Colmore Gate set for Grade A transformation as McLaren takes the helm
McLaren has been appointed construction manager for the wholesale refurbishment of Colmore Gate, signalling a major upgrade for one of Birmingham’s best-known office towers. The project, led by owner AP UK (Ashtrom Properties), will reposition the 1990s building as a high-spec, sustainable workplace offering around 290,000 sq ft of Grade A space. Operating under its construction management model, McLaren will partner closely with the client and bring key trades to the table early to de-risk delivery and compress programme. Vince Lydon, managing director for Construction Management & Specialist Projects at McLaren, said the approach enables “a true partnership with our client and [to] involve the supply chain early on in the process”. For AP UK, the scheme is central to its Midlands strategy. Chief executive Guy Lewinsohn described Colmore Gate as a landmark at the heart of the city’s business district and said the overhaul will provide high-quality, sustainable space that meets evolving occupier needs and supports Birmingham’s growth as a leading hub for business. While full technical details are to follow, the upgrade is expected to focus on a comprehensive enhancement of building services, energy performance and internal layouts to match post-pandemic workplace standards. Typical Grade A refurbishments of this scale include replacing legacy MEP with efficient all-electric systems, improving façade performance, expanding end-of-journey facilities, and creating flexible floorplates with high natural light and modern amenities. Construction management is increasingly being adopted on complex urban refits where design development and procurement benefit from contractor and specialist input at an early stage. The model can help navigate constraints around live city-centre sites, heritage considerations and retained structures, while providing transparency on cost and programme as packages are let. Colmore Gate’s upgrade comes amid sustained demand in Birmingham for well-located, energy-efficient offices capable of supporting hybrid working, wellness and ESG reporting requirements. With net-zero targets tightening across corporate real estate, deep retrofits of existing assets are becoming the preferred route to deliver high performance with lower embodied carbon than new-build alternatives. With McLaren mobilising and AP UK driving a sustainability-led brief, the project is set to deliver a significant lift to the Colmore Business District’s prime office offer and add momentum to the city’s ongoing commercial regeneration. Further design and programme milestones are expected to be announced as the supply chain is engaged and detailed packages are agreed. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
First Wave rises: Willmott Dixon breaks ground on £140m Emergency Care Building in Plymouth
Main construction has begun on Derriford Hospital’s new Emergency Care Building, the first scheme in Wave 1 of the Government’s New Hospital Programme to move from enabling works to full build. Procured under ProCure23 with Mace, the £140m four-storey facility will double urgent and emergency capacity for University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust and is due to open in 2028/29. The project replaces the hospital’s 1970s emergency department with a modern care hub designed around faster pathways, co-located diagnostics and better staff amenities. At ground level, a new Emergency Department will expand majors, resus and assessment capacity, while the reconfigured existing ED will become a dedicated paediatric emergency department on completion. The first floor will house a Same Day Emergency Care unit to support rapid admission, treatment and discharge, easing bed pressure across the wider estate. Upper floors concentrate high-acuity services and imaging. Plans include four interventional radiology theatres, five surgical theatres for both emergency and planned procedures, new imaging suites, recovery areas and improved staff facilities. The extension will be connected into the live hospital to maintain clinical adjacencies while minimising patient transfers, crucial for a site that serves as the major trauma centre for the South West peninsula. Marking the milestone, programme director Stuart Windsor said: “It has been a long journey to get to today, but we will now finally see the new Emergency Care Building start to rise from the ground.” Willmott Dixon director Rob Woolcock added: “This represents not just the beginning of a building, but the next step in enhancing the care and wellbeing of thousands of patients every year… a modern, purpose-built environment designed to support both patients and staff.” Beyond clinical capacity, the scheme targets regional skills and supply-chain benefits. Through its Building Lives Academy, Willmott Dixon will create apprenticeships, employment support and training, with a focus on sourcing materials and labour locally across the South West. The contractor’s healthcare track record includes the £30m regeneration of Barnes Hospital in London and the £150m redevelopment of Springfield University Hospital in Wandsworth. For designers and delivery teams, the brief reflects current NHS priorities: future-proofed floorplates, clear wayfinding, robust infection-control strategies, and resilient MEP with space for emerging technologies. With ground broken in Plymouth, Wave 1 now has a live benchmark for how the New Hospital Programme intends to modernise emergency care while driving social value in host communities. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Innovo reveals maiden UK development with flagship residential scheme opposite Lord’s Cricket Ground
Innovo Developments UK, the UK development arm of international leader in construction and development, Innovo, is set to deliver its debut scheme following the successful acquisition of a long-dormant brownfield site opposite the world-famous Lord’s Cricket Ground. Set within one of the capital’s most sought-after neighbourhoods, the prime development on St John’s Wood Road will feature a total of 89 apartments. A quarter of these will be family-sized three-bedroom offerings, complete with extensive roof gardens offering impressive far-reaching views out over the cricket ground and London’s skyline. Residents will enjoy premium on-site amenities, including a spa complete with a sauna, ice bath and swimming pool, a large gym, library, children’s play space, and concierge services. London attractions Regent’s Park and St John’s Wood High Street are within a five minutes’ walk. Prioritising a design-led approach to development, Innovo Developments UK has assembled a best-in-class team of London-based architects, landscapers, and interior designers to deliver the St John’s Wood Road scheme. This includes Apt, the architecture studio behind the Merchant Square and Mayfair Members Club; garden designers and nine-time RHS Gold Medal winner Andy Sturgeon Design; and two interior design studios, the award-winning Goddard Littlefair alongside Bowler James Brindley. The St John’s Wood Road scheme marks the first site in Innovo’s wider identified pipeline of high-value residential and commercial projects in London, with today’s announcement marking a major vote of confidence in the UK capital’s real estate market. Set to complete in 2029, the St John’s Wood Road development meets a need for housing in a deeply undersupplied and highly desirable area. Only one other major prime residential scheme in the area is scheduled to complete within the same period. Detailed planning consent for the residential development has already been approved and implemented. In delivering its debut scheme, Innovo Developments UK will draw on Innovo’s global track record for complex, high-value residential projects across North America and the Middle East, with over £2 billion in development internationally. Innovo’s portfolio includes branded residences, large-scale residential communities, commercial centres, educational institutions, and critical infrastructure. Innovo Developments UK is made up of a highly experienced senior team, led by Managing Director, Brendon Moss, who oversaw the redevelopment of the former Chelsea Barracks at Qatari Diar. Innovo Developments is a subsidiary of Innovo Development, chaired by John Forrester, who is also Chair of Related Argent, and the mastermind behind the regeneration of King’s Cross. Brendon Moss, Managing Director, Innovo Developments UK, said: “Aligned with our ambitions to build a portfolio of high-quality, modern developments in London, St John’s Wood Road will deliver much-needed homes in a highly desirable location. Directly opposite the global “home of cricket,” and a stone’s throw from Regent’s Park, the proposals have been sensitively designed to reflect their local area in close collaboration with a first-class architecture and landscaping team.” John Forrester, Chair, Innovo Development, said: “Drawing on Innovo’s extensive expertise in high value and complex projects worldwide, we look forward with excitement to deliver our first London development. Whilst long dormant, the site is of the highest quality, and we are excited to be creating desirable new homes in one of this great city’s most attractive neighbourhoods.” The wider Innovo business is headquartered in London, and chaired by former Chancellor of the Exchequer, The Rt. Hon. Lord Phillip Hammond. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Costain chosen for major infrastructure delivery partner role at Sellafield
Billion-pound, 15-year contract award will deliver critical utilities infrastructure upgrades at Cumbria decommissioning site. Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, has been selected by Sellafield for a significant role on its long-term Infrastructure Delivery Partnership (IDP). The total value of Sellafield’s IDP is worth up to £2.9bn, split into three lots. Costain has been confirmed as Utilities Delivery Partner (Lot 3), worth up to £1bn to the company. The contract consists of an initial term of nine years with an option to extend by a further six years, either in a single extension or multiple smaller extensions. As Utilities Delivery Partner, Costain’s role will include the completion of detailed design and all procurement, installation, construction, commissioning and handover activities that form part of the contract delivery. Drawing on its extensive cross-sector experience delivering complex infrastructure programmes in the water, energy and transportation sectors, Costain’s responsibilities will involve refurbishing and replacing a variety of on-site and off-site utility distribution systems and services, including steam, water supply, water treatment, compressed gas and other essential utilities serving Sellafield. Alex Vaughan, chief executive officer of Costain, commented: “This new contract award with Sellafield, with whom we have been working with since 2005, is testament to our strategy of developing long-term relationships with tier 1 customers, building strong and collaborative partnerships, broadening our service offering, and maintaining consistency and continuity of workflows. “This long-term award further demonstrates our integral position in the UK’s civil nuclear energy market. The Government is clear that the safe and responsible decommissioning of the UK’s nuclear legacy is a critical part of creating a sustainable future and delivering local and national economic prosperity. As one of Sellafield’s trusted partners we will deliver safe, high-quality utilities upgrades in a complex working environment.” James Riddick, Sellafield Ltd chief supply chain officer, said: “Our job at Sellafield is to create a clean and safe environment for future generations. That means safely, securely, and cost effectively dealing with the legacy of historic operations on our site. To deliver this we need robust and reliable infrastructure to support our nuclear decommissioning and waste management activities. “IDP is a long-term strategic partnership designed to provide that support while unlocking investment and opportunities for our local community anddelivering sustainable value for money to the taxpayer. We’re excited to welcome our new partners, and we look forward to working together to progress our mission while creating transformational and enduring social value.” The contract award builds on Costain’s decades of experience delivering best-in-class infrastructure solutions in the highly regulated nuclear energy sector. Costain has worked with Sellafield since 2005, including on the Evaporator D project and as part of the Decommissioning Delivery Partnership. Costain was recently selected to carry out the next phase of decommissioning work at Trawsfynydd nuclear power station in North Wales, and it also provides project controls services at EDF’s eight UK nuclear power stations. Earlier this year, Costain was chosen to design Urenco’s new state-of-the-art advanced nuclear fuels production facility in Cheshire, and was also awarded a place on a multi-million-pound framework to provide expertise for the construction of Sizewell C. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Crewe’s Cumberland Arena upgrade takes a major leap forward
An upgrade to a premier athletics and football venue in Crewe has taken a major leap forward. The improvement scheme at the town’s Cumberland Arena is a step nearer the finishing line after the steel frame structure for a new two-storey building was erected. The building will house three multi-functional studio spaces, a balcony and covered seating for spectators and a new reception area. Included in the scheme will be additional parking spaces, EV charging points, improved access for pedestrians and cyclists, and bike shelters. Salford-based MC Construction is the main contractor for the redevelopment, working alongside professionals including building surveyor David Trowler Associates, structural engineer ABA Consulting, and mechanical and electrical engineer Crookes Walker Consulting. The project is being led by Cheshire East Council and Everybody Health and Leisure, the borough’s leisure trust. It is supported by the government’s Towns Fund allocation to Crewe. It is part of Cheshire East Council’s strategy to offer enhanced health and wellbeing opportunities for Crewe residents and encourage more people to take up physical activity. The studios will be open seven days a week for dance classes, Pilates, yoga and other activities, as well as for programmes and events involving educational, social and community groups. The new building has been designed to support Cheshire East’s environmental ambitions and will feature LED lighting, solar panels on the roof and air source heat pumps. There will also be an external living wall. Work began earlier this year with the demolition of an existing building. Following the installation of the steel frame, the next phase of works will involve completing the structure with concrete flooring, a brick finish to the ground floor exterior and cladding for the first-floor exterior. After that, the building will be fitted out. The project is scheduled for completion next spring. The Cumberland Arena is used by Crewe and Nantwich Athletics Club and other local running clubs including Sandbach Striders, Alsager Runners, South Cheshire Harriers and Congleton Harriers. Several local football clubs train or play home games on the arena’s 3G artificial grass pitch. Changing rooms for people using those facilities remain in use in a single-storey building next to the new structure. Russ Forshaw, managing director of MC Construction, said: “Working once again alongside our longstanding client Cheshire East Council, we are proud to be the main contractor to carry out this important upgrade to Cumberland Arena. “The project will deliver greatly improved facilities for the area and aims to inspire more people to take up physical activity, in line with the council’s commitment to providing enhanced health and wellbeing opportunities. “Alongside this, the design will support the council’s aims to become carbon neutral, with a number of significant environmental features. “We look forward to delivering the scheme next spring and seeing the new facilities becoming a popular addition to the Cumberland Arena.” Tony Davison, chair of Crewe Town Board, said: “The upgrade of Crewe’s Cumberland Arena is going to be hugely beneficial to so many people and clubs in the town and I am delighted that we have managed to utilise the government’s Town Fund allocation for this work. “I’m very excited to see how this very inclusive facility is going to be received when it opens next spring.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Topping out ceremony marks successful completion at Anchor’s Edwalton Development
England’s largest not-for-profit later-living provider, Anchor, celebrated a key milestone – the topping out and the laying of the last tile on the roof of its newest affordable housing development on Melton Road in Edwalton. The event was attended by senior Anchor personnel, Homes England, and Rushcliffe Borough Council. Located in Nottingham, the development will provide 80 homes for rent, of which there will be 31 one-bedroom and 49 two-bedroom apartments available. Once open, the scheme will also provide future residents with various modern communal spaces, including beautifully landscaped gardens and a seated patio area. Anchor’s Executive Director of Development, Oli Boundy, said: “The topping out ceremony at Edwalton marks an important milestone for both Anchor and the development. It will deliver much needed, high-quality, affordable accommodation to support older people in the local community. We would like to thank Vistry, Homes England, and Rushcliffe Borough Council for their support and co-operation in helping us reach this stage.” James Warrington, Executive Chair (North, South Midlands and East Division) at Vistry Group, added: “Reaching this milestone with our partners Anchor, Homes England, and Rushcliffe Borough Council is a proud moment for everyone involved. These new apartments in Edwalton represent our commitment to delivering high-quality, affordable homes which are tailored to the needs of those entering their later years. By working together, we’re not only addressing the urgent need for later living accommodation, but also helping to build a vibrant, inclusive community where residents can truly thrive.” Lewis Young, Senior Manager – Affordable Housing Delivery at Homes England, commented: “As the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, increasing the supply of quality affordable homes remains one of our key objectives and we are committed to supporting ambitious housebuilders of all sizes to build those homes and communities. “This investment through the Affordable Homes Programme does just that, enabling Anchor to build 80 much needed new homes the people of Rushcliffe can be proud of.” Councillor Roger Upton, Portfolio Holder for Planning & Housing at Rushcliffe Borough Council, said: “Anchor has worked closely with the local community throughout the building of this development, which is a testament of its commitment to providing homes for later living that suit the demand and changing needs of the older population in our area. I look forward to seeing the developing relationship between Anchor and their residents and witnessing the growth of a thriving older community.” For more information about the development please visit https://www.anchor.org.uk/edwalton. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals