Willmott Dixon has secured Gateway 2 approval from the Building Safety Regulator, paving the way for a £136m regeneration of Luton town centre. Known as The Stage, the flagship scheme will be delivered through the Southern Construction Framework and will transform the former Bute Street Shoppers car park into a vibrant mixed-use neighbourhood. The plans include 292 new homes, ground-floor commercial space, a multi-purpose food and events venue, and a new public garden square designed to act as a focal point for the community. Supported by £20m from the Government’s Local Regeneration Fund, The Stage is a key component of Luton’s town centre masterplan. The project aims to boost footfall, attract new businesses and create a more welcoming environment for residents, visitors and commuters. Sustainability and placemaking sit at the heart of the design. The development will incorporate photovoltaic panels, upgraded insulation and high-performance building fabric to improve energy efficiency. New landscaped spaces will be structured around sustainable drainage systems and biodiverse planting, helping to manage surface water while enhancing the local environment. Located beside the rail station and bus interchange, The Stage occupies one of the most accessible locations in the town. The scheme is intended to make better use of this gateway site, encouraging sustainable travel and supporting the wider regeneration of the surrounding area. Stewart Brundell, chief operating officer at Willmott Dixon’s construction business, said the project represented exactly the kind of comprehensive town centre renewal needed to revitalise urban areas and deliver long-term benefits for local communities. The Luton scheme adds to Willmott Dixon’s growing portfolio of large-scale regeneration projects, which includes the Queen Mary University School of Business and Management redevelopment, the Barnes Hospital regeneration and Oldham’s 450,000 sq ft Spindles Town Square upgrade. Willmott Dixon will deliver The Stage in partnership with Rider Levett Bucknall and WSP. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The founders of luxury lifestyle brand, Nobu Hospitality and Salboy, the national property development and funding company, have gathered to celebrate a groundbreaking ceremony on the site of Manchester’s newest skyscraper.  Standing at 246 metres when it is expected to be completed in 2031, the tower will transform the fast-evolving Manchester skyline and bring a fresh new approach to sophisticated living and first-class dining to the city’s residents and visitors. Developed in a partnership between Nobu Hospitality, Salboy and construction firm Domis, the tower will be home to a signature Nobu restaurant (Nobu Manchester), a 160-room luxury hotel (Nobu Hotel Manchester), and 452 branded Nobu residences (Nobu Residences Manchester). Together, these assets will cater to property buyers, locals, and visitors seeking sophisticated living and hospitality experiences in the UK’s fastest-growing city.  The partners have announced that the Nobu restaurant, serving a world-class and endlessly innovative Japanese dining experience, will be situated on the ground floor of the tower, among the site’s original Grade 2 listed, Victorian viaduct arches. The vast brick arches will imbue the space with a strong sense of the city’s industrial heritage, marrying centuries-old architecture with modern cuisines. Chef Nobu Matsuhisa opened his first restaurant, Matsuhisa, in Los Angeles in 1987. After partnering with actor Robert De Niro, he opened the first Nobu restaurant in New York in 1994 and, since then, has taken his inimitable approach to creating memorable dining experiences in over 50 restaurants worldwide. In 2013, the first Nobu Hotel opened in Las Vegas, paving the way for Chef Nobu, Robert De Niro, and Meir Teper to bring Chef Nobu’s famed attention to detail, innovation, and flair to luxury hotels and branded residences.  The Nobu Residences Manchester mark Nobu’s entry into the UK’s luxury real estate market. Not only will the residences on the upper levels be some of the highest apartments and penthouses in Western Europe, but every property will be designed with refined Japanese-inspired interiors, and residences will enjoy premium amenities, including an exclusive swimming pool, a podium garden offering panoramic views over the city, a gym, and access to Nobu dining.  The Salboy and Nobu Hospitality teams are collaborating with award-winning designers, Bowley James Brindley, to develop interiors that uniquely marry Nobu’s commitment to elevated curated living experiences with a strong sense of Manchester’s industrial and cultural heritage as well as its position on the contemporary world stage. Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro and Meir Teper, Nobu Hospitality’s Shareholders, commented: “Breaking ground in Manchester is a defining moment for Nobu in the UK — our first venture beyond London, and the introduction of Nobu Residences to this market. This landmark project — encompassing a hotel, restaurant and residences — marks the debut of Nobu Residences in the United Kingdom. Manchester’s global outlook and dynamic spirit align perfectly with the Nobu brand. We’re proud to bring our signature hospitality, dining and design to the city, and excited to offer both guests and residents an authentic Nobu experience.” Fred Done, Co-founder of Salboy, said: “Ten years ago, Simon Ismail and I founded Salboy with a clear vision: to change Manchester’s skyline. I believe we are doing just that. I’ve been fortunate to experience exceptional cuisine and hospitality around the world, which is why we chose Nobu as our partner to help realise that vision. Best in class, best in creativity, the best of the best. This is our pièce de résistance— exactly what we wanted to bring to Manchester, the city of firsts. This is why it’s so fantastic to welcome Nobu to our wonderful city.”  Simon Ismail, Co-founder and CEO of Salboy, added: “Chef Nobu’s 30-year influence on our culinary tastes can not be understated and I look forward with huge anticipation for the impact he and his team have on Manchester’s established and ambitious dining scene. As a proud Salfordian too, I’m keen to see how Chef Nobu and his team blend local produce and influences from the Northwest’s culinary heritage into the dishes and flavours they are famous for. Beyond the signature restaurant, which will look magnificent under the Victorian arches, being part of Nobu’s journey to extend its leadership in the global luxury hospitality and property markets is an honour. Manchester deserves luxury accommodation to match its growing position on the international stage and the Nobu team has the imagination and track record to make that happen.” The event comes as Domis, a partner on the scheme, has started enabling works on site with intentions to start construction next year. Salboy expects to launch sales for Nobu Residences Manchester by Q2 2026. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

London Square has secured planning permission from the London Borough of Merton to convert and extend Wimbledon Bridge House into a mixed-use scheme, unlocking new homes and commercial space in the heart of the town centre. The 1989 office building, acquired by London Square earlier this year, sits opposite Wimbledon station and close to the All England Lawn Tennis Club. Under the approved plans, the developer will reconfigure and sensitively extend the structure to deliver 123 apartments supported by around 27,000 sq ft of commercial floorspace. The ground-floor layout will be upgraded to improve the public realm and create more active frontages at street level, aiming to strengthen the connection between the station, local shops and nearby amenities. The residential element will offer a mix of apartment sizes to meet local demand, with the commercial component expected to accommodate a blend of employment, retail and service uses. By retaining and adapting the existing building rather than pursuing full demolition, the scheme is intended to reduce embodied carbon while bringing an underused asset back into productive use. Subject to approvals from the Building Safety Regulator, London Square anticipates completing the project in 2028. The programme will include façade enhancements, internal re-planning, and upgrades to building services to meet contemporary performance standards for comfort, energy efficiency and accessibility. Chief executive Adam Lawrence said the decision enables a high-quality addition to the townscape at a strategically important location. The scheme is expected to support local jobs through its commercial space and to contribute to Wimbledon’s wider regeneration by increasing footfall and enhancing the station gateway. With permission in place, detailed design and contractor procurement will progress ahead of the main construction phase, setting the stage for a prominent mixed-use destination at one of south west London’s busiest transport interchanges. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Reading’s long-awaited Minster Quarter regeneration has taken a major step forward after the council signed a £250 million development agreement with McLaren Living. The deal clears the way for one of the town’s most significant urban renewal schemes in recent years, transforming a prominent brownfield site into a new mixed-use neighbourhood. The 5.2-acre site, previously occupied by the town’s Civic Centre, will be redeveloped to deliver more than 600 new homes, of which 30% will be affordable. Alongside the residential element, the plans include 40,000 sq ft of workspace, new shops, food and drink venues, and a 102-bed hotel – all centred around a new civic square in front of The Hexagon Theatre. The project will also deliver a new community hub and upgraded public spaces connecting Reading Minster and the market on Hosier Street. McLaren Living’s design aims to create a vibrant new quarter that blends homes, culture, leisure, and workspaces in a central and accessible location. The scheme will prioritise sustainability and placemaking, with green spaces, pedestrian-friendly routes, and improved links to existing cultural and retail destinations across the town centre. The developer is already playing a major role in Reading’s urban transformation, leading the nearby Broad Street Mall redevelopment, which will bring hundreds of additional homes and new commercial opportunities to the area. Combined, the two projects represent a pipeline of around 1,200 new homes, helping to meet local housing needs while reinvigorating the heart of the town. A spokesperson for McLaren Living said the Minster Quarter represents “a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine Reading’s civic and cultural core” and will be delivered in partnership with the local community and stakeholders. For Reading Borough Council, the agreement marks a major milestone in a long-term ambition to revitalise the town centre and repurpose underused land for housing and economic growth. Construction is expected to start following detailed design and planning work, with the scheme set to act as a catalyst for wider regeneration across central Reading. Once complete, the Minster Quarter will deliver a new destination that celebrates Reading’s history while providing the modern homes, amenities, and public spaces needed for its future. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Great Portland Estates (GPE) has finalised the sale of its prominent mixed-use building at 1 Newman Street, London, to Royal London Asset Management in a deal worth £250 million. The transaction reflects a net initial yield of 4.48%, underscoring sustained investor confidence in prime West End real estate. Situated on the northern side of Oxford Street, directly opposite the Elizabeth line entrance on Dean Street, 1 Newman Street offers 121,300 square feet of high-quality office and retail accommodation. The property spans basement, lower ground, ground, and seven upper floors, with design features that cater to modern occupier demands, including private roof terraces on the second and seventh floors and a 3,100-square-foot communal terrace on the eighth. The building is currently multi-let to nine tenants and produces an annual rent of approximately £11.9 million. The weighted average unexpired lease term sits at 6.4 years to the earlier of tenant break or lease expiry, providing stable income for its new owner. Hugh Morgan, director of portfolio management at GPE, described the transaction as the conclusion of a successful redevelopment journey. “The sale of 1 Newman Street marks the culmination of an exceptional journey for this redevelopment project. We’ve delivered a best-in-class office and retail building in the heart of the West End, and this transaction crystallises our returns while enabling us to reinvest the proceeds, including into the next phase of our exciting development pipeline,” he said. The sale highlights ongoing demand for well-located, high-quality assets in London’s West End, despite wider market uncertainty. With the Elizabeth line continuing to enhance connectivity and footfall across Oxford Street, the area remains one of the capital’s most desirable commercial destinations. For GPE, the disposal forms part of its strategy to recycle capital from completed projects into new development opportunities. For Royal London Asset Management, the acquisition represents a strong addition to its London portfolio, offering both steady rental income and long-term growth potential. The deal reinforces investor appetite for resilient, sustainable, and well-connected properties in central London, with 1 Newman Street standing out as a benchmark for contemporary mixed-use design. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Oval Real Estate has secured planning permission for a landmark, mixed-use cluster beside Albert Bridge on the River Irwell, reshaping a central Manchester site currently occupied by surface car parks and the ageing 18-storey office block that lent the scheme its name. The revised proposals, designed by Studio Egret West, pivot the development towards homes in response to changing market conditions. Two octagonal residential towers will rise to 49 and 37 storeys, joined by a scaled-down 18-storey commercial building. In total the trio is expected to cost around £350m to deliver, with the office element accounting for just over £100m. Housing capacity has doubled versus the 2023 consent, with approximately 800 apartments now planned. The residential offer emphasises liveability: dual-aspect layouts to improve daylight, cross-ventilation and views across the city, alongside communal amenity set within a re-greened public realm. The commercial block has been reworked to target Net Zero Carbon in operation, pairing a thermally dynamic façade with smart climate systems to support Manchester’s 2038 carbon-neutral ambition. A significant public realm strategy sits at the heart of the scheme. More than 5,700 sq m of new streets and spaces will be created, opening up walking and cycling routes between Parsonage Gardens and the Irwell. An “Urban Arboretum” retains mature trees and layers in new planting, aiming to stitch the river edge back into the city and provide a biodiverse buffer for residents and office users alike. The project team includes Gardiner & Theobald as cost consultant, AKT II as structural engineer and Hoare Lea leading MEP design. Together they will navigate the site’s technical challenges, including foundation interfaces from the existing office block and delivering high-rise residential cores alongside a high-performance office on a constrained plot. For Manchester, the approval reflects a broader realignment of city-centre development—prioritising high-density homes, best-in-class workplace and generous public realm over single-use blocks. If delivered to the current specification, Albert Bridge House will add a distinctive silhouette to the skyline while unlocking a riverside route long hidden behind car parking, signalling confidence in the city’s continued growth and a push for more sustainable, people-first urbanism. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Studio Egret West and Oval Real Estate have received planning approval for the redevelopment of Albert Bridge House, a landmark project set at the historic junction between Manchester and Salford, where Albert Bridge spans the River Irwell. The approved scheme will transform a car park-dominated site, currently occupied by vacant mid-century office building, including the 18-storey Albert Bridge House, into a vibrant mixed-use quarter that reconnects the area with the river and surrounding neighbourhoods. The new design represents a refined evolution of the previously consented 2023 plans, which proposed a single residential tower and a large commercial block. In response to changing market conditions, the updated scheme now features three distinctive buildings, maintaining the same design ambition while delivering a more balanced urban composition and a striking addition to the Manchester skyline. The development will comprise: The proposals also include 5,780 sqm of new public realm, introducing new pedestrian and cycling routes linking Parsonage Gardens to Trinity Bridge and King Street West to the River Irwell. At its heart, an Urban Arboretum will anchor the central square, preserving mature trees and enhancing biodiversity with additional native and non-native planting. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Hammerson’s plans to transform an underused city centre car park into a vibrant new mixed-use neighbourhood called the Edgbaston Street Gardens have been approved. This paves the way for a major regeneration project in the heart of Birmingham. The Edgbaston Street Gardens development, located adjacent to the Bullring, has the potential to deliver up to 745 new apartments or 1,544 student rooms, or a combination of both. Detailed designs will be finalised ahead of demolition work, expected to begin in late 2027, with construction anticipated from 2028 onwards. The scheme forms a key part of Birmingham’s broader city centre regeneration strategy, directly addressing local priorities around housing, sustainability, transport, and urban renewal. Plans include the creation of new green spaces, community amenities, commercial areas, and extensive public realm improvements designed to better connect the Bullring with neighbouring districts such as Digbeth and Smithfield. Hammerson, a long-term investor in Birmingham since the late 1990s, is already well established in the city’s development landscape. The company was responsible for funding and managing the original Bullring redevelopment, and earlier this year became the sole owner of the Bullring and Grand Central for the first time — a move underscoring its continued commitment to Birmingham’s growth. Since 2021, Hammerson has repositioned more than 400,000 sq ft of retail space in the city, introducing new flagship stores and first-to-region brands including Sephora, Pull&Bear, Space NK, and Uniqlo. The Bullring has also diversified its offer with a broader range of food and leisure experiences, now featuring the largest M&S in the Midlands. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals