Panattoni completes 200,000 sq ft logistics park in supply constrained South East corridor
Panattoni, the world’s largest privately owned industrial developer, has reached practical completion of Panattoni Park Crawley, and is now ready for tenant fit-out, its new prime logistics development serving one of the most supply constrained parts of the South East. The scheme delivers two high quality speculatively developed units of 65,620 sq ft and 134,473 sq ft, both now available for immediate occupation, with the flexibility to combine into a single 200,093 sq ft facility. Located five minutes from Gatwick Airport and Junction 10 of the M23, the completed development offers one of the South East market’s only immediately available 200,000 sq ft opportunities within this strategic logistics corridor. Designed to support larger occupiers requiring scale and operational efficiency, the building’s 15 metre internal height provides up to 25 percent more pallet capacity than comparable local schemes built to 12.5 metres. Both units have been delivered to Panattoni’s high specification, achieving BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and EPC A. The buildings include extensive roof mounted solar PV capacity, 15% roof lights, EV charging, high performance insulation and best in class yard and parking provision. David McGougan, Development Director, South East at Panattoni, said: “Practical completion at Panattoni Park Crawley marks an important milestone in bringing much needed modern logistics capacity to one of the best connected but most supply constrained markets in the country. “The ability to offer a flexible single unit of 200,000 sq ft, combined with enhanced height and increased pallet density, provides a rare and compelling solution for occupiers seeking immediate, future proofed space with unmatched access to Gatwick, the M23 and London. We have significant tenant interest in the facility and look forward to supporting the expansion of businesses to our new facility at Manor Royal.” The park benefits from excellent access to labour, transport and amenities. Brighton and South London are reachable within 45 minutes, with Central London reached in an hour. More than 3.8 million addresses lie within 30 miles, supporting last mile operations, and over 19,000 people in West Sussex – which employs almost double the national average in transport and storage – are actively seeking work. The site offers strong public transport links, including the Fastway 100 bus route and three nearby railway stations, and sits within walking distance of major retailers. Rising air freight volumes at Gatwick, which saw a 33.4 percent increase year on year in 2025, continue to drive strong occupier demand. For more information, please visit: https://panattoni.co.uk/our-properties/crawley/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Conamar Wins £18 Million Deal to Transform Former City Bank into Low-Carbon Offices
Hertfordshire based contractor Conamar has secured an £18 million contract from Alchemy Asset Management to refurbish and decarbonise 7–21 Wilson Street in the City of London. Work is due to start on site in January, with completion targeted for summer 2027. The project will see the former Arbuthnot Bank building transformed into around 36,000 square feet of best in class, sustainably refurbished office space, including a substantial rooftop terrace. A key feature of the scheme is a new façade designed to refresh the building’s presence on Wilson Street. The upgraded frontage will incorporate curved glazing alongside high performance stone and terracotta cladding, giving the property a contemporary look while improving its environmental performance. Conamar is understood to have beaten competition from RED Construction and Forcia to secure the job following a competitive tender process. David Hughes, director at Alchemy Asset Management, said:“We are delighted to have selected Conamar to deliver this exciting project on behalf of our overseas client. This speculative investment responds directly to sustained occupier appetite and reflects our confidence in the resilience of the London office market. “Having secured planning consent earlier this year, we ran a competitive tender process over the summer, and we were impressed with Conamar’s diligence and commitment to the project. We look forward to delivering this refurbishment with them into an increasingly tightly supplied market.” Nathanial Crichton, pre construction director at Conamar, added:“The competitive tender, followed by a rigorous due diligence period, enabled us to demonstrate our understanding of the client’s development drivers and value priorities. “Through collaborative design and commercial analysis, we identified additional net internal area and realised close to £2 million in cost efficiencies. Our dedicated design partners and core supply chain have been instrumental in shaping a deliverable and efficient route to market. We are very pleased to be moving forward and look forward to bringing this project to life.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Stepnell commences second phase of expansion works at Hazeley Enterprise Park
COMPLETE construction partner Stepnell has commenced the latest phase of development works on Hazeley Enterprise Park outside of Twyford, extending the current facilities within the park to include light industrial buildings, energy-efficient offices and a community hub. Addressing the shortage of quality business units in the area, Hazeley Enterprise Park will deliver 17 new light industrial units, as well as up to ten new office units. At the heart of the Hazeley Enterprise Park will be the Hazeley Hub which will include a cafe as well as meeting and event spaces, offering both tenants and the wider community a place to connect. Stepnell has commenced remediation works of the site, formerly a chicken farm and feed mill, to ensure that the ground is suitable to support the next stage of construction. Rob Speirs, director at Stepnell, said: “From our nearby Southampton office, we understand the local demand for high quality industrial and commercial units within the area and the ease of access that such a development affords from the M3. “Hazeley Enterprise Park will provide the local area with enhanced access to high-quality commercial spaces and increasing employment opportunities in the commercial and industrial sectors. “Working on an active site requires strong site control and communication and we’ve already been proactively sending out monthly newsletters to residents to keep them informed on the project’s progress. We’re also engaging with surrounding neighbours to ensure that disruption to their working day is kept to a minimum.” Located among parkland and woodland, environmental sensitivity is at the core of Stepnell’s work on the site. From the earliest stages, Stepnell is prioritising ecological responsibility, from utilising the 12-acre field to enhance the developments biodiversity and long-term sustainability to planting native trees and shrubs and wild flower areas. Supporting the sustainable goals at the core of the development, Step Energy – the energy and renewables business within Stepnell Group – has provided solar panels for the roofing and electric vehicle charging will be provided to all units as standard. Social value will also remain a key priority, working with contractors to support the integration of apprenticeships as well as utilising local suppliers wherever possible. Nikki Bream, managing director at Hazeley Group, said: “We are pleased by the pace of work on site, with visible differences being made each day. First-phase units and offices are due to be completed by early summer 2026, with some already pre-let to new businesses to the site. “The Hub will follow slightly later and will be a valuable addition to the Park. Tenants, both current and prospective, are excited by the future availability on site of a versatile space which can be booked for larger meetings and events, providing the opportunity to host wider business gatherings and entertain suppliers and customers. “We are creating an attractive vaulted building, designed to allow the dual purpose of providing both tenants and the public with somewhere to meet or entertain in our beautiful, rural setting.” To explore Stepnell’s expertise, visit https://www.stepnell.co.uk/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Timber Takes Centre Stage as McLaren Secures Landmark Clerkenwell Office
McLaren Construction has been chosen by developer Global Holdings Management Group to deliver Xylo, a pioneering 100,000 square foot office building in Clerkenwell that will become the UK’s largest all timber frame workplace. The nine storey scheme in central London moves into full construction following the completion of enabling works. McLaren will now work with architects Piercy&Co, project manager Avison Young, services and sustainability engineers Max Fordham, and structural and civil engineers Heyne Tillett Steel, with completion targeted for the second quarter of 2028. Xylo is being billed as one of the most environmentally advanced office buildings in the world. Its structure will be formed entirely from glulam beams and cross laminated timber, supplied by Hybrid Structures, part of the William Hare Group. The extensive use of engineered timber significantly reduces embodied carbon when compared with traditional steel and concrete, while also aiming to create a warm, natural internal environment for future occupiers. Darren Gill, managing director for London and South at McLaren Construction, said the job represents a major step forward for sustainable office development in the capital. “This is a pioneering use of structural timber and off site manufacturing to deliver a high level of buildability and sustainability on a typically tight central London site,” he said. “The result will be a landmark project that redefines what a sustainable, healthy workplace can be. Rigorous digital information management systems enable us to monitor carbon emissions as the project progresses and ensure that it comfortably meets its ambitious targets.” Josh Lawrence, chief executive of Global Holdings Management Group UK, added: “We are delighted to be working with McLaren to deliver Xylo – a game changing project and a significant milestone for our industry. Xylo is going to be the perfect building for companies that are leaders in their fields, showcasing the most environmentally friendly technologies in a truly beautiful building, underpinned by a vibrant neighbourhood and excellent transport links.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Heathrow Third Runway Gets Government Backing in £33 Billion Superhub Plan
The government has thrown its weight behind Heathrow Airport Limited’s proposal for a third runway, paving the way for a £33 billion expansion to create a new “superhub” at the UK’s largest airport. The preferred scheme, put forward by Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL), includes around £21 billion for the construction of a new north west runway and a further £12 billion for associated terminal and airfield infrastructure. In addition to the expansion plans, HAL has committed to investing a separate £15 billion in modernising and upgrading existing airport facilities. This refurbishment programme is independent of the third runway and is expected to go ahead regardless of the outcome of the planning process for expansion. The decision ends the chances of a rival proposal led by billionaire hotel entrepreneur Surinder Arora, whose alternative vision for Heathrow’s future has been under consideration alongside HAL’s plans. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed the government’s choice on Tuesday morning, following what she described as a detailed comparison of the remaining options for growth at Heathrow. “Following a comparative assessment of the remaining proposals for Heathrow expansion, the government’s view is that the north west runway scheme brought forward by Heathrow Airport Limited offers the most credible and deliverable option,” she said. “Today is another important step to enable a third runway and build on these benefits, setting the direction for the remainder of our work to get the policy framework in place for airport expansion. This will allow a decision on a third runway plan this parliament which meets our key tests including on the environment and economic growth.” Heathrow Airport Limited will now prepare and submit an application for development consent for the north west runway, triggering a formal planning and examination process. In a statement, HAL welcomed the government’s backing. “We welcome the Government’s support for our scheme to build a third runway at Heathrow – the UK’s gateway to growth. Expanding Heathrow will mean more connectivity, increased trade, improved passenger experience and a huge economic boost for the British businesses that will help design and build it. “However, we still need further clarity as to how the crucial next phase of the project will be regulated. We need definitive decisions from the CAA and Government by mid December so that delay to the project can be avoided and we can get on with delivering this vital project for our customers and for the UK.” The chosen scheme will require significant alterations to surrounding infrastructure, including major works to the M25 estimated at around £1.25 billion. These works are expected to involve realignment and tunnelling to accommodate the new runway while maintaining one of the country’s busiest motorways. With the government now formally backing HAL’s plan, attention will turn to the detailed planning process, environmental assessments and regulatory decisions that will determine how and when the third runway can move from policy to construction. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Perega completes RIBA Stage 4 design works on Queen’s Hospital Same Day Emergency Care unit
Leading structural and civil engineering consultancy, Perega, is pleased to announce the successful completion of its design works up to RIBA Stage 4 on the Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) unit at Queen’s Hospital in Romford. Following the project briefing in October 2024, the firm has since played a pivotal role in creating the technical design package that will enhance modern healthcare provision for Barking, Havering & Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, continuing Perega’s five-year strong working relationship with the Trust. The SDEC project, a ward refurbishment within the modern Queen’s Hospital, presented opportunities to leverage Perega’s team’s expertise in delivering efficient and innovative technical design solutions. Using the hospital’s comprehensive site records, the team conducted detailed assessments of the roof structure to accommodate the new mechanical plant. Commenting on the project, Sam Coleman, Associate Structural Engineer at Perega, said: “We reviewed the originally specified mechanical plant loadings on the roof and determined that a large steel frame would be necessary to support the plant. Based on our experience with healthcare projects, we knew the plant originally specified was on the high end of loading, and were therefore able to request that the mechanical engineer explore an alternative manufacturer. They were able to find a significantly lighter unit which meant we didn’t need to install a heavy steel frame, considerably reducing material usage and costs and avoiding breaking through the waterproofing.” A notable challenge during the design process involved routing new ductwork from the ground floor to the roof while ensuring zero disruption to an operational ward on the first floor directly above the SDEC. Perega undertook extensive investigations to help realise the design team’s solution that brought the ducting externally up the face of the building through a tight space in the external wall. This minimised disruption to the hospital’s operations, a crucial aspect of working in a live healthcare environment. Furthermore, the ground floor’s suspended slab construction and existing ground gas issues necessitated careful coordination of drainage, which the team expertly validated. Perega’s experience in the healthcare sector, characterised by a deep understanding of not only structural requirements but also the broader implications for other consultants, proved invaluable. It allowed the firm to offer alternative, more efficient solutions during this stage, aiding the successful collaboration with M&E consultants, Redworth Associates, and architects, Arcadis. The completion of the RIBA Stage 4 for the SDEC unit demonstrates the Perega team’s commitment to delivering modern, large-scale healthcare facilities with a focus on efficiency and minimal disruption during implementation. Looking ahead, Perega is also involved in the early stages of the A&E transformation project at Queen’s Hospital, further expanding its contribution to the hospital’s vital infrastructure. To find out more about Perega’s expertise in the healthcare sector, please visit: perega.co.uk/sectors/healthcare. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals