Orion and Helical achieve practical completion of prime City office scheme at 100 New Bridge Street
Helical plc and a vehicle managed by Orion Capital Managers have reached practical completion on the repositioning of 100 New Bridge Street, delivering a 195,000 sq ft best-in-class office scheme in the City of London. Located between Blackfriars and Farringdon stations, the landmark building has been transformed into a carbon-friendly workplace designed to meet growing occupier demand for high-quality, sustainable office space in central London. Designed by Gensler and delivered by Mace, the project has retained and upgraded much of the original structure, demonstrating how existing commercial buildings can be reimagined rather than replaced. The redevelopment introduces a striking new façade, 30,000 sq ft of additional net internal area and 9,690 sq ft of terraces across four floors, offering views towards St Paul’s Cathedral and across central London. Sustainability has been central to the scheme. Around 90% of the original structure has been retained, with materials reused, repurposed or donated where possible. As a result, the project’s embodied carbon is tracking 61.4% below the Greater London Authority benchmark for offices. The all-electric building has also achieved strong environmental and wellbeing credentials, including BREEAM Outstanding, NABERS 5-star and WELL Platinum ratings. The milestone follows the completion of the forward sale of the property to State Street on 20 May 2026. The deal, first announced in April 2025, saw the building sold for State Street’s own occupation at a net price of £333m, representing a Helical share of £166.5m. The transaction reflects a capital value of £1,712 per sq ft, or around £2,000 per sq ft on a topped-up basis, based on a capitalisation yield of 5% after deducting corporate sales costs and a notional rent free period. Proceeds from the sale will be used to repay the amount drawn under the £155m development facility, with surplus funds distributed to the joint venture partners under the terms of the agreement signed in May 2024. Matthew Bonning-Snook, Chief Executive Officer of Helical, said the completion marked “a significant milestone” for the project, describing 100 New Bridge Street as a future-focused workplace that highlights the potential of existing assets to meet modern occupier expectations while supporting carbon reduction. Aref Lahham, Founding Partner and Managing Director of Orion Capital Managers, said the project had created value through repositioning and forward selling in a supply-constrained market, reinforcing Orion’s focus on opportunities driven by clear demand and strong asset execution. 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.”
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
Building momentum: Another record year for affordable housing in Manchester
Manchester City Council has achieved another record year for building new affordable homes, four years into its ambitious 10-year housing strategy for the city. Almost 1,000 of the 4,766 new homes completed across the city in 2025/26 were affordable, with 439 of these 901 affordable homes available for social rent. This represents the most successful year since the mid-1990s for social and affordable home building in the city but there is much more to come as momentum accelerates. There are around 1,450 further council, social and genuinely affordable homes already on site now with around 2,000 more such homes ready to start, 2026/27 looks set to be another bumper year. The Council set out its 10-year housing strategy in 2022 with a bold commitment to help deliver 36,000 homes across across all tenures and areas of the city with at least 10,000 of these social, council or genuinely affordable homes, and at least 3,000 of these in the city centre. With 2,430 such affordable homes already completed and a strong pipeline of future projects already either under construction, with planning permission and being readied for site, or on the horizon, there is every confidence that these targets will be met or exceeded. Leader of the Council Cllr Bev Craig said: “We know that one of the main issues facing our residents is finding a home they can afford in a place where they want to live. We are committed to turning the tide by delivering record numbers of council, social and affordable homes and investing in vibrant and attractive neighbourhoods across the city. This means real choice. “Headline schemes being brought forward across the city include 400 new homes for social rent in Wythenshawe town centre, 303 affordable homes as part of the Brewery Gardens development on the former Boddington’s site in the city centre, 271 new homes for social rent and shared ownership in Charlestown and 212 affordable homes in Moss Side.” Cllr Gavin White, Executive Member for Housing and Development, said: “Every Mancunian deserves a safe and secure home that they can afford. Which is why we are working closely with the city’s housing providers and the private sector to develop home building opportunities across the city to meet the needs of our residents – and importantly using council-owned land to increase the number of affordable homes available to Manchester people. “We’re not waiting for someone to do it for us – we are creating ways to build the right homes in the right places to meet demand.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Statom Strengthens Specialist Role as Order Book Reaches £617m
Statom Group has reported record turnover and a secured order book of more than £617m, following a period of investment and strategic expansion across its specialist engineering operations. The Essex-based contractor, which was founded as a concrete specialist in 2020, increased revenue by 15% to £184m in the year to 30 November 2025. Growth was supported by rising activity across infrastructure, civil engineering, specialist foundations, ports and energy projects, helping to offset slower conditions in the residential market. The group said its £617m order book is equivalent to around 3.3 times annual revenue, providing strong visibility into 2026 and early 2027. The performance reflects Statom’s continued move away from historic reliance on residential work and towards more technically complex, engineering-led sectors. Pre-tax profit, however, fell to £6.8m from £8.7m in the previous year, as the business absorbed significant investment in management systems, technical staff, new offices, plant and machinery. Operating margin also eased from 6.6% to 4.9%, with the company citing changes in workload mix and inflationary pressure on key materials. Statom Group Chief Executive Stan Nikudinski said the investment was necessary to support substantial growth during the year and position the business for further expansion in 2026. During the period, the group strengthened its in-house technical capability through the integration of Apex Core Engineering, Franki Foundations and Slipform Technology. These divisions now sit alongside Statom’s civil, mechanical, electrical and plumbing, and remediation teams, enabling the contractor to take on more complex schemes with reduced reliance on third-party delivery partners. Nikudinski said: “During the year, the integration of Apex Core Engineering, Franki Foundations, and Slipform Technology within the wider group further strengthened our in-house technical capability and lifecycle delivery capacity. “These divisions, supported by our civil, MEP, and remediation teams, enable Statom to deliver complex engineering-led projects with minimal reliance on third-party contractors. “This self-delivery approach has proven particularly valuable on major regeneration, energy, and infrastructure programmes, where technical collaboration and design assurance are critical to success.” Despite the dip in profit, Statom ended the year with net assets rising to £29m, up from £25.5m. Cash reduced to £21.3m from £27.9m following a £25.7m capital investment programme. The results underline Statom’s transition into a broader specialist engineering contractor, with a growing focus on infrastructure, energy and complex regeneration work. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
NHS to take UKREiiF attendees inside the new hospital programme with dedicated healthcare leaders morning
As the New Hospital Programme moves into its delivery phase, the programme’s leaders will be hosting a dedicated morning at UKREiiF this May, digging into detail on future ambitions for the programme and how delivery for the first wave of schemes is being implemented. Taking place in the Pagabo Local Growth Pavilion, the sessions will be hosted by Sypro, a contract management solutions provider for construction and infrastructure projects. The day will kick off with an introduction from Chief Programme Officer Natalie Forrest, who will outline the ambition, scale and long-term delivery of the NHP, setting the scene for the following panel sessions. Throughout the morning, three key panel sessions will roll into each other – focusing on collaboration driving the success of the Hospital 2.0 Alliance, how industrialisation is transforming hospital delivery through offsite manufacturing and Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), and the role of digital innovation in shaping future healthcare delivery. Speakers will include wide representation from the New Hospital Programme, along with contractors appointed to the Hospital 2.0 Alliance Framework, and partner NHS Trusts delivering hospital schemes on a national scale. Attendees will also be invited to actively contribute to the discussion through an open-chair opportunity on the day. Natalie Forrest, Chief Programme Officer at the New Hospital Programme, said: “It’s great to be back at UKREiiF and to build on the conversations we started last year. What matters now is that we turn ambition into delivery, and this session is about being open on how we’re doing that. “We’re bringing together the people who are directly involved in delivering these hospitals, from our construction partners to our NHS trusts – to share what’s working, where we’re learning, and how we’re approaching things differently. “We are creating a consistent and efficient way of delivering healthcare infrastructure that brings together long-term investment, skills development, and real social value for our communities. The Hospital 2.0 Alliance approach makes this possible, and why it’s such an important shift for the future of the NHS and our healthcare infrastructure.” The New Hospital Programme morning will take place from 10:15am to 12:30pm on Wednesday 20 May in the Pagabo Local Growth Pavilion at UKREiiF, with the programme including natural breaks for networking among attendees around the talks. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals