From design to delivery: how Brymec delivered end-to-end M&E at Portal Way
Brymec, a leading manufacturer and supplier of future-proofed solutions to the M&E sector, recently provided end-to-end M&E infrastructure for Portal Way, North Acton, a large-scale, contemporary residential development in west London. An ambitious project from the outset, the specifications were extensive, with multiple mechanical systems running across the building, including drainage, water, waste and pressure-regulated pipework. It demanded a technical partner involved from the earliest stages. Brymec, which has decades of experience working within high-rise structures, was appointed at the design stage to provide mechanical systems support, joining the project team from the first design review and providing support from specification through to on-site delivery. Early involvement makes a difference Brymec’s involvement began long before any pipe was laid. The team worked through early design reviews, shaping the drainage specification and advising on cast iron drainage systems suited to the building’s requirements. Multiple technical take-offs followed, with Brymec checking drawings, identifying potential issues and recommending the right M&E pipework and fittings across water, waste and pressure-regulated systems. Brymec approached the project as a technical consultancy as much as a supplier. Working as a material-agnostic partner, the team assessed each system on its merits, advising on material compatibility across drainage, water and waste systems and matching products and specifications to the building’s specific requirements. Recommendations were driven by performance, giving the contractor confidence at every stage. Carter Cowley, Key Accounts Manager, Brymec, said: “We were involved in the project from the outset, supporting the initial design conversations through to take-offs, onsite reviews and ongoing technical decisions. That kind of early engagement means problems get solved before they become costly on site. It’s the way we work.” Supporting prefabricated bathroom pods Prefabrication is an increasingly common feature of large-scale residential construction, used to reduce on-site labour demands and improve programme certainty. Portal Way was no exception. One of the more complex elements of the project involved prefabricated pods, including bathroom, shower and utility modules, assembled off-site before delivery. Brymec managed the prefabrication supply chain directly, supplying mechanical components to the prefabrication partners and ensuring everything arrived correctly specified and ready to install. The team then carried out on-site installation reviews as the completed pods were fitted into the building. That level of end-to-end support, from early specification through to installation checks, helped reduce labour demands on-site and kept the build programme on track. Having a single technical team backing the project meant the contractor had one consistent point of contact, regardless of which system or component they needed guidance on. Controlled delivery, consistent quality Delivery was managed through the Brymec Breeze supply model, giving the contractor the certainty of on-time, in-full delivery aligned to the project programme. Products arrived when they were needed, correctly specified and ready to install. The consistency of product quality meant installation teams could work without disruption, with components that fitted first time and required no reworking on-site. That reliability reduced site storage pressures and kept the programme moving. Throughout the project, Brymec adapted as new drawings arrived and the scope evolved. The technical team stayed close, monitoring updates and advising on any implications for the systems already specified. Adam Habib, Project Manager, CJ O’Shea, adds: “Brymec were with us from the start. They understood the project and what we were trying to achieve. When issues came up, we knew exactly who to call and they always had a practical answer.” A trusted partner across the full project For M&E contractors working on complex residential schemes, Portal Way is a clear example of what integrated mechanical systems support looks like in practice: a single technical team, embedded from design stage, delivering certainty from the first drawing to the final installation. To find out more about how Brymec can support your next project, visit here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Cross passage construction complete on HS2’s Northolt Tunnel in London
The team building the Northolt Tunnel for HS2 have reached a new milestone, completing the construction of 34 cross passages. Cross passages connect the northbound and southbound tunnel and are a safety feature which allows passengers to cross to the adjacent tunnel in the event of an emergency. The Northolt Tunnel is 8.4 miles long, running underground between West Ruislip Victoria Road in Ealing, west London – just outside HS2’s Old Oak Common station. At its deepest point, the tunnel is 35 metres below ground. The tunnel was constructed using four tunnel boring machines (TBMs) and the excavation was finished in June 2025. Following completion of the cross-passages, engineers will turn to the installation of reinforced concrete secondary collars, which will form the permanent openings for cross passage doors and enable the installation of permanent fire-rated sliding doors. It is expected that all structural works on the tunnel – the second longest on the 140-mile route between London and the West Midlands – will be completed later this year. The tunnel will then be readied for installation of the rail systems such as tracks and overhead power in the coming years. Malcolm Codling, Project Client for HS2 Ltd, said: “The progress made to construct the Northolt Tunnel demonstrates the commitment of our teams to deliver this vital infrastructure efficiently and safely. “Completing the construction of the cross passages is an important step towards finishing the civil engineering on the tunnel which will allow us to ultimately begin rail systems work including laying track.” The connections have been made using a spray concrete lining (SCL) mining technique where the team methodically cuts through the ground between the two tunnel bores. The distance between the two tunnel bores ranges from 6metres to 20metres. The work is carried out using mini-excavators, and every metre of earth cut is supported with sprayed concrete lining while the cross-passage slowly takes shape. Once the team has completed the lined tunnel, a water-proof membrane is installed followed by a secondary concrete lining. 11 of the cross passages were constructed using a ground freezing technique. This method was adopted due the presence of water bearing soils with a high-water table present in the ground in the western section of the tunnel. The methodology required the team to insert freeze pipes through special tunnel segments to create a 2m thick freeze wall to stabilise the ground before excavation could take place. HS2’s London Tunnels Contractor is Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture (SCS JV). They are responsible for the main works civils construction of HS2 between Hillingdon and Camden, bringing the HS2 line into Euston. Dave Hannon, Tunnels & Routeway Director from SCS JV said: “The completion of all 34 cross passages along the Northolt Tunnel marks another important step forward for the programme, demonstrating consistent progress across multiple work fronts and the coordinated effort of our teams working deep beneath London. “With this phase complete, we can progress on the next stage of works on the tunnel, with safety and productivity at the forefront.” Booth Industries in Bolton are manufacturing the doors for all the tunnels across the HS2 route. With high-speed trains passing within metres of the doors, they will be capable of withstanding constant 14Kpa pressure cycles, along with 2hr Integrity and 2hr Insulation against fire – a world first and setting a new benchmark within the industry. They are being manufactured using majority UK made steel. While the completion of the cross passages for the Northolt Tunnel demonstrates progress on the HS2 route, there is still a vast amount of work to do across the 140-mile route between London and Birmingham. Mark Wild, HS2 Ltd Chief Executive, is leading a comprehensive reset of the project to ensure the remainder of the route is delivered as efficiently as possible and for the lowest reasonable cost. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Caddick Construction Group reports record £375m turnover
Caddick Construction Group has reported a consolidated £375m turnover and £4.5m Profit Before Tax (PBT) for its last financial year as the Group’s Construction, Civil Engineering and Facades divisions target a combined 4% margin fuelled by a £1.4bn forward order book. Representing an 8% increase in revenue compared to 2023/24’s turnover, Caddick Construction Group’s financial performance also saw the Group end the year with £36m cash and cash equivalents, a 10% increase on the previous year. The 2024/25 performance consolidates all businesses within Caddick Construction Group, including Construction divisions in Yorkshire & North East, North West & Cumbria and the Midlands, as well as sub-contracting businesses, CCL Facades and Caddick Civil Engineering. Underpinning the progress, the year saw a series of key investments to support long-term growth. These include £600k in new plant for Caddick Civil Engineering, and investments in new premises in Durham, and a £500k refurbishment of the Warrington premises, including energy efficiency upgrades. Key project wins for the year include Stone Yard, a 1,000 home BTR development in Birmingham on behalf of sister company, Moda, and its joint venture partner, Aviva Capital Partners. Caddick has also rapidly become an established presence in the North East, with major projects underway for Richardson Barberry in County Durham and Placefirst in Sunderland. Alongside pipeline and geographical growth, Caddick has balanced its public and private sector projects to ensure stable work pipelines. Within the reporting year, this included Caddick’s appointment to Prosper’s £500m New Build Development Framework and Torus’ £224m housing and retrofit framework. New frameworks for Caddick also include four lots of the Department for Education’s (DfE) £15bn Construction Framework 2025 for projects valued from £4.4m to £12m in the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, and North West and West Midlands. The recent reported year also saw Caddick Construction Group welcome 100 new colleagues, invest in 26 new apprentices and trainees as well as achieving an industry leading health and safety record with an accident frequency rate of 0.08. The business’ ESG strategy, Places for Life, which it shares with the wider Caddick Group, continues to make a tangible difference to its communities, and reported a collective £189 million local spend in 2024. Throughout the year, Caddick Construction Group overcame a number of industry-wide headwinds, including project delays and viability challenges due to the Building Safety Act, inflationary pressures and material price volatility. The year also saw the business write off remaining legacy losses on projects adversely affected by hyperinflation and sub-contractor insolvency. (pictured) Paul Dodsworth, Group Managing Director of Caddick Construction Group: “We are delighted with a year of real progress across Caddick Construction Group. We share in the industry’s headwinds, and we are proud to have maintained a resilient and growing group of businesses despite these challenges. Our success is down to the hard work of our people and their wealth of expertise. We are determined to sustainably grow while retaining our reputation for high quality, and this is a vision we share as a team. “With the Group’s strong short-term visibility and significant medium to long-term potential, the Board remains confident that our three-year journey to deliver a consistent 4% margin will be achieved. Alongside our pipeline growth, we will continue to invest in our people, our business and our capability to ensure we keep pace with the huge technological and policy changes our industry is seeing, so that we can continue to deliver exceptional work for our clients.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Visionary Finance completes £25.5 Million Ultra High-Net Worth lending facility on prime Holland Park residence
Visionary Finance has successfully structured and completed a £25.5 million lending facility for an Ultra High Net Worth (UHNW) Indian National residing in the Middle East, secured against a £42.5 million prime residential property on one of the most prestigious roads in London. The borrower was introduced by one of their professional partners in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who approached Visionary Finance to assist their client in securing enhanced lending terms on their UK residence. Although the client had already received indicative terms directly from a lender, Visionary Finance was mandated to restructure and materially improve the financing package. Following a detailed assessment of the client’s complex cross-border income structure and international profile, Visionary Finance secured a £25.5 million lending facility from an international private bank on a 10-year interest-only term with a margin of 1.15% over Bank Base Rate (BBR), with no information relating to Assets Under Management (AUM) required. The facility refinances the existing mortgage with a capital raise to cover the costs of recent significant development works to the property. It represents a highly successful outcome in the Prime Central London market, particularly given the complex process, bespoke underwriting required to accommodate the client’s sophisticated income streams and expatriate status. This transaction reinforces Visionary Finance’s position as a leading advisor to HNW & UHNW clients, including those who are international based, seeking UK property finance solutions. Navigating multi-jurisdictional income, offshore structures, and lender appetite at this level requires deep market access and structuring expertise. Hiten Ganatra, Managing Director of Visionary Finance, commented: “When dealing with UHNW clients, the difference between indicative terms and optimised execution can be substantial. Our role was to interrogate the initial proposal, understand the client’s wider balance sheet and long-term objectives, and leverage our lender relationships to deliver materially stronger terms. “Cases involving international clients often require careful presentation of layered income streams, corporate holdings and overseas assets. By structuring the deal correctly from the outset and working closely with our introducer partner, we were able to deliver a market-leading outcome.” Visionary Finance continues to advise High Net Worth (HNW) and Ultra High Net Worth (UHNW) individuals on bespoke UK property finance solutions, with a particular focus on complex expat requirements, large-ticket lending, and structured facilities above £5 million. This transaction also highlights the strength of Visionary Finance’s relationships with its strategic partners. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Newmark strengthens UK retail capability with senior director hire
Newmark has expanded its UK retail team with the appointment of Josh Braid as a director, reinforcing its capability in leasing, asset repositioning and retail led development advisory. In his new role, Braid will focus on delivering leasing strategies for landlords, while advising on the repositioning and activation of retail and leisure destinations. His remit will also include supporting clients in enhancing asset performance and driving long term portfolio value across a range of retail and mixed use schemes. Braid joins from Knight Frank, where he led the Central London retail agency team alongside the firm’s cross border retail operations. With more than 15 years of experience, he has advised landlords, occupiers and investors across London and wider European markets. His track record includes leading leasing strategies on high profile developments such as The Old War Office and Knightsbridge Gate, as well as securing flagship lettings along Oxford Street for brands including Krispy Kreme and Samsonite. This experience is expected to support Newmark’s continued growth within the retail and leisure sector, particularly as landlords seek to reposition assets in response to evolving consumer behaviour. David Harper, head of UK retail at Newmark, said the appointment adds significant market expertise to the business, particularly in navigating complex retail environments and unlocking value across major schemes. Braid added that Newmark’s integrated platform, combining specialist knowledge with global reach, positions the firm strongly to support clients as retail destinations continue to evolve. He highlighted the importance of adapting leasing strategies and asset management approaches to reflect changing occupier and consumer demands. Newmark’s UK retail team advises a wide range of clients, with recent mandates including Bodycare, Crew Clothing and Accessorize. As part of a global retail network offering end to end advisory services, the firm continues to expand its presence and strengthen its position across international markets. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Long-serving Accent tenant recognised for transforming customer voice in housing
As Accent Housing celebrates 60 years (in April 2026) of providing homes and building communities, it is customers like Richard Wilkinson who truly bring its story to life. At 72, Richard is not only a long-standing customer of 35 years, but he was also the organisation’s only customer Board member, helping ensure that customers’ voices are heard at the very highest level. His journey with Accent reflects something deeper than tenancy, it is a lifelong commitment to community, fairness and making a difference to his community and the wider sector. Richard, who is from Bradford, grew up in a back-to-back one up, one down house with an outdoor toilet, on Otley Road, where five family members shared a small bedroom divided by a hessian curtain. Richard, his mum and grandma slept on one side of the bedroom and his grandad and 15-year-old uncle on the other side. He still vividly remembers those early years “even the smell of the cellar,” he recalls and how they shaped his understanding of home, dignity, fairness and opportunity. At the age of 5, Richard lost his grandad suddenly to a heart attack at the age of 55. This had a profound change in Richard’s life as his grandad was a strong presence and the head of the house. From a young age, Richard knew he wanted to be a teacher. He enjoyed the structure and orderly routine that came with being in school, a nice change to his home life. After being schooled at Hutton Primary, Thorpe Junior High and Hanson Boys in Bradford, Richard went on to Teaching Training. He began his career at Tong School in 1975 as a probationary teacher going on to become Deputy Head before retiring in 2011 after inspiring youngsters for 36 years. But retirement did not slow him down, instead it marked the beginning of a new chapter. Having lived in an Accent home at Easthorpe Court in Bradford for decades, initially with his mother and later taking on the tenancy himself, Richard found stability and community through Accent at a time when he needed it most. “I felt that, in a way, Accent rescued me when I was in a low place in life after a difficult breakup,” he says. “Accent has always been personal to me.” Richard became actively involved in Accent’s customer engagement work joining scrutiny panels, committees and forums, helping to improve services and represent fellow residents. Accent’s approach to customer voice, through customer champions, forums and a place at Board level, gave Richard the platform to turn his lived experience into real influence and learning. In 2018, competing against more than 120 applicants for just two positions, Richard was appointed as the organisation’s only customer Board member. “I never expected to make the cut,” he admits. “But having a voice at Board level is so important. Customers should be able to challenge decisions and help shape what happens.” Over six years on the Board, Richard has done exactly that by bringing honesty, scrutiny, insight and lived experience into strategic decision-making. His contribution has helped ensure that customer impact remains central to conversations and the future direction of Accent. Even as his Board term comes to an end in September 2026, Richard has no plans to step away. “Accent isn’t just a landlord to me; Accent has been a part of my life for 35 years. When you’ve lived the experience, you understand what really matters. That’s why having a customer voice at the table isn’t a ‘nice to have’ but it’s essential if services are going to work for people.” He plans to continue supporting the organisation with recruitment, interviews, procurement panels, and be a sounding board to help the company make future decisions. Over the years, Richard has seen Accent evolve from its roots in Bradford to the large organisation with a national spread it is today. “It started small and grew through mergers, but it’s never lost its heart,” he says. “Accent has a soul, which is unusual for an organisation of its size.” At home, Richard enjoys life with his husband, Wojciech, whom he married at the age of 62. He remains deeply connected to his community at Easthorpe Court, where he values the diversity of residents and strong relationships with housing colleagues. Jo Gallagher, Accent’s Head of Customer and Community Engagement, commented: “Within the housing sector, Richard has become a well-respected and trusted voice. He is often invited to speak at conferences and events, where he openly shares his experiences, challenges stigma, and champions meaningful customer engagement. Richard brings honesty, integrity, and a genuine commitment to doing what’s right for customers in everything he does. He is constructive in his approach, not afraid to speak up, and always focused on making a positive difference. His insight and perspective have had a real impact and continue to help us grow and improve as an organisation.” Nick Apetroaie, CEO at Accent added: “Richard was one of the first customers that I met when I joined Accent. Richard’s insight into what really matter to customers and his unwavering commitment to Accent over the past three decades has been truly exceptional. He represents the very best of what customer leadership can be. People like Richard are the reason organisations like ours continue to learn, improve and stay true to our purpose for over 60 years!” As Accent marks its 60th anniversary, Richard’s story is a powerful reminder of what makes social housing more than just bricks and mortar. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals