Glencar emerges as frontrunner for landmark north London data centre
Glencar is understood to be on course to secure a major new data centre contract in north London, strengthening its growing reputation in the UK’s rapidly expanding digital infrastructure market. Industry sources suggest the contractor is set to be appointed on a £100m-plus scheme for Pure Data Centres at Brent Cross, forming the next phase of the developer’s wider £1bn campus investment in the area. If confirmed, the project would represent another significant win for Glencar in the highly competitive data centre sector. The proposed facility is expected to stand out not only for its scale but also for its design credentials. Central to the scheme is a vast living wall wrapping around the building, covering approximately 7,400 square metres and incorporating more than 750,000 plants. The feature is intended to soften the appearance of the development, enhance biodiversity and contribute to improved air quality, reflecting the increasing emphasis on sustainability and environmental performance in data centre design. Sources close to the procurement process indicate the contract came down to a straight contest between Glencar and Winvic, with Glencar ultimately emerging as the preferred contractor. The decision is understood to have been influenced by Glencar’s strong delivery record on complex logistics and technology-led projects, particularly in west and north London. Glencar has previously delivered data centre schemes in the capital, including a six-storey facility at Park Royal for Vantage Data Centers, which reached completion late last year. That project is said to have demonstrated the contractor’s ability to manage technically demanding builds within constrained urban sites, while maintaining programme certainty and quality. The latest Brent Cross scheme would further consolidate Glencar’s position as a go-to contractor for large-scale data centre developments, at a time when demand for digital infrastructure continues to accelerate across London and the South East. Neither Glencar nor Pure Data Centres has formally commented on the appointment, but an announcement is expected once contractual arrangements are finalised. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Major construction milestones reached at TJ Morris Distribution Centre, Doncaster
McLaren Construction Midlands and North is continuing to make strong progress on the TJ Morris Distribution Centre in Doncaster, with significant structural, envelope and internal milestones now achieved. The steel frame for the development was completed in November, with ground floor slab works also commencing the same month. The building is on track to become fully watertight by the end of February, with cladding works progressing well and targeted for completion in the Spring. Significant progress has also been made on the Vehicle Maintenance Unit (VMU) with the steel structure now fully erected, approximately 90% of the cladding installed and the fit out of the internal workshop scheduled to commence in March. Externally, a major milestone will also be reached in late March with the completion of base course tarmac to the external hard standing areas. Internally, office fit-out works across the ground, first and second floors will begin in early February, delivering modern office accommodation alongside a commercial kitchen and canteen. Within the warehouse, high-level mechanical and electrical services installation is nearing completion, including the sprinkler system. Once slab works are finalised, teams will return to bring internal levels up to finished ground level. Specialist industrial freezer works are scheduled to commence in the spring. Loading dock installation is now complete, with all 106 dock doors installed, while approximately 50 per cent of office windows are in place. Full window installation is expected within the next four weeks, further supporting the programme to achieve full weather tight status. The project is also incorporating several efficiency- and sustainability-led construction practices. These include on-site concrete batching by specialist subcontractor McCoys, with approximately 20,200m³ of concrete produced to date. This comprises 14,000m³ for yard slabs, 2,500m³ for waterproofing in pits, 2,000m³ for ground beams and bases, 1,300m³ for dock slabs and 400m³ for miscellaneous drainage and associated works. All concrete has been batched on site, significantly reducing vehicle movements and the project’s overall carbon footprint. In addition, all precast piles installed on the project have been cropped, crushed, and reused on site for temporary works areas, further reducing waste and associated transport impacts. Once complete, the 829,000 sq. ft highly automated distribution centre will serve more than 300 Home Bargains stores nationwide and is expected to create up to 1,000 new jobs, forming a cornerstone of TJ Morris’ long-term logistics and distribution strategy. In addition to its commercial impact, the project underscores McLaren’s commitment to local engagement and sustainability. Key initiatives include a highly localised supply chain, with 70 percent of suppliers currently located within 50 miles of the site, innovation applied to the steel requirements to ensure the scheme is as economical as possible, the use of borrow pits and local fill materials significantly reducing transport emissions, and the sponsorship of a local football team, including full kit provision. Located at Unity Connect, the facility is part of the wider Unity Yorkshire masterplan – a transformative mixed-use regeneration scheme that spans over 250 hectares, delivering homes, jobs, and infrastructure across the region. The Unity scheme is also home to a dedicated Employment Academy, an initiative funded by Waystone Hargreaves Land and delivered in partnership with Business Doncaster aimed at supporting recruitment, training, and access to employment opportunities for local residents Luke Arnold, Regional Director, at McLaren Construction Midlands and North, said: “Progress on the TJ Morris Distribution Centre continues to gather momentum, with a number of key milestones achieved. This is a complex, large-scale logistics project and the pace of delivery is a real credit to the project team and our supply chain partners. “As we move towards making the building fully watertight and into the next phases of fit-out and external works, we will see the scale of this facility and the long-term benefits it will bring to Doncaster.” Neil Kelson, Head of Logistics, TJ Morris said “It is great to be part of a business that continues to invest in future growth and the very latest technology to maximise efficiency and keep prices low for our customers. Working with our build partners for this project, McLaren Construction, great progress has been made, with the build on track to hand over to Witron to start the automation install later this year. I am excited that by the summer of 2028 we will be fully operational at the Doncaster site, taking all of the key learnings and best practice from our recently opened Omega Distribution Centre, St Helens”. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Whitbread opens the doors to flagship Hub by Premier Inn hotel
Whitbread PLC, the UK’s largest hotel business and owner of Premier Inn, opened yesterday [Wednesday 4th February] formally open its latest hotel in the City of London – setting a new benchmark for affordable hotel design in the capital. It brings 212 contemporary hotel bedrooms – which will be operated under Whitbread’s popular hub by Premier Inn brand – to an area packed with history, culture, global landmarks and international business headquarters. Taking care to respect the heritage aspects of the building, the hub by Premier Inn London Farringdon (Old Bailey) is built within a Victorian-era former police station, retaining many of the original features of the era including a historic entrance way, ‘reading room’, staircase and a dramatic atrium that celebrates both old and new architecture. Hotel guests and visitors to the City will be able to enjoy a free-to-enter cultural space at the entrance to the hotel and in a central atrium space, featuring the work of two Goldsmith’s trained London-based artists – Hilary Yip and Leily Mojdehi – designed to integrate the hotel within the City of London’s ‘Culture Mile’ initiative. Unique heritage bedrooms have been designed at the front of the Grade II listed building, and the ‘hub’ brand’s compact bedrooms are also arranged across the rear new building, set behind a historic retained façade across eight storeys. Affordable hotels are in high demand in the City of London as domestic and international guests increasingly seek out value from which to enjoy the City’s many unique cultural attractions and leisure opportunities, and to take advantage of the Square Mile’s transport connections, particularly the Elizabeth line. It is a use the City of London Corporation has been encouraging through its ‘Destination City’ growth strategy to attract more visitors and workers into the Square Mile which recognised the opportunity for hotels, alongside office workspaces, for which it is internationally renowned. Whitbread has been operating Premier Inn hotels in the City of London catchment since 2013 and has stepped up investment in recent years to meet consistently high customer demand and to capitalise on opportunities to transform former office buildings into high quality, affordable hotels. Following the opening of the London Farringdon (Old Bailey) hub by Premier Inn hotel, the FTSE100 hotel company now offers its guests a choice of seven Premier Inn and hub hotels across the City with a further two Square Mile locations under construction or in planning. Nationwide, nearly 30% of the FTSE100 hotel company’s development pipeline are hub by Premier Inn hotels, the majority of which are focused in the capital. Jonathan Langdon, Senior Acquisition Manager for Whitbread, said: “We have poured our heart and soul into creating a showcase development at Farringdon (Old Bailey) – demonstrating how affordable hotels like hub by Premier Inn can breathe fresh life into vacant historic buildings in Central London. “The new hotel achieves so much, creating a fantastic new addition for our customers, retaining heritage, and contributing towards a buzzing and vibrant seven-day-a-week City of London through the activity and spending of our guests. “We’re very proud with what we have achieved and are grateful to the vision and hard work of so many people who have contributed to make the development happen.” Whitbread acquired the former City of London Snow Hill Police Station from the City of London Corporation and worked closely with City planners to create a hotel development that balances the need to revitalise the site whilst respecting its heritage. Tom Sleigh, Chairman of the Planning and Transportation Committee at the City of London Corporation, said: “The transformation of the former Snow Hill Police Station into a modern, affordable hotel shows how heritage and planning innovation can work hand in hand, an excellent example of how thoughtful, high-quality design can bring new life to one of the City’s historic buildings. “As we continue to diversify the Square Mile’s offer, projects like this help ensure the City remains a vibrant, welcoming and culturally rich place for workers, residents and visitors alike. We welcome Whitbread’s commitment to celebrating the area’s history while supporting the City’s growth.” Whitbread’s hub by Premier Inn is designed for locations in major cities where property prices are relatively high but, thanks to the brand’s smaller room format, is able to deliver a strong commercial performance whilst providing affordable rooms for guests. Launched on St Martins Lane in Covent Garden in 2014, the brand now offers nineteen centrally located hotels and almost 3,300 bedrooms in locations across Central London and Edinburgh City Centre. In line with Whitbread’s sustainability strategy, Force For Good, the hub by Premier Inn London Farringdon (Old Bailey) hotel is powered by electricity backed by Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO) – with the building incorporating heat recovery systems and air source heat pumps to create a low energy demand. The hub also features a blue roof design, which means it stores the rainwater and releases it slowly to reduce flood risk in the area. A team of 35 have been recruited or offered opportunities for career progression with Whitbread through the new hotel opening – with new job opportunities promoted to residents of Central and Inner London. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
£1bn London Cancer Hub set to transform UK life sciences landscape
Plans for a £1bn expansion of the London Cancer Hub in Sutton have been granted planning consent, paving the way for one of the UK’s most significant investments in cancer research, treatment and life sciences infrastructure. Backed by Aviva Capital Partners alongside developer Socius, the scheme will create a major new campus bringing together global pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, clinicians and manufacturers in a single, highly connected environment. Designed by Gensler, the development will deliver a mix of specialist research and innovation space, including wet laboratories, advanced manufacturing facilities and flexible offices aimed at encouraging collaboration across industry, academia and healthcare. Supporting amenities will include a dedicated Learning Lab, cafés, a crèche and landscaped public spaces, alongside 220 affordable homes for key workers. The campus is positioned as nationally significant science infrastructure, aligning closely with government ambitions to accelerate growth in the UK life sciences sector and strengthen the country’s position as a global leader in medical research and innovation. Once complete, the London Cancer Hub is expected to support thousands of highly skilled jobs and act as a catalyst for wider economic growth across south London. Buildings will be arranged around new pedestrian and cycle routes, with a strong focus on placemaking and accessibility. The masterplan prioritises sustainability, with all buildings targeting net-zero carbon in operation and designed to promote healthy, low-energy environments for both researchers and residents. With planning now secured, the project is expected to move into delivery, with contractor procurement anticipated to begin shortly. Construction will mark the next major step in bringing the ambitious vision for the campus to life. The wider professional team includes Arup as structural and building services engineer and Aecom providing project management and cost consultancy services. Once delivered, the expanded London Cancer Hub will play a central role in accelerating breakthroughs in cancer treatment, fostering collaboration across disciplines and reinforcing the UK’s life sciences ecosystem for decades to come. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Experts reveal winter workwear mistakes construction workers make and how to avoid them
The winter months and their wet and cold weather bring many challenges to the construction sector and its workers, with one of these being the need for extra workwear maintenance. The harsh weather conditions can exaggerate dirt and debris, leaving PPE looking worse for wear and uncomfortable to use. Correct upkeep during these months helps maintain garment performance and wearer visibility, but laundering mistakes are common. Adam Halewood, Head of Sales at custom workwear supplier Clothes2order, reveals the most common winter workwear maintenance mistakes, the issues these cause and how to avoid them. Don’t skip the pre-wash tasks Adam says, “When you’ve changed out of your wet and muddy clothes after a day at work, most of us will throw them straight into the washing machine with little thought, but this is the first mistake many make. With workwear becoming heavily soiled with mud, dust and other debris from building sites in the winter months, it’s important to remove as much of this before clothing items go into the washing machine, not only to ensure all dirt is removed during the laundry process, but to keep your washing machine in top condition. You can usually shake excess dry debris from clothing or gently wipe items down with a damp cloth to remove surface marks, so it doesn’t have to be a time-consuming step. Always avoid harsh scrubbing, especially on hi-vis pieces, as this can damage reflective material, leading to non-compliance with safety guidelines. Once surface grime has been removed, always fasten up items and turn them inside out before putting them in the washing machine. This stops zips, Velcro and other fastenings from snagging on the items during the wash cycle, protecting from pulls, scratches and holes being made in the material.” Avoid harsh wash cycles Adam explains, “Once PPE is ready for the washing machine, the next most common mistake made is using harsh cleaning cycles, which can cause fluorescent-coloured fabrics to fade fast and shorten garment lifespan. When washing workwear, you should follow the manufacturer’s care label instructions in the first instance, but generally it’s advised to avoid running hot water cycles; instead, opt for a cool temperature of 30°C. Whilst it may be tempting to use stain remover or bleach on stains, these harsh chemicals can damage the fibres within clothing, leaving it at risk of developing holes and needing to be replaced more frequently, so they should also be avoided unless the care label suggests otherwise. The best practice is to use only mild detergent on a cool wash and a gentle cycle. To be extra sure that all the detergent residue has been removed and won’t cause any future damage, an extra rinse can also be used at the end of the cycle.” Check before you tumble dry “Most workwear needs to be air-dried, unless the label specifies it is safe for the tumble dryer”, Adam says, “The high temperatures used in tumble dryers can cause clothing to shrink, and with hi-vis items, this can lead to reflective strips becoming dull, degrading and in some extreme cases, melting. Whilst we typically have our radiators on during the winter months, drying PPE directly on these should also be avoided for the same reasons. If you find your items are still holding a lot of water after their wash cycle, never wring them out, as this can cause damage to the material. Instead, put them back into the machine for a spin-only cycle to help remove the excess moisture, before hanging them to dry on an airer in a well-ventilated room.” Adam concludes, “It is really important to keep on top of PPE workwear maintenance all year round, but in the winter months, extra care should be taken to ensure protective clothing remains in good condition. The weather in winter not only brings more dirt to construction sites, but days with little daylight, rain and fog bring poor visibility, making compliant hi-vis clothing even more vital to workplace safety.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
NatWest sets new £10bn funding ambition for UK social housing
NatWest has today announced a new package of £10 billion of funding to the UK social housing sector before the end of 2028, which when deployed will bring the total funding to social housing in the UK to over £35 billion* since 2018. Through this new ambition, the bank is aiming to support the delivery and maintenance of social housing in the UK, which is vital to the people and families who rely on affordable housing, as well as the wider economy. NatWest has worked with not-for-profit housing associations across the UK to support their growth and development plans building homes and communities for many years. Recent government commitments will help unlock development and speed up delivery. In response, NatWest is committing billions in funding to housing associations, to help enable the development of high quality homes across the UK and support economic growth. The bank also confirmed it has now provided more than £25 billion of funding into the social housing sector since 2018, helping to create and sustain affordable homes nationwide. NatWest aims to support the delivery and upkeep of social housing across the UK, helping housing associations build new homes, upgrade existing properties, and improve living conditions. Some of this lending can help fund energy efficiency and environmental improvements, including retrofit projects. Other funding can help the housing associations sector to deliver a pipeline of new homes and improve living conditions in existing properties. Paul Thwaite, CEO NatWest Group comments: “We are incredibly proud to announce the early achievement of our £7.5 billion UK social housing lending ambition. Delivering this milestone a full year ahead of schedule demonstrates our commitment to making a real difference in people’s lives by investing in the homes and communities that need it most, and shows the demand in the market. “Reaching this lending ambition early has enabled us to set a new target of £10 billion to year-end 2028, so we can continue to provide social housing lending and play our part in supporting the development and availability of affordable and social rent homes across the UK.” Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: “This government is backing a step change in affordable housing to end the housing crisis, with £39 billion for a new social and affordable homes programme and 10 year rent certainty for the sector. “NatWest’s investment will be vital in helping housing associations deliver thousands of affordable homes for families priced out of home ownership, building an economy that works for and rewards working people.” The announcement forms part of the bank’s new five point Growing Together plan, setting out how the bank will help build the conditions for UK wide growth: backing powerful regions, championing mid-market companies, strengthening the country’s infrastructure and housing foundations, boosting financial confidence amongst families and young people, and supporting the innovators shaping the future economy. Drawing on its regional footprint, expertise and convening power, the bank aims to bring businesses, communities, and policymakers together to tackle structural barriers, unlock productivity and spread opportunity across the UK. Recent research from Shelter revealed that 382,618 people are homeless in England – including 175,025 children. And the number of people officially recorded as homeless has risen by 8% in one year. According to Shelter, the shortage of social homes, unaffordable private rents and the freeze on housing benefit are pushing more people into homelessness and trapping them there. With limited pathways into secure, affordable homes, many people risk becoming stuck in temporary accommodation intended for short-term use, for months or even years. Over 90% of the people recorded as homeless – including 84,240 families – are in temporary accommodation. In addition to these commitments, last year NatWest announced several other initiatives and partnerships that have complemented and contributed to our social housing lending ambition being achieved. These include a financial guarantee of up to £400 million from the National Wealth Fund to cover a series of new loans from NatWest to registered providers of social housing stock in the UK. The bank also launched a new social rent loan product to support housing associations, which are already NatWest customers, to support the construction of social rent houses across the UK. In December 2025, this fund was doubled to £1 billion in response to strong demand and to help continue the delivery of homes for social rent across the country. These initiatives complement NatWest’s ongoing dedication to supporting communities and helping to address the housing crisis. VIVID secures £100m from NatWest as part of landmark £500m social loan fund In November 2025, UK housing association VIVID, secured £100 million in funding from NatWest as part of the bank’s social loan fund, designed to support the delivery of homes for social rent across the country. VIVID was the first to draw down funds from this. The facility offers discounted interest margins and no arrangement fees, meaning housing associations could save significant sums in finance costs and reinvest those savings into building and improving homes for those who need them most. These homes for social rent are expected to help ease the shortage of social homes, support vibrant local communities, and the funding should give VIVID the flexibility to keep building where it matters most. It will go towards building an additional 450 new social rent homes for more customers and comes with a 10-year loan term, providing stability for long-term investment. David Ball, Chief Financial Officer at VIVID, said: “NatWest’s new social rent loan product gives housing associations the financial flexibility to build more homes at social rent levels. The overall rate discount being offered is an innovative step change that shows NatWest’s commitment to supporting the Government’s Social Rent led agenda.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals