MC Construction has completed work on a multimillion-pound school extension in Cheshire to create additional places for children with severe learning difficulties and complex needs. The scheme at Springfield School in Crewe will help address an urgent need for extra provision in the Cheshire East area, with demand at an
Willmott Dixon has secured a multi-million-pound contract to construct a new 28-bed secure children’s home in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, aimed at providing enhanced facilities for young people. The project, procured through Pagabo’s Major Works Framework, saw Willmott Dixon chosen by Lincolnshire County Council last year to develop design proposals for the
Whitbread PLC has received planning approval from Westminster City Council to build a new hotel at 5 Strand in central London. The hotel, featuring 693 rooms, will be one of the largest budget accommodations in the city when completed. It will operate under the hub by Premier Inn brand, occupying
Liverpool City Council’s Planning Committee has approved Capital&Centric’s plans to convert the historic former Littlewoods building into a state-of-the-art film and TV campus. The proposals for the Council-owned site involve the restoration and repurposing of the 1930s Edge Lane structure, with submissions made by the social impact developers last year.
Kier has commenced construction on a new healthcare facility, which is a component of the University of Huddersfield’s National Health Innovation Campus. The ground-breaking ceremony saw in attendance University of Huddersfield deputy vice-chancellor Tim Thornton, Calderdale and Huddersfield National Health (NHS) Service Trust chief executive Brendan Brown, and more. The
Vistry Group has teamed up with Cobalt Housing to deliver 66 homes at Lickers Lane in Whiston. The project is part of the broader Halsnead Garden Village masterplan in Knowsley, which aims to create 1,600 homes. In June, Vistry obtained planning approval for 120 homes at the site, which will
Eric Wright Civil Engineering has commenced construction work on Salford Rise, a transformative element of the wider £2.5 billion, 252-acre Crescent Salford masterplan. Delivered by ECF – a joint partnership between Legal & General, Homes England and Muse on behalf of Salford City Council – the infrastructure and public realm
Costain has successfully trialled a carbon tracker platform that aims to standardise and improve carbon emissions reporting across its projects. The tracker, visualised via an interactive, online dashboard, will enable project teams to capture construction related emissions, including Scope 3 emissions, from across the supply chain. It is part of
M&G Real Estate, in partnership with Wates Group, the UK’s leading family-owned development and construction company, celebrated the structural completion of ‘The Ribbon’, M&G’s state-of-the-art retail and commercial development on Oxford Street, London, with a ‘topping out’ ceremony. This time-honoured tradition marks the achievement of reaching the highest point of
Construction work on a new low-carbon industrial park at the site of former council offices on Blackbird Road in Leicester is almost complete. Leicester City Council is developing the Blackbird Industrial Park on the location of a previous housing depot, situated near the city centre. It features four buildings that
MC Construction has completed work on a multimillion-pound school extension in Cheshire to create additional places for children with severe learning difficulties and complex needs. The scheme at Springfield School in Crewe will help address an urgent need for extra provision in the Cheshire East area, with demand at an all-time high. MC Construction, working on behalf of longstanding client Cheshire East Council, built a wrap-around extension to the existing sports pavilion to create eight additional classrooms, new ancillary spaces including calm rooms, a sensory room and a therapy room, along with new hygiene suites and toilets, and improved kitchen facilities. A ceremony to mark the official opening was attended by pupils, staff, MC Construction team members involved in the project, local councillors and Cllr Sally Graham, deputy mayor of Crewe. Springfield School, whose motto is ‘Every day is a new chance to shine’, caters for pupils aged from four to 19 with severe learning difficulties and complex needs, including autism. It is rated as outstanding by Ofsted and was named 2022 School of the Year at the National Schools Awards. The expansion of Springfield School increases its capacity from 170 to 250 pupils. During the works at Springfield, MC Construction supported the school with a variety of social value initiatives. These included drawing competitions, creating a suite of awards to recognise pupil progress, environmental projects and the creation of a forest school area. On Friday, October 25, a team of 16 volunteers from MC Construction, consultants who worked on the extension project and council representatives will take part in a volunteer day to work on the new forest school. Lisa Hodgkison, headteacher at Springfield School, said: “Our new extension enables us to greatly improve and expand our educational provision for those children who require specialist support. We have moved our secondary and sixth-form pupils into the new block, creating more space in the main body of the school. “This fantastic expansion offers our pupils new, larger classrooms and direct access to the sports facilities alongside a new food technology room. Pupils love the feel of the new high school and what it has to offer.” MC Construction’s contract with Cheshire East Council was procured through the North West Construction Hub framework. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Willmott Dixon has secured a multi-million-pound contract to construct a new 28-bed secure children’s home in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, aimed at providing enhanced facilities for young people. The project, procured through Pagabo’s Major Works Framework, saw Willmott Dixon chosen by Lincolnshire County Council last year to develop design proposals for the facility, situated on Bonemill Lane at the edge of Sleaford. Funded by the Department for Education, the home will cater to some of Lincolnshire’s most vulnerable children and serve as a national resource for secure accommodation. It replaces an existing smaller site that is coming to the end of its useful life and will help meet rising demand from a national increase in the number of children requiring both criminal justice and welfare placements. It will deliver a truly ground-breaking service, becoming a flagship project for the sector. The home is designed to reach net-zero in operation, providing an innovative partial grid solution, which will be supported by extensive solar panels and state-of-the-art power storage. The home has been designed by Kier and is due to be completed in late 2026. Nick Heath, director at Willmott Dixon, said: “This is a hugely significant scheme, not only for Lincolnshire to address an acute need for secure accommodation, but also for the wider country as it will bring together best practice from across the UK and Europe. “It will help young people get their lives ‘back on track’ using a whole host of facilities including on-site education, wellbeing, vocational and sports facilities, as well as delivering against important sustainability credentials to make the building’s legacy especially evident.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Whitbread PLC has received planning approval from Westminster City Council to build a new hotel at 5 Strand in central London. The hotel, featuring 693 rooms, will be one of the largest budget accommodations in the city when completed. It will operate under the hub by Premier Inn brand, occupying a prime location just off Trafalgar Square, steps away from Nelson’s Column. Whitbread acquired the development site freehold as part of its strategy to expand its presence in the popular London market where a significant proportion of Premier Inn’s future UK rooms pipeline is located. The over £200m investment, which includes construction and related costs, underlines the company’s commitment to the hub by Premier Inn brand which is designed to bring Premier Inn’s affordable hotel bedrooms into the heart of London and other major UK cities. Mark Anderson, Managing Director for Property and International for Whitbread, said: “hub by Premier Inn was launched a decade ago in St. Martin’s Lane, a few hundred metres from 5 Strand. The brand has blossomed into a network of 18 popular hub hotels in Central London and Edinburgh and has become a proven model for bringing our affordable bedrooms into the most central, vibrant, and connected locations for our guests. “5 Strand is an excellent example of how we think the hub by Premier Inn brand can evolve in Central London. It also shows how we can use Whitbread’s strong balance sheet to acquire the best positioned, most accessible, and high-demand locations in the capital to grow our brands. With planning permission now secured we will move quickly to begin construction of the new hotel and deliver a true flagship location for our guests.” Whitbread has been investing heavily in London as it seeks to redress an under-supply of branded budget hotel bedrooms in the capital. The company currently offers its customers more than 100+ locations within the M25 with a further 12 locations in its secured development pipeline in the capital. It is also seeking new sites in 40 locations in inner and outer London for its Premier Inn and hub by Premier Inn brands. The consented 16,000 sq metre hotel at 5 Strand will be set over thirteen storeys with a generous ground-floor space fronting onto the Strand and Northumberland Street to the east of the site. Whitbread expects around 150 team will work at the hotel on opening, with recruitment focused within the City of Westminster and other inner London boroughs. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Liverpool City Council’s Planning Committee has approved Capital&Centric’s plans to convert the historic former Littlewoods building into a state-of-the-art film and TV campus. The proposals for the Council-owned site involve the restoration and repurposing of the 1930s Edge Lane structure, with submissions made by the social impact developers last year. The company has recently finished the enabling works, and securing this planning approval marks a significant milestone for the project. Subject to the next tranche of funding being agreed, the go ahead from the council will kick start the main restoration works, including two new 20,000 sq.ft studios for big budget productions, as well as spaces for offices, workshops, studio support facilities and an education facility. The site, which holds many memories for locals, will now be opened up and made accessible to surrounding communities. The former canteen which was housed in a barrel-vaulted hangar is to be transformed into a multi-purpose screening and performance zone, which will be for the use of occupiers on site, and then open up to the public out of hours. It’ll feature five small format cinema screens, an outdoor performance space and permanent foodhall. John Moffat, Joint Managing Director at Capital&Centric, said: “This is a huge moment for Littlewoods and for the city as we now have the green light to deliver the Hollywood of the North. Liverpool already has a reputation as a world-class filming destination. “The Littlewoods Project will take it to the next level, providing much-needed indoor studio space and support facilities. You can’t underestimate what this means for local people – me among them – not only seeing this iconic building brought back to life, but bolstering the city’s creative credentials and creating jobs and careers for generations. It’s the moment everyone’s been waiting for.” Capital&Centric is working with Liverpool City Council as freeholder of the site and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority as project funders. The Combined Authority, led by Mayor Steve Rotheram, has committed up to £17m to the project. It is anticipated that the Littlewoods Project will bring around 4,000 full-time equivalent jobs in the region’s creative sector. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Kier has commenced construction on a new healthcare facility, which is a component of the University of Huddersfield’s National Health Innovation Campus. The ground-breaking ceremony saw in attendance University of Huddersfield deputy vice-chancellor Tim Thornton, Calderdale and Huddersfield National Health (NHS) Service Trust chief executive Brendan Brown, and more. The facility, named the Emily Siddon Building, will span 6,800m² and is positioned near Huddersfield’s centre. Set to open by the end of next year, it will provide diagnostic services and foster the growth of local businesses. The Community Diagnostic Centre on the ground floor, a collaborative effort with Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, will offer an array of diagnostic tests, including MRI and CT scans, for the community. Architect AHR has designed the building to house clinical teaching facilities on its upper floors, also in partnership with the trust. These will support new courses in areas such as Diagnostic Radiography, directly linked to the work of the Community Diagnostic Centre. The collaboration extends to other partners for additional programmes, including a course in Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy. The Emily Siddon Building will further serve as a Health and Wellbeing Innovation Centre, providing an environment for local entrepreneurs, startups, and organisations. This initiative is backed by financial support from the West Yorkshire mayor and Combined Authority through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Kier aims to construct the building to achieve Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology Excellent standards and secure WELL Platinum certification. Last month, Kier was included in Wessex Water’s Capital Delivery Partner Framework for Asset Management Period 8. “Kier begins construction on University of Huddersfield’s healthcare facility” was originally created and published by World Construction Network, a GlobalData owned brand. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Vistry Group has teamed up with Cobalt Housing to deliver 66 homes at Lickers Lane in Whiston. The project is part of the broader Halsnead Garden Village masterplan in Knowsley, which aims to create 1,600 homes. In June, Vistry obtained planning approval for 120 homes at the site, which will feature a mix of three- and four-bedroom houses, along with twelve two-bedroom apartments. This is the first partnership between Vistry and Cobalt Housing, who will make the 66 homes available for affordable rent and Rent to Buy. The remaining 54 homes will be sold on the open market by Linden Homes. Halsnead Garden Village is the largest integrated housing and employment project in the Liverpool City Region. The development includes 1,600 new high-quality homes, new green spaces and new and improved community facilities that will be accessible to all. Gemma Hardy, Managing Director, Vistry Merseyside and Cheshire West: “We are absolutely committed to creating vibrant, mixed-tenure communities that address local housing needs. Partnering with Cobalt Housing at Lickers Lane allows us to provide high-quality, affordable homes within the Halsnead garden village masterplan. This development is set to significantly benefit the local area, offering a range of housing options that support sustainable community growth and inclusivity. We are proud to be contributing to such a transformative project.” Initial enabling works on site has begun and Vistry is expected to handover the new homes to Cobalt by 26 March. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Eric Wright Civil Engineering has commenced construction work on Salford Rise, a transformative element of the wider £2.5 billion, 252-acre Crescent Salford masterplan. Delivered by ECF – a joint partnership between Legal & General, Homes England and Muse on behalf of Salford City Council – the infrastructure and public realm project will remove physical barriers between the communities to the north of the Crescent area, replacing them with walking and cycling routes focused on accessibility and active travel, significantly improving connectivity between these communities and Crescent Salford. In addition, there will be large areas of new, high-quality green spaces, trees, planting and public squares for pop-up events and festivals. At the heart of the ambitious regeneration of Salford Crescent, is a near five-acre elevated walkway spanning Frederick Road which will enhance connectivity and act as a key gateway between the University of Salford’s campus and the Crescent innovation zone. Eric Wright Civil Engineering has been appointed as the main contractor to deliver the walkway designed by MAKE, Planit and Cundall. It stands at 11 metres wide and 220 metres long and will be a green and safe haven for pedestrians and cyclists, encouraging active travel and facilitating improved collaboration across the development. The project is partially funded by £13.17m from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund. Preparatory and ground works will be carried out for the remainder of 2024, while work on the bridge structure is expected to begin in early 2025 and complete in summer 2026. Salford Rise forms a key part of the Crescent masterplan which will deliver more than 3,000 homes, 1,000,000 sq ft of offices, retail and leisure, a multi-model transport hub and vast areas of green space. Commencement of work on the project follows the approval of plans by Salford City Council to bring forward Crescent Innovation, another pivotal element of the Crescent Salford masterplan. Creating a high-quality innovation ecosystem around the University of Salford, Crescent Innovation will build on existing world-class research and development capabilities; help drive further economic growth in the city and wider region; and facilitate enhanced links between academia, research, and business. Salford Rise will physically connect economic assets across the innovation zone to unlock significant development opportunities and enable collaboration between academia and industry. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Costain has successfully trialled a carbon tracker platform that aims to standardise and improve carbon emissions reporting across its projects. The tracker, visualised via an interactive, online dashboard, will enable project teams to capture construction related emissions, including Scope 3 emissions, from across the supply chain. It is part of Costain’s decarbonisation strategy and will help continue to drive emissions reductions across the organisation. The tracker is designed to improve the quality, accuracy and frequency of data reporting through enhanced data analytics and integration with technical baselines. This includes collating emissions data in real-time from both materials and resources used on-site, such as concrete, steel or water, as well as those produced from waste and transportation. ‘Hotspots’ – materials or products that are generating a high volume of carbon emissions – are highlighted to enable project managers to track progress against emissions targets and identify further areas of carbon reduction. Data is benchmarked against a range of industry and government standards so it can be used in broader ESG-related disclosures. This includes PAS2080 and carbon factors published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. During an initial testing phase, the tracker has been successfully implemented across several of Costain’s projects in road, water and integrated transport, and will be rolled out across all relevant projects over the coming months. It is expected that data shared by suppliers will be used to inform future project planning and provide vital insights to reduce Scope 3 emissions, a key directive of the PAS2080 standards. Geraint Rowland, group environmental director at Costain, commented: “Environmental data reporting is critical to making net zero a reality, particularly in the construction sector which has a dependency on carbon intensive materials and fuels. It is vital the data we are using is accurate and consistent across our projects and sectors. “Costain is investing in a visual tracker that aims to standardise the reporting process for our project teams while making it easier for our supply chain to submit the data we need to understand our Scope 3 emissions. Achieving a greater level of accuracy, consistency and granularity will give us a better understanding of how carbon intensive each element of a project is. This means we will be able to make informed decisions that not only reinforce our commitment to delivering predictable, best-in-class infrastructure, but will also improve people’s lives and help protect the planet.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
M&G Real Estate, in partnership with Wates Group, the UK’s leading family-owned development and construction company, celebrated the structural completion of ‘The Ribbon’, M&G’s state-of-the-art retail and commercial development on Oxford Street, London, with a ‘topping out’ ceremony. This time-honoured tradition marks the achievement of reaching the highest point of the building. Speeches at the ceremony were given by Jonny Wates – Director of Wates Group, Aaron Pope – Head of UK Offices Asset Management at M&G, Steve Holbrook – Regional Director at Wates Construction and Chris John – Head of Development Management at CBRE. Attendees of the event included members of the local council and senior executives from the organisations involved in the project. The Ribbon is due to be completed next year. Once finished, it will comprise 70,000 sq ft of Grade A office space and 21,000 sq ft of flagship retail space on the capital’s iconic Oxford Street. Designed by ORMS with CBRE as Development Managers, the office space benefits from generous floor to ceiling heights, luxury end-of-trip facilities, a client business lounge, smart enabled features and a wellness studio. The ninth floor includes a communal pavilion and a landscaped terrace with views across the London skyline. Jonny Wates, fourth generation family owner, Wates Group board director, and chair of the board sustainability committee said: “At Wates, we are passionately committed to ensuring sustainability across all our projects. We place a high value on the chance to work with clients and supply chain who share our beliefs and priorities We are proud that The Ribbon features a passive design, allowing the building to maximise the use of natural sources of heating, cooling, and ventilation to create optimal conditions inside without the need for polluting appliances – ultimately allowing the building to be net zero carbon in operation.” The building will also be built to exemplary environmental and wellbeing standards, targeting NABERs 5*, BREEAM Outstanding, Wiredscore Platinum, WELL Platinum, Smart Enabled, RESET Air (shell and core certification), and EPC Rating A. This project also demonstrates Wates commitment to social value in all the communities it serves. Through this project so far, Wates has supported 237 students through education programmes, employed 6 local people, and offered 7 work experience placements to equip individuals with the skills and confidence for future success in the construction sector. Through this project, Wates have spent £13k with social enterprises and have contributed over 80 hours of volunteering with causes in Westminster. Wates have also partnered with local charity, the Children’s Book Project, who provide free books to children who need them most. Over the last five years at sites across the country, Wates has donated nearly 50,000 books and The Ribbon is the latest donation point to be installed, with books being donated to local foodbanks, community groups, nurseries and women’s refuges. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction work on a new low-carbon industrial park at the site of former council offices on Blackbird Road in Leicester is almost complete. Leicester City Council is developing the Blackbird Industrial Park on the location of a previous housing depot, situated near the city centre. It features four buildings that will provide more than 30,000sqft of light industrial workspace across 21 separate units aimed at local start-ups and growing businesses. All the buildings incorporate a range of low carbon, energy efficiency measures. These include roof-mounted photovoltaic panels, super insulation, and low-energy smart lighting. Chargers will be provided for electric vehicles in a new parking area, along with safe storage for bicycles. The 21 new units are due to be available for lease from winter 2024. They range in size from the smallest at 750sqft to the largest at between 2,050 to 2,500sqft. Annual rents will vary from £11,250 to £30,000, and at full occupancy the new industrial park could bring in over £400,000 in rental income. The £6.25 million development on Blackbird Road has been backed with government cash following the city council’s successful bid for new investment from the Levelling Up Fund, in 2021. City Mayor Peter Soulsby, said: “This new and much-needed industrial park will breathe new life into a vacant council site and help meet the demand for commercial and industrial workspaces for start-up and growing businesses in Leicester. “Along with supporting local employers and the creation of new jobs, this development also demonstrates our ongoing commitment to investing in cleaner, greener and low carbon infrastructure to support the future prosperity of our growing city.” Leicester City Council appointed locally-based Brackley Property Developments Ltd as its development partner for Blackbird Industrial Park following a competitive tendering process. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
