1Energy to bolster energy security and cut air pollution from buildings by 86%, project receives local support. The country’s leading low-carbon city heat network developer, 1Energy, has pledged £100m of private capital for a city-wide heat network for Derby at a high-profile event for the city’s leaders. This move follows the
Civil engineering, infrastructure and tunnelling specialist Barhale has announced the appointment of James Haddon in a newly created role of Director of Low Carbon Solutions and Joe Solomon as Regional Director (Eastern). Director of Low Carbon Solutions is a new board-level position which reflects both Barhale’s corporate commitment to decarbonisation
Panattoni, the largest logistics real estate developer in Europe, has launched a major new initiative to develop data centres across Europe, the UK, India and the Middle East with the appointment of four senior specialists. Panattoni’s new dedicated data centres team will be led by Richard Wellbrock, who joins as
Acivico Group is pleased to announce the appointment of David Morrissey as its new Group Managing Director, effective 14 July 2025 Acivico Group Appoints David Morrissey as New Group Managing Director Acivico Group is pleased to announce the appointment of David Morrissey as its new Group Managing Director, effective 14
Skanska has been appointed by National Highways to deliver a long-awaited upgrade to the A47 Thickthorn junction near Norwich, under a contract valued at £153 million. The junction, which links the A47 with the A11 south of the city, is a critical gateway to the region, serving routes towards Norfolk
Craig Thow has been appointed Operations Director of Robertson Construction Northern, following nine successful years with Robertson Construction Tayside. Craig joined Robertson in 2016 as Operations Manager and has since played a pivotal role in delivering high-quality projects for public and private sector customers across Dundee, Angus, Fife, and Perthshire.
More than 100 keen golfers swung into action at Worsley Park for the annual Algeco Manchester Golf Day – raising more than £72,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities UK. A total of 28 teams teed off yesterday (July 15), with the money raised enough to fund 2,057 nights of ‘home
Glenigan | powered by Hubexo (Glenigan), one of the construction industry’s leading insight and intelligence experts, releases the July 2025 edition of its Construction Review. The Review focuses on the three months to the end of June 2025, covering all major (>£100m) and underlying (<£100m) projects, with all underlying figures seasonally
WORK on two standout refurbishment projects in London has completed as the partnership between Pexhurst and SEGRO continues to create unique spaces for commercial tenants. In Dagenham, Unit 1 at Orion Park has seen significant sustainability upgrades to become net zero carbon in operation with an EPC A+ rating. The
Construction is officially underway on The Republic, the first commercial building to rise within the evolving Mayfield Park district in central Manchester. The project marks a major milestone for the £1.4 billion regeneration of the former industrial zone, located beside Piccadilly Station. The Republic will be a 13-storey, 233,000 sq
1Energy to bolster energy security and cut air pollution from buildings by 86%, project receives local support. The country’s leading low-carbon city heat network developer, 1Energy, has pledged £100m of private capital for a city-wide heat network for Derby at a high-profile event for the city’s leaders. This move follows the company securing £23m of investment into the project from the UK Government. Developed at no cost to the local community or council, the Derby Energy Network will cut city wide gas demand by around 7 per cent. It will supply the city with low-carbon heating via underground hot water pipes, using water source heat pumps to repurpose surplus heat from local businesses.1 1Energy could invest over £140m into the network as it grows.2 1Energy pledged its initial investment to the project at a high-profile event attended by Derby’s leaders, including Baggy Shanker MP, on the site of the world’s first factory late last week. The event saw the public and private sectors come together to further plans to deliver a more secure future for the city – to bolster energy security and innovation, create skilled jobs and apprenticeships, and future-proof essential infrastructure. Major organisations in the city, including Derby City Council, the Royal Derby and Florence Nightingale Hospitals, the University of Derby and Derby College, are working with 1Energy to advance the network, with plans to begin construction in 2026. The Derby Energy Network will enable the city to bolster energy security, cut costs for businesses3 and protect against sudden gas-related energy price hikes,4 with buildings being warmed by low-carbon heat rather than gas boilers. Additionally, some of Britain’s most innovative businesses, such as Rolls-Royce and SmartParc5 could soon be linked up via the project, extending the pioneering city’s leadership in the circular economy.6 Andrew Wettern, CEO of 1Energy, said: “Derby has long led the world in terms of innovation, from water networks to defence. We are delighted to bring long-term investment to the city and build on its rich industrial heritage, enabling leading businesses to play a key role in delivering a new utility model. “Home to world-renowned innovators, Derby is uniquely placed to lead the transition to a more secure energy future. Alongside transforming the city’s energy infrastructure, the Derby Energy Network will give businesses greater choice and long-term price certainty. All while unlocking economic, health and environmental benefits for the city, the region and the country. We are exciting to continue working with Derby’s trailblazers to develop the network.” As well as helping the UK achieve its energy security goals, the network will play a vital role in reducing air pollution, improving public health.7 It is projected to save around 20 tonnes of air pollutants that can cause respiratory problems8 – equivalent to taking 16,000 cars off the road for a year – by cutting pollutants from connected buildings by around 86 per cent. The network also expects to reduce carbon emissions by 19,200 tonnes through slashing emissions from buildings by up to 77 per cent. Baggy Shanker, Member of Parliament for Derby South, said: “The Derby Energy Network represents a huge opportunity for our city to deliver another cutting-edge project, continuing our long-standing leadership on innovation. By combining private capital and public investment, it will bring hundreds of millions of pounds into Derby. I see it playing a key role in boosting economic growth. “It is great to hear the project will also create hundreds of skilled local jobs, including apprenticeships. As a former apprentice myself, I know first-hand how transformative they can be.” Project fit for a ‘city of firsts’ Home to Britain’s first publicly owned water network, water-powered silk mill and planned public park, Derby has led the way in terms of devising innovative solutions to societal issues. However, heat remains one of our biggest challenges. Accounting for half the UK’s natural gas use, it is one of the main reasons our country remains reliant on imported fossil fuels and, as a result, vulnerable to sudden changes in international prices. It is also responsible for over a fifth (21 per cent) of air pollution, and 37 per cent of Britain’s total carbon emissions. Heat networks offer the lowest-cost, simplest, fastest route to addressing all these challenges at once, requiring the fewest retrofit measures.9 The Derby Energy Network provides the extra benefit of adding another element to the city’s leadership on engineering innovation. The project will also create and support hundreds of jobs, apprenticeships and supply chain opportunities locally – a key topic of discussion at last week’s event. Councilor Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability at Derby City Council, said: “This is brilliant news for our city. 1Energy’s £100m investment in low-carbon heating will mark a transformative step forward for Derby – not only in our mission to tackle climate change by cutting carbon emissions, but also in fostering healthier, more resilient communities. This initiative will help to keep homes and buildings across Derby warm in a more sustainable way whilst delivering wider benefits, from improving air quality and reducing fuel poverty, to enhancing public health and wellbeing. This initiative will be a game changer for communities across Derby, and I look forward to working closely with 1Energy to deliver lasting benefits for Derby.” Aligned with the City’s pioneering spirit, 1Energy is the first company in the UK to use funding from institutional investors to build city-scale low-carbon heat networks. The company has ambitions to deploy £1bn in the next eight years into new projects across the country, leveraging best practices gleaned from delivering the Derby Energy Network alongside Britain’s most innovative businesses. Through reducing the use of gas, these networks will help bolster energy security, protect against energy price hikes and cut costs, and reduce public health costs.10 Phil Lovell, COO at SmartParc, said: “At SmartParc, we are pleased to be working with 1Energy Group, to jointly explore opportunities to provide low carbon heat to the Derby Energy Network. Collaboration opportunities offer greater scope to harness the work we’re already doing at SmartParc for the benefit of the wider city. “By harnessing innovative technologies and shared values, we’re contributing to a cleaner, greener Derby while supporting
Civil engineering, infrastructure and tunnelling specialist Barhale has announced the appointment of James Haddon in a newly created role of Director of Low Carbon Solutions and Joe Solomon as Regional Director (Eastern). Director of Low Carbon Solutions is a new board-level position which reflects both Barhale’s corporate commitment to decarbonisation and reducing fossil fuel dependency and also its focus on developing innovative low carbon solutions for clients. James Haddon originally joined Barhale in 1988 as a site engineer and rapidly progressed through commercial, project management and regional manager roles. He joined AECOM in 2006 and worked across their European operations for nine years before returning to Barhale in 2015 to take up the position of Regional Director (Eastern). Joe Solomon, who steps into the role of Regional Director (Eastern), started his career with Barhale in 2012 as a Quantity Surveyor after six years at M.A.R.S. Construction. By 2014, he had progressed to Senior QS, working on S101a schemes in Peterborough before moving into commercial management roles within the @one Alliance, Anglian Water’s highly regarded partnership delivering complex capital projects – of which Barhale is a founding partner. In January 2021, Joe was appointed to Head of Commercial for the Eastern region. For Chief Executive Martin Brown, the appointments exemplify how Barhale is promoting succession planning and developing the future leaders of its business from within. “James and Joe are natural choices for these roles,” he said. “Accelerating our carbon solutions offering is a key element of our growth strategy and James’s expertise and wealth of experience provide an ideal combination to lead the drive. “Joe has worked closely with James for many years and he will continue to develop and grow our business within Eastern. He has an excellent relationship with key clients and partners and also brings huge enthusiasm and experience to the role. I look forward to him continuing to building Barhale’s business across the region. “Both appointments are in line with our business strategy and are a great reflection of the business’s agenda to recognise and promote talent from among its existing teams.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Panattoni, the largest logistics real estate developer in Europe, has launched a major new initiative to develop data centres across Europe, the UK, India and the Middle East with the appointment of four senior specialists. Panattoni’s new dedicated data centres team will be led by Richard Wellbrock, who joins as Managing Director, Data Centres. He brings more than 25 years of real estate experience, including almost 20 years focused on the development of data centres. Most recently, as Chief Commercial Officer at Colt Data Centre Services (DCS), a leading global data centre operator. Richard played a key role in delivering large-scale, AI-ready data centre campuses across Europe and Asia , driving growth from 100MW to 1GW, including supporting a $1.5 billion joint venture with Mitsui. Joining Richard Wellbrock at Panattoni are; Nick Parker, Head of Capital Deployment, Data Centres, John Belton, Head of Development, Data Centres, and Paul Terry, Infrastructure Director, Data Centres. Nick Parker, who was previously Global Senior Director of Asset Management at Colt DCS, where he led over €5 billion in capital deployment strategies, supported transactions of around 250MW with hyperscale customers and played a central role in structuring international joint ventures and investment strategy across India, Japan and Europe. John Belton, who served as Global Senior Director of Development at Colt DCS, has around 40 years’ experience in engineering and data centre development. He managed Colt DCS’s global development portfolio, creating a pipeline capable of delivering more than 1GW of IT load across multiple countries. Paul Terry, who was Colt DCS’s Global Director of Development Infrastructure, led infrastructure design and delivery from land acquisition through to handover, managing major utility and technology programmes. All four will be based in London and report to Robert Dobrzycki, CEO and co-owner of Panattoni Europe, UK, Middle East and India. Robert Dobrzycki, CEO, said: “This is a significant new chapter for Panattoni. Data centres are essential infrastructure for the modern economy, and we are now building a world-class platform to deliver them. Richard and his team bring exceptional experience and insight”. Richard Wellbrock, Managing Director, Data Centres, said: “Panattoni has an outstanding track record of development at scale and pace. With our team now in place, we’re looking forward to growing the business across Europe, the UK, India and the Middle East, supporting hyperscalers, cloud providers and enterprise customers with high-quality data centre solutions”. Panattoni’s expansion into data centres builds on its longstanding expertise in large-scale industrial and logistics development, which has seen it deliver more than 23 million sq m across Europe. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Acivico Group is pleased to announce the appointment of David Morrissey as its new Group Managing Director, effective 14 July 2025 Acivico Group Appoints David Morrissey as New Group Managing Director Acivico Group is pleased to announce the appointment of David Morrissey as its new Group Managing Director, effective 14 July 2025. David joins Acivico with a strong track record in public sector leadership and local authority trading companies (LATCOs). Most recently, he served as Managing Director of HTS Group Ltd, where he led operations across maintenance, facilities management, environmental services, compliance, property services, and major projects. His leadership was marked by a focus on operational excellence, stakeholder engagement, and delivering value for money. Chair of the Acivico Board, David Powell, commented: “David impressed us with his strategic skills, delivery focus, and consultative approach. His experience and leadership style are a great fit for Acivico as we continue to grow and evolve.” In his new role, David will lead the organisation through its next phase of development, with a focus on innovation, digital transformation, and strengthening client and community partnerships. Speaking about his appointment, David said: “I’m delighted to be joining Acivico at such an exciting time. The business has a strong foundation and a clear ambition to grow and diversify. I look forward to working with the team, our partners, and stakeholders to build on that momentum—focusing on innovation, collaboration, and delivering high-quality outcomes that will make a lasting impact.” David’s appointment follows a rigorous recruitment process and comes at a pivotal time for Acivico, as the organisation continues to deliver on its strategic priorities across consultancy, construction, and facilities management services. Acivico Group is a Birmingham-based, purpose-driven, multi-disciplinary firm offering an extensive range of built environment advisory services, including design, construction, building control, and facilities management. Guided by our vision to promote public wellbeing and sustainable development, we pride ourselves on our strategic partnerships and strong civic values. Established in 2012, Acivico provides comprehensive construction-related services, supporting landmark projects across Birmingham and the wider West Midlands. We collaborate closely with our clients, delivering high-quality, sustainable, and innovative solutions that are cost-effective and foster civic pride. Our strategic partnerships, combined with our unique civic values, set us apart from our competitors. Maintaining strong relationships with local and central government, we remain at the forefront of industry changes, allowing us to guide clients through future impacts within their respective sectors and ensure successful project completion. Since 2018, our business transformation has seen significant investments in our people, systems, and processes, resulting in substantial benefits for our clients, including cost savings, enhanced customer experience, and improved quality. Our growing portfolio now includes partnership frameworks for both Constructing West Midlands and Legionella, and we anticipate continued growth as we implement our future strategy. At Acivico Group, we prioritize integrity, care, expertise, and ethical entrepreneurialism, fostering a culture of active listening, continuous learning, and calculated risk-taking. As we move forward, we remain dedicated to promoting public wellbeing, sustainable development, and Building For Good. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Skanska has been appointed by National Highways to deliver a long-awaited upgrade to the A47 Thickthorn junction near Norwich, under a contract valued at £153 million. The junction, which links the A47 with the A11 south of the city, is a critical gateway to the region, serving routes towards Norfolk and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. Long plagued by congestion, the site is now set for major redevelopment to support future residential and commercial growth. The scheme has faced a series of delays and rising costs. Initially estimated at between £50 million and £100 million, the price tag later surged to £161 million, leading to the termination of the previous contract with Galliford Try—also the contractor for two other A47 upgrades at Blofield to North Burlingham and North Tuddenham to Easton. All three projects were delayed by ultimately unsuccessful legal challenges. Now back on track, enabling works are under way, with full construction expected to commence in early 2026. The new junction is not expected to open to traffic until 2029. Once complete, it will include a 1.6km free-flow link road connecting the A11 northbound to the A47 eastbound via two new underpasses, alongside a 1km local link road joining Cantley Lane South with the B1172 Norwich Road. This local route will feature a modular bridge spanning the A11 and the new link road. The project also involves the creation of two new junctions on the local road network, the widening of the A47 westbound slip road, and the removal and replacement of an existing footbridge with a structure suitable for pedestrians, cyclists and horse-riders. Skanska is partnering with consulting engineer Sweco to deliver the project, which will include five new structures and over 3km of utility diversions. At its peak, the scheme will employ more than 300 people. Andrew English, executive vice president at Skanska UK, said:“We have worked collaboratively with National Highways to develop the design and scheme budget to ensure it meets the overall cost envelope for the project. Our focus on cost, while ensuring we can deliver the full benefits of the scheme safely and on programme, has been key to our approach. It’s a great outcome that has been achieved as a result of our trusted working relationship with National Highways, developed over more than two decades. We’re now looking forward to moving into main construction, delivering these much-needed improvements that will generate long-lasting benefits for the region.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Craig Thow has been appointed Operations Director of Robertson Construction Northern, following nine successful years with Robertson Construction Tayside. Craig joined Robertson in 2016 as Operations Manager and has since played a pivotal role in delivering high-quality projects for public and private sector customers across Dundee, Angus, Fife, and Perthshire. His leadership spans a wide range of sectors, including education, healthcare, hospitality and commercial. Notably, he was involved in the delivery of a number of prestigious projects across the Tayside region including Scotland’s first accredited Passivhaus primary school, Riverside Primary School, and the £26m office development in Dundee. With almost 30 years of industry experience, Craig will now oversee all operational aspects of project delivery in the Northern region. His responsibilities include ensuring projects are completed to the highest quality, delivered efficiently, on programme and within budget, alongside identifying and securing new opportunities. One of his first major projects will be the construction of a new business park at Oban Airport, which recently received planning approval. Craig studied civil engineering at Heriot-Watt University and has worked for several construction companies, starting as a Site Engineer and progressing to Project Manager before joining Robertson. Speaking on his appointment, Craig said: “With strong opportunities on the horizon and a solid pipeline of ongoing projects, it’s a great time to be joining the Northern business. I look forward to sharing my experiences with the team and supporting the business’ continued success.” Craig also acted as a Young People Champion for four years, responsible for delivering operational support to embed and enhance the Robertson NextGen Strategy. This is geared towards providing meaningful career development and engagement opportunities for employees aged 16 to 24 years. Craig added: “Ensuring there is enough development and support given to the younger generation is important to me and is fundamental for the industry. Through our dedicated team delivering small works, we are creating real opportunities for young people to gain hands-on experience, earn qualifications and learn a trade on live projects. It’s a model that not only supports skills development but offers a clear career path for life.” Regional Managing Director Ian Phillips commented: “Craig is a strong and welcome addition to our high-performing team. He brings valuable operational leadership experience along with a deep understanding of the Robertson way of working. His expertise will further strengthen the business as we continue to grow across the region.” With offices in Elgin, Inverness and Fort William, Robertson Construction Northern is a trusted partner of choice for an array of customers covering Moray, Highlands & Islands, Lochaber and Aberdeenshire. It is part of Robertson Group, one of the largest family-owned construction, infrastructure, property and support services businesses in the UK. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
More than 100 keen golfers swung into action at Worsley Park for the annual Algeco Manchester Golf Day – raising more than £72,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities UK. A total of 28 teams teed off yesterday (July 15), with the money raised enough to fund 2,057 nights of ‘home away from home’ accommodation for families with children in hospital. Algeco UK is a leading modular buildings, temporary accommodation and storage container provider, delivering construction expertise to diverse sectors including schools, hospitals, office locations and many more. The company is a longstanding partner of McDonald’s. Paul Beard, Senior Design Manager at Algeco, explained: “We are immensely proud to be the headline sponsor once again for this fantastic annual event. The impact of the work carried out by the charity for children and their families is incredible, and we are pleased to play our small part in supporting this.” Algeco UK has provided McDonald’s with offsite build solutions since 2010 and has constructed more than 220 new stores using its modular retail construction process. This includes McDonald’s Market Drayton, which was notably the UK’s first carbon net zero restaurant (using the UKGBC’s net zero carbon buildings framework) and the two-storey Drive-Thru restaurant in North Acton, London, also the first of its kind in the UK. As a key partner to McDonald’s, Algeco UK is a long-standing supporter of its house charity. Over the years, the marketing team from Algeco UK has attended Ronald McDonald House Birmingham, donating their time to help keep the 65 bedrooms, communal kitchens and living room spaces clean for people with children in hospital. Tony Morton, Director of Partnerships at Ronald McDonald House Charities UK, said: “We’re extremely grateful to Algeco UK, for their continued support of our Manchester Golf Day. They’ve contributed significantly to another hugely successful event, with a fantastic day of golf and most importantly, an incredible amount raised to help keep families close to their sick children in hospital. “Algeco UK’s support for our cause extends beyond the Manchester Golf Day, with staff giving up their time to volunteer in our Houses. We thank them for their amazing efforts, which make such a difference to families going through unimaginably difficult times.” This year, Algeco UK entered four teams, featuring Algeco OSS staff, a further team with staff from Algeco Hire, and five more teams on behalf of partners and suppliers. Other entrants consisted of key McDonald’s partners, suppliers and sub-contractors. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola, Scania and McCain were among the other sponsors. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Glenigan | powered by Hubexo (Glenigan), one of the construction industry’s leading insight and intelligence experts, releases the July 2025 edition of its Construction Review. The Review focuses on the three months to the end of June 2025, covering all major (>£100m) and underlying (<£100m) projects, with all underlying figures seasonally adjusted. It’s a report providing a detailed and comprehensive analysis of year-on-year construction data, giving built environment professionals a unique insight into sector performance over the past year. A Steady Resurgence The July Review shows an industry which, while definitely on the road to recovery, is making frustratingly slower progress than expected. Although the sector is likely to welcome an overall uptick in projects starting on-site, rising 6% against the preceding three months and 3% against the previous year, they will be less enthused by significant dips in main contract awards and planning approvals. This indicates that, despite the positive underlying starts on-site statistics, the sector still has a considerable journey until it’s securely back in the black, as main contract awards decreased by a quarter on 2024 figures (-24%) and by a third compared to the preceding three months (-32%). Similarly, if slightly less severe, overall planning approvals also fell by a fifth (-22%) in the three months to June, and by 3% against the previous year. These results were largely down to an inconsistency between underlying and major project performance over Q.2. Taking a closer look… Underlying starts success Underlying activity (projects with a total value of under £100 million) has experienced a major boost over the previous quarter, as evidenced by the very impressive surge in project starts on-site during the three months to June (+49%) and compared with 2024 levels (+25%). The residential vertical stood out as the clear winner, increasing 76% during Q.2, rising by almost two-thirds (+64%) compared to last year. Non-residential verticals also experienced a 21% rise against the past three months to the end of June, despite a small 3% dip compared to the same period last year. Unfortunately, this performance was not matched in terms of contract awards and planning approvals which fell across all underlying verticals. Major issues around contract awards & planning approvals However, it was a general slump in major project activity that was predominantly responsible for dragging down the Review’s results across the board. While underlying project start figures were impressively high, this wasn’t reflected in major projects which saw starts on-site, contract awards and planning approvals fall against the three months to the end of June and 2024 figures. A key reason for this inconsistency is persistently slow economic growth and higher operational costs, which are causing a number of delayed private investment and public funding decisions, negatively affecting contract awards and planning approvals industrywide. Looking at these mixed results, Glenigan’s Economic Director, Allan Wilen, says, “Whilst it’s fair to say that the underlying market, which makes up the majority of construction activity in the UK, is in pretty robust health, as evidenced in the last two Glenigan Indexes, recovery in the major projects stream is less stable. That’s why the figures published here are more subdued than those that appeared in Glenigan’s July Index, which only measures underlying activity. He continues, “Of course, there will be understandable concerns around major project performance. However, before the industry starts wringing its hands in despair, it’s important to remember we’re still only weeks out from a comprehensive Spending Review which has promised a significant amount of money to kickstart a wide variety of critical infrastructure projects. These will, it’s hoped, boost major project activity in the near and long-term, bringing it on an even footing with its underlying counterpart. Many will be disappointed that the recovery is not being achieved at the pace expected or desired, however, momentum is picking up, which our Economics Unit predicts will only increase in the second half of this year.” To find out more about Glenigan and its construction intelligence services click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
WORK on two standout refurbishment projects in London has completed as the partnership between Pexhurst and SEGRO continues to create unique spaces for commercial tenants. In Dagenham, Unit 1 at Orion Park has seen significant sustainability upgrades to become net zero carbon in operation with an EPC A+ rating. The project team is also aiming to gain BREEAM Outstanding status – which will be the fourth project between Pexhurst and SEGRO to achieve this. Built in 2014, recent refurbishment of the 65,000 sq ft property with 36 loading bays included installation of solar PV to generate 152,000 kWh of renewable energy annually, new electric vehicle chargers, repairs to the building fabric and services, as well as fit out of the elevated office space. Alterations have also been made to the entrance ramp, by replacing car parking spaces with planters and benches to improve aesthetics and wellbeing. Robert Brazier, head of contracts and commercial managers at fit out and refurbishment main contractor Pexhurst, said: “The latest projects we have completed for SEGRO have required us to use a wide range of expertise. While the modern unit in Dagenham has been raised to the highest standard of building sustainability, our work in Kentish Town involved coordination with Network Rail to sensitively adapt the site for commercial use in a central location. “Both recently completed refurbishments provide different offerings for potential tenants, which we’re pleased to have played a part in. Our projects for SEGRO always help us to challenge ourselves and remain influential in reshaping the industrial and logistics landscape. Transforming spaces is what we do best, meaning no vision is too ambitious – which we hope is evident upon completion of our latest projects for SEGRO.” SEGRO Centre Kentish Town, a 22,000 sq ft industrial unit within a post-war building, was refurbished to create flexible space for modern occupiers. Works included roof replacement, loading door installation, and internal improvements, ensuring the building meets contemporary standards while retaining original character. Oliver Werby, director of technical development for estates at SEGRO, said: “Working with trusted partners like Pexhurst allows us to deliver high-quality, future-ready spaces where our customers can grow and innovate. These refurbished buildings in London set the benchmark for flexible, sustainable workplaces designed to meet evolving business needs and support long-term success.” To learn more about Pexhurst, visit https://www.pexhurst.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction is officially underway on The Republic, the first commercial building to rise within the evolving Mayfield Park district in central Manchester. The project marks a major milestone for the £1.4 billion regeneration of the former industrial zone, located beside Piccadilly Station. The Republic will be a 13-storey, 233,000 sq ft office building designed by architects Morris & Company. Once complete, the space will accommodate approximately 2,000 workers, bringing a significant new business community to the heart of this revitalised neighbourhood. It is set to become the first office in Manchester situated within a public park – a rare concept in UK cities. Developer Landsec, alongside main contractor Bowmer & Kirkland, has broken ground on the scheme, ushering in a new chapter in the wider transformation of the 24-acre site. As the first office development in the northwest to commence construction in 2025, The Republic symbolises the region’s continued demand for high-quality, sustainable workspace. The project is part of a broader mixed-use vision that includes residential development and a major green space expansion. The first phase of construction will also see Mayfield Park grow by 40 per cent, extending it to over 10 acres and firmly establishing it as the city’s greenest public space. Plans include the delivery of 879 new homes, which are set to follow the commercial element of the scheme. Henrietta Nowne, development director at Landsec, said: “The Republic kickstarts the next phase of growth at Mayfield with the delivery of quality workspaces that the city needs, and gets us closer to delivering much-needed new homes. It sets the tone for what the wider district aims to become – a balanced mix of city living, green space and next-generation workplaces.” The Republic is also one of the first projects to reflect Manchester’s commitment to a more people-centric urban core, where public realm, sustainability, and accessibility are woven into large-scale development. Leader of Manchester City Council, Bev Craig, welcomed the start of construction: “Mayfield is facilitating transformational change at the eastern gateway of Manchester’s city centre. The start on site of The Republic marks an exciting new chapter in Mayfield’s transformation. This project highlights what strong collaboration between public and private partners can achieve in delivering new jobs, homes, and community infrastructure.” The Republic and its surrounding district are being brought to life by the Mayfield Partnership – a public-private collaboration involving Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester, London & Continental Railways (LCR), and Landsec. Work is expected to be completed in 2028, with The Republic poised to become a flagship component in Manchester’s next-generation commercial landscape. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals