Skyline shift: Manchester approves twin-tower Albert Bridge House overhaul
Oval Real Estate has secured planning permission for a landmark, mixed-use cluster beside Albert Bridge on the River Irwell, reshaping a central Manchester site currently occupied by surface car parks and the ageing 18-storey office block that lent the scheme its name. The revised proposals, designed by Studio Egret West, pivot the development towards homes in response to changing market conditions. Two octagonal residential towers will rise to 49 and 37 storeys, joined by a scaled-down 18-storey commercial building. In total the trio is expected to cost around £350m to deliver, with the office element accounting for just over £100m. Housing capacity has doubled versus the 2023 consent, with approximately 800 apartments now planned. The residential offer emphasises liveability: dual-aspect layouts to improve daylight, cross-ventilation and views across the city, alongside communal amenity set within a re-greened public realm. The commercial block has been reworked to target Net Zero Carbon in operation, pairing a thermally dynamic façade with smart climate systems to support Manchester’s 2038 carbon-neutral ambition. A significant public realm strategy sits at the heart of the scheme. More than 5,700 sq m of new streets and spaces will be created, opening up walking and cycling routes between Parsonage Gardens and the Irwell. An “Urban Arboretum” retains mature trees and layers in new planting, aiming to stitch the river edge back into the city and provide a biodiverse buffer for residents and office users alike. The project team includes Gardiner & Theobald as cost consultant, AKT II as structural engineer and Hoare Lea leading MEP design. Together they will navigate the site’s technical challenges, including foundation interfaces from the existing office block and delivering high-rise residential cores alongside a high-performance office on a constrained plot. For Manchester, the approval reflects a broader realignment of city-centre development—prioritising high-density homes, best-in-class workplace and generous public realm over single-use blocks. If delivered to the current specification, Albert Bridge House will add a distinctive silhouette to the skyline while unlocking a riverside route long hidden behind car parking, signalling confidence in the city’s continued growth and a push for more sustainable, people-first urbanism. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Hall for all: Balfour Beatty breaks ground on Edinburgh’s new Dunard Centre
Edinburgh’s first purpose-built concert hall in more than a century is moving from drawings to delivery, with Balfour Beatty appointed on a £162m contract to build the 1,000-seat Dunard Centre behind St Andrew Square. Main construction begins in the coming weeks, with completion expected in 2029 and a workforce peaking at around 200. Commissioned by the charity Impact Scotland, the venue has been designed by David Chipperfield Architects with Reiach & Hall Architects, and world-leading acousticians Nagata Associates. It will be the UK’s first concert venue to feature Nagata’s acoustic design, pairing musical precision with a contemporary civic presence. The five-storey steel-framed building will be wrapped in a façade of pre-cast concrete panels. Inside, bespoke solid oak panelling will tune the main hall’s acoustics, while a complex in-situ concrete double basement provides back-of-house facilities, including changing rooms and storage. A café, bar and flexible multipurpose spaces broaden the offer, creating a cultural hub that can host everything from orchestral performances to workshops and community events. Balfour Beatty comes to site after an 18-month early contractor involvement phase, working alongside Impact Scotland and the design and engineering team to refine the methodology, sequencing and buildability for a tightly constrained city-centre plot. The contractor will deploy 4D planning to coordinate logistics, reduce disruption around St Andrew Square and protect the programme’s critical path. Nick Rowan, managing director of Balfour Beatty’s regional business in Scotland, said: “We are proud to be entrusted with delivering what will become a nationally significant cultural venue in the heart of Edinburgh and have worked meticulously to plan every stage of this complex build, from construction logistics in a tightly constrained site, to the precision needed to achieve world-class acoustic performance. Our focus now is on safe, efficient and high-quality delivery, working closely with our local supply chain while creating meaningful jobs, apprenticeships and skills opportunities throughout the programme.” The Dunard Centre is supported through the Edinburgh & South East Scotland City Region Deal, with £10m each from the Scottish and UK governments and £5m from the City of Edinburgh Council. Impact Scotland has also raised more than £100m from private philanthropy, a record for a cultural capital project in Scotland. “Ambitious projects like this really do only come about once in a century,” said Ronnie Bowie, chair of Impact Scotland. “Signing this contract with Balfour Beatty is another celebratory step towards making our vision a reality… a ‘Hall for All’ that offers something for everyone.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Druids Heath reboot: £1bn plan clears way for 3,500 homes and a new high street
Birmingham City Council has granted outline consent for the £1bn regeneration of the Druids Heath estate, unlocking a long-term masterplan that will deliver 3,500 homes and a comprehensive renewal of this south Birmingham community. Around 1,785 homes — 51% of the total — are set to be affordable, with 400 for social rent in the first phase. The balance will be delivered through a partnership between the council, Lovell and Homes England, blending mixed-tenure housing with social infrastructure to support growth over the next decade. The proposals go far beyond replacement housing. The masterplan introduces a new local high street, later-living homes, sports and community facilities, generous green spaces and upgraded transport links. Streets will be reconnected and public realm improved to prioritise walking, cycling and access to services, aiming to knit Druids Heath more closely into the wider city. Lovell, named last month as preferred development partner, is now working with the council to finalise a partnership agreement. Due to be signed in spring 2026, the agreement will unlock full funding and signal the start of construction. Phasing will target early delivery of affordable homes alongside enabling infrastructure and community assets, with design guidelines expected to drive quality, sustainability and energy efficiency across all plots. Cllr Brennan, cabinet member for housing and homelessness, said the programme will deliver “51% affordable housing, amounting to nearly 1,800 homes,” and confirmed that “every existing council tenant who wants to stay will be provided for.” He added that 68% of residents engaged through consultation supported the plans, which will help Birmingham meet its wider target of 51,100 new homes by 2031. For the construction and property supply chain, the project represents a major, multi-year pipeline across demolition, remediation, new build and public realm, with opportunities to embed modern methods of construction, low-carbon materials and high-performance building fabric. The council and Lovell are expected to emphasise skills, apprenticeships and local employment, alongside biodiversity gains and high-quality landscape to support health and wellbeing. With consent secured and a clear delivery structure taking shape, Druids Heath is set for a reset: new, affordable homes paired with a walkable heart, community facilities and greener streets — a blueprint for estate regeneration built around quality, inclusion and longevity. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Firethorn breaks ground at Stratford PBSA site with McAleer & Rushe
Real estate investor, developer and asset manager, Firethorn, has broken ground at its purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) site, Poland House in Stratford, East London, with McAleer & Rushe appointed to deliver the £50m contract. The development will create 284 high-quality student beds, 35% of which will be affordable accommodation, and is the first contract Firethorn has awarded to McAleer & Rushe. Poland House residents will benefit from generous amenities, including spacious common rooms, study areas and an on-site gym. A dedicated community space for local residents will also be delivered as part of the project. The site will be developed to a target BREEAM “Excellent” rating, in line with Firethorn’s strong commitment to delivering sustainable, best-in-class assets. Situated on Stratford High Street, Poland House provides convenient access to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford High Street DLR Station and Stratford Station, and is within a 15-minute walking distance of both UCL East and University Arts London. Paul Martin, Head of Development at Firethorn, commented: “Poland House is the third student development in our expanding Living portfolio, as we continue to strengthen our presence in prime university cities across the UK. “With excellent connectivity, in an area of continued investment and regeneration, this project reflects our continued commitment to providing high-quality, sustainable accommodation that enhances the student experience. “McAleer & Rushe has a proven history of completing best-in-class PBSA assets and we look forward to working closely with the team to develop the site at pace.” Mark Diamond, Senior Director at McAleer & Rushe, said: “We are delighted to cut the first sod together with Firethorn on Poland House, marking a significant milestone in the delivery of this exciting new student development in Stratford. “Reflecting our shared commitment to building vibrant, well-designed spaces that stand the test of time, this development will be a valuable addition to the local community, with which we will actively engage throughout construction to make a positive and lasting contribution. “With our experienced team and trusted supply chain, we look forward to delivering high-quality, sustainable accommodation for East London’s thriving student community.” The project is due for completion ahead of the 2028/9 academic year. Poland House forms part of Firethorn’s growing Living portfolio, which includes PBSA developments in Hackney Wick, Stratford, and Leith Walk in Edinburgh, and the office-to-residential conversion of One Bessborough Gardens in central London. Firethorn recently acquired 5 Lloyd’s Avenue in the City of London, with plans to convert the office building into a high-density hotel with modern public amenities. Work is also well underway at the 138-bedroom site in Sackville Place in Dublin, which will sleep up to 716 guests For more information, visit www.firethorntrust.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
MINISO hits 50: Centre:mk lands milestone store as kawaii retailer accelerates UK roll-out
MINISO is set to open its 50th UK store at Centre:mk in Milton Keynes, marking a milestone in the lifestyle brand’s rapid expansion since entering the market in 2019. The new 1,550 sq ft unit on Silbury Boulevard will stock fan-favourite collections from Hello Kitty and Friends, Sylvanian Families, Disney and Pokémon, alongside a rotating line-up of vinyl plush pendants, blind boxes, surprise bags, toys, beauty, lifestyle accessories and snacks. The Centre:mk signing underscores MINISO’s strategy of targeting high-footfall destinations while steadily building a presence on prime high streets. It follows a flurry of 2025 launches, including Birmingham’s Bullring (opened 10 October), Glasgow Central (3 September), Bromley and Livingston (both 22 August), Telford Centre (11 July), Edinburgh Princes Street (21 March) and Kingston’s Clarence Street (7 March). Earlier flagships in London’s Oxford Street, Manchester’s Trafford Centre and Edinburgh’s Princes Street have helped cement brand visibility and supported a national roll-out of around 60 locations to date. For Centre:mk—one of the region’s dominant shopping destinations—the deal adds another crowd-pulling name to a tenant mix geared towards family and youth appeal. Kevin Duay, centre director at Centre:mk, said: “MINISO’s decision to bring its popular brand to Centre:mk is a reflection of the centre’s vast catchment area, high footfall and our ability to attract global retailers, and a clear endorsement in both Milton Keynes and the strength of Centre:mk as a dominant regional centre.” MINISO’s UK playbook blends fast-fit, merchandising-led store design with frequent product drops and licensed collaborations that fuel repeat visits. Recent openings suggest the retailer is balancing enclosed malls—where event-led activations can drive dwell—with town-centre locations that tap commuter and weekend footfall. The brand is also enhancing its digital offer, with plans to introduce click-and-collect to bridge online discovery and in-store purchase. For landlords and local authorities, the 50th-store announcement signals continued demand from value-led, impulse-friendly retailers that trade effectively across seasons and respond quickly to social media trends. For consumers, Centre:mk’s upcoming opening offers an accessible dose of “kawaii” culture and small-ticket gifting—timed neatly for peak shopping periods. Fit-out is expected to emphasise simple wayfinding, high-density front-of-house display and efficient back-of-house logistics to support rapid replenishment. With the milestone now set for Milton Keynes, MINISO’s UK footprint looks set to keep growing through 2026, combining shopping-centre anchors with targeted high-street infill and an increasingly omnichannel proposition. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Panattoni acquires the North West’s largest brownfield logistics site
Panattoni, the world’s largest privately owned industrial developer, has exchanged contracts to acquire a prime 30-acre brownfield site at Hardwick Grange, Warrington, representing the largest strategic logistics land purchase in the North West this year. The site, formerly occupied by Safeway and later Iceland, has been acquired from UK real estate investor and developer, Firethorn, and English Real Estates Ltd. Located adjacent to Junction 21 of the M6, the property benefits from immediate motorway connectivity, in one of the region’s most established industrial locations. Panattoni intends to bring forward proposals for a new sustainable logistics park on a speculative basis, replacing the obsolete existing buildings with high-quality, energy-efficient space designed to meet the growing demand for modern accommodation across the North West region. Dan Burn, Head of Development for the North West and Yorkshire at Panattoni, said: “We are delighted to have acquired this major strategic site in Warrington. The obsolete buildings are at the end of their economic life, and our intention is to bring forward a high-quality, sustainable redevelopment that reflects both the site’s potential and its importance to the local economy. We look forward to working collaboratively with Warrington Borough Council and our planning consultants, Lichfields, to refine our proposals ahead of submitting a planning application early next year.” The redevelopment will target BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ and EPC ‘A’ ratings, reflecting Panattoni’s commitment to sustainability and Net Zero Carbon standards in construction. The scheme will also aim to deliver significant local economic benefits through job creation, enhanced landscaping, and improved accessibility. Brownfield regeneration continues to represent a substantial proportion of Panattoni’s UK investment activity, accounting for 2m sq ft of the company’s project acquisitions this year. The Warrington development reinforces Panattoni’s focus on repurposing redundant industrial land in established urban markets, driving sustainable growth while supporting regional employment. DTRE advised Panattoni on the transaction, with CMS providing legal counsel. For more information, please visit: www.panattoni.co.uk/warrington Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals