Norwich Set for Landmark £80m Build-to-Rent Community
A major new build-to-rent development is set to reshape part of central Norwich after property investor Zive Capital secured planning approval for the £80m Victoria Gardens scheme. Located on the former Queens Road Marsh office site, the brownfield development will bring 432 new rental homes to the city across a series of contemporary residential buildings. The vacant office block, which had remained unused since the pandemic, was demolished in 2024 to pave the way for the regeneration project. Designed by Broadway Malyan, the scheme will feature five main residential blocks that gradually step down in scale towards a collection of townhouses positioned at the southern end of the development. Alongside new homes, Victoria Gardens will include around 500 sq m of flexible commercial, incubator and retail space, aimed at supporting start-up businesses and Norwich’s growing creative and digital sectors. The wider masterplan has been designed to create a more connected and accessible neighbourhood, opening up a site that was previously closed off from surrounding streets. Proposals include new pedestrian walkways, landscaped courtyards, communal gardens and public open spaces intended to encourage community interaction and improve the urban environment. As part of the approved plans, Zive Capital has committed to delivering 10% affordable housing, with the potential for this figure to increase should the development exceed financial expectations. Adam Zive, principal at Zive Capital, described the planning approval as a major step forward for the project and highlighted the company’s ambition to create a long-term residential community in the city. The scheme reflects continued investor confidence in the UK build-to-rent sector, particularly in regional cities where demand for high-quality rental accommodation and mixed-use urban regeneration continues to grow. Construction is expected to begin within the next 18 months. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
SEGRO Lease to Support New NHS Pathology Hub in Croydon
SEGRO has signed a new lease agreement with the NHS pathology network covering south west London, supporting the creation of a modern pathology hub at SEGRO Park Redhouse Road in Croydon. The agreement covers 18,444 sq ft of warehouse space across two units. The facility will be used by a network of hospitals including St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Croydon Health Services NHS Trust and Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust. The new hub will provide laboratory space for testing samples collected from around 400 doctors’ practices across Surrey, south London and south west London. By centralising key testing processes, the facility is designed to improve efficiency, speed up turnaround times and reduce pressure on existing hospital pathology laboratories. The move is expected to help GP test samples be processed more quickly, enabling results to be returned to practices significantly faster than at present. It will also support cost savings and free up space within the wider NHS estate. Alex Keith, Director, London at SEGRO, said the agreement demonstrated the wider role modern industrial space can play in supporting essential services. “SEGRO’s purpose is to create the space that enables extraordinary things to happen and this is an absolute exemplar of this in action,” he said. “This new state-of-the-art facility serving the wider south London area will enable significant operational efficiency and cost savings for the various NHS trusts through the centralisation of critically important pathology services.” He added that the project highlighted the versatility of well-located, sustainable warehouse space, from increasing testing volumes and reducing laboratory pressure to accelerating turnaround times and lowering the cost per test. Simon Brewer from South West London Pathology said the facility would help deliver high-quality care while improving how services are organised. “This space is a key part of how we are delivering this in south west London, supporting more efficient laboratory operations, training opportunities and ultimately faster, more reliable results for both clinicians and patients,” he said. SEGRO Park Croydon Redhouse Road is located 10 minutes from Croydon town centre and around 10 miles from both central London and the M25. The development comprises seven BREEAM Excellent units, with remaining space ranging from 9,155 sq ft to 83,827 sq ft. The units also hold EPC A ratings. Sustainability features include photovoltaic panels, electric vehicle charging points and cycle shelters, supporting lower-carbon operations and more sustainable journeys. The NHS lease follows a recent agreement with a leading wholesale and retail grocer, underlining continued demand for high-quality, well-connected industrial space in south London.
Novus Property Solutions chosen to deliver upgrade programme for Aspire Housing
Maintenance, refurbishment and fit-out contractor Novus Property Solutions has secured a new contract with Aspire Housing to deliver improvements across the housing association’s portfolio of homes in Staffordshire and Cheshire. With many of the windows and doors across the portfolio now more than a decade old, the improvement works are essential to improving building efficiency and performance, alongside occupant comfort and safety. As an experienced maintenance and refurbishment contractor, the Novus team will carry out these essential works sensitively to minimise disruption for residents. As the efficiency of homes comes under greater scrutiny en route to net-zero, the improvements carried out by Novus will contribute towards the longevity of social homes within Aspire Housing’s portfolio. “We’re really pleased to be working with Aspire Housing to deliver new windows and doors across their homes,” says David Barnes, Operations Manager at Novus Property Solutions. “Many of their properties are close to our head office, making this a local project for us and an opportunity to make a difference in our own community and beyond. That makes it an opportunity to deliver a high standard of improvement works that make a genuine impact on residents in our local community. “We’d like to thank Aspire Housing for selecting us as one of two contractors for this project, alongside Anglian Windows. Together, we’ll be upgrading windows and doors across approximately 200 properties, making a real difference to occupant comfort while ensuring these homes are fit for purpose for years to come.” Project mobilisation is already underway for the projects, with improvement works due to commence in July. As part of Novus’ commitment to supporting the next generation of skilled workers in the construction industry, an apprentice will work alongside the highly experienced team to deliver works across the project. Aspire Housing has more than 9,500 homes in its portfolio and is committed to putting its 19,000 customers first with the delivery of safe, decent homes. To find out more about Novus Property Solutions and its work in the social housing sector, visit: www.novussolutions.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Fusion21 invites bids for £350 million Responsive Repairs and Void Property Framework
Procurement specialist Fusion21 has announced the renewal of its national Responsive Repairs and Void Property Framework, worth up to £350 million over four years, and is inviting bids from suppliers with regional or national reach operating across the UK. The framework is open to all suitably qualified suppliers, from SMEs to Tier 1 organisations, and has been designed to support social housing landlords in delivering quality responsive repairs and void property maintenance services. Shaped through a strategic consultation process, the framework incorporates feedback from members and suppliers to reflect current sector needs and demands, while ensuring compliance with relevant statutory requirements. Offering a faster route to market, it brings together repairs, maintenance, property security and contact centre services in one place. Fusion21 members will benefit from flexible call‑off options, either through competitive selection or direct selection, facilitating more efficient procurement. The framework is structured across five lots: Lot 1: Responsive Repairs and MaintenanceLot 2: Void Property ImprovementsLot 3: Void Property Security, Clearance and Pest ControlLot 4: Disrepair WorksLot 5: Contact Centre Services Set to launch in October 2026, this is the third iteration of Fusion21’s Responsive Repairs and Void Property Framework, procured under the Procurement Act 2023. Previous iterations have delivered 129 contracts to date, with a combined value in excess of £490 million, achieving efficiency savings for members. Peter Francis, Group Executive Director (Operations) at Fusion21, said: “Demand for responsive repairs and void property services has remained consistently strong, and this third iteration reflects the ongoing needs and priorities of the sector. The framework has been strategically shaped to enable members to achieve value for money and high service standards, while embedding social value into every project.” Fusion21 is a trusted and reliable procurement partner with a 24‑year track record of delivering Procurement with Purpose. The organisation works across the housing, local authority, education, blue light and NHS sectors, and is known for helping the public sector to secure better commercial outcomes while delivering measurable social value in communities. Tender applications are welcome from suppliers that meet the criteria set out in the tender documentation. To find out more and apply, click here and select ‘Current opportunities’. Submission deadline: Friday 19 June 2026 at 12 noon Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Whitbread Faces Break-Up Pressure as Major Investor Demands Sale
Hospitality giant Whitbread PLC is facing mounting pressure after activist investor Corvex Management LP called on the company to launch a formal sale process, claiming it is the “only credible path” to unlocking shareholder value. Corvex, which holds an economic interest in more than 11.8 million Whitbread shares – representing around 7% of the business – issued a strongly worded letter to Whitbread’s board and shareholders criticising the company’s long-term strategy and financial performance. The investment firm argued that Whitbread’s current five-year growth plan continues to pursue “value-destructive” policies, despite concerns previously raised with the board in December 2025. Corvex claims the company has failed to respond to worsening market conditions and shareholder frustrations. At the centre of the criticism is Whitbread’s proposed expansion strategy, which includes plans to add around 14,000 non-AGP hotel rooms across the UK and Germany over the next five years. Corvex also opposed the company’s increased sale-and-leaseback target of approximately £1.5bn, arguing that monetising valuable freehold assets to fund future growth carries significant risk. The investor highlighted Whitbread’s recent share price struggles, noting the stock is currently trading at a 13-year low of around £23 per share and at less than eight times pre-tax profit. According to Corvex, the valuation implies the market is assigning little or no value to parts of Whitbread’s wider business portfolio, including its German hotel operations and development pipeline. Corvex further stated that Whitbread has delivered double-digit negative returns across one, three, five and ten-year investment periods, blaming what it described as persistent structural complexity and poor capital allocation decisions. The firm is now urging Whitbread to appoint an independent investment bank and commit publicly to a comprehensive sale process. It also called for an immediate pause on non-AGP growth expenditure and future sale-and-leaseback deals while strategic options are explored. Corvex warned that if the board refuses to pursue a sale, it is prepared to nominate a new slate of directors in an attempt to force strategic change at the company. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Mayfair Office Scheme Moves Forward with Sustainable Vision
Contractor Legendre UK has secured the main construction role on the major redevelopment of 50 Stratton Street in the heart of Mayfair, London, on behalf of Berkeley Estate Asset Management. Designed by acclaimed architects Stiff + Trevillion, the 135,000 sq ft office development is set to deliver a premium commercial destination tailored to the evolving demands of the central London market. The scheme has been created with a strong emphasis on sustainability, modern workplace design and long-term building performance. Targeting both BREEAM Outstanding and LEED Gold certifications, the redevelopment will introduce a highly efficient all-electric building designed to align with the growing demand for low-carbon office environments across the capital. A key feature of the project is its focus on reducing embodied carbon through innovative construction methods and material selection. Lightweight steel will be used throughout the structure, alongside the addition of four new cross-laminated timber floors, helping to minimise environmental impact while supporting modern standards of sustainable development. The redevelopment will also significantly enhance the building’s external appearance and operational efficiency. New façades featuring high-quality stone cladding, aluminium-framed glazing and curtain walling systems will create a refined architectural identity suited to Mayfair’s prestigious commercial landscape. As demand continues to grow for sustainable Grade A office space in London’s prime business districts, the project reflects a wider industry shift towards environmentally responsible redevelopment and future-ready workplaces that prioritise energy performance, occupier wellbeing and design excellence. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals