A report going to the Council’s executive next week (Weds 15 October) details the next phase in an ongoing collaboration with the Manchester Housing Providers Partnership (MHPP) to deliver genuinely affordable housing across the city. More than 700 new homes will be built using Council-owned land in the coming years,
The Guinness Partnership, one of England’s largest housing associations, held an event to celebrate the topping out of its Trinity Road development in Bristol. Kevin Williams, Group Director of Development & Commercial Services at The Guinness Partnership, was joined by senior colleagues from the development team, as well as representatives
Caledonia Housing Association, one of Scotland’s largest registered social landlords, is pressing ahead with a major programme of housing investment that will deliver over 180 new, affordable, mixed-tenure homes across the country over the next 18 months. The programme will boost Scotland’s supply of high-quality, energy-efficient homes and directly support
An enormous machine being used to dig HS2’s Birmingham approach tunnels broke through today, marking the completion of major tunnel excavation between London’s Old Oak Common and the West Midlands. The 125-metre-long tunnel boring machine – named Elizabeth after the 19th century philanthropist Elizabeth Cadbury – was launched near the
Leading installer of passive fire barriers, Injecta Fire Barrier, have announced an ongoing remediation project for a 13-storey building in Southampton. Using the patented Injectaclad system, Injecta Fire Barrier are installing regulatory compliant cavity barriers between the horizontal and vertical cavities that divide the structure, providing maximum fire protection for
Swedish company, which speeds up prostate cancer diagnosis, chooses Milton Park for its first UK laboratory Milton Park has welcomed Inify Laboratories Limited as the second occupier at its award-winning Nebula development, with the Swedish digital pathology and AI cancer diagnostics company selecting the innovation community for its first UK laboratory. Inify’s custom-built, AI-enabled laboratory
Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting has launched a new wireless emergency lighting portfolio andmonitoring system, enabling building managers to control, monitor and test emergency lighting and produce compliance reports, through a secure cloud-based dashboard. Powered by Signify’s Interact connected lighting system developed for intelligent buildings, the new
Company to present Life Cycle Assessment seminar and demonstrate innovative KERA range at Stand B28, 26-27 November. Steinzeug-Keramo, Europe’s leading manufacturer of vitrified clay pipe systems, will showcase its innovative drainage solutions and present cutting-edge sustainability research at the National Drainage Show, taking place 26-27 November at ExCeL London. The
McLaren has been appointed construction manager for the wholesale refurbishment of Colmore Gate, signalling a major upgrade for one of Birmingham’s best-known office towers. The project, led by owner AP UK (Ashtrom Properties), will reposition the 1990s building as a high-spec, sustainable workplace offering around 290,000 sq ft of Grade
Main construction has begun on Derriford Hospital’s new Emergency Care Building, the first scheme in Wave 1 of the Government’s New Hospital Programme to move from enabling works to full build. Procured under ProCure23 with Mace, the £140m four-storey facility will double urgent and emergency capacity for University Hospitals Plymouth
A report going to the Council’s executive next week (Weds 15 October) details the next phase in an ongoing collaboration with the Manchester Housing Providers Partnership (MHPP) to deliver genuinely affordable housing across the city. More than 700 new homes will be built using Council-owned land in the coming years, continuing a proven approach to deliver new affordable housing to meet demand – helping to meet and surpass the 10year Housing Strategy target to build at least 10,000 social, council and genuinely affordable homes across the city up to 2032, including 3,000 in the city centre. Working with the MHPP, the Council is able to invest unused, surplus parcels of land to make sure the right mix of homes are being built to meet demand in a particular area. In the last three years, Registered Providers and Housing Associations that are part of the MHPP delivered around 90% of the affordable homes completed across the city with a remit to deliver homes as affordable as possible to Manchester people – with the majority capped at social rent or the Manchester Living Rent. More than 1,750 affordable homes have been completed in Manchester since the housing strategy was adopted in 2022 – alongside a strong pipeline with 1,500 affordable homes under construction, and a further 2,250 affordable homes with planning approval. Key sites as part of this phase of the MHPP partnership includes: The executive committee will also hear a report around future investment in Gorton Town Centre where a further 400 homes will be built by Clarion. Read the full land disposals Executive Committee report Leader of the Council Bev Craig, said: “We are delivering on our commitment made through our housing strategy to vastly increase the number of affordable homes – including significant numbers of social housing – being built in Manchester. “We are seeing more affordable homes being built on Council land than at any point since 2015 and this has been made possible through the strong partnership we have with the city housing providers, who are helping us not only deliver affordable homes Manchester needs at pace – but we are exceeding our targets. “Providing council-owned land to create opportunities for new home building is a proven approach and this next phase is a continuation of a strong track record of delivering homes for our residents. “Through this latest programme of developments, including an ambitious pipeline of social rent homes in Gorton, we have unlocked more than 1,000 affordable homes this month alone.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Guinness Partnership, one of England’s largest housing associations, held an event to celebrate the topping out of its Trinity Road development in Bristol. Kevin Williams, Group Director of Development & Commercial Services at The Guinness Partnership, was joined by senior colleagues from the development team, as well as representatives from Hill’s project team and Avon and Somerset Police, to mark the occasion. The homes have been built on the old Trinity Road Police Station site with a new police station on the ground floor. Avon and Somerset Police agreed the sale of the site because it no longer met the needs of the local community, police officers and staff. Award-winning housebuilder, The Hill Group, is constructing the homes which, when complete, will provide 104 high-quality one, two and three-bedroom apartments for social rent, to help meet the strong need for affordable housing within the City of Bristol. This important affordable housing development is being delivered with financial help and partnership working from both Bristol City Council and Homes England. The council has awarded £1.5m of capital funding from its Strategic Community Infrastructure funding budget towards the cost of redelivering a police facility on the site, and a further £1.6m through its Affordable Housing Funding policy to support the delivery of the scheme as social rent. Kevin Williams, Group Director of Development & Commercial Services at The Guinness Partnership said: “The topping out at Trinity Road is an important step towards the delivery of our 104 new, high-quality social rent homes in Bristol. We are grateful for the significant investment by Bristol City council and Homes England, and we would like to thank our contractor, The Hill Group, and Avon and Somerset Police who have worked with us on the project.” Bristol East Neighbourhood Chief Insp Serena Serjeant said: “Trinity Road has been the home of our east Bristol police station for decades and we’re excited to return to the original site in 2027 when the development works have concluded. “Since vacating the site in 2023, we have maintained a visible presence in the area and continue to work with our stakeholders, partners and community leaders to ensure the needs of local residents are met. “While we await the completion of our new base, we continue to parade out of The Bridewell Police Station, Fishponds Police Station and Kenneth Steel House. “We look forward to returning home and this topping out ceremony is the first step on the homeward bound journey.” Allan O’Brien, Regional Director at The Hill Group, comments: “We are pleased to be working with The Guinness Partnership on the Trinity Road project, where we are delivering 104 high-quality, energy-efficient homes for social rent in a city facing a critical housing shortage. The inclusion of a new, improved police station will also provide a valuable community asset to support local safety and wellbeing. “Celebrating the topping out ceremony alongside our partners was a proud moment and an important milestone in the delivery of this transformative development for Bristol.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Caledonia Housing Association, one of Scotland’s largest registered social landlords, is pressing ahead with a major programme of housing investment that will deliver over 180 new, affordable, mixed-tenure homes across the country over the next 18 months. The programme will boost Scotland’s supply of high-quality, energy-efficient homes and directly support the objectives of the Housing Emergency Action Plan, which highlights the urgent need for safe, warm and affordable housing as a key step in tackling child poverty. Projects currently under construction include a £4.9 million development in Whitehill Court, Kirkintilloch, to deliver 22 high-quality, affordable homes. The homes are being built by SIM Building Group and are due for completion in February 2026. A further 22 new homes are being delivered in Kerrow Drive, Kingussie, Inverness-shire. The £5.3 million project is the first in the area by Caledonia and is being built by Davall Developments. It is due for completion in Autumn 2026. This will be followed by a £6.5 million project in Easterfield, Inverness. Developed by Springfield Homes, the 28 new affordable homes include a shared equity option and will be completed in December 2026. In Stanley, near Perth, Caledonia is working with Ogilvie Construction to deliver 22 mixed tenure homes. The £4.9 million project will include five shared equity homes. In West Dunbartonshire, work has already begun on the transformational regeneration of Bellsmyre, a long-term project that will replace outdated flats with modern, energy-efficient homes designed around the needs of the community. Caledonia will deliver 138 new energy-efficient high quality social rented homes in partnership with CCG (Scotland) Ltd and West Dunbartonshire Council over the next five years. The first phase of the project will deliver 27 new homes this year. In Dundee, the near-completion of the 67-home Ballindean development is set to provide safe, warm and affordable homes for local families. Together, these projects underline Caledonia’s determination to deliver sustainable communities across Scotland. The on-site projects, which will provide warm, energy-efficient homes for over 400 people, have a combined investment of £21.7 million of Scottish Government grant funding. Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Màiri McAllan, recently visited Bellsmyre in West Dunbartonshire to tour the first new energy-efficient homes being delivered as part of a major regeneration programme which will significantly reduce fuel costs helping to build a greener, more connected community. Julie Watson, who was recently appointed as Head of Investment and Sustainability, a new role created in 2024 to further the organisation’s delivery of new build, regeneration plans and investment strategies, said: “This programme represents a step change in the scale and pace of our development activity. By working closely with our design and construction partners, local authorities and the Scottish Government, we are creating sustainable communities and delivering the high-quality, energy-efficient homes that people need. “Building on the current programme, Caledonia is progressing with additional development plans in Brechin, Dundee and Forfar, as well as future phases of the Bellsmyre Regeneration. These projects will further strengthen Caledonia’s capacity to deliver impactful housing solutions within the communities in which it operates. We remain committed to seeking out new opportunities to bring more high-quality, affordable homes to life across Scotland.” Anne Culley, Board member at Caledonia Housing Association, said: “Delivering high-quality, affordable homes is central to Caledonia Housing Association’s mission. “The scale of our current investment programme shows our determination to respond to the housing crisis while ensuring every development is designed to meet the needs of its community. “As a Board, we are proud to support this ambitious programme and the positive difference it will make for families across Scotland.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
An enormous machine being used to dig HS2’s Birmingham approach tunnels broke through today, marking the completion of major tunnel excavation between London’s Old Oak Common and the West Midlands. The 125-metre-long tunnel boring machine – named Elizabeth after the 19th century philanthropist Elizabeth Cadbury – was launched near the Warwickshire village of Water Orton in March 2024. It arrived at Washwood Heath this morning. Two identical machines were used to dig the 3.5-mile long Bromford tunnel that will carry high speed trains under the M6 and eastern outskirts of the city, with the first one – Mary Ann – breaking through earlier this year. Together, Elizabeth and Mary Ann have excavated more than 1.8 million tonnes of material and installed 5,804 concrete ring segments for the twin, eastbound and westbound tunnels. The spoil – made up of various grades of Mercia Mudstone – is being used to landscape the railway on the approaches to the city. Today’s milestone means that all the excavation is now complete for the 28 miles of deep bore tunnel between Old Oak Common in west London and the railway’s terminus at Birmingham Curzon Street. Construction teams are now mainly focused on internal walkways, ventilation shafts and cross passages. Once complete, HS2 will improve journeys between the UK’s two largest cities while freeing up space on the existing West Coast Main Line for more freight and local services. Although the tunnel milestone marks a significant achievement for the teams in Birmingham, other parts of the railway’s civil engineering are further behind. Mark Wild, HS2 Ltd’s chief executive, is now leading a comprehensive reset of the programme to deliver the railway in the most efficient way possible and for the lowest reasonable cost. Alan Morris, HS2 Ltd’s Construction Delivery Director said: “Today’s breakthrough is a major milestone for the tunnelling team here in Birmingham and for the HS2 project. All eight of the TBMs digging our tunnels between Old Oak Common and Curzon Street have now broken through, which means that the focus is now on the internal concrete work, ventilation shafts and cross passages. “I’m immensely proud of the men and women who have worked round the clock to bring our TBMs and their crews home safely, and I look forward to seeing more progress inside the tunnels in the years ahead.” Each TBM is an underground factory – working 24/7 to excavate, install the concrete ring segments that form the walls and grout them into place as it moves forward at an average speed of around 10 metres per day. Eight TBMs have been used on the project so far, with an incredible 9.4 million tonnes of material excavated during their tunnel drives. The longest tunnel – under the Chilterns – stretches for 10 miles, while the Northolt tunnels run for 8.4 miles from West Ruislip to Old Oak Common in west London. Additionally, there is a short 1-mile twin bore tunnel beneath Long Itchington Wood in Warwickshire. Two more TBMs are expected to launch next year to begin digging the tunnels from Old Oak Common to HS2’s final destination, London Euston. A short section of mined tunnel is also being dug between the Victoria Road Crossover Box and Old Oak Common. Alongside these deep tunnels, HS2 is also delivering around 5 miles of shallow ‘cut-and-cover’ tunnels in rural areas such as Burton Green in Warwickshire, Chipping Warden in West Northamptonshire and Wendover in Buckinghamshire. The Bromford tunnel is being delivered by HS2’s main works contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV) with a team of more than 450 people involved in the complex logistical operation required to keep the TBMs moving around the clock. During their year-and-a-half-long mission, the team on board the 1,600-tonne machines worked at depths of up to 40 metres. They skilfully navigated Elizabeth and Mary-Ann under the M6 motorway, key National Grid infrastructure and the meandering River Tame – which they crossed four times, with a headspace as low as five metres. Meanwhile, separate teams were focused on supplying the concrete ring segments and removing the spoil as well as beginning work on the cross passages and the ventilation shaft at Castle Vale. With the breakthrough complete, Elizabeth will now be removed from the tunnel to allow work to progress on the concrete finishing works, base slabs, and emergency and maintenance walkways. Jules Arlaud, Balfour Beatty VINCI’s Tunnelling Director, said: “Today is a historic moment for Balfour Beatty VINCI, as TBM Elizabeth completes her three-and-a-half-mile journey in Washwood Heath. This is BBV’s fourth and final TBM breakthrough, delivered by our expert tunnelling team who’ve worked around the clock over 19 months to arrive at this point. “A sense of achievement and pride is felt by everyone connected with the project and follows years of planning and preparation. This has allowed us to guide Elizabeth safely and successfully underneath complex ground conditions and critical live infrastructure, including energy networks, the M6 and the River Tame. A breakthrough is always a unique moment, and it marks the culmination of exceptional engineering, dedication, and collaboration.” As well as being the arrival point for the two Bromford tunnel TBMs, Washwood Heath will also become the nerve centre for HS2’s operations. Next to the tunnel portal, HS2’s Depot and Network Integrated Control Centre will be built. From this site, trains will be serviced and stored, and the real time operation of the railway will be controlled. Washwood Heath is one of three key HS2 sites in the West Midlands, alongside the two new stations that will be built in Birmingham and Solihull. Collectively, the three sites have become a magnet for property investors and developers, helping to drive multibillion-pound redevelopment projects in the areas nearby, which are forecast to add £10 billion to the region’s economy over the next 10 years. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading installer of passive fire barriers, Injecta Fire Barrier, have announced an ongoing remediation project for a 13-storey building in Southampton. Using the patented Injectaclad system, Injecta Fire Barrier are installing regulatory compliant cavity barriers between the horizontal and vertical cavities that divide the structure, providing maximum fire protection for the building’s occupants.In addition to meeting the latest building regulations detailed in the Fire Safety Act (2021) and Building Safety Act (2022), the installation by Injecta Fire Barrier will ensure the external façade and cladding can remain intact. “Our team is now installing the life-saving Injectaclad system at a Southampton high-rise, protecting occupants from the ground up to the 13th floor from the spread of fire. By avoiding major structural renovations, the project will provide benefits of significantly reducing both the project costs, installation time and physical impact, meaning anyone inside will remain undisturbed and the building can keep its original brick façade” says Shaun Tasker, Managing Director at Injecta Fire Barrier. Injectaclad is a regulatory compliant fire-retardant sealant that can be seamlessly inserted into a building’s vertical or horizontal cavities. As an intumescent material, it reacts to heat by expanding to approximately 20 times its volume, filling any gaps and slowing the spread of flames and smoke. With its simple installation process, cavity fire barriers like Injectaclad are offering property owners a less disruptive and more cost-effective solution to fire safety in high-rise structures. “Gaining access via cherry pickers and scissor lifts, we’re able to seamlessly remove sections of brickwork at a height, maintaining the highest standards of safety throughout. Once complete, the team will restore the exterior back to its original condition, delivering 50 years of passive fire protection” adds Shaun. Injecta Fire Barrier are the UK’s first independent approved installer of the patented Injectaclad system. With years of experience in passive fire protection, the company are helping property managers and building owners protect their structures, meet safety regulations and avoid costly and intrusive renovations associated from traditional fire safety remediation. “The Southampton project demonstrates how we can provide robust, compliant solutions for high-rise buildings across the UK – all without compromising their appearance! We’re looking forward to seeing the installation completed soon, helping occupants enjoy peace of mind and a sound night’s sleep” concludes Shaun. More information about Injecta Fire Barrier can be found at: https://injectafirebarrier.com/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Swedish company, which speeds up prostate cancer diagnosis, chooses Milton Park for its first UK laboratory Milton Park has welcomed Inify Laboratories Limited as the second occupier at its award-winning Nebula development, with the Swedish digital pathology and AI cancer diagnostics company selecting the innovation community for its first UK laboratory. Inify’s custom-built, AI-enabled laboratory will help it to meet the UK’s rising demand for cancer diagnostics, while easing pressure on NHS pathology services. The company’s move to Milton Park aims to replicate its recent success in Sweden, which sees it handle around 80% of Stockholm’s and 10% of the country’s total number of prostate biopsies. Compared to NHS patients often waiting two to three weeks for results in the UK, Inify’s tests in Sweden guarantee an answer in five working days or less, with an average turnaround of just 3.5 days. As well as the speed of results, Inify says its proprietary AI software, INIFY® Prostate, has been proven in clinical studies to deliver world-leading accuracy, with >99% sensitivity and 97% specificity. Every case is then reviewed by a specialist pathologist before a final report is issued. The new facility at Milton Park’s Nebula development brings Inify’s clinical, laboratory and commercial functions together into a single building. The design of the new laboratory space allows the company to control every stage of its diagnostic chain, from sample logistics, tissue processing and preparation, through to digitisation, AI analysis and review by specialist pathologists. Named Best Commercial Building at the OxProp Awards 2025, Nebula’s flexible layout has also allowed Inify to create a more efficient digital workflow for its teams, which will help to optimise image quality, reporting speed and accuracy of its tests. Kate Bucknall, Managing Director of Inify UK, said: “Our new base at Milton Park is a real milestone in our mission to improving cancer care and reducing delays in patient pathways. Our recent success shows that digitised, AI-supported workflows can halve the time from biopsy to diagnosis, which has been transformative for both patients and clinicians in Sweden. “With around 120,000 prostate biopsy patients requiring support every year, the UK’s demand for diagnostics is around six times larger than in Sweden. In the UK, our ageing population, growing awareness and a national shortage of pathologists and biomedical scientists mean we have a significant bottleneck in prostate diagnosis. “We want to tackle that challenge head-on in our new facility, by giving patients answers as soon as possible, while providing quality and efficiency gains across the pathway. The Inify lab will have capacity to handle a volume similar to the country’s total demand.” Kate added: “After an extensive search, we chose Milton Park based on its vibrant community, strong transport links and access to exceptional talent near Oxford and London. Nebula was also ideal for us to build a state-of-the-art lab from scratch. The buildings’ eco-friendly credentials, timber frame and light-filled design aligns with our Scandinavian aesthetic and sustainability approach. “The new space is welcoming, for both the Inify team and also for our clinicians and partners. From wellbeing events and sense of community to transport connections, the park is somewhere we feel people will want to come to work.” Tom Booker, Commercial Manager at MEPC Milton Park, commented: “We’re thrilled that Inify has chosen Milton Park as its UK home. The team’s decision to join the Milton Park community reinforces our position as a home for leading life science and med-tech organisations to collaborate, innovate and grow. “Inify’s work in Sweden is a real example of how innovation can deliver meaningful impact in healthcare. We look forward to seeing the difference it can make on patient outcomes in its new UK base here at Milton Park.” Milton Park’s Nebula development offers flexible workspaces tailored to advanced engineering, R&D and technical operations. With 8-metre roof clearances, open-plan workspaces, mezzanine offices and large roller shutters designed to accommodate heavy machinery. Designed to BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standards, Nebula’s buildings have incorporated structural glulam timber beams, which reduced the project’s carbon footprint by 686 tonnes of CO2, equivalent to 196 return flights to Hong Kong. Occupiers can also benefit from enhanced power capacity, LED lighting, energy-efficient climate control and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. For more information on Milton Park, please visit: www.miltonpark.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting has launched a new wireless emergency lighting portfolio andmonitoring system, enabling building managers to control, monitor and test emergency lighting and produce compliance reports, through a secure cloud-based dashboard. Powered by Signify’s Interact connected lighting system developed for intelligent buildings, the new system enhances the testing process by automating function and duration tests, while delivering data insights and health status alerts. Interact Building Manager enables building operators to monitor and manage both general and emergency lighting through a cloud-based dashboard. This supports multiple testing schedules and delivers detailed reports for regulatory documentation and reporting. The system also simplifies maintenance and supports compliance with emergency lighting standards as per local regulations. James Bennett, Commercial Director – Signify UK&I said “For building managers and maintenance teams alike, regular testing and maintenance of emergency lighting is crucial, but can be time-consuming and prone to human error. Signify’s new wireless emergency lighting portfolio and Interact Building Manager provides visibility and control over your emergency lighting with regular proof of performance to ensure compliance with relevant standards while reducing operational complexity and cost.” There are several configurations to meet the varying needs of buildings: general lighting fixtures with built-in emergency capabilities and wireless exit signs and emergency lights. Everything from general lighting to emergency lighting can be commissioned and deployed under one contract and one dashboard, enabling cost savings and efficient maintenance and monitoring of an entire lighting system. James Bennett, Commercial Director – Signify UK&I further said: “With our connected wireless emergency lighting portfolio, building operators can find tailor-made solutions while also reducing cost, streamlining operations and meeting essential compliance standards. Signify’s expertise in both general and emergency lighting means we can act as a single trusted partner for a wide range of customer needs.” Interact already supports millions of connected light points in large-scale installations worldwide and is built on robust cybersecurity principles to ensure that the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of users’ data is protected and maintained. For more details, click here to learn more about Signify Interact and click here to learn more about the emergency lighting portfolio. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Company to present Life Cycle Assessment seminar and demonstrate innovative KERA range at Stand B28, 26-27 November. Steinzeug-Keramo, Europe’s leading manufacturer of vitrified clay pipe systems, will showcase its innovative drainage solutions and present cutting-edge sustainability research at the National Drainage Show, taking place 26-27 November at ExCeL London. The company’s Sales Engineer, Lorenzo Vidus Rosin, will deliver an informative seminar titled “Buried Infrastructure, Visible Impact: Life Cycle Assessment of Sewer Pipes” on Wednesday 26th November at 11:40 am. Through a real-world case study, the presentation will demonstrate how Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) data can be integrated into comparative Life Cycle Assessments, providing infrastructure professionals with fact-based methods for assessing drainage material sustainability. Visitors to Stand B28 will have the opportunity to explore Steinzeug-Keramo’s KERA range of vitrified clay pipes, which entered the UK market earlier this year. The range represents a significant expansion of sustainable drainage options for UK infrastructure projects, prioritising long-term performance and environmental responsibility. “Vitrified clay is a proven, durable and sustainable material for underground drainage systems,” explained Lorenzo Vidus Rosin. “I’ll be sharing how Environmental Product Declaration data can be integrated into comparative LCAs, strengthening the basis for procurement and commercial projects, with a direct link to the economic aspect through Life Cycle Cost analysis.” Key highlights from Steinzeug-Keramo’s presence at the show include: The company’s participation at this year’s The Drainage Show comes at a crucial time for the UK drainage sector, as infrastructure professionals increasingly seek sustainable alternatives that deliver both performance and environmental benefits. Vitrified clay pipes offer exceptional durability, chemical resistance, and contribute significantly to the circular economy by extending operational lifespans and reducing waste. “By launching our KERA range of vitrified clay pipes into the UK earlier this year, we’re now offering the market a greater choice of products which prioritise sustainability and long-term performance,” said Leon Woods, Country Manager UK at Steinzeug-Keramo. “We invite visitors at The National Drainage Show to attend Lorenzo’s seminar for an informative and illuminating insight into Life Cycle Costing and also to visit Stand B28 and speak with our team about how vitrified clay pipes can be the solution for their project.” About the National Drainage Show The National Drainage Show is the UK’s premier two-day event for drainage, water and wastewater professionals. The exhibition brings together manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, engineers, local authorities, developers and specifiers under one roof. Co-located with Floodex, the Waterways Management Show, and the National Civils Show. For more information about Steinzeug-Keramo, visit: https://www.steinzeug-keramo.com/en-gb/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
McLaren has been appointed construction manager for the wholesale refurbishment of Colmore Gate, signalling a major upgrade for one of Birmingham’s best-known office towers. The project, led by owner AP UK (Ashtrom Properties), will reposition the 1990s building as a high-spec, sustainable workplace offering around 290,000 sq ft of Grade A space. Operating under its construction management model, McLaren will partner closely with the client and bring key trades to the table early to de-risk delivery and compress programme. Vince Lydon, managing director for Construction Management & Specialist Projects at McLaren, said the approach enables “a true partnership with our client and [to] involve the supply chain early on in the process”. For AP UK, the scheme is central to its Midlands strategy. Chief executive Guy Lewinsohn described Colmore Gate as a landmark at the heart of the city’s business district and said the overhaul will provide high-quality, sustainable space that meets evolving occupier needs and supports Birmingham’s growth as a leading hub for business. While full technical details are to follow, the upgrade is expected to focus on a comprehensive enhancement of building services, energy performance and internal layouts to match post-pandemic workplace standards. Typical Grade A refurbishments of this scale include replacing legacy MEP with efficient all-electric systems, improving façade performance, expanding end-of-journey facilities, and creating flexible floorplates with high natural light and modern amenities. Construction management is increasingly being adopted on complex urban refits where design development and procurement benefit from contractor and specialist input at an early stage. The model can help navigate constraints around live city-centre sites, heritage considerations and retained structures, while providing transparency on cost and programme as packages are let. Colmore Gate’s upgrade comes amid sustained demand in Birmingham for well-located, energy-efficient offices capable of supporting hybrid working, wellness and ESG reporting requirements. With net-zero targets tightening across corporate real estate, deep retrofits of existing assets are becoming the preferred route to deliver high performance with lower embodied carbon than new-build alternatives. With McLaren mobilising and AP UK driving a sustainability-led brief, the project is set to deliver a significant lift to the Colmore Business District’s prime office offer and add momentum to the city’s ongoing commercial regeneration. Further design and programme milestones are expected to be announced as the supply chain is engaged and detailed packages are agreed. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Main construction has begun on Derriford Hospital’s new Emergency Care Building, the first scheme in Wave 1 of the Government’s New Hospital Programme to move from enabling works to full build. Procured under ProCure23 with Mace, the £140m four-storey facility will double urgent and emergency capacity for University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust and is due to open in 2028/29. The project replaces the hospital’s 1970s emergency department with a modern care hub designed around faster pathways, co-located diagnostics and better staff amenities. At ground level, a new Emergency Department will expand majors, resus and assessment capacity, while the reconfigured existing ED will become a dedicated paediatric emergency department on completion. The first floor will house a Same Day Emergency Care unit to support rapid admission, treatment and discharge, easing bed pressure across the wider estate. Upper floors concentrate high-acuity services and imaging. Plans include four interventional radiology theatres, five surgical theatres for both emergency and planned procedures, new imaging suites, recovery areas and improved staff facilities. The extension will be connected into the live hospital to maintain clinical adjacencies while minimising patient transfers, crucial for a site that serves as the major trauma centre for the South West peninsula. Marking the milestone, programme director Stuart Windsor said: “It has been a long journey to get to today, but we will now finally see the new Emergency Care Building start to rise from the ground.” Willmott Dixon director Rob Woolcock added: “This represents not just the beginning of a building, but the next step in enhancing the care and wellbeing of thousands of patients every year… a modern, purpose-built environment designed to support both patients and staff.” Beyond clinical capacity, the scheme targets regional skills and supply-chain benefits. Through its Building Lives Academy, Willmott Dixon will create apprenticeships, employment support and training, with a focus on sourcing materials and labour locally across the South West. The contractor’s healthcare track record includes the £30m regeneration of Barnes Hospital in London and the £150m redevelopment of Springfield University Hospital in Wandsworth. For designers and delivery teams, the brief reflects current NHS priorities: future-proofed floorplates, clear wayfinding, robust infection-control strategies, and resilient MEP with space for emerging technologies. With ground broken in Plymouth, Wave 1 now has a live benchmark for how the New Hospital Programme intends to modernise emergency care while driving social value in host communities. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals