Green Light for 425-Home Build-to-Rent Quarter at Cambridge North
Plans for a major 425-home build-to-rent development alongside Cambridge North railway station have secured approval, paving the way for the next phase of the area’s wider regeneration. The Cambridge North Residential Quarter is being brought forward by blocwork, the joint venture between Network Rail property development company Platform4 and developer bloc. Grainger has been lined up to forward fund the residential scheme and will operate and manage the rental homes following completion. Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council have approved the proposals, unlocking the redevelopment of under-used railway land immediately next to Cambridge North station. The new neighbourhood will provide 425 one, two and three-bedroom apartments, supported by a substantial programme of landscaping and public realm improvements. Plans include linear parks, pocket gardens and tree-lined streets, alongside shops and other active ground-floor uses designed to create a more vibrant and connected residential community. The masterplan places particular emphasis on sustainable transport, with walking and cycling prioritised throughout the development. Its location next to Cambridge North station will also give residents direct rail connections into central Cambridge, London and destinations across the wider region. The residential quarter represents the latest stage in the transformation of Cambridge North, building on earlier phases of Brookgate’s masterplan for the area. Previous development has included a 217-room hotel alongside new commercial accommodation, with major businesses including Samsung establishing a presence at Cambridge North. The latest approval is also significant for Platform4, which identified Cambridge North as one of four priority schemes when the government-backed property company launched last November. Platform4 has been established with a remit to accelerate the delivery of new homes and regeneration opportunities on publicly owned railway land, using transport-connected sites to support housing growth and create new mixed-use neighbourhoods. Andrew Ferguson, interim chief executive of Platform4 and director of blocwork, said: “This is great news and the positive decision allows us to bring under-used railway land into active use.” The scheme demonstrates the growing role of transport-led development in delivering new housing, with the combination of build-to-rent homes, landscaping, commercial uses and strong public transport connections intended to create a sustainable residential quarter around one of Cambridge’s key transport hubs. With planning approval now secured, the 425-home development can progress towards its next stages as the wider Cambridge North masterplan continues to take shape. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Multi-award-winning 250-home Cotswolds collection passes halfway milestone
Spitfire Homes’ multi-award-winning 250-home Ellenbrook collection has passed the halfway milestone, reinforcing its position as one of the Cotswolds’ standout new communities following sustained demand since its launch in 2024. The Moreton-in-Marsh scheme forms part of the exclusive Spitfire Homes Bespoke Collection and has maintained a sales rate well above the national average, meeting sustained demand for rural new homes in a location celebrated for its character, connectivity and countryside setting. A reflection of Spitfire’s thoughtful approach to design, the two- to five-bedroom homes are arranged across four character areas influenced by the Cotswolds’ vernacular, combining distinctive architecture with a future-focused specification. The scheme has also supported an estimated 868 jobs, alongside an investment of £5.5 million into the local community, helping to strengthen the local economy. Set to be fully occupied by 2028, Ellenbrook’s quality credentials have been recognised through multiple industry accolades, including two Silver and one Bronze award at last year’s WhatHouse? Awards. Senior Site Manager Josh Taylor was also awarded the Seal of Excellence at the NHBC Pride in the Job Awards, with continued recognition in 2026 following a further Quality Award win. The collection has also played an important role in supporting local people onto the property ladder, with a selection of homes offered through the Discounted Market Value and First Homes schemes, options taken by many homeowners to stay living locally in a sought-after area where house prices exceed the national average. One of Ellenbrook’s earliest homeowners, Catherine, shared her thoughts on life within the community: “We’ve had four new builds, and this is by far the best home we’ve ever owned. We absolutely love the house, we love the estate, and I think we’ve finally found our forever home at Ellenbrook. Being one of the first residents here, it’s been brilliant watching the community grow around us. It really does feel like a proper neighbourhood now.” Each home captures the character of the Cotswolds while embracing a forward-thinking sustainable specification, including air source heat pumps and underfloor heating as standard. Residents also benefit from a carefully considered setting with direct access to the historic Diamond Way footpath, connecting the community to the surrounding countryside and nearby Cotswold towns. The collection’s award success builds on Spitfire Homes’ wider reputation for delivering premium, design-led homes, supported by the housebuilder retaining its 5-Star Customer Satisfaction Rating from the Home Builders Federation in both 2025 and 2026. Operations Director, Matt Vincent, said: “Reaching the halfway milestone at Ellenbrook is a proud moment and a powerful endorsement of the quality of this multi-award-winning collection. Its sales performance, industry recognition and growing community all speak to what Spitfire does best: creating distinctive, design-led places that enhance their setting and that people are genuinely proud to call home.” For more information on Ellenbrook please visit https://spitfirehomes.co.uk/find-your-home/ellenbrook/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Landsec Lines Up £500m-Plus Deal for Gateshead’s Metrocentre
Landsec is reportedly emerging as the frontrunner to acquire Gateshead’s Metrocentre in a deal that could value one of Europe’s largest shopping centres at more than £500 million. The FTSE 100-listed real estate investment trust is understood to be leading the race for the landmark North East retail destination, ahead of other interested parties including Frasers Group and Hammerson. Metrocentre was brought to market in June by the Metrocentre Partnership, which includes the Church Commissioners and Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, with an asking price of around £500 million. However, Landsec could reportedly pay significantly above that figure to secure the asset, potentially requiring the property group to raise additional funding from shareholders to complete the acquisition. Spanning approximately two million sq ft, Metrocentre is one of the UK’s most significant regional shopping and leisure destinations and one of the largest shopping centres in Europe. Its extensive retail offer includes major occupiers such as Marks & Spencer, Primark, Zara, JD Sports and Urban Outfitters, while recent additions including Hollister, Lovisa and KENJI have continued to strengthen the centre’s tenant mix. A successful acquisition would represent another major investment by Landsec in large-scale destination retail and further expand its exposure to some of the UK’s most prominent shopping centres. Metrocentre would join a portfolio that already includes major destinations such as Liverpool ONE, Bluewater in Kent and Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth. The potential deal comes as investor appetite for prime shopping centres continues to strengthen following several challenging years for the retail property market. Large destinations with established catchments, strong occupier line-ups and opportunities for active asset management are increasingly attracting attention from major property investors. For Landsec, adding Metrocentre would provide another substantial asset capable of supporting its strategy around destination-led retail, leisure and experience while increasing the scale of its national portfolio. The scale of the potential transaction would also make the sale an important marker for the wider UK retail investment market, particularly if the final price moves substantially beyond the £500 million guide. While a deal has yet to be completed, Landsec’s reported position as frontrunner places one of the country’s best-known shopping destinations on course for a significant change of ownership. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Hillwood lets Q40 at Quattro, Raunds, to GXP-Storage Ltd
Hillwood, a leading global real estate investor and developer, has let Unit Q40 at Quattro, Raunds — 41,046 sq ft — to GXP-Storage Ltd (“GXPS”). The lease was completed within six weeks of agreeing on Heads of Terms. Q40 will operate under the same regulatory-compliant quality system, facility, and equipment standards, and GXP-Guardian® platform as other GXPS facilities in the US, giving clients a single view of their materials across every storage environment, from controlled ambient to cryogenic. It places scalable, restricted-access storage capacity within reach of the UK’s principal life sciences clusters. Fit-out is underway, with the facility commissioned and operational by November 2026. Quattro comprises four speculatively built “mid-box” units from 10,867 to 117,552 sq ft, completed in March 2026. The letting follows 80,747 sq ft to furniture retailer Nick Scali in June 2026, meaning two of the scheme’s four units are now let. These buildings are BREEAM “Excellent” certified and EPC “A” rated, and adjoin the A45, with links to the Midlands and, via the A14, the East of England. “Two lettings agreed within four months of practical completion says a great deal about occupier demand for well-specified mid-box space on the A45 corridor, as well as sentiment we’re seeing nationally. We’re delighted to have worked closely with GXPS to secure a timely transaction that satisfies their operational requirements” said Greg Dalton, Vice President, Hillwood UK. “Location, quality, and Hillwood’s approval for a comprehensive fit-out were all critical to commissioning our third restricted-access facility in the UK — and Hillwood delivered on every count,” said Jeff Johnson, Director, GXP-Storage Ltd. “Q40 extends our transatlantic network so clients can work with one partner and one consolidated view of their material on both sides of the Atlantic.” Hillwood UK is represented by Bidwells and M1 Agency as retained joint letting agents. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction cannot complain about skills while turning apprentices away
As students receive their GCSE results today, many will be deciding whether to continue studying or to begin their careers via an apprenticeship. Nicola Hodkinson, owner and director at Seddon, warns that the shortage of apprenticeship places risks excluding young people who are ready to begin careers in construction. All comments below are authored by Nicola Hodkinson – Owner and director of Seddon “For young people receiving their GCSE results today, this should be a moment of opportunity. But those hoping to begin their careers through an apprenticeship may quickly discover that the route we encourage them to pursue is extremely difficult to access. “At Seddon, we receive thousands of applications for our apprenticeship scheme each year, around 100 for every role. These are young people who want to work, develop practical skills and build long-term careers. Yet there are simply not enough places available to give them that chance. Demand is far outstripping supply “The wider picture is just as concerning. Data reported by the BBC shows that applications for degree apprenticeships through the government’s central platform have risen from 8,100 to 21,800 in three years, while the number of available positions has fallen from 7,300 to 3,700. Although those figures relate specifically to degree apprenticeships, they expose the same gap between young people’s ambitions and the opportunities available to them. “The latest government figures show apprenticeship starts increasing by 8.7% overall, but starts among under-19s fell by 5.4%. Construction apprenticeship starts rose by 5%, which is encouraging, but progress needs to happen much faster if apprenticeships are to become a realistic option for more school leavers. Desperate need for construction skills “This is particularly frustrating because construction desperately needs them. CITB estimates that the industry will require an average of 41,200 additional workers every year between 2026 and 2030. Construction cannot keep complaining about its skills shortage while young people who want to join the industry are being turned away. “Employers have to accept their share of the responsibility. Too much of the industry still relies on a flexible or self-employed workforce and expects somebody else to train the next generation. That may meet an immediate labour need, but it leaves young people without routes into the sector and weakens the workforce we will all depend on in future. Practical steps for creating more places – industry and government responsibility “There are genuine barriers for employers. Training an apprentice is a long-term commitment that involves wages, equipment, structured learning and experienced people dedicating time to passing on their skills. Yet there is very little funding available to employers to offset these wider costs, and what support does exist can be difficult to access, with layers of red tape that many businesses simply do not have the resources to navigate. “The government is beginning to recognise this. The introduction of a £2,000 hiring payment for smaller employers taking on young apprentices is a welcome step, as is the decision to give jobs, skills and apprenticeships greater weight in major public contracts. These changes now need to translate into more opportunities on the ground, with their impact closely monitored and further support introduced if apprenticeship numbers do not keep pace with demand. “This cannot be solved through education policy alone. Giving technical education the same status as academic routes is the right ambition, but that promise will ring hollow if young people reach the end of school and find there is nowhere for them to go. “Results day should open doors. Government, clients and employers now need to make sure construction creates enough of them.” About Nicola: Nicola Hodkinson is owner and director of Seddon and a longstanding advocate for apprenticeships and direct employment in construction. Seddon maintains a significant apprenticeship programme and regularly receives thousands of applications from young people looking to enter the industry. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bodycare Expands High Street Comeback with New Derbion Studio Store
Bodycare is continuing its return to the UK high street with plans to open its second studio-style store at Derbion shopping centre in Derby later this month. The new opening represents another step in the health and beauty retailer’s rebuilding programme following the collapse of its previous high street business into administration in 2025. Bodycare launched the first of its new studio-style stores in Sheffield in July, with Derby now set to become the second location to introduce the refreshed retail format. The new Derbion store will combine Bodycare’s traditional focus on value-led health and beauty products with an expanded selection spanning skincare, cosmetics, fragrance and wellness. The concept will also introduce additional customer experiences and emerging beauty categories, including Korean beauty collections and a professional piercing studio, broadening the store beyond a conventional health and beauty retail offer. The opening comes as Bodycare gradually rebuilds its physical store estate. Property adviser Newmark was appointed as sole adviser to the retailer earlier this year and has secured leases for six new UK locations, providing the foundations for its renewed high street presence. For Derbion, the letting adds another beauty and wellbeing operator to its retail mix as the Derby shopping destination continues to attract new brands and store concepts. Beth McDonald, managing director of Derbion, said: “We’re hugely excited to welcome Bodycare back to Derbion with a brand new concept store. As well as offering exceptional value for customers, the Creator Studio will be a brilliant addition which is sure to prove extremely popular with our local community here in Derby. “Bodycare is the latest in a raft of new stores that have joined the centre this year and we look forward to announcing further news soon.” The arrival also reflects the continued importance of physical retail space for health, beauty and wellness brands, with retailers increasingly using new store formats to combine traditional shopping with services and more experiential elements. Bodycare’s investment in a refreshed concept provides the retailer with an opportunity to reposition its bricks-and-mortar offer as it begins a new chapter following last year’s administration. With Sheffield already trading and Derby preparing to open, the rollout of the studio format will form an important part of Bodycare’s renewed expansion across the UK retail property market. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals