Knights Brown powers up East Anglia presence with Norwich office launch
Regional contractor Knights Brown has expanded into the east of England with the opening of a new office in Norwich, strengthening its transmission and distribution capability as demand for energy infrastructure continues to rise. The new base will serve as a regional hub for the company’s growing transmission and distribution team, which now comprises more than 150 direct and freelance specialists. The move reflects increasing requirements for civil engineering expertise as the UK electricity grid undergoes major upgrades to accommodate renewable energy connections and reinforce capacity. Headquartered in Ringwood, Hampshire, Knights Brown operates nationally with additional offices in South Wales, Kent and Scotland. The business turns over around £100m annually and delivers projects across substation and turbine civil engineering, groundworks, grid reinforcements and enabling infrastructure, alongside coastal and port works, water utilities, infrastructure and buildings. David Shillabeer, head of transmission and distribution, said East Anglia is one of the most active regions in the country for renewable generation and grid investment. He described the Norwich office as a clear signal of the company’s long-term commitment to the area, providing local presence and improved collaboration with clients delivering major energy programmes. Steven Price, divisional director for energy, added that the company is already engaged in critical infrastructure schemes nationwide and expects demand for transmission and distribution civils to continue growing as new generation capacity comes online. He said the dedicated hub in Norwich will enhance relationships with network operators, developers and delivery partners, while positioning the firm to support the region’s long-term energy ambitions. The expansion underlines Knights Brown’s strategic focus on supporting the UK’s energy transition through regional investment and specialist engineering capability. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
City of London unveils vision of future skyline as development boom gathers pace
The City of London Corporation has released a new CGI revealing how the Square Mile’s skyline is expected to look in around six years’ time, once the latest wave of towers under construction or with planning consent are complete. The computer-generated images illustrate the evolving cluster of tall buildings in the City’s financial district, reflecting what will be delivered following a record year for planning approvals in 2025. According to the Corporation, 2026 has already marked the busiest start to a year in seven years in terms of both planning submissions and decisions, as demand for high-quality, sustainable Grade A office space continues to grow. More than half a million square metres of office space was granted planning permission in 2025 alone – the equivalent of more than ten Gherkin-sized buildings – with roughly half of that total already under construction. The result is a development pipeline that will keep the Square Mile firmly in growth mode for the remainder of the decade. Major schemes contributing to the future skyline include 1 Undershaft, which is already progressing on site, alongside 85 Gracechurch Street and 60 Gracechurch Street, both due to start shortly. Together, these projects will add more than 200,000 square metres of commercial space. Chris Hayward, Policy Chairman of the City of London Corporation, said strong demand for amenity-rich, premium office space was reinforcing the City’s global appeal. He noted that vacancy rates in the City Core continue to fall, prime supply remains tight and leasing activity has reached its strongest annual performance since 2019. He added that the City continues to demonstrate its ability to deliver complex, large-scale developments while responding to evolving patterns of work. Tom Sleigh, Chairman of the Planning and Transportation Committee, described commercial development in the Square Mile as “all systems go”, pointing to a particularly active start to the year and sustained investor confidence in the City’s long-term prospects. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
United Infrastructure Secures Cadent Contract at Bromley-By-Bow Gasworks
United Infrastructure, a leading provider of solutions for the UK’s critical infrastructure, has secured a contract from Cadent Gas to deliver a major redevelopment at Bromley-By-Bow Gasworks, one of London’s most historically significant industrial sites. Home to the UK’s largest collection of Grade II listed gasholders, Bromley-By-Bow Gasworks forms a key part of the wider Bromley-By-Bow masterplan, which aims to preserve the site’s industrial heritage while unlocking new homes, public space and environmental improvements. United Infrastructure began the 15-month programme in late November 2025, with initial works including vegetation clearance, site establishment and the installation of CDM-compliant welfare facilities. Following the isolation of the site from the wider gas network, the project will involve demolition of redundant buildings and rationalisation of existing pipework to prepare the area for redevelopment. The contract includes the full rebuild of the gas facility on a reduced footprint on adjacent land, with United Infrastructure overseeing all civil, mechanical and electrical installations. The modernised infrastructure will deliver quieter pipework, improved operational efficiency and enhanced sustainability, while improving the appearance of the site for the surrounding community. The rationalisation of the existing gas infrastructure forms an important enabling component of the wider Bromley-By-Bow masterplan, which will deliver more than 2,150 new homes across 13 residential buildings,several of which will be located within the restored gasholder frames. Once complete, the area will be transformed into a parkland setting, incorporating wildflowers and biodiverse habitats for residents, visitors and wildlife. The award further strengthens United Infrastructure’s long-standing relationship with Cadent and reinforces its position as a trusted delivery partner to the UK’s largest infrastructure owners and operators. Conor Bray, Managing Director, Energy at United Infrastructure, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed on this project, which reflects the continued trust Cadent places in United Infrastructure and our teams. Bromley-By-Bow is a complex and historically important site, and we are proud to be supporting its transformation. By working closely with Cadent, we are helping to modernise critical infrastructure while enabling the delivery of new homes and high-quality public spaces for the local community.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Airey Miller Group opens Cammbridge office to support regional growth
Airey Miller Group (Airey Miller), a leading nationwide multi-discipline property and construction consultancy group, has invested in a new office in Cambridge, strengthening its presence across the East of England and reinforcing its commitment to supporting the delivery of much-needed affordable housing in the region. The opening of a new office at Milton Hall follows a sustained period of project success in and around Cambridge, driven by growing demand for Airey Miller’s multidisciplinary expertise across surveying, architecture, safety and compliance and digital services. Establishing a local base will enable the business to work more closely with clients and project partners, providing responsive, on-the-ground support and deeper local insight. The expansion is expected to create up to 10 new jobs in the area, offering long-term career opportunities, while contributing to local economic growth. Airey Miller’s total headcount now stands at 119 across additional office locations in London, Sevenoaks and Bristol. The Cambridge office will support existing teams covering Essex, the Northern Home Counties and Airey Miller’s growing presence in the Midlands and the North of England. From the new location, teams will serve projects across Cambridgeshire, Anglia and the wider East of England, where the firm is working on a growing number of new-build residential development schemes. The company has secured a significant pipeline of commissions over the next two to three years, working with housebuilders, Registered Providers, Build to Rent operators and investment partners to deliver affordable housing and residential-led mixed-use developments. Mark Humphreys, CEO of Airey Miller Group, said: “The opening our Cambridge office marks an important step in Airey Miller Group’s continued growth and regional investment. It also reflects the strength of commissions we have already secured in the area, demonstrating the confidence clients place in our multi-disciplinary expertise. Establishing a local presence allows us to better support these schemes, deepen relationships and continue to deliver high-quality output across residential and mixed-use developments. Cambridge and the surrounding area is a key market for us and this office positions us well for sustainable, long-term growth.” In June 2025, Airey Miller became part of leading UK investor Celnor Group’s Risk Management division. The Group of ambitious, entrepreneur-led businesses is one of the most dynamic and rapidly growing organisations in the Testing, Inspection, Certification and Compliance (TICC) sector. Simon Parrington, Founder and CEO of Celnor Group, said: “The opening of Airey Miller’s Cambridge office is a clear example of our commitment to investing in regional expertise and supporting our businesses as they respond to client demand. Cambridge is a growing and strategically important market, and establishing a local presence enables Airey Miller to deliver even greater value to clients while creating high-quality employment opportunities within the region.” This latest opening marks another important milestone in Airey Miller’s expanding regional footprint as it continues to support sustainable development across the UK. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Cancer Care Boost as McBains Takes Lead on £250m Sussex Project
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust has appointed McBains to provide project management and cost management services for the construction of the new £250m Sussex Cancer Centre in Brighton. The appointment follows the recent confirmation of Laing O’Rourke as main contractor for the five-storey facility, which will form a major part of Wave 1 of the Government’s New Hospitals Programme. Located at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, the centre is scheduled to open in 2029 and is set to triple the Trust’s cancer care capacity, supporting up to 60,000 patients a year. The new building will rise on the site of the former Barry Building, which prior to its demolition was recognised as the oldest hospital building in the country. Its replacement marks a significant step forward in modernising healthcare infrastructure across Sussex. The Sussex Cancer Centre represents the second phase of the Trust’s ambitious three-stage 3Ts Redevelopment programme. The first phase, the Louisa Martindale Building, opened in 2023 and delivered a major upgrade to acute and specialist services. As part of phase two, a landscaped public plaza will be created to link the new cancer centre with the Louisa Martindale Building, improving connectivity and enhancing the overall patient environment. The third and final phase of the redevelopment will involve the construction of a new service and logistics yard on the site of the current cancer department, designed to improve operational efficiency across the wider hospital campus. McBains previously delivered project management, cost management and NEC supervision services for the Louisa Martindale Building, as well as site enabling works for the Sussex Cancer Centre last year. Hemant Sharma, associate director at McBains, said the firm was proud to continue its involvement in the transformation of healthcare services in the region, building on its experience of delivering modern facilities that enhance both patient care and staff wellbeing. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Livingston Designer Outlet accelerates growth with Castore and NEXT refit commitments
Livingston Designer Outlet has secured refit commitments from leading occupiers Castore and NEXT. As Scotland’s largest outlet destination, Livingston Designer Outlet continues to drive investment from both its existing and new brands. The expanded and refitted Castore unit represents a key building block inthe brands ambitious journey to become the UK’s leading premium sports-wear brand. Through its partnership with Rangers Football Club via its Umbro license, the 3,000sqft Livingston store will offer fans and athletes the opportunity to shop for the latest fan and training collections at significantly discounted prices. Meanwhile, the relocated and refitted NEXT store is now occupying a prominent location in the North Mall as an anchor tenant. As well as delivering a fresh, new store – this move formed part of a strategic repositioning project at the destination. This initiative focuses on putting the right brands in the right spaces to maximise commercial impact and deliver the best possible customer experience and is a key pillar of the 2026 roadmap. Already this year,Livingston Designer Outlet has confirmed the forthcoming arrival of immersive leisure experience Flip Out, F&B brands Tikka Nation and Sides and independent deli and butcher’s operator, Hamilton & Brown. Coupled with the Castore and NEXT refits, these combined investments indicate the strong appetite for a presence in one of Scotland’s premier retail and leisure destinations as it enters its next growth phase. Nicky Lovell, Head of Outlets and Retail Business Development at Global Mutual said: “This significant investment into their stores from two of our key tenants is testament to the success of Livingston Designer Outlet in supporting the commercial ambitions of our retailers. Outlet shopping is proving to be a key business driver for our brand partners and the commitment of Castore and NEXT to creating leading store environments at Livingston is the perfect start to what promises to be a hugely successful 2026 for the destination.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals