Engineering steel specialist, William Hare Group, has scooped a contract to deliver the design, fabrication and installation of a sustainable steel solution for the latest iconic development at Broadgate in London. 2 Finsbury Avenue will comprise a 21-storey West Tower and a 36-storey East Tower, linked by a 12-storey podium.
Ebbsfleet United FC has announced that Gravesham Borough Council secured plans for Northfleet Harbourside. Ebbsfleet United FC are shareholders in the project which is set to transform and regenerate the immediate area surrounding the football club. Within the 50-acre mixed-use development, Ebbsfleet United FC will retain freehold and management control
Hines has secured plans from Southwark Council to build a new, landmark office and residential development at 18 Blackfriars Road. The approval secured working with architects Foster + Partners, and Lipton Rogers, allows Hines to breathe new life into a two-acre brownfield site that has remained undeveloped for 20 years.
Wavensmere Homes and Clowes Developments’ £75 million proposals to redevelop Friar Gate Goods Yard have been given the go-ahead by Derby City Council. The designs, submitted in August 2023, set out the vision for the reanimation of two landmark Grade II listed buildings into over 110,000 sq ft of commercial
Crest Nicholson has acquired land at Branston Locks in East Staffordshire. The housebuilder received reserved matters planning approval for the greenfield parcel, where it plans to build 284 new homes, in April of last year. The purchase marks the next step in the latest phase of a Sustainable Urban Extension
Eric Wright Construction has commenced work on a new £20 million apartment scheme in Manchester city centre. The new nine-storey residential development, at Laystall Street just off Great Ancoats Street, is being delivered for client Great Places Housing Group and is part-funded by Homes England and Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s
Outline plans have been submitted by the Flagship Group for the regeneration of the Abbey in Thetford. The project is designed to bring meaningful, long-term change and improvements to the Abbey and increase the supply of much-needed affordable homes. It would take place in phases over 20 years. Peter Hawes,
Housing association Aster Group and developer Thakeham have announced plans to deliver dozens of net zero carbon homes through a new joint venture partnership in Work starts on new net zero carbon homes in Burgess Hill, Mid Sussex. With an estimated value of £58 million, the agreement will see 120
Peabody has appointed Higgins Partnerships to build 189 homes at Deptford Landings, southeast London. The project will not only tackle the urgent demand for affordable homes in London but will also be Peabody’s first venture into providing homes that achieve Passive House certification. The Passive House concept is widely accepted
McLaren Construction has been selected to build a four-story last mile logistics hub for Southwark and central London. The firm was appointed by British Land. The first of a new generation of multi-storey logistics hubs by British Land, the 140,000 square foot building on a 0.78 hectare site on Mandela
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
Engineering steel specialist, William Hare Group, has scooped a contract to deliver the design, fabrication and installation of a sustainable steel solution for the latest iconic development at Broadgate in London. 2 Finsbury Avenue will comprise a 21-storey West Tower and a 36-storey East Tower, linked by a 12-storey podium. A solid and glazed sawtooth-shaped façade, characterised by triangular patterns, will be facilitated by a steelwork support system. The new building will be the largest on the Broadgate campus, providing 750,000 sq ft of new offices, as well as green, leisure and publicly accessible spaces. The building will create a new benchmark for highly sustainable workspace in central London with BREEAM Outstanding, WELL Platinum, EPC A and NABERS 5-star ratings. It will be all-electric, and a smart-enabled development ensuring leading carbon and energy efficiency in operation. William Hare Group has designed its steel solution to align with the project’s overall sustainability goals, including using LEAN design principles with the supply chain. Having successfully delivered nearby 100 Liverpool Street and 1 Broadgate, William Hare’s partnership on 2 Finsbury Avenue – working with Sir Robert McAlpine – will further extend its longstanding association with the Broadgate joint venture, between British Land and GIC. Matthew Nesbit, Group Board Director at William Hare Group, commented: “We are delighted to have been appointed at 2 Finsbury Avenue, as an extension of the work we have already delivered on the Broadgate development. “Being able to bring our design, fabrication and delivery capability to life on schemes like this is testament to our market-leading position as a global steel specialist.” Completion is expected in 2027, with global hedge fund firm, Citadel, and Citadel Securities pre-letting over a third of the development’s office space. William Hare Group is expected to have completed its works by summer 2025. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Ebbsfleet United FC has announced that Gravesham Borough Council secured plans for Northfleet Harbourside. Ebbsfleet United FC are shareholders in the project which is set to transform and regenerate the immediate area surrounding the football club. Within the 50-acre mixed-use development, Ebbsfleet United FC will retain freehold and management control of the new-build £40 million 8,000-seat multi-use community stadium and event facilities. This will secure the club’s future for generations to come and provide stable, self-generating income and revenue towards our ultimate goal of sustainable high performance. Damian Irvine, Chief Executive Officer at Ebbsfleet United FC, commented: “This is a truly significant day in our club’s great history and for the people and communities of Northfleet and Gravesend. The outcome has been the result of many months of hard work and collaboration with Gravesham Borough Council, our development partners and team, and the project’s investors. “We set about conceiving a plan and solution that would see our football ground developed to a leading standard that was feasible financially within a wider development, and which also provided regeneration of services and contributed to an overall significant uplift to our local community and Borough, reflecting the council’s own regeneration strategy and legacy plan for future generations. It’s a proud and exciting day to receive planning approval from GBC that will be the catalyst for such substantial investment into Gravesham Borough and its communities.” The granting of outline planning consent for Northfleet Harbourside will now see each phase of the project proceed to the detailed planning stage. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Hines has secured plans from Southwark Council to build a new, landmark office and residential development at 18 Blackfriars Road. The approval secured working with architects Foster + Partners, and Lipton Rogers, allows Hines to breathe new life into a two-acre brownfield site that has remained undeveloped for 20 years. 18 Blackfriars Road is designed to be fossil fuel free, 100% electric and Net Zero Carbon in operation, with 95% of the site heat demand served by ground source heat pumps that share, store and offset energy. Beyond decarbonisation, it is set to deliver affordable homes, free workspace for local businesses and entrepreneurs and a cultural hub for locals as it aims be the first high-rise scheme in the UK to achieve the WELL Community Gold Standard, which certifies developments that support health and wellbeing. Ross Blair, Senior Managing Director and Country Head of Hines UK, said: “Our plans will transform an undeveloped piece of land, most of which has lain empty for over 20 years, into much needed new homes and first class, sustainable and tech-enabled offices, built around a central hub which we hope will become a brand new convening space for the local community.” The location benefits from fantastic transport connectivity and proximity to numerous cultural landmarks as well as being a stone’s throw from the River Thames. The new scheme will consist of three buildings, two delivering over 400 new homes, with 40% being affordable. The third will create 800,000 square feet of office space featuring a series of bustles that provide space with exceptional quality natural light inside and outdoor terraces on every third floor. Plans also include 20,000 square feet of new affordable workspace for local and socially minded enterprises, assembly rooms for use by the local community, modern educational space with links to local institutions, children’s play areas and a new, central public space with retail and food outlets situated at the heart of the development. A 150% increase in biodiversity is also planned for the site, including the planting of around 100 new trees. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Wavensmere Homes and Clowes Developments’ £75 million proposals to redevelop Friar Gate Goods Yard have been given the go-ahead by Derby City Council. The designs, submitted in August 2023, set out the vision for the reanimation of two landmark Grade II listed buildings into over 110,000 sq ft of commercial space, alongside 276 new build homes. A restoration of the 19th Century Bonded Warehouse and Engine House will deliver a total of 111,275 sq ft of flexible offices, health and fitness space, and a restaurant/café, together with a regional sales centre for Birmingham-headquartered Wavensmere Homes. Extensive new areas of open space, including play areas and pocket parks will be installed, in addition to the retention of the TPO tree buffer, to help enhance the biodiversity of the site. The elevated area adjacent to Friar Gate Bridge will become a new multi-purpose public realm and community space, with retention of some of the original railway arch facades. New vehicular, pedestrian and cycle access will be created at various points around the 11.5-acre (4.96Ha) site, from Uttoxeter New Road, Great Northern Way, and Friar Gate, with the Mick Mack cycling route also to be extended. Friar Gate Goods Yard has been in the ownership of the Clowes family for over 40 years, with a number of options for redevelopment proposed but not progressed, due to heritage constraints and commercial viability. Wavensmere Homes and Clowes developments worked with Glancy Nicholls Architects and Pegasus Group to incorporate the views from over 200 local public consultation responses into the comprehensive plans for the redevelopment of the derelict site. Wavensmere Homes anticipates receiving formal planning approval in time to commence work on site this summer. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Crest Nicholson has acquired land at Branston Locks in East Staffordshire. The housebuilder received reserved matters planning approval for the greenfield parcel, where it plans to build 284 new homes, in April of last year. The purchase marks the next step in the latest phase of a Sustainable Urban Extension (SUE) at Branston Locks, Burton-on-Trent. Sitting within a larger development site being delivered by multiple developers, Crest Nicholson will provide a mix of two, three, four and five-bedroom homes which will contribute towards the 2,500 homes being delivered by the wider scheme. The homes will include several of Crest Nicholson’s house types such as the three-bedroom Hadleigh and four-bedroom Yorkley, with 22 homes available as affordable Shared Ownership properties. Proposals for the site also include public open spaces including a play area and walking and cycling routes. In addition, residents will benefit from a range of commercial, educational and leisure facilities on the wider development, including a primary school, pub, care home and hotel of up to 80 rooms. Tim Brickley, Managing Director at Crest Nicholson Midlands, said: “We’re excited to have completed the purchase of land at Branston Locks and look forward to delivering high-quality homes. The Branston Locks development will create a vibrant, sustainable community in a great location while providing much-needed homes within the area and we’re thrilled to be part of this wonderful development.” The SUE will also include vehicular access connections from Branston Road and Shobnall Road, green infrastructure comprising public open space, structural landscaping, sustainable urban drainage basins and associated drainage, as well as sports and recreation facilities. Staffordshire offers residents access to a range of fun activities with the likes of Alton Towers and Peak District in close proximity. The town is centrally located, with great commuter links to major cities such as Manchester and Birmingham. The M6 runs through the centre of the county and connects it to the rest of the UK by road, while there are several train stations in Stoke, Stafford, Lichfield Trent Valley and Rugeley Trent Valley running high-speed, nationwide services. For those looking to travel internationally, Birmingham, East Midlands and Manchester airports are within easy reach. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Eric Wright Construction has commenced work on a new £20 million apartment scheme in Manchester city centre. The new nine-storey residential development, at Laystall Street just off Great Ancoats Street, is being delivered for client Great Places Housing Group and is part-funded by Homes England and Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Brownfield Housing Fund. The new scheme will provide 89 one and two-bed apartments available for Rent to Buy and Social Rent. The development is the second project to commence work at the site following Manchester-based developer, McCauls’ transformation of the Grade II-listed Armitage Showroom into 5,000 sq. ft of high-quality office space. McCauls are also planning to create a small residential element adjacent designed by OMI Architects, on the corner of Laystall Street and Pigeon Street. Nick Gornall, Director of Development at Great Places, said: “We’re delighted to be starting work at Laystall Street which will provide much-needed affordable accommodation in central Manchester.” “Laystall Street is an excellent location, and we look forward to working together again with Eric Wright to deliver its transformation. The project will breathe new life into this part of the city centre and reinforces our continued commitment to the delivery of affordable homes across Manchester.” Jeremy Hartley, Chief Executive Officer at Eric Wright Group, added: “Our Laystall Street project with Great Places builds on our successful collaboration at Ancoats Dispensary and we are looking forward to partnering with them again. Our construction team is committed to delivering excellence, and we look forward to seeing this development bring more high quality, affordable housing to the community in this part of Manchester. “As with Ancoats Dispensary, we will again be creating jobs, working with the local supply chain and offering work experience opportunities and apprenticeships.” Work is expected to be completed in early 2026. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Outline plans have been submitted by the Flagship Group for the regeneration of the Abbey in Thetford. The project is designed to bring meaningful, long-term change and improvements to the Abbey and increase the supply of much-needed affordable homes. It would take place in phases over 20 years. Peter Hawes, Flagship Group’s Chairman, said: “This is an exciting day for the Abbey, which has been at the heart of the Thetford community since it was built more than 50 years ago. “The outline planning application follows five years of talking to the people who have a home on the Abbey. Local people have told us that they do want to see improvements for the Abbey and they’ve let us know what things could be better.” The Abbey has around 1,100 homes and Flagship hopes to improve and retrofit some existing homes while replacing others with new homes, built to a high standard. The new homes will also be far more energy-efficient. The plan also seeks permission for an additional 320 to 500 homes – although this figure is yet to be confirmed and will be based on further consultation. Flagship’s vision includes improved parking, lighting, pavements, play areas and green spaces. The Abbey will get a new neighbourhood ‘heart’ with a neighbourhood park and community centre. There will be better and safer walking and cycling routes to the town centre, Little Ouse riverside and Thetford Forest. Mr Hawes added: “We are still at an early stage. The application is just for the principle of change for the Abbey and doesn’t set out the details of what would happen. A regeneration project of this size must be delivered in multiple phases. “Each phase of the detailed design will be informed by local people, through further consultation, with separate reserved matters applications submitted at each stage. Flagship has never undertaken a project with more engagement and consultation than this – but this is still the beginning. We’re going to keep listening and speaking to residents in the weeks, months, and years to come.” The Group plans to fund an independent tenants and leaseholders advisor to act as a “resource for the community” as the plans progress. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Housing association Aster Group and developer Thakeham have announced plans to deliver dozens of net zero carbon homes through a new joint venture partnership in Work starts on new net zero carbon homes in Burgess Hill, Mid Sussex. With an estimated value of £58 million, the agreement will see 120 new homes delivered across a circa 19-acre site in Burgess Hill. Named Templegate, the development is expected to be the first net zero carbon scheme of its size in Mid Sussex. All homes will be built with a sustainable specification that includes timber frames, solar PV panels and air source heat pumps, wastewater heat recovery systems, alongside more energy efficient windows and doors and increased floor and roof insulation. This combination of renewable energy and efficiency mean that carbon emissions from operating the homes are zero or below and will leave no carbon footprint. Construction is already under way with completion expected in spring 2026. Once complete, the development will comprise properties ranging in size, from one-bed apartments to four-bed houses. Of the 120 homes, 27 will be affordable while a further nine will be available through the government’s First Homes scheme. The first joint venture between the organisations, this latest collaboration builds on an existing partnership that includes the delivery of 34 new affordable homes in Petworth, West Sussex, which are currently under construction. Amanda Williams, Chief Investment Officer at Aster Group, said: “Having previously established a strong working relationship with Thakeham, we’re proud to be coming together again, this time through this joint venture, to deliver an exciting net zero carbon scheme in Mid Sussex. “I strongly believe that adopting a collaborative and targeted approach to housebuilding is crucial given the acute housing shortage, as we continue on our mission to deliver the quality, sustainable homes our communities so desperately need.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Peabody has appointed Higgins Partnerships to build 189 homes at Deptford Landings, southeast London. The project will not only tackle the urgent demand for affordable homes in London but will also be Peabody’s first venture into providing homes that achieve Passive House certification. The Passive House concept is widely accepted by the construction industry as the standard to aim for when reducing a building’s running costs and the amount of energy it uses. The energy needed to heat and cool Passive House buildings can be 90 percent lower than that of regular buildings, and more than 75 percent lower than typical new ones. Peabody’s homes at Deptford Landings will be one of the largest single-phase Passive House projects in the UK to date and will see residents benefitting from reduced energy costs and a significant improvement in comfort and air quality. The fully affordable scheme from Higgins, managed by Peabody, will include social rent and shared ownership homes – helping local people from the council’s housing waiting list in London. It will be made up of three eight-storey buildings, two of which will have large roof terraces, and a central landscaped courtyard. Designed by architects, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM), with Max Fordham engineers and a high calibre design team, each home will benefit from a private balcony. Block 6A will provide 69 one- and two-bedroom homes, while Block 6B will comprise 61 homes ranging in size from one to three bedrooms. The final residential block, C, will have 59 one- and two-bedroom homes. The homes will be part of a masterplan being delivered by Lendlease. The global company is developing a community with new homes, shops, a renovated pub, and green spaces connected to The Waterline Way walking and cycling route. The project is unfolding in stages, offering residents a vibrant place to live, work, and socialise. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
McLaren Construction has been selected to build a four-story last mile logistics hub for Southwark and central London. The firm was appointed by British Land. The first of a new generation of multi-storey logistics hubs by British Land, the 140,000 square foot building on a 0.78 hectare site on Mandela Way is designed for a unique blend of industrial and logistics. Stacking logistics space over multiple floors allows the building to be subdivided, multi-tenanted and adaptable to future trends and climates. The ground floor provides access for a variety of distribution vehicles, including HGVs and cargo bikes. The building is served by 5 goods lifts, a further 3 lifts for cycles and cargo bikes and 6 passenger lifts. McLaren’s contract includes plant, landscaping, access, vehicle and cycle parking. Building services works are limited to give maximum flexibility to future tenants, meaning around 90% of the build is shell and core only with the remainder built to a CAT A office fitout. The BREEAM Excellent design includes low carbon materials and 1,470 square metres of rooftop photovoltaics above a mix of green and blue roofs, the latter collecting for a grey water system. The total biodiversity net gain for the former car pound site is 167%, which includes creation of an ecological corridor alongside a residential boundary. David Gavin, managing director for industrial and logistics at McLaren, commented: “We are seeing a new generation of clever industrial buildings that stack light industrial, warehouse and distribution space to keep a broader range of jobs in urban areas and serve demand for last-mile distribution space. If there’s one thing they have in common, it’s that they maximise their use of tight urban sites, requiring ingenuity and careful planning for the plant and materials we need for construction.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
