Sky and Legal & General have secured planning consent to almost double Sky Studios Elstree in Hertfordshire. Hertsmere councillors have approved the £400m Sky Studios Elstree North project, adding 10 extra stages and 210,000 sq ft of Tier 1 space. The Borehamwood complex will rise to 22 stages across 65 acres and 470,000 sq ft in total. Construction is scheduled to start next year, creating around 600 jobs. The build will be on a similar scale to the original Sky Studios Elstree South complex delivered by BAM. Sky has pledged £6.5m for local road upgrades, a new community green and the safeguarding of 27 acres for wildlife. The professional team includes architect UMC, civil and structural engineer Fairhurst, and M&E consultant Hoare Lea. Sustainability measures span solar panels on every rooftop, LED lighting throughout and a fully electric vehicle fleet. The expansion will also grow Sky Up Academy Studios, offering training and career pathways for 11–18 year olds. By adding 210,000 sq ft of new Tier 1 facilities, the scheme will help address the UK’s projected 1.4m sq ft studio shortfall by 2027—capacity equivalent to at least one additional feature film a year plus multiple high-end TV productions. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

AXA IM Alts has secured a resolution to grant planning permission to redevelop part of the former BBC Elstree Studios into a modern film and TV campus, to be rebranded Fairbanks Studios in honour of former owner Douglas Fairbanks Jr. AXA IM Alts acquired 50% of the 16-acre site in January 2024 for £70m. The remaining half, recently upgraded by the BBC and held on a long-term lease for productions including EastEnders, is unaffected. The proposals transform existing studios and ancillary spaces into a 266,000 sq ft media campus for TV and independent film. Designed by UMC Architects with an art deco frontage, the scheme will more than quadruple stage space to about 100,000 sq ft across five sound stages ranging from 16,000 to 21,000 sq ft. New workshops, offices, a café, base camp, backlot and improved cycle and parking facilities are included. A five-storey ‘media hub’ will add 58,000 sq ft of office and amenity space for media-related businesses directly linked to the studios. Specialist developer-operator Oxygen Studios has been appointed to advise, with construction planned to start later this year. Rob Samuel, head of UK development at AXA IM Alts, said the plan builds on a century of screen heritage, delivering state-of-the-art studios to support Britain’s creative sector while bringing local employment, architectural distinction and sustainable design. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The expansion of Cambridge Biomedical Campus, one of the world’s leading centres of life sciences research, medical innovation, and healthcare provision, continues with construction of 2000 Discovery Drive underway. Designed by Scott Brownrigg for campus developer Prologis, two new speculative life science buildings, 2000 and 3000 Discovery Drive, will provide a further 215,300 sq ft NIA of state-of-the-art laboratory and office space to support growth of the world-class life sciences and biotech ecosystem at Cambridge Biomedical Campus. The designs complement the recently complete 1000 Discovery Drive, creating a family of contemporary buildings visually united by their sleek appearance and striking architectural details which include an exposed structural steel entrance and vertical accent fins. A rich materials palette will reinforce the relationship between the buildings and their setting, while providing each with a unique identity. Providing a resilient and future-proofed environment for research and development, both buildings are flexible by design with the ability to accommodate multiple tenants and a 60:40 laboratory to office split. A host of amenities, including a new “Grab & Go” café workspace will activate a landscaped area around the newly revealed buildings, whilst visible laboratory space at ground level will help to inspire the next generation of researchers by putting science on show. The placemaking strategy promotes the creation of high quality, accessible and inclusive public realm for the benefit of those on campus and the wider community alike. Placing people and their wellbeing at the heart of the landscape design, a series of diverse spaces will provide opportunities for recreation, working and socialising within a calming outdoor environment. As part of a campus-wide strategy, designs will integrate with existing pedestrian and cycle routes to support wellbeing and promote sustainable travel. A new CycleParc will sit at the heart of the landscaping, providing an innovative subterranean solution to house over 450 cycle parking spaces within an elegant arching structure. In addition, over 130 electric vehicle and bike spaces will also be provided within a new multistorey car park as part of the expansion. 2000 and 3000 Discovery Drive will target a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating, following a “fabric-first” approach with key features including aluminium louvres to help optimise building solar performance, and green roofs and high-quality landscaped spaces to increase biodiversity. Rooftop solar panels will generate electricity to power communal building services, feeding into a wider all-electric energy strategy that avoids the use of fossil fuels. Building upon the success of the recently complete and fully let 1000 Discovery Drive, the latest developments will play a key role in helping to meet high demand for life science space and attract new businesses to the area enabling a vibrant and well-connected life sciences community to drive improved health outcomes to benefit people locally, regionally and globally. Construction has started on 2000 Discovery Drive and is expected to complete in Autumn 2026. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Teesside Freeport has secured a landmark renewable energy project, with NatPower announcing plans to invest £1bn in one of the UK’s largest ever battery energy storage systems (BESS). The Teesside GigaPark will be developed on a 32-acre site at Wilton International in Redcar, owned by Sembcorp Energy UK. Once completed, it will deliver an initial storage capacity of at least four gigawatt hours, with the potential to double to eight gigawatt hours in later phases. The privately financed project aims to connect to the national grid by 2028, subject to reforms set by the National Energy System Operator. Battery storage systems play a crucial role in balancing the grid, capturing surplus electricity generated during periods of high renewable output and releasing it back when demand peaks or when production is low. NatPower intends for the Teesside GigaPark to integrate with maritime electrification infrastructure and store power generated from offshore wind and other renewable sources. Stefano Sommadossi, CEO of NatPower UK, said Teesside’s established infrastructure and industrial base made it an ideal location. “This mix of demand ensures resilience and supports Teesside’s dual role as both a digital and maritime hub,” he commented. NatPower is also exploring opportunities with potential off-takers in sectors such as logistics, shipping, data centres and clean energy manufacturing. The scale of the scheme would mark a step change for the UK’s energy landscape. The country’s largest operational battery system today is a 600MWh facility in Thurrock, connected to the grid in 2023. By comparison, Teesside’s proposed GigaPark would offer storage on a scale not yet delivered in Britain. However, the announcement comes at a time of mounting pressure over land use across Teesside Freeport. Ministers recently designated Teesworks, a former steelworks site outside Middlesbrough, as the UK’s second artificial intelligence growth zone. Plans for a 464,000 square metre data centre campus have already secured outline planning approval, with more detailed applications expected to follow. That designation has sparked concerns for other projects vying for the same land. In particular, BP’s proposed blue hydrogen and carbon capture plant faces uncertainty after Teesworks’ backers argued the development would clash with space required for the data centre, describing the AI-focused project as of “critical national importance”. BP has countered that both schemes could coexist, but tensions remain unresolved. As the government reviews its special economic zone programme under its wider industrial strategy, the Teesside GigaPark highlights both the potential and the pressures facing the UK’s largest freeport: a region balancing energy transition ambitions, digital infrastructure growth, and competing claims over some of its most strategic land. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) has appointed McLaren Construction to deliver a £100 million retrofit and extension of its 1950s building at 35 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, creating a new home for the Firoz Lalji Global Hub. Designed by David Chipperfield Architects, the scheme is set to become the UK’s largest Passivhaus retrofit and an exemplar of circular economy principles. Approximately 60% of the existing structure will be retained, with the top three floors and roof plant enclosure replaced by a lightweight cross-laminated timber extension. The redevelopment will expand the building’s total area from 9,856 to 11,848 square metres. A major transformation will see the removal of an internal infill structure, creating a spacious atrium and improving circulation. A new ground floor and partial first floor slab will deliver level access into the building, while the remodelled layout will accommodate not only the Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa but also the Department of Mathematics, Department of Statistics, Executive Education, and the Data Science Institute. Facilities will include lecture halls, seminar rooms, offices, a dining area, a ground floor café, and the 270-seat LSE Agora theatre, designed for debates and broadcasts. Cycle storage, changing facilities, and mechanical plant will be located at basement level, with green and blue roofs, photovoltaic panels, and new mechanical systems installed on the roof. Targeting BREEAM Outstanding, Passivhaus certification, and WELL Platinum, the building will exceed London’s ambitious targets for carbon, energy, water use, and biodiversity. Sustainability consultant Buro Happold is working with McLaren to reduce embodied carbon by rethinking material choices, eliminating unnecessary components, and sourcing low-carbon alternatives. Salvaged materials, including parquet flooring, brass inlays, lighting fixtures, ceramic tiles, and reclaimed brickwork, will be reused. The project also sources materials from other nearby construction sites to support the circular economy. The adaptable and deconstructable design will help extend the building’s lifespan while minimising its environmental impact. Externally, the eight-storey brick structure will be refreshed with a lime-based, off-white wash, preserving the texture of the original masonry while complementing its setting in the Strand Conservation Area. Positioned between the Grade II* listed Royal College of Surgeons and the Grade II listed former Land Registry building, the scheme is designed to enhance the historic streetscape surrounding Lincoln’s Inn Fields. Julian Robinson, director of estates at LSE, described the project as a major milestone in the university’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and academic excellence. McLaren’s London and South managing director Darren Gill added that the work demonstrates how advanced retrofit methods can revitalise older buildings into world-class spaces while sharply reducing both embodied and operational carbon. Supported by a £28 million donation from Ugandan Asian businessman Firoz Lalji, the development is scheduled for completion in 2027 and is set to stand as a model for sustainable design in higher education. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Plans are advancing for a major AI data centre development at the Teesworks site in Northeast England, with the UK government aiming to position it as Europe’s largest AI infrastructure hub. But behind the headlines of digital transformation and investment, the project is fast becoming a focal point for debates around sustainability, governance, and planning priorities. Teesworks Ltd submitted a planning application in June for a proposed hyperscale campus covering nearly 500,000 square metres. The facility would anchor the UK’s second AI Growth Zone, complementing the existing site at Culham in Oxfordshire. The development forms part of the government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan and Compute Roadmap, both designed to increase the UK’s sovereign computing power. Backed by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), the project is seen as essential for scaling AI workloads, providing dedicated energy access, and embedding the infrastructure into wider industrial and academic ecosystems. Early interest from leading tech firms suggests strong commercial momentum, with site selection favouring Teesside’s ample brownfield space, utilities access, and regeneration incentives. Yet the project faces mounting tension from within government and beyond. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has flagged environmental risks, especially around the expected energy draw and water usage of large-scale AI centres. These concerns are amplified by a parallel proposal at the site: BP’s blue hydrogen and carbon capture (CCUS) facility. Local authorities and Teesworks Ltd have previously expressed opposition to the CCUS scheme, citing incompatibility with the data centre plan. This clash of priorities sets up a critical decision for Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, who is due to rule on the CCUS proposal by 28 August. The outcome could determine whether Teesworks becomes a national flagship for digital infrastructure or encounters prolonged planning conflict. Adding further complexity, Teesworks has come under scrutiny for its governance practices. A 2024 independent review raised questions about transparency and public value. This led to a best value notice issued in April 2025 and the creation of an improvement board to oversee development and accountability. With public-private collaboration at the core of the site’s ambition, confidence in management practices is crucial. For the building, design, and construction sector, the Teesworks data centre raises major questions about how future infrastructure projects balance innovation with environmental stewardship. As AI becomes more embedded in everyday systems—from smart cities to automated construction tools—the physical spaces that support this technology must align with broader sustainability goals. Constructing a site of this scale will demand integrated approaches across civil engineering, energy planning, facilities management, and digital systems architecture. Whether in HVAC systems tailored for server cooling, or sustainable power sourcing to mitigate emissions, design choices made now will influence long-term outcomes for both climate impact and operational resilience. If approved, the Teesworks campus could offer a blueprint for integrating hyperscale compute infrastructure into post-industrial landscapes. But it also highlights the increasing pressure on developers and public bodies to deliver technological progress without compromising environmental integrity or public trust. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Construction has officially commenced on one of the world’s largest electric arc furnaces (EAF) in Port Talbot, Wales — a cornerstone project in the UK’s move toward sustainable steel production. Senior executives from Tata Steel, alongside UK Government ministers and leading contractors, gathered on site today for the groundbreaking ceremony at the state-of-the-art facility. The new EAF will melt UK-sourced scrap steel to produce three million tonnes of steel annually, significantly reducing reliance on traditional blast furnaces. As part of Tata Steel UK’s wider decarbonisation strategy, the project also includes advanced ladle metallurgy systems and major infrastructure upgrades. The scheme, led by principal contractor Sir Robert McAlpine, is backed by a robust supply chain including Darlow Lloyd & Sons, Mii Engineering, Skelton Thomas, Wernick Buildings, Andrew Scott Ltd, and Systems Group. With a total investment of £1.25bn — including £500m of support from the UK Government — the transformation aims to deliver low-carbon steelmaking at scale. Once operational by the end of 2027, the EAF is expected to cut Port Talbot’s carbon emissions by around 90%, the equivalent of five million tonnes of CO₂ annually, while safeguarding 5,000 UK jobs. Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Tata Group Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran said: “This is an important day for Tata Group, Tata Steel, and the UK. Today’s groundbreaking marks not only the beginning of a new electric arc furnace but the dawn of a cleaner, greener era of manufacturing in Britain. At Port Talbot, we are laying the foundations for a more sustainable future — supporting jobs, driving innovation, and demonstrating our commitment to responsible industry leadership.” “This initiative is part of Tata Group’s wider investment in the UK — spanning steel, automotive, and technology — and reflects our deep and enduring partnership with the country.” Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens, added: “The UK Government acted decisively to secure the future of steelmaking in Port Talbot. With £500m invested in Tata’s transition and £80m to support workers and the wider community, we’re ensuring this vital industry thrives for generations to come.” “This project is just one element of our wider Steel Strategy, which includes £2.5bn in investment to rebuild the UK’s steel sector, protect jobs, and drive growth. With new opportunities in floating offshore wind, the Celtic Freeport, and local regeneration, Port Talbot has a bright and promising future.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

CONSTRUCTION has completed at Molson Coors Brewing Company’s new UK headquarters in Burton-on-Trent. Delivered by main contractor Clegg Food Projects, the project successfully transformed the former historic site, which included the construction of a modern atrium link building and a new office block, into a state-of-the-art 10,300m² facility to support Molson Coors’ growing operations across the UK and Ireland. Works got underway in the summer of 2023, with the project team working closely with Molson Coors and BHB Architects. The conservation of the historic structure while integrating contemporary building services to meet 21st-century regulations required careful planning and expertise. The team also ensured that the new additions complemented the character of the area, reflecting Burton upon Trent’s deep brewing heritage. “We’re extremely proud to have been involved in this project,” said Oliver Jenkins, business development manager at Clegg Food Projects. “Our team worked closely with the entire project team to preserve the building’s heritage while delivering a modern, sustainable workplace. “The new HQ not only cements Molson Coors’ rich legacy in the brewing industry but also reflects the company’s commitment to the future.” The new HQ will provide office and amenity spaces for more than 500 staff members. Key features include a striking double-height entrance and reception area, alongside a contemporary glazed atrium with social breakout spaces. The design incorporates formal and informal meeting rooms cantered around a tap bar, reflecting the company’s branding and product lines. A large staff food and drink facility has also been added, along with improved car parking, EV charging and cycle storage. Generous landscaping enhancements will further enrich the external environment, providing a welcoming and functional space for all employees. Molson Coors Brewing Company is the UK arm of Molson Coors Beverage Company, the brewer behind some of the biggest beer and cider brands including Carling, Madrí Excepcional, Coors, Rekorderlig, and Aspall Cyder. For further information visit www.cleggfoodprojects.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Ashfield District Council has named Lindum Group as the construction partner for the Automated Distribution and Manufacturing Centre (ADMC), a pioneering facility that will anchor the £100 million Ashfield Innovation and Technology Park in Sutton-in-Ashfield. Construction of the ADMC is set to begin this summer, with completion expected by late 2026 and the first businesses moving in by early 2027. The 2,800-square-metre purpose-built facility will serve as a national centre of excellence for automation, supporting businesses of all sizes in developing and implementing bespoke automation strategies. By driving productivity, competitiveness, and innovation, the centre is expected to significantly boost long-term economic growth in the region. Modelled on the UK’s Catapult Centres, the ADMC will offer access to cutting-edge technology, skills development, and independent expertise. Its operations will focus on four key pillars: In addition to technical facilities, the centre will include space for networking, events, and collaboration. It will be staffed by a dedicated team of researchers, engineers, and technical specialists. Several strategic partners are already involved in shaping the centre’s offer, including Nottingham Trent University, Vision West Nottinghamshire College, Swiftool Precision Engineering, and ECS Engineering. Their involvement aims to ensure that the ADMC meets real-world industry demands and aligns with the needs of the region’s manufacturers and logistics operators. Situated on Lowmoor Road, close to the A38, M1, and Sutton Parkway Station, the ADMC is ideally positioned to serve the Midlands’ strong industrial base. The broader Innovation and Technology Park, backed by the government’s Towns Fund, is a key part of Ashfield’s regeneration strategy and will play a vital role in delivering high-skilled employment opportunities across the district. Freddie Chambers, Co-Chair of Lindum Group, said: “We are pleased to be appointed as the construction partner for the ADMC. This centre represents a bold vision for the future of UK industry and will create a legacy for Ashfield. As a construction company with strong Midlands roots and a commitment to social value, we are proud to be helping to bring this transformational facility to life.” Councillor Jason Zadrozny, Leader of Ashfield District Council, added: “Once the ADMC is completed and functioning, it will become a magnet for businesses who recognise the need to embrace new technology to drive growth and improve. It should provide a legacy for generations to come and one we firmly believe will attract more high skilled jobs to Ashfield. “The economic benefits of this project are incredible and will allow the Council to unlock the district’s true potential. This is all part of our broader regeneration strategy to make Ashfield a fantastic place to live, work, study, play and visit.” The project is being delivered through the SCAPE Regional Construction framework, chosen to provide early contractor engagement, cost efficiencies, and a streamlined procurement process. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals