Hammerson advances Bristol regeneration with 600 bed student scheme at Cabot Gate
Hammerson has secured outline planning consent for a major purpose built student accommodation scheme in Bristol, marking a significant step forward in the redevelopment of a key city centre site. The approval from Bristol City Council will enable the transformation of underutilised land at Cabot Gate, located adjacent to the Cabot Circus estate. The proposals allow for the delivery of up to 600 student accommodation units, alongside new public realm and community focused spaces, subject to detailed design and reserved matters approval. The scheme forms part of Hammerson’s wider strategy to unlock value from its landholdings while enhancing the quality and connectivity of its urban assets. Positioned at one of Bristol’s principal gateway locations, the development is expected to play an important role in strengthening links between surrounding neighbourhoods and the city centre. In addition to student accommodation, the outline plans include the creation of new green spaces, improved pedestrian and cycle routes and a multi purpose community pavilion. These elements are designed to support placemaking objectives and deliver a more integrated and accessible urban environment. The planning consent follows an extensive period of public consultation and engagement with local stakeholders, ensuring alignment with the council’s broader vision for the city. The project also builds on Hammerson’s ongoing investment in Bristol, including enhancement works at Quakers Friars and the continued repositioning of Cabot Circus as a leading retail and leisure destination in the South West. Jonatan Carlring, development director at Hammerson, described the approval as a key milestone for the site, highlighting the collaborative approach taken with the local authority and community. He noted that the scheme will deliver much needed accommodation while improving connectivity and creating high quality public spaces. The Cabot Gate development reflects the continued growth of the student accommodation sector in major regional cities, where demand remains strong and well located schemes are increasingly being integrated into wider mixed use regeneration strategies. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans for Royal Liverpool Hospital nature park approved
Liverpool City Council has approved plans for a new nature-led public garden on the former Royal Liverpool University Hospital site, marking the first project from BAM UK & Ireland’s exclusive collaboration with the Eden Project. The scheme will deliver a publicly accessible green space featuring native planting, trees and wildlife-friendly elements, alongside new walking and cycling routes. Designed to support healing and quiet reflection, the biophilic landscape focuses on predominantly native species to attract pollinators and promote long-term ecological health. BAM UK & Ireland has worked with NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool and the Eden Project to embed nature-positive principles into a forward-looking healthcare environment. Mark Gibson said: “Our collaboration with the Eden Project and our partnership with NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool allows us to create something truly special for the city. This project shows how natural landscapes can play a central role in improving health and wellbeing. Receiving planning approval marks an important step and we look forward to bringing this vision to life.” James Sumner, Chief Executive of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, said: “We are pleased to be part of this fantastic partnership between BAM, the Eden Project, and the New Hospital Programme. This green space will be a valuable addition to the ongoing development of our hospital site and will be a huge benefit to our patients, visitors, staff, and the local environment.” Dan James, Commercial Director of Eden Project, said: “We’re delighted to see this project receive planning approval. We look forward to working with BAM and the NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool to demonstrate how nature can play a central role in supporting health and wellbeing, creating spaces that are restorative, inclusive, and rich in biodiversity.” Intended as a model for healthcare settings, the project will provide an accessible, biodiverse environment to bolster both emotional and physical wellbeing. It will also create opportunities for community participation, education and volunteering, with the Eden Project shaping programmes that help residents explore the role of nature in health. Construction is due to begin after final preparatory work. Delivery partners have pledged close engagement with local stakeholders, including clear communication with nearby residents, collaboration with community groups and ongoing oversight to ensure the space meets long-term community needs. The Royal Liverpool Hospital nature garden is expected to set a benchmark for integrating natural environments into major public infrastructure, creating places that are both attractive and beneficial for generations to come. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Glencar Completes £20.5m Distribution Hub for Repeat Client Bidfood in Durham
The 86,098 sq ft temperature-controlled is now fully operational and serves as Bidfood’s Northeast regional hub, strengthening its logistics capability across the region. Glencar has successfully completed a new £20.5 million temperature-controlled distribution facility for leading UK foodservice provider Bidfood, located in Chester-le-Street, County Durham. Purpose-built to support the demands of a modern foodservice supply chain, the facility comprises 23,628 sq ft of cold store, 8,833 sq ft of chilled marshalling space and 3,114 sq ft of chill store, alongside a large ambient warehouse. The scheme also includes a two-storey main office, dedicated transport office, refuse and plant areas, and a substantial external yard. Glencar delivered the scheme alongside associated infrastructure works, including Section 278 works to support access and connectivity to the surrounding highway network. The project was delivered to programme, reflecting a strong collaborative approach between Glencar, Bidfood and the wider project team. The development incorporates features to support operational efficiency and long-term sustainability, including EV charging infrastructure, 198 car parking spaces and 50 cycle bays. This marks Glencar’s second project for Bidfood, following the successful delivery of its Worcester distribution facility in spring 2025, reinforcing the strength of the ongoing partnership between the two organisations. Tom Kearsley, North Regional Director at Glencar, said: “We are proud to have delivered this facility for Bidfood, building on our existing relationship and demonstrating our capability in delivering complex, temperature-controlled logistics developments. The project is a strong example of collaborative working, with a shared focus on quality, programme certainty and operational performance.” David Foreman, Construction & Property Manager Bidfood, said: “We’re delighted to have worked with Glencar again to deliver this flagship facility for the Northeast. The new site strengthens our regional operations, allowing us to consolidate services, improve efficiency and support future growth. Glencar delivered the project to a high standard, maintaining a professional and well-managed approach throughout. In particular, the site team’s attention to detail and proactive coordination ensured an efficient and well-executed delivery.” The facility will play a key role in supporting Bidfood’s regional logistics operations, providing capacity for future growth and investment in the Northeast. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Less than 2 in 5 FM professionals have 100% accurate asset registers, reveals new survey
Despite some improvements from last year, 38% still do not update their asset registers or do not know how often they are updated According to a recent survey, 38% of facility maintenance professionals do not update their asset registers or do not know how frequently they are updated. Although the number of FM professionals with 100% accurate registers (15%) has seen a 6% uptick from last year, nearly 1 in 10 organisations do not have any asset register at all. As part of their State of Facilities Management 2026 Report, SFG20, the industry standard for building maintenance, surveyed nearly 200 professionals from various roles in the built environment sector to assess challenges and priorities regarding facility management. The survey reveals that while the industry faces high cost and compliance pressures, asset management and maintenance were identified as the leading three-year investment priority, with 72% of respondents selecting it. The FM industry’s biggest obstacles to effective asset management The report reveals that 50% of respondents still store at least part of their asset register in spreadsheet format, with only 58% using dedicated software solutions such as CAFM. 4% of FM organisations even use paper-based records to manage their asset register. Organisations using software solutions reported higher asset register accuracy – around 70% on average, compared with around 60% for those relying on spreadsheets or paper. Davy Clark says: “The continued reliance on spreadsheets— often alongside systems—highlights fragmentation in how asset information is managed. Spreadsheets can be effective for smaller estates, but they introduce well-known challenges around version control, governance, and consistent updates across teams and suppliers. Respondents using software solutions report materially higher accuracy, indicating that systematisation and control can support better data quality when implemented well.” The 2026 survey spotlighted that the number of FM organisations that update their asset registers on a monthly basis has dropped from 22% to 13%, while yearly updates have seen a slight uptick from 28% to 32%. That said, compared to 34% in 2025, 38% of FM organisations do not update their registers or do not know how often they are reviewed and refreshed. This mixed picture suggests that while reported accuracy may be improving for some organisations, the regularity and knowledge of asset register updates may be declining. Davy Clark, Senior Implementation Consultant at SFG20, says: “One of the most common issues we encounter in asset register projects is the lack of consistency and specificity in asset descriptions. Too often, assets are recorded with vague descriptions like ‘boiler’ or ‘pump’, making it incredibly difficult to map them to the correct maintenance tasks. This leads to inefficiencies, increased risk, and compliance challenges. Ensuring asset data is consistently structured, complete, and digitally maintained in a single source of truth is essential — not only for effective planned maintenance but also for long-term cost savings and compliance.” Kirsty Cogan, Managing Director at SFG20, says: “FM has to become more data driven. The days of reactive maintenance and intuition-based decision-making are numbered. Facilities Managers need access to real-time asset data, not only to meet compliance demands but also to optimise maintenance strategies, improve efficiency, and unlock cost savings. Yet, many organisations still lack the digital infrastructure to make this a reality. The past year has shown that while there is an undeniable commitment to raising standards across the industry, the road to compliance, cost efficiency, and sustainability remains a tough one to navigate. Conversations with FM professionals across different sectors highlight the same recurring theme: progress is being made, but not at the speed or scale needed to meet the growing challenges ahead.” The full report alongside SFG20’s complete list of recommendations for each covered challenge can be found here: https://www.sfg20.co.uk/e-guide/state-of-fm-2026 Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Lidl accelerates UK expansion with 100 site wish list and major development pipeline
Lidl GB has unveiled a new list of more than 100 target locations across the UK, underlining the scale of its ongoing expansion strategy and continued investment in its store estate. The discount retailer is actively seeking freehold, leasehold and long leasehold opportunities, with a broad geographic spread ranging from Garthdee in Aberdeen and Aldgate in London to Ystradgynlais in Wales and Windsor in Berkshire. To support its land acquisition strategy, Lidl has confirmed it will offer a competitive finder’s fee for sites that lead to successful store development. The announcement builds on a period of sustained growth for Lidl in the UK, driven by an ambitious new build programme and a highly disciplined approach to estate management. Earlier this year, the retailer confirmed plans to open more than 50 new stores over the next 12 months as part of a £600 million investment, reinforcing its position as one of the most active developers in the UK food retail sector. Lidl’s expansion has been characterised by a focus on well located, high efficiency stores, typically delivered through new build formats or carefully selected urban and suburban sites. Its standardised store model allows for rapid delivery, cost control and operational consistency, while also enabling flexibility across different site conditions. Increasingly, stores are being delivered with strong sustainability credentials, including energy efficient design, solar installations and electric vehicle charging provision. Alongside new development, Lidl continues to invest in its existing estate through refurbishment and extension programmes, ensuring that stores remain aligned with customer expectations and operational requirements. This active asset management strategy has supported strong trading performance and helped drive footfall across both new and established locations. The retailer’s logistics infrastructure has also expanded in parallel with its store network, ensuring that supply chain capacity keeps pace with growth. New distribution centres and upgrades to existing facilities are enabling Lidl to maintain efficiency while supporting further rollout across the UK. Richard Taylor, chief real estate officer at Lidl GB, said the company remains committed to delivering high quality, accessible stores to more communities nationwide. He highlighted that each new store not only provides affordable products but also creates local employment opportunities and supports British suppliers. Lidl’s growth trajectory has been reinforced by its strong market performance, with the retailer maintaining a prolonged period as the fastest growing bricks and mortar supermarket in the UK. The opening of its 1,000th store in East Grinstead marked a key milestone in its expansion, with further growth expected as new sites are secured and developed. For the property sector, Lidl’s latest site requirements highlight continued demand for retail led development opportunities, particularly in well connected urban and suburban locations. Its consistent delivery model, combined with long term investment in both development and asset management, positions the retailer as a key occupier driving activity across the UK real estate market. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
McAleer & Rushe posts record performance as pipeline strengthens for 2026 and beyond
McAleer & Rushe has reported a year of strong financial performance, delivering record turnover and a significant rise in profitability as the business continues to expand its presence across key sectors. For 2025, the contractor achieved revenue of £627.7 million, representing a 27 per cent increase on the previous year. Pre tax profits also saw substantial growth, rising by 37 per cent to £22 million, reflecting a combination of disciplined delivery, project execution and a strong pipeline of work. The company has entered 2026 with continued momentum, supported by a robust order book and a high level of secured and future work. To date, McAleer & Rushe has secured £800 million in contracts, with a further £250 million where it has been named preferred contractor. In addition, the business is progressing £600 million of projects under pre construction services agreements, many of which are expected to move to site in 2027. This forward pipeline provides strong visibility over future workload and underpins confidence in the company’s growth trajectory. It also highlights the increasing role of early contractor involvement in securing major schemes, enabling greater certainty around cost, programme and buildability. Eamonn Laverty, chief executive at McAleer & Rushe, said the results demonstrate the strength of the company’s strategy and the commitment of its team. He noted that sustained growth has been driven by the quality of its project pipeline and long standing relationships with clients and partners across the industry. The contractor continues to focus on delivering complex, high quality schemes across sectors including residential, hospitality, commercial and mixed use development. Its integrated design and build model has enabled it to respond effectively to market conditions, while maintaining strong performance across both delivery and financial metrics. With a strengthened leadership team and continued investment in its operational capability, McAleer & Rushe is well positioned to build on its recent success. The combination of secured work, future opportunities and a growing reputation for delivery places the business in a strong position as it moves through 2026 and into the next phase of its growth. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals