IWFM welcomes the draft Building Safety Bill and hopes this development will provide some comfort to those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire. We believe the new statutory role of Building Safety Manager (BSM) is key to avoiding any repeat of such a tragedy and we are pleased to continue
Commercial real estate developer Network Space has become a member of the Northern Powerhouse Partner Programme. The company, established in 1982, has its headquarters in Warrington and engages closely with stakeholder partners across the North. It has recently delivered award-winning and job creating schemes including Mere Grange at St Helens,
Launching on 22 July, TwelveTrees Park is a new, cosmopolitan neighbourhood for London Located minutes between Stratford and Canary Wharf with five rail and tube lines on the doorstep, as well as London City Airport and Crossrail within 10 minutes, this is one of the best-connected developments in London It will provide over
Caledonian has beaten off stiff competition with its innovative approach to volumetric construction to be shortlisted in two categories in this year’s Offsite Awards. The judges shortlisted the Nottinghamshire-based company in both the Best Use of Volumetric Technology category and Offsite Pioneer of the Year. Recognition in this major industry
IronmongeryDirect has reported its most successful month in history, with June seeing record figures for both order numbers and revenue. With many people turning to DIY during lockdown, the UK’s largest supplier of ironmongery experienced an 80% year-on-year (YoY) increase in web traffic in June. This increase led to a 75%
Too many buildings are unsafe, and too many residents feel trapped in their homes says chief executive Mike Robinson The chief executive of the British Safety Council has today written to the Housing Minister, Christopher Pincher, to ask the government to act to remove unsafe cladding from tower blocks. Three
Independent Builders Merchant Group has appointed industry stalwart, Allun Pittingale, to the newly created role of Managing Director of the Builders Merchants Division. Allun started his career at the independent Western Builders Merchants in South London and has an impressive track record as a trader, steeped in builders merchanting. From
Castleforge Partners, a leading UK-based real estate fund manager, today announced the final close of its third value-add commercial real estate fund at over £270m. Castleforge Partners III (“CFP III” or the “Fund”) successfully exceeded its predecessor by 15%, despite challenging fundraising conditions created by Brexit uncertainty and the COVID-19
THE number of project managers, contractors and stakeholders opting to carry out training in NEC contracts has sharply risen thanks to online training courses, NEC4 drafter Dr Stuart Kings reveals. Online training on how to best use and understand the NEC suite of contracts was launched in May via NEC
GLP, investor and developer of logistics warehouses and distribution parks, today announces that it has leased an 84,000 SQ FT unit at its G-Park Biggleswade site in Bedfordshire. The 84,000 SQ FT warehouse has been let to Focus International, part of the JD Sports Group. Focus will be utilising the
IWFM welcomes the draft Building Safety Bill and hopes this development will provide some comfort to those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire. We believe the new statutory role of Building Safety Manager (BSM) is key to avoiding any repeat of such a tragedy and we are pleased to continue to help with developing the competence framework for the role. The importance of the BSM in ensuring the safety of buildings and the people occupying them cannot be understated. Where previously there often was a lack of both clarity on who was responsible for building safety and competence to ensure that safety, a BSM with oversight should ensure that all of the updated safety requirements are met, residents have a clear point of contact, and lives are protected. We urge facilities managers to engage with the Bill and provide feedback to us via: policy@iwfm.org.uk. Professionals in FM will be at the front-line of this Bill’s implementation, being those most likely to be assigned or hired to the BSM role; it is therefore critical that our profession is knowledgeable of the contents and its implications for the future of building and people safety. We must never face a repeat of that tragic night and, while there is still work to do, we are much closer to that goal with this draft Bill. Further information: The BSM can be an individual or organisation whose principal role is to support the Accountable Person in the day-to-day management of fire and structural safety in the building. In either circumstance, the individual or a nominated individual must have the competence (or skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours) to carry out the statutory functions. The skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours are not detailed in the draft Building Safety Bill, which is a high level Bill; instead, the detail of the competences will be outlined in future statutory guidance and a Publicly Available Specification.
Commercial real estate developer Network Space has become a member of the Northern Powerhouse Partner Programme. The company, established in 1982, has its headquarters in Warrington and engages closely with stakeholder partners across the North. It has recently delivered award-winning and job creating schemes including Mere Grange at St Helens, Vector 31 in South Yorkshire and the Tameside Wellness Centre at Denton, Greater Manchester. Network Space Director Catherine Chilvers is also a Board member of the Local Enterprise Partnership that is advising on built environment issues and economic growth across the Liverpool City Region. The Northern Powerhouse Partnership Programme aims to boost the North’s economy through investment in skills, innovation, transport and culture. Network Space joins almost 400 businesses, civic bodies and charities based across the North of England which have joined the Government-led initiative. Network Space Chairman, Richard Ainscough, said: “Network Space is about delivering exceptional places and spaces for people to work. Over the last decade, we have helped champion and regenerate many urban areas that has struggled to attract inward investment. “These schemes have attracted global names back to the region, as well as providing long term jobs and opportunities. Our values and ambition align perfectly with the Northern Powerhouse and so we are delighted to be part of this wider business initiative.” The Northern Powerhouse is currently building on a £3.4bn Local Growth Fund investment to create world-class places where people want to live, work, visit and invest. It aims to boosting the local economy by investing in skills, innovation, transport and culture, as well as devolving significant powers and budgets to directly elected mayors to ensure decisions in the North are made by the North.
Launching on 22 July, TwelveTrees Park is a new, cosmopolitan neighbourhood for London Located minutes between Stratford and Canary Wharf with five rail and tube lines on the doorstep, as well as London City Airport and Crossrail within 10 minutes, this is one of the best-connected developments in London It will provide over 3,800 homes and includes plans for shops, restaurants and a new 4.5 acre WiFi-enabled park Over half the 26.2 acre site is dedicated to green spaces, creating a lush and tranquil setting just minutes from the City This mixed-use development will be a blueprint for modern living. It has been designed with connectivity at its heart, whether to nature, to London or to the community The neighbourhood will provide a new home for the acclaimed East London Science School, as well as a number of maker-space studios to help creativity flourish The area boasts a rich history. Formerly owned by 19th Century industrialist, Harper Twelvetrees, the site was once home to the Imperial Works soap factory. Twelvetrees was a prominent anti-slavery campaigner and built homes on the site for some of his lowest paid workers. Its reinvention will deliver homes for people at every stage of life and create a new place for people to live, work, learn and socialise Studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses are available, with homes at Evergreen Point the first to be offered to customers Prices start from £385,000 for a studio Berkeley is launching TwelveTrees Park, a dynamic new place for London on 22 July, which will see West Ham become an integral part of the wider transformation of Stratford. The 3,838-home mixed-use regeneration scheme in East London is Berkeley’s furthest foray east, north of the river. Set to become the benchmark for future living in London with health and wellbeing at the heart of its design, TwelveTrees Park will add to East London’s diverse and vibrant cultural scene. The development is an exciting prospect for people looking for city living combined with expansive green space on their doorstep, and trendsetters who want to be part of the city’s next big destination. With house price growth in Newham expected to be among the highest in London, and the wider Lower Lea Valley experiencing a renaissance, TwelveTrees Park is a solid long-term investment for buyers looking for value in the capital. Offering a stylish mix of studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom homes, as well as apartments purpose-built for rent and homes available under shared ownership, TwelveTrees Park offers something for everyone. With views of London’s cityscape and designed with modern lifestyles in mind, Berkeley’s new development epitomises urban living. It enables people to live connected: to London and beyond with fantastic transport links; to nature with over 50% of the site dedicated to green space; to neighbours through a strong community focus; and connected digitally with a fully WiFi-enabled park. Evergreen Point is the first building to launch at TwelveTrees Park and comprises studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. A collection of penthouses are also in the final stages of development. Sat in the heart of the development and offering panoramic views across London, the building is located at the entrance to the park, close to the community hub and to West Ham station, giving residents access to the city. Apartments at TwelveTrees Park have been designed with practical, everyday living in mind. Residents can benefit from ample in-built storage, and have access to a gym, business lounge and 24-hour concierge service. There will also be a car park with electric charging points and bicycle storage. TwelveTrees Park is a blueprint for healthier, balanced living in the city – over half the scheme is green space, encouraging active, outdoor lifestyles and providing places to relax, reflect and restore. The on-site community gardens offer residents flexible space for activities, from gardening to education to group meetings and parties. The 4.5 acre linear park will be at the heart of the development and a focal point for people to meet and socialise, with restaurants and cafés spilling out into the park as part of a new shopping and leisure quarter at the development. Reflecting twenty-first century living, the central park will be fully WiFi-enabled meaning those who work or study from home will have the flexibility to be outdoors and surrounded by nature, while maker-space studios support London’s budding creatives in the pursuit of their passions. TwelveTrees Park will breathe new life into this once industrial part of London, transforming derelict brownfield land into a thriving new community that reflects the history and distinctive character of the local area. By opening up the site, creating two new foot bridges and updating the existing road bridge, including direct access to West Ham station, Berkeley is delivering an important new piece of the jigsaw to help connect the vibrant tapestry of East London. Positioned between Stratford, the Olympic Park and Canary Wharf, TwelveTrees Park benefits from five rail and tube lines on its doorstep, meaning easy access to the city centre and its landmark shopping, tourist and business destinations, including Canary Wharf in only seven minutes. With quick links to Crossrail, and London City Airport just 10 minutes away, residents can easily explore the capital and connect to destinations worldwide. TwelveTrees Park isn’t just a place to live: it’s a community that will educate and inspire future generations. A new, 1,000-pupil state-of-the-art home for the East London Science School will include a specially designed science garden with an outdoor lab and physics garden, a sports hall and a lecture theatre. The science school will be a focal point for the entire community with the facilities used after school hours for activities and events, such as hosting talks on current trending topics and holding fitness classes. Justin Tibaldi, divisional managing director at Berkeley Homes (Capital), commented: “We’re very excited to unveil our vision for TwelveTrees Park – a vibrant new neighbourhood that will be a gamechanger for West Ham and the wider regeneration of the lower Lea Valley. This will be
Caledonian has beaten off stiff competition with its innovative approach to volumetric construction to be shortlisted in two categories in this year’s Offsite Awards. The judges shortlisted the Nottinghamshire-based company in both the Best Use of Volumetric Technology category and Offsite Pioneer of the Year. Recognition in this major industry award sends a clear signal to developers and building designers that Caledonian is a leader in the UK offsite and modular construction sector. Within the Offsite Pioneer of the Year category, the judges recognised how, over the last five years, Caledonian has grown into one of the largest specialist off-site manufacturing businesses in the UK. This has been achieved by pioneering new ways in which modular projects are designed, manufactured and delivered; a growth and pace of change that few in any industry would be able to emulate. Singled out by the judges was the work at Sir Frederick Gibberd College where the company built an entire school in just 12 weeks, and during the Covid-19 lockdown when most other construction sites were closed. A time lapse video showing the modular build appeared in several national press including the Daily Mail under the headline: ‘Remarkable time-lapse footage shows secondary school being built in 12 WEEKS while the rest of us have been on lockdown’. Alongside this, investment in BIM, DfMA and lean manufacturing have enabled Caledonian to regularly achieve an industry-leading completion rate of up to 96% before modules are delivered to site. Caledonian was also shortlisted in Best Use of Volumetric Technology for its work with Bowmer & Kirkland at the University Campus of Football Business, First Way Campus in Wembley. The £25m contract involved the company manufacturing accommodation modules for the 678 student bedroom scheme. What stood out for the judges on this project was Caledonian’s ability to supply a fully fire compliant modular solution for the 10 storey development, along with a completion rate of 96% for the modules prior to shipping to site. “We already knew that our innovative volumetric system was shaking up the market, which has been reflected by the fact we have been shortlisted in two categories within the Offsite Awards,” said Paul Lang, Chief Executive Office at Caledonian. “To be shortlisted in two categories and when we we’re up against other major brands just goes to show that Caledonian is one to watch for the future.” Caledonian faces stiff competition in both categories with the likes of Kier Integrated Team, NG Bailey and Urban Splash all vying for overall victory. The finals and award winners will be announced at the first ‘virtual’ Offsite Awards, taking place in the afternoon of 22 September 2020. Caledonian offers innovative volumetric solutions for a wide range of sectors including education, leisure, health, residential, student accommodation, commercial & retail, custodial and MOD, amongst others. The company has been successfully appointed to several leading frameworks including DfE (Department for Education), NHS and LHC. To find out more about Caledonian modular buildings and offsite construction solutions, visit: www.caledonianmodular.com
IronmongeryDirect has reported its most successful month in history, with June seeing record figures for both order numbers and revenue. With many people turning to DIY during lockdown, the UK’s largest supplier of ironmongery experienced an 80% year-on-year (YoY) increase in web traffic in June. This increase led to a 75% uplift in transactions, taking the total number of orders to unprecedented levels. The surge of interest in home improvements saw a slight shift in IronmongeryDirect’s usual consumer base, away from its usual trade focus and more into the domestic market. In fact, while online traffic from existing customers rose by 29%, the number of first-time visitors more than trebled (208% YoY). Categories that performed particularly well in June included: ● Locks and latches ● Door and cabinet furniture (front door furniture, handles and knobs) ● Screws and fixings ● Gate, fence and shed hardware ● Shelving and storage Charlie Carlton, Head of Digital at IronmongeryDirect and ElectricalDirect, said: “In recent months, many people have used their extra time at home to do DIY and this trend is clearly evident in our sales data. “We’re delighted to have been able to provide for the nation during lockdown, whilst still supplying critical products to the NHS and schools in this difficult time. With restrictions starting to ease off, we expect to see a return to our normal trade patterns and will continue to serve the country’s construction industry as it recovers from the pandemic.” For more information about IronmongeryDirect, visit: www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/
Too many buildings are unsafe, and too many residents feel trapped in their homes says chief executive Mike Robinson The chief executive of the British Safety Council has today written to the Housing Minister, Christopher Pincher, to ask the government to act to remove unsafe cladding from tower blocks. Three years on from the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower it is estimated that 60,000 are living in homes with Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding similar to that which caused the fire and led to the deaths of 72 people in June 2017. Yesterday in the House of Commons, in a debate on Flammable Cladding Removal in the House of Commons, MPs lined up to demand action from the housing minister. The debate was secured by Labour MP Rushanara Ali. According to government figures, 155 of the 455 high-rise buildings identified as covered in ACM have had cladding removed, leaving 300 with dangerous cladding still in place. In his response the minister said that the government’s building safety programme will ensure that high-rise buildings are safe and that unsafe ACM must be removed from all high-rise residential buildings, at no cost to leaseholders. The minister conceded that “even with public funding available, the pace has been much too slow.” The government has promised that it will shortly publish the draft Building Safety Bill, described by Mr Pincher as “a once-in-a-generation change to the building safety regime.” Speaking from his home today Mike Robinson, the chief executive of the British Safety Council said: “I have today written to the housing minister to ask for an update on action to remove cladding from high-rise residential buildings. The statistics on the building safety programme are shocking. There are still 300 high-rise residential and publicly-owned buildings with the same flammable cladding which caused the fire at Grenfell Tower. I agree with his recent comments in parliament that the pace of progress has been far too slow.” He went on to say: “I am afraid that politely asking building owners to “do the right thing”, to remove cladding and not to pass the costs onto their leaseholders has not worked. Attempts to empower local authorities to enforce replacement of cladding have also failed – not least because years of underfunding of councils and the HSE mean that even if the will is there to step in, the resources simply are not there. We all want the same outcome – let’s get on with it!” About the British Safety Council The British Safety Council believes that no-one should be injured or made ill through their work. Since its foundation in 1957, the British Safety Council has campaigned tirelessly to protect workers from accidents, hazards and unsafe conditions, and played a decisive role in the political process that has led to the adoption of landmark safety legislation in the UK. Its members in more than 60 countries are committed to protecting and improving the wellbeing of workers, believing that a healthy and safe work environment is also good for business. As part of its charitable work, the British Safety Council leads health and safety networking forums for all sectors, facilitates and promotes best practice in Britain and overseas. It also offers a range of services and products, including training, qualifications, publications, audits and awards. The British Safety Council works closely with organisations, charities and individuals who share its vision of ensuring that every worker goes home at the end of the day as healthy as they were when they went to work. We would be grateful if you could use British Safety Council in full rather than abbreviating to BSC when quoting our organisation. British Safety Council’s networks: Website: www.britsafe.org Twitter: www.twitter.com/britsafe Facebook: www.facebook.com/britishsafetycouncil YouTube: www.youtube.com/britishsafetycouncil LinkedIn group: www.linkedin.com/company/british-safety-council Safety Management: https://sm.britsafe.org
Independent Builders Merchant Group has appointed industry stalwart, Allun Pittingale, to the newly created role of Managing Director of the Builders Merchants Division. Allun started his career at the independent Western Builders Merchants in South London and has an impressive track record as a trader, steeped in builders merchanting. From the age of twenty one, he held several branch manager positions for Erith Building Supplies, Hall & Co and Builder Center before joining the Travis Perkins Group in 2001. He spent eighteen years with the TP Group and was a central figure in the leadership team that brought the Benchmarx Kitchens & Joinery business to market before being appointed regional managing director in the South East, a role he held for the last four years. Renowned for building tight teams and obsessing about his customers and colleagues, he is considered a perfect fit for IBMG. Allun said: “I have been a big fan of independent merchants for many years and I had been intrigued by the unique competition provided by the newly formed Independent Builders Merchant Group. I am absolutely thrilled to be joining IBMG and be going back to my independent roots.” Andrew Cope of Independent Builder Merchant Group, said: “We are extremely pleased to welcome Allun to IBMG and know that under his leadership, our builders merchant branches will go from strength to strength.” Independent Builders Merchant Group includes Parkers and Chandlers Building, Stamco Timber and Fairolls. The Group provides all heavy-side building materials, civils, roofing & timber, plus an array of ancillary product lines including kitchens, plumbing & heating, joinery, architectural ironmongery, gardening and landscaping supplies. Local branch contact details can be found at www.independentbm.com <http://www.independentbm.com>
Castleforge Partners, a leading UK-based real estate fund manager, today announced the final close of its third value-add commercial real estate fund at over £270m. Castleforge Partners III (“CFP III” or the “Fund”) successfully exceeded its predecessor by 15%, despite challenging fundraising conditions created by Brexit uncertainty and the COVID-19 outbreak. Castleforge Partners has further diversified its investor base, securing new commitments from institutional investors in North America, Europe and Latin America including a private pension fund, endowment, foundation and family offices. The Fund also received strong support from existing investors, with approximately 60% of the capital from long-standing partners. This combination of investors shows confidence in Castleforge Partners’ ability to outperform in the current market environment. Castleforge Partners is a private equity real estate business that was established in 2010 and has grown to a team of over 70 professionals (incorporating their London headquartered core team and in-house operating platforms clustered around the asset base). Since inception, Castleforge has closed 40 deals and successfully realized 17. Research remains a central tenet of the investment strategy and the output informs asset selection and thematic focus. This has helped to guide Castleforge away from troubled sectors and built exposure to themes that benefit from structural growth tailwinds. Driven by research, Castleforge has placed increasing emphasis on operational improvement to supplement traditional value creation initiatives. This has led to the creation of in-house operating platforms which enhance occupational experience to match evolving end-user demand, while driving yield and managing operational risk. The platform is establishing considerable scale in various high growth asset-classes and has begun to expand the asset base into continental Europe. Commenting on the Fund closing, Brandon Hollihan, Co-Founder of Castleforge Partners, said: “We are greatly appreciative of our investors, old and new, for their support and partnership. It is an exciting time for Castleforge Partners, and we believe we are well positioned to access new opportunities and grow our business, whilst also supporting the communities in which we invest.” Atlantic-Pacific Capital served as the exclusive global placement agent. Alex Hurst, Partner at Atlantic-Pacific, said: “We are pleased to close CFP III with commitments in excess of the predecessor vehicle despite headwinds in the capital markets resulting from a trilogy of events incorporating Brexit, a snap election and a global pandemic. We have enjoyed the second collaboration with Castleforge Partners and expect their focus on risk management and the unremitting evolution of their platform will serve investors well.”
THE number of project managers, contractors and stakeholders opting to carry out training in NEC contracts has sharply risen thanks to online training courses, NEC4 drafter Dr Stuart Kings reveals. Online training on how to best use and understand the NEC suite of contracts was launched in May via NEC and national framework provider Pagabo. As with courses across the board, this training was converted into an online format and a huge response has seen all online training completely fully booked and future courses all reaching maximum numbers already. Dr Stuart Kings, technical director and in-house NEC expert at Pagabo, said: “It’s been really important to ensure that training can still be maintained during a time when organisations need NEC guidance the most, and we’re thrilled to report that the response to these online courses has been phenomenal. “People want the accreditation – and the online format has made the courses far more accessible at a time when individuals and organisations alike have adapted quickly to technology. “With the NEC, there are multiple contracts – a bit like a ‘box set’ of all contracts which includes consultancy, sub-contractors, major works and design, and build and operate. NEC covers every procurement exercise under the sub and embodies the principles of good project management – which is why it is now the dominant contract in the construction industry.” Stuart was one of the drafters of the NEC4 suite of contractors, which are used by Pagabo in its procurement processes. He reports that many organisations are currently wanting to gain a deeper understanding of how NEC contractors works, and to ensure that they are up to speed with the way it can be of benefit to them in terms of project management. As well as giving training to Pagabo’s contractors, supply chain and clients, Stuart has also been giving advice to organisations such as Pick Everard. Stuart continued: “While the NEC contract covers major projects such as Hinckley Point C, CrossRail and HS2, it is also suitable for smaller projects too. The training courses have taken people through the contract in close detail, from start to end. They have provided a checklist of actions taking you from day one of the project, right through to completion.” Simon Toplass, chief executive at Pagabo, said: “The NEC contract itself has been around since 1991, and when it launched it was seen as radically rewriting the rulebook. Instead of focusing purely on contractual procedures, the contract became more about project management principles and modern practice. “NEC is now so central to procurement particularly within the construction industry, so it’s really crucial for framework providers like us to offer real expertise in order to advise clients and suppliers and give the best possible support. We’re thrilled to have an in-house expert in Stuart and to be able to offer this expertise and training to others in the sector.” For more information, please visit www.pagabo.co.uk
GLP, investor and developer of logistics warehouses and distribution parks, today announces that it has leased an 84,000 SQ FT unit at its G-Park Biggleswade site in Bedfordshire. The 84,000 SQ FT warehouse has been let to Focus International, part of the JD Sports Group. Focus will be utilising the warehouse space for bulk storage and pick-and-pack of their portfolio of brands including ellesse UK, Yogi Footwear, Nautica Competition, Peter Werth, Fenchurch, Henleys, Ecko and Starter and using additional office space so we can ensure staff have enough space to socially distance. G-Park Biggleswade comprises five units in total, including a 61,000 SQ FT unit leased to SeeWoo Foods earlier this year, and a 97,500 SQ FT build-to-suit distribution centre leased to Dublin-based Zeus Packaging. There is also a further 106,000 SQ FT speculatively developed warehouse which is currently available for lease. Each warehouse is designed to BREEAM Excellent and built to meet the evolving needs of GLP’s logistics, distribution and ecommerce customers in the UK. In addition to this best-in-class specification, the development benefits from Biggleswade’s strong labour pool and excellent transport links to central London and the South East. G-Park Biggleswade forms part of Stratton Business Park, which is home to a number of leading businesses from the packaging, distribution, food and manufacturing sectors as well as a retail complex including M&S, Pets at Home, Boots, River Island, and Halfords. Andrew Ward, Operations Director at Focus, said: “We are looking forward to working with GLP and joining other leading brands at G-Park Biggleswade. A solid infrastructure and efficient logistics system is key to the success of any business, and for Focus, this is especially important with several brands under our umbrella, and continued growth in Central Europe. The position is perfect for our business as it is placed on the A1 and just 43 miles from central London. We look forward to bringing new work opportunities to the area and making this the perfect base to continue to grow our Focus brands. The last few months have been extremely challenging for retail with the global pandemic, so we’re pleased to make this positive move, eventually employing 40+ people in the area as we continue to drive future development.” James Atkinson, Development Manager at GLP Europe, said: “This development, which completed in January of this year, highlights GLP’s ongoing commitment to offering high quality space for our customers in established logistics locations. The built-to-suit logistics warehouses on site illustrate the strength of occupier demand in the area and we have responded by speculatively developing a range of different-sized units to maintain flexibility for our customers. We look forward to working with Focus International for the first time and are pleased with the success of this development so far, with only one unit now remaining to let.” A Central Bedfordshire Council spokesperson said: “We negotiated the sale of the Stratton Phase 4 land to GLP in early 2018 and have since been impressed with the quality and speed of delivery that GLP have orchestrated. “The addition to the existing business park of five high quality buildings, at pace, has attracted new businesses to Biggleswade and provided a significant boost to job creation in the town and beyond. “The development of G Park has helped reinforce Stratton Business Park as a key business location in the region.” Adroit Real Estate Advisors, BNP PRE, and CBRE acted for GLP.