Watkin Jones Reaches Major Construction Milestone on 204-Bed Bristol PBSA Development
Watkin Jones has reached a significant construction milestone on Skywalks, a new 204-bed purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) development in Bristol, after celebrating the topping out of the scheme being delivered for a joint venture between Moorfield Group and Tiger Developments. The milestone marks the completion of the building’s principal structural phase, bringing the project another step closer to delivering much-needed student accommodation within Bristol’s rapidly evolving Temple Quarter regeneration district. Comprising four interconnected buildings, Skywalks will provide a mixture of ensuite cluster apartments and self-contained studios, designed to accommodate the changing requirements of students seeking modern, well-connected accommodation. The development is positioned to help address the continued shortage of dedicated student housing in Bristol, where demand remains strong and the delivery of new accommodation is an important consideration for the city’s expanding higher education sector. Once completed, the scheme will be operated by Host Students, the student accommodation management business of Tiger Developments, providing professionally managed accommodation within one of Bristol’s most strategically important regeneration locations. Situated within the wider Temple Quarter regeneration area, Skywalks forms part of the ongoing transformation of a substantial section of the city, where investment in residential, commercial and supporting infrastructure is helping establish a more connected urban environment. The development also reflects the growing importance of sustainability in the design and construction of new student accommodation, with increasingly demanding environmental performance expectations influencing investment and development decisions across the PBSA market. Skywalks is targeting an EPC A rating alongside BREEAM Excellent certification, demonstrating the project team’s commitment to delivering energy-efficient buildings with reduced operational environmental impacts. A range of low-carbon technologies and infrastructure connections will be incorporated into the scheme, including rooftop photovoltaic panels to generate renewable electricity. The development will also connect to Bristol’s district heating network, providing an alternative to conventional individual building heating systems and supporting the city’s wider ambitions to reduce carbon emissions. These measures are intended to improve long-term building performance while supporting more efficient operation and management throughout the development’s lifecycle. For investors and developers operating within the PBSA sector, energy efficiency and environmental credentials have become increasingly important considerations, particularly as operators seek to balance sustainability commitments with the long-term costs of managing student residential buildings. The topping out ceremony brought together representatives from Watkin Jones, Moorfield Group, Tiger Developments and key project partners to recognise the progress achieved and the contribution of those involved in delivering the development. The event also provided an opportunity to acknowledge the construction teams responsible for bringing the four-building scheme through a major stage of its delivery programme. With the principal structural works reaching completion, attention will increasingly turn towards the remaining construction activities, building services installations, internal fit-out and the completion of the accommodation and communal areas. Skywalks adds to the pipeline of purpose-built student accommodation being delivered in major UK university cities, where the availability of high-quality student housing continues to influence development and investment strategies. For Bristol, the project represents another addition to the Temple Quarter regeneration programme, combining new residential accommodation with sustainable building design and investment in an increasingly important part of the city. The development highlights the continued role of specialist contractors, developers and institutional investment partners in delivering modern student accommodation that supports university communities while contributing to the wider regeneration of urban centres. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Natural Power supports Valorem on €220m refinancing of 192 MW renewable portfolio in France
Natural Power, a leading renewable energy consultancy and service provider, has provided technical due diligence to support the successful €220 million refinancing of Valorem’s Project Atlas, a 192 MW portfolio of renewable energy assets across France. The transaction involved the refinancing and legal restructuring of 15 renewable energy assets, comprising eight onshore wind farms, six operational solar photovoltaic (PV) plants and a battery energy storage project. Natural Power was appointed as technical advisor to the lenders, undertaking comprehensive technical due diligence across the portfolio. Its assessment covered asset technologies, operational performance, grid connections, electricity offtake arrangements, operations and maintenance contracts, asset management agreements and the technical assumptions underpinning the financial model. Axelle Foix, Principal Due Diligence Advisor at Natural Power, said: “Project Atlas is a significant transaction involving a diverse portfolio of renewable energy technologies. Our role was to provide the lenders with a comprehensive and independent technical assessment, examining operational performance, contractual frameworks, energy yield and long-term asset considerations. “By drawing on our multidisciplinary expertise across wind, solar and battery storage, we delivered the detailed technical insight needed to support the refinancing process. “We’re delighted to have contributed to this important transaction, which strengthens Valorem’s ability to invest in future renewable energy projects and supports the continued growth of clean energy infrastructure in France.” Gauthier Leibenguth, Project Finance & Investment Manager, said: “We would like to thank the Natural Power team for its key role as technical advisor on the ATLAS portfolio. “Mobilising a broad team across multiple asset technologies while meeting tight timeline constraints was essential to this deal. Natural Power’s deep familiarity with our wind assets, built through previous standalone financing audits, combined with strong reactivity and a collaborative approach, was key to keeping the transaction on schedule.” The transaction demonstrates Natural Power’s ability to deliver multidisciplinary technical advisory services for complex renewable energy portfolios, supporting lenders, investors and asset owners throughout the financing and refinancing process. More here: www.naturalpower.com/uk/expertise/service/advisory/due-diligence Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
North West Construction Hub passes £700m milestone for projects procured since 2023
Over £700m of public sector construction projects have now been procured through the latest frameworks of the North West Construction Hub (NWCH). Two leisure projects for Fylde Council at St Annes and Kirkham, with a combined procurement value of £10.16m, took the total value procured through the current NWCH frameworks beyond £700m. The schemes are being delivered in partnership with Places Leisure. Since 2023, projects procured through the frameworks have spanned local government, education, blue light services, leisure, regeneration and other community infrastructure. NWCH is a not-for-profit public sector procurement organisation and is led by a board comprising representatives from public sector organisations across the North West, with Manchester City Council acting as the legal entity behind the organisation. The Hub operates four construction frameworks, enabling public sector organisations to procure projects ranging from small works to major capital schemes worth more than £25m. These include its Small Works Framework for projects valued from £2,000 to £1m; Low Value Framework for schemes between £1m and £4m; Medium Value Framework covering projects from £3m to £8m; and High Value Framework for projects valued at £8m and above. The High Value Framework is itself divided into projects worth £8m to £25m and major schemes valued at more than £25m. One of the most high-profile projects procured through NWCH is Eden Project Morecambe, where VINCI Building was appointed through the High Value Framework in April 2026 to deliver the landmark development on Morecambe’s seafront. Current and recently procured schemes include the £85m St Helens town centre regeneration programme with VINCI; the £41.8m Radcliffe Hub; Morgan Sindall’s £17.6m Acoustics Building at the University of Salford; and an £8m programme at Wilmslow High School being delivered by Conlon Construction. Other projects include the £5.5m Heywood Civic Centre scheme, the £1.4m Radcliffe Enterprise Centre, a £900,000 project for National Museums Liverpool and a £1m Tawd Valley Housing scheme. Established in 2009, NWCH was created to help public sector organisations procure construction projects efficiently while improving collaboration and the wider value generated from public investment. Its frameworks have been developed by the public sector and provide organisations with access to contractors which have already undergone a rigorous procurement and evaluation process. NWCH says contractors can be appointed in as little as six weeks where project programmes require it. Arina Cernysiova, NWCH Framework Lead, said: “Reaching the £700 million mark is an incredible milestone and a fantastic reflection of the continued confidence our clients place in our frameworks. “NWCH is demonstrating what can be achieved through strong relationships and collaborative procurement, and we’re proud to see projects delivered through the Hub, supporting the continued regeneration of the North West. “We also place a major emphasis on ensuring public investment creates wider social value, supporting local supply chains, employment and skills, sustainability and long-term benefits for communities.” Jonathan Noad, Chief Officer Sustainable Growth at Lancaster City Council, said: “I have used NWCH for a number of years on a range of complex and smaller projects. One such recent project is Eden Project Morecambe. “The NWCH team is always willing to add value to our projects by bringing in their own expertise and perspectives and introducing us to other comparable projects. The fact they are run as a public body and pride themselves on social value sets them apart from other framework providers.” Warden Construction, which employs 97 people and is based in Lancashire and Warrington, is appointed to NWCH’s current Small Works, Low Value and Medium Value frameworks. Ian Williams, managing director of Warden Construction, said: “Passing £700m of projects procured through the current frameworks demonstrates the confidence public sector organisations across the North West continue to place in the Hub. “As a framework partner, we regularly see the benefits the Hub provides to local authority and public sector clients. Its greatest strength is that it offers a trusted, compliant and low-risk procurement route, giving clients confidence that projects can progress efficiently while maintaining high standards of governance and accountability. “Through its focus on social value, the Hub is also helping ensure public sector investment leaves a positive and lasting legacy in communities across the North West.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Medway NHS Foundation Trust digitises fire risk management
Helps fire safety teams prioritise action and investment Medway NHS Foundation Trust, which operates Medway Maritime Hospital, has introduced a new digital system to manage fire safety information and improve its understanding of fire risks across the hospital estate. By taking data from multiple sources, the BIS Lens system created by data experts BIS Consult, provides the Trust’s Fire Safety Group with a new strategic tool designed to bring together and analyse fire risk assessment information centrally, in a digital format. In one example, using the tool to examine fire assessments collectively revealed how a single, estate-wide approach to cabling issues would be more cost effective than several individual repairs. Medway NHS Foundation Trust is a single-site hospital Trust based in Gillingham, Kent serving more than 427,000 people across Medway and Swale. Neil McElduff, Director of Estates and Facilities for the Trust, said: “The new system is a significant step in our shift towards digital. It underpins the strategic direction of fire safety management and will help maintain a safe environment across our hospital. The work to date shows the system’s potential to drive similar insights for other critical areas of risk and compliance across the Trust.” New insights generated from interactive dashboards will support fire safety review meetings and help guide the Trust’s investment decisions by making it easier to identify priority risks, outstanding actions and recurring themes across the whole estate, such as further fire risk assessments, fire door replacement or new evacuation plans. Like many NHS estates, the Trust’s fire safety information was previously held across numerous separate records and documents, making it difficult to analyse information collectively. Jason Brittin, Capital Projects/Programme Manager for the Trust, who led the project, said: “The BIS Consult solution has demonstrated how we can transform the way we manage fire safety information across our hospital estate. The improved visibility of risk will help our fire safety and estates teams prioritise action, support regulatory compliance and make more efficient investment decisions.” The new structured digital approach supports NHS guidance for managing fire safety, including HTM 05-03, which explains how NHS organisations should assess fire risk and HTM 05-01, which provides the wider framework for managing fire safety across healthcare buildings. It also supports the ‘Golden thread’ principle of keeping accurate and accessible fire safety information available throughout the life of a building. BIS Consult has previously worked on similar risk management systems for Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and Airedale General Hospital, tackling asset condition, asbestos and RAAC. Nick Campbell-Voegt, Managing Director of BIS Consult, said: “The digital tool enables Medway NHS Foundation Trust to take a more connected, data-driven approach to risk reduction. By developing a single source of truth, it gives teams clearer priorities and ultimately helps create safer hospitals. Other areas of NHS estate risk can benefit from the same method, including water safety and structural condition of buildings or other assets.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The construction sector needs to do more to accommodate neurodiversity in the industry, here’s why
With October marking ADHD Awareness Month, experts reveal how the trades sector can do more to accommodate neurodiverse tradies With October marking ADHD Awareness Month, Patricia Gardiner, trades expert for Trade Direct Insurance, has outlined the barriers that neurodiverse tradies still face, as well as how the sector can adjust to help affected tradespeople. “Tradies are significantly more likely to be neurodiverse than the general population. Research has found that whilst an estimated 15-20% of Brits are neurodiverse, over half (52%) of tradespeople consider themselves to have a neurodiverse condition1. “For many people with neurodiversity, a practical career as a tradesperson offers many significant benefits over other career options that may lead them to pursue a career on the tools. Independence and flexibility, the nature of hands-on practical work, and individual learning in the form of apprenticeships and mentor schemes, are all positive factors that many people on the neurodiverse spectrum find appealing. “However, the environment that attracts neurodiverse talent can also present challenges. If the sector wants to expand its current talent pool and secure a healthy future by growing the workforce, it must go further to accommodate the needs of all tradespeople.” The hidden obstacles facing neurodiverse tradies “It’s true that the trades play to many of the strengths associated with neurodiversity, but the day-to-day realities of working on-site also present unique challenges, particularly for those with ADHD. “For a self-employed tradie, their job extends beyond practical work. Invoicing, communication, managing quotes, tracking inventories, and scheduling demands high levels of organisation and effective time management. For a tradesperson with ADHD, tackling these tasks can be overwhelming, and could lead to forgotten admin or even friction with clients, due to communication challenges or missed deadlines. These administrative problems are not usually an indicator of a tradie’s ability to do their job to a high standard, but can cause doubt or a loss of confidence for customers. “Insurance, that can be vital for tradies but can be complex and difficult to understand, also presents challenges for neurodiverse tradespeople. Fully understanding the details of a policy can be daunting and can leave tradies underprotected if they do not possess the right public liability insurance, their tools insurance does not cover the full value of their inventory, or if they plan to take on an apprentice but do not have the correct employer’s liability insurance policy. “On-site communication is another hurdle. Many people with neurodiversity find it easier to follow written instructions or may need to clarify key points before they understand what is being asked of them, but asking for instructions to be written down or repeated can be perceived negatively. This could cause a tradie to choose not to ask for clarification in future, resulting in misunderstandings that could be avoided.” Unlocking the overlooked potential for the industry “Addressing these challenges is vital for solving the construction skills shortage the UK is facing. Younger generations have a much greater awareness of their neurodiversity than previous generations. Combined with this, a perceived lack of attractive career options is driving many into unemployment, as individuals feel uninspired and unsuited to the world of work. Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims for young people aged 16–24 with ADHD and autism have tripled in recent years2, an issue which is contributing to increasing numbers of young people being out of work, education or training, commonly known as NEETs (Not in Employment Education or Training). “The construction industry should recognise this as a significant recruitment opportunity. If the sector can become more accessible to neurodiverse individuals, and if we can successfully highlight the many perks and benefits that make it a genuinely attractive career for young people, we can address youth unemployment and the skills shortage crisis at the same time. “Many young people claiming PIP or seeking adjustments are doing so because office jobs are not suited to their ways of working. Construction offers an environment that ticks many of the boxes that motivate neurodiverse individuals, such as variety and visible progress towards goals. By positioning the trades as a natural and rewarding path for young people, the industry can tap into a motivated pool of talent currently overlooked by office-based sectors. “What’s more, many of the required adjustments are universally beneficial to all tradespeople, as well as being particularly helpful for those who are neurodiverse. We can adjust regulatory and insurance language to ensure that it’s clear, to the point, and easy to understand. We can change apprenticeship curriculums to make them focused on practical learning, digital management and organisation. “Changing how we promote the trades as a career choice for young people will allow us to appeal to talented individuals who are struggling to find direction, by giving them greater awareness of an option that might just be a perfect match for them.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Robertson Timber Engineering achieves Verified by Cast status
Robertson Timber Engineering (RTE) has achieved Verified by Cast status, providing independent recognition of the company’s capability, performance and delivery credentials within the modern methods of construction (MMC) sector. Verified by Cast is an independent assessment for organisations operating within the MMC market. Conducted by specialist consultancy Cast, the process reviews evidence across three core areas: company performance, product and system accreditation, and customer satisfaction, providing confidence that organisations have demonstrated industry leading capability and credentials. The verification reflects the established track record of RTE, the recognised quality and safety standards of the company, and its commitment to delivering high levels of customer service throughout the construction process. For more than 30 years, RTE has designed, manufactured and erected precision-engineered timber frame structures across the UK. Operating from its manufacturing facility in Elgin, the company combines specialist expertise with advanced digital design and manufacturing technologies to deliver timber frame and mass timber solutions for residential and commercial developments nationwide. The verification process assessed evidence relating to organisational performance, product and system accreditation, and customer satisfaction. RTE demonstrated established management systems, quality assurance processes and a strong track record of project delivery, supported by recognised industry certifications and accreditations including ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, BOPAS accreditation, Constructionline Gold membership, CATG. CHAS Elite accreditation and robust supply chain assurance processes. The off-site manufacturing approach of RTE helps customers improve cost certainty, reduce waste and increase programme efficiency, while supporting more sustainable construction methods and helping to address skills shortages across the industry. Alongside timber frame solutions, RTE provides mass timber products including CLT (cross-laminated timber) and Glulam (glued laminated timber), supporting growing demand for lower-carbon construction solutions. Timber frame construction can save around five tonnes of CO₂ per home compared with traditional masonry construction. Mike Turner, Managing Director, Robertson Timber Engineering, said: “Achieving Verified by Cast status provides independent recognition of the expertise, capability and standards that underpin our work. “The assessment reflects the strength of our people, the quality of our manufacturing and delivery processes, and our commitment to supporting customers throughout the project lifecycle. “It reinforces for customers, partners and specifiers our ability to deliver high-quality timber engineering solutions, while demonstrating the evidence, experience and credentials behind our approach to modern methods of construction.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals