
Manchester’s Local Plan Review: Final consultation opportunity underway
The Local Plan is a guide to development and growth in the city over the next fifteen years and Manchester people are invited to have their say for the final time yesterday. The Plan is a legal requirement for every Council to set out a long-term framework about how development should be considered through the planning process, including new housing – as well as affordable homes – green spaces, development that creates employment opportunities, infrastructure projects such as roads, health facilities and schools – and how the city will achieve net zero carbon. The Plan complements a range of strategies and policies that look to deliver the vision of the Council. An initial consultation took place in September 2025 starting a process of review and engagement through the last year. This consultation attracted 2,184 responses that have since been considered by planning officers to help update the draft local plan. The Local Plan is currently going through Regulation 19, which is the final version of the plan before it is referred to a government inspector for public examination. The public will be asked for their comments relating to how ‘workable’ the draft plan is in practice, which is a requirement set out by Government. This ‘test of soundness’ asks the public: does the plan meet its objectives. Key changes to the draft local plan following previous consultation: Take part in the Local Plan consultation Local people, community organisations, businesses and stakeholders can take part in the consultation, submitting their views online via an online platform and all details are available on the following council web page A hard copy of the consultation will also be made available in Manchester Central Library. The consultation will remain open until Monday 28 Sept. The previous Manchester Local Plan was adopted in 2012. The current review was delayed while the Greater Manchester Places for Everyone plan was adopted, into which the Manchester Plan must align. Following consultation, the final draft of Manchester’s Local Plan will be submitted to a government inspector with an expectation that the plan will be adopted in the summer of 2027. Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and regeneration, said: “It’s important that future development plays its part well in making sure Manchester remains a great place to live, with great homes that our residents can afford in attractive neighbourhoods that they want to live in with quality green spaces nearby. This is the role of the Local Plan – to help guide development to help us deliver our vision and ambition. “The Local Plan will complement a range of other strategies delivering for our city, in particular our housing strategy that has set an ambitious target to deliver at least 36,000 new homes by 2032 – 10,000 of which will be social, Council and genuinely affordable homes. And the Local Plan looks to increase the target of social rent and affordable homes each year to deliver the homes our residents need. “Last year we saw thousands of responses that have helped guide our Local Plan review. This is the final chance for Manchester people to comment on the updated draft local plan, and we’d encourage as many people as possible to take part of play their part in guiding development in our city.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

How Contractors Can Prepare for Legal Disputes Involving Out-of-State Parties
Dozens of complex construction disputes reach formal litigation every day across the United States. When your project involves out-of-state property owners, general contractors, or specialized suppliers, a simple payment disagreement can turn into an expensive jurisdictional mess. Preparing for these legal battles requires a clear strategy before you file formal claims. Navigating cross-border construction litigation requires strict adherence to evidence laws and procedural rules. Managing records, securing out-of-state testimony, and coordinating legal teams early keeps control in your hands. Establish Centralized Document Preservation Protocols Contractors must secure every piece of job-site data long before an attorney files a complaint. Digital communication, daily logs, change orders, and submittals form the backbone of your legal defense or claim. Soaring construction dispute numbers highlight the legal risk contractors face when cross-border logistics collapse. When out-of-state entities are involved, document discovery becomes significantly more complex and contested. Storing records on a unified, cloud-based platform ensures that remote parties cannot claim data was lost or destroyed. Enforce a strict litigation hold as soon as a project shows signs of serious distress. Instruct all field personnel to preserve text messages, email threads, and daily photos without exception. Secure Subpoenas and Out-of-State Evidence Gathering testimony or sworn financial documents from non-party witnesses located in another state presents a major procedural hurdle. Courts do not hold automatic jurisdiction over individuals who reside outside their state borders. To compel testimony or evidence from an out-of-state witness, contractors must utilize specific interstate discovery laws. Understanding Florida subpoena domestication is essential when your dispute involves witnesses, subcontractors, or material suppliers located in Sunshine State jurisdictions, for instance. This process converts an out-of-state subpoena into an enforceable local court order without restarting the entire legal process, and it differs by state. Handling this process early prevents unexpected trial delays and keeps out-of-state witnesses accountable to your defense team. Draft Specific Choice of Law and Venue Provisions Your contract terms dictate how smoothly an out-of-state dispute proceeds once arguments begin. General contractors and trade partners must ensure their agreements clearly define which state laws govern the contract and where disputes must be heard. Arbitration clauses can simplify multi-state conflicts by establishing neutral ground for all parties involved. However, mandatory venue clauses require meticulous drafting to ensure they remain legally enforceable across state lines. Construction dispute research shows that vague contract language consistently drives up legal expenses and extends litigation timelines. Clear forum selection clauses eliminate lengthy preliminary battles over which court actually holds jurisdiction. Consult experienced construction counsel to audit your standard master service agreements annually. Updating forum-selection language protects your firm when working with out-of-state partners. Coordinate Local Legal Counsel and Jurisdiction Experts Litigating against an entity based in another state often requires a multi-jurisdictional legal team. Local counsel brings invaluable familiarity with specific court rules, regional judges, and local discovery customs. Your primary attorney can direct overall case strategy while local counsel manages court appearances and state-specific procedural filings. This approach stops minor administrative errors from derailing critical evidentiary motions. It also provides immediate leverage during court-ordered mediation sessions. Establishing these legal relationships before a project begins saves vital time when urgent injunctive relief or lien filings become necessary. Verify Multi-State Insurance Coverage and Defense Obligations Cross-border disputes regularly complicate Commercial General Liability coverage when policy choices collide with local statutes. Insurers often issue reservation-of-rights letters when out-of-state subcontractors face defect claims across state lines. Contractors must immediately tender defense claims to primary and excess carriers upon receiving any formal dispute notice. Verifying additional insured status across every out-of-state agreement prevents unexpected out-of-pocket litigation expenses. Mitigate Multi-Jurisdictional Risks Before Filing Claims Contractors who take proactive operational steps consistently secure better outcomes in multi-state disputes. Documenting field changes in real time, standardizing contracts, and executing proper subpoena domestication routines keeps your business protected. Reviewing your current project portfolio for out-of-state exposures is the best way to safeguard company assets before a dispute arises. Explore our site for more content that contractors need to keep their operations running smoothly.

5 Best Fencing Systems for Baseball and Softball Fields
The right field fencing balances safety, flexibility and the realities of your facility. From impact-focused systems to portable and semipermanent options, here are five fencing systems for baseball and softball fields. 1. SPECTO® Fencing System by Grand Slam Safety If athlete safety is a priority for your field, SPECTO® from Grand Slam Safety offers an alternative to hard-surface barriers. Its patented tension-rigging design uses vinyl-coated mesh to create a gentle cradling effect when an athlete makes contact with the fence. This helps limit injury risk. You can specify it as a temporary or permanent system and customize it to field dimensions, including foul-pole and center-field distances. SPECTO® is among the best fencing systems for baseball and softball fields because its weather-resistant mesh requires relatively little maintenance and can be compactly stored, with a complete system occupying just 110 square feet. Softball systems can be installed and disassembled in less than 90 minutes, and transparent mesh preserves spectator viewing. Key Features 2. SportaFence® Portable Athletic Fencing When you need one field to accommodate different age groups, SportaFence® offers rapid reconfiguration. Its patented wheeled system lets you change a field between men’s, women’s, boys’ and girls’ baseball, or softball regulation dimensions within a single day. Setup can take as little as an hour, so you can adjust field boundaries without building separate permanent layouts. The flexibility can be particularly useful for multi-use complexes and tournament facilities. You can configure additional regulation fields within the existing space, potentially increasing tournament capacity while reducing the infrastructure and labor required for repeated field changes. SportaFence® also provides a level of safety comparable to that of traditional permanent fencing. Key Features 3. Grand Slam Fencing by CoverSports Grand Slam Fencing by CoverSports is among the best fencing systems for baseball and softball fields when you need a portable outfield boundary that works on different surfaces. It offers two installation options, including in-ground and aboveground. The in-ground system uses augers and optional ground sockets for natural turf. The aboveground version uses weighted bases on grass, synthetic turf, asphalt or concrete. You can adjust the fence length by adding or removing sections to suit dimensions ranging from Little League to adult recreational. That capability makes Grand Slam Fencing particularly useful when the fence needs to be moved between sites or to accommodate changes in field size. CoverSports manufactures every system at its Philadelphia facility and can customize layouts around your surface, dimensions and branding requirements. Key Features 4. Sportaflex Premier Fence A lightweight portable system can simplify field changes, particularly across indoor and outdoor spaces. Sportaflex‘s Premier Fence uses individual aluminum alloy frames with poly-vinyl mesh to create a modular setup that can be installed on level surfaces ranging from natural grass to artificial turf. You can choose 4½-foot or 6-foot panels, with optional mounts providing additional stability on soft turf or in high-wind conditions. The system is designed for baseball, softball and other recreational applications, so you can adapt the same fencing infrastructure for different uses. Its patented safety feature may help reduce injury risk during collisions. The aluminum frames are built for repeated use. Sportaflex also offers a separate FastFold fence with a patented steel design for quick setup without ground mounts, making it particularly suitable for turf surfaces. Key Features 5. Sportsfield Specialties Seasonal and Semipermanent Fence Systems Facilities with changing field dimensions can choose between seasonal and semipermanent systems from Sportsfield Specialties. Its seasonal fencing for baseball and softball fields uses ⅛-inch aluminum-reinforced panels with 19-oz premium outdoor vinyl. Semipermanent systems are available in 4-, 6- and 8-foot heights and are installed using ground sleeves for easier removal. The two formats give you different levels of permanence for schools, parks, recreation departments and tournament complexes. Seasonal systems can be installed, removed and reconfigured as leagues or events change. Semipermanent fencing stays in place longer but can still be relocated. Both options are suited to multi-use facilities that need to adjust outfield dimensions without committing to permanent construction. Sportsfield Specialties also produces complementary field equipment, so the fencing forms part of a broader facility upgrade. Key Features Comparing the Best Fencing Systems The differences between fencing systems for baseball and softball fields largely come down to how much flexibility, portability and permanence a facility needs. Fencing System Configuration Standout Advantage Best Fit SPECTO® Fencing System by Grand Slam Safety Temporary or permanent Impact-absorbing mesh Safety-focused facilities SportaFence® Portable Athletic Fencing Wheeled and portable Rapid field reconfiguration Multi-use and tournament facilities Grand Slam Fencing by CoverSports In-ground or aboveground Multiple surface options Temporary and shared-use fields Sportaflex Premier Fence Modular and portable Several mounting options Indoor and outdoor facilities Sportsfield Specialties Seasonal and Semipermanent Fence Systems Seasonal or semipermanent Flexible field layouts Schools, parks and tournament complexes Selecting Fencing Systems for Baseball and Softball Fields The systems meet practical considerations for baseball and softball facilities, including: Frequently Asked Questions Below are some of the most common questions about fencing for baseball and softball fields. Q: What types of fencing systems are best for baseball and softball fields? A: The best option depends on your facility’s requirements. SPECTO® prioritizes impact-absorbing fencing, SportaFence® enables rapid field reconfiguration, while Grand Slam Fencing, Sportaflex and Sportsfield Specialties offer portable, seasonal or semipermanent solutions. Q: What should you consider when choosing fencing for baseball and softball fields? A: Consider the required level of permanence, field dimensions, surface type, installation method and frequency of reconfiguration. Safety features, durability and compatibility with multi-use or tournament schedules can also influence the choice. Q: Are portable fencing systems suitable for multi-use baseball and softball fields? A: Yes. SportaFence®, Grand Slam Fencing, Sportaflex and Sportsfield Specialties all offer configurations suited to facilities where field boundaries need to change. Keep Your Eye on the Ball The best fencing system depends on your field, surface and schedule. Looking closely at each system’s specifications can help you choose a solution that fits the facility and your planned use.

Lovell Set for October Start on First Phase of 450-Home Horsham Regeneration
Lovell Partnerships is preparing to start construction on the first phase of a major residential regeneration scheme in Horsham, transforming the former Novartis Pharmaceuticals campus into a new neighbourhood of around 450 homes. Work is expected to begin in October on Lovell’s 206-home development across the 2.72-hectare site, with the scheme combining new-build houses and apartments with the sensitive conversion of the site’s landmark 1930s Art Deco clock tower building. Designed by architect Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt, the development will retain the locally listed tower as the architectural centrepiece of the new neighbourhood, preserving an important part of the site’s pharmaceutical and industrial heritage. Around 35% of the 206 homes within the first phase will be affordable. The existing multi-storey wings positioned either side of the clock tower will be demolished due to significant structural problems and replaced by new five-storey apartment buildings. The retained Art Deco building itself will be converted to provide 51 apartments, with a further 155 new apartments and townhouses constructed across the site. The masterplan has been designed with a varied building scale to help integrate the development into the surrounding area. Heights will begin with two-storey homes along Parsonage Road before increasing to three-storey properties around a new central boulevard and landscaped public square. The main retained building will rise to four storeys with a set-back upper level, while the existing 24m-high clock tower will remain the tallest and most prominent feature of the development. Public realm and landscaping will also play an important role in the regeneration. A new tree-lined boulevard will run through the neighbourhood towards landscaped space in front of the restored Art Deco building, helping to establish the clock tower as a focal point for the wider scheme. Lovell’s development represents the first phase of the planned transformation of the former pharmaceuticals campus. Muse is progressing proposals for the eastern section of the site, which would add a further 244 homes and take the overall development to approximately 450 properties. All 244 homes proposed within the Muse phase are planned as affordable housing, supported by grant funding from Homes England. A separate planning application for this element of the regeneration is expected to be submitted. With Lovell preparing to move onto site in October, the redevelopment will mark the beginning of a significant new chapter for the former Novartis campus, combining heritage-led regeneration, new housing and affordable homes with landscaped public spaces to create a new residential neighbourhood in Horsham. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

London Charing Cross and Waterloo East reopen after railway carries out £20million programme of engineering work
Southeastern services have resumed, once again, at Charing Cross and Waterloo East after a 22-day closure for essential engineering work at the central London terminus. During the closure, engineers replaced almost two kilometres of 36-year-old track and the switches and crossings, the moveable rails that allow trains to switch paths, south of Hungerford Bridge. They also renewed the wheel timbers, the equivalent of sleepers when going over bridges, and completed structural repairs to sections of the Hungerford bridge’s steelwork before repainting it. Teams made full use of this once-in-a-generation closure to rebuild sections of platform at Charing Cross, removing 540 tonnes of concrete and installing more than 2,000m2 of glass-reinforced plastic. Working across all six platforms at once, they demolished sections, installed new steelwork and laid new surfaces. With Waterloo East closed, teams took the opportunity to complete work that could not be carried out safely while trains and passengers were using the station. They cleaned, treated and repainted the footbridge steelwork to protect it from the weather, and replaced window panels with self-cleaning glass that brings more light into the passageways and can be opened to improve ventilation. Network Rail and Southeastern, working together as the integrated South Eastern Railway, spent 18 months planning the closure and combined these essential renewals into one 22-day programme. The work will help keep the railway fit for decades to come, support a safer, better and more reliable railway at lower cost to taxpayers, and improve the customer experience at these central London stations. Completing the work in one extended summer holiday closure, when commuter numbers are around 20% lower, reduced overall disruption. This lowered delivery costs and gave passengers the benefits of the improvements sooner with the alternative options being 60 weekend closures or four separate nine-day closures. Scott Brightwell, Safety, Planning and Performance Director, South Eastern Railway, said: “We are pleased to have reopened the line between Charing Cross and London Bridge after 22 days of intensive work. “We know closing two of London’s busiest stations for more than three weeks caused inconvenience for many customers, I am sorry for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience. Completing this essential work in one 22-day closure, rather than over 60 weekends, allowed us to carry out station improvement works that would, otherwise, have been impossible to achieve.” “Our teams replaced track and platforms dating back to 1990s, completed essential structural repairs to Hungerford Bridge (over the Thames) and Waterloo East station improvements. “Thank you to customers for bearing with us whilst we complete the works and thank you to the hundreds of colleagues who worked 24/7 through the high temperatures.” Liz Baldwin, Southern Integrated Delivery Director, Southern Renewals Enterprise, said: “The successful completion of the Charing Cross and Waterloo East closure is one of the most significant achievements delivered by Southern Renewals Enterprise to date. It demonstrates the power of the Enterprise model, bringing together colleagues from across the SRE, Network Rail, Southeastern and our Ecosystem supply chain partners to safely deliver a huge volume of work in a single coordinated programme. “I would like to thank everyone involved for their professionalism, teamwork and dedication, particularly those who worked around the clock in extremely challenging temperatures. I’d also like to thank our passengers and local communities for their patience and understanding while these vital upgrades were carried out.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Costain to upgrade Thames Water treatment sites
Upgrades will improve the resilience of critical wastewater treatment services. Costain, the infrastructure solutions company, has been awarded work by Thames Water to upgrade strategic treatment assets across the Thames Valley region. The award will see Costain complete around £150m of essential upgrades to wastewater treatment assets across 15 sites as part of Thames Water’s Wastewater Asset Assurance Programme (WAAP). Thames Water is undertaking its biggest ever upgrade of sewers and sewage treatment works in 150 years, with improvements planned at more than 250 sites across the region. Costain’s upgrade works will include modernising operations at inlet stations, improving the resilience of storm tanks and other repairs, modifications and upgrades to wastewater systems, and are expected to be completed during AMP8, which covers the period of 2025 – 2030. Costain’s upgrades will see it split the works into two regions, East and West, appointing a regional senior project manager for each region. The wastewater treatment sites in the Eastern section will include Barkway, Brentwood, Long Reach, Little Hallingbury, North Weald and Standon. The Western section will include Aldershot, Burghfield, Esher, Horley, Lightwater, Marlborough, Northleach, Waddesdon and Windsor. Costain is a long-term, trusted partner of Thames Water and was previously awarded contracts to upgrade strategic treatment assets in Markyate, Brickendon, Sandhurst and Selborne assets. Costain has also been involved in conducting clay compaction trials for The White Horse Reservoir, Thames Water’s new 150Mm3 reservoir in Oxfordshire which will provide a resilient water supply for up to 15 million people. Matt Bateman, Water Sector Director at Costain, commented: “We have a long-term, trusted partner relationship with Thames Water and this award is built on our excellent track record of identifying construction efficiencies and delivering best-in-class solutions. We’ll work closely with Thames Water and our supply chain partners to deliver these essential infrastructure upgrades, that will build resilience into the region’s critical wastewater system, efficiently and safely.” Tim Horton, Capital Delivery Director at Thames Water, added: “We are delivering the largest programme of investment in our wastewater network in more than 150 years, helping to improve resilience across our region and support a growing population. “Costain has a strong track record of safely delivering complex infrastructure projects and will play an important role in upgrading key treatment assets across these 15 sites. Together, we will modernise critical wastewater infrastructure, improve operational performance and help ensure we continue to provide a more reliable service for our customers and the environment.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
