Costa Coffee sets sights on next wave of UK store expansion
Costa Coffee has outlined a fresh set of acquisition requirements as it looks to continue expanding its estate across the UK. The coffee chain opened more than 80 new stores in 2025 and is now targeting further growth across a range of locations, including retail parks, high streets, shopping centres and travel destinations. A key focus of the expansion strategy is also the continued rollout of drive-through formats. Within retail parks, Costa is seeking units ranging from 1,500 sq ft to 2,500 sq ft, with external seating and nearby car parking. Both freestanding and in-line units will be considered, particularly in out-of-town locations with strong traffic flow and close proximity to foodstores, retail and leisure clusters. For high street and shopping centre locations, the operator is looking for similarly sized units between 1,500 sq ft and 2,500 sq ft, again with outside seating where possible. Costa is also open to opportunities in locations such as universities, hospitals and leisure destinations, where consistent footfall supports all-day trading. Travel locations form another strand of the growth plan, with Costa seeking sites within transport hubs and train stations. Units from as little as 125 sq ft are being considered in these settings, including grab-and-go kiosks, standard retail units and suitable conversions, provided footfall levels are high. Drive-through expansion remains a priority, with Costa targeting units between 1,250 sq ft and 2,200 sq ft. Ideal sites will be located in out-of-town areas, close to foodstores, retail warehousing and leisure uses, and will include a dedicated drive-through lane, external seating and either dedicated or shared car parking. Property adviser Savills, which was appointed by Costa in 2025, is leading the search for suitable new locations as the brand continues to build momentum across its UK estate. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Panattoni welcomes DPD to Panattoni Park Sittingbourne
Panattoni, the world’s largest privately owned industrial developer, has handed over the keys to DPD’s new distribution hub at Panattoni Park Sittingbourne, marking a key milestone for both the occupier and the park. The completion of the build reinforces Sittingbourne’s position as one of the South East’s most strategically important logistics locations and highlights occupier demand for sustainable, technology enabled space in supply constrained corridors. Panattoni purchased the Sittingbourne plot in the summer of 2023, and achieved planning, pre-letting and delivery all within 18 months. With ID Logistics’ leasing the 440,000 sq ft unit at Sittingbourne last year, there is now only one unit remaining at the park for lease. Panattoni Park Sittingbourne is situated approximately four miles from Junction 5 of the M2, between London and the Port of Dover. The location provides rapid access to the M2, M20, and M25, and strong connectivity to port and Channel gateways, including London Thamesport, Dover, and the Port of Tilbury. This positioning supports high throughput parcel distribution and efficient reach into London, the wider South East, and national routes. The DPD facility forms part of Panattoni’s wider net zero carbon development strategy at Sittingbourne, delivering modern logistics capacity aligned with occupiers’ operational and decarbonisation requirements. The park is designed to provide best in class infrastructure, power, and yard capability for high intensity distribution uses, while targeting leading sustainability outcomes, including BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and EPC A performance, supported by solar PV and electric vehicle charging provision. Once in operation the fully automated hub will greatly increase DPD’s capacity in the region. Alex Mitchell, Associate Development Director: South East & London, said: “Announcing the completion of DPD’s state of the art hub at Panattoni Park Sittingbourne is an important step for the park and a strong endorsement of the location and specification we have delivered. Sittingbourne offers exceptional connectivity and labour access, and it is well suited to the operational intensity of a modern parcel hub. It follows a series of successes for Panattoni in Kent, including the full letting of our 1.1m sq ft Aylesford scheme; ID Logistics leasing 440,000 sq ft at Sittingbourne, the South East’s largest speculative letting last year; the submission of a planning application at Sevenoaks; and the recent acquisition of the in Lenham site in Maidstone, capable of delivering more than 1m sq ft of space. “We are proud to be supporting DPD’s growth in the UK with a facility that combines scale, efficiency, and a net zero carbon development approach. We look forward to seeing the hub play a central role in DPD’s expanding South East distribution network.” Panattoni Park Sittingbourne’s final remaining unit totals 205,000 sq ft and is available immediately, ready for tenant fit-out, benefitting from a 15m clear internal height, 2.52 MVA of power, a 50m service yard, and the potential to reduce occupier energy costs by up to £87,600 per annum through the installed PV. For more information, please visit: https://panattoni.co.uk/our-properties/sittingbourne/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Planning submitted for new 1 million sq. ft Whitechapel Healthcare and Research Campus addressing needs for NHS, housing, green space and community facilities
A major new integrated healthcare and research campus is planned for Whitechapel, designed to meet NHS needs, deliver affordable homes for key workers, and unlock new green spaces for the local community. The 1 million sq. ft scheme sits within the Barts Life Sciences Cluster and is projected to add £1bn annually to the UK’s Gross Value Added (GVA). It represents a £0.75bn investment into Whitechapel and is expected to create 1,325 new jobs – a significant boost at a time of minimal national economic growth. A planning application has been submitted by a collaborative team led by BGO in partnership with Barts Health NHS Trust, including PLP Architecture, dMFK, DSDHA and BD Landscape Architects, with Avison Young, Sweco, AKT II, DP9 and GIA. The proposals introduce a new model for co-locating NHS services, research and local amenity within the life sciences cluster covering Whitechapel. In due course this development could release extra space for The Royal London, one of the capital’s busiest hospitals. It envisages a new 64,427m2 facility, designed by PLP Architecture. Alongside public-sector services, this building would oSer flexible workspaces – 10% of would be affordable – for health-tech, diagnostics, AI and robotics companies, fostering collaboration between clinicians, researchers and private-sector innovators. The ground floor would be publicly accessible, with a large foyer and café leading to a flexible 800m² event space for up to 500 people – designed for exhibitions, community use and as a space to demonstrate MedTech innovation and research. The ground floor also includes amenity spaces for NHS staff and a proposed new home for the Royal London Hospital Museum. At roof level, a terrace for building users and staff from the Royal London Hospital would feature a 100m running track, sports pitch and panoramic views across London – a space for rest, reflection and social connection. Across five new residential buildings and refurbished terrace housing, the development would deliver a mix of private apartments, open-market shared living, affordable family units, and specialist accommodation for key workers. 53% of housing will be affordable social rent homes. Eligibility for 167 homes prioritised for key workers, will be salary-capped to target those most in need. A further 61 private homes will also be delivered at a time when new housing supply remains low. A generous new public realm strategy, rooted in the historic grain of Whitechapel, will create a permeable, accessible environment. The upgrade of Philpot Street into a welcoming green garden and the reopening of Walden Street will restore an east–west pedestrian route through the site. A 3,600m², 275m long fully revamped landscaped public realm and new open central courtyard in the heart of the main building will deliver fully publicly accessible gardens and amenity areas, planted with 200 new trees. These spaces are designed to support hospital workers, local residents and school pupils, while contributing positively to ecology and biodiversity. Shane DeGaris, group chief executive of Barts Health NHS Trust said: “This is an exciting example of how we are working with local partners to bring much-needed investment into Whitechapel and regenerate the area around our flagship teaching hospital, The Royal London. The potential benefits for our staC, patients and their local communities are enormous. We will continue to work closely with BGO and others in the Barts Life Sciences Cluster to attract industry and turn our research into life-changing clinical practices and products for our patients.” Merrik Baggallay, Managing Director at BGO, commented: “People living in Whitechapel and wider Tower Hamlets experience some of the poorest health outcomes in London. Life expectancy remains significantly below the London average, and the borough has high levels of deprivation, long-term health conditions and chronic disease. This development responds directly to that context, delivering essential NHS infrastructure, enabling space for care, and establishing an inclusive campus that reflects the social, clinical and cultural needs of the city. I am incredibly proud of BGO’s involvement in this groundbreaking and significant masterplan and look forward to working with the Cluster and local stakeholders as we move through delivery.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bowmer + Kirkland secures £274m Newcastle student campus transformation
Bowmer + Kirkland has been appointed to deliver a £274m redevelopment of the Castle Leazes student accommodation campus in Newcastle, working with Unite Students and Newcastle University. The project has now secured Gateway 2 approval from the Building Safety Regulator, allowing construction to move forward on the replacement of the existing 1960s estate. The redevelopment will deliver 2,009 new student bedrooms across a collection of buildings ranging from two to nine storeys, creating a modern and future-ready student living environment. The Castle Leazes scheme marks Bowmer + Kirkland’s second major student accommodation project to achieve Gateway 2 approval this month, following clearance for a separate scheme in Bristol providing more than 500 beds. Designed by Norr Architects, the Newcastle development will be delivered in two phases. Phase one will provide 788 new student rooms, scheduled to be ready for the 2028/29 academic year. The remaining accommodation will follow in time for the 2029/30 intake, completing the full transformation of the campus. Demolition and enabling works began in June 2024, and Bowmer + Kirkland said the project has already generated £9.6m in social value. This includes local employment opportunities, regional supply chain spend, community initiatives and training programmes linked to the scheme. Ed Besford, regional director for the North East and Scotland at Bowmer + Kirkland, said Castle Leazes represents a landmark project for the city and highlighted the long-standing relationship with both Unite Students and Newcastle University. He added that securing Gateway 2 approval reflects the team’s commitment to meeting the highest safety and regulatory standards, marking the contractor’s third approval from the regulator in the past six months. The Newcastle appointment follows further success for Bowmer + Kirkland’s western team, which recently secured Gateway 2 sign-off for the Temple Reach PBSA scheme in Bristol. That 22-storey development will deliver 531 student rooms alongside 4,300 sq ft of workspace on a former industrial site near the River Avon, helping to connect the University of Bristol’s Enterprise Campus with the city’s waterfront. Together, the projects underline Bowmer + Kirkland’s growing presence in the purpose-built student accommodation sector across the UK. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Blueprint Interiors HQ awarded WELL Certification reinforcing its commitment to health-centred workplace design
Workplace consultancy Blueprint Interiors has achieved WELL Certification at Silver level for its HQ in Ashby. The WELL Building Standard (WELL) is a universally recognised healthy buildings standard that focuses on enhancing people’s health and wellbeing through the buildings where they live, work and play. As one of the first commercial fit out companies in the UK to achieve certification, and with Blueprint’s office – WorkLife – being one of only 86 buildings in the UK to meet WELL Certification, it’s a significant achievement. Research shows that WELL Certification benefits organisations by creating healthier, more productive spaces, boosting employee satisfaction and retention, and enhancing market reputation through science-backed design. It leads to reduced absenteeism, improved mental and physical health, increased creativity, and stronger ESG reporting, proving a tangible commitment to people’s wellbeing. Awarded by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), the leading authority for transforming health and wellbeing with its people-first approach to buildings, the distinction has been awarded to Blueprint through IWBI’s WELL v2, the latest version of the WELL Building Standard. WorkLife earned the distinction based on ten categories of building performance — Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Movement, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind and Community — to achieve the Silver level rating. Rebecca Beadle, Project Designer & Wellbeing Specialist at Blueprint Interiors, said: “People are at the heart of our business, both our own team and those working within the spaces we design. By committing to and achieving WELL Certification for our own office, we have created a more supportive and health-focused space for our team to thrive in. “Being the second company of our kind in the UK to hold this accreditation is an important milestone for us and sets us apart as the workplace design consultancy of choice. “Now accredited and experienced in delivery, and with two WELL Accredited Professionals within Blueprint, we can guide and support clients through the WELL Certification process and across all of the WELL ratings – enabling them to have certified and rated workspaces that are proven to improve the health and productivity of teams. “ John Tansur, Commercial Director at Blueprint Interiors, said: “As an employer it’s important that the health of our team members is a priority and that we recognise that the environment that many of us spend a third of our working lives in, supports basic health needs daily. From a business point of view the proven return on investment through increased productivity, reduction in absenteeism and team recruitment and retention makes it an easy leap to take.“ WELL is grounded in evidence-based research that explores the connection between buildings – where people spend approximately 90 per cent of their time – and the health and wellbeing impacts on the people using them. To be awarded WELL Certification by IWBI, WorkLife underwent rigorous testing and a final evaluation carried out by third parties to ensure it met all WELL Certified Silver level performance requirements. Ann Marie Aguilar, IWBI’s Senior Vice President, EMEA, said: “Worklife’s WELL Certification at the Silver level demonstrates outstanding leadership. Our mission at IWBI is to bring human health and well-being to the forefront of building practices, and it is industry leaders like Blueprint Interiors that are putting people at the center of design decisions and helping to advance this movement.” Visit www.blueprintinteriors.com to find out more. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Vistry announces new partners at Develop Warwickshire’s Nuneaton development
Vistry, the UK’s leading provider of mixed-tenure homes, has signed contracts with Placefirst, one of the UK’s foremost build-to-rent property developers, for 49 PRS properties at their landmark Milby Meadows development, in Nuneaton. This includes is four 1-bed homes, 23 2-bed and 22 3-bed homes. This agreement, made on behalf of the Develop Warwickshire joint venture (JV), completes a quartet of key partners, each bringing unique expertise and resources to the project. The JV’s partnership model at the 1,700-home development now includes: Together, these organisations are ensuring a diverse mix of tenures, making homes accessible to people from all walks of life and fostering a truly balanced and inclusive community. Michael Moore, Vistry’s Managing Director for North West Midlands, said: “I am delighted to have such a fantastic range of partners on our largest scheme within the Develop Warwickshire Joint Venture. “Placefirst brings a wealth of experience and provides an excellent opportunity to develop the private rental sector offer on this site. Bringing a wide range of tenure offers to the area shows the commitment of the JV to delivering high-quality, affordable homes that enhance communities and meet the diverse housing needs in Warwickshire.” Henry Marshall, Investment Director at Placefirst said: “Our latest project with Vistry builds on our other four neighbourhoods, which will deliver a total of 363 home across Oxford, Northampton, Mansfield, Swindon and now Warwickshire. The collaboration enables us to deliver sustainable, quality homes and communities built for the long-term in places where they’re needed. We look forward to seeing our partnership with Vistry continue to thrive, and helping to create an inclusive and well-connected neighbourhood that supports community growth in Milby Meadows.” Develop Warwickshire, the joint venture between Vistry, Warwickshire Property & Development Group (WPDG) and Warwickshire County Council, is building 2,000 homes in Warwickshire to help address the region’s housing shortage. The JV has committed £2.5 billion to create much-needed new homes and job opportunities for local residents. The partnership’s dedication to sustainable development aligns with local authority criteria and aims to enhance the quality of life for Warwickshire residents. James Devereux, Finance Director of WDPG, said: “This is another major step forward to bring the vision for Milby Meadows and Weddington to life. The agreement between Vistry and Placefirst is a clear demonstration of the confidence in this landmark development and completes a strong quartet of partners within the Develop Warwickshire scheme. “Together, we’re giving future residents a real sense of the community taking shape while combining our expertise to deliver sustainable, thriving communities across the county.” Councillor Stephen Shaw, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Property at Warwickshire County Council, said: “This agreement marks another significant milestone in delivering the high-quality homes and infrastructure that families across Warwickshire need. The inclusion of Placefirst strengthens an already exceptional partnership and reflects the confidence in what is being achieved at Milby Meadows. “Through Develop Warwickshire we are creating sustainable, well connected communities that offer real opportunities for local people.” Each home will be constructed using modern methods of construction, incorporating air source heat pumps and electric vehicle charging points. The development will boast energy-efficient design elements, incorporate sustainable urban drainage systems and will include beautifully-landscaped green open space. Phase 1 of the infrastructure works is now complete, creating a northern link road bringing together the surrounding developments with access to the new Higham Lane North Academy, which opened in September 2025 for students aged 11-16. Construction of the first 530 homes with public open space is well under way. When completed, Milby Meadows will feature a mix of 1,700 two, three and four-bedroom properties, a primary and secondary school, a local centre with retail and community facilities, extensive public open spaces, play areas, a habitat pond and multi-functional green infrastructure, and new roads and highway improvements including on the A444 and footpaths linking to other developments. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals