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
Delancey has put forward plans to transform a brownfield site in Islington into a GIA science and technology building with world-class laboratory and research space. Situated in London’s growing Knowledge Quarter and Innovation District, the proposals for the site at 176-178 York Way include 130,000 sq ft of research and
Plans have been submitted to North Yorkshire Council for a multi-million-pound maritime hub in Whitby. The hub will provide training and certification opportunities for the maritime, marine and offshore industries, to residents of Whitby and the wider area. The application has been submitted following a public consultation in January and
Wykeland Group has announced a new development at Melton West business park in East Yorkshire. Evolve @ Melton West will comprise two larger units of 37,000 sq ft and 22,000 sq ft and a terrace of five smaller units of 5,000 sq ft each, all available to let from early
Willmott Dixon has completed work on a new music facility, worth around £12 million, for Army musicians at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS). The purpose-built facility can now house all 54 musicians serving under British Army Band Sandhurst, offering a modern and acoustically optimised environment for rehearsals, performances and
Funding has been secured by Sempra Homes for the delivery of the Markhams Chase development in Basildon. The development of three, contemporary two-bedroom houses will be delivered in partnership with One Public Estate under the Government’s Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF) programme. Melanie Keys, Services Manager at Sempra Homes commented:
Unite Students has secured planning permission to develop a 952-bed property in east London and a 500-bed scheme at a key Bristol location. The Stratford development, next to Meridian Steps near Westfield Stratford City shopping centre, is a 41-storey tower targeted to be completed in 2028. The construction of a
Construction work has commenced on two new residential buildings at Television Centre in White City, London. With Mitsui Fudosan UK and Stanhope, as the development manager, Multiplex has been appointed as the construction manager and completion is scheduled for mid-2027. The two buildings at the Television Centre – the nine-storey
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
Delancey has put forward plans to transform a brownfield site in Islington into a GIA science and technology building with world-class laboratory and research space. Situated in London’s growing Knowledge Quarter and Innovation District, the proposals for the site at 176-178 York Way include 130,000 sq ft of research and laboratory space. The scheme features highly sustainable design features and also includes 13,000 sq. ft of affordable workspace, a mixed-use flexible community and events space, flexible makers’ space, and public realm enhancements. Designed by architects Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), the building’s design responds to a site with challenging limitations, with an innovative design solution – there are three Network Rail tunnels and two Piccadilly Line tunnels running as close as 4.5 metres below the surface. Arup and KPF developed a structural strategy that could accommodate the site complexity. Since acquiring an interest in the site in Q2 2022, Delancey has subsequently acquired adjoining land from Islington Council, allowing the development to come forward. The building’s design ensures that it can adapt to changing market demand and accommodate a range of occupiers, with options to alter the proportion of laboratory and office space over time so the building is fit for the future. Passive and active strategies have been taken to reduce the whole life carbon. These include an all-electric MEP strategy, roof mounted solar PV, and optimised external shading to reduce operational energy, and careful material selection and structural efficiencies to reduce embodied carbon. The development is targeting Nabers 4.5+ Stars. Nathan Watt, Development Director at Delancey said: “At Delancey, we’ve worked on some of the UK’s largest regeneration projects, and we have a track-record of delivering on complex and constrained sites, building exceptional assets on behalf of client funds. “Our plans for York Way will be no different – this is an exciting opportunity to realise a new hub for science and innovation in one of the most established life science and technology markets in the world. This is only the start of our journey, and we look forward to continuing our work with residents and Islington Council to bring these plans to fruition.” If approved, Delancey expects to start on site next year with construction completed in 2028. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans have been submitted to North Yorkshire Council for a multi-million-pound maritime hub in Whitby. The hub will provide training and certification opportunities for the maritime, marine and offshore industries, to residents of Whitby and the wider area. The application has been submitted following a public consultation in January and February when 69 per cent of those who responded to the survey were supportive of the scheme. Chief Executive, Richard Flinton, said: “Submitting the planning application is an exciting step forward for this project. The Maritime Hub will open doors to new economic growth in Whitby and help provide a route for young people into the maritime and marine industries. I encourage everyone in the community to look at the plans on our website and leave comments if they wish.” Concerns about the hub being located on a flood plain have also been mitigated as the building will be designed to flood. In the event of a flood, the ground floor units will allow water to enter, and all services will be raised above one metre. After water levels drop, the units would be easily washed out. Corporate director of community development, Nic Harne, added: “We have listened to stakeholders and consultation feedback throughout the planning process before submitting this application. “Endeavour Wharf will still retain around 200 parking spaces and the height of the Maritime Hub will match the surrounding buildings such as The Angel Hotel. “We have received some suggestions that following Eskdale School’s merger with Caedmon College this summer, the school site would be a better location. But existing and potential future tenants of the wharf have stated they need direct access to the water and as such the school site would not be a suitable alternative.” The project has been developed to address a local need to develop a better supply of technical abilities in the maritime sector and put the town at the forefront of the growing renewable energy sector. The hub will also provide accommodation for maritime businesses and service providers. Workshops on the hub’s ground and first floors will house the current and new wharf-based operations and functions of the Harbour Authority. There will be classroom space, engineering workshops and marine biology laboratories, offering opportunities for training and employment in areas ranging from marine biology to off-shore wind. The second floor will be an office space for marine-based start-up businesses and other maritime industries. The space is intended to be occupied by local, regional and national businesses and organisations, making Whitby a hub of maritime activity. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Wykeland Group has announced a new development at Melton West business park in East Yorkshire. Evolve @ Melton West will comprise two larger units of 37,000 sq ft and 22,000 sq ft and a terrace of five smaller units of 5,000 sq ft each, all available to let from early 2025. Leading Yorkshire commercial property developer Wykeland Group has announced a new speculative development, Evolve @ Melton West. This computer-generated image shows one of two larger units within the scheme. The development will form part of the wider Melton West site, off the A63 west of Hull, and will create a total of 84,000 sq ft of business space, to enable companies to grow and expand their operations. The £10 million development is being delivered speculatively by leading Yorkshire commercial property developer Wykeland as the latest major investment at Wykeland’s thriving Melton West site. Construction is expected to begin in May, with the new units due to be ready for occupation late in the first quarter of 2025. Evolve @ Melton West will feature a terrace of five smaller units, as well as two larger buildings. The new development, forming part of the wider Melton West business park, will provide modern, energy-efficient and fully fit-for-purpose facilities for growing businesses. Wykeland Development Director Jonathan Stubbs said: “We’re delivering Evolve @ Melton West to provide much-needed modern space to meet the needs of growing businesses. The market is telling us there is a shortage of high-quality facilities of this kind and a pent-up demand for them. “We are approached regularly by businesses looking for a new space to move into, to support their growth. Those companies are looking for facilities that are ready-made, modern, energy-efficient and fully fit for purpose. “The shortage of such facilities is stifling investment and growth within the region and that’s an issue that Evolve @ Melton West will help to address.” The buildings will be EPC A-rated, with rooftop solar panels, green living walls and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Cycle storage shelters will form part of the development, which will also feature planted green roofs, with fast electric vehicle charging also available for public use. The buildings allow high levels of natural light in, thanks to translucent roof panels, creating bright and attractive workplaces and reducing the length of time when artificial lighting is required. The project will create almost 100 jobs during the construction phase, with employment for around 150 full-time equivalent positions once the facilities are occupied. Evolve @ Melton West will feature a terrace of five smaller units, as well as two larger buildings. This image shows the living wall on the building’s side elevation of the building featuring the smaller units. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Willmott Dixon has completed work on a new music facility, worth around £12 million, for Army musicians at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS). The purpose-built facility can now house all 54 musicians serving under British Army Band Sandhurst, offering a modern and acoustically optimised environment for rehearsals, performances and musical collaboration. The project saw Willmott Dixon refurbish former stables dating from c1850 as well as old offices at RMAS to deliver an instrument store, music library, offices, rehearsal rooms, changing rooms, and a crew room. The facility also has sustainable features, with two of the blocks being installed with solar panels and heat source pumps. Called the Joint Bands School project, which began in February 2023, Willmott Dixon worked with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and Pick Everard. It was funded under the Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) Army Programme, which is investing £3.35Bn over 10 years to improve living, working and training accommodation for soldiers. Accelerated under the SCAPE framework, the completed work achieved Defence Related Environmental Assessment Methodology (DREAM) ‘Very Good’ and ‘Excellent’ ratings, contributing sustainably to the built environment. Debs Thorne, Joint Bands School programme manager, said: “This project is a fantastic example of the significant investment underway across the Army estate, to support military training and future capability through delivery of modern, sustainable infrastructure. I have been impressed by the quality of the finished buildings and I trust that the British Army Band Sandhurst will soon feel at home in their new, purpose-built music facility.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Funding has been secured by Sempra Homes for the delivery of the Markhams Chase development in Basildon. The development of three, contemporary two-bedroom houses will be delivered in partnership with One Public Estate under the Government’s Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF) programme. Melanie Keys, Services Manager at Sempra Homes commented: “We are pleased to see this development come forward, which will be delivered in partnership with One Public Estate and Homes England. It has been a long time in the making, and we look forward to seeing the transformation of the site from its current unused hardstanding, which has been prone to fly-tipping and nuisance for many years, into three beautiful contemporary homes.” The modern homes will be available as part of Sempra Homes’ Shared Ownership affordable housing programme, which will give priority to Basildon Borough residents, key workers, and veterans, who will be able to purchase these homes and make their first steps on the housing ladder. The homes will be built to a high specification featuring integrated energy-efficient appliances in the kitchen Using a Fabric First Approach, they will be designed to be energy efficient as well as meet National Space standards. Sempra Homes will also be working with Secured by Design officers to achieve gold accreditation, creating a safe place for people to live. As part of the sustainability strategy for the development, each property will have an electric vehicle charging point, and all mature trees will be retained as well as the inclusion of a wild meadow and pollinator planting to encourage wildlife. Sempra Homes will also be creating a new sheltered bus stop on Markhams Close with real-time information boards and providing a contribution of £10,000 towards the Find Your Active Basildon Partnership to improve the health of the local community through well-being and physical activity community work in the area, which is aligned with the Council’s Safe and Sounds Estates work. The development was designed by Calford Seadon Architects and Building Associates are appointed to construct the new development, with PSW acting as Sempra’s Employers Agents. Image: Calford Seaden Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Unite Students has secured planning permission to develop a 952-bed property in east London and a 500-bed scheme at a key Bristol location. The Stratford development, next to Meridian Steps near Westfield Stratford City shopping centre, is a 41-storey tower targeted to be completed in 2028. The construction of a new entrance and exit to Stratford Underground Station is also part of the plans, providing a positive benefit to the local community by helping to alleviate passenger congestion and improve the area’s infrastructure. The Group’s Freestone Island development, in Bristol’s Temple Quarter, has total development costs of £73 million and is set to open in 2026. Unite Students is working in partnership with the University of Bristol through a nomination agreement on the property, which will guarantee rooms for the university’s students. This will assist the university in delivering high quality accommodation to support its growth in the Temple Quarter area of Bristol. Temple Quarter, in the heart of Bristol, is one of the UK’s largest regeneration projects – with 130 hectares of land being redeveloped to create a mixed-use community that includes office and commercial space, as well as pedestrianised green areas, alongside Unite Students’ student housing. The Quarter will be a key contributor to the West of England’s economy by creating new homes, jobs and generating income for the local area. Unite Students’ development, which has received full planning approval, will be close to its 600-bed Marsh Mills site, on Feeder Road, and the University of Bristol’s Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, where up to 4,600 students will be based on completion. The new development will provide 4,500 sq ft of affordable workspace and will be BREEAM Excellent with EPC Ratings of A across the scheme. The Stratford project, which has approval with conditions and is yet to obtain full planning permission, will also deliver 1,151m2 of commercial space which will include workspace and a retail area. Part of the space is earmarked for Canning Town-based You Press, a social enterprise for young people and underrepresented communities. A total of 333 beds will be left at affordable rents; 30 beds will be in self-contained studio flats while the rest are in shared flats of 5 to 10 bedrooms. One in 10 bedrooms will be wheelchair accessible. The planning application was supported by University College London (UCL) and full planning permission is expected later this year. Unite Students is in the process of confirming a long-term agreement with the university for its students to let the majority of the beds. This will support the university’s recently completed UCL East campus in Stratford. Embodied carbon to practical completion is targeted at 730 kgCO2e/m2 (carbon emission equivalent per square metre), showing further progress towards the Group’s 2030 net zero development targets. Including this project, Unite Students’ total planned investment into Stratford is around £400m. This includes the delivery of 716 new beds and academic space for the London Academy of Excellence at its Hawthorne House property, which is replacing former office block Jubilee House on Farthingale Walk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction work has commenced on two new residential buildings at Television Centre in White City, London. With Mitsui Fudosan UK and Stanhope, as the development manager, Multiplex has been appointed as the construction manager and completion is scheduled for mid-2027. The two buildings at the Television Centre – the nine-storey ‘Scenery House’ designed by architects dRMM, and the 25-storey ‘The Ariel’ by AHMM – comprise a total of 347 apartments and townhouses. The accommodation will range from studios to four-bed townhouses with a complementary range of amenities designed by both MSMR and Sella Concepts including residents’ lounges, a screening room, co-working spaces and meeting rooms, as well as a private dining room and roof terrace. Particular attention has been paid to greening the areas in and around the buildings. Landscape architect, Gillespies, has designed a courtyard garden, rooftop terrace and pocket park between the two built elements of the scheme. The announcement comes as Macfarlane Place, the first building in this development phase, nears completion. The scheme will provide 142 affordable homes for Peabody across two predominantly brick buildings designed by Maccreanor Lavington. This brings the number of Stirling Prize winning architects working on the iconic development to three (including AHMM and dRMM) – reflecting Mitsui Fudosan’s commitment to the very best in British architectural design. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
