Sheffield City Council and Homes England are moving forward with plans for a major £300m residential-led regeneration of the Moorfoot gateway site, as the city looks to unlock a new phase of brownfield development. The partners have begun preliminary market engagement with developers and investors for the 12-acre Moorfoot Catalyst
Liverpool City Centre has unveiled nine new Halo Points as part of Operation Halo, combining smart lighting technology, emergency support access and visible safe spaces to strengthen safety, tackle violence against women and girls and support the city’s thriving night-time economy. Merseyside Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner, in
Manchester City Council has achieved another record year for building new affordable homes, four years into its ambitious 10-year housing strategy for the city. Almost 1,000 of the 4,766 new homes completed across the city in 2025/26 were affordable, with 439 of these 901 affordable homes available for social rent.
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is preparing to launch a major £500m housing works programme, aimed at improving homes, strengthening compliance and delivering long-term investment across its residential estate. The east London council has placed contractors on alert ahead of a formal procurement process expected to begin this summer.
McPhillips has completed work on Talbot Park, a major £4.3m public realm and green space project designed to strengthen connectivity and support the wider regeneration of Kidderminster town centre. The scheme creates a new landscaped route linking Worcester Street with Bromsgrove Street and forms part of Wyre Forest District Council’s
Despite being one of the most popular housing types in the city, private renting has for many years been largely unregulated, putting some renters at risk of bad practice and poor conditions…But the new Renters Rights rules mean things are changing. The Renters Right Act is now in place and is designed to make
Plans have been submitted for phase one of East Bank Urban Village – one of Hull’s largest ever regeneration projects – which is set to breathe life back into the East Bank of the River Hull through the creation of a sustainable new neighbourhood. Hull City Council, working in collaboration
Proposals for a major riverside scheme in a key regeneration area within Salford have been submitted to Salford City Council by Euan Kellie Property Solutions. Designed by DLA Architecture for Crescent Investments LLC Limited and developers Forshaw Group, the proposed scheme is centred on three brick-fronted residential towers comprising 814
Council extends use of Field First Platform to support frontline operations South Tyneside Council has expanded its partnership with Totalmobile to strengthen digital support across its housing services, extending its use of Totalmobile’s award-winning Field First Platform across services. The expansion reflects tighter regulatory requirements and increasing expectations around service
The UK Government has announced plans for a £20m investment to support the transformation of Swansea’s Civic Centre site on the city’s seafront. Swansea Council, working with development partner Urban Splash, has confirmed that funding from the UK Government – once it has gone through the necessary checks and clearances –
Sheffield City Council and Homes England are moving forward with plans for a major £300m residential-led regeneration of the Moorfoot gateway site, as the city looks to unlock a new phase of brownfield development. The partners have begun preliminary market engagement with developers and investors for the 12-acre Moorfoot Catalyst Site, located south of The Moor. The scheme is expected to play a key role in reshaping this part of Sheffield city centre, delivering new homes, commercial space, retail uses and improved public realm. The first phase will focus on the former Wickes site and the landmark Moorfoot Building. Together, they are expected to deliver around 725 homes, alongside new commercial and retail space. Around 320 of the homes are planned within the refurbished Moorfoot Building, which council chiefs say would become one of the largest commercial retrofit projects in the UK. At least 10% of the homes delivered through the scheme are expected to be affordable, supporting Sheffield’s wider housing ambitions while bringing new life to a prominent city centre site. Plans also include a new public square and improved connections between London Road, Ecclesall Road and Sheffield’s main retail and business districts. These links are intended to make the area more accessible and better connected, while encouraging movement between key parts of the city. A central part of the vision is the retention and reuse of the Moorfoot Building. Sheffield City Council said this approach would preserve an estimated 14,400 tonnes of embodied carbon, underlining the project’s focus on sustainable regeneration and the value of adapting existing buildings rather than replacing them. The current market engagement process will help shape the funding model, delivery strategy and procurement route before a formal tender is launched later this year. Interested parties have until 19 June 2026 to respond to the preliminary market engagement questionnaire. Kate Josephs, Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council, said: “We’re delighted to bring the Moorfoot site to market. “This is a truly unique and exciting development opportunity that will act as a catalyst not only for this site, but for surrounding brownfield land and future phases of regeneration. “The Moorfoot Building itself is a distinctive piece of architecture that always sparks conversation, and its transformation will form one of the largest commercial retrofit projects in the UK.” If delivered, the Moorfoot regeneration could become a major catalyst for Sheffield’s next wave of city centre growth, combining housing, retrofit, placemaking and sustainable urban renewal. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Liverpool City Centre has unveiled nine new Halo Points as part of Operation Halo, combining smart lighting technology, emergency support access and visible safe spaces to strengthen safety, tackle violence against women and girls and support the city’s thriving night-time economy. Merseyside Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner, in partnership with Liverpool City Council, have launched Halo Points as part of Operation Halo, marking the next phase of the initiative to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and better protect people across Liverpool’s night‑time economy. The initiative is being funded by the Hyper-Local Policing Fund, awarded by the Home Office and secured by Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell, and Merseyside Police. What are Halo Points Halo Points are nine clearly identifiable, designated safe spaces located across key locations within Liverpool City Centre. Each point provides a place where anyone who feels unsafe, or at risk can seek immediate support, reassurance and practical help. Their visibility acts as a deterrent to offenders, while ensuring those who need help can access it quickly and discreetly. Each point will offer direct contact with emergency services via 999 and will be linked to City Watch CCTV, offering immediate reassurance and rapid intervention by VAWG champions or police officers for anyone feeling vulnerable or in distress. The launch builds on the earlier introduction of VAWG Champions, who are already embedded across venues and trained to recognise vulnerability, challenge harmful behaviour and respond effectively to incidents such as spiking. Signify lights up Halo Points This project was delivered in partnership with McCann Ltd, a leading civil, technology and electrical engineering construction company operating throughout the UK on major road, rail and airport infrastructure projects for public and private sector clients. Each Halo point is lit with Signify Copenhagen LED luminaires, making for designated safe spaces to seek immediate support, reassurance, and practical help. The timeless luminaire design delivers high performance for many lighting applications. The luminaires feature a built in LEDGINE-O engine, and the wide range of application-tailored optics, delivering the right amount of light and in the right direction on any street, enabling important energy savings. The Copenhagen LED Gen2 is ready to pair with advanced control and lighting software applications such as Interact. The luminaires enhance the aesthetic appeal of the city through illuminated green “Halo” lanterns and bright orange columns. Connected with Interact City CMS, the IoT enabled lighting system ensures that any faults with the luminaire are detected and repaired without delay, making them responsive, resilient and sustainable. Councillor Laura Robertson-Collins, Cabinet Member for Communities, Neighbourhoods and Streetscene at Liverpool City Council said: “Liverpool is already recognised as one of the safest cities for a night out, as demonstrated by our Purple Flag status. Even so, we remain committed to ending violence against women and girls in our city. “These new Halo Points reinforce our shared commitment to ensuring that everyone can enjoy the city with confidence. No matter what concerns someone may have, they can be assured that there will always be someone available to help and to keep them safe.” By launching Halo Points and expanding the network of trained VAWG Champions, Merseyside Police and partners are continuing to build a culture of safety across Liverpool’s night-time economy, ensuring more people, particularly women and girls, can enjoy a safer night out. The Halo points can be found in the following locations across the city: Concert Square area Mathew Street area “McCann is proud to announce the public launch of Operation Halo, an innovative safety initiative developed in partnership with Merseyside Police and Liverpool City Council to help protect vulnerable people within Liverpool’s busy nightlife areas. The scheme introduces a network of highly visible lighting units positioned across key locations in the city, designed to provide an accessible way for individuals to seek help if they feel unsafe or at risk. This system, developed in collaboration with Signify, are the first of their kind to be deployed in England. McCann, Signify, Liverpool City Council and Merseyside Police hope that Operation Halo will not only enhance safety across Liverpool but also serve as a model for wider national adoption, reinforcing a shared commitment to preventing violence and safeguarding communities,” James McDaid, Head of Local Authority at McCann. “Reliable access to emergency assistance remains an important yet often overlooked component of nighttime safety for women and girls. Halo Points, well-lit, highly visible points across the city centre, marked by distinctive green and white lighting is a great initiative ensuring the city provides a more dependable solution, allowing quick assistance in high-stress situations. We are proud to be the chosen lighting provider for the project, working in partnership with J McCann, contributing towards protecting vulnerable individuals and tackle Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in Liverpool’s night-time economy.” said Carl Williams, Key Account Manager, Signify. Learn more about the initiative on the Liverpool City Council website. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Manchester City Council has achieved another record year for building new affordable homes, four years into its ambitious 10-year housing strategy for the city. Almost 1,000 of the 4,766 new homes completed across the city in 2025/26 were affordable, with 439 of these 901 affordable homes available for social rent. This represents the most successful year since the mid-1990s for social and affordable home building in the city but there is much more to come as momentum accelerates. There are around 1,450 further council, social and genuinely affordable homes already on site now with around 2,000 more such homes ready to start, 2026/27 looks set to be another bumper year. The Council set out its 10-year housing strategy in 2022 with a bold commitment to help deliver 36,000 homes across across all tenures and areas of the city with at least 10,000 of these social, council or genuinely affordable homes, and at least 3,000 of these in the city centre. With 2,430 such affordable homes already completed and a strong pipeline of future projects already either under construction, with planning permission and being readied for site, or on the horizon, there is every confidence that these targets will be met or exceeded. Leader of the Council Cllr Bev Craig said: “We know that one of the main issues facing our residents is finding a home they can afford in a place where they want to live. We are committed to turning the tide by delivering record numbers of council, social and affordable homes and investing in vibrant and attractive neighbourhoods across the city. This means real choice. “Headline schemes being brought forward across the city include 400 new homes for social rent in Wythenshawe town centre, 303 affordable homes as part of the Brewery Gardens development on the former Boddington’s site in the city centre, 271 new homes for social rent and shared ownership in Charlestown and 212 affordable homes in Moss Side.” Cllr Gavin White, Executive Member for Housing and Development, said: “Every Mancunian deserves a safe and secure home that they can afford. Which is why we are working closely with the city’s housing providers and the private sector to develop home building opportunities across the city to meet the needs of our residents – and importantly using council-owned land to increase the number of affordable homes available to Manchester people. “We’re not waiting for someone to do it for us – we are creating ways to build the right homes in the right places to meet demand.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is preparing to launch a major £500m housing works programme, aimed at improving homes, strengthening compliance and delivering long-term investment across its residential estate. The east London council has placed contractors on alert ahead of a formal procurement process expected to begin this summer. The programme will support Tower Hamlets’ wider capital investment plans and is set to cover a broad range of major works, including housing refurbishments, fire safety improvements and essential building upgrades. The council plans to divide the programme into eight major contracts, creating a substantial pipeline of work for contractors with experience in residential refurbishment, compliance-led improvements and estate renewal. The scope is expected to include fire-prevention installations, electrical upgrades, plumbing works and wider overhaul projects across the borough’s housing stock. Initial contracts are expected to run from October 2027 to November 2031. However, the framework could be extended in phases through to 2041, creating the potential for a 14-year delivery programme. This would provide Tower Hamlets with a long-term route to procure planned investment works while giving the market greater visibility over future opportunities. Tower Hamlets is expected to use the Competitive Flexible Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023. The approach allows more flexibility in the procurement process, including scope for dialogue and negotiation with bidders during the tender stage. This could help the council shape contract delivery around its estate requirements, compliance priorities and value-for-money objectives. A procurement launch briefing has been scheduled for 10.30am on 16 June at Tower Hamlets Town Hall in Whitechapel. The event will give interested firms an overview of the proposed procurement structure, the council’s housing stock profile and the indicative scope of the contracts. The formal tender notice is currently expected to be issued on 3 August. The programme represents a significant opportunity for contractors operating in housing maintenance, retrofit, fire safety and refurbishment. It also underlines the scale of investment required by local authorities as they work to improve ageing housing stock, meet evolving safety standards and provide better homes for residents. Once underway, the Tower Hamlets programme is expected to play a central role in delivering safer, more efficient and better-maintained council housing across the borough. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
McPhillips has completed work on Talbot Park, a major £4.3m public realm and green space project designed to strengthen connectivity and support the wider regeneration of Kidderminster town centre. The scheme creates a new landscaped route linking Worcester Street with Bromsgrove Street and forms part of Wyre Forest District Council’s wider town centre transformation programme funded through the Government’s Future High Streets Fund. Shropshire-based contractor McPhillips delivered the project under an NEC4 Option A contract valued at £4.23m, with works commencing in September 2024. The redevelopment has transformed a previously inaccessible stepped area into a modern, inclusive public space designed to improve movement through the town centre while creating a more attractive environment for residents, visitors and local businesses. Talbot Park now includes extensive landscaping, upgraded paving, new seating and public realm improvements, alongside enhanced LED lighting aimed at improving safety and usability throughout the site. A dedicated children’s play area has also been incorporated as part of the redevelopment, helping create a more family-friendly destination within the town centre. Accessibility was a major focus of the project, with improved disabled access introduced across the scheme to provide better connectivity through the challenging topography of the site. According to McPhillips, the project presented a number of significant technical and logistical challenges throughout construction due to the constrained urban environment and complex ground conditions. Contracts manager Dan Redmond said the team had to carefully manage a range of site-specific issues, including buried structures and complex blocks left from previous demolition works. The steep gradient of the site also created difficulties around drainage and surface water management, requiring detailed planning and engineering coordination throughout the build process. Construction activity was further complicated by the busy town centre location and the need to work alongside the development of a new National Grid substation nearby. Despite these challenges, McPhillips successfully completed the scheme on programme and within budget. The completion of Talbot Park marks another important milestone in Kidderminster’s wider regeneration ambitions, with investment focused on improving connectivity, public spaces and the overall experience of the town centre as local authorities continue to reshape urban environments to support future economic growth and community wellbeing. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Despite being one of the most popular housing types in the city, private renting has for many years been largely unregulated, putting some renters at risk of bad practice and poor conditions…But the new Renters Rights rules mean things are changing. The Renters Right Act is now in place and is designed to make renting fairer, safer and more secure. This new law will strengthen private renter’s rights, raise housing standards and create a fairer balance between landlords and tenants. For tenants with an assured shorthold tenancy, which most tenants have, the Act provides the following protection: New funding from Government will be used to create a Renter’s Rights Resolution Team who will support tenants and landlords to get the right information and guidance. How we are supporting private rented tenants We have set up a new Renter’s Right Resolution Team that will support tenants who believe their tenancy is at risk under the new rules covered by the Act. By supporting residents as early as possible to understand their rights and options we will be helping avoid homelessness and provide security and peace of mind. Working with teams across the Council we will be able to signpost residents to the right places to escalate issues and to find resolutions. Where to get for information and guidance If a private rented tenant is impacted by any of the above, they can access information at support via www.manchester.gov.uk/renters-rights What will this mean for landlords? It is vital that landlords are aware of the Act and comply with the new rules. The Act means that the Council has enhanced powers to investigate including entering premises and gathering evidence. Fines can be up to £7,000 for minor or initial non-compliance, and up to £40,000 for repeat offences. Compliance services such as the Housing Compliance and Enforcement team and Trading Standards will investigate these offences. Further guidance can be found at Private landlords How we are supporting landlords We will provide guidance and support to landlords so that they understand the changes and their responsibilities and where possible work to reduce disputes and prevent escalation into homelessness or enforcement. We will be in touch with landlords who have provided their contacts details to make them aware of the changes and the action they must take. Including directing to Government online guidance including the Renters’ Right Information Sheet, which all landlords should’ve already issues to their tenants before the new rules came into effect on 1 May 2026. Cllr Bev Craig OBE, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “For many years we have been urging successive governments to strengthen the protections and support available for people living in privately rented homes. “For too long this sector has felt under regulated, putting tenants at risk of homelessness because of no fault evictions or in retaliation for raising concerns about their home. “We know that section21 evictions are one of the main causes of homelessness in the city, so this is a bold move by Government to put the rights and wellbeing of renters first – making renting a home safer and more protected than ever before.” Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development, said: “This new law will give renters some reassurance that they have the backing of the law, and there are now new expectations and regulations that landlords have to legally comply with. Tenants should feel safe and secure in their home and it’s really welcome that this government has done what’s right to protect our residents living in the private rented sector. “We’ve also set up a new dedicated team to support both residents and landlords through the new changes – and where issues do arise, we would encourage people to get in touch and get our help.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans have been submitted for phase one of East Bank Urban Village – one of Hull’s largest ever regeneration projects – which is set to breathe life back into the East Bank of the River Hull through the creation of a sustainable new neighbourhood. Hull City Council, working in collaboration with lead development partner ECF (the partnership between Homes England, L&G and Muse), has submitted detailed designs for phase one of East Bank. The hybrid application also includes outline plans for the wider neighbourhood which, once complete, will deliver around 850 new homes on the site opposite the Old Town. Once an important part of Hull’s maritime industry, use of this area has seen a significant decline since the mid-20th century. Today, the site is primarily occupied by surface parking and vacant brownfield land. Over the next 15 years, East Bank Urban Village will introduce a mix of affordable houses and Build-To-Rent (BTR) apartments alongside shops, restaurants, leisure and other neighbourhood uses. An interconnected network of streets, plazas, green spaces and a new riverside promenade will improve connectivity, creating active travel routes that encourage walking and cycling throughout the site. Phase one will establish the core of the new neighbourhood, delivering 37 townhouses and 78 apartments across two buildings. All of the homes will be affordable, helping to meet local demand and ensuring East Bank is inclusive and accessible to a wide range of people. Phase one will also include the landing for the Scale Lane bridge on the eastern bank of the River Hull and the connection to the existing Trinity Buoy Shed – a much-loved local heritage building – which will be brought back into use as part of the long-term vision for the neighbourhood. Later phases will deliver more than 700 Build-To-Rent (BTR) and affordable apartments across the wider neighbourhood, improving connections to nearby areas including the Fruit Market. In addition to the new homes, there are plans to revitalise the area around the Drypool Basin, as a contemporary community space. In September and October 2025, the council and ECF led a series of community conversations, where local people had the opportunity to offer constructive suggestions which fed directly into the masterplan. This included the need for more green community spaces, parking and traffic management, enhancing biodiversity and finding new uses for existing historical landmarks including the former Lock Keeper’s Cottage. Raife Gale, senior development manager at ECF said: “Local people have been supportive – and so insightful – in offering their feedback, and this has all fed into the final planning application we’ve submitted. “Our plan is to deliver a sustainable new neighbourhood where people want to live, work and spend time – and key to this is creating quality homes, attractive public spaces and new leisure and business opportunities. East Bank will kick-start a new chapter for this part of the city’s riverside, ensuring it continues to play a role for future generations. “The council has an ambitious programme of regeneration which is already helping transform the city centre, as seen with the recently completed redevelopment of the Museums Quarter and Old Town, and we are using our knowledge and expertise in delivering complex schemes across the UK to help unlock the next phase of the city’s development.” The project is supported by £9.8m in government-backed Levelling Up Partnership funding, underpinning enabling works and early infrastructure delivery. East Bank Urban Village will also make a significant contribution to the council’s ambition to deliver 2,500 new homes within Hull city centre as part of its Local Plan. It will also act as a catalyst site for Hull’s recently endorsed City Centre Vision. By using state-of-the-art materials and technologies, including sustainable drainage systems, throughout the neighbourhood, East Bank Urban Village will also follow the principles of Hull’s “Living With Water” project. Chris Jackson, director of regeneration and partnerships at Hull City Council, said: “It is pleasing that the council has been able to submit plans for phase one of East Bank Urban Village. “This is a significant regeneration project which will help to meet the council’s housing targets, revitalise a long-term brownfield site and also support both Hull’s Old Town and city centre economies. “We have already welcomed extensive public feedback on draft proposals for East Bank ahead of this planning submission and look forward to hearing their thoughts on the updated plans.” East Bank Urban Village has been selected as a national case study by the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) which is held annually in Leeds in May. The video case study, which is now live, captures how Hull City Council and ECF are working in partnership to accelerate delivery, attract investment and showcase Hull’s broader regeneration strategy to the national market. The project’s inclusion is expected to further boost investor confidence as East Bank moves toward delivery, if planning approval is achieved. For more information go to www.eastbank-hull.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Proposals for a major riverside scheme in a key regeneration area within Salford have been submitted to Salford City Council by Euan Kellie Property Solutions. Designed by DLA Architecture for Crescent Investments LLC Limited and developers Forshaw Group, the proposed scheme is centred on three brick-fronted residential towers comprising 814 homes. Proposals also include a two-storey community pavilion, designed to be used flexibly with the potential for commercial, retail, hospitality and community use to meet requirements of the growing neighbourhood. Significant areas of public space will be delivered within the site too, alongside improved access to the Irwell Riverside Path, enhancing connections to Salford Quays and Manchester City Centre. Following public consultation last year, the scheme has been updated to provide an increased amount of public realm along the front of Regent Road, totalling 6,000 sqm, providing a high-quality arrival space for residents and visitors. The reimagining of the site delivers enhanced accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists to the Irwell Riverside Path, with a well-designed landscaped ramp and area of tiered seating to the waterfront area. The significant investment in the public realm, which frames the three residential towers and the new community pavilion, supports the vision for the site and the wider regeneration of the Ordsall Waterfront Area. James Ketley, associate director at Euan Kellie Property Solutions, said: “This is not only a major milestone in the evolution of Riverside Place, but a landmark moment for the Ordsall Waterfront Area. “The proposed development is situated in a fantastic waterfront location that capitalises on direct pedestrian routes to nearby Salford Quays and Manchester City Centre and will deliver new homes and community infrastructure that are two elements central to the success of a place.” Lyndon Forshaw CEO, Forshaw Group, added: “We have worked to improve our plans following consultation with the local community last year. The final plans submitted are focussed on community integration with the existing Ordsall neighbourhood, providing a community pavilion at the heart of the scheme. We have also been able to increase the area of public realm on the Regent Road frontage for all to enjoy and improve the shared amenity space for the new residents within the new residential buildings”. Jonathan Knowles, Director at DLA Architecture, concluded: “Riverside Place brings to life the vision for the reimagining of the Ordsall Waterfront Area, seamlessly integrating the new development into the existing community, opening access to the Irwell Riverside Path and creating a new neighbourhood that everyone can enjoy. The architecture and public realm are designed to re-establish a strong physical and visual connection to the Irwell, as well as providing 814 much-needed homes. In total, the scheme introduces over 1.5 acres of new public realm. The Pavilion is conceived as a civic marker within the masterplan, with retail, hospitality and community uses, ensuring this stretch of waterfront becomes a destination. “Riverside Place is about establishing a new piece of Salford that feels open and genuinely connected to the community both socially, physically and environmentally.” The proposals meet Salford Council’s ambitions for high-density, residential-led growth in this location, with the current retail units occupied by McDonald’s and Grosvenor Casino, having been approved for demolition in 2023, to make way for new development. The scheme is expected to create more than 1,000 jobs during construction and £67m in economic value over the three-year build. On completion the plans will bring a £24m boost to local shops and services, enough to support 86 jobs locally and generating £1.7 million extra council tax revenue each year for Salford Council. Subject to planning approval, the new development will contribute directly to the city’s goal of building 9,000 new homes across Ordsall, Quays, Pendleton, and Charlestown by 2042. Consultants advising on the scheme alongside Euan Kellie Property Solutions include DLA Architecture, TPM Landscape and Font Comms. More information is available at www.riversideplacesalford.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Council extends use of Field First Platform to support frontline operations South Tyneside Council has expanded its partnership with Totalmobile to strengthen digital support across its housing services, extending its use of Totalmobile’s award-winning Field First Platform across services. The expansion reflects tighter regulatory requirements and increasing expectations around service performance and transparency. The expanded deployment will support frontline operatives and is planned to go live in September 2026. The council will use the platform’s job management capability to improve visibility across day-to-day activity, strengthen compliance reporting, and support a wider range of frontline and specialist housing teams. As part of the latest expansion, enhanced reporting and operational dashboards will give managers clearer oversight of performance, workload, and emerging risks across housing operations. Real-time field access to tasks and records will also be extended to operatives covering Healthy Homes, compliance, and specialist services, supporting activity across gas servicing, electrical testing, repairs, and voids, while removing the Council’s reliance on manual processes and improving coordination between teams. “Housing teams across the UK are being asked to evidence more, respond faster and still deliver consistent frontline services,” said David Webb, Managing Director of Housing at Totalmobile. “This expansion centres on the practical realities many councils face, giving managers clearer visibility, supporting compliance, and helping teams stay on top of work as it changes day to day.” For Totalmobile, the expansion of this partnership with South Tyneside reflects a growing trend across housing for unified workforce platforms that support complex, frontline operations. The Field First Platform is used across housing, health, social care, infrastructure, utilities, and facilities management globally to help organisations manage all aspects of workforce operations in environments where services must adapt quickly without losing control. For more information about Totalmobile and the Field First Platform, visit totalmobile.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The UK Government has announced plans for a £20m investment to support the transformation of Swansea’s Civic Centre site on the city’s seafront. Swansea Council, working with development partner Urban Splash, has confirmed that funding from the UK Government – once it has gone through the necessary checks and clearances – will support ambitious proposals to rejuvenate and reenvisage the building. Speaking of the news Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said: ”Backing Swansea with this £20 million investment will create jobs, transform the city’s tourist offering and boost its local economy, making it a more attractive place to live, work and start a business in the years to come.” Proposals include 15 commercial units across the ground and lower ground floors, cafés, bars, shops, workspaces, spaces for leisure and events, an aquarium, and around 140 residential apartments on the upper floors. A formal planning application is expected to be submitted later this year and the project will need to go through further checks including due diligence and a final business case before funding is confirmed and allocated. Urban Splash was appointed as Swansea Council’s strategic partner in 2021 as part of a 20-year regeneration partnership across seven city sites, including the Civic Centre. The company has since been evolving its plans – designed with Wales-based architects Rural Studio and Studio Egret West – as David Warburton, Development Director at Urban Splash explained: “This is fantastic news for our shared vision for Swansea and a major step forward in turning our joint plans for the repurposing of the Civic Centre into a reality. “The investment paves the way for the creation of a vibrant new waterfront district for Swansea, benefiting local people and acting as a magnet to draw visitors and investment in support of Swansea’s long-term growth. “We greatly value our partnership with Swansea Council and look forward to continuing to work together to deliver not only the repurposing of the Civic Centre as part of the City Waterfront project, but in realising the wider vision for the city across all seven sites in the partnership.” Cllr Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council, added: “We have been driving the biggest regeneration programme Swansea has seen in over 70 years and the Civic Centre is one of the next big opportunities for us. “We want to see it transformed into a high-quality landmark destination for living, working and enjoying that features an aquarium, a saltwater lido, new homes, independent businesses, and leisure and community spaces that will benefit local people while attracting more visitors to Swansea. “This £20 million investment from the UK Government is a major further vote of confidence in Swansea and our plans for the site – and will greatly help the project to proceed more quickly.” Jo Stevens, the UK Government’s Secretary of State for Wales, said: “The £20 million investment from the UK Government will help deliver the ambitious regeneration plans for the iconic Civic Centre in Swansea and the new waterfront district, transforming this part of the city and making the most of its spectacular location. “This investment will make Swansea even more of a destination for visitors as well as providing better leisure facilities and places to live and work for residents.” Torsten Bell, MP for Swansea West, said: “Securing this major investment in an iconic Swansea landmark has been a personal priority for me. With the £20m funding from the UK Government, this is another big step forward for the city. “With its prime spot overlooking the splendid curve of our beach, the building is crying out for a new lease of life. “And that is exactly what we are going to give it, as we keep investing in Swansea’s future, not just remembering its past.” The Civic Centre redevelopment is estimated to be worth £17 million a year to Swansea’s economy. The Civic Centre project is expected to create around 291 direct jobs across hospitality, retail, leisure, culture and building management, along with around 50 additional jobs linked specifically to the proposed aquarium. To find out more click here: https://www.urbansplash.co.uk/regeneration/projects/swansea Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals