Orwell Bridge Project Wins Outstanding Achievement Award at National Highways ACE “Better Together” Awards
Winvic Construction Ltd has been recognised for its industry-leading approach to collaboration and project delivery, with the Orwell Bridge Westbound Joint Replacement project winning the Judges’ Outstanding Achievement Award at this year’s National Highways Asset Community East (ACE) “Better Together” Awards. Delivered through National Highways’ Scheme Delivery Framework (SDF) in the East Region, the project exemplified Winvic’s commitment to collaboration, innovation, customer excellence, and health and safety leadership. The vital scheme addressed the urgent replacement of deteriorated expansion joints on the A14 Orwell Bridge – a critical transport link connecting the Port of Felixstowe to the wider UK road network. Despite the complex technical and logistical challenges, the project was delivered safely on time, and within budget. From the earliest planning stages, close collaboration between Winvic, National Highways, WSP, Chevron, Maurer, and Roocroft was central to its success. Innovative techniques such as hydro demolition safeguarded the bridge’s structure, bespoke engineering solutions resolved complex design issues, and advanced traffic modelling minimised disruption for road users. The judges selected the Orwell Bridge project for its exemplary demonstration of collaboration, customer focus, and stakeholder engagement at every stage – from early planning through to delivery. They commended the extensive communication and engagement efforts carried out before any works began, ensuring public awareness, customer confidence, and minimal disruption. This partnership-driven approach reduced the construction programme from a potential 175 days to just 37 days, saving £9 million, while also achieving outstanding results in environmental performance, community engagement, and social value. Local suppliers were engaged throughout the project to strengthen the regional economy and reduce environmental impact. The team delivered a range of community initiatives, including school visits to promote safety awareness to over 120 pupils at Morland Primary School, volunteering at St. Elizabeth’s Hospice’s pop-up shop in Ipswich, and participating in public engagement events such as the Suffolk Show and Buttermarket Centre to promote road safety and raise awareness of the scheme. The award was presented by Paul Bowman, Chair of Asset Community East and representative from Colas. Rob Cook, Winvic’s Managing Director for Civils and Infrastructure said:“Winning the Judges’ Outstanding Achievement Award for the Orwell Bridge project is a proud moment for everyone involved. This success highlights how collaboration, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to safety and customer focus can turn complex challenges into industry-leading results. It’s an honour to see our project team and supply chain partners recognised for delivering excellence on such an important piece of infrastructure.” Winvic was also shortlisted in multiple categories – including Customer Experience of the Year, Project/Team of the Year, and Collaborative Project/Team of the Year – and continues to champion best practice across the sector. As both a finalist and a sponsor of this year’s awards, Winvic reaffirms its commitment to driving innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement across the UK’s highways network. Rob Barron, National Highways Supplier Relationship Manager East said:“The Orwell Bridge project has been recognised for exemplifying the Asset Community East’s ethos of “Better Together”. The Judges commended the initiative for its outstanding collaboration, customer-centric approach, and comprehensive stakeholder engagement throughout every phase – from early planning through to successful delivery. This Award honours all those involved for their unwavering commitment to partnership and collaborative working. The Judges were particularly impressed with the proactive communication and engagement strategies deployed before any physical works began. These efforts ensured good public awareness, built customer confidence, and minimised disruption – setting a benchmark for infrastructure projects across the region.” Richard Salter, WSP’s Technical Director said: “The Orwell scheme was a shining example of the collaboration that can be achieved through a mature and experienced supplier relationship on the Scheme Delivery Framework. Working together on numerous schemes such as M20 Medway and Allington, A404 Bisham Brook and M3 Bramley Wood enabled WSP and Winvic to build a trusting partnership enhancing our ability to succeed on such a complex and high-profile scheme as Orwell. I look forward to continuing this pattern of success through the remainder of the framework.” Join Winvic on social media – LinkedIn, and Instagram. Join National Highways Asset Community East on LinkedIn. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
HFD Construction Appoints Hyperscale Infrastructure Veteran Martin Smith as Managing Director
30-year construction industry leader to oversee billions of pounds in AI data centre, renewable energy, and commercial developments across Scotland. HFD Construction, the dedicated construction and delivery arm of HFD, today announces the appointment of Martin Smith as its new Managing Director, effective immediately. Mr. Smith joins HFD Construction at a transformational time for the business, as the company executes HFD Group’s ambitious pipeline of next-generation developments across central Scotland, with billions of pounds worth of construction scheduled in the coming years. Martin Smith brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across the UK and Europe in the construction industry, with a career spanning hyperscale data centres, large-scale infrastructure, and high-profile commercial developments. Most recently, Martin served as Group Chief Executive Officer. Prior to that, he held senior leadership roles at ISG plc, Interserve, Robertson Group, and Miller Construction, where he managed major projects with values exceeding £650 million. At ISG, Martin directed the successful delivery of several hyperscale projects for global technology clients, including Google’s €450 million, 60MW data centre in Belgium. His portfolio also includes complex developments such as the Amazon logistics hubs, and film studio and semiconductor facilities across the UK and Europe. His experience extends to a wide range of sectors, including education, healthcare, hospitality, and sustainable office developments, where his leadership has consistently focused on delivering high-quality projects via innovation, operational excellence and stakeholder collaboration. Martin holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) and an LLM in Construction Law from the University of Strathclyde and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building. His career is distinguished by a strong operational foundation, strategic leadership, and a deep commitment to health, safety, and sustainability. Under Martin Smith’s leadership, HFD Construction will manage the build-out of a diverse and ambitious portfolio of projects, including the construction of hundreds of megawatts of cutting-edge AI-ready data centres for DataVita, HFD’s data centre division, the development of private-wire microgrids integrating renewable energy generation and storage for sustainable power delivery, the creation of industry-leading city-centre office developments, including premium flexible workspace for Ospa – HFD’s serviced office division and the development of current and proposed upper scale hotels across the region. William Hill, CEO of HFD Group, commented: “Martin joins at an exciting time for the business, with billions of pounds worth of construction scheduled across central Scotland in the coming years. His leadership will be crucial as we deliver on these ambitious projects.” Martin Smith, Managing Director of HFD Construction, said: “Joining HFD Construction at this pivotal moment is an exciting challenge. My career has been focused on leading complex, large-scale developments, including critical hyperscale data centre infrastructure across Europe. I look forward to leveraging that 30 years of experience, alongside the talented HFD Construction team, to successfully deliver the Group’s ambitious pipeline of next-generation projects, including vital AI and renewable energy sectors and market leading office and commercial developments.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Premier Inn gets the green light in Leeds city centre
Whitbread secures planning consent to convert Verity House in the South Bank area of the city centre into a 131-room hotel Whitbread plc, owner of Premier Inn – the UK’s largest hotel brand – has received planning consent to transform Verity House, a vacant office building in the South Bank area of Leeds city centre, into a 131-room hotel. Seeing the opportunity to capitalise on a highly accessible location minutes from Leeds Railway Station and the scenic waterfront of Granary Wharf, the FTSE-100 hotel company purchased the 44,000 sq ft (GIA) former office building at risk in October 2024. A planning application for the development was submitted to Leeds City Council in May 2025. Last week, the crucial section 106 agreement between Whitbread and the Council was signed, effectively paving the way for the development to proceed, following the delegation of decision-making to the city’s planners. Construction work is expected to commence in early 2026 and complete in Spring 2027. Jill Anderson, Acquisitions Manager for Whitbread, said: “Gaining approval of our plans for Verity House is a major achievement in our efforts to deliver more high-quality, affordable bedrooms for our guests in Leeds City Centre. We’re seeing huge demand in the city and this wonderfully accessible location is sure to be incredibly popular for our business and leisure guests. “Whitbread has a long and successful track record of converting office buildings into high-quality, successful Premier Inn hotels. By purchasing Verity House freehold last autumn, we demonstrated that Whitbread is unafraid to take on planning and development risk to convert former offices into hotels in locations that match our network plan requirements and meet the expectations of our guests for outstanding, easily accessible hotel locations. “We’re actively looking for similar opportunities across the north of England as we continue to grow our hotel estate in the region.” On opening, Verity House will complement three trading Premier Inns in Leeds city centre with a new 143-bedroom Premier Inn at Leeds Harewood Quarter is also under contract as part of a Council-led redevelopment. The hotel will offer the latest format Premier Inn ‘Standard’ and ‘Premier Plus’ bedrooms. Based on a mature occupancy of more than 80%, Whitbread expects more than 57,000 of its guests will stay at the Premier Inn at Verity House every year generating an additional £5.5 million in visitor expenditure annually – half of which is expected to be spent in Leeds city centre. This latest investment in the city forms an important part of Whitbread’s strategy of expanding its hotel network in the north of England. Across the region, the company is searching for more than 20 new Premier Inn locations, in addition to 15 targets in Scotland and Northern Ireland, as it grows towards its long-term potential target of 125,000 UK & Ireland rooms. As part of Whitbread’s Force for Good sustainability strategy, all Whitbread self-built or converted hotels will be powered solely by renewable electricity from 2025, and the company has a stated target to reduce water consumption per sleeper by 20% by 2030. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Reading’s Minster Quarter to Get £250m Makeover as McLaren Living Leads Regeneration
Reading’s long-awaited Minster Quarter regeneration has taken a major step forward after the council signed a £250 million development agreement with McLaren Living. The deal clears the way for one of the town’s most significant urban renewal schemes in recent years, transforming a prominent brownfield site into a new mixed-use neighbourhood. The 5.2-acre site, previously occupied by the town’s Civic Centre, will be redeveloped to deliver more than 600 new homes, of which 30% will be affordable. Alongside the residential element, the plans include 40,000 sq ft of workspace, new shops, food and drink venues, and a 102-bed hotel – all centred around a new civic square in front of The Hexagon Theatre. The project will also deliver a new community hub and upgraded public spaces connecting Reading Minster and the market on Hosier Street. McLaren Living’s design aims to create a vibrant new quarter that blends homes, culture, leisure, and workspaces in a central and accessible location. The scheme will prioritise sustainability and placemaking, with green spaces, pedestrian-friendly routes, and improved links to existing cultural and retail destinations across the town centre. The developer is already playing a major role in Reading’s urban transformation, leading the nearby Broad Street Mall redevelopment, which will bring hundreds of additional homes and new commercial opportunities to the area. Combined, the two projects represent a pipeline of around 1,200 new homes, helping to meet local housing needs while reinvigorating the heart of the town. A spokesperson for McLaren Living said the Minster Quarter represents “a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine Reading’s civic and cultural core” and will be delivered in partnership with the local community and stakeholders. For Reading Borough Council, the agreement marks a major milestone in a long-term ambition to revitalise the town centre and repurpose underused land for housing and economic growth. Construction is expected to start following detailed design and planning work, with the scheme set to act as a catalyst for wider regeneration across central Reading. Once complete, the Minster Quarter will deliver a new destination that celebrates Reading’s history while providing the modern homes, amenities, and public spaces needed for its future. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
PLATFORM_ & HGP Celebrate Topping Out at Sweetfields, Leeds
PLATFORM_, in partnership with the Lloyds-backed equity investor Housing Growth Partnership (HGP), has marked the topping out of its landmark 451-home Build to Rent (BTR) development at Sweetfields, Leeds. The milestone represents significant progress in delivering high-quality, professionally managed rental homes to the South Bank Regeneration area to meet growing demand in the city. Constructed by main contractor Winvic Construction Ltd, the scheme is set to deliver a collection of studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments designed specifically for renters, offering residents high levels of amenity, energy efficiency, and professional management synonymous with the PLATFORM_ brand. This first phase is a part of the larger Sweetfields neighbourhood which will include the reinstatement of The Commercial Inn, the launch of a new Asda Express, and a new central square amongst extensive landscaping. “The topping out of our first building at Sweetfields marks a major step forward in our ambition to deliver high-quality, sustainable rental homes alongside thoughtful amenities like a convenience store, a pub and new fully landscaped public spaces to create a new neighbourhood” said Jean–MarcVandevivere, Chief Executive at PLATFORM_. “We’re proud to be working alongside our partners at HGP and Winvic to bring this transformative scheme to life and support the wider regeneration of South Bank in Leeds.” “HGP is committed to supporting the delivery of quality new homes with long term equity investment, to address the continuing shortage of supply,” said Colin Bennett, Investment Director at Housing Growth Partnership. “Sweetfields is a fantastic example of Build to Rent investment creating new housing choice and regenerating urban areas.” “Reaching this stage is a testament to the skill, dedication and collaboration of the entire project team,” said Mark Jones, Managing Director for Multi-Room at Winvic. “Sweetfields showcases the best of Build to Rent design and delivery, combining quality construction, modern living standards, and community-focused design. We are proud to be delivering this landmark development bringing much-needed homes to residents in Leeds while creating benefits for the local community.” A New Chapter for Leeds’ Rental Market Once complete, Sweetfields will deliver over 1,350 contemporary apartments across four buildings, complemented by landscaped public areas, on-site amenities, and sustainable design features. The development has been designed to meet the evolving needs of modern renters, offering energy-efficient homes managed under a single professional landlord model, enhancing the quality, reliability, and experience of renting in Leeds. The scheme contributes directly to the city’s housing growth ambitions, supporting regeneration and providing much-needed homes in a well-connected location close to transport links, employment hubs, and local amenities. The apartments will achieve an EPC B rating or higher and incorporate renewable energy sources, energy-efficient heating and lighting, and smart in-home technologies. The development’s sustainable and energy-conscious design combines these features to create a low-carbon community that supports Leeds’ ambition to reach net zero carbon by 2038. Key sustainability measures include air source heat pumps, sustainable urban drainage systems, green roofs, and solar panels throughout the scheme. Residents will also benefit from multiple electric vehicle car charging points. Winvic has engaged the local community through careers fairs, site visits – including a tour for the local Cubs – and work experience placements with schools and universities. Opportunities have been created for over 100 local workers, four apprentices, and three placement students. In addition, Winvic is piloting the Standing Tall programme which provides employment opportunities to people who are homeless, supporting them into employment. The project has supported charities such as Yorkshire Children’s Charity, Leeds Mencap and Zarach. Environmental and wellbeing initiatives have also been delivered including Occupational Health Days and tree planting volunteering with Leeds Council. During the ceremony, guests toured the site and viewed the first completed structures, which showcase the quality and scale of the Build to Rent product being delivered. Looking Ahead With Phase 1 now structurally complete, the project moves into internal fit-out and façade works ahead of practical completion in early 2027. PLATFORM_, HGP, and Winvic will continue to collaborate closely to ensure the scheme delivers on its commitment to quality, sustainability, and community impact. Following the fantastic progress made on the first phase, PLATFORM_ will shortly be submitting Reserved Matters planning applications for Phase 2 of Sweetfields. Phase 2 will deliver a further 540 new Build to Rent homes split across two buildings varying in height from 8 to 23 storeys. The buildings will include high-quality resident amenities including a gym, work from home and lounge spaces within the top level of both buildings benefiting from sweeping views of the Leeds City Centre skyline. PLATFORM_ hopes to secure planning permission from Leeds City Council early next year with works scheduled to set to start on-site in early 2027. Sweetfields is set to become one of Leeds’ most significant Build to Rent communities, setting new standards for resident experience and contributing to the city’s growing supply of professionally managed rental housing. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
ILI Group Launches The Stoics – A £15 Billion Green Data Centre Network
ILI Group has announced plans for three new hyperscale data centres across Scotland, creating what it calls The Stoics – A £15 billion Green Digital Network spanning the central belt. The projects, named after Stoic philosophers, are located in Fife (Cato), East Ayrshire (Rufus), and North Lanarkshire (Aurelius). The Stoics will stand among the largest hyperscale data centre clusters globally — more than double the size of many of today’s biggest recognised campuses. Each project has secured a grid connection, land rights, and has now entered the planning process. Collectively, The Stoics will form a digital corridor of opportunity, designed to power the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), advanced connectivity, and the broader technology economy while being anchored in Scotland’s abundant renewable energy resources. Named after Stoic philosophers, The Stoics embody the values these projects require: Economic & Strategic Impact: By linking Fife, East Ayrshire, and North Lanarkshire, The Stoics create a new strategic digital hub for Scotland, underpinned by renewable energy and positioned to meet the surging demand from AI and next-generation digital services. Mark Wilson, CEO of ILI Group, said:“With The Stoics, we are inspired by ancient wisdom to create modern innovation. These projects will provide the digital backbone needed to power the rise of AI and advanced technologies, while creating a Green Digital Network that delivers jobs, investment, and ensures Scotland leads in the global shift towards a sustainable digital future.” About ILI Group:Intelligent Land Investments Group (ILI) is a leading Scottish clean energy and infrastructure developer with a portfolio of over 4.1 GW of energy storage and digital projects, including: ILI Group achieved a major milestone with the sale of its first 450 MW pumped storage hydro project, Loch na Cathrach at Loch Ness, to Statkraft one of Europe’s largest renewable power generators. This landmark transaction underscores ILI Group’s expertise in developing large-scale infrastructure and its role in shaping the UK’s clean energy and digital future. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals