Winvic completes major civils and infrastructure works at SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton
Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor specialising in the design and delivery of private and public sector construction and civil engineering projects, has completed the civils and infrastructure programme and two industrial facilities at SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton, a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), marking a major milestone in the delivery of the development. Developed by client SEGRO, SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton is a strategic logistics hub combining modern warehousing, rail freight connectivity and extensive transport infrastructure. Over the last five years, Winvic has delivered a comprehensive programme of civils and infrastructure works across the site, supporting the transformation of the land into a major logistics destination. The works delivered by Winvic include the construction of the Roade Bypass bridge and associated highways works, a new 2.6km bypass for Roade village incorporating bridge and roundabout construction, significant earthworks and associated infrastructure to facilitate the wider strategic rail freight interchange and logistics development. Winvic also delivered major highways improvements to Junction 15 of the M1, requiring complex traffic management and phased delivery to maintain network resilience while increasing capacity and accessibility to the park. Further works included the delivery of the site’s Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI), featuring a dedicated 35-acre rail terminal and a 55,000m² intermodal and HGV slab, comprising 38,000m² of intermodal hardstanding and a 17,000m² HGV area to support container handling and freight operations. The works also included the construction of a 170-metre-long tunnel shielding trains entering and exiting the terminal, forming a critical element of the freight interchange infrastructure. Alongside the civils and infrastructure programme, Winvic also completed Plot 7, a 2.3 million sq ft distribution facility – for a major online retailer and Plot 4 for end user Yusen Logistics. The 1.2 million sq ft industrial and logistics facility is the first operational building at the park and comprises a 1.14 million sq ft ground floor warehouse and a 333,251 sq ft mezzanine. The project achieved BREEAM Excellent and EPC A ratings and was delivered as Net Zero in Construction in line with the UK Green Building Council Framework. Located adjacent to Junction 15 and four miles south of Northampton town centre, SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton will ultimately provide up to 5 million sq ft of industrial and logistics space alongside its now operational strategic rail freight interchange and is expected to create around 7,450 jobs. As one of the UK’s largest rail-connected logistics hubs, the development has been designed to support more sustainable supply chains and strengthen freight connectivity. Winvic has worked closely with SEGRO and local stakeholders to create lasting benefits for the surrounding community, whilst minimising disruption during construction. Supporting SEGRO’s Community Investment Plan and the Employment Scheme requirements of the Development Consent Order (DCO), the project established an Employment & Skills Forum and Community Liaison Group to identify opportunities for local engagement, employment and skills development. Throughout the project, Winvic and its supply chain partners provided 42 apprentice, year-in-industry and work experience placements, employed 793 local people, and invested over £60 million with local subcontractors. The wider project team also supported 13 community initiatives through the donation of time, resources and materials, alongside 26 educational engagement activities including employer talks, careers fairs and site visits. At SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton, Winvic also launched its STEM after-school club, delivering seven sessions for 32 Year 7 to Year 10 students at Northampton Academy, helping to inspire the next generation of construction and engineering professionals. SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton has been independently verified as a Net Zero Carbon in Construction project, aligned with the UKGBC 2019 Definition Framework. Upfront embodied carbon emissions for stages A1–A5 were assessed at RIBA Stages 4, 5 and third-party verified at RIBA Stage 6, following RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment methodology. This enabled carbon performance to be tracked throughout construction, with key material hotspots including earthworks, in-situ concrete, roads and pavings, and rail track infrastructure identified, monitored and targeted for reduction up to Practical Completion. The Whole Life Carbon Assessment (WLCA) supported the implementation of carbon reduction measures, including maximising material reuse within earthworks, replacing cement content within rail slabs with a 30% Pulverised Fly Ash (PFA) content and achieving 20% recycled content within the rail track itself. Rob Cook, Managing Director for Civils and Infrastructure at Winvic, said: “Completing the civils and infrastructure programme at SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton is a significant achievement for Winvic and reflects years of collaborative working with our long-standing client SEGRO. “This has been a highly complex and nationally significant project, involving major highways improvements, strategic rail infrastructure and extensive enabling works, all delivered in live operational environments and alongside the ongoing development of the wider park, while carefully minimising disruption to ongoing operations and the surrounding area. “Our teams have worked collaboratively to deliver infrastructure that will support more sustainable freight connectivity, unlock economic growth and create long-term value for the region. We are extremely proud of the role Winvic has played in helping bring this nationally important development forward.” Kate Bedson, Senior Director, National Markets at SEGRO, said: “We’re hugely proud of the progress that has been made over the last five years, from the completion of the rail terminal, bypass, and motorway junction improvements to the first buildings going up. It’s even more exciting that our investment to create this amazing facility already has its first occupiers, helping move goods, drive growth, and create jobs.” The scale and impact of Winvic’s works at SEGRO Logistics Park Northampton have been recognised through a series of industry accolades during the delivery of the project. The Roade Bypass project won highly commended ‘Project of the Year’ at the Civil Engineering Contractors Association Awards 2024, in recognition of the complexity of the scheme and its collaborative delivery. The project and wider team were also recognised at the Highways Awards 2024, where Roade Bypass was shortlisted for the ‘Major Project Award’, and at the Highways Excellence Awards, where Winvic Site Engineer, Amarra Dassu, who worked on the scheme, was shortlisted for a ‘Rising Star
First look at brand-new premium student accommodation at Brabazon as opening confirmed for this September
Prospective students can now get an early glimpse of life at The Propeller Quarter, with newly released images revealing the premium student accommodation at Brabazon. With many school leavers currently waiting on A-Level results and the start of university clearing on 13th August, YTL Developments has confirmed that The Propeller Quarter is ready to welcome hundreds of students from September. The new images showcase the modern, affordable student homes and social spaces including bedrooms, shared living and dining spaces, gym and the main entrance. Two residential buildings built by YTL Construction UK, using a range of innovative off-site solutions, will open at the start of this academic year, providing 745 beds for students studying in Bristol and the South West. A further two residential buildings are due to open in the following academic year, taking the total number of beds to more than 1,500. When fully complete, The Propeller Quarter from YTL Developments will be one of the largest purpose-built student accommodation options in the UK, taking pressure off Bristol’s private rental market, where large numbers of shared student houses can upset the balance of some neighbourhoods. Rooms currently start from £180 per week, offering students a more affordable option in a city where accommodation costs continue to be a major consideration when choosing where to study. The Propeller Quarter is minutes from UWE Frenchay and has transport links to all major Bristol Campuses – including the new University of Bristol Enterprise Campus – via the brand-new Bristol Brabazon train station, which is opening in Autumn this year. Dedicated Metrobus services are already running through Brabazon. Students can choose from fully furnished shared ensuite cluster flats, private studios and accessible rooms, with utilities and high-speed internet included. Shared social amenities feature dedicated study areas, an onsite gym, outdoor wellbeing spaces, a cinema lounge, karaoke and gaming rooms, music and content creation studios. Students will be part of the growing lifestyle at Brabazon as the most exciting new city district in the South West – from pop-up food destinations and padel courts to immersive golf experiences and an exciting food and drink quarter coming early next year. The nearby Spitfire Hangar community hub, home to Mokoko Bakery, hosts regular events and social activities, while Cribbs Causeway is just a short distance away. Future residents will also be among the first to experience the wider transformation of Brabazon, including live music at the new Aviva Arena, a 20,000-capacity venue currently under construction. Jon McDiarmid, Director of Sales and Marketing at YTL Developments, said: “It’s fantastic to see The Propeller Quarter taking shape ahead of welcoming its first students this September. We know that finding good-quality accommodation that offers value for money is a key consideration for students and their families, and The Propeller Quarter has been designed to provide exactly that. “As well as modern, affordable accommodation, students will be part of an exciting new neighbourhood with excellent transport links, high-quality facilities and a range of amenities on their doorstep.” Prospective students can find out more at prestigestudentliving.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Crown Estate Advances Landmark West End Regeneration with 169,000 sq ft Mixed-Use Development Programme
The Crown Estate has unveiled the next phase of its long-term transformation of London’s West End, bringing forward plans to deliver more than 169,000 sq ft of high-quality office, retail and hospitality space through two major regeneration projects in the heart of the capital. The developments at 10 Piccadilly and 21–29 Glasshouse Street form part of the organisation’s wider strategy to enhance its 10 million sq ft central London portfolio while preserving the architectural heritage of one of the world’s most recognisable commercial destinations. At the centre of the programme is the comprehensive refurbishment of 10 Piccadilly, the Grade II listed building that completes the famous curve of Regent Street overlooking Piccadilly Circus. The historic landmark, once home to the Swan & Edgar department store and later Tower Records, will be sensitively restored and repositioned as a vibrant mixed-use destination. The redevelopment will create approximately 90,800 sq ft of accommodation, including 62,700 sq ft of premium office space alongside a 26,400 sq ft hospitality offering spanning the basement, ground and first floors. A further 1,700 sq ft of retail space will front Regent Street, helping to strengthen one of London’s busiest shopping and leisure destinations. Meanwhile, The Crown Estate will deliver a significant retrofit scheme at 21–29 Glasshouse Street by combining two existing office buildings into a single contemporary commercial development. The project will provide around 63,000 sq ft of upgraded workplace accommodation, featuring modernised interiors, an enhanced reception area and a new rooftop space designed to improve occupier wellbeing and amenity. At street level, approximately 15,500 sq ft of retail accommodation will be created across the basement and ground floors, further enhancing the area’s commercial offer. Together, the schemes demonstrate the growing role of retrofit and adaptive reuse in the evolution of central London’s commercial property market. By repurposing existing buildings rather than replacing them, the developments seek to preserve important heritage assets while delivering modern, sustainable workplaces and destination retail and hospitality spaces. The projects also complement wider proposals to improve the public realm across Regent Street, Haymarket and Piccadilly Circus, with The Crown Estate continuing to work in partnership with Westminster City Council to enhance connectivity, accessibility and the overall visitor experience throughout the West End. For the construction and property sectors, the programme highlights the continued investment being made in mixed-use regeneration across London’s prime commercial districts. The emphasis on heritage-led refurbishment, high-quality workplace environments and integrated retail and hospitality uses reflects the changing demands of occupiers and visitors, while supporting the long-term resilience of the capital’s built environment. Kristy Lansdown, Managing Director of Development at The Crown Estate, said: “These developments mark the next step in our long-term vision for the West End, redeveloping historic buildings to reinvigorate an equally historic place. By taking an estate-wide view, we can invest in the places and experiences that help the West End succeed on the global stage – places such as 10 Piccadilly and 21–29 Glasshouse Street, where we are sensitively bringing heritage assets into their next chapter, creating outstanding new office, retail and hospitality spaces for London. “Our ambition is to shape a destination that continues to attract world-class businesses and visitors, while strengthening the city’s future resilience. Through long-term planning and investment, we are working to deliver a West End that will thrive for generations to come.” As demand continues to evolve across London’s commercial property market, the latest developments reinforce The Crown Estate’s commitment to delivering sustainable, mixed-use regeneration that balances heritage conservation with contemporary design, ensuring the West End remains one of the world’s leading destinations for business, retail, hospitality and culture.
Watkin Jones Secures £60m Pipeline as Student Accommodation Retrofit Market Gains Momentum
Watkin Jones has secured £60 million of new contracts, strengthening its project pipeline as demand continues to grow for the refurbishment, fire safety remediation and modernisation of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) across the UK. The residential developer and asset manager has signed six new contracts during the second half of its financial year, with five awarded through its specialist Refresh division, which focuses on upgrading existing student accommodation assets through refurbishment, remediation and compliance-led improvement works. The projects span Birmingham, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Glasgow, covering approximately 1,750 student beds and reflecting increasing investment across the sector to improve the quality, safety and long-term performance of existing accommodation. Alongside the retrofit programme, Watkin Jones has also partnered with Marick Real Estate to deliver a new Staycity aparthotel development in Oxford city centre, further broadening its activity across the living and hospitality sectors. The latest contracts underline a growing trend within the PBSA market, where investors are increasingly prioritising the enhancement of existing assets rather than solely pursuing new-build developments. Fire safety improvements, sustainability upgrades, energy efficiency measures and operational enhancements are becoming key drivers of investment as owners seek to extend building lifecycles while meeting evolving regulatory requirements and occupier expectations. Watkin Jones said the newly secured projects have been agreed at margins consistent with previous guidance, providing greater visibility over future revenues while supporting its strategy to diversify the business beyond traditional development activity. The company has also taken proactive steps to manage cost pressures by bringing forward procurement of selected subcontract packages and key construction materials, helping to reduce exposure to inflation and supply chain volatility. Despite the positive momentum, the company acknowledged that wider market conditions remain challenging. Ongoing uncertainty within real estate investment markets and slower transaction activity continue to influence the pace of recovery across the sector. Chief Executive Alex Pease said: “While market conditions remain challenging and continue to impact the pace of recovery and short-term real estate transaction liquidity, the long-term fundamentals of our end markets remain attractive. “The signing of six new contracts, with a combined value of £60 million at margins in line with guidance, signals further progress of our strategy to diversify the business, allowing us to strengthen our secured pipeline and enhance future revenue predictability.” For the construction and property sectors, the latest contract wins highlight the growing importance of retrofit within the UK’s living sector. As rising construction costs continue to affect the viability of some new developments, investment is increasingly being directed towards upgrading existing buildings, improving fire safety compliance, enhancing sustainability credentials and extending the operational life of residential assets. With demand for high-quality student accommodation remaining resilient in many university cities, refurbishment and asset optimisation are expected to play an increasingly significant role in the evolution of the UK’s PBSA market over the coming years. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Natural Power appointed by ScottishPower Renewables to expand support for Scottish windfarm operations
Natural Power has strengthened its position as one of Scotland’s leading providers of renewable energy services after securing a contract with ScottishPower Renewables (SPR) to support five onshore windfarms across southern Scotland. The new five-year contract sees Natural Power appointed to provide operations and maintenance services at Ewe Hill 1, Ewe Hill 2, Hagshaw Hill 2 and Wether Hill, while its existing contract at Black Law Windfarm has also been extended. The award forms part of ScottishPower Renewables’ latest operations and maintenance framework, representing a record investment of £102.9m in the UK’s onshore wind supply chain and reinforcing the important role that local businesses play in supporting the country’s clean energy infrastructure. Matthew Kelly, Director of Operations and Asset Management at Natural Power, said: “We’re delighted to have strengthened our long-standing relationship with ScottishPower Renewables through this latest contract award. It reflects the confidence in our people, our operational expertise and our ability to safely deliver high-quality services across its onshore wind portfolio. “As a business headquartered in south-west Scotland, we’re particularly proud that this investment supports skilled jobs within local communities while helping maintain the reliable operation of renewable energy assets that are making an important contribution to Scotland’s clean energy ambitions. “We’ve invested in expanding our teams in both Dumfries and Lanark to support the contract, creating new opportunities for skilled engineers and strengthening our operational capability for the future. We look forward to continuing to work closely with ScottishPower Renewables and continuing to support the production of reliable, clean energy.” Headquartered in Dumfries and Galloway, Natural Power has expanded its local operational teams to deliver the contract, creating new engineering roles alongside employees who transferred into the business under TUPE. The company has employed an additional 23 dedicated staff across its Dumfries and Lanark operations, supporting the delivery of services across the five windfarms. The project team in Dumfries comprises ten employees, including wind turbine technicians, a lead technician and a logistics coordinator. In Lanark, the business has further strengthened its capabilities with a team of 13 employees, including newly created leadership positions to support contract delivery and future growth. The investment demonstrates Natural Power’s continued commitment to developing skilled employment opportunities within Scotland while ensuring experienced, locally based teams are supporting critical renewable energy infrastructure. Natural Power has been providing technical and operational services to the renewable energy sector for almost three decades and supports wind, solar and battery storage assets throughout the UK and internationally. The latest contract further strengthens the company’s operations and maintenance portfolio while reinforcing its commitment to supporting Scotland’s growing renewable energy industry through local expertise, long-term investment and highly skilled engineering teams. Find out more about operations and asset management at Natural Power here: Renewables Operations & Asset Management | Natural Power Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
MP warns of “Clear Systematic Failure” as more than £21 Million lost to Rogue Builders in Harrogate and Knaresborough
Homeowners in Harrogate and Knaresborough have lost more than £21 million to rogue builders, according to research by the FMB (Federation of Master Builders). Local MP Tom Gordon warns there is a “clear systematic failure of the system” to protect people from cowboy builders. The figures put losses in Harrogate and Knaresborough at £21,461,115, with those affected losing an average of £1,944 each. Across Yorkshire and the Humber, the total is more than £1.1 billion. More than two in five people in the region (42%) say they have hired a builder who turned out to be unqualified or unlicensed. One in five (20%) have been put off having building work done at all because they couldn’t find a builder they trusted and two thirds (66%) say mandatory licensing of builders would increase their confidence. Mr Gordon set out the scale of the problem in his own casework on the latest episode of the FMB’s Build Up from the Basement podcast. Speaking on the podcast, Mr Gordon MP said: “Originally you get one email in and you think, oh, it’s probably a one-off. Then you get the second one and the third and the fourth, and before you know it there’s a clear systematic failure of the system here to actually protect people. “What we’re seeing with some of the people in the industry is that they are completely exploiting people, and ruining people’s lives as well. That’s what it comes down to. “Parliament hasn’t really got a grip of this. The local authorities and the councils who should be regulating and looking at planning and enforcement aren’t doing their jobs. There’s a massive gap that people are falling through.” The MP, who has campaigned on incorrectly installed spray foam insulation since leading a Parliamentary debate on it in December 2024, described one constituent in Knaresborough now effectively living in her garage because her house is covered in mould and damp. “People who cannot escape this are thinking about it 24/7. It can be absolutely catastrophic for people’s mental health. You can physically see that they’re tense, that they’re stressed, that they’re not sleeping.” He went on to criticise the current regulatory protection landscape for consumers, describing it as “quite toothless” with “ineffective organisations”. On licensing small building companies, Mr Gordon said he was open to it: “I’m really flexible about who takes up that responsibility. I think there’s definitely a space there where it could be the likes of the FMB. But it needs to be easily accessible to the consumer. If you invest upfront in enforcement, what you get back down the line in savings makes a better system for everyone. “My frustration is that quite often when it comes to legislation, we like to reinvent the wheel. There are great examples already from devolved nations, or various other countries around the world, where we can take inspiration from what they do.” Carolyn Frank, Director of FMB North, added: “£21 million lost in one constituency, and £1.1 billion across Yorkshire, is the price homeowners are paying for an industry that anyone can walk into with no checks whatsoever. “What worries me just as much is the one in five people here who’ve been put off having work done altogether because they can’t find a builder they trust. That’s money not being spent with the good local firms in Harrogate and Knaresborough who do the job properly, employ local people and stand behind their work. “Our members are vetted and inspected before they join. A Licence to Build would extend that basic protection to every homeowner in Yorkshire, and it’s encouraging to hear an MP dealing with this casework every week reach the same conclusion.” FMB CEO Brian Berry concluded: “It’s a national scandal that anyone can call themselves a builder and start work on someone’s home with no qualifications, no checks and no accountability. £21 million lost in Harrogate and Knaresborough alone is what that failure costs – but there is also the emotional and mental stress that each victim goes through too after being affected by a rogue builder. “A Licence to Build would help protect both homeowners and reputable builders and we are delighted to have Tom Gordon MP’s support on this. Hearing how his casework every week has reached the same conclusion – with no resolution for victims – proves that the Government needs to act.” The podcast can be watched on Youtube Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals