Bouygues Lands £64m Crawley School Rebuild as Major Campus Transformation Begins
Bouygues UK has secured a £64 million contract to deliver the major redevelopment of Holy Trinity CofE Secondary School in Crawley as part of the Government’s School Rebuilding Programme. Construction is due to begin this month on the phased transformation of the West Sussex campus, with the programme carefully planned to allow the school to remain fully operational throughout the works. At the centre of the redevelopment will be a new 9,300 sq m, three-storey teaching building constructed on land to the south of the existing school. Pupils and staff will transfer into the new accommodation before the older buildings are demolished, helping to minimise disruption to education during construction. Bouygues will also refurbish the existing 1,500 sq m Young Building as part of the wider project, retaining and upgrading part of the school estate alongside the substantial new-build element. The completed campus will increase Holy Trinity’s capacity from approximately 1,410 pupils to 1,500, providing modern teaching and learning environments designed to meet the school’s long-term requirements. New facilities will include an assembly hall, sixth-form hub and library alongside a range of specialist teaching spaces. The external areas will also undergo significant investment, with five multi-use games areas, landscaped recreation space and a new car park forming part of the plans. Sustainability and building performance will be important elements of the design, with the new school targeting BREEAM Excellent. Rooftop solar photovoltaic panels will contribute renewable electricity, while a ground-source heat pump and passive ventilation will help reduce the building’s operational energy requirements and support the delivery of a lower-carbon education estate. The project also presents a complex construction and logistics challenge, with Bouygues required to deliver the new facilities alongside a live secondary school accommodating more than 1,400 pupils. Mark Cesenek, managing director at Bouygues UK, said: “Holy Trinity is exactly the kind of project we do best — complex, phased, delivered on a live site.” Once the new teaching building is operational, the redevelopment will move into its subsequent demolition, refurbishment, landscaping and external works phases. Completion of the overall project is scheduled for late 2029, when Holy Trinity will benefit from a larger and significantly modernised campus combining new-build teaching accommodation, upgraded existing facilities, improved sports provision and more energy-efficient building systems. The £64 million investment represents another substantial public sector construction project under the School Rebuilding Programme, replacing ageing education infrastructure while creating a modern campus designed to serve pupils and the wider Crawley community for decades to come. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
McLaughlin & Harvey hands over Braintree Community Diagnostic Centre
Construction contractor McLaughlin & Harvey has completed construction of the new Braintree Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC). Now handed over to Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, local people are one step closer to benefiting from faster access to tests and scans. The Trust will now complete the final fit-out and installation of equipment before welcoming its first patients at the beginning of September. Located on the site of Braintree Community Hospital, the centre will offer around 75,000 additional diagnostic appointments in its first year. This will help improve access to vital tests, including CT and MRI scans, ultrasounds, blood tests and heart and lung checks closer to home. The Braintree CDC will be open seven days a week, offering a convenient one-stop shop for checks, tests and scans, all under one roof. The centre represents a major investment in diagnostic services across mid and south Essex and will play a key role in helping patients receive earlier diagnoses and treatment. Braintree CDC is part of a national, Government-funded programme to increase diagnostic capacity. This project has been delivered via the Crown Commercial Services framework. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
SevenCapital Takes Control to Restart £500m 100 Kensington Development
Construction is restarting on the £500 million 100 Kensington development in West London after developer SevenCapital stepped in to take direct control of the project following the administration of main contractor Ardmore. SevenCapital has confirmed that Seven Capital (Woodrow) Ltd, an existing group company incorporated in 2016, is now acting as main contractor on the major West Cromwell Road scheme, allowing work to resume following a temporary halt caused by Ardmore’s collapse. The 1.7-hectare mixed-use development will deliver 462 homes across seven buildings, comprising 276 private and 186 affordable properties alongside new leisure, retail, office and community space. A new senior construction management team has been established to oversee delivery under SevenCapital Chief Operating Officer James Moody, working alongside the developer’s construction director and existing site management team. SevenCapital expects activity to ramp up significantly over the coming months, with more than 500 construction workers anticipated to be back on site by the autumn. The developer said it had been aware of financial difficulties facing Ardmore and had developed a contingency strategy to protect the delivery of the scheme in the event of the contractor entering administration. Moody said: “We had previously been aware of some of the financial issues facing Ardmore, which allowed us the time to develop a solid contingency plan to secure the completion of 100 Kensington should the effective administration happen, and at the same time diversify and extend SevenCapital’s capabilities for future schemes.” Existing development finance remains in place through Maslow Capital, which originally provided a £258 million four-year facility for the joint venture between SevenCapital and MARK Capital Management. The project has already passed the 30% completion milestone, with construction progressing across one of the most significant residential developments currently underway in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. At the heart of the scheme will be Oria, a 29-storey residential tower containing 129 private apartments and penthouses. SevenCapital is targeting an October topping-out for the tower as the wider construction programme gathers pace once again. The architectural masterplan for 100 Kensington has been produced by John McAslan & Partners, with Corstorphine & Wright responsible for the detailed design. Alongside its residential element, the combination of commercial, leisure and community uses will create a substantial new mixed-use destination on West Cromwell Road, with affordable housing representing a significant part of the overall development. The decision to bring construction delivery under a SevenCapital group company provides the developer with greater direct control over the remaining programme while limiting disruption following Ardmore’s administration. Phased completions are expected to begin during the fourth quarter of 2027, with the entire development currently scheduled for completion towards the end of 2027 or beginning of 2028. With work restarting and the existing funding package remaining in place, the focus will now turn to rebuilding site activity and maintaining momentum towards the October topping-out of Oria and subsequent phased delivery of the wider 100 Kensington development. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Office Space in Town (OSiT) Announces Completion of £129 Million Refinancing Agreement Backed By Senior Lender Aberdeen Investments
Deal reinforces confidence in London’s commercial property market and OSiT’s owner-operator model Today, Office Space in Town (OSiT), one of London’s leading flexible office space providers, has announced the completion of a re-financing agreement reflecting growing confidence and investment appeal in London’s commercial property market. The debt refinancing is valued at £129 million and extends over a minimum two-year period. Asset managers Aberdeen Investments are the senior lender in the agreement with a backing of c. £72 million, with theagreement continuing Aberdeen Investments’ seven-year partnership with OSiT. The deal, completed with the support of financial advisors PwC, will provide ongoing financial support for four of OSiT’s Zone 1 London office buildings, including St Paul’s, Liverpool Street, Monument and Waterloo. The company’s UK office portfolio comprises 225,000 sq. ft of office space, with additional locations in London Blackfriars and Cardiff. OSiT’s flexible workspaces are distinguished by unique themes such as the Alice in Wonderland inspired OSiT Waterloo, the ‘super yacht’ designed OSiT Monument and the Monopoly themed OSiT Liverpool Street. According to real estate services agency CBRE, flexible offices are set to comprise a fifth of London’s market by 2030, as businesses increasingly seek adaptable workspace solutions that provide shorter commitments, faster access to prime locations and the ability to scale their footprint in response to changing workforce needs.1 Founded in May 2009 by brother and sister Giles and Niki Fuchs, alongside partner Sarah Singlehurst, OSiT is the only flexible office provider in London that owns all its buildings. OSiT buys, refurbishes and occupies its buildings, allowing the company to benefit from the current low capital costs of buying Zone 1 London office buildings, and create large capital uplift and strong income streams. This owner-operator model enables the company to curate bespoke ‘Omni-Office’ environments tailored to occupier demand and optimise layouts and office amenities in its buildings at scale. Examples of integrated amenities at current OSiT sites feature gyms, bedrooms, rooftop cafe bars, games rooms and hairdressers. As of June 2026, the average length of stay across OSiT’s five London locations is 44 months, double the London flexible office market average of 22 months.2 OSiT is now looking for an investment partner to support its plans to acquire new buildings in Zone 1 locations and continue to scale its proven owner-operator structure. The next phase of investment would enable the company to advance its ‘Omni-Office’ vision, focused on introducing larger, integrated work environments. Future buildings could introduce additional on-site amenities such as rooftop padel courts, day nurseries and dental practices, creating mixed-use workplaces that adapt to evolving expectations on the workplace experience and incentivise office attendance. Giles Fuchs, Co-Founder of Office Space in Town (OSiT), comments: “This refinancing agreement marks an important milestone for OSiT and reflects the strength of our owner-operator model. We have built a differentiated business focused on capital gain and robust income, through service, design, and long-term relationships with occupiers, and this support enables us to continue strengthening our portfolio and delivering exceptional flexible workspaces.” Martin Barnewell, Head of Commercial Real Estate at Aberdeen Investments, said: “We have had a long-term relationship with Giles and the OSiT team. Having gone through the Covid lockdown, we have seen first-hand how resilient their income and model is. We are pleased to continue to support OSiT and look forward to the next chapter of their growth.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Landmark moment as Piccadilly Gardens planning application goes in
A full planning application for the scheme to transform Piccadilly Gardens has been submitted. The submission – the latest landmark in delivering the proposals to make Piccadilly Gardens more colourful, more vibrant, safer and more inviting – follows public consultation on the plans earlier this summer. Subject to planning permission being granted this autumn, work to make the plans a reality will begin as soon as possible. Public consultation on the detailed design built on previous extensive consultation about what people wanted from Piccadilly Gardens and included drop-in sessions and an online questionnaire. Hundreds responded and were broadly supportive of the plans, with more than half (58%) believing they will provide a safe and welcoming new space, 67% saying they provided clear walking routes and almost three-quarters (70%) saying they would create a greener and more colourful space. Concerns were raised by some about anti-social behaviour and how the transformed Piccadilly Gardens will be kept inviting. The Council and its partners, including Greater Manchester Police and Transport for Greater Manchester, recognise that creating a better Piccadilly Gardens cannot just be about physical improvements but will also require new ways of managing the space to ensure it is maintained as a safe and inviting space. Work to develop this new way of managing the space is ongoing and improvements are already underway, including a strengthened police presence through GMP’s dedicated neighbourhood policing team. In addition to the main consultation, a series of listening and engagement sessions were also carried out with parents and children around the refreshed children’s play area to ensure it reflects their aspirations. New images of how the children’s play area will look have been released as part of the wider application. Key elements of the application include: The plans will also support a safer space through improved sightlines, better lighting and enhanced CCTV. Interim Council Leader Cllr Garry Bridges said: “The moment has arrived when we’re ready to submit our planning application to transform Piccadilly Gardens. It’s taken a lot of work to get to this significant point. “Residents have told us loud and clear what they want from Piccadilly Gardens. They want the area to look better and feel safer and that’s exactly what we’re going to deliver. “There has already been significant investment in the area – including extra police and council resources – with even more on the way. “This application will see a much-improved space: Putting the Gardens back in Piccadilly Gardens, providing a better children’s play area and supporting a more inviting place all round.” The application reference is PLA-2026-001348 viewable at: https://arcusbe.manchester.gov.uk/pr/s/detail/a1DSl000009RsaD Once the physical works are completed, the Council aims to ensure a regular stream of bespoke family-friendly activity and seasonal events to enjoy. The new scheme will complement other changes taking place in the immediate vicinity of the Gardens, including the major Rylands redevelopment (of the Grade II-listed former Debenhams building) which is creating a new office, retail and leisure destination, and the recently-approved plans to refurbish and improve One Piccadilly Gardens . Further planned improvements to the area around Piccadilly Gardens in the coming years will include a multi-million pound investment by Transport for Greater Manchester to create a new, modern transport interchange. In March this year Galliford Try were appointed as lead contractor, working with landscape architect and lead designer Planit and civil, structural and highways engineers Civic to deliver the Piccadilly Gardens transformation. City of Manchester Chief Inspector Mike Tachauer said: “We welcome the next phase of the planning application for the new-look Piccadilly Gardens. Senior officers have been involved in consultations from the outset to ensure there is a strong policing input into these plans. Piccadilly Gardens is a space that everyone should feel safe and secure when travelling in and around the area. Our officers have ensured that elements pertaining to public safety have been one of the key focuses in the planning process including better lighting and more CCTV. “We have had several experienced police officers who have strong experience around policing Piccadilly Gardens who have given an input to these plans, and there are a number of elements we have learnt from, for example, understanding how planters can be misused by those involved in criminality and how we can deter this from happening. “There is also cross organisational understanding that the safety of the Gardens is a multi-agency partnership that we all need to be involved in to ensure everyone is doing their bit to keep our communities safe.” Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester, said: “These exciting plans for Piccadilly Gardens will bring vast improvements for everyone who passes through it and for the numerous businesses who operate in the vicinity. The Bee Network is already transforming how people move around Greater Manchester and we are developing plans with the local community for a modern transport interchange linking buses, Metrolink and active travel that will help create a city centre that is greener, better connected and welcoming for everyone.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Workman Strengthens Retail and Leisure Team with Matthew Gioia Partner Appointment
Workman LLP has strengthened its retail and leisure property management business with the appointment of Matthew Gioia as a partner, marking his return to the firm where he began his property career 16 years ago. Gioia will co-lead Workman’s London retail and leisure team alongside partner Chris Church, with responsibility for a number of key client relationships as the property specialist continues to invest in its retail and leisure capabilities. The appointment brings Gioia back to Workman following extensive experience across the UK commercial property sector. He originally joined the company’s Manchester office through its graduate scheme before moving to Savills, where he spent four years. He subsequently joined MAPP and has spent the past eight years with the business, helping to lead its retail team and developing significant experience in the management of retail property and client portfolios. His return comes at an important time for the retail and leisure property market, with owners and asset managers increasingly focused on creating well-managed, commercially resilient destinations capable of responding to changing occupier and customer requirements. Gareth Soar, partner at Workman LLP, said: “Matthew joins a team that’s already delivering great results for our retail and leisure clients, and he brings a wealth of experience in the sector to the role. “His appointment reflects our continued investment in specialist talent, and I’m confident he’ll play a key part in helping the team grow and continue to deliver a great service for our clients.” Gioia added: “It’s great to be back at Workman. The firm has grown considerably since I left, but that focus on doing things properly is still very much at the heart of how the team works. “I’m looking forward to working alongside Chris and the wider team, and to putting my experience to work for our clients.” The appointment adds further senior-level expertise to Workman’s retail and leisure property management operation, with Gioia’s experience across different property businesses providing a strong platform to support existing clients and the team’s future growth. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals