A robust management plan to continue to protect the Outstanding Universal Value of the Old and New Towns World Heritage Site in the Capital will be considered for approval by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Planning Committee next Wednesday (13 November). Shaped by an extensive programme of public and stakeholder engagement it includes actions to tackle the climate emergency, create a sustainable visitor experience and the conservation and maintenance of buildings and public spaces. The Site is managed by the City of Edinburgh Council in partnership with Historic Environment Scotland and Edinburgh World Heritage. The partners work together to ensure that they protect the authenticity and integrity of the World Heritage Site while at the same time making sure it can operate as a thriving city centre. The proposed management plan sits alongside a two-year action plan to ensure improvements continue to be made in the Site going forward. It is a forward-looking strategic document which sets out the framework for the preservation and enhancement of the Site’s cultural heritage. Five key themes which were highlighted during the engagement period are now included in the plan.  These are awareness, appreciation and activity around WHS status; climate emergency; conservation and maintenance of buildings and public spaces; control, guidance, and contribution of new developments to city centre and sustainable visitor management.   Cllr James Dalgleish, Convener of the Planning Committee, the City of Edinburgh Council, said: Edinburgh’s old and new towns are exceptional places to live, have a business and visit. It’s the recognition of this that led to the city’s inscription by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in December 1995. World Heritage Sites must have strong and robust management plans in place to keep their Outstanding Universal Value. This is what makes them of worldwide importance. This must be preserved and enhanced for future generations to come. Like many other internationally renowned cities in Edinburgh we face the challenges of a growing population and the climate emergency and we must balance this with need to preserve our incredible and historic World Heritage Site. Edinburgh has many iconic and historically significant buildings and the Council works hard with partners to make sure any new development is appropriate and fitting with the rest of the site. In doing this a wide range of issues are considered including the needs of residents, tourism, culture and climate change. Edinburgh’s World Heritage site belongs to everyone and so I’d like to thank our partners and everyone who engaged with us on the Plan to get it to this stage. We’re continuing to speak to our partners and other interested groups as we look to  implement it in the coming years. Dr James Bruhn, Head of World Heritage and Heritage Policy at Historic Environment Scotland (HES), said: The history and heritage of Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns is internationally significant, and plays an important role in shaping local identity for the people who live and work here, as well as drawing millions of visitors from all over the world each year. This management plan will ensure that this significance will continue to be managed, protected and celebrated over the next decade, and we look forward to working with our partners at City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh World Heritage, as well as other key stakeholders across the city, to implement the plan. Christina Sinclair, Director of Edinburgh World Heritage, said: The Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage site is special – it is a complex, living capital city and its conservation requires considered action, great investment and long-term planning. Through a rolling pipeline of conservation work, engagement, climate emergency and city advice work, EWH preserves, protects and promotes the city’s unique architecture and built environment. The World Heritage Site Management Plan is a vital tool for active conservation, and is fundamentally important to identifying, agreeing and delivering necessary action. We have worked collaboratively with colleagues in CEC and HES to develop the Plan. Throughout, we have invited and incorporated the views of local communities, allowing actions to be shaped by people who live and work in the site. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Bouygues UK and Carmarthenshire County Council have committed to working with a team of local suppliers and subcontractors to transform an old retail store into a state-of-the-art health, wellbeing, education and leisure hwb. The major contractor and Carmarthenshire County Council, in collaboration with Hywel Dda University Health Board and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, is transforming the former Debenhams at St Catherine’s Walk into the Health and Wellbeing Hwb, which will provide a variety of facilities all under one roof. Lead contractor Bouygues UK is committed to using local subcontractors as part of its commitment to provide employment, training and skills opportunities to local people and underrepresented groups. It has already been working closely with sub-contractors from the area on its other prestigious project at Pentre Awel in Llanelli and continues to do so at the Health and Wellbeing Hwb – with a further commitment to upskill all those working in its supply chain on the importance of embedding sustainability into their work. The groundwork was carried out by Cambrensis Civil Engineering, with Shufflebottom Ltd providing the secondary steelwork. Both companies are based in Cross Hands. Castle Scaffolding, from Ammanford, supplied the required scaffolding, and Davies Cranes, located in Carmarthen, handled the steelwork and mechanical & electrical crane lifts. FP Hurley, also from Cross Hands, is managing the MEP (Mechanical, Engineering, and Plumbing) services. Security and cleaning services are being provided by the CSA Service Group, based at Llanelli Gate Business Park. The Gavin Griffiths Group from Swansea is overseeing commercial waste management, and Cwmgwili Recycling Facility in Carmarthen is also working with Bouygues UK. Project Lead Dylan Jones said: “It’s fantastic to see so many local firms working alongside us to help transform the former retail store into an exciting health, wellbeing and leisure hwb for Carmarthenshire. Working with local business is a key part of our commitment to using a local supply chain on projects as well as creating employment opportunities for the neighbouring community.  It’s a truly collaborative approach that is proven to work.” Once complete, Carmarthenshire residents will be able to access community health services at the Health and Wellbeing Hwb that are being provided by Hywel Dda University Health Board. Alongside health and wellbeing services, the remodelled building will partner with Actif Sport and Leisure to facilitate a new 24-hour gym, which will include top of the range equipment, and flexible fitness suites for group and individual workouts. There will also be a high-spec family entertainment centre that will include a range of activities for families, including indoor adventure golf, toy town soft play, E-Go Karting and TAG Active. The entertainment centre will also house party rooms and offer food and beverages. It is expected that once open to the public it will increase footfall for the town centre and drive further economic resilience for local traders and retailers. When the department store closed in May 2021 the knock-on effect on trade in the town centre was significant. It is hoped that the new all-encompassing Hwb – the first of its kind in Carmarthenshire – will encourage more people from the region into the town centre to take advantage of the public and leisure services that will be available under one roof. Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure, Culture and Tourism, Cllr Hazel Evans commented: “I am delighted to see that so many Carmarthenshire sub contractors are being utilised to work on this development. The Health and Wellbeing Hwb will serve as a place that local people can more easily access community health care and County Council Customer Services, as well as having a place to bring their children to the family entertainment zone or even to get healthier by using our gym.  The development will significantly increase footfall in the town centre and encourage people to visit for the day, which will positively impact our other local businesses in and around the town. Thank you to Bouygues UK for their ongoing work within our community.” This project is funded in partnership with £7million from Welsh Government via the Health and Social Care Integration and Rebalancing Capital Fund Programme, as part of the wider West Wales Regional Partnership Board Capital Programme and also funding of £18m from the UK Government. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

HM Treasury has approved a £56 million investment from Homes England to jumpstart the regeneration of a vast brownfield site in Liverpool Waters, bringing new life to the city’s historic northern docklands. The funding will support extensive infrastructure developments in the Central Docks neighbourhood, preparing the area to accommodate approximately 2,350 new homes and a public park in line with the government’s plan to build 1.5 million homes across the UK over the next five years. Owned by Peel Waters, the Liverpool Waters project spans over 60 hectares along the River Mersey, with Central Docks set to attract over £550 million in private investment. Already under way across the Liverpool Waters district are major projects, including the new Everton Stadium, the Mersey Heat energy network, and the Isle of Man’s £70 million ferry terminal, which was completed in June. The newly approved scheme, covering 10.5 hectares, is expected to be a landmark development for Liverpool’s waterfront. It will introduce essential utilities, new roads, cycle lanes, and pedestrian pathways, creating seamless connections between the city centre, Princes Dock, Central Docks, and the Everton stadium at Bramley Moore Dock. Central to this transformation will be a 2.1-hectare public green space, ‘Central Park’, which will blend coastal and woodland landscapes with play spaces and recreational amenities. Liverpool City Council Leader, Councillor Liam Robinson, expressed his enthusiasm, noting the scheme’s potential to transform disused dockland into a vibrant neighbourhood that will set a high standard for modern, sustainable development across the country. Development Director of Liverpool Waters, Chris Capes, commended the collaborative effort behind the project, emphasising that the infrastructure investment from Homes England will leverage further private funding, paving the way for a new, inclusive community that balances residential, commercial, and public spaces. Scheduled to commence in the spring, initial site preparation and design work will begin immediately, with the broader vision of turning Liverpool’s docklands into a thriving, community-oriented destination for years to come. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

York’s historic riverside is set for a stunning transformation as Helmsley Group’s ambitious Coney Street Riverside masterplan receives approval from the City of York Council’s planning committee. The masterplan, which will bring new life to a long-overlooked area, was praised by council members, who lauded Helmsley’s commitment to community engagement and revitalisation of York’s iconic waterfront. “This scheme is long overdue and will be a real positive for York,” noted Councillor Jonny Crawshaw, Chair of the planning committee, who highlighted the importance of restoring listed buildings with sensitivity. With nearly unanimous support, the council approved both the masterplan and a separate listed building application. The Coney Street Riverside project will introduce 250,000 square feet of diverse retail, leisure, commercial, and residential spaces, reimagining York’s historic core with a strong focus on community accessibility and sustainable design. The project includes creating a riverside walkway, which will enhance public access to the River Ouse, along with revitalising the historic lanes connecting Coney Street to the river. Notably, the site encompasses a cluster of listed buildings and structures of local significance within York’s Central Conservation Area, offering a unique opportunity to blend heritage with modern development. Among those in support was prominent disability campaigner Flick Williams, who called Helmsley’s inclusive design approach “a breath of fresh air,” and Andrew Lowson, Executive Director of York BID, who emphasised the project’s potential to rejuvenate one of York’s most valuable areas. Max Reeves, Development Director at Helmsley Group, expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support, stating, “This project offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to restore historic Coney Street as the social heart of York, reconnecting it with the riverfront.” With over 40 years of local development experience, Helmsley Group has committed to long-term investment in the project and anticipates beginning on-site work by 2026, barring any planning conditions. Pending the Secretary of State’s review on certain listed building elements, the plan is set to proceed with a dedicated team from Helmsley Group, brown + company, O’Neill Associates, and others. This transformative project aims to forge a dynamic and inclusive riverside destination, breathing new life into York’s cherished urban landscape. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Sutton Council has appointed Genr8 Kajima Regeneration as its preferred partner to drive the next phase of the town centre’s transformation, focusing on key sites such as the St Nicholas Shopping Centre, civic offices, Gibson Road car park, and the Secombe Theatre. At the heart of the project is the creation of a brand-new civic hub, providing a ‘front door’ for residents to easily access council services. The hub will also include a modern library and flexible community spaces. Scheduled for completion by mid-2029, this development will breathe new life into Sutton’s town centre. Alongside the civic hub, the plans outline the introduction of new retail and leisure spaces to enhance the local experience. These improvements are designed to boost the economy, offering residents and visitors more options while encouraging footfall in the area. A significant highlight of the regeneration is the development of 740 new homes, with 50% set aside as affordable housing, including nearly 300 homes for social rent—a vital contribution to addressing the housing crisis. Councillor Barry Lewis, Leader of Sutton Council, expressed enthusiasm for the project:“This is a key element of our vision for a vibrant and sustainable town centre. Our residents will benefit from a new hub offering improved access to council services, as well as exciting new retail and leisure facilities. Importantly, we are also delivering much-needed social housing for local families.” Councillor Sunita Gordon, lead member for resources, highlighted the council’s forward-thinking approach:“By purchasing the St Nicholas Centre in 2021, we took control of this key site’s future. This project represents a chance to create a smaller, more environmentally efficient civic centre, reducing costs and addressing climate change. Genr8 Kajima Regeneration has the expertise to bring this vision to life.” Mike Smith, partner at Genr8 Kajima Regeneration, shared his excitement:“We are thrilled to collaborate with Sutton Council on this transformative project. Our focus will be on creating a vibrant, sustainable town centre that meets the needs of the community and secures a prosperous future for Sutton.” This ambitious project promises to revitalise Sutton, bringing together new homes, businesses, and community spaces in a development that aims to serve residents for years to come. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Developer, Cityheart and Wigan Council have signed agreements allowing Principal Contractor Galliford Try to deliver the first phases of construction work at the former Galleries site in Wigan Town Centre. Galliford Try will start work in mid-October 2024, following directly on from the large-scale demolition and site investigation works already completed by BCEGI and PP O’Connor. The agreement means construction can start immediately for the new 90,000sqft market hall, located in the heart of the town centre. Alongside commencing delivery of the new market hall, Galliford Try will also undertake ground and enabling works across the wider site to progress the next phases of the new mixed-use neighbourhood.  Earlier this year Hampton by Hilton were announced as one of the first occupiers at the development, signing up for a 144-bed hotel. A series of Meet the Buyer events have also been held for local businesses to find out how they can get involved with the project and to ensure that Wigan borough businesses benefit from the contracts and investments that are being made. Councillor David Molyneux MBE, Leader of Wigan Council, said “The new market hall is at the heart of the project and set to be the first new building to open. Wigan is a traditional market town, receiving its Royal Charter in the 13th century. This development will bring our market into the 21st century, creating a vibrant, modern and thriving space for our traders and visitors to the town, ensuring it has a strong and exciting future with a lot of job opportunities for people both during and after construction.” Darren Jones, Development Director for Cityheart added: “We are delighted to be working with Galliford Try to bring forward the next stage of redevelopment at this transformational  Wigan Galleries site. We are progressing the delivery of the site in various phases in accordance with the planning consents we have secured. Throughout the phased development and once the scheme is complete the focus will be on  community wealth building with job opportunities for local businesses and residents. We’re proud to be part of delivering a destination which will enhance the offer in Wigan town centre and bolster the economy in the borough for many years to come.” The complete scheme is set to create circa 660 full-time jobs generating Gross Value Add (GVA) impacts of £26.5m per year. During the first phase of demolition, jobs apprenticeships and training placements were provided for local people through projects with Wigan Youth Zone and Wigan and Leigh College. Darren Parker, Managing Director for Galliford Try Building North West, commented: “We are pleased to be getting under way with this initial construction phase of the Wigan Galleries project and look forward to working with all the stakeholders involved to deliver social value back into the local community and support Wigan’s investment.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals