Persimmon South West has received approval for detailed planning for a new scheme for 40 homes in Exeter. Exeter City Council gave the green light for 40 high-quality homes, on land adjacent to Blakeslee Drive in Newcourt. This follows the outline planning consent that had previously been granted in March
Citu has secured plans for Phase One of the Attercliffe Waterside urban regeneration scheme in Sheffield. The 23-acre brownfield site is owned by Sheffield City Council and straddles either side of Sheffield and Tinsley Canal, once a vital waterway in powering the city’s Industrial Revolution. The transformational scheme will celebrate
Castlemere Developments has completed its first major airspace project in Tunbridge Wells. The Windsor-based company has expanded into the airspace development sector and has a range of projects in the pipeline having completed this first project in Kent. The 11-unit scheme at Hamilton Court, located on Chilston Road, features five
Designs for a new neighbourhood at the St George’s site in Wolverhampton are set to be unveiled for the first time at a city centre event. Since spring, four award-winning teams of architects have been working up their vision for the brownfield plot – a key gateway site for the
BDP and the University of Cambridge have unveiled ambitious plans to restore the Grade II listed History Faculty Building, which is also the home of the Seeley Library. This landmark project will restore and revitalise one of the iconic ‘Red Trilogy’ – the triumvirate of highly significant university buildings designed
Jigsaw Homes Midlands has selected a new contractor to complete the development of over 130 homes at Rolleston Drive in Arnold. Midlands-based Morro Partnerships was appointed following a procurement process and will start work on the scheme from July. Morro will complete the homes, originally manufactured off site by ilke
Plans to create a new cultural hub in Coventry city centre have reached a significant milestone. Construction on the city’s former IKEA building to transform it into a large-scale cultural landmark with facilities for residents and visitors will be starting this summer. The City Centre Cultural Gateway will be developed
Plans for a skills and cyber campus of national significance in Blackburn have officially been lodged. A planning application submitted by Maple Grove Blackburn – a joint venture between Maple Grove Developments and Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council – is seeking planning permission for the first phase of the works,
Preparation work has commenced to develop nearly 400 new homes in Congleton, Castle Green Homes has announced. The homebuilder is primed to begin developing a 57-acre site on Viking Way to provide 396 new homes. Around two-thirds of the development will be affordable housing under a partnership with Torus. The
Bruntwood SciTech has announced that work has started on its £4.5 million redevelopment of Centre City in Birmingham. The redevelopment will see Centre City provide cutting-edge workspace and advanced wellness facilities. The landmark 210,000 sq ft building, originally constructed in the 1960s in Birmingham’s vibrant theatre district, is set to
Persimmon South West has received approval for detailed planning for a new scheme for 40 homes in Exeter. Exeter City Council gave the green light for 40 high-quality homes, on land adjacent to Blakeslee Drive in Newcourt. This follows the outline planning consent that had previously been granted in March for up to 50 new homes. The 3.2-hectare site will feature family housing, comprising about a third of the area, with the remaining space dedicated to open areas. To the south, the open space will extend an existing pond to support the new development, incorporating additional planting to enhance biodiversity. Existing quality trees, including a significant Oak tree, will be preserved as part of the enhanced open space within the development. The five-star developer has collaborated closely with the Local Newcourt Community Association throughout the process and will undertake road works to widen the bend on Omaha Drive adjoining River Plate Road. Persimmon has a presence in Exeter and its East Devon outskirts. Currently, it has two sites at Tithebarn – Ashworth Place and Cherrywood Grange, where homes are available for purchase from £259,995 – and is one of the developers contributing to the expansion of Cranbrook. The builder’s Community Champions initiative – which donates over £700,000 annually to good causes and organisations across Britain – has recently supported local groups such as Hospiscare, Stoke Hill AFC U9s, and Ladysmith Infant & Junior School. Persimmon Homes South West Managing Director Dan Heathcote said: “This achievement is a testament to our planning team and the collaborative efforts with residents, officers, and stakeholders. Together, we have brought 40 new homes to Exeter, providing much-needed affordable housing in the South West, as recognised by Exeter City Council. “Alongside the S106 commitments and green initiatives associated with the site to enhance the area, this project exemplifies the high standards at Persimmon and our commitment to supporting sustainable communities through collaboration. “As a responsible partner, Persimmon looks forward to continuing its engagement with the Council and the local community as we progress with delivering quality new homes for local people.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Citu has secured plans for Phase One of the Attercliffe Waterside urban regeneration scheme in Sheffield. The 23-acre brownfield site is owned by Sheffield City Council and straddles either side of Sheffield and Tinsley Canal, once a vital waterway in powering the city’s Industrial Revolution. The transformational scheme will celebrate the rich heritage of the site which has been derelict for years and is now destined to become one of the largest low-carbon communities in the UK. Around 1,000 homes will be delivered in three phases across the scheme, complemented by community-focused leisure opportunities and creative workspaces. Phase One – which includes 362 homes, a new public realm, a new pedestrian bridge across the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal, and the repurposing of existing buildings – was approved by Sheffield City Council’s Planning and Highways Committee. The first phase on the north side of the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal will form the heart of the new district, with work expected to begin this autumn on the leisure and commercial elements, ahead of construction of the first homes on site. Six existing historic buildings will be reimagined at the centre of the new neighbourhood which will include a café, bar, bakery, restaurant, offices and multi-purpose venue. Contemporary designs and surviving architecture will be interwoven to create a new Attercliffe Waterside that respects its industrial heritage and paves the way for a sustainable future. A public and commercial square will also be created, alongside a series of south-facing courtyards and walkways down to the canal. The new pedestrian and cycling footbridge will connect Phase One to the south side of the river, opening up the community to Sheffield’s wider East End, additional green space and a tram stop for easy access to the city centre. The first homes to be built on the site will consist of 3 & 4-bedroom townhouses and 1 & 2-bedroom apartments, all constructed using Citu’s ground-breaking timber-framed housing system. This combines bold architecture with flexible designs alongside sustainable, low carbon materials to ensure the highest standards of energy efficiency. The houses will be constructed on a podium which sits above an under-croft car park, with plans to remove cars from specific stretches of Effingham Road which will be replaced with pedestrianisation, public realm and a cycle lane, all part of the scheme’s vision to create a landscape that prioritises people over cars. Public art by local artists will also be introduced throughout the public and private spaces, with murals on building facades, existing building structures being repurposed as sculptural artefacts and imaginative new play areas integrated into the local landscape. Chris Thompson founder and co-director from Citu said: “We are delighted to have secured planning permission for Phase One of Attercliffe Waterside that will kickstart the wider regeneration of Sheffield’s East End. “It’s an area steeped in history and our plans have been inspired by the heritage industries that were powered by the waterways running through it. The area presents huge opportunities from its location alongside the canal and the River Don, with green space, the Olympic Legacy Park and easy access to the city centre by tram in just ten minutes. “We are creating a new community in this beautiful waterside location that will have its own identity; one that pays homage to the area’s rich history but that adapts the landscape to address the various challenges of our day, not least the climate emergency.” He added: “Attercliffe Waterside will enable future generations to live more sustainable lifestyles, in homes that are built to the highest environmental performance standards, setting an exemplar nationally for this type of regeneration.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Castlemere Developments has completed its first major airspace project in Tunbridge Wells. The Windsor-based company has expanded into the airspace development sector and has a range of projects in the pipeline having completed this first project in Kent. The 11-unit scheme at Hamilton Court, located on Chilston Road, features five two-bedroom and six one-bedroom apartments. Each apartment will deliver aspirational and affordable modular penthouse living. Prices for one bed will be from £210,000 and £280,000 for a two bed. Each apartment offers premium designer kitchens complete with Bosch appliances, quartz worktops, fully tiled bathrooms and oak flooring. Heating is provided via heat pumps to ensure no carbon-burning appliances are used. In addition, each apartment has fibre broadband and assigned parking with dedicated electrical vehicle charging. Hamilton Court has been built off-site, with Castlemere Developments embracing the modern methods of construction (MMC) approach with all of its properties before lifting them into place for the finishing touches. It has purposely chosen off-site MMC so that it can deliver projects much quicker than onsite developments, reduce the disruption to current residents, and ensure its developments are as environmentally friendly as possible. Kris Collett, managing director of Castlemere Developments, said: “Hamilton Court is a stunning addition to the residential property market in Tunbridge Wells. We are incredibly pleased with it. Our plan was to deliver stylish, environmentally friendly accommodation which we have achieved. “We have chosen to adopt MMC best practices for this scheme – and future ones. This is more cost-effective, and quicker and also we believe that building airspace apartments offsite is less complex. There is a huge demand for residential properties and we will continue to source suitable locations that we can develop to help meet this need.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Designs for a new neighbourhood at the St George’s site in Wolverhampton are set to be unveiled for the first time at a city centre event. Since spring, four award-winning teams of architects have been working up their vision for the brownfield plot – a key gateway site for the city. It’s part of a landmark competition led by City of Wolverhampton Council, social impact developers Capital&Centric and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). The architect teams will now unveil their respective ideas at a free event at Wulfrun Hall, The Halls, North Street, Wolverhampton on Wednesday 17 July, 2024. Anyone is welcome to attend the showcase, to be hosted by architect Angela Brady OBE, a past president of RIBA who’s overseeing the competition. Visitors can choose from one of two sessions (3pm or 5.30pm) and can expect a Dragon’s Den style format, as each of the 4 shortlisted teams get 10 minutes to pitch their vision for what will become an impressive new neighbourhood. Attendees will then get a chance to wander around, speak to the teams to explore their ideas and provide valuable local feedback. It will be the first time that the designs will be seen in public since the competition launched. Speaking ahead of the event, Councillor Chris Burden, Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “St George’s is a fantastic opportunity to create a game changing neighbourhood of which the city can be proud. It’s a critical part of our citywide plan to unlock investment in considered development that delivers much needed homes and new opportunities for our communities. “Through this competition we have secured designs from award winning architects that we hope set a new design benchmark for brownfield regeneration in Wolverhampton. I cannot wait to see what local residents make of the designs the shortlisted teams have come up with and hope as many people as possible get along to the event at The Halls on 17 July.” Social impact developers Capital&Centric are aiming to replicate the approach they’ve successfully delivered in other cities, attracting investment into imaginative and creative communities that feature restored historic buildings alongside contemporary new builds, as well as providing lush green public gardens. The intention for the former Sainsbury’s supermarket site is for a neighbourhood with a kaleidoscope of hundreds of homes, community spaces and green streets, centred around a repurposed Grade II listed church. It’s anticipated to feature shops, workspaces, café bars and lots of community open space, adding a vibrant new quarter to Wolverhampton’s city centre, with links to the £61 million City Learning Quarter set to open in 2025. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
BDP and the University of Cambridge have unveiled ambitious plans to restore the Grade II listed History Faculty Building, which is also the home of the Seeley Library. This landmark project will restore and revitalise one of the iconic ‘Red Trilogy’ – the triumvirate of highly significant university buildings designed in the 1960s by prominent, post-war architect, James Stirling. The project presents a once in a generation opportunity to provide a new range of enhanced learning and working environments at the heart of the University’s Sidgwick site while improving the building’s accessibility, safety and comfort and provide a new range of learning and working environments at the heart of the University’s Sidgwick site. The comprehensive refurbishment will safeguard the use and enjoyment of the building; repairing and upgrading building fabric and replacing services to improve thermal comfort, while introducing a range of carbon saving and climate resilient measures. The project has followed a meticulous conservation-led approach that embraces the value, significance and distinctive character of the building while recognising the need for change to meet contemporary requirements. After considering the multiple adaptations to the building, careful judgements have been made about the recovery and reinstatement of materials and details. In conjunction with an approach to new and repaired fabric, this project will breathe new life into the building, making its architectural value more tangible. A key driver for the project is to meet equality, diversity and inclusion goals. Critically, the project will significantly improve step-free access throughout the building, including external terraces, to ensure equitable entry and circulation for all users. Internal treatments will also provide a more comfortable range of environments, recognising the needs of a broader spectrum of people. Construction is due to start from 2025, subject to university approvals, including a Grace to Regent House, and planning and listed building consent approvals from Cambridge City Council. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Jigsaw Homes Midlands has selected a new contractor to complete the development of over 130 homes at Rolleston Drive in Arnold. Midlands-based Morro Partnerships was appointed following a procurement process and will start work on the scheme from July. Morro will complete the homes, originally manufactured off site by ilke Homes before the company went into administration, and build the four remaining homes on site. The Homes England-backed scheme, known as Birch Fields, will have 45 two-bedroom homes, 73 three-bedroom homes and 13 four-bedroom homes and will be available for either shared ownership or affordable rent. The affordable rent homes will be advertised through Gedling Borough Council’s Homesearch scheme and allocated accordingly to meet local housing needs. Garnet Fazackerley, Operations Director of Development at Jigsaw Homes Group said: “This was an incredibly challenging time following the collapse of ilke Homes in June 2023. However, we remained committed and confident that we could find a suitable partner who could complete the scheme and provide much-needed affordable homes and we are delighted to be working with Morro Partnerships to complete this development. “The homes will have NHBC warranty following stringent quality and compliance checks and will be finished to a high standard as they have been kept watertight and secure since the development stalled. We appreciate the patience from Gedling Borough Council, Homes England and local residents as we know this has been a frustrating time for all concerned, but we are now on the right track to deliver new homes for those most in need.” Giovanni Corbo, Head of Technical and Design at Morro Partnerships said: “Morro are delighted to have been selected on this project and to be working in partnership with Jigsaw Homes and Gedling Borough Council. As a sustainable partnerships’ developer, we are keen to showcase our delivery of affordable homes on this project and complete the homes on this much needed affordable housing scheme, though a modern and sustainable form of build system. “Morro specialise in the delivery of affordable high efficiency homes developments in the Midlands for Registered Providers and Local Authorities, and our current pipeline of over 2,500 plots will help meet the growing demand for affordable housing across the region. We are exciting to be embarking on our first scheme with Jigsaw Homes and are looking forward to working with them on other developments to jointly deliver significant numbers of mixed tenure, highly efficient homes across the region. “Works will commence on these high-performance modular homes in July 24 with phased handover of plots allowing new residents to occupy the homes within the first few months of our 12-month programme. We hope to engage with local subcontractors where possible as part of our sustainability policy.” Chief Executive of Gedling Borough Council, Mike Hill said: “We’re very pleased to hear that the homes will be completed and we can get families, who have been waiting for such a long time, into these much needed affordable homes. This has been a very stressful time for families, and it has also impacted housing waiting lists in the borough, so we look forward to being able to reduce that list and get people out of temporary accommodation. “We know that this has been an incredibly difficult time for Jigsaw Homes to resolve this exceptionally unfortunate situation and we welcome this news that Morro Partnerships will be delivering these homes for local people.” The first homes are expected to be completed in October with the whole scheme aiming to finished by September 2025. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans to create a new cultural hub in Coventry city centre have reached a significant milestone. Construction on the city’s former IKEA building to transform it into a large-scale cultural landmark with facilities for residents and visitors will be starting this summer. The City Centre Cultural Gateway will be developed by international construction specialist, ISG, with initial site mobilisation activities taking place this month and construction due to start in August. The work is scheduled for completion in autumn 2025. In addition to transforming the external appearance of the building, with a new combination of cladding and spray-painted finishes, ISG will increase the levels of natural light entering the existing structure by installing panoramic windows across the top two floors. As part of changing the use and purpose of the building a major internal reconfiguration will be undertaken, including structural alterations throughout, mechanical and electrical services upgrade, and a full strip out of the 60,000 sqm accommodation. This work also includes the careful and systematic removal of elevated travellators, lifts and associated distribution systems. A key-note element of the scheme sees the transformation of the existing nine-metre-high warehouse area into a highly specialised temperature-controlled art storage facility. This facility will be served by a newly installed state-of-the-art oversized heavy load lift – nearly three times the size of a standard lift – which will be used to transport large art installations up to the third floor. Cllr David Welsh, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities at Coventry City Council, said: “I’m delighted that we have appointed a contractor and that work is now starting on what will be a really impressive new cultural landmark in the city. One that will be enjoyed by local people, visitors and of course the creative sector. “The start of the construction process is a milestone to be celebrated and there will be even more to come as we see changes to the building that will soon become a cultural destination in our city. We’re really looking forward to sharing more in the coming months and of course even more excited to see the work finished next year.” As the project takes shape, it aims to not only enrich Coventry’s cultural landscape but also stimulate economic growth. High-level economic projections suggest the potential for significant job creation and economic value, bolstering Coventry’s position as a vibrant hub for arts, culture, and tourism. Louise Daville, Director of Public Sector Strategy at ISG, said: “This is a bold and innovative vision to reimagine former retail space as a cultural hub for the City of Coventry. The Cultural Gateway brings together complementary, yet distinct, partners within a key central location, providing a richly diverse experience for visitors, students and academics. “The legacy of transformational projects is hugely impactful regionally and on a national scale. With schemes as complex and technically demanding as the Cultural Gateway, the use of the Crown Commercial Services (CCS) construction works framework has been instrumental in assisting early-stage collaboration and driving efficiencies and innovation across the construction process. As we pass this key milestone, we have a highly motivated team focused on delivering an outstanding cultural destination for Coventry.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans for a skills and cyber campus of national significance in Blackburn have officially been lodged. A planning application submitted by Maple Grove Blackburn – a joint venture between Maple Grove Developments and Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council – is seeking planning permission for the first phase of the works, including two new contemporary buildings with landscaping and a public realm. The development has been earmarked for the former Blackburn Market site in Brown Street and is part of the £250 million Blackburn Town Centre Masterplan – a blueprint for town centre development developed by BDP to transform the area, including the land where the Thwaites Brewery historically stood. The application for the Blackburn cyber campus seeks full permission for the first building together with the public realm and new urban greenspace. Outline planning permission is also being sought for the second building – both being very similar in design to those within the neighbouring Cathedral Quarter development. Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has successfully secured £20m of Levelling Up Funding towards the scheme and is in discussion with UCLAN for its training company, Training 2000 (T2000) to expand and re-locate to the development and occupy the first building. Growth Director at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Simon Jones, said: “This is an opportunity for us to bring thousands of learners into our town centre every single year to enjoy state-of-the-art facilities. We’re already in talks with UCLAN to relocate and expand their Training 2000 offer here, and what an opportunity this is.” The masterplan is part of the Council’s £1bn vision for the future – delivering on its commitment to create a more prosperous borough where no one is left behind. It’s the anchor of a wider Blackburn Growth Axis with the ability to support 100,000 jobs across the borough – positioning it as an important, regional economic centre. Also part of the Blackburn Business Innovation District – where the new development will be based – is St John’s Church with planning permission secured to transform the fire-hit building into an Innovation Hub with works proposed to commence in 2025. Linked to the neighbouring The Making Rooms and Blackburn College’s already strong cyber capabilities, it’s part of the Council’s drive to unlock the opportunities that the re-location of the National Cyber HQ to neighbouring Samlesbury will bring. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Preparation work has commenced to develop nearly 400 new homes in Congleton, Castle Green Homes has announced. The homebuilder is primed to begin developing a 57-acre site on Viking Way to provide 396 new homes. Around two-thirds of the development will be affordable housing under a partnership with Torus. The initial phase of works will be carried out by civil engineering contractors who will create the roads and sewers for the development, along with the substructure of the homes. It’s expected that construction of the homes will begin in September. Partnerships director for Castle Green Eoin O’Donnell said: “We’re proud to be working alongside Torus to deliver much-needed new homes in Congleton. Around 60% of the overall development will be affordable homes, available for shared ownership or affordable rent. The remaining 160 will be private sale homes. “We’re aiming to deliver homes to Torus at a record pace so they can place local families in well-designed, fuel-efficient homes as soon as possible. To do this we’ll have two phases of affordable homes being built simultaneously with between 100 and 200 people working on the site. Alongside this, we’ll have around 70 people building the private sale homes on the Woodland Manor phase of the development.” Castle Green expects to handover the first affordable homes over to Torus by the middle of 2025. The homebuilder is targeting delivering 16 homes a month for the housing group, with the aim that all homes being built for Torus will be completed by December 2026. Director of development & technical at Torus Developments Steve Alcock said: “Partnerships, like the one we have with Castle Green Homes, allow us to build even more affordable homes in sought after areas across the region. Congleton will see us deliver the largest number of affordable homes on a single site to date. There is real synergy between Torus and Castle Green to create a thriving new community together.” The first of the 160 private sale homes at Woodlands Manor are due to be released for sale off plan next month, with show homes scheduled to open in spring 2025. The first private sale homes are expected to be ready to move into in spring 2025. It’s anticipated the overall development will be completed by the middle of 2028. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bruntwood SciTech has announced that work has started on its £4.5 million redevelopment of Centre City in Birmingham. The redevelopment will see Centre City provide cutting-edge workspace and advanced wellness facilities. The landmark 210,000 sq ft building, originally constructed in the 1960s in Birmingham’s vibrant theatre district, is set to undergo a transformative revival to become the city’s new central hub for innovation-led businesses. It represents a unique opportunity for businesses to scale and grow in a prime city centre location, within touching distance of New Street Station. With construction now underway, work on the redeveloped Centre City is set to be completed in January 2025, with the new look workspace likely to take on a new name to reflect its transformation. For the first time, this 20 storey building will offer co-working and pay as you go options, complementing its existing leased offices, to offer flexible and scalable options for companies at various stages of growth. The transformation will also deliver inviting new internal spaces, including a spacious lounge with biophilia and cafe, designed to foster collaboration and wellbeing. Additionally, the basement will be converted to include a high-quality fitness and weights studio, contemplation room and bike storage area, while the ground floor and central atrium will also undergo substantial and impressive renovations. The building’s new entrance will feature a striking living wall, incorporating biophilic design into Birmingham’s bustling city centre. Centre City boasts a prime location, less than two minutes from Birmingham’s New Street Station and in close proximity to the Bullring Shopping Centre. This presents Centre City customers with unparalleled access to Birmingham’s extensive transport network, including the expanding West Midlands metro network, as well as an extensive retail and amenity offering. With limited space having recently been made available, Centre City provides a unique opportunity for businesses of any size looking to take advantage of a strategic city centre location, as flexible floor plates ranging in size from 7500-23,000 sq ft are available within the building. New customers will join a diverse community of already established businesses based there, including the Ministry of Justice, the Water Services Regulation Authority, Citizens Advice, Hitachi and one of the UK’s largest insurance companies – Liverpool Victoria. A joint venture between Bruntwood, Legal & General, and Greater Manchester Pension Fund, Bruntwood SciTech underscores its commitment to sustainability and high environmental standards through this latest project. These retrofitting measures will include the installation of HVRF air conditioning in the new basement gym, air quality sensors in reception and atrium, and a new Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) for the building’s water supply in the basement. Businesses joining Centre City will form part of a thriving community of over 100 innovative companies located across Bruntwood SciTech’s six innovation hubs in Birmingham including Innovation Birmingham, Mclaren, Cornerblock, Cornwall Buildings and Birmingham Health Innovation Campus. The refurbishment of Centre City is the latest step in Bruntwood SciTech’s broader investment strategy in Birmingham, complementing recent development projects such as Cornerblock, ongoing developments at the Birmingham Health Innovation Campus, where No.1 BHIC is due to complete later this summer and the award-winning Enterprise Wharf at Innovation Birmingham. This initiative underscores Bruntwood SciTech’s commitment to enhancing Birmingham’s business landscape and creating a city-wide ecosystem across the region. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
