Panattoni welcomes DPD to Panattoni Park Sittingbourne
Panattoni, the world’s largest privately owned industrial developer, has handed over the keys to DPD’s new distribution hub at Panattoni Park Sittingbourne, marking a key milestone for both the occupier and the park. The completion of the build reinforces Sittingbourne’s position as one of the South East’s most strategically important logistics locations and highlights occupier demand for sustainable, technology enabled space in supply constrained corridors. Panattoni purchased the Sittingbourne plot in the summer of 2023, and achieved planning, pre-letting and delivery all within 18 months. With ID Logistics’ leasing the 440,000 sq ft unit at Sittingbourne last year, there is now only one unit remaining at the park for lease. Panattoni Park Sittingbourne is situated approximately four miles from Junction 5 of the M2, between London and the Port of Dover. The location provides rapid access to the M2, M20, and M25, and strong connectivity to port and Channel gateways, including London Thamesport, Dover, and the Port of Tilbury. This positioning supports high throughput parcel distribution and efficient reach into London, the wider South East, and national routes. The DPD facility forms part of Panattoni’s wider net zero carbon development strategy at Sittingbourne, delivering modern logistics capacity aligned with occupiers’ operational and decarbonisation requirements. The park is designed to provide best in class infrastructure, power, and yard capability for high intensity distribution uses, while targeting leading sustainability outcomes, including BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and EPC A performance, supported by solar PV and electric vehicle charging provision. Once in operation the fully automated hub will greatly increase DPD’s capacity in the region. Alex Mitchell, Associate Development Director: South East & London, said: “Announcing the completion of DPD’s state of the art hub at Panattoni Park Sittingbourne is an important step for the park and a strong endorsement of the location and specification we have delivered. Sittingbourne offers exceptional connectivity and labour access, and it is well suited to the operational intensity of a modern parcel hub. It follows a series of successes for Panattoni in Kent, including the full letting of our 1.1m sq ft Aylesford scheme; ID Logistics leasing 440,000 sq ft at Sittingbourne, the South East’s largest speculative letting last year; the submission of a planning application at Sevenoaks; and the recent acquisition of the in Lenham site in Maidstone, capable of delivering more than 1m sq ft of space. “We are proud to be supporting DPD’s growth in the UK with a facility that combines scale, efficiency, and a net zero carbon development approach. We look forward to seeing the hub play a central role in DPD’s expanding South East distribution network.” Panattoni Park Sittingbourne’s final remaining unit totals 205,000 sq ft and is available immediately, ready for tenant fit-out, benefitting from a 15m clear internal height, 2.52 MVA of power, a 50m service yard, and the potential to reduce occupier energy costs by up to £87,600 per annum through the installed PV. For more information, please visit: https://panattoni.co.uk/our-properties/sittingbourne/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Mears will work on 11,500 homes across west-central Birmingham
Birmingham City Council is overhauling the way its council housing is maintained, appointing a new group of contractors to take responsibility for long-term repairs and investment across the city. From July 2026, Equans, Wates and Mears will deliver day-to-day repairs, planned maintenance and improvement works across around 60,000 council homes. The appointments form part of a new 10-year framework arrangement, split across four city regions and potentially worth up to £3bn, with an option to extend for a further five years. Under the new framework, Equans will retain one of the three lots it previously held, while Wates has emerged as the largest winner, securing two lots with a combined value of up to £1.75bn over the life of the contracts. Mears completes the new trio of delivery partners. Willmott Dixon-owned Fortem, which has provided housing maintenance services in south Birmingham for 18 years, will exit the programme when its current contract ends this summer. The contracts cover a broad range of services, including responsive repairs, kitchen and bathroom replacements, wider planned maintenance programmes and the preparation of empty homes ready for new tenants. Birmingham City Council said the new delivery model has been shaped by extensive tenant feedback and is intended to provide a more flexible, responsive and modern service. A key feature will be the introduction of a fully digitised repairs journey, giving tenants clearer communication around planned works, timeframes and any changes to appointments, as well as greater ability to rearrange visits. New digital systems will also be used to monitor the condition of homes more effectively and support programmes to improve energy efficiency, helping to make properties warmer and cheaper to heat. Councillor Nicky Brennan, cabinet member for housing and homelessness, said the new contracts represent a reset in how repairs and maintenance are delivered and monitored. She added that tenants should see improved communication, more responsive services and continued investment in kitchens, bathrooms and energy efficiency measures across the council’s housing stock. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Birmingham reshapes £3bn housing repairs programme with new contractor line-up
Birmingham City Council is overhauling the way its council housing is maintained, appointing a new group of contractors to take responsibility for long-term repairs and investment across the city. From July 2026, Equans, Wates and Mears will deliver day-to-day repairs, planned maintenance and improvement works across around 60,000 council homes. The appointments form part of a new 10-year framework arrangement, split across four city regions and potentially worth up to £3bn, with an option to extend for a further five years. Under the new framework, Equans will retain one of the three lots it previously held, while Wates has emerged as the largest winner, securing two lots with a combined value of up to £1.75bn over the life of the contracts. Mears completes the new trio of delivery partners. 10-year Birmingham housing maintenance lots City region New partner Previous holder Value East Equans Equans £619m North Wates Equans £451m South Wates Fortem £1.3bn West Central Mears Equans £607m Willmott Dixon-owned Fortem, which has provided housing maintenance services in south Birmingham for 18 years, will exit the programme when its current contract ends this summer. The contracts cover a broad range of services, including responsive repairs, kitchen and bathroom replacements, wider planned maintenance programmes and the preparation of empty homes ready for new tenants. Birmingham City Council said the new delivery model has been shaped by extensive tenant feedback and is intended to provide a more flexible, responsive and modern service. A key feature will be the introduction of a fully digitised repairs journey, giving tenants clearer communication around planned works, timeframes and any changes to appointments, as well as greater ability to rearrange visits. New digital systems will also be used to monitor the condition of homes more effectively and support programmes to improve energy efficiency, helping to make properties warmer and cheaper to heat. Councillor Nicky Brennan, cabinet member for housing and homelessness, said the new contracts represent a reset in how repairs and maintenance are delivered and monitored. She added that tenants should see improved communication, more responsive services and continued investment in kitchens, bathrooms and energy efficiency measures across the council’s housing stock.
Making heat pumps smarter: Worcester Bosch partners with Passiv UK to roll out intelligent heat pump control
Passiv UK and Worcester Bosch have joined forces to offer advanced smart controls for heat pumps. The Passiv Smart Thermostat now works seamlessly with the Worcester Bosch Compress 2000 Air Source Heat Pump range, making intelligent, energy-efficient heating controls more accessible to UK homeowners. Thanks to its out-of-the-box compatibility, no additional hardware is required. Installers can fit the Passiv Smart Thermostat with both new and existing Worcester Bosch Compress 2000 heat pumps, making smart heating simple. The Passiv Smart Thermostat then removes the need for an installer to set a weather compensation curve, dynamically optimising the heat pump’s flow temperature to improve its performance. For homeowners, the Passiv Smart Thermostat makes keeping comfortable effortless. It cuts heating bills and improves heat pump efficiency. Its intelligent controls can optimise energy use according to time-of-use tariffs and rooftop solar generation, supporting decarbonisation efforts while future-proofing homes against rising energy demands. Ian Rose, Sales and Strategy Director at Passiv UK, said: “This collaboration is a major step in giving both installers and homeowners a simple way to control and optimise heat pumps. Whether a customer is installing a new system or upgrading an existing one, the Passiv Smart Thermostat helps enhance comfort, save on bills and reduce carbon emissions.” Andrew Keyworth, Head of Business Development at Worcester Bosch, said: “Partnering with Passiv UK allows us to offer our customers a smarter, more efficient heating experience. It gives homeowners greater control, comfort, and energy savings, supporting the move towards low-carbon homes across the UK.” The Passiv Smart Thermostat is available nationwide through local plumbing merchants and select online retailers. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Ranger Fire and Security announces £150m funding partnership with Apera to accelerate expansion in 2026
Ranger Fire and Security has today announced a £150 million funding package from Apera, a leading European private debt asset manager, to support the next phase of its growth and acquisition strategy. The funding will enable Ranger to significantly accelerate its expansion plans, with a focus on driving organic growth and acquiring high-performing, regulatory compliance driven, preventative maintenance-focused businesses in the fire and security sector and building on Ranger’s successful track record of bringing them together as part of a single integrated platform, enabling greater resource sharing, expertise and cross-selling opportunities. Apera is a leading private debt asset manager dedicated to supporting mid-market companies across Western Europe, having deployed approximately €4 billion since its founding. The investment will support Ranger’s ambition to build a fire and security platform that is truly national in scope. The partnership with Apera will build on a highly successful 2025 for Ranger, during which it completed six successful acquisitions across the UK and Ireland, strengthening its coverage and service offering across both countries. Earlier this month, Ranger announced its first acquisition of 2026, further expanding its footprint in the South West of England and bringing the number of Ranger businesses to 14. The funding will continue accelerating Ranger’s acquisition and partnership strategy as the Group looks to maintain its M&A momentum with a very active pipeline. Mark Bridges, CEO, Ranger Fire and Security, said: “Our new partnership with Apera marks a major milestone for Ranger, providing us with the firepower to take our growth ambitions to the next level. We’ve built strong momentum over the past two years, welcoming 14 high-quality businesses into the Group. “Our vision is to bring together the very best regional specialists into a single national platform that benefits customers, employees and business owners alike. Apera’s support will enable us to continue scaling at pace in the year ahead, while staying true to our focus on quality, service excellence and meaningful partnerships.” Paul Mahon, Partner, Hyperion Equity Partners, said: “Ranger has continued to grow at pace since its launch in 2024 – expanding from a handful of high-performing fire and security businesses to a Group that now has extensive coverage across the UK and a strong footprint in Ireland. “Securing this funding capacity from Apera is a clear endorsement of Ranger’s success to date and the opportunities that lie ahead. Our clear strategy, focused sharply on collaboration, integrated operational excellence and customer service, has put Ranger in an incredibly strong position to deliver further sustained organic and acquisitive growth and value in 2026.” Chris Roper, Partner at Apera, said:“Ranger is a leading maintenance-focused fire and security business that has created a highly innovative, well integrated platform. It has enabled regional businesses in the Group to collaborate, grow and provide a service to customers that is national in scope while bringing the key operational functions under the Ranger framework. Ranger has an impressive track record, coupled with its experienced management team and clear organic growth and acquisition strategy, made this a compelling opportunity for Apera. We’re pleased to be partnering with Ranger as the company enters the next phase of its expansion along with Hyperion.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Baltic Quarter vision moves forward as Muse and ECF step in
Plans to regenerate Gateshead’s Baltic Quarter have taken a significant step forward after the council agreed a pre-development deal with Muse and ECF to progress a major mixed-use scheme of around 1,600 new homes. Under the agreement, ECF will work alongside Gateshead Council to develop the long-term vision for the site, shaping funding, phasing and delivery. The Baltic Quarter plays a central role in the council’s regeneration strategy unveiled last autumn. Initial work will focus on how new homes and workspaces can be introduced alongside improved public spaces, landscaping, routes and infrastructure. The proposals aim to support the area’s existing business community, including Gateshead College and the Northern Design Centre, while creating space for future growth. The council said the regeneration will build on the quarter’s established creative and commercial character, helping current businesses remain and expand, while attracting new companies and talent to Gateshead and neighbouring Newcastle. An early masterplan for the Baltic Quarter has been prepared by architect Brown + Company. Sustainability sits at the heart of the proposals, with the area already benefiting from a district energy network powered by the UK’s largest urban solar farm and mine water heat. A recently completed 1,000-space car park has also been designed to support large-scale electric vehicle charging. Sir Michael Lyons, chair of ECF, said the pre-development agreement allows partners to work closely with the council and local stakeholders to shape proposals that reflect Gateshead’s industrial heritage while delivering lasting economic and social benefits. The agreement was secured through Pagabo’s developer-led framework. Council leader Martin Gannon said the scheme could deliver more than 1,600 homes, new office space and high-quality public realm, creating a visible statement of confidence in Gateshead that could help attract further investment to the borough.