ILI Group shortlisted for Green Business of the Year at the British Business Awards 2026
Hamilton-based clean energy infrastructure developer ILI Group has been shortlisted for Green Business of the Year at the British Business Awards 2026, recognising its role in developing the infrastructure needed to support the UK’s transition to net zero. The awards will take place at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) on 30 April 2026, bringing together around 2,000 business leaders from across the UK. More than 400 companies entered this year’s awards, with shortlisted businesses assessed across areas including business performance, innovation, workforce and culture, customer impact, and contribution to society and the wider economy. ILI Group develops large-scale energy storage and green hyperscale data centres – infrastructure that supports the transition to a low-carbon electricity system. Its portfolio comprises 4.1GW of infrastructure projects, including 2.6GW of energy storage and 1.5GW of green hyperscale data centres. These data centres are collectively known as The Stoics: a proposed network of three strategically located facilities at Cato (Fife), Rufus (East Ayrshire) and Aurelius (North Lanarkshire). Together, these projects are designed to help store, balance and optimise renewable electricity, while creating green digital infrastructure that can make better use of clean power and help reduce curtailment. A major milestone for the business came in 2023 with the sale of the 500MW Loch na Cathrach pumped storage hydro project to Statkraft, representing one of the most significant long-duration energy storage developments currently progressing in Europe. ILI is now progressing further nationally significant infrastructure, including the 900MW / 15-hour Balliemeanoch pumped storage hydro project, which is expected to achieve planning consent in 2026. Over their operational lifetime, ILI’s energy storage projects could enable more than 150 million tonnes of CO₂ savings, equivalent to the annual emissions of around 74 million UK cars, underlining the scale of environmental impact the company’s development model can deliver. Mark Wilson, CEO of ILI Group, said: “Being shortlisted for Green Business of the Year is a fantastic recognition of the work our team has been doing over many years. At ILI, our focus is on developing the infrastructure that allows renewable energy to work in practice – ensuring it can be stored, balanced and used when it’s needed. That same approach now extends to green digital infrastructure through The Stoics, our proposed network of green hyperscale data centres, designed to support growing demand for AI and data while helping accelerate the transition to a lower-carbon electricity system. We’re a small team, but we’ve consistently delivered complex, nationally significant projects that attract major international investment. This nomination reflects both the scale of that impact and the importance of building the infrastructure needed for net zero.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals About the British Business Awards The British Business Awards celebrate businesses from across the UK, from major international companies to high-growth SMEs and family-owned firms. This year’s event at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre will include a special guest appearance from George Clooney, alongside keynote speaker Sir Bob Geldof and co-hosts Rob Brydon and Elaine C Smith. The awards will once again raise funds for Social Bite, with a target of helping raise more than £1 million for the homelessness charity. About ILI Group Intelligent Land Investments Group (ILI Group) is a Scottish clean energy and infrastructure developer with a portfolio of more than 4.1GW of energy storage and digital infrastructure projects, including 1.4GW of pumped storage hydro, 1.2GW of utility-scale battery storage, and 1.5GW of green hyperscale data centres through The Stoics. The company reached a major milestone with the sale of its first 500MW pumped storage hydro project, Loch na Cathrach at Loch Ness, to Statkraft, one of Europe’s largest renewable energy companies. The deal underlined ILI Group’s expertise in progressing complex, nationally significant infrastructure and its role in helping shape the UK’s clean energy and digital future.
Urbana Partners UK unveil 78,550 sq ft office refurbishment in Birmingham city centre
A prominent seven-storey office building in Birmingham city centre is now available to let following a major refurbishment by landlord, Urbana Partners UK. King Edward House, on New Street, offers 78,550 sq ft of newly refurbished workspace, including several unique internal courtyards and a range of high-quality occupier amenities. All seven floors have been refurbished to CAT A specification, providing generous floor plates of up to 12,000 sq ft. Originally built in 1936, King Edward House is characterised by its imposing Portland stone façade and will now be complemented by 5,000 sq ft of outdoor workspace. Internal light wells provide courtyard space on the second, third and fourth floors, while occupiers will also benefit from two roof terraces on the 7th floor, with far reaching views across the city centre. Additional amenities include a large gym and studio space, as well as end-of-trip cycle storage and shower facilities. In addition to the building’s attractive heritage façade, the refurbishment has provided strong sustainability credentials, including operational smart energy services, LED lighting and photovoltaic solar roof panels, and is targeting BREEAM Excellent and WiredScore Gold certifications. Nick Lloyd, Partner at Urbana Partners UK, said: “We are delighted to bring King Edward House back to life through our sustainable refurbishment of the building, which has included a complete repositioning of the ground and lower ground floors. These now provide the new reception and arrival area overlooking New Street, as well as high-quality occupier amenities. “With wellbeing as a primary driver, the refurbishment includes a new 7th floor roof terrace for all occupiers as well as seven other lettable outdoor workspaces. With the space offered at a considerable discount to the current top rents being achieved in the city, we look forward to welcoming occupiers into the new King Edward House community very soon.” Charles Toogood, partner at Newmark, added: “King Edward House presents a compelling opportunity for occupiers seeking modern, energy efficient workspace in the heart of Birmingham city centre. The combination of generous floor plates and a wide range of amenities will appeal to a broad range of businesses, from established corporates to growing firms. “Given the significant investment in the building and its proximity to key transport hubs, we expect the scheme to attract strong interest, particularly from those seeking value relative to other available office space in the city centre.” King Edward House is located close to Birmingham New Street station and within a short walk of Birmingham Snow Hill, Birmingham Moor Street and HS2’s future Birmingham Curzon Street station. For more information, please contact Mark Robinson and Charlotte Fullard at Avison Young, and George Jennings and Charles Toogood at Newmark. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Flexible workspaces: The fast-growing sector transforming the UK commercial property market
As flexible workspace provider Orega celebrates 25 years in business, the company is spotlighting how premium flexible offices have moved from perk to business-critical infrastructure. Against this backdrop of economic success, Orega’s 25 year milestone reflects not only the evolution of the flexible workspace sector nationally, but also the growing importance of premium flexible offices in cities across the UK. Alan Pepper, CEO of Orega, comments: “Reaching our upcoming 25th anniversary is a proud milestone for the business. The flexible workspace sector has evolved dramatically since Orega was founded – we’ve weathered the storm of three economic downturns and a global pandemic – and we’ve come out stronger than ever. “It’s clear that flexibility is no longer a ‘nice to have’, it’s now central to how modern businesses operate.” For growing businesses, the appeal is strategic as much as practical. Flexible workspaces allow firms to scale without long-term real estate commitments, access central locations that help attract talent, and present a professional environment that matches their ambitions. Bristol is perhaps the clearest example of a strong regional economy proving Orega’s point. The West of England is growing at four times the national average, generating over £54bn annually, with the city maintaining the highest rate of net business start-ups outside London. That economic momentum is driving sustained demand for high-quality, flexible office space from professional services, tech and financial firms. But Bristol is part of a broader national picture where hybrid working has matured from a pandemic-era experiment into an established operating model, prompting businesses of all sizes to fundamentally rethink what they need from office space, and why. Alan adds: “In cities like Bristol, we’re seeing sustained demand from established corporations and ambitious growing businesses who want flexibility without compromising on quality or location. The role of the office has changed; it’s about creating environments that foster collaboration, support wellbeing and reflect a company’s brand and ambition.” A proven model for sustainable growth Over the past two and a half years, Orega has opened eight new premium centres and grown its team with key strategic hires including CEO Alan Pepper, COO David Kinnaird, and Commercial Director Sophie Turnbull. Orega is also the pioneer of Management Agreements with Landlords, a unique approach to flexible workspaces that has been central to its success, setting a precedent for sustainable growth in the sector. The company’s momentum shows no signs of slowing down, with ambitious plans to expand to 45 locations over the next five years at an average rate of four new sites per year. The focus will remain on London, the UK’s six big regional cities – including Bristol – and select locations where demand for premium flexible workspaces continues to rise. Alan comments: “Our future growth will be shaped by the same principles that got us to where we are today. We want to keep empowering businesses to unlock their true potential, remaining agile and responsive to the changing market. The flexible workspace industry is maturing and we’re proud to be at the forefront of that evolution.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Vistry to build 214 homes at Garendon Park, Loughborough
Vistry, the UK’s leading provider of mixed‑tenure homes, has exchanged contracts on land to deliver 214 high‑quality family homes at Garendon Park in Loughborough. The 14.2‑acre site will provide a mix of affordable and open‑market homes, with a range of two‑, three‑ and four‑bedroom properties. The wider Garendon Park scheme already benefits from outline planning consent, and Vistry expects to submit a reserved matters application for its parcel in the coming weeks. The development forms part of the major 3,200‑home Sustainable Urban Extension (SUE) to the west of Loughborough. This wider scheme will include 16 hectares of employment land, a mixed‑use community hub, two new primary schools, and extensive public open space including parks, play areas, allotments, access roads and a strategic link road. Andy Reynolds, Managing Director of Vistry Group’s Partnerships division in the South East Midlands, said:“It’s exciting to be building so many family homes on this major new development that aligns perfectly with our commitment to delivering high‑quality, sustainable, and community‑centric places to live. Our homes will be designed to blend seamlessly with their surroundings and will set a new benchmark in modern living, bringing untold benefits to the local community.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Federation of Piling Specialists Launches UK-Wide Digital Map to Support Smarter Design and Potential Pile Reuse
The Federation of Piling Specialists (FPS) is pleased to announce it has launched a new interactive UK-wide digital map of completed piling projects, marking a significant step forward in how geotechnical data is used to inform design and improve sustainability across the construction sector. The FPS Geotechnical Data Map visualises historical piling project data using ArcGIS, allowing users to explore completed works across different locations and ground conditions. By bringing together datasets submitted by FPS members, the platform provides a valuable new resource for clients, consultants and contractors involved in foundation design. The tool has been developed to support design optimisation at an early stage, enabling project teams to identify comparable schemes, better understand ground conditions, and reduce uncertainty. In doing so, it has the potential to improve efficiency, reduce risk and avoid unnecessary overdesign. A key feature of the platform is its ability to highlight opportunities for potential pile and foundation reuse. By making historical data more accessible and visible, the FPS aims to support more sustainable construction practices and contribute to reducing embodied carbon across the built environment. Commenting on the launch, Malcolm O’Sullivan, Chair, Federation of Piling Specialists said: “The FPS Geotechnical Data Map has the potential to change how we think about foundation design. By making historical data more visible and usable, we can begin to identify opportunities for pile and foundation reuse, reduce unnecessary embodied carbon, and support a more sustainable approach to construction. This is a practical step towards a more circular economy in ground engineering.” The launch of the map also reflects a broader shift towards a more connected and data-driven industry. The FPS has positioned the platform as part of an increasingly sophisticated landscape of digital geotechnical information and intends to continue expanding its scope. Future development may include the integration of additional datasets and collaboration with external data providers. The FPS Geotechnical Data Map is now live and available to members through the FPS Website. For more information, please contact the FPS by email at fps@fps.org.uk or visit the FPS website at www.fps.org.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
GBP 50m McLaughlin & Harvey contract awarded for PATRIZIA’s major City redevelopment at 108 Old Broad Street
PATRIZIA, an investment manager in global real assets, has received approval from long-standing partner Far East Organization, Singapore’s largest private property developer, to execute the GBP 50 million main build contract for the redevelopment of 108 Old Broad Street in the City of London. The contract has been awarded to McLaughlin & Harvey, with works commencing in early March 2026 and practical completion targeted for August 2027. The planning consent achieved in November enables PATRIZIA to transform the 1990s building into a modern, highly sustainable and amenity-rich destination in the heart of London’s financial district. The scheme will deliver approximately 120,000 sq ft of high-quality workspace following a 15% uplift in net lettable area. Works include sixth- and seventh-floor extensions, culminating in a new seventh-floor pavilion and large communal landscaped terrace. Ten landscaped terraces will be introduced across the upper floors, alongside a new ground floor café, enhanced reception and high-specification lower ground end-of-journey facilities. A fully electric, smart-enabled services strategy will underpin the redevelopment, targeting EPC A (B minimum), BREEAM Excellent and WiredScore Gold, reinforcing the project’s low-carbon and future-ready credentials. Knight Frank and Cushman & Wakefield have been instructed as joint leasing agents, with marketing now underway to secure occupiers ahead of completion. The scheme has been designed by Stiff + Trevillion, with Quartz acting as project manager, Gardiner & Theobald as quantity surveyor, and Montagu Evans advising on planning. Dan Williams, Head of Investment Management Development at PATRIZIA, commented: “This appointment marks the transition from consent to delivery at 108 Old Broad Street and a key step in executing our repositioning strategy for prime City assets. With the building stripped out and ready to mobilise, we are progressing into construction with a strong team in place to deliver significant upper-floor extensions, best-in-class amenity and an all-electric building strategy. Our focus now is on safe, efficient execution and quality outcomes through to completion.” Chris Collins, Pre-Construction Director at McLaughlin & Harvey, commented: “We are proud to partner with PATRIZIA on a redevelopment that combines significant structural interventions with ambitious sustainability targets. Our focus will be on delivering the extensions and all-electric building strategy to the highest quality standards while maintaining programme certainty in a busy City environment.” The repositioning of 108 Old Broad Street reinforces PATRIZIA’s wider value-add strategy across key European cities, building on a portfolio of landmark brown-to-green transformations within its EUR 2.5bn+ pan-European value-add programme. These projects form a core pillar of the investment manager’s commitment to delivering future-fit offices through design quality, decarbonisation and proactive asset management. Ker Gilchrist, Head of UK Investment Management at PATRIZIA, added: “The redevelopment of 108 Old Broad Street demonstrates how we connect international capital with our own asset solutions to deliver a Grade A, amenity-rich building offering compelling relative value in the City market. As we move into the construction, we remain focussed on disciplined execution to ensure the asset is positioned strongly for occupiers seeking quality and sustainability in a core financial district location.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals