Developers Gamuda Berhad and Castleforge have formally appointed Multiplex to deliver the £250m main construction contract for the redevelopment of 75 London Wall in the City of London. The contract was signed this week, clearing the way for full construction to begin on the landmark scheme following extensive enabling and demolition works carried out by the Erith Group. The wider redevelopment carries an overall project value of £1.2bn, with practical completion targeted for the first quarter of 2028. Multiplex has been closely involved in the scheme for the past year under a pre-construction services agreement, working alongside the development team to refine buildability, programme and sustainability strategies ahead of the main works commencing. Once complete, the redevelopment of 75 London Wall will deliver more than 450,000 sq ft of Grade A office accommodation, repositioning an existing large-scale building into a future-ready commercial asset at a time when availability of high-quality office space in the City remains constrained. Niall Farmer, head of Gamuda Land UK at Gamuda Berhad, said the contract award marked an important step in the group’s expansion in the UK market and its strategy to unlock long-term value from prime London assets. He added that the scheme represents a rare opportunity to transform a building of scale into highly sustainable workspace at a point when demand for top-tier offices continues to outstrip supply. Michael Kovacs, founding partner of Castleforge, said the timing of the project was critical. With office construction starts in London at their lowest level in almost two decades, he said bringing the scheme to completion in 2028 would help address acute supply shortages, noting that successful office investment often requires building through the quieter parts of the cycle. Callum Tuckett, managing director of Multiplex, said delivering a project of this scale in the heart of the City demands both technical expertise and innovation. He added that the scheme would set a new benchmark for sustainable commercial development, with the contractor’s early involvement enabling the project team to move swiftly into the delivery phase. The redevelopment is expected to play a significant role in shaping the next generation of City office space. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Developer Edge, in partnership with Mitsubishi Estate, is preparing to move ahead with a £150m redevelopment of 125 Shaftesbury Avenue after securing a major funding package for the West End scheme. Sir Robert McAlpine is understood to be the preferred contractor for the large-scale office refurbishment, which is being taken forward on a speculative basis. With funding now in place, construction is expected to start early this year once enabling works and strip-out are completed by John F Hunt. The project, known as EDGE Shaftesbury, is backed by a consortium of Japanese equity investors including Tokyo Tatemono, Toko Electrical Construction and Fuyo General Lease, alongside development finance provided by Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank. The investment underlines continued confidence in prime London office space despite wider market uncertainty. The scheme already has planning consent to transform the existing 1980s building into approximately 250,000 sq ft of modern workspace. Proposals include a reconfigured main entrance on Charing Cross Road, new rooftop terraces and upgraded office floors designed to meet the expectations of contemporary occupiers. Completion is targeted for 2028. A central feature of the redevelopment is its low-carbon strategy. Around 75% of the existing structure will be retained, significantly reducing embodied carbon compared with a full demolition and rebuild. The refurbishment will also increase the building’s height from 11 to 13 storeys and introduce new ground-floor workspace to enhance street-level activity. Fons van Dorst, managing director UK at Edge, said securing the funding represented a key milestone for the project and its partnership with Mitsubishi Estate London. He added that the move into delivery would allow the team to focus on creating a high-quality, future-ready office building that benefits occupiers, neighbours and the wider city. Once complete, the development is expected to play a prominent role in the ongoing renewal of London’s West End office market. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Railpen, manager of the £34bn railways pension scheme in the UK, has completed the renovation of the Rotunda, a Grade II-listed former piano factory, into state-of-the-art offices at its Jamestown Courtyard development in London’s Camden neighbourhood.  Jamestown Courtyard, the 45,000 sq ft development comprised of seven heritage buildings, now has only two floors to let in the completed Rotunda: the 4,054 sq ft courtyard floor and the 4,742 sq ft third floor.  The Rotunda – which provides panoramic, 360-degree views across Regents Park, Camden Lock and Central London – is a four-minute walk from Camden Town tube station and an eight-minute cycle to King’s Cross and St Pancras International stations. As a key anchor to the development, the Rotunda is a character-rich workspace, creating the ideal, open-plan structure environment for the likes of architecture firms, production and studio companies, and other creative industry professionals. Railpen is also committed to enhancing the wider public realm of Jamestown Courtyard, adding greenery and seating to create a space that the local community wants to spend time in, and drive growth for nearby retailers and hospitality operators. The Rotunda is already home to a range of tenants, including Acamar Films on the ground floor, while building services consultants Max Fordham occupy the first and second floors. The completion of the Rotunda is complemented by 12 Oval Road, also part of Railpen’s Jamestown Courtyard development, being fully let, following the lease renewal of music management company, Trinifold.  Emily Atkinson, Asset and Transaction Manager at Railpen, said: “Across our entire UK portfolio, we are dedicated to developing standout, state-of-the-art office developments, and the Rotunda at Jamestown Courtyard is absolutely no exception. The blend of history and modernity, as well as its proximity to Central London and other major landmarks, reflects our commitment to supporting the evolving needs of modern occupiers, offering flexibility, character and a strong sense of place within a vibrant community. “This project is a key part of our wider office strategy to create well-designed, sustainable workplaces that support how people want to work today and in the future, creating lasting value for both occupiers and the wider community.”  Alasdair Reid, Director at Max Fordham, said: “The Rotunda at Jamestown Courtyard really is something unique. Whether it’s the prime location, spectacular views or characterful interiors, we are proud to call it our home. Railpen positively engaged with our wishes for a much-improved environmental performance, and they have delivered a state-of-the-art office asset within this wonderful historic building. We look forward to welcoming our new neighbours in the near future.” Jamestown Courtyard forms just one of Railpen’s office developments in London and the wider UK, sitting alongside the recently launched 101 Bayham Street, which is also situated close by in Camden, as well as 125 Wood Street in the heart of the city, 4 Coleman Street, which is being delivered in Q2 2026, and the upcoming refurbishment of Red Lion Square in Holborn. Its portfolio also includes 11 assets across Cambridge, including Mill Yard and Botanic Place, both of which are under construction, and Multistory in Birmingham.  JLL and Edward Charles & Partners are the leasing agents on Jamestown Courtyard. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Wates Smartspace has announced the completion of the full refurbishment of Lloyds Banking Group’s historic Grade II-listed Trinity Road office in Halifax, West Yorkshire, delivering a future-ready workplace for 3,500 colleagues. The project, delivered in collaboration with Lloyds Banking Group and Calderdale Council, is being hailed as a landmark office transformation that establishes a new regional benchmark for sustainable, inclusive, and heritage-led construction. The iconic 317,000 sq. ft, diamond-shaped Trinity building was originally opened by Her Majesty the Queen in 1974. Wates has preserved its unique architectural significance, ensuring key heritage features such as the York Stone façade, listed timber panelling, and distinctive glass grid lighting remain intact, continuing the building’s status as a Halifax landmark. Sustainable and Economic Impact The transformation has significantly improved the building’s environmental performance, making the site three times more energy efficient than before. Key sustainability features include: Thermal Upgrades: These were implemented alongside the heat pump system to boost the building’s efficiency. Beyond the environmental benefits, the project delivered a major economic boost to the local area. Wates funnelled over £20 million through local suppliers and its supply chain supported 112 people into employment, including 75 apprentices. Furthermore, 460 students benefitted from site visits and career talks, with nearly 100 students now undertaking T-level qualifications, graduate placements, and apprenticeships with Lloyds at the Halifax office. Wates also partnered with local charities, including Mothershare and Overgate Hospice, donated furniture, sponsored school activities, and contributed over 6,000 hours volunteering to community projects. Scott Camp, Managing Director at Wates Smartspace, commented: “At Wates, our purpose is to reimagine places for people to thrive, and we are proud to have delivered that in this landmark transformation of Lloyds Banking Group’s historic Halifax building. We’ve honoured the building’s unique heritage while introducing sustainable solutions that make it three times more energy efficient and future ready. This project demonstrates how modernisation and preservation can go hand in hand, delivering a workplace that celebrates its past while embracing a greener, more inclusive future.” Sharon Doherty, Chief People and Places Officer at Lloyds Banking Group, described the investment as a testament to the company’s commitment to Yorkshire, its colleagues, and the region’s future. Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, hailed the investment as a “fantastic vote of confidence” in the region, noting that Lloyds is “setting the bar high for how businesses can preserve our heritage whilst embracing innovation.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

RED Construction Group, the specialist contractor, has announced the completion of a £20.5m office refurbishment to Aviva Investors’ Grade II listed Victorian building, 134 – 146 Curtain House, in Shoreditch. Carried out by RED Construction’s London team, the six-storey, 54,000 sq ft building has undergone an extensive refurbishment, including the introduction of rooftop terraces covering 3,700 sq ft, structural alterations to the existing office into Cat A and B workspace, a new main entrance, reception area, and lifts. Originally built between 1881 and 1887, Curtain House was first used for furniture and clothing manufacturing, and now hosts 40,000 sq ft of office space for the modern-day tenant. Designed by architects Anomaly, Curtain House has been refurbished with a primary focus on sustainable practices, achieving BREEAM Excellent and an EPC A rating. Complementing the rich history associated with the building, RED’s London team carried out considered external masonry, window and timber floor restoration, and repair of internal brickwork and steel columns. Tony O’Farrell, Divisional Director at RED Construction London, commented: “Considered refurbishment of heritage-rich sites is a core part of RED Construction Group’s expertise, with our London team having successfully delivered an extensive portfolio of developments across multiple sectors in the capital. These types of projects are extremely important and rewarding, especially when we partner with a client like Aviva Investors, that shares our deep-rooted commitment to social value, alongside a desire to evolve buildings in a way that retains heritage.” Petr Esposito, Co-Founder/Director at Anomaly, added: “Working alongside a deliciously formidable team that fundamentally understands the importance of heritage, its nuances, its irks, its challenges, its charms, and is committed to developing innovative and sustainable practices to best support the retrofit of a gorgeous historic site such as Curtain House, is unquestionably imperative. RED Construction Group have been the ideal partner to bring the relentless ambition of Aviva Investors to life, delivering our combined vision for what is a truly landmark, truly naughty building.” Aiming to build a more inclusive and dynamic future for the industry and committed to leaving a positive legacy, RED Construction Group partnered with Aviva Investors on a range of social value initiatives to give back to the community. Alongside partnerships spanning wood recycling initiatives and creative placemaking, the Curtain House team has maintained a long-term partnership with The Land Collective as part of their Black Girls in Property programme. Intended to equip young black women with skills and knowledge for careers in the built environment, the team has held four repeat engagement events through the project’s duration that include a site tour for 20 students, a three-day ‘Investing in Your Future’ initiative, two internships, and an engagement event showcasing the progress of the project. The emphasis on Social Value initiatives at Curtain House has meant that the project has surpassed its initial targets across an array of education metrics. Including the work with The Land Collective, RED has through the course of the project helped to deliver nearly four times more than the targeted number of educational hours for outreach, and more than double the number of work experience placement days. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Hertfordshire based contractor Conamar has secured an £18 million contract from Alchemy Asset Management to refurbish and decarbonise 7–21 Wilson Street in the City of London. Work is due to start on site in January, with completion targeted for summer 2027. The project will see the former Arbuthnot Bank building transformed into around 36,000 square feet of best in class, sustainably refurbished office space, including a substantial rooftop terrace. A key feature of the scheme is a new façade designed to refresh the building’s presence on Wilson Street. The upgraded frontage will incorporate curved glazing alongside high performance stone and terracotta cladding, giving the property a contemporary look while improving its environmental performance. Conamar is understood to have beaten competition from RED Construction and Forcia to secure the job following a competitive tender process. David Hughes, director at Alchemy Asset Management, said:“We are delighted to have selected Conamar to deliver this exciting project on behalf of our overseas client. This speculative investment responds directly to sustained occupier appetite and reflects our confidence in the resilience of the London office market. “Having secured planning consent earlier this year, we ran a competitive tender process over the summer, and we were impressed with Conamar’s diligence and commitment to the project. We look forward to delivering this refurbishment with them into an increasingly tightly supplied market.” Nathanial Crichton, pre construction director at Conamar, added:“The competitive tender, followed by a rigorous due diligence period, enabled us to demonstrate our understanding of the client’s development drivers and value priorities. “Through collaborative design and commercial analysis, we identified additional net internal area and realised close to £2 million in cost efficiencies. Our dedicated design partners and core supply chain have been instrumental in shaping a deliverable and efficient route to market. We are very pleased to be moving forward and look forward to bringing this project to life.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

McLaren Construction has been chosen by developer Global Holdings Management Group to deliver Xylo, a pioneering 100,000 square foot office building in Clerkenwell that will become the UK’s largest all timber frame workplace. The nine storey scheme in central London moves into full construction following the completion of enabling works. McLaren will now work with architects Piercy&Co, project manager Avison Young, services and sustainability engineers Max Fordham, and structural and civil engineers Heyne Tillett Steel, with completion targeted for the second quarter of 2028. Xylo is being billed as one of the most environmentally advanced office buildings in the world. Its structure will be formed entirely from glulam beams and cross laminated timber, supplied by Hybrid Structures, part of the William Hare Group. The extensive use of engineered timber significantly reduces embodied carbon when compared with traditional steel and concrete, while also aiming to create a warm, natural internal environment for future occupiers. Darren Gill, managing director for London and South at McLaren Construction, said the job represents a major step forward for sustainable office development in the capital. “This is a pioneering use of structural timber and off site manufacturing to deliver a high level of buildability and sustainability on a typically tight central London site,” he said. “The result will be a landmark project that redefines what a sustainable, healthy workplace can be. Rigorous digital information management systems enable us to monitor carbon emissions as the project progresses and ensure that it comfortably meets its ambitious targets.” Josh Lawrence, chief executive of Global Holdings Management Group UK, added: “We are delighted to be working with McLaren to deliver Xylo – a game changing project and a significant milestone for our industry. Xylo is going to be the perfect building for companies that are leaders in their fields, showcasing the most environmentally friendly technologies in a truly beautiful building, underpinned by a vibrant neighbourhood and excellent transport links.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The timetable for a major new over-station development at Paddington has been brought forward, with main contractor Mace now preparing to start full construction in the first quarter of next year. Developer Helical, which is delivering the project in joint venture with Transport for London’s property company Places for London, said the programme for the canalside scheme has been “materially accelerated” following early engagement with Mace. Preparatory works are already under way on site ahead of formal acquisition, which is due to complete in January 2026. The scheme will deliver a 235,000 square foot office building above Paddington Station, adding premium workspace in a location with strong transport links and constrained supply. Designed by Grimshaw, the proposed 19 storey building will provide 15 floors of office accommodation above ground floor retail, activating the canalside frontage and stitching the new development into the wider Paddington regeneration area. The value of Mace’s contract has been reported at around £200 million. As a result of the reworked programme, completion is now targeted for the third quarter of 2028, bringing the delivery date forward from the previous target of the fourth quarter. Helical noted that this would see the building come to market at a time when prime office supply in central London is expected to be particularly limited. Alongside progress at Paddington, Helical has also confirmed that heads of terms have been agreed for the forward funding of its development above Southwark Tube station, again in partnership with Places for London. This project will see the construction of a 429 studio student accommodation building, with the 44 affordable homes within the scheme forward sold to the London Borough of Southwark. Both transactions are expected to exchange before the end of the year. Construction at Southwark is scheduled to begin in the first half of 2026, with completion of both the student accommodation and the affordable housing targeted for 2029, further underlining Helical’s role in delivering complex, transport-linked schemes across the capital. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

A major deep retrofit of the former Pinners Hall at 108 Old Broad Street has been approved, paving the way for a significant transformation of the 1990s office block in the heart of the City of London. Development manager Patrizia has secured planning consent for the project, working alongside long-standing partner Far East Organization, which owns the building. The site sits between Liverpool Street and Bank, in one of the busiest pockets of new development in the City core. Designed by architect Stiff and Trevillion, the scheme will add new upper levels and a pavilion on the seventh floor, enhancing the building’s profile and contributing to a total of around 200,000 square feet. Patrizia says the plans will increase net lettable space by roughly 15 per cent. The building has already been stripped out and main construction work is expected to begin in the first quarter of next year, with completion targeted for summer 2027. A contractor has yet to be appointed. The project team includes Quartz as project manager and Gardiner and Theobald as quantity surveyor. The redevelopment builds on Patrizia’s value add portfolio across Europe, including recent projects at 40 Grosvenor Place in Belgravia, 24 Endell Street in Covent Garden and The Louise in Brussels. The company continues to advance its brown to green strategy, focusing on delivering future fit offices in major markets. Dan Williams, head of investment management development at Patrizia, said the planning approval represents an important step towards realising the vision for 108 Old Broad Street. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals