Wiltshire Council has approved plans to develop almost 170 new homes in Warminster. Wessex was successful in its reserved matters planning application, meaning it can soon commence construction on a new phase at its Jubilee Gardens development. The 168-home phase includes a wide range of tenures for local people from
Developer and operator of single family build-to-rent (BTR) housing, Present Made and homebuilder, Miller Homes, have formed a joint venture (JV) to deliver a 650-home mixed-tenure community in Bedfordshire. The 170-acre site, currently known as Mill View, will feature a blend of private-sale, affordable and single-family build-to-rent (BTR) housing. Construction
Work has continued behind the scenes as University of Cumbria prepares to start building its new campus at The Citadels site in Carlisle city centre. The University has obtained possession of various properties on English Street and Victoria Viaduct, with plans to vacate the remaining occupied properties on English Street
Nottingham City Council has revealed its masterplan to transform the Broad Marsh area into new homes, offices, leisure and green spaces. The masterplan shows how to transform the area to create opportunities to live and work in the area, bring investment and employment for local businesses. This plan will help
Helical has selected Mace to serve as the principal contractor on the redevelopment of a City of London office at 100 New Bridge Street. Located next to City Thameslink station with views overlooking St. Paul’s Cathedral and St Bride’s Church, the 1990s office building will be renovated to create 194,000
Lanark Station has received a substantial boost following a significant investment from Network Rail and the Railway Heritage Trust. The renovation work on the Grade B listed platform 2 building roof and canopy at Lanark station was successfully concluded by the end of 2023. This effort has extended the lifespan
Network Rail, Tees Valley Combined Authority, and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council have commenced work to transform Eaglescliffe railway station and make it more accessible for passengers. A multi-million-pound project will see accessibility at the station improved with the installation of a new footbridge, with lifts added for the first time. Contractors
Beard Construction has started work on a new 3,700 square-metre hospice in Farnham in Surrey. The project, worth £11.9 million to the award-winning contractor, will see Beard build the new Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice, which provides a full range of services including critical end-of-life care. The new purpose-built hospice will include
Birmingham City Council has revealed a masterplan proposal for the regeneration of Druids Heath to the community at a launch event at Manningford Hall. The masterplan was developed after two years of work, talking with and listening to the community to create a plan that can meet the needs of
Barratt Developments has commenced work on the first phase of expansion at Selkirk-based Oregon Timber Frame Limited (Oregon). The work is part of a wider £24 million investment by Barratt following its acquisition of the plant. Work has started on new office premises after the UK’s largest housebuilder announced plans
Wiltshire Council has approved plans to develop almost 170 new homes in Warminster. Wessex was successful in its reserved matters planning application, meaning it can soon commence construction on a new phase at its Jubilee Gardens development. The 168-home phase includes a wide range of tenures for local people from 1-bed apartments to four-bed homes. 55 of the new homes will also be transferred to a local housing association, helping alleviate pressure on the Council’s over 4,000-strong housing waiting list. ‘Phase P2’ of the development includes a large section of the spine road, surrounding public open space, sustainable urban drainage systems, a cycle link and an area of floating wetland. Wessex Deputy Managing Director, Seb Spiller, said: “We are delighted to have secured planning permission from Wiltshire Council to deliver 168 new homes for local people at our existing Jubilee Gardens development. “We are proud of the progress at Jubilee Gardens, which is creating a sustainable community for local families, and are pleased to have the local authority’s support for our next phase of construction. “This second phase will enhance the existing site by delivering new market homes for local people, while 55 properties will be transferred to a local housing association for social provision. We are determined to create a positive and lasting legacy in every area we build, and we are proud that our new development will continue to make the dream of homeownership a reality for local families.” As part of the wider Jubilee Gardens development, Persimmon is investing millions of pounds in the local vicinity as the housebuilder delivers a sustainable community for local people. This will include land for a new primary school, significant areas of open space including a riverside park, equipped children’s play areas, two areas of sports pitches and associated changing rooms. A local centre, allotments, public art, employment land, improvements to public footpaths, new pedestrian and cycle routes, biodiversity enhancements and a dedicated ecology area will also be delivered at Jubilee Gardens. Significant financial contributions will also be made towards education provision, bus services connecting the scheme with the town centre, signal upgrades to improve vehicle movements in the town centre, health care in Warminster, and enhancements to local public rights of way. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Developer and operator of single family build-to-rent (BTR) housing, Present Made and homebuilder, Miller Homes, have formed a joint venture (JV) to deliver a 650-home mixed-tenure community in Bedfordshire. The 170-acre site, currently known as Mill View, will feature a blend of private-sale, affordable and single-family build-to-rent (BTR) housing. Construction is set to commence in Q4 of 2024, with the initial homes expected to be completed by 2025. Mill View underscores Miller Homes’ expertise in forming joint ventures to create exceptional homes and communities. It also represents Present Made’s first triple-tenure transaction, including private sale, affordable and BTR residences. Located in a cluster of villages 13 minutes south of central Bedford, the site forms part of the wider Wixam Park masterplan, which includes over 1,500 homes and five-acres of employment land. The site benefits from outline planning consent for a new primary school, community infrastructure and an 87-acre country park. Mill View, soon to be rebranded, represents the newest addition to Miller Homes’ growing portfolio in the South Midlands region. Among the other developments by Miller Homes in this area are Miller Homes @ Forster Park in Stevenage, Norwood Quarter in Northampton, Miller Homes at Stanton Cross in Wellingborough and Arlesey Gate in Arlesey. Alan Penfold, Managing Director at Present Made, said: “In Miller Homes, we have a five-star, best-in-class delivery partner renowned for its quality of product and speed of execution. The delivery partner model will help Present Made achieve scale faster while ensuring we maintain the highest design, build and operational standards. This relentless focus has defined Apache Capital’s purpose-built prime multi-family build-to-rent strategy and will see us deliver a new community at Mill View that sets new benchmarks for excellence.” Benjamin Massey, Divisional Managing Director at Miller Homes, stated: “We are pleased to have formed this joint venture with Present Made to deliver 650 mixed tenure homes in Bedford, enabling us to complete this significant land acquisition together, and we hope it forms the foundation for other opportunities. “Building mixed tenure homes as part of our business model allows us to continue diversifying our portfolio, while creating new opportunities for land acquisition and supporting our overall growth ambitions to 6,500 homes per year. Mill View will offer residents a blend of thriving town life and picturesque countryside living, easy access to local transport links, and green spaces including the new country park on the doorstep.” John Dunkerley, CEO at Apache Capital, said: “The tri-tenure model is a win-win for investors, communities, and housebuilders: investors get to satisfy the ‘triple bottom line’ by delivering solid financial, environmental and social returns, communities get a broad range of much-needed new housing, while housebuilders get de-risked sites and diversified sources of income beyond highly cyclical market sales. We see this model as being key to scaling our Present Made platform as we look to work with third-party capital to capitalise on the opportunity presented by the UK’s rapidly changing housing market.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Work has continued behind the scenes as University of Cumbria prepares to start building its new campus at The Citadels site in Carlisle city centre. The University has obtained possession of various properties on English Street and Victoria Viaduct, with plans to vacate the remaining occupied properties on English Street throughout the summer. Concurrently, the University of Cumbria and Cumberland Council persist in collaborative efforts towards land assembly, nearing completion of agreements for the transfer of council-owned land and property crucial to the project. Further surveys and ground investigations have also been completed, in order to finalise the designs, ahead of moving into the construction phase. A Contract Notice has now been issued inviting expressions of interest in tendering for the building contract for the next stage of the project. University of Cumbria Chief Operating Officer, Mark Swindlehurst said: “We have a fantastic design ready to go and will now be going through a tender process to select a new contractor with a view to building work starting on site in early 2025. It’s an exciting time for the university, the wider city and region, as we move towards realising our vision and the next phase of delivery for this transformational project. “I’d like to thank SRM for all their work over the last two years getting us to this point and I know that they will be supporting us from the side-lines.” The Carlisle Citadels campus project has been developed by the University of Cumbria and Cumberland Council (previously Cumbria County Council and Carlisle City Council) with Cumbria LEP as a key partner. The project’s funding is sourced from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) via the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, along with contributions from the University of Cumbria. Additionally, funds for the Carlisle Business Exchange Centre are allocated from the Carlisle Town Deal Fund. SRM, in collaboration with the university since March 2022, has secured tenders for two significant infrastructure projects, prompting their decision to prioritise these endeavours. Grant Findlay, Executive Managing Director of Buildings, Sir Robert McAlpine, stated: “We will watch with pride as The Citadels campus starts to take shape and will continue to support the project through our supply chain. This is an exciting project for whoever takes over the reins and we look forward to seeing the finished campus.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Nottingham City Council has revealed its masterplan to transform the Broad Marsh area into new homes, offices, leisure and green spaces. The masterplan shows how to transform the area to create opportunities to live and work in the area, bring investment and employment for local businesses. This plan will help realise the bold vision for the site created with Heatherwick Studio following the Big Conversation, an extensive public consultation which attracted more than 3,000 responses and 12,000 comments. The Masterplan has been developed by major international architecture and design firm BDP, alongside property advisor JLL, following their appointment by Nottingham City Council to design one of the UK’s largest and most significant city centre projects. This plan will facilitate ongoing discussions with Homes England and the new EMCCA, aimed at mitigating risks and preparing the area for market readiness. Cllr Neghat Khan, Leader of Nottingham City Council, said: “It is exciting to see the Broad Marsh vision brought to life with this fly-through video. The plan shows we are committed to finding a solution for Broad Marsh and attracting investment to support the transformation. We will continue to work with partners to find the investment and developers needed to deliver our vision. “The surrounding area has changed dramatically, from the new Central Library, bus station and car park plus new pedestrian areas along Sussex Street and Collin Street with its new play area. We also have plans for the new NHS Community Diagnostic Centre in part of the old shopping centre and one of the biggest transformations is happening right now, with work on the Green Heart due to finish this summer. This is a significant improvement for the people of Nottingham.” The Broad Marsh sits at the heart of the Council’s current c£4 billion regeneration programme. Currently building work is happening to create the new wildlife-rich Broad Marsh Green Heart. A new green space will be a place to enjoy nature with 38 semi mature trees, 34 of them newly planted, plus areas of colourful planting, a new ‘marsh’ area and several footpaths and places to sit. The Green Heart is also a key pedestrian route, so there will be a main path creating a clear and direct route from the train station to the city centre. This pedestrian route will be well lit at night and will be the route to all the other seating areas during the day and a place for people with limited mobility to stop and rest. The Green Heart is the newest addition to the broader Broad Marsh public realm redevelopment. Recently, a new play space was unveiled on Collin Street, featuring specially designed swings, a play trail with timber stepping blocks, balancing walkways, a seesaw and green planting. This play space is part of the Playable Cities Initiative, supporting Nottingham’s efforts to become a UNICEF Child Friendly City. In addition to the new play space, Collin Street is now fully open for pedestrian access. This traffic-free route links the Green Heart and Lister Gate to the new green public space on Sussex Street, adjacent to Nottingham College. The Sussex Street area features a mini amphitheatre, a skateable space and a multi-use games area. The Broad Marsh regeneration has already seen the development of a new Central Library, Car Park and Bus Station, well as a new Nottingham College city hub, which has transformed streets and public spaces in the area by increasing footfall, particularly supporting businesses on Lister Gate. Recently, it was revealed that a new state-of-the-art Community Diagnostic Centre will be located on the Broad Marsh regeneration site and will be run and staffed by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. The CDC will be a one-stop shop which support GPs by providing direct access to diagnostics services such as MRI, CT, x-ray, ultrasound, echocardiography, ECG, and lung function testing. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Helical has selected Mace to serve as the principal contractor on the redevelopment of a City of London office at 100 New Bridge Street. Located next to City Thameslink station with views overlooking St. Paul’s Cathedral and St Bride’s Church, the 1990s office building will be renovated to create 194,000 sqft of modern Grade A office space, 3,592 sqft of retail spaces and a 4,000 sqft terrace providing views across central London. Circularity is central to the redevelopment, as the original structure will be preserved, aiming for a remarkable 95 per cent reuse, recovery and recycling of construction waste. The project will maintain 91 per cent of the reinforced concrete lift cores and 85 per cent of the reinforced concrete walls Aiming for BREEAM Outstanding and Well Platinum certification, this project is set to achieve net-zero carbon emissions throughout both its construction and operational phases. The redevelopment is part of a joint venture with a vehicle led by Orion Capital Managers. As one of seven current construction projects within the Fleet Street Area, 100 New Bridge Street is the latest in a series of modern, best-in-class sustainable offices in this location, formerly synonymous with the printing and publishing industry. Ged Simmonds, Managing Director of Private Sector at Mace, said: “We are pleased to be partnering with Helical once again on another highly sustainable best-in-class office space at the heart of the City of London. Not only will this development be net zero carbon in construction and operation, but by retaining the existing structure and reusing existing materials, this scheme is leading the way in circularity.” Gerald Kaye, CEO of Helical plc, commented: “We are delighted to be working with Mace to redevelop 100 New Bridge Street to create a best-in-class, carbon friendly office in a prime location in the City of London. This development will help meet the growing demand we are seeing for prime office spaces with the highest sustainability credentials.” Construction has already commenced and is due to complete in Q1 2026. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Lanark Station has received a substantial boost following a significant investment from Network Rail and the Railway Heritage Trust. The renovation work on the Grade B listed platform 2 building roof and canopy at Lanark station was successfully concluded by the end of 2023. This effort has extended the lifespan of each component by up to 25 years. Prior to the renovation, both structures were in a state of disrepair, with deteriorating timbers posing a risk of the Georgian wired glazing panels slipping and potentially causing harm. Engineers conducted extensive rot repairs and implemented new slate coverings, lead flashings and a modern ‘twinfix’ polycarbonate glazing system. Furthermore, the building has been rendered wind and watertight for future occupants, with the Railway Heritage Trust providing £75,000 in grant funding towards the £310,000 project cost. Valerie McMillan, senior asset engineer, Network Rail, said: “We are delighted with the end result following the completion of works by our framework contractor CPMS, and sub-contractors Kerr Roofing and Eradakil Joinery and Preservation. We are grateful to the Railway Heritage Trust for their grant funding which has contributed toward this project becoming a reality. This completes our planned works at Lanark station which delivered the external restoration of the main platform 1 building, reinstatement of railings and renewal of the station access stairs.” Tim Hedley-Jones, executive director of The Railway Heritage Trust stated: “We are pleased to support Network Rail’s restoration of the Platform 2 building at Lanark. The first station was opened by the Caledonian Railway in 1855 so it is an important part of the heritage of the town.” Phil Campbell, customer operations director with ScotRail who manage the station, said: “We’re delighted to see the works completed at Lanark, securing the future for this historical station on the ScotRail network. ScotRail is grateful for the significant investment made by Network Rail and the Railway Heritage Fund, enhancing the station environment, and improving the customer experience.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Network Rail, Tees Valley Combined Authority, and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council have commenced work to transform Eaglescliffe railway station and make it more accessible for passengers. A multi-million-pound project will see accessibility at the station improved with the installation of a new footbridge, with lifts added for the first time. Contractors BAM, working on behalf of Network Rail and the Tees Valley Combined Authority, have started on site. Once open, the new bridge will allow passengers to enter the station from its west side with a multi-storey car park, a project led by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, also to be created – with improved access to Yarm and traffic signals on the Cleasby Way junction. The improvements will also see the existing footbridge and ramps refurbished, with a new bridge deck installed. Improved station facilities, such as new waiting areas and taxi office, are also being added as part of the project. The scheme is designed to improve the experience of passengers and make it easier to use as they travel by train. The car park and wider cycle improvements linking to and from the station are being funded by the Government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement and the Levelling Up Fund allocation for Stockton South respectively, secured by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council. The new bridge is expected to be in place by winter 2024, with the lifts installed and available for passengers to use by autumn 2025. The station’s existing footbridge will remain open throughout the work but will close for refurbishment when the new bridge and lifts are open for use. Anna Weeks, Principal Programme Sponsor for Network Rail’s North & East route, said: “This is a major milestone in the improvements we are going to deliver for the people of Eaglescliffe as they use their station. We want to make sure that every passenger can travel freely and easily by train and these upgrades will allow passengers to be able to do that. “It’s great that we can work together with our partners at the Tees Valley Combined Authority and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council on this project to deliver a better passenger experience for people in the region.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Beard Construction has started work on a new 3,700 square-metre hospice in Farnham in Surrey. The project, worth £11.9 million to the award-winning contractor, will see Beard build the new Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice, which provides a full range of services including critical end-of-life care. The new purpose-built hospice will include a low-level, single-storey building, which consists of 18 bedrooms with ensuite wet rooms. Each room will have bifold doors which will open out into the courtyard or surrounding gardens. This will be supported by specialist suites for education, wellbeing and exercise. High-end materials and finishes, combined with Beard’s reputation for quality and excellence will ensure greater levels of comfort, dignity and privacy for patients and their families. The In-Patient Unit will be attached to a two-storey concrete frame building. The ground floor will include the main reception and lobby, as well as kitchens, cafeteria and lounges. It will also house the main plant room, utility room and clinical rooms. The first floor will provide office facilities for Phyllis Tuckwell staff, who have been relocated to various temporary sites. The new hospice is due to be completed towards the end of 2025 and will be a much larger and more modern facility. It replaces the existing building which was built over 90 years ago and is no longer fit for purpose. With the first spade in the ground, work has begun to clear the site ready for the foundations to go in. Beard is working with the local residents and stakeholders to ensure all work is conducted safely. With limited access around the site, Beard will use a tower crane to manage deliveries and help with construction. Beard staff are also supporting the hospice in its fundraising efforts. Tom Jenkinson, Beard’s Guildford director, said: “Many of our team here live locally, so they are really enthusiastic about the difference this building will make to the local community. We are thrilled to be involved in this build and look forward to seeing it as it emerges from this ground-breaking event. It’s a great opportunity to utilise our expertise and experience in building high-quality, specialist healthcare facilities across the region and further afield.” Sarah Church, chief executive of Phyllis Tuckwell, added: “Around 17,000 people had been cared for on our In-Patient Unit, let alone the many thousands of others cared for at home, since the hospice was launched. As demand increases, this new chapter in our history means we will be able to care for many more thousands of local residents who will need us in the years to come. Given Beard’s reputation and experience in the sector, they are a tremendous fit to build our brand-new hospice.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Birmingham City Council has revealed a masterplan proposal for the regeneration of Druids Heath to the community at a launch event at Manningford Hall. The masterplan was developed after two years of work, talking with and listening to the community to create a plan that can meet the needs of the people who live and work in Druids Heath. Staff were at the launch event to answer questions and receive feedback from the community about the plans, with more events planned over the next few days. An extensive consultation on the plans will begin in the coming months before approval for the plans will be sought next year. The proposed regeneration aims to make Druids Heath a more sustainable and greener place to live in the long term. New high-quality, energy-efficient homes will be built alongside excellent green spaces. The commercial and community spaces in Druids Heath will also be revitalised as part of the plan. Councillor Jayne Francis, cabinet member for housing and homelessness, said: “The masterplan marks the beginning of a new chapter for the regeneration of Druids Heath. This new plan shows how Druids Heath will be transformed into a healthier, more sustainable area by building on its key strengths – community spirit and abundance of green space. “This regeneration scheme will build the types of homes we need to tackle climate change, reduce fuel bills, and contribute to the city’s net zero ambitions. It will also bring much-needed provisions for older residents so they can live healthy, independent lives for longer. New greenways will be built to better connect the estate within the community and the estate to the surrounding city. “The scheme goes beyond delivering new homes; the regeneration will create a sustainable, healthy community that will allow anyone who lives there to thrive. “While the masterplan is a big step forward for the scheme, much more work remains, and there will be more decisions to be made with the local community about the scheme. With that in mind, an independent steering group representing residents, stakeholders, and businesses is being established to help influence future decisions regarding the regeneration. “We also understand residents’ concerns about being priced out of the area. For this reason, the council is looking at how we can use different financial models to give residents an opportunity to remain on the estate. We will let residents know more about these models as soon as we are able. It is really important to the council that everyone who wants to stay in Druids Heath can do so. “Regenerating an area is always a lengthy process. For this reason, the council will bolster services for tenants on the estate by installing more CCTV, implementing a specific repairs service for Druids Heath, and increasing cleaning provision to tackle fly-tipping.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Barratt Developments has commenced work on the first phase of expansion at Selkirk-based Oregon Timber Frame Limited (Oregon). The work is part of a wider £24 million investment by Barratt following its acquisition of the plant. Work has started on new office premises after the UK’s largest housebuilder announced plans in 2022 to increase its workforce and invest in plant development. The 900m2 office block will accommodate up to 60 permanent staff members, approximately double the capacity of the current temporary block. Plans for a new training room, which will hold up to 20 people, have also been revealed as well as more meeting rooms and improved kitchen and welfare facilities over two floors. The Oregon expansion, comprising two phases, will create over 70 new jobs in the Borders community. Phase one includes the development of a new office for its growing workforce, due to be completed in 2025, while phase two will see the extension of the plant’s existing manufacturing capacity. The plans form part of Barratt’s long-term goal to increase its use of modern methods of construction off-site while reducing its carbon footprint, both of which are enabled by timber frame technology. Timber frame construction is also a key element of Barratt’s strategy for addressing the skills challenge facing the industry. Douglas McLeod, Regional Managing Director for Barratt Developments Scotland, said: “Starting construction on phase one of this expansion is a fantastic milestone for us. Since acquiring Oregon five years ago, we’ve worked hard to bring our plans to fruition, so commencing work on the new office is one step closer to achieving our goals. “The new block will double in capacity which aligns perfectly with our ambitions to create new employment opportunities in Selkirk. We’ve invested in a great business with a high-quality product and look forward to rolling out both phases of the project.” Building more homes off-site will help Barratt meet the 2025 Future Homes Standard, cut carbon emissions, reduce waste and minimise disruption to local communities, as part of its wider commitment to become carbon neutral in its operations by 2030. By 2030, Barratt aims for at least 30% of its homes to be built using modern methods of construction. Using a timber frame system also enables Barratt to cut the build time on development by an average of five weeks, compared to using traditional methods of construction. In FY 2023, Barratt built 3,200 of its 17,000 homes across the UK using timber frames from its two Oregon factories. On completion of phase one, work will commence on phase two with the expansion of the north and south factories. The north factory will welcome 24 new factory operatives with two semi-automated open line panels and three extra floor benches. Meanwhile, the south factory will accommodate 26 new operatives with three extra floor benches and five spandrel benches. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
