Premier Inn maps out fresh growth push across the South East
Whitbread is gearing up for a fresh phase of expansion in the South East, with plans to bring new Premier Inn hotels to six key locations across Surrey, Kent and Sussex. Following a detailed review of its existing network and future demand, the company has identified Rye in Sussex; Canterbury and Broadstairs in Kent; and Caterham, Weybridge and Leatherhead in Surrey as priority targets for new sites. The move forms part of Whitbread’s wider strategy to capture opportunities in high-demand regional markets and respond to shifts in the hotel landscape. To drive the programme, Whitbread has appointed James Hall as Acquisitions and Development Manager. He will work closely with local authorities, landowners, investment agencies and developers to unlock suitable plots and underused assets. The focus is on locations that can accommodate hotels of around 100 bedrooms or more, whether through new-build schemes, the repurposing of vacant buildings, or the regeneration of town centre sites. Premier Inn already operates more than 85,000 rooms across the UK and Ireland, and Whitbread sees clear potential to grow this to 125,000 over the long term. The new South East targets are underpinned by data showing strong guest demand for additional capacity in these markets, as well as the brand’s confidence in its value-led offer. The company continues to refine its property strategy to ensure it has the right hotels in the right places, balancing freehold and leasehold opportunities. Alongside growth in Surrey, Kent and Sussex, Whitbread is also exploring further prospects in Greater London and other parts of the UK and Ireland, while expanding its footprint in Germany. With more than 855 hotels already trading across the UK and Ireland, Premier Inn aims to combine its established brand strength with flexible development requirements and robust investment capacity. The planned sites in the South East represent the next step in that trajectory, supporting local regeneration while meeting rising demand from business and leisure travellers alike. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Stoford appointed as development manager for 200-acre MK East logistics scheme
Berkeley Group has appointed Stoford as development manager to lead the delivery of MK East, a prime logistics development site off Junction 14 of the southern M1 motorway near Milton Keynes. The indicative masterplan envisages the development of up to c.4 million sq ft of industrial/logistics accommodation on a 200-acre site, with capacity for a wide range of buildings from 40,000 to 1.5 million sq ft. Once complete MK East will support up to 7,150 permanent jobs in the heart of the government’s Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor. Development plots are available for sale, with units offered on flexible leasehold or freehold design-and-build terms, giving occupiers the ability to tailor space to their requirements. MK East has outline planning consent and is fully serviced with estate roads, drainage, utilities, and 21 MVA of secured power. All buildings are targeted to achieve BREEAM Excellent and EPC A+, and the scheme will feature extensive green and recreational spaces, including walking and cycling paths. Subject to reserved matters approval, units at MK East are expected to be delivered from Q3 2027 onwards. CBRE has been appointed as marketing agent for the scheme. Dan Gallagher, Joint Managing Director at Stoford, said: “We are pleased to be working with Berkeley Group to deliver an outstanding logistics development at the heart of the UK’s supply chain network. MK East is a flexible, sustainable development of significant scale, and with planning and infrastructure already in place, we’re already engaging with occupiers to bring forward the first phase of development.” Stephen Kirwan, Managing Director of St Joseph, part of Berkeley Group, said: “Our shared vision for MK East is to create a sustainable, high-quality employment destination that meets the needs of both local and national businesses, driving long-term economic growth and bringing thousands of jobs to Milton Keynes.” MK East forms part of Berkeley Group’s wider Milton Keynes East masterplan. The logistic hub is located on the southern boundary of the site, close to the M1, and is a key part of Milton Keynes City Council’s development framework. The wider masterplan area to the north will be separated from the logistics hub with a landscape buffer. It has outline planning consent for a new neighbourhood of up to 4,600 new homes, 99 hectares of green space and a mix of community facilities. For more information on MK East logistics, please visit https://mkeast.com/ or contact agents CBRE – Alex Scofield, Olivia Newport and Hannah Metcalfe. For more information on the wider Milton Keynes East Masterplan, please contact MKE@redwoodcomms.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
East West Rail unveils major redesign as £7bn plan accelerates
The team behind East West Rail has revealed a significant rethink of the Oxford–Cambridge route, with a much larger and more ambitious station-building programme now at the heart of the £7bn scheme. More than 80 design changes have been added as the project moves towards its Development Consent Order, reshaping the service pattern, expanding station provision and introducing new access points across the line. The most dramatic shift affects the Marston Vale Line, where nine ageing stations are set to be replaced by four larger, modern facilities. One of these is a completely new station at Stewartby, positioned to support the proposed Universal Studios theme park. The other three consolidated stations at Woburn Sands, Ridgmont and Lidlington will take the place of nine existing low-use stops, forming a more streamlined and efficient set of interchanges. Key new and updated stations include:• Cambridge East – a new station near Cambridge Airport, now within the project scope and dependent on third-party funding.• Cambourne (EWR) – unchanged in location but now one of five stations serving the wider Cambridge area.• Stewartby (new) – serving Universal Studios’ proposed visitor resort.• Three new consolidated Marston Vale Line stations – replacing nine smaller stops.• Tempsford (new) – with an added southern entrance to support government-backed new town plans, and a fast-tracked East Coast Main Line phase.• Cambridge station – a new eastern entrance with an active travel hub and enhanced walking and cycling connections.• Bletchley station – a proposed eastern entrance improving town-centre and bus interchange access, subject to external funding. Cambridge sees the most substantial expansion, with the new Cambridge East station easing mounting pressure on the city’s busy main station and opening up new growth opportunities. The long-planned eastern entrance at Cambridge station also forms part of the redesign. Bletchley is in line for its own eastern entrance, improving integration with the town centre. In Oxford, adjustments have been made to support the reinstatement of the Cowley Branch Line, which will unlock capacity at Oxford station and allow East West Rail to operate its full timetable. Further east, the planned southern entrance at Tempsford will link directly with the government’s new town proposals, while ministers have instructed East West Rail Company and Network Rail to accelerate the East Coast Main Line phase in response to future development pressures. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the project represents far more than a new railway, describing it as a catalyst for growth, jobs and long-term regional opportunity. She added that modern infrastructure investment would help create a greener and more reliable network for millions of passengers. A further round of consultation is expected in the New Year, ahead of a full DCO submission planned for late spring or early summer. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Driving culture change in building safety and working effectively with the regulator
By Vanessa Brandham CFIOSH, Health and Safety Director, Rendall & Rittner As the UK’s building safety landscape continues to evolve at pace, staying informed and responsive has never been more important. In my role at Rendall & Rittner, I see first-hand how the new regulatory environment is reshaping expectations across the property management sector and how vital it is that we all adapt to the changes with clarity and confidence. Delays within the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) are causing growing frustration throughout the industry. With one of the country’s largest portfolios of high-rise residential buildings, we have a unique vantage point on how these issues affect developers, landlords, leaseholders, RMCs, RTM companies, residents and managing agents. That is why we recently submitted evidence to the House of Lords inquiry examining how the regulator can overcome operational challenges and deliver greater consistency and efficiency. The BSR was established to ensure that higher-risk buildings are designed, constructed and managed with safety at the forefront. While the intent is clear and essential, its implementation has been far from straightforward. The combination of delays, inconsistent feedback and evolving requirements has resulted in uncertainty and added cost across the sector. A system with the capacity to assess safety cases and applications in a timely and consistent manner is urgently needed if we are to support the development of a genuinely safety-first culture. At Rendall & Rittner, we have invested significantly in our in-house safety capability so that we can guide clients through the complexities of the regime. Our experience across hundreds of buildings enables us to identify patterns, highlight inefficiencies and propose practical solutions. Working with the regulator in practice Higher-risk buildings of 18 metres and above must now pass through three gateways for new builds — planning, pre-construction and pre-occupation — while existing buildings require detailed safety case reports and a Building Assessment Certificate (BAC). However, in practice: • Gateway 2 applications are facing delays far beyond statutory timeframes, often 20–30 weeks or more, with a high proportion of submissions being rejected.• Safety case reports for existing buildings are receiving inconsistent or contradictory feedback, making it difficult for duty-holders to understand exactly what is required. Fewer than 50 BACs have been issued nationally out of more than 1,400 buildings called forward.• Day-to-day works requiring BSR approval in high-rise buildings are also subject to lengthy delays, with some applications exceeding 40 weeks. These challenges stem from the scale of change required. The BSR is a new organisation created in response to Grenfell, and the sector as a whole is still adjusting to the expanded obligations. Guidance has often been issued late, leading many stakeholders to act without full clarity. Limited public sector resource has further slowed reviews and approvals. Confusion around recoverable costs, the classification of emergency works and leaseholder protections has also resulted in complaints and uncertainty. Impact on housing delivery The gateway system is also having a direct impact on the delivery of new homes. High-rise buildings play a critical role in meeting national housing targets, but uncertainty in the process — coupled with delays to key building information submissions — has stalled sales, slowed construction and created further barriers for developers. Combined with the Act’s enhanced competency requirements across the supply chain, the impact is being felt at every stage of development. How we are supporting clients Recognising the scale of change, we developed one of the sector’s largest specialist health and safety teams, comprising 32 experts in building and fire safety. This enables us to prepare safety cases, oversee remediation projects and manage gateway submissions with consistency and rigour. Our structured approach — using standardised documentation and close collaboration with our panel of consultants — has enabled us to meet every regulatory deadline to date. Where the BSR’s feedback has been inconsistent, we adapt quickly and apply learning across our portfolio, ensuring clients receive the most up-to-date and practical guidance. We are also actively engaging at a national level. By providing detailed evidence to the House of Lords inquiry and offering direct feedback to the regulator, we are helping to highlight operational issues and influence improvements that will ultimately benefit the industry and residents alike. We are proud to be among the first managing agents to secure BACs for clients’ buildings, and progress on cladding remediation is accelerating as Homes England’s updated processes take effect. Looking ahead The regulatory landscape will continue to evolve. Recent announcements on shifting the BSR from the Health & Safety Executive to a standalone body sponsored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government point to further structural reform — a move that may help unlock some of the delays and provide clearer accountability in the future. While the system remains complex and at times challenging, our commitment at Rendall & Rittner is clear: to provide clients with expert guidance, reliable compliance and the assurance that their buildings are being managed with the highest levels of safety and professionalism. By investing in specialist capability, sharing learning across a large and diverse portfolio and contributing actively to national discussion, we are helping to drive cultural change and strengthen safety standards across the sector — ultimately contributing to safer homes for all residents. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Moda Group achieves GRESB Four-Star status, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable living
Moda Group is proud to announce its certification as a GRESB Four-Star organisation for the first time, while also retaining its GRESB Green Star status for the second consecutive year. This recognition highlights Moda’s ongoing leadership in environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance and reaffirms its commitment to creating sustainable, future-proof communities across the UK. GRESB is the global benchmark for ESG performance in real estate and infrastructure. This year, Moda delivered strong, measurable improvements across both its Development and Operations GRESB platforms, to achieve its four-star rating, putting its scores above peer and global averages. These results underscore Moda’s unwavering commitment to driving performance and continuous improvement across every area of its business. The GRESB Development Benchmark assesses the sustainability of projects throughout planning, design and construction, while the Operational Benchmark evaluates how assets are managed in terms of energy use, emissions, waste and social impact. Together, these frameworks provide a comprehensive view of how organisations like Moda perform against international sustainability standards. Moda Group’s development platform rose to an impressive 96/100, up from 89/100, while its operational platform increased to 89/100, up from 81/100. Moda’s ESG strategy, Next Generation Futures, continues to guide how the business designs, builds and operates its neighbourhoods, with sustainability embedded in every decision. This strategic approach has directly contributed to Moda’s outstanding GRESB scores, ensuring that environmental and social responsibility are not only prioritised but also measured and improved year-on-year. Several Moda neighbourhoods, including New York Square in Leeds, The Mercian in Birmingham, The Lexington in Liverpool and The McEwan in Edinburgh are REGO certified, sourcing electricity from 100% renewable sources such as wind, hydro and solar. The Group has also committed to reducing operational carbon, waste and water consumption with a group-wide commitment to strategically driving down emissions for the long term. Moda’s neighbourhoods are designed with sustainability at their core, featuring energy-efficient lighting, low-carbon heating systems and EV charging points, supported by travel management initiatives such as free access to Beryl Bikes to reduce congestion and air pollution. In partnership with Utopi, Moda also utilises smart building technology that enables real-time monitoring of energy use and indoor air quality, helping residents make more sustainable choices. Tarry Depledge, ESG Manager at Moda Group said:“These results are firm evidence that sustainability and governance are taken seriously and are at the core of Moda Group’s strategy. As an established and trusted developer and operator, we will continue our dedicated work to deliver the most environmentally and socially sustainable places for our residents, teams and wider communities.” Moda’s continued success across GRESB and other ESG benchmarks reflects its ambition to lead the way in responsible, people-first development, driving progress through innovation, transparency and collaboration. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Pick Everard appointed by National Trust to support net zero aims
Multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard will support the National Trust in meeting its net zero and other sustainability targets, after being selected to provide built heritage services for the conservation charity. Appointed under the Building Surveying Associate Model, Pick Everard’s specialist culture and heritage team will work alongside the National Trust to protect and care for its historic environment. It will assess and advise across mansion properties, let estates and in-hand buildings in the charity’s stewardship, and prepare low impact and future proofed specifications for conservation repairs, retrofit upgrades, as well as access and infrastructure improvements. Maintaining safety, quality and function of sites cared for by the charity are among the key goals of the work. In this, Pick Everard’s role will be to support strategic conservation by balancing these outcomes with the enhanced sustainability performance of its buildings and structures. Pick Everard will provide contract administration, building surveying, principal designer (CDM and Building Regulations), sustainability, and project management services across all regions in England and Wales. Headed up by Strategic Account Director, Matthew Appleton, Pick Everard’s heritage building surveying team has an excellent reputation for delivering solutions that ensure heritage sites meet modern day standards, preserve and enhance their significance, and prepare them for our future world. He said: “Some of the UK’s most treasured sites are in the care of the National Trust. By sharing our expertise and experience, we look forward to helping preserve and protect the nations heritage. “Taking into account the new generation of environmental and social challenges ahead of us, we will offer advice and guidance to support the National Trust in its aim of keeping historic places open to everyone now, and for future generations.” The National Trust estate is a diverse mix of historic sites, coastline and green spaces including more than 500 houses, castles, parks and gardens. In total the charity owns and cares for more than 28,500 buildings and structures – one of the largest, most varied and most significant collections of built structures anywhere in Europe. Tim Danson, Director of Sustainability and Energy at Pick Everard, added: “The National Trust has a target to meet carbon net zero by 2030, and to embed climate change adaptation in its decision making. We are thrilled to be in a position to help the Trust deliver its charitable purpose by embedding industry best practice approaches for sustainability on our heritage assets. “Our collaboration with the National Trust will also provide added value through knowledge sharing, CPD opportunities and work placements, helping to create lasting positive legacies for our client, the communities in which we work, and the wider environment.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals