Orion and Helical achieve practical completion of prime City office scheme at 100 New Bridge Street
Helical plc and a vehicle managed by Orion Capital Managers have reached practical completion on the repositioning of 100 New Bridge Street, delivering a 195,000 sq ft best-in-class office scheme in the City of London. Located between Blackfriars and Farringdon stations, the landmark building has been transformed into a carbon-friendly workplace designed to meet growing occupier demand for high-quality, sustainable office space in central London. Designed by Gensler and delivered by Mace, the project has retained and upgraded much of the original structure, demonstrating how existing commercial buildings can be reimagined rather than replaced. The redevelopment introduces a striking new façade, 30,000 sq ft of additional net internal area and 9,690 sq ft of terraces across four floors, offering views towards St Paul’s Cathedral and across central London. Sustainability has been central to the scheme. Around 90% of the original structure has been retained, with materials reused, repurposed or donated where possible. As a result, the project’s embodied carbon is tracking 61.4% below the Greater London Authority benchmark for offices. The all-electric building has also achieved strong environmental and wellbeing credentials, including BREEAM Outstanding, NABERS 5-star and WELL Platinum ratings. The milestone follows the completion of the forward sale of the property to State Street on 20 May 2026. The deal, first announced in April 2025, saw the building sold for State Street’s own occupation at a net price of £333m, representing a Helical share of £166.5m. The transaction reflects a capital value of £1,712 per sq ft, or around £2,000 per sq ft on a topped-up basis, based on a capitalisation yield of 5% after deducting corporate sales costs and a notional rent free period. Proceeds from the sale will be used to repay the amount drawn under the £155m development facility, with surplus funds distributed to the joint venture partners under the terms of the agreement signed in May 2024. Matthew Bonning-Snook, Chief Executive Officer of Helical, said the completion marked “a significant milestone” for the project, describing 100 New Bridge Street as a future-focused workplace that highlights the potential of existing assets to meet modern occupier expectations while supporting carbon reduction. Aref Lahham, Founding Partner and Managing Director of Orion Capital Managers, said the project had created value through repositioning and forward selling in a supply-constrained market, reinforcing Orion’s focus on opportunities driven by clear demand and strong asset execution. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Building momentum: Another record year for affordable housing in Manchester
Manchester City Council has achieved another record year for building new affordable homes, four years into its ambitious 10-year housing strategy for the city. Almost 1,000 of the 4,766 new homes completed across the city in 2025/26 were affordable, with 439 of these 901 affordable homes available for social rent. This represents the most successful year since the mid-1990s for social and affordable home building in the city but there is much more to come as momentum accelerates. There are around 1,450 further council, social and genuinely affordable homes already on site now with around 2,000 more such homes ready to start, 2026/27 looks set to be another bumper year. The Council set out its 10-year housing strategy in 2022 with a bold commitment to help deliver 36,000 homes across across all tenures and areas of the city with at least 10,000 of these social, council or genuinely affordable homes, and at least 3,000 of these in the city centre. With 2,430 such affordable homes already completed and a strong pipeline of future projects already either under construction, with planning permission and being readied for site, or on the horizon, there is every confidence that these targets will be met or exceeded. Leader of the Council Cllr Bev Craig said: “We know that one of the main issues facing our residents is finding a home they can afford in a place where they want to live. We are committed to turning the tide by delivering record numbers of council, social and affordable homes and investing in vibrant and attractive neighbourhoods across the city. This means real choice. “Headline schemes being brought forward across the city include 400 new homes for social rent in Wythenshawe town centre, 303 affordable homes as part of the Brewery Gardens development on the former Boddington’s site in the city centre, 271 new homes for social rent and shared ownership in Charlestown and 212 affordable homes in Moss Side.” Cllr Gavin White, Executive Member for Housing and Development, said: “Every Mancunian deserves a safe and secure home that they can afford. Which is why we are working closely with the city’s housing providers and the private sector to develop home building opportunities across the city to meet the needs of our residents – and importantly using council-owned land to increase the number of affordable homes available to Manchester people. “We’re not waiting for someone to do it for us – we are creating ways to build the right homes in the right places to meet demand.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Statom Strengthens Specialist Role as Order Book Reaches £617m
Statom Group has reported record turnover and a secured order book of more than £617m, following a period of investment and strategic expansion across its specialist engineering operations. The Essex-based contractor, which was founded as a concrete specialist in 2020, increased revenue by 15% to £184m in the year to 30 November 2025. Growth was supported by rising activity across infrastructure, civil engineering, specialist foundations, ports and energy projects, helping to offset slower conditions in the residential market. The group said its £617m order book is equivalent to around 3.3 times annual revenue, providing strong visibility into 2026 and early 2027. The performance reflects Statom’s continued move away from historic reliance on residential work and towards more technically complex, engineering-led sectors. Pre-tax profit, however, fell to £6.8m from £8.7m in the previous year, as the business absorbed significant investment in management systems, technical staff, new offices, plant and machinery. Operating margin also eased from 6.6% to 4.9%, with the company citing changes in workload mix and inflationary pressure on key materials. Statom Group Chief Executive Stan Nikudinski said the investment was necessary to support substantial growth during the year and position the business for further expansion in 2026. During the period, the group strengthened its in-house technical capability through the integration of Apex Core Engineering, Franki Foundations and Slipform Technology. These divisions now sit alongside Statom’s civil, mechanical, electrical and plumbing, and remediation teams, enabling the contractor to take on more complex schemes with reduced reliance on third-party delivery partners. Nikudinski said: “During the year, the integration of Apex Core Engineering, Franki Foundations, and Slipform Technology within the wider group further strengthened our in-house technical capability and lifecycle delivery capacity. “These divisions, supported by our civil, MEP, and remediation teams, enable Statom to deliver complex engineering-led projects with minimal reliance on third-party contractors. “This self-delivery approach has proven particularly valuable on major regeneration, energy, and infrastructure programmes, where technical collaboration and design assurance are critical to success.” Despite the dip in profit, Statom ended the year with net assets rising to £29m, up from £25.5m. Cash reduced to £21.3m from £27.9m following a £25.7m capital investment programme. The results underline Statom’s transition into a broader specialist engineering contractor, with a growing focus on infrastructure, energy and complex regeneration work. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Catella APAM makes trio of senior promotions
Catella APAM, the integrated UK real estate investment and asset manager, today announces it has promoted Victoria Morgan to Director. She joins founder and Executive Director Simon Cooke and Managing Director Melissa Baldwin on the firm’s senior leadership team. Rhys Williams and William Grenfell have been promoted from Associate Director to Senior Principal. Victoria, previously Head of Asset Management, will retain strategic oversight of the firm’s £1.6 billion portfolio and continue to lead on client servicing and key relationships, while contributing to the broader leadership and direction of the business. Victoria joined Catella APAM in July 2023, initially leading asset management for the southern region before being promoted to Head of Asset Management with full UK oversight. She brings over 19 years of experience across complex and diverse portfolios in the UK and Europe. Victoria has a track record spanning industrial, logistics, office and specialist asset classes at institutions including CapitaLand, where she held responsibility for £1.8 billion in AUM, and M7 Real Estate, where she managed a 3.6 million sq ft national commercial portfolio. Since joining, Victoria has led the structural transformation of Catella APAM’s asset management function, integrating the asset management and portfolio management teams and bringing together analytical and asset-level expertise. Under her leadership, the team manages 5.4 million sq ft across residential, industrial, office and retail. William joined Catella APAM in 2015 and brings over 20 years of post-qualification experience to the role. He is the client lead on the firm’s mandate for Danish pension fund Britannia Invest A/S, overseeing asset management of a regional UK office portfolio, including the delivery of the c.60,000 sq ft One Friary redevelopment in Temple Quay, Bristol, on track for practical completion in summer 2026. Rhys has been with the firm since 2014 and is the client lead on Catella APAM’s mandate for the Greater Manchester Pension Fund, overseeing asset management of a mixed-sector portfolio that includes Chantry Place shopping centre in Norwich, the Grade II-listed Morgan Quarter in Cardiff, and major industrial holdings at Kingsway Business Park in Rochdale and Leeds Valley Park, where the team has set record rents for the West Yorkshire industrial market. In their new positions, Rhys and William will take on increased responsibility for client management, business development and people leadership, acting as second-in-command to Victoria within the asset management team. Simon Cooke, Founder and Executive Director of Catella APAM, said: “We’re really proud to announce these senior promotions, which not only highlight the exceptional quality of our people but also our commitment to developing talent from within. “Victoria’s promotion to Director is thoroughly deserved and a reflection of the extraordinary contribution she has made to this business. Her leadership, commercial instinct and genuine commitment to her people make her an integral part of this business, and I look forward to seeing the continued impact she will have for our clients. “Will and Rhys are exactly the kind of people this business is built on – experienced and deeply client-focused. These promotions recognise their outstanding individual performance.” Victoria Morgan, Director at Catella APAM, said: “I’m delighted to join the senior leadership team and help share the next phase of the business at such an exciting point for Catella APAM. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with the team over the past three years and am proud of the progress we’ve made in building an integrated asset management platform. It’s also great to see Rhys and William recognised for their continued impact and leadership.”
wienerberger UK & Ireland strengthens product information standards with latest CCPI asssessment for roofing products
Building envelope solutions provider wienerberger UK & Ireland has achieved independent Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) assessment for their Roof Tiles & Fittings product set. This latest assessment builds on wienerberger’s milestone from Spring 2025, when it became the first UK manufacturer to secure CCPI assessment for its UK-manufactured bricks and pavers. With more product groups now progressing through the assessment process, the business continues to advance its ambition to be the trusted expert partner for clients, specifiers, and supply chain stakeholders. The CCPI framework is designed to raise standards across construction product information and marketing, ensuring the industry moves toward product data that is accurate, consistent, accessible, and easy to understand. In addition to driving consistency in product information, CCPI assessment helps manufacturers stay aligned with forthcoming regulatory requirements, ensuring they remain agile as the industry continues to evolve. As wienerberger prepares to put additional product groups from its wall, roof, heating, and water management portfolio forward for assessment, the business continues to prioritise independently validated product information as part of its commitment to supporting responsible decision-making for those designing, supplying, and building with its solutions. Paul Instrell, Chief Commercial Officer at wienerberger UK & Ireland, said: “Since achieving CCPI assessment for our UK-manufactured bricks and pavers last year, we’ve continued to see growing interest in adoption across our customer base. Extending CCPI assessment to our roof product portfolio is an important step in demonstrating our dedication to clarity, transparency, and trust in product information. The CCPI plays a critical role in raising standards and we are pleased to be part of that progression.” For more information about wienerberger UK & Ireland, please visit www.wienerberger.co.uk. To learn more about the CCPI and how to achieve verification, visit www.cpicode.org.uk or contact enquiries@cpicode.org.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
US Interstate vs UK Long-Distance Relocations
UK construction professionals working on international projects, advising property clients with US exposure, or evaluating cross-border supply chains often encounter the US interstate moving market. The operational picture differs in meaningful ways from the UK long-distance relocation system, and the differences carry real consequences for cost, regulation, and project planning. The distinction is more than geographic. The US relies on federally regulated interstate moves handled by specialists like Coastal Moving Services, a US operator focused on long-distance household and commercial relocations across state lines. The UK long-distance equivalent operates under a different regulatory and operational logic. Understanding both helps UK construction firms with US clients make better-informed referrals and project-planning decisions. What Makes US Interstate Moves Operationally Different? Three structural differences shape the US interstate move. The first is the federal regulatory layer. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates every interstate move involving a household-goods carrier crossing a state line. The licensing requirement creates a clear distinction between regulated interstate operators and unregulated within-state movers. The UK has no direct equivalent; long-distance moves within Great Britain operate under a single national regulatory framework. The second is the distance scale. A US interstate move can run anywhere from 200 to 3,000 miles. Coastal moves between California and the East Coast cover distances comparable to a London-to-Athens move in European terms. The vehicle and crew planning required is fundamentally different from a 400-mile UK long-distance relocation. The third is the seasonal capacity pattern. The US interstate moving sector peaks sharply in the May-to-September window, when academic-year and family-relocation demand cluster. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s protect-your-move guidance covers the consumer-protection framework that runs alongside the regulatory licensing. Which Regulations Shape US Interstate Moves? Six regulatory layers structure the US interstate market. The UK framework relies on industry-body standards (BAR, NGRS) and general consumer-protection law rather than a single dedicated regulator. The UK Government’s residence and tax guidance sets out the household-side reference UK readers compare against. The difference matters for any UK construction firm advising a client on a US-side project relocation. it always depends on US interstate logistics. How Do Costs Compare Between US Interstate and UK Long-Distance? The cost picture differs across distance, mode, and value tier. Move type Approximate cost band (USD) Equivalent UK long-distance band (GBP) 1-bedroom, 500 miles $1,500 to $3,000 £1,200 to £2,400 1-bedroom, 2,000+ miles $3,000 to $6,000 n/a (typical UK distances cap below) 3-bedroom, 500 miles $4,000 to $9,000 £3,500 to £6,500 3-bedroom, 2,000+ miles $9,000 to $18,000 n/a 5-bedroom, 2,000+ miles $14,000 to $28,000 n/a UK long-distance moves rarely exceed 600 miles given the country’s geography. The US bands above 1,000 miles do not have direct UK equivalents. The cost-per-mile structure shifts as well: long US distances often have lower per-mile cost because of consolidation, while shorter UK moves carry a higher per-mile loading. The transport-policy backdrop matters too. The UK’s low-carbon transport programmes reflect a different operational priority from the US capacity-driven model. What Should UK Construction Firms Know About US Relocation Logistics? UK construction firms working with US clients should plan around three operational realities. The first is the booking lead-time. Peak-season US interstate moves require 6 to 8 weeks of lead time. UK relocations in the comparable window typically need 3 to 4 weeks. The second is the storage layer. US relocations often build in a 5 to 15 day storage-in-transit window between origin departure and destination arrival. UK moves rarely need this layer because of the shorter distance. The third is the insurance and liability picture. UK construction firms working on cross-border project moves should pair the US interstate carrier’s standard liability with a separate full-value cargo policy. The net-zero carbon logistics planning increasingly shapes how UK firms think about cross-border project moves as well. A Quick Reality Check for UK Firms With US Project Exposure The Construction Professional’s Bottom Line on US-vs-UK Relocations US interstate moves and UK long-distance relocations operate under fundamentally different regulatory and operational logics. UK construction firms advising clients with US property, US interstate moves or project exposure benefit from understanding both. The cost and lead-time bands differ enough that treating them as similar processes leads to budget and timeline surprises. The discipline is in reading the US framework on its own terms rather than mapping UK assumptions onto it. Frequently Asked Questions What Distance Counts as an Interstate Move in the US? Any move that crosses a state boundary qualifies as an interstate move under federal regulation. The distance can range from a few miles (across a state line) to 3,000 miles (coast to coast). Are US Movers Bonded and Insured the Same Way as UK Movers? Not directly. US interstate movers carry federal cargo liability and may carry separate full-value protection. UK movers operate under industry-body standards (BAR, NGRS) with insurance arrangements that vary by member. The protection level differs and should be checked specifically. What’s the Cheapest Time of Year for a US Interstate Move? October through April typically offers the lowest US interstate rates. Demand is lower outside the May-to-September peak, and operators discount aggressively to keep crews working. Does the UK Have a US-Style Federal Moving Regulator? No. The UK relies on industry bodies such as BAR (British Association of Removers) and NGRS, plus general consumer-protection law. There is no dedicated regulator equivalent to the FMCSA.