Steel, song and skyline: McLaren breaks ground on Cardiff’s 16,500-seat arena
Construction is under way on Cardiff Arena, a £300m, 16,500-capacity venue that will anchor the Atlantic Wharf regeneration in Cardiff Bay. McLaren Construction, appointed earlier this year as main contractor, has commenced works on the Populous-designed scheme, which is targeting opening in 2028. Brought forward by Cardiff Council with a consortium of Live Nation and Robertson Property, the project pairs an events-led anchor with a mixed-use masterplan of food and leisure space, a cultural centre, public square, four-star hotel, offices and up to 1,100 new homes. The intent is to stitch the waterfront’s industrial heritage to a contemporary entertainment and neighbourhood offer. Externally, the architectural language nods to Cardiff Bay’s iron-trade past. Patinated, corrugated panelling will wrap the façade, contrasted by a matte-gold aluminium soffit. The south elevation, addressing arriving visitors, introduces extensive glazing, a large-format LED screen and a distinctive “swoop” gesture, while additional glazing to the east and west references the rolling topography of South Wales. Inside, Jump Studios, a Populous company, is delivering the interior design. The seating bowl has been engineered to be compact, reducing the building footprint and bringing spectators closer to the stage with optimised sightlines. A notable departure from many arenas is the decision not to segregate hospitality seating from general admission, aiming to preserve a unified atmosphere across the audience. For the construction and property teams involved, the project’s complexity lies in threading a major performance venue into a live urban regeneration site, sequencing public-realm delivery with venue build, and coordinating specialist packages around the bowl geometry, long spans and acoustic performance. The venue’s public-facing elevations and LED integration also demand tight interface management between façade, MEP and digital systems. Populous senior principal Declan Sharkey said: “We are delighted to continue our longstanding relationship with Live Nation on this project to create this new, world-class arena for Cardiff. Live Nation has a truly inspiring vision for the future of the music and entertainment industry, focused on the creation of sustainable venues that are authentic to the communities they sit within, and those values are exemplified within the Cardiff Arena project. Our design will deliver an elite arena that will become the venue of choice for the South Wales region, for both spectators and performers alike. We are extremely excited to see it come to fruition and witness the transformative effect it will have on the surrounding area as part of Cardiff Council’s ambitious masterplan for Atlantic Wharf.” With ground broken and the delivery team mobilised, Cardiff Arena now moves from design intent to build phase, set to become a high-profile cultural and economic catalyst for the Bay when doors open in 2028. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Powering pallets: £80m green light for Pall-Ex Centre of Excellence in Leicestershire
Pall-Ex has secured planning permission for a new headquarters and flagship distribution hub in Bardon, Leicestershire, following approval by Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council. The £80m Centre of Excellence will anchor the pallet network’s UK and European operations and is positioned to become a benchmark scheme for the sector. Set across 14.2 hectares, the development totals 408,000 sq ft of floorspace with an additional 100,000 sq ft canopy for weather-protected cross-dock operations. Barberry Developments, which agreed a pre-let with Pall-Ex earlier this year, is bringing forward the scheme as a next-generation logistics platform combining capacity, speed and high environmental performance. The building is designed to achieve EPC A+ and BREEAM Excellent ratings and is claimed to be the UK pallet network’s first purpose-built facility designed to be energy self-sufficient, enabling carbon net-zero operation in use. The campus plan also includes a staff welfare zone with a football pitch, basketball court and clubhouse to support recruitment and retention. Jonathan Robinson, director at Barberry Developments, said: “We are thrilled to announce that, having earlier this year secured a pre-let agreement with Pall-Ex to deliver the company’s new national Centre of Excellence in Leicestershire, we have now achieved planning consent. Our development is key to the region and will create around 500 construction jobs and an estimated 534 permanent jobs, business rates for the local authority and economic growth for local businesses and the community. Working closely with Pall-Ex, we will create a new national palletised freight distribution centre that will deliver new ESG credentials, carbon net zero in occupation, staff welfare recreation zone incorporating football pitch, basketball court, club house, helping attract and retain staff while providing Pall-Ex with the operational excellence that will make the business stand out amongst its UK competitors.” The scheme will sit by established Midlands logistics infrastructure, enhancing Pall-Ex’s network efficiency while consolidating management functions on one site. A main contractor has yet to be appointed and no shortlist has been announced, with procurement and programme details to follow. For Building Design & Construction readers, the project signals several live themes in UK logistics property: electrification and onsite generation to reduce operational carbon, welfare-led site planning, and large-span, weather-protected canopies to drive cross-dock productivity and resilience. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
High-flying fit-out: Heathrow’s Glasgow office
Morris & Spottiswood recently completed a comprehensive refurbishment for Heathrow Airport’s Glasgow-based office, delivering a high-specification workplace designed to support modern working practices while reflecting the organisation’s identity. For the project, great use was made of the group’s inhouse specialists with Livingston Building Services providing M&E services, and the Morris & Spottiswood Flooring Division fitting the floor coverings. The fit out of the Heathrow Glasgow Office followed a competitive tender process and began promptly after the contract was awarded in May 2024, with work commencing on-site in August. The location, which consisted of two-thirds of a floor within the office building, was previously an empty shell and required extensive reconfiguration work. A key advantage of Morris & Spottiswood’s internal capability is the level of control and consistency it brings to complex fit out projects. In-house M&E and flooring divisions ensure seamless coordination between disciplines, reducing the risk of miscommunication and delays. The M&E input from Livingston Building Services enabled quick mobilisation and design coordination at every stage of the programme. The familiarity with Morris & Spottiswood’s delivery standards meant that key milestones could be met efficiently and with fewer bottlenecks, while maintaining a consistently high quality of installation. Similarly, having a dedicated flooring division within the Morris & Spottiswood Group allowed for early involvement in material selection and planning, helping to align both budgetary and aesthetic requirements from the outset. For clients, these in-house capabilities translate into tangible benefits: fewer subcontractor interfaces, a single point of accountability, and a cohesive team culture across trades. This not only improves project delivery but fosters trust and transparency, essential components in building long-term client relationships, particularly in highly regulated or brand-sensitive sectors such as aviation. Craig Oxby, Heathrow Director of Business Services commented: “It’s been a pleasure having Morris & Spottiswood be a part of our project delivery team for our Glasgow office. They have brought together modern, innovatively designed spaces with practicality – delivering on-time to a high standard with excellent on-site communication. A great partnership model that has brought about a very successful outcome for the project.” One of the most distinctive features of the office is a bespoke wall installation at the entrance, designed to subtly reflect the client’s aviation background. This installation features a large cut-out in the shape of an aeroplane, finished in fabric and allowing sightlines through the space. Additionally, specialist booths have been designed to give the look and feel of the interior of a plane, with acoustic baffles installed above them to provide effective noise isolation. Paul Beaton, Development Director at Morris & Spottiswood said: “Collaborating with the Heathrow team on this project to transform their Glasgow-based offices is something we are immensely proud of. Overcoming project challenges to deliver a superior space that acutely aligns itself with Heathrow’s brand identity, whilst also facilitating collaboration and efficiency in an office-space, is what makes this project so compelling.” A crucial element of office fit outs is being aware and planning accordingly if the building is occupied by other tenants. In this case, there was an occupied floor directly above the project area, which meant a plan for noise and disruption mitigation was key. As such, high-impact activities were scheduled for the short window between 5am and 8am, outside of core business hours, and there was regular coordination with the building manager, which helped to maintain positive communication and address any operational concerns promptly. The project relied heavily on coordinated efforts between architectural, engineering, and construction teams, with communication especially critical given the client’s London base. To facilitate regular updates, the team provided consistent photographic progress reports, enabling remote oversight and decision-making without requiring frequent site visits. Daniel Pollitt, Heathrow Project Manager remarked: “Morris & Spottiswood have been a real pleasure to work with. Communication was excellent throughout the project, and the attention to detail from the site team was exemplary. Their transparent management of the supply chain gave me a clear understanding of all the connected parts of the project, and works were completed on time and to a very high standard, exceeding expectations from all parties.” For more information on Morris & Spottiswood, its fit out services and its projects, visit: https://www.morrisandspottiswood.co.uk/ For more information on the Morris & Spottiswood Group and its unique end to end service offering, visit: https://www.morrisandspottiswoodgroup.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading housebuilders sign up for major Newcastle residential development
Hundreds of new homes are set to be delivered at one of North East England’s biggest new residential developments after three housebuilders signed up to take the project forward. North East development firm Banks Property, supported by independent North East property consultants and land agent youngsRPS, secured outline planning permission for the Kingston Village site last year, which will see over 800 new family homes being built on a 49-hectare site to the north west of Newcastle, including around 120 affordable homes. Since then, Banks Property and youngsRPS have been working to identify the housebuilders that will deliver Kingston Village – and now, Miller Homes, Stonebridge Homes and Banks Homes have all signed up to the project. The three housebuilders will also build the affordable homes element of the project before a registered social housing provider takes them on. The Kingston Village development, which was allocated for housing in the 2015 Newcastle & Gateshead Core Strategy and Urban Core Plan, will also feature a range of important community assets, including a new primary school, a local shop and cafe, allotments, a village green and substantial amounts of public open space. It will see a £178m investment being made in the North East economy, with hundreds of people being employed both in building the new homes and in the development’s supply chain. A wide range of contract tenders will be made available to regional suppliers through the project’s construction period. A network of public footpaths and cycle ways, including links to the Newcastle Great Park and other nearby communities, will also be put in place, while a ten per cent Biodiversity Net Gain will be delivered through the project and significant improvements will be made to the local road network, public transport links and wildlife habitats. Full details of all aspects of the scheme are now being finalised, with infrastructure work scheduled to start on site early next year. The first new homes are then expected to be available for sale in 2027. Russ Hall, managing director at Banks Property and Banks Homes, says: “Our vision is for Kingston Village to be an outstanding, vibrant community which will integrate successfully into the west of Newcastle. “Confirming the housebuilders who will help to create Kingston Village is a major milestone in its development, with the new assets that will be delivered alongside their homes being central to the creation of this inclusive, sustainable new community. “The importance of increasing the UK’s supply of high-quality homes, both to ensure people have the housing options they need in the places they want to live and to support the wider UK economy’s future growth, has never been clearer, and we’re proud to be part of a project that will have a significant impact on Newcastle and the wider North East in this respect. “When Graeme Bruce at youngsRPS first identified the site’s potential and introduced it to us, it sparked a collaboration which has since secured planning permission, attracted leading housebuilders and paved the way for one of the region’s most important housing schemes.” Graeme Bruce, managing director at youngsRPS, adds: “This is arguably the biggest single residential land sale in the North East in recent times. The sheer scale of the site, coupled with the intense interest it generated from both local and national developers, underlines its significance. “Bringing this project to completion has been the largest development sale I’ve handled in my career and one of the most professionally rewarding.” Ryan Lincoln, regional managing director at Miller Homes, said: “This represents one of the most significant and sought-after development opportunities in the North East and we’re proud to be part of the select group of developers to deliver it. “Set in a fantastic location, it will offer an exceptional place to call home – combining high-quality housing alongside well designed local facilities, supporting the creation of a vibrant and sustainable new community.” Steve Errington, managing director at Stonebridge Homes, adds: “Kingston Village is the largest project in Stonebridge Homes’ history, and we are proud to be delivering 354 of its new homes. Like in all our work, our focus will be on building premium, sustainable communities that will stand the test of time. “By combining good design and energy-efficient infrastructure, we’re creating homes that are environmentally responsible and part of a place where families can truly belong. We’re excited to bring this landmark development to life for Newcastle and the wider region.” For further information on the Kingston Village development, please visit https://www.banksgroup.co.uk/projects/kingston-village/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
G F Tomlinson starts on site at Bentley Primary Care Centre in Doncaster
Midlands contractor, G F Tomlinson, has officially commenced construction on the new £7 million Bentley Primary Care Centre in Doncaster, which will bring vital health and community services all under one roof. Located on Chapel Street in the heart of Bentley, the new three-storey, 1,215m² care centre will provide purpose-built, modern facilities to support integrated healthcare delivery for City of Doncaster Council. Funding for the construction is provided by NHS England, with NHS South Yorkshire ICB providing revenue for the building once complete. Set to complete in spring 2026, the centre will bring together two existing GP practices – Don Valley Healthcare and The Ransome Practice – offering state-of-the-art facilities for the future delivery of Primary Care services, greater access and choice for patients, and enhanced integration of NHS and services. The scheme also aligns with the ‘NHS Long Term Plan,’ a 10-year strategy to improve and reform the NHS over the next decade, harnessing digital technology to improve the efficiency of primary care. The scheme is being developed on the site of the former Bentley Community Library, which has already been demolished to make way for the new care centre. G F Tomlinson as the main contractor is undertaking the design and construction of the steel-framed building, which will feature a mix of brickwork and cladding on its façade, along with associated external works to complete the scheme. As part of their commitment to social value, G F Tomlinson will deliver a number of initiatives throughout the project, including apprentice placements, work experience for local students, engagement with local Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise’s (VCSE’s) and use of local supply chain. The care centre will be delivered to a BREEAM Excellent rating, with sustainability features including rooftop photovoltaic panels, electric vehicle charging points, and integrated bird and bat boxes within the façade. Adrian Grocock, Managing Director at G F Tomlinson, said: “We’re very pleased to be working with City of Doncaster Council on this much-needed care facility for the Bentley community. As our first project with the council, we’re excited to build a strong working relationship, while further strengthening our healthcare portfolio, having recently delivered successful schemes such as Greenwood House Medical Centre in Stafford and West Bridgford Medical Centre in Nottingham.” Anthony Fitzgerald, Executive Place Director for Doncaster, NHS South Yorkshire said: “This development is brilliant news for the Bentley area and surrounding communities. A new state of the art primary care centre will ensure our communities are serviced by the best possible, efficient healthcare which meets their needs.” Councillor James Church, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Planning and Public Health at City of Doncaster Council said: “We are delighted to see work begin on this project, which will allow for the Bentley community to receive local healthcare easier and more efficiently than ever. Accessing healthcare more efficiently has many benefits, with none more important than residents being able to access healthcare right in the heart of their local community. This is a must for all communities, and it is brilliant news that this local project is now underway.” Further stakeholders involved in the scheme include P+HS Architects, Sewell Advisory as project manager, and Bridges Pound as structural, civil, and geotechnical engineer. NHS South Yorkshire ICB and two GP practices are also key stakeholders. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Wetherby Wall Systems Launches InteriA: Setting a New Standard for A-Rated, Moisture-Open Internal Wall Insulation
Wetherby Wall Systems, part of the ROCKWOOL Group, is delighted to announce the launch of InteriA, a next-generation Internal Wall Insulation (IWI) system, launched earlier this week. Developed in direct response to increasing industry demand for enhanced fire safety and compliant retrofit solutions, InteriA sets a new standard for solid wall property upgrades in the UK. Internal Wall Insulation is a vital measure for improving the thermal performance of solid wall properties, particularly where external wall insulation is restricted by planning rules, heritage constraints, or site access. However, the market has lacked a fully developed system that combines strong fire resistance with the modern moisture management now identified as best practice by government guidance. InteriA is engineered to address both challenges. Built from A-rated, non-combustible stone wool components, the system is designed to meet today’s more stringent safety expectations. Crucially, its moisture-open construction reflects advice from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), which highlights that the lowest-risk IWI solutions are those that allow walls to dry to both sides, effectively reducing condensation risks and protecting long-term building health. The InteriA system will provide a range of benefits for specifiers, housing providers, and programme managers: The InteriA build-up has been engineered with retrofit practicality in mind. Its slim profiles maximise internal space, and installation is designed to be quick and minimally disruptive. This makes the system particularly suited to occupied dwellings, phased upgrade programmes, and large-scale retrofit schemes. Joe Ragdale, Technical Director at Wetherby Wall Systems, commented: “InteriA has been developed in direct response to what the industry has been calling for: an A-rated, moisture-open internal wall solution. It has been carefully designed to give specifiers, housing providers, and programme managers confidence that compliance, resident safety, and building durability are all addressed within one system. By combining safety, sustainability, and compliance, InteriA represents a significant step forward for IWI solutions and will play a valuable role in helping the UK meet its carbon reduction and energy efficiency targets.” To register your interest for training or to request further details ahead of the launch, contact Wetherby Wall Systems on 01942 717 100 or info@wall-systems.co.uk, or visit www.wall-systems.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals