Technical construction and engineering specialist Tonroe Group has surpassed the £1 billion turnover milestone for the first time, with surging demand for hyperscale data centres and a strong performance across the UK driving record financial results. The Gerrards Cross-based group reported revenue of £1.19 billion for 2025, representing a 27% increase on the previous year, while pre-tax profits rose 15% to £48 million. The growth has been fuelled by a rapidly expanding international portfolio of data centre projects alongside continued investment in specialist technical construction across multiple sectors. A significant proportion of the group’s success has been driven by its overseas operations, with international projects now generating just over half of total revenue at £608 million. Major contracts secured during the year include work on one of Europe’s largest hyperscale data centre campuses in Portugal, together with projects across Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain. The group’s UK contracting arm, TSL Ltd, also delivered another strong year, increasing turnover by 12% to £592 million and forecasting revenues in excess of £600 million this year, supported by a healthy secured order book. Although pre-tax profits at TSL eased from £27 million to £25 million due to changes in project mix and operating margins, the business strengthened its financial position by increasing cash reserves to almost £70 million while expanding its workforce by nearly 48% to 372 employees. Throughout the year, TSL completed a diverse range of technically complex projects spanning logistics, manufacturing, aviation and food production. These included two major facilities for Greggs, a robotic fulfilment centre in the North East, a significant data centre in the South East and a new aircraft engineering hangar for Jet2. The contractor also commenced work on a fourth manufacturing facility at SmartParc SEGRO Derby for a major international food producer, while continuing to grow its presence across automated logistics, cold storage, advanced manufacturing and pharmaceutical developments. As part of its strategic focus on specialist technical construction, TSL also completed the disposal of its Rockland Concrete division following the financial year-end. The business generated approximately £20 million of revenue during 2025 before being sold through a trade and asset transaction. For the construction and built environment sectors, Tonroe Group’s latest results underline the continuing strength of investment in digital infrastructure, with data centres remaining one of Europe’s fastest-growing construction markets. Demand for highly specialised engineering expertise, combined with growth in advanced manufacturing, logistics and mission-critical facilities, is creating significant opportunities for contractors capable of delivering technically demanding projects. Jackie Wild, Group Chief Executive, said: “2025 was a year of strong growth across the Group, driven by our valued client and supply chain partnerships and sustained focus on consistent delivery. “We also continued to invest capital in the business to enable our sustained growth as we deliver complex projects across a wide international footprint. “With a strong pipeline confirmed for 2026 and beyond, including major capital projects spanning several years, we remain focused on delivering technical construction and engineering excellence for our clients.” With a robust order book and major international projects extending well into the future, Tonroe Group is well positioned to build on its record-breaking performance as investment in hyperscale data centres, advanced industrial facilities and mission-critical infrastructure continues to accelerate across the UK and Europe. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Big Yellow Self Storage is expanding its footprint in the North East after appointing Caddick Construction as principal contractor for a new purpose-built storage facility in Newcastle, further strengthening investment in the UK’s growing self-storage sector. The design and build project will deliver Big Yellow’s second facility in the city, providing approximately 60,000 sq ft of internal self-storage accommodation across four floors at a prominent site on Scotswood Road. The modern development has been designed to meet the increasing demand for flexible storage space from both domestic and commercial customers, while incorporating a range of sustainable features and high-quality customer facilities. Alongside the storage accommodation, the scheme will include customer loading bays, office and reception areas, staff welfare facilities, car parking, landscaping and associated external works. Sustainability has been embedded into the project from the outset, with roof-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and battery energy storage systems forming part of the building’s energy strategy. The development has also been designed to achieve a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating, reflecting its focus on environmental performance and operational efficiency. Construction is scheduled for completion in summer 2027. For the construction and industrial property sectors, the project highlights the continued growth of the self-storage market, where operators are investing in purpose-built facilities to meet rising demand driven by changing lifestyles, urban development, business flexibility and the increasing need for secure storage solutions. The appointment also continues Caddick Construction’s strong growth across the North East. Since opening its Durham office in 2025, the contractor has secured projects with a combined value of £127 million, significantly expanding its regional presence. The Big Yellow development further strengthens Caddick’s growing portfolio of industrial and logistics projects, adding to schemes such as Richardson Barberry’s new DPD parcel hub at Newton Aycliffe. As investment continues across the self-storage and industrial sectors, purpose-built developments such as the new Big Yellow facility demonstrate the growing emphasis on sustainable construction, energy-efficient buildings and modern customer-focused environments. The Newcastle scheme will not only expand storage capacity within the city but also contribute to the continued regeneration and commercial investment taking place along the Scotswood Road corridor. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

GSK has announced plans to open a major new global research and development centre at Cambridge Biomedical Campus. The 300,000 sq ft centre will become home to GSK’s R&D operations in the UK, representing a £400 million investment commitment by the company. Prologis is the development partner for the new centre, which will be located at Discovery Drive on Cambridge Biomedical Campus. The centre is planned across three interconnected buildings – 2000, 3000 and 4000 Discovery Drive. Construction is under way on 2000 Discovery Drive, 3000 Discovery Drive has full planning permission whilst 4000 Discovery Drive recently received planning committee approval, subject to formal planning permission. Today’s announcement marks a significant milestone for Cambridge Biomedical Campus, reinforcing its position as one of the world’s leading life-sciences ecosystems, where biomedical research, patient care, academia and industry come together to support the discovery and development of new medicines. For Prologis, the commitment marks an important milestone in the delivery of Phase 2 expansion at the campus. With 1000 Discovery Drive fully occupied, GSK’s commitment means that Phase 2 will be fully committed once the remaining buildings are delivered. The phase represents $635 million (£500 million) of foreign direct investment by Prologis. The commitment also demonstrates the value of investing ahead of demand in specialist life-sciences infrastructure. By bringing forward high-quality laboratory and research space, Prologis is helping ensure that the infrastructure is available when globally significant organisations choose to establish or expand their operations in the UK. Andrew Blevins, SVP, Life Sciences, Prologis, said: “GSK’s decision is a powerful endorsement of Cambridge Biomedical Campus and the unique ecosystem that has been created here. Prologis invested ahead of demand at Discovery Drive because we believed global life-sciences organisations would continue to choose Cambridge. Having the right specialist infrastructure available allows companies to establish world-class facilities more quickly and strengthens the UK’s ability to compete for internationally significant life-sciences investment.” Jonathan Reynolds, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, said: “The UK is a genuine world leader in the life sciences, an industry providing life-saving new treatments to patients, while creating and supporting jobs in postcodes across the country. “This announcement from GSK is yet another vote of confidence in the sector and demonstrates the success of the Government’s Industrial Strategy in unlocking vital private investment into the UK, one year on from the launch of the Life Sciences Sector Plan. “This is great news for the sector and Prologis’ multi-billion pound future investment ambitions at Cambridge Biomedical Campus, demonstrating the success of the life sciences sector in the UK in attracting investment and supporting innovation which will drive discoveries that save and improve lives.” Paul Bristow, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said: “Cambridge Biomedical Campus has become one of Europe’s leading centres for life sciences because it brings together pioneering research, outstanding healthcare and ambitious businesses in one place. GSK’s expanded presence is another vote of confidence in our region and demonstrates the continued appeal of Cambridgeshire as a place where global organisations choose to innovate and grow.” Prologis is working in partnership with Cambridgeshire County Council to deliver Phases 3 and 4, with the potential to create a further 2.4 million sq ft of life-sciences space and representing an additional investment ambition of $4 billion (£3 billion) over the next two decades. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Prologis UK has received planning committee approval to develop a further life science facility in Phase 2 of its investment programme at the globally renowned Cambridge Biomedical Campus (CBC). Subject to receiving the formal planning permission in coming weeks, 4000 Discovery Drive will provide 112,604 sq ft of modern, sustainable laboratory and office space over six storeys. The building will support the creation of hundreds of new jobs and meet the growing need for life science facilities in the Oxford Cambridge Growth Corridor. The most recent approval follows the full occupation of 1000 Discovery Drive by Cambridge University Hospitals Trust and a leading European biotech company. 2000 Discovery Drive is currently under construction and scheduled to complete in September, whilst 3000 Discovery Drive has full planning permission in place. The successful entitlement and construction of Phase 2 underpin a new public-private partnership between Prologis and Cambridgeshire County Council. In February, the Assets and Procurement Committee of the council agreed a partnership with Prologis to deliver Phases 3 & 4 of expansion at CBC, creating an additional 2.4 million sq ft of life science research, development and innovation space. The partnership represents an additional investment ambition of $4 billion (£3 billion) by Prologis over the next two decades and builds on the $635 million (£500 million) Phase 2 investment. The company’s proposals were welcomed by the UK government as a vote of confidence in the UK economy and its Modern Industrial Strategy. Paul Weston, Regional Head of Prologis UK, said: “Prologis has been investing in the UK life sciences sector for over 20 years, providing the critical infrastructure necessary to ensure that businesses have the modern, sustainable facilities they need. Cambridge Biomedical Campus is globally renowned for innovation in life science and our significant investment over the next two decades will help to cement the campus’ position, whilst delivering lasting economic and health benefits for the people of Cambridge and UK more widely.” Paul Bristow, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said: “The approval of 4000 Discovery Drive is a clear vote of confidence in Cambridge and the UK’s life sciences economy. By investing ahead of demand, Prologis continues to ensure that world-leading organisations can access the sustainable, specialist space they need to choose Cambridge, grow here and remain in the UK. Bringing forward the final consent on the commercial building in Phase 2, while advancing the investment partnership with Cambridgeshire County Council on Phases 3 and 4, demonstrates the power of long-term public-private collaboration to unlock nationally important infrastructure, attract global investment and create high-value jobs. This is the ambition and delivery our region and the country needs, I welcome and support the commitment Prologis continues to deliver.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

A major regeneration project in Oxford has secured planning approval, paving the way for the transformation of an ageing retail park into a state-of-the-art mixed-use destination centred on life sciences, innovation and community. Global architecture practice Perkins&Will has received consent from Oxford City Council to redevelop Ozone Leisure Park on behalf of Pioneer Group and Firoka Group. The scheme will deliver around 500,000 sq ft of laboratory and office accommodation while retaining the site’s established leisure facilities and restoring a historic Grade II* listed farmhouse. The ambitious masterplan responds to the growing demand for high-quality research space within Oxford, one of the world’s leading life sciences and technology clusters, while creating a vibrant destination that blends scientific innovation with heritage, leisure and public spaces. Under the proposals, underused retail space will be replaced with modern laboratories and flexible workspace designed to support pioneering research, business growth and collaboration. Existing attractions, including the cinema, bowling alley, cafés and restaurants, will remain, ensuring the site continues to serve both the local community and visitors. A key element of the regeneration is the restoration and adaptive reuse of the 12th-century Minchery Farmhouse. Vacant for more than a decade and listed on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register since 2011, the Grade II* listed building will be carefully restored and reopened as a pub and social venue overlooking a newly created Priory garden, bringing one of Oxford’s most significant historic buildings back into everyday use. The wider development will also provide more than 43,000 sq ft of leisure, retail and community space, alongside a central public square designed to host markets, outdoor events, performances and dining. Public realm improvements form another important part of the scheme, with 3.2 acres of landscaped open space, the planting of 231 new trees and enhanced walking and cycling routes creating stronger links across the site while promoting biodiversity and active travel. Beyond its physical transformation, the development is expected to generate thousands of new jobs and deliver long-term economic benefits for the region. Plans also include support for education partnerships, vocational training opportunities and skills development, reinforcing Oxford’s position as a global centre for scientific research and innovation. For the construction sector, the project represents a significant mixed-use development that combines specialist laboratory construction, commercial offices, heritage restoration, landscaping and public realm improvements within a single masterplan. The scheme highlights the increasing trend of repurposing underperforming retail destinations to meet growing demand for research, technology and innovation space. With planning permission now secured, the redevelopment of Ozone Leisure Park marks an important step in Oxford’s continued evolution, creating a destination where world-class research, historic preservation, leisure and community life come together to support the city’s future growth. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Cheltenham Borough Council and its development partner HBD have commenced construction on the first phase of Golden Valley – a £1 billion cyber and technology campus in Cheltenham which will be central to driving growth and innovation in UK National Security and Defence. The news marks a significant milestone in the delivery of this purpose-built cyber and tech innovation space, where government, academia and industry will co-create the future of national security and defence as part of a nationally-significant, diverse ecosystem.  Bowmer + Kirkland has been appointed as main contractor for the first phase, which will include the delivery of IDEA, Golden Valley’s central innovation hub, which houses the national security innovation centre.  Scheduled to open early 2028, IDEA will be a true national asset and will drive diversification of the ecosystem by creating a platform for government, academia and growing companies to co-create; its importance in growing UK Cyber and Defence Innovation is underlined in the Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy.  IDEA has also been designed to be 50% more energy efficient than typical workspaces, reducing annual carbon emissions by 200 tonnes, and it will sit within a landscape-led development where 60% of Golden Valley is dedicated to open green space. The building is already 68% reserved thanks to strong early interest in the space and will further strengthen the region’s established reputation as a leading destination for cyber security and advanced technologies. IDEA will also have an integrated Skills Hub, with training programs and pathway guidance to help grow local talent and address the skills gap.  Phase one of the development will additionally deliver a second building called ROUTER. This transport hub is designed to support sustainable and smart movement throughout Golden Valley and beyond. The hub will provide advanced cycling facilities, e-bike charging, showers and lockers, alongside real-time transport information, as well as over 400 car parking spaces, addressing long-term infrastructure needs, as well as convenience retail and leisure amenities for occupiers, residents and the wider community. Hamer Boot, Managing Director at HBD, said: “Reaching the point where Golden Valley is now a live construction site is a major achievement and reflects the strength of collaboration between the public and private sector partners involved in bringing this project forward. Phase one is scheduled for completion in early 2028 and will drive significant investment, create employment opportunities and support the development of future ground-breaking technologies.” Councillor Rowena Hay, leader at Cheltenham Borough Council, added: “The delivery of phase one demonstrates our commitment to creating an internationally-recognised development that will deliver lasting benefits for the local, regional and national economy.” “This milestone also marks the first phase of the wider Garden Community vision at Golden Valley, which will establish a sustainable, mixed-use neighbourhood, including new homes, employment space, a new primary school and a range of amenities for the community.” Dr Marsha Quallo-Wright, GCHQ Director of Technology Futures, said: “As the Golden Valley development reaches an important milestone, we’re looking forward to working alongside academia and industry to strengthen our ability to address emerging security challenges, foster innovation, and support the region’s growth. Through these partnerships we will draw on new expertise, share knowledge, and help develop the skills needed for the future. These collaborations will play an important role in supporting our mission to keep the UK safe.” Stuart Fanshaw, Construction Director at Bowmer + Kirkland, said: “Golden Valley is a major strategic development, and this first phase will set the standard for the wider campus.” “IDEA and ROUTER will provide the foundations for the next stage of Golden Valley, while creating opportunities beyond the site itself, from supply chain involvement to skills development. We are pleased to be playing a key role in bringing this first phase forward.” Golden Valley has been designed to foster collaboration between government, SMEs, start-ups, major technology firms, universities and investors, creating an ecosystem that supports innovation, attracts talent and drives economic growth. GCHQ will serve as an anchor for the South West region, driving demand, talent, economic growth and national security focus while connecting to the wider national security cluster. Find out more by visiting: https://www.goldenvalleyuk.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Construction has officially commenced on the UK’s next-generation national supercomputer, marking the start of one of the country’s most significant scientific infrastructure projects and reinforcing Britain’s ambitions to become a global leader in advanced computing, artificial intelligence and research innovation. Robertson Construction Central East has begun work on the £750m development at the University of Edinburgh, where the new facility will provide an unprecedented increase in computing capability, enabling researchers and businesses to tackle some of the world’s most complex scientific and engineering challenges. Backed by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and funded through an investment of up to £750m from the UK Government, the new supercomputer will be approximately 50 times more powerful than the UK’s current national system, ARCHER2, which is also hosted by the University of Edinburgh. Once operational, the machine will be capable of performing at least one billion-billion calculations every second, representing a transformational leap in computational power. Experts believe this capability will accelerate breakthroughs across a wide range of sectors, including aerospace engineering, advanced manufacturing, climate modelling, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, medical research and artificial intelligence. The new facility will dramatically reduce the time required to process highly complex simulations and datasets, enabling calculations that currently take days to be completed in just a matter of hours. Researchers anticipate this will significantly accelerate innovation in areas such as cancer drug discovery, extreme weather forecasting, aircraft engine design and next-generation AI systems. The University of Edinburgh was selected to host the project in recognition of more than three decades of expertise in high-performance computing through its EPCC National Supercomputing Centre. Previous generations of the university’s supercomputers have played a critical role in supporting Covid-19 drug discovery, improving wind farm performance and enhancing the efficiency of aircraft engines used around the world. Sustainability has also been placed at the heart of the development. The building itself, approximately the size of a large supermarket, has been designed to minimise its environmental impact through a range of innovative measures. The cooler Scottish climate will naturally reduce the energy required for cooling, while the latest cooling technologies will further improve operational efficiency. In addition, waste heat generated by the supercomputer will be captured and used to warm university buildings, with longer-term research exploring how surplus heat could eventually be transferred into water contained within disused mine workings to support low-carbon heating for nearby communities. The construction programme has also been carefully planned to minimise environmental disruption. Existing structures are being retained wherever possible to reduce demolition waste and embodied carbon, while Robertson Construction is delivering a series of biodiversity initiatives including tree planting, the protection of mature trees and wildlife conservation projects across the site. Professor Mark Parsons, Director of EPCC at the University of Edinburgh, described the project as a “profound leap in compute power for the UK”, adding that its impact will extend across science, industry and society by enabling discoveries that improve lives, strengthen the economy and support future innovation. UK AI Minister Kanishka Narayan said the project represents a major milestone in delivering the UK’s long-term computing strategy, ensuring British researchers, businesses and innovators have access to world-class computing capability within the UK. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2027, with the supercomputer scheduled to become operational during spring 2028. Once online, it is expected to become one of Europe’s most powerful computing systems and a cornerstone of the UK’s future research, technology and industrial strategy. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Award-winning home and interiors retailer, Laura James (AGTC Ltd) is proud to announce the official opening of its new operational facility, photography studio and showroom at DIRFT, Rugby, marking a significant milestone in the company’s continued growth and investment in the region. The new facility brings together an expanded operational HQ, purpose-built studio space, and a modern customer showroom, creating a dynamic environment for clients, partners, and employees alike. The move represents one of the largest investments in the company’s history and reinforces Laura James’ long-term commitment to innovation, service excellence, and sustainable growth. The expansion will deliver new employment opportunities within the local area with an estimated 200 jobs within the next 18 months, creating additional jobs across operations, customer service, project delivery and support functions. The investment also includes the introduction of a new fleet of company vans, further enhancing the business’s capacity to serve customers across the UK with an in-house delivery service launch. The opening comes during a period of exceptional performance for the business, which has achieved significant year-on-year growth while continuing to build its reputation as an industry-leading, award-winning organisation. “This is an incredibly exciting chapter for Laura James,” says Matthew Talbot, CEO for Laura James. “Our new home at DIRFT provides the space, facilities and infrastructure needed to support the next phase of our journey. It’s a significant investment of over £4m in operational fit out and delivery fleet in both our business and the Rugby area, creating opportunities for growth, employment and innovation.” “Most importantly, this move is about our people. We have built an amazing team and a culture that we’re incredibly proud of. This new facility gives us the perfect environment to continue creating great work, delivering exceptional experiences for our customers, and making new memories together as a team.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals