Activate launches into Harlequin with a regional debut
Hertfordshire’s leading retail and leisure destination, Harlequin Watford, which isowned and managed by SGS UK Retail, has announced that the immersive gaming concept, Activate, has now opened within the centre, bolstering Harlequin’s diverse tenant mix of retail, F&B, and leisure occupiers. Activate, which has taken a 15,592 sq ft unit, joins Harlequin’s evolving leisure offering, alongside Cineworld, Boom Battle Bar and Flip Out, affirming the centre’s position as both a thriving dual-purpose retail destination and a focal point for leisure and entertainment. Following Activate’s success within its London sites, and its global success across Canada, the US, and Dubai, SGS identified its popularity, along with the needs and wants of its visitors to open the brand’s 3rd destination outside of the capital. The regional debut cements Harlequin’s reputation as a key regional destination for visitors from across north London, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. As competitive socialising concepts continue to grow in popularity, the branch will feature technology-driven challenges, interactive game rooms, enhanced with lasers, grids, hoops, portals and reaction-based challenges. The new leisure addition offers a range of physical, mental and team-based challenges tailored for groups of friends, families, birthday parties and corporate teams. Games on offer include player favourites, including Activate’s most popular game, Mega Grid. It will also feature Grid, where the floor transforms into a giant interactive playing surface, challenging teams to jump, sprint and strategise their way to victory. Mega Laser is another fan favourite that will feature in the scheme, with players navigating a room criss-crossed by laser beams without triggering alarms in an experience reminiscent of Mission: Impossible. Rich Beese, co-founder of We Do Play, said: “The arrival of Activate at Harlequin is a pivotal time in the brand’s growth, as one of the first branches outside of London. With its impressive footfall from a broad catchment, we are certain that this branch in Watford will be well received as competitive socialising concepts offer something fresh and continue to grow in demand.” Robert Jewell, Managing Director of Asset Management at Pradera, commented: “As Activate officially joins our evolving portfolio of leisure tenants, it affirms Harlequin’s position as the region’s premier all-day destination for shopping, dining and leisure. The immersive gaming concept joins as we are seeing strong performance of our competitive socialising options, signalling the scheme’s success as an all-day destination.” The opening follows the recent opening of Chop & Wok at Harlequin, as it continues to evolve its F&B and leisure options in line with increasing demand. Harlequin’s success in securing both quality and diverse occupiers comes after strong investment and long-term strategy to hold its position as the region’s go-to destination for everything. Time Retail and LM are Harlequin’s retail leasing agents, and Metis and LM lead the leisure leasing. Pradera asset manages Lakeside on behalf of SGS UK Retail. LM acted for Activate. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Kimpton secures new M&E contract at The City of Liverpool College
Kimpton has been awarded the mechanical & electrical (M&E) engineering contract at The City of Liverpool College following a competitive tender process. Social value comprised a key component of the procurement process and Kimpton will now host a number of students on T-Level placements. It will also support the college to refurbish its Plumbing & Gas Workshop by designing and installing its gas and water infrastructure and providing industry hardware and appliances to support students’ learning, providing around £35,000 worth of in-kind value. The new contract further expands Kimpton’s relationship with the college, having previously been appointed to manage its air conditioning systems and joining its minor works framework. Kimpton, which is headquartered in Bromborough, uses current students within its delivery teams on those works, allowing the flow of talent and opportunity to come full-circle. The two organisations have worked together for more than 30 years to help develop the city region’s future workforce, with dozens of apprentices and trainees benefitting from Kimpton’s expert team in classrooms and on site, providing industry experience and positioning students for successful careers. Elaine Bowker, principal and chief executive of The City of Liverpool College, said: “It’s vitally important to us that we prepare our students for the world of work, equipping them with the skills they need to secure jobs and pursue long, successful careers. Our relationships with industry partners are critical to that approach, not only in helping students to secure work experience or apprentice opportunities, but also to guide our teaching and ensure we are producing students with the qualities that employers want. “Many of these roles will ultimately help to decarbonise our environment, strengthen local supply chains and build long-term economic resilience for the communities who live and work here. “Kimpton has been a close and valued partner in those efforts for decades now. Both organisations share values and support one another to reach our goals. This sense of authentic, committed values was evident throughout their bid in this latest competitive tender process.” Matt Breakwell, director of sales and ESG at Kimpton, explains: “We are delighted to have secured this new M&E contract with The City of Liverpool College and strengthen our relationship with one of our longest-standing partners. “Apprenticeships have long sat at the heart of our approach; four current directors and shareholders began as apprentices and nine senior team members followed the same route. In recent years we have widened access by recruiting directly through vocational colleges such as The City of Liverpool College, targeting students already committed through technical study, placements or T-Levels. “This has really helped to improve the quality of candidates, eliminate drop-out and grow our cohort as a percentage of our workforce. The results are visible and we have numerous clear success stories from our relationship with The City of Liverpool College. Young people can see a genuine pathway from apprentice to engineer, supervisor, manager, director and business owner. There is no glass ceiling here.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Sellers holding firm as Merseyside emerges as England’s most resilient housing market
The latest research from Lyons Bowe has revealed that sellers in Merseyside are proving the most resilient when it comes to asking prices, with just 27.2% of homes currently listed for sale having undergone a price reduction, meaning almost three quarters of properties remain at their original asking price. Lyons Bowe analysed current residential property listings across England to identify the proportion of homes currently available for sale that have seen their asking price reduced before securing a buyer. The analysis compares regional and county-level markets to reveal where sellers are proving most able to hold firm on price.* Across England, there are an estimated 393,752 homes currently available for sale, excluding those already sold subject to contract or under offer. Of these, 159,861 have undergone at least one price reduction, meaning 40.6% of current listings have seen sellers adjust their asking price. However, the figures vary considerably across the country, with some markets showing considerably greater resilience. Merseyside emerges as the strongest county-level market, with just 27.2% of available homes having undergone a price reduction. This means 72.8% of current listings in the county remain at their original asking price. Greater Manchester and Northumberland also rank among England’s most resilient markets, with 33.1% of current listings in each having seen a price reduction. They are followed by Rutland at 33.6% and East Riding of Yorkshire at 34.3%. The regional figures reinforce the strength of northern markets. The North West records the lowest proportion of price-reduced homes in England, at 32.4%, meaning more than two thirds of current listings in the region have not required an asking price reduction. The North East follows at 36.8%, while Yorkshire and the Humber ranks third at 37.8%. The West Midlands also performs relatively strongly, with 39.1% of current listings having seen a price reduction, while the East Midlands records 40.6%, broadly in line with the national figure. At the other end of the scale, the South East records the highest proportion of price-reduced homes, at 43.4%, followed by London at 42.0% and the East of England at 41.9%. The South West records 40.8%, also close to the national picture. The county-level data highlights an equally wide variation. While almost half of homes currently listed in Norfolk have undergone a price reduction, at 48.2%, the proportion falls to 27.2% in Merseyside. The Isle of Wight, East Sussex and Dorset also record relatively high levels of price reductions, at 46.7%, 46.4% and 45.5% respectively. Lyons Bowe says the findings demonstrate that national housing market trends can mask significant differences between individual regions and counties, with some local markets continuing to support sellers’ asking prices more effectively than others. Paul Lyons, Managing Director at Lyons Bowe Solicitors, commented: “One of the most interesting things about the housing market at the moment is just how differently individual parts of the country are performing. Merseyside is a particularly striking example. With more than seven in 10 homes currently listed for sale yet to undergo a price reduction, sellers in the county are proving considerably more resilient than the national picture would suggest. The wider performance of the North West is also encouraging, with the region recording the lowest proportion of price-reduced listings in England. For sellers and estate agents, that points to a market where there is still scope to hold firm on asking prices when a property is accurately valued and appropriately marketed. Of course, a price reduction isn’t in itself a measure of whether a market is strong or weak. Sellers may reduce their asking price for all sorts of reasons, and the figures don’t tell us how quickly properties are selling. What they do show is where sellers have so far been less likely to need to adjust their expectations. That local picture is increasingly important. The national housing market can tell you a great deal, but it can’t necessarily tell an individual seller what is happening on their street. For estate agents, understanding those local differences is crucial when advising clients on pricing and setting realistic expectations from the outset.” Data tables and sources Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Intecho Delivers Smart Building Technology for Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere
Intecho has successfully integrated intelligent smart building solutions as part of the landmark transformation of Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere. As part of the project, Intecho integrated an intelligent Guest Room Management System (GRMS), bespoke Room Control Panels (RCPs) for every guest room and a range of state-of-the-art smart building solutions to compliment the luxury hotel’s extensive £125 million redevelopment. Paul Murphy, Co-Founder and Director of Intecho, said: “Luxury hospitality depends on far more than beautiful architecture and interiors. The technology behind the scenes has to work seamlessly, supporting both guests and hotel teams without ever becoming intrusive”. At the heart of the project is an advanced Guest Room Management System (GRMS), which integrates lighting, heating, cooling, motorised curtains and room status into a single intelligent platform. The system gives guests intuitive control of their environment while providing hotel teams with real-time visibility of occupancy, temperature, Make Up Room (MUR) and Do Not Disturb (DND) status. Intecho also designed and manufactured bespoke Room Control Panels (RCPs) for every guest room, integrating HVAC interfaces, lighting control, monitoring and circuit protection into a robust solution engineered specifically for the demands of luxury hospitality. Beyond the guest accommodation, Intecho delivered intelligent lighting control throughout the hotel, covering front-of-house areas, guest corridors, meeting rooms, function suites, the ballroom and external spaces. Flexible scene control allows event spaces to adapt effortlessly to conferences, weddings and large-scale functions, while centralised management provides hotel operators with greater flexibility and efficiency. The smart building solution also incorporates advanced DALI lighting control, automated emergency lighting testing, intelligent fault monitoring and centralised HVAC management. These technologies improve energy performance, reduce maintenance requirements and simplify compliance, while ensuring the building continues to operate at the high standards expected of an international luxury hotel. Intecho Director, Paul Murphy, continued: “Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere is a fantastic example of how intelligent building technology can enhance comfort, improve operational efficiency and create a smarter, more sustainable hotel. We’re incredibly proud to have played a part in such a prestigious development”. Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere is a luxury 5-star lakeside hotel, spa, and golf resort in Knutsford, Cheshire, featuring 117 rooms, an 18-hole championship golf course, and dining by Gordon Ramsay. Following a £125m redevelopment, the reimagined property opened in July 2026 on a 157-acre estate overlooking The Mere Lake. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
£70m One Founders Place Office Scheme Set to Transform Newcastle City Centre
Plans have been submitted for a landmark office development at Newcastle’s £70 million One Founders Place regeneration scheme, marking the next major phase in the transformation of one of the city’s most historic industrial sites. Submitted by Founders Place LLP, a joint venture between igloo and Newcastle City Council, the proposals centre on a striking 12-storey, 185,000 sq ft Grade A office building designed by acclaimed architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM). The development is intended to deliver high-quality, sustainable workspace while creating a vibrant mixed-use destination that blends modern commercial accommodation with new public realm and heritage-led regeneration. A key feature of the proposals is Founders Square, one of Newcastle’s most significant new civic spaces. The landscaped public square will transform an area currently lacking a major public gathering place, helping to create a welcoming environment for workers, residents and visitors while strengthening links across the wider city centre. For the construction and commercial property sectors, the scheme represents another significant investment in Newcastle’s office market, responding to growing demand for high-quality, environmentally sustainable workplaces capable of attracting businesses and supporting long-term economic growth. Construction of the office building is expected to support around 300 jobs over the two-year build programme, providing a further boost to the regional construction industry and local supply chain. The latest proposals build on the success of the wider One Founders Place masterplan, which is steadily transforming the historic Robert Stephenson & Co. locomotive works into a thriving mixed-use neighbourhood. The first completed phase, The Pattern Shop, opened in 2024 and is now fully occupied by Atom Bank, demonstrating strong demand for premium workspace within the regeneration scheme. Alongside the commercial development, Orchard Yard will deliver 79 new homes comprising apartments, duplexes and family houses, complemented by commercial space within the restored listed Machine Shop and Smiths Shop buildings. Elsewhere on the site, the Grade II-listed Coppersmiths Shop, another important part of the former Robert Stephenson works, is currently being assessed for future redevelopment opportunities as the masterplan continues to evolve. Joe Broadley, Development Director at igloo, said: “One Founders Place is about much more than delivering a high-quality office scheme – it’s about creating a destination that reflects Newcastle’s rich industrial heritage while providing the sustainable workplaces and welcoming public spaces that modern cities need to thrive. “This investment is helping to attract new businesses, support skilled jobs and create a bustling city neighbourhood where people want to work, meet and spend time. By combining exceptional workspace with high-quality public realm, we’re creating a place that will contribute to Newcastle’s long-term economic growth while celebrating the history that makes this location so distinctive.” As Newcastle continues to invest in city centre regeneration, One Founders Place is emerging as a flagship mixed-use development, combining commercial offices, residential accommodation, heritage restoration and public spaces to create a dynamic new destination that celebrates the city’s industrial legacy while supporting its future growth. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
£1.4bn Shopping Centre Investment Pipeline Signals Retail Property Revival
Confidence is continuing to return to the UK’s retail property market, with new research from Savills revealing a £1.4 billion pipeline of shopping centre investments that is expected to drive a strong second half of 2026. According to the real estate adviser, 17 shopping centre transactions with a combined value of £1.1 billion are currently under offer, while a further 19 schemes, worth approximately £320 million, are actively being marketed. Together, the figures point to renewed momentum across the investment sector following a mixed start to the year. Although transaction volumes slowed during the second quarter, Savills believes this masks a much healthier underlying market, with substantial investor interest now focused on larger, high-quality retail destinations. For the construction and property sectors, the resurgence reflects growing confidence in well-positioned mixed-use retail assets that offer long-term redevelopment, asset management and placemaking opportunities alongside resilient occupier demand. During the first half of 2026, average shopping centre transaction values reached £44 million – the highest level recorded since 2016. Landmark deals involving Merry Hill and The Broadway, Bradford accounted for around 72% of total transaction activity, highlighting the renewed appeal of institutionally significant retail assets. Savills believes the second half of the year will see activity accelerate as transactions currently progressing through the market reach completion. Mark Garmon-Jones, Head of Shopping Centre and Retail Investment at Savills, said: “The second half of the year is where we expect the market to become much more active. H1 was respectable, but uneven, with a strong Q1 followed by a quieter Q2. What matters now is the depth of the pipeline; this is not a market short of demand, but one where activity is increasingly being driven by better-quality assets.” The research also highlights a notable return of institutional investors and REITs to the shopping centre market after several years of limited activity. Investors are increasingly targeting dominant retail destinations with strong occupational performance and opportunities for long-term value creation through active asset management. The improving occupational market is further strengthening investor confidence. Shopping centre vacancy rates fell to 16.1% during the second quarter, the lowest level recorded in a decade and the sharpest quarterly improvement since early 2016. Savills attributes the decline in vacancy to strengthening leasing demand, delayed occupier decisions finally progressing, continued pressure on the constrained retail warehouse market and the ongoing repurposing of secondary retail space for alternative uses. Sam Arrowsmith, Commercial Research Director at Savills, said: “The shopping centre market enters the second half of 2026 in a stronger position than the Q2 figures alone suggest. Vacancy has seen the largest quarter fall in 10 years, leasing demand is improving and the return of institutional capital is a clear signal that confidence is rebuilding. The risks are more about timing than direction, and for well-capitalised buyers the window to secure high-quality assets ahead of further yield compression is narrowing.” As retail destinations continue to evolve into mixed-use environments incorporating leisure, hospitality, workspace and residential elements, the latest research suggests investor confidence is steadily returning. With a substantial pipeline of transactions progressing and occupier demand strengthening, the shopping centre sector appears well placed for renewed investment activity throughout the remainder of 2026. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals