Talan supports delivery of Gas Safe Register student engagement trial
Talan is supporting the delivery of a new industry trial designed to understand how students and trainees can be supported as they begin their careers in the gas sector, working on behalf of Gas Safe Register and the Health and Safety Executive. Talan has contributed to the development of the trial from its early stages, including designing a range of student-facing resources such as career pathway guidance and the new Gas Safe Register Student Hub. The hub has been created to provide a clear and accessible landing point for trial participants, giving them easy access to information and support throughout the trial. The initiative invites individuals training to become gas engineers to take part in a structured programme that offers practical support. The trial offers guidance covering registration, safety, career progression and the future skills needed in a changing industry in a ‘Student Hub’ found on the Gas Safe Register website. There are also plans to hold live webinars with gas engineers during which students can ask questions. As part of its role in the trial, Talan has worked closely with the Gas Safe Register to shape the structure and presentation of the Student Hub, ensuring that information is easy to navigate and relevant to the needs of trainees at different stages of their learning journey. Talan are using surveys to collect feedback from students on the quality of the support so it can be improved and developed further in future. Talan have engaged with awarding bodies and training providers across the sector to support participation in the trial and help ensure it reaches students in a range of training environments. Will Taylor, Principal Consultant at Talan, said:“Our role has been focused on supporting the development and delivery of the trial in a way that works for trainees in practice. That has included shaping resources such as career pathways and guidance, as well as working with Gas Safe Register on how the Student Hub is structured so it’s clear, accessible and easy to use. We have also worked closely with awarding bodies and training providers to help ensure the trial reaches students across the sector. Bringing together that engagement with practical support gives a stronger understanding of what trainees need as they start out and how that support can continue to improve.” The trial will run until 31st July 2026 and is available through the Gas Safe Register Student Hub. For more information, visit: www.gassaferegister.co.uk/student-hub/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Stepnell accelerates North West expansion with regional director appointment and major framework success
REGIONAL contractor Stepnell has reinforced its commitment to the North West market with the appointment of Dirk Pittaway as regional director, alongside securing significant positions on the latest Procure Partnerships North West and Rise Construction frameworks. Dirk will lead Stepnell’s Liverpool office, bringing more than 30 years of industry experience and a proven track record in delivering major public sector projects. Following an eight-year tenure as regional managing director for Robertson Group, Dirk’s appointment aims to strategically align Stepnell’s collaborative culture with the growing demand for high-quality public sector procurement in the region. The appointment coincides with a period of significant growth for Stepnell’s regional presence. The contractor has secured places on Lot 3 (£1m–£5m) and Lot 4 (£5m–£15m) of the £1 billion Procure Partnerships (PPF) North West framework. Additionally, Stepnell has been appointed to Lot 1 of the four-year Rise Construction Framework for projects valued at more than £15 million. Dirk Pittaway, regional director at Stepnell, said: “I’m joining Stepnell at a pivotal moment where we can truly influence the built environment in the North West. What drew me to the business was its sustainable approach and a ‘team-first’ culture that is genuinely agile enough to respond to regional needs. “Our goal isn’t just to build; it’s to deliver social value that stays within the local community. With the backing of our national expertise and these new framework positions, we have the credibility to provide a progressive, collaborative alternative for public sector clients.” Tom Sewell, director at Stepnell, said: “Dirk brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the North West landscape. His track record in public sector delivery makes him instrumental in our long-term regional growth strategy. “The PPF and Rise framework wins are central to Stepnell’s long-term strategy, enabling public sector clients to access our services where we can deliver high-impact projects, which prioritise carbon reduction and provide community benefit. “We are building a powerful pipeline in the North West supported by our 159-year heritage as a complete construction partner. We are committed to providing clients with the high quality of pre-construction, delivery, and post-occupancy services that Stepnell is synonymous with, supported by a can-do approach.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Talk Talk Business signs 10,472 sq ft letting at Exchange Quay Manchester
Talk Talk Business has leased 10,472 sq ft of office space in Building 1 at Exchange Quay in Manchester on a 7-year lease. The deal sees Talk Talk Business relocate its 136-strong team from Soapworks to the prominent waterfront office campus, with occupation expected mid-May. The move follows the company’s recent demerger from the wider Talk Talk Group, marking a significant step in establishing its independent brand and operational footprint. The new, ground-floor space will provide a modern working environment tailored to support hybrid working, with a strong focus on collaboration and client engagement. The office features multiple Teams-enabled meeting rooms, flexible collaboration areas and a dedicated demo suite showcasing Cisco Meraki technology. This allows Talk Talk Business to demonstrate its products directly to clients in a live environment. Exchange Quay was selected for its strong connectivity, high-quality onsite amenities and flexibility for future growth. Its established position within the Manchester City Region’s business and technology cluster ensures continued access to local talent and transport links, aligning with the company’s operational needs. Les Lang, Director, Till AM, investment managers for Exchange Quay commented: “This letting highlights the continued appeal of the campus to forward-thinking occupiers seeking high-quality, flexible workspace in a well-connected location. Exchange Quay offers an exceptional amenity-led environment for businesses to grow, collaborate and attract talent and we look forward to supporting Talk Talk Business as they establish their new base here.” Ruth Kennedy, CEO, Talk Talk Business added: “Our move to Exchange Quay represents an important milestone following our transition to an independent business. Remaining in the area was important to us, and Exchange Quay offers the ideal combination of connectivity, amenities, green space and flexibility. The new office will not only support our hybrid working model, but also provide an enhanced environment to collaborate internally and showcase our technology to customers.” Joint agents for Exchange Quay are Canning O’Neill and Colliers. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A new blueprint for community sport: RISE Design Studio wins approval for next-generation tennis club
RISE Design Studio has secured planning approval to redevelop Sutton Churches Tennis Club in the London Borough of Sutton, delivering a next-generation community sports facility that sets a new benchmark for grassroots sports infrastructure in the UK. The scheme was approved with the full support of the council. Across the country, community clubs are operating from ageing, inefficient and inaccessible buildings. RISE’s scheme for Sutton Churches Tennis Club offers more than a replacement clubhouse. It demonstrates how these facilities can be reimagined through low-carbon construction, inclusive design and high-performance building standards. By combining mass timber, prefabrication and Passivhaus-informed design aligned with the AECB CarbonLite New Build standard within a community-focused brief, the project establishes a replicable model for the future of local sport. The approval marks a significant milestone for RISE Design Studio. It reflects the practice’s expansion into community sporting infrastructure and reinforces its belief that thoughtful, sustainable architecture has a role to play at every scale. Not only in homes and cultural buildings, but also in the everyday spaces where people come together to socialise and be active. The existing clubhouse, now in a dilapidated condition and no longer viable, will be demolished and replaced with a contemporary, low-energy pavilion designed to grow with the club and serve its community for generations. The approved scheme delivers a new single-storey clubhouse with enlarged clubroom, upgraded changing facilities, accessible WCs and integrated storage. Structurally, the building represents a significant step forward for its typology. A hybrid mass timber structure, combining cross-laminated timber walls with glulam roof elements, reduces embodied carbon while enabling efficient off-site fabrication and rapid assembly on site. High levels of insulation, airtight construction, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, air source heat pumps and rooftop photovoltaic panels will create a building that is both environmentally responsible and cost-effective to operate. The project is targeting AECB CarbonLite New Build Certification, underscoring its commitment to rigorous energy performance. This is a critical consideration for community-led organisations working within limited budgets. Accessibility is embedded from the outset rather than added as an afterthought. By lowering the ground floor to align with the surrounding landscape, the design achieves step-free access throughout, ensuring the facility is genuinely welcoming to all. The building sits lightly within its setting as a low-profile pavilion with a restrained palette of timber, metal and glass. Vertical timber cladding softens its mass, while a standing seam metal roof with a generous overhang provides shelter and shading. A vibrant red roof finish references the tiled roofs of the surrounding homes, and a central linear rooflight reduces reliance on artificial lighting. The site is organised through a linear zoning strategy into three distinct areas: a western recreational landscape, a central social hub and an eastern service block. The clubroom sits at the heart of the plan, oriented northwards to frame views across the tennis courts and maintain a strong visual connection to the sport. To the east, the ancillary block acts as a discreet acoustic buffer for neighbouring residents, with high-level windows maintaining privacy without compromising daylight. For sports clubs, community organisations and local authorities exploring how to upgrade ageing facilities without compromising design quality or environmental performance, RISE Design Studio is available for consultation. Works at Sutton Churches Tennis Club are expected to commence in early 2027. Imran Jahn, Design Director, RISE Design Studio, said:“We wanted the new clubhouse to be a genuinely beautiful building as much as a high-performing one. Beautiful architecture should be accessible to all, not reserved for a select few. Community facilities deserve the same attention to proportion, materiality and light as any other piece of architecture. This project is about creating a place people are proud of, one that elevates the everyday experience of being at the club.” Jose Dengra, Senior Architect, RISE Design Studio, said:“A key part of the project has been coordinating a building that meets high environmental and accessibility standards while responding carefully to its context. By resolving structure, services and layout early on in the design process, we have ensured the scheme is efficient to build, sustainable, and well integrated into the surrounding urban fabric.” Jackie Halls, New Clubhouse Committee, Sutton Churches Tennis Club, said:“Our old clubhouse has become a real barrier and is holding the club back. RISE has designed something that will welcome everyone, players, families and the wider community for decades to come. The new clubhouse will be fully accessible, sustainable and fit for the future, while also being a beautifully designed building that reflects the ambitions of the club. We hope it will stand as an exemplar for what a modern community focused clubhouse can be. We can’t wait to get started on the build!” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Ballymore secures approval for 1,700-home Silvertown development
Ballymore has been given the green light by Newham Council for a major 1,700-home riverside development in Silvertown, east London, marking another significant step in the regeneration of the Royal Docks. The 5.26ha Knights Road scheme, designed by Allies and Morrison, will transform a Docklands site south of London City Airport. The land sits between North Woolwich Road, the River Thames, Lyle Park and neighbouring industrial plots, close to West Silvertown DLR station. The plans include 334 affordable homes, alongside new workspace, retail space and community uses. A first phase has detailed consent for around 640 homes in three buildings ranging from six to 18 storeys, with about 2,300 sq m of flexible commercial space. Outline permission covers the remainder of the site, allowing the wider neighbourhood to be built out over time. The development is intended to play a key role in regenerating this part of Silvertown, bringing new homes, jobs and public spaces to an area that has long been shaped by industrial uses and underused riverside land. It will also fund major improvements to Lyle Park, the 4.5-acre riverside green space gifted to the community by Abram Lyle of Tate & Lyle 100 years ago. Flood defences along the Thames will also be upgraded. The scale of the project means the application must now be referred to the Mayor of London for final sign-off before it can move forward. For Ballymore, the approval underlines its continued focus on large mixed-use regeneration schemes in London in 2026. The developer is already closely associated with major capital projects, including schemes in the Docklands and east London, and Knights Road adds to its pipeline of high-density, waterside developments. Ballymore is expected to continue detailed design work before starting the first phase on site in early 2028. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
£60m Leeds office scheme gets green light with major funding boost
Prescient Capital has secured funding to deliver a new £60m office development in Leeds, bringing forward one of the city’s most prominent new commercial schemes. The developer’s 31 Wellington Street project will replace the former Wellington Plaza building, which has now been demolished. The site sits opposite Wellington Place, in the heart of Leeds’ West End business district. Commercial property investment company BGO has provided a £27m loan to support the development of the new nine-storey building. The scheme will deliver 80,000 sq ft of Grade A office space and is expected to be ready for occupation by the end of next year. Work has already started on site, making 31 Wellington Street one of the few new office projects in Leeds with live construction and a clear delivery date. The scheme is being developed speculatively, reflecting confidence in the city’s office market and the demand for high-quality workspace. Prescient Capital said the backing from BGO was a major vote of confidence in both Leeds and the project. The company said there is already strong interest in at least two floors of the building, while Prescient itself plans to occupy one of the ground-floor units. The development comes at a time when Leeds is facing a shortage of new, high-quality office space. Agents for the scheme said demand for modern, well-located offices remains strong, with rents at 31 Wellington Street being quoted at £55 per sq ft. The building is expected to strengthen the professional core of the West End of Leeds, an area that has seen significant investment and growth in recent years. Its location opposite Wellington Place places it close to major employers, transport links, restaurants and amenities. Knight Frank, Fox Lloyd Jones and AC7 have been appointed to market the building, with office floorplates available from 3,000 sq ft. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals