developers

London School of Economics Celebrates Milestone

A project milestone has been achieved by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) on its new Marshall Building. After the demolition of the existing structure at 44 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, Mace commenced construction work on the redevelopment project. In order to improve the impact, effectiveness and appeal

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Cameron Butcher Wins House Build Project

Cameron Butcher has been awarded a unique house build project to create 33 luxury homes in the centre of the West Midlands. The developments is modern and highly individualised, mixing six different traditional design features with all the contemporary conveniences one would expect in homes of this calibre. Sizeable aluminium framed

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STO PROVES TO BE THE PERFECT INGREDIENT FOR MAJOR RESTAURANT PROJECT

An acoustic attenuation solution provided by Sto has helped create a new acoustic environment at a leading London restaurant. The StoSilent Distance system has been installed at Lyle’s – a restaurant that is quickly becoming recognized as one of most prestigious establishments of its kind in the capital. Located in

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Post Office Redeveloped Into Apartments

A former post office building in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter will be redeveloped into a new state-of-the-art apartment complex. The Lionel House build-to-rent (BTR) scheme will comprise 156 one-bedroom, 90 two-bedroom and 13 three-bedroom apartments. Moreover, the 14-storey building will also include landscaped roof terraces, ground floor communal areas for residents, a

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Second Tower at Birmingham Development Topped Out

Birmingham’s latest apartment development, The Bank, has had its second tower topped out. Contractor Wates has begun work to fit out the interior of the building, located between Broad Street and Brindleyplace, following the completion of the structure. “This topping out ceremony is the latest proof that Birmingham is a

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Deadline Approaching for Bolton Development

Following two successful drop-in sessions, the deadline for views on a £150 million development in Bolton’s Church Wharf is fast approaching. Muse Developments proposes to build around 320 homes on the Canary Wharf site, located alongside the River Croal and between St Peters Way (A666), Bank Street, Manor Street and

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GBE Converge Appointed at York Community Stadium Project

GBE Converge have been appointed by SES (Engineering Services) to design and install the Security systems for the new £40m York Community Stadium and Leisure Complex. The scheme is an exciting public and private funded mixed-use destination for York and will provide a new 8,000 capacity home for York City

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Latest Issue
Issue 330 : Jul 2025

developers

London School of Economics Celebrates Milestone

A project milestone has been achieved by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) on its new Marshall Building. After the demolition of the existing structure at 44 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, Mace commenced construction work on the redevelopment project. In order to improve the impact, effectiveness and appeal of private contributions to the public good, the new building will contain The Marshall Institute for Philanthropy and Social Entrepreneurship, founded by Sir Thomas Hughes-Hallett and Sir Paul Marshall. The new building will also house the academic departments of Accounting, Finance and Management, teaching facilities, as well as sports and arts rehearsal facilities including a Sports England standard multi-purpose sports hall for use by staff and students. “This is a real milestone for the project, and we look forward to working with Mace over the next two years to turn our plans for the Marshall Building into reality. The demolition of the existing buildings has gone very well, and our success to date is a reflection of all of the hard work put into the project so far by the entire team,” said Kenneth Kinsella, Director of Capital Development for LSE. This is the second collaboration between Mace and LSE, which have previously worked on the Centre Buildings Redevelopment, due to be completed this year. “Over the last four years we have built a fantastic working relationship with LSE, first with the redevelopment of the Centre Buildings and now with the Marshall Building. They are a fantastic client, always pushing us to be more ambitious; and we are extremely pleased that they have chosen Mace to deliver the second phase of this very important project. The Marshall Building will be an iconic addition to the LSE’s campus, and we have been working closely with the architects, Grafton, to bring this ground-breaking design to life,” added Terry Spraggett, Managing Director of Public Sector Construction for Mace. The Marshall Building project is expected to be completed in 2021.

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Cameron Butcher Wins House Build Project

Cameron Butcher has been awarded a unique house build project to create 33 luxury homes in the centre of the West Midlands. The developments is modern and highly individualised, mixing six different traditional design features with all the contemporary conveniences one would expect in homes of this calibre. Sizeable aluminium framed windows allow natural light to pour into the living areas, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Many other premium internal features are also included, such as stylish carpets; an integrated alarm and CCTV system that can be controlled via an App; tile and wood laminate flooring; underfloor heating throughout; tailored wardrobes; procelanosa kitchens with Krion worktops; NEFF appliances; and automated heating, lighting and blinds that can be remotely controlled with an App. “Our desire to build homes that will stand the test of time and still look fantastic for years to come stems from our guiding principle. A principle that emphasises exceptional design and superior craftsmanship, all the while ensuring each home ticks boxes for value and location,” said Gulraiz Sidique of Architecture and Interior Design. Cameron Butcher are devoted and reliable house builders, bringing with them over 30 years of experience working on house building projects of varying sizes and complexities. Project manager Shaun Bergan oversees all matters and is responsible for maintaining a high standard of quality across each of the luxury homes. Shaun is aided by site manager Jon Taylor and site assistant Carmen Bolea – two staff members who are dedicated to their client’s needs and committed to creating homes that elevate their owner’s quality of life, providing an unparalleled living experience in the West Midlands in the process. “We believe that quality should never be compromised and as house builders undertake stringent control checks and monitor the entire building process; from the moment we break ground right up until the final piece is put in place,” commented Steven Butcher MD of Cameron Butcher.

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STO PROVES TO BE THE PERFECT INGREDIENT FOR MAJOR RESTAURANT PROJECT

An acoustic attenuation solution provided by Sto has helped create a new acoustic environment at a leading London restaurant. The StoSilent Distance system has been installed at Lyle’s – a restaurant that is quickly becoming recognized as one of most prestigious establishments of its kind in the capital. Located in the historic refurbished Tea Building in Shoreditch, Lyle’s frontage consists of original individual glazed windows, which lead into a clean modern, large open plan area.  Within this area there are exposed HVAC services below the soffit, a bar space and an open kitchen experience. “Although the interior is clean, light and modern and gives a feeling of space, unfortunately all the original features of the building, i.e. glazed tiles to the walls, original concrete columns and polished concrete floors are hard and reflective and only add to the acoustic conundrum with attenuation, reverberation and speech clarity,” explains Sto’s Technical Consultant for Acoustics, Mike Wallace.  “Add to the mix the open kitchen and bar, mood music and hard wooden tables and chairs, and it was vital that the correct acoustic balance was achieved. “For a restaurant, it’s important to create the correct balance. You want the area to have a good background atmosphere, and at the same time, the customers need to be able to hold conversations without straining to hear, where speech is intelligible. This is when good all-round acoustic design becomes a vital element within the space. To achieve this, we were asked to provide a Class B solution, which translates to 0.8 and 0.85 as a weighted sound absorption coefficiency.” The Sto Silent Distance 115 system was chosen to achieve this balance and Sto worked closely with Billy Hookway of Trishna Group to provide the optimum design. The Sto Silent Distance 115 system allows the creation of seamless, sound-absorbent walls and ceilings up to 200 m², allowing inclined planes, sharp and consistent joints, bulkheads and floating return bulkheads. In line with the aspiration of the client wishing to have a modern, clean, uncluttered aesthetic, it was natural for Lyles to choose the Sto Silent Distance system. The interior soffit consisted of existing pre-constructed square concrete coffers, and the client wished to retain these, so Sto designed the individual canopies to be tight to the soffit and give the impression of height and depth, and to accentuate and express the natural concrete coffers. The use of the Sto SW150 minimal void solution, in conjunction with the 25mm 115 board, provided the perfect balance in achieving the all-important acoustic design and the aesthetic requirements. Installation of the system was managed by Craft Interior, a trained Sto Acoustic installer. “The overall installation was finished with Sto Silent Décor M in white, to create an eye-catching finish that is very in-keeping with the clean and minimalist design of the restaurant’s interior,” adds Graham Chadwick of Craft Interior.  “The StoSilent Décor M is spray-applied and can be tinted to match a wide range of shades from the StoColor system”. The final effect has been extremely successful, with Lyle’s diners able to enjoy their meal in surroundings that are attractive and contemporary from both a visual and acoustic viewpoint. Picture caption: A StoSilent Distance acoustic attenuation solution has helped create a new acoustic environment at this leading London restaurant. Picture courtesy of Adam Luszniak Photography

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L&Q acts to address construction industry’s image problem following startling new research

Less than one in ten young people would consider a career in construction, even though more than half are interested in subjects that qualify them for the industry, new research by L&Q has revealed. L&Q, one of the UK’s largest housing associations and developers, surveyed 1,095 16-18 year-olds about their career aspirations. Around 50 per cent of the young people said that they were interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). However, only nine per cent stated that they would consider a career in housebuilding. The Construction Industry Training Board estimates that 230,000 new recruits will be needed by 2020 to support construction growth and account for an ageing workforce. There are 167 different careers in construction, and the built environment is the second biggest employer in the country after the NHS. Around half of all construction careers require degrees in a STEM subjects. However, the new research revealed that the industry was perceived as challenging and unexciting by students. The findings were revealed today as L&Q launched its new schools programme aimed at increasing the number of young people joining the construction industry by raising awareness of the wide variety of jobs available. Learning to Succeed is a £1 million programme that will seek to address the sector’s image issues by offering free STEM education lessons and careers advice to 30 schools in 12 London boroughs. The programme is being developed and delivered in partnership with Construction Youth Trust, the construction industry’s youth charity. Schools became obliged to provide weekly careers advice to all pupils in 2018, although no extra funds have been allocated. L&Q is the first housing association in the country to offer careers advice and assistance of this kind. The survey also revealed: Science is the most popular school subject, closely followed by maths Young people cited concerns that construction wasn’t an exciting field to work in or they thought they wouldn’t be good at it as reasons for their lack of interest However, for the nine per cent who were interested in construction, the “excitement” of the field was the biggest factor for their interest Exactly 40 per cent of young people feared they wouldn’t be good at the job. To address this, L&Q is promoting the benefits of apprenticeships where people are paid to learn. The results suggested that having an exciting career was more important than money to the majority of young people, in our survey the young people who did want to work in construction said they were motivated by excitement rather than money Matthew Corbett, Director of the L&Q Foundation, said: “Construction isn’t just about hard hats and steel capped boots, it’s also about innovation, technology, great design, communities and placemaking. If we’re going to solve our housing crisis, then we need our young people to help – but first we need to increase interest and awareness of the opportunities the industry has to offer. “The average age of a tradesman on a site is now 45-years-old. And Brexit is looming. We’ve got a serious amount of work to do in promoting ourselves if we’re ever going to fill the substantial gaps in our skills base and make the industry more appealing to younger people.” Construction Youth Trust Director, Carol Lynch, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with L&Q to develop and deliver the Learning to Succeed programme. It is through the development of programmes like Learning to Succeed that we can challenge the negative misperceptions of the construction industry and inspire young people to choose a career from amongst the amazing breadth of roles available within the sector.”

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Post Office Redeveloped Into Apartments

A former post office building in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter will be redeveloped into a new state-of-the-art apartment complex. The Lionel House build-to-rent (BTR) scheme will comprise 156 one-bedroom, 90 two-bedroom and 13 three-bedroom apartments. Moreover, the 14-storey building will also include landscaped roof terraces, ground floor communal areas for residents, a 17-space car park and cycle storage for every apartment. Construction work will begin on the site in June 2019, with plans to have the development ready for occupation by summer 2021. “Another contract win in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter brings our total current multi-room projects to eight, and we always feel fortunate to work with new clients who have recognised our enthusiasm and expertise. We are looking forward to commencing this 14-storey, 259 apartment scheme later in the year,” said Mark Jones, Winvic Construction’s Director of Multi-room, the company that landed the contract. The project is being delivered on behalf of Lionel House Developments Ltd and Aberdeen Standard Investments (ASI). “The location, on the edge of both the vibrant Jewellery Quarter and the central business areas, make this a fantastic location for build-to-rent. We’re enthused about the deal, as it represents ASI’s first UK investment for its pan-European ASPER fund, but also because we’re working with Stamford Property Developments and Winvic, two experienced and well respected companies in the sector,” added ASI’s Ed Crockett.

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Construction students help build 68 new homes for the ex-service community

More than fifty students from Carshalton College and Merton College have taken up industry placements with national contractor United Living, to help build 68 new homes for the ex-service community. Since November last year, the construction site at Rhodes Moorhouse Court in Morden has had support from Level 2 and Level 3 students who are learning construction skills at the College’s Merton Campus. They have taken up placements across a range of disciplines including plumbing, carpentry, electrical, drylining, bricklaying and plastering. The placements are being delivered and managed by United Living in partnership with Haig Housing Trust.  Level 1 students based at South Thames College have also participated in site visits to the housing development and will attend an on-site presentation about opportunities in the construction industry. Farhan Mohamed, senior site manager at United Living, said: “It’s an absolute pleasure to provide these young people with the support and encouragement to learn new skills and pursue a career in construction.  Our team of professionals are enjoying sharing their own knowledge and experience, which will hopefully play a part in encouraging this next generation into the sector and ensure the construction industry continues to flourish and grow.” Brigadier James Richardson, chief executive of Haig Housing Trust, said: “We’re delighted that this major development project on our Morden estate not only delivers 68 much needed new homes for Veterans and their families but has also benefited students from our neighbouring College. Aside from the skills they gain it also reflects the importance of the Armed Forces Covenant in bringing Veterans and local communities closer together.” Bryan Smyth, who is studying for a Level 3 diploma in electrical installation, said: “I’ve had a fantastic time here, working with the team at United Living to gain some experience and understand what it’s actually like to work on a construction site. I’ve gained a lot of new skills and I want to thank them for this opportunity.” Nathan Williams, who is studying bricklaying, said “My experiences working on this site were amazing. Everyone was friendly and welcoming and I’ve genuinely learnt loads of new skills. I hope to come back to help with the completion of the project.”

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Second Tower at Birmingham Development Topped Out

Birmingham’s latest apartment development, The Bank, has had its second tower topped out. Contractor Wates has begun work to fit out the interior of the building, located between Broad Street and Brindleyplace, following the completion of the structure. “This topping out ceremony is the latest proof that Birmingham is a city quite literally on the up. Our city skyline is being transformed and The Bank is one of the exciting developments helping to make Birmingham an even better place to live, work and invest,” commented Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council, Brigid Jones. Owned by Aprirose, The Bank is being developed by Regal Property Group, funded by Aprirose and designed by architect Glancy Nicholls. It consists of two residential towers that contain a total of 406 apartments. The first tower comprises 189 studio, one and two-bedroom properties, reaching 22-storeys, and is now 96% sold. It was completed in summer 2018. Meanwhile, the second tower at The Bank is 33-storeys high and will comprise 217 luxury apartments, including one, two and three-bedroom homes. It will be one of only two residential skyscrapers to measure over 100 metres tall in the city and is expected to complete by the end of 2019. “The topping out of the second tower at The Bank is a significant milestone in the regeneration of this important part of the city and my thanks go to our project team for the hard work and unrelenting commitment to ensure the rapid progress and excellent quality of this development,” commented John Carlin, Managing Director, Wates Construction Midlands. Moreover, tenants will also have access to a private gym, residents lounge and coffee bar, a private kitchen and dining room, on-site cycle storage and secure and private outdoor green space. “As Birmingham continues to thrive as the UK’s second City, schemes such as The Bank are integral to providing quality housing as the business scene continues to bloom and attract talent to the city centre. As The Bank development nears completion we look forward to it becoming not only an iconic addition to the skyline but a part of the fabric of Birmingham. The scheme represents not only a strong investment for Aprirose into a key business destination but a mark of our commitment to Birmingham’s continued growth,” concluded Manish Gudka, CEO, Aprirose.

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Deadline Approaching for Bolton Development

Following two successful drop-in sessions, the deadline for views on a £150 million development in Bolton’s Church Wharf is fast approaching. Muse Developments proposes to build around 320 homes on the Canary Wharf site, located alongside the River Croal and between St Peters Way (A666), Bank Street, Manor Street and Folds Road. “Having over 300 local residents come and engage with our consultation on Church Wharf is very encouraging. Church Wharf is a really important development for Bolton. It’s the first site to come forward under the Council’s ambitious town centre strategy and we are grateful for everyone who has shared their views on the proposals with us. The consultation period remains open, and I would encourage local residents who are yet to have their say on Church Wharf to provide feedback on the project website,” commented David Burkinshaw of Muse Developments. Ranging from one to four bedrooms, the new homes will include townhouses and apartments aimed at young people, first-time buyers and families. Further plans for the site include a new hotel, commercial offices and leisure and retail opportunities, such as a café, convenience store or bar/restaurant. The development will help improve the area around the river, with plans also in place to construct a new footbridge linking the site to Bank Street. Hundreds of local residents viewed the plans at the public sessions, as part of a consultation process, with over 95% of visitors who completed feedback forms at the drop-in event having said they agreed with plans to develop Church Wharf. “We are delighted with how the consultation has gone and the response from the community,” said Councillor Ebrahim Adia, Deputy Leader of Bolton Council. “This is the first major scheme in our masterplan where developers have revealed detailed proposals for the site. The Church Wharf plans will transform a key gateway into Bolton that needs attention and care, and we are backing the scheme through our wider £100 million investment.” Local residents can still have their say on the consultation website, with the consultation remaining open until Friday 8th February.

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GBE Converge Appointed at York Community Stadium Project

GBE Converge have been appointed by SES (Engineering Services) to design and install the Security systems for the new £40m York Community Stadium and Leisure Complex. The scheme is an exciting public and private funded mixed-use destination for York and will provide a new 8,000 capacity home for York City Football Club and York City Knights RLFC. It will also offer a swimming pool, fitness and active play facilities, as well as a new community hub providing health and wellbeing services and commercial leisure uses for the city and beyond. GBE Converge will be working with partners Honeywell for Intruder Detection Systems, HIK Vison for CCTV, and xPLAN for Access Control ensuring the facility has a fully integrated, bespoke and future-proofed security solution. GBE Converge are scheduled to complete their work in May 2019 with the complex opening during the summer. Andy Westgarth, GBE Converge’s Business Development Manager commented “We are delighted to be working with our long-standing client SES (Engineering Services) and to be part of this exciting project that will serve as a real asset to the York community”.

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Last chance to snap up luxury waterside apartments in one of the UK’s safest counties

An iconic luxury waterside development in Lincoln is down to its last few apartments as 84% of dwellings are sold. The One The Brayford development from Jackson Living, part of Jackson & Jackson Developments, resides on the well-lit Brayford waterfront in the heart of Lincoln and boasts panoramic views of the marina, Lincoln Cathedral and Lincoln Castle. Located in the top five safest counties to live in England and Wales according to a recent ONS report, the development has high standards of security with a concierge service, monitored CCTV and a private car park for residents. Only 16 properties remain for sale at the development and these include one, two and three- bedroom apartments across all floors as well luxury double floor penthouses, with prices starting from £185,000. The premier location has so far attracted residents from all over the world and benefits from a central city location just a six-minute walk from Lincoln’s High Street. Lincolnshire was ranked in the top five safest UK counties and Lincoln city centre is number 14 in the UK’s most popular cities according to a recent YouGov report. With developments such as the £70 million regeneration of Lincoln’s Cornhill Quarter, the city is set to see significant growth in the future. Dominik Jackson director at Jackson & Jackson Developments: “As Lincolnshire-based developers, we are very proud that our county has been ranked one of the safest places to live in the UK. People from outside the county are choosing to move into Lincoln with its reputation for safety, its historical significance and its streetscape with plenty of vibrant amenities on offer. “One The Brayford includes state-of-the-art security including monitored CCTV, secure parking and a concierge service. Coupled with a stunning waterfront location and close proximity to the High Street – the development is an ideal choice for city centre living.” Homes are available through local agent Pygott & Crone and for more information visit One The Brayford.

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