Partners and stakeholders recently gathered at The Glass Futures’ Global Centre of Excellence in St Helens to mark the imminent completion of the £54m project, managed and delivered by Network Space Developments (NSD). Contractor Bowmer + Kirkland were appointed by NSD in December 2021 and started on site in January 2022. The main contract works will successfully complete this month and the 165,000 sq. ft building handed over to Glass Futures, ready for the internal fit out works to commence in April. The building is anticipated to be operational later this year. Delivery of the project has been managed by landowner and developer NSD, on behalf of a partnership including not-for-profit Glass Futures, St Helens Borough Council, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and UKRI (UK Research & Innovation). The facility was pre let to St Helens Borough Council on a 15-year head lease and sub-let to Glass Futures which will occupy the building to deliver industry and government-backed research and development projects focused on decarbonising the glass and foundation industries. It will also provide a platform for its members  to access an experimental scale furnace for testing and trials of new technology on a state-of-the-art line, both collaboratively and individually. In 2022, NSD pre-sold the building to global investor Standard Life Investments Property Income Trust, part of abrdn, to secure forward funding and conclude a viable delivery strategy. Throughout the construction phase, the scheme has made a significant contribution to the local economy with £11.2m of supply contracts going to businesses within a 20-mile radius of the site, including more than £1m awarded to St Helens’ businesses. Overall, 441 operatives and sub-contractors have been employed on the scheme, including 30 apprentices, with 36 per cent of the labour coming from St Helens, Wigan and Warrington communities. Glass Futures has also appointed its first three apprentices. “Catherine Chilvers, Development Director at Network Space Developments, said: “We’re delighted that we will shortly complete this transformational scheme within the ambitious project timescales we originally set ourselves. The success of this project is testament to the incredible partnership we’ve helped establish and the hard work and commitment of everyone involved in driving this scheme forward.  As a St Helens based business, we’re hugely proud to be involved in a project of this importance and we look forward to seeing its impact, benefits and grow on opportunities being realised within the Borough. “Throughout the construction phase, we’ve worked closely with St Helens Council and contractor B&K to maximise local and regional economic benefits. It’s very pleasing to see the employment and apprenticeship opportunities that have been created and the positive school and community engagement that’s been delivered.” St Helens Borough Council Leader, Councillor David Baines, said: “ It’s incredible to think that this is a project which has only been a few years in the making, and the speed at which it’s happened is testament to a lot of hard work by a lot of people, from the initial idea and drive of people like Richard Katz, to Network Space and Bowmer and Kirkland and all those whose physical labour has built the amazing setting we see today. “Glass Futures also chose St Helens because our history, location, and potential speaks for itself. They know of our town centre regeneration plans; they know about our work to deliver social value, to create local jobs and develop the skills this industry and other modern industries need; and above all else, our ambition and theirs is equally high – for the borough and wider region, and not to forget the small matters of reaching net zero carbon and revolutionising the global glass industry. “In St Helens and the city region we’ve put our money where our mouth is and backed this project to the hilt. I’m serious when I talk about our ambition for St Helens and this project is a key part of our wider plans. Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City region, added: “Building on St Helens’ proud legacy in the glassmaking industry, Glass Futures will help retain the borough’s position as a global centre of excellence. I’m proud that we’ve been able to help make it happen with £9m of city region funding. “I have supported Glass Futures right from the very start, not just because it’s a great project but because it ticks so many boxes for us: decarbonisation of industry, clean energy, new well-paid jobs in a scheme that will make us a world leader. “If we are to hit our ambitious targets to be net zero carbon by 2040 at the latest, at least a decade ahead of national targets, then we will need transformative projects like this to help us – and the planet – get there.” Richard Katz, Chief Executive of Glass Futures concluded: “Ten years ago the founding members of Glass Futures had the idea of building a Global Centre of Excellence to make glass the low-carbon material of choice. We each subscribed to a powerful idea which has since attracted major government innovation funding and industry support leading to the completion of the build phase of the project which will become our new home. “But for us this handover is just the start. We’ll now begin an internal fit out and will install the world’s first openly accessible furnace to test commercially viable technology, which should be operational by January 2024. Capable of producing up to 30 tonnes of glass per day, we’ll be able to collaborate with our global membership, academic researchers and industry leaders to continue our ground-breaking trials into alternative energy sources, raw materials and technologies to demonstrate real decarbonisation solutions for the foundation industries.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

The UK’s largest land promoter, Gladman, and leading commercial property developer, Stoford, are to deliver a new employment park as part of plans to revitalise Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield. Stoford will act as delivery partner for the employment development at the airfield, which is located near Stratford-upon-Avon. The deal could release up to 140 acres of much needed employment land along the M40 corridor and is part of a promotion strategy, led by Gladman, to provide a new runway and enhanced aviation facilities in order to secure the long-term future of the airfield. A memorandum of understanding was agreed last year between the owners of the airfield and Stratford-on-Avon District Council, which ensures that aviation will continue at Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield whilst plans for the future enhancement of the facility are developed and discussed. Best known for its role during World War II, Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield was formerly the Royal Air Force station RAF Wellesbourne Mountford. Stoford Land Director, Andy Hartwright, said: “We’re excited to be supporting the progression of this strategically important opportunity at Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield. We’ll be working closely with Gladman, the landowner and Stratford-on-Avon District Council, to assist with the site’s journey through the planning process to the delivery of a high quality employment park. It has the potential to deliver high-tech jobs and offer a significant employment stream for the region.” Chris Still, Senior Planning & Development Director at Gladman, said: “We look forward to sharing our proposals for the site over the coming months, and hope to be in position to submit a planning application by the summer.” Matt Pochin, Director of Legat Owen, said: “The evolution of the Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield into a modern facility, in conjunction with the release of much needed employment land, has needed Stoford’s market leading credentials as a developer to move to the next stage of the process. On behalf of the landowners, we undertook a rigorous interview process to establish that Stoford is the perfect party to bring the scheme to fruition and we now look forward to seeing real progress on site.” Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield is located in an established employment area near the University of Warwick’s Wellesbourne Campus, less than four miles east of Stratford-upon-Avon. The site benefits from excellent communication links and is just 4.6 miles from Jct 15 of the M40 motorway. Stoford was represented by Savills and Gateley Legal, with Smith Partnership and Legat Owen acting on behalf of the landowners and Gladman. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

Wrenbridge and Bridges Fund Management, backed by GLP,  have appointed Glencar to deliver a highly sustainable logistics scheme in Basingstoke, with construction of a 209,461 sq. ft warehouse now underway. The scheme, which will be named G-Park Basingstoke, is being forward-funded by GLP, a leading global builder, owner, developer and operator of logistics real estate, data centres, renewable energy and related technologies. The development will be built to the highest sustainability specifications, targeting an EPC A+ and BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating, together with a ‘Net Zero Target Build’. It is expected to be available for occupation by Q1 2024. The site, on Priestley Road, is part of the established Houndmills Industrial Area, which is home to major occupiers including Sainsburys, Royal Mail, XPO Logistics, Leverton Clarke and GAME. It benefits from excellent infrastructure links and offers an unrivalled opportunity to service the London and wider South-East markets. To celebrate the commencement of works, a ground-breaking ceremony was held on site and attended by executives from Glencar, GLP, specialist investor Bridges and Wrenbridge, the leading property company. Glencar is demolishing the existing office building, which was previously owned by pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, while also undertaking site clearance and enabling works. Steelwork is expected to begin by the end of May this year. Letting agents on the Basingstoke scheme are Hollis Hockley, Cushman & Wakefield, Savills and CBRE. Commenting on the appointment, Glencar Managing Director, London and South, Roy Jones said: “We are very happy to once again be working for Wrenbridge and its partners on this impressive new modern logistics development. “The development will provide a best-in-class working environment with a number of highly sustainable initiatives built in to align with the needs of a modern occupier. We are targeting a BREEAM Excellent scheme with Net Zero Target Build. “This project serves as our second development to date for our longstanding and highly valued customer Wrenbridge and we look forward to working with the full project team. Adrienne Howells, Senior Development Director at GLP, said: “We’re excited to be working on such a key development for Basingstoke, delivering a modern, high-specification logistics facility. G-Park Basingstoke will fill a gap for first-class logistics space in this region of the UK and we expect to see strong demand from customers. We look forward to working in partnership with the project team and local stakeholders to deliver a unique facility which meets the occupier’s needs”. Ben Coles, Chief Executive of Wrenbridge, commented: “Working with our partners, Bridges, we are excited about delivering this scheme and working with GLP to deliver best-in-class product in a key location  to meet the occupier demands.” Henry Pepper, Partner of Bridges Fund Management, commented: “Across the Bridges platform, we’re developing some of the UK’s most sustainable industrial buildings. We intend this site in Basingstoke to be another great example of that, and we’re looking forward to working with Glencar to make these plans a reality.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals