Coadjute now one of Europe’s fastest-growing technology companies
Managed Service provider Coadjute has been named as one of Europe’s fastest-growing companies, securing 111th place in the prestigious 2026 Sifted 250. Described by Sifted as a “snapshot of European tech at full tilt”, the Sifted 250 recognises the 250 fastest-growing firms in the sector Europe, ranked according to percentage revenue growth over the past three financial years. The achievement places Coadjute among an elite group of high-growth businesses operating within a European ecosystem of more than 50,000 funded startups. It also marks the latest milestone in an exceptional year for the company. Earlier in 2026, Coadjute was ranked No. 42 in the Sifted 100 UK & Ireland, recognising it as one of the fastest-growing businesses in the region. For Coadjute, the recognition reflects a period of rapid expansion as increasing numbers of estate agents and property professionals turn to its fully managed services to take on increasingly complex compliance and transaction-related work. Dan Salmons, CEO of Coadjute, said: “Coadjute is proud to be one of the fastest growing companies in the UK and Ireland. Now to be recognised by Sifted as a leading European company too is really the icing on the cake. “What makes this recognition particularly meaningful is that it is based on revenues, not opinion, so is a clear measure of the very rapid rate at which estate agents are now moving to our managed services. “UK estate agents have increasingly complex regulatory and operational responsibilities, and thanks to our market-leading technology and outstanding people, they can now handover much of that burden to us, freeing time up to focus on what they want to be doing – selling property. “This recognition belongs to our team, our customers, our partners and our investors, all of whom have played an important role in Coadjute’s rapid growth”. Rapid growth driven by managed services Coadjute provides fully managed AML compliance services designed for estate agents, combining specialist human oversight, efficient operations, and AI-native technology. Their AML compliance service supports agents with full compliance framework including identity verification, customer due diligence, PEPs and sanctions, Source of Funds and Source of Wealth, Enhanced Due Diligence, ongoing monitoring, business-wide risk assessments, policies and procedures, training and audit-ready reporting. The company’s managed-service model is designed to remove much of the administrative and compliance burden from estate agency teams, while giving businesses greater visibility, consistency and control. Coadjute has been continuing to expand its proposition, investing in new services to support estate agents across a broader range of compliance and transaction processes. The company is backed by Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide, NatWest and Rightmove, and property expert and broadcaster Phil Spencer is an ambassador for the business. Dan Salmons added: “We’re delighted to be ranked at #111 in the 2026 Sifted250 for Europe. A friend told me that in numerology it’s a special number that means momentum, leadership and beginnings. Certainly, with the momentum and market leadership we have, we believe this is just the beginning for Coadjute”. A growing European success story Europe is home to more than 50,000 funded startups, spanning major technology hubs across the UK, Scandinavia and continental Europe. Against that backdrop, securing 111th position in the Sifted 250 places Coadjute firmly among a small group of businesses demonstrating some of the strongest sustained revenue growth across the European technology sector. The ranking follows Coadjute’s No. 42 position in the Sifted 100 UK & Ireland earlier this year, reinforcing the company’s emergence as one of the UK property sector’s most rapidly scaling technology-enabled businesses. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
TRU welcome Kirklees Council to Huddersfield station as programme reaches halfway mark in latest series of improvement works
Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) teams have made strong progress with works in the Huddersfield area while the railway has been closed, with work continuing until Sunday 4 October. The new leadership of Kirklees Council were invited to see the work at Huddersfield station firsthand and discuss the benefits TRU is bringing to rail users and local communities. Their visit provided an opportunity to highlight the transformational impact TRU is having on regeneration in Huddersfield. A recent Network Rail-commissioned study found that planning applications within 1.5 miles of Huddersfield station have increased by nearly 33% since TRU funding was confirmed in 2020, with the programme estimated to generate £1.9 billion in GVA, create nearly 5,000 full-time equivalent jobs, and support the delivery of almost 1,200 new homes. This impact is being unlocked through a once-in-a-generation upgrade of the station and the wider TRU footprint. TRU teams are halfway through a 16-day closure, and during the first week improvement works included: Before the railway line reopens on Monday 5 October, works continue on: James Richardson, TRU managing director, said: “Huddersfield is one of the most significant sites across the TRU footprint. Our work at Huddersfield station and on the wider railway will deliver a once-in-a-generation transformation, that will not only improve connectivity but help drive economic growth and wider investment in the town. “People can clearly see the progress we’ve made since work started on site in 2023 and the scale of work being undertaken during this ongoing closure, which will pave the way for real benefits for passengers by early 2027.” Councillor John Hardie, Kirklees Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Transport and Highways, said: “Rail travel across Kirklees is changing, and it was fantastic to see first-hand the significant work taking place to transform Huddersfield Railway Station into a station for the future. “This generational investment in our rail infrastructure will strengthen the connections to towns and cities across the north of England, unlocking new opportunities for education, employment, and training for the people of Kirklees. “The Transpennine Route Upgrade is creating a railway network fit for Kirklees that supports our position as a vibrant, well-connected place to live and work.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Kier Builds London Retrofit Pipeline with £60m Holborn Office Transformation
Kier is set to deliver a major £60 million office retrofit in London’s Holborn district after being selected as preferred contractor for Railpen’s transformation of 26 Red Lion Square. The contractor is entering into a pre-construction services agreement for the 100,000 sq ft development, known as The Fenner, ahead of a planned start on site later this year. Designed by Stiff + Trevillion, the extensive refurbishment will transform the existing building into eight floors of Grade A workspace, with construction expected to take around two years. Rather than pursuing wholesale redevelopment, the project will retain and reuse significant elements of the existing structure, combining this approach with substantial architectural and environmental upgrades. Plans include new façades addressing both Theobalds Road and Red Lion Square, alongside enhanced ground-floor amenities intended to improve the arrival experience and provide modern facilities for occupiers. More than 9,000 sq ft of roof terraces will also be introduced, adding external amenity space to the building and helping reposition the property for the next generation of central London office occupiers. Sustainability and operational performance are central to the redevelopment. Railpen is targeting BREEAM Outstanding, EPC A and a NABERS 5-star rating for The Fenner, placing ambitious environmental objectives at the heart of the refurbishment programme. Five contractors competed for the project, with Kier ultimately selected on the strength of its proposed team and experience delivering complex office schemes within central London. Graham Potts, regional director at Kier Construction London & Thames Valley, said: “Railpen is a new and significant client for Kier, one whose ambitious pipeline and progressive agenda aligns perfectly with our own values and approach.” The appointment further strengthens Kier’s growing workload in London’s commercial refurbishment and retrofit market. It follows the contractor securing Derwent London’s £99 million redevelopment of Holden House on Oxford Street, as well as The Crown Estate’s transformation of the Grade II-listed 10 Piccadilly, comprising approximately 90,800 sq ft. Together, the projects underline the increasing importance of retrofit within the capital’s office construction market as property owners look to modernise existing assets while retaining valuable structures and improving energy performance. The Fenner is also part of a much larger investment programme being undertaken by Railpen, encompassing around 600,000 sq ft of commercial refurbishment and development across London and Birmingham. With new façades, upgraded amenities, substantial roof terraces and ambitious environmental targets, the £60 million Holborn project will see an existing central London office asset comprehensively repositioned without sacrificing the embodied value of its underlying structure. For Kier, the scheme represents another significant addition to a growing portfolio of high-value retrofit projects as the transformation of existing buildings continues to become an increasingly important part of the UK commercial construction market. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Grainger Unveils £60m BTR Vision to Transform Chester’s Linenhall Site
Grainger is progressing plans for a £60 million Build to Rent development in the heart of Chester, which could bring around 300 professionally managed rental homes to a long-vacant city centre site. The listed residential landlord and developer is working with landowner Chester Race Company and UK Land & Property to regenerate the former Linenhall stables site, located between Chester Racecourse and the city centre. Plans are being developed for a six-storey residential scheme comprising approximately 300 BTR apartments, with a planning application expected to be submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council in November. Subject to securing consent, construction could begin during 2027. The development would replace an existing consent for student accommodation and instead create a purpose-built rental community aimed at a broad range of residents, including young professionals, couples and people looking to downsize. Architect Falconer Chester Hall is part of the professional team developing the proposals, alongside Tier Consult, Ridge, Curtins, Fenix Heritage, Asteer Planning and Clayton Property. The Linenhall site has a long history of proposed redevelopment. Formerly occupied by stable buildings serving the nearby racecourse, the land has been cleared since 2009 and is currently operating as a surface car park. The approximately 1.8-acre site sits within Chester’s historic City Walls and a conservation area, giving the design team the challenge of introducing a substantial new residential development within one of the country’s most distinctive historic city environments. Earlier proposals for the land have included private apartments and purpose-built student accommodation, but despite previous planning permissions, a major redevelopment has yet to come forward. The latest £60 million BTR proposals could finally unlock the site while supporting the continued growth of Chester’s city centre residential population. Louise Stewart, chief executive of Chester Race Company, said the partners believe residential development represents a strong long-term use for Linenhall, with the ambition to create a high-quality scheme that contributes to the growth and vitality of the city centre. The location is particularly suited to the Build to Rent model, providing residents with access to the city centre’s employment, retail, leisure and hospitality offer while also being positioned close to Chester Racecourse and public transport connections. For Grainger, the project would add another significant development to its expanding UK BTR portfolio, while bringing its long-term rental management model into Chester. The proposals also reflect the wider role Build to Rent can play in city centre regeneration, particularly where underused brownfield or surface car park sites can be transformed into professionally managed residential communities. If approved, the Linenhall development would replace a long-standing gap in Chester’s urban fabric with around 300 new homes, representing a major investment in both the city’s residential market and its wider built environment. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Major refurbishment at iconic 43 Castle Street in Liverpool
A significant refurbishment programme is underway at 43 Castle Street in Liverpool City Centre, as the Local Authority Pension Fund owner invests in upgrading the iconic and well-known office building to meet evolving occupier expectations and needs. The works will focus on enhancing both workspace quality and occupier wellbeing, with a full refurbishment of the first floor alongside the introduction of new end-of-journey facilities. Due for completion in December 2026, the first-floor refurbishment will deliver a range of modern office suites, including spaces with access to private terraces. The redesign reflects changing demand for high-quality, flexible accommodation in central locations. A further phase, completing in Q1 2027, will see the delivery of new basement end-of-journey facilities. These will include showers, secure cycle storage and dry lockers, supporting more sustainable commuting choices and day-to-day convenience for occupiers. The building, located in Liverpool’s established commercial quarter and Castle Street Conservation Area, has already undergone upgrades in recent years, including improvements to the reception and selected office floors. This latest programme represents the next stage in its repositioning. Project management consultancy T&T is advising on the scheme. Simon Hepple, Project Manager at T&T, said: “Environmental and social improvements, including diversity, inclusivity, belonging and equity is embedded in all aspects of our advice and project delivery to enhance sustainability and occupant wellbeing, including access to and around the building.” Letting agent CBRE says the refurbishment is aligned with clear shifts in occupier priorities. Jade Bushell, Surveyor at CBRE, commented: “Occupier requirements have shifted significantly over recent years, with businesses prioritising quality, flexibility, ESG and wellbeing in their real estate decisions. This refurbishment scheme reflects those priorities, helping to create an environment that supports modern working practices and enhances everyday occupier experience.” Suites will be available in a range of sizes, targeting both established businesses and growing occupiers seeking a central Liverpool base with upgraded amenities. CBRE is sole letting agent. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
M Group launches first Sustainability Strategy alongside 2026 ESG Report
Five-year plan commits M Group to 100% electric company cars and a 42% cut in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by FY30, as FY2026 results show emissions are already 20.7% below baseline. M Group, the UK’s leading infrastructure services partner, has launched its first Sustainability Strategy, turning its environmental, social and governance priorities into a clear set of measurable commitments through to 2032. The move comes after the Group unveiled record levels of revenue, profit and order book in its FY26 results. Published alongside M Group’s FY2026 ESG Report, the strategy follows the Group’s first Double Materiality Assessment, carried out with independent sustainability advisers ERM. It focuses on seven material outcomes across three pillars: Environmental Stewardship, Social Responsibility, and Trusted Operations. The Group Operations Board has endorsed the strategy, with each outcome given a named executive owner and sitting within M Group’s risk and assurance processes, with progress reported annually. The strategy’s headline commitments include: The accompanying FY2026 ESG Report records: Andrew Findlay, M Group Chief Executive, said: “We support the country’s critical regulated businesses to deliver vital services for communities across the UK, and they need like-minded partners who can help them deliver their binding environmental commitments. Our ambition is simple: to leave things better than we found them – better infrastructure, better careers and a better business for those who come after us.” Andrew Hunt, Director of ESG and Innovation at M Group, said: “The report shows how we’ve performed; the strategy sets out where we’re going. Each material outcome has an owner and a measurable target or milestone, and we’ll report progress every year. This is the direction our business is heading, will measure, and be held accountable to.” M Group’s Sustainability Strategy 2027-2032 is available here and the ESG Report 2026 is available here Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals