Shawbrook has launched a dedicated Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) proposition, responding to growing broker and investor demand for specialist finance in the sector. The bank has already completed a number of PBSA transactions and is now offering dedicated pricing and criteria for experienced landlords operating in the sector. The launch comes amid continued investor appetite for high-quality student accommodation, driven by local demand, changing student expectations and a need to modernise supply across a number of key UK university cities. The proposition includes loans from £500k to £35m, with rates starting from 5.99%, up to 75% LTV on interest-only facilities and terms of up to 25 years. Larger transactions above £2.5m will be supported by Shawbrook’s Structured Real Estate team, recognising the more specialist structuring requirements often associated with PBSA developments and investments. Daryl Norkett, Director of Real Estate Proposition at Shawbrook, said: “We’ve seen increasing demand from brokers and professional investors financing PBSA assets – particularly where borrowers need a lender that genuinely understands how these deals work. Every transaction in this sector is different, and the financing requirements are often more nuanced than in traditional property lending. A dedicated proposition means we can give brokers and their clients the certainty and expertise they need from the outset” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

New figures from planning and property sector analysts have revealed a mixed picture for the UK’s built environment market, with housing planning applications climbing to their strongest level since 2022 while commercial property investment activity slowed sharply during the opening months of 2026. Data released by TerraQuest shows that residential development activity across England outside London has remained resilient despite ongoing viability challenges and economic uncertainty. Meanwhile, separate analysis from Real Estate:UK and CoStar Group highlights a notable cooling in overseas investment into UK commercial property following a record-breaking 2025. According to TerraQuest’s latest planning application index, developers submitted applications for 71,028 housing units during the first quarter of 2026, making it the strongest opening quarter for housing applications since Q1 2022. Affordable housing also recorded a particularly strong start to the year. The data revealed that 4,225 affordable homes were submitted through planning applications during the quarter, marking the highest start-of-year figure for affordable housing applications since the beginning of the decade. The figures suggest that demand for new housing delivery remains relatively strong across much of England, despite mounting challenges facing developers and contractors. However, the picture in London proved less positive. Housing unit submissions within the capital fell to 9,346 during the first quarter, representing the weakest quarterly performance since Q2 2023 and a significant decline compared with the same period last year. Industry analysts suggest the divergence between planning activity and actual delivery increasingly reflects wider structural challenges within the planning and construction sectors rather than a lack of development appetite. TerraQuest noted that post-approval delays, infrastructure limitations, rising construction costs and ongoing inflationary pressures continue to hinder schemes progressing beyond the planning stage. Broader economic uncertainty and site viability concerns are also affecting developers’ ability to move projects into construction. Alongside the housing market data, the latest investment figures from Real Estate:UK and CoStar Group point to a more cautious commercial property investment environment during the opening quarter of the year. Total UK commercial property investment reached £9.7bn in Q1 2026, almost 40% below the five-year average for the first quarter. Overseas capital accounted for £3.6bn of activity, with inflows from the United States easing considerably following exceptionally strong levels recorded throughout 2025. Analysts suggest the weaker US dollar, elevated financing costs and ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainty have all contributed to a more cautious approach from international investors towards UK assets. Despite the overall slowdown, the office sector emerged as one of the more resilient asset classes during the quarter. Offices attracted £2.9bn of investment, accounting for around 30% of all commercial property activity, with much of the investment concentrated in London and a select number of major regional cities. Industrial property, by contrast, recorded its weakest quarterly performance in almost six years, reflecting softer investor sentiment following several years of exceptionally strong logistics and warehouse demand. Retail investment activity also remained subdued as investors continued to prioritise more defensive or operationally driven sectors. The softer first quarter follows a particularly strong 2025 for UK commercial property investment. Overseas investment volumes rose by 33% year-on-year to reach £27.2bn last year, making it the fourth strongest year on record and accounting for a record 56% share of all UK commercial property investment activity. Healthcare proved to be one of the standout sectors throughout 2025, driven by long-term demographic demand and continued investor appetite for operational real estate assets capable of generating resilient income streams. Build-to-rent also continued its strong upward trajectory, attracting a record £5.6bn of investment as international investors increasingly targeted professionally managed rental housing schemes across major UK cities. Investor appetite also remained strong for operational real estate sectors including data centres, healthcare, life sciences and professionally managed residential assets, where long-term structural demand drivers continue to support growth despite wider market uncertainty. The latest figures underline how the UK property and development landscape remains increasingly divided between resilient long-term growth sectors and areas facing short-term economic and viability pressures. While planning activity suggests developers remain committed to delivering new housing, ongoing delivery constraints and a more cautious investment environment continue to shape the pace and direction of the market in 2026. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

NATIONAL procurement specialist Pagabo is inviting suppliers yesterday – 11 May – to bid for places on its next-generation National Framework for Developer-Led Schemes, which has a total anticipated value of up to £26bn. Compliant with the Procurement Act 2023 and Procurement Regulations 2024, the unique procurement offering will support public sector bodies with securing transformative development work through compliant procurement routes over a closed four-year period from 19th October 2026. Following the formation of a 10-year strategic delivery partnership that will see resources, reputation and expertise combined to establish a new benchmark for construction and development procurement, this is one instalment in a series of new frameworks being brought to market by Pagabo and YPO in 2026. YPO is the centralised procurement authority for the framework, while Pagabo is the framework manager responsible for design, delivery and ongoing management.   Suppliers will be appointed to provide a range of developer-led scheme related services including consultancy, legal support and development types. Within each lot, SME inclusivity is embedded, and for the first time, development consultants and legal providers have been added to offer clients a turnkey procurement solution that provides ongoing support, full compliance, reduced risk, cost savings, greater collaboration and broader project outcomes. The framework will be available to all public sector bodies, from local authorities and education providers through to NHS trusts and housing associations. The framework is divided into seven lots. Lots 3 to 6 each include eight development types, and each lot, as well as those containing development types, is further divided into eight geographic areas. The geographical areas that the national framework covers includes the north, midlands, southwest, and southeast of England, London, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The lots include: Jonathan Parker, development director at Pagabo, said: “The Framework for Developer-Led Schemes has seen extensive use UK wide due to its substantial impact on client ambitions and built environment development. The existing framework supports clients with very prominent challenges in the market, such as compliance, viability and risk, with the new offering designed to do exactly the same and more – while conforming with updated procurement regulations set out within the Procurement Act. “We’ll continue to work closely alongside YPO, appointed suppliers and interested clients to offer effective procurement solutions and support throughout schemes. As well as wanting to see the framework continue contributing to major development and growth across the UK, the framework’s characteristics will ensure value for money, collaboration and impactful social value are prioritised in every procurement.” To date, the successful first iteration of the Developer-Led Framework has delivered projects with a total value of £7.8bn. Throughout the process of renewing the framework, priority has been given to premarket engagement and creating fair and transparent opportunities for suppliers, aligning with the principles at the centre of the Procurement Act 2023 which is now shaping new procurement activity. Jonathan continued: “As the Developer-Led offering has become more popular, we’ve been able to grow our dedicated team at Pagabo, welcoming experienced professionals with both sector specific and regional knowledge that benefits both suppliers and clients. This is an exciting time for Pagabo and YPO, and we both look forward to seeing this second iteration of the framework come to life.” Operating a digital-first, end to end delivery model, the national procurement specialist’s Pagabo+ system will be used as a central platform through which all framework activity will be managed. The single environment will play host to information on and management of new opportunities, call-off activity, performance monitoring and reporting, as well as compliance assurance. Supporting with enhancement of the full lifecycle of procurement and project delivery, appointed suppliers will also be able to use Pagabo Group’s social value and contract management platforms Loop and Sypro. To view the full tender document and submit a bid before the deadline at 12pm on 3 July, visit https://in-tendhost.co.uk/pagabo/aspx/ProjectManage/1279 For more information about Pagabo, visit https://www.pagabo.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Property and construction group Henry Boot has reported a strong start to 2026, with resilient demand across its residential land, industrial and logistics developments, and premium housing divisions, despite growing concerns over global instability and domestic political uncertainty. Providing a trading update ahead of its AGM, the Sheffield-headquartered business said Hallam Land has either sold or agreed terms on more than 2,600 residential plots so far this year, while its development arm HBD has seen more than 231,000 sq ft of industrial space either let or under offer. Meanwhile, Stonebridge Homes has continued to deliver stable sales performance, with customer demand remaining in line with both expectations and last year’s figures. Chief Executive Tim Roberts said the company continues to benefit from strong structural demand across its key markets, although recent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and political uncertainty in the UK are beginning to impact confidence levels. He noted that buyers are becoming increasingly cautious, with larger transactions taking longer to complete, while higher energy and material prices are creating renewed inflationary pressures across construction supply chains. Despite these headwinds, Henry Boot said it remains on track to achieve profit before tax in line with 2026 market expectations of £20.2m. The group’s strategic land business, Hallam Land, continues to benefit from what it described as a “highly favourable” planning environment. The business is targeting the submission of planning applications for a further 10,000 plots during 2026 and has increased its total land bank to more than 108,000 plots following the acquisition of two new sites. In the industrial and logistics sector, HBD’s £66m development programme remains on schedule and within budget, with particularly strong interest being reported across the Origin joint venture portfolio. The developer also confirmed continued progress at its flagship £1bn Golden Valley scheme in Cheltenham, adjacent to GCHQ, where detailed planning consent was recently secured for Phase 1, including the National Cyber Innovation Centre. Henry Boot added that long-term fundamentals across residential, industrial and urban development markets remain positive, positioning the business strongly for medium-term growth. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Glenigan | A Hubexo Product (Glenigan), one of the construction industry’s leading insight and intelligence experts, releases the May 2026 edition of its Construction Review. The May Review focuses on the three months to the end of April 2026, 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. Looks can be deceiving; on first appearance there are reasons to be cheerful. Superficially, the May Review presents a sector rebounding, with detailed planning approvals rising by 8% against the preceding three months, complemented by a stronger 29% increase in main contract awards and a 22% uplift in project starts. However, scratch beneath the surface and a different picture emerges, when these figures are compared against the previous year’s result. Detailed approvals hit rock bottom, nose-diving 54% year-on-year, while main contract awards have slipped 11% and project starts are 17% lower. It highlights how the UK construction sector remains stuck in the woods with little current direction to guide it out. Looking ahead, the industry’s trajectory will continue to be shaped by wider economic and policy developments. Elevated borrowing costs, ongoing viability challenges and cautious investor sentiment have constrained activity over the past year. According to Glenigan’s Economic Director, Allan Wilen, “Whilst this encouraging uptick will come as some relief after months of decline, the sector must not risk falling into a fool’s paradise. The true impact of the US/Iran War is yet to be felt and, if it’s anything similar to previous major global events, then the aftershock will ripple through markets, causing disruption well after the conflict, hopefully, comes to an end. An early resolution of the current impasse and the ending of the Strait of Hormuz blockade would start to rebuild investor confidence and ease pressure on the construction industry.” “However, last week’s King’s speech provides some clarity to latch onto and, once the Downing Street shenanigans have died down, a degree of certainty may return to help get us back on track. There are windows of opportunity in niche areas which savvy contractors are already involved in, or starting to wake up to. So, whilst the outlook remains overcast, it’s not a time to stand and stare, but to seize opportunity where it exists to weather the current climate and be ready for the sunshine when it eventually arrives.” Taking a closer look at the May Review’s highlights and the lowlights: Residential Residential held its ground during the three months to April, with project starts dipping just 2% year-on-year while main contract awards climbed 9% and detailed planning approvals jumped 17% on 2025 levels. Quarter-on-quarter performance was even more upbeat, buoyed by major projects coming to the fore. Social Sector Housing stole the show, accounting for 51% of starts and rocketing 236% year-on-year, though private housing and private apartments told a different story, falling 45% and 56% respectively. The wider outlook is finely balanced: Nationwide reported a 3% lift in house prices, while Halifax noted a dip amid geopolitical jitters, and both will likely shape residential construction in the months ahead. Regionally, Yorkshire & the Humber led the charge, with project starts powered largely by sizeable social housing heating works in Leeds. London also enjoyed a strong run, cementing its status as a key residential market. Elsewhere the picture was patchier, with the South East, East Midlands and Scotland all sliding back against the previous year. Non-residential Non-residential was a real mixed bag during the three months to April. Offices put on a show, with project starts soaring 217% year-on-year on the back of an eye-catching 868% rise in major schemes worth over £100 million. Detailed planning approvals climbed 30%, though main contract awards slipped 57%. Hotel & Leisure also offered cheer, with planning approvals leaping 80%, even as starts dipped 3% and awards eased 29%. Health saw approvals rise 32%, hinting at a pipeline gathering pace despite a 39% drop in starts. Retail, Education & Industrial were broadly muted, while Community & Amenity had a tough time of it, with starts down 60% and contract awards tumbling 83%. Regionally, London ruled office activity, lifted by the British Library Extension development. Scotland topped Hotel & Leisure starts after strong year-on-year growth, while Wales emerged as a Health hotspot with starts up 748%. Scotland also led Education starts (+68%), with the North West taking top spot for both Retail and Community & Amenity. Civils & Infrastructure Civil Engineering had a tough quarter, with project starts tumbling 72% year-on-year and detailed planning approvals diving 87% against the previous year. Main contract awards offered a flicker of stability, holding steady against 2025 levels in an otherwise challenging period. The numbers point to a clear slowdown in project initiation, though there’s brighter news further out, with expected investment in road and rail infrastructure from 2026/27 set to lift activity, alongside continued spending in utilities and the water industry. Roads projects led the way despite a hefty decline, while water-related schemes brought welcome stability, and harbour and ports work also slipped back. Regionally, the East of England led the field on project starts, scooping 35% of total value following a 133% year-on-year rise. The East Midlands topped planning approvals with a 31% share, up 31% on the previous year, though the region itself saw a moderate 6% dip in starts. London experienced a similar 5% dip in starts. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Airport investment is accelerating across the UK, opening up a wave of new construction opportunities. Despite worries about elevated oil prices and potential jet fuel shortages this summer, several major airports are pressing ahead with expansion and modernisation programmes. Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Manchester and Bristol all have schemes in motion or in planning. While a third runway at Heathrow may still be years away, a substantial capital programme to upgrade existing facilities is being lined up. Sector momentum is underlined in the April Glenigan Construction Review, which reports airport-related infrastructure starts rising to £202 million in the three months to March, accounting for 13% of all civil engineering project starts over the period. At London Gatwick, planning permission is in place for the £2.2 billion North Runway project, due to begin next year and lift capacity from 61 million to 74 million passengers annually. Bechtel is the project manager (Project ID: 03225160). Further opportunities at Gatwick include the £10 million Hangar 7 scheme in West Sussex, where tenders have been returned and work is expected to commence later this year (Project ID: 25609119). A £595,000 extension at the South Terminal is also scheduled to start before year-end (Project ID: 18107741). At Stansted Airport in north Essex, Laing O’Rourke has been named main contractor for a £150 million passenger terminal extension. Due to get underway this summer and run for 18 months, the scheme comprises a three-bay extension to the existing building and three walkways totalling 16,500 sq m. A separate £480 million infrastructure scheme at Stansted to deliver two new taxiways across a 7-hectare site is also poised to proceed, with a potential start later this year. In Bedfordshire, detailed consent has been granted and the government is backing a £2.4 billion expansion at Luton Airport that would almost double capacity to 32 million passengers per year. Although environmental legal challenges have caused delays, work is pencilled to start early next year and run for 36 months. At Manchester Airport, the £440 million terminal modernisation programme is nearing completion. In addition, Kier Construction (North West) has been appointed civil engineering contractor for a £65 million rail platform remodelling to accommodate future passenger growth, due to begin this summer and last 35 months. Regional capacity is also set to increase. At Bristol International Airport, Farrans began a £30 million South Terminal extension this spring. Meanwhile, outline plans have been submitted for a £289.2 million expansion at Bristol to raise annual capacity to 15 million passengers. If approved, the 86,000+ sq m scheme could start next spring and run for 24 months. Regardless of the fate of Heathrow’s third runway, plans have been revealed for a major redevelopment of Terminal 4, including a new multi-storey car park and an upgraded check-in hall, alongside a dedicated baggage system for Terminal 2. Valued at £1.3 billion, the project could begin this autumn, subject to approval, and run for 62 months. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Public sector organisations across Scotland are set to benefit from a more flexible and streamlined procurement process, following enhancements to one of their key added value services. The expanded Call Off Service devised by the Scottish Procurement Alliance has been designed in direct response to partner feedback, making it easier for public bodies to access expert procurement support, reduce internal workload, and deliver projects more efficiently through SPA solutions. By supporting key stages of the procurement process, from developing tender documentation to publishing notices and managing mini competitions, the service ensures full compliance with procurement regulations while significantly easing the administrative burden on already stretched teams. Crucially, the removal of previous framework restrictions means public sector partners can now access this support across a broader range of SPA solutions providing greater flexibility and faster access to the expertise required to move essential projects forward. Daniella Bryans, Senior Procurement Officer at SPA, said the changes reflect a clear commitment to improving outcomes for public sector organisations: “Throughout the years, our Call Off Service has assisted numerous partners, enabling us to develop substantial expertise in delivering and managing projects from initiation right through to contract award and delivery. “By widening the scope of the service, we can offer more flexible support to our public sector partners. By utilising the service, partners reduce pressure on their internal teams whilst still ensuring compliance. Ultimately the services helps our partners to award contracts and deliver projects more efficiently.” She added that the benefits extend beyond process improvements, driving stronger project outcomes overall: “When procurement is well-supported, public sector organisations are able to focus more on doing what they do best, rather than needing to manage complex procurement processes. “At the same time, contractors receive clear documentation and well-defined specifications, which leads to better bids, a more competitive process and ultimately stronger outcomes for the organisations delivering these projects.” While the enhanced service is designed to support public organisations, it also creates a more structured and accessible pipeline of opportunities for appointed companies across Scotland. In addition to expanding the Call Off Service, SPA has further strengthened its technical offering with construction industry expert Alan Webster joining them as Technical Support Officer. With more than 30 years of experience, Alan brings extensive knowledge of delivering large-scale housing developments, public building refurbishments, and specialist projects, including those involving Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC). His background includes working closely with public sector organisations on hospitals, schools, retrofit programmes and major refurbishment works. In his role, he supports partners throughout the project lifecycle, offering guidance from early engagement through to delivery, including attendance at pre-start and progress meetings and advising on technical specifications. “Having spent many years delivering projects on the ground, I understand the pressures public sector organisations face and the importance of getting procurement right from the outset,” Alan said. “Clear communication and strong support at each stage helps ensure projects are delivered efficiently and successfully.” SPA believes that combining enhanced procurement support with practical, real-world expertise will further strengthen outcomes for public sector organisations across Scotland. As demand continues to grow across housing, retrofit and infrastructure, the expanded Call Off Service will play a key role in helping partners deliver projects at pace while still ensuring value, compliance and quality are maintained. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals