Watkin Jones Secures Backing for Landmark Cardiff Co-Living Tower
Watkin Jones has taken a major step forward with plans to deliver a new 33-storey co-living development in the heart of Cardiff after receiving a resolution to grant planning permission for the scheme. The proposed tower on Custom House Street, located close to Cardiff Central Station and St David’s Shopping Centre, will transform a long-vacant city centre site and create a significant new residential destination aimed at meeting changing housing demands within the Welsh capital. Formal planning approval is expected later this summer, subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement. The development represents a fresh vision for a site that has remained undeveloped for several years. An earlier proposal for a 42-storey purpose-built student accommodation tower secured consent in 2016 but failed to progress amid changing market conditions and evolving demand patterns. In response, Watkin Jones redesigned the scheme as a co-living development, reducing the overall height while creating a product more closely aligned with current urban living trends. Once complete, the tower will provide 400 fully furnished co-living studios supported by a range of shared amenities, including communal kitchens, dining spaces, resident lounges, fitness facilities and landscaped social areas. The scheme is intended to cater for young professionals, graduates and smaller households seeking flexible, professionally managed accommodation within a highly connected city centre location. Co-living developments have continued to gain momentum across major UK cities as developers and local authorities explore new ways to address housing demand, affordability challenges and changing lifestyle preferences. The model combines private living space with extensive shared amenities, creating community-focused environments designed to appeal to modern urban residents. The approval also strengthens Watkin Jones’ growing presence in Cardiff. The developer recently celebrated the practical completion of Tai Afon, the first phase of its wider Central Quay regeneration project, which is transforming the former Brains Brewery site into a major mixed-use neighbourhood. With Cardiff continuing to attract investment, new residents and businesses, the Custom House Street development is expected to play an important role in supporting the city’s ongoing growth while bringing a prominent vacant site back into productive use. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Future of Residential & Block Management: How AI is Transforming the Resident Experience
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping industries around the world, and residential property and block management is no exception. Once viewed as a future technology, AI is now becoming an increasingly valuable tool for property professionals seeking to improve service delivery, operational efficiency and resident satisfaction. Across the residential sector, managing buildings has become more complex than ever. Property managers are expected to balance compliance, building safety, maintenance, sustainability targets, resident communication and financial performance, all while delivering an exceptional customer experience. As portfolios grow and regulatory requirements increase, technology is playing an increasingly important role in supporting these responsibilities. Modern AI-powered platforms are helping property management teams respond faster to resident enquiries, streamline maintenance reporting and improve communication between residents, contractors and management teams. Intelligent systems can automatically prioritise issues, monitor service performance and provide real-time visibility into building operations, helping teams make more informed decisions. The benefits extend beyond efficiency. AI is also helping property managers become more proactive. Rather than reacting to problems once they occur, advanced systems can identify trends, predict maintenance requirements and flag potential issues before they escalate. This predictive approach helps reduce costs, minimise disruption and improve the overall resident experience. For block management professionals, access to better data is proving equally valuable. AI-driven insights can support service charge forecasting, contractor management, compliance monitoring and long-term asset planning, allowing property teams to focus on strategic decision-making rather than routine administration. Despite these advancements, technology is not replacing property managers. Residential buildings are ultimately communities, not simply assets. Residents still value personal interaction, empathy and the reassurance that comes from speaking with experienced professionals who understand their needs and concerns. Instead, AI is helping to remove administrative burdens and repetitive tasks, allowing property managers to dedicate more time to building relationships, improving services and creating thriving residential environments. As the sector continues to evolve, the most successful residential and block management organisations are likely to be those that embrace a combination of human expertise and intelligent technology. By using AI to enhance communication, improve operational performance and support better decision-making, property professionals can deliver smarter, more responsive and more resident-focused services. The future of residential and block management will not be defined by technology alone. It will be shaped by how effectively people and technology work together to create safer, more efficient and better-connected communities. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Crown Estate signs new West End Italian restaurant from Michelin-starred Lita team
Chef-led concept from the team behind Michelin-starred Lita to open on Vigo Street The Crown Estate has today announced the signing of Salone, a new Italian restaurant set to open at 5-6 Vigo Street, just off Regent Street. The addition further strengthens The Crown Estate’s hospitality offering in the West End, adding a new chef-led restaurant to the area’s diverse hospitality mix. Occupying 6,700 sq ft, Salone has signed a 15-year lease and is set to open in Autumn 2026. The restaurant will be operated by Fortune Family, the UK-based hospitality group behind Lita in Marylebone, which opened in 2024 and achieved a Michelin star in under a year. Fortune Family will partner with acclaimed chef Luca Natalini, who will lead the concept as executive chef. Located next to Burberry on Regent Street, Salone will provide an all-day dining offer for shoppers, residents and local office workers. Inspired by Italian culinary traditions, the restaurant will feature open kitchens across each floor, creating an immersive dining experience that brings guests closer to the craft and theatre of Italian cooking. The restaurant’s ground floor will focus on a pizzeria, while the first floor will feature a live pasta station. Seafood and meat will also be key elements of the menu, alongside a bar-led offer designed to support aperitivo and later evening visits. A long communal table and counter seating will create a sociable and informal atmosphere, encouraging guests to drop in throughout the day. Salone’s arrival follows other recent restaurant openings across The Crown Estate’s West End portfolio, including handroll sushi bar Temaki on Maddox Street and modern Georgian restaurant Daka Daka on Heddon Street. Together, the new arrivals reflect The Crown Estate’s long-term approach to curating a varied hospitality offer across the West End, supporting a balanced mix of F&B and leisure uses that complements Regent Street as a world-class retail destination. Bringing an exciting new operator to Vigo Street, The Crown Estate is creating more reasons for people to spend time in the area throughout the day and into the evening, strengthening the West End’s enduring appeal as a destination for dining, shopping and culture. Sarah McLaren, Hospitality and Leisure Director at The Crown Estate, said: “Salone is an exciting addition to our West End hospitality portfolio, bringing a new Italian dining concept from a talented team to Vigo Street. Its all-day format, open kitchens and focus on Italian cooking will appeal to a broad range of customers, providing another high-quality dining option in a prime location. “As the West End continues to evolve as a world-class destination for hospitality and retail, we are continuing to support distinctive, chef-led concepts like Salone that add to the area’s energy and appeal. This forms part of our long-term vision to curate a diverse mix of F&B that gives both visitors and locals more reasons to spend time in the West End throughout the day and into the evening.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
8 Bishopsgate hits fully let status with King & Spalding expansion
Mitsubishi Estate London (MEL) and Stanhope have secured full occupancy as international law firm King & Spalding will be expanding its office space in the building by signing the final floor available. Taking the highest office floor in the building at Level 47 on a 12-year lease, the new office space totals 8,479 sq ft, increasing King & Spalding’s total footprint to seven floors and almost 60,000 sq ft. King & Spalding signed on Levels 27-31 in 2023 and expanded into the 41st floor in 2025. Spanning 550,000 sq ft the 47-office floor tower is now fully occupied. 8 Bishopsgate has proved to be a pioneering development that has attracted occupiers from a range of sectors from across the City and West End markets. The first development to truly deliver a range of occupier focused amenity, 10% of the building – representing 75,000 sq ft – is dedicated to amenity space. This includes the Think Tank, a dedicated 200-seat auditorium, with associated meeting rooms, alongside a range of food and beverage offerings on the ground, 1st and 26th floors. The Lookout, a free public viewing gallery and private event space on the 50th floor that offers unrivalled views of Central London. 8 Bishopsgate has exceptional sustainability credentials, as the first tower in London to achieve BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ and is EPC A rated. Kevin Darvishi, Head of Leasing at Stanhope said: “Reaching full occupancy at 8 Bishopsgate is a landmark moment and clear endorsement of the long-term vision behind the building, from its sustainability credentials through to the breadth of amenity. Following a competitive leasing process with occupiers vying for the last space in the building, King & Spalding’s continued expansion underlines how 8 Bishopsgate meets the changing needs of today’s world-class organisations in the City of London.” Shinichi Kagitomi, Chief Executive of Mitsubishi Estate London, said: “Leasing the final tranche of space at 8 Bishopsgate is a huge milestone for us. Since completion, demand for space at the building has consistently exceeded expectations, reflecting occupiers’ continued focus on best-in-class workplaces that support collaboration, wellbeing and sustainability. It is the best possible endorsement to have an existing occupier increase its presence within the building and we are pleased to have been able to accommodate King & Spalding’s expansion needs.” Tom Sprange KC, King & Spalding London Office Managing Partner, said: “We moved into 8 Bishopsgate two years ago and the fact we have taken on two new floors since then, including now the 47th floor, underscores the importance of the building to the firm’s expanding London practice. As we look forward to continued growth and new opportunities, the additional space in such an impressive building will play a vital role in realising our ambitions.” 8 Bishopsgate’s occupiers include: Access, AEW, BancTrust & Co., Bayern Landesbank, Bentley Systems, Cambiaso Risso Group, CFC, CITIC CLSA, Faegre Drinker, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Harmonic, Helios Towers, Huckletree, JB Draw Honore, King & Spalding, Mewburn Ellis, Proskauer, SCOR Investment Partners, Shinhan Bank and SThree. Knight Frank and Newmark advised MEL and Stanhope. Cushman & Wakefield advised King & Spalding. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Government and Hill seal land for 10,000-home Cambridge site
One of the UK’s largest and most ambitious urban regeneration projects has taken a major step forward following the acquisition of the 700-acre Cambridge East site by Hill Group and Homes England. The partners have confirmed plans to begin construction on the first phase of the development in 2029, with up to 500 homes forming the opening stage of a wider masterplan that will ultimately deliver more than 10,000 homes, 3 million sq ft of commercial space and approximately 9,000 jobs. The site, formerly occupied by Cambridge Airport, has long been identified as a key growth location within the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor. The acquisition follows an agreement between Homes England, supported by its National Housing Bank, Hill Group and airport owner Marshall Group, which is set to relocate its operations by mid-2029. The development will be delivered through a partnership between Hill and the Cambridge Growth Company, a subsidiary of Homes England established to support the city’s long-term expansion and economic growth ambitions. Beyond housing delivery, the vision for Cambridge East centres on the creation of a sustainable mixed-use neighbourhood incorporating employment space, education facilities, healthcare provision, green infrastructure and improved transport connectivity. Plans include new schools, community amenities, extensive public open space and the potential development of a regional construction skills and training hub designed to support workforce development and long-term employment opportunities. The scheme is also expected to benefit from the proposed Cambridge East railway station, which would significantly enhance connectivity across the region, strengthening links to Cambridge city centre, London, Bedford and Oxford. As one of the most important strategic development sites in the country, Cambridge East is expected to play a key role in addressing housing demand while supporting the continued growth of the city’s internationally recognised science, technology and innovation sectors. A comprehensive programme of public consultation will now begin as the development team works towards future planning submissions and refines proposals for the new neighbourhood. Andy Hill, Founder and Chief Executive of Hill Group, described Cambridge East as a unique opportunity to create a thriving and sustainable community, setting a new benchmark for placemaking while delivering homes, jobs, infrastructure and long-term economic growth for the region. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Planning approval secured for £59m state-of-the-art leisure centre and civic offices
PLANNING has been approved for a new state-of-the-art leisure centre and civic offices in Swadlincote, South Derbyshire, designed by award-winning practice CPMG Architects. The planning approval follows positive consultations with the local community, which confirmed that the new leisure centre and corresponding office space should replace the current Green Bank Leisure Centre and local authority offices – making way for significant regeneration of Swadlincote town centre. Within the leisure centre’s design is a six-court sports hall and two swimming pools, alongside a fitness suite and multi-purpose studios. The leisure centre’s verdant setting next to a pond, parkland and a golf course is exploited to the full, with an accessible 360-degree approach, in which users will be able to move easily around the building and connect to surrounding outdoor spaces. To ensure optimal cohesivity, features such as moveable glazing have been incorporated to tie together the inside and outside of the building. Office users benefit hugely from the office’s co-location with the leisure centre within the surrounding parkland. The office space includes meeting rooms and open plan workspaces across three levels and will be predominantly transparent to maximise views of the surrounding landscape whilst a brise soleil will help reduce solar gain and glare. In keeping with Swadlincote’s rural surroundings, biodiversity and its location within the National Forest, the project team alongside South Derbyshire District Council has been committed to design that compliments and improves the local landscape. This included the use of timber in prominent locations of the project and a landscaping design carried out by Ares Landscape Architects. The building is set to be entirely reliant on air source heat pumps, with clean electricity to be generated from photovoltaic panels on the roof, helping to cut approximately 26,000kg of CO₂ annually. Alessio Granata, senior architect at CPMG, said: “The plans for Swadlincote Leisure Centre showcase a futureproofed design, one that will support the local community for years to come. Working alongside the council and our project partners, we’re now in a position where we will soon begin to see our design come to life – which is incredibly exciting. “As a practice, we are continually focused on implementing designs that have a people-first approach and Swadlincote Leisure Centre is a clear example of this in practice. From the exterior to the interior – the design aims to create a space that offers more than just leisure activities, but also a place where the local community can come together and interact.” Councillor Robert Pearson, leader of South Derbyshire District Council, said: “This is a hugely exciting milestone for the project and for South Derbyshire. These proposals will deliver modern, high-quality leisure and community facilities that residents can be proud of for generations to come. “What is especially positive is that the scheme has continued to evolve through meaningful engagement with local people, sports clubs and community groups. The decision to increase the size of the sports hall demonstrates that we have listened carefully to the feedback we received and responded positively to it. “This development represents a major investment in health, wellbeing, sport and the future of Swadlincote.” CPMG was appointed to the project in August 2025 through Procure Partnerships’ Professional Services Framework. Will Cooper, key account coordinator (East and West) at Procure Partnerships, said: “Swadlincote Leisure Centre is one of the most exciting schemes the region has seen in years. We are proud to be playing a part in such an ambitious regeneration for the area and to have supported the procurement of CPMG as lead architects, along with the wider design team. We are delighted that planning has been secured and look forward to seeing the scheme’s progression and the benefits it will bring to the community.” With planning approval secured, enabling works are due to commence in summer 2026 and opening is expected in spring 2028. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals