Whitbread plc, the UK’s largest hotel company, and owner of Premier Inn, has submitted a planning application for a new city centre hotel in Carlisle. The proposed 104-bedroom hotel on Victoria Viaduct, close to the station and Carlisle City Centre, will complement the existing Premier Inns in Carlisle when it opens. In May 2025, the company announced the freehold acquisition of the former Central Plaza site from Cumberland Council for this development. The site has a lengthy connection to the hospitality industry stretching back to 1881 but in more recent years the former hotel fell into disrepair and was demolished in 2019 / 2020. Whitbread is seeking planning permission for a new five-storey Premier Inn hotel offering the brand’s latest format ‘Standard’ and enhanced ‘Premier Plus’ bedrooms as well as a guest-focused restaurant. The bedrooms are arranged from lower ground to fourth floor with the hotel reception and restaurant accessed from Victoria Viaduct at the upper ground floor via a prominent and welcoming entrance.  Public car parking at the West Walls car park is a two-minute walk away. Jill Anderson, Acquisition Manager for Whitbread in the north of England, said: “Since announcing our plans in May 2025 people have told us that they wish to see the vacant Central Plaza site brought back into long-term use.  They also welcome the new employment opportunities and positive economic benefits the hotel will bring to the city.  We’re very grateful for all the support we’ve received so far from stakeholders and representative groups we have spoken to. “The site on West Walls is not an easy location to redevelop into a hotel and we’ve had to be flexible to create a design that meets our operational requirements and is economically viable.  The contemporary design we are proposing responds positively to the historic context and will create an active frontage onto both Victoria Viaduct and West Walls.  We’re eager to move the proposal forward, get onto site and deliver the package of benefits the hotel will create.” Based on its own in-house data, Whitbread estimates around 30,000 Premier Inn guests will stay at the City Centre hotel per annum once it reaches maturity. These customers are anticipated to spend more than £4 million a year within the visitor economy during their stay according to an independent economic impact assessment submitted as part of the planning application, supporting the leisure and tourism sector in the region. Around 25 new permanent hospitality jobs are also anticipated to be created on opening with around 45 established jobs in the construction supply chain expected to be supported during the £12 million build. Subject to planning, Whitbread is hoping to commence development in 2026 and is targeting to welcome its first customers before the end of 2028.  In line with the company’s sustainability policy the proposed hotel will be powered by electricity generated from renewable sources and the proposed building will incorporate heat recovery systems and air source heat pumps to create a low energy demand. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

A major new leisure and office development is being proposed for Swadlincote, with South Derbyshire District Council unveiling plans for a £59 million complex on a former mining site at Cadley Park. The scheme, designed by CPMG Architects, would deliver a contemporary glass-fronted leisure centre at ground level with an open-plan council office hub above, creating a new civic focus for the town. The council hopes construction could begin as early as September next year, subject to planning approval. Located off William Nadin Way, the development is intended to breathe new life into the Cadley Park site and provide modern facilities to serve residents across South Derbyshire. The proposals include a state-of-the-art leisure centre to replace the ageing Green Bank Leisure Centre on Civic Way, which would be demolished once the new building is open. South Derbyshire District Council has launched a public consultation, inviting local people to share their views on the plans ahead of a formal planning application expected before the end of the year. Residents, businesses and community groups are being encouraged to review the designs and comment on how the new hub can best meet local needs. Council leader Robert Pearson said the project represented a significant step forward for the district. “A project like this is complicated and there has been a huge amount of work going on in the background to get us to this stage,” he said. “But of course, these key milestones in the programme are the most exciting, as we all get to take a sneak peek at what has been happening, and the plans for this future new addition to our district.” If approved, the Cadley Park development would provide Swadlincote with a modern leisure destination and new council headquarters on a single site, transforming a former industrial area into a landmark community asset. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

A major new £200 million hospitality and community hub is being proposed for Edinburgh’s Fountainbridge, as The Social Hub lines up its second UK site and continues its European expansion. The group, founded by Edinburgh-born entrepreneur Charlie MacGregor, is in advanced talks over a plot on the former Fountain Brewery site, which has lain vacant for around 20 years. The land forms part of the wider regeneration masterplan for Fountainbridge, led by Buccleuch Property and Cruden Homes, which also includes hundreds of new homes, office and retail space and high quality public realm. Plans submitted by Montagu Evans and Hawkins\Brown set out an investment of around £200 million to deliver a 560 bed hybrid hospitality destination. The proposed scheme would bring together extended stay rooms to help relieve pressure on Edinburgh’s housing stock, hotel suites and student accommodation within a single development. In addition to bedrooms, the proposals include co working space for up to 300 people, community event areas, a bar and restaurant, gym and wellness facilities, and a fully accessible landscaped space outside for residents, guests and neighbours to enjoy. The Social Hub will hold public consultation events in Fountainbridge on 8 December and 26 January to share its vision and gather local feedback. It also plans to host visits to its Glasgow site so residents can see first hand how the concept operates and the role it has played in that city’s regeneration. Since opening its first UK hub in Glasgow in 2024, the brand has been credited with helping to revitalise the city centre’s “Golden Z”, bringing new activity and footfall to the lower end of Argyle Street and surrounding streets. The Glasgow site has hosted major events ranging from international comedy and film festivals to The Better Society Academy, headlined by John Swinney and supported by The Social Hub’s TSH Talent Foundation. A certified B Corp, The Social Hub is recognised for its hybrid model that blends hospitality, education, workspace and community uses. Its Glasgow hub stages more than 600 events per year, from film premieres and cooking classes to yoga sessions and skills workshops, with a focus on social impact and community building. Charlie MacGregor, founder and chief executive of The Social Hub, said the Fountainbridge opportunity has a personal significance. “This is a very special moment for me; it is something I have hoped for and worked towards for many years. Edinburgh is my home city and part of my DNA. This is an opportunity to give something back and help shape a bold, positive future for Fountainbridge. We always want the local community to help shape our hubs and would encourage anyone with views about our plans to share them. “The success of Glasgow has shown what we can achieve in Scotland and I am so excited to see how we can make the same kind of impact in this wonderful city. The Social Hub is more than a place to stay – it is a hub where people from all backgrounds come together, help create a better society and achieve extraordinary things.” Nick Waugh, commercial property director at Buccleuch, added: “We are delighted to be working with The Social Hub to provide the last important piece of the approved masterplan and such a complementary use for the site.” If approved, the Fountainbridge scheme would complete a key element of the area’s long term redevelopment, turning a long derelict former industrial site into a lively mixed use quarter with a strong focus on community, creativity and collaboration. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Birmingham City Football Club has unveiled dramatic plans for a new 62,000 capacity stadium featuring twelve chimney like structures supporting a fully retractable roof. Designed by Heatherwick Studio in partnership with United States stadium specialist Manica, the proposed ground would form the centrepiece of a new Birmingham Sports Quarter in Bordesley Green. Known as the Birmingham City Powerhouse Stadium, the project is expected to cost around £1.2 billion to deliver. Its design features a steep, compact bowl creating a continuous 360 degree wall of supporters, with acoustics engineered to heighten noise and atmosphere. The twelve chimney formed towers take inspiration from the brickworks that once occupied the site. Beyond their visual impact, they will provide essential structural support for the roof while housing lifts, staircases and ventilation systems. One of the chimneys is set to contain a lift leading to what would be the highest bar in the city, offering panoramic views and an immersive experience celebrating Birmingham’s industrial heritage. At ground level, the Championship club aims to create a seven day destination rather than a venue used only for matchdays. Plans include food markets, cafés, children’s play areas and new public spaces intended to open up an area of East Birmingham that has long been closed off. Tom Wagner, Knighthead co chief executive and Birmingham City chairman, said the club aims to have the stadium open for the 2030–31 season, with public engagement on the project beginning in 2026.“This is a huge milestone for Birmingham City Football Club, creating a home that reflects our ambition to compete at the highest level. More than that, the iconic design is a statement of intent for the city and the West Midlands, testament to a region on the rise.“The stadium draws upon the proud heritage of the West Midlands — a heritage of industry, ingenuity and growth.” Thomas Heatherwick, founder and design director of Heatherwick Studio, said:“Too often stadiums feel like spaceships that could have landed anywhere, sterilising the surrounding area.“Ours grows from Birmingham itself — from its brickworks, its history of a thousand trades, and the craft at the core of its culture. Our goal is to capture the spirit of the city and play it back to Birmingham.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Whitbread is gearing up for a fresh phase of expansion in the South East, with plans to bring new Premier Inn hotels to six key locations across Surrey, Kent and Sussex. Following a detailed review of its existing network and future demand, the company has identified Rye in Sussex; Canterbury and Broadstairs in Kent; and Caterham, Weybridge and Leatherhead in Surrey as priority targets for new sites. The move forms part of Whitbread’s wider strategy to capture opportunities in high-demand regional markets and respond to shifts in the hotel landscape. To drive the programme, Whitbread has appointed James Hall as Acquisitions and Development Manager. He will work closely with local authorities, landowners, investment agencies and developers to unlock suitable plots and underused assets. The focus is on locations that can accommodate hotels of around 100 bedrooms or more, whether through new-build schemes, the repurposing of vacant buildings, or the regeneration of town centre sites. Premier Inn already operates more than 85,000 rooms across the UK and Ireland, and Whitbread sees clear potential to grow this to 125,000 over the long term. The new South East targets are underpinned by data showing strong guest demand for additional capacity in these markets, as well as the brand’s confidence in its value-led offer. The company continues to refine its property strategy to ensure it has the right hotels in the right places, balancing freehold and leasehold opportunities. Alongside growth in Surrey, Kent and Sussex, Whitbread is also exploring further prospects in Greater London and other parts of the UK and Ireland, while expanding its footprint in Germany. With more than 855 hotels already trading across the UK and Ireland, Premier Inn aims to combine its established brand strength with flexible development requirements and robust investment capacity. The planned sites in the South East represent the next step in that trajectory, supporting local regeneration while meeting rising demand from business and leisure travellers alike. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Work to convert the vacant office into a 180-bedroom Premier Inn hotel begins just eight months after securing the landmark location opposite Vauxhall Underground Station Construction work has begun to convert Phoenix House in Vauxhall, London into a 180-bedroom Premier Inn hotel – just eight months after the parent company to the UK’s largest hotel business agreed terms on a lease for the site. The high-profile location opposite Vauxhall Underground Station was acquired by Whitbread plc, which owns Premier Inn, as part of its London expansion program.   In an innovative arrangement, Whitbread agreed to lease the 10-storey 7,469 sqm former office building from Lambeth Council, the virtual freeholder, and lead the conversion of the space into a latest format Premier Inn. The 30-year agreement between Whitbread and the Council was signed in March 2025 and planning permission for the conversion was secured 20 weeks later in July 2025.  Now, just eight months on from signing the contract, Whitbread has full control of the building and has started strip-out works today [17th November] – with the target to open the new hotel in early 2028. Jonathan Langdon, Senior Acquisition Manager for Whitbread, said: “As an operating hotel business our goal is to open our pipeline development sites as quickly as possible for our customers.  Thanks to a successful partnership with Lambeth Council, we have been able to acquire a fantastic hotel location, secure planning, and move into construction in just eight months, showing what’s possible when everyone comes together. “We have been looking for a suitable location for Premier Inn in Vauxhall for at least ten years.  In a little over two years’ time, we will be welcoming customers to a sensational hotel location, literally opposite Vauxhall Underground Station, and delivering the new location in a very sustainable way through the conversion of a former vacant office building.   There are enormous benefits to expanding our footprint in this way, and we are actively looking for similar opportunities across the capital as we continue to grow.” Phoenix House was formerly occupied by Lambeth Council before being vacated as part of its award-winning Your New Town Hall scheme. This wide-ranging project involved reducing Lambeth Council’s core office buildings from 14 to two, with further community benefits including 219 new homes for rent and sale. Whitbread intends to bring its award-winning hotel proposition to the building, including its popular enhanced Premier Plus rooms and an ancillary guest-focused restaurant on the first floor. Around 25 permanent hospitality jobs will be created on opening, with recruitment expected to begin in autumn 2027. Berkshire based Redhammer Demolition Limited has been appointed to begin the strip-out conversion works which are due to complete by Easter 2026. Whitbread is currently in discussions with several contractors for the fit-out work. The redevelopment of Phoenix House forms part of a city-wide expansion plan for Whitbread as it works to address an undersupply of affordable hotels in the capital. It currently operates more than 100 Premier Inn and hub by Premier Inn hotels within the M25 – including five Premier Inn’s within the borough of Lambeth, the newest of which opened at Lambeth Road in January 2025. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Golf-focused leisure brand Five Iron is set to open its first European site at British Land’s Broadgate Campus in the City of London, supporting its wider push into the UK market. The operator has taken a 6,900 sq ft unit at 1 Finsbury Avenue, where it will occupy a prominent ground floor position. The venue will feature eight Trackman simulators, providing players with real-time analysis of their swing and ball flight. Alongside golf, the site will operate as a sports bar and entertainment hub, screening major fixtures including Premier League football and Formula 1 races. The Broadgate opening will act as Five Iron’s London flagship and the first location in a multi-unit franchise deal that will see the brand roll out across the UK. The company currently runs more than 40 venues across the United States, Asia and the Middle East. Alice Keown, leasing director for hospitality and leisure at British Land, said the arrival of Five Iron Golf would further enhance Broadgate’s lifestyle offer. She added that the launch of Broadgate Central marked a key moment for the campus, bringing in a mix of hospitality and leisure operators that together create a destination focused on work, wellbeing and socialising in central London. The deal follows British Land’s announcement last month that it had secured 16,000 sq ft of new retail and dining lettings at Broadgate Central. Broadgate now provides 289,000 sq ft of retail, hospitality and leisure space, with Five Iron joining a line-up that includes Eataly, Los Mochis London City, Everyman, Monica Vinader, Tommy Hilfiger and Space NK. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Whitbread secures planning consent to convert Verity House in the South Bank area of the city centre into a 131-room hotel Whitbread plc, owner of Premier Inn – the UK’s largest hotel brand – has received planning consent to transform Verity House, a vacant office building in the South Bank area of Leeds city centre, into a 131-room hotel. Seeing the opportunity to capitalise on a highly accessible location minutes from Leeds Railway Station and the scenic waterfront of Granary Wharf, the FTSE-100 hotel company purchased the 44,000 sq ft (GIA) former office building at risk in October 2024. A planning application for the development was submitted to Leeds City Council in May 2025. Last week, the crucial section 106 agreement between Whitbread and the Council was signed, effectively paving the way for the development to proceed, following the delegation of decision-making to the city’s planners. Construction work is expected to commence in early 2026 and complete in Spring 2027. Jill Anderson, Acquisitions Manager for Whitbread, said: “Gaining approval of our plans for Verity House is a major achievement in our efforts to deliver more high-quality, affordable bedrooms for our guests in Leeds City Centre. We’re seeing huge demand in the city and this wonderfully accessible location is sure to be incredibly popular for our business and leisure guests. “Whitbread has a long and successful track record of converting office buildings into high-quality, successful Premier Inn hotels. By purchasing Verity House freehold last autumn, we demonstrated that Whitbread is unafraid to take on planning and development risk to convert former offices into hotels in locations that match our network plan requirements and meet the expectations of our guests for outstanding, easily accessible hotel locations. “We’re actively looking for similar opportunities across the north of England as we continue to grow our hotel estate in the region.” On opening, Verity House will complement three trading Premier Inns in Leeds city centre with a new 143-bedroom Premier Inn at Leeds Harewood Quarter is also under contract as part of a Council-led redevelopment. The hotel will offer the latest format Premier Inn ‘Standard’ and ‘Premier Plus’ bedrooms. Based on a mature occupancy of more than 80%, Whitbread expects more than 57,000 of its guests will stay at the Premier Inn at Verity House every year generating an additional £5.5 million in visitor expenditure annually – half of which is expected to be spent in Leeds city centre. This latest investment in the city forms an important part of Whitbread’s strategy of expanding its hotel network in the north of England. Across the region, the company is searching for more than 20 new Premier Inn locations, in addition to 15 targets in Scotland and Northern Ireland, as it grows towards its long-term potential target of 125,000 UK & Ireland rooms. As part of Whitbread’s Force for Good sustainability strategy, all Whitbread self-built or converted hotels will be powered solely by renewable electricity from 2025, and the company has a stated target to reduce water consumption per sleeper by 20% by 2030. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Contractor Clegg Construction has been appointed to deliver the Pre-Construction Services Agreement (PCSA) for the George Street hotel project in Leeds, working in partnership with Leeds City Council. A PCSA enables the early involvement of a contractor to contribute expertise during the design and planning stages. This early collaboration helps improve buildability, cost certainty, risk management, and overall project delivery. This appointment marks an exciting step forward in supporting the Council’s vision for the continued regeneration of Leeds city centre. Christian White, Pre-Construction Director at Clegg Construction Ltd, said: “We are delighted that Leeds City Council has appointed Clegg Construction to deliver PCSA services on this important project. We look forward to working collaboratively with key project stakeholders and the wider community over the coming months.” Clegg Construction has worked on a range of high-profile projects in Leeds in recent years, including the £37m Fabric Works student accommodation scheme in Leylands Road, the multi-million-pound refurbishment of Hotel Indigo Leeds, and the 11-storey build-to-rent development of Spinners Yard. The company has also recently been appointed to build a prestigious eight-storey office development on the corner of Wellington Street. Michael Sims, Managing Director at Clegg Construction Ltd, added: “Our continued presence in Leeds reflects not only the trust our clients place in us but also our dedication to creating spaces that contribute to the city’s growth and character.” Leeds City Council has welcomed the PCSA appointment, which signals progress in the development of a new hotel in George Street. Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Economy, Transport and Sustainable Development, said: “The council has a long-standing ambition to deliver a hotel on its land at George Street. The appointment of Clegg Construction represents an important step on the journey to that ambition being realised, and we look forward to working with them on a project that underlines our commitment to regeneration and economic growth.” With its head office in The Lace Market in Nottingham, Clegg Construction is a Midlands, East Anglia, and Yorkshire-based construction firm specialising in the delivery of public and private sector projects.   For more information visit www.cleggconstruction.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals