Salford City Council has approved regeneration plans to transform MediaCity and The Quays into an iconic waterfront destination. Inspired by design-led waterfronts such as Oslo in Norway and Australia’s Darling Harbour the revised regeneration proposals also include around 3,000 new homes and approximately 800,000 sq ft of additional commercial space
Plans for Greenlight Urban’s sustainability-led Redditch industrial/logistics scheme have been given the go-ahead. The logistics platform has already secured a pre-let to existing occupier Honeywell for a refurbished and extended 66,000 sq ft facility Greenlight Redditch will consist of a further four industrial/logistics units which will target BREEAM Outstanding and
British Steel’s plans to build Electric Arc Furnace on Teesside as part of £1.25 billion decarbonisation plan have been approved. The company’s application was approved by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council following a detailed consultation period. Its application to build another Electric Arc Furnace (EAF), at its Scunthorpe site, is
Housebuilder The Hill Group and the Shearer Property Group (SGP) have commenced archaeological works ahead of the first phase of development of City Centre South, a £450 million regeneration scheme that will transform Coventry city centre. These essential preliminary works will ensure the heritage of the site is understood, recorded,
Morgan Sindall Construction has completed work on an extra care facility in Leeds. The Sycamores in Woodlesford is Morgan Sindall Construction’s second Extra Care scheme for Lovell Later Living, Leeds City Council, and integrated housing and care provider Home Group, following the completion of the Greenmill Gardens Wellbeing community in
Willmott Dixon is helping Stockport Council to develop a state-of-the-art Community Hub in Marple, supported by a £20 million grant from the Levelling Up Fund. Stockport Council has submitted a planning application for a new Community Hub in Marple, procured through the Procure Partnerships Framework. The project will deliver a
The Government Property Agency (GPA) has submitted a planning application to Darlington Borough Council to build a four-storey government hub to support the ongoing success and growth of the Darlington Economic Campus (DEC). The government is investing around £118 million in the project, which is a significant indication of its
Kori Construction has scooped a £12.2m project that will see the site of a former Milton Keynes fire station turned into a high-quality care home. Kori was awarded the contract by leading UK care provider Porthaven Care Homes after being appointed to a similar project for a client in Harpenden,
Plans to develop a new multi-million-pound Student Village at Staffordshire University have been given the go-ahead. The proposal was submitted to completely transform the student experience at the University and provide more high-quality accommodation with enhanced service provisions and student social spaces. The plans were discussed by the Planning Committee
O’Brien Contractors has scooped a deal with Chesterfield Canal Trust to deliver infrastructure works to the area. The works are part of a £6 million restoration project. Connecting the Trans Pennine Trail with the Arkwright Trail across the canal, the works will facilitate the delivery of a 38-metre-long pedestrian and
Salford City Council has approved regeneration plans to transform MediaCity and The Quays into an iconic waterfront destination. Inspired by design-led waterfronts such as Oslo in Norway and Australia’s Darling Harbour the revised regeneration proposals also include around 3,000 new homes and approximately 800,000 sq ft of additional commercial space across 60 acres. The approval comes following an extensive consultation period and input from the local community. A new artist’s impression has been released to illustrate the new vision for the waterfront at MediaCity and the Quays – the focal point of the regeneration plan’s waterfront and Gateway quarter – forming one of four zones. The aspirational vision for the waterfront will bring new and flexible, all-weather glass-fronted structures and pavilions. This includes a new pedestrian link bridge from MediaCity to The Lowry and Quayside as well as plans to activate North Bay. A new boardwalk and link bridge along the MediaCity waterfront will feature more, quality nature and green space, innovative art installations, and places for people to eat, drink or enjoy the tranquil views from new, design-led fixed outdoor furniture. The giant Piazza will also be reimagined with moveable structures which can house a variety of brand activations all year round. The backdrop to the waterfront is the media quarter – home to the current cluster of 250 creative, tech and digital companies including ITV, BBC and dock10 studios positioned around MediaCity’s main Piazza. The Living Hub will bring a new opportunity for the destination featuring new, highly sustainable homes, businesses and convenience retail interspersed with pockets of green space and boulevards. While, the Culture and Community Hub centred in and around Quayside and The Lowry aims to be the cultural, leisure and retail heart of the destination. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans for Greenlight Urban’s sustainability-led Redditch industrial/logistics scheme have been given the go-ahead. The logistics platform has already secured a pre-let to existing occupier Honeywell for a refurbished and extended 66,000 sq ft facility Greenlight Redditch will consist of a further four industrial/logistics units which will target BREEAM Outstanding and EPC A+ ratings. Greenlight – a logistics joint venture platform between Coltham and Delancey client funds – has obtained a resolution to grant planning permission for the redevelopment of an existing manufacturing complex in Redditch, Worcestershire. A pre-let to retain existing occupier Honeywell has also been secured – marking the latest in a string of innovative companies that are benefitting from Greenlight Urban’s portfolio of first-class industrial assets with excellent sustainability credentials, under construction across the UK. This inventive retention of Honeywell’s existing building, which is being fully refurbished, not only reduces the embodied carbon emissions by retaining the structure of the building but also introduces photovoltaic panels and air source heat pumps to remove any reliance on natural gas within their operation. Greenlight Redditch consists of the partial demolition of the existing buildings onsite and the construction of four new units with high-quality sustainability credentials, totalling 126,715 sq ft, targeting a BREEAM Outstanding rating and EPC A+ for the build base. The new units have been designed to improve energy performance and reduce the environmental impact. The units will use technologies such as photovoltaic panels, EV charging infrastructure, rainwater harvesting and air source heat pumps to mitigate and adapt to climate change, cut carbon emissions, and reduce occupiers’ costs. Alongside benefitting from strong sustainability credentials, Greenlight Redditch’s units will also include Category A office space and cycle parking, while Units 1 and 3 will feature balcony space for employees. The site benefits from connectivity to the A4023 Coventry Highway and is just 15 miles from Birmingham city centre. These factors make Greenlight Redditch a prime place to accommodate the growing number of pioneering businesses in the West Midlands. Mark Enderby, Director of Development at Delancey, said: “We are thrilled to secure Honeywell – a firm which is dedicated to driving technological transformation for a sustainable future – to Greenlight Redditch. We look forward to working with Honeywell and we are already in talks with other companies on the scheme which are looking for highly sustainable mid-box industrial accommodation in the area.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
British Steel’s plans to build Electric Arc Furnace on Teesside as part of £1.25 billion decarbonisation plan have been approved. The company’s application was approved by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council following a detailed consultation period. Its application to build another Electric Arc Furnace (EAF), at its Scunthorpe site, is set to be decided imminently by North Lincolnshire Council. The manufacturer’s proposed transformation – its biggest in more than a century of steelmaking – is subject to appropriate support from the UK Government. British Steel President and CEO Xijun Cao said: “We’re delighted to have received planning permission to build an Electric Arc Furnace at our Teesside site, and thank everyone who has supported our proposals to bring steelmaking back to the region. “The proposed installation of EAFs in Scunthorpe and Teesside is central to our journey to a green future as they would help us reduce emissions of CO2 by more than 75 per cent. However, it is crucial we now secure the backing of the UK Government. “Our owner, Jingye, is committed to the unprecedented investment decarbonisation requires and our desire to dramatically reduce our carbon footprint, coupled with challenging market conditions, means it is imperative swift and decisive action is taken to ensure a sustainable future for British Steel. “We started talks with the UK Government in 2022 about the timely support we require on our journey to net zero, including the need for the British government to adopt the correct policies and frameworks now to back our drive to become a clean, green, and successful company. We are committed to working with the UK Government and need to reach an agreement quickly so we can achieve our ambitious goals, secure thousands of jobs and keep making the steel Britain needs for generations to come.” Significant preparation works, including environmental and technical studies, and equipment selection, are underway to ensure the company’s ambitious proposals can be delivered at the earliest opportunity while discussions with the UK Government continue. Both proposed EAFs would replace the aging iron and steelmaking operations at British Steel’s Scunthorpe site which are responsible for the vast majority of its CO2 emissions. The company proposes maintaining current operations until a transition to electric arc steelmaking. British Steel has started preliminary talks with trade unions about electrification, and has promised to support employees affected by its decarbonisation plans. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Housebuilder The Hill Group and the Shearer Property Group (SGP) have commenced archaeological works ahead of the first phase of development of City Centre South, a £450 million regeneration scheme that will transform Coventry city centre. These essential preliminary works will ensure the heritage of the site is understood, recorded, and preserved before the start of construction. A team of archaeologists from Cotswold Archaeology has begun a survey of the site with trenches taking place in various locations, starting in the Barracks car park before moving to Bull Yard and Shelton Square. The works are estimated to take seven to eight weeks to complete, and disruption to businesses and visitors will be kept to a minimum. The task will include the excavation of 23 trial trenches of varying sizes and depths, seeking to locate the line of the historic city wall as well as identify any other archaeological remains. Items of significance found during the works will be logged, protected, and covered for further investigation until the site has been cleared. Hill and SGP are working closely with Coventry City Council and West Midlands Police to ensure that emergency protocols are in place should the trenching unearth any unexploded ordnance that remains as a result of the city’s bombing during the Second World War. Andy Fancy, Managing Director at The Hill Group commented: “We are committed to carrying out the archaeological investigation works at City Centre South both safely and sensitively to protect any historical findings before the start of construction. These works are a routine part of the development process and essential due to the development’s location at the heart of Coventry’s historic centre.” Almost a thousand homes have been given the green light in this first phase of City Centre South, including 200 affordable homes, along with space for shops, businesses, and public open space in a pedestrian-friendly quarter. The new development, designed by acclaimed architecture firm Allies and Morrison, introduces a contemporary style that takes its inspiration from Coventry’s heritage. Conveniently located within a five-minute walk of Coventry train station, the development forms a major element of the wider masterplan for the regeneration of the city. Construction at City Centre South is scheduled to start in the autumn, with the first homes expected to be completed in early 2027. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Morgan Sindall Construction has completed work on an extra care facility in Leeds. The Sycamores in Woodlesford is Morgan Sindall Construction’s second Extra Care scheme for Lovell Later Living, Leeds City Council, and integrated housing and care provider Home Group, following the completion of the Greenmill Gardens Wellbeing community in the Seacroft area of Leeds in October 2022. The £13.4m scheme – designed by P&HS Architects – will maximise the independence of people requiring ongoing care and support, such as those with health conditions and older people. The Sycamores comprises 62 one and two-bed self-contained apartments with contemporary kitchen facilities, ensuite bathrooms and a private balcony or patio. The scheme also includes communal areas and landscaped gardens alongside a community café and hair salon which will be available for use by residents and the local community. Throughout its build programme, Morgan Sindall undertook a comprehensive social value programme to ensure the community benefited from the project. 33 apprentices were employed on the project, with a local labour spend of 75%. £2.67 was reinvested in the Leeds economy for every £1 spent on the project (figures calibrated using the LM3 methodology), while there were also over 60 hours of educational engagement. To reduce waste and save cost, Morgan Sindall deployed its Intelligent Solutions approach to alter the build sequence and ceiling details throughout the building so full-size plasterboards with no offcuts could be installed. This resulted in the equivalent of over 1,000 boards being saved. Other innovations on site resulted in 33.7 tonnes of CO2 being saved during the construction process – the equivalent amount of CO2 it would take to heat 12 UK homes annually. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Willmott Dixon is helping Stockport Council to develop a state-of-the-art Community Hub in Marple, supported by a £20 million grant from the Levelling Up Fund. Stockport Council has submitted a planning application for a new Community Hub in Marple, procured through the Procure Partnerships Framework. The project will deliver a two-storey community hub located in Marple Memorial Park with a five-lane swimming pool, a ground-floor library with a small cafe, a 60-station fitness suite, shared community spaces, and the relocated Marple clinic. The formal planning submission follows an extensive consultation process to finalise the designs, which will see the Marple’s existing police station, library and health clinic demolished to make way for the new Community Hub with all of those uses retained on the site. The Library and Clinic will be relocated into the new complex with the Police relocated into Hollins House. The hub project will also replace the village’s previous swimming pool which closed in 2018. Pending planning permission, the project will be completed by the end of 2025 and comes hot on the heels of the official opening of Stockport’s transformational town-centre Viaduct Park and Interchange, delivered by Willmott Dixon for Transport for Greater Manchester. Earlier this month Stockport was also officially named the Best Place to Live in the North West of England by the Sunday Times. Anthony Dillon, Managing Director for Willmott Dixon in the North: “We’re proud to be working in partnership with Stockport Council once again, and to be playing our part in creating a vibrant and innovative community hub for the people of Marple. In delivering Stockport Interchange and Viaduct Park, we worked alongside incredible local organisations such as Pure College, the Webb Lane Community Allotments, The Wellspring and The Samaritans and we look forward to continuing to support more amazing local causes. “At Marple Community and Leisure Hub, we are committed to delivering a social return on investment of £3.78m including 132 weeks of apprenticeship training and 40 weeks of work placements. We look forward to also running two bespoke ‘Building Lives Academy’ skills programmes for students with special educational needs and care leavers.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Government Property Agency (GPA) has submitted a planning application to Darlington Borough Council to build a four-storey government hub to support the ongoing success and growth of the Darlington Economic Campus (DEC). The government is investing around £118 million in the project, which is a significant indication of its commitment to sparking economic growth in the town and wider region; according to research from the CBI, every £1 spent in the UK’s construction sector helps create £3 of value to the wider UK economy. When completed, Brunswick Street will form part of a government campus of three buildings, including Feethams House and Bishopsgate House, all located within Darlington town centre. Construction of the new government hub is set to begin later this year and be completed in early 2027. The new hub will increase the total number of Darlington-based civil servants working to over 2,300, 1,450 of whom will be located in the Brunswick Street hub. Since 2021, 762 civil service roles have been relocated to Darlington under Places for Growth. Over 800 civil servants are currently based in Darlington across eight departments, including His Majesty’s Treasury (HMT), the Department for Education, and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), for whom Darlington is their second headquarters. The DBT itself has more than 250 staff stationed there, over 200 of which have been locally recruited. Darlington has been a welcome addition to DBT’s Places for Growth network, which now boasts five other locations, including Belfast, Cardiff and Salford. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Kori Construction has scooped a £12.2m project that will see the site of a former Milton Keynes fire station turned into a high-quality care home. Kori was awarded the contract by leading UK care provider Porthaven Care Homes after being appointed to a similar project for a client in Harpenden, Hertfordshire. Demolition of the former fire station building, which has stood empty since 2020 when the fire service was relocated to a new Blue Light Hub at West Ashland, has already been completed. It will be replaced by a four-storey, 75-bed care home described as ‘tranquil and settled’ by the developer, which will provide comprehensive care services for older people as well as those living with dementia. Jordan Connachie, Managing Director of Kori Construction, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Porthaven Care Homes again, to bring forward this much-needed development. “The scheme has been designed as a high-quality landmark building which will provide a safe and relaxed environment for residents, both inside and out. Residents will also benefit from a range of first-class amenities as well as main views that look out across green space. Couple this with the high standard of care Porthaven is renowned for providing, and it will be a fantastic asset to the local community.” The care home will consist of 75 bedrooms over three floors, complete with wet rooms, with staff and service facilities located on the fourth floor. Amenities include a gym, hair salon, café, cinema, activity room, community lounge, community and private dining areas, and private, landscaped gardens. Work to prepare the site got underway in November 2023 and the development will take around 18 months to complete. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans to develop a new multi-million-pound Student Village at Staffordshire University have been given the go-ahead. The proposal was submitted to completely transform the student experience at the University and provide more high-quality accommodation with enhanced service provisions and student social spaces. The plans were discussed by the Planning Committee at Stoke-on-Trent City Council on 20 March 2024, and they will now be considered by the University’s Board of Governors in the coming weeks who will have the final decision on the proposal. The plans for the new Student Village, on the University’s Leek Road site, detail the construction of more than 700 new student rooms in a mix of cluster blocks and townhouses, plus the refurbishment of the University’s Clarice Cliff Court accommodation which currently houses just under 300 students. A village ‘hub’ facility would also be built as part of the development, enhancing the vibrancy of the student experience with an events and wellbeing space, individual and group study areas and multi-activity spaces, as well as a rooftop terrace with an outdoor seating area. The hub and village would be linked to the Leek Road campus via a new pedestrian bridge and boardwalk. A new car parking area would be developed on the former Squires View site to the east of the University’s campus to service the village and wider University campus. Pending approval from the Board of Governors, once construction of the village is completed in 2026, the University’s existing accommodation on Leek Road would be demolished to make way for new parkland and open spaces which would be accessible by the local community, as well as students and staff. Open space developments would include an 800m fitness loop encircling the village with a surfaced path for jogging and walking. The parkland would also incorporate a new outdoor teaching facility for the University’s Woodlands Forest School which would make nature more accessible for local schoolchildren. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
O’Brien Contractors has scooped a deal with Chesterfield Canal Trust to deliver infrastructure works to the area. The works are part of a £6 million restoration project. Connecting the Trans Pennine Trail with the Arkwright Trail across the canal, the works will facilitate the delivery of a 38-metre-long pedestrian and cycle bridge. The project will form part of the first stage of the Staveley Canal restoration, funded by the government’s Levelling Up programme. Works are due to start on site in April, with groundworks due to commence in May; the project will run for 20 weeks, with an opening ceremony planned for September. Tony Mitchell, Director at O’Brien Contractors, said: “We are extremely pleased to have been appointed by The Chesterfield Canal Trust to provide the new bridge at Staveley. This prestigious project will be a huge benefit to pedestrians and cyclists all over the region and the restoration of this historic route will benefit the community for many years to come. “As O’Brien Contractors turns 65, we are more committed than ever to assisting our local communities in a long-term sustainable way. This project will not only create a safe and beautiful bridge for pedestrians and other trail users, but it will also benefit the local wildlife and biodiversity of the canal. We look forward to working with the Trust and their team throughout this exciting project.” Chesterfield Canal Trust Development Manager, George Rogers, said: “This is a big milestone for the Chesterfield Canal Trust, and we are delighted to appoint O’Brien Contractors to deliver this statement structure over the canal. Installing this bridge will open up the route for future restoration in multiple ways and I am looking forward to seeing it progress over the summer.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
