Summerfield completes 320 homes at Killams Park development with £3.6m community investment
Taunton-based Summerfield Homes has completed construction on all 320 new homes on its flagship development at Killams Park in Somerset where it has invested an additional £3.6m in the local community. The end of construction comes after a decade of work across three phases, creating a vibrant community in a range of accommodation as well as extensive green space, meadows, orchards and wildlife corridors. Latest additions to the development include more children’s play equipment and the Killams Park Art and Nature Trail. Each piece of the Art Trail was meticulously designed to represent the wetland, woodland, farmland, and wildlife of the historical location and is approximately a 2.5K walk around Killams Park. As part of the development, Summerfield has delivered 86 affordable and discounted homes. Sixty of these were made available through housing association partners for shared ownership and social or affordable rent. A further 26 were sold through Summerfield’s own MyHome scheme at 30% below market value, helping eligible local buyers achieve home ownership without paying rent on the discounted share. Summerfield worked closely with Somerset Council to fulfil the S106 planning commitments attached to consent for the development. The £3.66m investment included £2.25m towards education, £414,112 for footpaths and cycle routes, £501,550 for community halls and facilities, £459,732 for green spaces and parks and £36,914 for public art and the nature trail. The wider 22-hectare development includes around eight hectares of open space, with more than 1,000 new trees, wildflower meadows and grass areas, an orchard, children’s play areas and an enhanced wildlife corridor along the Blackbrook stream. New and improved walking and cycling routes connect residents with Taunton and the surrounding countryside. All the homes are built with energy savings and a greener future in mind. Key features include double-glazing, insulation on doors, low-energy lighting, counterflow heat exchangers, EV charging points, gardens and bee and bat boxes. James Holyday, Group Managing Director of Summerfield, said: “Completing construction at Killams Park is a significant milestone for Summerfield and for everyone who has helped bring this major development to life over the past decade. “Working alongside Somerset Council, Abri Homes, Sovereign, Magna Housing and other partners, we have created a varied and welcoming neighbourhood; investing in affordable housing, education, community facilities, green space and sustainable travel that will benefit the area for generations. “We are extremely proud of what has been achieved and grateful to our residents, partners, consultants, contractors and the local community for their support throughout the development”. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction ranks among UK’s fastest-growing industries, new report finds
Construction has emerged as one of the UK’s top six fastest-growing industries, according to new data ranking sectors by growth over the past five years. To determine the fastest-growing industries in the UK, the Booming Industries research by Approved Business Finance analysed Office for National Statistics (ONS) business population data to assess five-year average annual growth across 615 industries. These were grouped into 19 broader industry categories by Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes – the system used to classify businesses according to their main economic activity. Industry category Average five-year growth rate (%) Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning +12.5% Real estate +4.2% Information and communication +3.5% Human health and social work +2.8% Water, sewerage and waste management +1.8% Construction +1.5% Accommodation and food services +1.2% Professional, Scientific and Technical +0.8% Administrative and support services +0.3% Education +0.1% Construction made the top six of the rankings, with an average five-year growth rate of 1.5%. The Construction Workforce Outlook forecasts further growth over the next four years, with the sector currently valued at £230 billion. In fact, the research found that Construction also ranks fourth for average five-year turnover growth, increasing by 9.64% over the same period. In first position is electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning, which recorded a standout 12.5% average annual growth rate over five years, nearly three times that of the second-placed sector, real estate (4.2%). Given recent influences like the UK heatwave and rising energy costs, businesses and consumers are increasingly making climate-conscious decisions, which naturally supports the growth and function of this sector. The real estate sector followed second with the aforementioned growth rate of 4.2%, and the information and communication sector placed third with a 3.5% growth rate. Outside of the top three, other industries have still seen strong growth rates. Human health and social work saw a 2.8% increase, followed by water, sewerage and waste management at 1.8%. On the other hand, traditional industries are facing pressure, led by mining and quarrying, which saw a decline of 4.2%, followed by financial and insurance, which saw a 2.5% decline, and manufacturing, which saw a 1.2% decline. Commenting on the research, Mark Kozo, commercial director of Approved Finance Group, said: “Our data shows that while some industries are expanding rapidly, growth is far from being evenly distributed across the UK economy. “For businesses operating in growth sectors, the challenge now is turning favourable market conditions into sustainable expansion. “Whether it is investing in new equipment, taking on additional staff, increasing stock, or moving into larger premises, growth often requires capital before the additional revenue arrives. “For SMEs in particular, having access to the right finance at the right time can be crucial to making these opportunities happen. Rather than waiting until cash flow becomes a barrier, businesses should consider where investment could help them increase capacity and improve efficiency. “Whether it’s new machinery or equipment, to avoid placing the full cost on existing cash reserves, asset finance can provide a way to spread the cost of essential investments while supporting continued growth. “With the UK’s fastest-growing industries showing where demand and investment are building, businesses that can identify these opportunities earlier and have the financial flexibility to act on them may be better placed to turn industry growth into their own competitive advantage.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
“Modulek Delivers Landmark Sports Pavilion for Skanska at Deepcut Barracks Regeneration”
The former military site at Princess Royal Barracks, located in Deepcut, Surrey, has been transformed into a community village, creating homes for over 2,800 residents, through a partnership between the Defence Infrastructure Organisation and Skanska. To support the growing community at Mindenhurst, Modulek has successfully designed and delivered a new permanent modular sports pavilion as part of this significant regeneration project. The Pavilion is part of the Sports Hub, which features a range of high-quality public amenities, including: The new single-storey building provides approximately 800m2 of total area below the canopy and 421m2 useable internal area of high-quality sports and community accommodation. This includes modern changing rooms, washroom facilities and a spacious social and function area, creating a focal point for the new residential community. Modulek was appointed by Skanska, through a competitive design-and-build procurement process. Working to an existing architectural design and a highly constrained programme, Modulek worked in close collaboration with Skanska teams in moving this project towards the final phases of this significant regeneration project. The project demonstrates how permanent modular construction can provide a high-quality, cost-effective alternative to traditional building methods, delivering programme certainty without compromising architectural quality. One of the defining features of the pavilion is its striking external appearance. Maintenance-free Rockpanel wood-effect cladding and innovative roof overhangs create a contemporary building that challenges traditional perceptions of modular construction, achieving an aesthetic fully aligned with the aspirations of the client and the wider development. Construction was undertaken within a challenging site environment on the edge of a sports pitch, with no permanent site services available. A temporary access road was created to facilitate deliveries, while a 150-tonne crane was used to install the building’s eleven factory-manufactured modules. To speed up installation, the main canopy sections were formed as part of the modular structure, achieving cantilevered overhangs of up to 5 metres. Sustainability was a key focus throughout the project from, concept to completion. The building, which is on course for a BREEAM Very Good rating, incorporates extensive rooftop solar photovoltaic panels. Environmental performance was carefully monitored throughout construction, including recording on-site water usage and contractor travel distances to minimise the project’s overall carbon footprint. Stephen Pester, Commercial Director at Modulek, commented: “This project perfectly demonstrates the benefits of modern modular construction when programme certainty, quality and architectural design are equally important. Being appointed at a critical stage of the project presented our team with an exciting challenge. Working closely with Skanska, we were able to deliver a permanent building that not only met an extremely demanding programme but also achieved the high-quality finish and sustainability standards expected of such an important community facility that will be transferred to Surrey Heath Borough Council as part of the Section 106 Planning Obligations We are incredibly proud of what the entire team achieved and of the collaborative relationship developed with Skanska throughout the project.” Toby Hunt, Commercial Manager, Skanska UK commented: “Despite the early set back of losing their original modular sub-contractor, Modulek acted quickly to ensure a replacement was appointed. Skanska were pleased with the proactive can-do attitude displayed by the Modulek team, as well as the efforts taken to keep the costs within the original agreed budget. The Modulek design team embraced new challenges to deliver a BREEAM Very Good rated building, and their site team and supply chain’s hard work created a smart and well finished modular sports pavilion’’ The completed pavilion represents the final stage of the Deepcut Barracks regeneration programme, providing a modern community sports facility that will serve residents for many years while showcasing the capabilities of high-quality offsite construction. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Quantum Development Finance secures facility up to £500m to fuel growth trajectory
SME housebuilding lender, Quantum Development Finance (Quantum), has secured a long-term facility worth up to £500 million from Goldman Sachs, as it prepares to fund a wider range of schemes across their entire lifecycle – from initial acquisition through to post-completion investment facilities. This deal marks an expansion of its funding from £200 million up to £700 million. This additional facility significantly expands Quantum’s lending capacity, including the ability to support larger loan sizes, without changing the business’s focus on SME housebuilders. The new funding will be used to support schemes in Quantum’s new and existing customer pipelines. Founded in London in 2023, Quantum has fast become an established provider of development and bridging finance to proven, quality SME housebuilders in cities and suburbs throughout England and Wales wherever there is an urgent need for high quality new homes. Funds managed by AB CarVal, a global alternative investment manager with longstanding experience in asset-based finance and part of AllianceBernstein’s Private Alternatives business, have backed Quantum since its inception in 2023. As both a shareholder and primary funding partner, AB CarVal has supported Quantum’s growth from its first loan through the continued expansion of its lending platform. In the last 12 months, Quantum has expanded its product set for operational real estate including Build-to-Rent, PBSA and Co-living. For new and existing borrowers, this covers development and post-completion stabilisation and investment lending. This expansion has been particularly helpful for existing borrowers who wish to seamlessly switch their current development finance loans to longer-term facilities upon practical completion, benefiting from a single relationship route all the way from delivery through to stabilised income. Providing loans up to £35 million, Quantum has financed the development of 4,000 new homes to date and hit its £1 billion funding milestone during Summer 2026. Quantum’s Bermondsey-based team of 16 has 125 live projects ranging from acquisition loans to five-year operational real estate facilities. Rob Sinclair, Principal, AB CarVal: “We’ve supported Quantum Development Finance since day one, and this expanded facility represents an important next step in the platform’s growth. Quantum has built a differentiated lending model around deep borrower relationships, disciplined underwriting and the ability to flexibly support clients with agility across the lifecycle of projects. The quality of Quantum’s existing loan book is high and the fact that 80% of their borrowers are repeat or direct clients stands out. The expanded funding and product set should allow the team to build on that model and even better serve the needs of UK property developers and investors.” Oliver Thompson, Co-Founder & CEO of Quantum Development Finance: “Goldman Sachs’ approval of this facility is a positive signal for the Quantum team as we focus on building an alternative credit platform with bank-level operational rigour. It’s also a huge endorsement of the team we’ve built and the discipline we bring to every deal and operational running of the business. For our clients and partners, these large and long-term commitments from established funding partners, Goldman Sachs and AB CarVal, are a clear signal that Quantum has the appetite and readiness to keep backing high-quality developers and property investors, at every stage of their journey – whether that is their first scheme with us, or their fifth.” Quantum was established by Oliver Thompson (CEO), Rebecca Murphy (COO) and Chris Proud (CFO), three property development finance professionals with over 50 years’ lending experience between them. Oliver and Chris first worked together at Titlestone where they spent a cumulative ten years until its acquisition by Paragon in 2018. The founders have since built a team of the industry’s best, including Richard Hemmings (MD) who joined Quantum after 19 years at Close Brothers, Chris Dunton (Credit Director) from UTB and Sam Hudson (Head of Portfolio Management) from Pluto. Expanding the scope of what they can lend against was a natural next step for the Quantum team. Thompson:“Broadening our product range to accommodate customers from acquisition to post-completion has always been a key part of our growth strategy and one that complements the deep relationships we have built with our clients over several years. At Quantum we’re focused on designing a lending business with our borrowers in mind. The foundations are now in place for the next phase of our fast and sustainable growth plan.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Fyfestone reaches 70-year production milestone at Breedon’s Kemnay Quarry
The natural stone-effect concrete blocks have been manufactured at the Aberdeenshire site since the 1950s Production has evolved from manual batching to automated and computerised systems during seven decades at Kemnay Breedon Group plc (“Breedon”) has reached a major milestone at its Kemnay Quarry in Aberdeenshire, with Fyfestone now having been manufactured at the site for 70 years. First developed in the 1950s as an alternative to traditional granite, Fyfestone is designed to replicate the look and finish of natural stone and has since been used on projects across the UK, including Balmoral Castle, Devonport Docks and Manchester’s Malmaison Hotel. It is made by mixing granite aggregates with cement to produce a concrete mix. The concrete is then placed into moulds before being compressed under around 400 tonnes of pressure, creating a dense and durable product designed to closely resemble natural stone. Jeremy Edinborough, General Manager at Breedon, said: “Producing Fyfestone at Kemnay for 70 years is something we’re incredibly proud of. The product has stood the test of time, and its longevity is testament to the quality of the material and the expertise of the people who have produced it over the years. “While the fundamentals of Fyfestone have remained consistent, the way we manufacture it has continued to evolve. The introduction of automation, computerised systems and robotics has helped us modernise production while retaining the characteristics that have made the product so enduring.” Few people have seen that transformation as closely as Operations Manager Andy Henderson, who joined Kemnay Quarry in 1986 and has now spent 40 years working at the site. Andy followed in the footsteps of his father, Joe, who was previously General Manager at Kemnay. His own connection to the quarry began much earlier, having grown up in a family home on site while his father worked there. After joining the business as a general labourer, Andy progressed through the ranks and is now responsible for overseeing daily manufacturing operations, managing staff and meeting production targets. Andy said: “It’s quite something when you think about it. We’ve been caretakers for two generations and I feel quite proud to be involved in something that’s going to outlast me.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Savills strengthens Property Management team with new director
International real estate advisor Savills has strengthened its Property Management division with the appointment of Adam De Acetis as a director. Adam will join the division’s portfolio team, where he will play a key role in formalising and expanding its approach to private client work. Adam brings significant experience in property management, strategic asset management, lease advisory and real estate development. He has worked with a range of institutional and private clients, producing and delivering asset business plans, leading value add initiatives and collaborating with landlords, occupiers and other stakeholders to deliver strategic objectives. Adam will focus on formalising and expanding the team’s approach to private client work, primarily exploring opportunities with property companies, private property investors, Family Office and high-net-worth individuals. He will enhance the existing team and support its continued growth by helping clients develop and implement effective portfolio and property level strategies. John Redfern, Head of UK Business Space, Property Management at Savills, comments: “Adam brings extensive experience of working closely with a range of property owners and investors to improve portfolio performance. His commercial approach and understanding of private clients will bring great value to our clients and team, while helping us to identify and develop new opportunities for continued growth. We are delighted to welcome him to Savills.” Adam De Acetis, Director, Savills Property Management, adds: “I am excited to be joining Savills and the opportunities to work with colleagues across the business to develop strategies that add value, address challenges and help clients maximise the performance of their assets and portfolios.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals