission. “We continue to invest in affordable accommodation that reflects the needs and wants of our communities and allows people to live with dignity and independence in the heart of their communities in a place they can call home. “I’m really looking forward to watching this new facility take shape.” Karbon has appointed Robertson Construction North East as the lead contractor for the project. It will be the second Extra Care facility built by Robertson for Karbon and South Tyneside Council, the first being a 95-apartment scheme in Hebburn town centre. Its delivery will be part-funded by Homes England, through Karbon’s Strategic Partnership with the Government’s housing delivery agency. This strategic partnership is supporting Karbon to deliver 2,324 new affordable homes across the North East and Yorkshire by 2028, 10% of which will be new homes for people requiring additional support needs. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Winvic moves forward on fourth Lincolnshire County Council Highways Framework project

Winvic moves forward on fourth Lincolnshire County Council Highways Framework project

Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of private and public sector construction and civil engineering projects, has commenced works on the Carholme Road and A46/A57 roundabout scheme in Lincoln. Marking Winvic’s fourth project awarded under the Lincolnshire County Council Highways Framework, Winvic will deliver vital infrastructure improvements valued at £1.9 million. Scheduled to run from July to November 2025, the scheme involves complex civil engineering upgrades to Carholme Road – between Nelson Street and the A57 Saxilby Road – as well as the westbound carriageway of the A46 at Carholme Roundabout, including adjoining side roads. This key transport corridor sits in the heart of Lincoln city centre. Key elements of the upgrades include 9,000m² of resurfacing, along with constructing 800m² of new footway and installing 350 metres of new drainage featuring 37 new gullies. Additional works will involve carriageway realignment, kerb improvements, structural pavement replacement, and the application of new road markings and surface course finishes. The scheme will also address minor kerb maintenance and will be undertaken with full traffic management to ensure safety and minimise disruption. As part of its social value commitments to the region, Winvic will be supporting local employment through new roles on the project, previously on other projects on the framework this has included labourers, groundworkers and traffic management roles. Winvic will also be engaging with local schools in the new academic year to deliver careers workshops and engaging STEM activities highlighting engineering and modern methods of construction. Winvic is furthering its community support through volunteering in the local area and is already looking to partner with Lincolnshire County Council to provide its expertise and time to support local community projects. Rob Cook, Winvic’s Managing Director for Civils and Infrastructure, adds: “We are proud to be continuing our partnership with Lincolnshire County Council on this vital highways scheme. Carholme Road and the A46/A57 roundabout are key components of Lincoln’s Road network, and our experienced teams are committed to delivering these works safely, efficiently, and with minimal disruption to the local community.” Join Winvic on social media – LinkedIn, and Instagram. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Neville Special Projects Secures Landmark Contract at London Luton Airport

Neville Special Projects Secures Landmark Contract at London Luton Airport

Neville Special Projects, the long-established specialist Luton-based contractor and part of the Neville Trust Group of Companies, has secured a new £11.6 million contract – for the design and build refurbishment of Hangars 60, 127, and 9 at London Luton Airport (LLA). This contract award follows a highly competitive tender process and reflects Neville’s reputation and presence in the region, where it has been delivering construction excellence for generations. In 2025, the group celebrates its 150th anniversary, marking a century and a half of continued investment in the local community, workforce and economy. Ben Knight, Construction Director at Neville Special Projects, commented: “This was a tough, highly competitive tender, and the effort the team put in behind the scenes was exceptional. From early engagement through to final submission, the level of collaboration, technical input, and sheer tenacity was second to none. It’s wins like this that really highlight what we can achieve when we pull together with a clear focus and shared purpose. A huge thank you to all involved – this is a fantastic result and a great opportunity to further strengthen our presence with London Luton Airport.” The refurbishment will bring three previously vacant hangars – once operated by Monarch Aircraft Engineering Ltd – back into active use. Built by our founding company T & E Neville Ltd for Monarch in the 1990s, Hangar 60 is set to house a new EasyJet aircraft maintenance facility and apprenticeship training campus, creating over 30 highly skilled engineering roles and supporting up to 40 apprentices annually. As a long-standing employer in Luton, with a previous history of works at the airport backdating to the 1960’s, Neville Special Projects remains committed to creating local opportunities. The company employs a workforce drawn primarily from the surrounding area and runs its own in-house apprenticeship programme, training the next generation of skilled tradespeople and construction professionals, many of whom stay with the business to progress their careers. With a strong track record in delivering complex projects in live operational environments, Neville Special Projects specialises in high-quality refurbishment and new-build schemes across a wide range of sectors including aviation, education, healthcare and commercial. This latest contract reflects the business’s strategic growth and its continued commitment to infrastructure investment in its hometown. The Neville Trust Group of Companies, established originally in Luton by Thomas and Edward Neville in 1875, has been employing people across Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire for nearly 150 years. For information about Neville Special Projects, head to the website at https://www.nevillespecialprojects.co.uk/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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