McLaren Construction reaches fast-track milestones at Panattoni Park Swindon
Construction is advancing at pace at Panattoni Park in Swindon, with McLaren Construction (Midlands & North) firmly on track to deliver the landmark 545,000 sq. ft. logistics and industrial scheme within the 39-week programme. McLaren is delivering the speculative design and build contract on behalf of Panattoni, supported by UMC Architects, KAM Project Consultants, BWB Consulting and Construction CDM Services. The project continues to hit key milestones of the 39-construction week schedule, and the steel frame is now complete, the internal roof largely finished, windows are being installed, and cladding installation is progressing steadily. Roofing works are well advanced with lining sheets due for completion, and externally, concrete slab works are underway, the multi-story car park deck is poured, kerbs are being installed, alongside power and water service installations. The office area is fully glazed and cladding of the striking link bridge – connecting the main building to the multi-storey car park – is now taking place. First-fix mechanical and electrical services have begun within the warehouse, and internal finishes and the office fit-out is progressing well. On completion, the development will offer premier logistics space with two storeys of high-spec office accommodation and a decked car park. The scheme is targeting BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ and EPC A+/A ratings, with a commitment to achieving net zero upfront carbon emissions. Historically, the site was used as brownfield land before being an airfield during World War II, and then later it was redeveloped for car manufacturing by Honda in the late 20th century. This regeneration is part of Panattoni’s wider plan to bring new life and jobs to the area following the closure of Honda’s operations in 2021. Luke Arnold, Regional Director at McLaren Midlands & North, said: “We’re proud to be delivering this project at pace and to such a high standard. This is a flagship scheme, not only for Panattoni but for the wider region, and our team is focused on maintaining momentum right through to completion in early 2026.” Panattoni Park Swindon is poised to deliver high-quality industrial space in a location with excellent connectivity and legacy infrastructure, further strengthening Swindon’s position as a key logistics hub in the South West. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Planning Consent Granted for 102-bedroom Hotel in Edinburgh City Centre
Artisan Real Estate to Partner with Whitbread to Transform 1980s Office on edge of Capital’s New Town into hub by Premier Inn Planning consent has been granted by the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) to transform a sandstone office building on the edge of Edinburgh’s New Town into a sustainable 102-bedroom city centre hotel. Regeneration specialist Artisan Real Estate is now set to progress with the redevelopment of Albany House, located at 58 Albany Street on the corner of the capital’s Broughton Street, with completion scheduled for summer 2027. Artisan have agreed terms with Whitbread plc to operate the completed hotel under its popular hub by Premier Inn brand The five-storey Albany House was constructed in the 1980s and was designed to reflect the adjacent Georgian neoclassical town houses along Albany Street. The current occupiers are relocating to new offices in the city centre in 2026. Artisan’s design proposals will retain much of the external structure of the building whilst replacing the top floor facade with a contemporary new cladding and finish to meet current building standards. Internally, the hotel’s design specification will meet high environmental and sustainability standards, with air-sourced heat pump technology replacing the existing fossil fuel heating and hot water system. Welcoming the planning consent for Albany House, Artisan’s Managing Director for Scotland, David Westwater, said: “This exciting hotel development will bring continued interest and investment to a vibrant corner of Edinburgh’s eastern city centre. We are pleased to be once again working with Whitbread to create a modern and contemporary hotel interior providing the high levels of insulation and energy technology, delivering both a sustainable and attractive addition to Edinburgh’s successful hospitality sector. The existing sandstone building is well-suited to hotel development with high levels of natural daylight and an established entrance area.” He added: “Albany House is the latest in a succession of high-profile planning proposals delivered by Artisan in Edinburgh’s city centre during the last 12 months and reinforces our stated commitment to bring substantial investment coupled with high quality development to the heart of Scotland’s capital.” Whitbread currently welcomes close to a million visitors to its established network of 14 Premier Inn and hub by Premier Inn hotels within the City of Edinburgh Council area. The business calculates its guests staying at these hotels generate more than £32 million in visitor expenditure to the Edinburgh economy every year. Jill Anderson, Acquisitions Manager for Whitbread, said: “Albany House is an excellent location for a hub by Premier Inn hotel, and I am very pleased to be working with Artisan to expand our footprint in the city in a sustainable way through the proposed conversion of the 1980s office building. “Our hub by Premier Inn hotels are designed to appeal to budget, short-stay travellers, looking to stay in the most interesting and connected city centre locations. It offers all the comfort, consistency, and reliability of Premier Inn, but with a smaller bedroom and the format allows us to offer great value rooms in the most vibrant places.” She added: “Premier Inn has been part of Edinburgh’s hospitality scene for more than 30 years. We’re incredibly proud to have built a network of popular, good-value hotels across the city, and we see great potential for further investment driven by our own high occupancy in the city and the fact that budget hotels like Premier Inn account for just 20% of the city’s bedroom stock.” Artisan Real Estate has an established track record of delivering innovative hotel development in architecturally sensitive city centre locations. This includes three hotels as part of the award-winning New Waverley development in the heart of the Edinburgh’s Old Town – including partnering with Whitbread to deliver a Premier Inn and hub by Premier Inn (trading as Edinburgh City Centre Royal Mile). Most recently, the developer has completed the transformation of Glasgow’s historic Clydeside Custom House into a new hotel quarter. The Albany House planning proposal follows Artisan’s successful application to transform the city’s historic Caledonian Brewery into a new residential neighbourhood which received planning consent from CEC in May 2025. The developer is also progressing with the homes-led regeneration of a vacant office block on the city’s Ferry Road, to the north of the city centre. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Orbit Homes starts construction of 272 new homes in Norfolk at Victoria Gardens in Great Plumstead
Leading affordable housebuilder, Orbit Homes, has started construction on 272 new homes in the East at Victoria Gardens, a new development in Great Plumstead. At Victoria Gardens, Orbit Homes is delivering 138 affordable homes for social rent and Shared Ownership, alongside 134 homes for market sale. The new development will comprise a mix of two, three, four and five-bedroom homes. All homes at Victoria Gardens will follow Orbit Homes’ tenure-blind approach, meaning that regardless of whether a customer moves into their new home via market sale, shared ownership or social rent, they will receive the same commitment to sector-leading design, specification, and safety, alongside outstanding customer service. Victoria Gardens is designed to embrace sustainability and support Orbit’s wider commitment to The Wildlife Trusts’ 30by30 campaign to enable nature’s recovery by 2030 with large areas of public space including an orchard. With works underway on the Smee Lane site, the first homes are set to be available for purchase in Spring 2026. Brian Nearney, Chief Development Officer at Orbit, said: “We are delighted to have started on site at Victoria Gardens, where we’re working to build 272 quality new homes that will be ideal for those at all stages of life. We’re also very proud to be delivering over half of these homes in affordable tenures to support the local housing need and further our commitment to building thriving mixed-tenure communities. “Our team is excited to share more details about Victoria Gardens in the coming months, and we encourage anyone interested to register their interest now and be the first to find out more.” Victoria Gardens is supported by grant funding from Homes England for the delivery of affordable homes. The new development is situated in Great Plumstead, a parish village on the outskirts of Norwich, where locals can enjoy the best of both worlds with the beautiful countryside and a range of amenities nearby, including Norwich city centre and Norwich train station less than five miles away. For more information about Victoria Gardens and to register your interest, visit: www.orbithomes.org.uk/victoria-gardens Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
SEGRO Community Investment Plan launched to benefit local people in the St Albans area
Local people in the communities around SEGRO Logistics Park Radlett are set to benefit from investment in careers advice, employability training and wellbeing support as part of a newly launched Community Investment Plan by SEGRO, the developer of the former Radlett Aerodrome site The plan was developed in partnership with seven community and education partners – Communities 1st, Emmaus, Mind in Herts, St Albans Foodbank, Citizens Advice Bureau, Oaklands College and SmallPeice Trust – to improve social inclusion and community wellbeing. The Community Investment Plan, which will be funded by SEGRO and supported by its suppliers and future customers, aims to achieve the following outcomes by the end of 2028: 1,000 students, including young people from local schools such as Batchwood and Links Academy, will benefit from a coordinated programme of careers advice, STEM and skills-based initiatives. SEGRO and its partners will help inspire young people to pursue rewarding careers in construction and logistics through career workshops, specialist insights and site visits. 300 local unemployed people supported through targeted employment and skills services. Working alongside local community partners, the programme will include volunteering opportunities, as well as helping participants build confidence, enhance digital skills and access routes into long-term, sustainable work. SEGRO is also funding a new CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) training centre at Oaklands College that will enable 650 construction learners and 120 adults seeking a job in the sector to prove they have the necessary training, qualifications and competence to work on a site. More than 300 residents will benefit from initiatives promoting physical and mental wellbeing, including expanded access to health and counselling services, nutrition and lifestyle workshops, and targeted support for those experiencing homelessness or food insecurity. Neil Impiazzi, Partnership Development Director, at SEGRO, said: “Through the Community Investment Plan, we want to create a lasting, positive change by supporting local people into employment, inspiring young people about careers in construction and logistics, and improving wellbeing across the community living area around SEGRO Logistics Park Radlett. “We know from our conversations with community partners there is increasing demand for their services from vulnerable members of the local community, and we’re happy to work in partnership to ensure we are benefitting residents that really need our support.” The Community Investment Plan covering the St Albans area forms part of SEGRO’s broader commitment to Invest in local communities and environments, boosting skills, training and employment, in the communities where it operates across the UK and Continental Europe. It builds on a series of pilot initiatives launched in 2024, including careers workshops and site visits for local students, as well as funding for educational equipment at Batchwood School and Links Academy. The success of the Community Investment Plan relies on collaboration, and the community partners are central to delivering programmes and initiatives that will have meaningful positive impact. Stephen Craker, Chief Executive, Communities 1st, said: “Our aim is to strengthen opportunities for people in the south of the district. SEGRO’s Community Investment Plan will enable the St Albans Community Partnership to extend practical help for those who will benefit from tailored training, structured pathways into work and wider wellbeing support. It will reinforce existing community networks and help create long-term prospects for local residents.” Chloe Hawkins, Director of Adult & Work Based Training, Oaklands College, said: “We’re delighted to partner with SEGRO on this initiative which will directly support our construction students and adult learners in a sector which is important to both our organisations. The new CSCS training centre it will fund will give more local people access to the essential qualifications they need to work safely and confidently on site, helping them take the next step in their careers and supporting the wider construction sector across our community.” SEGRO Logistics Park Radlett will deliver 335,000 sq m of state-of-the-art, sustainable logistics space, enabled by a Strategic Rail Freight Interchange on site, set within in 600 acres of managed woodland, conservation grazing and public country park. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
OKNOPLAST join Secured by Design
OKNOPLAST, an international manufacturer of high-quality windows, exterior doors, roller shutters, garage doors and accessories, is one of the latest companies to join Secured by Design (SBD), the official police security initiative Operating across 21 countries throughout Europe and North America, OKNOPLAST has earned a reputation as one of Europe’s most recognisable and trusted names in the window and door industry. With over three decades of experience, the company combines advanced manufacturing technologies with uncompromising product quality and innovation. OKNOPLAST’s NEO Range has achieved Secured by Design’s Police Preferred Specification, meeting the initiative’s rigorous standards for security and performance. This accreditation reinforces OKNOPLAST’s commitment to delivering products that not only enhance comfort and design, but also offer proven protection and long-term reliability. The company’s dedication to excellence is supported by a robust product development department that continuously researches and responds to changing customer expectations. With stringent internal quality controls exceeding industry requirements, OKNOPLAST ensures that every product provides safety, comfort and durability for years to come. Mike Żyrek, R&D Director, OKNOPLAST, said: “Obtaining Secured by Design accreditation for our NEO line confirms that our solutions meet the highest standards of safety, quality, and innovation. At OKNOPLAST, we continuously invest in technological development so that our products not only provide comfort and aesthetics, but above all, significantly increase user safety. This distinction motivates us to further improve our solutions and introduce products to the market that meet the growing demands of customers in terms of protection and durability.” Kenny McHugh, Secured by Design, commented: “We’re delighted to welcome OKNOPLAST as members of Secured by Design and to recognise their achievement in securing Police Preferred Specification for their NEO Range. OKNOPLAST’s strong focus on quality, innovation and customer confidence aligns perfectly with the principles of Secured by Design, and we look forward to developing our partnership as they continue to expand across international markets.” You can find out more about OKNOPLAST and their Secured by Design accredited products on their dedicated member page. Secured by Design Secured by Design (SBD) is owned by the UK Police Service with the specific aim of reducing crime and increasing safety for businesses and individuals. SBD seeks to improve the physical security of buildings and the surrounding area using products such as doors, windows, locks and walling systems along with fencing systems that meet the SBD Police Preferred Specification security requirements. SBD have many partner organisations, ranging from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government through to local authorities, housing associations, developers and manufacturers and work closely with standards and certification bodies. SBD is the only way for companies to obtain police recognition for security-related products in the UK, through the Police Preferred Specification – a product-based accreditation scheme developed 25 years ago, which provides a recognised standard for all security products that effectively deter and reduce crime. SBD work with manufacturers and standards authorities to ensure that security standards are current and updated to keep pace with emerging crime trends. Learn more about Secured by Design and our member companies at: https://www.securedbydesign.com/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Perega engineers the interface for Selfridges’ historic Disney Castle
Perega has provided a structural engineering audit and interface checks for the highly sustainable and innovative construction system supporting the 11-metre-tall Disney Castle at Selfridges’ London store. Unveiled as part of this year’s Christmas celebrations, this is the largest festive feature on the Oxford Street landmark in over half a century. Perega was appointed to deliver the structural engineering audit and analysis, facing the challenge of securing a significant temporary structure to an iconic building with suitable tolerance and minimal façade intervention. Perega ran crucial checks on the existing Selfridges structure to ensure it could safely support the proposed loads from the installation. To create a solution that is both efficient and cost-effective, Perega audited a unique reusable system for the façade interface, working closely with the design team. This forward-thinking approach significantly reduced the waste and long-term costs associated with temporary schemes. Rob Barnes, Director at Perega and the project lead, commented: “The challenge was to ensure the structural system for the largest installation the store has seen in over 50 years was not only safe but also fundamentally sustainable. Our engineering input, incorporating reusable anchors and bespoke column frames, ensures the structure can be efficiently rebuilt to accommodate future display additions, minimising material consumption and environmental impact.” The project was delivered in collaboration with lead designer, Sculptivate Company, and specialist installers, Ambar Installations, and fabricator StageOne, showcasing a seamless partnership. Perega’s work on the Disney Castle structure continues its long-standing relationship with Selfridges, building on extensive experience in the retail sector by delivering expert engineering for logistically challenging and landmark projects. For more information on Perega’s retail work, please visit perega.co.uk/sectors/retail. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals