McLaren Construction completes flagship Panattoni Park Swindon development
McLaren Construction (Midlands and North) has completed the flagship industrial and logistics facility at Panattoni Park Swindon, delivering the major scheme and marking a significant milestone in the regeneration of the site. The 545,000 sq. ft. speculative development has been delivered within a 39-week construction schedule, forming part of the wider regeneration of the former Honda manufacturing site, transforming a historic brownfield location into a high-quality logistics and employment hub for the South West. The project was designed around a structured and collaborative delivery strategy to meet timescales, with early supply chain engagement across key packages including steel frame and cladding, to ensure all partners were aligned to the programme from inception. The programme involved working to ensure successful on-time completion, supported by planning and consistent communication with key contractors, maintaining momentum throughout every stage of the build. During the delivery, the scheme set a new internal benchmark for quality and sustainability achieving a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating and targeting net zero upfront embodied carbon. A range of sustainability measures were integrated without impacting the programme, including the use of cement replacement in concrete, the incorporation of recycled steel and the use of modern methods of construction such as precast concrete walling, lift cores and stair units. The team also implemented robust environmental practices, including segregated waste streams and smart waste management, while reusing excavated materials through a carefully engineered cut-and-fill balance refined at design stage. Alongside delivery, McLaren Construction maintained a strong focus on social value and responsible construction, and the project achieved an excellent score of 43 out of 45 in its Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) assessment, with a high score for community engagement environmental management, and workforce wellbeing. The report highlighted the team’s proactive communication with stakeholders, robust environmental processes, and a strong commitment to workforce welfare including mental health support and high-quality site facilities. McLaren Construction (Midlands and North) also supported skills development throughout the programme with apprentices across multiple trades, including five scaffolders and two electricians, as well as work placement opportunities. The completed building offers high-specification logistics space with premium office accommodation, including a main reception area, feature link bridge and high-quality internal finishes including bespoke kitchenette areas with custom Corian worktops, glass splashbacks and feature staircases with glass balustrades. Luke Arnold, Regional Director at McLaren Construction Midlands and North, said: “Delivering Panattoni Park Swindon is a fantastic achievement and a real credit to the entire project team. From the outset, this was an ambitious schedule, and through careful planning, strong collaboration and the commitment of our trusted supply chain, we’ve been able to complete the project on time and to an exceptional standard. “I’d like to thank Paul, Gareth and the wider project team, along with our supply chain partners, whose dedication and coordination were critical to maintaining momentum throughout. This project demonstrates what can be achieved when the right team is aligned behind a clear programme and shared goal.” Peter Carter Wall, Construction Director at Panattoni, said: “McLaren Construction delivered the first building on our flagship development site which is the first to implement our new interior design concept and finishes. The team took an aspiration to create something special and delivered an impressive reality that has been widely admired. It has been a pleasure working with the team, and this building stands as a showpiece achievement everyone involved should be very proud of.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Better Green Living secures refurbishment project at Edgbaston Park Hotel
Sustainable refurbishment specialist Better Green Living has been appointed to refurbish Edgbaston Park Hotel and Conference Centre in Birmingham. Owned by the University of Birmingham, the hotel will benefit from a soft refurbishment to enhance its facilities. The new business win marks a pivotal moment in Better Green Living’s expansion within the commercial sector. With previous projects including Co-op Live Manchester, the largest indoor entertainment arena in the UK, Better Green Living has firmly established itself as a trusted name in sustainable design and build, retrofitting and refurbishment. The project will involve the refurbishment of 12 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, a staircase and meeting rooms across the venue. The works also include moving and creating a new reception desk and building a new luggage room. The company will lead on all aspects of project management, contractor coordination and on-site delivery to ensure the project runs smoothly and efficiently. Refurbishment is considered a sustainable practice as it extends the lifecycle of the existing built environment, reducing landfill waste and saving embodied carbon, the greenhouse gas emissions associated with a material. Deborah Parsons, CEO & Sustainability & Outreach Director at Better Green Living, commented: “Refurbishment is an inherently sustainable approach to property development, as it improves existing spaces, rather than building from the ground up. This aligns with Better Green Living’s values as a zero waste to landfill company. Our method for refurbishment focuses on delivering high-quality updates that meet modern standards, while reusing materials wherever possible. We hope our work at Edgbaston Park Hotel will give the building a new lease of life, ready to receive guests at the start of August.” Julie Crump, Director of Operations at Edgbaston Park Hotel, commented: “Edgbaston Park Hotel receives guests for every occasion, from relaxing breaks and conferences to weddings. By upgrading some of our rooms to a stylish, modern standard, we ensure that our guests enjoy the best possible experience during their stay with us. The reconfiguration of the foyer to accommodate the new reception desk means that the hotel is a better fit for purpose, while providing brand-new luggage rooms enables us to accommodate all our guests comfortably.” Better Green Living, part of Better Green Group, is a specialist refurbishment company dedicated to sustainable retrofitting and commercial fit outs. Known for delivering high-profile refurbishment projects for King’s College London, the company continues to strengthen its reputation as a leader in environmentally conscious construction. To find out more about Better Green Living, please visit: www.better-greenliving.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
United Infrastructure and SoilDri Launch National Partnership to Accelerate Sustainable AMP8 Delivery
United Infrastructure, a leading provider of solutions for the UK’s critical infrastructure, and SoilDri, a specialist provider of sustainable soil improvement, have announced the launch of a national innovation partnership focused on transforming how infrastructure renewal is delivered – enabling utility clients to deliver at greater pace, lower cost and with improved outcomes for customers and communities as the industry progresses through AMP8. The partnership follows SoilDri’s recent recognition at the United Infrastructure Supply Chain Awards, where the business received an Innovation Award for its approach to minimise soil-to-landfill, and emphasise value in soil reuse and sustainable utility delivery. The award recognised the environmental and operational benefits being delivered through the use of SoilDri SEM and the innovative TSM-5 soil mixing machine. The partnership brings together United Infrastructure’s expertise in utility infrastructure delivery with SoilDri’s innovative soil reuse technologies, enabling excavated materials to be treated and reused directly on site rather than being removed to landfill and replaced with imported aggregates. The announcement comes at a time when the utilities industry and its delivery partners are under increasing pressure to reduce waste, lower carbon emissions and maximise the reuse of excavated materials. Industry initiatives championed by organisations such as Street Works UK, together with evolving reinstatement standards, sustainability targets and a growing focus on circular economy principles, are driving change across the sector. At the heart of the partnership is SoilDri SEM, a specialist solution developed specifically for the utilities sector that enables excavated materials to be improved and reused within reinstatement works. Supporting this approach is the innovative TSM-5, a road-towable soil mixing machine that allows treatment to take place directly at source. Together, the technologies reduce waste, minimise lorry movements and community disruption, lower carbon emissions and improve project efficiency whilst supporting the delivery challenges facing the utilities sector throughout AMP8 and beyond. The partnership forms part of a national rollout programme that is bringing sustainable soil reuse technologies to utility infrastructure projects across the UK. Already being deployed on live utility projects, the partnership reflects a shared commitment to innovation, sustainability and delivering better outcomes for clients, communities and the wider environment. At a time of unprecedented infrastructure investment, this partnership highlights how innovation can unlock faster delivery, lower carbon and reduced cost – ensuring AMP8 and AMP9 are delivered efficiently and at best value for customers and the wider UK economy. Kelly Macfarlane, Managing Director of United Infrastructure Water, said: The scale of infrastructure renewal required in AMP8 demands a step change in how we deliver projects. Traditional approaches alone will not meet the pace, cost, and sustainability challenges ahead. At UI, we have a strong focus on innovation, supported by a dedicated team that identifies and develops new approaches to address the sector’s most pressing challenges. Our partnership with SoilDri is a direct result of this focus. It enables faster, more efficient delivery of essential water infrastructure, improving outcomes for customers and the communities that rely on these services. By reducing waste, minimising haulage, and accelerating reinstatement, we lower carbon emissions and deliver works in a more sustainable way. At the same time, we support our water company clients in achieving better value for money while meeting their environmental commitments. Dan Macey, Director of Strategic Growth at SoilDri, said: “United Infrastructure has established a reputation for embracing innovation and challenging traditional approaches to project delivery. That makes them an ideal partner as we continue the national rollout of SoilDri technologies across the utilities sector.” “The combination of SoilDri SEM and the TSM-5 enables excavated materials to be treated and reused directly on site, reducing reliance on landfill and imported aggregates whilst supporting faster, more sustainable project delivery. As the partnership expands, we will continue introducing additional SoilDri technologies across the utilities sector, helping contractors and asset owners reduce waste (in line with the top tiers of the waste hierarchy), lower carbon emissions and improve operational efficiency.” The partnership will be supported by a programme of joint communications, project case studies and industry engagement activities throughout 2026, showcasing how innovation can support the UK’s infrastructure renewal ambitions and the delivery challenges associated with AMP8 and beyond. Watch the supporting video here: SoilDri & United Infrastructure Partnership Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Padrock submits plans for £120m, 245,000 sq ft Grade A urban MLI and logistics development in Elstree, Herts
Specialist logistics developer Padrock has submitted plans to speculatively develop a 245,000 sq ft Grade A urban multi-let industrial (MLI) and logistics development in Elstree, Hertfordshire. The proposed scheme will comprise 13 units ranging from 10,500 sq ft to 130,000 sq ft and have a gross development value of around £120m. The 17-acre brownfield site was acquired by Padrock in March this year and is located adjacent to the established Centennial Park business estate in Elstree. The site is also strategically positioned next to the A1, three miles from the M1 and six miles from the M25, providing strong connectivity to central London and the national road network. All units at the development have been designed to deliver best-in-class sustainability credentials including BREEAM Outstanding and EPC A+ ratings, plus alignment with EU Taxonomy objectives. Subject to planning, construction is anticipated to commence in autumn of this year, with practical completion expected in late 2027. Padrock founding partner, Mark Symonds, said: “Our plans will provide Elstree with a highly sustainable economic asset that will help satisfy the latent demand in the region for high-specification, new-build urban MLI accommodation. “Our scheme will appeal to a wide range of occupiers due to the versatility and flexibility of our proposals and the diversity of tenants we would hope to attract would be one of its strengths. “With all of our developments we want to create outstanding sustainable environments with excellent connectivity for businesses to grow, employ people and achieve their commercial objectives. “We intend for our Elstree scheme to be another great example of Padrock’s distinct approach to development and we now look forward to our plans being heard at committee.” Headquartered in London, Padrock is a property developer and asset manager which specialises in sustainable urban MLI and logistics assets across the UK and Europe. The company has around 1m sq ft of Grade A MLI and logistics accommodation under construction or ready for development with a combined gross development value of £500m. Its current development portfolio also includes Hertford Logistics Hub in Hertford, Dagenham Logistics Hub and Leyton Logistics Hub, both in east London, and Erith Logistics Hub in south east London. For more information on the company, search ‘Padrock’. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
MILWAUKEE® M18™ Lift Air Fan
MILWAUKEE® introduces its latest addition to the job site the M18™ Lift Air Fan, built for versatility and quick adjustments. Built for demanding job sites, this fan delivers powerful personal cooling with full airflow control, a quick‑adjust scissor lift mount, and all‑day versatility on the MILWAUKEE® M18™ battery platform. The integrated variable speed dial provides precise control, allowing users to adjust airflow to suit the application and job site conditions. Featuring up to 350° of horizontal fan head rotation and up to 210° of vertical tilt, this fan delivers exceptional control to direct airflow exactly where it is needed. A quick adjust clamp design enables fast, secure mounting to any scissor lift, reducing setup time and keeping airflow where operators need it. Designed for maximum compatibility, the quick adjust clamp securely mounts to both square and round rails, allowing the fan to be installed in seconds on any scissor lift. An integrated tether point allows attachment of a tool lanyard, providing added security when used at height. Engineered with an impact‑resistant housing and protection against dust and water ingress, the fan is built to withstand demanding job site conditions. Powered by a high‑performance brushless motor, this fan delivers airflow speeds of up to 30 km/h and a volume of 1.274 m³/h, optimised for personal cooling in demanding commercial job site environments. Delivering dependable run time, the fan operates for up to 3.5 hours on high and up to 8 hours at 75% speed when paired with an M18™ 5.0 Ah REDLITHIUM™ battery. Specifications M18™ Lift Air Fan M18 LAF-0 Kit Includes: (1) M18™ LAF To find out more about M18™ Lift Air Fan see video footage of it in action or find your nearest store, please visit www.milwaukeetool.eu. Visit Milwaukee Tool UK’s Instagram and LinkedIn for further information. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Retail Investment Continues as Superdry Chooses Lincoln’s Waterside Centre
Lincoln’s retail sector is set to receive another boost this summer as fashion brand Superdry prepares to open a new flagship-style store at the Waterside shopping centre, reinforcing confidence in well-located retail destinations and the continued evolution of the UK’s high street. The retailer has secured an 11,200 sq ft unit across two floors within the popular retail and leisure destination, with fit-out works now underway ahead of an anticipated opening at the end of July. The new store has been designed to provide dedicated retail environments for both menswear and womenswear, with the ground floor showcasing the brand’s women’s collections and the upper floor focused on men’s fashion. The arrival of Superdry further strengthens Waterside’s occupier mix, joining a portfolio of established national retailers including H&M, Next, Rituals, The Body Shop, New Look, Accessorize and Office. The announcement represents another positive milestone for Waterside following recent investment by property developer and investor Wykeland Group. Wykeland initially acquired the 130,000 sq ft shopping centre through a joint venture with Lincolnshire Co-op in 2023 before taking full ownership earlier this year, signalling its long-term commitment to the destination. Jason Platten, Head of Retail and Leisure at Wykeland, described Superdry as a major addition to the centre, noting that the retailer’s decision to invest in Waterside reflects growing confidence in the scheme’s strong footfall and its position at the heart of Lincoln’s retail and leisure offer. He added that Wykeland remains committed to investing in the centre to enhance the customer experience while attracting high-quality occupiers that support its long-term success and strengthen its appeal to both shoppers and brands. For Superdry, the opening forms part of its wider strategy to invest in physical retailing, recognising the continued importance of well-designed stores in delivering engaging customer experiences alongside its online channels. Founder and Chief Executive Julian Dunkerton said the new Lincoln store reflects the company’s commitment to creating attractive retail environments that showcase the brand’s evolving identity while bringing its latest collections closer to customers. The investment highlights the continued resilience of high-quality regional retail destinations, with landlords increasingly focused on curating strong tenant mixes and investing in their assets to create vibrant, experience-led environments that support long-term commercial success. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals