ilke Homes will deliver up to 449 highly energy-efficient homes in Kent, in partnership with housing association The Riverside Group. Subject to Reserved Matters planning approval from Thanet District Council, ilke Homes plans to deliver a mix of houses and apartments ranging from one to four bedrooms across a mix
Keltbray has commenced work on the complex sub and superstructure packages on the Salisbury Square Development for main client The City of London Corporation, on behalf of Mace. The delivery of the contract, valued at £73 million, follows on from the successful completion of the £10 million demolition and enabling
Wiltshire Council has approved plans to refurbish and remodel the Grade II listed Town Hall in Trowbridge. This paves the way for the Town Hall to become a major creative and community hub for Trowbridge, comprising custom designed performance and activity spaces, recording studios and a licenced café bar with
McGoff Construction has started work on site at the its latest residential development in Manchester. The site, located on Rochdale Road, which was previously Rochdale Road Gas Works and home to other industrious businesses, has been derelict for some time. In recent months extensive investigations has been carried out with
Everton and Laing O’Rourke have held a ‘topping out’ ceremony at Everton Stadium to mark the completion of the structure. Dignitaries from the Club and its construction partner jointly celebrated the achievement, just 20 months since work began on the semi-derelict site at Bramley-Moore Dock. All four stands have since been erected
Property developer HBD has completed two deals at Airport Business Park Southend (ABPS) totalling £19.3 million. The firm will deliver a £14.3 million building spanning 129,000 sq. ft. for IPECO; its second base at the scheme designed and built by HBD. Work is due to begin on site in May,
A development of new council homes in Lockleaze has taken another step forward as the Bristol City Council seeks to secure ownership of a former pub that needs to be demolished to allow work to begin. The council hopes to build 47 homes on disused land at Branwhite Close in
Significant progress has been made on a new neighbourhood in Daventry after Midlands-based homebuilder Spitfire Homes and Crest Nicolson secured reserved matters approval to build 222 properties on land at Malabar Farm. West Northamptonshire Council’s planning committee has approved current proposals, representing the first phase of the development, which will
A new collection of high-quality family homes in the sought-after village of Felsted have come to market with award-winning property group, Beresfords. Scholars Green is located on a private turning, Watch House Green, and includes three and four-bedroom homes – with prices starting at £560,000. The properties are framed beautifully
Construction work on first phase of the Perry Barr Residential Scheme in Birmingham is now complete. Almost 1,000 new homes are now available for rent or sale on a former university campus in the north of the city. Completion of the new homes was announced at the same time that
ilke Homes will deliver up to 449 highly energy-efficient homes in Kent, in partnership with housing association The Riverside Group. Subject to Reserved Matters planning approval from Thanet District Council, ilke Homes plans to deliver a mix of houses and apartments ranging from one to four bedrooms across a mix of tenures – including social rent, shared ownership and build-to-rent. ilke Homes and The Riverside group are collaborating to finalise the proposals and will be submitting for Reserved Matters planning in the next month. Subject to planning, a start on site is anticipated in early in 2024. Being delivered on a 21-acre site owned by The Riverside Group, most of the homes will be manufactured offsite at ilke Homes’ 250,000 sq ft factory in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, where ilke Homes deploys precision-engineering techniques along production lines to deliver high-quality, energy-efficient homes. Selected via a procurement exercise managed by EN Procure Ltd, ilke Homes were chosen because of the company’s ability to deliver value for money, and a quality product whilst unlocking an accelerated delivery programme. ilke Homes will deliver the site under its ‘design and build’ offering, by which it gains planning permission, manufactures the homes and develops the site. This vertically integrated approach will help control build costs and speed up construction programmes. Precision-engineering techniques mean that ilke Homes will be able to deliver the 449 homes in half the time of traditional methods, thanks to most of the construction stage taking place offsite. By manufacturing offsite, the homes delivered will be of the highest quality, as ilke Homes is able to benchmark standards at numerous stages of the build cycle. By harnessing artificial intelligence, robotics, and digital design, the modular housing company is capable of creating homes that are incredibly well insulated, meaning less heat escapes, consequently reducing bills. This will help reduce household bills for tenants, who are the most likely to be affected by the cost-of-living crisis, while minimising operating costs for The Riverside Group. ilke Homes will be submitting a Reserved Matters planning application to Thanet District Council at the end April and subject to planning, anticipate starting work on site in early 2024. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Keltbray has commenced work on the complex sub and superstructure packages on the Salisbury Square Development for main client The City of London Corporation, on behalf of Mace. The delivery of the contract, valued at £73 million, follows on from the successful completion of the £10 million demolition and enabling works package by Keltbray, where sustainable circular economy techniques are being deployed to minimise waste and reduce the overall environmental impact of the scheme. Work will include the installation of over 500 king post piles, secant piles, contig piles and bearing piles, construction of a new basement slab, core base and box, as well as four new cores, the formation of a reinforced concrete superstructure for the court building and a ‘listed building’ soft strip using ‘cut and carve’ techniques to retain key elements of the heritage structure. The Salisbury Square Development will principally deliver a new, purpose-built 18-courtroom legal facility called the City of London Law Courts and an industry leading City of London police headquarters equipped to combat amongst other things, fraud and economic crime across the UK. Chief Executive Officer, Darren James commented: “Keltbray is very pleased to announce we have secured the contract to deliver the major structural elements on Salisbury Square. The contract is a significant step forward for Keltbray in extending our service offering further along the value chain, where clients are recognising the value in our integrated approach to self-delivery.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Wiltshire Council has approved plans to refurbish and remodel the Grade II listed Town Hall in Trowbridge. This paves the way for the Town Hall to become a major creative and community hub for Trowbridge, comprising custom designed performance and activity spaces, recording studios and a licenced café bar with refurbished spaces for a wide range of community activities from yoga classes to toddler groups. Listed Building Consent was also granted on the same day ensuring the status of the Town Hall as a local historic landmark in the heart of the town. “Securing these planning permissions are vital milestones in this project which forms part of the £16 million investment in Trowbridge town centre through the government’s Future High Streets Fund. We are delighted that we can now start to move from planning to the exciting stage of delivery with works starting later this year,” said Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council. “One of the key aims in our Business Plan is making sure our towns are resilient, ensuring our communities are able to grow sustainably with access to leisure, arts, heritage and culture. The refurbishment of Trowbridge Town Hall is central to developing a unique cultural offer in the town, encouraging increased footfall into the town centre and helping to revive Trowbridge’s poor evening economy. We are looking forward to these plans being realised in the future.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
McGoff Construction has started work on site at the its latest residential development in Manchester. The site, located on Rochdale Road, which was previously Rochdale Road Gas Works and home to other industrious businesses, has been derelict for some time. In recent months extensive investigations has been carried out with McGoff Construction preparing the land for build. The archaeological test pits are complete, and the demolition of all smaller buildings will now take place. Part of Manchester City Council’s Victoria North Strategic Regeneration Framework, the new £50m development, which will be part of the Group’s ‘Downtown’ brand, will comprise 237 homes, including a range of one, two and three bedroom apartments. In addition, there will duplex apartments with some of these properties benefiting from garages and storage areas, including a private drive. Known as Downtown Victoria North, it will be a true Build to Rent development, with Downtown Asset Management maintaining ownership and managing rental lettings. Creating a superb new community in the city centre, the development will offer a spacious communal lobby with 24hr concierge, a stylish resident lounge, meeting area and gym facilities, as well as secure underground parking for 29 cars and a cycle store. There will also be landscaped grounds and courtyards within the development for resident-only use. With construction now underway and the Manchester project scheduled to take approximately 145 weeks to complete, Brendan Caloe, Head of Special Projects Division within McGoff Construction, commented: “It’s great to be back building in the city centre and the plans for Downtown Victoria North are excellent, with a choice of one, two and three bedroom apartments set within a stunning development.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Everton and Laing O’Rourke have held a ‘topping out’ ceremony at Everton Stadium to mark the completion of the structure. Dignitaries from the Club and its construction partner jointly celebrated the achievement, just 20 months since work began on the semi-derelict site at Bramley-Moore Dock. All four stands have since been erected to full height, with the final sections of steelwork and terracing units being installed on top of the east stand, where the ‘topping out’ ceremony and speeches took place. Chief Stadium Development Officer Colin Chong, who poured the concrete mix into the final slab at the ceremony, praised the “professionalism, commitment, dedication and effort” of all involved in the stadium development. He added: “It’s a real milestone! Topping out ceremonies are very common in the building industry, but to do it in such circumstances, where the relationship with the contractor is absolutely fantastic, makes this a great occasion. “Laing O’Rourke have taken on their responsibilities wholeheartedly and it’s a pleasure to be a part of this ceremony. “The project has had to overcome many hurdles, but what can’t ever be questioned is its importance to the future of Everton Football Club and, more dramatically, its importance to the economy and the people of the Liverpool City Region. “That is why we should all take immense pride in ‘topping out’ while the project remains firmly on track.” Chong added: “As a Club, we are just the enablers. We pull a plan together, procure the land, secure the planning application and pick the right partner. “They then take that ownership off us and deliver, so this stadium is testament to the truly collaborative relationship between Everton and Laing O’Rourke, as well as our partners and consultants.” During the ‘topping out’ ceremony, and following tradition within the construction industry, a fir tree was hoisted atop the east stand in a symbolic gesture that has several origins, including a Native American belief that no building should be taller than a tree. Laing O’Rourke Project Director Gareth Jacques explained: “The ceremony is traditional in the construction industry when a structure reaches its highest point. When we finish the last piece of section of steel or in this case concrete slab, we pass a fir tree over the structure, which is an ancient tradition and is said to being good luck and prosperity to the occupants for many years to come. “Personally, I love the ceremony because it is focused on the workforce and what the construction team have achieved. With the support of our designers, supply chain partners and office colleagues, what everyone can see today is what has been achieved in 90 weeks. That is phenomenal. “What we do isn’t easy and we have some of the best people in the industry, and some of the engineering we adopt at Laing O’Rourke is very cutting-edge. “What you see is a result of doing some really difficult sub-structure work through the winter months, when there was rain, hail, it was very windy and not pleasant at all. “To do all that and keep slightly ahead of schedule is impressive and I am incredibly proud of everyone involved. “I genuinely believe that what the team are delivering is going to be a fantastic stadium, which the fans will love.” Work continues at Everton Stadium to complete the roofing structure on the west and east stands, while the initial fit-out has begun simultaneously on numerous levels of the two main stands. Everton Stadium, which will have a capacity of 52,888, be fully accessible and include safe-standing, is due to be completed in the 2024-25 season. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Property developer HBD has completed two deals at Airport Business Park Southend (ABPS) totalling £19.3 million. The firm will deliver a £14.3 million building spanning 129,000 sq. ft. for IPECO; its second base at the scheme designed and built by HBD. Work is due to begin on site in May, with the aircraft seating manufacturer expected to take occupation early next year. HBD will also design and develop a £5 million building for CAMA at Airport Business Park Southend. The 27,600 sq. ft. purpose-built warehouse will allow CAMA AssetStore to grow its business; sustainability-focused storage and asset management specialising in the reuse of sets, props and costumes for film and TV. Work will complete in Q4 2023, with CAMA expected to move in early 2024. “ABPS is a hugely successful scheme that has attracted valuable inward investment for Southend and provided the space, resources and ecosystem for businesses like IPECO to deliver on ambitious growth strategies. It’s great to see IPECO expanding further at ABPS and we’ve no doubt that it will prove an equally successful location for CAMA,” said Ed Hutchinson, Managing Director at HBD. ABPS forms part of an ambitious new vision for Southend-on-Sea. The 52-acre development is being delivered in partnership between HBD and Southend-on-Sea City Council. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A development of new council homes in Lockleaze has taken another step forward as the Bristol City Council seeks to secure ownership of a former pub that needs to be demolished to allow work to begin. The council hopes to build 47 homes on disused land at Branwhite Close in Lockleaze. In order to get the development site ready, the council has been working to acquire two buildings: the former pub on Gainsborough Square and a privately owned home on Branwhite Close. The site previously had council homes on the land which were demolished some years ago as part of a redevelopment project. Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) have been secured for both sites, and barring any further legal challenges, it is hoped work can start onsite later this year. Councillor Tom Renhard, Cabinet Member for Housing Delivery and Homes, said: “We are committed to doing everything we can to tackle the housing shortage in the city, and making sure that this affordable council-owned housing scheme, which will provide homes to 47 families, can be delivered. These will add to the 474 affordable homes built in Bristol in 2021/22. “It is not just about the number of new homes we build; we are committed to developing mixed and balanced communities, working hard to make sure any new homes are suitable for the surrounding local area. Lockleaze is going through a big transformation at the moment, and we are working hard to make sure all the developments complement each other, as well as bringing forward additional amenities for community members to use. “As well as enabling the housing development, the demolition of the pub will come as a relief to local people, as it has become an eye sore, and a target for fly tipping and graffiti in recent years. “I look forward to finally being able to break ground on this site, hopefully later this year.” The pub on Gainsborough Square has been allowed to fall into a state of disrepair for many years. The owner of the property was recently fined after failing to take care of the site, along with two other buildings in the city that they also own or manage. Several approaches were made to buy the property at full market value. However, the owners were unwilling to sell, so in order to progress, the council made a CPO to acquire the property. The owner objected to the CPO and an inspector appointed by the Secretary of State was asked to consider the objection and decided that the CPO should go ahead. If there are no further legal challenges, the council will be the legal owners of the pub in late August. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Significant progress has been made on a new neighbourhood in Daventry after Midlands-based homebuilder Spitfire Homes and Crest Nicolson secured reserved matters approval to build 222 properties on land at Malabar Farm. West Northamptonshire Council’s planning committee has approved current proposals, representing the first phase of the development, which will comprise a mix of one- to five-bedroom homes, 65 of which will be affordable. The wider scheme will also incorporate more than 20 hectares of public open space, a new primary school, nursery and community centre, alongside food and retail units. Located on the western edge of Daventry, the 50-hectare development already has outline planning permission of the neighbourhood for up to 1,100 new homes, meeting rising demand for homes due to employment growth, investment activity and strong connectivity links in the area. Defined by its West Northamptonshire countryside setting and strategic location at the heart of the national road network, Daventry provides a rare and sought-after balance of urban and rural lifestyles. Ben Leather, Managing Director at Spitfire Homes, said: “Daventry is a growing market with house hunters looking for accessible country living and an attractive work-life balance. Strong transport links and employment opportunities in the area make it particularly attractive for new home buyers, so we expect to see a lot of interest in these homes. “We’re committed to meeting the rising demand for new homes across the Midlands region, supporting our vision to deliver high-quality, future-proofed homes fit for modern living. We recently made our debut in Northamptonshire, with work well underway at our nearby development in Kislingbury, so we’re really excited this scheme has also taken a positive step forward.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A new collection of high-quality family homes in the sought-after village of Felsted have come to market with award-winning property group, Beresfords. Scholars Green is located on a private turning, Watch House Green, and includes three and four-bedroom homes – with prices starting at £560,000. The properties are framed beautifully in the exquisite village where Felsted’s beautifully maintained 16th-century buildings and historic independent school founded in 1564 resounds to the knock of willow on leather, and on the other by open fields and ancient farmland. The development’s name acknowledges the heritage of the school and the verdant area. Scholars Green has a broad sense of open space and mature trees and planting, which characterises this collection’s countryside setting. The contemporary design of the family homes nod to a traditional style and across the collection, subtle variations in design and tone feature to give each its own distinctive character, with a much of the design influenced by modern living and working practices adopted in very recent years, including dedicated spaces to accommodate remote working, an open orchard space and local variety fruit trees in each garden. The properties of course have high-spec fittings throughout including bespoke well-designed kitchens fitted with boiling taps, downlighters, high grade appliances and premium granite surfaces. Rated outstanding by Ofsted, Felsted Primary is just a short walk away from the development or Felsted School Prep for the gateway to Felsted public school. Great Leighs Primary and Ford Church of England Primary are just four miles away from the site. A short drive from the A120, M11 and just 13 miles from Stansted Airport, Scholars’ Green is well positioned for commuting further afield. “Scholars’ Green brings a unique opportunity for families to find their dream home, in a peaceful setting next to open farmland, but within a vibrant village location. The exclusive development truly emerges itself within the area’s impressive heritage and the surrounding countryside and I’m sure these homes will attract great interest,” said Aaron Breakwell, director of new homes and land at Beresfords. A Coronation Orchard Planting ceremony will also be taking place at the development, on Thursday 20 April at 3pm, where the developers, the development’s financers, key stakeholders involved, and current residents of Scholars Close are invited to see trees planted at the site. “We’re delighted to be welcoming everyone to the official tree planting ceremony, ahead of King Charles’ Coronation. The ceremony will mark the official completion of Scholars Green and an opportunity to say thank you to those who have helped to get this development on the map! We look forward to seeing you all there,” concluded Alex Woodfield, managing director of Welland Partners Development. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction work on first phase of the Perry Barr Residential Scheme in Birmingham is now complete. Almost 1,000 new homes are now available for rent or sale on a former university campus in the north of the city. Completion of the new homes was announced at the same time that Lendlease, the principal contractor for the scheme on behalf of Birmingham City Council, revealed the project has beaten a number of targets it was set in order to help support the local economy and bring wider community benefits. More than 650 new jobs have been created for local people throughout the construction, including almost 100 apprenticeships, and more than 1,350 people have been upskilled on the site. Highlights included a Women in Construction course, which promotes opportunities for women in the construction industry across the UK, funded through the Home Builders Federation. Participants received advice and guidance, as well as training in various areas of construction, and two weeks’ work experience. Lendlease also worked with Solihull College to deliver English for Construction courses for people who have English as a second language, a key tool for increasing safety through better communication on a site which at its peak had 26 different nationalities of workers on the project. Participants who completed the course were rewarded with a Level 1 Health and Safety in Construction qualification. Over the course of the £326m contract, £267m has been spent by Lendlease with local businesses, and workers have devoted 2,679 hours to volunteering in the local area – the equivalent of four months of continuous work, and nearly three times the target they were set. This included working with Eden Boys School and Welford Primary School to build and maintain outdoor learning areas, as well as collecting for local food banks. Designs created by students from Birmingham Metropolitan College were exhibited on site hoardings visible near the site to raise awareness of Single Use Plastics (SUP). This was inspired by the SUP Ambassadors programme, a project developed with students from Eden Boys’ School, that aimed to raise awareness of SUP and its impact on the environment, people and wildlife. Lendlease, together with construction partners, also sponsored the production of a new book aimed at educating primary school children on avoiding single use plastics, which was launched at Calshot Primary School, and was distributed to primary schools across Birmingham. The new homes at Perry Barr consist of a mix of homes for rent and sale, surrounded by accessible green space. The tallest building on the scheme tops out at fifteen storeys and the first residents are expected to move in later this year. The scheme is part of a wider £700million-plus regeneration of Perry Barr in the north-west of the city, including improved leisure and community facilities along with upgraded transport infrastructure, all of which is underpinned by the Perry Barr 2040 Masterplan, developed by the Council in partnership with local residents and stakeholders. Lendlease are the Management Contractor for this first phase of the Perry Barr Residential Scheme, working with Kier, Willmott Dixon, PJ Careys and Vinci UK to deliver the project. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
