Reds10 to deliver £22.5m STEAM facility at Leicestershire school
Reds10, a pioneer in industrialised construction, has been appointed by the Department for Education to deliver a new £22.5 million STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) facility at The Hinckley School in Leicestershire. The project will replace four existing teaching buildings in two phases, creating a modern, purpose-built, three-storey facility for students across all year groups. The 103-module 3610m2 building will provide a range of specialist and general teaching spaces, including science laboratories, IT suites, engineering workshops, classrooms, and food technology kitchens. Designed to support both academic and creative disciplines, the new facility will deliver flexible, high-quality learning environments aligned with the school’s ambition to provide outstanding opportunities for its students. The project will be delivered using Reds10’s advanced volumetric modular construction approach, with approximately 87% of the building manufactured offsite at the company’s advanced construction facility in Driffield, East Yorkshire. This method will enable faster onsite assembly, improved quality control, and reduced disruption within a live school environment. Factory production is scheduled to begin later this year, with modules delivered and installed onsite from June 2027, before a handover to the school and planned opening in 2028. Sustainability is also central to the scheme. The new STEAM block is designed to achieve Net Zero Carbon in use and will incorporate a bio-solar green roof with photovoltaic panels to offset energy consumption. The surrounding external works will include a combination of hard and soft landscaping, creating new outdoor social and learning spaces for students. The project is being delivered in collaboration with Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council, The Hinckley School, Gleeds, Sense of Space and The Futures Trust, reflecting a strong partnership approach to delivering high-quality educational infrastructure. Richard Abrams, Framework Delivery Director, at Reds10, commented: “Being appointed by the DfE to deliver this STEAM block is a significant milestone for Reds10, reinforcing our track record in delivering education projects of the highest quality across the UK. We look forward to collaborating with all our partners to create a building that reflects the school’s ambitions, inspiring students and supporting innovative teaching for decades to come.” Kate Groocock, Head of School, said: “This investment marks a transformative point in our school’s journey. Our new building will provide inspiring spaces that reflect our ‘Students First’ ethos and support our ambition to deliver exceptional opportunities for every learner. We are excited to work with our partners to bring this vision to life and create an environment where students can thrive for many years to come.” A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Every child deserves a safe, high-quality classroom where they can focus on learning. After years of neglect, too many children are being taught in school buildings that are in poor condition, and that simply isn’t good enough. Our Education Estates Strategy sets out a bold 10-year plan for national renewal to transform the schools and colleges so that child can learn in high-quality classrooms that are fit for the future. “We are thrilled that the new STEAM facility at The Hinckley School will provide modern, high‑quality spaces including science laboratories, IT suites, engineering workshops, classrooms, and food technology kitchens to support excellent teaching and inspire students for years to come. We are pleased to be working with Reds10 to deliver a building that reflects our commitment to world‑class education and sustainable design”. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Study Inn Brotherton House, Leeds, Wins Two Major Awards at Unipol’s Rate Your Landlord Awards 2026
Study Inn Group is proud to announce that its Leeds property, Brotherton House, has been recognised with two top honours at the Unipol Rate Your Landlord Awards 2026, winning Best PBSA Provider and Best PBSA Building in the City. This nationally recognised award celebrates operators who consistently deliver high standards of accommodation and service, based entirely on student feedback. The Rate Your Landlord Awards are informed by hundreds of student reviews, covering areas such as customer service, maintenance, safety, value for money, and overall living experience. Hosted by the student executive teams at Leeds University Union and Leeds Beckett Students’ Union, the event brings together universities, local authorities, landlords, and students from across the city. Since opening in September 2022, Study Inn Brotherton House has quickly established itself as one of the leading student accommodation providers in Leeds. Operating at 100% occupancy, the property has also been ranked the #1 best student accommodation in the city for two consecutive years on Student Crowd (2024 and 2025), reflecting consistently high levels of student satisfaction. Matt Shakespeare, Managing Director of Operations at Study Inn, commented: “We are incredibly proud to be acknowledged as being the Best PBSA Provider and having the Best PBSA Building in Leeds. To achieve this recognition based entirely on student feedback is a testament to the dedication of our on-site teams and the experience we strive to deliver every day. At Study Inn, our focus has always been on creating a true home away from home, particularly for students who may be living away from their families for the first time. Special recognition must go to Centre Manager Terrie and her team, who have done an outstanding job at Brotherton House. Their commitment to student wellbeing and service excellence has been instrumental in achieving this success.” For Study Inn, this is an endorsement of our brand standards in terms of product, service delivery, and overall business model which prioritises student wellbeing, quality, and consistency across every touchpoint. Study Inn’s approach is centred on delivering a complete student living experience, combining high-quality design with service-led operations. Its residences offer fully furnished studios and en-suite apartments, dedicated wellness and social spaces, 24/7 on-site support, regular housekeeping, secure access, and an all-inclusive living model designed to provide comfort, safety, and convenience throughout the student journey. Study Inn remains committed to delivering high-quality student accommodation that supports both domestic and international students throughout their university journey. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Aldi ramps up London growth with £40m store expansion drive
Aldi UK is set to strengthen its presence across the capital with a £40 million investment programme, delivering eight new stores across London and the wider Greater London area. The expansion will target a mix of urban and suburban locations, with new sites planned in Hanworth, Willesden, Watford, Marble Arch, Hoxton, Orpington West, Epsom and Stepney Green. The move reflects continued demand for accessible, value-led retail in densely populated areas, alongside the need for well-located, convenience-driven store formats. In parallel, Aldi will refurbish existing stores in Enfield and Kilburn, upgrading its current estate to align with evolving customer expectations and operational standards. The latest rollout builds on a strong period of growth within the M25 during 2025, when the retailer opened new stores in Wimbledon, Fulham Broadway, Shoreditch, Caterham, Uxbridge, Old Kent Road and Kentish Town, as well as completing an extension at its Colindale site. This sustained activity highlights Aldi’s commitment to securing urban sites, often within constrained or high-value locations. Jonathan Neale, managing director of national real estate at Aldi UK, said the expansion is focused on improving accessibility for London customers, many of whom remain underserved by the brand’s current footprint. He added that the new stores will create around 200 jobs across the capital, contributing to local employment and economic activity. The London programme forms part of a wider UK investment strategy, with Aldi planning to commit more than £370 million to new store openings nationwide this year. The continued rollout underscores the retailer’s confidence in the UK market and its long-term strategy to grow its estate in key urban and regional locations. For the property sector, Aldi’s expansion highlights ongoing demand for retail-led development within mixed-use schemes, high streets and transport-linked locations, where occupiers are seeking flexible, well-connected space to serve growing urban populations. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Woodlands scheme set to boost opportunities and investment in Aylesbury
Buckinghamshire Advantage, a wholly owned subsidiary of Buckinghamshire Council, has signed a partnership agreement with Barratt Redrow to progress the 495-acre ‘Woodlands’ development to the south-east of Aylesbury, next to the A41. The flagship site has planning permission for over 1,100 high-quality new homes, (including 220 affordable new homes) new community and sports facilities including a 40-acre sports village and pitches, a hotel and conference centre, and one million square feet of business and employment space. Around 344-acres will consist of formal and informal open green space, enhancing the natural environment, and making it a great place to live, work, or visit. A core element of the scheme is ensuring adequate infrastructure. Woodlands will deliver a key section of the Aylesbury ring road – the Eastern Link Road (South), linking both the award-winning Barratt Redrow Kingsbrook development and Woodlands to the A41. This will not only provide essential road infrastructure for the new development but will also ease congestion and improve connectivity around Aylesbury, making it much easier to travel in and around the town. Located between Kingsbrook and Hampden Fields developments, and just 2.5 miles from the town centre, Woodlands will boost investment in Aylesbury by providing new homes, schools, community and healthcare facilities, and sports and leisure amenities – all of which will create new employment opportunities. Steven Broadbent, Leader of Buckinghamshire Council, said: “This is a milestone moment which moves us forward on the development of this flagship scheme that will improve the lives of residents – providing more housing, creating more jobs, and improving local infrastructure. This is about building the right development in the right place, reflecting what this county needs, modern, affordable and sustainable housing that contributes more widely to community life and accelerates other important infrastructure developments in the area. The award-winning Kingsbrook development is a real success story, and we look forward to working together on this project too.” Richard Harrington, Managing Director, Buckinghamshire Advantage, adds: “Buckinghamshire Advantage has consistently promoted Aylesbury Woodlands given the importance of the site to the county as a whole. It will enable vast improvements to infrastructure, and the plans for the site include a biodiversity enhancement scheme, plus we have secured outline and reserved matters planning consent so that – now we have an agreement with the developer, the whole project can progress. Overall, The Aylesbury Woodlands development provides a unique opportunity to enhance and expand the town’s housing, employment, and essential infrastructure.” Lauren Potter, Development Director at Barratt Redrow on behalf of the North Thames division, commented: “This agreement marks a major milestone for Barratt Redrow North Thames and Buckinghamshire Advantage. Further strengthening our longstanding partnership behind our adjacent multi‑award‑winning Kingsbrook development. Woodlands will extend and build upon this success, creating a new sustainable and high-quality destination for Aylesbury. The community will benefit from the delivery of; new homes, new high-tech sport and employment facilities, and major new highway infrastructure with c.58% of Woodlands providing nature-led recreational open space. “By working with our partners at Buckinghamshire Advantage, we will create another award-winning major development. We therefore look forward to achieving the second milestone which involves securing a reserved matters planning permission for the delivery of all the infrastructure and c.400 homes.” In recent weeks there has also been a resolution to grant planning consent for the works to improve the A41 roundabout junction which facilitates the development of housing and employment in the area. This all represents significant progress to spur on sustainable growth and development in Buckinghamshire. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Barhale completes key milestone on Northern Outfall Sewer upgrade
Work to deliver a multi-million-pound rehabilitation programme of Thames Water’s Northern Outfall Sewer (NOS) in East London took a major step forward over Easter after a second major rail possession allowed Barhale engineers to carry out structural works and take critical material samples. The 7.5 kilometre NOS runs overground on an embankment across East London, transferring flows from a 300 square kilometre catchment to Beckton Sewage Treatment Works. At the Corporation Street project in West Ham, the NOS09 overbridges cross the District Line and c2c line. Through the 100-hour joint Transport for London and Network Rail Easter possession, civil engineering, infrastructure and tunnelling specialist, Barhale removed redundant concrete structures from the bridge spans, cut 20 samples from the existing cast iron sewer barrels for testing and undertook coring investigations at the bridge abutments and piers and additionally updated 3D scan surveys. The Easter possession provided an opportunity to access all three rail spans at the same time, allowing the samples and information needed to complete the design to be collected. Jaimie Lawson, Senior Contracts Manager at Barhale, said: “The possession has made it possible for the project to take another important step forward. The intelligence that we have gathered will be critical to the design of the NOS09 solution, extending its lifespan to 120 years.” A previous 27-hour possession of the Jubilee and DLR at the NOS07 overbridge across Christmas 2025 saw the installation of two bespoke deck systems to protect the railway lines and provide a safe working platform for future works to proceed. Each deck comprises aluminium trusses, structural ties and a steel durbar floor separating the operational railway from the Thames Water sewer system to improve long-term safety and resilience. To meet the railway separation requirements, the flooring was designed to overlap and incorporate adjustable sections where the deck interfaces with existing abutment walls. Jaimie Lawson said: “We are dealing with a critical Thames Water asset where it crosses five major transport routes including the Jubilee Line, DLR, Manor Road, the District Line and c2c. “The successful completion of the latest possession shows how we and Thames Water safely execute complex engineering works around operational rail environments.” Richard Smith, Head of Programme Delivery – Critical Assets, Capital Delivery London Infrastructure at Thames Water said “I would like to thank Barhale, their supply chain partners and our colleagues in Network Rail and Transport for London, who have worked together to deliver these complex works over the last few months as part of our commitment to deliver the biggest asset upgrade in 150 years this investment period.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Sybron to move to new Essex HQ
Sybron, a leading supplier of cleaning, hygiene and catering products to some of the largest names in UK hospitality, has announced its relocation into a new Head Office and distribution centre at ICON Harlow. Scheduled for August, this move represents a major step for Sybron, supporting the company’s strategy for growth, improving day to day operations and giving a modern, future-proof space that reflects what Sybron is as a business today. The facility at Third Avenue is over 70,000 sq ft, including a two-storey, Grade A specification office building. There will be six dock-level loading doors, two level access doors, a 50m-deep secure yard, designed for efficient HGV movement, 12.5m height for improved storage capacity and parking for over 40 cars. The HQ and distribution centre has been built in line with the company’s commitment to sustainability, with LED lighting throughout, air-source heat pumps, EV charging and PV solar panel capability. “We’re delighted to share this very exciting news,” says Sybron operations director, Bradley Henwood. “This is a huge moment for Sybron, reflecting the hard work, commitment and growth achieved by the whole team. We’re genuinely excited about what this next chapter will bring.” This major development follows Sybron’s management buyout 12 months ago and the opening of a second distribution centre in Stafford in November. The Stafford distribution centre has strengthened service levels by increasing delivery frequencies to Sybron’s growing number of national customers and offering more efficient support to key areas such as Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Nottingham, Sheffield, Derby and Leeds. “Our strategy of controlled growth remains on target,” says Sybron’s sales & marketing director, George Mason. “The new facility gives Sybron the space to grow, provides flexibility and allows us to take the business where we want to go in the next 10 to 15 years. From a customer perspective, the new HQ allows increased bulk ordering and the opportunity to explore expanding our products and services. It also signals a great move for staff too, offering scope to develop new skills and for more individual progression.” Sybron’s current Harlow headquarters is in Crammond Park in Lovet Road. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals