Plans for a skills and cyber campus of national significance in Blackburn have officially been lodged. A planning application submitted by Maple Grove Blackburn – a joint venture between Maple Grove Developments and Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council – is seeking planning permission for the first phase of the works,
Willmott Dixon has been selected by Bridgend College for the £60 million project to build its new Town Centre Campus development. The College is relocating from its current base at Cowbridge Road Campus to a site previously occupied by the former Police Station and a multi-storey car park at Cheapside,
Caddick Construction has grown its further education portfolio with an appointment to build a new 24,000 sq ft extension at Loreto Sixth Form College in Hulme, a project that will accommodate 264 new students. Work is now underway on the new three-storey campus building, which is being constructed on Moss
Caddick Construction has been appointed to build a new 24,000 sq ft extension at Loreto Sixth Form College in Hulme. Work is now underway on the new three-storey campus building, which is being constructed on Moss Road West adjacent to the existing campus on Chichester Road South. Planning permission for
Refurbishment works have begun to transform the Central Building at the University of Nottingham’s new Castle Meadow Campus. Delivered by Midlands contractor, G F Tomlinson, the refurbishment works will breathe new life into the Central Building, which sits on the site of the former HMRC offices, helping to establish the campus
A SIGNIFICANT four-year programme to improve pupil accessibility and retention has completed in Essex, delivering upgraded facilities in line with modern teaching standards. The restoration of Brentwood County High School, undertaken by two of construction’s leading industry names, has seen the introduction of two new specialist teaching blocks, a refurbished sports hall,
Edinburgh Futures Institute has officially opened its doors to the public in the transformed and revitalised Old Royal Infirmary building. The much-loved city landmark will officially open to the public on Monday 3rd June following an extensive seven-year, multi-million-pound restoration. Built in 1879, the Old Royal Infirmary housed the city’s
New school for Cornwall to be delivered using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) Reds10, the vertically integrated off-site construction specialist, has been given the go-ahead by Cornwall Council for Sky Primary and Eden Project Nursery in West Carclaze, Cornwall. The new school and nursery has been designed to be net-zero
Durham University has selected UPP to be the Preferred Bidder to develop, in a partnership, a detailed scheme proposition for the refurbishment of the College of St Hild and St Bede on its historic Riverside location and the development of new college accommodation at the Leazes Road site. UPP are
Work has continued behind the scenes as University of Cumbria prepares to start building its new campus at The Citadels site in Carlisle city centre. The University has obtained possession of various properties on English Street and Victoria Viaduct, with plans to vacate the remaining occupied properties on English Street
Plans for a skills and cyber campus of national significance in Blackburn have officially been lodged. A planning application submitted by Maple Grove Blackburn – a joint venture between Maple Grove Developments and Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council – is seeking planning permission for the first phase of the works, including two new contemporary buildings with landscaping and a public realm. The development has been earmarked for the former Blackburn Market site in Brown Street and is part of the £250 million Blackburn Town Centre Masterplan – a blueprint for town centre development developed by BDP to transform the area, including the land where the Thwaites Brewery historically stood. The application for the Blackburn cyber campus seeks full permission for the first building together with the public realm and new urban greenspace. Outline planning permission is also being sought for the second building – both being very similar in design to those within the neighbouring Cathedral Quarter development. Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has successfully secured £20m of Levelling Up Funding towards the scheme and is in discussion with UCLAN for its training company, Training 2000 (T2000) to expand and re-locate to the development and occupy the first building. Growth Director at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Simon Jones, said: “This is an opportunity for us to bring thousands of learners into our town centre every single year to enjoy state-of-the-art facilities. We’re already in talks with UCLAN to relocate and expand their Training 2000 offer here, and what an opportunity this is.” The masterplan is part of the Council’s £1bn vision for the future – delivering on its commitment to create a more prosperous borough where no one is left behind. It’s the anchor of a wider Blackburn Growth Axis with the ability to support 100,000 jobs across the borough – positioning it as an important, regional economic centre. Also part of the Blackburn Business Innovation District – where the new development will be based – is St John’s Church with planning permission secured to transform the fire-hit building into an Innovation Hub with works proposed to commence in 2025. Linked to the neighbouring The Making Rooms and Blackburn College’s already strong cyber capabilities, it’s part of the Council’s drive to unlock the opportunities that the re-location of the National Cyber HQ to neighbouring Samlesbury will bring. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Willmott Dixon has been selected by Bridgend College for the £60 million project to build its new Town Centre Campus development. The College is relocating from its current base at Cowbridge Road Campus to a site previously occupied by the former Police Station and a multi-storey car park at Cheapside, in the heart of Bridgend. The new 13,000 m² development, which Willmott Dixon was procured to build under the SEWSCAP 3 framework, will target net zero in operation when completed in the summer of 2026. Encompassing two new buildings, it includes a 200-seat theatre, hair and beauty salons, recording and dance studios, design workshops, flexible meeting spaces and more. Willmott Dixon is teaming up with Rio Architects on the new campus, providing exceptional teaching and learning facilities for a wide range of courses for post-16-year-old education in Bridgend. It represents one of the biggest-ever investments in Bridgend for the training of young people and members of the community who need to retrain and gain valuable employability skills. Neal Stephens, managing director for Willmott Dixon in Wales: “We are delighted to be chosen for this transformational project in Bridgend. With a strong presence across south Wales, it follows our work to deliver the Police Learning Centre for South Wales Police in Bridgend, which was completed three years ago. “Just like then, our focus will be on supporting the ‘local pound’ by using regional supply chain partners where possible and working with students at Bridgend College to support their own learning journeys.” The redevelopment is partly funded by the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning programme and will play a key role in the regeneration of Bridgend Town Centre, supporting local businesses and utilising public transport links into the town. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Caddick Construction has grown its further education portfolio with an appointment to build a new 24,000 sq ft extension at Loreto Sixth Form College in Hulme, a project that will accommodate 264 new students. Work is now underway on the new three-storey campus building, which is being constructed on Moss Road West adjacent to the existing campus on Chichester Road South. Planning permission for the expansion was secured in September last year, following which Caddick Construction undertook a series of preparatory works under a pre-construction services agreement. With an emphasis on environmental sustainability and minimising operational carbon, the new campus building will have 39.8% of its electrical demands met by renewable sources. Features include air source heat pumps, solar panels, passive ventilation systems and night cooling. Sustainable forms of transport will also be encouraged as part of the campus investment with the introduction of EV charging and bike storage for 100 bikes. The new building will sit alongside the existing college building, with facilities to enhance the learning environment and curriculum delivery. These include 20 classrooms, a lecture theatre with a seating capacity of 200 and a new study centre. The work will also include partial refurbishment of existing college buildings with new science labs, new catering facilities and a 110 sq m outdoor canopied seating area. A science garden and landscaped reflection spaces will also be created to maximise the use of green space. Throughout the building work, Caddick Construction will work with Loreto College to ensure the students are engaged in the project, including opportunities to complement the teaching curriculum. Dave Saville, Regional Managing Director of Caddick Construction North West, commented: “Education projects are a chance to make a real difference. Loreto College has taken on an ambitious project to not only bring more students into the college, but to offer them the very best education. To do so while also investing in ways to operate more sustainably is a testament to the quality of education Loreto provides. We are very proud to be delivering the college’s vision and look forward to working closely with them as the project progresses.”Michael Jaffrain, Principal at Loreto College, added: “We are excited about the opportunities this expansion brings and to maximise our green space for biodiversity and air quality.” The project was procured through the NHS Shared Business Services Public Sector Construction Works Framework, which covers all types of building and construction works, providing the NHS and the wider public sector a compliant route to market for construction works. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Caddick Construction has been appointed to build a new 24,000 sq ft extension at Loreto Sixth Form College in Hulme. Work is now underway on the new three-storey campus building, which is being constructed on Moss Road West adjacent to the existing campus on Chichester Road South. Planning permission for the expansion was secured in September last year, following which Caddick Construction undertook a series of preparatory works under a pre-construction services agreement. With an emphasis on environmental sustainability and minimising operational carbon, the new campus building will have 39.8% of its electrical demands met by renewable sources. Features include air source heat pumps, solar panels, passive ventilation systems and night cooling. Sustainable forms of transport will also be encouraged as part of the campus investment with the introduction of EV charging and bike storage for 100 bikes. The new building will sit alongside the existing college building, with facilities to enhance the learning environment and curriculum delivery. These include 20 classrooms, a lecture theatre with a seating capacity of 200 and a new study centre. The work will also include partial refurbishment of existing college buildings with new science labs, new catering facilities and a 110 sq m outdoor canopied seating area. A science garden and landscaped reflection spaces will also be created to maximise the use of green space. Throughout the building work, Caddick Construction will work with Loreto College to ensure the students are engaged in the project, including opportunities to complement the teaching curriculum. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Refurbishment works have begun to transform the Central Building at the University of Nottingham’s new Castle Meadow Campus. Delivered by Midlands contractor, G F Tomlinson, the refurbishment works will breathe new life into the Central Building, which sits on the site of the former HMRC offices, helping to establish the campus as a social and commercial hub for the university. The Castle Meadow Campus is a zone for entrepreneurship and innovation in the city centre, with a sustainability strategy implemented by the university that assesses each development to ensure carbon neutral targets are being met. Encompassing seven buildings, it features state-of-the-art facilities for its community of students, academics, and industry partners. The Grade II listed Central Building is undergoing extensive renovation works including the complex replacement of the tensile fabric roof to ensure a future proof building, and the addition of a new mezzanine at first floor level offering views of the roof through a large, glazed roof light at its centre. A new welcome reception area will provide unobstructed views from the entrance into the heart of the building. Alongside this, a new bistro café with kitchen facilities, study spaces and external seating will provide a social space accommodating over 200 visitors. The new HV power sub stations are now under construction, with trench ducting between the neighbouring buildings being created and new power supplies being installed. Restoration works to the listed concrete slabs are underway, with specialist contractors carefully removing years of paint and debris, bringing the structure back to its original state. The replacement of the roof is an extensively technical process due to its intricate design. As the build is a predominantly steel framed structure supported by tensile fabric and tensioned steel cables, it’s fundamental that each fabric panel is dismantled in sequence, to preserve the building and protect the fragile and vulnerable elements. Structural temporary works will be implemented to support this process taking place over a 20-week period. G F Tomlinson have a long-standing relationship with the University of Nottingham. Previous schemes delivered by the contractor include the Advanced Manufacturing Building at the Jubilee Campus, along with the Biodiscovery Institute and the East Midlands Conference Centre refurbishment at the University Park Campus. With extensive experience of refurbishing Listed buildings, G F Tomlinson also delivered the multi-million redevelopment of the Nottingham Castle. As part of their commitment to provide added social value throughout the project, G F Tomlinson have already donated 10 dual side benches from the former changing rooms of the building to local football club, Pelican Colts. Year 10 students from Lees Brook Academy, Bemrose School and Minster School have been provided with work experience placements, working alongside the project team to gain valuable on-site skills and experience, helping them to scope out careers in construction. Tanaka, Lees Brook Academy Student, commented: “My time with G F Tomlinson has been beneficial, not just in giving me an insight to the construction business but in showing me the trust and respect between colleagues in a working environment. Furthermore, I have gained fundamental skills such as independence and confidence, which will be valuable aspects for me in the future.” Managing Director, Adrian Grocock, said: “We’re pleased to be building on our long-standing working relationship with the University of Nottingham to bring this landmark Central Building at Castle Meadow Campus to fruition. The team has worked extensively to plan intricate works for the unique building and roof design, drawing upon our specialisms and expertise. “The city centre campus is a shining example of how the city can retrofit existing buildings to create sustainable modern facilities, and the Central Building works will maximise the current building’s potential to become a landmark social and commercial city hub.” Director of Estates and Facilities at the University of Nottingham, Gary Moss, said: “Creating inclusive, sustainable environments is at the heart of our campus development programme. This great work with G F Tomlinson, who share these values, will enable the reimagined Central Building to become a welcoming, vibrant landmark at the heart of our new Castle Meadow Campus. With work well underway, including the complex roof replacement, we’re thrilled to be on track for a Spring 2025 opening of our new city centre campus hub.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A SIGNIFICANT four-year programme to improve pupil accessibility and retention has completed in Essex, delivering upgraded facilities in line with modern teaching standards. The restoration of Brentwood County High School, undertaken by two of construction’s leading industry names, has seen the introduction of two new specialist teaching blocks, a refurbished sports hall, landscaping and a multi-use games area, greatly benefitting student learning and teaching experiences. The project was carried out in phases in a live working environment, also seeing careful restoration of the school’s spectacular main building, which is considered a heritage asset under its original 1930s design. Demolition work was also undertaken of existing teaching facilities to make way for the new blocks, which focus on art and design technology, science and general teaching. Multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard is behind the programme, operating via formal appointment to deliver architectural services, with contractor Bowmer + Kirkland appointed through the DfE Construction Framework. Lizzy Bennett, director at Pick Everard, said: “This was a huge scope of work which ties into key objectives for the educational sector. The school had a clear vision to bring its services in line with modern standards and create something industry-leading to attract and retain students in the area. “It was a project that also had defined challenges, which our teams catered for in the initial planning and design stages. Given its long-term nature, we knew there had to be minimal interference to the teaching and the student experience. This meant splitting the required accommodation between two individual buildings, while the refurbishment of the sports hall took place early on in the project to ensure exams could continue without disruption. “Heritage was also a key consideration for the building design, with our teams developing a bespoke and sympathetic heritage colour palette in line with the school’s identity, which was then carried through all facilities across the school, creating cohesion across the campus. “We’re proud to have helped deliver this remarkable school alongside Bowmer + Kirkland, creating a standard of excellence in design for the region.” The new facilities at Brentwood include photovoltaic (PV) solutions as well as a ‘fabric-first’ approach to the school’s thermal design, delivering improvements to the building envelope. The work also forms part of Bowmer + Kirkland’s ‘configure system’ – a standardised construction approach for schools that meets the requirements of the Department for Education (DfE) and school planning systems for educational design. The system is then tailored according to the needs of each school. Under this regulatory approach, extra high glazing on staircases was ‘back designed’ into the project, in line with standards that evolved during the construction programme. The project also had to navigate circumstances brought about by the COVID pandemic, with team and client engagement taking place online for RIBA Stages 1, 2 and 3. For more information on Pick Everard and the services it provides, visit: www.pickeverard.co.uk/
Edinburgh Futures Institute has officially opened its doors to the public in the transformed and revitalised Old Royal Infirmary building. The much-loved city landmark will officially open to the public on Monday 3rd June following an extensive seven-year, multi-million-pound restoration. Built in 1879, the Old Royal Infirmary housed the city’s main hospital until 2003 and was once described by The Illustrated London News as “the best planned hospital” in Britain. Now home to the University of Edinburgh’s Edinburgh Futures Institute, the category-A listed building will bring together people finding innovative solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems. The 20,000 sqm redevelopment is now one of the largest institutes for interdisciplinary learning, research and innovation in Europe. Edinburgh Futures Institute is building on the University’s expertise across disciplines ranging from artificial intelligence to philosophy to deliver educational programmes, collaborative research projects and partnerships. The Institute brings together students, researchers, partners and civic society to focus on the responsible use of data to address global challenges including ethics of artificial intelligence, social inequality and climate change. The building, which unites modern design with restored historic architecture, will also bring benefits to the local community. Alongside new access points from Middle Meadow Walk, a new public square has been created along with a café and exhibition and performance spaces. The building’s signature wide and airy Nightingale Wards have been retained and are now reused as teaching and workspaces. Collaborative spaces are also available for external organisations and partners, with incubation areas for start-up businesses and labs for innovation and prototyping. Once opened, the Institute will also host a range of events and opportunities for members of the public and University of Edinburgh community. In August, the Institute will host the Edinburgh International Book Festival and will become a permanent home for this annual event. The Futures Institute sits within the University’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. It is one of six innovation hubs supported by the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal’s Data-Driven Innovation programme. Through the University of Edinburgh’s participation in the City Region Deal, the Institute has received £56m in capital funding from the UK Government and more than £2m from the Scottish Government. The University worked with a project design team led by Atkins Realis, including architects Bennetts Associates and construction partner Balfour Beatty, to restore, extend, and upgrade the building. Professor Kev Dhaliwal, Interim Director of Edinburgh Futures Institute, said: “The amazing restoration of the Old Royal Infirmary has created an inspiring place for us all to collaborate. It opens up exciting opportunities to co-locate students, staff and external partners to innovate and address local and global challenges together. The Institute is a place that asks questions and strives to find solutions for the challenges of where data meets society.” Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, Principal and Vice-Chancellor at the University of Edinburgh, said: “So many people in Edinburgh have a connection to this historic building and we want to ensure that it fulfils the pledge set in stone above the main entrance, ‘patet omnibus’ – open to all. Edinburgh Futures Institute’s new home will allow us to connect the University community with local and global groups, organisations and industries in new and meaningful ways.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
New school for Cornwall to be delivered using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) Reds10, the vertically integrated off-site construction specialist, has been given the go-ahead by Cornwall Council for Sky Primary and Eden Project Nursery in West Carclaze, Cornwall. The new school and nursery has been designed to be net-zero in operation and will be delivered using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). The 1,750m2 Sky Primary and Eden Project Nursery will accommodate 210 pupils in the school and 26 places in the nursery on the site of the wider residential development at West Carclaze Garden Village. With Reds10 acting as principal contractor and architecture and interior design undertaken by Sense of Space Architects, design proposals have been developed in close association with the Department for Education (DfE) and the Kernow Learning Trust, which provides education, training and support to schools in Cornwall. Utilising Reds10’s wholly-owned MMC factory facility in East Yorkshire, 87% of the new two-storey school building will be manufactured in Driffield before being transported to West Carclaze to be assembled on site, maximising productivity, quality and control and minimising disruption. Sustainable features are embedded throughout, with air source heat pumps providing heating to the building and PV panels and windcatchers on the roof, in line with the energy strategy for the school. Sky Primary and Eden Project Nursery is designed to be net-zero in operation and complies to the Department for Education (DfE)’s net-zero in operation guidance, Spec21. Sense of Space has worked with Reds10 to produce a design which will integrate with the wider West Carclaze Garden Village development using a combination of local and contemporary materials. The new school will be clad in local stone at the lower level with hard-wearing fibre cement panels and metal cladding above, and complimented by soft planting across the site, with areas of short and long grasses, native tree planting and a dedicated habitat area for study. Informal hard playground space will facilitate the link between the key outdoor play areas and the internal classroom layout. A fenced Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) and grass playing field are enclosed by a soft landscape buffer around the perimeter of the site with tree planting to provide shade, shelter, and interest throughout the year. The new school will be located at the heart of the Carclaze Garden village centre with direct access from the adjoining neighbourhood facilities, supporting sustainable transport via a network of footpaths and cycleways. Groundworks for Sky Primary and Eden Project Nursery begin on site in Spring 2024, with first modules arriving on site in Autumn 2024. Clare Crowle, CEO of Kernow Learning, said “We are incredibly proud of Sky and its first cohorts based at Eden. We are feeling excited at the progress towards finally arriving at our permanent site – building the future for Sky before our very eyes.” Joe Shepherd, Director & Education Sector Lead for Reds10, said “Delivering sustainable, high-quality and cost-effective new schools is an ongoing challenge for the education sector but the broadly similar requirements of school buildings in the UK make them particularly amenable to the standardisation that MMC delivers. Sky Primary and Eden Project Nursery is a fantastic opportunity to illustrate the benefits of MMC and we are very pleased to get the go-ahead from Cornwall Council and the DfE.” Richard Addenbrook, Managing Director at Sense of Space, said: “We are looking forward to seeing this highly sustainable project take shape, initially in Reds10’s factory and subsequently on site in this beautiful location.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Durham University has selected UPP to be the Preferred Bidder to develop, in a partnership, a detailed scheme proposition for the refurbishment of the College of St Hild and St Bede on its historic Riverside location and the development of new college accommodation at the Leazes Road site. UPP are the leading provider of on-campus student accommodation infrastructure in the UK. One of the key drivers for this project for both Durham University and Durham City is to increase the proportion of students living in high quality Durham University owned or managed accommodation. Jeremy Cook OBE, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Colleges and Student Experience), Durham University commented “We are delighted to announce UPP as preferred bidder and look forward to working together to develop a scheme for the redevelopment of the Leazes Road site. The project will seek to rejuvenate The College of St Hild and St Bede on its iconic and beautiful site on the slope of the river Wear, providing excellent accommodation with a first-class student experience for the future. In securing preferred bidder status, UPP is working in partnership with the University to shape exciting plans and state of the art designs for accommodation at the Leazes Road site.” While this work takes place, the College of St Hild and St Bede will be located at Rushford Court – offering modern, purpose-built student accommodation, within walking distance of the city centre. Durham University highlighted some particularly important factors in their choice of UPP including: UPP will now continue to work with Durham University to refine the proposal with the scheme currently scheduled to start in 2025. Elaine Hewitt, UPP CEO said: “UPP is delighted to be working on this incredibly important project at Durham University. This scheme is about respecting, protecting and enhancing the history and heritage of Durham University for the benefit of future students. We are excited to co-create an environment that puts student experience at its heart, building on each unique college identity.” UPP is the UK’s only multi-discipline, full-service Design, Build, Fund and Operate (DBFO) company that is dedicated to the Higher Education sector. With over 25 years of experience operating in the sector and having invested over £3.5bn, UPP has a strong track record of delivering next generation campuses at scale. Find out more The College of St Hild and St Bede Refurbishment and redevelopment plans Rushford Court UPP Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Work has continued behind the scenes as University of Cumbria prepares to start building its new campus at The Citadels site in Carlisle city centre. The University has obtained possession of various properties on English Street and Victoria Viaduct, with plans to vacate the remaining occupied properties on English Street throughout the summer. Concurrently, the University of Cumbria and Cumberland Council persist in collaborative efforts towards land assembly, nearing completion of agreements for the transfer of council-owned land and property crucial to the project. Further surveys and ground investigations have also been completed, in order to finalise the designs, ahead of moving into the construction phase. A Contract Notice has now been issued inviting expressions of interest in tendering for the building contract for the next stage of the project. University of Cumbria Chief Operating Officer, Mark Swindlehurst said: “We have a fantastic design ready to go and will now be going through a tender process to select a new contractor with a view to building work starting on site in early 2025. It’s an exciting time for the university, the wider city and region, as we move towards realising our vision and the next phase of delivery for this transformational project. “I’d like to thank SRM for all their work over the last two years getting us to this point and I know that they will be supporting us from the side-lines.” The Carlisle Citadels campus project has been developed by the University of Cumbria and Cumberland Council (previously Cumbria County Council and Carlisle City Council) with Cumbria LEP as a key partner. The project’s funding is sourced from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) via the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, along with contributions from the University of Cumbria. Additionally, funds for the Carlisle Business Exchange Centre are allocated from the Carlisle Town Deal Fund. SRM, in collaboration with the university since March 2022, has secured tenders for two significant infrastructure projects, prompting their decision to prioritise these endeavours. Grant Findlay, Executive Managing Director of Buildings, Sir Robert McAlpine, stated: “We will watch with pride as The Citadels campus starts to take shape and will continue to support the project through our supply chain. This is an exciting project for whoever takes over the reins and we look forward to seeing the finished campus.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
