Morro Partnerships makes new senior appointment to drive Midlands expansion
MORRO Partnerships, the Midlands-based developer committed to delivering affordable and socially impactful homes, has announced the appointment of new land director Vinay Vadgama, as the business strengthens its strategic growth plans across the region. Vinay brings over a decade of experience in the construction and development sector, specialising in land acquisition, mixed-tenure housing and partnership-led developments. His career has combined technical expertise with a passion for creating lasting social value in the communities his projects serve. He has previously led the acquisition of strategic brownfield and greenfield sites across the Midlands, forming key relationships with local authorities and housing associations to deliver ambitious developments. In his new role, Vinay will lead Morro’s land acquisition programme, working closely with housing associations, local authorities and landowners to identify and progress opportunities that meet the needs of both the business and the communities it serves. His role will ensure that every site brought forward is suitable for development and delivers tangible social benefit. Speaking on his new role, Vinay said: “Every site we acquire is an opportunity to give people the chance to be housed who otherwise wouldn’t be, and to make a meaningful difference in the community. Morro’s ambition and focus on putting communities first made it a compelling opportunity for me, and I’m thrilled to be joining the business at such a pivotal time in its growth.” Matt Moore, CEO at Morro, said: “Vinay’s expertise in land acquisition and partnership working makes him a perfect fit for Morro’s growth ambitions. He understands that our partners are always front of mind and shares our commitment to creating social value through development. We are confident that his leadership will help us deliver more homes that meet the needs of the Midlands’ communities.” Vinay joins Morro alongside new land manager Alex Loumidis, as it continues to strengthen its presence in the Midlands, reinforcing its reputation as a developer of choice for partners and communities alike. For more information, visit: https://morropartnerships.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
TClarke sets course for £1bn turnover as board strengthened for growth
Building services specialist TClarke has outlined plans to surpass £1bn in annual revenue as it reshapes its leadership team to support the next stage of expansion. Group chief executive Mark Lawrence confirmed the ambition while announcing that three senior managing directors will join the board of TClarke Contracting from March. Clive Carr, managing director for built environment, Lee Crozier, managing director for data centres and infrastructure, and Chris Harris, managing director for UK North, will step up to board level. They will join Mark Lawrence, finance director Jon Farrell, commercial managing director Garry Julyan and systems director Andy Griffiths. The appointments coincide with the retirement of long-serving director Mike Crowder, who joined the business in 1987. Lawrence said the £1bn revenue target reflects growing confidence in TClarke’s scale, market position and sector expertise. He noted that previous ambitions to grow the business by 50 per cent had already been achieved and exceeded, positioning the company strongly for further expansion. TClarke was acquired two years ago by Regent, the business gas supplier and connections specialist, in a £90m deal that attracted coverage from leading national business media. The company’s most recent results, covering a 15-month period, delivered pro-rata revenue of £677m over 12 months and generated pre-tax profit of approximately £13m. Lawrence said the latest board changes form part of long-term succession planning and will help guide the company towards its £1bn turnover objective. He added that Carr, Crozier and Harris bring significant leadership experience and deep operational knowledge, further strengthening the board as TClarke continues to expand. The move is also expected to create new development opportunities across the business as it enters its next phase of strategic growth. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Burger King sets sights on expansion with 30 new UK openings a year
Burger King has unveiled its latest acquisition requirements as it accelerates plans to grow its UK estate, targeting 30 new restaurant openings annually. The fast-food operator, which currently trades from around 600 locations nationwide, is seeking units between 1,500 sq ft and 3,000 sq ft. Both freehold and leasehold opportunities are under consideration, reflecting a flexible approach to securing the right sites. The brand is actively targeting space within retail and leisure parks, major shopping centres and prominent high street locations. The expansion drive signals continued confidence in bricks-and-mortar dining, particularly in high-footfall and well-connected destinations. BKUK, Burger King’s largest UK franchisee, is leading the growth strategy across Great Britain. To support the rollout, the operator has appointed a team of property agents to identify suitable opportunities across key regions. Morgan Williams has been instructed to source sites nationally, while Savills and EYCO will focus on opportunities in Scotland. In the South of England, LM has been retained, with Space Property Consultants and Barker Proudlove appointed to secure units in the East Midlands and the North East respectively. The renewed push for expansion highlights the brand’s ambition to strengthen its presence across a diverse mix of urban and out-of-town locations, capitalising on consumer demand for convenience-led dining and drive-to destinations. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bradford City Village Moves Forward with 1,000-Home Regeneration Plan
Bradford’s long-anticipated City Village regeneration scheme has secured planning approval, unlocking the delivery of up to 1,000 new homes in the city’s former commercial core. The major transformation will see underperforming retail assets, including the Kirkgate Shopping Centre and Oastler Shopping Centre, replaced with new housing, public spaces and mixed-use development. The project is being led by Bradford Council in partnership with regeneration specialist ECF, a joint venture between Homes England, Legal & General and Muse. The scheme focuses on the ‘Top of Town’ area, encompassing Chain Street and the sites of the former Oastler and Kirkgate shopping centres. Phase one has now received full approval and will deliver 97 townhouses across Chain Street and the northern section of the Oastler site. The homes will be arranged around new courtyards, landscaped green spaces and a central community green, forming the first step in reshaping the area into a residential neighbourhood. Bradford-based housing association Incommunities has been identified as the preferred funding partner for the first phase, delivering homes for both sale and rent, subject to final legal agreements. Outline planning consent has also been granted for the wider masterplan. This includes more than 700 apartments across the southern Oastler site and Kirkgate, alongside new retail, leisure and business space intended to reintroduce activity and employment into the heart of the city. Demolition of the former Oastler Shopping Centre, which closed last summer, is due to begin shortly and is expected to take around seven months. The 1970s-built Kirkgate Shopping Centre will close later this year, with demolition anticipated towards the end of 2026. Construction of the first phase is scheduled to start this summer, with works expected to last approximately 24 months, marking a significant milestone in Bradford’s city centre renewal. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Kier Secures £120m Edinburgh Eye Hospital as Long-Delayed Scheme Moves Forward
Kier has been appointed to deliver the long-awaited £120m replacement for the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion in Edinburgh, bringing renewed momentum to a project that has faced years of delay and uncertainty. The contractor will act as principal supply chain partner for NHS Lothian on the new specialist facility, which will be built at the Edinburgh BioQuarter in Little France. The development will replace the existing Eye Pavilion, first deemed “not fit for purpose” in 2014. Since that assessment, the project has encountered a series of setbacks, including funding withdrawals, budget freezes and changing government priorities. These challenges pushed back the anticipated completion date, with the new hospital now expected to open in late 2027 or later. An earlier proposal in 2018 saw Graham lined up under a £45m contract, but the scheme stalled as costs rose and funding arrangements shifted. The latest appointment marks a significant step in finally progressing the long-planned facility. The new hospital will sit alongside the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, forming part of the city’s expanding healthcare and research campus at BioQuarter. The site is intended to strengthen Edinburgh’s position as a leading centre for medical treatment, research and innovation. Kier has highlighted its experience in delivering specialist eye facilities, including the NHS Golden Jubilee Eye Hospital and Sunderland Eye Infirmary, as key to supporting the project’s delivery. Sean Fenner, managing director for Kier Construction North & Scotland, said the company was proud to be appointed as principal supply chain partner and to support NHS Lothian in delivering early construction works for the new Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
AWW selects NavLive to accelerate BIM workflows and strengthen Building Safety Act compliance
AWW Architects, one of the UK’s leading multi-disciplinary architectural practices, has adopted NavLive’s LiDAR BIM scanning technology to improve survey accuracy, reduce project risk, and meet the growing demands of the Building Safety Act across a range of high-risk and complex developments. With a team of 100 architectural professionals delivering projects across the nuclear, defence, commercial and public sectors, AWW frequently acts as lead consultant under traditional contract arrangements, often assuming full liability under Professional Indemnity insurance. As part of this expanding remit, the practice is increasingly responsible for Clerk of Works and Principal Designer duties, where precise, coordinated information is essential to maintaining a compliant “golden thread” of building data. Maintaining up-to-date survey information, particularly on existing or part-demolished structures, had become time-intensive and costly. To address this, AWW undertook a comprehensive market review to find an in-house solution capable of capturing reliable, high-accuracy site data while accelerating its Revit modelling workflows. Following extensive evaluation, AWW selected the NavLive LiDAR BIM Scanner as its preferred solution, as the system enables AWW’s designers to generate highly detailed point cloud data within minutes. Through NavLive’s software platform, produce Revit-ready outline models that correct, enhance, and validate existing survey and planning information. The technology has now been deployed across five separate buildings by staff at all levels, delivering consistent results and measurable gains in accuracy, speed, and assurance. Nicholas Mulholland, Managing Director at AWW Architects, added: “The NavLive scanner has significantly accelerated our design workflow and achieved measurable cost savings while improving the accuracy and assurance of our model data. The system provides exceptionally detailed point cloud data within minutes and, through the NavLive software, generates Revit-ready outline models that correct and enhance existing survey and planning information.” Chris Davison, CEO of NavLive, said: “Architectural practices like AWW are facing increasing pressure to deliver precise, assured information at every stage of a project. NavLive was designed to give teams immediate access to high-quality building data, reducing uncertainty and supporting the level of rigour demanded by modern regulation. AWW’s adoption of our technology shows how digital tools can remove delays, improve coordination, and strengthen compliance across some of the UK’s most complex projects.” With a long track record of early BIM adoption and a portfolio spanning high-risk and heavily regulated environments, AWW’s integration of NavLive reinforces its commitment to delivering accurate, coordinated design information from the earliest project stages. The partnership is expected to support future projects as industry requirements around digital record-keeping and safety assurance continue to intensify. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals