Grainger Drives BTR Growth as 425-Home Cambridge North Scheme Moves Forward
Grainger has reported continued strong demand across its Build to Rent (BTR) portfolio as the UK’s largest listed residential landlord advances a development pipeline that includes its newly approved 425-home Cambridge North Residential Quarter. The FTSE 250 property company’s latest trading update, covering the 11 months to the end of August 2026, showed occupancy remaining above 96%, alongside like-for-like BTR rental growth of 3%. Grainger now owns and manages more than 11,000 rental homes across the UK and remains focused on expanding its purpose-built rental portfolio. A significant development milestone during the period was planning approval for Cambridge North Residential Quarter, which will become Grainger’s first investment in Cambridge. The 425-home scheme is being brought forward on railway land adjacent to Cambridge North station through blocwork, the joint venture between Network Rail property company Platform4 and developer bloc. Grainger is lined up to forward fund the development and, once completed, will operate and manage the new rental homes. The project will provide a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments within a new residential neighbourhood designed to take advantage of its highly connected location. The wider proposals include linear parks, pocket gardens, tree-lined streets and active ground-floor uses, with walking, cycling and public transport forming an important part of the development strategy. Franklin Ellis Architects is involved in the design of the Cambridge North Residential Quarter, which forms part of the continuing transformation of land surrounding the station. The Cambridge investment reflects Grainger’s wider strategy of targeting well-connected UK cities where demand for professionally managed rental housing is supported by employment, transport infrastructure and constrained housing supply. Grainger is also progressing another partnership opportunity with Platform4 and blocwork in Nottingham, where a planning application has been submitted for a further 252 BTR homes. Alongside development activity, Grainger is targeting significant earnings growth from its committed BTR pipeline. Chief executive Helen Gordon said the company remains on track to grow earnings by 35% between FY25 and FY29, supported by new Build to Rent developments moving into operation. The company is simultaneously progressing an accelerated disposal programme covering approximately £850 million of non-core assets, while targeting a £300 million to £350 million reduction in net debt by the end of FY29. With high occupancy, continued rental growth and new developments advancing through planning, Grainger’s latest update highlights the growing maturity of the UK BTR sector. Cambridge North is particularly significant, combining institutional investment, residential development and transport-led regeneration to create a substantial new rental community in one of the UK’s strongest regional property markets. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Universal Floral achieves Carbon Neutral Certification, offsetting over 100% of generated carbon emissions
Biophilic design and plant maintenance specialists Universal Floral have achieved Carbon Neutral Certification in partnership with Carbon Neutral Britain™, demonstrating a genuine commitment to ESG principles and clear alignment with internal sustainability values. Universal Floral works with clients across the world to transform corporate spaces through plant displays, moss walls and scalable plant-rich living walls. Achieving carbon neutral status for their UK operations was therefore a significant milestone, embedding environmental and sustainability principles into the heart of the organisation by independently measuring carbon emissions and taking steps to reduce environmental impact. With UK businesses accounting for up to 85% of UK greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, corporate action is essential in helping to stop climate change. In line with international targets, GHG emissions must halve by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. Between May 2025 and April 2026, Universal Floral offset 25.3 tonnes of CO₂e against 17.5 tonnes, their total carbon footprint. Marie Caffrey, CEO, Universal Floral said: “Partnering with Carbon Neutral Britain™ to measure and offset our carbon emissions in the UK marks an important step on our sustainability journey. “We have gained a clearer understanding of where our emissions come from and where we can make the biggest improvements. For example, it was identified that our main emissions came through indirect carbon emissions (Scope 3), and this for us, was business travel. “We are now taking action to reduce emissions in this area, such as encouraging the team to take public transport or arranging virtual meetings in place of short-haul, domestic flights.” Through the Carbon Neutral Britain™ Woodland Fund™, Universal Floral offset their total carbon emissions through internationally certified carbon offsetting projects chosen for their environmental, humanitarian and ethical impacts: Additionally, Universal Floral have contributed to several UK-based rewilding and restoration initiatives including Haymeadow Restoration and Rewilding, Sea Grass Recovery and Protection and Marston Vale Forest Creation. Caffrey added: “Achieving this certification is a proud milestone for the entire team, particularly as we have been able to offset well over 100% of our total carbon footprint. The national and international projects we are supporting are actively contributing to vital global climate mitigation efforts, from blue carbon restoration to community reforestation and endangered species protection. “Taking direct action to reduce our own emissions while supporting verified, world-class environmental initiatives reinforces our commitment to sustainability and our environmental values. “Moving forwards, we are working towards 2030 and 2050 aligned targets via the globally recognised net-emissions approach, focusing on key emissions hot spots to achieve meaningful reductions.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Right to Manage activity hits record highs, new index reveals
The research reveals RTM formations hit record highs in 2025, with 2026 set to see even higher numbers Almost 1,000 groups of leaseholders became RTMs in 2025; a 79% increase in just six years Right to Manage (RTM) company formations have hit an all-time high, according to a new industry index. New research by property management firm Placekeeper Management has revealed there were 986 RTMs established in 2025; the highest ever recorded. The trend shows no sign of slowing down either, with 578 RTM companies already formed by the midpoint of 2026, putting the year on track to set yet another record. The findings show a huge disparity between RTM activity and the wider UK housing market, with resident-led management activity continuing to accelerate even as housebuilding and management company formations fall. To track this trend over time, the Altrincham-based property management firm has developed the Placekeeper RTM Index: a figure that compares RTM formation activity with housing completions against the long-term average. The Index rose from 69 in 2019 to 155 in 2025, meaning RTM activity relative to housing completions has more than doubled in six years and now stands 55% above its long-term average. The rise comes despite falls across the wider housing market, where completions fell from 214,290 in 2019 to 170,390 in 2025, representing a drop of around 20%. Management company formations also dropped from a peak of 2,180 in 2018 to 1,543 in 2025, the lowest level since 2013. RTM formations, by contrast, have continued to climb, suggesting that growth in resident-led management is increasingly being driven by factors within the existing housing stock. Trevor Adey, Director at Placekeeper Management, said: “The most striking finding isn’t simply that RTM formations have reached a record high, but that activity continues to accelerate at a time when housebuilding levels and management company formations have fallen. “The data suggests resident-led management is becoming a more significant feature of the UK’s existing housing stock, whether that reflects greater awareness of leaseholder rights, increased scrutiny of service charges, or wider changes in residential governance. “For managing agents, this should be a wake-up call. Standards of transparency, communication and value for money that might once have gone unquestioned are now being scrutinised more closely than ever. Agents who don’t adapt and improve services risk losing the buildings they manage to their own residents.” Placekeeper’s analysis draws on more than fifteen years of Companies House incorporation data and Office for National Statistics’ housing figures, covering RTM company formations, management company formations and UK housebuilding activity between 2010 and 2026. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Panattoni Powers Ahead with 500,000 Sq Ft Wakefield Logistics Development
Panattoni has appointed three leading property agencies to market its major Wakefield 500 development, as construction progresses on one of the largest speculative logistics projects currently being delivered in Yorkshire. Knight Frank, Colliers and Commercial Property Partners (CPP) have been selected as letting agents for the development at Wakefield Europort in Castleford, where Panattoni is delivering a 500,000 sq ft cross-docked logistics facility. Panattoni acquired the 23-acre site from Delin Property earlier this year and is developing Wakefield 500 in joint venture with Newport by Panattoni, with the project forming part of the Newport Logistics Fund III investment portfolio. Construction started in June, with the building expected to be ready for occupation in May 2027. The scale of the speculative investment reflects confidence in West Yorkshire’s logistics market at a time when the availability of modern large-format warehouse space remains constrained. Wakefield Europort is already an established distribution destination, with major occupiers including Asda, Royal Mail, Haribo, Warburtons and Menzies. Located close to Junction 31 of the M62, the development provides onward access to the M1 and A1(M), connecting occupiers with markets across Yorkshire, the North, Midlands and wider UK. Rail connectivity provides another important advantage. Wakefield Europort includes a rail freight terminal operated by Maritime, offering businesses an alternative to road-based distribution and supporting the decarbonisation of supply chains. Wakefield 500 is being constructed to a high Grade A specification, with a 15-metre clear internal height, 56 dock doors, eight level-access doors and yard depths of up to 50 metres. The development will also provide 62 HGV spaces, 384 car parking spaces, EV charging infrastructure and a 2.5 MVA power supply. Sustainability forms a major part of Panattoni’s development strategy for the scheme. Wakefield 500 is targeting BREEAM Outstanding, net zero carbon in construction and strong EPC performance. Environmental measures include roof-mounted solar PV, rainwater harvesting, water leak detection and energy sub-metering, alongside extensive natural daylight within the warehouse. Chris Brown, development director at Panattoni, said the building had been designed around the requirements of modern large-scale logistics occupiers, with factors including resilience, labour availability, power, sustainability and access to major consumer markets influencing its specification. The appointment of Knight Frank, Colliers and CPP will now step up the marketing campaign as construction advances. Iain McPhail, logistics and industrial property partner at Knight Frank’s Leeds office, said the project was arriving at a time when the supply of large-format logistics accommodation remained severely restricted across both the UK and West Yorkshire. Rob Whatmuff, director at Colliers, highlighted the combination of road and rail connectivity, workforce availability and modern specification, while CPP director Toby Vernon described Wakefield 500 as one of the most highly anticipated speculative industrial and logistics developments to emerge across the North. With its combination of scale, multimodal connectivity and ambitious environmental standards, Panattoni Wakefield 500 represents a significant addition to Yorkshire’s logistics development pipeline and a major vote of confidence in the region’s long-term industrial property market. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
KPE Receives green light for the refurbishment and modernisation of Grade A Soho office building
· Westminster Council has approved the refurbishment and modernisation of Kajima Properties Europe’s 27 Soho Square, a 31,000 sq ft Grade A office building in the heart of Central London. · The approved plans will revitalise the asset through a refurbishment of existing space, improvement of sustainability credentials, accessibility and façade, and introduction of a restaurant space on ground floor. · The scheme targets BREEAM Excellent and EPC A ratings and prioritises the re-use of existing building elements to minimise environmental impact. Kajima Properties Europe (KPE), the European development, investment and asset management arm of the Nikkei-listed Kajima Corporation, has secured planning consent from Westminster City Council for the refurbishment of 27 Soho Square, a 31,000 sq ft Grade A office building located on one of central London’s most famous and historic squares. Designed by Gibson Thornley, the approved plans will upgrade the existing office space, modernise building systems, design and sustainability infrastructure to target BREEAM Excellent and EPC A ratings. New features will include outdoor private terraces on 4th and 5th floors, ground floor and part basement commercial space, improved façade and street-level aesthetic, and enhanced streetscape activation through lightwells, railings and planters. There will also be creation of new occupier amenities including showers, changing areas and bike storage. 27 Soho Square is situated within the Soho Conservation Area and benefits from unrivalled transport connectivity, including proximity to the Elizabeth Line at Tottenham Court Road station. The asset forms part of KPE’s value-add workspace strategy to invest into dynamic London sub-market opportunities supported by robust occupational demand drivers. The planning approval for 27 Soho Square builds on KPE’s growing London workspace portfolio. The firm is advancing design plans for its 1 St John’s Square workspace project in Farringdon, working alongside Carter Gregson Gray architects. Acquired in November 2025, the scheme is expected to be submitted planning later this year. KPE also recently strengthened its workspace development team with the appointment of Ian Patillo, who joins as Senior Development Manager from Landsec. Tim James, Investment Director, said: “As occupier demands intensify, the refurbishment of 27 Soho Square will reposition the building as a high quality, highly desirable workspace in one of Central London’s most sought-after locations. The refurbishment will significantly enhance the occupier experience, address the building’s limitations and strengthen its connection to the character and vitality of Soho. This announcement represents an important step delivering our London value-add workspace strategy and creating a best-in-class asset with enduring occupier appeal.” Project Team: Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
£120bn Government FM Framework Sets Stage for Major Public Estate Contracts
Some of the UK’s biggest facilities management and building services contractors have secured positions on a new government framework valued at up to £120 billion, opening the door to a major pipeline of public estate work over the next eight years. The Government Commercial Agency framework, RM6378, is set to become a recommended procurement route for facilities management services across central government. It will also be available to local authorities, NHS organisations, police forces, fire and rescue services, education bodies and devolved administrations. Competition for the largest Total Facilities Management contracts has attracted many of the sector’s leading names. Eighteen businesses have been appointed to the highest-value lot, covering individual contracts worth more than £15 million annually. The successful firms include Amey, CBRE, Compass, Dalkia, Equans, G4S Facilities Management, ISS, JLL, Kier, Mitie, OCS, Robertson Facilities Management, Serco, Skanska, Sodexo, Vinci Facilities, Vivo Defence Services and Wates. For the construction and built environment industry, the framework also represents a substantial opportunity for contractors delivering hard FM, engineering, maintenance and asset management services across the public estate. Forty businesses have secured positions on the major Hard FM lot for contracts valued above £2 million per year. Among those appointed are Amey, BAM FM, CBRE, Dalkia, Equans, Galliford Try, Graham Asset Management, Kier, Mears, Mitie, NG Bailey, OCS, Robertson, Serco, Skanska, Vinci Facilities, Vivo and Wates. The framework has been structured to accommodate public sector estates and contracts of significantly different scales. Total FM is divided into three bands covering contracts worth up to £2 million annually, between £2 million and £15 million, and more than £15 million. Hard FM is split between contracts below and above £2 million a year. A core group of contractors has achieved particularly strong coverage across the framework. Fifteen firms secured places across all five Total FM and Hard FM lots: Amey, CBRE, Equans, ISS, JLL, Kier, Mitie, OCS, Robertson, Serco, Skanska, Sodexo, Vinci Facilities, Vivo Defence Services and Wates Property Services. A further group, including BAM FM, Dalkia Facilities, Galliford Try Facilities Management, Graham Asset Management and Mears FM, secured positions across four lots. The scale and duration of the framework make it an important development for the management and maintenance of the UK’s public buildings and infrastructure. Alongside day-to-day FM provision, major hard services contracts can encompass the engineering, maintenance and long-term performance of complex property portfolios. With public bodies continuing to face pressure to improve building efficiency, modernise ageing estates and manage assets more effectively, the framework provides a long-term procurement platform through which significant programmes of FM and building services work can be commissioned. The agreement is scheduled to operate for eight years, running through to August 2034, giving successful contractors access to what could become one of the most significant public sector facilities management pipelines in the UK. Main Total FM and Hard FM winners Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals