Pye Homes announces July Stamp Duty offer at Welborne Garden Village
Pye Homes has announced an exclusive Stamp Duty offer worth up to £10,000 on select properties for sale at Welborne Garden Village near Fareham in Hampshire. The housebuilder will pay Stamp Duty fees of up £10,000 for families who reserve one of its Welborne Garden Village homes in July.* The exclusive offer is an ideal opportunity for those looking to buy a property in this idyllic location, 300 metres from nature, within 444 acres of parks and woodland, less than eight miles to the nearest beach, and just 10 minutes’ drive from Fareham railway station, which offers direct trains to Cardiff, Southampton, Portsmouth, Brighton and London Waterloo. This limited-time incentive follows the opening of Pye Homes’ showhomes and show apartments as it unveiled an exclusive collection of six Audley apartments, which feature two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and allocated parking. The Audley apartments are perfect for home buyers who are interested in downsizing but still want every modern convenience in a beautiful setting. Pye Homes is crafting 210 of the 6,000 new homes at Welborne Garden Village, which will also include a Village Centre featuring independent shops, pub/hotel, GP surgery, pharmacy and eventually four new schools. Over 50% of the development’s land will be dedicated to public open space, with additional outdoor spaces including the 30-acre Welborne Park, a community orchard, allotments, sports fields, and play areas. Welborne is now open for prospective buyers to visit the Pye Homes customer lounge, tour the showhomes and show apartment, and experience the new neighbourhood for themselves. *For more information and the Stamp Duty incentive terms and conditions, visit www.welborne.co.uk/event To find out more about The Audley apartments and the collection of homes now available at Welborne Garden Village, and to register for an appointment, visit www.pyehomes.co.uk/developments/welborne/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
From Industrial Heritage to Sustainable Living: Historic Huddersfield Mill Site Transformed into New Homes
A former 19th-century dyeworks near Huddersfield has been successfully transformed into a sustainable residential development following the completion of complex engineering works led by Dudleys Consulting Engineers. The Royd Edge Mills development delivers 30 new homes, ranging from two-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom detached properties, while breathing new life into a historic brownfield site with industrial origins stretching back to the late 1830s. Originally established as a textile mill drawing water from Royd Edge Moor via Thick Hollins Dyke, the site later became a thriving dyeworks before eventually falling into disuse. Following decades of decline and the demolition of the former industrial buildings, the redevelopment presented a series of significant engineering and construction challenges. Extensive below-ground investigations uncovered remnants of historic foundations, former basements, wheelhouses, engine rooms and underground chimney structures, alongside areas of quarrying, steep bedrock and an intricate network of historic watercourses. These conditions required careful planning and innovative engineering solutions before construction could begin. Dudleys Consulting Engineers was appointed to provide civil and structural engineering expertise across the project, delivering designs for the development’s foundations, drainage infrastructure and structural solutions for both the houses and apartment buildings. Working closely with the wider project team, the consultancy developed a revised site-level strategy incorporating a combination of shallow trench, deep trench and piled foundation systems to suit the varying ground conditions. The approach enabled efficient connections to existing adopted drainage while delivering an effective surface water management solution. One of the project’s most significant engineering achievements involved reconfiguring the former mill pond. Rather than constructing a substantial retaining wall to manage flood risk, the team redesigned the landscape by cutting back the pond, reducing the risk of leakage and creating a more practical, attractive and sustainable solution. This approach not only improved the visual character of the development but also increased usable garden space, enhanced natural landscaping and reduced off-site material waste. New woodland walkways have also been incorporated, helping integrate the development into its surrounding environment while encouraging biodiversity and providing attractive outdoor spaces for future residents. Andy Walker, Managing Director of Dudleys Consulting Engineers, said the project demonstrated how innovative engineering could unlock difficult brownfield sites while delivering environmental, commercial and community benefits. Adam Howarth of Royd Edge Mill Developments added that the engineering solutions had enabled the complex site to be developed efficiently while respecting its industrial heritage and creating lasting value for the local area. The Royd Edge Mills project demonstrates how collaborative design, sustainable engineering and intelligent site remediation can successfully regenerate former industrial land, transforming challenging brownfield sites into high-quality residential communities while preserving the character and legacy of their historic setting. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
DW Windsor helps to preserve Victoria Embankment’s lighting heritage
The Thames Tideway Tunnel is a £4.6 billion infrastructure project designed to modernise London’s ageing sewer network. As part of the project, several sites along the Thames were expanded to accommodate the additional infrastructure required for the tunnel, creating new riverside public spaces and prompting upgrades to existing lighting assets. At Tyburn Quay and Bazalgette Embankment, these works brought two distinctive heritage lighting installations into focus. Delivered for Transport for London and the City of London Corporation respectively, the schemes formed part of Tideway Central, led by FLO Joint Venture, with FM Conway and consultant WSP among the wider project team. Drawing on its long-standing experience working with historic lighting across central London, DW Windsor supported the delivery of both schemes, retaining the defining features of each installation while introducing the structural, lighting and control technologies needed for their continued use. The road running alongside Tyburn Quay is lined with a mix of original Grade II-listed cast column bases and a number of later replicas. Dating from 1900, the original bases feature dolphins, floral detailing and representations of Britannia. While the project required the lighting installation to be upgraded, preserving these historic bases was an important part of the brief. Each casting was removed from site and transported to DW Windsor’s Hertfordshire factory, where the company’s specialist restoration team repaired and repainted the decorative finishes in their distinctive combination of black, red and gold. As part of the upgrade, new reinforced steel columns designed to retain the proportions and appearance of the originals were installed. These were completed with traditional scroll brackets and finials finished in a custom gold paint to complement the decorative elements on the bases. Strand lanterns were then fitted as a like-for-like replacement for the previous luminaires, preserving the familiar appearance of the lighting. The lanterns incorporate efficient LED lighting technology and Zhaga sockets, currently fitted with Zhaga photocells. This future-proofs the installation by allowing CMS nodes to be added should Transport for London adopt a central management system at a later date. Once the work was complete, DW Windsor worked alongside FM Conway to transport the restored column bases back to site and assist with their reinstallation, helping to minimise handling and protect these important heritage assets. At Bazalgette Embankment, the project team faced a different heritage challenge. The existing lighting featured George Vulliamy’s iconic dolphin pedestal design, better known to many as the Sturgeon lamp post, originally created for the Victorian Embankment works and now one of the riverside’s most recognisable features. While the sculptural bases and cradles were retained for their architectural and historic significance, the globe lanterns above required replacement. DW Windsor was tasked with recreating the original appearance while developing a completely new internal lighting system. The solution needed to deliver modern performance, improved control and easier maintenance without detracting from the character of the historic installation. The age of the cradles made this particularly challenging. Created using historic manufacturing methods and exposed to decades of weathering, the individual structures varied in dimension and condition. Working with specialist installer London and Kent, DW Windsor developed an adjustable mounting system that allowed each new globe lantern to be fitted securely within its existing cradle. Inside the recreated globe, two separate LED systems perform distinct roles. A CoB LED provides the principal downward illumination, with a rear shield helping to reduce light spill back towards the Thames, while a second light source softly illuminates the upper section and opal lid, preserving the characteristic glow and visual presence of the original globe. Specified at 2700K, the new lighting produces a warm appearance suited to the historic riverside setting. Urban Control’s CMS technology was also incorporated discreetly within the globe, with the antenna concealed inside the fitting so that the external appearance remained unchanged. Both Tyburn Quay and Bazalgette Embankment highlight the importance of balancing heritage preservation with modern lighting requirements. By retaining significant original features wherever possible and replacing only those elements requiring renewal, the schemes preserve the established character of Victoria Embankment while introducing improved performance and control. Robert Maisey, Operations Director at DW Windsor, said: “At Tyburn Quay, the priority was to retain the character of the original installation. Restoring the bases and upgrading the columns, brackets and lanterns allowed us to bring the scheme back to life while introducing the structural strength and technology needed for the future.” Alex Winship, Specials Product Design Manager at DW Windsor, added: “The challenge at Bazalgette Embankment was to recreate the appearance of the original globes while completely redesigning their internal lighting architecture. By combining two light sources, discreet CMS integration and an adjustable mounting system, we were able to preserve their familiar glow while delivering modern lighting performance.” The schemes form part of DW Windsor’s wider contribution to the Thames Tideway project, which has included the supply of heritage and contemporary lighting across several locations. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals Clients and partners Clients – Transport for London / City of London Corporation Main Contractor – FM Conway Joint Venture – FLO (Ferrovial Construction and Laing O’Rourke) Consultant – WSP Specialist Installer (Globes) – London and Kent
FireAngel Launches Innovative Spec+ Domestic Safety Solutions Range
FireAngel announces new Spec+ range incorporating a complete portfolio of domestic safety solutions, including multi-sensor and single-sensor smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms. FireAngel has announced the launch of its brand-new Spec+ range, an evolved solutions offering of mains-powered fire and domestic safety alarms designed to support professional installations, improve ease of replacement, and to keep more people safe in their homes today and in the future. Classified as Grade D1 alarms in line with BS 5839-6, the range comes with a 10-year sealed rechargeable lithium backup battery, making them suitable for most residential applications under current legislation and standards. Domestic safety solutions for evolving needs Developed for the UK professional market, the Spec+ range brings together smoke, heat, carbon monoxide and multi-sensor protection in a flexible new product family, with anticipated changes to legislation and consumer habits considered in its development. It includes dedicated smoke and heat alarms, as well as multi-sensor alarms offering smoke, heat and CO detection in a single device. Designed with professional installers, landlords, housebuilders and housing providers in mind, the new Spec+ products ensure long-life performance and interconnection capability, and a practical base plate design to make installation and replacement as straightforward as possible. The smoke alarms combine Thermoptek™ and UltraSense™ technology, which work in parallel to improve response to fire risk whilst reducing ‘nuisance alarms’ due to lifestyle factors and contaminants. Improving on previous products, Spec+ incorporates bug mesh and dust compensation components to increase device longevity and minimise interference or contamination which can cause false alarms. The alarms have built-in Bluetooth (BLE) as standard, supporting the optional interlinking of up to 50 Spec+ devices either wirelessly, via hardwired connection or a mix of the two, without the need for additional costly modules. Standards, testing and certification for domestic safety solutions All core alarms in the Spec+ range are designed for a 10-year lifespan and come with a leading 10-year warranty, providing peace of mind for residents. Smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms typically have a 10-year working life and despite often functioning beyond this, FireAngel advises all alarms should be replaced after 10 years to ensure continued protection. Nick Rutter, Chief Executive Officer at FireAngel, said: “Our new Spec+ range represents a significant product portfolio for FireAngel that will enable a step-change for the future of domestic safety. Spec+ has been designed around real installation needs, quality-first design principles and trusted protection for residents.” “The launch comes at an important time for the fire safety sector, where innovation and healthy marketplace competition are essential to continuously improving protection in homes across the UK. FireAngel believes that bringing new products to market plays a vital role in giving specifiers, contractors and housing providers greater choice, while ensuring safety-critical technology continues to evolve.” The Spec+ range includes: Find out more about FireAngel professional services and the Spec+ range: https://www.fireangel.co.uk/specplus Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Retail Investment Continues as Footasylum Expands with Upgraded Trafford Centre Store
Footasylum has reinforced its commitment to bricks-and-mortar retail with the reopening of its significantly upgraded store at the Trafford Centre in Greater Manchester, as the retailer continues an ambitious programme of investment across its UK property portfolio. The refurbished 17,178 sq ft store represents the latest phase of Footasylum’s national expansion strategy, reflecting growing confidence in prime retail destinations that continue to attract strong footfall and deliver engaging customer experiences. Located within one of the UK’s premier shopping centres, the upgraded store has been designed to provide an enhanced retail environment, offering an extensive range of leading sportswear and lifestyle brands including Nike, Adidas Originals, ASICS, Saucony and Berghaus, alongside Footasylum’s own exclusive labels such as Monterrain and Forena. The investment forms part of a wider programme of property and operational expansion that has seen the retailer open new stores in Manchester Arndale, Trinity Leeds and Merthyr Tydfil, while continuing to strengthen its presence in strategically important retail locations across the UK. For the property and construction sector, the latest investment highlights the ongoing evolution of physical retail space. Modern retail fit-outs increasingly focus on creating flexible, experience-led environments capable of supporting changing consumer behaviours, premium product presentation and seamless integration with digital retail platforms. Alongside its store expansion programme, Footasylum has continued investing in its wider operational infrastructure, including increasing warehouse capacity to support future growth and securing additional funding from HSBC UK to accelerate its ongoing rollout strategy. The business has also expanded into international markets across Central Europe and the Gulf region, demonstrating confidence in its long-term growth ambitions. The retailer has also strengthened its leadership team with the recent appointment of Hannah Mercer as Chief Executive Officer and entered into a strategic partnership with British streetwear brand Trapstar, further enhancing its product offering and brand appeal. Shannon Osman, Retail Director at Footasylum, described the upgraded Trafford Centre store as another landmark in the company’s UK expansion plans. She said the investment reflects Footasylum’s commitment to creating innovative retail destinations that strengthen customer engagement while offering an enhanced shopping experience in one of the country’s highest-performing retail centres. The continued investment also demonstrates the resilience of well-located shopping destinations such as the Trafford Centre, where landlords and occupiers are working together to deliver high-quality retail environments that attract leading brands and support long-term asset performance. As retailers continue to adapt their property strategies to changing consumer expectations, investment in modern store design, premium fit-outs and flagship locations remains an important driver of the UK’s retail property market, creating opportunities across construction, interiors, building services and commercial fit-out sectors. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Britain Cannot Build Its Way Out of Crisis if Builders Are Going Bust: Jewson and Stark UK Launch National Campaign Demanding Urgent Government Action
Britain’s builders, tradespeople and construction businesses have united behind a national campaign calling for urgent government action to prevent the further decline of the country’s most important industries. The newly launched Let’s Get Britain Building – NOW! campaign lead by Stark Building Materials UK and Jewson is warning that the construction sector has reached a critical tipping point due to a combination of thousands of companies ceasing trading and sole traders shutting up shop, housing delivery falling dramatically short of demand and chronic skills shortages. Campaign leaders are calling on the government for an emergency package of measures to restore confidence, stimulate demand and remove barriers preventing the industry from delivering the new and improved homes, jobs and economic growth Britain desperately needs. Alongside a public petition – the construction industry is set to escalate its grave concerns to Parliament to secure a national debate on the future of Britain’s construction industry. Today’s warning comes at a time when the gap between housing need and housing delivery continues to widen. Construction leaders estimate Britain is now facing a housing shortfall of approximately 6.5 million homes. To close that gap by 2040, around 565,000 homes would need to be built every year. Yet current projections suggest that annual housing delivery is likely to reach only around 305,000 homes by 2029. More than 630,000 properties in England sit empty and ripe for retrofitting into quality homes, but VAT and planning constraints are blocking progress. At the same time, the businesses responsible for building those homes are disappearing at an alarming rate. Nearly 4,000 construction firms became insolvent in the year to February 2026, making construction the worst-affected sector in the country’s economy in terms of business failures. Small and medium-sized housebuilders, once responsible for a significant share of housing delivery, have seen their numbers collapse from around 12,000 businesses in the late 1980s to fewer than 2,000 today. Kieran Griffin, Divisional Managing Director at Jewson, says: “The economics of building have become increasingly difficult, as the costs associated with more regulation, taxes and levies mount up for every new home built. Material costs have risen by around 40 per cent since 2020 and are expected to increase further in the years ahead. Combined with rising borrowing costs, planning delays and weaker consumer confidence, many projects that would once have been financially viable are now being postponed or abandoned altogether. “This is no longer a future challenge; it is a present-day emergency,” said Griffin. “Construction sits at the heart of the British economy and infrastructure. It delivers homes, jobs and investment in every town across Britain, yet the sector is under enormous pressure from every direction. Businesses are closing, projects are stalling, and skilled workers are leaving the industry. If the government wants growth, it needs to support the people and businesses that are physically building the country.” Ashley Woodcock, a painter and decorator from Bolton, says he has had to take on a second job as a milkman to supplement his income in construction. His day begins at 2.30 am, delivering milk before he heads to decorating jobs later in the morning. Ashley says he sees the impact of delays, uncertainty and workforce shortages every day. “Everyone agrees Britain needs more homes, but the reality on the ground is that it is becoming harder and harder for tradespeople,” he said. “Projects are delayed, costs continue to rise, and there aren’t enough skilled people entering the industry. Most of us want to get on with the work, but we need the right support and conditions to make that possible.” At the centre of the campaign are three urgent policy demands that organisers believe would have an immediate impact on the industry’s ability to grow. Campaign leaders argue that there has been no meaningful replacement for previous support schemes that helped buyers enter the market and are calling for targeted financial incentives for homebuyers and homeowners, including measures to reduce deposit requirements and expand mortgage access. They also want ministers to consider stamp duty relief and other fiscal measures to encourage transactions and boost market confidence. Another request is the removal of VAT on building materials and the refurbishment and retrofit of existing homes. Currently, new-build homes benefit from zero VAT, yet renovation projects often face additional costs that discourage investment. They believe removing VAT could unlock significant activity, especially in relation to the thousands of vacant properties across the country that could be renovated and used as housing. There are also calls for reform of the planning system, which campaigners describe as slow, costly and unpredictable. Only a small proportion of major planning applications are currently decided within statutory timeframes, while delays on smaller projects continue to frustrate homeowners and builders alike. Justin Gilbert, CEO Gilbert Homes said: “As a company owner for over thirty years I have never experienced such negative planning policies that we face today. The majority of potential new housing sites are unviable due to the various levies. The planning system is a complete farce.” The campaign is calling for a simpler, more transparent planning system that relies on clearer rules rather than subjective preferences, faster decision-making, and greater use of digital technology. Organisers believe artificial intelligence could play an important role in streamlining at the very least the early stages of planning applications and reducing administrative burdens on local authorities. They also want a moratorium on additional policy requirements that increase costs and complexity without accelerating housing delivery. Another key policy is tackling what campaigners describe as a construction skills emergency. More than 35,000 vacancies currently exist across the sector, and the industry is expected to require around 225,000 additional workers by 2027, but approximately one-quarter of the existing workforce is expected to retire over the next five years. Campaign leaders are therefore calling for expansion and an acceleration of apprenticeships, training programmes and industry-led education initiatives. They want greater support for small and medium-sized businesses that train and to retain apprentices and closer collaboration between employers,