£200 Million Hybrid Hospitality Hub Set to Transform Fountainbridge
A major new £200 million hospitality and community hub is being proposed for Edinburgh’s Fountainbridge, as The Social Hub lines up its second UK site and continues its European expansion. The group, founded by Edinburgh-born entrepreneur Charlie MacGregor, is in advanced talks over a plot on the former Fountain Brewery site, which has lain vacant for around 20 years. The land forms part of the wider regeneration masterplan for Fountainbridge, led by Buccleuch Property and Cruden Homes, which also includes hundreds of new homes, office and retail space and high quality public realm. Plans submitted by Montagu Evans and Hawkins\Brown set out an investment of around £200 million to deliver a 560 bed hybrid hospitality destination. The proposed scheme would bring together extended stay rooms to help relieve pressure on Edinburgh’s housing stock, hotel suites and student accommodation within a single development. In addition to bedrooms, the proposals include co working space for up to 300 people, community event areas, a bar and restaurant, gym and wellness facilities, and a fully accessible landscaped space outside for residents, guests and neighbours to enjoy. The Social Hub will hold public consultation events in Fountainbridge on 8 December and 26 January to share its vision and gather local feedback. It also plans to host visits to its Glasgow site so residents can see first hand how the concept operates and the role it has played in that city’s regeneration. Since opening its first UK hub in Glasgow in 2024, the brand has been credited with helping to revitalise the city centre’s “Golden Z”, bringing new activity and footfall to the lower end of Argyle Street and surrounding streets. The Glasgow site has hosted major events ranging from international comedy and film festivals to The Better Society Academy, headlined by John Swinney and supported by The Social Hub’s TSH Talent Foundation. A certified B Corp, The Social Hub is recognised for its hybrid model that blends hospitality, education, workspace and community uses. Its Glasgow hub stages more than 600 events per year, from film premieres and cooking classes to yoga sessions and skills workshops, with a focus on social impact and community building. Charlie MacGregor, founder and chief executive of The Social Hub, said the Fountainbridge opportunity has a personal significance. “This is a very special moment for me; it is something I have hoped for and worked towards for many years. Edinburgh is my home city and part of my DNA. This is an opportunity to give something back and help shape a bold, positive future for Fountainbridge. We always want the local community to help shape our hubs and would encourage anyone with views about our plans to share them. “The success of Glasgow has shown what we can achieve in Scotland and I am so excited to see how we can make the same kind of impact in this wonderful city. The Social Hub is more than a place to stay – it is a hub where people from all backgrounds come together, help create a better society and achieve extraordinary things.” Nick Waugh, commercial property director at Buccleuch, added: “We are delighted to be working with The Social Hub to provide the last important piece of the approved masterplan and such a complementary use for the site.” If approved, the Fountainbridge scheme would complete a key element of the area’s long term redevelopment, turning a long derelict former industrial site into a lively mixed use quarter with a strong focus on community, creativity and collaboration. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Conamar Wins £18 Million Deal to Transform Former City Bank into Low-Carbon Offices
Hertfordshire based contractor Conamar has secured an £18 million contract from Alchemy Asset Management to refurbish and decarbonise 7–21 Wilson Street in the City of London. Work is due to start on site in January, with completion targeted for summer 2027. The project will see the former Arbuthnot Bank building transformed into around 36,000 square feet of best in class, sustainably refurbished office space, including a substantial rooftop terrace. A key feature of the scheme is a new façade designed to refresh the building’s presence on Wilson Street. The upgraded frontage will incorporate curved glazing alongside high performance stone and terracotta cladding, giving the property a contemporary look while improving its environmental performance. Conamar is understood to have beaten competition from RED Construction and Forcia to secure the job following a competitive tender process. David Hughes, director at Alchemy Asset Management, said:“We are delighted to have selected Conamar to deliver this exciting project on behalf of our overseas client. This speculative investment responds directly to sustained occupier appetite and reflects our confidence in the resilience of the London office market. “Having secured planning consent earlier this year, we ran a competitive tender process over the summer, and we were impressed with Conamar’s diligence and commitment to the project. We look forward to delivering this refurbishment with them into an increasingly tightly supplied market.” Nathanial Crichton, pre construction director at Conamar, added:“The competitive tender, followed by a rigorous due diligence period, enabled us to demonstrate our understanding of the client’s development drivers and value priorities. “Through collaborative design and commercial analysis, we identified additional net internal area and realised close to £2 million in cost efficiencies. Our dedicated design partners and core supply chain have been instrumental in shaping a deliverable and efficient route to market. We are very pleased to be moving forward and look forward to bringing this project to life.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Government Backs £750 Million Marlow Film Studios on Former Quarry Site
Plans for a major new film studio complex in Buckinghamshire have been given the go ahead by the government, clearing the way for a £750 million production campus on the edge of Marlow. The Marlow Film Studios proposal, designed by Wilkinson Eyre Architects, will transform a former quarry and landfill site off the A404 into a state-of-the-art media campus. The project is intended to tap into booming global demand for film and television production space and strengthen the already powerful West London film cluster. The scheme had previously been refused by Buckinghamshire Council, but following a public inquiry earlier this year the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government has now approved the plans. Marlow Studios chief executive Robert Laycock welcomed the decision, describing it as a significant moment for the UK’s creative industries and for the local area. “We are very pleased with the decision by the secretary of state to approve our planning application for Marlow Studios,” he said. “The determination is a real vote of confidence in the UK and in its creative industries. This is a meaningful decision for anyone who believes in the UK’s future, our nation’s creative genius, and our unmatched capability to inspire the world. “For Buckinghamshire, this is a powerful vote of confidence in the coming generations. Regenerating a poorly landfilled site to enable new careers and pass on exceptional skills in this world-beating British industry is the right decision. It is a signal to investors who aim for high quality development, done in the right way, through outstanding design that brings sustainable opportunities and benefits to their community. “The decision is clear in its assessment that Marlow Studios will attract global investment, help the UK maintain its competitive creative edge, and will strengthen the West London film cluster. We know that Marlow Studios will be a media campus like no other – offering the world’s creative businesses a bespoke facility, leading in emerging technology and design that drives creativity and storytelling. “The global creative sector is growing fast, with a pace of change that is driving new investment. New platforms, new technology, including AI, and new ways of telling stories require a different approach. Marlow Studios will be the campus that drives creative collaboration for the coming era.” With planning consent now secured, attention will turn to detailed design, enabling works and securing occupiers, as the backers of Marlow Studios look to position the site as a flagship destination for international film and television production. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Stepnell commences second phase of expansion works at Hazeley Enterprise Park
COMPLETE construction partner Stepnell has commenced the latest phase of development works on Hazeley Enterprise Park outside of Twyford, extending the current facilities within the park to include light industrial buildings, energy-efficient offices and a community hub. Addressing the shortage of quality business units in the area, Hazeley Enterprise Park will deliver 17 new light industrial units, as well as up to ten new office units. At the heart of the Hazeley Enterprise Park will be the Hazeley Hub which will include a cafe as well as meeting and event spaces, offering both tenants and the wider community a place to connect. Stepnell has commenced remediation works of the site, formerly a chicken farm and feed mill, to ensure that the ground is suitable to support the next stage of construction. Rob Speirs, director at Stepnell, said: “From our nearby Southampton office, we understand the local demand for high quality industrial and commercial units within the area and the ease of access that such a development affords from the M3. “Hazeley Enterprise Park will provide the local area with enhanced access to high-quality commercial spaces and increasing employment opportunities in the commercial and industrial sectors. “Working on an active site requires strong site control and communication and we’ve already been proactively sending out monthly newsletters to residents to keep them informed on the project’s progress. We’re also engaging with surrounding neighbours to ensure that disruption to their working day is kept to a minimum.” Located among parkland and woodland, environmental sensitivity is at the core of Stepnell’s work on the site. From the earliest stages, Stepnell is prioritising ecological responsibility, from utilising the 12-acre field to enhance the developments biodiversity and long-term sustainability to planting native trees and shrubs and wild flower areas. Supporting the sustainable goals at the core of the development, Step Energy – the energy and renewables business within Stepnell Group – has provided solar panels for the roofing and electric vehicle charging will be provided to all units as standard. Social value will also remain a key priority, working with contractors to support the integration of apprenticeships as well as utilising local suppliers wherever possible. Nikki Bream, managing director at Hazeley Group, said: “We are pleased by the pace of work on site, with visible differences being made each day. First-phase units and offices are due to be completed by early summer 2026, with some already pre-let to new businesses to the site. “The Hub will follow slightly later and will be a valuable addition to the Park. Tenants, both current and prospective, are excited by the future availability on site of a versatile space which can be booked for larger meetings and events, providing the opportunity to host wider business gatherings and entertain suppliers and customers. “We are creating an attractive vaulted building, designed to allow the dual purpose of providing both tenants and the public with somewhere to meet or entertain in our beautiful, rural setting.” To explore Stepnell’s expertise, visit https://www.stepnell.co.uk/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Timber Takes Centre Stage as McLaren Secures Landmark Clerkenwell Office
McLaren Construction has been chosen by developer Global Holdings Management Group to deliver Xylo, a pioneering 100,000 square foot office building in Clerkenwell that will become the UK’s largest all timber frame workplace. The nine storey scheme in central London moves into full construction following the completion of enabling works. McLaren will now work with architects Piercy&Co, project manager Avison Young, services and sustainability engineers Max Fordham, and structural and civil engineers Heyne Tillett Steel, with completion targeted for the second quarter of 2028. Xylo is being billed as one of the most environmentally advanced office buildings in the world. Its structure will be formed entirely from glulam beams and cross laminated timber, supplied by Hybrid Structures, part of the William Hare Group. The extensive use of engineered timber significantly reduces embodied carbon when compared with traditional steel and concrete, while also aiming to create a warm, natural internal environment for future occupiers. Darren Gill, managing director for London and South at McLaren Construction, said the job represents a major step forward for sustainable office development in the capital. “This is a pioneering use of structural timber and off site manufacturing to deliver a high level of buildability and sustainability on a typically tight central London site,” he said. “The result will be a landmark project that redefines what a sustainable, healthy workplace can be. Rigorous digital information management systems enable us to monitor carbon emissions as the project progresses and ensure that it comfortably meets its ambitious targets.” Josh Lawrence, chief executive of Global Holdings Management Group UK, added: “We are delighted to be working with McLaren to deliver Xylo – a game changing project and a significant milestone for our industry. Xylo is going to be the perfect building for companies that are leaders in their fields, showcasing the most environmentally friendly technologies in a truly beautiful building, underpinned by a vibrant neighbourhood and excellent transport links.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Heathrow Third Runway Gets Government Backing in £33 Billion Superhub Plan
The government has thrown its weight behind Heathrow Airport Limited’s proposal for a third runway, paving the way for a £33 billion expansion to create a new “superhub” at the UK’s largest airport. The preferred scheme, put forward by Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL), includes around £21 billion for the construction of a new north west runway and a further £12 billion for associated terminal and airfield infrastructure. In addition to the expansion plans, HAL has committed to investing a separate £15 billion in modernising and upgrading existing airport facilities. This refurbishment programme is independent of the third runway and is expected to go ahead regardless of the outcome of the planning process for expansion. The decision ends the chances of a rival proposal led by billionaire hotel entrepreneur Surinder Arora, whose alternative vision for Heathrow’s future has been under consideration alongside HAL’s plans. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed the government’s choice on Tuesday morning, following what she described as a detailed comparison of the remaining options for growth at Heathrow. “Following a comparative assessment of the remaining proposals for Heathrow expansion, the government’s view is that the north west runway scheme brought forward by Heathrow Airport Limited offers the most credible and deliverable option,” she said. “Today is another important step to enable a third runway and build on these benefits, setting the direction for the remainder of our work to get the policy framework in place for airport expansion. This will allow a decision on a third runway plan this parliament which meets our key tests including on the environment and economic growth.” Heathrow Airport Limited will now prepare and submit an application for development consent for the north west runway, triggering a formal planning and examination process. In a statement, HAL welcomed the government’s backing. “We welcome the Government’s support for our scheme to build a third runway at Heathrow – the UK’s gateway to growth. Expanding Heathrow will mean more connectivity, increased trade, improved passenger experience and a huge economic boost for the British businesses that will help design and build it. “However, we still need further clarity as to how the crucial next phase of the project will be regulated. We need definitive decisions from the CAA and Government by mid December so that delay to the project can be avoided and we can get on with delivering this vital project for our customers and for the UK.” The chosen scheme will require significant alterations to surrounding infrastructure, including major works to the M25 estimated at around £1.25 billion. These works are expected to involve realignment and tunnelling to accommodate the new runway while maintaining one of the country’s busiest motorways. With the government now formally backing HAL’s plan, attention will turn to the detailed planning process, environmental assessments and regulatory decisions that will determine how and when the third runway can move from policy to construction. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals