Novus and The Guinness Partnership – delivering for communities across the South West
National maintenance, refurbishment and fit-out contractor Novus Property Solutions has secured a new 15-year planned improvement and major works contract with The Guinness Partnership in the South West, reinforcing a 14-year strong relationship of trusted delivery and shared purpose. Valued at £11 million per year, the contract will see Novus deliver a comprehensive programme of planned maintenance works, including kitchen and bathroom replacements, electrical heating upgrades, external works and window and door installations. Ensuring homes remain safe, comfortable and fit for modern living, the scope also includes addressing any defects classified as a significant hazard under the terms of Awaab’s Law which came into force in October 2025. The Guinness Partnership is one of the largest affordable housing providers in England, with more than 160,000 residents living in more than 70,000 homes. Committed to providing high quality homes, the framework with Novus directly supports operational delivery alongside social value to ensure meaningful impact in homes and their communities. Steve Gayter, Executive Director of Operations at Novus Property Solutions, said: “Over the past 14 years, we have developed a way of working with The Guinness Partnership that prioritises quality, responsiveness and a positive experience for every resident. Being awarded this 15-year framework for the South West region is a reflection of our ability to deliver at scale and to the highest standards while remaining focussed on the individual needs of the communities we serve.” Catriona Simons, Group Chief Executive at The Guinness Partnership said: “We’re delighted to welcome Novus Property Solutions as one of our five new long-term partners, and for them to have formally signed our Planned Investment and Major Works contract. These partnerships demonstrate our shared commitment to investing in and improving residents’ homes and marks the beginning of a relationship we expect to grow and strengthen in the years ahead, as we work together to deliver lasting benefits for our residents. “Residents are central to this partnership. When selecting our partners, we placed residents’ priorities at the front of the process. Their feedback – ranging from the importance of clear communication to consistently high‑quality works – directly shaped our decisions and will continue to guide how these partnerships operate day to day. “We look forward to working closely with Novus Property Solutions in the years ahead, as we focus on improving residents’ homes.” Novus Property Solutions has supported The Guinness Partnership since 2012, delivering more than 2,400 component upgrades as part of its planned maintenance programme. Work has included carrying out upgrades under the SHDF Wave 2 retrofit covering EWI, windows and doors, roofing, and ventilation to 50 properties in Crewe which was completed ahead of schedule. The team also successfully undertook a heritage refurbishment project including roofing works, fire safety upgrades and conservation-compliant finishes for 117 apartments housed within Grade II buildings at Lansdown Crescent in Cheltenham. To find out more about Novus Property Solutions please visit https://www.novussolutions.co.uk/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Major step forward for Swansea seafront plans after UK Government announces intention to support project
The UK Government has announced plans for a £20m investment to support the transformation of Swansea’s Civic Centre site on the city’s seafront. Swansea Council, working with development partner Urban Splash, has confirmed that funding from the UK Government – once it has gone through the necessary checks and clearances – will support ambitious proposals to rejuvenate and reenvisage the building. Speaking of the news Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said: ”Backing Swansea with this £20 million investment will create jobs, transform the city’s tourist offering and boost its local economy, making it a more attractive place to live, work and start a business in the years to come.” Proposals include 15 commercial units across the ground and lower ground floors, cafés, bars, shops, workspaces, spaces for leisure and events, an aquarium, and around 140 residential apartments on the upper floors. A formal planning application is expected to be submitted later this year and the project will need to go through further checks including due diligence and a final business case before funding is confirmed and allocated. Urban Splash was appointed as Swansea Council’s strategic partner in 2021 as part of a 20-year regeneration partnership across seven city sites, including the Civic Centre. The company has since been evolving its plans – designed with Wales-based architects Rural Studio and Studio Egret West – as David Warburton, Development Director at Urban Splash explained: “This is fantastic news for our shared vision for Swansea and a major step forward in turning our joint plans for the repurposing of the Civic Centre into a reality. “The investment paves the way for the creation of a vibrant new waterfront district for Swansea, benefiting local people and acting as a magnet to draw visitors and investment in support of Swansea’s long-term growth. “We greatly value our partnership with Swansea Council and look forward to continuing to work together to deliver not only the repurposing of the Civic Centre as part of the City Waterfront project, but in realising the wider vision for the city across all seven sites in the partnership.” Cllr Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council, added: “We have been driving the biggest regeneration programme Swansea has seen in over 70 years and the Civic Centre is one of the next big opportunities for us. “We want to see it transformed into a high-quality landmark destination for living, working and enjoying that features an aquarium, a saltwater lido, new homes, independent businesses, and leisure and community spaces that will benefit local people while attracting more visitors to Swansea. “This £20 million investment from the UK Government is a major further vote of confidence in Swansea and our plans for the site – and will greatly help the project to proceed more quickly.” Jo Stevens, the UK Government’s Secretary of State for Wales, said: “The £20 million investment from the UK Government will help deliver the ambitious regeneration plans for the iconic Civic Centre in Swansea and the new waterfront district, transforming this part of the city and making the most of its spectacular location. “This investment will make Swansea even more of a destination for visitors as well as providing better leisure facilities and places to live and work for residents.” Torsten Bell, MP for Swansea West, said: “Securing this major investment in an iconic Swansea landmark has been a personal priority for me. With the £20m funding from the UK Government, this is another big step forward for the city. “With its prime spot overlooking the splendid curve of our beach, the building is crying out for a new lease of life. “And that is exactly what we are going to give it, as we keep investing in Swansea’s future, not just remembering its past.” The Civic Centre redevelopment is estimated to be worth £17 million a year to Swansea’s economy. The Civic Centre project is expected to create around 291 direct jobs across hospitality, retail, leisure, culture and building management, along with around 50 additional jobs linked specifically to the proposed aquarium. To find out more click here: https://www.urbansplash.co.uk/regeneration/projects/swansea Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Heidelberg Materials opens second evoHub to support sustainability in construction
Heidelberg Materials UK is opening its second sustainability knowledge hub in London, this time based at its Greenwich concrete plant, offering contractors and engineers the opportunity to experience lower carbon materials in practice. The launch follows the success of the company’s flagship evoHub venue in Clerkenwell, which has welcomed over 300 architects, engineers, sustainability consultants and customers for CPDs, seminars and meet-the-expert sessions since it opened its doors in September 2025. These sessions have covered topics such as carbon capture and storage, calculating carbon impact and lower carbon product solutions, in collaboration with our customers and technical experts. The new site-based venue at Victoria Deep Water on the River Thames, will provide visitors with a more hands-on opportunity to see lower carbon material performance in action. It will include making and testing concrete cubes and learning more about the company’s lowest carbon concrete range, which includes supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) such as evoZero cement, GGBS, limestone fines, natural pozzolans and calcined clay, as well as carbon cure technology and recycled crushed concrete aggregate. “The opening of our second evoHub venue reflects the growing demand for expert-led guidance, accredited CPDs and hands-on training in sustainable construction,” said Marian Garfield, Sustainability Director at Heidelberg Materials UK. “Through evoHub, we are supporting the sector in implementing lower carbon material solutions at every stage in the supply chain, from concept and design through to construction and refurbishment. “This includes through the eight stages of the RIBA design process, as well as offering solutions to achieve BREEAM Excellent buildings, unlock green finance and promote the circular economy.” For more information about both evoHub venues and upcoming sessions, visit: heidelbergmaterials.co.uk/evohub Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
JELD-WEN marks 25 years of Secured by Design membership
Secured by Design has recognised timber door manufacturer JELD-WEN for reaching 25 years of membership with the official police security initiative, marking a long-standing commitment to safety, security and product excellence. JELD-WEN has consistently met the performance demands needed to demonstrate its doors meet the rigorous standards required to be accredited by Secured by Design (SBD) – the only way for companies to obtain police recognition for security. Doors accredited by SBD demonstrate an enhanced level of resistance against opportunistic break-ins to provide peace of mind. Certification requires PAS24 testing by an independent third-party from a United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) authority, which ensures measured conformity. This includes rigorous assessments measuring resistance against impact, hardware attack, manipulation, along with testing for endurance. Established more than 60 years ago, JELD-WEN is one of the UK’s largest manufacturers of high-quality internal doorsets, supplying both new build and retrofit projects across a wide range of sectors. With decades of experience and a reputation for craftsmanship, the company manufactures its doorsets in the UK, including specialist fire doorsets, ensuring that security remains central to each stage of development. JELD-WEN has invested millions of pounds in the development and testing of its doorsets in the UK, reinforcing its commitment to dependable performance. This long-term dedication to reliable, independently verified product performance underpins JELD-WEN’s enduring relationship with Secured by Design. Lisa Ward, Product and Marketing Director for JELD-WEN UK, said: “Ensuring the highest standards of security are built into our doorsets is an absolute priority for JELD-WEN. With rigorous research and development processes backed up by third-party testing, we take every step to ensure optimal standards – and ensure that this has been independently verified. “Doors and the need for security are inseparable, and in aligning with Secured by Design for more than two decades we have demonstrated our commitment to keeping this at the forefront of our product offering. “We recognise the work SBD does in establishing and reinforcing standards in security for both residential and business properties and are proud to have been a member for the past 25 years.” Alfie Hosker, Secured by Design, commented: “Reaching 25 years with Secured by Design is a significant achievement and reflects JELD-WEN’s sustained commitment to delivering safe, secure and independently tested products. Their continued investment in quality and certification sets a strong example across the industry and we are delighted to recognise this milestone.” Part of the global JELD-WEN group which operates in 19 countries, JELD-WEN UK benefits from extensive industry expertise and operates at scale to meet complex specification requirements, supporting projects in commercial, residential, healthcare, education and hospitality settings, with solutions tailored to individual site and compliance needs. You can find out more about JELD-WEN and their Secured by Design accredited products on their dedicated member page. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
PLP Acquires Prime Midlands M1 Development Site
PLP, a leading logistics developer and investment manager, has acquired a 65-acre development site with frontage to the M1 immediately adjacent to Junction 27 of the M1 at Sherwood Business Park, Nottingham. PLP Nottingham will deliver a three-unit scheme totalling 700,000 sq ft across three buildings, 69,000 sq ft, 172,000 sq ft and 459,000 sq ft. Construction will commence in June 2026 with completion targeted for Q3 2027. The site benefits from direct access to the M1 and the national motorway network, providing immediate connectivity to the industrial heartland of the UK and regional urban conurbations. Neil Dickinson Chief Investment Officer at PLP, commented:“PLP Nottingham is a prime example of PLP’s investment thesis; prime, immediately deliverable and perfectly tailored product to an undersupplied market and we look forward to delivering the completed scheme next year.” Hugh Chesterton, Development Director at PLP also commented:“PLP Nottingham will deliver three high quality buildings into one of the UK’s most undersupplied markets. The BREEAM Excellent scheme will be highly attractive to a range of national and regional tenants given its unique adjacency to Junction 27 of the M1 and the urban conurbations of the East Midlands. The scheme will create many new employment opportunities and will represent a substantial investment into the local economy and community.’’ PLP was advised by Avison Young, Savills and Oxalis acted for the landowner. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Wickes sets sights on 300-store network after strong profit growth
Wickes is planning a major expansion of its UK footprint, targeting up to 300 stores nationwide after delivering stronger than expected financial results for 2025. The DIY retailer, which currently operates around 230 locations, has outlined plans to open between four and five new stores in 2026, alongside a programme of refurbishments covering a further 15 to 20 sites. The pace of expansion is expected to increase significantly from 2028 onwards as the group accelerates its growth strategy. The announcement follows a solid year of performance for the business, during which Wickes opened five new stores and completed 11 refits and refresh projects across its estate. For the year, the company reported revenue of £1.64bn, representing a 5.9% increase on the previous year. Adjusted pre-tax profit rose by 14.4% to £49.9m, while statutory pre-tax profit more than doubled to £48.7m, compared with £23.2m in 2024. Wickes attributed the improved performance largely to continued momentum within its core retail operations, which recorded a 6.5% rise in revenue over the period. The business has been investing in both new locations and the modernisation of existing stores, with a focus on enhancing customer experience and driving long-term returns. Chief executive David Wood said the results reflect consistent progress against the company’s strategy, with its store investment model proving particularly effective. He noted that the strong returns being generated from new openings and refurbishment programmes had given the business confidence to step up investment and pursue further expansion across the UK. The move signals Wickes’ ambition to strengthen its position in the competitive home improvement market by increasing its physical presence while continuing to upgrade its existing estate. With a clear pipeline of new stores and ongoing improvements to its current portfolio, the retailer is positioning itself for sustained growth over the coming years as it works towards its long-term target of a 300-store network. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals