Green light for major Tiller Road Estate transformation on the Isle of Dogs
A major regeneration of the Tiller Road Estate on the Isle of Dogs has taken a step forward after Mount Anvil and social landlord Riverside secured planning permission for a comprehensive rebuild of the site. Approved by Tower Hamlets Council, the scheme will deliver 411 new homes in East London, replacing three existing blocks that currently provide 72 homes. The new development will include 137 affordable homes, with the remaining properties offered through a mix of private sale and shared ownership, broadening the range of housing options available in the local area. Designed by PRP Architects, the proposals will dramatically reshape the estate’s skyline. The existing low-rise buildings will make way for two slender towers of 21 and 25 storeys, alongside two mid-rise blocks rising to 6 and 9 storeys. The aim is to create a more efficient use of land while introducing modern, high-quality homes and improved public realm. Beyond simply increasing housing numbers, the project is intended to support long-term neighbourhood renewal. Estate regeneration schemes of this kind typically deliver upgraded homes that are better insulated, more energy-efficient, and designed to meet contemporary space and accessibility standards. Residents can also expect improved landscaping, safer and more attractive routes through the estate, and communal areas that encourage a stronger sense of community. The Tiller Road scheme is the latest in an expanding partnership between Riverside and Mount Anvil. Together, the organisations are now working across four London locations, including Bellamy Close and Byng Street on the Isle of Dogs, Friars Close in Southwark, and 262 affordable homes at Royal Eden Docks. Marcus Bate, partnerships, planning, communities and sustainability director at Mount Anvil, said the approval marked an important milestone for the joint venture. He noted that the partnership now has more than 1,000 homes under development across its London projects and highlighted the long-term benefits expected for Tiller Road residents. The regeneration of Tiller Road Estate is intended to leave a lasting positive legacy, providing a new generation of homes and creating a more liveable, sustainable and inclusive place at the heart of the Isle of Dogs. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Premier Inn maps out fresh growth push across the South East
Whitbread is gearing up for a fresh phase of expansion in the South East, with plans to bring new Premier Inn hotels to six key locations across Surrey, Kent and Sussex. Following a detailed review of its existing network and future demand, the company has identified Rye in Sussex; Canterbury and Broadstairs in Kent; and Caterham, Weybridge and Leatherhead in Surrey as priority targets for new sites. The move forms part of Whitbread’s wider strategy to capture opportunities in high-demand regional markets and respond to shifts in the hotel landscape. To drive the programme, Whitbread has appointed James Hall as Acquisitions and Development Manager. He will work closely with local authorities, landowners, investment agencies and developers to unlock suitable plots and underused assets. The focus is on locations that can accommodate hotels of around 100 bedrooms or more, whether through new-build schemes, the repurposing of vacant buildings, or the regeneration of town centre sites. Premier Inn already operates more than 85,000 rooms across the UK and Ireland, and Whitbread sees clear potential to grow this to 125,000 over the long term. The new South East targets are underpinned by data showing strong guest demand for additional capacity in these markets, as well as the brand’s confidence in its value-led offer. The company continues to refine its property strategy to ensure it has the right hotels in the right places, balancing freehold and leasehold opportunities. Alongside growth in Surrey, Kent and Sussex, Whitbread is also exploring further prospects in Greater London and other parts of the UK and Ireland, while expanding its footprint in Germany. With more than 855 hotels already trading across the UK and Ireland, Premier Inn aims to combine its established brand strength with flexible development requirements and robust investment capacity. The planned sites in the South East represent the next step in that trajectory, supporting local regeneration while meeting rising demand from business and leisure travellers alike. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
HLM Architects Expands UK footprint with Launch of New Studio
Award-winning architecture practice HLM Architects – operating studios across England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland – is expanding its UK footprint with the launch of a new design studio in Plymouth. Responding to growing demand across the South West, the move strengthens HLM’s national presence and becomes its seventh location, joining Sheffield, London, Cardiff, Glasgow, Belfast and Dublin. Located in creative workspace Alma Yard, the new studio marks a return to Plymouth for HLM, which operated an office in the city until 2018. The practice has previously designed several acclaimed projects in the area – including Whitleigh Education Campus, Chamberlain House at Plymouth Science Park, the Marine Station at Coxside, and Brannell School in Cornwall. HLM has continued to play a pivotal role in the South West in recent years, delivering strategic support to the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, the Royal Navy at HMNB Devonport, and the wider defence sector across the region. The new Plymouth studio will be led by Kay Hanson, a designer with deep ties to the region. Kay spent 14 years at HLM earlier in her career and lectured at both Arts University Plymouth and University of Plymouth. She recently joined the South West Women in Construction committee, further strengthening her ties to the local construction industry. Commenting on her appointment as Studio Director, Kay said: “I’m delighted to be back at HLM and relaunching our Plymouth base. All of our studios are rooted in their respective communities, and this will be no different. I’m extremely passionate about the South West and looking forward to leading a team that can grow and thrive here. “We believe that architecture is most impactful when it’s embedded in place, and this studio will offer talented individuals the chance to build their careers locally, within a practice that values both community engagement and design excellence.” Michael Scherdel, Managing Director of HLM Architects, added: “We’ve seen a significant rise in opportunities across the South West, so returning to Plymouth feels like a very natural step for the business and reflects our confidence in the region. “With major investment and regeneration underway, we’re looking forward to playing a role in shaping the region’s future and continuing to build on our strong relationships here.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
UK’s Net Zero energy policies adding £17 billion a year to electricity bills – new analysis warns costs could hit £30 billion by 2035
The UK’s Net Zero policies are driving up energy bills and undermining economic competitiveness, according to new analysis published today by Net Zero Watch. The briefing paper, Fixing the electricity system, finds that so-called “non-commodity costs” – the expenses of managing a renewables-based electricity system rather than generating power – are now the biggest factor behind high energy prices. These are the same costs energy retail bosses warned Parliament about in October 2025. Despite paying only average prices for gas, Britain suffers from the highest industrial electricity prices in the developed world. The analysis warns that these costs, which are trivial in grids powered by fossil fuels, will continue to rise as more weather-dependent renewable generation is added to the grid. The analysis estimates that Net Zero costs currently total £17 billion per year, but will rise to £30 billion by 2035 under Labour’s “Clean Power 2030” mission to decarbonise the grid. This would add £600 a year to the cost of living, including £200 through higher energy bills. Energy insiders, including Oxford University’s Professor Sir Dieter Helm, the Tony Blair Institute and Professor Gordon Hughes, a former World Bank economist, have previously warned that Britain’s energy system has become structurally inefficient, with intermittent generation forcing up balancing and capacity-market costs. The paper argues that “cutting subsidies alone will not reduce prices”. It says the only way to bring down costs permanently is to prevent further expansion of subsidised renewables and to close the least economic generators. Andrew Montford, Director of Net Zero Watch, said: “The British public have been misled by Ed Miliband and Labour. You cannot make power generation cheaper by making it unreliable and inefficient. Until politicians confront the physical and contractual realities of the system they’ve built, the cost of living crisis will only deepen and growth will continue to remain flat. High energy bills will continue to scar our national politics.” Net Zero Watch is calling on policymakers to: Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Network Rail creates Platform4 to drive brownfield development
Network Rail has launched a new property development company, with ambitions to deliver 40,000 new homes and 10 million sq ft of commercial space over the next decade. The new business, named Platform4, will focus on regenerating brownfield land within the rail estate. Four initial sites have already been identified in Newcastle, Manchester, Cambridge and Nottingham. Platform4 has been formed through the merger of London & Continental Railways Ltd with Network Rail’s existing Property Development operations. Together, the combined team has a strong track record in housing, commercial and infrastructure-led projects, having delivered more than 7,000 homes in the past year. Robin Dobson, Chief Executive Officer of Platform4, said that the UK’s railways, which once helped drive the first industrial revolution, now had a vital role to play in the next wave of regeneration. He said that by unlocking and transforming brownfield sites, Platform4 would attract further investment, support job creation and help deliver new homes, commercial space and communities in line with the government’s housing ambitions. Jeremy Westlake, Chief Executive of Network Rail, described the launch as a significant milestone, combining the strength of the rail network with a substantial property portfolio. He said Platform4 would help ensure the railway estate continues to create value for both the wider economy and local communities. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Anglesey chosen for UK’s first small modular reactors
Wylfa on the Isle of Anglesey in North Wales has been selected as the site for the UK’s first small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear power station. The government has confirmed that publicly owned Great British Energy-Nuclear will develop three SMR units at Wylfa, with Rolls-Royce named as the preferred technology supplier, subject to final contract agreements. Great British Energy-Nuclear is expected to begin activity on site in 2026. While the initial development is for three reactors, the site has the potential capacity for up to eight SMR units in total. The ambition is for Wylfa’s small modular reactors to begin supplying electricity to the grid from the mid-2030s. The £2.5bn scheme is projected to support up to 3,000 skilled jobs at peak construction, providing a significant boost to the local economy. Prime minister Keir Starmer said that the project marks a turning point for both Anglesey and the UK’s nuclear sector, noting that the country had once been a global leader in nuclear power but had suffered from “years of neglect and inertia”. He added that the government is cutting red tape, reforming planning rules and backing growth to deliver the first SMR in North Wales. Simon Bowen, chair of Great British Energy-Nuclear, said the Wylfa project would establish the foundation for a fleet-based approach to nuclear development in the UK, enhancing energy security while driving long-term investment into the surrounding area. Chris Cholerton, chief executive of Rolls-Royce SMR, described Wylfa as the starting point for the company’s UK fleet programme. He said the scheme represents the first step in a 100-year commitment to clean energy, innovation and partnership with the local community. Cholerton added that the SMRs would be delivered using a high degree of modularisation and factory-built components, reducing disruption for local residents during construction. The decision has, however, disappointed the US government, which had hoped to see Westinghouse selected to deliver a larger-scale nuclear reactor at Wylfa. Warren Stephens, US ambassador to the UK, said the United States was “extremely disappointed” by the move, arguing that alternative options could provide clean, safe energy at the site more quickly and at lower cost. He suggested there remained “a different path” for large-scale nuclear projects and stressed that high energy costs could hinder the UK’s ability to act as a strong ally to the United States. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals