Upper Brook Street student scheme reaches structural milestones
McLaren Construction Midlands and North has made significant progress at the £160m Upper Brook Street student accommodation development in Manchester. Since McLaren’s appointment late last year, work has advanced with both tower cranes now fully operational and concrete cores for both buildings reaching full height. The 23-storey UBS tower has progressed to level five floor slabs, and the nine-storey K block has reached level four. The project team has also completed the installation of the attenuation tank and established exemplary site accommodation nearby. Current works are focused on progressing the concrete frame with floor slab construction ongoing across both buildings, and this phase will continue over the coming months with façade installation expected to commence in the summer. Modern methods of construction remain central to the scheme, and the project incorporates a full concrete frame and fully unitised prefabricated façade panels. The development is targeting high sustainability standards, including BREEAM Excellent and EPC A ratings, alongside a broader commitment to reducing environmental impact through efficient construction practices. The project has set social value deliverables including creating local jobs, dedicating time supporting unemployed people back into work, improving local skills including by hosting site visits, creating apprenticeships and supporting young people into work, 20% of construction value to be spent locally, and supporting local community projects to help increase green space and biodiversity. The team has started to develop this by working closely with local organisations, including initiatives in partnership with the Salvation Army, to provide work experience opportunities. Engagement with community groups is also ongoing, with discussions underway to support a local Scout group and a proposed greenhouse project linked to a nearby residents’ initiative at Brunswick allotments. Upper Brook Street will deliver 737 student beds across two buildings of 9 and 23 storeys, alongside a range of shared amenities including study areas, fitness facilities and social spaces. Once complete, the development will provide new public and community-focused facilities, contributing to the wider Oxford Road Corridor. Luke Arnold, Regional Director at McLaren Construction Midlands and North, said: “Progress on Upper Brook Street has been excellent, with the team achieving key structural milestones in a short period of time. Reaching full height on both concrete cores is an achievement and is testament to the collaboration and expertise across the team. As we move forward, we remain focused on maintaining this momentum while continuing to deliver meaningful social value within the local community.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Major Regeneration project reaches key milestone as reservations go live at Moda and Apache’s Makers Place
Landmark Jewellery Quarter build-to-rent neighbourhood opens for reservations following major city centre transformation Reservations have officially gone live at Makers Place, Moda Living and Apache Capital’s landmark Build-to-Rent neighbourhood in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, marking a major milestone in the delivery of a significant city-centre regeneration project. The scheme delivers 722 high-quality rental homes across a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses, forming a long-term, operationally efficient rental neighbourhood in a key central Birmingham location. The project has reactivated a long-vacant city-centre site that had remained undeveloped for over 70 years in a key gateway position. Contributing to the ongoing regeneration of the city’s renowned Jewellery Quarter, Makers Place brings the plot back into use and establishes a thriving new gateway neighbourhood the centre of Birmingham. The development comprises three buildings ranging from five to 39 storeys, forming a distinctive new addition to Birmingham’s skyline and joining The Mercian – Moda and Apache Capital’s first Birmingham development and one of the city’s tallest residential buildings. Designed by Ryder Architecture and delivered by Sisk, Makers Place has been shaped through a highly contextual design approach, responding directly to its position between the historic Jewellery Quarter, with elegant, elaborate brick work in a low-rise design, blending seamlessly into the more contemporary design high rise design on the edge of the nearby Colmore Business District. The project has also delivered significant economic and social value during construction. Over 600 jobs were created through Sisk and the wider supply chain, with 788 employees in project-related roles based within 11 miles of the site. The scheme has supported 185 individuals previously long-term unemployed into work, alongside care leavers, prison leavers, ex-military personnel and individuals with disabilities. In addition, 42 apprentices, graduates and interns have been engaged, with 116 people under 24 supported into employment or training. To further integrate the neighbourhood into its Jewellery Quarter community Moda launched reservations with the introduction of five local Makers – creative individuals running independent businesses in the area – to embed the local character into the resident experience at Makers Place from day one. The makers include: Residents will also benefit from the Moda Apache JV’s most considered and elevated range of amenities to date, including a sky lounge and bar with views over the city, co-working spaces, private dining rooms, rooftop terraces and landscaped courtyards, alongside a 24-hour gym and fitness studio and cinema room. Strategically located within walking distance of Snow Hill and Birmingham New Street stations, Makers Place sits within a well-connected city centre location. Richard Smith, MD Operations at Moda Living, said: “Makers Place is an exciting and important addition to our Birmingham portfolio, and we’re pleased to now have reservations live ahead of welcoming our first residents to this amazing new neighbourhood in the summer. “As the Build-to-Rent market continues to evolve, differentiation is key. At Makers Place, we’ve focused on creating a neighbourhood that reflects the character of the Jewellery Quarter, while delivering the quality, consistency and service that define Moda. The inclusion of our local makers plays a central role in bringing that to life, ensuring residents feel connected to the area and their homes from day one.” Richard Lawrence, Executive Director for Place, Prosperity and Sustainability at Birmingham City Council, said: “Makers Place is a landmark development for Birmingham, and it’s exciting to see it reach this important milestone. The scheme has transformed a site that stood vacant for decades into a vibrant new part of the city centre, and in doing so sets a new standard for ambitious, design-led regeneration. “It shows what can be achieved when partners work together with a shared vision to create places that genuinely add to the life of the city.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
NG Block Management secures funding boost for Nottingham cladding safety works
NG Block Management has secured funding through the Cladding Safety Scheme to support essential fire safety works at River Crescent, a residential development in Nottingham. The company took over management of the scheme in March 2023 and has since been working to address fire safety concerns and bring the building in line with current regulatory standards. After a fire risk assessment identified issues with the external wall system, NG Block Management introduced a waking watch as an immediate safety measure. It also oversaw a full upgrade of the building’s fire alarm system, allowing the evacuation strategy to move from ‘stay put’ to simultaneous evacuation. The firm then began progressing a long-term remediation plan, supported by the building consultancy team at NG Chartered Surveyors. As River Crescent leaseholders qualify as protected leaseholders under the Building Safety Act 2022, an application was made to the Cladding Safety Scheme to help fund the required works. Initial approval enabled the creation of a specialist project team and allowed the scheme to move into the design and tender stages. Full approval has now been granted by the Building Safety Regulator following months of coordination. Remediation works are due to begin shortly, with scaffolding expected to be installed on the first elevation in the coming weeks. Jamie Pervin, facilities management surveyor at NG Block Management, said the project had been complex and demanding from the start, but resident safety had remained the company’s priority. He added that securing approval from both the Cladding Safety Scheme and the Building Safety Regulator was a major step towards delivering the works. The project team includes BEFS Ltd as fire engineer, Boothe King as structural engineer, CEB Services as principal contractor and Craig Foster Partners as architect. NG Chartered Surveyors has also been involved in contract administration and cost consultancy. Paul Rogers, head of building consultancy at NG Chartered Surveyors, said the project highlighted the firm’s experience in delivering complex refurbishment and remediation schemes. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
AstraZeneca secures green light for major Cambridge conference and office hub
AstraZeneca has received planning approval for a significant new office and conference building at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, marking the latest phase in the continued expansion of one of Europe’s leading life sciences clusters. Designed by Jestico + Whiles, the six-storey development will deliver the 12,000 sq m of high-quality floorspace, including offices for more than 700 staff. The scheme also incorporates a 200-person conference centre, a 450-seat auditorium and a 110-cover restaurant, creating a flexible environment geared towards collaboration, events and knowledge sharing. The building will be located on Francis Crick Avenue, positioned just south of AstraZeneca’s landmark headquarters designed by Herzog & de Meuron, which was shortlisted for the Stirling Prize. The project forms part of a wider masterplan for the campus, with Herzog & de Meuron acting as masterplan and design architect, supported by landscape architect Gillespies. The scheme is intended to support AstraZeneca’s long-term strategy of consolidating its Cambridge-based operations, bringing together research, commercial and partner teams within a single, integrated campus environment. By enhancing connectivity between disciplines, the development aims to strengthen innovation and collaboration across the organisation. A multidisciplinary consultant team has been assembled to deliver the project, including Ramboll on civils, structures, MEP and transport, Bidwells on planning, MFS on façades and The Fire Surgery on fire engineering. The site, spanning approximately 2.2 hectares, is currently used as a temporary car park and construction support area for the neighbouring Rosalind Franklin building, designed by Hawkins\Brown and being delivered by Mace. The new development will sit around 150 metres from the forthcoming Cambridge South station, further enhancing accessibility to the campus. While earlier outline consent for a commercial building on the site formed part of a wider application submitted in 2010, the approval had lapsed in 2021. As a result, AstraZeneca brought forward the current proposals as a standalone application, while still adhering to the overarching principles of the original masterplan. The project represents a further investment in high-specification, research-led commercial space, reinforcing Cambridge’s position as a global hub for life sciences and innovation-led development. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Complii accelerates growth with the launch of a new lifts and escalators division
Complii, formerly known as Compliance Group, and one of the UK’s leading providers of building safety and regulatory compliance services, has announced the launch of a dedicated lift and escalators compliance division – the latest step in the company’s ambitious ‘buy and build’ growth strategy to deliver a fully comprehensive building compliance offering. The new lift and escalators division expands Complii’s portfolio of specialist building compliance services, which already spans water, air, fire and electrical compliance. With lift and escalator safety a critical and increasingly regulated area of building management, the launch positions Complii as the go-to single-source partner for building owners and operators seeking to reduce risk and assure compliance across all major aspects of their estate. The launch of the lifts and escalators division marks a significant milestone in Complii’s rapid expansion. The business has grown substantially in recent years through a combination of strategic acquisitions and organic growth, building out a network of specialist businesses that together provide building compliance services across all major risk areas. With the lifts and escalators division now in place, Complii serves a broad range of sectors, including hospitality and leisure, manufacturing, social housing, care homes, the public sector, construction, healthcare, pharmaceutical, education, and retail. Sarah Dixon, CEO of Complii commented: “The launch of our lifts and escalators division is a proud moment for Complii and a clear signal of our intent. Our vision has always been to offer building owners and managers a single trusted partner for their compliance needs – one that removes complexity, reduces risk, and delivers consistently high standards across every discipline. We are growing quickly, but we are growing with purpose, and we remain absolutely committed to the quality and expertise that our clients depend on.” For Complii’s clients, the expansion means greater convenience, consistency, and confidence. Rather than managing a fragmented network of specialist contractors across different compliance disciplines, building owners and managers can now rely on a single partner with proven expertise across every major area of building safety – from fire, water and air through to electrical and now lifts and escalators. It is a model built around making compliance simpler, not just safer. With the addition of the lifts and escalators division, Complii now offers one of the most comprehensive building compliance portfolios available in the UK market. The company’s integrated model – combining specialist expertise across water, air, fire, electrical, and now lifts and escalators – enables clients to consolidate compliance management through a single partner, delivering both operational efficiency and greater consistency of compliance outcomes. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Workman makes 57 promotions following year of growth
Workman has made 57 promotions across the business, including seven new Partners. The promotions follow a year of sustained growth, and reflect the firm’s continued investment in specialist capability. The promotions span all 11 UK offices and cover a broad range of service lines; from property management, including retail & leisure, to building consultancy, client accounts, sustainability, compliance, and HR. The geographic spread and breadth of disciplines reflect a business growing consistently across every part of the firm, while evolving with the creation of new teams in areas like building safety and data analytics. The seven new Partners are: Matthew Pateman, Managing Partner, said: “We’re a property firm, but we’re really a people business. These 57 promotions are the clearest sign of that. People have grown here, built careers here, and are now leading the next chapter of what Workman is becoming. That’s exactly what we’re working towards — building the kind of firm where talented people can do the best work of their careers.” Charlotte Bradley, Group Head of HR, said: “Fifty-seven promotions, including seven new Partners – and every single one of them has earned it. We’re in a period of real progression at Workman, and the people being recognised today are central to that. We are building the best culture in the sector, and that takes genuine investment in the people who show up and deliver every day.” With more than 900 specialists across 11 UK offices and a growing presence in Europe, Workman continues to develop talent at every level. The firm recruited 35 graduates and apprentices in 2025, with further intake planned for 2026. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals