TCC gets in bed with Travelodge
A new 82-bedroom hotel is taking shape in Greater London, with help from a leading Birmingham-based construction consultancy. The Construction Consultants (TCC) has been appointed to support the development of a new £8.6 million Travelodge in Upminster in the London Borough of Havering. TCC is providing contract administrator and quantity surveying services to the creation of the new hotel in Station Road. It will be Travelodge’s 86th hotel in London, and add to the hotel chain’s portfolio of 600 hotels around the UK. The new hotel will feature 24 family rooms, 49 double rooms with showers and nine wheelchair accessible rooms. The project also includes ground floor retail units along with car parking and landscaping. As contract administrator TCC has the responsibility of acting on behalf of developers Eastern Iron Works Ltd alongside construction manager Stack London Ltd to see the project through to completion. TCC co-founder and director Sandeep Sunner said, “We are delighted to have been appointed to this project which will provide high quality accommodation for business and leisure visitors to the area, contributing to the local economy of Upminster.” TCC has a wealth of experience across public and private sectors including industrial, commercial, retail, leisure, care and residential projects. Headquartered in Bennett’s Hill, TCC is a multi-disciplined consultancy providing specialist project management, quantity-surveying, employers agent, building surveying and health and safety services to a wide range of sectors. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
New whitepaper from Bradstone reveals extent of challenges in creating safe public realm spaces
Bradstone, a member of Holcim UK, has launched a major new whitepaper, Promoting Safety in the Public Realm, calling for a more coordinated, evidence-based approach to designing and managing safer public spaces across the UK. It is the first output from a new working group assembled by Bradstone, comprising landscape architects, academic partners, NGOs and industry professionals to examine how safety is understood, experienced and delivered in the built environment. The whitepaper pulls in recent research from the University of Leeds and West Yorkshire Combined Authority which reveal that fences and walls around park edges make parks feel less safe due to reducing escape routes, while busier parks feel safer due to passive surveillance from other people. Meanwhile, stats from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show 37% of women stop walking in quiet places after dark due to safety concerns. Contributors to the whitepaper include Jo Roberts (Holcim UK), Dr Anna Barker (University of Leeds), Romy Rawlings (Landscape Institute / Deep Green), Ben Gill (One Planet), and Iwonan Kossek (Ask for Angela). Together, they argue there is a growing urgency to tackle safety in public spaces as, despite having a direct influence on each, the issue continues to receive less attention than other urban issues, such as decarbonisation, regeneration and public health. A central theme of the whitepaper is the need for a shared, cross-sector understanding of what ‘safety’ actually means. The working group emphasises the distinction between actual safety (objective risk) and perceived safety (subjective experience), noting that perception often shapes behaviour more strongly than reality. Jo Roberts, Head of Product Management at Holcim UK, said: “We are now reaching a point where familiar ideas of ‘safety’ are being re-examined – not only as a matter of physical design but as a measure of how people feel and belong in the places they share with others. This whitepaper is about creating a shared language, grounded in evidence, that helps the industry design environments where everyone feels safe, connected and confident to move freely.” Also identified in the paper are barriers that currently impede progress – from the sheer volume of unstructured guidance to persistent misconceptions, such as the belief that safety is solely about crime reduction or that more lighting or CCTV are always the most effective solutions. Drawing on successful work across the country, the report sets out a suite of practical, evidence-based interventions for landscape architects, planners and local authorities. These include clearer sightlines, passive surveillance, typology-specific design, improved wayfinding, and co-production with communities – particularly groups who may feel excluded or unsafe. Alongside this, it emphasises the importance of robust data, pointing to emerging tools such as the Safer Parks Dashboard, which brings together spatial and safety data to help practitioners prioritise interventions. Jo said: “Improving safety in the public realm is essential for healthier communities, stronger local economies and more inclusive cities. We’re calling for closer collaboration between industry, academia and the public sector to ensure that safety becomes a core pillar of built-environment decision-making.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Game on for Harlequin Watford as Activate signs
Harlequin Watford, Hertfordshire’s leading retail and leisure destination owned and operated by SGS UK Retail, has announced the signing of immersive gaming concept Activate, further strengthening its position as the region’s premier all-day destination for shopping, dining and leisure. The fast-growing competitive socialising brand will bring a major new experiential attraction to Watford town centre, located across a 15,592 sq ft unit. Activate’s newest location is launched by experiential leisure operator We Do Play, the group behind Flip Out, the UK’s largest trampoline and indoor park operator, which is also located at Harlequin and has welcomed thousands of visitors since its opening in December 2024. The Harlequin venue will combine immersive gaming with technology-driven challenges, designed for groups of visitors to move through a series of interactive game rooms, including all of Activate’s flagship experiences, featuring lasers, grids, hoops, portals and reaction-based challenges. The upcoming arrival of Activate marks another significant step in Harlequin’s evolution, with a rejuvenated leisure focus delivering a diversified destination. It also reflects the brand’s rapid growth and sustained consumer demand, perfectly paired with visitors seeking social, activity-based leisure experiences. Richard Beese, Co-Founder of We Do Play, said: “Watford is a thriving, well-connected town with a strong retail and leisure offer, making Harlequin a natural choice for Activate. Retail destinations that invest in immersive leisure experiences are encouraging increased dwell time and repeat visits, particularly among younger audiences and families. Activate is designed to tap into that demand with a high-energy, bookable experience that delivers something genuinely different.” Robert Jewell, Managing Director of Asset Management at Pradera, commented: “Harlequin has evolved into far more than a traditional shopping destination, and the signing of Activate will continue the momentum of bringing fresh and contemporary concepts that complement the centre’s growing leisure and hospitality offer. This is another strong example of our long-term strategy coming to life, creating more reasons for visitors to stay longer, spend more and return more frequently.” Harlequin’s dominant position as the region’s first-choice retail and leisure offer brings together flagship stores from leading brands including Zara, Uniqlo and Next under one roof, alongside a strong mix of hospitality and experience-led attractions. With continued investment, the scheme continues to evolve in line with changing consumer demand and visitor expectations. 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
Volvo Construction Equipment and Hitachi Energy announce collaboration to accelerate zero-emission construction sites
The Memorandum of Understanding brings together the capabilities needed to make electric construction equipment a practical, on-site reality. By addressing power supply, charging, energy management and operational integration as a single system, the collaboration responds directly to rising sustainability and productivity pressures and the industry’s shift from standalone technologies to integrated, ready-to-deploy solutions. Hitachi Energy, a global leader in electrification, and Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE), a leading manufacturer of construction equipment machinery, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on developing end‑to‑end approaches that support the deployment of zero‑emission construction sites. The collaboration brings together electric construction equipment with clean power supply, energy management, and system integration capabilities to help address one of the construction industry’s most pressing challenges: decarbonization. Customer and investor demand for lower‑emission, more productive construction operations is reshaping the industry. At the same time, regulatory and permitting frameworks increasingly require projects to address emissions and environmental performance throughout the planning and approval process. While electrification, automation, and efficient resource and asset planning offer clear pathways to reduce emissions, transitioning from individual electric machines to fully functioning zero‑emission construction sites requires a coordinated ecosystem of solutions and effective system integration across equipment, power infrastructure, and energy management systems. Under the agreement, Volvo CE and Hitachi Energy will work on a non-exclusive basis to assess potential technical and commercial concepts supporting zero-emission construction and manufacturing operations, with a focus on system integration and site-level operational execution. The scope includes joint work on business models, go‑to‑market approaches, and aftermarket and support considerations, supported by joint teams from both companies. “Strategic partnerships such as this with Hitachi Energy are key to accelerating the transition to zero-emission construction,” said Melker Jernberg, President of Volvo CE. “By combining complementary expertise and delivering a complete, integrated solution, we are giving customers the confidence, security, and peace of mind they need to adopt emission-free operations today.” “Electrification is a game changer in the decarbonization puzzle, particularly for hard‑to‑abate environments such as construction sites,” said Niklas Persson, CEO of Grid Integration at Hitachi Energy. “As construction operations become more electric and more complex, success depends less on individual technologies and more on system‑level integration, strong execution, and close collaboration with partners like Volvo CE who share our ambition to enable zero‑emission construction at scale.” Zero-emission construction requires a coordinated ecosystem of solutions and seamless integration between machines, electrical infrastructure and energy management systems (Illustration: Volvo CE/Hitachi Energy) The initial focus is business and go‑to‑market‑oriented, emphasizing practical, plug‑and‑play approaches to help customers simplify the transition to zero‑emission construction sites. At the same time, the agreement establishes a foundation for deeper technical engagement over time, with the potential to explore more advanced capabilities such as connected machines, digital integration, and expanded service offerings. Volvo CE has long been at the forefront of the construction industry’s move toward electrification and digitalization, while Hitachi Energy brings deep expertise in power systems, energy management, and system integration. Together, the collaboration represents an important next step in providing customers with a comprehensive solution to help navigate and accelerate this transition. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Signify and Liverpool City Council pioneer traffic adaptive lighting to drive energy efficiency and sustainability
Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, has delivered an advanced smart lighting solution for Liverpool’s waterfront area. The project, completed in collaboration with McCann Ltd (Street Lighting Maintenance contractor for Liverpool City Council with support from LiveLabs, a three-year, UK-wide £30 million programme funded by the Department for Transport that aims to decarbonise the local highway network and UpCiti, that uses connected lighting technology to reduce energy use, lower carbon emissions, and enable smart infrastructure management across the city. The installation covers key routes linking the city center to the new Hill Dickinson Stadium, home to Premier League club Everton FC. Like many cities, Liverpool faces the challenge of reducing emissions and improving sustainability while continuing to deliver reliable public services. The switch can bring upto 30% in energy savings over the next 10 years. The city also needed to increase safety for pedestrians on match days as routes leading to Everton Stadium experience significant surges in traffic during events, requiring brighter, adaptive lighting for safety and crowd management. In addition, in the past, the council has relied on public reports to identify lighting failures, leading to delays in repairs and potential safety risks. As budgets tighten and energy costs rise, the city is pursuing innovative, efficient ways to invest in the future. Liverpool City Council partnered with Signify and McCann Ltd to pilot adaptive street lighting, controlled in real time by an intelligent software solution. The system uses Signify LumiStreet Gen2 luminaires which are connected to the Signify Interact City central management system, and which in turn is linked via API’s to traffic count sensors. These sensors monitor the traffic volume allowing the system to automatically adjust lighting levels based on traffic density and thus providing the right light when and where it is needed. The result is improved energy efficiency without compromising safety or visibility. At the center of the project is Signify’s Interact City lighting control system, which continuously monitors performance and automatically detects faults to minimise downtime and maintenance costs. This proactive approach enhances public safety and streamlines management of lighting assets across the waterfront area. Interact City connects both new and existing luminaires, creating a unified lighting network that reduces energy use and supports future citywide upgrades. On high-demand days, such as matchdays at Everton’s nearby stadium, Liverpool City Council can respond more effectively to increased requirements for lighting, operational efficiency and public safety. Lighting levels can be increased to maintain optimal visibility and support safer public spaces. With each luminaire connected to Signify’s central management platform, the council can proactively manage the lighting network using real-time data and insights. This smart approach helps minimise energy waste by ensuring lighting is only used when and where it is needed, avoiding the inefficiencies of fixed schedules that can create a disconnect between planned lighting and actual conditions. “We’re proud to be among the first UK local authorities to deploy traffic-adaptive lighting at scale,” said Ali Zahran, Principal Street Lighting Engineer at Liverpool City Council. “This investment is helping us reduce energy consumption, improve operational efficiency, and build a more sustainable, future-ready city. The upgrade responds to the evolving needs of residents while supporting the ambitions of a growing city, delivering smarter infrastructure that enhances safety, efficiency, and the overall urban environment for everyone.” Councillor Dan Barrington, Cabinet Member for Transport and Connectivity said: “Since the Hill Dickinson Stadium opened, we’ve listened closely to fans who want a safe, well-lit route back towards the city centre and key transport links. The new adaptive lighting along the busiest roads around the stadium means pavements are brightly lit when people need it most, helping everyone feel safer as they move through the area. Because the system responds in real time, we can also spot and fix faults quickly, keeping the route reliably lit on matchdays and beyond. And by adjusting the lighting to actual traffic levels, we’re cutting unnecessary energy use and delivering real savings for the city.” John McCann, Managing Director at McCann, added on the awarding of the contract, “We’re proud to be working alongside Liverpool City Council and Signify to ensure the city’s street lighting infrastructure is safe, reliable, and future-ready. Delivering this project as part of our maintenance service for Liverpool is a major win for our business as it reinforces our approach to collaboration, innovation, and consistency. This installation is a step in the right direction towards making Liverpool 2040 a reality.” “Every growing city must ensure that infrastructure is fit for purpose and meets the needs of its residents. Public lighting plays a critical role in creating spaces where people feel safe, while also helping cities manage energy consumption and reduce emissions,” said Simon Wilkinson, Commercial Leader Public UK, Signify. “Our collaboration with Liverpool City Council delivers immediate benefits through energy savings and improved visibility, while also serving as a blueprint for a safer, smarter, and more sustainable cities across the UK. As one of Europe’s most culturally significant and forward-thinking cities, Liverpool continues to demonstrate its commitment to innovation and enhancing quality of life for its residents through projects such as this.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Keylite strengthens housebuilder focus with appointment of new National Account Director
Keylite Roof Windows (Keylite), an award-winning manufacturer renowned for its quality and innovation, has appointed Paul Stephens as its new National Account Director to support the continued growth of its housebuilder division in the UK. With over 20 years of experience across the housebuilder sector, Paul brings a strong background of sales leadership, national account management and strategic business development. Paul joins Keylite following a successful career with Kingspan, SIG Distribution, SIG Energy Management and Miller Pattison where he held senior positions. In his new role, Paul will lead the development of Keylite’s housebuilder offering, supporting national and regional developers to deliver compliant and high-performance new build homes. A key focus will be driving awareness and adoption of Keylite’s ModuLite System, recently recognised with a Housebuilder Product Award for Best Building Fabric Product. Paul’s appointment comes at a critical time for the industry, as housebuilders continue to navigate evolving regulations and the demands of the Future Homes Standard. Working closely with key customers, Paul will help ensure Keylite continues to meet the changing demands of both large-scale developments and smaller self-build projects. Paul commented: “Keylite has built a strong reputation within the housebuilder sector through its customer focus, innovation and long-standing industry relationships. I’m thrilled to be joining the business at such a crucial time and look forward to helping strengthen our offering, support our customers and drive continued growth across the housebuilder market.” The appointment follows a period of sustained growth for the housebuilder team, with investment in the graduate sales programme increasing regional customer support and sector-focused initiatives such as the Keystone Group Innovation Day helping strengthen relationships across the industry. Jim Blanthorne, Managing Director at Keylite, added: “We’re delighted to welcome Paul to the team. His extensive experience, industry knowledge and strong relationships within the sector will be invaluable as we continue to grow the Keylite brand and expand our support for housebuilders.” For more information on Keylite Roof Windows, visit www.keyliteroofwindows.com, call 01283 200 158 or email info@keyliteuk.com. To find out more about career opportunities within the Keystone Group, visit Keystone Group Careers. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals