Capital&Centric Brings Weir Mill BTR Neighbourhood to Life in Stockport
Capital&Centric is marking the opening of its Weir Mill Build to Rent development in Stockport with a major community event, highlighting how the transformation of the historic mill is creating much more than a new collection of rental homes. The social impact developer has confirmed an all-local line-up for WEIR:LIVE, a free event taking place at the newly opened neighbourhood on 3 October. The celebration will bring live music, DJs, food and entertainment beneath Stockport’s landmark Grade II* listed railway viaduct. Weir Mill itself represents a significant heritage-led residential regeneration project. Capital&Centric has transformed the Grade II listed former cotton mill and surrounding site into a new riverside neighbourhood comprising 253 one, two and three-bedroom rental homes, including 88 apartments within the restored mill buildings. The development has been delivered by Capital&Centric in partnership with Stockport Council and Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation and forms part of the wider £1 billion regeneration of Stockport town centre. Alongside its BTR accommodation, Weir Mill provides around 20,000 sq ft of commercial space for independent businesses, with new public squares, landscaped courtyards and improved access to the River Mersey helping turn the formerly underused site into a mixed-use destination. The development combines the restoration of the historic mill complex with new-build elements, retaining much of the industrial character that has defined the site for generations. Weir Mill dates back to 1790 and predates the neighbouring railway viaduct, which was constructed over part of the mill complex during the 19th century. New amenities include Weaver’s Square, positioned beneath the viaduct and designed to accommodate markets, events, live music and pop-ups. The restored Wheelhouse has meanwhile been repurposed to provide residents with a gym, lounge and co-working facilities. A growing collection of independent operators is also helping establish the development as a destination beyond its residential community. Businesses include Social Osteria, Kontrol Pilates, Prologue, Rita Rays, The Jane Eyre and Bodega. Capital&Centric officially opened Weir Mill in August, with homes now available through the developer’s Ollo rental platform. WEIR:LIVE will provide an opportunity for the wider Stockport community to experience the completed regeneration, with Capital&Centric deliberately selecting musicians, DJs, artists and creatives from the borough. The approach reflects a wider shift within the BTR market towards developments that combine professionally managed rental homes with amenity, public realm, hospitality and community-focused spaces. For Stockport, Weir Mill also demonstrates how the reuse of challenging historic buildings can contribute to town-centre regeneration, combining new housing with heritage conservation and creating new commercial and public spaces around one of the borough’s best-known landmarks. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
McLaren Secures Green Light for £2bn York Central Regeneration
McLaren has secured detailed planning consent for the first major phase of the £2 billion York Central regeneration, clearing the way for more than 1,000 homes, a new hotel and a major commercial district alongside York railway station. City of York Council has approved plans for phase 1C of the 110-acre brownfield development, which is being brought forward by McLaren Regeneration and Arlington Real Estate as part of one of the largest city-centre regeneration projects in the North of England. The approved phase will deliver 1,014 mixed-tenure homes, with at least 20% designated as affordable housing. Plans also include a 213-bedroom hotel and a new western entrance to York railway station, opening onto a new civic square and improving connections between the development and the wider city. Construction is expected to begin next year. The planning milestone follows more than £135 million of Government-funded infrastructure and enabling works undertaken to unlock the complex former railway land. Sisk has been delivering the infrastructure programme, including new roads, pedestrian and cycle connections and public realm improvements behind York station. Other elements of York Central are already progressing through the planning process. A separate 134,000 sq ft Government Property Agency office hub has been approved, providing workspace for up to 2,600 civil servants, alongside plans for Museum Square. The scale of the wider masterplan is substantial. Once completed, York Central is expected to provide at least 2,500 new homes and more than one million sq ft of commercial space, supporting an estimated 6,500 jobs. The project will effectively create a major new mixed-use neighbourhood within walking distance of York city centre, combining residential development, employment space, hospitality, public realm and improved transport infrastructure. Its regeneration has been discussed for around four decades, but the challenges associated with access, infrastructure and bringing a large area of former railway land back into productive use have historically prevented development from progressing. Housing Secretary Angela Rayner described York Central as an opportunity to transform derelict brownfield land into thousands of new homes, jobs and green spaces, while supporting wider economic growth. John Gatley, chief executive officer of McLaren Property Group, said the approval represented a major step forward for York following years of work between public and private sector partners. He added: “The real work starts now as we have the green light to convert our vision to reality.” With enabling infrastructure already taking shape and detailed consent now secured for more than 1,000 homes, York Central is moving from a long-standing regeneration ambition towards construction, creating a significant future pipeline for contractors, consultants and the wider built environment supply chain. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Chancerygate Completes £46.5m T45 Logistics Development in Leeds
Construction has completed on T45, a major 224,000 sq ft Grade A urban logistics development in Leeds, bringing 23 new industrial and warehouse units to one of the city’s established employment locations. The scheme, located on the A63 East Leeds Link Road within the Cross Green industrial area, was developed by Chancerygate in partnership with sustainable and impact investor Bridges Fund Management, with Caddick Construction appointed as main contractor. The development has a gross development value of approximately £46.5 million. Fletcher Rae is the architect for the development, while Feasibility Limited has acted as quantity surveyor, forming part of the professional team behind the delivery of the new industrial and logistics accommodation. T45 provides a range of flexible units, with individual buildings extending from approximately 4,500 sq ft to 34,000 sq ft. The variety of sizes has been designed to attract businesses ranging from local and regional operators to national logistics, distribution and trade occupiers. The 11-acre development occupies a strategically important location less than a mile from the M1 and around three miles from Leeds city centre, providing strong access to the wider Yorkshire motorway network and major population centres across the region. Cross Green is already an established industrial and logistics destination, with major businesses operating in the surrounding area including Amazon, John Lewis, FedEx and Premier Farnell. Sustainability has also been central to the development strategy. T45 has been designed to target BREEAM Excellent and EPC A ratings, reflecting increasing demand from industrial occupiers for modern buildings capable of reducing energy consumption and supporting wider ESG and carbon reduction objectives. The development was forward acquired by industrial and logistics property company Indurent in 2025 as part of a wider 750,000 sq ft portfolio transaction with Chancerygate and Bridges Fund Management. The deal also included the Torque development in Birmingham and Holbrook Park in Coventry. Indurent will own and operate T45 as part of its expanding UK industrial and logistics portfolio. Occupier activity is already under way. JoyExpress, the express delivery operation associated with Chinese e-commerce group JD.com, has taken a 14,225 sq ft unit at the development on a five-year lease, demonstrating demand for modern last-mile and urban logistics accommodation within Leeds. Caddick Construction’s delivery of T45 also continues an established relationship with Chancerygate. The contractor has worked with the developer on a number of industrial and logistics projects, building experience in the delivery of modern, energy-efficient employment space. With construction now complete, T45 adds a substantial new supply of high-quality industrial accommodation to the Leeds market at a time when well-located and energy-efficient warehouse space continues to attract occupier interest. The combination of motorway connectivity, flexible unit sizes, modern design and strong environmental credentials positions T45 to support manufacturers, trade occupiers, e-commerce businesses and last-mile logistics operators seeking space close to one of the North of England’s largest urban economies. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Tapestry Collection by Hilton Arrives In UK Capital With London Bridge Hotel Signing
Hilton today announces the signing of London Bridge Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, as part of a franchise agreement with Gama Holdings, marking the debut of the lifestyle brand in the UK capital and becoming Hilton’s ninth brand in London. Set beside London Bridge Station in one of the city’s most vibrant and well-connected districts, the 153-room hotel is expected to welcome guests in early 2028 after undergoing a more than £12 million transformation. Located at 8–18 London Bridge Street, the hotel will be within walking distance of some of the capital’s most iconic landmarks, including The Shard, Borough Market, Tower Bridge and the South Bank cultural district. A distinctive Central London stay The hotel, which will benefit from strong corporate and leisure demand, will offer 153 guest rooms, including unique garden vault rooms, delivering a broad range of options for business travellers and guests exploring the capital. At the heart of the hotel will be a redesigned ground floor experience featuring a number of different premium F&B outlets – all of which will be operated by leading hospitality partner Individual Restaurants. Expanding Tapestry Collection by Hilton in the UK Tapestry Collection by Hilton is a portfolio of independent hotels, each with its own vibrant personality and connection to its destination. Inspired by the locale, every hotel offers guests authentic experiences, thoughtful design and locally inspired food and drink, creating stays that are as unique as the places they call home. This London signing follows continued momentum for Tapestry Collection by Hilton across the UK and Ireland, including recent signings announced in Plymouth and Cork, with both due to open in 2027. The recent signings join a collection of four distinctive properties already open across the UK, including The Samuel Ryder Hotel St Albans, Elmbank York, The Marcus Portrush and Dover Marina Hotel & Spa. Christian Charnaux, executive vice president and chief development officer, Hilton, said: “London and the broader UK and Ireland region continue to present tremendous opportunities for growth, and this signing is another great example of how we are driving value for owners and strengthening our network effect around the world. Through our partnership with Gama Holdings, we are delighted to introduce Tapestry Collection to the city, further expanding our lifestyle portfolio in one of the world’s most important travel destinations. This signing builds on the strong momentum we are seeing across our brand portfolio in the region and reflects continued demand from owners for the scale, commercial engines and industry-leading returns that Hilton delivers.” Simon Elias, president, Gama Holdings, said: “Having owned London Bridge Hotel for more than 30 years, it is incredibly rewarding to see the property enter this exciting new phase. We believe Hilton is the ideal partner to help realise our vision for the hotel’s future, and we are delighted to introduce Tapestry Collection to London. This partnership combines the character and heritage of the hotel with the strength of one of the world’s leading hospitality companies, and I am confident it will be something we can all be proud of for many years to come.” Guests will benefit from Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest loyalty programme. Members who book directly with Hilton can earn Points for hotel stays and experiences, and enjoy instant rewards and benefits, including contactless check-in with room selection and exclusive member discounts. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Reds10 Drives Modular Prison Expansion as Inmates Help Build 152 New Places
Reds10 has started construction of 152 new prison places at HMP Kirklevington Grange in North Yorkshire, with prisoners themselves gaining construction and manufacturing experience as part of the delivery programme. The Ministry of Justice scheme is being delivered through its Rapid Deployment Cells (RDC) Programme, which uses Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and extensive offsite manufacturing to increase capacity across the prison estate more quickly than conventional construction methods. Reds10 is the Principal Works Contractor for the Kirklevington Grange project. The development will provide the additional places across three new two-storey accommodation blocks, together with supporting facilities and infrastructure. A total of 181 modules will be used, with more than 85% of the accommodation completed offsite before being transported to the prison for installation. In an unusual example of construction being integrated with rehabilitation and skills development, prisoners are also participating in the project. Two inmates are working on the foundations on site, with the potential for participation to increase as construction progresses. Reds10 is also employing prisoners released on temporary licence to support the manufacture of RDC units for the wider prison estate. Three former prisoners have subsequently secured permanent employment with the modular construction specialist. The approach adds an important social value element to a programme primarily focused on increasing the capacity of the Government’s prison estate. Kirklevington Grange is an open prison supporting men preparing for release and resettlement in the North East, with employment and vocational training already forming an important part of its work. Mark Wood, Head of Construction, Justice Sector at Reds10, said the scheme demonstrates the benefits of combining MMC with an integrated delivery model to provide greater certainty, coordination and efficiency. He added that the contractor was proud of the opportunities being created for prisoners to develop practical skills and workplace experience while contributing directly to the delivery of much-needed prison capacity. The development forms part of a much wider Government programme to expand the prison estate. The Government has committed to delivering 14,000 additional prison places by 2031, with 3,300 delivered since July 2024. Other projects across the North East and Yorkshire include additional accommodation at HMP Northumberland and HMP Humber, alongside the recently opened 1,500-place HMP Millsike near York. Rapid Deployment Cells are increasingly forming part of this construction programme, with modular units manufactured away from operational prisons before being installed on existing sites. The approach can reduce the amount of work undertaken within live custodial environments while accelerating delivery and making use of smaller parcels of available land. For Reds10, Kirklevington Grange is its largest Rapid Deployment Cells Programme project to date and provides a notable example of how offsite construction, public-sector investment and social value can be combined within the Government estate. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Panattoni Powers Ahead with 500,000 Sq Ft Wakefield Logistics Development
Panattoni has appointed three leading property agencies to market its major Wakefield 500 development, as construction progresses on one of the largest speculative logistics projects currently being delivered in Yorkshire. Knight Frank, Colliers and Commercial Property Partners (CPP) have been selected as letting agents for the development at Wakefield Europort in Castleford, where Panattoni is delivering a 500,000 sq ft cross-docked logistics facility. Panattoni acquired the 23-acre site from Delin Property earlier this year and is developing Wakefield 500 in joint venture with Newport by Panattoni, with the project forming part of the Newport Logistics Fund III investment portfolio. Construction started in June, with the building expected to be ready for occupation in May 2027. The scale of the speculative investment reflects confidence in West Yorkshire’s logistics market at a time when the availability of modern large-format warehouse space remains constrained. Wakefield Europort is already an established distribution destination, with major occupiers including Asda, Royal Mail, Haribo, Warburtons and Menzies. Located close to Junction 31 of the M62, the development provides onward access to the M1 and A1(M), connecting occupiers with markets across Yorkshire, the North, Midlands and wider UK. Rail connectivity provides another important advantage. Wakefield Europort includes a rail freight terminal operated by Maritime, offering businesses an alternative to road-based distribution and supporting the decarbonisation of supply chains. Wakefield 500 is being constructed to a high Grade A specification, with a 15-metre clear internal height, 56 dock doors, eight level-access doors and yard depths of up to 50 metres. The development will also provide 62 HGV spaces, 384 car parking spaces, EV charging infrastructure and a 2.5 MVA power supply. Sustainability forms a major part of Panattoni’s development strategy for the scheme. Wakefield 500 is targeting BREEAM Outstanding, net zero carbon in construction and strong EPC performance. Environmental measures include roof-mounted solar PV, rainwater harvesting, water leak detection and energy sub-metering, alongside extensive natural daylight within the warehouse. Chris Brown, development director at Panattoni, said the building had been designed around the requirements of modern large-scale logistics occupiers, with factors including resilience, labour availability, power, sustainability and access to major consumer markets influencing its specification. The appointment of Knight Frank, Colliers and CPP will now step up the marketing campaign as construction advances. Iain McPhail, logistics and industrial property partner at Knight Frank’s Leeds office, said the project was arriving at a time when the supply of large-format logistics accommodation remained severely restricted across both the UK and West Yorkshire. Rob Whatmuff, director at Colliers, highlighted the combination of road and rail connectivity, workforce availability and modern specification, while CPP director Toby Vernon described Wakefield 500 as one of the most highly anticipated speculative industrial and logistics developments to emerge across the North. With its combination of scale, multimodal connectivity and ambitious environmental standards, Panattoni Wakefield 500 represents a significant addition to Yorkshire’s logistics development pipeline and a major vote of confidence in the region’s long-term industrial property market. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals