Major Haymarket Hotel Redevelopment Set to Welcome First Guests in August
A major hotel redevelopment in the heart of Edinburgh is set to reach a significant milestone next month, with a new 157-bedroom hotel preparing to welcome its first guests following the successful transformation of a former office building. Property developer S Harrison has confirmed that its latest development in the city’s Haymarket district will officially open on 5 August, with European operator MEININGER Hotels taking over the completed building under a long-term management agreement. The project represents another important investment in Edinburgh’s flourishing hospitality sector, bringing a prominent commercial building back into productive use through an extensive redevelopment programme led by principal contractor Ogilvie Construction. Rather than demolishing the existing structure, the scheme involved the partial demolition of the former 1970s Osborne House office building, alongside the construction of two new accommodation wings and the addition of an extra storey. Designed by Edinburgh-based Comprehensive Design Architects, the redevelopment has transformed the ageing office block into a contemporary hotel that enhances the surrounding streetscape while making efficient use of an established city-centre site. Located close to Haymarket railway station and tram interchange, and within easy walking distance of Princes Street, the hotel is well positioned to serve both business and leisure travellers visiting one of Europe’s most popular destinations. When it opens, the hotel will offer 157 bedrooms alongside a range of guest facilities, including a residents’ bar, breakfast area, guest kitchen, lounge spaces and an outdoor seating terrace. The development will become MEININGER Hotels’ 38th property across 27 European cities, reflecting the group’s continued expansion into strategically important destinations with strong long-term tourism demand. For the construction and property sectors, the project demonstrates the growing importance of repurposing ageing commercial buildings to meet changing market demands. By transforming an underutilised office asset into high-quality visitor accommodation, the scheme supports both sustainable regeneration and the continued evolution of Edinburgh’s built environment. The Haymarket development is the latest in a series of significant investments by S Harrison across the Scottish capital. The company previously delivered the landmark Malmaison boutique hotel through the conversion of the Grade A-listed Buchan House in Edinburgh’s New Town and has established a strong track record in the purpose-built student accommodation sector. Recent projects include a newly completed PBSA development near Newington Road, while work is nearing completion on another scheme within the historic Canongate area. S Harrison has also secured planning permission for a 124-bedroom PBSA development on Gillespie Crescent, which will regenerate a vacant brownfield site within the Marchmont, Meadows and Bruntsfield Conservation Area. Looking ahead, the developer has also received planning consent for a landmark £100 million mixed-use scheme on Leith’s waterfront. The development will deliver new homes, purpose-built student accommodation, commercial and co-working space, alongside a range of amenity areas, further strengthening S Harrison’s growing presence in Edinburgh’s residential, hospitality and mixed-use sectors. With its doors due to open in August, the Haymarket hotel represents another successful example of urban regeneration, demonstrating how the thoughtful redevelopment of existing buildings can support tourism, enhance the cityscape and contribute to the long-term growth of one of the UK’s most dynamic property markets. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Solihull Approves 228 Affordable Homes as Town Centre Regeneration Gains Momentum
A major affordable housing development has been approved in Solihull, paving the way for the delivery of 228 new apartments as part of the wider regeneration of the town centre. Affordable homes developer Habiko has secured planning permission for a mansion block-inspired residential scheme, marking the partnership’s first development in the West Midlands. The project forms the second phase of the ambitious Holbeche Place masterplan, which will ultimately deliver around 1,600 new homes alongside retail, leisure and public realm improvements. The development is being brought forward by Habiko, the affordable housing joint venture between Pension Insurance Corporation, Muse and Homes England. It will provide 228 one and two-bedroom apartments for rent, with homes offered at around 20% below local market rates to help improve housing affordability across the area. Designed around low-carbon and low-energy principles, the scheme takes architectural inspiration from traditional Victorian mansion blocks, featuring a distinctive red brick façade complemented by landscaped communal gardens, secure cycle storage, EV-enabled parking and active ground-floor retail units. Its location places residents within easy reach of Solihull railway station, Birmingham International and the future HS2 Interchange, creating strong transport connections while supporting sustainable travel and town centre living. The approval comes as work continues to gather pace across the wider Holbeche Place regeneration programme. Graham Construction is preparing to begin demolition of the Mell Square multi-storey car park later this summer, clearing the way for the first phase of the masterplan, which will deliver almost 350 build-to-rent apartments. Developed in partnership with Solihull Council since 2023, the wider regeneration is designed to reshape the town centre in response to changing retail patterns and evolving lifestyles. Alongside new homes, the masterplan will introduce a mix of shops, cafés and restaurants, creating a more diverse and vibrant destination that extends activity beyond traditional shopping hours. A key feature of the proposals is the creation of two new public spaces, Drury Gardens and Poplar Yard, together with flexible green areas designed to encourage community interaction and outdoor activity. The masterplan also places a strong emphasis on improving the public realm, reducing vehicle dominance and creating a more pedestrian-friendly environment through new streets, walking routes and landscaped civic spaces. For the construction and property sectors, the approval represents another significant milestone in the ongoing transformation of UK town centres, demonstrating how mixed-use regeneration can successfully combine affordable housing, placemaking and sustainable design. By delivering high-quality homes alongside improved public spaces and commercial uses, the Holbeche Place masterplan is set to play a central role in Solihull’s long-term economic and residential growth. Once complete, the regeneration will establish a modern, mixed-use neighbourhood that responds to changing patterns of living, working and leisure while creating a more connected and resilient town centre for future generations. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
AM ALPHA’s Rylands scheme hits key milestone with topping-out ceremony
Manchester’s pioneering Rylands development hits a major project milestone this week, with stakeholders gathering to celebrate the topping out of the prestigious landmark building, which sits on the site of the former Debenhams store on Market Street. The site project team, including Domis, Jeffrey Bell, Levrant, JLL, and Barker Proudlove all marked the occasion with an on-site celebration, followed by a drinks reception at The Edwardian Manchester Hotel to commemorate the fantastic progress to date on such a remarkable project. The vacant building has been undergoing extensive refurbishment since 2022. Completion is expected in 2027. The Grade II listed building is undergoing comprehensive redevelopment. Since 2023, AM ALPHA has been transforming the site, including a complete refurbishment of the original structure, conversion of the upper floors into premium office space, and the creation of retail units at ground level. The scheme also includes a new four-storey contemporary extension, bringing the total number of floors to ten. Once finished, Rylands will offer high-quality office accommodation, retail space, and a leisure area focused on food and beverage. Market Place Food Hall has already committed to a 15-year lease on the ground floor. Martin Lemke, CEO of AM Alpha, said: “Reaching this construction milestone is an important achievement for everyone involved in the transformation of Rylands. Working with a listed building of this scale inevitably brings complexity and unexpected challenges. The progress made demonstrates what can be achieved through close cooperation, technical expertise, and a shared commitment to the project. “Rylands is an important part of Manchester’s architectural and commercial heritage. Our ambition is to preserve that character while creating a modern, sustainable destination that meets the needs of future occupiers and visitors. We would like to thank Domis and the entire project team for their dedication and the significant progress they have made.” Rory O’Donoghue, Construction Director at Domis Construction said: “The topping out of Rylands is a significant milestone and reflects the monumental effort, collaboration, and shared commitment of everyone involved in the project. We’ve shared AM ALPHA’s ambition from the outset to deliver this iconic building back to the city, and it’s been a privilege for Domis to help bring that vision to life. Transforming a landmark building of this scale and significance has only been possible through the close collaboration of the entire project team. While there’s still plenty of work ahead, reaching this stage is a fantastic achievement and one that everyone involved should be incredibly proud of.” In keeping with the traditions of a topping out ceremony, a yew tree has been incorporated into the fabric of the building to mark the completion of the highest structural point. As well as a symbol of longevity and good fortune, the tree reflects the project’s commitment to preserving Rylands’ rich heritage, while laying the foundations for its next chapter. Project team: Client: AM ALPHA Contractor: Domis Architect: Jeffrey Bell Architects Employer’s Agent and QS: Arcadis Planning Consultant: Deloitte Heritage Consultant: Levrant Structural Engineer: Woolgar Hunter Services Engineer / Sustainability Consultant: Max Fordham Services Engineer: NOVO Fire Consultant: Jensen Hughes / DFC Acoustic Consultant: BWB / Andrew Jameson Workspace Agent: JLL Retail Agent: Barker Proudlove Marketing & PR Agency: Real Estate Marketing Media Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Red South West to deliver £42m+ in office projects across Bristol and Bath
RED Group, the specialist main contractor, has announced the appointment of its South West division to deliver two office developments at more than £42m, showcasing RED’s significant commercial impact in the region. Appointed by BlackRock and development manager LS Estates, the first of these two premier Cat A office redevelopments is at Portwall Place, Bristol. Redefining the city’s workspace market, Portwall Place will span seven floors and 150,000 sq ft of office space, designed by architects Buckley Grey Yeoman (BGY). The building’s market-leading amenity provision will include a café, gym, and communal workspaces, featuring Bristol’s largest roof terrace with views over the City Centre, the Brunel Mile, St Mary Redcliffe, the Floating Harbour, and the Mendip Hills beyond. The team will also carry out external repairs to the building façade and construct over 7,500 sq ft of terrace spaces with improved ecology through green roof areas. Targeting EPC A, BREEAM Excellent, and Nabers 4.5, Portwall Place has been designed as an all-electric building with a calculated saving for embodied carbon at 75%, and works will complete at the end of 2027. The second of the two new projects is Pinesgate West in Bath, an £8m office refurbishment located along the Avon River, which will be the new headquarters for engineering consultancy firm, Buro Happold. RED South West has been appointed by WPV Developments, and are working to AWW Architects’ design, targeting BREEAM Excellent and EPC A. Removing the façade and replacing it with a new envelope will improve the building’s aesthetic and form a prestigious gateway into Bath, but also drive lower energy consumption by minimising solar gain. That operational energy reduction is also supported through the introduction of PV panels, with EV charging, cycle storage, and an external terrace adding to the desirability of the scheme for its future occupiers. This project marks a continuation of the relationship between RED South West and AWW, the latter celebrating its 50th birthday in 2025. The two Bristol-based businesses also partnered on Hollis Wharf, the £13m 45,000 sq ft mixed-used development in Bath, and a £15m health hub in Weston-super-Mare. James Devey, Divisional Director at RED South West, commented: “These two premier office projects highlight RED’s dominance in the region, expertise in sustainable development, and sensitivity to local heritage. Set to be the largest commercial refurbishment in the South West, Portwall Place is a landmark scheme for Bristol and one that will be looked to as a benchmark for the office market here. Pinesgate takes the same inspiration, building on Bath’s industrial heritage whilst keeping sustainability a priority. These schemes will really stand out, in cities where there is huge demand for quality office space, and we have a big role to play in delivering them.” Jamie Furse, Director and Architect at AWW, said: “Pinesgate will be our third project with Red South West, following Hollis Wharf and Weston Health Hub, so our working relationship has already delivered some really positive outcomes for our region. As Pinesgate sets the pace for future developments in Bath, we were always keen to partner with a construction team that truly understood its complexities, with a thorough appreciation of what makes the city unique. As AWW celebrated its 50th year, it was incredibly rewarding to continue delivering projects that set benchmarks in design and helped shape the future direction of architecture across key South West locations.” These appointments follow the news that RED South West has celebrated project completions totalling more than £65m, most recently completing the £15m Millstream development, as the final piece of the Chocolate Quarter Retirement Village. Following the successful delivery of the Chocolate Quarter Retirement Village, St Monica Trust has now appointed the South West division as its construction partner on The Hub, a vibrant new social facility to be located at the heart of Cote Lane Retirement Village in Bristol. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
M&S Unveils Largest Standalone Foodhall as Retail Expansion Continues
Marks & Spencer has opened its largest standalone food store to date, marking another significant milestone in the retailer’s ongoing investment programme to modernise its estate and expand its food offering across the UK. Located at The Wharf Retail Park in Godalming, Surrey, the new 22,000 sq ft Foodhall occupies a former Homebase unit, demonstrating the continued repurposing of large-format retail space to meet changing consumer demand and evolving high street trends. The flagship store has been designed to provide customers with M&S’s most comprehensive food offering, reflecting the retailer’s strategy of creating larger, destination food stores capable of supporting the weekly family shop. Inside, shoppers will find expanded fresh produce departments, multi-temperature displays for herbs, organic produce and fruit, an enlarged in-store bakery and an enhanced cheese barge. The Foodhall also features a dedicated chicken shop, sushi counter, rotisserie chicken station, a new kitchen shop and an upgraded beers, wines and spirits department. The opening forms part of M&S’s wider property strategy, which is focused on investing in new stores while upgrading existing locations to deliver larger, more modern retail environments. By increasing the size and capability of its Foodhalls, the retailer aims to better serve families looking to complete more of their grocery shopping in a single visit, while maintaining the premium quality and trusted value associated with the M&S brand. For the retail property and construction sectors, the Godalming development highlights the continued evolution of retail parks, with former big-box units increasingly being repurposed to accommodate stronger-performing occupiers. The conversion of the former Homebase store also reflects a broader trend towards adapting existing retail assets rather than delivering new-build developments, supporting the long-term viability of established retail destinations. Alex Freudmann, Managing Director of M&S Food, said: “We’re doubling our food business with investment where family customers are asking for it most: bigger, better stores and more trusted value on the products families buy every week. “Godalming is our biggest ever standalone food store and an example of the kind of modern, full-range Foodhall we’re investing in as we double the size of the business. It brings together the full M&S Food range, more space for the weekly shop and the latest store design so customers can get everything they need in one trip, without compromising on the M&S quality they expect.” The Godalming opening represents another step in M&S’s long-term retail transformation strategy, reinforcing the company’s confidence in physical stores while demonstrating how investment in larger, experience-led retail environments continues to reshape the UK’s grocery and retail property landscape. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Duo of luxury care homes to be built in Coxheath and Canterbury following deal
Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has announced the sale of two sites with planning consent for care home developments in Coxheath and Canterbury in Kent. Recognising a material undersupply of wetroom care home beds and purpose-built elderly care home provision in both Coxheath and Canterbury, care home developer, Aspire-LPP Limited secured planning consent for the care home development schemes, which, once built, will deliver 146 new care home beds to Kent. Both care home schemes will each have 73 bedrooms and offer the ‘best in class’ spatial standards, generous room sizes, and, following BREEAM pre-assessment, are likely to achieve a rating of ‘Very Good’. All bedrooms will have en suite wetrooms and access to luxury communal resident amenities incorporated into the design, such as lounge and dining spaces, hair/beauty salons, open-plan receptions with cafés, and landscaped gardens. The consented care home at Coxheath, Kent, is located in a hybrid masterplan comprising supported living bungalows, a new hospice, affordable bungalows and landscaping. New Highways works and pedestrian routes will connect the new development to Heath Road, ensuring a high degree of accessibility for the surrounding population. In Canterbury, Kent, the consented care home is situated within Phase Two of the consented Thanington Park development. The masterplan is inclusive of 750 homes, a hospice, B1, D1 and D2 planning uses. Currently under construction, Thanington Park is due to be completed in 2028. With a sales process handled by Sara Hartill at Christie & Co, Aspire-LPP Limited and luxury care home provider, Dunham Care Homes, has entered into a Joint Venture Agreement to deliver the care homes, which will be the latest in Dunham Care’s expanding portfolio of luxury care homes in the South-East. Michael Lucas, Managing Director at Aspire-LPP, comments, “These two developments reflect our continued focus on delivering high‑quality, purpose‑built care homes in locations where there is both a clear undersupply and long‑term need. “Working with Royal London Asset Management and Dunham Care allows us to bring forward schemes that are designed to the highest standards, with sustainability, operational efficiency and resident wellbeing at their core. We are pleased to see these projects progress and to play a role in supporting the provision of modern care infrastructure across the South East.” Sara Hartill, Director & Head of Healthcare Development & Investment at Christie & Co, adds, “Aspire LPP has continued to demonstrate their ability to identify superb locations, with this deal marking the start of a joint venture with Dunham Care. Both sites attracted high levels of interest with multiple offers, highlighting the increasing levels of newbuild activity and appetite across the care market.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals