Contractor Clegg Construction has completed, on behalf of CBRE Investment Management, a new Premier Inn hotel in York. The highly sustainable, four-storey development has been built in the shadow of York’s ancient city walls. It brings 188 new bedrooms to the historic city centre, on a corner plot fronting Foss Islands Road and Layerthorpe at a junction of the city’s inner ring road, and will create approximately 55 new jobs. Built for CBRE Investment Management and Whitbread PLC, the Premier Inn hotel features some of the latest energy-saving and carbon-reduction technologies, such as air source heat pumps, heat recovery ventilation systems, LED lighting, photovoltaic panels and electric car charging points, and has achieved an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of A. The building has been designed to achieve a carbon reduction of 44% compared with traditional construction methods – far surpassing City of York Council’s 28% carbon reduction requirements. Clegg Construction Managing Director Michael Sims said: “We are tremendously proud to have delivered such a sustainable Premier Inn hotel for CBRE Investment Management and Whitbread PLC. “The site is a historically sensitive city centre location in York and I am delighted with how the Clegg Construction team conducted themselves with minimal disruption to local businesses and residents. The scheme consistently achieved high Considerate Constructors Scheme scores in audits taken throughout the duration of the contract. “More than 80% of the workforce travelled 30 miles or less per day to reach the site – demonstrating our commitment to supporting the local community and to sustainability. “This marks the latest in a long line of hotels that we have delivered across the country, and the fourth Premier Inn scheme that we have been involved in. As a company, Clegg Construction is very happy to have now handed over this new development which I am sure will be an asset to York and its tourism and business communities, along with the local economy.”  During the build, Clegg Construction worked with Community Wood Recycling who collected wood waste from the site. It is estimated that saved 20 tonnes of CO2. Some 44% of the waste wood was reused by the community for DIY, building or made into a range of products from bird boxes to dining tables, and the remainder  was sent for recycling to be made into woodchip, animal bedding or as carbon neutral fuel in power stations. Other members of the construction team included project manager Reach Project Management, quantity surveyor Create.iF, architect The Harris Partnership, structural engineer Simpson Associates, and M&E consultant Thornley and Lumb. Fund Manager for UK Property PAIF at CBRE Investment Management, Jamie Philips, said: “We expect growth in the hotels and catering sector to outpace the wider economy during the next five years. “Tourism supports a significant number of jobs in York and given the strength of the city as a destination for tourists, combined with its current undersupply of hotel beds, the addition of a new modern and sustainable hotel will help to bolster York’s businesses and economy. This project sits firmly within the Fund’s strategy, providing a great opportunity to thoughtfully invest in and repurpose an existing asset, in order to create a long and sustainable cash flow for our investors.” The development marks the fourth Premier Inn scheme delivered by Clegg Construction and follows the construction of a Derby city centre hotel, the full conversion of a former office building in Headingley in Leeds into a 96-bedroom hotel, plus the complete re-cladding of the Leeds City Centre hotel (also known as the Leeds Arena hotel). Clegg Construction is a Midlands, East Anglia, and Yorkshire-based construction firm specialising in the delivery of public and private sector projects. The company works with organisations of all sizes and specialities across a range of different sectors. For more information visit www.cleggconstruction.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Planning permission has been granted by the City of London to Mactaggart Family & Partners for The Resident Farringdon. The 128-room hotel, which is due to open in 2027, will be the fifth London site for the brand, taking it to a total portfolio of seven properties across the UK. The hotel has been designed by EPR Architects, with a focus on creating a highly sustainable building. Situated at 1-8 Long Lane, it will be at the heart of the Culture Mile, with easy access to the Barbican, Smithfield and Farringdon neighbourhoods. From 2026 the area will also be home to the London Museum, as part of the Smithfield General Market regeneration. William Laxton, CEO, Mactaggart Family & Partners, said: “We are thrilled with the consent for The Resident Farringdon and with the opportunity to contribute to this growing and thriving location. It is so important to us to be able to maximise this site’s potential with a modern, high-quality hotel, which is also as sustainable as possible and we are thrilled that the City of London planning committee has vindicated our approach to the scheme. “The Resident Farringdon will offer guests a home-from-home experience, from which they can explore this thriving neighbourhood, with bars, restaurants, galleries, museums and performance venues only steps away, all activated by some of the best infrastructure in Europe in the form of the Elizabeth Line at Farringdon East.” The Resident Farringdon will feature third party operated restaurant, cafe and retail spaces at ground level and a pocket garden for guests and the public to enjoy. In keeping with the rest of The Resident portfolio, the Brand purposely forgoes its own formal bar or restaurant, but has a library lounge.  From here the knowledgeable team will encourage guests to enjoy the highlights and hidden gems that abound in the surrounding area. Adam Jones, director, EPR Architects, said: “Sustainability is at the core of the scheme and we and Mactaggart Family & Partners, advised by ARUP, have sought to reduce the hotel’s carbon footprint through a series of thoughtful design solutions, including optimising the façade’s design to minimise energy consumption and solar gain, using a low embodied carbon ventilation system and improving on-site biodiversity.” Additional features of the build will include over 95% of demolition, excavation and construction waste being diverted from landfill. In addition to the pocket garden, enhanced greening at upper floor terrace levels will be introduced, along with a new green roof space helping to achieve a significant uplift in biodiversity. With vast experience that has involved defining some of the world’s leading hotels, EPR’s previous projects in London have included The Ned, The OWO and NoMad. David Orr, CEO of Resident Hotels Ltd as Operator of The Resident, said: “The Resident has established itself with guests as one of the best regarded hotel brands, particularly in London, the most global of cities. The Resident Farringdon opens up a prime destination within the ‘Culture Mile’ BID, where community, culinary and commercial innovation cohabit in abundance.  The prospect of partnering with local, yet world-renowned Arts institutions, engaging with our culturally affluent guests, and leading local connectivity with our Resident Insiders teams is very exciting.”    Resident Hotels is due to open its sixth location, in The Resident Edinburgh, in August under the leadership of GM Gillian Mylles. She is assembling a great team, ready to delight guests from the final weeks of the International Festival. Heartfelt hospitality fuels The Resident brand’s reputation with exceptional NPS scores, and review rankings. This ethos has ensured that this year saw The Resident Covent Garden confirmed by TripAdvisor Travelers’’Choice “Best of the Best” as the no. #1 Hotel in the UK 2024 and #15 in Europe 2024.   Current The Resident Covent Garden is at #1, The Resident Soho is at #18 in London and The Resident Victoria is at #20, which means that we have three Top 20 hotels in the current Tripadvisor Traveler ranked places in London. The Resident Liverpool is consistently at #1 in that great cultural destination, host city to the exceptional Biennial. The brand has plans to add rooms of a total target of 1,500 to 2,000 rooms over the next five years. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Hilton has today announced the opening of Elmbank York, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, marking the brand’s debut in the city. Signed as part of a franchise agreement with Cairn Hotel Group, the 62-room hotel overlooks the picturesque Knavesmire Strays. It features Leetham’s Brasserie, a restaurant serving seasonal British cuisine, Peacock Bar, an opulent space featuring original fireplaces and jewel-adorned walls, and convenient onsite parking. The hotel joins a portfolio of over 120 Tapestry Collection by Hilton hotels, each with a unique and vibrant personality shaped by elevated design and locally inspired food and beverage, offering guests authentic experiences in diverse destinations. With a strong pipeline of more than 100 properties, the opening continues Tapestry’s expansion in high barrier-to-entry markets in Europe, where small boutique properties are looking for an engine to help them grow. Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president, development, EMEA, Hilton, said: “We are seeing growing demand for our lifestyle brands in the UK, as travellers increasingly seek out distinctive, locally inspired stays. The opening of Elmbank York, Tapestry Collection by Hilton underscores our commitment to providing truly unique, authentic experiences for guests, and we look forward to working closely with Cairn Hotel Group to bring this vision to life.” Located on The Mount, a charming residential area only a short walk away from York’s historic city centre and train station. The hotel offers convenient access to several world-famous attractions, including York Racecourse, National Trust properties such as Goddards Garden and Treasurer’s House, York Castle Museum, and The Shambles, one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval shopping streets.  The city’s rich heritage extends to the hotel itself – a unique 19th-century mansion that was once home to the city’s elite and a venue for York’s most lavish parties. The Elmbank celebrates its Yorkshire roots through its thoughtfully designed and styled rooms, artwork, and signature details. Housed inside Elmbank’s main house is one of the UK’s finest Art Nouveau collections, featuring stunning stained glass, beautiful murals, and detailed stencils, carefully preserved to allow guests to immerse themselves in Art Nouveau history, whilst enjoying modern comforts and amenities.    Aneil Handa, director, Cairn Group “We are thrilled to launch the first Tapestry Collection property in the North of England, continuing our longstanding relationship with Hilton. The Elmbank Hotel’s rich history and exceptional Art Nouveau collection offer a distinctive experience that aligns perfectly with the Tapestry brand, providing guests with a unique blend of local charm and high standards of service.” Guests of all Hilton properties can benefit from the award-winning Hilton Honors guest loyalty programme, allowing members who book directly with Hilton to earn Points for hotel stays and experiences. Hilton Honors members can also unlock access to instant rewards and benefits, such as contactless check-in with room selection and exclusive member discounts.  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Chester Race Company has appointed two architectural practices to collaborate on the next phase of development at Chester Racecourse. Kay Elliott and Lovelock Mitchell Architects have been jointly commissioned to prepare a strategic development plan and the first phase of two projects at key racecourse sites. At the first site, overlooking the Parade Ring, a new hospitality building is planned to replace the temporary marquees (known as the ‘tented village’) currently erected each summer for the racing season. The second site is at Saddlery Way, where plans are being prepared for a base for Chester Race Company’s catering and events division, Horseradish, and for the racecourse grounds maintenance division. The joint appointment acknowledges each practice’s strengths: Kay Elliott for their extensive track record in hospitality and leisure projects, and Lovelock Mitchell for their wide local knowledge and racecourse experience. These two proposals are the first phase of Chester Race Company’s Strategic Development Plan, outlining a long-term investment strategy. This plan will illustrate a proposed development programme through to 2039, when Chester, the world’s oldest operating racecourse, will celebrate its 500th anniversary. The Strategic Development Plan follows a Racecourse Masterplan, granted planning consent in 2019, whose aims and objectives have been re-assessed in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the subsequent challenging economic circumstances, and the latest trends in the leisure and hospitality industry. Chester Race Company will share its draft plans with neighbours and the wider community over the summer. Louise Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of Chester Race Company, said: “Over its long history, the racecourse has adapted to meet the needs of the public, whilst also respecting the heritage of the site, so it’s exciting to embark on the next stage of its evolution to ensure it continues to be successful long into the future. “Our plan will replace some of the ageing buildings on site, which also gives us the opportunity to reduce the impact of our operations on the environment and improve the presentation of the site.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Greggs has announced its confidence in achieving between 140 and 160 store openings in 2024. The bakery chain recently celebrated the opening of its 2,500th store, with its estate now comprising 1,986 company-managed stores and 514 franchised units. This announcement comes as Greggs releases a trading update for the first 19 weeks of 2024, during which it opened 64 stores, including 15 in partnership with franchisees. Recent openings include locations at Embankment underground station, four shops within Tesco stores, and three stores within Sainsbury’s, including two at petrol filling stations. During this period, Greggs recorded a 7.4% increase in like-for-like sales. This growth was driven by delivery sales, evening trade, and increased participation in the Greggs app, all of which contributed to a rise in transaction volumes. Total sales for the 19 weeks to 11 May were £693 million, an £84 million increase from the same period in 2023. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

A £4 million scheme to revamp the main high street in Anfield, creating a greener and safer experience for residents and visitors, is to be the focus of a public consultation. Liverpool City Council is to launch the consultation next week (Wednesday, 22nd May) with a hat-trick of public events showcasing how the main road – and connecting streets – leading to Liverpool FC’s iconic stadium is to be upgraded. This project is the latest element in a £300m investment programme in the Anfield area, which first began in 2014. Over the past decade this has led to the creation of more than 600 new and 500 refurbished homes, a revitalised Stanley Park, new shops, environmental street works, improved community facilities and upgrades to the stadium itself. For the new High Street scheme, the Council is working in partnership with AECOM whose brief has been to design a visually more appealing and healthier public street scene with a priority to improve pedestrian movement and safety. The focus will be on highway and public realm upgrades along Walton Breck Road, Oakfield Road, Pulford Street, Back Rockfield Road and Gilman Street. As part of the initial design stage, the current proposals aim to improve walking routes, create wider footpaths, install new landscaping and public realm features, as well provide new trees and new underground bins. A key proposal is a suggested reduction in speed limit on Walton Breck Road from 30mph to 20mph, between the junctions of Blessington Road, and Kemp Avenue to improve safety for pedestrians. The highways element will also include new improved carriageways and crossings, as well as providing new on-street and resident parking bays with a focus on rationalising car parking, bus stops and taxi ranks. And there’s a proposal to close access to Back Rockfield Road from Pulford Street, including a safe area for vehicles to turn around. The outline designs will be on display at a trio of public drop-in events, at The Liverpool Lighthouse, Oakfield Road, L4 0U, on: The online consultation also goes live on 22 May and will be open for feedback until Friday, 14 June. Feedback will help shaped the outline designs and a report to the Council’s cabinet will be submitted in the Autumn with a view to appointing a contractor to begin delivering the scheme next Spring. Feedback from the public consultation about the future for Anfield Square, and a planned way forward will be publicised in the summer. REACTION Councillor Dan Barrington, Cabinet Member for Transport and Connectivity said: “The redevelopment of Anfield stadium has understandably received global attention, but the works to improve the surrounding community are more important in many ways. “Creating a healthier, greener, safer and more visually appealing high street will have a major impact on the day-to-day quality of life of our residents in this community, who have already seen a lot of improvements over the past decade. “I hope everyone in the neighbourhood gets to visit our public consultation events and gives their feedback. Their views are vital to ensuring this scheme works and delivers long-lasting improvements to living in, working in and visiting Anfield.” Councillor Nick Small, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Growth, said: “Enhancing the public spaces along Oakfield Road and Walton Breck Road is a vital aspect and a longstanding goal of the Anfield regeneration programme. “Importantly, these proposed improvements to the high street will connect various regeneration projects in the surrounding area. “This investment will also provide a boost to the existing businesses and those looking to invest and grow here, and there’s more improvements to come once plans for Anfield Square are formalised.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals