Founders of Nobu Hospitality join Salboy on site at the groundbreaking ceremony for future Nobu Residences, Hotel, and Restaurant Manchester
The founders of luxury lifestyle brand, Nobu Hospitality and Salboy, the national property development and funding company, have gathered to celebrate a groundbreaking ceremony on the site of Manchester’s newest skyscraper. Standing at 246 metres when it is expected to be completed in 2031, the tower will transform the fast-evolving Manchester skyline and bring a fresh new approach to sophisticated living and first-class dining to the city’s residents and visitors. Developed in a partnership between Nobu Hospitality, Salboy and construction firm Domis, the tower will be home to a signature Nobu restaurant (Nobu Manchester), a 160-room luxury hotel (Nobu Hotel Manchester), and 452 branded Nobu residences (Nobu Residences Manchester). Together, these assets will cater to property buyers, locals, and visitors seeking sophisticated living and hospitality experiences in the UK’s fastest-growing city. The partners have announced that the Nobu restaurant, serving a world-class and endlessly innovative Japanese dining experience, will be situated on the ground floor of the tower, among the site’s original Grade 2 listed, Victorian viaduct arches. The vast brick arches will imbue the space with a strong sense of the city’s industrial heritage, marrying centuries-old architecture with modern cuisines. Chef Nobu Matsuhisa opened his first restaurant, Matsuhisa, in Los Angeles in 1987. After partnering with actor Robert De Niro, he opened the first Nobu restaurant in New York in 1994 and, since then, has taken his inimitable approach to creating memorable dining experiences in over 50 restaurants worldwide. In 2013, the first Nobu Hotel opened in Las Vegas, paving the way for Chef Nobu, Robert De Niro, and Meir Teper to bring Chef Nobu’s famed attention to detail, innovation, and flair to luxury hotels and branded residences. The Nobu Residences Manchester mark Nobu’s entry into the UK’s luxury real estate market. Not only will the residences on the upper levels be some of the highest apartments and penthouses in Western Europe, but every property will be designed with refined Japanese-inspired interiors, and residences will enjoy premium amenities, including an exclusive swimming pool, a podium garden offering panoramic views over the city, a gym, and access to Nobu dining. The Salboy and Nobu Hospitality teams are collaborating with award-winning designers, Bowley James Brindley, to develop interiors that uniquely marry Nobu’s commitment to elevated curated living experiences with a strong sense of Manchester’s industrial and cultural heritage as well as its position on the contemporary world stage. Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro and Meir Teper, Nobu Hospitality’s Shareholders, commented: “Breaking ground in Manchester is a defining moment for Nobu in the UK — our first venture beyond London, and the introduction of Nobu Residences to this market. This landmark project — encompassing a hotel, restaurant and residences — marks the debut of Nobu Residences in the United Kingdom. Manchester’s global outlook and dynamic spirit align perfectly with the Nobu brand. We’re proud to bring our signature hospitality, dining and design to the city, and excited to offer both guests and residents an authentic Nobu experience.” Fred Done, Co-founder of Salboy, said: “Ten years ago, Simon Ismail and I founded Salboy with a clear vision: to change Manchester’s skyline. I believe we are doing just that. I’ve been fortunate to experience exceptional cuisine and hospitality around the world, which is why we chose Nobu as our partner to help realise that vision. Best in class, best in creativity, the best of the best. This is our pièce de résistance— exactly what we wanted to bring to Manchester, the city of firsts. This is why it’s so fantastic to welcome Nobu to our wonderful city.” Simon Ismail, Co-founder and CEO of Salboy, added: “Chef Nobu’s 30-year influence on our culinary tastes can not be understated and I look forward with huge anticipation for the impact he and his team have on Manchester’s established and ambitious dining scene. As a proud Salfordian too, I’m keen to see how Chef Nobu and his team blend local produce and influences from the Northwest’s culinary heritage into the dishes and flavours they are famous for. Beyond the signature restaurant, which will look magnificent under the Victorian arches, being part of Nobu’s journey to extend its leadership in the global luxury hospitality and property markets is an honour. Manchester deserves luxury accommodation to match its growing position on the international stage and the Nobu team has the imagination and track record to make that happen.” The event comes as Domis, a partner on the scheme, has started enabling works on site with intentions to start construction next year. Salboy expects to launch sales for Nobu Residences Manchester by Q2 2026. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Twin towers approved for Liverpool waterfront gateway
Packaged Living has secured planning consent for a landmark two-tower development overlooking Liverpool’s waterfront, unlocking 434 new homes and extensive resident amenities on the site of the former Littlewoods computer centre. Rising to 19 and 25 storeys, the buildings will form a prominent gateway on the approach to the city’s commercial core. The scheme will deliver purpose-built homes for the private rented sector alongside shared facilities, with new public realm designed to improve permeability across the site and strengthen connections towards the Bramley-Moore Dock stadium. Demolition of the redundant computer centre is expected to begin early next year. Main construction is anticipated to start in early 2027, with a principal contractor yet to be appointed. The approved plans follow a period of public consultation, during which design revisions focused on townscape, active frontages at ground level and improved pedestrian links through the site. Development manager Edwina Coward said the project reflects a collaborative approach with the local community: “We’re excited to be bringing forward a landmark development at this prominent gateway site and we’re so pleased to be able to provide more homes and public realm for this great city. An extensive public consultation unlocked the wisdom of the Liverpool public and we were delighted at the quality of people’s ideas and observations about how we could improve the scheme and connectivity towards the new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium and everything in between. The outcome is very much a shared vision.” Architect Adam Hall of Falconer Chester Hall added that the composition is intended to anchor a cluster of taller buildings: “The buildings offer an elegant and confident entrance statement to the city’s commercial core in an area that delivers on the potential of clustering taller buildings. The views north towards Everton’s new stadium, Blackpool Tower and the Lake District fells beyond will take some beating.” With consent secured, the team will move into procurement and technical design ahead of enabling works. The project is expected to contribute to Liverpool’s supply of high-quality city living while supporting local employment during construction and enhancing the waterfront approach with new public spaces and improved connectivity. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Planning for growth at speed – will root and branch reform deliver?
By Joanne Neville, National Director of Planning at Harworth Group Plc One area in which the government cannot be criticised for lacking ambition is reform of the planning system. With a commitment to 12 new towns – construction on three supposedly starting within this parliament – and ambitions to ‘build, baby build’ alongside recent additions to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, there is a clear commitment to get things moving. Delivered through two pieces of primary legislation, the proposed planning reforms are broad in scope. The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill will see all areas in England covered by a strategic authority. Separately, the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will mandate these authorities to develop spatial development strategies – bringing the rest of England in line with Manchester and London, which have had these in place since 2024 and 2004 respectively. Sweeping reform is complicated and will take time to have effect, but the government hopes these bills will work in tandem to support development and bolster economies. Strategic thinking for strategic planning England’s planning system will work better if we can move away from what can be an overly politicised process, towards a spatial system that facilitates effective cross-boundary working. This would enable a decision-making framework capable of tackling difficult decisions about how growth is distributed and infrastructure delivered – leaving local planning authorities to focus resources on specific sites. Despite the benefits on offer, this will be a new way of working for most of England’s planning system and require significant attention and resources to establish. Greater Manchester’s adoption of its regional plan was a gargantuan effort but much needed. I hope that with support from central government, other combined authorities will achieve the goal quicker. Some, such as West Yorkshire Combined Authority, have already begun work on a plan and will be hoping this will help make the case to government for investment in the region’s proposed mass transit system. The key to delivering an effective spatial plan is starting as early as possible and establishing a shared vision through consistent communication and engagement. Some worry that strategic planning will result in the displacement of planners from local authorities, thereby compounding current resourcing challenges. The acute shortage of planners is a concern to us all – there is no obvious solution to this other than the requirement for more planners in the system. Developing a way of working that streamlines systems to ensure work is not duplicated at a local level is also key. A move to unitaries: simplicity is sophistication Putting an end to the current patchwork of administrative make-ups and moving away from two-tier authorities throughout England should, in time, simplify the planning process and largely standardise our political map by bringing all of England under unitary authorities. At our Skelton Grange site, having a strong unitary authority was critical. Collaborative promotion between Harworth, Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority helped gain interest from globally significant occupiers, with Microsoft ultimately committing to the site. Microsoft’s plan to build northern England’s largest data centre puts Leeds firmly on the map of this booming industry. Skelton Grange shows the power of strong alignment and clarity of purpose between local authorities, regional authorities and the private sector. The former power station site presented some of the most challenging ground conditions we’ve dealt with – and that’s saying something when you look at the type of the former industrial land we specialise in. Less than four miles from central Leeds, regeneration of the site is really significant to the city. Greater Manchester and West Midlands are oft-cited examples when it comes to devolution, but we’re also seeing the transition to a major unitary authority play out in North Yorkshire. This is a particularly interesting example when you consider the challenge and opportunity of creating fertile ground for investment across a large scale and predominantly rural geography. Time will tell on the specifics, but it’s hard to argue the logic of streamlining eight councils into one, ultimately ensuring planning decisions on housing and employment can be made in the same town hall as transport, waste and social care strategies. Decisions, decisions… A recent report by Lichfields found it now typically takes two years for major applications to secure permission, with just 4% being determined in the statutory timeframe. The longest wait in 2014 (660 days) was shorter than the average in 2024 (710 days). In 2008, I was the case officer for a major EIA development with a 112-day (16 week) timeframe. I was able to determine the application (complete with a signed S106), within the target. The ingredients that enabled this included a local authority planning department with a strong chief planner at the helm – a role that the RTPI is campaigning to be commonplace across planning departments. I was empowered to make a recommendations as planning officer in the planning balance. Plus we had a pragmatic, solution-based relationship between local authority and applicant. On top of this was a planning committee with a strong chair which recognised the allocation in the local plan and, despite objections, was strong enough to realise the principle of development was not up for debate. Planning professionals are all too familiar with decisions being made at committee against officer recommendation, often leading to delays and costs in bringing forwards new homes and jobs. Recently consulted on reforms to committees include a national scheme of delegation, limiting their size to 11 members and the introduction of mandatory training. Like the government, I hope a clearer scope and increased professionalism will help to put an end to rolling the dice with committees – particularly where allocated and policy compliant sites are concerned In my opinion, these proposed reforms are a significant step in the right direction to achieving decisions within sensible timeframes again. Don’t let perfection be the enemy of good Planning systems and local government are not a perfect science; we are constantly adjusting to the technological, social and economic conditions around us. With
Arcadis and Jupiter Intelligence partner to accelerate global climate resilience solutions
Arcadis, the world’s leading company delivering sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets, today announced the launch of its global strategic partnership with Jupiter Intelligence, the global standard for extreme weather risk and adaptation analytics. As climate pressures intensify and supply chains, assets and operations face growing exposure, the partnership gives clients a direct path from climate risk analysis insight to investment decisions, disclosure and delivery. Building on nearly a decade of collaboration, the relationship combines Arcadis’ deep sector and engineering expertise with Jupiter’s transparent, peer-reviewed science and decision-grade analytics to help organizations worldwide turn climate science into actionable intelligence for smarter, faster adaptation planning and implementation. Under the agreement, Arcadis integrates Jupiter’s advanced climate modeling, data, APIs and expert teams into its service offerings. By integrating Jupiter’s high-resolution projections directly into Arcadis’ digital climate solutions, including Climate Risk Nexus, clients gain decision-grade intelligence that connects hazard exposure to capital planning, asset management and operational decisions. This collaboration is already delivering results. Arcadis is working with the State University of New York (SUNY), using Climate Risk Nexus, supported by Jupiter’s data to conduct a comprehensive climate exposure assessment across 64 campuses. The work, which commenced in 2025 and is due for completion in 2026, will help inform resilience planning and investment decisions for higher education infrastructure. “We’re leveraging Jupiter’s multi-hazard climate datasets, grounded in the latest modeling and climate science to deliver consistent, peer reviewed analysis across global asset portfolios and supply chains.” Said Roni Deitz, Global Director of Climate Adaptation, Arcadis. “Our work with clients like SUNY shows how this combination of data, engineering and digital tools can enable faster, more confident resilience planning at scale.” The Arcadis-Jupiter partnership already supports adaptation and resilience programs across real estate, manufacturing and transport infrastructure, with active delivery in North America, Australia, Latin America and the United Kingdom. Designed to be scalable at speed, it aligns with global disclosure frameworks like the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), ensuring results meet standards recognized by investors, insurers and regulators. “We’re seeing rising demand for integrated, cross-sector solutions that connect science, best-in-class data and strategy. Clients don’t just need maps – they need decision-making intelligence. This partnership enables that, helping leaders protect critical assets, keep value chains moving and make defensible investments that build resilience and stakeholder confidence.” adds Heather Polinsky, Global President, Resilience at Arcadis. The collaboration also extends to joint innovation and product co-development, notably Jupiter’s new Adaptation Hub module within its ClimateScore™ Global platform. The module quantifies the cost and return on investment of resilience strategies. Arcadis contributed to its design and development, applying engineering and planning expertise to ensure the insights reflect real-world feasibility and economic dimensions of climate adaptation. “This partnership with Arcadis enables the world’s most critical institutions to integrate climate and extreme weather risk into their core decision-making to anticipate change, strengthen resilience and invest smarter for the future,” said Rich Sorkin, CEO of Jupiter Intelligence. “As increasing extreme weather events continue to impact physical assets and infrastructure, it’s more important than ever to move from awareness to action.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Wimbledon Bridge House conversion approved as London Square unveils mixed-use plans
London Square has secured planning permission from the London Borough of Merton to convert and extend Wimbledon Bridge House into a mixed-use scheme, unlocking new homes and commercial space in the heart of the town centre. The 1989 office building, acquired by London Square earlier this year, sits opposite Wimbledon station and close to the All England Lawn Tennis Club. Under the approved plans, the developer will reconfigure and sensitively extend the structure to deliver 123 apartments supported by around 27,000 sq ft of commercial floorspace. The ground-floor layout will be upgraded to improve the public realm and create more active frontages at street level, aiming to strengthen the connection between the station, local shops and nearby amenities. The residential element will offer a mix of apartment sizes to meet local demand, with the commercial component expected to accommodate a blend of employment, retail and service uses. By retaining and adapting the existing building rather than pursuing full demolition, the scheme is intended to reduce embodied carbon while bringing an underused asset back into productive use. Subject to approvals from the Building Safety Regulator, London Square anticipates completing the project in 2028. The programme will include façade enhancements, internal re-planning, and upgrades to building services to meet contemporary performance standards for comfort, energy efficiency and accessibility. Chief executive Adam Lawrence said the decision enables a high-quality addition to the townscape at a strategically important location. The scheme is expected to support local jobs through its commercial space and to contribute to Wimbledon’s wider regeneration by increasing footfall and enhancing the station gateway. With permission in place, detailed design and contractor procurement will progress ahead of the main construction phase, setting the stage for a prominent mixed-use destination at one of south west London’s busiest transport interchanges. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Oxford Science Park acquires Northbrook House from Brydell Partners Series 2 to further expand flexible lab space
The Oxford Science Park (TOSP), one of the UK’s leading locations for science and technology companies, has announced the acquisition of Northbrook House, a prominent three-storey building, comprising 23,500 sq ft, on the eastern side of the Park. Following refurbishment, Northbrook House will deliver flexible, high-quality laboratory and write-up accommodation designed to meet the needs of pioneering science and technology start-ups and growth businesses, with suites ranging from 3,600 to 23,500 sq ft. Originally designed by Ritchie Studio – formerly Ian Ritchie Architects – Northbrook House embodies the practice’s innovative and highly regarded architectural approach. The design provides a strong foundation for the building’s transformation, with the planned refurbishment enhancing and modernising the space, alongside an infrastructure upgrade that supports today’s science and technology companies. Situated close to the Park’s vibrant Magdalen Centre, Northbrook House benefits from immediate access to amenities including a café, conference suite, fitness classes, and a broad programme of networking and social events. The building also enjoys a picturesque setting overlooking Littlemore Brook, surrounded by mature landscaping, and offers allocated on-site parking and bike storage. A regular bus service is within a minute’s walk of the building, and the planned Cowley Branch Line station will offer even more connectivity with a fast rail link to the city centre and direct services to London every half hour. The station will feature a platform providing immediate access to The Oxford Science Park, making travel to and from the Park quick and convenient. Yong Shen, Director of The Oxford Science Park, said: “The acquisition and transformation of Northbrook House further strengthens our commitment to providing the best possible space for the UK’s most innovative science and technology companies. Northbrook’s flexible design and proximity to Park amenities make it an ideal location for organisations seeking both technical excellence and community connection.” The addition of Northbrook House forms part of TOSP’s ongoing development strategy to expand capacity and deliver exceptional laboratory environments for innovative early-stage companies in Oxford. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals