Fyfestone reaches 70-year production milestone at Breedon’s Kemnay Quarry
The natural stone-effect concrete blocks have been manufactured at the Aberdeenshire site since the 1950s Production has evolved from manual batching to automated and computerised systems during seven decades at Kemnay Breedon Group plc (“Breedon”) has reached a major milestone at its Kemnay Quarry in Aberdeenshire, with Fyfestone now having been manufactured at the site for 70 years. First developed in the 1950s as an alternative to traditional granite, Fyfestone is designed to replicate the look and finish of natural stone and has since been used on projects across the UK, including Balmoral Castle, Devonport Docks and Manchester’s Malmaison Hotel. It is made by mixing granite aggregates with cement to produce a concrete mix. The concrete is then placed into moulds before being compressed under around 400 tonnes of pressure, creating a dense and durable product designed to closely resemble natural stone. Jeremy Edinborough, General Manager at Breedon, said: “Producing Fyfestone at Kemnay for 70 years is something we’re incredibly proud of. The product has stood the test of time, and its longevity is testament to the quality of the material and the expertise of the people who have produced it over the years. “While the fundamentals of Fyfestone have remained consistent, the way we manufacture it has continued to evolve. The introduction of automation, computerised systems and robotics has helped us modernise production while retaining the characteristics that have made the product so enduring.” Few people have seen that transformation as closely as Operations Manager Andy Henderson, who joined Kemnay Quarry in 1986 and has now spent 40 years working at the site. Andy followed in the footsteps of his father, Joe, who was previously General Manager at Kemnay. His own connection to the quarry began much earlier, having grown up in a family home on site while his father worked there. After joining the business as a general labourer, Andy progressed through the ranks and is now responsible for overseeing daily manufacturing operations, managing staff and meeting production targets. Andy said: “It’s quite something when you think about it. We’ve been caretakers for two generations and I feel quite proud to be involved in something that’s going to outlast me.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Savills strengthens Property Management team with new director
International real estate advisor Savills has strengthened its Property Management division with the appointment of Adam De Acetis as a director. Adam will join the division’s portfolio team, where he will play a key role in formalising and expanding its approach to private client work. Adam brings significant experience in property management, strategic asset management, lease advisory and real estate development. He has worked with a range of institutional and private clients, producing and delivering asset business plans, leading value add initiatives and collaborating with landlords, occupiers and other stakeholders to deliver strategic objectives. Adam will focus on formalising and expanding the team’s approach to private client work, primarily exploring opportunities with property companies, private property investors, Family Office and high-net-worth individuals. He will enhance the existing team and support its continued growth by helping clients develop and implement effective portfolio and property level strategies. John Redfern, Head of UK Business Space, Property Management at Savills, comments: “Adam brings extensive experience of working closely with a range of property owners and investors to improve portfolio performance. His commercial approach and understanding of private clients will bring great value to our clients and team, while helping us to identify and develop new opportunities for continued growth. We are delighted to welcome him to Savills.” Adam De Acetis, Director, Savills Property Management, adds: “I am excited to be joining Savills and the opportunities to work with colleagues across the business to develop strategies that add value, address challenges and help clients maximise the performance of their assets and portfolios.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Brims builds on record £70m turnover with £89.5m secured workload
Northeast independent contractor increases profits by 26%, invests in new headquarters and strengthens its platform for continued growth Brims Construction has delivered its fifth consecutive year of revenue growth, achieving record turnover of £70 million and a 26% increase in pre-tax profits as it continues to build its reputation as a trusted construction partner across the North East. The independently owned contractor reported turnover of £70.01 million for the year ended 31 March 2026, up from £64.43 million, with pre-tax profit rising to £5.31 million. With a workforce averaging 200 people, year-end cash balances of £19.37 million and no bank debt, Brims combines the resources to deliver major projects with the personal approach and long-term relationships of an independent business. That approach continues to attract new and returning clients. Secured future workload stood at £89.46 million at the end of August 2026, providing a strong foundation for the year ahead. Commercial Director Ian Clift said: “These results demonstrate the strength of Brims and the confidence our clients place in us. Five consecutive years of revenue growth, alongside increased profitability, reflect the hard work of our people and a clear focus on delivering projects well. “For our clients, financial strength matters. They need confidence that their contractor has the people, resources and resilience to see a project through. Our strong cash position and absence of bank debt allow us to plan for the long term, invest in the business and support our supply chain. “We are ambitious for Brims. Our focus is on building a business that clients want to work with again, talented people want to join and suppliers can depend on.” The results follow a busy year of project delivery across education, commercial property, industry and specialist facilities. Among the projects completed was the £15.6 million Housing Innovation and Construction Skills Academy at Riverside Sunderland. Combining the restoration of a former engine shed with a substantial new extension, the scheme demonstrates Brims’ ability to deliver technically demanding projects that support the region’s future. Other completions included a £4.5 million refurbishment and fit-out for Barbour, a new sixth form centre in Northumberland and an office and factory refurbishment incorporating a specialist remotely operated vehicle test tank for subsea engineering company, SMD. Brims also delivered works at Newcastle International Airport and civil engineering projects at Wilton, Teesside. Operations Director Jason Wood said: “Our strength is the combination of our people, our technical experience and the relationships we build with clients. We take time to understand what each project needs and bring the right team together to deliver it safely and to a high standard. “Repeat business is particularly important to us. When a client chooses Brims again, it is a strong endorsement of the service our team has provided. “Our experience across different sectors gives us a broad base of expertise, while our selective approach to new work helps us maintain the attention and commitment that every client deserves.” The year also saw Brims complete its move to Ravensworth House on Team Valley in September 2025, investing in a new headquarters to support the next stage of its development. Director Richard Wood said: “Our new headquarters represents our confidence in the future of Brims and our commitment to the North East. It gives our people a modern working environment and a strong base from which to support clients across the region and beyond. “Behind these results is a team that really cares about the quality of its work. Their knowledge, professionalism and commitment are what turn opportunities into successful projects and first-time clients into long-term partners. “With a strong secured workload and the capacity to invest in our future, we are well placed to build on that success.” Brims also achieved the Fair Payment Code Bronze Award, recognising payment of at least 95% of invoices within 60 days and reinforcing its commitment to its supply chain. Looking ahead, the company will continue to pursue sustainable, profitable growth through carefully selected projects, investment in its people and lasting client relationships. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Interpon D Futura 2026–2029 wins Best of Products Award for architectural color and finish
AkzoNobel Powder Coatings’ Interpon D Futura 2026–2029 Collection has won the Finishes + Surfaces – Paint & Coating category in The Architect’s Newspaper’s 2026 Best of Products Awards, recognizing a forward-looking collection designed to give architects and designers freedom to create distinctive spaces with durable, expressive finishes. Selected by a jury of practicing architects, designers and critics, The Architect’s Newspaper’s Best of Products Awards celebrate solutions that are shaping the built environment. The superdurable Interpon D2525 Futura 2026–2029 Collection brings together enduring design influences and emerging architectural trends in a contemporary toolkit for architects and designers. It is designed to support commercial, residential, institutional and public projects – from understated facades to bold design statements. The collection is organized around two complementary palettes: Together, the palettes give architects and designers flexibility to create distinctive spaces for work, leisure and relaxation. For more than two decades, Futura has helped shape architectural approaches to color and finish, and the 2026–2029 Collection builds on that legacy through updated color forecasting and architectural research. Being a superdurable Interpon D2525 range, the collection sits within the Interpon Eco+ portfolio of advanced sustainable powder coatings, with sustainability built in as standard. In Europe and North America*, the range includes 15 Low-E colors, supporting curing at lower temperatures or faster line speeds, helping to reduce energy use and improve operational efficiency. Bio-attributed raw materials are also utilized, helping customers make lower carbon choices without needing to specify a specialist or premium option. Futura 2026-2029 includes 50 superdurable bonded metallic powder coatings compliant with AAMA 2604, offers warranties of up to 20 years and is supported by Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), which provide transparent, independently verified information about the environmental impacts of the relevant products across their life cycle. “Winning this recognition from The Architect’s Newspaper is a proud moment for everyone involved in the Futura Collection,” said Jeff Jirak, Business Unit Director, AkzoNobel Powder Coatings. “It validates the way Futura brings together design leadership, practical performance and sustainability. For architects and designers, the collection offers the confidence to specify expressive, durable finishes that are designed to perform for the long term.” The award strengthens AkzoNobel Powder Coating’s position as a partner for architects and designers looking to balance creative freedom, durability and more responsible material choices across the built environment. To learn more about the Interpon D Futura 2026–2029 Collection, visit: Interpon D Futura Collection | Interpon Read The Architect’s Newspaper’s announcement of the 2026 Best of Products Award winners here. *Interpon D Powder Coatings formulated with Low-E technology and bio-attributed raw materials are imported from Europe. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
‘Boroughs want to build more’ – ambition for over 50,000 new council homes in capital
London boroughs have identified sites to build over 50,000 new council homes in the capital if sufficient funding is available, analysis reveals. This would represent an almost 15% increase to London’s council housing stock – a significant boost in the face of London’s worsening housing and homelessness pressures[i]. London Councils says the figure demonstrates boroughs’ commitment to building the next generation of council housing across the capital and to working with the government on this agenda. The cross-party group, which represents all 32 boroughs and the City of London Corporation, surveyed its members on their submissions to the London Social and Affordable Homes Programme (LSAHP)[ii]. London Councils’ analysis found that: London Councils has welcomed the government’s increased investment in the social and affordable homes programme and the GLA’s confirmation that council-led projects will account for 60% of the homes delivered through the initial LSAHP allocations Boroughs in the capital are proud of their track record in building council homes. The government has itself acknowledged that “London is already showing what can be achieved through fuller devolution when it comes to council housebuilding”, with half of all council homes built in 2024 to 2025 located in the capital. Boroughs are working together with partners on how best to keep increasing delivery of new council homes, creating good-quality homes and ensuring those homes go to Londoners who need them most. In support of this, London Councils is making the case that further grant funding and other financial measures – including access to low-interest loans – are needed to accelerate progress and maximise delivery of boroughs’ council housebuilding ambitions. Cllr Anthony Okereke, London Councils’ Executive Member for Housing & Homelessness, said: “These figures demonstrate boroughs’ ambitious commitment to building the next generation of council housing across the capital. “London is grappling with the most severe housing and homelessness emergency in the country. Boosting the number of council homes is a key part of tackling this crisis – and London boroughs have a proud track record of delivery in recent years. “Boroughs want to build more. We have identified a pipeline of over 50,000 new council homes we could deliver in the coming years. These are specific development opportunities where we are seeking funding for new council housing. “We have the expertise, we have the vision, we have the determination – we now need the investment to make it happen.” Ahead of the government’s Autumn Budget, London Councils is making the case for additional financial support for council housing, which must sit among a broader sweep of policy reforms tackling housing and homelessness pressures. Policy priorities include: Further targeted grant funding Building on the government’s uplift to the Social and Affordable Homes Programme, further grant funding increases would make more council housebuilding projects viable and accelerate delivery. For example, full delivery of the pipeline of over 50,000 potential council homes in London is estimated to cost £12.3 billion. The current LSAHP is worth £11.7 billion and is designed to fund a range of development organisations including housing associations and private developers, as well as local authorities. Reforming nationally set rules on Housing Revenue Accounts (local authorities’ budgets for managing their council housing) Changes should include an urgent reassessment of the 2012 HRA debt settlement, enabling councils to access low-interest lending, and a London Formula Rent reset that would give boroughs extra flexibility in setting social rents to account for the capital’s high property costs. Reforms such as these would strengthen boroughs’ resources for investing in council housing, including building new homes. Additional funding for acquisitions Boosting London boroughs’ ability to buy existing housing is another vital part of the solution to the housing crisis. London boroughs are making good use of the Local Authority Housing Fund and the Social and Affordable Homes Programme to fund acquisitions. Boroughs’ acquisitions have unblocked stalled sites, converted market housing into affordable homes, reduced reliance on the private rented sector for finding desperately needed temporary accommodation, and supported London’s wider development sector in a downturn. [i] London Councils’ analysis of homelessness statistics shows that an estimated 210,000 Londoners are homeless and living in temporary accommodation. This equates to around one in every 50 residents of the capital. London accounts for more than half of all homeless households in England. In addition, more than 330,000 households are on local authority housing registers (commonly known as social housing waiting lists) in the capital.[ii] The Social and Affordable Homes Programme provides government grant funding for new social and affordable housing. In the capital the programme’s funding is managed and distributed by the Greater London Authority. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Salboy enters Build-To-Rent market with launch of first 2,000 Everway Homes
New brand, Everway Homes, sits within the Salboy Group Salboy, the nationwide property development and funding group, has entered the build-to-rent (BTR) market for the first time with the launch of its dedicated BTR brand, Everway Homes. Over the next five years, Everway Homes will develop and rent 2,000 brand-new, low-rise homes, targeting young professionals and families in high-demand areas across England and Wales. 1,000 homes are already in the pipeline for development. Salboy aims to hand over the keys to its first Everway tenants by January 2027, with 2,000 homes completed by the end of 2031. The new homes will be built by Salboy’s network of experienced regional delivery partners, as well as by its own low-rise building arm, Salboy Construction. Management lettings and maintenance will be managed by the Salboy team. Everway is spearheaded by Andrew Cavanagh, CFO at Salboy since 2019: “The fall in construction starts in the BTR sector this year has been staggering to watch, and highlights the grim realities facing regional developers and contractors striving to keep their BTR schemes viable. From the cost of labour and supplies to regulatory uncertainty and planning delays, the outlook for BTR developers has been increasingly poor. And, yet, the urgent, pressing need for high-quality rental property remains unchanged. While the dynamics and statistics will encourage others to steer clear of the market, this is the right time for Salboy to enter BTR. For years we have honed our strategy to bring economies of scale to development projects across the UK by working in partnership with a wider network of regional development and delivery partners. And we are confident in our ability to bring the same positive, collaborative approach to BTR now. With Everway, we’re looking forward to working closely with regional contractors who are motivated to get more homes built in their local areas. These regional contractors will benefit from the reduced costs of labour, materials and energy that come with delivering projects as part of a wider group, and their communities stand to benefit as a result.” Everway is a natural next step in Salboy’s strategy to diversify its involvement in and contribution to the UK homebuilding industry. The launch of Everway follows the launch of Salboy Construction in February 2026 to deliver small-scale housing schemes throughout the UK, as well as the launch of Hidden, Salboy’s boutique aparthotel brand, in April 2026. The Salboy Group now counts more than seven active property and construction brands under its wider umbrella. Daisyfields in Staffordshire – the first Everway Homes project Construction began this summer at Daisyfields, Everway Homes’s first scheme, a 37-home development in Staffordshire. Positioned as a convenient commuter development, Daisyfields is a 25-minute drive from Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford, and 45-minutes to Derby. In addition to its proximity to major cities and cross-country rail links, tenants of Daisyfields will benefit from professionally managed, energy efficient, pet-friendly homes as well as attractive, spacious landscaping. Additional Everway Homes schemes in the pipeline include sites in Kent, Greater Manchester, Lincolnshire and Cornwall. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals