£2.5bn Royal Docks Regeneration Moves Closer as 5,000-Home Waterfront Scheme Targets 2028 Start
One of London’s largest waterfront regeneration projects has taken a major step forward, with developer Arada confirming plans to begin construction on its landmark £2.5 billion Thameside West development in early 2028. The Dubai-based developer is accelerating preparations for the transformation of the 47-acre brownfield site in the Royal Docks, with a planning application for the first phase expected to be submitted later this summer. The opening stage of the development will deliver approximately 1,500 homes across six residential buildings, forming the first chapter of a wider masterplan that will create at least 5,000 new homes on one of central London’s largest undeveloped stretches of riverfront. Arada has appointed an experienced professional team to deliver the first phase, with architecture practice Gensler, engineering consultancy Arup and landscape architects Planit leading the design and technical work ahead of the planning submission. Located on the north bank of the River Thames, the site occupies a prime position overlooking Canary Wharf and the Greenwich Peninsula. Once complete, the regeneration will deliver a vibrant mixed-use neighbourhood featuring new homes, public spaces and extensive riverside amenities designed to reconnect the area with London’s waterfront. The wider masterplan includes a commitment to provide at least 35% affordable housing, alongside a kilometre of publicly accessible waterfront and landscaped green space covering around half of the site. The proposals are intended to create a highly sustainable, people-focused neighbourhood that balances residential development with high-quality public realm and biodiversity enhancements. Ahead of submitting revised plans, Arada has confirmed that the first phase has been comprehensively redesigned to comply with the latest building safety legislation and regulatory requirements, reflecting the industry’s continued focus on delivering safer, more resilient residential developments. A significant infrastructure element of the project will also see Arada working alongside Transport for London to deliver a new Docklands Light Railway station. The station is expected to be operational before the first residents move into the development, significantly improving connectivity across the Royal Docks and supporting long-term growth in east London. Construction will be undertaken by Arada London through the company’s vertically integrated delivery model, which combines planning, construction, sales and long-term asset management under one organisation. The approach is intended to streamline project delivery while maintaining greater control over quality, programme and long-term stewardship of the development. For the construction and property sectors, Thameside West represents one of the UK’s most significant mixed-use regeneration opportunities, creating substantial demand across residential construction, civil engineering, infrastructure, landscaping, public realm, utilities and specialist supply chains over the coming years. The development is being delivered in partnership with the Greater London Authority’s property company, GLAP, and forms a key component of the wider Royal Docks regeneration programme, which aims to deliver more than 36,000 new homes and create around 55,000 jobs over the next two decades. If approved, Thameside West will transform one of London’s last major undeveloped riverfront sites into a thriving new neighbourhood, reinforcing the Royal Docks’ position as one of the capital’s most ambitious regeneration and development hotspots. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Prologis Expands UK Logistics Platform with Trafford Park Acquisition
Site advances Prologis’ long-term investment plans in the North West Prologis UK has acquired an 8.66-acre regeneration site at Trafford Park in Greater Manchester, adding to its UK portfolio and extending into the North West, a market identified as a strategic priority for the business. Located on Barton Dock Road, the site sits within Trafford Park, one of Europe’s largest and most established industrial estates and the region’s premier urban logistics location. Prologis plans to regenerate the acquired site into an all-electric 200,000 sq ft modern, sustainable facility built to BREEAM Outstanding and EPC A+ ratings, subject to planning and site preparation. The acquisition marks a further step in Prologis accelerating its growth ambitions in the UK. The company is forward-planning considerable new investment across the North West through new development, regeneration and acquisition in order to develop up to 5 million square feet of prime logistics space, helping businesses start, scale and stay in the region. This new investment is in addition to the £5.6 billion invested in the UK over the past decade and the £5.5 billion Prologis plan to invest. Paul Weston, Regional Head, Prologis UK, said: “The North West is one of the UK’s most important logistics markets, and Trafford Park gives us an excellent foothold in a region that has been identified as a strategic priority. This acquisition builds on our long-term commitment to the UK and demonstrates how foreign direct investment can fuel long term economic growth.” Trafford Park is home to more than 1,300 businesses and approximately 35,000 employees, offering access to Greater Manchester’s consumer population, the M60, M62 and M6 motorway corridors, the Port of Liverpool and Manchester Airport. The North West is one of the UK’s largest logistics markets and continues to experience strong occupational demand, underpinned by constrained land supply and limited availability of modern Grade A logistics space. The region is also a core market for many of Prologis’ largest global and UK customers, reinforcing the strategic rationale for expansion. B8 Real Estate acted for Prologis, Cushman & Wakefield for the vendor on the Barton Dock Road site. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction begins on new primary school for Leicestershire County Council
WORK is underway to expand west Loughborough’s educational offering, as national contractor Willmott Dixon starts on site at a new primary school commissioned by Leicestershire County Council. Set to open in September 2027, Garendon Primary School will provide 420 places for primary-aged pupils, and once complete will help the county council meet growing demand for accessible, good-quality schools in the area. Procured via the Major Works Framework managed by Pagabo on behalf of Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust, the site sits between Dishley and Hathern. The location is that of a greenfield site, previously used as farmland, in the middle of the Garendon Park housing development – which has increased the need for additional educational resources in the area. Nick Heath, director at Willmott Dixon, said: “Having partnered on numerous major construction and regeneration projects, including other schools in the county, we’ve built an incredibly impactful relationship with Leicestershire County Council over the past 20 years. “We’re proud to be part of creating another high-quality learning environment for the Leicestershire community and driving forward the delivery of another sustainably-focused school. Once complete, this new site will support the local authority’s goal to bring much-needed school places to the county, as it continues to grow.” Willmott Dixon will be using its standardised school design, created specifically for Leicestershire County Council, on the £11.8m two-form entry facility – to cut design time, cost and waste by repeating and refining a proven model across successive schools. To make the building as energy and cost-efficient as possible, careful consideration was given to building materials and quality targets aligned with building regulations. This includes a 300m2 photovoltaic array on the roof to help sustainably power the facility. The construction project is due to complete in July 2027, ahead of the school opening to pupils that September. Cllr Charles Pugsley, cabinet member for children and families at Leicestershire County Council, said: “We have a growing county and our priority is making sure that new schools in Leicestershire are put in the right place. “The start of work on Garendon Primary School by Willmott Dixon is a major milestone in the step for this new community, and we’re looking forward to the school welcoming students next year.” Looking to bring wider benefits to the Loughborough community, Willmott Dixon will also be supporting local students and existing schools to help develop students’ learning and experience of the construction industry. This includes offering several apprenticeships, donating laptops, offering enrichment programmes and delivering mock interview workshops. Garendon builds on a relationship with Leicestershire County Council stretching back 20 years, over which Willmott Dixon has delivered a series of primary schools for the council. These include Hollycroft Primary School in Hinckley – Leicestershire’s first school designed to be net zero carbon in operation – and the £9.3m Wellington Place Primary School at the Airfield Farm development in Market Harborough, which opened to pupils in September 2024. To learn more about Willmott Dixon, visit www.willmottdixon.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
MERA invests equity in £100m Winslade Park transformation as Exeter estate hits 100-company milestone
MERA Investment Management has made a significant equity investment in Winslade Park, an 86-acre grey-to-green development in Exeter with a GDV of £100m. Following the completion of Clyst House in March 2026, the park has welcomed eight new companies, taking its occupier community to more than 100 businesses and around 1,500 professionals. The estate is also on course to become one of the UK’s first large-scale office developments to run entirely on on-site renewable energy. Solar installation is scheduled to begin in 2027, with completion expected before year-end. Once operational, the array will power the park in full, a significant draw for the growing number of occupiers and investors with firm sustainability commitments. With roughly 30,000 sq ft of premium office space still available, the park is on track to reach 90% occupancy by the end of the year, capping a landmark year of growth for the estate. MERA’s investment supports a series of upgrades now completing across the estate: Edward Matthews, CEO of MERA Investment Management, commented: “Winslade Park represents the highest level of tenant wellbeing we’ve seen across all investments presented to us, and was a defining factor in our decision to invest. The office sector is dynamic, once again attracting high levels of demand, and our funding supports entrepreneurial management teams who have the drive to create exceptional places to live and work.” “As a private investor, we are actively backing opportunities where there is potential to scale up, and this project is a revolutionary development for the area.” Mark Edworthy, Managing Director of Burrington Estates, commented: “We really enjoy working with the MERA team as they have a genuine passion for what we are developing here, and it feels like a collaborative partnership with a constant flow of ideas. We have created beautiful spaces for human connection: whether that is for your office, your team, a business event or a wellness journey. The response from tenants, visitors and the broader community has been remarkable.” Winslade Park’s occupier community has grown to more than 100 companies, including AECOM, Bishop Fleming, Vistry Group, Lovell Partnerships, Hays, Currie & Brown, Haskoning and Begbies Traynor, reflecting the strong market response to the estate’s ongoing transformation. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Engineering Data Centers for AI-Driven Performance and Reduced Carbon Impact
Design strategies that balance high-density computing demands with energy and resource efficiency The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence workloads is placing unprecedented demands on data center infrastructure. As compute densities increase and operational expectations tighten, the need to balance performance with energy efficiency and carbon reduction has become more urgent. This shift is driving a re-evaluation of how data centers are designed, particularly in relation to cooling strategies and overall resource use. Data centers are now a critical component of global infrastructure, supporting cloud services, digital platforms, and AI applications. With increasing digitalisation, energy consumption associated with these facilities continues to rise. In the UK and globally, regulatory and market pressures are also evolving, with greater emphasis on energy performance, carbon reporting and long-term sustainability targets. As computational loads increase, cooling systems are under growing pressure to maintain stable operating conditions without excessive energy use. Traditional approaches that rely heavily on mechanical cooling are becoming less viable due to their high energy intensity. This challenge affects operators, developers and designers, particularly as expectations around efficiency and environmental performance continue to rise. BSE 3D works with organisations navigating these challenges by applying a performance led design approach from the earliest project stages. The company has observed that early integration of simulation tools allows for more effective alignment between building form, system design and operational performance. Solutions that focus on reducing cooling demand at source, while optimising system efficiency, can significantly improve outcomes. This includes evaluating environmental conditions, refining building parameters and developing strategies that prioritise low-energy operation. A key approach involves enabling a cooling profile where approximately 70% of annual demand can be met through low-energy systems such as economisation and adiabatic processes, with mechanical systems supporting peak conditions and operational resilience. This reduces reliance on continuous compressor use and supports improved overall performance. “As data centre loads continue to increase, the industry needs to move beyond conventional cooling approaches. By prioritising low-energy strategies and validating them through simulation, it is possible to reduce energy demand while maintaining performance and resilience. Early-stage design decisions play a critical role in achieving this balance.” Kriti Gupta, Sustainability Consultant, BSE3D. Data centers are expected to play an increasingly significant role in supporting digital infrastructure. As their impact grows, so too does the importance of designing them in a way that responds to both operational requirements and environmental considerations. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Breedon invests £750k in new saw line at Penrhyn Quarry to boost Welsh Slate roofing slate production
The investment at the Welsh Slate site means smaller slate blocks can be processed into roofing slates, increasing production capacity and reducing waste The new saw line expected to increase output by some 8,000 slates per week Breedon Group plc is set to ramp up production of Welsh Slate roofing slates at its Penrhyn Quarry in North Wales, with the installation of a new £750,000 state-of-the-art saw line. The new saw line will help meet sustained demand for the roofing slates, which are widely specified on projects around the world for their durability, distinctive colour and long lifespan. It will also ensure more of the slate extracted from the company’s slate quarries can be used. The investment is expected to increase the company’s roofing slate production capacity by an additional 8,000 per week. As part of the process, Welsh Slate is extracted from the company’s Penrhyn, Ffestiniog and Cwt-y-Bugail quarries, before being broken down into manageable raw block sizes. These are then processed on existing saw lines before being split into roofing slates, either by machine or by skilled operators using a traditional hand‑splitting method. However, some of the raw blocks have historically been too small to process efficiently. The saw line – which has been developed and built in-house by a dedicated engineering team – has been specifically designed to cut and size these smaller raw blocks more efficiently, enabling the production of smaller roofing slates and reducing waste by ensuring more of the material extracted from the quarries can be used. It will work alongside other automated machines, with Welsh Slate’s well-known hand-splitting also continuing on site. Barry O’Connor, General Manager – Welsh Slate, Special Aggregates and Circular Economy at Breedon, said: “This investment represents an important step for Welsh Slate and for Penrhyn Quarry. By introducing this state-of-the-art saw line we can significantly increase production capacity while also making better use of the slate extracted from the quarries. “It means material that was previously too small to process can now be brought into production, helping us reduce waste while supporting the skilled teams who continue to split and dress our high quality slates. “Penrhyn Quarry has an enduring and proud history, and this investment demonstrates our commitment to the long-term future of Welsh Slate and ensuring the site continues to supply high-quality roofing materials for many years to come.” Penrhyn Quarry has been producing roofing slate since the 13th century and has been a centre of the UK natural stone industry for more than 700 years. Work on the project began in November, with installation completed earlier this year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals