Mears Builds Record £4.2bn Pipeline Following Major Housing Contract Wins
Mears has strengthened its position as one of the UK’s leading housing maintenance providers after securing more than £1.4 billion of new work during the first half of the year, driving its order book to a record £4.2 billion. The public sector housing specialist continues to expand its long-term maintenance portfolio after a series of major contract awards and renewals, reinforcing confidence in the company’s strategy despite a temporary dip in profits linked to the mobilisation of new contracts. Revenue reached £560 million during the period, while adjusted pre-tax profit stood at £29 million. Although margins eased slightly to 5.2% from 5.6%, the company attributed this to the costs associated with mobilising several significant long-term contracts. Among the largest awards was a landmark 10-year, £450 million contract with Birmingham City Council. Under the agreement, Mears will deliver a comprehensive range of housing services, including responsive repairs, void property works, gas servicing, heating installations and planned maintenance across the authority’s housing stock. The company also secured a further 10-year contract with Rooftop Housing Group worth £150 million, providing repairs and maintenance services to approximately 7,000 homes across South Worcestershire and North Gloucestershire. Alongside these new appointments, Mears successfully retained several key long-standing partnerships, including contracts with Cross Keys Homes, Livin, Leeds City Council, Moat Homes and Thurrock Council. Together, these renewals contributed more than £1 billion of additional work to the company’s expanding pipeline. For the construction and housing sectors, the results underline the continued demand for long-term asset management, planned maintenance and compliance services as housing providers invest in improving existing homes, enhancing building safety and maintaining regulatory standards. Mears also completed the integration of consultancy Pennington Choices during the period, strengthening its expertise across compliance, asset management and building safety services. The acquisition enhances the group’s ability to provide integrated solutions to local authorities and registered housing providers. In line with its strategic focus on housing, the company also completed the sale of its non-core facilities management business for £18 million, allowing it to concentrate resources on its core maintenance and housing services operations. Chief Executive Lucas Critchley said: “Mears has continued to make strong progress against its key strategic objectives.” The company also noted that an intensive two-year programme of rebidding existing contracts has now largely concluded. As a result, its bidding teams are increasingly able to focus on pursuing new opportunities rather than defending existing work, providing further potential for future growth. Looking ahead, Mears has reaffirmed its full-year guidance, forecasting revenue of around £1.04 billion and adjusted pre-tax profit of approximately £51 million. With a record order book, strengthened building safety capabilities and a growing portfolio of long-term maintenance partnerships, Mears appears well positioned to play an increasingly significant role in supporting the management, maintenance and improvement of the UK’s public housing stock. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
listening to customers helps ‘believe housing’ achieve record satisfaction levels
Housing association believe housing has achieved its best ever customer satisfaction results, with feedback helping to shape services and lessons from complaints driving further improvements. The not-for-profit landlord, which owns and manages more than 18,000 homes across the northeast of England, has recorded its highest Tenant Satisfaction Measures results. Overall satisfaction rose from 78% in 2024-25 to 82% in 2025-26, while satisfaction with repairs increased from 76% to 85%. More customers also said they feel safe in their homes, up from 82.3% to 84.9%, and that they are treated fairly and with respect, up from 83.1% to 86.2%. The results reflect the work believe housing has done to listen to customers and act on what they say. But the organisation says there is always more to learn and is continuing to gather insight from customer feedback, comments and complaints. One way it is doing this is through its new Customer Complaints Panel, established in November 2025. The panel brings together customers who want to use their experiences to improve complaint handling, learn from complaints and help ensure the Housing Ombudsman’s Complaint Handling Code is followed. Members have received training on believe housing’s complaints policy, the Code and what good complaint handling looks like in practice. Meeting at least every three months, the panel reviews performance information, explores customer journeys and identifies learning from complaints and feedback. Members will also hear from colleagues across the business to understand how customer insight can help improve services. The panel helps believe housing understand what is working well, where improvements are needed and what actions should be taken next. Louise Taylor, Executive Director of Governance and Strategy at believe housing, said: “These are our best ever Tenant Satisfaction Measures results and they reflect the commitment of colleagues across believe housing to do the right thing for customers every day. “We’re particularly pleased that more customers told us they are treated fairly and with respect. Feedback regularly highlights the professionalism, kindness and commitment of our colleagues, and that’s something everyone across the organisation should be proud of. “But our focus is on continuous improvement. Whether customers tell us we’ve done something well or raise a complaint when we’ve fallen short, every conversation gives us valuable insight. “Customer feedback helps shape services, while the learning we gain through complaints helps us understand where we can do better. “By listening to customers and acting on what they tell us, we can continue to provide healthy homes, a quality service and a better customer experience.” Customer feedback is already helping believe housing improve services, shape policies and communicate more clearly. During 2025/26, customers shared their views through more than 6,000 feedback survey responses, 1,164 Tenant Satisfaction Measures survey responses, consultations, co-design projects, workshops, app and portal testing, and Customer Complaints Panel meetings. The latest Tenant Satisfaction Measures results are available on believe housing’s website at tenant satisfaction measures | believe housing believe housing customers who would like to share their views and help shape services can find out more at get involved | believe housing Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Government procurement simplification welcomed by Pagabo Group CEO
By Amman Boughan, CEO at Pagabo Group. Members of the new Labour cabinet are busy making their arrival known, with announcements coming thick and fast. Procurement has been a frequent talking point for prime minister Andy Burnham since his resurgence and rise to the top of government. However, talking is one thing and issuing a procurement policy note (PPN) is another. With that in mind, we wholeheartedly welcome and are encouraged by the direction of travel that the government is embarking on with the announcement of PPN 026 – the social value model – this week. The direction of travel, to simplify the model, helps to cut the red tape that locks smaller firms out, and focuses squarely on jobs, skills and community impact, which is what the Pagabo Group has been championing for a decade across wider public procurement. Continued simplification of an industry that is often overcomplicated can unlock so much opportunity. As our strapline goes: ‘Simply better procurement.’ Our focus has always been on helping the public sector deliver outcomes faster and creating impact where communities need it most. The government wants to back British jobs and skills in every postcode, so that’s exactly what its new weighting in public contracts will help achieve. Though it’s vital that social value is measured and proven, not just promised, as we’ve been advancing through our digital operating system. We don’t have long to wait until the rules begin to apply and we stand ready to be a partner in leading the change that the government wants to see. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Peel Launches £582m Takeover Bid for Brownfield Regeneration Specialist Harworth
Peel Group has launched a £582 million cash bid to acquire Harworth Group, offering shareholders 172.5p per share in a move that could reshape the future of one of the UK’s leading brownfield regeneration and strategic land developers. The offer values the listed developer at approximately £582 million and comes as Peel, already Harworth’s largest shareholder through subsidiary Goodweather Holdings, looks to take full control of the business. Goodweather currently owns around 29.96% of Harworth’s issued share capital. Harworth has established itself as a major player in the UK’s regeneration sector, with a portfolio comprising modern industrial and logistics assets alongside extensive strategic land holdings across the North of England and the Midlands. The business has played a significant role in transforming former industrial sites into employment, residential and mixed-use developments, including securing planning approval last year for its £190 million Gascoigne Interchange scheme. However, Peel believes the company’s current financial model is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain, citing rising administrative and financing costs alongside weakening recurring rental income. For the year ending 31 December 2025, Harworth reported administrative expenses of £36.34 million and net interest costs of £10.6 million, representing increases of 9.5% and 58.2% respectively compared with the previous year. During the same period, rental income from its investment portfolio fell by 7% to £14.7 million. Peel argues these figures demonstrate growing pressure on Harworth’s cash flow, with operating and financing costs significantly exceeding the income generated from its investment portfolio. The proposed acquisition also reflects Peel’s view that Harworth’s stock market listing no longer provides meaningful strategic benefits. The investor points to the company’s concentrated shareholder base, with the three largest shareholders controlling approximately 75.7% of the business, limiting trading liquidity and reducing the advantages typically associated with being publicly listed. Peel further noted that Harworth has not raised new equity for almost a decade and believes current market conditions, combined with what it describes as a persistent discount to the company’s underlying value, make future equity fundraising unlikely to deliver attractive returns. The cash offer represents a substantial premium for shareholders, equating to 36.9% above Harworth’s one-month volume-weighted average share price and 36.0% above the three-month average. For the construction, development and property sectors, the proposed acquisition could have significant implications. Harworth has become one of the UK’s foremost brownfield regeneration specialists, delivering large-scale industrial, logistics, residential and mixed-use developments that support regional economic growth while unlocking previously underutilised land. Should the transaction proceed, Peel would gain full ownership of a substantial regeneration pipeline and strategic land portfolio, further strengthening its position within the UK’s development and regeneration market. The proposed takeover also highlights the continuing attractiveness of long-term regeneration assets, as investors seek to secure development opportunities capable of delivering future residential, commercial and industrial growth across key regional markets. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Discover, debate, deliver – Construction Reset comes alive at UKCW Birmingham with new-look Main Stage
A Who’s Who of thought leaders and experts headline the new-look Main Stage at UK Construction Birmingham this autumn (NEC, September 29 to October 1), where high-level, conference sessions will explore a myriad of issues including policy, leadership, major projects, skills, productivity, technology, sustainability and the future direction of construction. Built around the core themes of Building Better, Building Smarter and Building Responsibly, the Main Stage – one of five theatres at UKCW Birmingham – will welcome an array of leading luminaries, including: Main Stage seminar highlights include: Tuesday 29th September 10.30am – 11.15am The Construction Reset: What Needs to Change and What Happens if We Don’t? [Build Better] This session will examine where the industry can unlock growth, improve performance and build a future-ready workforce through innovation, collaboration and new career pathways. Speakers: Jackie Rigby (Homes England), Saul Humphrey (Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Tim Balcon (CITB) 12.30pm – 1.15pm Housing at Scale: The Race to 1.5 Million Homes This session will examine the opportunities created by planning reform, New Towns and strategic growth areas, while exploring whether more scalable delivery models can help increase capacity. With political focus, investment and innovation aligning, the next five years could represent the biggest opportunity for housebuilding in a generation. Speakers: Ed Griffiths (Barbour-ABI); Emma Osmundsen (Chair, Passivhaus Trust Board) 2.15pm – 2.45pmWho are the people changing construction for the better? Announcing the UKCW Role Models Winners for 2026 With three categories: Rising Star, Pioneer and Icon, UKCW Role Models recognises outstanding achievement at every stage of a career. This special session will reveal the 2026 winners and celebrate the exceptional leadership, innovation and impact that have earned them recognition as some of the industry’s most inspiring role models. Presenters: Christina Riley, Senior Planning Manager, Coniston Ltd & Co-Founder, Building Equality; Rebecca Rickwood, CEO, Gement Group Wednesday 30th September 11.30am – 12.15pm Constructing the Gold Standard: Choosing the Right Framework for Better Supply Chain Partnerships This panel will explore how the principles of the Construction Excellence Gold Standard are reshaping procurement, moving beyond lowest-price tendering towards fairer risk allocation, earlier supply chain engagement and longer-term collaborative relationships. Moderator: Alison Nicholl (Head of Constructing Excellence, BRE & DfE) Speakers: Prof. David Hancock (Construction Director and Infrastructure Practice Lead, His Majesty’s Treasury, Expert Advisory Team & NISTA); Rob Byrnes (Frameworks Director, Vinci Building UK) 2.30pm – 3.15pmNet Zero That Pays: Making Commercial Sustainability Work in Construction An opportunity to examine how whole-life carbon, material choices, energy performance and retrofit strategies are increasingly shaping procurement decisions, project outcomes and competitive advantage. Speakers: Ste Garlik (Strategic Lead for Decarbonisation & Retrofit, Building Design Partnership & Chief Executive, Association for Environment Conscious Building (AECB)); Will Arnold (Head of Sustainable Materials, Useful Simple Trust) Thursday 1st October 12.30pm – 1.15pm AI in Construction: Reimagining How Real Applications Deliver Real Results [Build Smarter] This session will showcase real examples of AI being used to automate repetitive tasks, improve document and data management, accelerate design coordination, enhance project controls and increase productivity across construction workflows. Speakers: Paul Beeston (Partner – Head of Industry and Service Insight, Rider Levett Bucknall); Meghan Davies (Co-Founder, Cammina) 1.30pm – 2.15pm The New Industrial Revolution: How Digital-First Construction Can Finally Scale Productivity How digital-first approaches, combined with standardisation, better data and new ways of working, can help the industry move away from fragmented project-by-project delivery towards more repeatable, efficient and scalable systems. Moderator: Trudi Sully (Industrialised Construction Director, Mott MacDonald and Co-Chair Building Better: Community of Practice (BB:CoP))Speakers: Lilian Ho (Associate Director – Digital & BIM, UK+I Architecture + Design , AECOM); George Mokhtar (Director, Turner & Townsend) Martin Hurn, UKCW Birmingham Editorial Director, commented: “Our theme of The Construction Reset will position UKCW Birmingham as a marketplace and industry meeting point, built around the real challenges, opportunities and partnerships shaping construction today. “The Main Stage is at the very heart of that, with some of the biggest names in the industry coming together to discuss, debate and help shape the conversations that will define the future of the built environment. From innovation and digital transformation to sustainability, skills and policy, the programme has been designed to provide practical insight, fresh thinking and meaningful discussion for everyone working across the sector.” Sponsored by Wyre, HotelPlanner and Build Warranty, UKCW Birmingham will feature over 250 leading brands; 200 speakers and over 150 hours of CPD accredited seminars across four stages, alongside a series of built-for-purpose sections. Architect, TV presenter and UKCW ambassador, George Clarke will officially open the show and also host the Main Stage discussions on Day One (September 29th). To find out more and to register free for UKCW Birmingham, visit https://register.visitcloud.com/survey/0hcnqiudc1lrv?actioncode=1000 Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Award-Winning Interior Designer Mia Karlsson-Matthews Joins Fit Out Awards UK 2026 Judging Panel
The Fit Out Awards UK 2026 has strengthened its expert judging panel with the appointment of acclaimed interior designer Mia Karlsson-Matthews, Founder and Director of Mia Karlsson Interior Design, as preparations continue for one of the UK’s leading celebrations of excellence across the fit out and interiors sector. Based in London, Karlsson-Matthews brings more than 20 years of award-winning design experience to the judging process, having built an internationally recognised practice renowned for creating bespoke residential interiors that combine Scandinavian functionality with contemporary luxury. Originally from Sweden, she established Mia Karlsson Interior Design in 2004, developing a distinctive design philosophy centred on intelligent space planning, craftsmanship and timeless interiors. Since then, the studio has successfully completed more than 300 residential projects, earning a reputation for delivering highly personalised environments that balance aesthetics with practical living. Her work has featured extensively in leading interior design publications, reflecting the studio’s consistent commitment to quality and innovation across a diverse portfolio of high-end residential commissions. Karlsson-Matthews also brings strong academic and professional credentials to the judging panel. She holds a first-class degree in Interior Design and Technology and is a prominent member of the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID). As a former BIID Board Director, she has also played an influential role in supporting the continued development of professional standards across the UK’s interior design and interior architecture sectors. Her appointment further strengthens an already distinguished judging panel for the Fit Out Awards UK 2026, which brings together leading experts from across architecture, workplace design, sustainability, academia and the wider built environment. The awards programme features 32 categories recognising excellence across every aspect of the fit out industry, including commercial office fit out projects, hospitality, healthcare, retail, residential and conservation, alongside awards celebrating sustainability, collaboration, product innovation and overall project delivery. Karlsson-Matthews joins Judging Coordinator Ann-Marie Aguilar of IWBI alongside Vanessa Brady of SBID, Vyvyan Byrne of VB Design, Dr Eshrar Latif of Cardiff University, Giuseppe Parito of Studio Seilern Architects, Professor Robert Schmidt III of Loughborough University and Lydia Szewczyk of IWBI. For the construction, architecture and interior fit out sectors, the awards continue to showcase the outstanding talent, innovation and technical expertise shaping the UK’s built environment. The appointment of experienced industry professionals such as Mia Karlsson-Matthews reinforces the awards’ commitment to recognising projects that demonstrate exceptional quality, creativity and excellence in design and delivery. The Fit Out Awards UK 2026 will culminate in a gala ceremony on 24 September 2026 at the Park Plaza London Riverbank, where the industry’s leading designers, contractors, architects and suppliers will come together to celebrate the year’s most outstanding achievements in fit out and interior design. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals