CBRE finds buyer for Noble Foods’ production site in multi-million-pound deal
Leading commercial real estate firm, CBRE, has successfully completed the sale of 115,000 sq ft industrial site in a multi-million pound deal on behalf of the seller, Noble Foods. Previously used as an egg-packing facility, the self-contained site features all the necessary facilities for a manufacturing operation including two office buildings, two warehouses, 19 loading bays and additional storage buildings. The site also came with 15.2 acres of vacant land with outline planning permission to build additional warehouses already granted. Based in the heart of Oxfordshire’s industrial hub, the site is adjacent to Lakeside Industrial Estate in rural Witney. It also has excellent connections, with access to both the A40 and A420, making it easy to get to nearby Oxford, only 13 miles away, and beyond. Will Davis, associate director at CBRE, said: “This deal reflects the strong demand for industrial space both in Witney and across wider Oxfordshire. A self-contained site of this size is incredibly rare, especially in such a popular location. The fact it came with outline planning permission for additional warehouses was the cherry on top and made it the perfect site for a business looking to expand its operations.” Will Cadbury, Chief Financial Officerat Noble Foods, said: “When our Witney site became surplus to requirements, we were keen to find the right buyer who would be able to make the site purposeful again. The sale marks the start of an exciting new chapter for the Witney site and we’re grateful to CBRE for their support in structuring this deal.” 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
Tonroe Group Tops £1bn as Data Centre Boom Powers Record Growth
Technical construction and engineering specialist Tonroe Group has surpassed the £1 billion turnover milestone for the first time, with surging demand for hyperscale data centres and a strong performance across the UK driving record financial results. The Gerrards Cross-based group reported revenue of £1.19 billion for 2025, representing a 27% increase on the previous year, while pre-tax profits rose 15% to £48 million. The growth has been fuelled by a rapidly expanding international portfolio of data centre projects alongside continued investment in specialist technical construction across multiple sectors. A significant proportion of the group’s success has been driven by its overseas operations, with international projects now generating just over half of total revenue at £608 million. Major contracts secured during the year include work on one of Europe’s largest hyperscale data centre campuses in Portugal, together with projects across Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain. The group’s UK contracting arm, TSL Ltd, also delivered another strong year, increasing turnover by 12% to £592 million and forecasting revenues in excess of £600 million this year, supported by a healthy secured order book. Although pre-tax profits at TSL eased from £27 million to £25 million due to changes in project mix and operating margins, the business strengthened its financial position by increasing cash reserves to almost £70 million while expanding its workforce by nearly 48% to 372 employees. Throughout the year, TSL completed a diverse range of technically complex projects spanning logistics, manufacturing, aviation and food production. These included two major facilities for Greggs, a robotic fulfilment centre in the North East, a significant data centre in the South East and a new aircraft engineering hangar for Jet2. The contractor also commenced work on a fourth manufacturing facility at SmartParc SEGRO Derby for a major international food producer, while continuing to grow its presence across automated logistics, cold storage, advanced manufacturing and pharmaceutical developments. As part of its strategic focus on specialist technical construction, TSL also completed the disposal of its Rockland Concrete division following the financial year-end. The business generated approximately £20 million of revenue during 2025 before being sold through a trade and asset transaction. For the construction and built environment sectors, Tonroe Group’s latest results underline the continuing strength of investment in digital infrastructure, with data centres remaining one of Europe’s fastest-growing construction markets. Demand for highly specialised engineering expertise, combined with growth in advanced manufacturing, logistics and mission-critical facilities, is creating significant opportunities for contractors capable of delivering technically demanding projects. Jackie Wild, Group Chief Executive, said: “2025 was a year of strong growth across the Group, driven by our valued client and supply chain partnerships and sustained focus on consistent delivery. “We also continued to invest capital in the business to enable our sustained growth as we deliver complex projects across a wide international footprint. “With a strong pipeline confirmed for 2026 and beyond, including major capital projects spanning several years, we remain focused on delivering technical construction and engineering excellence for our clients.” With a robust order book and major international projects extending well into the future, Tonroe Group is well positioned to build on its record-breaking performance as investment in hyperscale data centres, advanced industrial facilities and mission-critical infrastructure continues to accelerate across the UK and Europe. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Pexhurst supports Prologis refurbishment programme across three sites
HELPING modernise existing building stock for the next generation of customers, leading fit-out and refurbishment contractor Pexhurst is set to complete more than 127,000 sq ft of refurbishment works across three Prologis logistics facilities this summer. The projects span the West Midlands and the Home Counties, the largest of which is a 104,500 sq ft distribution centre at Prologis Park Marston Gate, Milton Keynes. Undergoing a comprehensive refurbishment to transform a building dating back to the late 1990s, works include a full strip-out, replacement mechanical and electrical systems, new plumbing, upgraded office and warehouse accommodation, refreshed breakout spaces, transport drivers’ facilities and new outdoor seating areas to support employee wellbeing. The refurbishment work across all three projects will improve the buildings’ energy performance, as minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) continue to tighten ahead of a 2031 deadline. Solar PV panels and EV charging infrastructure are being installed, alongside the use of more sustainable materials throughout the projects. Ashley Williams, associate director at Pexhurst, said: “The size and layout of Prologis buildings may vary, but the quality of refurbishment remains consistent across every project, and that’s where Pexhurst has built its expertise. “Refurbishing existing buildings extends their lifespan, improves their energy performance and delivers high-quality logistics facilities that are ready for customers with minimal additional investment.” Since completing its first project for Prologis in 2016, Pexhurst has refurbished 23 units across the Midlands, London and the Home Counties. Paul Johnson, construction director at Prologis, said: “Investing in our existing portfolio is an important part of how we continue to meet customer demand while improving the sustainability and performance of our buildings. Having trusted partners who can consistently deliver high-quality refurbishment projects is essential, and Pexhurst has proven that across a wide range of schemes.” To find out more about Pexhurst and its full range of services, visit: www.pexhurst.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Greenwich Peninsula Plans Advance with Twin Student and Co-Living Towers
A major mixed-use development could reshape part of the Greenwich Peninsula after developer Tribe submitted plans for two high-rise towers that would deliver student accommodation, co-living homes and affordable housing close to the Silvertown Tunnel. Designed by CJCT, the proposed scheme would transform a vacant site on Millennium Way into a high-density residential development, contributing new homes and purpose-built student accommodation within one of London’s fastest-growing regeneration areas. The plans include a 27-storey tower providing 673 purpose-built student bedrooms alongside a 23-storey building comprising 380 co-living homes. An additional 80 affordable homes also form part of the wider development, helping to support Greenwich’s housing requirements while responding to increasing demand for flexible urban living. Located adjacent to the Silvertown Tunnel approach roads and opposite the former gasholder site, the development occupies a strategic location within the wider Greenwich Peninsula regeneration programme, where thousands of new homes, commercial buildings and public spaces are planned. Planning documents submitted with the application highlight a significant shortage of student accommodation across the area, identifying a deficit of 1,871 student bedspaces within the wider catchment and around 581 within Greenwich itself, even after taking account of schemes currently in the pipeline. The proposals have also received support from Ravensbourne University, which has stated that demand for student accommodation remains exceptionally strong, reinforcing the need for additional high-quality housing for students studying in southeast London. For the construction and property sectors, the development reflects the continued growth of London’s purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) and co-living markets, with developers increasingly delivering mixed-tenure schemes that combine student housing, residential accommodation and affordable homes within a single masterplan. The Tribe proposals are the latest in a series of significant developments planned across the Greenwich Peninsula. Nearby projects include Scape’s proposed three-tower student accommodation scheme on the former gasholder site, Fairview’s revised plans for Boord Street and Knight Dragon’s wider masterplan, which includes around 1,000 student bedrooms alongside extensive residential, commercial and leisure development. Together, these projects demonstrate the growing importance of the Greenwich Peninsula as one of London’s leading regeneration locations, where investment in residential-led mixed-use developments continues to support housing delivery, educational growth and long-term economic regeneration. If approved, the latest scheme would add further momentum to the transformation of the Peninsula, creating a diverse mix of accommodation while strengthening the area’s role as a major destination for students, residents and investment within the capital. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals