Great Places delivers new affordable homes at Park Hill – backed by Homes England
A major new phase of the regeneration of Park Hill in Sheffield will see 24% of homes delivered as affordable housing, following a new agreement between joint venture (JV) partners Urban Splash and Places for People and leading housing association Great Places Housing Group. The deal means that 30 of the 125 homes planned for Phase 4 at the iconic Grade II*-listed estate will be affordable. It builds on a longstanding partnership, with Great Places having previously delivered 96 homes in the first phase and working alongside Urban Splash for more than 20 years. Helen Spencer, Executive Director of Growth at Great Places, said: “This is a significant step forward for Park Hill and for Sheffield. We’re proud to be strengthening our long-standing partnership to deliver more high-quality, affordable homes in one of the UK’s most important regeneration projects. This investment will ensure more people can be part of Park Hill’s next chapter, in a community that continues to grow in strength and diversity.” The agreement is supported by funding from Homes England, which has backed Great Places’ acquisition of the homes, alongside its wider £6.4m investment into the development’s fourth phase that was announced by the JV in January. Work is set to begin this month, with the new phase also delivering enhanced public realm, EV charging points, car club facilities, and secure cycle storage. The new homes build on more than a decade of progress at Park Hill, where Urban Splash and Places for People have already delivered 455 homes, accommodation for 356 students, over 50,000 sq ft of commercial space, and extensive public realm improvements. Nilam Buchanan, Regional Managing Director for Central and North Developments at Places for People, added: “Park Hill is one of the UK’s most exciting regeneration stories, and throughout its redevelopment we have prioritised creating homes of mixed tenure – and are proud to bring in more affordable homes here. By working in partnership, we’re delivering a mix of homes and spaces that support a genuinely inclusive and sustainable community – one that reflects the character of Sheffield while looking firmly to the future.” Guy Ackernley is Managing Director of Development and Residential at Urban Splash and added: “Bringing forward more affordable homes at Park Hill is hugely important to us. This partnership ensures that the next phase continues to open up this iconic building to a wider range of residents, while maintaining the quality, design and sense of place that defines Park Hill today.” Urban Splash and Places for People will also deliver a fifth phase. Already consented, it will bring a further 105 homes, including apartments, duplexes, and townhouses, alongside new commercial space for independent businesses, adding to a growing community that includes South Street Kitchen, The Pearl, and Grace Owen Nursery. For further information and to register for details of the new homes visit: https://www.urbansplash.co.uk/regeneration/projects/park-hill Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Savills strengthens retail property management team with four senior hires
Savills has expanded its UK retail property management division with four new appointments, reinforcing its national capability as demand for specialist management expertise continues to grow. The firm has made strategic additions across key regional and central teams, bringing in experienced professionals to support its expanding portfolio of shopping centres and retail destinations. Katie Kelly has joined the Manchester office as an associate director, enhancing Savills’ presence across northern England. With more than 15 years’ experience in shopping centre management, she has previously held roles at major retail destinations including Liverpool ONE and Derbion in Derby. In London, Lana Hill has been appointed as an associate director at Savills’ Margaret Street headquarters. She joins from Lambert Smith Hampton, where she spent over nine years, and will focus on the operational and strategic management of the firm’s growing shopping centre portfolio. Philippa Spyvee has also joined as an associate director, bringing experience from Workman LLP, where she worked for more than six years. Her role will centre on supporting Savills’ retail portfolio, including both traditional shopping centres and outlet destinations. Completing the quartet of appointments is Hannah McInnes, who joins as an associate within the Glasgow property management team. She brings a blend of client-side and consultancy experience across the retail and leisure sectors, further strengthening Savills’ capabilities in Scotland. The appointments reflect continued momentum within Savills’ retail and leisure property management business, as the firm responds to an increase in new instructions and the evolving needs of clients. Richard Hulme, head of UK retail and leisure property management at Savills, said the expansion ensures the firm can continue to deliver a high level of service across its portfolio. He noted that the new hires bring valuable regional expertise and will support clients in driving long-term asset performance, underpinned by hands-on management and strong data-led insights. The latest hires highlight Savills’ ongoing investment in its retail platform, as the sector continues to adapt to changing consumer behaviour and operational demands. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Tishman Speyer targets Pall Mall revamp after landmark acquisition
Tishman Speyer is preparing a major refurbishment of 50 Pall Mall following its acquisition of the prime office building in the heart of St James’s, underlining its continued investment in central London. The nine-storey property, which offers 33,888 sq ft of Grade A office space, was acquired off-market from Lazari Investments, which had owned the asset since 2019. Currently around 87 per cent let, the building occupies a highly sought-after location close to Mayfair, Green Park and Piccadilly, with strong connectivity across multiple Underground lines. Originally constructed in 1913, the building has undergone several transformations, including a redevelopment in 1997 that retained its distinctive carved Portland stone façade, and a further upgrade in 2006 to bring it in line with Grade A office standards. Tishman Speyer now plans a comprehensive refurbishment to modernise the building and enhance its long-term appeal to occupiers. The proposals include a significant uplift in environmental performance, alongside improvements to internal amenities. Planned upgrades range from a redesigned entrance lobby to the introduction of a new roof terrace, reflecting growing demand for high-quality, experience-led workplaces in central London. The scheme will focus on repositioning the asset to meet modern ESG expectations, while maintaining the character of the historic structure. Efficient floorplates of around 4,000 sq ft are expected to be retained, offering flexible workspace suited to a range of occupiers. Martin Simonneau, managing director and regional director for Tishman Speyer UK, said the acquisition presents a rare opportunity to enhance a prime office building in one of the capital’s most prestigious locations. He added that the company intends to draw on its placemaking and development expertise to deliver best-in-class workspace, aligning with evolving occupier requirements around sustainability, amenity and design quality. The purchase of 50 Pall Mall further strengthens Tishman Speyer’s London portfolio and follows the completion of Angel Square in Islington in 2025. The developer is also progressing the large-scale redevelopment of Belvedere SW1, a 550,000 sq ft mixed-use campus in Victoria. The latest acquisition highlights ongoing confidence in prime London offices, particularly assets that can be repositioned through retrofit-led strategies to meet the next generation of workplace standards. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Addington Secures Rare Dual-Use Planning Consent for Senator Office Building in the City
Consent enables both office and educational /conference use on the two lower floors widening the building’s appeal Addington, the property investor and asset manager, and its US joint venture partner Strategic Value Partners LLC and its affiliates (“SVP”), have successfully obtained a multi-use planning consent from the City of London Corporation. The consent grants dual use under Class E and F1 for 29,000 sq. ft. of space across the two lower levels of Senator, their 150,802 sq. ft. Grade A office building at 85 Queen Victoria Street, Such consents are unusual to obtain in the City. This consent allows the levels to be utilized for either traditional offices or for conference and educational purposes. They also benefit from a new dedicated entrance and reception in a self-contained space. Major Refurbishment Commences This planning milestone triggers Addington’s major 69,000 sq. ft. refurbishment program at Senator covering the Atrium, Levels 0, 1, and 2. Addington has awarded the building contract to specialists OD Interiors Ltd to deliver an enhanced workspace focused on sustainability, well-being, and premium amenities. The comprehensive works include a reconfigured and refurbished main reception; a refurbishment of the seventh-level communal roof terrace; the creation of a new private amenity courtyard garden for the occupier of level 0 and new end of trip facilities in the building – with new changing rooms and parking for 190 bikes. The building will also benefit from two new dedicated x13 people lifts within the central atrium accessed by the new self-contained second entrance and five new lifts in the existing core The on-floor office specification features exposed services ceilings on levels 2, 1 & 0 with new central plant and on-floor M&E, and newly refurbished WCs throughout. Prime City Location Senator was acquired by the joint venture last year and consists of 150,802 sq. ft. Grade A office and ancillary accommodation arranged over the atrium level, ground and seven upper levels in the building. While the lower levels undergo transformation, levels 3 to 6 remain let to wealth manager Quilter, which leases 84,000 sq.ft. of space, as well as a private terrace of 1,615 sq. ft. on the seventh floor. The building occupies a prominent island site with a 50-metre frontage onto Queen Victoria Street. It is located within a five-minute walk of four key transport nodes: Mansion House, Cannon Street, Bank, and Blackfriars. David Dalrymple, Principal at Addington, said: “We acquired Senator with the belief that with refurbishment we would create an outstanding opportunity for flexible, high-value space, and we are delighted the City of London Corporation shares our vision. We can now offer 69,000 sq. ft of exceptional workspace in a landmark City location, or the rare opportunity for multi-use space with a dedicated own branded entrance for those seeking 29,000 sq. ft. of self-contained space. We believe this flexibility will be a major draw for both educational operators and traditional office tenants.” Letting agents for the scheme are Allsop and Knight Frank. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Waterside Shopping Centre: Delivering a facade transformation
When refurbishment works began at the Waterside Shopping Centre in Lincoln, the objective was straightforward but ambitious: restore confidence in a tired retail destination by completely transforming its external appearance. Years of exposure had taken their toll on the rendered facades, which were suffering from widespread crazing, cracking and chipping. Large areas were beyond repair, leaving the building looking dated and uninviting. For a city-centre scheme intended to attract new visitors, tenants and hospitality operators, the condition of the exterior simply did not reflect its potential. In 2019 a comprehensive programme of works commenced to revitalise the elevations. The majority of the failed render, measuring approximately 1,100 square metres, was removed and replaced with weberpral M monocouche render, selected for its durability and consistent through-colour finish, complemented by PVCu render beads from Renderplas. High-quality finish Principal contractor Barwin, a specialist in facade restoration and refurbishment with more than three decades of experience, understood that achieving a high-quality render finish depends on more than just the render itself. The detailing defines the result. Over 2,500 linear metres of beads were required across the scheme, including bellcast beads, stop beads, corner beads and movement joint beads. These components would determine the straightness of lines, the sharpness of corners and the long-term durability of vulnerable edges. Although Renderplas PVCu beads were not included in the original specification, Barwin made the deliberate decision to use them. The choice was based on prior experience and confidence in their performance. Inferior beads can distort during installation, corrode over time or compromise the crispness of architectural detailing. On a prominent retail scheme undergoing complete rejuvenation, those risks were not acceptable. Martin Hill, Senior Estimator at Barwin, explains the reasoning clearly: “Renderplas beads complement the quality finish of the render really well. It was a no-brainer to use them. They are readily available and don’t distort or fall apart. They also remain dead straight and give a perfect, crisp finish.” Avoiding rectification work His comments reflect a common challenge within facade refurbishment projects. Contractors are often asked to rectify problems caused by substandard beads that have warped, cracked or rusted, leading to uneven lines and premature failure of the render system. In contrast, Renderplas PVCu beads are engineered to remain straight and dimensionally stable while offering enough flexibility for efficient installation. Their corrosion-proof composition eliminates the risk of rust staining, and their structural integrity supports clean movement detailing and long-term facade performance. Importantly, Renderplas external render beads are fully BBA certified and guaranteed for 25-years or the lifetime of the render system. This assurance provides specifiers, contractors and building owners with long-term confidence that the detailing will perform as intended without costly maintenance interventions. Long-term quality The completed facades at Waterside now present a bright, contemporary backdrop to a revitalised retail and leisure environment. Crisp corners, sharp edges and consistent lines enhance the monocouche finish and contribute to a cohesive architectural appearance. The transformation has helped reposition the centre as an attractive, modern destination, alive with new bars, shops and restaurants. The project demonstrates a fundamental principle of facade construction: long-term quality is achieved through informed material choices. By insisting on Renderplas PVCu beads, even where they were not specified, Barwin ensured that the renewed render system would not only look impressive on completion but remain reliable and resilient for decades to come. The scale of the refurbishment required careful planning and was delivered across five phases. Although scheduled for completion within six months, the works were finished in just five, demonstrating effective coordination and experienced site management. In external rendering, details matter. When corners are executed correctly and movement is properly managed, the entire facade benefits. Renderplas continues to provide the construction industry with durable, BBA-certified PVCu render beads that deliver crisp architectural detailing and lasting performance, ensuring that on projects like Waterside, corners are finished precisely and never cut. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Guinness Partnership welcomes Kerry McCarthy MP to new development in Bristol
Catriona Simons, Group Chief Executive at The Guinness Partnership, one of England’s largest housing associations, welcomed Kerry McCarthy MP for Bristol East, Stephen Peacock, CEO of West England Combined Authority and Bristol City Council Leader Cllr Tony Dyer, for a tour of an important new development on Trinity Road, that will provide more than 100 much needed affordable homes for Bristol. The visit also included senior colleagues from the Guinness development team, other attendees from the West of England Combined Authority, and Bristol City Council as well as Allan O’Brien, Regional Director from award winning housebuilder, The Hill Group. Hill is constructing the 104 high-quality one, two and three-bedroom social rent apartments for Guinness on the old Trinity Road Police Station site. These social rent homes will help meet the strong need for affordable housing within Bristol. Trinity Road is being delivered with financial help and partnership working from both Bristol City Council and Homes England. Bristol City Council awarded £1.5m of capital funding from its Strategic Community Infrastructure budget, towards the cost of redelivering a police station on the site. A further £1.6m was granted through the council’s Affordable Housing Funding policy, to support the delivery of the scheme as social rent. Catriona Simons, Group Chief Executive at The Guinness Partnership said: “It was a pleasure to welcome our guests to Trinity Road, which is an important affordable housing development for Bristol. We are grateful for the significant investment by Bristol City Council and Homes England and would also like to thank all our partners, who have worked with us on the project.” Kerry McCarthy MP for Bristol East said: “It was very good to join The Guinness Partnership and local representatives to tour the Trinity Road development. The housing crisis is one of the biggest challenges we face as a city, and adding 104 new, high quality, socially rented homes to our housing stock is a major step forward. Thank you to Guinness and everyone else involved in making this development possible – I look forward to seeing my new constituents move in shortly!” Stephen Peacock, CEO of West England Combined Authority Said: “Our regional Growth Strategy recognises the importance of housing to our continued economic growth, particularly those developments that help people get onto the housing ladder or benefit from the security of stable tenancies. The site at Trinity Road is a great step forward in ensuring people in Bristol have access to long-term affordable housing.” Councillor Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council, said: “Delivering genuinely affordable homes in Bristol depends on strong, long‑term partnership working, and the Trinity Road project is an important example of what can be achieved when organisations come together with a shared purpose. “Bristol is a challenging city to bring forward new homes and we welcome the tenacity and commitment of The Guinness Partnership and Hill Group. This 100% social rent development shows how imaginative funding solutions and close joint working can unlock complex brownfield sites and bring forward new homes for the people who need them most. “By providing enabling support to committed housing delivery partners, we can ensure developments like this don’t just provide high‑quality homes but also strengthen neighbourhoods and help meet the city’s wider ambitions for inclusive, sustainable growth. I look forward to celebrating the completion of this development in a few months’ time and seeing the life changing opportunities these homes offer to our residents.” Allan O’Brien, Regional Director at The Hill Group, said: “We are proud to be working in partnership with The Guinness Partnership to deliver Trinity Road and help provide much-needed affordable homes for the Bristol community. Developments like this demonstrate what can be achieved through strong collaboration, and we’re pleased to play our part in creating high-quality homes that will make a real difference to people’s lives.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals Bristol City Council: The Homes for Bristol: Interim Affordable Housing Delivery Plan 2025–27 sets out Bristol City Council’s plans to accelerate the delivery of affordable homes across the city. Developed in collaboration with registered providers, specialist housing partners and internal teams, the plan responds to significant national and local policy changes and aims to meet a wide range of housing needs, with a strong emphasis on delivering more social rent homes. It highlights the importance of partnership working, effective use of council resources—including land, staff time and funding—and a focus on homes that support health, wellbeing, community resilience and climate goals.