Costa Coffee has outlined a fresh set of acquisition requirements as it looks to continue expanding its estate across the UK. The coffee chain opened more than 80 new stores in 2025 and is now targeting further growth across a range of locations, including retail parks, high streets, shopping centres and travel destinations. A key focus of the expansion strategy is also the continued rollout of drive-through formats. Within retail parks, Costa is seeking units ranging from 1,500 sq ft to 2,500 sq ft, with external seating and nearby car parking. Both freestanding and in-line units will be considered, particularly in out-of-town locations with strong traffic flow and close proximity to foodstores, retail and leisure clusters. For high street and shopping centre locations, the operator is looking for similarly sized units between 1,500 sq ft and 2,500 sq ft, again with outside seating where possible. Costa is also open to opportunities in locations such as universities, hospitals and leisure destinations, where consistent footfall supports all-day trading. Travel locations form another strand of the growth plan, with Costa seeking sites within transport hubs and train stations. Units from as little as 125 sq ft are being considered in these settings, including grab-and-go kiosks, standard retail units and suitable conversions, provided footfall levels are high. Drive-through expansion remains a priority, with Costa targeting units between 1,250 sq ft and 2,200 sq ft. Ideal sites will be located in out-of-town areas, close to foodstores, retail warehousing and leisure uses, and will include a dedicated drive-through lane, external seating and either dedicated or shared car parking. Property adviser Savills, which was appointed by Costa in 2025, is leading the search for suitable new locations as the brand continues to build momentum across its UK estate. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Morgan Sindall Construction’s London division has commenced the refurbishment of the Grade II listed Kings Hall Leisure Centre in Hackney, aiming to preserve the building’s historic features while delivering new, state-of-the-art facilities. Selected by Hackney Council through the Southern Construction Framework (SCF), the £68.7 million project includes refurbishing the existing large pool and constructing a new large pool alongside a smaller teaching pool. Key heritage elements, such as the historic entrance, glazed bricks, and balustrades, will be carefully retained and restored. The redevelopment will also introduce new build features, including a cycle store, double-height sports hall, accessible entrance, sauna, and steam room. Morgan Sindall has committed to matching new structures to the existing brickwork to maintain the original character of the building. The restoration and construction work is scheduled for completion in autumn 2028. In line with Morgan Sindall’s sustainability goals, solar PV panels will be installed, and a new, energy-efficient M&E system will replace the centre’s current HVAC system, powering the leisure centre in a greener, more cost-effective manner. The project will also provide substantial local engagement opportunities, including work placements, apprenticeships, T-Level placements, and training weeks. Morgan Sindall plans to employ 30% local labour during construction to benefit residents in Hackney and surrounding boroughs. Morgan Sindall is working with FaulknerBrowns Architects, Alan Baxter Civil and Structural Engineering, Atkins Realis Cost Consultants, Hadron Consulting, and Ares Landscape Architects on the project. Richard Dobson, Area Director of Morgan Sindall Construction in London, said: “It’s a real privilege to work with Hackney Council to restore Kings Hall Leisure Centre. This historic building is a cornerstone of the borough, so we’re immensely proud to be part of its revitalisation, bringing life back to the centre with fresh facilities all while preserving the original features that the community has grown to love. “Not only is this project an opportunity to deliver a much-needed upgrade on Kings Hall Leisure Centre, but to give the people of Hackney the space they deserve to stay active and enjoy the centre’s facilities. “This is a great chance to get to know Hackney’s local community who will be joining us on site through apprenticeships, work placement opportunities, and local labour employment.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Developer-backed plans to significantly expand Nottingham Forest Football Club’s City Ground have been submitted, setting out proposals to increase the stadium’s capacity from 30,445 to around 52,000. The planning applications mark a major step forward in the club’s ambitions to deliver a large-scale redevelopment of the historic riverside ground. Nottingham Forest’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, said the proposals represent a significant investment that would create a sustainable and iconic stadium, forming an integral part of the economic growth of Nottingham and the wider region. The redevelopment has been designed by KSS Design Group, which is also leading stadium expansion projects at Anfield for Liverpool FC and Elland Road for Leeds United. The wider professional team includes Buro Happold, Gleeds and Savills, reflecting the scale and complexity of the proposed transformation. Under the new plans, the City Ground would be comprehensively redeveloped to deliver a modern, high-capacity stadium capable of supporting the club’s long-term sporting and commercial ambitions. Visuals released by the club show a substantially enlarged venue designed to enhance the matchday experience for supporters while improving facilities and accessibility. In a statement, Nottingham Forest said it is looking forward to working closely with the Mayor of the East Midlands, Rushcliffe Borough Council, Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council, as well as fans and the wider community, to secure a positive outcome for the scheme. The new proposals replace a previously approved, more modest expansion. Last year, the club secured planning permission from Rushcliffe Borough Council to increase capacity to 35,000 through the demolition and rebuild of the Peter Taylor Stand. Those plans have now been set aside in favour of the more ambitious redevelopment. Architect Konstantinos Chatzimanolis, formerly of Foster & Partners, has also been advising the club on its expansion strategy since April last year. James Faflik, senior director and project lead at Gleeds, said he was proud to have led the professional team on what he described as a transformative stadium redevelopment. He said the project would deliver significant benefits for supporters, the local economy and the wider area, and expressed his enthusiasm for progressing the scheme following submission of the planning application. Gleeds regional director Matt Darby added that feedback from local businesses, councillors, season ticket holders and other stakeholders had been overwhelmingly positive. He said the firm is looking forward to continuing its long-standing relationship with the club as the project moves through the planning process. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Leeds United Football Club has confirmed that planning permission has been approved for the long-awaited expansion of Elland Road Stadium, marking a historic milestone for the club, its supporters, and the city of Leeds. The decision, made by Leeds City Council’s Plans Panel at The Civic Hall, allows the stadium’s capacity to increase to up to 53,000 through the enlargement of the West and North Stands, along with targeted alterations to the South Stand. The approved plans will elevate Elland Road to a UEFA Category 4 stadium, positioning it among Europe’s elite venues. The expansion also opens opportunities for Leeds United and civic partners to host major international tournaments and showcase events, generating cultural and economic benefits for the Leeds City Region. The development has been designed to enhance the matchday experience while preserving the stadium’s historic character. Fans can expect: For players, the upgraded stadium will provide a world-class platform, supporting the club’s ambitions to compete at the highest level and attract top talent. Leeds United Chairman Paraag Marathe said: “We are delighted to have secured planning permission for the expansion of Elland Road Stadium. This is a historic day for Leeds United Football Club. As custodians of this great club, we are committed to its long-term success, and today’s decision supports our ambition to establish Leeds in the Premier League and continue progressing over the years to come. I would like to thank everyone involved in the project to date, for helping us reach this point.” Leeds United Chief Business Officer Morrie Eisenberg added: “From setting out our initial ambitions for Elland Road in late September 2024 to receiving planning approval today, the progress we have made is something we are immensely proud of. This has been a truly collective effort, with Leeds City Council, our local communities in Holbeck and Beeston, National Highways, our expert advisers and, most importantly, our supporters all pulling together to reach this milestone. “The overwhelming level of support, with 98% of respondents backing the proposals, demonstrates how deeply this club and stadium matter to the city. Without our fans, this moment would not be possible. The expansion will allow us to welcome thousands more supporters through the gates, reduce the 26,000-strong Season Ticket Waiting List, and create a better matchday experience for everyone. “The stadium expansion project is also the first step towards the wider regeneration of the Elland Road neighbourhood. Alongside our partners, we are committed to ensuring this development delivers lasting social and economic benefits, from job creation to increased investment, while continuing to grow our community impact through the Leeds United Foundation and organisations such as Holbeck Together.” Enabling works will begin immediately, with major construction set to start after the current season. Elland Road will remain open throughout the project, allowing Leeds United to continue playing at its historic home. Further updates will be shared with supporters as the development progresses. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Developer Chart Forte has secured planning approval to deliver a four-storey rooftop extension as part of the conversion of a former City of London office building into a luxury hotel. The City of London Corporation has granted consent for the redevelopment of the Grade II-listed St Clement’s House at 27–28 Clements Lane, clearing the way for a 180-key Marriott hotel in the heart of the Square Mile. The scheme is being brought forward by family-run developer Chart Forte (Monument), with designs by Studio Moren. Construction works are expected to commence this summer, with the build programme anticipated to last between 18 and 24 months. Located between Monument and Bank, the mid-19th century building will be transformed from underused office space into a design-led hotel, supporting the City’s wider ambition to diversify land use beyond its traditional commercial office base. The proposals include a public-facing ground floor offering a lounge, restaurant, café and bar, helping to animate the surrounding streetscape throughout the day and evening. A key feature of the scheme is a lightweight metal rooftop extension that will add four new storeys of guest accommodation. The curved design has been developed to respond sensitively to the building’s historic context, drawing inspiration from its existing segmental arches as well as the vaulted forms of nearby St Clement’s Church. This approach allows the hotel to increase capacity while maintaining a respectful relationship with the surrounding townscape. The conversion is underpinned by a heritage-led strategy that will see key architectural features retained and restored. These include the marble-clad street-level façade, original staircases and cast-iron columns. Elements that have been lost over time, such as decorative plaster ceilings, chimney breasts and internal arches, will be reinstated as part of the works. Sustainability sits at the heart of the proposals, with the project targeting a BREEAM Excellent rating. A reuse-first approach will be adopted, incorporating roof-mounted photovoltaic panels, low-carbon materials and building services, fabric upgrades, rainwater harvesting and the creation of a biodiverse green roof. Once complete, the hotel is expected to make a significant contribution to the City’s growing leisure and hospitality offer, bringing new life to a historic building while responding to changing patterns of demand in the Square Mile. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Developer Marvel has secured full planning approval to deliver a £300m indoor ski and leisure resort in Wales after the Welsh Government confirmed it would not intervene in the scheme. Councillors at Merthyr Tydfil Council have now given final approval for the Rhydycar West development, clearing the way for what is being promoted as the UK’s longest indoor snow centre. The site is located on land to the south west of the A470 and A4102 roundabout. At the heart of the scheme is a 400-metre-long indoor ski slope, which would significantly exceed the length of existing UK facilities and place the resort among the largest indoor snow centres worldwide. The development will also include a tropical water park, a range of indoor and outdoor adventure attractions, up to 418 hotel bedrooms, 30 woodland lodges and approximately 830 car parking spaces. Marvel said the facility is intended to become the official training base for GB and Welsh Olympic and Paralympic snow sports teams, positioning Merthyr Tydfil as a major destination for winter sports and leisure tourism. Plans for the Rhydycar West scheme were first unveiled in 2017, with a formal planning application submitted in 2023. When the proposals were considered by councillors in March 2025, members voted against officers’ recommendations to refuse consent on the former coal and ironstone mining site. The decision prompted a referral to the planning inspectorate. In November 2025, the Welsh Government confirmed it would not call the scheme in, returning the application to Merthyr Tydfil Council for a final determination, which has now been granted. Marvel said the resort would surpass the UK’s current benchmark indoor snow facility at Manchester’s Chill Factore and deliver a major boost to the local and regional economy. The developer estimates that the project will generate around 1,500 construction jobs during the build phase, with approximately 1,200 of those expected to be filled by local workers. Once operational, the resort is forecast to support around 800 permanent jobs across hospitality, leisure and facility management. With planning hurdles now cleared, Marvel is expected to progress the scheme towards delivery, bringing one of the UK’s most ambitious leisure developments a step closer to reality. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

PizzaExpress has opened in the restored former Burton building in Hull, bringing the art deco landmark back into use for the first time in half a decade. The pizzeria brand has become the first occupier of Burton House in Hull city centre, following a stunning £2.4m regeneration delivered by leading commercial property developer Wykeland Group. Designed for Burton menswear company founder Montague Burton by his famed Chief Architect Henry Wilson, the building dates back to the 1930s but has stood empty since 2020, when Burton owner Arcadia Group collapsed into administration. Wykeland purchased the building in 2021 and has since delivered an extensive restoration to the exterior and key parts of the interior of the building. PizzaExpress has leased 2,400 sq ft of ground floor space, as well as 1,600 sq ft in the basement. Wykeland Development Director, Jonathan Stubbs, said: “We’re delighted to welcome PizzaExpress to Burton House. Having the nation’s most iconic pizzeria brand as our first occupier realises our vision to bring the building back into use, to be enjoyed by local people and visitors alike. “We’re extremely proud to have delivered a restoration project sensitive to the extraordinary character and history of the building. “We’re sure PizzaExpress will love their new home and customers will enjoy dining in one of the city’s most striking settings. “We’re also receiving significant interest from potential occupiers of the upper floors as we continue to once more make Burton House a thriving gem in the heart of Hull.” PizzaExpress Hull General Manager, Chris Joseph, who heads a 24-strong team, said: “We’re so excited to open our doors in our stunning new setting. We know pizza fans are going to love our new restaurant – it’s the perfect destination, from catch-ups to celebrations and everything in between.” At Burton House, work is continuing on the upper floors to create premium commercial space which are ready for occupiers to move straight into. The offices are loft-style spaces with an exposed brick aesthetic, complete with new flooring, kitchen facilities and toilets. The first, second and third floors each cover 2,500 sq ft. The restoration of Burton House is the latest significant city centre regeneration project delivered by Wykeland. The Hull-based developer has also restored historic Castle Buildings in a £2m project to bring another Hull landmark back into use, for the first time in more than half a century. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

UK’s largest hotelier buys into Bognor Road location as part of its southern expansion drive   Whitbread PLC, the parent company of Premier Inn, the UK’s largest hotel company, has announced plans to build a new 82-bedroom Premier Inn in Chichester, satisfying the company’s long-term goal to secure a second hotel in the cathedral city.   The site on Bognor Road, which was acquired from Hanbury Properties, is located adjacent to the main A27 / A259 junction, offering a highly accessible location for business and leisure travellers looking to spend time in the historic city.  This new location complements the existing Premier Inn at Gate Leisure Park to the south west of Chichester city centre and will bring the total number of Premier Inn bedrooms in the catchment to 165, completing Whitbread’s network plan for the city.  Whitbread Acquisitions Manager Louise Woodruff said:  “From Roman ruins to the racing circuit at Goodwood, Chichester’s diverse cultural offer and successful business economy is fuelling year-round demand for high-quality, affordable hotel rooms from our customers.  “This consistent demand has underpinned our search for a suitable second Premier Inn location in Chichester which we are pleased to have acquired from Hanbury Properties, who have provided us with a fully serviced site, ready for development in the Spring.    “Purchasing the site freehold shows how flexible we can be to bring high-quality locations like this one into our pipeline, and our in-house development team is itching to get started and begin constructing our newest hotel on the south coast later this year.”  James Belbin, Director of Hanbury Properties, said:  “We’re delighted to complete the sale of this site to Premier Inn and look forward to seeing their plans come to life.  It’s an excellent location for a new hotel and will help to underpin the next phase of development at Cathedral Business Park.  “The site was a former WWII fuel depot that required significant investment, including full remediation, a new slip lane and traffic light junction off the A259, bus stop, a 220m estate road, and services under the A27 to facilitate development – so it’s not been the most straightforward site to deliver.      “This sale represents the culmination of all that hard work.  It’s been a pleasure working with all the acquisition team at Premier Inn to bring this site forward, and it’s great to know that this hotel will create valuable jobs and help contribute positively to the local community in the years to come.”    The Bognor Road acquisition is Whitbread’s latest commitment to investing across Sussex and the south coast of England where it sees an excellent opportunity to grow Premier Inn.    Later this year the business is set to grow its network in West and East Sussex to 23 locations following the opening of its latest Premier Inn on Bognor Regis Seafront in April.   The construction of the first Premier Inn in Littlehampton Town Centre is also due to commence in February following the demolition of the former supermarket occupying the site. Whitbread is also seeking a suitable new location for Premier Inn in Rye.   The acquisition of the second Chichester location forms part of Whitbread’s ongoing expansion of Premier Inn across the UK and Ireland.   Currently the business offers its customers close to 86,000 bedrooms from more than 840 UK and Ireland hotels and it sees the long-term potential to expand to 125,000 rooms in these two core markets.  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Whitbread PLC, the owner of Premier Inn, has unveiled plans for an 82-bedroom hotel in Chichester, fulfilling its long-held ambition to add a second site in the cathedral city. The freehold site on Bognor Road, acquired from Hanbury Properties, sits next to the main A27/A259 junction, providing strong access for business and leisure travellers visiting the historic centre. The new hotel will complement the existing Premier Inn at Gate Leisure Park to the south-west of the city centre, taking the total number of Premier Inn rooms in the Chichester catchment to 165 and completing Whitbread’s network plan for the area. Whitbread Acquisitions Manager Louise Woodruff said: “From Roman ruins to the racing circuit at Goodwood, Chichester’s diverse cultural offer and successful business economy is fuelling year-round demand for high-quality, affordable hotel bedrooms from our customers. “This consistent demand has underpinned our search for a suitable second Premier Inn location in Chichester which we are pleased to have acquired from Hanbury Properties, who have provided us with a fully serviced site, ready for development in the Spring. “Purchasing the site freehold shows how flexible we can be to bring high-quality locations like this one into our pipeline, and our in-house development team is itching to get started and begin constructing our newest hotel in southern England later this year.” James Belbin, Director of Hanbury Properties, said: “We’re delighted to complete the sale of this site to Premier Inn and look forward to seeing their plans come to life. It’s an excellent location for a new hotel and will help to underpin the next phase of development at Cathedral Business Park. “The site was a former WWII fuel depot that required significant investment, including full remediation, a new slip lane and traffic light junction off the A259, bus stop, a 220m estate road, and services under the A27 to facilitate development – so it’s not been the most straightforward site to deliver. “This sale represents the culmination of all that hard work. It’s been a pleasure working with all the acquisition team at Premier Inn to bring this site forward, and it’s great to know that this hotel will create valuable jobs and help contribute positively to the local community in the years to come.” Whitbread said the acquisition reflects continued investment across Sussex and the wider south coast, where it sees strong potential to expand Premier Inn. Later this year, the company expects to grow its trading network across West and East Sussex to 23 locations, with a Bognor Regis Seafront hotel due to open in April. Construction of the first Premier Inn in Littlehampton town centre is scheduled to begin in February following the demolition of a former supermarket on the site, and Whitbread is also searching for a new location in Rye. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals