Over £1bn of investment opportunities in Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland will be showcased by a collaborative inward investment team at national investor forum UKREiiF. Representatives from Lincolnshire County Council (LCC), Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership (GLLEP) and Team Lincolnshire – a public and private sector group of Lincolnshire ambassadors –
The University of Derby has chosen construction firm Kier to build a new business school in Derby city centre. The new business school is 9317m2 and is planned to include a 233-seat auditorium, a stock market financial trading room, a creativity lab, an extended reality (XR) suite and a range
A ribbon-cutting ceremony has marked the opening of a brand-new show home in the historic market town of Holsworthy. The Raglan show home is part of the final phase at Westcountry homebuilder Cavanna Homes’ Market Place development of 19 three and four-bedroom family homes. Paul Furner, Director of Sales and Marketing, performed the ribbon-cutting welcoming homebuyers
Magnox is set to commence a major decommissioning project to clean-up and demolish four ‘blower house’ superstructures that surround Berkeley site’s two reactor buildings. Ross McAllister, Magnox programme delivery director said: “This is one of the largest decommissioning projects that Berkeley site has seen for several years. It was originally
Plans have been submitted for the second phase of Manor Road Quarter in the London Borough of Newham. The proposals were put forward by the English Cities Fund (ECF) to create a community in Canning Town. ECF is a joint venture between nationwide placemaker, Muse, Homes England, and Legal &
National homebuilder Keepmoat has marked the start on site for its 300 new homes development, Stirling Fields, at Northstowe, Cambridgeshire’s newest town. Following completion of a Building Lease with Homes England, construction is starting at Stirling Fields, with the housing stock consisting of one and two-bedroom apartments, alongside a selection
Macfarlane Place, the affordable housing development at Television Centre, tops out today, with Peabody set to launch the new homes available through Shared Ownership in Autumn 2023. Remaining works are on track for a scheduled final completion in Q1 2024, following commencement of works in March 2023 by Kier, of
Top 10 UK housebuilder Keepmoat, has announced the appointment of Amanda Bishop as Regional Managing Director for the West Midlands. Amanda’s role as Regional Managing Director focuses on implementing new strategies for the West Midlands region, supporting the land acquisition strategy and driving growth in key areas. With previous roles
Build-To-Rent (BTR) provider Placefirst is set to invest in the delivery of 220 homes in Sunderland. Placefirst has been appointed as Preferred Development Partner by Sunderland City Council to deliver 140 new homes at Farringdon Row, the second residential neighbourhood within the transformative Riverside Sunderland masterplan. The sustainable new community
Rula Developments has acquired 25 acres of development land at Winsford Gateway from Build&Thrive, the partnership between Cheshire West & Chester Council and PSP, (formally known as Public Sector Plc). Rula has already delivered a 168,000 sq ft state of the art factory for Tiger Trailers on the largely industrial
Over £1bn of investment opportunities in Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland will be showcased by a collaborative inward investment team at national investor forum UKREiiF. Representatives from Lincolnshire County Council (LCC), Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership (GLLEP) and Team Lincolnshire – a public and private sector group of Lincolnshire ambassadors – are attending the event in Leeds next week (16 to 18 May). In its second year, UKREiiF is set to attract more than 6,000 delegates from the property industry, with more than 250 UK local authorities in attendance over the three-day event. The Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland inward investment team has ambitious plans for the region and will be sharing investment prospects across its 10-strong sector proposition, including advanced engineering and manufacturing, visitor economy, defence, health and life sciences, digital tech, commercial and residential development, and a particular focus on agri-food, low carbon energy and logistics. Investment opportunities across the region include the South Lincolnshire Food Enterprise Zone, Humber Freeport, hotel sites ready for development, land earmarked for housing, multiple business centres and commercial space and more. Councillor Colin Davie, Executive Portfolio Holder for Environment and Economy at Lincolnshire Council, said: “We saw great value from our attendance at UKREiiF last year and with the event set to be even bigger this year, we need to seize the opportunity to champion our region on a national stage once again. “We are focussed on targeting investors, developers and organisations that can help drive forward our key sectors and our work at the event will contribute towards growing our Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland economy and to create new jobs. “Greater Lincolnshire is such a vibrant place to call home. The lifestyle you can create here with our rich heritage, abundant culture, diverse jobs market and open green spaces and coast, make it a wonderful place to live” The lifestyle in Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland will also play a key part in the team’s promotion of the region as a place to live, learn, work and invest. Andy Gutherson, Executive Director of Place at Lincolnshire County Council adds: “UKREiiF is a fantastic platform for LCC, GLLEP, Team Lincolnshire and our local district councils to speak directly to investors about the unique opportunities we have to offer. Conversations had and connections made at these events are incredibly valuable and make a positive and far-reaching impact on our local economy. “Collaboratively, and as part of Midlands Engine, we will be flying the flag for the region as the place to live, learn, work and invest in and with a busy diary of meets, I’m looking forward to what the team and I can cultivate for Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland.” Lincolnshire excels in food processing and agri-tech and was chosen as one of the Government’s manufacturing zones. This followed growth deal grants of £18 million, including £5.1 million for South Lincolnshire Food Enterprise Zone and £2.4 million for University of Lincoln’s Centre of Excellence in Agri-food and Technology at Holbeach. Ruth Carver, Chief Executive at Greater Lincolnshire LEP said ““This is a good time for Greater Lincolnshire with growing interest in our place and our game changing sectors. Since last year we have made great strides in areas such as town deals, infrastructure development, humber freeport and our business parks. “With many transformational projects taking place, now is a key time to reposition Greater Lincolnshire firmly on the national and global map as an even better place for people to live and work. UK REIF provides a provides a platform for us to tell our story to a global audience once again and we look forward to meeting new connections and investors.”
The University of Derby has chosen construction firm Kier to build a new business school in Derby city centre. The new business school is 9317m2 and is planned to include a 233-seat auditorium, a stock market financial trading room, a creativity lab, an extended reality (XR) suite and a range of social collaborative study spaces and quiet contemplation areas. The school will also feature a café on the ground floor. The new building is projected to be the study base for more than 6,000 students by 2030 and will provide a link between local businesses and the wider community. Two levels of the building will be open to the public, allowing students, academics, researchers and University staff to work alongside businesses co-located in the school as well as with the wider business community. This will support and nurture growth, knowledge exchange and idea generation. Andrew Bevan, Interim Director of Estates at the University of Derby, said: “The development of the business school is a catalyst for the regeneration of our city hub site. “I’m delighted that we have entered into a contract with Kier to deliver this landmark building, which is part of the University’s broader vision to expand its reach and reputation across the UK and globally.” Colina Wright, CEO of the Union of Students at the University of Derby, added: “As a Union, we are delighted to be involved in this project and are both passionate and committed to ensuring the student voice is reflected throughout. “We have been impressed with discussions about student involvement and wider conversations about giving back to the community through employment and internship opportunities as well as considerations for sustainability and city regeneration. I am motivated by what this project can do for the city but more importantly for our students, during their time at Derby and beyond. I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the University and its partners as the project develops.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A ribbon-cutting ceremony has marked the opening of a brand-new show home in the historic market town of Holsworthy. The Raglan show home is part of the final phase at Westcountry homebuilder Cavanna Homes’ Market Place development of 19 three and four-bedroom family homes. Paul Furner, Director of Sales and Marketing, performed the ribbon-cutting welcoming homebuyers into the show home. He said: “Cavanna Homes is celebrating 100 years of ‘Building Brilliance’ across the Westcountry, and what better way to start the year than with a brand-new show home opening! “Market Place is a fantastic place to live with all our new homes enjoying stunning rural views across the valley, plus the town centre is within walking distance and a primary and secondary school is close by. “We’ve had a great response to our new homes, and we encourage anyone looking to move to the area to come and step inside our beautiful show home to get a taste of what it’s like to live in this fantastic North Devon town.” The energy-efficient homes are adjacent to Cavanna Homes’ Market Quarter community on the site of Holsworthy’s old cattle market. The design and building materials will complement the town’s traditional architecture. The four-bedroom Raglan, which has been expertly dressed by interior stylists, Abode, showcases Cavanna Homes’ high specification of fixtures and fittings. The show home has an open plan kitchen / dining area with modern, energy-efficient fitted appliances, a convenient utility room, and a master bedroom with an en-suite. There is a range of three and four-bedroom homes available at Market Place, all with a garage and driveway parking. Sales Advisor, Teresa Arden said: “We’re excited to have officially opened the doors to our gorgeous show home at Market Place, which offers our new homeowners a delightful blend of town and country.” Market Place is close to rolling hills and wooded valleys, perfect for walking, cycling and horse riding. Residents also benefit from the town centre being within walking distance where there are shops, tea rooms, a library, post office, leisure centre and weekly farmers’ market. There is also a play area and open green space in the development. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Magnox is set to commence a major decommissioning project to clean-up and demolish four ‘blower house’ superstructures that surround Berkeley site’s two reactor buildings. Ross McAllister, Magnox programme delivery director said: “This is one of the largest decommissioning projects that Berkeley site has seen for several years. It was originally planned for the 2070’s so it is fantastic to bring that forward by five decades in our aim to deliver our mission better, faster and even safer. “The blower houses circulated gas through the reactors to transfer heat into 310 tonne boilers to create steam to turn the turbines and generate electricity. The last of the 15 gigantic metal boilers was transported to Sweden for cleaning, smelting and recycling in 2013. “The buildings will be emptied of the residual metallic low-level waste and undergo a full asbestos clean before being demolished. The work is expected to take eight years to complete and will be another major step forwards in sustainably decommissioning Berkeley site with our supply chain partners.” Following extensive procurement exercises, Altrad have been awarded a £30.8m contract for the design, asbestos removal, deplant, demolition and construction works in and around the blower houses and will be supported by other Celadon alliance companies including: • Veolia KDC Decommissioning Services • NSG Environmental • OBR Construction • Mammoet • Cavendish Nuclear Kevin Williamson, Altrad’s General Manager for Magnox, said: “We are delighted to have secured this major decommissioning contract at Berkeley which encompasses the retrieval and cleaning of the primary circuit ductwork and miscellaneous steelwork from the blower houses, prior to their demolition – including the processing of the spring hangers from the lubrication pits, which need to be de-energised and made safe before they can be cleaned.” Nuclear Decommissioning Authority operating company, Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) were awarded a £13.7m contract to manage 2,400 tonnes of metallic waste. Carly Sutton, WMS Consultant and Magnox Relationship Manager, NWS commented: “Through our metallic waste treatment service and working with our supply chain partner Augean we will establish a waste handling compound at Berkeley to provide a safe and secure undercover area where the metallic waste can be processed before it leaves the site for treatment. “Removal of legacy metals from the Berkeley blower houses is significant not only in terms of achieving hazard reduction, but also good for environmental performance – as the high-quality steel removed will be treated, recycled and returned to the metal market for reuse.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans have been submitted for the second phase of Manor Road Quarter in the London Borough of Newham. The proposals were put forward by the English Cities Fund (ECF) to create a community in Canning Town. ECF is a joint venture between nationwide placemaker, Muse, Homes England, and Legal & General, one of the UK’s leading financial services groups and major global investor. The next stage of the landmark project will create 290 homes across four new buildings, along with new leisure and amenity space. Should the second phase receive consent in June, ECF will be working towards a start on site in 2024. Work on the first part of Manor Road Quarter started in September 2021 and has just passed the half-way point of the build. It features a landmark 32-storey tower and 335 new homes, alongside ground-floor retail units and beautifully-curated public spaces for the community to enjoy. Subject to planning approval, the second and third phases will see Manor Road Quarter bring forward a further 449 homes, making for a total of 804 new homes in Canning Town, of which 50% will be affordable. The completed neighbourhood will also include a new 2.5-acre park, providing a stunning space to dwell and spend time in for both residents and the wider community. The green space will also help promote active travel through new walking and cycle routes – creating a vibrant, inclusive, and connected community space. Duncan Cumberland, residential director at ECF, said: “We’ve been investing in Canning Town for a long time and feel Manor Road Quarter, which follows on from the new homes we created next door at Rathbone Market, is a key catalyst in revitalising the area. Aside from the new places we are creating, phase one has already delivered so many valuable benefits in terms of jobs, apprenticeships, training opportunities for the community, along with bringing investment into the local economy. We hope to continue that through phase two and beyond.” The design for phase two of Manor Road Quarter consists of a quartet of new buildings, designated D, E, F and G. Block D is the lowest of the buildings at 8-storey and is located on the western side of the scheme. It has ground floor commercial space and 55 residential homes on the upper floors. Block E is a standalone 12-storey building located to the northern end of the site and comprises 90 homes, also with commercial space on the ground floor. Blocks F and G are located on the eastern side of the site and include ground floor commercial, a residents’ lounge and amenity, storage and cycle parking and upper floors designated as residential, creating 145 homes in total. In each building, a proportion of the new homes will have three bedrooms. Manor Road Quarter will feature large cycle storage, in line with Greater London Authority guidelines. Given its very close proximity to London Underground, DLR and bus routes, only 24 car parking bays will be provided to encourage the use of sustainable and more active modes of transport. External features such as green areas, a skate park and an outdoor gym will also help improve the health and wellbeing levels of those living and working in the area. The new neighbourhood at Manor Road is being delivered by ECF in partnership with the Greater London Authority’s Homes for Londoners’ team, London Borough of Newham and Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing Association (MTVH), one of the UK’s largest housing associations. The 177 affordable homes built in phase one will be owned, managed and administered by MTVH. Manor Road Quarter follows on from ECF’s successful completion of the Rathbone Market in Canning Town. This scheme saw the creation of a £160 million mixed-use development that features 652 homes, 32,000 sq. ft of retail space, a library, Neighbourhood Centre, and two new public spaces including the permanent home of the newly revitalised Rathbone Market. Manor Road Quarter has been designed by EPR Architects, with Gardiner and Theobald as the quantity surveyor, Gleeds operating as the client project manager, and Longboard Consulting as the planning consultant. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
National homebuilder Keepmoat has marked the start on site for its 300 new homes development, Stirling Fields, at Northstowe, Cambridgeshire’s newest town. Following completion of a Building Lease with Homes England, construction is starting at Stirling Fields, with the housing stock consisting of one and two-bedroom apartments, alongside a selection of two, three and four bedroom homes. A full range of tenures are available on the 300 homes, 60 percent of which are affordable homes including Affordable Rent, Discounted Market Sale, and traditional Market Sale, to provide a balanced community. Adam Knight, Regional Managing Director, commented: “Following the exchange of contracts on the project, we’re absolutely delighted that planning permission has been secured and we can begin construction on Stirling Fields. It’s an honour to have the opportunity to contribute to one of England’s newest towns, particularly as it aligns so closely with our values in terms of sustainability, integrating modern methods of construction, and providing affordable homes to the people that really need them.” Keepmoat was selected by Homes England as the development partner to deliver part of the second phase of the new town which is located on former RAF military land. Graham Hyslop, Regional Director for Homes England said: “This is another step forward for Northstowe as more homes are started across Homes England’s land on this flagship development. This current milestone contributes towards building the community of Northstowe which in total will see more than 10,000 homes, eight schools, a new town centre with multiple facilities and open spaces provided. We are looking forward to seeing the community grow further and more people calling Northstowe home.” The sustainable development supports a low carbon community lifestyle and Keepmoat is building the homes using closed panel timber frame construction, while the apartments will be constructed traditionally in a brick and block cavity walling. All housing stock has been designed to the Nationally Described Space Standard using sustainable and modern construction methods. South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Lead Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr John Batchelor, said: “We’re pleased to have been selected as the provider of the affordable homes within this part of Northstowe. We’re looking forwards to finalising the arrangements with Keepmoat Homes, including the purchase of a commercial unit which will provide almost 200 metres of business space below some of the affordable homes. It’s also hugely positive how ourselves, Keepmoat Homes and Homes England have worked in partnership to deliver a unique product in the form of Northstowe discount market homes, which not only provide affordable housing but will also help us as a Council invest in more affordable homes in the future.” Residents of the town will have access to a town centre, sports pavilions, community spaces, and a heritage building to showcase the area’s vast history and archaeological works. Smart metres, solar panels, cycle lanes and electric vehicle charging stations are also available to ensure sustainable living is at the heart of Northstowe. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Macfarlane Place, the affordable housing development at Television Centre, tops out today, with Peabody set to launch the new homes available through Shared Ownership in Autumn 2023. Remaining works are on track for a scheduled final completion in Q1 2024, following commencement of works in March 2023 by Kier, of a collection of 1 and 2 bedroom apartments, including wheelchair-adaptable homes, with new public realm and retail space retained by the Joint Venture of Stanhope and Mitsui Fudosan UK fronting Wood Lane. The development also benefits from a landscaped communal podium garden and communal terrace. “The development of Macfarlane Place is on track for completion early 2024 to provide Hammersmith & Fulham with much needed affordable housing. We are proud to be working alongside Kier and Peabody to complete these new homes as part of the redevelopment of Television Centre,” said Jonathan Trout, Property and Commercial Director at Stanhope. The development benefits from excellent transport links, an abundance of retail access and world-class education facilities in White City. Situated on the iconic Television Centre site, the development is situated in a rich social and cultural community with an established employment hub. This latest residential development at Television Centre from Stanhope and Mitsui Fudosan UK and designed by architects Maccreanor Lavington will provide 142 new affordable homes, out of a total 950 homes, on the site of the former BBC multi-story car park opposite Westfield. The new buildings will provide 71 London Affordable Rent, 34 London Living Rent and 37 homes for Shared Ownership. “We are looking forward to the launch of Macfarlane Place at Television Centre later this year, a significant addition to the local residential community. The timely delivery of the development is a successful milestone in the regeneration of White City,” added Tomoo Nakamura, Chief Executive at Mitsui Fudosan UK. With energy-efficient heating systems, climate control and excellent insulation, all apartments will be rated as a B or above for energy performance. Photovoltaic (PV) panels on the roofs of both buildings will generate electricity for shared areas and services, while the thoughtful planting of outdoor areas will provide residents with green spaces and encourage wildlife to flourish. “Marking this important project milestone alongside Mitsui, Stanhope and Kier is an exciting moment for us. Macfarlane Place is a fantastic example of our commitment to provide affordable homes, whilst creating diverse, thriving communities in the heart of London. The 142 affordable homes will include our first homes for London Living Rent, alongside homes for Shared Ownership and London Affordable Rent. The excellent design by architects Maccreanor Lavington and the impressive green credentials developed in close collaboration with our partners will create high quality new homes, which will help residents to live lower-carbon lives at this iconic development,” concluded Simon Barry, Regional Managing Director at Peabody. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Top 10 UK housebuilder Keepmoat, has announced the appointment of Amanda Bishop as Regional Managing Director for the West Midlands. Amanda’s role as Regional Managing Director focuses on implementing new strategies for the West Midlands region, supporting the land acquisition strategy and driving growth in key areas. With previous roles at a number of national homebuilders including Crest Nicholson, Amanda brings over 30 years’ experience in the new homes industry to the role. Commenting on her appointment, Amanda said: “Over the past few years the West Midlands has seen significant successes and has grown to become one of Keepmoat’s flagship regions. I am looking forward to bringing my expertise from my time as Keepmoat’s Group Sales Director to the role, and supporting the region with further growth and new opportunities.” Keepmoat West Midlands has seven live developments operating from Staffordshire down to the South West. Flagship partnerships are ongoing with Homes England, Citizen, and Walsall Housing Group. Amanda continues: “These key partnerships have improved access to the property market for families on lower incomes and we’re particularly proud that we have the ability to build and sell new homes utilising the strength of these partnerships and relationships built locally.” The region has secured 1,350 plots over 90 acres of new land to support future developments that drive investment across the region. The West Midlands is active in the land market and is looking to acquire sites for a further 1,000 plots to feed the immediate pipeline. Tim Beale, Group CEO at Keepmoat, added: “I’m delighted that Amanda has been promoted to the role of Regional Managing Director for our West Midlands business, having joined Keepmoat as Sales Director in 2019 and playing a pivotal role in helping to deliver our growth in the region to date. As we look to further expand our presence in the West Midlands, I am confident that Amanda will continue to build on this success, working closely with our public and private sector partners to actively source new opportunities.” Keepmoat is a top 10 UK partnership housebuilder with a track-record of delivering quality homes in regions across the UK. To date, Keepmoat has built over 35,000 homes, transforming brownfield sites into thriving new communities. With around 70% of Keepmoat’s homes being affordable, the housebuilder is working to deliver high-quality, multi-tenure, new homes nationally. Keepmoat has achieved five star builder status in the National Home Builders Federation Award, receiving a rating of at least 90% in the National New Homes Customer Satisfaction Survey. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professional
Build-To-Rent (BTR) provider Placefirst is set to invest in the delivery of 220 homes in Sunderland. Placefirst has been appointed as Preferred Development Partner by Sunderland City Council to deliver 140 new homes at Farringdon Row, the second residential neighbourhood within the transformative Riverside Sunderland masterplan. The sustainable new community will benefit from views across the Wear and the regenerated Riverside Park and support the diversification of the housing offer and repopulation of the city centre. Placefirst will deliver an exemplar BTR neighbourhood of high-quality energy efficient homes specially designed for long term rent. It will also feature a network of communal and public open spaces that will enhance connectivity throughout the new Riverside Sunderland community. The project team will include locally based architects IDP, development consultants Identity Consult and landscape architects Southern Green. A planning application is anticipated later in the year, with development planned to start in spring 2024. “We are excited to be working in partnership with Sunderland City Council on these projects and building on our existing track record of creating high-quality neighbourhoods in this region. The Riverside Sunderland masterplan is one of the most ambitious residential regeneration projects in the UK and Farringdon Row and Nile Villiers will play a big part in setting the standard for BTR developments throughout the North East. We look forward to progressing with the plans and bringing both these schemes to life, bringing much needed quality new rental homes to the area,” said David Mawson, chief executive officer at Placefirst. Placefirst manage every aspect of their neighbourhoods, from the first rental enquiry through to fully maintaining each home with an on-site presence once complete. Residents at Farringdon Row would benefit from skilled, friendly in-house teams, and dedicated resident services managers. Placefirst will also support Sunderland City Council and its partners in the funding and delivery of up to 80 homes at Nile and Villiers in Sunniside, which Placefirst will then own and manage. The scheme forms part of the Council’s City Centre Housing Ecosystem which received support from Round 1 of the Levelling Up Fund. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Rula Developments has acquired 25 acres of development land at Winsford Gateway from Build&Thrive, the partnership between Cheshire West & Chester Council and PSP, (formally known as Public Sector Plc). Rula has already delivered a 168,000 sq ft state of the art factory for Tiger Trailers on the largely industrial and logistics led employment site at Junction 18 of the M6. More recently Rula completed a 1.6-acre roadside petrol filling station with retail amenity for The Kay Group as well as a new 60,000 sq ft storage facility at Winsford Gateway. Rula is offering fully serviced plots for immediate development. Opportunities are available for new build units on freehold or leasehold terms, ranging from 1,500 sq ft up to 230,000 sq ft for industrial space and roadside amenity uses. Ben Ward, Managing Director at Rula Developments said: “We are pleased to secure this prime development site at Winsford Gateway. Having completed works on a new main access road and site infrastructure we can offer bespoke design and build opportunities industrial and logistics operations through to mid-size business space and smaller retail uses. “The estate is already a well-established location with great amenities and our ability to deliver quickly will help to fulfil the current demand for high quality logistics space and provide the opportunity for businesses to grow or relocate to the area.” Winsford Gateway and the wider industrial estate has seen rapid development in recent years and is now home to more than 100 businesses and around 4,000 workers. The Estate is in the heart of Cheshire with excellent transport links from the adjacent M6 motorway. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
