SEGRO Lease to Support New NHS Pathology Hub in Croydon
SEGRO has signed a new lease agreement with the NHS pathology network covering south west London, supporting the creation of a modern pathology hub at SEGRO Park Redhouse Road in Croydon. The agreement covers 18,444 sq ft of warehouse space across two units. The facility will be used by a network of hospitals including St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Croydon Health Services NHS Trust and Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust. The new hub will provide laboratory space for testing samples collected from around 400 doctors’ practices across Surrey, south London and south west London. By centralising key testing processes, the facility is designed to improve efficiency, speed up turnaround times and reduce pressure on existing hospital pathology laboratories. The move is expected to help GP test samples be processed more quickly, enabling results to be returned to practices significantly faster than at present. It will also support cost savings and free up space within the wider NHS estate. Alex Keith, Director, London at SEGRO, said the agreement demonstrated the wider role modern industrial space can play in supporting essential services. “SEGRO’s purpose is to create the space that enables extraordinary things to happen and this is an absolute exemplar of this in action,” he said. “This new state-of-the-art facility serving the wider south London area will enable significant operational efficiency and cost savings for the various NHS trusts through the centralisation of critically important pathology services.” He added that the project highlighted the versatility of well-located, sustainable warehouse space, from increasing testing volumes and reducing laboratory pressure to accelerating turnaround times and lowering the cost per test. Simon Brewer from South West London Pathology said the facility would help deliver high-quality care while improving how services are organised. “This space is a key part of how we are delivering this in south west London, supporting more efficient laboratory operations, training opportunities and ultimately faster, more reliable results for both clinicians and patients,” he said. SEGRO Park Croydon Redhouse Road is located 10 minutes from Croydon town centre and around 10 miles from both central London and the M25. The development comprises seven BREEAM Excellent units, with remaining space ranging from 9,155 sq ft to 83,827 sq ft. The units also hold EPC A ratings. Sustainability features include photovoltaic panels, electric vehicle charging points and cycle shelters, supporting lower-carbon operations and more sustainable journeys. The NHS lease follows a recent agreement with a leading wholesale and retail grocer, underlining continued demand for high-quality, well-connected industrial space in south London.
Fusion21 invites bids for £350 million Responsive Repairs and Void Property Framework
Procurement specialist Fusion21 has announced the renewal of its national Responsive Repairs and Void Property Framework, worth up to £350 million over four years, and is inviting bids from suppliers with regional or national reach operating across the UK. The framework is open to all suitably qualified suppliers, from SMEs to Tier 1 organisations, and has been designed to support social housing landlords in delivering quality responsive repairs and void property maintenance services. Shaped through a strategic consultation process, the framework incorporates feedback from members and suppliers to reflect current sector needs and demands, while ensuring compliance with relevant statutory requirements. Offering a faster route to market, it brings together repairs, maintenance, property security and contact centre services in one place. Fusion21 members will benefit from flexible call‑off options, either through competitive selection or direct selection, facilitating more efficient procurement. The framework is structured across five lots: Lot 1: Responsive Repairs and MaintenanceLot 2: Void Property ImprovementsLot 3: Void Property Security, Clearance and Pest ControlLot 4: Disrepair WorksLot 5: Contact Centre Services Set to launch in October 2026, this is the third iteration of Fusion21’s Responsive Repairs and Void Property Framework, procured under the Procurement Act 2023. Previous iterations have delivered 129 contracts to date, with a combined value in excess of £490 million, achieving efficiency savings for members. Peter Francis, Group Executive Director (Operations) at Fusion21, said: “Demand for responsive repairs and void property services has remained consistently strong, and this third iteration reflects the ongoing needs and priorities of the sector. The framework has been strategically shaped to enable members to achieve value for money and high service standards, while embedding social value into every project.” Fusion21 is a trusted and reliable procurement partner with a 24‑year track record of delivering Procurement with Purpose. The organisation works across the housing, local authority, education, blue light and NHS sectors, and is known for helping the public sector to secure better commercial outcomes while delivering measurable social value in communities. Tender applications are welcome from suppliers that meet the criteria set out in the tender documentation. To find out more and apply, click here and select ‘Current opportunities’. Submission deadline: Friday 19 June 2026 at 12 noon Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Whitbread Faces Break-Up Pressure as Major Investor Demands Sale
Hospitality giant Whitbread PLC is facing mounting pressure after activist investor Corvex Management LP called on the company to launch a formal sale process, claiming it is the “only credible path” to unlocking shareholder value. Corvex, which holds an economic interest in more than 11.8 million Whitbread shares – representing around 7% of the business – issued a strongly worded letter to Whitbread’s board and shareholders criticising the company’s long-term strategy and financial performance. The investment firm argued that Whitbread’s current five-year growth plan continues to pursue “value-destructive” policies, despite concerns previously raised with the board in December 2025. Corvex claims the company has failed to respond to worsening market conditions and shareholder frustrations. At the centre of the criticism is Whitbread’s proposed expansion strategy, which includes plans to add around 14,000 non-AGP hotel rooms across the UK and Germany over the next five years. Corvex also opposed the company’s increased sale-and-leaseback target of approximately £1.5bn, arguing that monetising valuable freehold assets to fund future growth carries significant risk. The investor highlighted Whitbread’s recent share price struggles, noting the stock is currently trading at a 13-year low of around £23 per share and at less than eight times pre-tax profit. According to Corvex, the valuation implies the market is assigning little or no value to parts of Whitbread’s wider business portfolio, including its German hotel operations and development pipeline. Corvex further stated that Whitbread has delivered double-digit negative returns across one, three, five and ten-year investment periods, blaming what it described as persistent structural complexity and poor capital allocation decisions. The firm is now urging Whitbread to appoint an independent investment bank and commit publicly to a comprehensive sale process. It also called for an immediate pause on non-AGP growth expenditure and future sale-and-leaseback deals while strategic options are explored. Corvex warned that if the board refuses to pursue a sale, it is prepared to nominate a new slate of directors in an attempt to force strategic change at the company. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Could healthcare save our high streets? New think tank behind Dame Kate Barker’s Housing Commission launches at UKREiiF
Neighbourhood Health Hubs and a range of other public and private health services could prove to be the keys to high street and town centre regeneration, according to Radix Big Tent. The influential think tank behind the Kate Barker-led Housing Commission – which helped shape many of the DHCLG’s housing delivery policies – will launch a new project to bring community health on to the UK’s high streets, both to improve public health and act as a catalyst for regeneration. Sponsored by engineering, architecture, planning and environmental consulting group Sidara, independent national law firm Stevens & Bolton, and architects James Totty Partnership, the Health on the High Street Commission will launch on the 19th May to coincide with this year’s UKREiiF. The cross-sector Commission is setting out to identify practical steps to unblock the planning, financial and cultural obstacles to high street regeneration through health; not to produce another glossy vision document. The commission will be chaired by author, designer and place-strategist, Professor Ibrahim Ibrahim of Sidara’s Portland Design, with the independent commission comprising experts from investment, planning, place-making, national and local government, and public and private health care. Commissioners include crossbench peer, Lord (Andrew) Mawson, the driver behind the trail-blazing Bromley-by-Bow Health Partnership, and Michael Brown, the chief architect of the ground-breaking Barnsley Health Hub, which has seen outpatient services relocated to the town centre Alhambra shopping centre. The Commission plans to report within twelve months. In addition to conducting desk research and commissioning original research, the commissioners are eager to hear evidence from and learn from successful examples of delivering health on the high street across the country. Announcing the Commission’s launch, Radix Big Tent Chief Executive, Ben Rich, says: “There is widespread political agreement that putting health services at the heart of communities is a good idea. And yet, despite this consensus, progress is glacial. “Why? Because the system designed to deliver this is stuck in neutral. Speaking with senior leaders from the NHS and private health providers, local government, private investment and regeneration, what becomes clear is that there is not a lack of ambition, but a wall of institutional and systemic inertia that prevents change. The purpose of this commission is to identify and produce policies to remove the friction points that stall delivery.” Professor Ibrahim Ibrahim added: “The focus of the commission is less about the details of the healthcare provision and more about its halo effect, and how it can drive social and commercial value in our high streets and shopping centres.” Andrew Steele, Partner at Stevens & Bolton, said: “Healthcare is increasingly recognised as a powerful anchor for town centre regeneration and is a great opportunity to repurpose existing retail space as well as diversify our high streets with long-term, resilient assets. We’re proud to be supporting the Commission as it works to identify practical solutions that can support the long-term health of our high streets, turning policies into progress.”
Keon Homes announces start of £28m Wolverhampton scheme as it outlines ‘regeneration blueprint’ at UKREiiF”
One of the UK’s fastest growing affordable housing developers is heading to UKREiiF tomorrow with a blueprint for unlocking difficult regeneration sites. Keon Homes will be speaking at the biggest real estate investment infrastructure show in the country and is using the platform to announce the start of its latest scheme for City of Wolverhampton Council’s £1bn housing framework. The Burntwood-based company will begin construction on the £28m Heath Town site on the edge of the city, transforming the old Duke of York pub into 32 affordable one and two-bedroom council apartments. This marks the next phase in the wider £120m regeneration of the area that will eventually deliver up to 120 new homes across five different locations, all following on from the earlier success of Hobgate Road and Tithe Croft. Managing Director Richard Williams, who will be one of the main speakers at the Housing Delivery Showcase on Tuesday, said: “We are pleased to bring forward the Duke of York scheme, a development that shows the Keon model works…combining modern delivery methods, strong stakeholder collaboration and a focus on social value to unlock difficult regeneration sites. “It also underlines our capability to scale regeneration programmes across multiple sites under framework agreements, with this latest one following the start of ambitious projects at New Park Village and Lincoln Green in Bushbury.” He continued: “UKREiiF is the perfect place to highlight what we believe is a blueprint that could be replicated across other towns and cities facing similar housing and regeneration challenges. “Phased regeneration, mixed housing needs, accessibility, community-focused design and long-term partnership is working in Wolverhampton and supporting a local authority in accelerating housing delivery while creating lasting social impact.” The Duke of York project replaces a long-vacant building with affordable housing, acting as a real gateway site into Wolverhampton city centre. This will be reflected by enhanced landscaping, shared garden spaces and balconies to encourage placemaking and community interaction. All properties will be energy efficient and built to a high standard providing a place for individuals and families in the area to proudly call their home. Richard went on to add: “I’m really looking forward to speaking at UKREiiF, talking in partnership with Midland Heart on how we have played a fundamental role in bringing the iconic Port Loop development back to life and our eagerly awaited work on Tower Ballroom in Edgbaston. “The Housing Delivery Showcase will be one of the highlights of the West Midlands Pavilion and reflects the entire region’s commitment to working with the real estate sector to drive residential delivery.” In just seven years, Keon Homes has grown from a start-up operation into a genuine leader in affordable housing, transforming the way sustainable homes are delivered to thousands of people. The last twelve months has been its most active year yet, with 376 properties completed and a further 250 units in the process of being built across the Black Country, Birmingham, Coventry, Lichfield and Telford. For further information, please visit www.keonhomes.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Pagabo opens bidding for next-generation £26bn developer-led framework
NATIONAL procurement specialist Pagabo is inviting suppliers yesterday – 11 May – to bid for places on its next-generation National Framework for Developer-Led Schemes, which has a total anticipated value of up to £26bn. Compliant with the Procurement Act 2023 and Procurement Regulations 2024, the unique procurement offering will support public sector bodies with securing transformative development work through compliant procurement routes over a closed four-year period from 19th October 2026. Following the formation of a 10-year strategic delivery partnership that will see resources, reputation and expertise combined to establish a new benchmark for construction and development procurement, this is one instalment in a series of new frameworks being brought to market by Pagabo and YPO in 2026. YPO is the centralised procurement authority for the framework, while Pagabo is the framework manager responsible for design, delivery and ongoing management. Suppliers will be appointed to provide a range of developer-led scheme related services including consultancy, legal support and development types. Within each lot, SME inclusivity is embedded, and for the first time, development consultants and legal providers have been added to offer clients a turnkey procurement solution that provides ongoing support, full compliance, reduced risk, cost savings, greater collaboration and broader project outcomes. The framework will be available to all public sector bodies, from local authorities and education providers through to NHS trusts and housing associations. The framework is divided into seven lots. Lots 3 to 6 each include eight development types, and each lot, as well as those containing development types, is further divided into eight geographic areas. The geographical areas that the national framework covers includes the north, midlands, southwest, and southeast of England, London, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The lots include: Jonathan Parker, development director at Pagabo, said: “The Framework for Developer-Led Schemes has seen extensive use UK wide due to its substantial impact on client ambitions and built environment development. The existing framework supports clients with very prominent challenges in the market, such as compliance, viability and risk, with the new offering designed to do exactly the same and more – while conforming with updated procurement regulations set out within the Procurement Act. “We’ll continue to work closely alongside YPO, appointed suppliers and interested clients to offer effective procurement solutions and support throughout schemes. As well as wanting to see the framework continue contributing to major development and growth across the UK, the framework’s characteristics will ensure value for money, collaboration and impactful social value are prioritised in every procurement.” To date, the successful first iteration of the Developer-Led Framework has delivered projects with a total value of £7.8bn. Throughout the process of renewing the framework, priority has been given to premarket engagement and creating fair and transparent opportunities for suppliers, aligning with the principles at the centre of the Procurement Act 2023 which is now shaping new procurement activity. Jonathan continued: “As the Developer-Led offering has become more popular, we’ve been able to grow our dedicated team at Pagabo, welcoming experienced professionals with both sector specific and regional knowledge that benefits both suppliers and clients. This is an exciting time for Pagabo and YPO, and we both look forward to seeing this second iteration of the framework come to life.” Operating a digital-first, end to end delivery model, the national procurement specialist’s Pagabo+ system will be used as a central platform through which all framework activity will be managed. The single environment will play host to information on and management of new opportunities, call-off activity, performance monitoring and reporting, as well as compliance assurance. Supporting with enhancement of the full lifecycle of procurement and project delivery, appointed suppliers will also be able to use Pagabo Group’s social value and contract management platforms Loop and Sypro. To view the full tender document and submit a bid before the deadline at 12pm on 3 July, visit https://in-tendhost.co.uk/pagabo/aspx/ProjectManage/1279 For more information about Pagabo, visit https://www.pagabo.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals