MCI Developments, a subsidiary of the national top 10 housebuilder Keepmoat, is celebrating after four of its employees were awarded seven coveted construction industry accolades in just 12 months. The team of individuals – who all work as site managers for MCI Developments across the North West – received Quality
Over £12 million has been secured for a new mixed use regeneration scheme in Coventry. An additional £12.24 million has been approved by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to unlock a ‘strategically important’ housing development. The money will be used to unlock the Coventry City Centre South scheme, and
The University of South Wales has selected BAM to develop a new academic building at the Treforest Campus in Pontypridd. The proposed new academic building will provide teaching, research, and support space for Computing, Engineering, and Technology. BAM will help to develop the detailed designs for the building which is
A major project to transform Ancoats Green in Manchester has begun. The work is to develop a much-improved city centre park space as part of the closing chapter of the regeneration of Ancoats that commenced more than 20 years ago. The Green will act as a new focal point for
Cambridgeshire County Council has allocated £500,000 to redevelop East Barnwell Library on Newmarket Road. Councillors on the Assets & Procurement Committee agreed to sell the land where the dated single storey library is based and the community centre space to the city council in support of the community redevelopment scheme.
Construction firm GRAHAM has been awarded a £70 million contract by property developer Bricks Group for the two-stage design and build Bendigo Building project in Nottingham. Operated by Bricks’ acclaimed management platform ‘true student,’ the development marks a noteworthy advancement in the realm of purpose-built student accommodation in Nottingham and
Improvement works to Romano Park in Ingleby Barwick have been completed, including a revamped play area with a unique, ‘dragon fort’ feature, which is the first of its kind. The bespoke play equipment includes the unique dragon fort and climbing ‘bloqx’ that were developed with input from local schoolchildren and
Plans have been approved to redevelop Catterick Garrison town centre in a move aimed at bringing jobs and vital new facilities for local communities as well as military personnel on one of England’s largest Army bases. Permission to build a new community and enterprise building and a multi-use events space
Construction work has started on the Livv Homes first affordable housing scheme in Warrington, Cheshire. The £5.2 million Parkside Place development on Wilderspool Causeway is set to support local people onto the property ladder with 29 apartments for Rent to Buy. Located within a predominately residential area along Wilderspool Causeway,
HG Construction has been named as the main contractor on a new purpose-built student accommodation scheme for Studio Hive in Bristol. Silverthorne Lane Plot 6 will comprise 706 student rooms including cluster bedrooms and studio rooms along with amenity spaces. The development will form an important part of the regeneration
MCI Developments, a subsidiary of the national top 10 housebuilder Keepmoat, is celebrating after four of its employees were awarded seven coveted construction industry accolades in just 12 months. The team of individuals – who all work as site managers for MCI Developments across the North West – received Quality on Site accolades in the Premier Guarantee Excellence Awards, which are handed out each month in recognition of developers who consistently deliver quality workmanship and site management. Award winners Mark King, Dan Cook, Jon Baldwin and Pete McGuinness manage MCI Developments sites in Leigh, Ellesmere Port, Oldham and St. Helens. Mark was presented with three awards, Dan received two and Jon and Pete were awarded one each. The business, which delivers high quality affordable homes, also picked up the ‘Best Affordable Housing Scheme in the UK’ gong in the Premier Guarantee Excellence Awards for its Bridgwater Street site in Leigh, which is managed by Mark King. This award is judged by an independent panel of experts, who assess sites up and down the country. In addition to the award wins, MCI Developments has also recently been shortlisted for a duo of top industry accolades – ‘Best Affordable Housing Site Under £10 million’ in the Insider Housing Awards and ‘Homebuilder of the Year – Independent’ at the Affordable Housing Awards. Commenting on the award wins, Craig Murphy, Regional Managing Director at MCI Developments, said: “I’m extremely proud of the team who have received the ‘Quality on Site’ awards. These accolades recognise the quality, rigorous health and safety regulations and client satisfaction that everyone at MCI Development strives to achieve, day in and day out. The fact that seven awards have been picked up by four employees in just 12 months is a testament to the commitment, tenacity and hard work of our team to deliver the best possible homes for our partners. “We focus on creating high-quality, sustainable homes that our clients are proud of and from which they want to create thriving communities. We are proud to play a part in creating future homes for so many people.’’ MCI Developments is a specialist in land acquisition and has established relationships with strategic organisations including land agents, private landowners and the public sector. Its aim is to deliver affordable, quality, energy-efficient and sustainable housing alongside its partners in the North West to a large range of specifications, from smaller schemes to large, mixed-use projects. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Over £12 million has been secured for a new mixed use regeneration scheme in Coventry. An additional £12.24 million has been approved by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to unlock a ‘strategically important’ housing development. The money will be used to unlock the Coventry City Centre South scheme, and help transform outdated areas of the city, including Bull Yard, Shelton Square, City Arcade, and Hertford Street. It brings the WMCA’s total funding for City Centre South to £113 million – the biggest investment the combined authority has made to date into a single regeneration scheme. Coventry City Council is contributing £32 million. The development, which covers 6.3 hectares of land within the city centre, includes 1,575 new homes. Of the 1,575 homes, at least 20% will be classified as affordable housing. New retail and leisure spaces, a community health centre and potential for a hotel with 150 rooms in the second phase also make up the regeneration plans. The project, considered a strategically important housing scheme, will start in 2024 and complete in stages, with the first homes expected to be occupied from 2027. The first phase completion is expected to be 2031. Developers The Hill Group and Shearer Property Group are working in partnership with Coventry City Council and the WMCA as the developers for the regeneration project. City Centre South has long been an aspiration of Coventry City Council with the project seen as a ‘strategic priority’ for the WMCA. The project was first conceived in 2015, with the development receiving planning approval from Coventry City Council in January 2022. A further detailed planning consent is anticipated by Spring 2024. The additional £12.24 million is needed due to increased costs resulting from the revised Government Building Regulations and Building Safety Act. The project has previously benefited from a commitment to provide £98.75 million from the WMCA, with £21 million drawn to date which has been used to acquire existing properties, undertake initial demolition work, and fund planning costs. The WMCA has already invested £39.4 million in the regeneration of Coventry railway station and £51.2 million into Friargate, one of the largest mixed-use developments in the Midlands. Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and Chair of the WMCA, said: “This is an exciting time for Coventry as this brownfield redevelopment represents a landmark investment and significant regeneration opportunity – the likes of which this city has not seen for decades. “The City Centre South scheme is proof that the Deeper Devolution Deal – agreed with Government in March 2023 – is delivering results on the ground by empowering us with the autonomy to align with the local needs of Coventry residents with new apartments and office spaces. “It’s great to see a vibrant new district come to life in this historic part of the city and I’m looking forward to visiting it once completed.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The University of South Wales has selected BAM to develop a new academic building at the Treforest Campus in Pontypridd. The proposed new academic building will provide teaching, research, and support space for Computing, Engineering, and Technology. BAM will help to develop the detailed designs for the building which is scheduled to begin construction later this year. A design team from Stride Treglown Architects and Arup engineers has been working with the University to develop the plans, which have been formally submitted to be considered for planning permission. BAM will work with the University and the design team as part of the final design stage to draw up the detailed plans. The proposed building will contain more than 40 new teaching, learning and research spaces, including electronics and hydraulics labs, a flight simulator, a robotics lab, clean and industrial research spaces, collaborative teaching spaces, as well as virtual reality capability, and exhibition spaces. One of the key principles of the building will be to promote interdisciplinary working by making the activities that are taking place visible and accessible. A focus point for this will be new ‘makerspaces’ which will bring low-risk activity out into central areas, where students can create and innovate, with access to equipment to complete their activities. Justin Price, Construction Director at BAM, said: “As we embark upon this construction project we have the chance to build something really special at the University of South Wales. BAM’s passion for innovation and commitment to excellence means we’re looking forward to creating a space that not only meets the University’s expectations but exceeds them. The COMET project is an exciting opportunity for us to showcase our expertise and deliver a masterpiece that will stand the test of time. The construction of the new building also enables us to offer a fantastic learning opportunity for students at the University of South Wales. BAM will work with University staff and students to provide unique opportunities on the project, ensuring we leave behind a positive legacy as well as an outstanding new building.” Subject to the planning permission being granted, the building will be constructed on vacant land at the campus following the demolition of two buildings in recent years. Construction of the building will take approximately two years to complete. It is hoped that construction will commence later in 2024. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A major project to transform Ancoats Green in Manchester has begun. The work is to develop a much-improved city centre park space as part of the closing chapter of the regeneration of Ancoats that commenced more than 20 years ago. The Green will act as a new focal point for the area as part of a wider public realm investment in Ancoats that will celebrate the industrial and manufacturing heritage of this part of the city centre. The funds are provided through Homes England and Greater Manchester Combined Authority to create the necessary infrastructure within which 1,500 new homes will be brought forward. The project will include new walking and cycling routes to encourage active travel through the neighbourhood, significant new planting – including new wildflower areas and wetland planting – and a range of new tress that will add colour throughout the year. Community is a central tenet of the investment creating high quality multi-functional green space for existing and future generations, including new play areas with accessible equipment, open grassed areas, generous footpaths and space for hosting small events. As a nod to the history of the site, once central to the flint glass works district of Ancoats, the entrances to the space will include design features that reference its industrial past. The Green will also create a seamless route from the Council’s This City affordable housing scheme on Rodney Street (One Ancoats Green) from north Manchester through to the new Mobility Hub and city centre beyond. Supporting wildlife has also been a key consideration and so increasing biodiversity to encourage new species to the Green through planting of native and fruit trees – including an avenue of cherry trees – as well as the wildflower and wetland areas. The majority of the existing trees will be retained and any that do need to be removed due to age or disease will be replaced 2:1.The wider investment in the green spaces and public realm is part of the third and final phase of the regeneration of Ancoats, which will also see investment at Jersey Green (to commence 2025) and public realm on Prussia Street (to commence in 2027). The aim is to create high quality public green spaces that create a strong sense of place and help create a low-traffic, pedestrian first neighbourhood and underpin the development of 1,500 new homes in this part of Ancoats, as well as the creation of a new Mobility Hub. Homes England has committed £28.1m to the overall project – along with the Mobility Hub – which, combined with the £4.7m allocated by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority through the Brownfield Housing Fund, brings the total budget to £32.7m. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Cambridgeshire County Council has allocated £500,000 to redevelop East Barnwell Library on Newmarket Road. Councillors on the Assets & Procurement Committee agreed to sell the land where the dated single storey library is based and the community centre space to the city council in support of the community redevelopment scheme. It is anticipated that the project will deliver significant social and economic benefits to the area in line with the county council ambition to ensure places and communities prosper. In return, the county council will be given a 125 year peppercorn lease on space in the new building to create a new library. Depending on planning permission, which has already been applied for by the city council, the new library could open as soon as 2026. Under the proposals, the library site would move across the road to a more prominent position next to Newmarket Road, with a new shared entrance for the community centre and library next to a pocket park. As well as providing a greener, more attractive setting, the shared space will mean key library functions like book collection and returns can remain open for longer. The area, known as Site 1 in the plans, will also be home to a new pre-school, which will be leased to the county council. The location is allocated as a mixed-use development in the city’s Local Plan and will also include 59 new homes. The community centre will be owned by the city council who will choose an operator to run the facility. The bowls club currently on the site, will be relocated to the Abbey Leisure Complex where a new green, pavilion and multi-use games area will be created. Across the first two sites, which will be developed in phases, the city council proposes 120 new affordable homes for social or intermediate rent, with four new homes purpose built for people with disabilities. The redevelopment programme is subject to funding from Homes England. The relocation means the community centre and library can remain open throughout the building works, minimising the time the library service will be unavailable to the time needed to transfer books, computers and materials to the new building. Detailed plans for the location of the existing community centre will be outlined in a separate planning application. The existing library is single-glazed with a flat roof and static shelfing. The new building, built to modern building regulations, will be much more sustainable, benefiting from greater energy efficiency and heated via an air source heat pump. It is anticipated that the new library facilities will include flexible shelving units, which can be moved to create space for events like Storytime and Rhymetime and will offer more meeting spaces and study bays than currently available at the existing library. There will also be accessible public toilets and changing facilities provided on site. The details of the library layout will be subject to engagement with the local community closer to the time. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction firm GRAHAM has been awarded a £70 million contract by property developer Bricks Group for the two-stage design and build Bendigo Building project in Nottingham. Operated by Bricks’ acclaimed management platform ‘true student,’ the development marks a noteworthy advancement in the realm of purpose-built student accommodation in Nottingham and adds to true student’s impressive brand portfolio of over 7,000 beds across the UK’s student market. Originally built in the late 1960s, the Bendigo Building served as a Royal Mail Sorting office. After nearly two decades of vacancy, the redevelopment will bring new vibrancy to the area and high-end accommodation to students, offering great connectivity to Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham train station and high street – all less than half a mile away. ‘True Nottingham’ – a 661-bed development, offers a compelling variety of living options including beautifully designed studios and four, five and six en-suite bedroom apartments. As with all true student sites, the luxury all-inclusive accommodation will be fitted out to exceptional specification, providing amenities such as the festival zone, multi-media/games lounge, state-of-the-art gym with personal trainers plus fully landscaped garden with outdoor seating areas, car parking and cycle storage. Two ground-floor commercial units will provide additional amenities for the benefit of both students and the wider community. GRAHAM will work in collaboration with the consultancy team, including Bricks Development team, Abacus as Employer’s Agent and Principal Designer, KKA Limited as Architect, HSP Consulting as Civil & Structural Engineer and ME7 as Mechanical & Electrical Engineer. Ronan Hughes, Regional Director at GRAHAM, said: “We are delighted to be continuing our relationship with Bricks Group to deliver this development that represents a significant investment in student accommodation, contributing to the growth and vibrancy of Nottingham. We have similar experience in delivering major projects in the city and look forward to transforming an unused space into a thriving new community for Nottingham’s student population.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Improvement works to Romano Park in Ingleby Barwick have been completed, including a revamped play area with a unique, ‘dragon fort’ feature, which is the first of its kind. The bespoke play equipment includes the unique dragon fort and climbing ‘bloqx’ that were developed with input from local schoolchildren and members of the public. Young people and the Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees marked the completion of the installation of the items at the play park on Thursday (11 JAN) to officially open the new equipment. The children, from nearby Barley Fields Primary School in Ingleby Barwick, were on the site to use the dragon fort for the first time. The dragon’s features include a climbing wall, net and rock climber, a slide, balancing discs and intricate play panels. Other additions to the playpark include a new basket swing and repairs and replacement of existing items in the play area. In line with the Council’s ambition to make the Borough’s parks more inclusive for as many families as possible, the park also includes three new in-ground trampolines, accessible features on the dragon fort and a new sensory trail with musical instruments. A community garden on the site and a planting scheme with trees, shrubs and benches are also part of the overall improvements. The growing area will allow direct access from All Saints Academy school for young people to enjoy as well as wider community groups. There will also be better access to the platform near the Barwick Pond nature reserve and a re-marking of the Multi Use Games Area, which will allow children and young people to play various types of sports. The work has created a key visitor attraction as part of the town’s leisure offer and is part of the Council’s town centres investment programme, ensuring they are vibrant places and fit for future generations. Councillor Jim Beall, Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees, said: “It’s great to see the plans for Romano Park become a reality so that the Borough’s young people and their families can enjoy the open space and play equipment in a safe environment. “The improvements provide another useful addition to the active and healthy lifestyle offer for the residents of Ingleby Barwick, alongside the new leisure centre. “They combine with Council investment in the likes of IB Leisure Centre to play an important part in serving the community.” As part of the scheme, improved signage, replacement litter bins, additional benches and CCTV cameras were also installed, as well as an extension of the hard standing surfacing around the existing war memorial so that pop-up food and beverage concession opportunities can be explored. The improvements are a result of the ‘Let’s Talk About Our Towns’ public consultation that took place in 2020. The consultation showed support for more community leisure facilities, parks and gardens, as well as activities for young people. The Council worked with pupils at Myton Park Primary School, St Therese Primary School and Winstone Primary School to come up with ideas that would create a stand-out play area for families to enjoy. New swings, a dragon theme, climbing boulders and trampolines were just some of the ideas that children created and drew up to help shape the plans. The play equipment design and installation was completed by KOMPAN and the wider park improvements were completed by BCE Northern Ltd. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans have been approved to redevelop Catterick Garrison town centre in a move aimed at bringing jobs and vital new facilities for local communities as well as military personnel on one of England’s largest Army bases. Permission to build a new community and enterprise building and a multi-use events space as well as create a new public square was given by members of the Richmond (Yorks) Area Constituency Planning Committee. Plans also include landscaping improvements, upgrades to Coronation Park and Shute Road, improved play spaces, accessible routes to the town centre and improvements to footpaths and cycleways. Richmond (Yorks) Area Constituency Planning Committee chairman, Cllr David Webster, said: “This scheme will see significant improvements to the centre of Catterick Garrison as well as contribute to our work to reduce carbon emissions through the use of sustainable design and renewable energy.” The redevelopment of the town centre, which covers four acres of land around Shute Road, will see us working with the Ministry of Defence (MOD). We have received £19 million from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, with the remaining match-funding coming from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and ourselves. It is hoped they will be brought to fruition by summer next year (2025). The community building will house offices for small businesses and include space for community groups and food retail. Improvements to the park will include new play areas for all ages from toddlers and woodland play areas to a skatepark for older users. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction work has started on the Livv Homes first affordable housing scheme in Warrington, Cheshire. The £5.2 million Parkside Place development on Wilderspool Causeway is set to support local people onto the property ladder with 29 apartments for Rent to Buy. Located within a predominately residential area along Wilderspool Causeway, the five-storey contemporary apartment block will comprise 21 one-bedroom apartments and eight two-bedroom apartments. There will also be 32 parking spaces, associated landscaping, cycle and refuse storage. Livv has secured grant funding from Homes England to support the delivery of the scheme in Warrington. Northwest construction company, PGS Projects, has been appointed principal contractor. Yvonne Westhead-Fyles, Director of Development, Growth and Sales at Livv Housing Group, said: “We’re excited to be bringing Parkside Place to Warrington – our first development in the area. With house prices in Warrington averaging over £250,000 and the town experiencing significant population growth, many first-time buyers are finding it difficult to get onto the property ladder. “Parkside Place will bring high quality and affordable new homes to meet local housing need, enhancing the sustainability of the neighbourhood and community, whilst providing a pathway to home ownership through Rent to Buy. “We’re aiming to provide 1,000 new homes over the next three years across the Liverpool City Region, Warrington and West Lancashire. We’re building in places where we can make the greatest impact and Parkside Place will contribute to creating a thriving community, whilst establishing our presence in Warrington. We’re delighted to be here.” The scheme is utilising Modern Methods of Construction, such as structural insulated panels (SIPS). Graeme Spencer, Managing Director at PGS, commented: “Building new homes is essential to meet the growing demand for affordable housing in the UK and we are thrilled to be working with Livv on Parkside Place. “At the heart of our new construction project is a commitment to sustainability. We are using the latest technology and materials to ensure that our homes are energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. “We are proud to be part of this exciting project and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the community. Working in partnership with Livv, together we are creating a better future for everyone.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
HG Construction has been named as the main contractor on a new purpose-built student accommodation scheme for Studio Hive in Bristol. Silverthorne Lane Plot 6 will comprise 706 student rooms including cluster bedrooms and studio rooms along with amenity spaces. The development will form an important part of the regeneration of land off Silverthorne Lane, in Bristol’s Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone (TQEZ), which will see c£375 million being invested into residential, student accommodation and commercial developments, as well as a new comprehensive school. The new student accommodation scheme is split over four blocks ranging from five to 15 storeys high, with blocks being interconnected in pairs. A landscaped external courtyard at the centre of the buildings will provide an important meeting place for students, with sports and games facilities along with quieter areas for relaxation. HG Construction has a strong track record of delivering high-quality large-scale student accommodation projects across the UK. HG will be self-delivering the piling and prefabricated utility cupboards on this scheme, securing quality and programme benefits for the client. Adam Quinn, CEO HG Construction said: “We are delighted to be involved in the regeneration of the Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone. This is our first scheme for Studio Hive and it’s a pleasure to be working in partnership with them on this landmark PBSA development. With a carefully thought-out design which will benefit the local community and enhance the student experience, the scheme will make a very positive addition to Silverthorne Lane. As our first scheme in Bristol, we’re looking forward to getting to know the local area and will maximise opportunities for local employment and community engagement throughout the construction of this project.” Jason Collard, Managing Director of Studio HIVE Ltd said: “We have been involved in the Silverthorne Lane Masterplan for a number of years and it is now very exciting to have HG Construction on board and delivering a great new piece of regeneration for this part of Bristol. Our partners Far East Orchard, Woh Hup and Atlas Land are equally excited about this new PBSA scheme which is acting as a catalyst for private investment in the TQEZ.” Studio Hive are working in partnership with Far East Orchard, Woh Hup and Atlas Land who acquired the site in June 2022 as part of the wider Silverthorne Lane masterplan. The scheme is well located for the nearby Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus as well as key transport hubs and will benefit from the proposed improvements to pedestrian and cycle connections through Silverthorne Lane to the wider Temple Quarter. It is expected to complete in 2026. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
