Powering Britain’s Net Zero Future: Balfour Beatty Secures £325m Scottish Superhub Project
Balfour Beatty has strengthened its position at the forefront of the UK’s electricity infrastructure transformation after securing a £325m contract to deliver a major new transmission hub in Aberdeenshire that will play a critical role in connecting the next generation of renewable energy projects. Awarded by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN), the contract will see Balfour Beatty construct the Netherton Hub, one of the largest and most strategically important electricity transmission developments currently planned in Scotland. The project forms part of the UK’s ongoing investment in strengthening the national grid to support increasing volumes of clean, homegrown renewable energy. The two-year contract has been awarded through SSEN’s Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment Offshore Framework and builds upon Balfour Beatty’s existing involvement at the site, having previously been appointed to undertake enabling works. Located in Aberdeenshire, the Netherton Hub will become a key component of Scotland’s expanding transmission network, helping to connect offshore wind farms and other renewable energy generation projects while improving energy security and supporting the UK’s transition towards a low-carbon economy. Under the contract, Balfour Beatty will deliver extensive earthworks and major civil engineering infrastructure across the site. The development will include five large platforms designed to accommodate two electrical substations and three converter stations, together with an operational base and supporting infrastructure required to manage one of the country’s most significant grid investment programmes. Construction activity is expected to support more than 800 jobs at its peak, providing a significant economic boost to the region. In addition, Balfour Beatty has committed to ensuring that at least five per cent of its workforce on the project will comprise apprentices and graduates, helping to develop the next generation of engineering and construction professionals. The award reflects the rapidly growing demand for specialist contractors capable of delivering complex energy infrastructure as network operators continue to invest billions of pounds in upgrading Britain’s electricity transmission system. As offshore wind generation expands and electricity demand rises through the electrification of transport, heating and industry, major transmission hubs such as Netherton will become increasingly vital to maintaining a resilient and flexible national grid. Philip Hoare, Group Chief Executive of Balfour Beatty, said the Netherton Hub will play a pivotal role in enabling the delivery of secure, homegrown, low-carbon power at scale, supporting the UK’s long-term energy security while accelerating progress towards Net Zero. The project also highlights the growing importance of Scotland within the UK’s renewable energy landscape, where significant investment in transmission infrastructure is essential to unlock the full potential of offshore wind resources and support future economic growth. As construction progresses, the Netherton Hub is expected to become a cornerstone of Britain’s evolving energy network, providing the infrastructure needed to connect clean electricity generation with homes, businesses and industries across the UK for decades to come. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Groundbreaking ceremony marks major milestone for Priory Centre redevelopment
A groundbreaking ceremony in June officially marked the start of the next phase of construction at the multi-million redevelopment of the Priory Shopping Centre on Bridge Street in Worksop. With £17.9 million of UK Government funding, in addition to £2 million from Bassetlaw District Council, the scheme is being delivered by Midlands contractor, G F Tomlinson, on behalf of Bassetlaw District Council, under The Medium Works Framework, which Pagabo manage on behalf of The Education Alliance. Representatives from Bassetlaw District Council, including Leader of the Council Cllr Julie Leigh, joined project partners G F Tomlinson, Pagabo, project managers Beyond Consult, Anotherkind Architects and consultants, Gleeds at the ceremony to celebrate the commencement of construction works following the completion of the demolition phase. The event marked another significant milestone in the transformation of the Priory Centre site, which is set to become a revitalised leisure and retail destination at the heart of Worksop town centre. Enabling works began on site in February 2026, followed by the careful demolition of sections of the existing Priory Centre building. Works were completed while maintaining access to operational retail units and key pedestrian routes through the town centre, ensuring minimal disruption to businesses, residents and visitors. Construction activity is now underway with the shopping centre set to host facilities including a climbing wall, indoor adventure play area and a bowling alley. Further works include public areas being refreshed and the installation of a pedestrian bridge over the Chesterfield Canal, providing a new gateway to the redevelopment and town centre. The redevelopment set to deliver a modern, attractive environment designed to increase footfall, strengthen the town centre offer and support long-term economic growth within the area. Located within the historic market town of Worksop, the project continues to present complex logistical considerations due to its proximity to existing retailers, residential properties and busy access routes. G F Tomlinson has worked closely with the Council and stakeholders throughout the programme to ensure works are delivered safely and efficiently while maintaining public access and business operations. Bassetlaw District Council purchased the site in 2023, with the majority of the £20 million redevelopment funding secured through the previous government’s Levelling Up Fund. The regeneration scheme forms a key part of the Council’s wider ambitions to enhance the town centre and create a destination that better serves local residents, businesses and visitors. Andy Sewards, Chairman of G F Tomlinson, said: “The ground-breaking ceremony represents a proud moment for everyone involved in this transformational project and demonstrates the collaborative working approach that has brought us to this stage. Following the successful completion of the demolition works, it is exciting to see construction now progressing on site and the vision for the future of The Priory Centre beginning to take shape. “As a contractor with a long history of delivering regeneration projects across the Midlands, we understand the importance of developments such as this in supporting local communities and creating lasting economic and social value. Our team has worked closely with Bassetlaw District Council and project stakeholders throughout the planning and early delivery phases to ensure the works are carried out safely and sensitively within this busy town centre environment.” Cllr Julie Leigh, Leader of Bassetlaw District Council, said: ““We have reached a major milestone in this transformational development that will bring modern leisure and entertainment facilities to our town centre. The change is already remarkable, and the true scale of the project is becoming clear. It is exciting to see the foundations being laid for a new destination that will help to revitalise the high street and compliment the impact we are already making by attracting new businesses and supporting existing retailers.” Elliott Talbot, senior category manager at Pagabo, said: “It’s fantastic to see construction progressing on this important regeneration project following the successful completion of the demolition phase. The redevelopment of The Priory Centre demonstrates the value of strong collaboration between the public sector, delivery partners and the local supply chain to bring ambitious town centre renewal projects to life. Through The Medium Works Framework, we’re proud to support Bassetlaw District Council in delivering a scheme that will create lasting social and economic benefits for Worksop, helping to enhance the town centre experience for residents, businesses and visitors for years to come.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Steelwork completes at Coda @ City Works as Network Space appoints agents for Openshaw site, Manchester
Leading industrial property developer and investor Network Space has reached a significant construction milestone at its Coda @ City Works scheme in Openshaw, Greater Manchester, with steelwork now fully erected across the site and joint letting agents appointed. Located on Welcomb Street, the hugely popular development represents the final phase of expansion at the established (the site is not fully let) City Works Business Park. The scheme reinforces Network Space’s continued commitment to delivering high-quality, sustainable industrial and logistics accommodation across the North West. Once complete, Coda @ City Works will deliver 75,175 sq. ft of Grade A industrial and logistics space across four modern units. With sizes ranging from 7,680 sq. ft to 29,440 sq. ft, these new units present attractive options for prospective occupiers, whilst also offering valuable expansion opportunities for current tenants. Each unit will incorporate high-specification first-floor office accommodation alongside generous service yards designed to meet the operational needs of trade, manufacturing and distribution occupiers. The four-acre brownfield site – formerly occupied by Manchester College – will also provide 98 car parking spaces and 20 electric vehicle charging points, underlining Network Space’s focus on sustainability and occupier wellbeing. Construction is being delivered by main contractor Bansco and remains on programme for practical completion in Q2 2026. Designed by AEW Architects, the scheme is targeting BREEAM Excellent accreditation, reflecting its strong environmental performance, energy efficiency and long-term operational resilience. To bring the development to market, Network Space has appointed Rob Taylor and Jack Sullivan of CPP and Ruth Leighton and Megan Kavanagh of JLL as joint letting agents. The wider professional team supporting the scheme includes GWB Consultants, Hydrock, Hannan Associates and Spawforths. Joe Burnett, Development Director at Network Space, said: “The completion of steelwork at Coda @ City Works marks a major step forward for both the scheme and the ongoing regeneration of East Manchester. “Designed with flexibility, operational efficiency and long-term sustainability at its core, and targeting BREEAM Excellent accreditation, we have focused on the fundamentals that will appeal to a broad range of trade, industrial and logistics occupiers seeking well-connected, adaptable space capable of evolving over time. He added: “Coda @ City Works will form a natural extension to the existing business park, supporting local employment opportunities while delivering the type of high-quality, adaptable industrial space that continues to perform strongly in well-established locations.” Strategically positioned just 2.5 miles from Manchester city centre, the site offers excellent connectivity to the M60 motorway and onward links to the M67, M56 and M62, providing strong access to the wider North West and national motorway network. Coda @ City Works complements the existing 173,330 sq. ft City Works Business Park, home to a diverse range of trade, light industrial and logistics occupiers. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
New tenant secured at Sheffield industrial unit following refurbishment
Network Space has let a 22,537 sq. ft warehouse at Grange Mill Lane following an extensive refurbishment of the Grange 34 industrial estate. ACM Meat Factory Ltd t/a Haiducci, a cured meat specialist, has taken the space on a seven-year lease to expand its manufacturing and wholesale business across the UK. The well-located industrial space at Grange 34 is just minutes from the M1 and Meadowhall. Angelica Ciaciru, from Haiducci, said: “We wanted high-specification warehouse space which would also provide offices and facilities for our team. Grange 34 offers this, as well as a fantastic location adjacent to the M1 at the heart of the UK so we can easily reach all of the specialist shops around the country which sell our products.” Located on Grange Mill Lane, just off Junction 34 of the M1 and minutes from Meadowhall, only three units now remain available ranging from 10,064 to 50,505 sq. ft (935 to 4,692 sq. m). The industrial units with integral offices have been fully refurbished internally and externally to deliver high-spec, energy-efficient accommodation, which includes power capacity upgrades, PIR LED lighting, 8m clear internal height, full height loading and a secure shared yard with ample parking. Helen Gordon, Property Director at Network Space Investments, said: “We are delighted to welcome Haiducci to Grange 34. We have comprehensively refurbished and repositioned the site following its acquisition last year. By delivering energy-efficient, modern accommodation, these high-quality, flexible units appeal to both local operators and national occupiers seeking immediate access to the motorway network.” Sheffield and Rotherham city centres are within 20 minutes’ drive, with a population of more than 2 million economically active people within a 45-minute catchment. This strong location, coupled with the modern specification, makes Grange 34 an attractive proposition for warehousing, logistics and manufacturing businesses, underpinned by the limited supply of this size of unit along this M1 corridor. CPP and Knight Frank are appointed as letting agents. Toby Vernon, director at CPP said: “It’s excellent news to welcome Haiducci as the first tenant to this newly refurbished industrial estate in Sheffield. Grange 34 provides high quality units which are now available for immediate occupation. We have received strong levels of interest since the refurbishment completed and hope to be in a position to announce further lettings in the coming weeks.” The refurbishment works were undertaken by Bansco, with project management led by GV&Co. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Supercomputer Construction Begins on Landmark £750m National Research Facility
Construction has officially commenced on the UK’s next-generation national supercomputer, marking the start of one of the country’s most significant scientific infrastructure projects and reinforcing Britain’s ambitions to become a global leader in advanced computing, artificial intelligence and research innovation. Robertson Construction Central East has begun work on the £750m development at the University of Edinburgh, where the new facility will provide an unprecedented increase in computing capability, enabling researchers and businesses to tackle some of the world’s most complex scientific and engineering challenges. Backed by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and funded through an investment of up to £750m from the UK Government, the new supercomputer will be approximately 50 times more powerful than the UK’s current national system, ARCHER2, which is also hosted by the University of Edinburgh. Once operational, the machine will be capable of performing at least one billion-billion calculations every second, representing a transformational leap in computational power. Experts believe this capability will accelerate breakthroughs across a wide range of sectors, including aerospace engineering, advanced manufacturing, climate modelling, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, medical research and artificial intelligence. The new facility will dramatically reduce the time required to process highly complex simulations and datasets, enabling calculations that currently take days to be completed in just a matter of hours. Researchers anticipate this will significantly accelerate innovation in areas such as cancer drug discovery, extreme weather forecasting, aircraft engine design and next-generation AI systems. The University of Edinburgh was selected to host the project in recognition of more than three decades of expertise in high-performance computing through its EPCC National Supercomputing Centre. Previous generations of the university’s supercomputers have played a critical role in supporting Covid-19 drug discovery, improving wind farm performance and enhancing the efficiency of aircraft engines used around the world. Sustainability has also been placed at the heart of the development. The building itself, approximately the size of a large supermarket, has been designed to minimise its environmental impact through a range of innovative measures. The cooler Scottish climate will naturally reduce the energy required for cooling, while the latest cooling technologies will further improve operational efficiency. In addition, waste heat generated by the supercomputer will be captured and used to warm university buildings, with longer-term research exploring how surplus heat could eventually be transferred into water contained within disused mine workings to support low-carbon heating for nearby communities. The construction programme has also been carefully planned to minimise environmental disruption. Existing structures are being retained wherever possible to reduce demolition waste and embodied carbon, while Robertson Construction is delivering a series of biodiversity initiatives including tree planting, the protection of mature trees and wildlife conservation projects across the site. Professor Mark Parsons, Director of EPCC at the University of Edinburgh, described the project as a “profound leap in compute power for the UK”, adding that its impact will extend across science, industry and society by enabling discoveries that improve lives, strengthen the economy and support future innovation. UK AI Minister Kanishka Narayan said the project represents a major milestone in delivering the UK’s long-term computing strategy, ensuring British researchers, businesses and innovators have access to world-class computing capability within the UK. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2027, with the supercomputer scheduled to become operational during spring 2028. Once online, it is expected to become one of Europe’s most powerful computing systems and a cornerstone of the UK’s future research, technology and industrial strategy. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Fusion Strengthens UK PBSA Pipeline with £176m Construction Investment
Purpose-built student accommodation developer Fusion Group has awarded two major construction contracts worth a combined £176m to CField Construction, reinforcing continued investment in the UK’s growing student housing sector. The projects, located in London and Glasgow, will deliver a total of 1,269 student bedrooms alongside affordable housing and significant public realm improvements, with both developments scheduled to welcome students for the 2028 academic year. The largest of the two schemes is a £97m mixed-use development in Wood Green, north London. The project will provide 636 purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) beds alongside 79 affordable homes, creating a vibrant mixed-use community supported by new public spaces and enhanced public realm. Meanwhile, in Glasgow, CField has commenced construction of a £79m development on Sauchiehall Street that will deliver a further 633 student bedrooms. The project also incorporates the sensitive restoration of a 1930s Art Deco façade and the reinstatement of the historic Wellington Arcade, helping to preserve an important piece of the city’s architectural heritage while supporting the wider regeneration of the surrounding area. Together, the two developments demonstrate the continued strength of the UK PBSA market, where demand for high-quality student accommodation remains robust across major university cities. Developers are increasingly seeking to deliver schemes that combine modern student living with placemaking, heritage restoration and wider community benefits. The appointments further strengthen the long-standing relationship between Fusion Group and CField Construction, with both businesses continuing to expand their presence within the living sector. Originally established in County Cork, CField has been operating successfully across the UK for approximately 15 years, building a strong reputation for delivering complex residential, education and mixed-use developments. Gavin O’Flaherty, Managing Director of CField Construction, described the twin contract awards as an important milestone for the business and a reflection of the company’s proven expertise within the living sector. André Ferdinand, Projects Director at Fusion Group, said both the Wood Green and Sauchiehall Street developments are central to the company’s long-term growth strategy. He added that CField’s delivery capability and collaborative approach will play a key role in ensuring both schemes are completed in time for the 2028 student intake. As demand for purpose-built student accommodation continues to outstrip supply in many university cities, developments of this scale are expected to remain a significant driver of investment across the UK’s residential and regeneration sectors. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals