How Universal theme park will redefine acoustic design
The £5 billion Universal Studios resort planned for Bedfordshire will create far more than a world-class visitor attraction, according to acoustic consultancy Cass Allen; it will also generate one of the most complex environmental noise challenges the region has ever faced – as new transport infrastructure, hotels, housing, commercial developments and leisure facilities emerge around the landmark scheme. While much of the attention surrounding Universal’s arrival has focused on jobs, investment and tourism, the consultancy believes acoustics will become an increasingly important part of the planning process as Bedfordshire prepares for millions of additional visitors each year and the significant development that is expected to follow. The Universal United Kingdom Resort, due to open in 2031, is expected to attract around 8.5 million visitors annually and create almost 20,000 construction jobs. For Cass Allen, however, the project represents something much bigger than a theme park. It is likely to act as a catalyst for widespread residential, commercial and infrastructure growth across Bedfordshire, placing environmental noise and acoustic design firmly at the heart of future planning decisions. “The Universal resort represents an extraordinary opportunity for Bedfordshire,” said said Sam Bryant, Director at Cass Allen. “Projects of this scale inevitably generate enormous economic benefits, but they also create significant environmental challenges. Noise is often one of the least visible issues during the planning process, yet it has a direct impact on quality of life, planning approval and the long-term success of major developments.” Transport is expected to become one of the biggest considerations. Government estimates suggest the resort will welcome around 8.5 million visitors every year, supported by substantial investment in new road and rail infrastructure across Bedfordshire and the wider Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor. While these improvements are essential, increased traffic volumes, altered traffic patterns, expanded rail services and associated infrastructure will inevitably require detailed acoustic assessment to protect existing communities and ensure future developments comply with national planning policy. However, the resort itself is only part of the story claims Cass Allen. Major destination developments typically act as catalysts for significant secondary investment. New hotels, restaurants, logistics facilities, residential neighbourhoods, commercial premises and supporting infrastructure are all expected to emerge as Bedford evolves into a major tourism and business destination. “As developments like this grow, they rarely exist in isolation,” added Bryant. “They stimulate entirely new communities around them. Hotels need to sit alongside transport corridors. New housing often needs to be delivered close to expanding commercial areas. Mixed-use developments become increasingly common. Successfully balancing these competing land uses depends heavily on good acoustic design from the very beginning.” Early acoustic assessments are already recognised as an important part of the planning process for major developments, helping designers manage road traffic noise, rail noise, building services, entertainment venues and mixed-use schemes while protecting residential amenity and supporting successful planning applications. As environmental standards continue to evolve, developers are increasingly expected to demonstrate that potential noise impacts have been properly assessed and mitigated before projects receive approval. Cass Allen believes demand for specialist acoustic consultancy is therefore likely to grow significantly across Bedfordshire over the coming years as developers respond to the opportunities created by Universal’s investment. “The resort itself is obviously a landmark project,” said Sam Bryant. “But perhaps its greatest legacy will be the wave of development that follows. Every new residential scheme, hotel, logistics hub, office development and transport improvement will require careful environmental consideration. Acoustic design has an important role to play in ensuring growth enhances communities rather than detracts from them. “The earlier acoustics are considered within the design process, the greater the opportunity to create places that are not only commercially successful, but enjoyable places to live, work and visit.” With enabling works are already underway and construction gathering pace, the Universal development is expected to reshape Bedfordshire for decades to come. For environmental specialists like Cass Allen, it also represents the beginning of a new chapter in the region’s built environment, where acoustic performance will become just as important as architectural design, transport planning and sustainability in delivering successful places. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Schindler X8 wins prestigious Red Dot Award and iF DESIGN AWARD
The Schindler X8 elevator has received two coveted international product design awards in recognition of its outstanding aesthetic design. The Schindler X8 has won two of the world’s most respected seals of design quality: a Red Dot Award: Product Design 2026 and an iF DESIGN AWARD 2026. The Schindler X8 impressed international design experts with its approach to residential elevator design, rethinking how an elevator looks and feels inside the home. It moves away from the traditional image of an elevator as a functional, industrial product and transforms it into a piece of contemporary design that can blend seamlessly into a building’s architecture and interior. Created for homes and residential buildings, the Schindler X8 incorporates minimalist doors, carefully designed interior packages and a clean aesthetic that brings warmth, simplicity and visual harmony to vertical mobility. The result is an elevator that is not only functional but also an integrated part of the living environment. “We are extremely proud to win two highly respected international design awards,” said Amanda Driehorst, Strategy and Sales Manager, Business Innovation Team, Schindler. “A great deal of emphasis was placed on the aesthetic and emotional aspect of the Schindler X8, something that has not always been given priority in elevator design. The Schindler X8 is not just a functional piece of equipment. It has been created to feel like it belongs in your home.” Seamless design The Schindler X8’s interior design was created to express the unseen innovation behind the platform through a completely new design language. The Schindler X8 represents a new way of thinking about residential elevator design. Traditionally, elevators have often been defined by visible technical components, metallic frames, wall buttons and finishes that can feel clinical and out of place in a home. With the X8, Schindler set out to create a welcoming and more cohesive design style. Its signature doors blend striking simplicity with intelligent design, while the minimalist aesthetic allows the elevator to integrate into interiors with the same level of consideration as other high-end design items in the home. “The main mission of the interior design was to communicate the revolution happening in the platform, that passengers cannot see,” said Germana Lunghi, Product Owner, Interior Design, Schindler. “We wanted to break the standard archetype of the elevator as a stainless-steel cage that moves up and down, and instead treat it as part of the architecture, a real room inside the building.” A design for every home The aesthetic focus continues inside the Schindler X8, with six distinct interior packages. Each design has been inspired by nature and created to bring a different atmosphere to the space. The collection includes Luna, a timeless and refined look; Mineral, an open and natural feel; Savanna, a bright and earthy space; Terra, a sleek and fascinating aesthetic; Forest, a warm and rich ambiance; and Volcano, an intense and modern finish. Each interior uses different materials, color palettes, tactile finishes and lighting treatments that allow the elevator to harmonize with various residential environments. All six designs are available with full-mirror, half-mirror or no-mirror configurations, giving homeowners and designers a simple but elegant design experience. “The Schindler X8 was developed to blend into residential environments with the same design quality as the rest of the home,” said Germana. “If you are moving from your bedroom or living room into the elevator, the experience should feel seamless. We took inspiration from other objects found in contemporary homes to turn a functional product into a design item.” Form and function Behind the Schindler X8’s award-winning aesthetic is an innovative elevator concept that gives architects, designers and homeowners far greater freedom. Unlike traditional elevator systems, the Schindler X8 does not require a concrete shaft, pit or headroom. Instead, it needs only a single wall cut-out and operates via a standard single-phase power outlet. This flexibility allows the Schindler X8 to be integrated into almost any space in both new homes and existing residential buildings. “For decades, elevators have shaped the way buildings are designed, but with the Schindler X8 we set out to change this,” said Amanda. “The technical innovation enables the design freedom, which means the elevator can be installed in a way that is much more sympathetic to the architecture and interior design of the home.” Outstanding design quality The Red Dot Award is presented for high design quality, with the international jury recognizing the Schindler X8 in a strong field of participants, from 61 countries, for its outstanding design and quality. There were more than 10,000 entries in the iF DESIGN AWARD 2026, from 4,837 participants across 68 countries, judged by 129 international jurors. The Schindler X8 received the award in the Product Design, Building Technology category. It was assessed against criteria including idea, form, function, differentiation and sustainability. The double award success recognizes the Schindler X8 as a breakthrough in residential elevator design that combines elegant aesthetics, architectural freedom and Schindler’s high standards of quality and reliability. “The response to the Schindler X8 has been overwhelmingly positive,” concluded Amanda. “People immediately notice the doors, the interiors and the way the elevator becomes part of the home. These awards are a fantastic recognition of the work that has gone into creating an elevator that is completely different from anything else on the market.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
PD Industrial announces completion of significant logistics fit-out project in Nuneaton ahead of schedule
At 1,000,000 SF, the fully fitted out, state-of-the-art development serves as one of the greenest and most ecologically advanced warehouse sites ever developed in the UK. PD Industrial, a leading UK provider of industrial storage and warehouse solutions, has today announced the successful completion of a significant, high-specification pallet racking installation at a major new logistics hub in Nuneaton. The fast-track project, which commenced at the end March and concluded at the beginning of June, was delivered smoothly within a tight nine-week window. The state-of-the-art 1,000,000 SF facility—developed by Baytree (AXA) and built by Glencar—is a multi-award-winning development designed to meet the highest modern logistics standards. Operating under full CDM regulations as both Principal Designer and Principal Contractor, PD managed the end-to-end transformation of the space, ensuring total regulatory compliance and a seamless execution. Project Highlights & Capacity Milestones The comprehensive fit-out has dramatically optimized the building’s footprint, delivering exceptional storage density and operational readiness. Key deliverables include: Speaking about the project, PD Industrial, Managing Director Darren Hardiman said: ‘We are incredibly proud to have acted as Principal Contractor on this highly prestigious development, one of the greenest and most ecologically developed warehouses ever built in the UK. Delivering over 13,500 pallet positions in just nine weeks requires precision engineering and tight project management and is a significant undertaking. Working within a world-class, award-winning building allowed us to showcase our ability to deliver high-density, safe, and highly efficient warehouse environments ahead of schedule. With the handover complete, the facility is now fully optimized and operationally live. I would like to congratulate the full project team for the exemplar nature of the works delivered.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Major milestone for Glasgow Waters as first residential plans lodged for £100million co-living development at Yorkhill Quay
Set to deliver more than 500 new waterside homes, the scheme will establish a new waterfront landmark for Glasgow, with panoramic views of the city centre, vibrant ground floor uses including cafés and leisure, and an elegant colonnade. Plans have been submitted for the first homes at Yorkhill Quay, a key neighbourhood within Peel Waters’ transformational Glasgow Waters district – one of Glasgow’s most significant regeneration projects, marking a major milestone in revitalising the city’s Clyde waterfront. Submitted by waterside regeneration specialists Peel Waters in conjunction with national property developer Urban Pulse, the proposals for 526 units will deliver a distinctive new waterside co-living development at Yorkhill Quay, helping to meet growing demand for high-quality, flexible rental living in Glasgow. The scheme has been carefully designed by Anomaly Architects to respond to its prominent riverside setting, featuring a series of contemporary, stepped towers. The design steps down towards the River Clyde, incorporating generous shared terraces with views across the water and creating a more human-scale frontage along the new waterfront promenade. A vibrant, active ground floor for future retail, leisure and amenity use will animate the quayside, with internal uses opening onto a sheltered colonnade – a covered, column-lined walkway designed to bring the quayside to life – to enhance the public realm and encourage interaction between residents and visitors. Residents will benefit from a central reception and amenity spaces, extensive shared facilities, and high-quality landscaped areas designed to foster community living. The development also includes a two-storey podium that helps balance the scale between the riverside and surrounding buildings, while accommodating practical elements such as cycle storage and plant space, enabling more active uses at ground level. The eastern tower has been designed as a landmark feature within the emerging skyline, with the potential for a distinctive roofscape and elevated amenity spaces offering panoramic views back towards Glasgow city centre. The proposals build on the outline planning consent secured by Peel Waters in July 2024 for Yorkhill Quay, which will deliver around 1,100 homes, alongside leisure uses and new public spaces. They also follow the commencement of £3.75 million infrastructure works currently underway and funded by Peel Waters, which will unlock the site for development and deliver a new 400-metre waterfront promenade connecting the Riverside Museum and The Clydeside Distillery. James Whittaker, Managing Director of Peel Waters, said: “Submitting plans for the first homes at Yorkhill Quay is a hugely significant moment for Glasgow Waters. It brings our vision for this part of the River Clyde a step closer to reality and demonstrates the strong momentum now building across our emerging new district. “Urban Pulse’s proposals for a high-quality co-living scheme will introduce a new, flexible way of living to Glasgow Waters, helping to create a vibrant and diverse community from the outset. Alongside the infrastructure works already underway, this is another important step in transforming Yorkhill Quay into a welcoming, well-connected waterfront neighbourhood.” James Paterson, Director at Urban Pulse, added: “We are excited to submit plans for our co-living development at Yorkhill Quay, which we believe will set a new benchmark for this type of living in Glasgow. “Our vision is to create a high-quality, design-led scheme that not only provides much-needed homes but also fosters a strong sense of community through generous shared spaces, amenity and a close relationship with the surrounding waterfront. This will be the first location in Glasgow where you can live, work and play on the waterside which makes this a truly unique and exciting opportunity.” Yorkhill Quay forms a key part of Peel Waters’ wider Glasgow Waters masterplan, a 13-acre mixed-use regeneration project transforming a former brownfield site into a thriving waterfront district. Once complete, the neighbourhood will deliver new homes, jobs, public spaces and improved connectivity, helping to reconnect communities along the River Clyde and create a vibrant new destination for the city. The project team working on the development includes: Project Manager – Axiom Project Services Quantity Surveyor – Axiom Project Services Architect – Anomaly Civil & Structural Engineer – Renaissance Services Engineer – Hawthorne Boyle Landscape Architect – Oobe Planning Consultant – Iceni Projects Fire Engineer – Atelier Ten Ecologist (BNG/PEA) – Enviro Centre CDM Principal Designer – Kirk and Marsh Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Property data reveals Burnham’s council house building risks ‘postcode lottery’
Andy Burnham’s flagship council housebuilding plan risks becoming a “postcode lottery”, according to new analysis by specialist lender Together, with shortages of available public land in the right locations. The Prime Minister in waiting has said Labour will “oversee the biggest council housebuilding programme since the postwar period” using vacant land to reduce costs. However, analysis by property lender Together into data provided by property data platform Searchland reveals publicly-owned brownfield land in England has capacity for at most 187,000 to 207,000 homes. That is less than two-thirds of a 300,000 social and affordable home programme which Labour has previously announced, and that is before accounting for whether each site is genuinely deliverable. The state does not own enough registered land to build the programme on public land alone: a third or more would still have to come from land bought at its current market value. What public land there is, is heavily concentrated. A handful of authorities — led by Birmingham (185 sites, capacity for around 11,500 homes) — account for a large share of the national total. For most of the country, vacant public land is scarce. In around two-thirds of the 20 areas with the deepest housing shortfalls, there is little or no significant public land to build on. Communities in these areas carry some of the largest deficits in the country — yet whether Burnham’s lever can help them depends almost entirely on which council boundary they happen to sit inside. Local authority Region Delivery shortfall Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole South West ~4,550 Greenwich London ~3,880 Newham London ~2,870 Leicester East Midlands ~2,280 Sandwell West Midlands ~2,220 Thurrock East of England ~2,020 Southend-on-Sea East of England ~1,980 Basildon East of England ~1,760 Portsmouth South East ~1,660 Southampton South East ~1,580 Delivery shortfall = homes required minus homes delivered over the latest Housing Delivery Test window. None of the above appears among the 20 authorities with the most public land. Source: Searchland. Much of the largest public landholding sits in authorities that are already meeting or beating their housing targets, among them Leeds, Wandsworth, Waltham Forest, Newcastle and Nottingham. The use of publicly owned land to deliver these targets risks rewarding places that are already delivering, while those falling furthest behind are left with little to build on. Only five authorities — Birmingham, Bristol, Bradford, Lewisham and Kirklees — combine a serious deficit with a serious public-land holding. Ryan Etchells, Chief Commercial Officer, Together said: “Building on vacant public land is a sensible idea, but our analysis shows it can only ever be part of the answer. There isn’t enough public land to deliver a programme this size, and that’s before considering that the places with the greatest need tend to have the least land. As it stands, whether this pledge reaches your community is close to a postcode lottery. “The areas falling furthest behind won’t be rescued by land the state happens to own. They need sites to be assembled and bought, existing land intensified, and the wider public estate brought into play — and all of that needs finance that moves quickly and understands complex, non-standard sites. That is precisely the gap specialist lenders like Together exist to fill. “If the ambition is genuinely national, the plan has to look well beyond vacant public land, otherwise many of the families on today’s waiting lists will be left exactly where they are.” A programme built on vacant public land is, by its nature, a programme of thousands of small, dispersed brownfield plots, the kind that typically take one to 50 homes; precisely the land the volume housebuilders overlook. The homes on public land will overwhelmingly be delivered by small and medium-sized (SME) builders and regional contractors; the type of home-builders who delivered the post-war council-house boom. This is where specialist lending becomes vital. After planning, access to finance is the single biggest constraint on SME housebuilders. Mainstream banks retreated from SME development lending after 2008 and rely on rigid, one-size-fits-all criteria that cannot price the realities of public brownfield land, which include contamination and remediation, non-standard construction, access and ransom strips, phased build-out and planning risk. A small builder typically has its capital tied up in just one or two schemes, so a delay or a “computer-says-no” decision can stall the business entirely. Etchells added: “Making more public land available is an important part of boosting housing supply, but land alone doesn’t build homes. Developers need access to funding that can keep pace with the realities of a project, whether that’s navigating planning delays, drawing down finance in stages or moving quickly when a site becomes available. “In many high-demand areas, developers also need acquisition finance to bring sites together before a scheme can get off the ground. These are often complex opportunities that don’t fit a standard lending model, which is why specialist lenders have such an important role to play. If the funding isn’t there, even the most promising sites can struggle to move from allocation to construction.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
HG Construction Strengthens PBSA Portfolio with Cardiff and Loughborough Projects
HG Construction has secured two significant purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) contracts, further strengthening its position within one of the UK’s fastest-growing residential sectors. Appointed by Fusion Group as main contractor, the company will deliver major student living developments in Cardiff and Loughborough, adding to its expanding national portfolio. The latest appointments continue HG Construction’s strategic growth across the UK, where the contractor is currently delivering residential and PBSA developments in more than ten towns and cities, including London, Manchester, Leeds and Bristol. The Cardiff development at Longcross Court will transform a prominent urban site into a modern 17-storey student accommodation scheme. Designed to provide high-quality living environments in a sustainable city-centre location, the project will contribute to Cardiff’s growing student housing provision while making more effective use of an underutilised site. Meanwhile, in Loughborough, HG Construction will regenerate a derelict brownfield site adjacent to the Grand Union Canal Basin. The eight-storey development will deliver purpose-built student accommodation alongside a range of resident amenities, landscaped courtyards and attractive garden spaces, creating a well-connected and vibrant student community. For the construction sector, both schemes demonstrate the continued demand for high-quality PBSA developments as university cities seek to meet increasing student accommodation requirements through sustainable regeneration. The projects also highlight the importance of brownfield redevelopment in supporting housing delivery while reducing pressure on greenfield land. Beyond the residential buildings themselves, the developments will incorporate high-quality landscaping and public realm, reflecting the growing emphasis on placemaking, resident wellbeing and the creation of attractive, community-focused environments. Adam Quinn, Chief Executive Officer of HG Construction, said securing the two projects represented another important milestone in the company’s national expansion, adding that its continued growth was built on strong collaboration with partners who share a commitment to delivering exceptional living spaces and lasting benefits for local communities. Paul Miles, Group Construction Director at Fusion Group, said HG Construction had demonstrated its capability in delivering complex student accommodation projects, making the contractor a natural choice for both developments. He added that the Cardiff and Loughborough schemes would transform underused sites into high-quality residential environments with a strong emphasis on placemaking, long-term value and positive community impact. As investment in the UK’s student accommodation market continues, the latest projects reinforce the role of specialist contractors and developers in delivering sustainable, well-designed PBSA schemes that support both university growth and wider urban regeneration Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals