Southwark Council has granted planning permission for a new student housing and residential development by Sellar Property Group (Sellar). Following a unanimous decision from Southwark Council, Sellar will develop 444 purpose-built student homes, fully direct let, with eight affordable homes for local key workers and flexible office and retail space.
Morgan Sindall has secured a contract to deliver a new £25 million state-of-the-art diagnostic centre near to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. The company was appointed by Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NNUH). Procured through the NHS Shared Business Services (SBS) framework, the new NNUH Diagnostic
Southend Council has appointed Willmott Dixon as its construction partner for a proposed major upgrade of the Cliffs Pavilion. Under a pre-construction agreement with the council, Willmott Dixon will undertake essential tasks, including design development and preparation of a pre-construction health and safety plan. Additionally, they will create a construction
Cardiff City Council has approved a number of necessary steps for the construction of a new 15,000-seater arena in the city. The council’s cabinet approved the recommendations to sign a range of legal agreements at its meeting on 13 July, so that both the indoor arena and the regeneration of
Construction company Kier has been appointed by the Department of Education to deliver a new primary school in Havering, London. The two-form entry primary school will offer 462 places for students and includes a 30-place nursery as well as a special educational needs learning space for twelve pupils with autism
North Somerset Council has allocated an additional £11.9 million of funding for the Banwell bypass. Despite setting aside £7.6m in scheme’s original budget to protect the bypass from changing construction costs, the four years since funding was initially secured from Homes England have seen unprecedented price increases caused by the
Property company British Land has unveiled plans to redevelop London’s Euston Tower into a life sciences and innovation hub. The company has entered into discussions with Camden Council about plans to transform the building into a net zero workspace, using a combination of retention, re-use and a new ultra-low carbon
Stepnell has completed work on a new Health and Wellbeing Hub for staff at Chesterfield Royal Hospital. The new building includes facilities such as a state-of-the-art gym, counselling rooms, areas for complementary therapies and group or individual reflections after traumatic incidents. The building is valued at £2 million with the
Wyatt Homes, a property developer based in Pool, is pleased to announce the appointment of David Beggs as the new Assistant Site Manager at the prestigious Rivers Edge development in Wimborne. David, 51, from Romsey, boasts over 30 years of experience in the finishing trade, including 25 years as a
Muse has been chosen by Oldham Council to develop a town centre regeneration. The partnership will involve the creation of 2,000 new homes, including a range of different types and sizes. The homes will be built on the site of the civil centre as well as at the sites of
Southwark Council has granted planning permission for a new student housing and residential development by Sellar Property Group (Sellar). Following a unanimous decision from Southwark Council, Sellar will develop 444 purpose-built student homes, fully direct let, with eight affordable homes for local key workers and flexible office and retail space. Named ‘King’s Place’, Sellar has said that the development will be designed to the highest wellbeing standards, in a location with first rate connections to world class universities. King’s Place will offer more than double the average internal and external amenity per room found in Purpose-Built Student Accommodation across London, with a high-quality offering as standard across all rooms, including the wheelchair-accessible studios. King’s Place will also deliver 1,850 sq m of flexible work and retail space, including a corner café on Borough High Street, and a new pocket park that will be created on Harper Road. In line with Sellar’s broader ambition towards sustainable development, King’s Place will be an all-electric building that can be carbon free through green power procurement. Sellar is also aiming for BREEAM Excellent as a minimum target for the development, which is currently on track to be BREEAM Outstanding. The one-acre site occupies a prime location fronting Newington Causeway and Borough High Street. It marks the point of transition between Elephant & Castle, Bankside, Borough and the London Bridge opportunity areas, and therefore has excellent accessibility and transport links, with access to multiple nearby educational institution, including to King’s College London and London South Bank University. James Sellar, chief executive of Sellar, said: “King’s Place is redefining the design of student accommodation in London in a location with unrivalled connections to world class universities. To deliver exemplar student accommodation, the design focusses on health, well-being and comfort for students – rooms are generous and well lit, with abundant internal and external amenity spaces throughout. This combined with its ease of access to central London make the site the optimum location for student living. The project also furthers our long-term track record of working with and making a positive contribution to Southwark through regenerative developments, adding King’s Place to our successful projects at Shard Quarter and Bermondsey Yards.” Morris+Company is the architect for the development, DP9 acted as planning consultant and Savills advised on funding on the scheme. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Morgan Sindall has secured a contract to deliver a new £25 million state-of-the-art diagnostic centre near to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. The company was appointed by Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NNUH). Procured through the NHS Shared Business Services (SBS) framework, the new NNUH Diagnostic Centre will include five MRI machines, four CT scanners, two Ultrasound rooms and two X-Ray machines, bringing essential health services closer to the local community. The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital is a large NHS academic teaching hospital in the Norwich Research Park on the western outskirts of Norwich. The Norwich Research Park brings together four independently renowned research institutes; John Innes Centre, Quadram Institute, Earlham Institute and The Sainsbury Laboratory with the University of East Anglia (UEA) and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NNUH). The new 40,000 sq. ft structure will be situated next to the Quadram Institute on the Norwich Research Park, connecting the pre-existing infrastructure at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital to the new services. A steel frame will be installed with brick façade in keeping with the rest of the University Hospital estate. As part of Morgan Sindall’s Intelligent Solutions approach to supporting its customers to decarbonise, the Eastern Counties business will implement carbon reduction measures throughout the design and construction process. The team will utilise Morgan Sindall’s carbon reduction tool CarboniCa, which will ensure that potential carbon outputs are managed and reduced across the entire building lifecycle. The new diagnostic centre will benefit from an air source heat pump system and is aiming for a BREEAM Excellent rating. The Eastern Counties business has a strong track record in delivering high-end healthcare facilities across the region, having recently celebrated a topping out ceremony at the charity-funded Priscilla Bacon Lodge Hospice and completing a number of vital upgrades at James Paget University Hospital during the last decade with live further works being delivered. Alister Broadberry, area director for Morgan Sindall Construction in the Eastern Counties, said: “Bringing essential, specialist services closer to local communities is paramount in serving the area in which we operate, as new facilities such as Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital’s diagnostic centre will play a key role in supporting patients and healthcare staff in the rapid diagnosis of disease, relieving pressure on waiting times and hospital workloads. “Our open and collaborative approach means that we have been able to deliver sustainable healthcare facilities locally, regionally and nationally that are adapting to the changing needs of the community. The diagnostic centre is set to become a prime example of great design and the team’s forward-thinking approach, further enhancing Morgan Sindall’s reputation in the region.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Southend Council has appointed Willmott Dixon as its construction partner for a proposed major upgrade of the Cliffs Pavilion. Under a pre-construction agreement with the council, Willmott Dixon will undertake essential tasks, including design development and preparation of a pre-construction health and safety plan. Additionally, they will create a construction methodology and program planning, including phasing strategies. Once these preliminary stages are complete, the company will finalise a full contract, contingent on planning approval, an agreed cost plan, and a works program. The work at Cliffs Pavilion Theatre will help secure its long-term future as one of the top ten regional theatres in the country. It is owned by the council and operated by Trafalgar Theatres (for Trafalgar Entertainment). Over £8 million is set to be invested into the theatre to fund a major expansion of the restaurant, a new entrance and lobby to improve the customer experience, upgraded ventilation, a new outdoor piazza and several other improvements to the bars, toilets, lifts and other areas. The theatre will remain open throughout the project, which is expected to start in January 2024, with £5.5m of the project funded through Round 1 of the Levelling Up Fund announced by Government on 27 October 2021, with additional investment from the City Council and Trafalgar Entertainment. A revised planning application will be submitted in July, when a resident event will take place and artists impressions will be available. Cllr Derek Jarvis, cabinet member for arts, culture, heritage and leisure, said: “The Cliffs Pavilion Theatre is one of Southend’s key venues for culture, arts and events and adds so much to our reputation as a cultural destination and brings millions of pounds into the local economy. This work will ensure that we reinforce its position as one of the top ten regional theatres in the country. “The proposed expansion and upgrade of the theatre will also help us to secure the future success of the Cliffs Pavilion, in the hopes of benefiting from larger touring shows and bringing larger audiences to Southend whilst also benefitting our local economy.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Cardiff City Council has approved a number of necessary steps for the construction of a new 15,000-seater arena in the city. The council’s cabinet approved the recommendations to sign a range of legal agreements at its meeting on 13 July, so that both the indoor arena and the regeneration of the Atlantic Wharf site can take a further step forward. The Cabinet report recommended that the Atlantic Wharf regeneration site is split into two specific areas, with one area being put out to tender to deliver a specific development and the other to undergo further market testing to attract investment interest in the project. The first area, Site A, includes the county hall and parts of its car park. There are proposals to put this land out to tender to deliver a specific development, which could include a new production and rehearsal space for the creative sector, alongside new offices, all with a shared foyer. Site B: The Atlantic Wharf site – which includes the Red Dragon Centre, the car park and Hemmingway Road is proposed to undergo further market testing, to attract further investment interest from the private sector. Commenting on the developments, Cllr Russell Goodway, Cabinet Member for Investment and Development, said: “The Council is committed to transforming this historic part of Cardiff into a leading UK destination for leisure, culture and tourism, creating jobs and opportunities for local people. The Indoor Arena will significantly increase footfall in Cardiff Bay, which will benefit all existing hospitality venues as well as the new developments that will be built as part of this regeneration scheme. “There is no doubt that since the pandemic has ended, the financial climate has changed and become more challenging with an increase in the cost of building materials and increasing interest rates. Given this, the project has had to adapt to ensure that it can be delivered and is affordable, so now that the legal agreements have been approved, the project can proceed at pace, with work expected to start on site at the end of this year.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction company Kier has been appointed by the Department of Education to deliver a new primary school in Havering, London. The two-form entry primary school will offer 462 places for students and includes a 30-place nursery as well as a special educational needs learning space for twelve pupils with autism and speech, language & communication needs. The new building will include teaching spaces as well as dedicated rooms for group activities and therapies. A number of the school’s facilities will also be made available for use by the local community, including the hall, studio and outdoor play areas. The design for the project includes a number of features that aim to boost sustainability such as natural light and natural ventilation, highly-insulated glass to support heat management and onsite solar panels to generate electricity. The new facility is being built for The Emmanuel School Trust, a non-profit charity that manages educational facilities in London. The school will be part of the wider Beam Park residential development, which will deliver over 3,000 new homes to the area. Commenting on the project, Richard Emmerson, Project Director at the Department for Education said: “I am pleased that building has begun on Emmanuel Community School following the design and planning stage. We are moving forward to deliver what will be a first-class facility for this new and growing community. I have worked with Kier before and I know they will do a great job on this project having also worked tirelessly to get to this stage.” Reflecting on the appointment, John Bolton, regional director at Kier Construction London & Southern, said: “We are delighted that we have been appointed by the Department for Education to build the new Emmanuel Community School. The school will play a vital role, ensuring that the new neighbourhood’s expanding population has a safe, secure and stimulating learning environment for pupils to enjoy. “We look forward to using our wealth of experience in building first-class educational facilities to deliver a modern and sustainable school that will positively impact the community for years to come.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
North Somerset Council has allocated an additional £11.9 million of funding for the Banwell bypass. Despite setting aside £7.6m in scheme’s original budget to protect the bypass from changing construction costs, the four years since funding was initially secured from Homes England have seen unprecedented price increases caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. The agreed £11.9m funding, which comes from Community Infrastructure Levy, Section 106 monies and reallocated capital reserves, will help tackle these inflationary pressures and meet globally increased costs of fuel, construction material and labour. Councillor Mike Bell, Leader of North Somerset Council, said: “Banwell bypass is a landmark project for us, one that will cut congestion through Banwell, making it a safer, cleaner place, as well as delivering a range of other local improvements such as miles of new walking, cycling and horse-riding routes. “In agreeing additional funding, we are demonstrating our continued commitment to delivering the project and the benefits it is set to bring to North Somerset. For every pound we spend, the completed scheme is expected to return £2.27 in value, making it a vital component in unlocking regional growth for our communities. “We are also continuing positive conversations with Homes England and are seeking further financial contribution from them, as well as working with contractors to ensure we are getting the best value for money before we begin construction.” The additional £11.9m is subject the remainder of the additional costs being met by Homes England and the outcome of the public inquiry into Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) needed to build the bypass. The inquiry is being held at the Grand Pier and is expected to last until Friday 28 July. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Property company British Land has unveiled plans to redevelop London’s Euston Tower into a life sciences and innovation hub. The company has entered into discussions with Camden Council about plans to transform the building into a net zero workspace, using a combination of retention, re-use and a new ultra-low carbon structure. The design work for the project is being led by Danish architects 3XN with support from the London-based architecture studio DSDHA. Both companies worked with British Land on Broadgate’s 2FA. The proposed design would retain a number of Euston Tower’s key features such as the foundations, basement and core. The scheme will aim to reduce its carbon emissions throughout construction by retaining, re-using and re-cycling existing material, utilising low-carbon and recycled materials where new material is required and only using certified carbon offsets as a last resort. Commenting on the project, David Lockyer, Head of Development, British Land, said: “This is a unique opportunity to transform a London landmark desperately in need of revival, ensuring it is fit for the future by adopting cutting-edge sustainability practices and attracting leading life sciences and innovation occupiers where it currently lies vacant. “We’re committed to a comprehensive and transparent approach to sustainability, working closely with the London Borough of Camden and other key stakeholders to reimagine this office tower. The desire to retain, re-use and recycle as much of the building fabric as possible while creating high quality, flexible and sustainable workspaces is a blueprint for other projects facing similar challenges.” Reflecting on their involvement, Audun Opdal, Senior Partner and Head of Design, 3XN, said: “We are proud to work on this highly progressive project and feel our proposals will transform the disused Euston Tower into a beautifully designed, sustainable new building, delivering workspaces for the future and accessible and inclusive spaces for neighbouring communities. “Working with our innovation unit GXN, we will reuse and recycle materials throughout the development, and ultimately reach net zero at completion and in operation. As such, we have developed a guiding hierarchy for how we find the best place for any elements that are removed from the existing structure. Where we cannot retain materials in situ we are developing innovative methodologies for recycling and upcycling, working closely with research institutes to further this. Architecturally this will be a new breed of tall building, one that minimises operational energy use through passive design, reducing solar gain with less glazing and increased façade depth.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Stepnell has completed work on a new Health and Wellbeing Hub for staff at Chesterfield Royal Hospital. The new building includes facilities such as a state-of-the-art gym, counselling rooms, areas for complementary therapies and group or individual reflections after traumatic incidents. The building is valued at £2 million with the funds coming from local charity sources. During the work, Stepnell aimed to add social value to the project by investing in the local area. Three locals received jobs through the scheme with more than 100 hours of support going into employment training at Chesterfield College and Parkside Community School. The company also committed to a local supply chain by ordering building materials within a 30-mile radius of the project, which achieved a 50% local spend, including 36% spend with local SMEs. Commenting on the completed budget, Dr Hal Spencer, chief executive of CRH NHS Trust, said: “We want to be recommended as a place to come to work and for the clinical care we provide. The Health and Wellbeing Hub is pretty unique in allowing us to offer this kind of facility to colleagues. I am especially proud of us opening on the day of the celebrations for NHS75. Along with our Emergency Department, Pediatric Assessment Unit, the Community Diagnostic Centres and much more, we are redefining the role and abilities of this fantastic hospital.” Reflecting on their involvement for the Chesterfield health and wellbeing hub, Tom Sewell, regional director at Stepnell, said: “Our team has gone above and beyond to ensure quality throughout the design and build of this new Health and Wellbeing Hub. As well as ensuring the project was built on time and within budget, we were also proud to have supported the hospital alongside local people, communities and businesses to help raise the required project funds. We are thrilled with the end result and the positive feedback received from stakeholders across the project.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Wyatt Homes, a property developer based in Pool, is pleased to announce the appointment of David Beggs as the new Assistant Site Manager at the prestigious Rivers Edge development in Wimborne. David, 51, from Romsey, boasts over 30 years of experience in the finishing trade, including 25 years as a skilled dry liner and plasterer. David brings a wealth of knowledge to his role, further enhancing Wyatt Homes’ commitment to delivering exceptional craftsmanship. David’s career in the housebuilding industry has been a natural progression, and his previous experience has prepared him well for his role at Wyatt Homes. When asked about his decision to join Wyatt Homes, David expressed his admiration for the housebuilder’s strong industry reputation and the opportunity to build unique homes. David said “What sets Wyatt Homes apart is their impressive combination of quality and standards exhibited in their homes. He continued, “This drove me to become part of the Wyatt team and contribute to their ongoing success, producing homes that not only our homebuyers are proud of, but we are too.” Richard Coles, Construction Director at Wyatt Homes said, “We are delighted to welcome David to the team at Rivers Edge. We look forward to David’s many accomplishments as we continue to deliver exceptional homes to our esteemed customers.” Wyatt Homes is now selling homes at the prestigious Rivers Edge development in Wimborne from the marketing suite on Julians Road, Wimborne, BH21 1EF, and those interested are encouraged to book an appointment with a Sales Adviser to register their interest. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Muse has been chosen by Oldham Council to develop a town centre regeneration. The partnership will involve the creation of 2,000 new homes, including a range of different types and sizes. The homes will be built on the site of the civil centre as well as at the sites of several former leisure centres. The scheme will also include the development of a new town centre park. The project is the latest phase of wider improvements to Oldham including the new Spindles shopping centre and offices; a new home for Tommyfield market, a new theatre, new space for businesses, and and a restored Old Library with cultural, civic and community spaces. The new partnership could last as long as 25 years. Muse were chosen after an in-depth procurement process. They have been responsible for developing similar projects such as the Stockport Exchange, Salford Central and Lewisham Gateway schemes. Commenting on the new partnership, Councillor Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Council, said: “This is absolutely fantastic news. I’m delighted that, today, we can announce that together, we and Muse will be creating a new town centre for not just the people who live here now, but for generations to come. “These new homes will create new communities right in the heart of Oldham; which is a brilliant opportunity not just for the Oldhamers who will get the chance to live there, but also for people across the borough who can enjoy greener, more attractive, and more enjoyable places to shop, eat, drink and spend their leisure time. “I know today’s announcement will also be welcomed by our fantastic local businesses, who will soon be seeing more and more people spending time in our town centre throughout the day and into the evenings, as new communities move in, settle, and raise their families. “I’m so pleased to be leading on these exciting, ambitious, and truly game-changing plans – and I’m also truly excited that we’ve secured a partner from Oldham, who knows Oldham so well, and is just as passionate as me to make our borough a better place for all of us who call Oldham home.” Reflecting on their involvement, Phil Mayall, Managing Director – North West at Muse, said: “We’re proud to have been selected by the council to deliver its ambitious vision for regeneration in the town and we’re excited to get started. “As a business, we’re all about placemaking. We create kinder places in our towns and cities that focus on quality, community and sustainability. It’s regeneration with people at its heart; that will celebrate the proud town of Oldham, its rich heritage, along with its aspirations for the future. “We’re at the start of our journey with the council and we’re very much looking forward to getting out in the community as soon as we’re able, as we build a brighter future for Oldham, together.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
