Flint Housing acquires additional 260 social rented homes for London
Flint Housing strengthens its London presence with 260 additional new Social Homes in Barking and Enfield. Registered provider of social housing, Flint Housing, has secured the delivery of 260 homes for social rent across two sites in London. These deals demonstrate Flint’s commitment to delivering high-quality social housing in London, bringing innovation and additionality to local authorities in real need of support for growing waiting lists. In January, Flint Housing welcomed residents to 85 new social-rented apartments in the North Kensington Gate, part of a wider development of 208 homes from City & Docklands Limited and delivered by North Kensington Gate Limited and O’Shea. Flint Housing aims to deliver more than 3,000 homes in London over the next five years with a pipeline of more than 1,000 homes. Eugene Schreider, Chief Executive Officer at Flint Housing, said: “Flint Housing is actively working with the Greater London Authority and a range of developers across London to further scale our delivery. We see how important it is to invest in homes for social rent, particularly at a time of such acute need and a challenging economic environment.” “By forward funding developers, we have already secured the delivery of more than 450 homes, with a pipeline of more than 1,000. We plan to deliver more than 3,000 homes over the next five years. By helping to bring together developers, institutional funders, local authorities and the public sector, we can unlock greater affordable housing delivery.” Scheduled for practical completion in February 2027, Flint Housing has secured delivery of 88 social rented units at Horizons, part of Bellway’s Fielders Quarter development in Barking. The homes will be spread across two blocks providing a mix of 1, 2 and 3-bedroom homes. Flint Housing is also forward-funding the delivery of 172 single and family-sized social rented homes at Fairview’s Chase Farm development in Enfield. The scheme includes 66 three-bedroom homes which will make a significant contribution to family housing. With a phased handover expected across 2028 and 2029, the 172 homes in Enfield will be spread across seven blocks, as part of a broader mixed-tenure development of 369 homes. Flint Housing partnered with Fairview in 2025 on a “subject to planning” basis to financially underpin delivery of 50% affordable housing on the site. Angelique Noble, Director of Customer Experience at Flint Housing, stated: “We look forward to welcoming residents to their new homes in 2027 and beyond. We are working closely with local authorities and housing management partners to enable strong sustainable communities at both schemes and ensure that our services align with the needs of future residents.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Britain’s Battle of the Brickies Heads Into the Home Straight
It’s been a fiercely contested road to this point, with this year’s competition already hailed as the biggest and best Super Trowel yet. Once again, as with every year since the event’s inception in 2023, CPI is Super Trowel’s official mortar sponsor. Stuart Russell, Head of Commercial, CPI Mortars Limited & Carlton Manufacturing: “We consider it a privilege to provide the high-quality mortar for a hugely popular contest that is an exciting test of bricklaying speed, precision and craftmanship. From humble beginnings, Super Trowel has evolved into a revered and highly-anticipated construction industry event. CPI’s support has been there from the beginning, and we’re excited to see how this year’s competition plays out.” The two remaining heats are: The grand finale takes place over two days – July 31st and August 1st – at Hertford Showground, where both professional and junior competitors will go head-to-head for the title. The rules are simple but brutal: build the best quality brick wall, lay as many bricks as possible, and do it all within a punishing 60-minute time limit. This year also sees a standalone challenge to crown the fastest hod carrier to load 1,000 bricks. Stuart continued: “For the bricklayers, Super Trowel is a true test of grit and agility; for spectators it makes remarkably compelling viewing. Super Trowel events are fun, noisy and full of energy, with crowds feeding off the exceptional toils of those taking part. It’s why the contest is soaring in popularity, and why CPI remains a committed sponsor.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Jewson signed as new Lincoln City sponsor
Builders merchant Jewson has signed a new sponsorship agreement with Lincoln City, following the club’s promotion to the Sky Bet Championship. Jewson branded pads will now adorn around 300 seats in the LNER Stadium, while the provision of six season tickets for the Branston Legends Lounge allows the merchant to provide loyal customers with the opportunity to support their local club, at a time when tickets are in high demand. The partnership also comes at an important time for Jewson Lincoln, which has recently received investment to upgrade its facilities. The shop floor and building externals have been rebranded, while the layout has been reorganised to improve customer experience. The branch’s product range has been reviewed and updated in line with customer feedback, to better align with their projects and improve stock accuracy. Additionally, three local trade experts have joined the team. Neil Bristow, Branch Manager for Jewson Lincoln, said: “Lincoln City’s journey over the last decade has been incredibly inspiring and mirrors a lot of what we’re trying to achieve here in the branch. The club has grown the right way through strong leadership, investment in young talent, real community engagement and a shared vision throughout the organisation, and that’s something that resonates strongly with us as a team. “The timing of this partnership aligns with investment into our branch and customer experience, so it feels like a natural fit at an exciting moment for both organisations, and there’s already been a real buzz among customers since the sponsorship was announced. “For us, this is about more than just branding. It’s an opportunity to strengthen relationships with customers, spend time with them socially and reward their loyalty, while supporting a club that means so much to the local community. We hope this is the start of a long-term partnership that continues to grow alongside both the club and our customer base.” Bobby Copping, Head of Commercial for Lincoln City, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Jewson on board as a Club Sponsor. They are a well-established name within the construction sector with a strong local presence in Lincoln and a national reputation for supporting the trade. “Their commitment to service and customer experience aligns strongly with our own values, and we’re pleased to be working together at such an exciting time.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Rothera Research Station’s construction season upgrades safeguard future polar science
British Antarctic Survey has completed a significant phase of construction at Rothera Research Station in Antarctica, delivering new infrastructure that will power cutting-edge polar science for decades ahead. The Discovery Building, which came into full operation on 7 May, marks a significant milestone for the UK’s largest research station on the Antarctic Peninsula and BAS’s long-term polar research. Part of the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme (AIMP), the new hub brings together day-to-day operations, power and healthcare under one roof, allowing the station to run more efficiently and with a smaller environmental footprint than ever before. The Discovery Building made history as the first in Antarctica to achieve BREEAM Outstanding accreditation, awarded to fewer than 1% of projects worldwide. This surpassed its original BREEAM Excellent target, setting a new benchmark for sustainable construction in extreme environments. David Brand, Rothera Modernisation Senior Project Manager, said: “This transition is an important step in ensuring that the infrastructure at Rothera can support science in the long-term. What matters now is that these systems perform reliably, supporting people and sustaining the UK’s presence in Antarctica.” The end of the Antarctic construction season coincides with the 48th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) – the annual forum of signatories to the Antarctic Treaty, which governs how Antarctica is protected and managed. BAS is fundamental to the UK’s role in this international framework, providing world-leading research that informs global policy on the polar regions, while championing the highest standards of environmental protection across the Southern Ocean. Through sustained investment in its stations, vessels and aviation capability, the UK ensures its Antarctic operations continue to offer a safe, sustainable and effective role to one of the world’s most important scientific and strategic partnerships. A season supporting scientific advancements Alongside construction activity, BAS scientists continue to carry out vital marine research at Rothera, with long-term monitoring programmes tracking decades of environmental change to help distinguish the signals of climate change from natural variability. This work, including studies of blue carbon stocks and marine biodiversity, informs government advice on the health of polar ecosystems and contributes to the protection of the waters around UK Overseas Territories. This season is demonstrating how modernised infrastructure is supporting scientific output. Projects such as POLar Ocean Mixing by INternal Tsunamis (POLOMINTS) and the long‑running Rothera Time Series (RaTS) rely on consistent power, logistics and environmental stability to generate high‑quality, long‑term datasets. POLOMINTS is investigating how underwater tsunamis triggered by glacier calving influence ocean mixing. Meanwhile, RaTS, one of the longest‑running ocean monitoring programmes in the Southern Ocean, continues to track physical and biological changes in one of the fastest‑warming regions on Earth. Engineering and efficiency A significant focus has been on optimising the engineering systems that enable Rothera to operate continuously under extreme conditions. A major programme of work this season has centred on the temperature stabilisation and the heat recovery from the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) system. Heat is captured and reused that would otherwise be lost and the CHP units improve overall energy efficiency while reducing fuel consumption. Work was completed on the Building Management System (BMS) so that the mechanical and electrical systems could communicate with a central control computer interface. This has transformed BAS’ way of working as operators can now see what is going on in legacy building plant rooms and across the Discovery Building. Work across the wider site has also made Rothera more resilient. The structure over which overground pipes and cables sit have been strengthened while the Discovery Building has been further weatherproofed to help prevent water ingress. Preparing for Winter As the station prepares for winter, there has been large‑scale demobilisation across Rothera. Containers have been consolidated and prepared for return to the UK, heavy equipment including a crawler crane dismantled, and materials have been prepared for shipment during the annual logistics window, supported by the cargo vessel MV Stevie. Temporary and legacy infrastructure has been removed, and former working areas reinstated through completed groundworks, with land reshaped and returned to operational use. Elen Jones, AIMP Programme Director said: “Seeing the containers removed and the natural landscape re-emerge has been a symbolic moment. From consolidating materials to removing temporary infrastructure, this work is essential to ensuring the station can operate safely and continue supporting science through the winter. It’s all part of delivering infrastructure fit for the future.” Huw Jones, Executive Director at BAM UK & Ireland, adds: “This achievement is so much more than another completed project. The handover of the Discovery Building marks a major milestone for the programme and reflects seven years of collaboration, commitment and expertise from teams across Antarctica and the UK. I’d like to thank our partners, supply chain and everyone involved in helping bring this phase of the project to completion in one of the world’s most demanding environments. We are immensely proud to have played our part and look forward to seeing what inspiring work comes out of the new hub.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
McPhillips invests in Cat® mini excavator fleet in strategic alliance with Finning
Civil engineering company McPhillips has added its first Cat® machines to its fleet in a partnership with Finning UK & Ireland. McPhillips is currently working on site at Finning headquarters in Cannock, Staffordshire, as the delivery partner responsible for constructing a new workshop. Due to complete later this year, the 1,230 m² Rebuild Centre of Excellence will provide purpose-built facilities for Cat Certified Rebuilds, inspections and major repairs as more customers look to extend the life of existing fleets. McPhillips has already put one of its new machines, a Cat 308 Mini Excavator, to work on the scheme with a further three Cat 305 Mini Excavators delivered to the Shropshire-based firm. Designed to be compact yet powerful, the machines offer the reliability and performance needed to navigate a range of complex job sites across the construction industry. Helen Day, Product Manager at Finning UK & Ireland, said: “Connecting customers with the machinery that supports their ambitions is very important to us. There is a clear synergy between the efficiency and sustainability goals of both McPhillips and Finning. “McPhillips is a forward-thinking company and relies on a modern fleet of plant equipment to meet the demands of its schedules. The versatility and agility offered by the Cat 308 and 305 models mean they are real assets to construction companies working with a diverse range of clients. “With multi-functioning performance, they are ideal for manoeuvring across work sites, easy to transport and offer low operating costs. In terms of efficiency, the lift and dig capabilities help to power through jobs while in-built sustainability features support lower fuel burn, emissions and noise. This investment by McPhillips will bring multiple long-term benefits to its operations.” Cat mini excavators from 5-10T are designed to support Ease Of Use software packages to enhance safety, accuracy and productivity. These assist operators in controlling the machine to optimise performance and simplify operation. The cab supports a healthy working environment with air conditioning, comfortable seat and adjustable wrist rests, while the control display includes a Next Generation Monitor for easy to read information and customisable preference settings. Neil Surridge, Site Manager at McPhillips said: “The new machine has been one of the most valuable pieces of plant on this project, allowing operators to work confidently in restricted areas. Its reliability, precision, and versatility have been essential in keeping the build moving smoothly and safely.” McPhillips works across a variety of sectors with clients including local authorities, businesses, housebuilders, highways agencies and retailers. Paul Inions, Managing Director of McPhillips, said efficiency through collaboration was essential for continuous improvement. He said: “We are committed to being at the forefront of environmentally low impact construction. Investing in our fleet not only means we have equipment that produces the most efficient output in terms of sustainability, it also means we have reliable access to the right machines for the job at hand. “We deliver projects that meet the highest standards and partnering with Finning on its new workshop it is clear to see we share the same goals of having a positive impact and making a meaningful difference through the way we work. “It was a very natural next step to strengthen our partnership further through the addition of Cat machinery to our fleet.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Wetter winters and major infrastructure drive demand for temporary roadway mats
Large UK infrastructure projects, particularly across the renewables and water sectors, are driving increased demand for temporary roadway mats as more frequent and prolonged wet ground conditions continue to affect site access and construction programmes. Ground engineering and geotechnical specialist Spencer Quantum, part of RSK Group, has expanded its temporary mat fleet over the past decade. This includes an accelerated investment of more than £5 million in the last three years in response to sustained demand and increasingly challenging ground conditions. The business now operates one of the UK’s largest temporary access mat stocks, supporting projects across the highways, utilities, and environmental sectors, with around 12,000 mats creating up to 15 miles (24 km) of roadway. Managing director Ross McDermott said growth in solar farm development across the UK is a key driver, alongside wider major infrastructure activity. The business has also supplied temporary roadway mats for music and arts festivals. The versatile mat system is manufactured from strong, durable high-density polyethylene (HDPE), enabling it to withstand significant loads and high volumes of traffic while remaining light enough for efficient handling and transport. This makes the system suitable for a wide range of applications, including temporary pedestrian walkways, special events, concerts, film sets, heavy construction, and crane lift pads. Ross said: “In the past, creating access routes often required excavation of topsoil, extensive use of plant and machinery, importing hauled stone and subsequent reinstatement works. Temporary roadway mats provide a more efficient alternative, reducing both programme time and cost. “With a lifespan of 15 years or more when used correctly, the mats are also a more sustainable option than traditional haul roads, with less impact on the environment. “Each mat weighs around 219 kg, and our installation teams can lay up to 150 mats per day, enabling rapid creation of access routes and haul roads. This is particularly valuable on constrained or environmentally sensitive sites, as well as for emergency or reactive works. “The system works by distributing loads across a wider surface area, helping to reduce ground pressure and minimise rutting, settlement and damage to underlying soils during construction and installation.” Ross added that the mats maintain ground integrity even under significant plant and vehicle movements on soft or unstable ground, with the capacity to support loads of up to 280 tonnes per square metre. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals