Work to deliver a multi-million-pound rehabilitation programme of Thames Water’s Northern Outfall Sewer (NOS) in East London took a major step forward over Easter after a second major rail possession allowed Barhale engineers to carry out structural works and take critical material samples. The 7.5 kilometre NOS runs overground on an embankment across East London, transferring flows from a 300 square kilometre catchment to Beckton Sewage Treatment Works. At the Corporation Street project in West Ham, the NOS09 overbridges cross the District Line and c2c line. Through the 100-hour joint Transport for London and Network Rail Easter possession, civil engineering, infrastructure and tunnelling specialist, Barhale removed redundant concrete structures from the bridge spans, cut 20 samples from the existing cast iron sewer barrels for testing and undertook coring investigations at the bridge abutments and piers and additionally updated 3D scan surveys. The Easter possession provided an opportunity to access all three rail spans at the same time, allowing the samples and information needed to complete the design to be collected. Jaimie Lawson, Senior Contracts Manager at Barhale, said: “The possession has made it possible for the project to take another important step forward. The intelligence that we have gathered will be critical to the design of the NOS09 solution, extending its lifespan to 120 years.” A previous 27-hour possession of the Jubilee and DLR at the NOS07 overbridge across Christmas 2025 saw the installation of two bespoke deck systems to protect the railway lines and provide a safe working platform for future works to proceed. Each deck comprises aluminium trusses, structural ties and a steel durbar floor separating the operational railway from the Thames Water sewer system to improve long-term safety and resilience. To meet the railway separation requirements, the flooring was designed to overlap and incorporate adjustable sections where the deck interfaces with existing abutment walls. Jaimie Lawson said: “We are dealing with a critical Thames Water asset where it crosses five major transport routes including the Jubilee Line, DLR, Manor Road, the District Line and c2c. “The successful completion of the latest possession shows how we and Thames Water safely execute complex engineering works around operational rail environments.” Richard Smith, Head of Programme Delivery – Critical Assets, Capital Delivery London Infrastructure at Thames Water said “I would like to thank Barhale, their supply chain partners and our colleagues in Network Rail and Transport for London, who have worked together to deliver these complex works over the last few months as part of our commitment to deliver the biggest asset upgrade in 150 years this investment period.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Last Mile, a leading multi-utility infrastructure provider, today announces it has reached 1 million utility connections; a landmark milestone that signals the company’s sustained growth, resilience and the financial strength of its growing asset portfolio. The figure comprises live connections across electricity, gas, water, wastewater and heat networks, managed by Last Mile at residential, commercial and industrial developments since its inception in 2002. From being granted the very first Independent Distribution Network Operator (IDNO) licence in Great Britain for electricity, to adding multi-award-winning low carbon solutions to its offering and attracting blue-chip investor backing, Last Mile has a long history of hitting significant milestones. “Reaching 1 million connections is a significant moment for us, and it is thanks to the dedication of the people across our business who have made it possible,” said Richard Thomas, Last Mile CEO. “Every one of those connections is the result of designers, engineers, operational colleagues, asset managers, and many others delivering reliable utility networks to our customers across the country, who put their trust in us for their projects. I’m incredibly proud of what our colleagues have achieved, in true partnership with our customers, and this momentum should give us real confidence as Last Mile looks ahead to its next chapter of growth.” The 1 millionth connection was made at a service station in the West Midlands, with Last Mile adopting the infrastructure powering rapid EV charge points. Last Mile operates as an end-to-end independent multi-utility provider, with capabilities in both infrastructure delivery and long-term network ownership. Alongside its live connections, the company has an order book of 710,000 new connections that it is designing, building and adopting. Recent flagship projects include: the multi-award-winning Welborne garden village in Hampshire, where it is delivering the UK’s first water-source heat network using reservoir water to heat and cool up to 6,000 homes; the Michaelston College redevelopment in Cardiff, the Welsh capital’s first housing project to use a ground source heat network; and Brabazon, in Bristol, one of the government’s seven designated new towns where it is delivering multi-utility connections. The organisation’s ongoing growth is underpinned by blue-chip investors, Infracapital and Macquarie Asset Management, providing the financial platform for Last Mile to offer developers and ICPs innovative asset finance models and to invest in the long-term operation and management of multi-utility connections. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The Federation of Piling Specialists (FPS) is pleased to announce it has launched a new  interactive UK-wide digital map of completed piling projects, marking a significant step forward in how geotechnical data is used to inform design and improve sustainability across the construction sector. The FPS Geotechnical Data Map visualises historical piling project data using ArcGIS, allowing users to explore completed works across different locations and ground conditions. By bringing together datasets submitted by FPS members, the platform provides a valuable new resource for clients, consultants and contractors involved in foundation design. The tool has been developed to support design optimisation at an early stage, enabling project teams to identify comparable schemes, better understand ground conditions, and reduce uncertainty. In doing so, it has the potential to improve efficiency, reduce risk and avoid unnecessary overdesign. A key feature of the platform is its ability to highlight opportunities for potential pile and foundation reuse. By making historical data more accessible and visible, the FPS aims to support more sustainable construction practices and contribute to reducing embodied carbon across the built environment. Commenting on the launch, Malcolm O’Sullivan, Chair, Federation of Piling Specialists said: “The FPS Geotechnical Data Map has the potential to change how we think about foundation design. By making historical data more visible and usable, we can begin to identify opportunities for pile and foundation reuse, reduce unnecessary embodied carbon, and support a more sustainable approach to construction. This is a practical step towards a more circular economy in ground engineering.” The launch of the map also reflects a broader shift towards a more connected and data-driven industry. The FPS has positioned the platform as part of an increasingly sophisticated landscape of digital geotechnical information and intends to continue expanding its scope. Future development may include the integration of additional datasets and collaboration with external data providers. The FPS Geotechnical Data Map is now live and available to members through the FPS Website. For more information, please contact the FPS by email at fps@fps.org.uk or visit the FPS website at www.fps.org.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Local leaders joined Vistry, the UK’s leading provider of mixed-tenure homes, and principal contractor Chasetown Civil Engineering, to watch a 600-tonne crawler crane lift the first major span of the new Walton Bridge over the River Trent. The lift took place on the morning of Friday 27 February 2026, following two earlier postponements caused by flooding and high winds. Vistry and Chasetown Civil Engineering were joined by stakeholders from Derbyshire County Council, South Derbyshire District Council, Staffordshire County Council, East Staffordshire Borough Council, Walton Parish Council and Drakelow Parish Council for the opportunity to watch the operation and capture the occasion with a group photograph. Drone footage was also recorded during the lift. * Phil McHugh, Divisional Managing Director of Vistry North West Midlands, said: “After the challenges posed by the weather, it’s fantastic to see the first span of Walton Bridge finally lifted into place. This is a major milestone for the project and a vital step in improving transport links for both existing communities and future residents.” The new bridge forms part of the new 1.5km bypass construction project to replace the existing one‑way weight restricted, traffic signal controlled, bailey bridge at Walton‑on‑Trent, which has long acted as a bottleneck for traffic. Once complete, it will provide vital unrestricted access across the River Trent, improving connectivity for local residents and for the 2,000 new residents planned at Dracan Village, Vistry’s major regeneration project on the former Drakelow power station site. The scheme is also expected to support economic growth across the wider area. Work on the £25m bypass project began in February 2025, following planning consent from South Derbyshire District Council and East Staffordshire Borough Council. The bridge is 150 metres long and constructed from three spans, with the central span across the River Trent measuring 64 metres with157 tonnes of steelwork, while the eastern and western spans each measure 43 metres and weigh 93 tonnes. The total weight of the structural steelwork is approximately 510 tonnes, including bracings. The underside of the bridge has been designed to allow around 2.6 metres of flood clearance, and the highway construction will include six culvert structures to cater for flood waters, enhancing long‑term resilience. Installation of the bridge will take place in six separate lifting phases, with approximately nine weeks required to install the girders and main deck elements. Abutment and pier construction is already complete, with surfacing and finishing works to follow once the main structure is in place. In total, around 10,750 tonnes of tarmac will be used as part of the scheme. A full trial assembly of the bridge steelwork took place in December 2025 at Jamestown’s steel manufacturing facility in Portarlington, Ireland. In‑person inspections were carried out during production and the bridge installation executed through Chasetown Civil Engineering and their collaborative Shropshire Alliance partnership with Beaver Bridges and Foundation Piling.** Matt Procter, Head of Business Development from Chasetown Civil Engineering said: “It is an incredibly proud moment for everyone involved. This is a perfect example of how strategic infrastructure unlocks communities – connecting people, places and new homes while solving long-standing local transport challenges”. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Bristol Airport has awarded a £30m terminal extension project to leading building and civil engineering contractor Farrans, as it continues with its plans to invest £400 million to transform the airport experience for customers.   Work has already commenced on the two-floor terminal extension which will infill an area between the existing terminal building and the departure gates. The new area will cater for an increase to 12 million passengers per year. There will be more space and almost double the number of shops and restaurants, with 17 new units being incorporated into the design. There will also be space for island retail units and more seating, designed with comfort in mind. The arrivals hall is also benefitting from a new domestic arrivals reclaim area with an additional baggage carousel and an increase in capacity by 20%. Accessibility in immigration will be improved with new lifts and stairs.   Farrans, in a joint venture with Griffiths, previously completed the new Public Transport Interchange at Bristol Airport on time and on budget in July 2025. The £60 million project, also part of the Airport’s £400 million investment, has enabled more sustainable journeys and sees around 250 public transport movements a day.  Andrew Goodenough, Infrastructure Director at Bristol Airport said: “We have ambitious plans to transform our customer experience over the next couple of years, and we really appreciate our customers patience and understanding while all of these massive improvements are taking place.  “Floor space is going to increase by almost 45% and we’ll have a total of 38 retail and food and beverage outlets including premium brands and dining options as well as a hidden speakeasy bar. We’re pleased to have Farrans back on site with us to deliver this project following the success of our Public Transport Interchange.”  Gerard McNamee, Project Manager at Farrans said: “This is an exciting project which will be completed in a live environment in which all passenger routes need to remain open at all times. We have an extensive aviation portfolio with projects underway at Leeds Bradford Airport, Stansted Airport and Bristol Airport at the moment, so we are well versed in working collaboratively with our clients to reduce any disruption. We will be installing insulated hoardings and creating air locked spaces to maintain passenger flow.  “One of the most innovative features logistically for this project is that we will be using a Bailey Bridge, a modular military style bridge designed for rapid construction to temporarily bridge gaps, to bring our vehicles and equipment from land side to airside. We anticipate that at the peak of this project we will have approximately 150 people employed and many will be from local suppliers. As with our Public Transport Interchange scheme we will be working with our client to deliver an impactful social value programme throughout the extension works.”   Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Rolls-Royce SMR has signed a contract with Skanska UK to deliver an aseismic bearing pedestal demonstrator for its small modular reactor (SMR) programme. These structural isolation devices are central to the factory-built nuclear plant’s design, decoupling buildings and infrastructure from ground motion during seismic events to improve safety and resilience. The work will be carried out at Skanska’s fabrications facility in Doncaster, England, and will include building a prototype of the aseismic bearing pedestal. The demonstrator is intended to enable standardisation of the Rolls-Royce SMR design across a wide range of geotechnical and seismic conditions. Ruth Todd CBE, Rolls-Royce SMR Operations and Supply Chain Director, said: “Working with Skanska is a significant step forward in proving the capability of our aseismic bearing technology and demonstrating our modular approach to construction. By working with a trusted delivery partner, we are de-risking our ‘fleet-based’ approach and creating opportunities for more British and Czech suppliers to play a key role the Rolls-Royce SMR mission.” Skanska, one of the world’s leading project development and construction companies, delivers complex building and infrastructure projects across sectors such as energy and transport. Headquartered in Sweden, it has a strong presence in the UK, North America and Europe, including the Czech Republic, and brings decades of civil engineering, project management and sustainable construction expertise. Adam McDonald, Executive Vice President at Skanska UK, said: “We’ll be bringing our civil engineering, design and fabrications expertise to build and test a first-of-its-kind pre-cast bearing pedestal – a critical component for Rolls-Royce SMR in building new nuclear power generation. Over the coming months, we’ll develop the prototype and run various technical trials at our Bentley Works facility in Doncaster. We are looking forward to playing our part in developing the next generation of nuclear energy.” Rolls-Royce SMR has been named preferred bidder in the Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) SMR competition and by European utility ČEZ to deliver up to three gigawatts of new nuclear power in the Czech Republic. GBE-N recently confirmed Wylfa on Ynys Môn (Anglesey) as the site for the UK’s first SMRs, aiming to provide up to 1.5GW of low-carbon energy to the grid, support the UK’s net zero goals and create an estimated 8,000 quality long-term British jobs. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

A man-made mountain of more than 2,500 tonnes of crushed demolition material has been transported across Edinburgh as part of an innovative scheme to provide a long-term solution for people facing homelessness. The mammoth operation saw almost 100 truckloads of inert building rubble recycled from a city centre development site to form the foundations of a new Social Bite Village, located along the capital’s Granton waterfront. Charity Social Bite teamed up with regeneration specialist Artisan Real Estate to relocate building material which remained following the demolition of the former Deutsche Bank House at 525 Ferry Road, making way for Artisan’s spectacular homes-led redevelopment of the site in 2026. The recycled rubble is now being used to create level groundwork as part of the ongoing construction of the Social Bite Village which will soon become home for up to 16 people who have been affected by homelessness. The new waterfront community will provide seven new one-bedroom ‘Nest Houses’, together with existing homes converted into single occupancy based on resident feedback. The new community will also include a communal area for residents to cook, gather and relax, together with gardens and space to grow fruit and vegetables. “This is a superb example of how clever collaboration in the building industry can help improve the world around us,” says Artisan’s Managing Director for Scotland, David Westwater. “As part of Artisan’s stated commitment to sustainability, we always ensure that as much material as possible can be reused or recycled following demolition. And for this commitment to allow us to help such a life-empowering movement as the creation of a new Social Bite Village means that this really is a perfect development partnership.” The new Social Bite Village is a relocation of the existing temporary village site, less than one mile away in Granton. The charity’s Edinburgh village model has so far helped more than 100 residents who, at the end of their stay, are supported in transitioning to permanent accommodation. Many have gone on to secure employment, reconnect with family, and move into their own permanent homes. Josh Littlejohn MBE, founder of Social Bite, adds: “It’s very exciting to see our new project taking shape on a stunning seafront location, and we are delighted to be partnering with Artisan to provide such a firm foundation for the site. “The success of the Edinburgh Village serves as a blueprint for other projects that we are planning. Its design offers people affected by homelessness, living in unsupported temporary accommodation or other insecure housing, a safe and supportive community in which to find a fresh start. With many cities all over the UK declaring housing emergencies and becoming overly reliant on expensive, substandard temporary accommodation, we are proud that our village projects can demonstrate a better alternative that also makes use of innovative construction methods.” Artisan will start construction of its Ferry Road site, known as 525 Park View in early 2026, in partnership with REInvest Asset Management S.A. The development will create a low-carbon residential-led community providing 256 sustainable homes, 25% of which will be for affordable housing. Flexible commercial space facing on to Ferry Road will provide potential for cafes, shops and shared workspaces. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals