Construction

Barberry starts on £9 million warehouse development

Construction has started at a £9 million speculative warehouse development in the West Midlands, leading commercial property developer Barberry Industrial announced today. Main contractor A&H Construction has started work on a 3.5-acre site at Well Lane, Wolverhampton, where Barberry will deliver a 55,575 sq ft unit. Barberry acquired the site

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Success on Site at ‘Hortonwood 7’ Industrial for Morris Property

Leading Shropshire building contractor, Morris Property, has completed two more industrial units at Hortonwood 7 on the popular Telford industrial estate. The two new steel framed buildings have created 635 m² of warehouse storage and office space for their client, Swancote Energy. The units are clad and roofed using composite

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GLP leases second building at Magna Park Lutterworth to Iron Mountain

GLP, a leading investor and developer of logistics warehouses and distribution parks, today announces that it has successfully leased a 500,000 SQ FT warehouse at Magna Park North Lutterworth, MPN2, to Iron Mountain, the leading US enterprise information management services company. This is Iron Mountain’s second lease at Magna Park

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ISG awarded £50m Art Deco office restoration

ISG has been awarded the £50m Northcliffe House refurbishment project to restore the historic Art Deco office to its former glory. The refurbishment of the 25,119m2 building will see an increase to the building’s net lettable space of 1,150m2 with the extension of two new levels. It will also include

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Building a Productive Future in Construction

As 2022 seems set to see a continuation in construction sector demand, and the UK looks toward post-pandemic economic recovery, business leaders in the built environment are facing a new set of challenges. Increasing labour and material costs, decreasing contractor confidence, and delays in the supply chain are all contributing

Read More »

Landsec submits plans for the O2 Masterplan site to Camden council

Landsec has submitted a major planning application for the O2 Centre Masterplan Site as it looks to grow its mixed-use urban neighborhood portfolio.  The proposal, which was submitted to the London Borough of Camden, will see the site transform into a landscape led development that will connect the communities of

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Latest Issue
Issue 326 : Mar 2025

Construction

Barberry starts on £9 million warehouse development

Construction has started at a £9 million speculative warehouse development in the West Midlands, leading commercial property developer Barberry Industrial announced today. Main contractor A&H Construction has started work on a 3.5-acre site at Well Lane, Wolverhampton, where Barberry will deliver a 55,575 sq ft unit. Barberry acquired the site from ASSA ABLOY for an undisclosed sum. Called Barberry 55, the development will be a highly specified Grade A building with 10-metre clear height eaves, 2,965 sq ft of internal offices, 45 car parking spaces and 50-metre yard depth, with dock and level access loading provision. It is expected to reach practical completion in Q3, 2022. It demonstrates Barberry’s continued investment in the region and will create significant job opportunities while helping to address the shortage of new industrial accommodation in the West Midlands. Jon Robinson, development director at West Midlands-based Barberry, said: “This start on site marks another great occasion in our quest to deliver another one of our market leading speculative developments comprising a new, Grade A industrial and logistics hub in Wolverhampton. “We believe our new building will create the much needed quality accommodation for local, regional and national businesses to expand their operations within the Midlands creating much needed new jobs. We have seen significant occupier demand for new industrial and warehouse units of this size and specification, and we expect there to be a great deal of interest in Barberry 55. “It perfectly complements the many other projects we have delivered within the region where we have delivered best in class, Grade A buildings. Our latest investment is expected to generate around 120 jobs, making a significant contribution to the local economy.” Kieren Turner-Owen, associate director property at Frontier Development Capital, said: “Demand for high quality industrial and logistics space continues to grow in the West Midlands. Barberry 55 will help address the shortage of Grade A industrial accommodation. We are delighted to be working with Barberry on another scheme that unlocks unused brownfield land and helps deliver economic growth to the region.” Robert Mottram, director, of A&H Construction, said: “We are delighted to have secured this construction tender and are very much looking forward to working with Barberry in delivering this project within the heart of Wolverhampton.” The site is situated in a prime urban location just four miles from J10 of the M6 via the A454, within 3.4 miles from J1 of the M54. It also benefits from its close proximity to links to the M6 Toll, M5, and M42. It is adjacent to the Sainsbury’s supermarket in Wednesfield Way, with Bentley Bridge Retail Park nearby hosting a number of market leading shops and restaurants. Other major occupiers nearby include Supersmart Services, Crown Workspace, Yodel, Euro Car Parts, Travis Perkins, Mercedes, Tool Station and Tata Steel. Jaguar Land Rover has an engine factory within five miles at i54. Barberry has a 3.6 million sq ft industrial/logistics development portfolio with a Gross Development Value of in excess of £500 million. It is developing a £40 million state-of-the-art manufacturing and design facility for a global leader in engine and flight controls systems in Gloucestershire. The 207,000 sq ft centre of excellence for Moog’s Aircraft Controls Segment is being built on a 10-acre site at Ashchurch, Tewkesbury. The company has also commenced speculative construction of three high quality mid-box manufacturing/logistics units totaling 222,750 sq ft at a prime West Midlands business park in a £37 million project. Barberry’s development includes industrial/logistics units of 47,750 sq ft, 62,000 sq ft and 113,000 sq ft at Wolf Pack, Hilton Cross Business Park, just off junction 1 of the M54, Wolverhampton.

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Success on Site at ‘Hortonwood 7’ Industrial for Morris Property

Leading Shropshire building contractor, Morris Property, has completed two more industrial units at Hortonwood 7 on the popular Telford industrial estate. The two new steel framed buildings have created 635 m² of warehouse storage and office space for their client, Swancote Energy. The units are clad and roofed using composite cladding panels and include both pedestrian and roller shutter doors for easy access together with glazed areas to enhance the working environment. Externally there is a tarmac car park and delivery yard, landscaping and new drainage. Swancote Energy, which produces renewable energy from a combination of commercial food waste and purpose grown energy crops, commissioned Morris Property to build the unit due to an increase in demand for its services. The company has invested around £700,000 in the new premises. The Morris Property team are working on a growing number of commercial, residential and education sites in Telford, employing a range of sub-contractors and trades from the local area. Steve Flavell, Construction Manager, said: “We feel privileged to be working in Telford and securing ongoing contracts with both the public and private sector. We wish Swancote Energy all the best in their new premises.” Morris Property is part of a fifth-generation family business group which has been building, restoring and leasing property for over 150 years.

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Mayfield Park already delivering for Manchester’s Net Zero goals, months before completion 

New 6.5 acre park opening in autumn will be an urban oasis   Re-use of materials, tree planting and sustainable irrigation to save hundreds of tonnes of CO2  MAYFIELD, Manchester’s landmark regeneration development, is setting a new standard for sustainability, helping the city meet its ambitious target of becoming zero carbon by 2038, 12 years ahead of the Government’s target for the rest of the UK.    Analysis commissioned by The Mayfield Partnership reveals the positive environmental impact the development is already having on the city centre, and which will only increase over time.  The biggest environmental gain so far has been achieved through recycling and reusing materials during the construction of Mayfield Park, which has saved between 230-240 tonnes of CO2 alone. One tonne of CO2 is the equivalent of driving more than 3,700 miles in a diesel car, or a single flight from Paris to New York.  The project team has reused the steel from a former concrete culvert over the River Medlock to make one of the three pedestrian bridges in the Park. In addition the use of reclaimed bricks, structural steel beams and river walls has also contributed to the saving.  Around three quarters of the 140 new trees have now been planted at the 6.5 acre Mayfield Park, which is the due to open this autumn. The new mature and semi-mature trees which are creating a stunning, biodiverse natural landscape in an area of the city where few trees have ever been grown before, will remove more than three tonnes of CO2 (equivalent) from the atmosphere per year.  The amount of carbon annually captured will increase over time as the trees grow and flourish in the Park.  Re-using water from the Victorian wells, discovered during the construction of the Park, as a sustainable source of irrigation for trees and plants will also make a significant contribution to Mayfield’s sustainable credentials, saving approximately 1 tonne of carbon per year and up to 3 million litres of water per year.   The 10-year, £1.4bn project to transform the previously run-down 24-acre industrial site near Manchester Piccadilly Station into a thriving urban neighbourhood, is one of the North’s largest regeneration projects, comprising 1,500 homes, 1.6m sq ft of market-leading commercial space and 300,000 sq ft of retail and leisure facilities.  Arlene Van Bosch, Development Director at regeneration company U+I, which is delivering the Mayfield project alongside its partners Manchester City Council, developer LCR and Transport for Greater Manchester, said: “Mayfield Park will be a beautiful, green haven in the city centre and ahead of the formal opening later this year, we’re very pleased to be contributing to Manchester’s low carbon agenda..   “We have worked incredibly hard with our contractors and with the Environment Agency to make Mayfield an exemplar in sustainability as well as a place for all to enjoy and it’s great to see wildlife such as Canada Geese and Kingfishers returning to the riverside after many years of pollution and dereliction.”  Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council who recently planted a tree at Mayfield Park said: “As a local authority we are planting more than 1,000 trees across the city this year. Mayfield Park will be an amazing addition to our city centre and I am delighted to see how sustainability has been such a focus as we collectively rise to the challenge of addressing the climate crisis.”  During the Industrial Revolution Mayfield was at the beating heart of Cottonopolis – as Manchester was then known. High levels of pollution from coal-burning cotton mills and workers’ homes at Mayfield meant the area was inhospitable to trees and most plant life.  Alongside the new trees in the Park, I40,000 bulbs, shrubs and bushes are being planted and the new lawns have been laid.  In 2020, the UK Government pledged £23m of investment from its Getting Building Fund – one of the largest investments in any single project – to Mayfield Park.  This investment, delivered through the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, is part of the Government’s strategy to support ‘shovel ready’ schemes that will help to drive economic recovery following the COVID-19 crisis

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Build for the Future; East Midlands; Connecting the construction, heritage, property & sustainability businesses.

Build for the Future; East Midlands is back! The annual event is returning for its third year on Tuesday 17th May at the Lincolnshire Showground, following the successful event in September 2021. The event welcomed over 60 exhibitors from across the industry, and hundreds of delegates on the day. Hosted by Heritage Lincolnshire and Archaeological Project Services, sponsored by Arion & Arion Shop UK and working in partnership with the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce this event has already grown from the successful event of February 2020.  The annual event is directly marketed and aimed at those within the Construction, Property, Heritage, Sustainability and Trade Industries across the East Midlands and its goal is to become the biggest in this UK region for supporting and connecting businesses. 2021’s event will showcase four zones; Heritage, Construction, Property Services and Adaption to Climate Change, where industry professionals will be exhibiting throughout the day for you to connect and network. Event Organiser and Business Manager for Heritage Lincolnshire, Hannah Thompson says, ‘Connecting businesses is so important following the past two years we have all been through.  To be able to bring together local businesses and enable them to network, exhibit and learn all under one roof is just amazing.  We wanted to make sure this event was accessible to all sizes of businesses which is why the prices are lower than average for an exhibition and we want to continue that ethos as we grow. We are really looking forward to bringing this event back to the Showground, bigger and better for 2021 and post Covid.’ Everyone is welcome to attend the day with over 60 exhibitors, a full talks programme and The Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce will be hosting their monthly Construction and Property Network event free of charge which last year welcomed over 70 businesses. For the full list of exhibitors and information about the event, please go to www.buildforthefuture.co.uk To register to be a delegate please go to www.buildforthefuture.co.uk

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VINCI UK Developments and St. Modwen receive green light for new Nine Elms residential tower

A joint venture between VINCI UK Developments Ltd and St. Modwen Ltd (“VSM”) has received planning permission for a 26-storey residential tower in Nine Elms, London. The scheme, known as Apex 1, will deliver 201 new homes as well as 5,250 sq ft of retail space on land released as a result of VSM’s New Covent Garden Market redevelopment. This zone 1 site is adjacent to the Nine Elms Northern Line tube station and close to the new US Embassy, forming a key part of the Vauxhall Nine Elms Battersea (VNEB) opportunity zone. Designed by Glenn Howells Architects, Apex 1 is the first building of the wider Apex development site which has outline consent for a further 422 homes and 66,000 sq ft of commercial space. Apex 1 will be a highly sustainable, near net zero development. It incorporates an architecturally distinctive two-storey pavilion to house ground floor retail and a first-floor amenity area for residents, as well as a roof garden. The development will include significant public realm, providing a permanent landscaped pedestrian link (known as Merchants Way) between the Nine Elms Linear Park and Nine Elms tube station. The Apex site is one of four surplus land sites which form part of the ongoing transformation of New Covent Garden Market by the VSM partnership under a Development Agreement with Covent Garden Market Association. The overall redevelopment of New Covent Garden Market will provide for a rationalisation and transformation of the market site and will create a vibrant and distinctive new London District once complete. Nick Smith, Senior Development Manager at St. Modwen, said: “Apex 1 promises to be a high-quality new scheme for Nine Elms. This latest planning decision means we can deliver new homes for the area while achieving another important milestone for the transformation of New Covent Garden Market.” Graham Lambert, Managing Director of VINCI UK Developments, added: “This Planning Consent represents a key milestone for the VSM Partnership and the redevelopment of New Covent Garden Market, and highlights our key priority of designing sustainable developments which create a positive legacy.” –

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GLP leases second building at Magna Park Lutterworth to Iron Mountain

GLP, a leading investor and developer of logistics warehouses and distribution parks, today announces that it has successfully leased a 500,000 SQ FT warehouse at Magna Park North Lutterworth, MPN2, to Iron Mountain, the leading US enterprise information management services company. This is Iron Mountain’s second lease at Magna Park Lutterworth, having signed a lease for a 300,000 SQ FT MPN3, in December 2021, bringing the company’s total leased space within the park to 800,000 SQ FT. Completion of both buildings is expected imminently. With this latest agreement, GLP has leased all 1 million SQ FT of speculative space at Magna Park North Lutterworth ahead of practical completion.   Magna Park Lutterworth is the UK and Europe’s largest dedicated logistics and distribution park, situated within the Midlands’ ‘Golden Triangle’ of logistics. Home to 36 different customers and occupying in excess of 11 million SQ FT of sustainable floor space across 41 buildings, Magna Park Lutterworth is GLP’s flagship distribution park. Both buildings leased by Iron Mountain have best-in-class specification and ESG features including wide service yards, significant HGV and car parking allocations, dock levelers, level access doors, increased natural light, electric vehicle charging and abundant power supply. Each warehouse is also BREEAM Excellent, designed to WELL principles and features a range of sustainability and energy efficiency measures. Olivia Hinds, Development Director at GLP, explains: “We are delighted to welcome Iron Mountain to Magna Park Lutterworth across their two buildings totalling 800k sq.ft and we look forward to supporting them with their future expansion. This has been a period of significant activity at Magna Park Lutterworth with a series of development and lease agreements to valued customers. The leasing of all 1 million sq.ft of speculative space at Magna Park North ahead of practical completion is testament to the parks position as Europe’s leading logistics and distribution park and indicates the strong levels of demand we have seen for high quality warehouse space.”  

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ISG awarded £50m Art Deco office restoration

ISG has been awarded the £50m Northcliffe House refurbishment project to restore the historic Art Deco office to its former glory. The refurbishment of the 25,119m2 building will see an increase to the building’s net lettable space of 1,150m2 with the extension of two new levels. It will also include the addition of 9,000sq ft worth of green space including the south-facing landscaped roof terraces across levels six and seven.    Upon completion, the refreshed space will provide its occupiers with a modern workplace to a Cat A standard. It will boast scenic lifts overlooking the renovated atrium extension, all within the existing cast steel frame. Whilst providing state of the art amenities internally, cleaning and repairs will also take place to restore the building’s historic Art Deco façade.    The former home to the Daily Mail newspaper is targeting BREEAM Outstanding. The approach has been strongly informed by a Life Cycle Assessment, which considered the savings in embodied carbon by retaining the existing structure compared with demolition and a full, new-build redevelopment of the site. A key feature of the Grade II listed building is the reconfigured internal atrium, which upon completion will link the reception with the renovated office space and break out areas. However, during renovation works the atrium is home to the 40-metre crane, reducing external disruption and improving efficiencies while guaranteeing the project’s high-quality and consistent delivery. Scott Knibb, Project Director for Fit Out at ISG, said: “Sitting in the heart of the Fleet Street Business Development District, the refurbishment of Northcliffe House plays a pivotal role in the regeneration of this area. Its development will further attract other businesses to bring the former glory back to what was once recognised globally as the beating heart of the newspaper industry. “This project has benefited from a truly collaborative approach from across the board to offer this unique and flexible office space of the future to meet the requirements of today’s workforce. Showcasing the best-in-class amenities, features and scenic views both internally, via its atrium lifts, and externally, via its extensive green spaces. The sustainable principles it has followed ensure it is future-proofed, all while maintaining the building’s 1920s charm and heritage.”

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HENRY BOOT CONSTRUCTION TO DELIVER LANDMARK PARK IN SHEFFIELD CITY CENTRE

Henry Boot Construction has been appointed to deliver Pound’s Park – the landmark new public space in Sheffield City Centre, with work set to get underway this month. Seen as a key piece of Sheffield City Council’s Heart of the City programme, Pound’s Park becomes Henry Boot Construction’s third project within the wider scheme, with the Sheffield-based firm already on site at major residential development Kangaroo Works, and at a second site that features the Elshaw House office development and Cambridge Street Collective – a major food hall and restaurant destination. Named after Sheffield’s first Chief Fire Officer, Superintendent John Charles Pound, the park will be located on the former fire station site between Rockingham Street, Wellington Street and Carver Street. It will help integrate a network of open spaces that run from Devonshire Green through to the Peace Gardens. It will provide an expansive, safe and accessible space that adds distinctive character and an element of escapism to the city’s busy urban environment. By prioritising walking and cycling, active play and relaxation, all within a visually attractive green setting, the park aims to bring The Outdoor City ethos right into the heart of the city centre. It also provides another world-class space to host outdoor events in the city centre. Tony Shaw, Managing Director for Henry Boot Construction, said: “We are delighted to be appointed on Pound’s Park and add it to our growing portfolio within the city. Working on a game-changing green space in The Outdoor City feels particularly special to us.   “The concept of city centres, and how we use them today, continues to change rapidly. With more people choosing to live and work in the city centre, we understand the pivotal role that public spaces and green landscaping play in enhancing wellbeing and sustainability. “As an organisation, we are extremely well placed to help our clients deliver outstanding public realm. Last year we completed the new public square in The Glass Works at Barnsley, which has transformed how residents, workers and visitors use and enjoy the town centre.” The Pound’s Park contract was procured through the dedicated contractor framework Pagabo. It is expected to take around one year to complete. As part of Henry Boot Construction’s own commitment to Sheffield, they will aim to deliver social value outputs by utilising a local supply chain wherever possible, site-specific employment and various training initiatives. In addition to Sheffield, Henry Boot Construction is currently working on several other high-profile projects across Yorkshire, including the Cocoa Works in York.

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Building a Productive Future in Construction

As 2022 seems set to see a continuation in construction sector demand, and the UK looks toward post-pandemic economic recovery, business leaders in the built environment are facing a new set of challenges. Increasing labour and material costs, decreasing contractor confidence, and delays in the supply chain are all contributing factors in a perfect storm set to upset the balance of industry recovery. For those in the sector, construction productivity is the key to addressing these challenges. On 10 May 2022, the Construction Productivity Conference returns to London, bringing together a host of industry leaders and suppliers to discuss strategy, opportunity, and the future of productivity in the built environment. The event will see exhibitors and a panel of expert speakers focusing on new technologies, materials management, and strategies for addressing inefficiencies in current practices affecting training, developing, and up-skilling the construction workforce. Attendees will also have the opportunity to network with business leaders in a dynamic and interactive setting. With a host of speakers confirmed to appear throughout the day, delegates will have the opportunity to learn about new practices from those at the forefront of construction productivity. Focusing on current hot topics such as models for productivity improvement, boosting on-site productivity using a platform-based approach, and maximising offsite delivery methods, the conference programme offers an exciting insight into future-forward plans and initiatives on the table for the coming year and beyond. Recent reports state that, at present, only 64% of hours worked in the industry are considered productive. These reports, coupled with information from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) citing a quarterly fall in construction output of 0.9% from Q2 to Q3 2021, make it vital the industry looks to evolve and innovate. As businesses look towards improving output efficiency across all areas, the Construction Productivity Conference will also focus on addressing the balance between the topics of product, process, and people. The 2022 conference, taking place at One Great George Street in Westminster, follows on from the highly successful 2019 event – which saw leading exhibitors and industry figureheads at the forefront of the sector come together to share their vision for the future. With an exciting agenda already in place for this year, exhibitor opportunities are still available for those looking to demonstrate their reputation as industry experts amongst key target audiences. Aimed at developer clients, architects, engineers, contractors, and building technology suppliers, along with many other professionals and decision-makers within the built sector, Construction Productivity Conference promises to put delegates right in the heart of this increasingly vital discussion.  To find out more about the event and the 2022 programme, information can be found at the event website – https://www.constructionproductivity.co.uk For more about exhibitor and sponsor opportunities please contact – Amy Pryce on 01743 290001 or amy.pryce@radar-communications.co.uk

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Landsec submits plans for the O2 Masterplan site to Camden council

Landsec has submitted a major planning application for the O2 Centre Masterplan Site as it looks to grow its mixed-use urban neighborhood portfolio.  The proposal, which was submitted to the London Borough of Camden, will see the site transform into a landscape led development that will connect the communities of Finchley Road and West End Lane. Landsec has been working with the local community and the London Borough of Camden to develop the new masterplan.  The site will deliver 1,800 new homes, 35% of which will be affordable, and will provide a variety of amenities and leisure facilities, including a town square with a variety of shops, restaurants, supermarket, gym, and cinema.   As a new green space, the entire site will have improved pedestrian links and half of the 14-acre space will be dedicated to public and green spaces that will be open and accessible for all. This includes a new community green, linear park and a community garden, where people can visit, exercise and socialise in.  The development is aligned with Landsec’s focus on developing and investing in mixed-use urban neighbourhoods, a key pillar of its growth strategy.  David Heaford, Managing Director – Development at Landsec: “We are delighted to submit our final proposal for the O2 Centre after receiving valuable input from the local community.  At Landsec, we believe in the power of building communities, workforces and improving lives. The O2 Masterplan Site represents our vision of creating a vibrant place to live, work and enjoy, shaped by local identity and designed to serve the needs of all in the community whilst providing access to open green space.   More broadly, we remain excited by the huge growth potential of these urban opportunities and believe regeneration is key in offering sustainable urban neighbourhoods right across the UK.” 

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