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

Planning permission for the conversion of the 90,000 sq ft office brings hub by Premier Inn a step closer to London’s World-Famous South Bank Whitbread, the parent company to Premier Inn, the UK’s largest hotel business, has successfully secured planning permission to convert Dorset House, a former office building on Stamford Street in Southwark (SE1), into a 421-key hub by Premier Inn. The permission rounds off an especially active 2025 for the business in Central London where it has acquired four development sites for its Premier Inn and hub by Premier Inn brands since January 2025. Collectively, the four locations add close to 1,000 bedrooms – and more than 262,000 sq ft of development space – into Whitbread’s secured development pipeline in the capital. Dorset House brings the hub by Premier Inn brand south of the River Thames for the very first time at a location that boasts Waterloo Station, Blackfriars Station, London’s South Bank and the Royal Festival Hall within a ten-minute walking distance. Whitbread acquired the 90,000 sq ft building freehold in May [2025] and quickly began conversations with Southwark Council on the change of use of the nine-storey vacant office into a hub by Premier Inn hotel.  The intention is to add the compact hub bedrooms within the existing floorplate and introduce a new hotel entrance on Stamford Street, with the basement-level F&B space visible through cut-out concrete sections on the ground-floor.  Construction work is expected to begin in the second half of 2026 with a target date for opening in summer 2028. Jonathan Langdon, Senior Acquisition Manager for Whitbread, said: “Whitbread’s reliable and affordable hotels are ingrained in London life and we’re taking full advantage of opportunities to expand our network further for our guests. “The buildings we have acquired in 2025 bring four outstanding hotel locations into our secured pipeline in places where we are either not yet represented or are responding to strong, year-round demand from our customers. “All four acquisitions demonstrate Whitbread’s ability to spot and convert excellent opportunities to grow our business, deploy capital strategically, and work through planning risks to successfully grow our estate. “Achieving planning permission at Dorset House rounds off an especially active period for Whitbread’s Central London team in 2025, and we are moving quickly to progress our pipeline hotels into construction and onto trading as soon as possible.” Reflecting wider changes in the demand for office properties across the UK, all of Whitbread’s property acquisitions in Central London are office-to-hotel conversions. They include: Collectively the acquisitions total more than £100 million of direct investment.  All the new hotels will be powered solely by electricity generated from renewable sources in line with Whitbread’s sustainability programme, Force For Good. Whitbread’s London hotels represent 18% of the company’s c. 86,000 bedroom-strong network in the UK & Ireland and an important growth market for both brands as the company works to expand its hotel estate by 45% to a long-term potential target of 125,000 UK&I rooms.  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Construction has officially begun on a £120m Wilde aparthotel in Shoreditch, as Gilbert Ash breaks ground on the major London development for Dublin-based Staycity Group and The Property Trust Group. Located at 19 Great Eastern Road, the 11-storey scheme is set to become Staycity’s largest Wilde-branded property in the capital and its fifth within Zone 1. WT Partnership is acting as project manager, with completion scheduled for May 2027. The new aparthotel will provide 275 studio and one-bedroom units, each designed with self-catering layouts to support longer stays and flexibility for guests. The development will also feature an extensive range of amenities including a restaurant, café-bar and cocktail lounge, communal dining areas, a fitness room and a guest laundry. A biodiverse roof will crown the building, contributing environmental benefits and supporting local ecology. The Wilde brand, inspired by the spirit and style of Oscar Wilde, debuted in Covent Garden in 2018 and has since expanded across major European cities including Berlin, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London, Manchester and Vienna. Further openings in Amsterdam and Porto are already planned as the brand continues its rapid growth. The Shoreditch project marks another significant step in Staycity’s ambition to expand its presence across key urban centres, while reinforcing The Property Trust Group’s commitment to delivering high-quality hospitality developments in prime city locations. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Wrexham AFC have officially broken ground on the redevelopment of the Kop Stand at the STōK Cae Ras, marking the beginning of the full construction phase of one of the most significant infrastructure projects in the Club’s history. The ceremony, held on 4 December brought together representatives from the Club, Wrexham County Borough Council, McLaren Construction Midlands and North, the Welsh Government, Wrexham University alongside wider stakeholders from the Wrexham Gateway Partnership. The groundbreaking is a landmark moment in the long-awaited return of the Kop Stand and signals the transition from extensive early site preparation to the main build programme. The new stand, set for completion during the 2026/27 season, will restore the stadium to a four-sided configuration, increase capacity to just over 18,000 and enable the STōK Cae Ras to achieve UEFA Category 4 compliance. Since McLaren Construction’s appointment under a Pre-Construction Services Agreement earlier this year, the project team has completed a comprehensive suite of enabling works to prepare the historic site for full construction. These works have included establishing the early-phase compound and welfare facilities, completing the reduced-level dig and stabilised construction platform, installing the piling mat, relocating and upgrading hoarding, forming a permanent safe walkway from the Wrexham Lager Stand, creating construction access routes and crane platforms and commencing the piling operations that will continue into the early new year. Delivery of the main site offices and welfare accommodation has also been completed ahead of the full construction programme progressing. The project will now move into its principal construction period, with the breakout piles, casting of foundations all commencing through December and into January, and the start of reinforced concrete lift cores, that will support the new structural steel frame along with the foundation. Work will also progress on internal service ducting, drainage and preparation of the main ground floor slab. In early 2026, slip formed reinforced concrete cores will be constructed to provide stability for the roof structure. The steel frame, which comprises approximately 1,500 tonnes of steel including major long-lead tubular truss sections, is scheduled to begin rising from early spring. Installation of precast concrete terrace units will follow before roofing and façade works, internal fit-out and systems installation continue through the remainder of 2026 and into 2027. The project team has worked closely with partners to address the complexities of building a major new stand within a live, operational and historically sensitive stadium environment. A detailed sequencing strategy has been developed to manage trade movements and construction operations within the tight site footprint, while logistics planning has been coordinated with Wrexham County Borough Council, Wrexham University and nearby businesses to minimise disruption. A comprehensive Construction Environmental Management Plan underpins this process, ensuring that the construction programme is delivered safely and responsibly. The new Kop Stand will deliver modern concourses, improved accessibility routes, upgraded media and broadcast facilities, and enhanced back-of-house and matchday operations. Its design is being driven by UEFA standards, Safety Advisory Group requirements and the latest Green Guide principles, ensuring the new structure not only meets regulatory expectations but significantly enhances the supporter experience and long-term operational efficiency of the stadium. Joel Casstles, Operations Director at McLaren Construction Midlands and North, said: “The groundbreaking ceremony marks the start of an exciting phase for Wrexham AFC and for the city. The scale and complexity of the new Kop Stand are significant, especially on a historic and operational site, but the progress made to date means we are entering the main build with confidence. “This stand will transform the stadium and deliver a new gateway to Wrexham, which the whole community can be proud of. We are committed to ensuring the project creates local opportunities and leaves a lasting legacy for supporters and residents alike.” Michael Williamson, CEO of Wrexham AFC, said: “Breaking ground on the new Kop Stand is a hugely significant moment for the Club and our supporters. The Kop has always held deep importance, and today’s ceremony marks the beginning of its long-awaited return. Over the coming months, fans will see the structure take shape as we build a stand that enhances capacity, improves facilities and secures the future of the STōK Cae Ras as a top-tier venue for domestic, international football and other sporting and entertainment events.” Leader of Wrexham Council, Cllr Mark Pritchard said “The new Kop Stand marks a significant step forward for the Wrexham Gateway. We’ve worked closely with the club and partners to help shape the project that will see enhancements to the ground and improvements in connectivity that will open up new opportunities. Once in use, the stand will be a great vantage point to witness historic domestic and international games here in Wrexham, the spiritual home of Welsh Football.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals