MC Construction has completed work on a multimillion-pound school extension in Cheshire to create additional places for children with severe learning difficulties and complex needs. The scheme at Springfield School in Crewe will help address an urgent need for extra provision in the Cheshire East area, with demand at an
Willmott Dixon has secured a multi-million-pound contract to construct a new 28-bed secure children’s home in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, aimed at providing enhanced facilities for young people. The project, procured through Pagabo’s Major Works Framework, saw Willmott Dixon chosen by Lincolnshire County Council last year to develop design proposals for the
Whitbread PLC has received planning approval from Westminster City Council to build a new hotel at 5 Strand in central London. The hotel, featuring 693 rooms, will be one of the largest budget accommodations in the city when completed. It will operate under the hub by Premier Inn brand, occupying
Liverpool City Council’s Planning Committee has approved Capital&Centric’s plans to convert the historic former Littlewoods building into a state-of-the-art film and TV campus. The proposals for the Council-owned site involve the restoration and repurposing of the 1930s Edge Lane structure, with submissions made by the social impact developers last year.
Kier has commenced construction on a new healthcare facility, which is a component of the University of Huddersfield’s National Health Innovation Campus. The ground-breaking ceremony saw in attendance University of Huddersfield deputy vice-chancellor Tim Thornton, Calderdale and Huddersfield National Health (NHS) Service Trust chief executive Brendan Brown, and more. The
Vistry Group has teamed up with Cobalt Housing to deliver 66 homes at Lickers Lane in Whiston. The project is part of the broader Halsnead Garden Village masterplan in Knowsley, which aims to create 1,600 homes. In June, Vistry obtained planning approval for 120 homes at the site, which will
M&G Real Estate, in partnership with Wates Group, the UK’s leading family-owned development and construction company, celebrated the structural completion of ‘The Ribbon’, M&G’s state-of-the-art retail and commercial development on Oxford Street, London, with a ‘topping out’ ceremony. This time-honoured tradition marks the achievement of reaching the highest point of
Bellway Kent has made significant progress on a new housing scheme within Kings Hill in Kent. The company is building a total of 542 new homes across five developments at Aviation Park, part of the Kings Hill regeneration scheme that has been transforming the former RAF West Malling site over
A project in the centre of Sunderland has reached another key milestone. Plans for the re-development of the former Sunderland Civic Centre building were revealed in March 2021, as part of the council’s move to new premises on the former Vaux site, just north of the city centre, in November
Developer Weston Homes has finalised the acquisition of the historic Sergeants’ Mess in Deepcut, Surrey. This Edwardian building, rich in military history, is set to be transformed into a £32.5 million development featuring 70 homes. The project will include a blend of converted spaces and new builds, offering both market
MC Construction has completed work on a multimillion-pound school extension in Cheshire to create additional places for children with severe learning difficulties and complex needs. The scheme at Springfield School in Crewe will help address an urgent need for extra provision in the Cheshire East area, with demand at an all-time high. MC Construction, working on behalf of longstanding client Cheshire East Council, built a wrap-around extension to the existing sports pavilion to create eight additional classrooms, new ancillary spaces including calm rooms, a sensory room and a therapy room, along with new hygiene suites and toilets, and improved kitchen facilities. A ceremony to mark the official opening was attended by pupils, staff, MC Construction team members involved in the project, local councillors and Cllr Sally Graham, deputy mayor of Crewe. Springfield School, whose motto is ‘Every day is a new chance to shine’, caters for pupils aged from four to 19 with severe learning difficulties and complex needs, including autism. It is rated as outstanding by Ofsted and was named 2022 School of the Year at the National Schools Awards. The expansion of Springfield School increases its capacity from 170 to 250 pupils. During the works at Springfield, MC Construction supported the school with a variety of social value initiatives. These included drawing competitions, creating a suite of awards to recognise pupil progress, environmental projects and the creation of a forest school area. On Friday, October 25, a team of 16 volunteers from MC Construction, consultants who worked on the extension project and council representatives will take part in a volunteer day to work on the new forest school. Lisa Hodgkison, headteacher at Springfield School, said: “Our new extension enables us to greatly improve and expand our educational provision for those children who require specialist support. We have moved our secondary and sixth-form pupils into the new block, creating more space in the main body of the school. “This fantastic expansion offers our pupils new, larger classrooms and direct access to the sports facilities alongside a new food technology room. Pupils love the feel of the new high school and what it has to offer.” MC Construction’s contract with Cheshire East Council was procured through the North West Construction Hub framework. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Willmott Dixon has secured a multi-million-pound contract to construct a new 28-bed secure children’s home in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, aimed at providing enhanced facilities for young people. The project, procured through Pagabo’s Major Works Framework, saw Willmott Dixon chosen by Lincolnshire County Council last year to develop design proposals for the facility, situated on Bonemill Lane at the edge of Sleaford. Funded by the Department for Education, the home will cater to some of Lincolnshire’s most vulnerable children and serve as a national resource for secure accommodation. It replaces an existing smaller site that is coming to the end of its useful life and will help meet rising demand from a national increase in the number of children requiring both criminal justice and welfare placements. It will deliver a truly ground-breaking service, becoming a flagship project for the sector. The home is designed to reach net-zero in operation, providing an innovative partial grid solution, which will be supported by extensive solar panels and state-of-the-art power storage. The home has been designed by Kier and is due to be completed in late 2026. Nick Heath, director at Willmott Dixon, said: “This is a hugely significant scheme, not only for Lincolnshire to address an acute need for secure accommodation, but also for the wider country as it will bring together best practice from across the UK and Europe. “It will help young people get their lives ‘back on track’ using a whole host of facilities including on-site education, wellbeing, vocational and sports facilities, as well as delivering against important sustainability credentials to make the building’s legacy especially evident.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Whitbread PLC has received planning approval from Westminster City Council to build a new hotel at 5 Strand in central London. The hotel, featuring 693 rooms, will be one of the largest budget accommodations in the city when completed. It will operate under the hub by Premier Inn brand, occupying a prime location just off Trafalgar Square, steps away from Nelson’s Column. Whitbread acquired the development site freehold as part of its strategy to expand its presence in the popular London market where a significant proportion of Premier Inn’s future UK rooms pipeline is located. The over £200m investment, which includes construction and related costs, underlines the company’s commitment to the hub by Premier Inn brand which is designed to bring Premier Inn’s affordable hotel bedrooms into the heart of London and other major UK cities. Mark Anderson, Managing Director for Property and International for Whitbread, said: “hub by Premier Inn was launched a decade ago in St. Martin’s Lane, a few hundred metres from 5 Strand. The brand has blossomed into a network of 18 popular hub hotels in Central London and Edinburgh and has become a proven model for bringing our affordable bedrooms into the most central, vibrant, and connected locations for our guests. “5 Strand is an excellent example of how we think the hub by Premier Inn brand can evolve in Central London. It also shows how we can use Whitbread’s strong balance sheet to acquire the best positioned, most accessible, and high-demand locations in the capital to grow our brands. With planning permission now secured we will move quickly to begin construction of the new hotel and deliver a true flagship location for our guests.” Whitbread has been investing heavily in London as it seeks to redress an under-supply of branded budget hotel bedrooms in the capital. The company currently offers its customers more than 100+ locations within the M25 with a further 12 locations in its secured development pipeline in the capital. It is also seeking new sites in 40 locations in inner and outer London for its Premier Inn and hub by Premier Inn brands. The consented 16,000 sq metre hotel at 5 Strand will be set over thirteen storeys with a generous ground-floor space fronting onto the Strand and Northumberland Street to the east of the site. Whitbread expects around 150 team will work at the hotel on opening, with recruitment focused within the City of Westminster and other inner London boroughs. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Liverpool City Council’s Planning Committee has approved Capital&Centric’s plans to convert the historic former Littlewoods building into a state-of-the-art film and TV campus. The proposals for the Council-owned site involve the restoration and repurposing of the 1930s Edge Lane structure, with submissions made by the social impact developers last year. The company has recently finished the enabling works, and securing this planning approval marks a significant milestone for the project. Subject to the next tranche of funding being agreed, the go ahead from the council will kick start the main restoration works, including two new 20,000 sq.ft studios for big budget productions, as well as spaces for offices, workshops, studio support facilities and an education facility. The site, which holds many memories for locals, will now be opened up and made accessible to surrounding communities. The former canteen which was housed in a barrel-vaulted hangar is to be transformed into a multi-purpose screening and performance zone, which will be for the use of occupiers on site, and then open up to the public out of hours. It’ll feature five small format cinema screens, an outdoor performance space and permanent foodhall. John Moffat, Joint Managing Director at Capital&Centric, said: “This is a huge moment for Littlewoods and for the city as we now have the green light to deliver the Hollywood of the North. Liverpool already has a reputation as a world-class filming destination. “The Littlewoods Project will take it to the next level, providing much-needed indoor studio space and support facilities. You can’t underestimate what this means for local people – me among them – not only seeing this iconic building brought back to life, but bolstering the city’s creative credentials and creating jobs and careers for generations. It’s the moment everyone’s been waiting for.” Capital&Centric is working with Liverpool City Council as freeholder of the site and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority as project funders. The Combined Authority, led by Mayor Steve Rotheram, has committed up to £17m to the project. It is anticipated that the Littlewoods Project will bring around 4,000 full-time equivalent jobs in the region’s creative sector. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Kier has commenced construction on a new healthcare facility, which is a component of the University of Huddersfield’s National Health Innovation Campus. The ground-breaking ceremony saw in attendance University of Huddersfield deputy vice-chancellor Tim Thornton, Calderdale and Huddersfield National Health (NHS) Service Trust chief executive Brendan Brown, and more. The facility, named the Emily Siddon Building, will span 6,800m² and is positioned near Huddersfield’s centre. Set to open by the end of next year, it will provide diagnostic services and foster the growth of local businesses. The Community Diagnostic Centre on the ground floor, a collaborative effort with Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, will offer an array of diagnostic tests, including MRI and CT scans, for the community. Architect AHR has designed the building to house clinical teaching facilities on its upper floors, also in partnership with the trust. These will support new courses in areas such as Diagnostic Radiography, directly linked to the work of the Community Diagnostic Centre. The collaboration extends to other partners for additional programmes, including a course in Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy. The Emily Siddon Building will further serve as a Health and Wellbeing Innovation Centre, providing an environment for local entrepreneurs, startups, and organisations. This initiative is backed by financial support from the West Yorkshire mayor and Combined Authority through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Kier aims to construct the building to achieve Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology Excellent standards and secure WELL Platinum certification. Last month, Kier was included in Wessex Water’s Capital Delivery Partner Framework for Asset Management Period 8. “Kier begins construction on University of Huddersfield’s healthcare facility” was originally created and published by World Construction Network, a GlobalData owned brand. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Vistry Group has teamed up with Cobalt Housing to deliver 66 homes at Lickers Lane in Whiston. The project is part of the broader Halsnead Garden Village masterplan in Knowsley, which aims to create 1,600 homes. In June, Vistry obtained planning approval for 120 homes at the site, which will feature a mix of three- and four-bedroom houses, along with twelve two-bedroom apartments. This is the first partnership between Vistry and Cobalt Housing, who will make the 66 homes available for affordable rent and Rent to Buy. The remaining 54 homes will be sold on the open market by Linden Homes. Halsnead Garden Village is the largest integrated housing and employment project in the Liverpool City Region. The development includes 1,600 new high-quality homes, new green spaces and new and improved community facilities that will be accessible to all. Gemma Hardy, Managing Director, Vistry Merseyside and Cheshire West: “We are absolutely committed to creating vibrant, mixed-tenure communities that address local housing needs. Partnering with Cobalt Housing at Lickers Lane allows us to provide high-quality, affordable homes within the Halsnead garden village masterplan. This development is set to significantly benefit the local area, offering a range of housing options that support sustainable community growth and inclusivity. We are proud to be contributing to such a transformative project.” Initial enabling works on site has begun and Vistry is expected to handover the new homes to Cobalt by 26 March. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
M&G Real Estate, in partnership with Wates Group, the UK’s leading family-owned development and construction company, celebrated the structural completion of ‘The Ribbon’, M&G’s state-of-the-art retail and commercial development on Oxford Street, London, with a ‘topping out’ ceremony. This time-honoured tradition marks the achievement of reaching the highest point of the building. Speeches at the ceremony were given by Jonny Wates – Director of Wates Group, Aaron Pope – Head of UK Offices Asset Management at M&G, Steve Holbrook – Regional Director at Wates Construction and Chris John – Head of Development Management at CBRE. Attendees of the event included members of the local council and senior executives from the organisations involved in the project. The Ribbon is due to be completed next year. Once finished, it will comprise 70,000 sq ft of Grade A office space and 21,000 sq ft of flagship retail space on the capital’s iconic Oxford Street. Designed by ORMS with CBRE as Development Managers, the office space benefits from generous floor to ceiling heights, luxury end-of-trip facilities, a client business lounge, smart enabled features and a wellness studio. The ninth floor includes a communal pavilion and a landscaped terrace with views across the London skyline. Jonny Wates, fourth generation family owner, Wates Group board director, and chair of the board sustainability committee said: “At Wates, we are passionately committed to ensuring sustainability across all our projects. We place a high value on the chance to work with clients and supply chain who share our beliefs and priorities We are proud that The Ribbon features a passive design, allowing the building to maximise the use of natural sources of heating, cooling, and ventilation to create optimal conditions inside without the need for polluting appliances – ultimately allowing the building to be net zero carbon in operation.” The building will also be built to exemplary environmental and wellbeing standards, targeting NABERs 5*, BREEAM Outstanding, Wiredscore Platinum, WELL Platinum, Smart Enabled, RESET Air (shell and core certification), and EPC Rating A. This project also demonstrates Wates commitment to social value in all the communities it serves. Through this project so far, Wates has supported 237 students through education programmes, employed 6 local people, and offered 7 work experience placements to equip individuals with the skills and confidence for future success in the construction sector. Through this project, Wates have spent £13k with social enterprises and have contributed over 80 hours of volunteering with causes in Westminster. Wates have also partnered with local charity, the Children’s Book Project, who provide free books to children who need them most. Over the last five years at sites across the country, Wates has donated nearly 50,000 books and The Ribbon is the latest donation point to be installed, with books being donated to local foodbanks, community groups, nurseries and women’s refuges. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bellway Kent has made significant progress on a new housing scheme within Kings Hill in Kent. The company is building a total of 542 new homes across five developments at Aviation Park, part of the Kings Hill regeneration scheme that has been transforming the former RAF West Malling site over the last three decades. The drone image shows how work is moving apace on the huge site where the housebuilder is set to deliver a total of 402 properties for the private market and 140 affordable homes available for local people through low-cost rent or shared ownership. To the right of the photo, the completed new homes within Liberty Quarter, off Park Drive, can be seen. Just seven of the 52 properties built here remain for sale. Meanwhile, the progress of construction within Blenheim Green can be seen around the linear park in the centre of the image. To date, 14 of the 140 homes planned within this development have been completed, with a further 18 reserved. Work also started this year at DeHavilland Place, off Jubilee Way, with the southern tip of this development visible in the top right-hand corner of the aerial image. Bellway is delivering 210 new homes here – comprising 126 homes for private sale and 84 affordable homes – with five reservations already made and the first residents due to move into their new homes in December. In addition, Bellway is building 70 apartments at Westland Place, off Abbey Wood Road, and 70 apartments at Gloster Chase, off Kings Hill Avenue, with 84 of these pre-sold for private rent and 56 being delivered as affordable housing. Mark Harrop, Sales Director at Bellway Kent, said: “This drone photograph illustrates perfectly the sheer scale of the project we are undertaking at Kings Hill and the good progress we have made so far. “Our building programme at Aviation Park involves the creation of vibrant new communities by constructing more than 500 new homes on a brownfield site. The mix of one and two-bedroom apartments and two to five-bedroom houses has been specifically designed to meet the needs of local people. “We are very proud to be playing a major role in this ambitious scheme and are thrilled to have won an award for our part in the Kings Hill regeneration project, winning the Best Regeneration Project category at the Evening Standard New Homes Awards in September 2023.” Aviation Park is part of the wider Kings Hill project, where more than 3,000 homes have been built or planned since work began in 1990, along with new commercial floor space, schools and shops. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A project in the centre of Sunderland has reached another key milestone. Plans for the re-development of the former Sunderland Civic Centre building were revealed in March 2021, as part of the council’s move to new premises on the former Vaux site, just north of the city centre, in November that year. Permission was granted to Vistry North East, part of the Vistry Group, to replace the old 1960’s buildings with a vibrant city centre community of 265 homes in April 2022. Demolition started in October and was completed in February of this year, with the construction of the new West Park Quarter moving forward at pace. Now, the first of the high-quality new properties have been released for sale under the Linden Homes brand. They include a selection of three and four bedroom homes offering choice for both first time buyers or those looking for a larger, family home close to the city centre and with access to scenic and accessible open green spaces. Sean Egan, Managing Director with Vistry North East, said: “This is a flagship project for our business and we are delighted to now be in a position to release the first properties for sale. We expect the first customers will be moving in later this year and at the start of 2025. “A complex scheme, working in close partnership with Sunderland City Council, we’ve been able to support the move to Riverside Sunderland’s City Hall and unlock the potential of the old civic site in a way that will re-energise this part of the city centre. “West Park Quarter is delivering homes for sale, private rent and affordable rent and our mixed tenure approach has enabled us to deliver the new homes at pace. The properties will be set around public, open green spaces and will offer excellent links to both the high street and to local transport infrastructure. By improving the choice and standard of new homes in the centre of Sunderland, we aim to create a vibrant community for people to live in and enjoy.” Part of the project will see works to recreate Saint George’s Square – bomb damaged during the Second World War and lost to redevelopment in the 60s – with the Grade II listed Saint George’s House as the focal point. The architecture and streetscapes being constructed have been planned to be sensitive to existing structures, the park side location and the Ashbrooke Conservation Area. The development is also incorporating plenty of cycling and pedestrian links, improving public access to and from the city centre. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Developer Weston Homes has finalised the acquisition of the historic Sergeants’ Mess in Deepcut, Surrey. This Edwardian building, rich in military history, is set to be transformed into a £32.5 million development featuring 70 homes. The project will include a blend of converted spaces and new builds, offering both market sale and shared ownership options. Situated on Bellew Road at the former Princess Royal Barracks, the Sergeants’ Mess sits on a 4.25-acre plot within a 6.23-acre site. The three-story building, designed by architect W.A. Ross and completed in 1938, boasts a brick façade, classical Portland stone entrance portico, dormer roof, and prominent brick chimneys. Weston Homes plans to convert and develop the site to provide 70 converted and newly built homes, comprising 65 market sale and 5 shared ownership homes. The main Sergeants’ Mess building will be converted into 33 apartments, whilst in the extensive grounds Weston Homes will build a premium collection of new two, three, four and five-bedroom homes, each with private gardens. Princess Royal Barracks, which comprises 114 hectares, was used for military training since the late 19th century. It is now being transformed into a new neighbourhood, Mindenhurst, providing housing, a primary school, amenities, and extensive outside space. Skanska is leading the masterplan development. The village of Deepcut is named for the deep excavations dug for the construction of the Basingstoke Canal during the 18th century. There are direct trains from nearby Frimley station to London Waterloo in 1 hour 20 minutes and nearby Farnborough station to London Waterloo in 35 minutes. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
