London is set to receive a significant boost with a £1 billion mixed-use property development in Blackfriars. The green light has been given to a property developer for the redevelopment of 18 Blackfriars, the former site of the Sainsbury’s headquarters. This area has remained largely vacant for over two decades,
Ebbsfleet United FC has announced that Gravesham Borough Council secured plans for Northfleet Harbourside. Ebbsfleet United FC are shareholders in the project which is set to transform and regenerate the immediate area surrounding the football club. Within the 50-acre mixed-use development, Ebbsfleet United FC will retain freehold and management control
Due to be completed in 2027, the 750,000 sq. ft. project is the largest yet to be undertaken at the Broadgate campus… Sir Robert McAlpine has today announced that it has been appointed by the Broadgate joint venture, between British Land and GIC, to deliver 2 Finsbury Avenue (“2FA”), a
The City of London Corporation has approved plans from Landsec to transform Hill House, EC4 into a sustainable workspace and new rooftop restaurant. The news follows planning approval being granted at the end of 2023 for the redevelopment of 55 Old Broad Street, EC2. Combined, the developments will deliver over
Three Chamberlain Square, the next highly sustainable commercial building at Paradise Birmingham, has achieved a key landmark moment for itself and the city as its terracotta façade units make progress across the building. More than 8,000 bespoke facade panels are being installed on 3,000 windows across Three Chamberlain Square, starting
Homes England and Network Rail Property have signed a development agreement with McLaren Property and Arlington Real Estate, solidifying their partnership as strategic developers for York Central. The agreement will lead to the transformation of one of the largest brownfield sites in England alongside other partners the City of York
Salford City Council has approved regeneration plans to transform MediaCity and The Quays into an iconic waterfront destination. Inspired by design-led waterfronts such as Oslo in Norway and Australia’s Darling Harbour the revised regeneration proposals also include around 3,000 new homes and approximately 800,000 sq ft of additional commercial space
Housebuilder The Hill Group and the Shearer Property Group (SGP) have commenced archaeological works ahead of the first phase of development of City Centre South, a £450 million regeneration scheme that will transform Coventry city centre. These essential preliminary works will ensure the heritage of the site is understood, recorded,
MOMENTOUS plans to transform part of the East Lincolnshire coast have taken an important step forward, following unilateral approval of the 336-acre sustainable urban extension scheme in Skegness. The news, delivered Wednesday 20 March at an executive meeting of East Lindsey District Council in Horncastle, means the town is on
Development on America Street, SE1 will see the renovation and redevelopment of four railway arches into new repurposed spaces suitable for a range of uses. Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has confirmed that it has been appointed by new customer
London is set to receive a significant boost with a £1 billion mixed-use property development in Blackfriars. The green light has been given to a property developer for the redevelopment of 18 Blackfriars, the former site of the Sainsbury’s headquarters. This area has remained largely vacant for over two decades, but plans are now underway to construct three buildings. Two of these will provide over 400 new homes, with 40 per cent designated as affordable housing. The third building will offer 800,000 square feet of office space. In addition to the residential and office components, the developers will also build 20,000 square feet of affordable workspace. There will be assembly rooms available for use by the local community, educational facilities, children’s play areas, and a new central public space featuring retail and food outlets. Ross Blair, senior managing director and country head of Hines UK, expressed enthusiasm about the project, stating, “Businesses are increasingly demanding more from their office spaces, and 18 Blackfriars aims to meet that challenge by delivering the office of the future. We believe our plans will establish a new standard for premium quality workspace in London, seamlessly integrated into its local community and strategically positioned in the heart of our capital city.” This development comes at a time of significant transformation for the UK office market. Commercial property values have faced challenges due to rising interest rates and concerns about the post-pandemic office market, particularly with the persistence of hybrid working trends. Businesses are also prioritizing environmentally sustainable office spaces that meet Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) targets. Blair highlighted the importance of environmental considerations, noting that many businesses are currently operating in spaces that fall short of their own environmental standards or employee needs. To address this, 18 Blackfriars Road has been designed to be fossil fuel-free, 100 per cent electric, and Net Zero Carbon in operation. The site’s heat demand will be served primarily by ground source heat pumps, with energy sharing, storage, and offsetting mechanisms in place. The development is slated for completion by the end of the decade and is part of a wave of new developments planned for London in the coming years. Olympia London, a project in Hammersmith set to open in 2025, will offer commercial office space along with amenities such as a new permanent theatre and a variety of restaurants. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Ebbsfleet United FC has announced that Gravesham Borough Council secured plans for Northfleet Harbourside. Ebbsfleet United FC are shareholders in the project which is set to transform and regenerate the immediate area surrounding the football club. Within the 50-acre mixed-use development, Ebbsfleet United FC will retain freehold and management control of the new-build £40 million 8,000-seat multi-use community stadium and event facilities. This will secure the club’s future for generations to come and provide stable, self-generating income and revenue towards our ultimate goal of sustainable high performance. Damian Irvine, Chief Executive Officer at Ebbsfleet United FC, commented: “This is a truly significant day in our club’s great history and for the people and communities of Northfleet and Gravesend. The outcome has been the result of many months of hard work and collaboration with Gravesham Borough Council, our development partners and team, and the project’s investors. “We set about conceiving a plan and solution that would see our football ground developed to a leading standard that was feasible financially within a wider development, and which also provided regeneration of services and contributed to an overall significant uplift to our local community and Borough, reflecting the council’s own regeneration strategy and legacy plan for future generations. It’s a proud and exciting day to receive planning approval from GBC that will be the catalyst for such substantial investment into Gravesham Borough and its communities.” The granting of outline planning consent for Northfleet Harbourside will now see each phase of the project proceed to the detailed planning stage. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Due to be completed in 2027, the 750,000 sq. ft. project is the largest yet to be undertaken at the Broadgate campus… Sir Robert McAlpine has today announced that it has been appointed by the Broadgate joint venture, between British Land and GIC, to deliver 2 Finsbury Avenue (“2FA”), a dual high-rise, mixed-use building located in the heart of Broadgate. Sitting at a height of 170 metres and due to be completed in 2027, 2FA will be an instantly iconic addition to Broadgate and to London’s skyline. The appointment follows work undertaken by Sir Robert McAlpine in delivering 100 Liverpool Street and 1 Broadgate, extending the longstanding partnership with British Land. The building will boast a 21-storey West office tower and 36-story East office tower, characterised by triangular patterns combining a solid and glazed sawtooth-shaped façade that supports double height spaces. The towers will be linked by a 12-storey podium, incorporating green, leisure and a range of publicly accessible spaces, with a single-story Winter Garden at level 13 connecting the two towers. 2FA will raise the bar in its sustainability strategy. It will be all-electric, and a smart-enabled development ensuring leading carbon and energy efficiency in operation, as well as BREEAM Outstanding, WELL Platinum, WIRED Platinum, Nabers 5-star and EPC ‘A’ accreditations. The office design, designed by architects 3XN and sustainability consultants GXN, includes green spaces and terraces that are designed to foster creative collaboration and social interaction. Community engagement with the scheme took place amid COVID restrictions, seeing a successful online exhibition facilitated through a dedicated public website, replacing the traditional public consultation. Invitations reached 800 local properties and Broadgate tenants, with local City members and residents expressing excitement to the scheme. Commenting on the news, Grant Findlay, Executive Managing Director of Buildings at Sir Robert McAlpine, said: “We are thrilled to be delivering another world class building for British Land and GIC. 2 Finsbury Avenue is the sixth scheme in the Broadgate framework, following the multi-award-winning 100 Liverpool St and 1 Broadgate projects. This is testament to exemplary industry collaboration and our commitment to nurturing close relationships with our clients to better realise their aspirations and deliver technical excellence.” David Lockyer, Head of Development at British Land, said: “Our longstanding and collaborative relationship with Sir Robert McAlpine has delivered fantastic buildings for us at Broadgate, so we are delighted to be working with them to deliver this iconic new building at the campus. 2FA will set a new standard for workspace in London and is further proof of the continued demand for world class, sustainable workspace in well-connected locations.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The City of London Corporation has approved plans from Landsec to transform Hill House, EC4 into a sustainable workspace and new rooftop restaurant. The news follows planning approval being granted at the end of 2023 for the redevelopment of 55 Old Broad Street, EC2. Combined, the developments will deliver over 660,000 sq ft of best-in-class office space in the City of London. Hill House is adjacent to Landsec’s New Street Square cluster and has been designed to respond to market demand for sustainable, well-connected workplaces supported by great local amenities. It will enhance the Square Mile’s cultural and leisure appeal by combining 380,000 sq ft of high-quality office space with a rooftop club room and terrace, restaurant, cultural events space and a new ground floor home for the much-loved Shoe Lane Library. Hill House will be net zero in both construction and operation. Nearly 60% of the existing structure will be retained and materials from the building will be recovered and re-used where possible. The all-electric building will be powered by air source heat pumps and procure 100% renewable electricity to help businesses meet their ESG targets and respond to employees’ growing sustainability expectations. Oliver Knight, Head of Workplace at Landsec, said: “Businesses are looking for sustainable workspaces in the best connected and most vibrant locations to attract staff into the office and support employee wellbeing. The market for best-in-class space remains robust and, with an increasingly constrained supply pipeline across London, will continue to grow. “Not only will Hill House provide modern, energy efficient workspace, with a new rooftop clubroom and terrace, skyline restaurant and cultural space, it’s set to become a truly seven day a week destination.” The design for Hill House includes extensive access to nature. Alongside landscaped public realm, accessible terraces feature on every level and an external ‘vertical forest’ will cascade down from the top of the building. Hill House was designed by Apt architects. BH2 are leasing agents for Landsec on the development. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Three Chamberlain Square, the next highly sustainable commercial building at Paradise Birmingham, has achieved a key landmark moment for itself and the city as its terracotta façade units make progress across the building. More than 8,000 bespoke facade panels are being installed on 3,000 windows across Three Chamberlain Square, starting with the building’s Paradise Street elevations. The panels give the building its unique and appealing terracotta finish as well as its characteristic ogee arches, with the terracotta manufactured by a traditional supplier in the heart of Tuscany, Italy. The amount of terracotta used in the building adds up to more than a kilometre in length, equal to the length of 20 West Midlands Metro trams end to end. The building is currently at its eighth floor level in terms of construction progress, out of ten overall floors, and will top out later this year. Scheduled to open in 2025, main contractor Sir Rober McAlpine (SRM) began work on site in the spring of 2023. Three Chamberlain Square forms an integral part of the overall Paradise masterplan which is bringing up to 2 million sq ft of commercial space, including 370 residential units and 120,000 sq ft of leisure space, to the city. At 189,000 sq ft, Three Chamberlain Square also helps ensure a continued supply of Grade A office space for the city with an emphasis on sustainability and low energy and low carbon design as part of the global drive to net zero. The unitised façade is manufactured and assembled off site by specialist contractor Inasus, with Palagio in Italy contributing the profiled terracotta fins. Palagio has been in business for fifty years supplying terracotta materials around the world. The façade has excellent thermal insulation properties which will improve the energy efficiency of the building. It is fully demountable, meaning its component parts can be refurbished and recycled in the future, rather than demolished. The terracotta is also unglazed, reducing the embodied carbon further, and once installed requires little maintenance. Gently aging as time goes by, terracotta also helps give buildings a uniquely organic look and feel, and at Three Chamberlain Square this process is a key part of the building’s appeal and identity as a highly sustainable space. Designed by architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBS), Three Chamberlain Square is a radical statement of sustainability for the city and aims to be one of the greenest commercial buildings built in the UK to date. With BREEAM Outstanding and NABERS 5* at design stage ratings already in place, it is already proving to be a first for Birmingham in terms of environmental standards. Ross Fittall, commercial development director at Paradise Birmingham developer MEPC, said: “The façade panels are a key part of the design of Three Chamberlain Square and bring a new architectural aesthetic to Paradise, one that complements the adjacent Grade I listed Town Hall and pays homage to the Victorian terracotta buildings found throughout the city. “As well as being an organic and beautiful material, terracotta is also robust and stands the test of time. It is completely fitting to be used here on Three Chamberlain Square, the most sustainable commercial building in Birmingham, situated in the civic heart of the city centre.” Leader of Birmingham City Council, Councillor John Cotton, joined representatives from MEPC and SRM at the installation of the terracotta panels. He said: “Three Chamberlain Square is a really good example of the tremendous transformation of Birmingham. “We’re seeing record levels of investment in the city and that is about new jobs, new opportunities and bringing new businesses here. This shows how we are working together to change the city for the better so everyone can live, work and thrive in this great city of ours.” As an important contributor to regional growth, Paradise is committed to creating high quality, new pedestrian streets and squares for everyone to enjoy, as well as improving wider pedestrian and public transport links across the city. Early work on the access and transport links around Paradise were supported by Greater Birmingham Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP). Paradise has already completed phase one of the development with One Chamberlain Square wholly occupied by PwC and Two Chamberlain Square providing some of the best views in Birmingham, with stunning vistas across Chamberlain Square itself and of the city’s impressive Classical and Victorian civic architecture. Leisure operators include Dishoom, Rosa’s Thai Café, Albert’s Schloss, F1® Arcade and Yorks Café. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Homes England and Network Rail Property have signed a development agreement with McLaren Property and Arlington Real Estate, solidifying their partnership as strategic developers for York Central. The agreement will lead to the transformation of one of the largest brownfield sites in England alongside other partners the City of York Council and the National Railway Museum. The mixed-use development will build 2,500 new homes (20% of which will be affordable) and create up to one million sq ft of office, retail and hospitality space, along with improvements to the York Railway Station and an enhanced National Railway Museum. York Central has the potential to generate up to 6,500 jobs and will help to grow York’s future economy by 20%, by adding £1.1bn GVA to the city. The one million square feet of new offices, retail and leisure uses, to the rear of York station, will create a major new employment hub for northern England. York Central will include a new 17-acre urban park, with 50% of the rejuvenated site set to be green space, along with vibrant public squares that will connect the new development to the surrounding neighbourhoods and the adjacent York City Centre. Work is already underway on site, preparing it for development, with £135m of infrastructure works currently underway delivering 2km of new roads including bus lanes, segregated footpaths and cycleways, along with two new bridges. McLaren Property and Arlington Real Estate have been undertaking initial community and stakeholder engagement and will continue to work closely with the local community on plans for York Central ahead of submitting plans later this year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Salford City Council has approved regeneration plans to transform MediaCity and The Quays into an iconic waterfront destination. Inspired by design-led waterfronts such as Oslo in Norway and Australia’s Darling Harbour the revised regeneration proposals also include around 3,000 new homes and approximately 800,000 sq ft of additional commercial space across 60 acres. The approval comes following an extensive consultation period and input from the local community. A new artist’s impression has been released to illustrate the new vision for the waterfront at MediaCity and the Quays – the focal point of the regeneration plan’s waterfront and Gateway quarter – forming one of four zones. The aspirational vision for the waterfront will bring new and flexible, all-weather glass-fronted structures and pavilions. This includes a new pedestrian link bridge from MediaCity to The Lowry and Quayside as well as plans to activate North Bay. A new boardwalk and link bridge along the MediaCity waterfront will feature more, quality nature and green space, innovative art installations, and places for people to eat, drink or enjoy the tranquil views from new, design-led fixed outdoor furniture. The giant Piazza will also be reimagined with moveable structures which can house a variety of brand activations all year round. The backdrop to the waterfront is the media quarter – home to the current cluster of 250 creative, tech and digital companies including ITV, BBC and dock10 studios positioned around MediaCity’s main Piazza. The Living Hub will bring a new opportunity for the destination featuring new, highly sustainable homes, businesses and convenience retail interspersed with pockets of green space and boulevards. While, the Culture and Community Hub centred in and around Quayside and The Lowry aims to be the cultural, leisure and retail heart of the destination. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Housebuilder The Hill Group and the Shearer Property Group (SGP) have commenced archaeological works ahead of the first phase of development of City Centre South, a £450 million regeneration scheme that will transform Coventry city centre. These essential preliminary works will ensure the heritage of the site is understood, recorded, and preserved before the start of construction. A team of archaeologists from Cotswold Archaeology has begun a survey of the site with trenches taking place in various locations, starting in the Barracks car park before moving to Bull Yard and Shelton Square. The works are estimated to take seven to eight weeks to complete, and disruption to businesses and visitors will be kept to a minimum. The task will include the excavation of 23 trial trenches of varying sizes and depths, seeking to locate the line of the historic city wall as well as identify any other archaeological remains. Items of significance found during the works will be logged, protected, and covered for further investigation until the site has been cleared. Hill and SGP are working closely with Coventry City Council and West Midlands Police to ensure that emergency protocols are in place should the trenching unearth any unexploded ordnance that remains as a result of the city’s bombing during the Second World War. Andy Fancy, Managing Director at The Hill Group commented: “We are committed to carrying out the archaeological investigation works at City Centre South both safely and sensitively to protect any historical findings before the start of construction. These works are a routine part of the development process and essential due to the development’s location at the heart of Coventry’s historic centre.” Almost a thousand homes have been given the green light in this first phase of City Centre South, including 200 affordable homes, along with space for shops, businesses, and public open space in a pedestrian-friendly quarter. The new development, designed by acclaimed architecture firm Allies and Morrison, introduces a contemporary style that takes its inspiration from Coventry’s heritage. Conveniently located within a five-minute walk of Coventry train station, the development forms a major element of the wider masterplan for the regeneration of the city. Construction at City Centre South is scheduled to start in the autumn, with the first homes expected to be completed in early 2027. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
MOMENTOUS plans to transform part of the East Lincolnshire coast have taken an important step forward, following unilateral approval of the 336-acre sustainable urban extension scheme in Skegness. The news, delivered Wednesday 20 March at an executive meeting of East Lindsey District Council in Horncastle, means the town is on the cusp of receiving more than £300 million in economic benefits, delivering hundreds of local jobs. Projections undertaken by the Gateway team showcase the scheme will deliver employment benefits of £289.7 million, £20.5 million and £16 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) measurability for commercial, industrial and retail sector jobs. The proposed Local Development Order is seeking to expedite the delivery of up to 1000 new homes and more than 49 acres of combined business, industrial and community space. Situated to the west of the town, on land principally owned by Croftmarsh, with additional areas owned by the Scarbrough family, the Skegness Gateway scheme is set to breathe new life into an area of the Lincolnshire coast that drastically needs change in order to secure its future, boosting the local economy and providing the education and jobs for local people that will encourage them to stay in the area. Sue Bowser of Croftmarsh, said: “This is a milestone moment for the people of Skegness and an important step in revitalising our town and community. It is a pathway for people to carve a real future in the town, with employment, skills and learning opportunities all situated within one site, connected by an ambition to restore Skegness at the heart of East Midlands economic investment. “Having farmed the land at Croftmarsh for 30 years, it was always hoped that it could eventually be used for development. Now, it’s a chance for prospective consultants, developers and investors to look more closely at our plans and be a part of transforming Skegness’ future. It will become a new home for thousands of families, a place of ambition and prosperity, with a lasting legacy for generations to come.” As part of the proposals, the Skegness Gateway site also includes provision for a new crematorium, 78 acres of green open space, supported living options and a new local centre. The scheme has garnered wide stakeholder and public support since its launch three years ago, following a series of engagement sessions and appearances at local community events. Last November, it was described by Matt Warman, MP for Boston and Skegness as a catalyst to ‘allow people to gain the skills and knowledge they need to get the jobs they want.’ The scheme was also mentioned in the House of Commons as offering a ‘significant boon to local NHS services.’ Enabling works on the new Skegness TEC college, which is situated on the Skegness Gateway site, is already underway, following planning permission being granted in February last year. Adrian Clarke, group vice principal for corporate services at TEC Partnership, said: “The new campus will provide fantastic opportunities for the local community to undertake courses in further and higher education and develop the skills the area needs for its future.” Chris Baron, chair at Connected Coast, said: “We are seeing unprecedented investment in Skegness which is supporting the delivery of aspirational and transformational projects. “The Skegness Gateway represents a further and significant opportunity to create much-needed facilities for the area and enhance Skegness for people who live and visit here. “Together the opportunities, interventions, and investment – which includes the Towns Fund and the recently announced Long Term Plan for Towns – will bring long-term, sustainable benefits for Skegness which will be felt for generations to come.” Councillor Steve Kirk, East Lindsey District Council portfolio holder for coastal economy, said: “I am delighted to see another positive step taken towards delivering this transformational piece of investment to Skegness and East Lindsey as a whole. “By supporting these plans, we are helping to create new jobs, new education and skills development options, new homes and new opportunities for businesses and the local economy. This is yet another example that shows Skegness is a great place to live, work, play and invest. “Alongside our ongoing Towns Fund and Levelling Up projects, the positive impact of these developments will be felt for generations to come, and I look forward to continuing to see them become a reality in the months and years ahead.” For more information on the Skegness Gateway, visit https://skegnessgateway.co.uk/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Development on America Street, SE1 will see the renovation and redevelopment of four railway arches into new repurposed spaces suitable for a range of uses. Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has confirmed that it has been appointed by new customer The Arch Company –to redevelop four railway arches situated on America Street, SE1. The project will see the renovation and revitalisation of the existing arches into space designed for businesses to thrive. The scope of works encompasses demolition, groundworks, fire rated façade installation, waterproofing, a new substation and extensive sustainable fit-out. The investment will breathe new life into neglected spaces and provide a blank canvas for restaurants, cafes, bars, and other leisure businesses looking to contribute to the local community and economy. The redevelopment is part of The Arch Company’s £200m development plan, Project 1000, which aims to bring a thousand empty or derelict spaces into use across England and Wales by 2030. Works onsite commenced during February and are expected to be completed by the summer. Commenting on the appointment, Glencar CEO Eddie McGillycuddy said: “We are very happy to be working for The Arch Company for the first time and to be working on the revitalisation of these historic viaduct structures into repurposed spaces for business to develop and thrive. In restoring these arches, a key priority set out in the project scope was to deliver a development that meets today’s ever increasing high sustainability standards. Energy efficient elements of the restoration will also include the re-lining of all arch spaces, new insulated floor slabs suitable for restaurant use and the installation of new LED lighting and glazed front infills” We look forward to working closely with the full project team and once again seeing our special projects team at work”. Craig McWilliam, CEO at The Arch Company, said: “We’re investing £2.5m into these spaces to provide much needed additional commercial space suitable for leisure use. Repurposing these arches is part of our ongoing programme to create fit for purpose spaces in which businesses can thrive. Glencar’s special project division comes with a significant pedigree and we look forward to seeing them in action”. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
