Plans to develop a new multi-million-pound Student Village at Staffordshire University have been given the go-ahead. The proposal was submitted to completely transform the student experience at the University and provide more high-quality accommodation with enhanced service provisions and student social spaces. The plans were discussed by the Planning Committee
Mace has been appointed by Norfolk County Council (NCC) as Principal Contractor to deliver improvements on over one hundred properties across the region under the Future Ready (FR) Property Enhancement Initiative. The initiative will focus on modernising the Council’s property portfolio through a comprehensive program to ensure long-term cost savings,
McAleer & Rushe has been appointed to develop a landmark mixed-use scheme in the heart of the City of London, and a permanent home for London’s Migration Museum, worth a construction contract value of over £100 million. The 65 Crutched Friars development, due to be completed in Summer 2027, will
South Gloucestershire Council has approved proposals for the revised masterplan for Brabazon, a new neighbourhood for South Gloucestershire and Bristol being built by YTL Developments on the historic former Filton Airfield. As the birthplace of Concorde and supersonic travel, home to over 100 years of aviation history, the former Filton
Esh Construction has completed work on a £3 million project and has handed over 20 new affordable homes at Fir View Gardens in Sheffield. Working on behalf of Great Places Housing Group, the development has been delivered on a vacant piece of land off Osgathorpe Drive, close to the Earl
Spitfire Homes has officially opened a new Customer Suite at Malabar, a new neighbourhood in Daventry, Northamptonshire, against a backdrop of rising buyer demand across the UK. The collection comprises a variety of aspirational new two- to five-bedroom homes tailored to suit a range of lifestyles, showcasing Spitfire’s signature design-led
Birchgrove and Hybr have announced an industry-first intergenerational living scheme which will see students and key workers live alongside retirees in the same purpose-built, privately rented retirement development. Ayrton House is a new 60-apartment rental retirement community in Mill Hill, North London. When launched in October this year, 16 apartments
A collaboration has been established between blocwork, a joint venture between Network Rail and bloc group, and Citra Living, aiming to construct over 2,000 new homes throughout Great Britain. In the partnership, Network Rail Property (NRP) will draw potential sites from its extensive rail side property portfolio with bloc acting
Plans have been submitted to build additional student accommodation at The Island Quarter in Nottingham. The plans submitted to Nottingham City Council would see a further 383-space student block built on the Manvers Road side of the £1.5bn Island Quarter development. Combined with the 693 beds at the adjacent Winfield
Esh Construction has been selected to develop over 100 new homes in Pelton, Co Durham. The £25 million project will be delivered on the site of the former Roseberry Sports Community College and has been hailed as a welcome boost for local housing stock. The development will include 52 rent-to-buy
Plans to develop a new multi-million-pound Student Village at Staffordshire University have been given the go-ahead. The proposal was submitted to completely transform the student experience at the University and provide more high-quality accommodation with enhanced service provisions and student social spaces. The plans were discussed by the Planning Committee at Stoke-on-Trent City Council on 20 March 2024, and they will now be considered by the University’s Board of Governors in the coming weeks who will have the final decision on the proposal. The plans for the new Student Village, on the University’s Leek Road site, detail the construction of more than 700 new student rooms in a mix of cluster blocks and townhouses, plus the refurbishment of the University’s Clarice Cliff Court accommodation which currently houses just under 300 students. A village ‘hub’ facility would also be built as part of the development, enhancing the vibrancy of the student experience with an events and wellbeing space, individual and group study areas and multi-activity spaces, as well as a rooftop terrace with an outdoor seating area. The hub and village would be linked to the Leek Road campus via a new pedestrian bridge and boardwalk. A new car parking area would be developed on the former Squires View site to the east of the University’s campus to service the village and wider University campus. Pending approval from the Board of Governors, once construction of the village is completed in 2026, the University’s existing accommodation on Leek Road would be demolished to make way for new parkland and open spaces which would be accessible by the local community, as well as students and staff. Open space developments would include an 800m fitness loop encircling the village with a surfaced path for jogging and walking. The parkland would also incorporate a new outdoor teaching facility for the University’s Woodlands Forest School which would make nature more accessible for local schoolchildren. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Mace has been appointed by Norfolk County Council (NCC) as Principal Contractor to deliver improvements on over one hundred properties across the region under the Future Ready (FR) Property Enhancement Initiative. The initiative will focus on modernising the Council’s property portfolio through a comprehensive program to ensure long-term cost savings, longevity, and functionality, supporting an ever-evolving, dynamic and diverse workforce. The FR Initiative aims to improve energy efficiency and thermal integrity, eliminate the use of fossil fuel across multiple assets and prioritise structural integrity as well as address wear and tear issues. Solutions will include ASHP, PV panels and in some cases new facilities being added to meet the demands of an evolving workforce and community. Included in the initiative are community hubs, offices, children’s homes, fire and rescue service facilities, libraries and the museums portfolio. In line with the NCC’s commitment to achieving net zero across all operations by 2030, Mace’s appointment will be fully compliant with the PAS2030 retrofit accreditation, contributing to overall energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. Mace has ensured the correct designer appointments within the professional team with an appointment which commences at RIBA stage 2, under an NEC 4 contract to support the rigorous PAS design process. With no two properties alike, each building will bring its challenges, for example, those which are listed and of historical importance. Mace will build upon its reputation of delivering a lasting legacy for the community with a dedicated social value team, providing local employment opportunities, training and apprenticeships, supply chain events and a commitment to bolstering green skills through educational services across Norfolk. Stewart Ward, Managing Director for Mace Fitout and Retrofit, said: “We are honoured to be working with Norfolk County Council once again, harnessing our industry-leading expertise in delivering complex transformational net zero programmes. “The Future Ready Initiative is a step in the right direction for the decarbonisation of public sector estates across the UK. By making these buildings fit for the future, we are ensuring they can be used by local communities for generations to come while creating a blueprint of what can be achieved nationwide.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
McAleer & Rushe has been appointed to develop a landmark mixed-use scheme in the heart of the City of London, and a permanent home for London’s Migration Museum, worth a construction contract value of over £100 million. The 65 Crutched Friars development, due to be completed in Summer 2027, will include new purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), to provide over 700 student homes in a 21-storey building. The student units will be complemented by green spaces open to the public, such as a new pocket park and public roof terrace, for the local community. Located on the eastern edge of the City of London, the scheme has been designed to be sustainable in both construction and operation, targeting a BREEAM Outstanding rating as well as utilising offsite manufacturing, including prefabricated bathroom pods, a precast and unitised façade and both blue and green biodiverse roofs. While demolition works have commenced, the major transformation of the former office block is due to begin in Spring 2024 with the accommodation ready for the 2027/28 student intake. Enhancing student living in London, Crutched Friars will help to meet the growing need for student accommodation within the City with an abundance of social and study spaces, including private dining rooms, gym and wellness zones, a TV lounge and entertainment spaces. The development also secures the future of London’s Migration Museum with a purpose-built, three-floor 30,000 sq ft space, free-to-enter thanks to a 60-year lease granted by the Ahluwalia family, with no rent or service charge payable, alongside a new pocket park. Mark Diamond, Senior Director, McAleer & Rushe said: “We’re thrilled to be delivering this prominent mixed-use scheme in the City of London as Construction Partner with Dominus. Our decade-long collaboration, involving several successful projects throughout the UK, is rooted in shared values and a commitment to delivering positive social value impact and community outreach. Crutched Friars is a prime example of our early engagement approach in action and with our experienced teams behind us, we are looking forward to working on this landmark visionary scheme with all stakeholders involved.” Designed by Danish architectural studio 3XN, the student residences will feature a mix of Premium Studios, Studios, Twodios, Threedios and affordable Cluster bedrooms and contain generous communal spaces, private study areas, a gym, laundry facilities and external rooftop terraces. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
South Gloucestershire Council has approved proposals for the revised masterplan for Brabazon, a new neighbourhood for South Gloucestershire and Bristol being built by YTL Developments on the historic former Filton Airfield. As the birthplace of Concorde and supersonic travel, home to over 100 years of aviation history, the former Filton Airfield is known worldwide for a community that changed the world. Under the plans, Brabazon will become a new urban destination that lives up to that legacy. The new place aims to provide every generation with the space, connectivity and opportunity to continue to shape the future of South Gloucestershire and North Bristol. It will provide new homes, and new jobs and renew the fabric of the community, driving local prosperity for the next century. Once YTL Developments, South Gloucestershire Council and National Highways have signed the Section 106 Agreement, Brabazon is forecast to create over £5 billion of added economic value for the local area. The approved plans should see Brabazon grow to over 6,000 new homes of every type and tenure and for every generation, from rental apartments to flats for first-time buyers, open-market houses and properties for retirement living. There will be up to 2,000 beds for student accommodation, while high-quality affordable homes will make up 26.5 per cent of properties, equating to over 1,700 architect-designed houses and apartments. The plans are based on a flexible framework so that development is phased alongside improved transport links. Three review stages are built into the approval to ensure that the number of homes built at Brabazon can only increase in line with the additional transport connections and community facilities needed to support those homes. The plans – developed by a consortium of world-renowned architects and planners – also include up to 3 million sq ft of commercial space: enough to support 30,000 jobs. The local area is already home to Airbus, Rolls-Royce and GKN. The top 25 employers alone have over 45,000 staff working within a few miles of Brabazon, many in high-skilled engineering, aerospace and technology roles. Yet recently this world-leading commercial cluster has lacked the space to grow. With three new schools and plans for a higher education or research campus alongside creative office spaces, laboratories and advanced manufacturing facilities, Brabazon will meet this need. It will act as a centre of learning and a launchpad for every type of business, from leading global firms to local start-ups shaping the latest technologies. Brabazon will also be a hub for culture, creativity and entertainment. You’ll be able to wander around independent stores, discover new cafes and restaurants or relax in over 86 acres of public space, from leafy squares to Brabazon Park: the largest new public park in the southwest for 50 years. At its heart will be the supersonic new YTL Arena Bristol, with a capacity of over 17,000. Finally, Brabazon will be connected to Bristol city centre and beyond over £100m is already being invested in the local transport network. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Esh Construction has completed work on a £3 million project and has handed over 20 new affordable homes at Fir View Gardens in Sheffield. Working on behalf of Great Places Housing Group, the development has been delivered on a vacant piece of land off Osgathorpe Drive, close to the Earl Marshal Recreation Ground. The two and three-bedroom homes have been built by Esh Construction for affordable rent and include associated parking and landscaping in Sheffield. A fabric-first approach was used in both design and construction, with maximising energy efficiency being a top priority. Esh Construction’s Operations Director, Simon Woodward, said: “Fir View was the first contract we were awarded through the Innovation Chain North framework, and it’s proved a real success for Esh in delivering energy efficient homes while providing added benefit to the community through school engagement, volunteering and community funding.” A comprehensive social value plan has been delivered which has seen 133 weeks of employment delivered for residents within 10 miles of the site and 108 weeks of employment provided for previously unemployed people in the area. A further 250 learner hours were delivered in partnership with local schools and colleges while four full-time apprentices were hired, contributing to more than 230 apprentice training weeks during the project. Fir View Gardens is one of the developments that Great Places Housing Group is delivering in South Yorkshire as part of the housing association’s commitment to build additional affordable homes in the area. Other projects include 50 homes at Riverdale Park in Doncaster and 51 apartments at London Road close to Sheffield city centre. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Spitfire Homes has officially opened a new Customer Suite at Malabar, a new neighbourhood in Daventry, Northamptonshire, against a backdrop of rising buyer demand across the UK. The collection comprises a variety of aspirational new two- to five-bedroom homes tailored to suit a range of lifestyles, showcasing Spitfire’s signature design-led approach. All homes at Malabar include future-proof features and technologies to promote energy-efficient living. With sustainability a key focus for Spitfire, properties come complete with photovoltaic (PV) panels, underfloor heating, heating and hot water provided by air source heat pumps, and electric vehicle charging points. Spitfire’s opening coincides with a national fall in interest rates, with data from Zoopla showing mortgage providers offering rates at under 5% in recent months. As a result, national sales are 13% higher than February 2023, and 17% higher in areas across the Midlands. Malabar already has outline planning permission for up to 1,100 new homes, with the prime location providing access to local amenities including supermarkets, pharmacies and GP practices, as well as pubs, restaurants, and cafes. For families with children, Daventry is home to several well-established primary and secondary schools. The wider collection at Malabar will also incorporate over 50 acres of public open space along with plans to deliver a new primary school, nursery and community centre, alongside food and retail units. It is projected that the construction of the development will support the employment of more than 3,400 people. Ben Leather, Managing Director at Spitfire Homes, said: “Malabar demonstrates Spitfire’s goal of creating thriving, sustainable communities that deliver high-quality, future-proofed properties. Our range of two to five-bedroom homes suit a wide range of buyers and budgets, from first-time buyers to established families looking for more space. Now that our Customer Suite is open to the public, we’d encourage prospective buyers to book an appointment to come and see all that Malabar has to offer.” Knight Frank is the selling agent at Malabar and has worked with Spitfire Homes for over ten years. Its latest data published at the end of January 2024 shows that since interest rates have dropped, levels of sale interest across the market have increased. There is pent-up demand from buyers who have been waiting for more economic stability. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Birchgrove and Hybr have announced an industry-first intergenerational living scheme which will see students and key workers live alongside retirees in the same purpose-built, privately rented retirement development. Ayrton House is a new 60-apartment rental retirement community in Mill Hill, North London. When launched in October this year, 16 apartments across the third and fourth floors will be offered exclusively to trainee doctors and nurses from the local hospital, university post-graduates and graduate scheme students. The scheme has been designed to generate a vibrant community by harnessing the benefits of intergenerational living, with several pieces of research highlighting how the model is physically and mentally beneficial for both the young and the elderly. A 2019 UCL study highlighted how increased social contact for elderly people is associated with a lower risk of developing dementia, while an Ageing Research study has highlighted how intergenerational living benefits the elderly by giving them a greater sense of purpose and combatting loneliness, in turn leading to a greater life expectancy. Further research has also demonstrated how younger people benefit from living with elderly people – by enabling them to gain a deeper understanding of the older generation and increasing their tolerance, empathy and understanding. The students will live at Ayrton House on short-term tenancies running until June 2025, sharing communal facilities with the development’s retirees – including full access to the gym and the same subsidised rates in the restaurant. Furthermore, the rent on the 16 student units will be approximately 50% of the market value. The project therefore means that students will have access to affordable, high-quality accommodation at a time when nearly two-thirds of all students are struggling to pay their rent. At the end of the tenancies in June 2025, the 16 student units will be vacated and restored to first-use state, before being let to retirees. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A collaboration has been established between blocwork, a joint venture between Network Rail and bloc group, and Citra Living, aiming to construct over 2,000 new homes throughout Great Britain. In the partnership, Network Rail Property (NRP) will draw potential sites from its extensive rail side property portfolio with bloc acting as developer, and Citra Living managing and operating these high-quality built-to-rent homes, with an option to acquire some of the sites. Citra Living is part of Lloyds Banking Group, which owns and operates a growing portfolio of more than 2,000 professionally managed homes for rent, improving access to good value, quality, and sustainable housing across the UK. Citra Living help to support investment into local communities by building and renting homes that people want, in the places they are needed. The brownfield regeneration of under-utilised railway land will further help the UK to meet its ambitious housing targets. Partnering with Citra Living will accelerate the provision of high-quality rental homes with excellent transport links in towns and cities, meeting local housing demand and creating sustainable communities. Schemes recently delivered across the Citra Living portfolio include Bristol, Chesterfield, Peterborough and Ashford. Robin Dobson, group property director at Network Rail, said: “This partnership, aimed at family living, is another key collaboration for NRP that will help us tangibly address the current housing crisis with thousands of new homes for families. These developments will also serve to breathe new life into towns and cities directly next to vital transport links.” Nick Legget, development director at blocwork, said: “The partnership between Citra Living and blocwork will see some 2,000 much-needed high-quality rental homes delivered to city centre brownfield areas. Having launched our first build-to-rent in the latter half of 2023, we’re now extending our offering further, this time providing high-quality homes for families. I’m excited to see how far the partnership between our organisations takes us in the years to come.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans have been submitted to build additional student accommodation at The Island Quarter in Nottingham. The plans submitted to Nottingham City Council would see a further 383-space student block built on the Manvers Road side of the £1.5bn Island Quarter development. Combined with the 693 beds at the adjacent Winfield Court – which main contractor Bowmer & Kirkland is expected to complete this summer – the 36-acre Island Quarter site will have a student population of more than a thousand if and when both phases are complete. The new proposals are from Day Architectural on behalf of developer The Conygar Investment Company, just like Winfield Court. They cover a range of accommodation types including cluster accommodation, studios and premium options, along with amenity facilities such as a gym, laundry room and various lounges. Following a similar material palette to Winfield Court, the designs combine grey, buff and red bricks on the building’s facade alongside ribbed metal cladding. Conygar property director Christopher Ware said: “The demand for student housing has never been greater. PBSA plays a vital role in ensuring that students have access to high-quality accommodation without the need to restrict housing supply that is better suited for Nottingham residents.” The new planning submission follows last May’s approval for a new 250,000 sq ft biosciences campus on the northern side of the site. Christopher Ware said: “Intergenerational living has been a core principle for our plans for The Island Quarter, and a healthy population of students is a crucial part of this mix. In a competitive marketplace, these well-designed plans put student experience at their heart, and we’re looking forward to seeing this phase move forward. “This latest proposal is one of a series of planning submissions currently in the pipeline, building on the success of the first phases of the development at 1 The Island Quarter and Winfield Court.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Esh Construction has been selected to develop over 100 new homes in Pelton, Co Durham. The £25 million project will be delivered on the site of the former Roseberry Sports Community College and has been hailed as a welcome boost for local housing stock. The development will include 52 rent-to-buy properties, a mix of two and three bedroom family homes aimed at people looking to take the first steps on the property ladder, alongside 31 apartments and eight bungalows for over 50s. Chris Hale, Esh’s Pre-Construction Director, said: “This is a significant contract award for our affordable housing division, and we’re delighted to build on our successful working relationship by securing another scheme with Karbon Homes. “More than 70 properties will be built utilising timber frame, providing additional environmental efficiencies throughout the build process. We look forward to getting work underway and delivering more environmentally friendly new build affordable homes across the North East.” The development will be part-funded through Karbon’s £165 million strategic partnership with Homes England, to develop 2,200 much-needed affordable homes across the North East and Yorkshire by 2028. The new homes in Durham have been designed to meet the highest energy efficiency standards by Esh Construction. The houses and bungalows will all achieve an energy performance certificate rating of A, will be fitted with solar photovoltaic panels and electric charging points, and will be powered by air source heat pumps. The apartments will also benefit from a communal green heating system, with heating and hot water provided by an exhaust air source heat pump. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
