Rockwell has submitted proposals, designed by architects Farrells, to redevelop an underused brownfield site in Battersea, Wandsworth, aiming to deliver 142 much-needed new homes. As one of the oldest buildings in the Ransomes Dock area, the Glassmill (1 Battersea Bridge Road) is no longer fit for purpose in modern London.
Helical has selected Mace to serve as the principal contractor on the redevelopment of a City of London office at 100 New Bridge Street. Located next to City Thameslink station with views overlooking St. Paul’s Cathedral and St Bride’s Church, the 1990s office building will be renovated to create 194,000
Liverpool City Region has unveiled images of the new £100 million Liverpool Baltic Station scheme, one of four planned stations. Recently re-elected Liverpool City Region, Mayor Steve Rotheram, has committed to completing the project by the end of 2027 which is a year ahead of its current schedule. Plans for
Lanark Station has received a substantial boost following a significant investment from Network Rail and the Railway Heritage Trust. The renovation work on the Grade B listed platform 2 building roof and canopy at Lanark station was successfully concluded by the end of 2023. This effort has extended the lifespan
Network Rail, Tees Valley Combined Authority, and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council have commenced work to transform Eaglescliffe railway station and make it more accessible for passengers. A multi-million-pound project will see accessibility at the station improved with the installation of a new footbridge, with lifts added for the first time. Contractors
Beard Construction has started work on a new 3,700 square-metre hospice in Farnham in Surrey. The project, worth £11.9 million to the award-winning contractor, will see Beard build the new Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice, which provides a full range of services including critical end-of-life care. The new purpose-built hospice will include
Birmingham City Council has revealed a masterplan proposal for the regeneration of Druids Heath to the community at a launch event at Manningford Hall. The masterplan was developed after two years of work, talking with and listening to the community to create a plan that can meet the needs of
Barratt Developments has commenced work on the first phase of expansion at Selkirk-based Oregon Timber Frame Limited (Oregon). The work is part of a wider £24 million investment by Barratt following its acquisition of the plant. Work has started on new office premises after the UK’s largest housebuilder announced plans
Caddick Construction has completed work on SOYO neighbourhood’s two newest residential blocks in Leeds city centre on behalf of Hestia, the residential platform of Federated Hermes Real Estate. Located south of York Road in Leeds, SOYO comprises two new residential buildings, known as Madison East and Mercer West, featuring 331
Persimmon Homes Wessex has submitted plans for the third phase of the Jubilee Gardens development that would trigger construction on the next 193 high-quality homes if approved by Wiltshire Council. The phase would involve a mixture of properties from the five-star developer and its sister company, Charles Church, and approval
Rockwell has submitted proposals, designed by architects Farrells, to redevelop an underused brownfield site in Battersea, Wandsworth, aiming to deliver 142 much-needed new homes. As one of the oldest buildings in the Ransomes Dock area, the Glassmill (1 Battersea Bridge Road) is no longer fit for purpose in modern London. It is highly energy inefficient and struggling for commercial viability, with the building either vacant or occupied on short term licenses below market rates. Wandsworth faces an urgent need for new, high-quality homes, with over 3,600 households classified as ‘homeless’ in the borough. Rockwell’s proposals address this issue by committing to a significant portion of affordable homes within their scheme. Of the 142 new homes planned, 35 per cent will be affordable housing, with 70 per cent of these designated for social rent. The development will include a mix of 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-bedroom residences, providing up to 20 large family homes to help alleviate the local housing pressures. This regeneration will provide over 5,700 sq. ft of modern, flexible affordable office floorspace, alongside a new community hub and public realm improvements, including a new ‘Waterfront Plaza’. Designed in consultation with local residents and stakeholders, these spaces are shaped to meet the needs of local businesses and charities – including SMEs and start-ups – and bring new jobs to the area. With a new riverside restaurant at the base of the building, these plans will unlock the Battersea Bridge south side, rendering it a destination in its own right, with new visitors boosting the local economy. Nicholas Mee, Managing Director of Rockwell, said: “London – and especially Wandsworth – is in desperate need of more homes, so we are very excited to bring forward these proposals at One Battersea Bridge to regenerate an underutilised site and enable the creation of new housing for the borough. However, our vision is to deliver a multi-use area which delivers more than just homes. “A long-overdue revitalisation of the public realm along this section of the Thames, and brand-new community space will benefit existing and future generations of local people. We hope to secure permission for these proposals to futureproof this area for generations to come.” Peter Barbalov, Partner at Farells, stated: “We are delighted to collaborate with Rockwell on the development of One Battersea Bridge Road, an important site situated on the south bank of the Thames, serving as the gateway from Wandsworth to Battersea Bridge. “Our proposal provides substantial public benefits, including the provision of safe, accessible public realm along the River Thames and Battersea Bridge Road, activation of the ground floor with diverse uses, and provision of much-needed housing for the Wandsworth community. “To achieve these goals on this brownfield site, we have designed a high-quality building, with high quality homes, that contributes to the surrounding townscape along the River Thames while also addressing the climate emergency by achieving Net Zero in both operation and construction phases.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Helical has selected Mace to serve as the principal contractor on the redevelopment of a City of London office at 100 New Bridge Street. Located next to City Thameslink station with views overlooking St. Paul’s Cathedral and St Bride’s Church, the 1990s office building will be renovated to create 194,000 sqft of modern Grade A office space, 3,592 sqft of retail spaces and a 4,000 sqft terrace providing views across central London. Circularity is central to the redevelopment, as the original structure will be preserved, aiming for a remarkable 95 per cent reuse, recovery and recycling of construction waste. The project will maintain 91 per cent of the reinforced concrete lift cores and 85 per cent of the reinforced concrete walls Aiming for BREEAM Outstanding and Well Platinum certification, this project is set to achieve net-zero carbon emissions throughout both its construction and operational phases. The redevelopment is part of a joint venture with a vehicle led by Orion Capital Managers. As one of seven current construction projects within the Fleet Street Area, 100 New Bridge Street is the latest in a series of modern, best-in-class sustainable offices in this location, formerly synonymous with the printing and publishing industry. Ged Simmonds, Managing Director of Private Sector at Mace, said: “We are pleased to be partnering with Helical once again on another highly sustainable best-in-class office space at the heart of the City of London. Not only will this development be net zero carbon in construction and operation, but by retaining the existing structure and reusing existing materials, this scheme is leading the way in circularity.” Gerald Kaye, CEO of Helical plc, commented: “We are delighted to be working with Mace to redevelop 100 New Bridge Street to create a best-in-class, carbon friendly office in a prime location in the City of London. This development will help meet the growing demand we are seeing for prime office spaces with the highest sustainability credentials.” Construction has already commenced and is due to complete in Q1 2026. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Liverpool City Region has unveiled images of the new £100 million Liverpool Baltic Station scheme, one of four planned stations. Recently re-elected Liverpool City Region, Mayor Steve Rotheram, has committed to completing the project by the end of 2027 which is a year ahead of its current schedule. Plans for Liverpool Baltic station include step-free access from street to train, passenger waiting facilities, fully accessible passenger toilets, secured monitored cycle parking and links to an enhanced local active travel network. The new station is part of Mayor Rotheram’s “Merseyrail for All” commitment to reach communities that are currently not connected to the local rail network by utilising the region’s new pioneering battery-powered technology, which has made it possible to extend the lines beyond current boundaries. Additionally, there is hope that the new stations will encourage more residents to opt for public transportation over cars, aligning with the Mayor’s ambitious goal to achieve net zero by 2035, the most ambitious target set for a city region in the nation. Mayor Rotheram has also pledged to build three new stations in Daresbury in Halton, Woodchurch on the Wirral and Carr Mill in St Helens, with work on all three set to begin by the end of the decade, ensuring that every borough in the city region will have a brand-new station since he took office in 2017. Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “Since I have been Mayor, I have worked around the clock to ensure our area has better connectivity so that people get to enjoy a reliable, accessible, affordable and integrated public transport network that helps, rather than hinders people getting around. “There are some unique challenges with the design of the site given that the station platform is subterranean. However, these plans for Liverpool Baltic further demonstrate our ambitions for the future of public transport in our area – a modern, fully accessible network with state-of-the-art infrastructure that unlocks opportunities for people and businesses. Liverpool Baltic is just the first in a pipeline of new stations we will be delivering over the next few years to ensure we are connecting local people to each other and to the opportunities we are creating.” Councillor Nick Small, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet member for Growth and Economy, said: “The new Liverpool Baltic station has huge potential to help drive the economic growth of this part of the city centre and will act as a vital service for the long-standing residential community. Its development will also complement the Council’s plans to improve the public realm in the area for both residents and visitors alike. The next few years should define the future of the Baltic Triangle for decades to come and these new images and the pending public consultation is an exciting chapter in this unfolding story.” Maisie Hogan, Network Rail sponsor, commented: “We are pleased to see the CGI images bring the exciting plans for Liverpool Baltic station to life. We welcome the investment in the rail network and we’re delighted to be working with Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and other stakeholders to deliver the design of this project.” Information gathered from the consultation will be used to finalise the designs ahead of the planning application. Subject to approval, it is expected work will begin on site in 2025, with the station planned for opening by the end of 2027. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Lanark Station has received a substantial boost following a significant investment from Network Rail and the Railway Heritage Trust. The renovation work on the Grade B listed platform 2 building roof and canopy at Lanark station was successfully concluded by the end of 2023. This effort has extended the lifespan of each component by up to 25 years. Prior to the renovation, both structures were in a state of disrepair, with deteriorating timbers posing a risk of the Georgian wired glazing panels slipping and potentially causing harm. Engineers conducted extensive rot repairs and implemented new slate coverings, lead flashings and a modern ‘twinfix’ polycarbonate glazing system. Furthermore, the building has been rendered wind and watertight for future occupants, with the Railway Heritage Trust providing £75,000 in grant funding towards the £310,000 project cost. Valerie McMillan, senior asset engineer, Network Rail, said: “We are delighted with the end result following the completion of works by our framework contractor CPMS, and sub-contractors Kerr Roofing and Eradakil Joinery and Preservation. We are grateful to the Railway Heritage Trust for their grant funding which has contributed toward this project becoming a reality. This completes our planned works at Lanark station which delivered the external restoration of the main platform 1 building, reinstatement of railings and renewal of the station access stairs.” Tim Hedley-Jones, executive director of The Railway Heritage Trust stated: “We are pleased to support Network Rail’s restoration of the Platform 2 building at Lanark. The first station was opened by the Caledonian Railway in 1855 so it is an important part of the heritage of the town.” Phil Campbell, customer operations director with ScotRail who manage the station, said: “We’re delighted to see the works completed at Lanark, securing the future for this historical station on the ScotRail network. ScotRail is grateful for the significant investment made by Network Rail and the Railway Heritage Fund, enhancing the station environment, and improving the customer experience.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Network Rail, Tees Valley Combined Authority, and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council have commenced work to transform Eaglescliffe railway station and make it more accessible for passengers. A multi-million-pound project will see accessibility at the station improved with the installation of a new footbridge, with lifts added for the first time. Contractors BAM, working on behalf of Network Rail and the Tees Valley Combined Authority, have started on site. Once open, the new bridge will allow passengers to enter the station from its west side with a multi-storey car park, a project led by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, also to be created – with improved access to Yarm and traffic signals on the Cleasby Way junction. The improvements will also see the existing footbridge and ramps refurbished, with a new bridge deck installed. Improved station facilities, such as new waiting areas and taxi office, are also being added as part of the project. The scheme is designed to improve the experience of passengers and make it easier to use as they travel by train. The car park and wider cycle improvements linking to and from the station are being funded by the Government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement and the Levelling Up Fund allocation for Stockton South respectively, secured by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council. The new bridge is expected to be in place by winter 2024, with the lifts installed and available for passengers to use by autumn 2025. The station’s existing footbridge will remain open throughout the work but will close for refurbishment when the new bridge and lifts are open for use. Anna Weeks, Principal Programme Sponsor for Network Rail’s North & East route, said: “This is a major milestone in the improvements we are going to deliver for the people of Eaglescliffe as they use their station. We want to make sure that every passenger can travel freely and easily by train and these upgrades will allow passengers to be able to do that. “It’s great that we can work together with our partners at the Tees Valley Combined Authority and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council on this project to deliver a better passenger experience for people in the region.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Beard Construction has started work on a new 3,700 square-metre hospice in Farnham in Surrey. The project, worth £11.9 million to the award-winning contractor, will see Beard build the new Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice, which provides a full range of services including critical end-of-life care. The new purpose-built hospice will include a low-level, single-storey building, which consists of 18 bedrooms with ensuite wet rooms. Each room will have bifold doors which will open out into the courtyard or surrounding gardens. This will be supported by specialist suites for education, wellbeing and exercise. High-end materials and finishes, combined with Beard’s reputation for quality and excellence will ensure greater levels of comfort, dignity and privacy for patients and their families. The In-Patient Unit will be attached to a two-storey concrete frame building. The ground floor will include the main reception and lobby, as well as kitchens, cafeteria and lounges. It will also house the main plant room, utility room and clinical rooms. The first floor will provide office facilities for Phyllis Tuckwell staff, who have been relocated to various temporary sites. The new hospice is due to be completed towards the end of 2025 and will be a much larger and more modern facility. It replaces the existing building which was built over 90 years ago and is no longer fit for purpose. With the first spade in the ground, work has begun to clear the site ready for the foundations to go in. Beard is working with the local residents and stakeholders to ensure all work is conducted safely. With limited access around the site, Beard will use a tower crane to manage deliveries and help with construction. Beard staff are also supporting the hospice in its fundraising efforts. Tom Jenkinson, Beard’s Guildford director, said: “Many of our team here live locally, so they are really enthusiastic about the difference this building will make to the local community. We are thrilled to be involved in this build and look forward to seeing it as it emerges from this ground-breaking event. It’s a great opportunity to utilise our expertise and experience in building high-quality, specialist healthcare facilities across the region and further afield.” Sarah Church, chief executive of Phyllis Tuckwell, added: “Around 17,000 people had been cared for on our In-Patient Unit, let alone the many thousands of others cared for at home, since the hospice was launched. As demand increases, this new chapter in our history means we will be able to care for many more thousands of local residents who will need us in the years to come. Given Beard’s reputation and experience in the sector, they are a tremendous fit to build our brand-new hospice.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Birmingham City Council has revealed a masterplan proposal for the regeneration of Druids Heath to the community at a launch event at Manningford Hall. The masterplan was developed after two years of work, talking with and listening to the community to create a plan that can meet the needs of the people who live and work in Druids Heath. Staff were at the launch event to answer questions and receive feedback from the community about the plans, with more events planned over the next few days. An extensive consultation on the plans will begin in the coming months before approval for the plans will be sought next year. The proposed regeneration aims to make Druids Heath a more sustainable and greener place to live in the long term. New high-quality, energy-efficient homes will be built alongside excellent green spaces. The commercial and community spaces in Druids Heath will also be revitalised as part of the plan. Councillor Jayne Francis, cabinet member for housing and homelessness, said: “The masterplan marks the beginning of a new chapter for the regeneration of Druids Heath. This new plan shows how Druids Heath will be transformed into a healthier, more sustainable area by building on its key strengths – community spirit and abundance of green space. “This regeneration scheme will build the types of homes we need to tackle climate change, reduce fuel bills, and contribute to the city’s net zero ambitions. It will also bring much-needed provisions for older residents so they can live healthy, independent lives for longer. New greenways will be built to better connect the estate within the community and the estate to the surrounding city. “The scheme goes beyond delivering new homes; the regeneration will create a sustainable, healthy community that will allow anyone who lives there to thrive. “While the masterplan is a big step forward for the scheme, much more work remains, and there will be more decisions to be made with the local community about the scheme. With that in mind, an independent steering group representing residents, stakeholders, and businesses is being established to help influence future decisions regarding the regeneration. “We also understand residents’ concerns about being priced out of the area. For this reason, the council is looking at how we can use different financial models to give residents an opportunity to remain on the estate. We will let residents know more about these models as soon as we are able. It is really important to the council that everyone who wants to stay in Druids Heath can do so. “Regenerating an area is always a lengthy process. For this reason, the council will bolster services for tenants on the estate by installing more CCTV, implementing a specific repairs service for Druids Heath, and increasing cleaning provision to tackle fly-tipping.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Barratt Developments has commenced work on the first phase of expansion at Selkirk-based Oregon Timber Frame Limited (Oregon). The work is part of a wider £24 million investment by Barratt following its acquisition of the plant. Work has started on new office premises after the UK’s largest housebuilder announced plans in 2022 to increase its workforce and invest in plant development. The 900m2 office block will accommodate up to 60 permanent staff members, approximately double the capacity of the current temporary block. Plans for a new training room, which will hold up to 20 people, have also been revealed as well as more meeting rooms and improved kitchen and welfare facilities over two floors. The Oregon expansion, comprising two phases, will create over 70 new jobs in the Borders community. Phase one includes the development of a new office for its growing workforce, due to be completed in 2025, while phase two will see the extension of the plant’s existing manufacturing capacity. The plans form part of Barratt’s long-term goal to increase its use of modern methods of construction off-site while reducing its carbon footprint, both of which are enabled by timber frame technology. Timber frame construction is also a key element of Barratt’s strategy for addressing the skills challenge facing the industry. Douglas McLeod, Regional Managing Director for Barratt Developments Scotland, said: “Starting construction on phase one of this expansion is a fantastic milestone for us. Since acquiring Oregon five years ago, we’ve worked hard to bring our plans to fruition, so commencing work on the new office is one step closer to achieving our goals. “The new block will double in capacity which aligns perfectly with our ambitions to create new employment opportunities in Selkirk. We’ve invested in a great business with a high-quality product and look forward to rolling out both phases of the project.” Building more homes off-site will help Barratt meet the 2025 Future Homes Standard, cut carbon emissions, reduce waste and minimise disruption to local communities, as part of its wider commitment to become carbon neutral in its operations by 2030. By 2030, Barratt aims for at least 30% of its homes to be built using modern methods of construction. Using a timber frame system also enables Barratt to cut the build time on development by an average of five weeks, compared to using traditional methods of construction. In FY 2023, Barratt built 3,200 of its 17,000 homes across the UK using timber frames from its two Oregon factories. On completion of phase one, work will commence on phase two with the expansion of the north and south factories. The north factory will welcome 24 new factory operatives with two semi-automated open line panels and three extra floor benches. Meanwhile, the south factory will accommodate 26 new operatives with three extra floor benches and five spandrel benches. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Caddick Construction has completed work on SOYO neighbourhood’s two newest residential blocks in Leeds city centre on behalf of Hestia, the residential platform of Federated Hermes Real Estate. Located south of York Road in Leeds, SOYO comprises two new residential buildings, known as Madison East and Mercer West, featuring 331 built-to-rent apartments, two commercial retail units, car parking facilities and sustainable public spaces for the local community. The project, focused on delivering quality modern living, has been developed by Caddick Construction through close collaboration with Hestia and joint enterprise partner Caddick Developments. The £57.4m project follows the completion of an earlier phase at SOYO, New York Square, where Caddick Construction delivered two 16 and 17-storey, build-to-rent apartment developments, housing 515 unique one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments for Moda Living. SOYO is the newest multi-use neighbourhood in Leeds city centre and once complete the state-of-the-art quarter will offer over 1m sq ft of space to live, work and enjoy. The new development includes some of the largest green public spaces within the city, high-quality residential buildings and a hub for local artistic exhibitions, enhanced by its location at the heart of the city’s cultural district. Hestia is focused on delivering affordable residential assets that will have a positive impact on the environment and communities in which they reside. Since its inception, Hestia has embodied Federated Hermes’ Responsible Property Investment agenda by sourcing and developing homes in neighbourhoods people want to live in, to a specification enhanced by an eight-year operational track record and all aligned to the Hestia Net Zero Carbon Pathway. The project’s contribution towards creating vibrant and authentic communities has been emphasised by the recent appointment of local artist EV Hardaker (Emma) as SOYO’s ‘Artist in Residence’. Having worked with Emma for almost five years, Caddick Group recently cemented this partnership with the launch of THE ARCH, a major temporary art installation embodying the area’s identity. Emma will be further animating the area as the major regeneration project enters its final phase. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Persimmon Homes Wessex has submitted plans for the third phase of the Jubilee Gardens development that would trigger construction on the next 193 high-quality homes if approved by Wiltshire Council. The phase would involve a mixture of properties from the five-star developer and its sister company, Charles Church, and approval would mean 58 of these would be designated for a local housing provider, helping put a dent in Wiltshire’s 4,300-strong housing waiting list. The application delivers on the continued extension of the Linear Park, including active travel links and a play area. It will also complete the full length of the central spine road, connecting the previously approved sections from the two new junctions. As part of the wider development, Persimmon will invest millions of pounds in the local vicinity as the housebuilder delivers a sustainable community for local people. This will include land for a new primary school, significant areas of open space including a riverside park, equipped children’s play areas, two areas of sports pitches and associated changing rooms. A local centre, allotments, public art, employment land, improvements to public footpaths, new pedestrian and cycle routes, biodiversity enhancements and a dedicated ecology area will also be delivered at Jubilee Gardens. Significant financial contributions will also be made towards education provision, bus services connecting the scheme with town centre, signal upgrades to improve vehicle movements in the town centre, health care in Warminster, and enhancements to local public rights of way. A sizeable financial contribution will also be made by the housebuilder to provide funding for local infrastructure priorities – the Victoria Road roundabout is now complete and work is commencing this month on the access from Bath Road. The application follows a visit from the board of Selwood Housing, a local housing association partner, to the site – where Persimmon has already transferred properties to them as part of its plans – to see how their high-quality homes are built. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
