ROCKWOOL and FSEW partnership delivers measurable carbon savings in UK logistics
ROCKWOOL UK has joined forces with FSEW freight specialists to significantly reduce the carbon emissions from its UK delivery operations. The use of electric and biomethane-powered HGVs on selected routes from ROCKWOOL’s insulation factory in Bridgend, Wales, has resulted in a 630-tonne reduction in CO2 emissions in just 15 months. This is equivalent to the levels that can be removed from the atmosphere by 13,500 mature trees each year. The partnership between the non-combustible insulation manufacturer and freight decarbonisation specialist means 22% of ROCKWOOL UK’s deliveries are now made using low carbon vehicles. These savings support the ROCKWOOL Group’s ambitious global goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the business, aiming for net zero by 2050 with an interim target of cutting emissions by one third by 2034. The move from a diesel-heavy transport model to a fleet partially powered by electric and 100% biomethane vehicles has helped the ROCKWOOL Group to tackle its challenging Scope 3 target, relating to transport and distribution emissions. ROCKWOOL UK began working with Cardiff-based FSEW at the end of 2023 to trial the initiative using greener transport methods. In its first full year in 2024, the partnership reduced ROCKWOOL UK’s logistics footprint by over 433 tonnes of CO2. By the end of the first quarter in 2025, a further 200 tonnes had been saved, and additional routes have now been transitioned, including those in the Midlands, the North of England and Scotland. Digital twin route mapping has also been utilised to ensure the electric and biomethane vehicles are able to comfortably refuel on their delivery journeys without any disruption or delay for customers. Tim Eaton, Supply Chain Director at ROCKWOOL UK, said the partnership had already reaped measurable results and the organisation was now looking to extend the initiative further. “Tackling freight emissions is one of the toughest challenges in construction, but our partnership with FSEW shows it can be done and done without compromise on speed, reliability or service to customers. We’re really happy with the results so far and look forward to building on them in the future.” said Tim. ROCKWOOL, which has operated from South Wales since 1979, has built on its strong foundations in the UK with the recent launch of its fire-stopping Centre of Excellence at Hams Halls, Birmingham and has also announced proposals to open a second stone wool manufacturing plant in the West Midlands. ROCKWOOL’s Managing Director for the UK and Ireland, Nick Wilson, added: “With transport and distribution emissions rising on customer agendas, this partnership not only reduces the carbon footprint of our own deliveries, but also paves the way for scalable, additional low-carbon freight solutions that support the UK’s net-zero agenda.” “Through collaborations like this as well as deploying in-house technological solutions, we will continue working hard to reduce our carbon footprint in line with ROCKWOOL Group’s global targets.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Planning submitted for next 3m sq ft phase of Integra 61
£340M Investment Plans Submitted To Durham County Council Citrus Durham has submitted plans for the next £340M phase of development at its Integra 61 mixed-use development at J61 of the A1(M). Following a recent public consultation process, an outline planning application has been submitted to Durham County Council to create an extension to the west of the Integra 61 scheme to accommodate a further 3 million sq ft of employment space. The first phase of the existing £400M Integra 61 development, which includes 3m sq ft of developable space, is already 90% complete and the major investment into the second phase could see some 300 new jobs being created in the North East throughout the build and operational stages. The planning application details proposals for a range of storage/distribution and manufacturing units of varying sizes, to reflect market demand from regional businesses as well as those looking to invest in premises in the region. The submitted application is in outline, which seeks to secure the fundamental development principles of bringing a scheme forward at this stage, latter reserved matters applications will evolve the exact design and scale which will all have to be within the principles sought to be established now. The new development in its latter stages would require the delivery of the Bowburn Development Route (relief road) in conjunction with Durham County Council. Integra 61 is already home to Amazon’s 2m sq ft fulfilment centre, a further 640,000 sq ft of speculative logistics space at Connect at Integra 61 and an impressive roadside portfolio including Costa and Greggs along with an incoming £4 million EG On The Move petrol station with a convenience store and separate Starbucks drive-thru. Tesla has also installed 19 new Superchargers on site. Construction is well underway on Marton Care’s new 73 bedroom care home facility to complement the 260 new homes already developed by Persimmon and Bellway. James Taylor, Regional Director at Citrus, said: “We are delighted to have now submitted this significant planning application for the second phase of Integra 61, building on the success of phase one and firmly establishing Integra as a premier business location in the region. Securing planning consent is an important early stage in the journey to bringing this phase to fruition and we look forward to working with all stakeholders during this process.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Whitbread secures prime mid-town site for new hub by Premier Inn
Whitbread PLC, the UK’s largest hotel company and owner of Premier Inn, has made a significant freehold hotel acquisition in Central London for its hub by Premier Inn brand. In line with the company’s strategy of expanding its network of budget hotels in London, it has acquired Victory House (30-34 Kingsway, WC2) from a private overseas investor for an undisclosed sum. The location matches Whitbread’s network plan requirement for Covent Garden / Holborn and provides hub by Premier Inn customers with doorstep access to Covent Garden, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, the LSE campus and London’s Theatre District all of which are less than a ten-minute walk away. Whitbread intends to convert the 45,000 sq ft office building which is currently occupied until spring 2026 into a hub by Premier Inn hotel of around 200-bedrooms, subject to planning. It plans to introduce the compact hub by Premier Inn bedrooms within the existing floorplates, retaining and respecting the handsome 1920s stone façade facing onto Kingsway. The off-market purchase of Victory House rounds off an especially active year for Whitbread in Central and Inner London where the business is investing heavily. Since February [2025] the company has acquired four former office buildings to convert into Premier Inn and hub by Premier Inn hotels – investments totalling more than £100 million. Collectively the buildings, which include Victory House, will add close to 1,000 Premier Inn and hub by Premier Inn bedrooms into Whitbread’s secured development pipeline in a market where a significant proportion of their future pipeline is located. Currently 19% of Whitbread’s 85,000 bedrooms are in London. Jonathan Langdon, Senior Acquisition Manager for Whitbread, said: “The vision behind hub by Premier Inn is to offer all the great things about Premier Inn in the most central, accessible and exciting places. Kingsway is one of those stand-out locations being surrounded by London’s best entertainment, restaurants, cultural venues and institutions – somewhere we know our customers will want to stay. “Investing here matches our network plan and complements our trading and pipeline hotels, neatly “bookending” Covent Garden with our St Martin’s Lane hotel to the west. It also rounds off an especially active year for Whitbread in Central and Inner London where we have made four significant purchases and lease commitments, collectively totalling more than £100 million of investment and adding close to 1,000 prime located rooms into our pipeline. “We’re pleased to have secured the Kingsway location quickly off-market and are excited to begin the planning journey with Camden Council next year, with a goal to bring the location onto our trading network in 2028.” Whitbread’s hub by Premier Inn is designed for locations in major cities where property prices are relatively high but, thanks to the brand’s smaller room format, is still able to generate attractive long-term returns whilst providing affordable rooms for guests. Launched on St Martins Lane in Covent Garden in 2014, the brand now offers eighteen hotels and more than 3,000 bedrooms in locations across Central London and Edinburgh City Centre – with four further London locations currently under construction or in the advanced stages of planning, including a flagship 690-room hub on Strand, next to Trafalgar Square. Unique to the location, the Kingsway hub by Premier Inn will offer stunning views over Lincoln’s Inn Fields to the east whilst being on the doorstep of Covent Garden to the west. Whitbread is due to secure vacant possession of the building in April 2026 when the lease comes to an end. In line with Whitbread’s sustainability strategy, the hotel will be all-electric, powered by energy generated from renewable sources – with the building design itself set to incorporate heat recovery systems and air source heat pumps to create a low energy demand. Whitbread was advised on the transaction by Ingleby Trice and the vendor was advised by JLL and Savills. Conversations with Camden Council on the conversion of the eight-storey building are anticipated to begin in early 2026. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Overgate, Dundee announces new store opening by luxury retailer Flannels
FLANNELS, one of the most exciting players in luxury retail, has opened a brand-new standalone store in Overgate, Dundee. Located within a prime site on the upper level of Overgate, adjacent to the impressive new Sports Direct, the much-anticipated new FLANNELS store spans 5,000 sq. ft. FLANNELS Dundee presents a luxury, aspirational shopping experience within a striking interior, and houses luxury and contemporary menswear, womenswear, kidswear and accessories from labels such as Off White, Balenciaga, C.P. Company, BOSS, Vivienne Westwood, GANNI, REPRESENT, and The Couture Club. The arrival of FLANNELS to Overgate, the region’s premier shopping destination located in the heart of Dundee – Scotland’s fourth largest city and the UK’s first UNESCO City of Design – follows the recent opening of a three-storey FRASERS Dundee within the centre. Frasers Group acquired Overgate in March 2023 and since then has transformed the centre with a tranche of new store openings and significant lease extensions. Tenant occupancy of the centre is sitting at 90%. Commenting, Malcolm Angus, Centre Manager, Overgate said: “We are delighted to welcome FLANNELS to Overgate, in what marks another significant moment for the centre, and indeed the region. “FLANNELS is a greatly admired fashion retailer, offering highly desirable, luxury and contemporary brands. There has been huge interest in the arrival of FLANNELS to Dundee and this opening marks another exciting addition to the centre as it continues its remarkable retail transformation. “We look forward to welcoming our customers to FLANNELS and to experience its impressive luxury retail offering.” ABOUT OVERGATE Overgate is located in the heart of Dundee city centre, Scotland’s fourth largest city and the UK’s first UNESCO City of Design. The 440,000 sq. ft (37,161 sq. m) centre is the region’s premier shopping destination and is owned by Frasers Group. Frasers Group acquired Overgate in March 2023 and has accelerated a tranche of new store openings and significant lease extensions over the last 24 months. Anchoring the 70-unit centre is a 60,000 sq. ft FRASERS which opened in June 2025 – one of the largest shop fit-outs Dundee has ever seen, transforming Overgate and significantly strengthening the east coast of Scotland’s retail offering. Spanning three floors, the FRASERS store also houses Sports Direct, USC, and GAME. Other high street favourites within Overgate include Primark, Next, Mango, Rituals, Pandora, Clarks, H&M, DV8, River Island, New Look, Footasylum, Office, Schuh, JD Sports, Superdrug and Boots as well as a food and drink offering including Starbucks, Costa, Greggs, Muffin Break, Five Guys, Chopstix and Subway. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Delamere Health names Caddick as preferred bidder for Nottingham development
Caddick Construction has been selected as Delamere Health’s preferred bidder for thedevelopment of a £20m addiction clinic on the site of the former Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue HQ in Bestwood. Now in a pre-construction services agreement (PCSA), Caddick will deliver a preliminary package of works to make way for the new residential addiction treatment clinic, marking the largest investment of its kind in the UK.Caddick’s initial work on site will include the demolition of Nottingham Fire & Rescue’s former HQ, which is scheduled to begin in early 2026. This will be replaced with a new build clinic comprising 32 residential rooms with supporting treatment spaces. Designed by architects, Anderson Orr, the clinic will offer premium facilities, including awellness suite, fully equipped gym, steam room and sauna, a meditation area and individual and group therapy rooms. Exclusively to the Nottingham site will be other facilities, such as a padel court and a cinema. Once in full contract, the project will add to Caddick’s growing project portfolio in theMidlands, which also includes a range of high rise residential, industrial and commercial developments across the region. Martin Preston, Founder and Chief Executive at Delamere, said: “The site’s development represents a huge investment and opportunity for the borough, and our ambition for what will become the flagship treatment facility in Europe. “At Delamere, we have a clear vision – to provide exemplary care in first class facilities.Identifying the ideal location for our second site has been a rigorous process over several years, and we are excited to work with Caddick to create something the local community can be proud of.” Ray O’Sullivan, Regional Managing Director of Caddick Construction Midlands,commented: “As preferred bidder for Delamere Health’s new development in Bestwood, we are working closely with our client to build a cost and build programme that will deliver on their ambitions for the largest investment in an addiction rehabilitation clinic in the UK. Key to this is understanding the high level of care and rehabilitation the clinic will offer. We look forward to the coming months, and moving towards a full contract early next year.” Neil Parry, CEO & Principal at Anderson Orr said: “We are thrilled to be collaborating on Delamere Health’s new Nottingham development. The design responds to their vision for a safe and welcoming environment that supports recovery, blending contemporary clinical spaces with a warm, domestic character. “Every material and detail has been carefully considered to provide a sense of comfort and homeliness, ensuring the facility feels approachable, nurturing, and conducive to healing. We are delighted to be working with the wider team, and a client who maintains such a passionate and driven vision, setting inspiring new standards for compassionate, person-centred.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Shift Toward Fully Connected Homes in Urban Regeneration
Urban regeneration is no longer only about new buildings and upgraded public spaces. Residents now expect homes that are digitally ready as standard, with high-speed connectivity and smart systems built in from day one. When this connected approach is applied across whole estates or districts, it changes how neighbourhoods are planned, delivered, and maintained, and helps regeneration programmes create lasting value for both residents and asset owners. Connected infrastructure as the new utility For many regeneration schemes, digital infrastructure now sits alongside water, power, and roads as a primary enabler. Full fibre to every dwelling, 5G-ready environment, and robust in building networks give developers a platform for connected services over decades rather than a single product cycle. For residents, the same networks support everyday digital life, from streaming movies and playing video games online to using non GamStop casinos, where features such as live dealer games, fast payouts, fewer betting restrictions, and more flexible bonuses than on platforms connected to the UK self-exclusion scheme GamStop, all relying on the enhanced home connectivity that new developments provide. Designing with connectivity in mind from day one helps avoid retrofitting pain later. Service cupboards, risers, distribution points, and smart meter locations can all be planned so that technology upgrades are simple, quick, and non-intrusive. For social landlords and build-to-rent operators, this infrastructure-first approach supports long-term asset performance and reduces lifecycle costs. Local authorities are also beginning to view connected homes as part of their digital inclusion agenda. If regeneration delivers high-quality connectivity to residents who previously lacked it, the benefits go beyond entertainment and reach education, employment, and access to public services. Smart Homes that Support Net-Zero Goals Urban regeneration is under pressure to deliver both social value and measurable carbon reduction. Fully connected homes can help align these objectives. Smart meters, connected thermostats, zoned heating controls, and real-time energy dashboards all help residents understand and manage their energy use more effectively, and this is no longer a niche idea. In 2024, research found that around 39%of UK households had at least one smart device in their homes, and by 2027, this is expected to be closer to 50%, indicating how quickly this technology is becoming mainstream. On the building side, integrated sensors can monitor temperature, humidity, occupancy, and equipment performance. Data from these systems allows operators to fine-tune heating and cooling, identify failing components early, and benchmark performance across a portfolio. This moves maintenance from reactive to predictive and supports compliance with tightening environmental standards. Crucially, connected homes also create a pathway to more advanced energy models. Vehicle-to-grid charging, local energy trading between homes, and dynamic tariffs depend on reliable digital infrastructure. Regeneration projects that put this in place now will be better prepared for future regulation and market change. Data-Driven Asset Management and Resident Services A fully connected home generates valuable data about building performance and service usage. Used responsibly, this can transform how regeneration schemes are managed over time. Housing providers can track common issues across blocks, compare lift reliability, identify patterns of damp or condensation, and target investment where it will have the greatest impact. At the same time, digital platforms allow residents to interact with their homes and landlords in more convenient ways. Fault reporting can be integrated with photos and sensor data, booking of repairs can be automated, and building information can be delivered through a single resident app. When combined with IoT-enabled doors and access control, operators can manage visitors, trades, and deliveries with improved security and reduced administration. For private developers, this creates opportunities for new service-based revenue streams that extend beyond the initial sale. For public and community partners, it can improve transparency and trust, which are critical in regeneration contexts where history and local politics are often complex. Designing for Inclusion and Resilience The shift toward fully connected homes also raises important questions about digital skills, data privacy, and long-term resilience. Regeneration projects must consider residents who may be unfamiliar with smart technology or who have limited access to devices. Clear interfaces, simple onboarding, and hands-on support become part of the infrastructure investment, not an afterthought. Privacy and cybersecurity need to be treated with the same seriousness as physical safety. Procurement frameworks should specify open standards, clear data ownership, and robust security practices. This reduces the risk of vendor lock-in and ensures that buildings can evolve as technology changes. Finally, resilience is not only about networks and servers. It is also about creating homes that still function safely when systems fail. Thoughtful design will ensure that residents can always operate critical functions such as heating and access, even during outages. Conclusion Fully connected homes are becoming a core feature of urban regeneration and are shaping how projects are designed, built, and managed. For the construction and property sectors, the priority now is to treat digital infrastructure as part of placemaking from the outset so that renewed neighbourhoods deliver long-term performance, support net zero goals, and give residents convenient, future-ready homes. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals