Fresh lands triple shortlist success at Liverpool Property & Business Awards 2026
Fresh has secured three shortlist nominations at the YourMagazine Liverpool Property & Business Awards 2026, recognising the company’s contribution to the student accommodation sector and its continued commitment to delivering exceptional resident experiences across the UK and Ireland. The business has been named as one of just 10 finalists for Best Student Housing Operator, while two Liverpool schemes managed by Fresh have both been shortlisted in the Best Student Accommodation Development category, where Benson Yard and Calico are among just nine finalists competing for the award. The prestigious awards celebrate excellence across Liverpool City Region’s property and business sectors, recognising the organisations, developments and individuals helping to shape the region’s continued growth and success. The awards ceremony will take place at the Titanic Hotel Liverpool & Rum Warehouse on Wednesday 25 November, bringing together leaders from across the property, development, construction and business communities to celebrate another year of achievement. The triple shortlist recognition highlights Fresh’s growing impact within Liverpool’s student accommodation market. The nominations for Benson Yard and Calico acknowledge two standout student communities that have strengthened the city’s accommodation offer, while the Best Student Housing Operator nomination reflects Fresh’s wider commitment to creating vibrant communities, delivering outstanding customer experiences and driving operational excellence. Located in the heart of Liverpool, Benson Yard provides more than 400 student beds in a modern, community-focused environment designed to support both academic success and student wellbeing. The property currently holds a 4.26 out of 5 rating on StudentCrowd, reflecting positive resident feedback and satisfaction. Meanwhile, Calico offers more than 730 student beds, making it one of Liverpool’s largest purpose-built student accommodation communities. Designed around communal living, resident wellbeing and premium amenities, the property currently holds a 4.51 out of 5 rating on StudentCrowd. Together, the two developments demonstrate Fresh’s approach to student living, combining high-quality accommodation with engaging resident experiences, dedicated support and opportunities for students to build meaningful connections throughout their university journey. With Liverpool continuing to attract tens of thousands of students each year, the provision of high-quality accommodation remains a vital part of supporting the city’s higher education sector and wider economy. The shortlist recognition highlights the important role purpose-built student accommodation plays in helping students thrive while contributing to Liverpool’s reputation as one of the UK’s leading university destinations. Fresh is a leading student accommodation operator and management platform, creating communities that people genuinely want to call home. Operating in more than 55 locations across the UK and Ireland, the business provides students with a wide range of accommodation options, including en suite rooms, studios and shared apartments, supported by dedicated onsite teams and resident-first services. Lindsey Cullen, Operations Director at Fresh, said: “To receive three shortlist nominations is a fantastic achievement for everyone involved. Liverpool is an incredibly important city for Fresh, and we’re proud to play a role in delivering accommodation and communities that help students feel supported, connected and able to succeed during their time at university.” “Being named one of only 10 finalists for Best Student Housing Operator, alongside seeing both Benson Yard and Calico recognised among just nine shortlisted developments, is something we’re extremely proud of. The nominations reflect the hard work, passion and expertise of our teams, who go above and beyond to create exceptional experiences for our residents every day.” “The recognition for Benson Yard and Calico highlights the quality of the student communities we’ve helped create in Liverpool, while the operator nomination acknowledges our wider commitment to delivering outstanding service, wellbeing support and vibrant communities across our portfolio.” The nominations add to a strong year for Fresh as the business continues to invest in innovative resident experiences, operational excellence and best-in-class accommodation across its portfolio. Organised by YM Liverpool, the Liverpool Property & Business Awards celebrate excellence across the region’s property, construction, development and professional services sectors. Winners will be announced at the ceremony on 25 November 2026. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
#Wetherby Wall Systems Limited will trade as ROCKWOOL Wall Systems
A new identity that retains Wetherby’s trusted expertise and relationships while reflecting its place within ROCKWOOL Group. Wetherby Wall Systems Limited will trade as ROCKWOOL Wall Systems from 1 October 2026. The business has been part of ROCKWOOL Group for two years. Its new trading name makes that connection clearer and creates a consistent identity for ROCKWOOL Group’s Wall Systems businesses in the UK and Germany. The ROCKWOOL Wall Systems name and visual identity will be introduced across the company’s website, literature, communications and other customer touchpoints. While the way the business looks and presents itself is changing, its people, products and services remain the same. ROCKWOOL Wall Systems will continue to provide complete external and internal wall insulation systems, combining ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation with complementary system components, technical expertise and customer support. “The ROCKWOOL name and logo becoming part of our visual identity is a significant step. Our trading name now reflects more clearly that we are backed by a strong international brand. We are proud of what we have achieved as Wetherby Wall Systems Limited. This change gives us an even stronger platform on which to build for the future while keeping the expertise, relationships and customer focus that have always defined our business.” Simeon Gabriel, Managing Director, ROCKWOOL Wall Systems, UK What this means for customers Customers will continue to work with the same experienced teams and contacts. Products, contracts, ordering processes and delivery arrangements will also remain unchanged. The new identity will make the business easier to recognise as part of ROCKWOOL Group. It brings together Wetherby’s understanding of the UK wall systems market with the reach, knowledge and recognition of an international stone wool manufacturer. For customers and partners, this means the same specialist support and established relationships, under a clearer and stronger identity. Building for the future Trading as ROCKWOOL Wall Systems creates a stronger platform for the next stage of the company’s development, building on its established technical knowledge and understanding of the UK market. The focus remains clear: helping customers deliver high-quality solid wall insulation systems by providing marketing-leading components, practical advice, technical expertise, and reliable support. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Lesser-known cities and towns offer growing opportunities for life sciences development beyond London, Oxford and Cambridge
The future of UK life sciences development could expand beyond the best-known towns and cities as technology changes the market and factors such as access to housing, talent, infrastructure and favourable planning conditions become increasingly important. London, Cambridge and Oxford remain the UK’s three strongest locations for life sciences development, but other areas show growing potential. Within the life sciences ‘Golden Triangle’ in the south of England, Stevenage, Luton, Milton Keynes and Slough all rank within the top 20 places in the Alchemy Towns Index. Like London, Oxford and Cambridge, these places benefit from proximity to the UK’s largest concentration of life sciences anchors, investors, universities and hospitals. But the data analysed for the Alchemy Towns Index indicates that these areas’ other advantages, for example, the affordability and availability of housing for life sciences staff, or these areas’ impressive digital infrastructure, suggest they have the potential to support more intensive life sciences development. The findings come from the new Alchemy Towns Index, produced by built world communications and research consultancy ING and commissioned by construction and civil engineering company McLaughlin & Harvey. The Index ranks 40 UK towns and cities by eight conditions that can support future life sciences development. These include housing availability and affordability, catchment for talent, digital infrastructure, and the efficiency of the local planning regime. Beyond lab take-up: the wider ingredients underpinning life sciences growth Recent market uncertainty has prompted questions about the outlook for UK life sciences property, as occupiers take longer to commit and investors apply greater scrutiny to new schemes. The Alchemy Towns Index finds that current laboratory activity and take-up offer only part of the picture. Future growth also depends on whether a place can provide access to talent, suitable housing, digital infrastructure, an effective planning system and commercially viable property. At the same time, changing occupier requirements could widen the range of locations able to support life sciences growth. AI-led research, robotics, advanced manufacturing and dry-lab uses are increasing demand for flexible, digitally capable space alongside traditional wet laboratories. Alan Mackenzie, Lead for Life Sciences and Commercial at McLaughlin & Harvey, said: “The UK’s leading life sciences locations remain world-class, but scientific excellence will not be enough on its own to determine where the sector grows next. Places that can combine talent with homes, infrastructure and viable development opportunities are ideally placed to accommodate growing businesses and attract investment.” The research was informed by a roundtable discussion about the future of life sciences development with contributions from leading experts across the UK. Andy Williams, Chair of the Oxford-Cambridge Supercluster Board, said: “We welcome research that looks at the wider conditions needed to support growth across the Oxford-Cambridge region. Cambridge and Oxford hold extraordinary concentrations of scientific and commercial expertise. Stronger links between them, and the towns around them, can help growing businesses access mentors, skills, infrastructure and investment across a much larger area, while allowing more places to share in the region’s growth.” Natalia Gospodinova, Associate Director at Linesight, said: “Location strategies are becoming increasingly important, with organisations looking beyond cost alone to assess long-term growth potential. Access to skilled talent, supportive local policies, and a business environment that encourages investment are key considerations. The most attractive locations also offer a strong return on investment, the capacity to scale, a smooth and predictable planning process, reliable utility infrastructure, and the availability of suitable land and development sites.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Willmott Dixon Gets Green Light for £80m Revival of London Fire Brigade’s Historic HQ
Willmott Dixon Interiors is set to move forward with the £80 million transformation of London Fire Brigade’s historic headquarters at 8 Albert Embankment after plans for the major heritage retrofit secured planning approval. The decision clears the way for construction to begin on the Grade II-listed landmark, bringing the Brigade back to its former headquarters while delivering modern offices, upgraded operational facilities and new community spaces. Built in 1937, the prominent Art Deco building combines Lambeth Fire Station on its lower levels with six floors of office accommodation above. The upper floors served as London Fire Brigade’s headquarters until 2008, when the organisation relocated to leased premises in Southwark. Willmott Dixon Interiors secured the pre-construction role earlier this year and has been progressing the project through Stage 3 and Stage 4 design. Around 840 staff are ultimately expected to return to the refurbished headquarters, with completion targeted for 2029. The programme represents a substantial retrofit challenge, combining the conservation of an important London civic building with the technical requirements of a modern emergency service headquarters and operational fire station. Central to the work will be the comprehensive renewal of the building’s mechanical, electrical and public health systems. New life safety installations will also be introduced, alongside replacement windows and re-roofing as the project team improves the performance and condition of the existing structure. The later CMC extension, constructed during the 1980s, will be reclad as part of the architectural overhaul. Internally, the refurbishment will include new lifts, partitions, ceilings and finishes, transforming the vacant office floors into contemporary headquarters accommodation while respecting the building’s historic character. The project will also extend into the operational areas of Lambeth Fire Station. Appliance bays and basement areas will be refurbished, while new equipment stores and workspaces will be created. Firefighter accommodation will be upgraded and improvements made to the station’s training facilities. Delivering these works within a Grade II-listed property will require careful coordination between the contractor, designers, heritage specialists and London Fire Brigade, particularly where modern building services and safety requirements interact with the historic fabric. Lambeth Fire Station will temporarily close during the main construction programme, with crews relocated to Clapham and Chelsea fire stations. The closure is provisionally expected to begin during winter 2026/27. Heritage will remain an important element of the finished development. Historic features are set to be restored, while a new publicly accessible heritage and learning space will be created around the building’s Memorial Hall, which commemorates London firefighters who have lost their lives in service. A new community room will also form part of the redevelopment, providing space that can be used by local residents and community organisations. The decision to refurbish 8 Albert Embankment rather than replace the historic headquarters also represents a significant example of adaptive reuse within London’s public estate. Retaining and upgrading existing buildings can preserve architectural heritage while reducing the need for wholesale demolition and new construction. In this case, the approach will also return previously vacant floors to productive use while modernising an operational emergency services facility. With planning permission secured and key approvals now in place, the project can move into its next delivery phase. For Willmott Dixon Interiors, the £80 million scheme adds another substantial public sector and heritage retrofit project to its London portfolio. For the Brigade, it marks the beginning of a long-awaited return to a building that has been closely associated with London’s fire service for almost 90 years. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Superdrug Unveils Largest UK Store Following Major Merry Hill Expansion
Superdrug has reopened its largest store in the UK following a major refurbishment and expansion at Merry Hill in the West Midlands, strengthening the shopping destination’s growing health, beauty and wellbeing offer. The newly refurbished store now extends to 12,831 sq ft, providing Superdrug with substantially more space to showcase its expanding portfolio of beauty, skincare, fragrance, health and wellbeing products. The investment has enabled the retailer to introduce a wider selection of international and trending beauty brands, alongside an enlarged premium fragrance collection and Superdrug’s established own-brand ranges. A dedicated Beauty Studio also forms part of the upgraded store, adding a service-led element to the retail environment and reflecting the wider shift towards more experiential formats within major shopping centres. The Merry Hill investment comes as Superdrug continues to expand its physical store estate, with plans to open 30 new locations across the UK during the year. For the retail property sector, the decision to create Superdrug’s largest UK store at Merry Hill provides further evidence of major retailers investing in larger, higher-quality stores at established regional shopping destinations. The refurbishment also follows continued investment in Merry Hill as landlord Redical seeks to evolve the centre’s occupier mix and reinforce its position as one of the West Midlands’ major retail and leisure destinations. Clare Jennings, property director at Superdrug, said: “We’re delighted to be opening the doors to our newly refurbished store at Merry Hill, which is now the largest store in our estate. “The 12,831 sq ft store brings together everything customers love about Superdrug, from great value across health, beauty and wellbeing to the latest international beauty trends and much-loved own-brand favourites.” Jennings added that the expanded format would allow customers to explore the dedicated Beauty Studio, a larger premium fragrance collection and the latest beauty and skincare ranges. The project reflects a broader evolution taking place across the physical retail sector, where refurbishment and store expansion are increasingly focused on creating environments that offer customers more than a conventional transactional shopping experience. Larger stores provide retailers with greater flexibility to introduce services, dedicated brand areas, new product categories and improved layouts, while landlords benefit from investment by major occupiers that can help strengthen footfall and the overall appeal of their destinations. Alistair Winning, leasing manager for Redical, described the reopening as an important milestone for Merry Hill and said the expanded store reinforced the centre’s position as a leading destination for health, beauty and wellness. He added that the arrival of Superdrug’s largest UK location demonstrated both the continued evolution of Merry Hill and its appeal to leading national retailers. The investment comes at a time of renewed activity within the strongest regional shopping centres, with retailers increasingly concentrating resources on prominent locations capable of accommodating larger and more engaging store concepts. For Merry Hill, the 12,831 sq ft Superdrug provides another substantial upgrade to its retail offer, while for Superdrug the refurbished flagship represents a significant statement of confidence in its bricks-and-mortar estate as it continues its wider UK expansion programme. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Q3 UK BTR investment surpasses £900 million as volumes reach record high
International real estate advisor Savills reports that more than £900 million was invested in the UK Build to Rent (BTR) sector in the third quarter of 2026, taking year-to-date investment to more than £4 billion – above the level recorded at the same point in any previous year. In each of the past three years, Q4 has accounted for the largest share of annual investment. With a full quarter still to come, 2026 already ranks as the sixth highest year on record, suggesting that the sector is well placed to achieve a new annual investment record. Operational assets continue to attract significant investor interest, highlighted by Border to Coast Pensions Partnership’s acquisition of a portfolio of 866 Single Family Housing (SFH) homes from Leaf Living, which was founded by Blackstone and Regis. With a combined value of c.£400 million, the Savills advised acquisition represented the largest single transaction in the UK SFH sector so far this year. According to the advisor, development funding activity was concentrated outside London, with almost £300 million committed to suburban SFH schemes across five regions in England, highlighting the sector’s growing geographic reach. Royal London also agreed to forward fund 111 houses and 173 apartments in Newton Heath, Manchester, although the funding environment for city centre development remains challenging. Savills research also shows that rental growth was exceptionally strong during the summer. The Renters’ Rights Act came into force in May and has led to an acceleration in rents across England. England’s largest cities recorded stronger rental growth in the three months to August 2026 than their respective historic averages. Birmingham was the exception, where high levels of rental supply limited landlords’ ability to raise rents. This pattern extended across much of the country, with 72% of English local authorities recording stronger-than-average rental growth during the summer. Guy Whittaker, Head of Build to Rent Research at Savills, comments: “The acceleration in rental growth seen over the summer is likely to reflect a one-off adjustment in rents, rather than a sudden increase in tenant demand. Under the new legislation, landlords can no longer accept offers above the advertised rent. As a result, many have taken the opportunity to rebase asking rents to ensure they reflect prevailing market values.” Piers de Winton, Head of National Residential Investment & Single Family at Savills, adds: “Investment during the first nine months of the year provides encouraging evidence that 2026 could be a record year for the UK Build to Rent sector. Single Family Housing has been a particularly strong driver of activity, with investors continuing to pursue opportunities, underpinned by long term demand for high quality family homes. The growing scale and geographic reach of transactions also demonstrates the increasing maturity of the SFH sector and its ability to support delivery across a broad range of UK markets. “Importantly, this capital is helping to increase the supply of professionally managed homes at a time when demand significantly outpaces availability. Continued investment in the sector will have a vital role to play in delivering the housing urgently required in the UK.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals