VolkerFitzpatrick is continuing to progress works on a £61 million infrastructure scheme designed to ease congestion and improve journey times for residents, businesses and visitors in Canterbury, Kent. The Sturry Link Road scheme began in April and will create a new route between the A28 and the A291 at Sturry. It will provide a bypass for the heavily congested Sturry Level Crossing and the busy Island Road junction, helping to improve connectivity across the area. Kent County Council (KCC) has secured £48.5 million in funding from Homes England to support delivery of the project, with the agreement signed in March 2026. This funding will play a vital role in enabling the scheme to progress. The Sturry Link Road scheme includes the construction of a new viaduct spanning the River Stour, its floodplain and the railway line. The scheme also features new roundabouts at either end, connecting to a future east–west route north of the railway that will link Sturry Hill and Shalloak Road. Once complete, the wider Sturry Relief Road will address long-standing congestion issues in the area, where traffic on the A28 is frequently delayed by the level crossing. The new route will provide an alternative option for road users, reducing queues, improving journey reliability and enhancing access to Sturry railway station. The project also incorporates a range of features to support sustainable travel and safety, including a shared footway and cycleway, a dedicated southbound bus lane towards Canterbury, new pedestrian crossing points and road lighting along the route. In addition to improving transport connections, the scheme will support planned housing growth in Sturry and Broad Oak, ensuring that essential infrastructure is delivered alongside new homes, jobs and economic opportunities. Representatives from KCC recently visited the site on Thursday 28 May to view progress being made on the scheme alongside the VolkerFitzpatrick project team. Peter Osborne, KCC Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said:“This is a major investment for the area, and the support from Homes England is vital in helping us deliver the infrastructure needed to unlock new homes, support local businesses and improve everyday journeys. “It’s great to see work progressing well on the Sturry Link Road, which will make a real difference to people who regularly experience delays at the level crossing. “Once complete, the new road will provide a more reliable route for residents and visitors, while also creating better connections across the local network.” Pauline Schaffer, Homes England Director of Housing and Infrastructure Grant Funding, said:“This latest milestone is an excellent example of how funding from Homes England is helping to deliver the vital infrastructure and homes needed to unlock thriving places that communities can be proud of. “It’s great to see progress on the Sturry Link Road, and we look forward to continuing to support KCC to achieve its ambitions.” Andrew Avery, Senior Project Manager at VolkerFitzpatrick, said:“We are delighted that construction has begun on this vital scheme. The new route will ease congestion at the level crossing, improve journeys and unlock growth for local communities. Working in partnership with Kent County Council, we’re proud to be delivering long-term infrastructure that will make a real difference across the region.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Real estate investor Castleforge and data centre operator Galaxy Data Centers have received full planning consent for a new 15MW data centre at their Redhill campus in Surrey. The approval from Reigate & Banstead Borough Council’s Planning Committee marks a major expansion of the 3.1-hectare Foxboro Business Park site, representing a total project value of approximately £500 million. The project follows an initial £100 million investment in the campus in late 2024. This next phase involves an additional £200 million injection to construct a two-storey facility housing four data halls and an accompanying office block. A central feature of the development is its focus on low-carbon technology. The facility is designed to achieve a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating and includes infrastructure to capture and reuse waste heat generated by the servers. Beyond on-site use, the design allows for the future export of this heat to the neighbouring residential heat network, assisting the local community’s transition to lower-carbon energy sources. The expansion is driven by a critical shortage of data centre capacity in the London market—currently the largest in Europe—where demand from AI, cloud computing, and hybrid workloads is significantly outstripping the available power supply. Mike Adcock, Head of Investments at Castleforge, commented: “Demand for capacity in and around London continues to outpace supply, and this consent enables us to bring forward the additional power and scale required to serve enterprise, hyperscale and edge customers. We are particularly proud of the project’s sustainability credentials, including the potential to export waste heat to local homes.” Paul Leong, CFO and Partner of Galaxy Data Centers, added: “The new facility will significantly expand the capacity available to our customers and ensure Redhill is positioned to meet the evolving needs of edge, hyperscale and enterprise users. We are proud to be delivering a development that combines operational excellence with meaningful sustainability outcomes.” The existing Redhill campus already serves a range of Fortune 500 enterprises, particularly within the financial services and AI sectors. It is valued for its low-latency connectivity to major hubs in Slough and the Docklands, as well as its access to secured green energy. With planning now secured, the joint venture will move into the next phase of construction. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Perega is tackling some of the South East’s toughest water neutrality requirements and fifteen metres of unstable made ground to deliver the civil and structural engineering strategy for Taylor Wimpey’s major residential masterplan in the Horsham and Crawley region.   Early ground investigations confirmed deep and variable fill across the development parcels. To address this, Perega has designed a piled foundation solution with piles driven up to 25 metres through the deep unstable material to sufficiently embed into the soil beneath. The piles are linked by reinforced concrete ground beams to support the walls of the masonry housing with precast concrete floors. Pile layouts have been coordinated with the architectural design to suit each parcel and tying beams were omitted where the pile’s lateral capacity allowed. This reduced concrete volumes while maintaining structural performance. Water neutrality has been a key driver of the overall civil engineering strategy. Perega has incorporated sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) across the site, including permeable paving and controlled discharge developed in coordination with the wider drainage masterplan. Ground beam concrete mixes include GGBS to reduce embodied carbon and a cut-and-fill earthworks approach retains material on-site to limit waste and vehicle movements. The civils package includes highways, drainage and external works delivered within defined level constraints. Perega is managing technical approvals with the local Highways Authority and AWIN – an independent water company – while supporting the project through RIBA Stages 4 and 5 across multiple parcels. Amy Norman, Senior Civil Engineer at Perega, said: “This project demonstrates what’s possible when you combine rigorous engineering with environmental responsibility. Having built a strong relationship with Taylor Wimpey over similar developments, we’re effectively coordinating multiple parcels simultaneously. The challenge is ensuring every individual plot achieves seamless integration back into the masterplan infrastructure.” Finn Neylon, Associate at Perega, added: “Establishing the piled foundation strategy early allowed the team to manage ground risk and support the delivery programme. Close coordination with the wider design team has been essential in delivering a practical solution suited to site constraints.” Tom Emery, Land Manager at Taylor Wimpey South Thames, said: “This site presented a complex engineering challenge and we are grateful to Parega for stepping up with a robust solution. Their excellent work in the early stages of the site will mean a smooth transition to construction, and will give our customers added confidence that their home is built on solid foundations.” The appointment demonstrates Perega’s capability to deliver integrated civil and structural engineering solutions on multi-phase masterplan developments. For more information on Perega, please visit: perega.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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

Sizewell C has appointed Kier to construct the project’s main site entrance, in a significant step towards large-scale build activity. The contract covers the North Plaza, a 15-hectare gateway featuring bus interchanges, a deliveries hub and personnel security facilities. Located east of Abbey Road in Leiston, the plaza will improve access to the Temporary Construction Area (TCA). It will include new roads to ease the flow of vehicles and staff, some of whom will continue to the Main Construction Area where the £38bn new nuclear power station is being developed on the Suffolk coast. Work is scheduled to start in June, creating about 70 jobs. Damian Leydon, Sizewell C’s Site Delivery Director, said: “The North Plaza is a key piece of infrastructure. It will serve as the secure entry point for trucks bringing materials to site and the entrance through which our workforce will pass after travelling in via our two park and ride facilities off the A12. Kier has a proven track record in supporting the UK’s nuclear sector. Together, with the support of the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce and local suppliers, we’ll ensure this vital element of the project is delivered as safely and efficiently as possible, while creating meaningful opportunities for local businesses and people.” Kier, a leading infrastructure services, construction and property group, brings extensive experience of complex, large-scale schemes. Over the past six years, it has delivered £1.4bn of nuclear and energy projects across the UK. This includes work at Sizewell C’s sister project, Hinkley Point C, via the Kier BAM joint venture (KBJV), delivering roads, ancillary buildings, a fish return system and civil security fencing. Kier’s North Plaza package sits within Sizewell C’s Major Civils Framework, a substantial programme of works over the coming years. Craig Small, Managing Director of Nuclear & Energy for Kier Infrastructure, said: “We understand the importance of delivering nuclear energy in the UK, and with our longstanding experience in this sector we are ideally placed to support the development of this vital project at Sizewell. Drawing on our work at Hinkley Point C, we will apply our extensive knowledge to deliver these works, with safety and efficiency at the forefront, and creating long-term social and economic impact.” Kier has also committed to supporting Sizewell C’s social sustainability goals, including ensuring 70% of the project’s construction value is delivered to UK companies. At peak construction, nearly 8,000 people will work on Sizewell C. Once operational, the plant is expected to generate 3.2GW of low-carbon electricity—enough to power six million homes—and cut UK carbon emissions by around nine million tonnes annually. 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