Landmark HSBC Canary Wharf Tower Set for £1bn Mixed-Use Transformation
Plans have been submitted for a major retrofit of HSBC’s landmark Canary Wharf headquarters, paving the way for one of the world’s largest office building transformations. Canary Wharf Group and building owner Qatar Investment Authority have lodged proposals with Tower Hamlets Council to reinvent the 45-storey tower at 8 Canada Square as a new mixed-use destination combining offices, hospitality, leisure and publicly accessible spaces. While the development cost has not been confirmed, the ambitious project is expected to represent an investment in the region of £800 million to £1 billion. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), the retrofit-led scheme will retain much of the existing 1.1 million sq ft structure while making substantial architectural interventions to reposition the former banking headquarters for its next generation of occupiers. A major feature of the design will be the transformation of the tower’s upper levels, where sections of the existing floorplates will be removed to introduce landscaped terraces and create a striking new profile on the Canary Wharf skyline. The redevelopment will retain significant office accommodation while introducing an 181-room hotel, restaurants and leisure facilities across the upper floors, reflecting the continued evolution of Canary Wharf from a predominantly commercial district into a broader mixed-use destination. At the centre of the proposals is the “Cloud”, a new publicly accessible destination across levels 42 and 43. Large sections of the upper floorplates will be removed to create a rooftop venue offering panoramic 360-degree views across London. At ground level, the redevelopment will also improve connectivity through the estate. A new north-south pedestrian route is planned through the building, creating a direct connection between the Elizabeth line station and Canada Square Park and helping to open up the tower to the surrounding public realm. HSBC is due to leave 8 Canada Square in 2027 when its existing lease expires, ahead of relocating its headquarters to the City of London. Strip-out works are expected to begin following the bank’s departure, with the main three-year construction programme scheduled to commence in 2028. KPF secured the commission after winning a design competition for the redevelopment in 2024. The shortlist is understood to have included Foster + Partners, the architectural practice responsible for the original tower, and Danish studio 3XN. The wider professional team brings together a number of leading construction and engineering specialists. Gardiner & Theobald is acting as project manager and cost consultant, Robert Bird Group is providing structural engineering expertise, while Sweco is responsible for MEP and sustainability consultancy. The proposals represent a significant example of large-scale adaptive reuse within the commercial property sector, retaining much of an existing high-rise structure while introducing new uses, modern building services, public spaces and extensive architectural alterations. If approved, the transformation of 8 Canada Square will mark a new chapter for one of Canary Wharf’s most recognisable buildings, demonstrating how major office towers can be repositioned to meet changing occupier requirements while supporting the district’s continuing shift towards a more diverse mix of workplaces, hospitality, leisure and public amenities. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Panattoni submits plans for 1 million sq ft at Panattoni Park Maidstone
Panattoni, the world’s largest privately owned developer of industrial real estate, has submitted a hybrid planning application for Panattoni Park Maidstone, a major new 1.04 million sq ft industrial and logistics development in Kent. The application includes detailed proposals for the first phase, comprising two units of 100,000 sq ft and 150,000 sq ft. Outline permission is being sought for the second phase, which will provide customers with opportunities to secure flexible built-to-suit facilities tailored to their operational requirements. The 70-acre site at Lenham is a former manufacturing site being brought back into productive use. It is strategically located close to the A20 and M20, providing strong connections to London, the M25, and key ports serving the UK and continental Europe. The application follows an extensive programme of local consultation. More than 150 people attended a public exhibition in Lenham earlier this year, and feedback showed strong support for the proposals: nearly 85% of respondents backed redeveloping the site for employment use, and 98.5% agreed that redeveloping brownfield land was preferable to building on greenfield. The development will target BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and EPC A+ ratings, with buildings designed to support modern logistics, manufacturing, and distribution operations. Alongside the commercial floorspace, the scheme will deliver around 5km of new and improved roads, cycleways and footpaths, together with landscaping and enhanced public access across the site. Panattoni’s nearby scheme at Aylesford as evidence of the economic potential of industrial and logistics developments. Also a redeveloped Kent brownfield site, Panattoni Park Aylesford is now fully occupied and contributes an estimated £180 million a year to the local economy, supporting thousands of jobs. David McGougan, Senior Development Director for the South East at Panattoni, said: “This is a significant planning application that will unlock more than one million square feet of high-quality industrial and logistics space in a market where modern supply remains constrained. “The combination of immediately available units and flexible built-to-suit opportunities will allow us to respond to a broad range of customer requirements. Panattoni Park Maidstone is exceptionally well located for businesses serving London, the South East, and European markets.” Colliers, CBRE, and Vail Williams are the retained agents for Panattoni Park Maidstone. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
CCL Facades Secures Major Package on Wolverhampton’s 331-Home Bicycle Works
CCL Facades has been appointed to deliver a major façade package at Bicycle Works, the 331-home residential development forming the first phase of Wolverhampton’s wider Smithgate regeneration. The specialist façade contractor will work alongside parent company and lead contractor Caddick Construction on the scheme, which is being delivered for English Cities Fund (ECF), the regeneration partnership between Homes England, L&G and Muse. Under the contract, CCL Facades will be responsible for the design, supply and installation of the doors, 400 sq m of curtain walling and 2,900 sq m of windows across the development’s three six-storey buildings. The package includes the installation of 1,324 individual windows. The appointment represents an important construction milestone for Bicycle Works as work progresses on the residential-led regeneration of this key Wolverhampton city centre site. Bicycle Works will provide 331 new homes and represents the opening phase of the much larger Smithgate masterplan. Once developed, the new mixed-use neighbourhood is expected to deliver up to 1,000 homes alongside new shops, amenities and public spaces, helping to create a vibrant new destination in the heart of Wolverhampton. CCL Facades is due to begin work on site in October and will collaborate with its specialist supply chain throughout delivery. The company will focus on high-quality design and innovative façade solutions, with sustainability forming an important part of its approach. The contract further strengthens CCL Facades’ presence across the Midlands and adds another substantial residential regeneration project to its growing portfolio. The contractor is also currently working on Cole Waterhouse’s flagship Upper Trinity Street regeneration development in Digbeth, Birmingham, further demonstrating its expanding role in major mixed-use and residential schemes across the region. With Caddick Construction leading delivery and CCL Facades undertaking a significant element of the building envelope, Bicycle Works is set to provide the first major residential component of the wider Smithgate transformation. The project will ultimately contribute to the creation of a new mixed-use city centre neighbourhood, combining hundreds of new homes with commercial amenities and improved public realm as Wolverhampton continues to attract investment into regeneration and residential development. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
VINCI UK Delivers Record Growth as Profit Surges Following Major Group Integration
VINCI Construction Holding UK has reported a significant rise in profitability following the successful integration of its UK businesses, with pre-tax profit climbing 51% to almost £100 million as revenue approached the £3 billion mark. The strong financial performance comes after the French-owned infrastructure group completed a major corporate restructuring, bringing together Eurovia, Ringway, Taylor Woodrow, VINCI Building, VINCI Facilities and newly acquired FM Conway under a single UK operating structure. Combined revenue, including joint ventures, increased by almost 20% during 2025 to reach £2.9 billion, reflecting robust demand across highways, civil engineering, construction and infrastructure markets. For the construction sector, the results demonstrate the benefits of strategic consolidation, with improved operational efficiencies and stronger project delivery contributing to higher profitability across the enlarged business. Operating margins more than doubled during the year, rising from 1.7% to 3.5%. The improvement was driven by stronger performances across several divisions, including the return of the facilities management business to profitability and increased margins within Taylor Woodrow’s civil engineering operations. FM Conway made the largest contribution following its acquisition at the end of January, adding £569 million in revenue and almost £39 million in operating profit to the enlarged group. Among VINCI’s established businesses, highways maintenance specialist Ringway once again delivered one of the strongest operating performances, while Taylor Woodrow increased its operating profit contribution from £17 million to £19 million as investment in major infrastructure projects continued. Eurovia also delivered a solid trading performance during the year. However, VINCI Building and VINCI Facilities continued to face challenges associated with legacy projects, which constrained profitability despite generating combined revenues of more than £1.1 billion. The enlarged group also expanded its workforce significantly, with employee numbers rising by more than a third to almost 9,000 people following the integration of FM Conway into the business. Scott Wardrop, Chief Executive of VINCI Construction Holding UK, said: “These results are a credit to the six core operating business managing directors, their respective senior management teams in each of our principal operating businesses and all our teams in our business units and projects. “We have all endured significant change in our careers, but this intense period is unprecedented. “However, we are optimistic, and we have three-year plans for each business and each business unit, and plan to deliver +4.0% in 2026. “We will keep evolving through optimisation, innovation and transformation and continue to develop into a strong and resilient dynamic UK infrastructure group.” The results reinforce VINCI’s position as one of the UK’s largest construction and infrastructure businesses, with expertise spanning highways, civil engineering, commercial building, facilities management and major infrastructure delivery. As investment continues across transport, utilities, commercial property and public sector infrastructure, VINCI Construction Holding UK enters the next phase of its growth with a strengthened balance sheet, an expanded workforce and a diversified portfolio capable of delivering complex projects across the built environment. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Multiplex Appointed to Deliver Landmark 36-Storey 99 City Road Office Tower
Endurance Land has appointed Multiplex as main contractor for 99 City Road, a major 36-storey office development set to create a new landmark on the northern edge of the City of London. Part of Nan Fung Group, Endurance Land is progressing the high-rise commercial scheme with an experienced design and engineering team led by architect Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF). AKT II is providing structural engineering expertise, while Arup is advising on mechanical, electrical and public health services alongside sustainability. Designed as a next-generation workplace, 99 City Road will provide office accommodation for around 4,000 people, adding significant new Grade A commercial floorspace to an area benefiting from continued investment and regeneration. Sustainability and building performance will form a major part of the development. The project is targeting BREEAM Outstanding and a NABERS 5-star rating, alongside SmartScore and WiredScore Platinum certifications, placing energy efficiency, connectivity and smart building technology at the heart of the design. Multiplex’s appointment follows its earlier involvement with the project as Construction Partner under a Pre-Construction Services Agreement. This pre-construction phase has enabled the contractor to work alongside Endurance Land and the wider consultant team ahead of the main construction programme, supporting design development, buildability and delivery planning for the complex high-rise scheme. The contract also represents the second major collaboration between Endurance Land and Multiplex. The contractor recently completed Jahn Court and Brassworks at Regent Quarter, another significant Endurance Land development. The scheme has subsequently been leased to OpenAI and is expected to open in 2027. The appointment to 99 City Road therefore builds on an established relationship between the developer and contractor, with Multiplex bringing its experience of delivering complex commercial towers and major central London developments to the project. With KPF, AKT II and Arup forming part of the professional team, the development brings together architecture, structural engineering, building services and sustainability expertise as Endurance Land looks to create a high-performing workplace capable of meeting the evolving requirements of major occupiers. The project also reflects continued confidence in London’s premium office market, where developers are increasingly focusing investment on highly sustainable, technologically advanced buildings offering strong environmental performance and high-quality working environments. Once delivered, the 36-storey 99 City Road will provide a substantial new commercial destination for thousands of workers while adding another major high-rise development to the evolving skyline around the northern edge of the City. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Housebuilder secures planning to deliver additional 330 homes at NorthBridge
A major housing development is set to deliver 330 additional homes following a strategic re-plan and planning approval from Glasgow City Council. Set to be one of the largest regeneration schemes in the UK across multiple phases, top 10 UK housebuilder, Keepmoat, will increase its delivery from 834 homes to 1,164 at its flagship NorthBridge scheme. In late 2025, the housebuilder celebrated the success of its first phase at the site, located off Pinkston Road, which created 154 homes, enhanced and new transport links, green spaces and walking and cycling routes. Tim Metcalfe, Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat, Scotland said: “This is a significant milestone in seeing much needed homes moving forward for the area. We’re thrilled to have secured approval of our strategic re-plan for this transformative development to create much needed homes alongside the council. “At Keepmoat we’re committed to creating sustainable, multi-tenure communities that prioritise well designed neighbourhoods with high quality homes, green spaces and abundant connections into existing communities. “The NorthBridge project reflects our long-term commitment to the city and our ambition to create exceptional places to live alongside the council.” The developer is currently delivering phase two and three of the site, set to create 246 homes, with 41 homes designated for local housing association Wheatley Homes Glasgow (WHG). Councillor Ruairi Kelly, Convener for Housing and Development at Glasgow City Council, said: “This is welcome news for Sighthill as it continues its ongoing regeneration, and indeed the whole city. The building of a further 330 high-quality homes in a Glasgow neighbourhood that has been transformed in recent years will be an important part of what the council and its partners are working to do to make as many homes as possible available.” Keepmoat is a top 10 UK partnership homebuilder with a track-record of delivering quality homes in regions across the UK. To date, Keepmoat has built over 35,000 homes, transforming brownfield sites into thriving new communities. To find out more about Keepmoat, please visit: www.keepmoat.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals