Arla Foods and XPO Logistics to launch distribution centre, centralising UK chilled operations by late 2027
Arla Foods and XPO Logistics to launch distribution centre, centralising UK chilled operations by late 2027 Arla Foods, the UK’s largest dairy cooperative, and XPO Logistics, a leading provider of innovative and sustainable end-to-end supply chain solutions across Europe, today announce a further extension of their strategic partnership. This new chapter will transform Arla’s chilled network – creating a future-ready, more efficient, resilient, safe and sustainable operation – through a new leading UK central distribution centre (CDC) that will handle all Arla’s UK chilled palletised products*. Currently under development at Prologis RFI DIRFT in Northamptonshire, UK, the new facility will bring Arla’s chilled dairy products, such as cheese, butter and yoghurts, into a single, centralised location. The move will strengthen Arla’s supply chain resilience, reduce road miles, and support more efficient distribution across the UK. XPO Logistics is project managing the delivery of the CDC and will operate the site from late 2027, when it becomes operational. As part of a long-term partnership model, XPO Logistics is supporting Arla Foods beyond day-to-day operations, bringing expertise in transformation, automation and scalable operating design. The new CDC illustrates how XPO Logistics works with major brands to build future-ready supply chains. XPO Logistics’ investment in state‑of‑the‑art automation will create skilled warehousing roles in the region, including automation operations, maintenance, quality, inventory control, and safety. Appropriate training and upskilling for advanced automation will be provided by XPO Logistics as part of the recruitment and onboarding process. Fran Ball, SVP UK Supply Chain for Arla Foods UK, comments: “Consolidating our chilled pallet operations into a single, advanced facility in Northamptonshire is a strategic leap forward for Arla. By partnering with XPO Logistics and Prologis, we are improving the resilience of a critical part of our supply chain and making meaningful progress on reducing waste and road miles.” Dan Myers, Senior Vice President, Dedicated Supply Chain – Europe, XPO Logistics, said: “Arla stands for quality; their products are loved and trusted by every household in the UK. This future-ready CDC will play a key role in ensuring that Arla continues to deliver great products whilst improving the resilience, sustainability, and efficiency of its supply chain. Working together, we’re driving positive strategic change which will support Arla’s business to continue to prosper today and tomorrow.” Phil Oakley, SVP, Prologis UK, said: “Partnerships and developments like this play an important role in creating long term economic value for West Northamptonshire, helping to attract investment and underpin jobs across the region. At Prologis RFI DIRFT, we’ve built a community with the capacity and skills to support high-performing logistics operations like this one, and we look forward to supporting Arla and XPO as the project moves forward.” Today’s announcement follows the €107.7m (£90m) investment at Arla Lockerbie to create a UHT and lactose-free milk centre of excellence. This builds on more than €355m of UK investments announced in 2024 across five sites, underpinning Arla’s growth and continued support for UK manufacturing and the future of British dairy. Speaking about Arla’s support for British dairy, Bas Padberg, managing director, Arla Foods UK, said: “Today’s announcement further signals our commitment to driving change in the UK, and supporting the future of British dairy. The UK food sector has a vital role in public health, and we’re committed to delivering nutritious, affordable dairy for more people – this is another important step forward.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
£74m Low-Carbon Refit Approved for Bristol’s Landmark Canons Wharf Offices
A £74m redevelopment of Bristol’s prominent Canons Wharf office complex is set to move forward after a major financing agreement cleared the way for construction to begin. Puma Property Finance has secured its largest loan to date, providing £74m to support a joint venture between Mactaggart Family & Partners and Kinrise. The funding will enable a comprehensive low-carbon refit of the Grade II-listed waterfront estate, located at the heart of Bristol’s Harbourside. The scheme will transform the former Lloyds Banking Group regional headquarters into around 165,000 sq ft of modern office accommodation across two buildings, complemented by 18,000 sq ft of food and beverage space overlooking the Amphitheatre. Designed for flexibility, the buildings can operate either as a single corporate headquarters or as a multi-let campus, responding to changing occupier demands. Alongside office space, the redevelopment will deliver a wide range of amenities aimed at creating a high-quality workplace environment. These include a gym and wellness facilities, saunas, an auditorium, a rooftop pavilion, landscaped gardens and terraces, helping to position the scheme as a leading example of next-generation office design. Sustainability sits at the core of the project. The refit is targeting BREEAM Excellent, EPC A, WiredScore Platinum and SmartScore Gold ratings. A low-carbon retrofit strategy will be employed, retaining and reusing the existing structures to significantly reduce embodied carbon while upgrading performance through improved glazing and natural ventilation. The all-electric buildings will be powered by green energy and will utilise water-source heat pumps drawing from the adjacent harbour. Rooftop solar panels, new tree planting and extensive green landscaping will further support the scheme’s environmental credentials. Originally designed by Arup Associates and constructed by Bovis Construction in the late 1980s, Cannons House was awarded Grade II-listed status in 2023 in recognition of its architectural importance and contribution to the regeneration of Bristol’s docks. Construction is expected to begin in summer 2026, with practical completion targeted for late 2027. Once complete, the project is expected to play a key role in redefining Bristol’s office market, delivering a landmark example of sustainable retrofit within a historic urban setting. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Signify’s solar hybrid lighting brings new energy and increased safety to Edinburgh’s parks
Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, has partnered with the City of Edinburgh Council to install a hybrid solar connected lighting system in several of the city’s parks, creating safer, more welcoming spaces while advancing Edinburgh’s sustainability goals. The new technology is already lighting pathways in Baronscourt Park, Hailes Quarry Park, and Ferniehill, with an off-grid solar solution now in place in Dundas. The project includes a mix of installing lighting in parks where the installation was limited and upgrading the existing lighting where the parks were insufficiently lit. Solar hybrid luminaires draw on solar energy when sufficient sunlight is available and switch seamlessly to grid power in low-light conditions, ensuring reliable light levels throughout the year. The lights are equipped with motion sensors that inform the system to deliver the right level of light at the right time. This intelligent solution reduces energy consumption and avoids unnecessary light output, helping to protect the area’s rich natural environment. The illuminated pathways enhance security for pedestrians and cyclists, encouraging greater use of the park during evening hours and fostering stronger community engagement. The improved lighting supports more active lifestyles and social interaction, turning these parks into vibrant community spaces during the evening. “Working with Signify on the Baronscourt Park project, has been transformative for our city,” said Councillor Margaret Graham, Culture and Communities Convener at the City of Edinburgh Council. “The innovative solar-powered lighting system has not only enhanced safety for park users during evening hours but also aligns perfectly with our sustainability and climate goals. By reducing grid energy consumption by 53% and minimizing ecological disruption, this project sets a new benchmark for environmentally sensitive urban development. I’m also pleased that the technology has been rolled out in three other parks, namely Ferniehill, Hailes Quarry and Dundas. She added, “The community response has been overwhelmingly positive, and we’re proud to lead the way with a solution that balances safety, sustainability, and innovation. This collaboration demonstrates how technology and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand to benefit both people and nature. This initiative sets a new standard for sustainable and connected public lighting systems. I’m proud that Edinburgh has taken the lead here as the first UK city to implement such a scheme.” In partnership with distribution specialist Street Lighting Supplies, the Council and Signify deployed SunStay Gen2 Hybrid solar luminaires, equipped with outdoor multisensors and connected through Interact City, Signify’s advanced lighting management platform. The system operates at 20% light levels when paths are empty and brightens automatically when people approach. This approach balances energy efficiency, safety, and cost effectiveness, and provides a safer and overall more satisfactory solution than switching lights off overnight, which some cities have done to reduce energy bills. Through Interact City, managers can remotely monitor lighting performance, track real-time energy usage, and analyse pathway activity. Data-driven insights help city planners understand how people use the parks and guide future lighting decisions. Beyond safety and efficiency, the system’s smart dimming and grouping functionalities limit illumination to areas needed, minimizing disturbance to wildlife in ecologically sensitive zones and protecting biodiversity in the parks. Commenting on the project, Michelle McLaughlin, Key Account Manager, said ‘The vision for this project was rooted in environmental responsibility and community empowerment. The Council aimed to enhance safety by illuminating park pathways while minimizing reliance on grid electricity and protecting the park’s ecosystem. The solution also sought to adapt dynamically to user activity and provide actionable data for future improvements. We are proud to be a part of such a great initiative and are happy that our solutions can benefit the visitors of the parks’’ The City of Edinburgh is now building on the success of the parks project with plans to explore additional Interact City capabilities, such as integrating weather data to further optimize energy use and reduce grid dependency. Regular community feedback sessions will help ensure the system continues to meet residents’ needs while advancing Edinburgh’s progress toward net-zero. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Marina Village partnership agreed to support new homes in Barrow
A significant milestone has been reached for Marina Village in Barrow, as plans progress to create a new neighbourhood with hundreds of new homes. Westmorland and Furness Council has appointed Muse Places, supported by supply chain partners through the ECF partnership, as its strategic development partner for Marina Village, which will seek to provide around 1,350 new homes, a nature conservation area and new public open spaces. Marina Village is a vital part of Barrow’s plans for the future, bringing new homes close to education, major employers and local shops and businesses, and helping strengthen perceptions of Barrow as a place to live. Cabinet agreed today to award a pre-development services agreement to Muse Places and its supply chain partners within ECF. Councillor Jonathan Brook, Council Leader and Cabinet Member for the Economy, said: “This scheme will play a vital role in the future success of Barrow. It is a key part of the delivery plans for Team Barrow. “A significant amount of time, work and funding has gone into getting us to this stage. We are now very much looking forward to working with Muse and ECF on this project and together with partners and the local community, to develop the vision for this site and for it to become a thriving residential community. ECF is a partnership between Homes England, L&G and Muse, bringing together public and private sector expertise to support long-term regeneration in towns and cities across the UK. Sir Michael Lyons, Chair of ECF, said: “Marina Village is a significant opportunity for Barrow, and we’re pleased to be working in partnership with Westmorland and Furness Council as plans move forward. “The appointment of a development partner marks an important step, allowing the council and its partners to start shaping how Marina Village can come to life, building on its waterfront setting and responding to the needs of the local community. “At ECF, we take a long-term, partnership-led approach to regeneration, and we’re excited to work closely with the council and local stakeholders to help create a new neighbourhood that Barrow can be proud of.” Councillor Judith Derbyshire, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, said: “This is a tremendously exciting moment for Marina Village. Taking this approach ensures that this important waterside area in Barrow is brought forward in the right way to create a modern, attractive and desirable place to live and is aligned with workforce needs and the wider regeneration of Barrow. “By focusing on family homes and accommodation suitable for first-time buyers and a choice of types and tenures, we will ensure that these homes support the wider growth aspirations of Barrow’s community and wider economy.” The council appointed Muse Places using The Developer Led Framework that Pagabo manages on behalf of Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust, and has been advised in the procurement process by CBRE and DWF. Jonathan Parker, development director at Pagabo, said: “The appointment of Muse through the Developer Led Framework demonstrates how major, complex regeneration projects like Marina Village can be progressed through a procurement process that is both simple and fully compliant. The framework that we manage is designed to give councils confidence, pace and flexibility, while maintaining transparency and best value. It’s great to see Westmorland and Furness Council able to focus on shaping the vision and outcomes for Barrow, knowing that the procurement route is robust, efficient and aligned with long-term place-making ambitions.” Cabinet had previously agreed to follow a ‘master developer’ approach to develop the Marina Village, where a single developer takes responsibility for the early planning and design work, coordination of infrastructure, and delivery of the wider plans. This coordinated approach helps ensure consistent quality, long-term stewardship, and cohesive place-making while de-risking the process for individual developers and local authorities and agreed to start the procurement process to appoint a master developer. With a focus on a choice of new family homes, the council’s vision for Marina Village is for it to be: “A high quality, well-designed waterfront neighbourhood set along Barrow’s active historic docks, it will offer a new, contemporary housing choice within walking distance of Barrow Town Centre. Set within a sustainable network of vibrant and natural spaces, which support well-being, active travel and a great quality of life, it will offer homes where you can set down roots. A place where heritage, nature, community and landscape connect to Barrow’s industrial future, and thrive.” When complete, Marina Village will strengthen the council’s work with government and BAE Systems as the Team Barrow partnership, ensuring that interventions to support employment opportunities at BAE are transformational, inclusive and long-lasting for Barrow, Westmorland and Furness, and beyond. Peter Anstiss, chief executive of Team Barrow, said: “Housing is a strategic priority in our 10-year plan for Barrow and the Marina Village is critical to the delivery of this. “The Government’s long-term commitment to its submarine programme is driving substantial growth in the shipyard, and this in turn creates significant demand for thousands of new homes, for employees and their families. “The appointment of Muse and ECF is great news and we look forward to working with them, as well as our partners in Westmorland and Furness Council, to deliver this vitally important housing development.” Work is under way to remediate the second phase of 19 hectares, preparing the land for new homes, supported by £24.8 million of Brownfield, Infrastructure and Land (BIL) funding of from Homes England. Phase 1 of the development – the remediation of six hectares of land funded by £5.5 million secured from the Government’s Getting Building Fund, administered by Cumbria LEP – was completed in November 2023. Phase two includes ground remediation and the installation of associated supporting infrastructure, including a realigned Cavendish Dock Road, as well as the diversion or protection of key utilities. The project will also relocate the council’s Salthouse Road waste depot to a temporary site. Planning approval for phase 3, which includes remediation and realignment of Cavendish Dock Road, was granted in November and will help unlock a further 16 percent of the site, once a biodiversity net gain credit application has been approved. A Pre-Development Agreement with Muse and ECF will commission early work to prepare Marina Village for the next
OP partners with Techspace to deliver newest St. Andrew Street location
Leading office refurbishment specialist, OP, has completed the transformation of a 1970s office building into Techspace’s newest flexible workspace at 9-13 St. Andrew Street, London. The 16-week project has converted 16,800 sq ft of previously vacant office space into a contemporary flexible workspace environment, accommodating 274 workstations across the basement, ground floor and office floors 1 to 6. The design approach centred on implementing Techspace’s ‘Distinctly Techspace’ design language whilst celebrating the building’s original features, including warm terracotta ceiling tiles and structural elements exposed throughout the workspace. A key design intervention involved reconfiguring the ground floor layout through the strategic removal of an oversized entrance staircase. This created space for a centrally positioned café bar with feature mesh screen backdrop, forming the social heart of the building and encouraging interaction between members. The workspace includes a suite of five meeting rooms in the basement serving the entire building, complemented by additional meeting spaces distributed across floors and a large boardroom behind the ground floor café. Phone booths are positioned adjacent to member offices, whilst breakout areas feature mixed seating with integrated power throughout. The project demonstrates OP’s commitment to sustainable design through extensive reuse of existing materials. All glazing was retained and repurposed, and ground floor pillars were stripped back to expose their original character. Alannah Laud, designer at OP, said: “Our vision was to create an authentic Techspace environment that would bring their “Distinctly Techspace” design principles to life in this unique building. By carefully stripping back to reveal the building’s character, we’ve created a flexible space that feels both contemporary and rooted in place.” Paul Sandilands, Property Director of Techspace said “We’re delighted with how OP has transformed this challenging building into a space that truly feels like Techspace. They worked collaboratively with our team throughout, adapting the design during construction to meet incoming tenant requirements.” The project was delivered whilst accommodating incoming tenants, with layouts adapted during construction to provide flexible workspace configurations across the building. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Vistry and Citizen partner to build 60 affordable family homes in Oldbury
Vistry, the UK’s leading provider of mixed-tenure homes, has joined forces with housing association Citizen, to deliver 60 much-needed affordable family homes in Oldbury, marking a significant step forward in addressing local housing needs. The development, located on Titford Road, will transform a previously vacant site into a vibrant new community, offering a mix of two-, three-, and four-bedroom homes. The project is designed to provide high-quality, affordable housing for families in the area, supporting Sandwell Council’s ambitions for sustainable growth and regeneration. Michael Moore, Managing Director of Vistry North West Midlands, said: “We are thrilled to be working in partnership with Citizen on this development which will not only meet the housing needs of the community but will protect wildlife and ecology whilst bringing investment for services into the area. “We’re excited to be a part of Oldbury’s growth and to be entrusted with the build of these much-needed affordable homes which will help meet the significant housing shortage in the area and create a thriving and sustainable community.” Nick Byrne, Executive Director of Development at Citizen, said: “We’re excited to be working with Vistry on another development in the West Midlands which will provide 60 affordable homes. “Our plans for the Titford Road site will transform a vacant area and bring it back into use by building affordable homes for people on the housing lists. “We’re committed to building homes that meet the needs of our communities, and we look forward to seeing work start on this site soon.” The scheme, which received planning permission in April 2025, has been developed in line with Natural England guidance, ensuring ecological protection and enhancement. Key features include the retention and improvement of the site’s watercourse, the creation of green buffer zones with native planting, and the introduction of new public green spaces, supporting Sandwell Council’s goals for sustainable placemaking. The partnership between Vistry and Citizen is expected to bring wider economic benefits to the region, including job creation and investment in local services. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals