A2Dominion appoints NEC as new housing management provider to improve services
A2Dominion appoints NEC Software Solutions (NEC) to provide housing management systems for its 70,000 residents. NEC Housing is the market leader in housing management platforms and will support the housing association as it manages more than 38,000 homes across London and Southern England. A2Dominion carried out a detailed and collaborative procurement process, and the partnership aims to strengthen data quality, improve operational efficiency, and enhance resident experience. NEC’s platform supports housing management, repairs, income, assets, insight and integration in one place – providing a clearer, more consistent view of homes, safety and planned work for both colleagues and residents. This joined‑up approach also supports housing teams by bringing resident information into one place – so whether a colleague is taking a call, opening a case or handing one over, the relevant customer context is immediately available. Priya Javeri, Chief Information Officer at A2Dominion, said: “We’re delighted to partner with NEC Software Solutions to implement our new housing management system. “Throughout the selection process, NEC clearly demonstrated how their platform meets our requirements, supports the way we work, and offers real opportunities to improve our services for our customers and colleagues across the organisation. “I’d like to thank everyone involved in getting this over the line. The real journey begins now as we move into implementing the new system, and I’m confident our residents and colleagues will begin feeling these improvements soon.” Roger Birkinshaw, Executive Director for government and housing at NEC Software Solutions, said: “Maintaining safe and comfortable homes is a vital public service, and one that is becoming increasingly complex. Our close working partnership with A2Dominion ensures that the NEC Housing platform can support staff to continue meeting the changing needs of residents across London and the South East for years to come.” The implementation period of the enterprise NEC Housing platform is now underway and the system is expected to go live next year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
South Coast industrial market delivers strong first half of the year
The Southampton and South Coast industrial and logistics market has delivered a strong performance in H1, according to figures by global real estate advisor CBRE. CBRE Southampton let a total of 320,000 sq ft of space in eight transactions across the region, which included Yunex Traffic taking 160,000 sq ft of space at Bournemouth Airport, the largest letting on the South Coast so far this year. The site will serve as Yunex’s UK headquarters after it relocated from an existing site in Poole. Other key transactions included two units at Sonar in Portsmouth at a combined 30,196 sq ft, which were taken by global engineering and infrastructure firms and brought the development to 60% occupancy, while 37,000 sq ft was also let at Penta Park and 28,000 ft2 at Proxima Park (Phase 1), which took both estates to full occupancy. Southampton’s positive figures mirror the progress seen across the wider South East region, where H1 take-up was 1.2m sq ft. A further 615,000 sq ft of space was under offer in the region at the end of Q2, a 61% increase quarter-on-quarter.* Nick Tutton, Director at CBRE Southampton, said: “We’ve seen a healthy amount of activity in the first half of the year which demonstrates resilient occupier demand and whilst vacancy rates have increased across most regions over the previous quarters, we are anticipating the limited development pipeline and sustained take-up levels on the South Coast will cause vacancy rates to fall during the rest of 2026.” CBRE’s UK Real Estate Market Outlook Midyear Review is available here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
“The Human Experience of Work”: 2027 Workspace Design Show London Reveals New Theme Focused on Designing More Human-Centered Workplaces
Workspace Design Show returns to the Business Design Centre, London on 24–25 February 2027, unveiling its new theme: “The Human Experience of Work”, a direction placing wellbeing, inclusion, sensory comfort, belonging, neurodiversity and emotional experience at the center of workplace design. As organisations continue to rethink what makes people want to come together in person, the 2027 edition will explore how workplaces can move beyond functionality to become environments that genuinely support people. Spaces designed around human connection, comfort, mood, acoustics, hospitality, inclusivity and how work environments make us feel. The theme will shape the entire visitor experience across the show floor, influencing exhibitor booths and product launches, installations and immersive spaces created in collaboration with feature partners. Designers, architects, manufacturers and workplace brands will interpret the theme through original concepts and experiences, creating highly engaging environments that demonstrate how design can positively influence workplace culture, productivity and wellbeing. Confirmed brands already joining the 2027 edition include Brunner, Bisley, König + Neurath, KI Europe, Milliken, and Interface, alongside a line-up of workplace brands helping shape commercial interior design. Workspace Design Show is the UK’s only dedicated platform for workplace interiors, where architects, designers and occupiers come to source products, meet suppliers and push the conversation around how we design for work. It is where project decisions get made, new supplier relationships are formed, and the ideas shaping tomorrow’s workplaces get debated live on stage. Visitors can expect an expanded exhibition floor, workplace product launches, immersive installations and a comprehensive content programme exploring the trends, strategies and ideas transforming workplace environments. Returning conference pillars include: Workspace Design Talks — exploring the latest trends and insights shaping workplace design, strategy and culture. Sustainability Talks — bringing together key figures driving sustainable thinking and initiatives across workplace design. Occupiers Forum — providing “The View from HQ”, sharing insights into how employers are creating engaging and high-performing workplace experiences. FIS: Interiors Insight Live — delivering the latest thinking, innovation and expertise from the finishes and interiors sector. The Workspace Design Awards will also return in 2027, celebrating exceptional workplace projects and design concepts. Judged exclusively by corporate occupiers, developers and project managers, the awards recognise ideas and projects delivering meaningful real-world impact. Key dates and entry information will be announced soon. In 2027, expect a bigger room, a sharper programme and industry-defining conversations that continue to make Workspace Design Show the event the workplace community comes back to year after year. Join the workplace design community on 24–25 February 2027 at the Business Design Centre, London. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
CIOB publishes free building regulations and Building Safety Act advice for clients
A new guide to help construction clients better understand their responsibilities under Building Regulations and the Building Safety Act has been published by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB). The free guide is aimed at anyone commissioning building work on behalf of a business, public body, charity or other non-domestic organisation. It clearly sets out a client’s legal duties under the Building Safety Act 2022, as well as helping identify which projects are and are not subject to Building Regulations. The guide also includes a checklist clients are recommended to follow in advance of each project, which covers checking the competence of experts, confirming processes for managing compliance and checking if their project is categorised as a high-risk building. Ayo Allu, Chair of CIOB’s Client Steering Group, said: “As a client your role is no longer simply to commission construction work. You should help ensure it is properly planned, managed and delivered in compliance with the Building Regulations, keeping in mind the decisions you make before and during the project influence safety, quality and compliance. “You are not expected to be a technical expert. However, you are expected to make informed decisions, appoint competent people, provide necessary information to your contractor and estate manager, maintain records and remain engaged throughout the project. “It is not uncommon for projects to be derailed when clients are unaware of the level of involvement they need to have and only realise when it’s too late. By empowering clients to make good decisions from the outset and fulfil their legal obligations, their relationships with their contractors are likely to be easier and their projects more successful.” To download the new guide visit CIOB Building Regulations August 2026.pdf Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Laing O’Rourke and HMJV Land Key Packages on £1bn Grid Upgrade for AI and Data Centre Boom
Laing O’Rourke and the Hochtief Murphy joint venture (HMJV) have secured major construction packages on National Grid’s £1 billion North West London Upgrade, a substantial infrastructure programme designed to strengthen electricity capacity and support the rapid expansion of data centres and digital infrastructure. The project will reinforce the electricity transmission network running between Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and North West London, creating additional capacity to connect five new data centres with a combined electricity demand of 1GW. Laing O’Rourke has been appointed to deliver new and upgraded substations at Letchmore Heath, Elstree and St John’s Wood, forming a major element of the programme’s civil engineering and electrical infrastructure works. HMJV will undertake the installation of new 400kV cables and upgrade the existing transmission tunnel between Elstree and St John’s Wood. The wider supply chain will include Hyundai Electric, which will provide transformers and other major electrical equipment, while Siemens Energy will supply shunt reactors for the upgraded Elstree substation. Stretching from Sundon substation in Bedfordshire through Elstree in Hertfordshire and onwards to St John’s Wood in London, the programme represents a significant reinforcement of the electricity infrastructure serving the capital and surrounding areas. The works include upgrades at Sundon and a 35km reconductoring programme on the Sundon-to-Elstree overhead line. Elstree substation will be extended, a new substation will be constructed at Letchmore Heath and further reinforcement works will be undertaken at St John’s Wood. More than 200km of overhead line will be upgraded as part of the programme, while another 60km of new high-voltage cable will be installed through the existing 20km-long transmission tunnel between Elstree and St John’s Wood. The tunnel was originally designed with sufficient capacity to accommodate an additional transmission circuit, enabling National Grid to significantly increase capacity while making use of existing underground infrastructure. The investment comes as the growth of artificial intelligence, cloud computing and other digital services drives increasing demand for energy-intensive data centre developments, particularly around London and the wider South East. The ability to secure sufficient electricity connections has become an increasingly important consideration for the development and construction of new data centre campuses. National Grid’s programme will provide capacity for five new facilities while simultaneously strengthening the network for homes, businesses and future developments. National Grid said the investment will improve network resilience, unlock future electricity connections and reduce long-term constraint costs across the transmission system. The North West London Upgrade brings together major civil engineering, tunnelling, cabling, substation and electrical engineering packages within a single infrastructure programme. With Laing O’Rourke and HMJV taking leading delivery roles, the £1 billion investment will provide critical new capacity as London’s built environment responds to the continued expansion of AI and digital infrastructure. 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