Heaton Group Advances £180m Wigan Regeneration with Approval for 179 New Homes
Heaton Group is preparing to progress the next major phases of its £180 million Cotton Works regeneration in Wigan, following planning approval for 179 new rental homes at the former Eckersley Mills complex. The ambitious development will transform the historic industrial site into a new mixed-use neighbourhood, combining residential accommodation with commercial, hospitality and leisure facilities. The latest approval marks an important milestone for the local developer, which has already completed the first phase of the regeneration through the restoration of the Grade II-listed Mill One. Attention is now turning to the delivery of Block A, a six-storey residential building that will introduce modern rental accommodation within the wider Cotton Works masterplan. 179 New Homes Planned for Cotton Works Block A will provide 179 one- and two-bedroom private rented homes on the former site of Mill Two, which has been demolished to make way for the new development. Positioned between the existing Mill One and Mill Three buildings, the residential scheme will form a central part of the emerging neighbourhood. Architectural practice Fletcher Rae is progressing the detailed design, working alongside a professional team that includes Brennan Consult, QED, Paul Butler Associates and OFR Consultants. The project will introduce new-build residential accommodation alongside the retained historic mill buildings, combining contemporary architecture with the site’s industrial heritage. A main contractor has not yet been formally appointed, although Heaton Group has previously delivered projects through its own construction business, HG Developments, including the restoration of Mill One. The next stage of the development will represent a substantial construction opportunity, with the residential scheme requiring new structural works, building services, internal fit-out and associated infrastructure. £14m Funding to Support Residential Development The Block A development has also received a significant financial boost, with Greater Manchester allocating £14 million from its Good Growth Fund to help unlock the scheme. The funding will support the progression of the residential phase and contribute to the wider regeneration of the former industrial complex. The investment reflects the importance of bringing previously developed urban sites back into productive use, particularly where regeneration projects can deliver additional housing alongside employment and community facilities. For Wigan, the new homes will form part of a wider programme intended to revitalise the former mill estate and create a sustainable mixed-use destination. Historic Mill Buildings Given New Purpose Heaton Group has already completed the transformation of Grade II-listed Mill One, establishing the first major element of the Cotton Works development. The restored building now accommodates the developer’s headquarters, Grade A office space, The Three Mills pub and rooftop bar and events facilities. The successful refurbishment has demonstrated the potential to retain and repurpose the site’s historic industrial buildings while introducing modern commercial and hospitality uses. Work is also progressing on plans for the redevelopment of Mill Three. Earlier proposals to convert the Grade II-listed building into 137 apartments have been abandoned in favour of a new commercial and leisure scheme. The revised plans include the restoration of the historic engine house and boiler house, retaining important elements of the site’s industrial character while creating opportunities for new occupiers and visitors. Together, Block A and Mill Three will form the next major construction phases at Cotton Works. Further Residential and Commercial Development Planned The wider £180 million masterplan includes additional residential accommodation, commercial space, public realm improvements and a hotel. The combination of new housing, restored heritage buildings and modern leisure facilities is intended to establish Cotton Works as a distinctive destination within Wigan. The development also reflects a growing emphasis on the regeneration of former industrial sites, where existing buildings can be adapted for contemporary uses while new residential accommodation is introduced on surrounding land. For the construction and property sectors, Cotton Works represents a significant long-term development programme involving heritage restoration, new-build housing, commercial refurbishment and public realm improvements. With planning permission secured for Block A and detailed design progressing, Heaton Group is moving closer to delivering the next major stage of its regeneration plans. The 179-home residential development, together with the proposed refurbishment of Mill Three, will provide further momentum for the transformation of the former Eckersley Mills complex, supporting Wigan’s ongoing residential and commercial regeneration.
Thurston Group Announces Major Manufacturing Expansion to Boost UK Industrial and Energy Infrastructure
Thurston Group has announced a multimillion-pound investment in its Ottringham manufacturing site, with plans to develop a new purpose-built production facility dedicated to its specialist engineered solutions business. The investment will deliver a 1,250 sq m manufacturing facility, significantly expanding the company’s capacity to produce highly engineered buildings and enclosures for some of the UK’s most technically demanding industrial and infrastructure sectors. Backed by Thurston Group’s owner, GCH Corporation, the development forms part of a wider programme of investment aimed at strengthening the company’s manufacturing capabilities and supporting growing demand across energy, hydrogen, utilities, data centres, rail and defence. The new facility is expected to become operational during the first half of 2027 and will increase Thurston’s specialist manufacturing output capability by 158%. It also represents an important step towards establishing Ottringham as a manufacturing operation capable of supporting more than £40 million in annual output. New Manufacturing Facility to Support Critical Infrastructure The purpose-built development will provide a dedicated production base for Thurston’s engineered solutions division, specialising in the manufacture of buildings and enclosures designed for demanding industrial environments. Products manufactured at the facility will include blast-resistant buildings, toxic refuges, equipment and control housings, battery and electrolyser enclosures, and bespoke containerised solutions. These specialist structures are used across sectors where operational reliability, safety and protection of critical equipment are essential. The expansion will enable Thurston to increase production capacity for projects involving hydrogen infrastructure, offshore energy installations, industrial facilities and other technically complex applications. For the wider construction and engineering industries, the investment reflects increasing demand for specialist prefabricated and engineered building solutions that can be manufactured under controlled factory conditions before installation on site. Advanced Production and Quality Control Facilities The new manufacturing building will incorporate dedicated fabrication areas with overhead lifting capabilities, supporting the assembly and movement of large engineered structures. A specialist shot blast booth will provide surface preparation facilities, while controlled paint finishing areas will support the application of protective coatings. A dedicated final inspection bay will enable completed products to undergo quality assurance checks before leaving the manufacturing facility. The investment will also introduce segregated production zones, helping to improve workflow efficiency and maintain safe operating conditions throughout the manufacturing process. Surface preparation and finishing are particularly important for structures designed to operate in corrosive, offshore and heavy industrial environments, where equipment and building enclosures may be required to perform reliably for decades. The improved production infrastructure will allow Thurston to manufacture larger volumes of technically demanding products while maintaining the stringent quality standards required by its customers. Responding to Growing Demand Across Energy and Industrial Markets Matt Goff, Group Managing Director at Thurston Group, highlighted the importance of the investment in meeting increasing customer demand. “Customers come to us with their most complex and technically demanding work, structures that have to protect people, house critical equipment, or perform offshore, in a hazardous or regulated location,” he said. “We solve those challenges through engineering expertise and practical experience, turning difficult requirements into solutions that perform in the real world.” Goff explained that demand for specialist engineered structures is increasing, particularly across emerging energy technologies and critical infrastructure applications. “Demand for this work is increasing rapidly, particularly across areas such as hydrogen, offshore energy and equipment housings and this new facility will allow us to undertake more of this work, at a greater scale, along with the stringent quality assurance this type of work demands.” Supporting the Future of UK Industrial Manufacturing The expansion at Ottringham represents a substantial commitment to UK manufacturing, supporting the production of specialist structures used across construction, energy and infrastructure projects. As investment in hydrogen production, battery technology, data centres and energy infrastructure continues to develop, demand for purpose-built equipment housings and protective structures is becoming increasingly important. Thurston’s investment will provide additional manufacturing capacity to serve these markets, while strengthening its ability to deliver bespoke engineered solutions for complex industrial applications. The facility also highlights the growing role of offsite manufacturing within the built environment, where precision fabrication, controlled production processes and specialist engineering can support the delivery of technically demanding projects. With the new 1,250 sq m facility scheduled to become operational in the first half of 2027, Thurston Group is positioning its Ottringham operation for substantial growth. The investment will increase specialist manufacturing output capability by 158% and support the company’s longer-term ambition to develop a manufacturing base capable of delivering more than £40 million in annual output, reinforcing its role in supplying engineered building solutions to the UK’s industrial and infrastructure sectors. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
£230m Farringdon Aparthotel Development Set to Transform Central London Site
Construction is set to begin on a major £230 million aparthotel development in Farringdon, central London, following the formation of a joint venture between European property developer Penta Real Estate and hospitality operator Staycity Group. The ambitious project will see the redevelopment of the existing Morley House site, close to Holborn Viaduct, into a new 11-storey aparthotel comprising 350 guest rooms. The development represents a substantial investment in London’s hospitality property sector, responding to continued demand for high-quality, flexible accommodation in well-connected central locations. Altius Real Estate has been appointed development manager and will oversee the project throughout its delivery. Major Hotel Development in Farringdon The scheme will involve the demolition of the existing office building at Morley House, clearing the way for the construction of a modern hospitality development. Once completed, the 11-storey building will provide 350 rooms operated by Staycity Group, expanding the company’s accommodation offering in the capital. The development will occupy a prominent location close to Holborn Viaduct, within easy reach of Farringdon’s commercial districts and transport connections. The project is expected to appeal to business travellers, tourists and visitors seeking flexible accommodation within central London. Construction is scheduled to commence following the demolition programme, with completion of the new building targeted for 2029. Penta Real Estate and Staycity Form New Partnership The development marks the first joint venture between Penta Real Estate and Staycity Group, bringing together the developer’s investment and property expertise with Staycity’s experience in operating aparthotel accommodation. Penta Real Estate has identified London as an important market for future investment, with the Farringdon project forming part of its ambitions to deliver high-quality developments in established urban locations. Pavel Streblov, Country Managing Director at Penta Real Estate, welcomed the partnership and highlighted the appeal of the location. “This is a really exciting project in a lively and dynamic part of London,” he said. “Staycity Group has a great track record of delivering and operating attractive aparthotel accommodation to meet strong and growing demand in central London and we are looking forward to embarking on this first JV with the brand.” Streblov also emphasised Penta’s appetite for further investment in the capital. “At Penta, we have significant investment appetite for London and delivering high-quality, sustainable and thoughtful development projects in vibrant locations such as Farringdon truly plays to our strengths.” New Opportunities for London’s Construction Sector The £230 million redevelopment represents a significant opportunity for the construction and specialist building services industries. Transforming the existing commercial site into an 11-storey hospitality building will require extensive demolition, structural construction, mechanical and electrical installations and specialist interior fit-out works. The scheme also highlights the continued redevelopment of ageing commercial properties in central London, where established office sites are being reconsidered for alternative uses, including hotels and serviced accommodation. For developers and investors, aparthotels provide an alternative hospitality format, combining elements of traditional hotel accommodation with the flexibility associated with serviced apartments. The Farringdon project will add further accommodation capacity to London’s hospitality market while contributing to the ongoing transformation of the surrounding commercial district. With demolition and main construction activity set to progress, the development represents another substantial addition to the capital’s hotel construction pipeline. Scheduled for completion in 2029, the new 350-room aparthotel will establish a significant new hospitality destination near Holborn Viaduct, while marking the beginning of a new development partnership between Penta Real Estate and Staycity Group. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Value retail finds footing out-of-town
By Chris Nichols – Savills European Research Analyst Commercial Research Heightened caution surrounding major purchases is influencing occupier demand, creating opportunities for value-led retail. Structural decline in major purchase appetite Value now sits more firmly at the heart of the retail park proposition. In reaching this point, though, the sector has loosened its historic affinity with traditional bulky-goods and homeware retailing. Catalysing change are two closely related behaviours: a greater propensity to save and a more cautious attitude towards major purchases. Since 2020, the eurozone household savings rate has averaged 15.4%, well above the 12.4% average during the previous decade. Similarly, the gap between the EU’s headline consumer confidence indicator and households’ assessment of whether the current economic situation is adequate for making major purchases rarely exceeded five index points before the pandemic (Figure 4). Since then, the major purchases measure has persistently lagged overall consumer confidence, by as much as 23 index points in 2023. The divergence suggests consumers have become materially more selective in how discretionary spending is deployed, particularly on larger-ticket items. Successive inflationary and geopolitical shocks appear to have left a lasting imprint psychologically, encouraging precautionary saving and bolstering the appeal of value retail. “The post-pandemic consumer has become harder to tempt, but in some respects easier to understand: purchases are increasingly judged through the lens of value and necessity.Chris Nichols, Analyst, European Research” FIGURE 4: HOUSEHOLD SAVINGS RATES, CCI SPREAD ABOVE MAJOR PURCHASES CONFIDENCE INDICATOR* EU Consumer confidence indicator vs major purchase indicator speed – Eurozone household savings rate (monthly) Traditional bulky goods categories cede ground These behavioural adjustments have clearly filtered through into retail sales and, by extension, occupier mix. Over the past three years, necessity-led and budget-oriented categories have outperformed traditional bulky-goods segments in terms of European market growth (Figure 5). This is consistent with heightened price sensitivity and the postponement of big-ticket purchases, lending credibility to the trends outlined in Figure 4. More telling still is how the occupier base has adapted. While bulky goods, homewares and electrical retailers remain central to the retail park proposition, they no longer dominate in the way they once did. In mature retail warehousing markets such as the UK, these categories accounted for almost half of retail warehouse floorspace in 2012. By 2025, that share had fallen to 31%, as grocery, particularly discount grocery and discount variety operators, captured an increasing share of space. While the precise composition varies across Europe, many markets track the same movement towards a higher weighting of value-led and essential retailing (Figure 6). In doing so, the sector has become more closely aligned with prevailing consumer spending habits and better equipped to withstand periods of economic stress. FIGURE 6: RETAIL MARKET VALUE GROWTH BY PRODUCTS CATEGORY FIGURE 6: TENANT MIX EVOLUTION IN KEY EUROPEAN MARKETS Retailers driving expansion momentum A handful of occupiers stand out for both the pace of their growth and the extent to which their offer aligns with retail warehousing. Unsurprisingly, the common thread appears to be a highly affordable proposition combined with an operating model capable of scaling (Figure 7). FIGURE 7: RETAILERS DRIVING EXPANSION MOMENTUM uilding, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
New procurement framework worth £1 billion to support construction and management of Scotland’s public buildings
SCOTLAND’S public bodies can access a major new procurement framework designed to help public bodies deliver construction, refurbishment, infrastructure and facilities management services more efficiently and with greater confidence. The Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA) has launched PB4 which provides a compliant procurement route designed to simplify the delivery of £1 billion worth of building and infrastructure projects while maintaining quality, value and governance. It will support organisations in maximising public investment, improving estate performance and delivering projects that contribute to long-term community, sustainability and service objectives. The framework is structured across five workstreams covering new build construction, refurbishment, civil infrastructure and facilities management. It offers a flexible solution capable of supporting everything from major regeneration and estate modernisation programmes to ongoing maintenance, compliance requirements and wider operational asset management. For the first time, construction, refurbishment, civil infrastructure and facilities management services have been brought together within a single framework, enabling public bodies to access a broader range of specialist expertise through one procurement solution and manage projects more effectively throughout the entire lifecycle of their assets. This includes supporting the transition of buildings and infrastructure from expiring finance arrangements into long-term operational management. The launch comes at a time when public sector organisations across Scotland are seeking to balance investment in new and existing assets with the need to improve energy performance, meet net zero ambitions and maintain operational resilience. With significant investment requirements across the public estate, access to efficient, compliant and high-quality procurement routes remains critical to successful project delivery. Lesley Peaty, Regional Director of the Scottish Procurement Alliance, said: “Public sector organisations need procurement routes that can support the full life of an estate, from creating new buildings to maintaining the fabric and technical systems that keep essential services running. “PB4 gives our partners access to a flexible solution covering new construction, major refurbishment, infrastructure and hard facilities management within one compliant framework. “By bringing these services together, organisations can procure work more efficiently, respond to changing needs and focus public investment on creating and maintaining safe, sustainable buildings for the people who rely on them every day.” PB4 has been designed for organisations across local government, education, healthcare, defence and the emergency services, enabling them to procure and deliver projects more efficiently while minimising disruption to service users and maintaining operational continuity. The new framework responds to growing demand for procurement solutions that enable projects to be delivered quicker to maximise available government funding, helping organisations avoid delays that could jeopardise investment. Appointed companies will be expected to work with SPA and public bodies to identify, deliver and capture social value outcomes associated with each project. Community benefits will be expected to align with the relevant social value strategy, be proportionate to the contract value and provide meaningful benefits for residents and the wider community. The framework’s priorities include connected and inclusive communities, enhanced community spaces, increased use of community facilities and upskilling and training, supporting its strategic focus on individual wellbeing, planet and environment and social mobility. Where social value requirements have not already been set, appointed companies will be expected to raise this with the client and jointly identify opportunities to deliver additional value. The SPA is one of Scotland’s largest free to join procurement organisation serving Scotland’s public sector, supporting more than 145 organisations with compliant and localised procurement solutions for construction, refurbishment, compliance, consultancy and maintenance projects. Further information about the PB4 framework is available at www.scottishprocurement.scot Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Savills Earth Capital Advisors advises Anglo Renewables on sale of 18MW consented solar scheme in Cheshire
Savills Earth Capital Advisors (“SECA”) has advised Anglo Renewables on the sale of Hebden Green, a fully consented 18MW solar project in Winsford, Cheshire, to Enviromena for an undisclosed sum. The project is expected to connect to the grid in December 2027. Once operational, it has the potential to generate enough clean, renewable energy to power approximately 5,500 homes each year, while offsetting around 9,400 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. In addition to the installation of solar panels, the scheme includes a range of biodiversity and landscape enhancement measures, designed to support local habitats and deliver environmental benefits alongside the generation of renewable energy. Henry Grant, Director, Savills Earth Capital Advisors, comments, “We are pleased to have supported Anglo Renewables on another successful transaction, following our sale of Rock Farm to Enviromena last summer. Hebden Green is an example of a renewable energy project supporting the UK’s transition to a low carbon energy system, and we look forward to seeing it move into construction shortly. Investor appetite for consented solar assets remains strong, as projects of this nature continue to play a critical role in delivering clean energy infrastructure across the UK.” James Stone, Managing Director at Anglo Renewables, said: “We’re pleased to have completed the sale of Hebden Green to Enviromena, building on our successful partnership on Rock Farm. We look forward to seeing Hebden Green progress into construction and make a positive contribution to the UK’s renewable energy capacity.” Lee Adams, Chief Commercial Officer at Enviromena, said: “Hebden Green is a high-quality, well-developed project that further strengthens our construction pipeline for 2027 and supports our continued growth as an owner and operator of solar assets across the UK. “We highly value the relationship we’ve built with Anglo Renewables through the acquisition and delivery of Rock Farm, and we’re delighted to be continuing that partnership through Hebden Green. We look forward to bringing the project into construction and delivering both clean energy and lasting benefits for the local community. Thank you to Savills and all the teams which supported on this transaction.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals