development

Ascot Hospital Transformed by Kier

The Heatherwood Hospital in Ascot is to receive a £98 million transformation from Kier. The new 11,500 sq m site will specialise in planned, non-emergency procedures, while offering state-of-the-art outpatient and diagnostic facilities for cardiology, radiology, lithotripsy, children’s clinic, physiotherapy and orthodontics. “This latest win is a hugely important milestone for

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London Development Chooses VolkerFitzpatrick

A multi-use development in London has chosen VolkerFitzpatrick to deliver £27 million worth of construction works. The firm will refurbish and extend 77 Coleman Street, constructing 8,000 ft 2 of office space and over 16,000 ft 2 of retail and leisure space. “We are delighted to have been selected by

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Willmott Dixon Delivers Doncaster Central Library and Museum

A £15 million contract to deliver the new Central Library and Museum in Doncaster has been secured by Willmott Dixon. The project, designed by architect Bond Ryan, involves the transformation of four existing buildings into a cultural and learning centre that includes a new library, rail heritage centre, art gallery

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Baltic House Project Receives Planning Consent

Planning consent has been granted by Liverpool City Council to a revised scheme for the stalled Baltic House project in Liverpool. The revised scheme, designed by architect Brock Carmichael, was submitted by Crossfield Exclusive Developments, after purchasing the Norfolk Street site out of liquidation late last year. Now under the name

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Legal & General Acquires New Build to Rent Site

A new Build to Rent site has been acquired by Legal & General in Chelmsford City Centre. Contracts were exchanged for the site, which was purchased on behalf of the company’s UK Property Fund (‘The Fund’). The Built to Rent site is also known as Chelmer Waterside, forming part of

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Wolverhampton’s i9 Development Contract Goes to GRAHAM

The development contract for Wolverhampton’s new modern office space, i9, has been secured by GRAHAM. The development will provide 50,000 sq ft of Grade A office space, designed by Glenn Howells Architects. “The appointment of GRAHAM offers the next step towards this much anticipated state of the art, Grade A office

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Swindon Science Park Proposal

A new state-of-the-art science park that will deliver cutting edge facilities for R&D and high-tech manufacturing has been proposed in Swindon. The 82,188 sq m Wasdell Group facility located at Inlands Farm, Wanborough, will also help support Wasdell’s projected growth. The planning application for the development was submitted by national planning and

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Young Entrepreneur Takes Market by Storm

An ambitious entrepreneur is seeking to take the market by storm with his first housing development on a site in Corby. At only 26 years, Joseph Daniels from Essex already has 27 directorships under his belt, with one of his ventures, Project Etopia, securing £3 million backing from hedge fund

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APA Continues Wates Partnership on Leeds Development

APA Facade Systems, Speedclad and Wates Group are continuing their partnership for the newest development in Leeds’ most sought-after business location – 4 Wellington Place. APA’s TB60 and TB60 SG facade system will be installed by Speedclad to 4 Wellington Place, marking the latest installment in this 22-acre office development. The proposed addition to Wellington Place consists

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Norwich Mixed Use Project Gets Green Light

Weston Homes’ proposals to regenerate Anglia Square in central Norwich into a £300 million mixed use urban quarter has received a Resolution to Grant planning permission from Norwich City Council. Planning permission can be issued as soon as a ‘Section 106’ legal agreement between the applicants and the Council is completed. The

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Latest Issue
Issue 331 : Aug 2025

development

Ascot Hospital Transformed by Kier

The Heatherwood Hospital in Ascot is to receive a £98 million transformation from Kier. The new 11,500 sq m site will specialise in planned, non-emergency procedures, while offering state-of-the-art outpatient and diagnostic facilities for cardiology, radiology, lithotripsy, children’s clinic, physiotherapy and orthodontics. “This latest win is a hugely important milestone for healthcare delivery in the south of England. It is testament to the drive, energy and passion of the team at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust that this new build hospital will help transform delivery of healthcare to residents of Ascot and the surrounding area,” said Jonathan Payne, managing director for Kier Construction Thames Valley and director at Kier Buildings. Kier was awarded the build contract by Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust through the ProCure21+ framework. “Working collaboratively with the trust over the last three years, we have also delivered a new maternity unit and emergency assessment centre for Wexham Park Hospital. Alongside our local supply chain, we have extensive experience delivering healthcare projects and we look forward to playing a pivotal role in the transformation of Heatherwood Hospital,” added Jonathan. The new hospital is expected to double the services of the existing facility within its first 10 years, offering six operating theatres and 48 inpatient beds, plus 22 day case cubicles. A primary care hub and private patient unit will also be located on site. “We are delighted that we can now deliver our vision for the Heatherwood site. The new hospital will ensure we can offer local patients the best care in the best environment and it is a key part of our strategy to remain an innovative and outstanding trust well into the future. We can’t wait to get started,” commented Frimley Health chief executive Neil Dardis. The transformation work is due to begin on site this month, with completion scheduled for the end of 2021.

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London Development Chooses VolkerFitzpatrick

A multi-use development in London has chosen VolkerFitzpatrick to deliver £27 million worth of construction works. The firm will refurbish and extend 77 Coleman Street, constructing 8,000 ft 2 of office space and over 16,000 ft 2 of retail and leisure space. “We are delighted to have been selected by Kajima, to deliver this exciting project in central London. Utilising our high quality construction and fit out capabilities, 77 Coleman Street will be a significant addition to our portfolio of multi-use developments in the capital,” said Stuart Deverill, managing director of VolkerFitzpatrick’s Building division. VolkerFitzpatrick’s involvement in the project includes fiting the office spaces out to a CAT A specification, including the shell and core structures, ceilings, floors and installation of key services. Meanwhile, the retail and leisure units will feature a complete base build, concrete walls, flooring, lighting and installation of fire alarms. The units will be fitted with retail frontages at ground floor level and terrace areas will be constructed around the upper floors. A new four-metre high reception and breakout area will also be delivered as the building’s main entrance and a new public street, named Nun Court, linking Coleman Street with Moorgate. “This is a technically complicated development and a really important project for us in terms of the expected quality and programme, so we’re delighted to place its delivery into the reliable hands of the VolkerFitzpatrick team,” commented James Starkey, project director for Kajima. The multi-use development project was first launched in April 2018, and is scheduled for completion in Q4 of this year.

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Willmott Dixon Delivers Doncaster Central Library and Museum

A £15 million contract to deliver the new Central Library and Museum in Doncaster has been secured by Willmott Dixon. The project, designed by architect Bond Ryan, involves the transformation of four existing buildings into a cultural and learning centre that includes a new library, rail heritage centre, art gallery and museum. “The new Central Library and Museum project is one of many schemes we are on the ground and delivering as part of our comprehensive and ambitious Urban Centre Masterplan. We are transforming Doncaster, making it a highly desirable place to live, work, visit and invest in,” said Cllr Bill Mordue, Doncaster Council’s Cabinet Member for Business, Skills and Economic Development. Throughout the project, the central frontage of the former Hall Cross Girls School building will be retained and encased in a glass façade to showcase an iconic part of Doncaster’s architectural heritage. “Scape and Willmott Dixon have a strong and ongoing relationship with Doncaster Council, with a proven track record of delivering much-needed programmes in the area,” added Mark Robinson, Scape Group chief executive. “Our delivery partner, Willmott Dixon, has played a key role to support Doncaster Council in the regeneration of the local area, providing upgraded community facilities and affordable housing. By utilising our framework Doncaster Council has ensured cost-effective and efficient project delivery, while ensuring local suppliers benefit from the inward investment.” Located on the junction of Waterdale and Chequer Road, the new development is expected to open in summer 2020. This latest contract adds to a series of schemes in Doncaster by Willmott Dixon.

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Baltic House Project Receives Planning Consent

Planning consent has been granted by Liverpool City Council to a revised scheme for the stalled Baltic House project in Liverpool. The revised scheme, designed by architect Brock Carmichael, was submitted by Crossfield Exclusive Developments, after purchasing the Norfolk Street site out of liquidation late last year. Now under the name of Baltic View, the development will comprise 129 apartments with associated communal space and courtyard. It will also feature nine office units totaling 1,174 sqm on the ground and first floors to accommodate businesses in the digital and creative sectors, complemented by storage space for up to 100 bicycles. “We have worked closely with Liverpool City Council over many months and we are pleased that the planning committee shares our vision for the transformative potential of this site. Baltic View will be a new dawn for the site and our local, experienced team is committed to creating a development that provides a positive, enduring addition to the area,” said David Cain, director at Crossfield Group. The plans received approval by Liverpool City Council last week and Crossfield Construction is already on site to begin work on the scheme. Approximately ten new full-time jobs are expected to be created during construction, in addition to as many as 400 workers on site through a local supply chain. “We are really pleased to see the stalled development site back on track. It’s been a painful daily reminder of failed developments over the past few years,” said Liam Kelly, chair of the Baltic Triangle area company. “It’s really encouraging to see the site now being developed by Crossfield Group, who share in the area’s vision and have engaged with the stakeholders right from the start. This is an example of how the area can retain its identity and continue to see positive growth over the coming years, with everyone working together.”

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Legal & General Acquires New Build to Rent Site

A new Build to Rent site has been acquired by Legal & General in Chelmsford City Centre. Contracts were exchanged for the site, which was purchased on behalf of the company’s UK Property Fund (‘The Fund’). The Built to Rent site is also known as Chelmer Waterside, forming part of a major mixed-use development in Chelmsford. This development will provide a landmark urban regeneration scheme for the city, comprising 421 residential apartments, associated landscaping and local retail amenities. Taylor Wimpey will develop the Build to Rent homes, which will consist of 104 studio, one, two and three bedroom apartments in two adjoining Freehold blocks. This acquisition marks the first Build to Rent scheme for The Fund, and will sit alongside recent investments in hotels, healthcare and student accommodation. “This acquisition is in line with our strategy for the UK Property Fund to increase our exposure to alternative operational assets, whilst demonstrating the breadth of our wider fund management platform which has enabled us to collaborate with our well established Build to Rent team. As we continue to actively diversify our holdings into more alternative sectors, Build to Rent will remain a preferred subsector alongside operational hotels, self-storage and student accommodation, giving us real time access to occupational markets with a robust rental growth story,” said Matthew Jarvis, Senior Fund Manager, UK Property Fund, at LGIM Real Assets. “Chelmsford in particular has strong location dynamics, benefitting from a 40% increase in average prices over the last 10 years, according to the UK HPI. With excellent commuter links to London, it is also set to experience notable population growth, placing further demand on housing,” Matthew Jarvis concluded.

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Wolverhampton’s i9 Development Contract Goes to GRAHAM

The development contract for Wolverhampton’s new modern office space, i9, has been secured by GRAHAM. The development will provide 50,000 sq ft of Grade A office space, designed by Glenn Howells Architects. “The appointment of GRAHAM offers the next step towards this much anticipated state of the art, Grade A office building for Wolverhampton. The i10 development has already proven that new occupiers are attracted to Wolverhampton and the state-of-the-art transport links of the Interchange will be a major attraction for those new occupiers,” said Steve Parry, managing director of Ion The scheme follows on from the success of the award-winning i10 complex on the opposite side of the road in the heart of the City of Wolverhampton Interchange. “Wolverhampton is undergoing a period of regeneration that is set to transform the city and attract further investment and jobs to the area. We are therefore pleased to have been appointed as the main contractor on the i9 – a significant new headquarters building that benefits from a prime location and high-spec office facilities. We look forward to working with the wider project team to deliver this new, sustainable commercial development for the city,” commented John Maguire, Regional Business Development Director for GRAHAM’s Birmingham office. Councillor John Reynolds, Cabinet Member for City Economy, City of Wolverhampton Council added: “The appointment of GRAHAM means we can look forward to i9 emerging at the heart of the city’s Interchange in 2019. It is another step towards our aspirations of creating a Commercial District in this area of the city and we want this building to become the design and quality benchmark for future developments in the city and to demonstrate our ambition for the city centre. This important site ideally lends itself to a distinctive, high-quality headquarters building.” The i9 development is expected to be completed in 2020.

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Swindon Science Park Proposal

A new state-of-the-art science park that will deliver cutting edge facilities for R&D and high-tech manufacturing has been proposed in Swindon. The 82,188 sq m Wasdell Group facility located at Inlands Farm, Wanborough, will also help support Wasdell’s projected growth. The planning application for the development was submitted by national planning and development consultancy Turley submitted the . The company is also providing planning, environmental impact assessment, landscape and built heritage services for the scheme. “This facility will provide a major lift for Swindon and the surrounding area, providing jobs and boosting the local supply chain. We are thrilled to play our part in helping to deliver fantastic new opportunities for the local economy and people,” Turley’s head of planning for the south east, Peter Lawson. Swindon Science Park will be designed by Oxford Architects and will boast low-density green spaces separated by footpaths, cycle ways and water features. 14% of the park will be built area, while 86% of the site will be given over to green sustainable landscaping, screening and planting of native British trees. The buildings will be constructed using the latest technology and materials, with roof mounted solar panels to generate renewable energy and green sedum roofs to promote bio-diversity, air quality and rain water attenuation. “The Government recognises the crucial role that the life sciences industries must play in UK PLC, and there are considerable opportunities for our local and regional economy if as a town we embrace the life sciences and collaborate on R&D and investment,” said Wasdell’s CEO, Martin Tedham. “Our neighbours in Reading, Oxford, Bath and Bristol are already reaping substantial rewards through making the sciences an economic and employment priority. With the national research councils on our doorstep, and Heathrow less than an hour away, Swindon is perfectly placed to grow its hi-tech, science-based industries too,” he added. The first element of the Wasdell facility is believed to become operational in 2021, with the remainder becoming operational over the subsequent four years.

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Young Entrepreneur Takes Market by Storm

An ambitious entrepreneur is seeking to take the market by storm with his first housing development on a site in Corby. At only 26 years, Joseph Daniels from Essex already has 27 directorships under his belt, with one of his ventures, Project Etopia, securing £3 million backing from hedge fund speculator Stanley Fink earlier this year. Project Etopia aims to build homes from modular kits using structural insulated panels, which would be made in a new factory set to open in Deeside in January. A site at Prior Halls in Corby has already been bought and it will house 47 eco-homes fitted with energy saving and storage technology. The homes incorporate Daikin mechanical ventilation, heat recovery, air purification and solar power as standard. “Old building techniques are exacerbating the housing crisis and it’s totally unnecessary. Corby is leading the way in showing how villages of the future should be built. Modular building is now so advanced, it is senseless to cling to bricks and mortar, which takes longer to build and is far more expensive,” said Joseph. Jospeh Daniels plans to start groundwork this month, while construction for the 47 homes, comprised of 31 houses and 16 apartments, will begin in February. By constructing the exterior shell in a factory, costs a lowered. A four-bed house is expected to sell for between £320,000 and £350,000, while new brick and mortar builds in Priors Hall Park cost from £450,000 to £575,000. His target market is young Londoners prepared to put up with an expensive commute in exchange for a foot on the housing ladder. “With a desperate need for more housing stock around the country, it is vital developers and investors finally let go of preconceptions of modular building. These are homes people really want to live in and they present huge environmental benefits from being energy neutral to requiring less on-site traffic during the build. Commuter villages like this offer younger would-be homeowners the wage benefits of working in the capital but without the high property costs, and Etopia Corby will be a model other councils can follow,” Joseph added. The factory planned for Deeside has a planned capacity of 2,000 units a year and is co-owned with Istidama, a company run by Christopher Moss and previously called Ecomech Structurally Insulated Panels. Project Etopia also co-owns a production facility at Butterleigh Sawmill near Tiverton with its home build partner Etribus. The first four homes in Corby are expected to be completed by the end of March, with each unit taking no more than six to eight weeks to build, and the whole scheme completed by autumn 2019.

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APA Continues Wates Partnership on Leeds Development

APA Facade Systems, Speedclad and Wates Group are continuing their partnership for the newest development in Leeds’ most sought-after business location – 4 Wellington Place. APA’s TB60 and TB60 SG facade system will be installed by Speedclad to 4 Wellington Place, marking the latest installment in this 22-acre office development. The proposed addition to Wellington Place consists of an eight-storey triangular building, with a sloping roofline from Northern Street to Tower Square, incorporating terraces to all floors facing onto the Lifting Tower. The development frames stunning views across Wellington Place and the wider townscape, reflecting its emerging context through the use of the bronze, stone and glass as seen on 3, 5 and 6 Wellington Place. Described as ‘the jewel in the crown’ of the wider 22-acre development, on account of its unique form, 4 Wellington Place will deliver 131,500ft² nett of grade A office accommodation. It will also include 17,000ft² of ground floor retail and leisure space, in addition to basement car parking and landscape work. When entering the masterplan via the two avenues heading towards Tower Square, the proposed facades intersperse stone and bronze vertical panels with glazing, giving the reflective quality that creates the building’s jewel-like appearance. The gateway approach of 4 Wellington Place and its position sitting at the centre of the current master plan, has led to the development of a building that is distinct whilst borrowing from the architectural language of the surrounding buildings. Having already completed no’s 3 and 5 Wellington Place, APA Facade Systems is currently working on no’s 7 & 8 and is delighted to secure the latest contract in this development.

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Norwich Mixed Use Project Gets Green Light

Weston Homes’ proposals to regenerate Anglia Square in central Norwich into a £300 million mixed use urban quarter has received a Resolution to Grant planning permission from Norwich City Council. Planning permission can be issued as soon as a ‘Section 106’ legal agreement between the applicants and the Council is completed. The new development is one of the biggest urban renewal projects outside of Greater London, covering more than 1.2 million square feet. The redeveloped Anglia Square provides new homes, retail premises, leisure amenities, public artwork and new public realm. It will deliver a series of striking buildings designed around two Covent Garden style landscaped plazas, linked by new high quality landscaped public spaces including pedestrian streets, offering cycle linkages across the site, complete with new trees and planted areas. There would also be extensive communal green squares and central courtyards for residents of the scheme. Furthermore, over 1,200 much needed new homes will be created, including stylish one and two bedroom apartments and penthouses for private sale, alongside circa 120 on-site affordable homes for local households on lower incomes. The proposals for Anglia Square will give Norwich a new northern city centre destination for shopping, leisure and entertainment, with high quality retail floorspace allowing for 40 glass fronted retail units, including an anchor food store. Alongside this there will be a new 200 bed hotel with a range of facilities including a roof level bar and restaurant, offering panoramic views over the city centre, and a new leisure quarter, centred on a new ground floor multi-screen cinema. Surrey Chapel will be provided with a brand new £2.5 million home within the development. Anglia Square is the future of Norwich with striking architecture in the form of high quality buildings with expanses of glazing, varied balcony design, rooftop terraces and feature detailing to the facades. There will be shops, restaurants and leisure at ground level, with homes above, with those on the uppermost floors offering panoramic views over Norwich City Centre. There will be a replacement multi-storey car park providing 600 shopper parking spaces, and the project allows for 75% of the homes to have residential parking. There will also be public “play trail” artwork, helping to create a “Covent Garden” style ambience, allowing both adults and children to enjoy the public open spaces, with details to be agreed with the City Council. The project will open up new views of the Anglican Cathedral and St Augustine’s Church and bring various benefits to Norwich. The new Anglia Square represents a substantial level of private sector investment into Norwich, with the mixture of uses generating new Council Tax revenue, new construction and permanent employment opportunities, and New Homes Bonus payments over four years.

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