Morgan Sindall has been appointed by the City of London Academies Trust (COLAT) and the Department for Education to deliver major upgrades to Newham Collegiate Sixth Form Centre. The project at the free sixth form college, situated on Barking Road, has been procured through the Department for Education’s (DfE) construction
A provider of rented retired homes has acquired an apartment development in London. Birchgrove has bought a total of 78 apartments in Hampton Court growing its portfolio across the South-East. The £39 million deal has been completed with Octagon Developments, who design and build high quality homes throughout Southern England.
Mace has completed the UCL Marshgate building, part of the first phase of UCL’s new campus at East Bank on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Marshgate is UCL’s single largest building to date providing over 35,000sqm of cross-disciplinary teaching, research and learning spaces over eight floors. Designed by architects Stanton Williams
J Murphy & Sons has been appointed to develop a new railway station for Chelmsford’s Beaulieu development in Essex. It is the second of two contracts awarded by Network Rail. The £124 million contract includes main construction work for the new station on behalf of partners Essex County Council and
Zentia, a pioneering leader in ceiling systems, is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated launch of three new creative additions to Sonify. This innovative release introduces an array of cutting-edge features that redefine the possibilities of acoustic design, enhancing both aesthetics and functionality. Launched on 6th September, these three new
Following a £500,000 investment to redevelop the 18th-century Brookfield House in Leeds, tailored office providers, WorkWell, has celebrated 50% occupancy pre-let. Purchased by the Corrigan family in 2002, Brookfield House has been the home to Leeds-based businesses for the last 21 years. Currently undergoing an extensive renovation, the office space
Lendlease has been selected by Gateshead Council’s development partner Ask:PATRIZIA to deliver The Sage International Conference Centre at Gateshead Quays. The announcement follows swiftly after Gateshead Council’s planning committee approved revised plans for the 61,440 sqm riverside scheme. Design amendments included re-location of the 344-room dual branded hotel to an
The government has approved two SSE green hydrogen projects proposed to progress to the final stage of its Net Zero Hydrogen Fund. The fund aims to back the development and deployment of new low-carbon hydrogen production to de-risk investment and reduce lifetime costs. Following a period of due diligence, the
Multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard has been appointed to the £1.6 billion NHS Shared Business Services framework agreement. Operating across a four-year term, the move will see the firm deliver each of its core services and more across ten lots of the NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) Healthcare Planning, Construction
Notting Hill Genesis (NHG) has announced the appointment of energy and regeneration specialist, Equans, to undertake an upgrade and investment programme at the Paragon estate in Brentford. It means work can start on bringing 1,000 homes back into use between 2025 and 2026 and restoring a local community on the
Morgan Sindall has been appointed by the City of London Academies Trust (COLAT) and the Department for Education to deliver major upgrades to Newham Collegiate Sixth Form Centre. The project at the free sixth form college, situated on Barking Road, has been procured through the Department for Education’s (DfE) construction framework. Work will take place across two buildings, with the former East Ham Police Station set to be refurbished and a new structure built at the rear of the building, providing a new, high quality teaching space for students. The two buildings will be connected via a glass façade dining hall. Across both the new structure and refurbished building, Newham Collegiate will benefit from an additional 11 classrooms and four seminar rooms, creating an additional 60 places for the school. Two new cycle stores will be built to encourage healthy and sustainable travel for prospective students. Morgan Sindall will also install a green roof with over 100 sq. m of photovoltaic (PV) panels across all roofs on site. As part of Morgan Sindall’s commitment to delivering social value to the communities in which it operates, the project team are already underway in engaging with the local Newham community. To date, the tier one contractor has hosted four different events at local schools and provided students with the opportunity for work experience and mock interviews. Throughout the project, the Morgan Sindall team will continue to generate social value in Newham, educating the next generation on careers in the construction industry that they may not have previously considered. Morgan Sindall is working alongside engineers Ingleton Wood and architects Rivington Street Studios. Alongside the work at Newham Collegiate, Morgan Sindall is delivering a new residential development in Newham that will bring hundreds of much-needed affordable homes to the area. Manor Road Quarter, from The English Cities Fund (ECF), is currently under construction and when complete will deliver 804 homes, of which 50% are affordable, to the London Borough of Newham. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A provider of rented retired homes has acquired an apartment development in London. Birchgrove has bought a total of 78 apartments in Hampton Court growing its portfolio across the South-East. The £39 million deal has been completed with Octagon Developments, who design and build high quality homes throughout Southern England. Octagon Developments will deliver the apartments on a turnkey basis by 2025. This is Birchgrove’s eighth development with their equity partners Bridges Fund Management and follows the successful exit of its first two neighbourhoods to M&G last year. The debt is provided by Beaufort Capital and is their fourth deal with Birchgrove. The project’s GDV is forecast to increase to £68m once all units are fully let. The development will provide 78 contemporary, self-contained assisted living one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments available to independently minded renters aged over 65, together with extensive communal facilities including a restaurant, club room, licensed bar, wellness suite, library and landscaped gardens. Honor Barratt, Chief Executive, Birchgrove said: “Our new site at Hampton Court will encapsulate all the benefits of the Birchgrove offering: beautiful, purpose-built apartments, a flexible rental model, publicly accessible communal spaces and a development that frees up homes for local families. Imagine being able to sit on your balcony and look over the Thames into the back garden of Henry VIII – who wouldn’t want to live like that? “With more and more retirees looking to rent, London is firmly in our sights to expand our portfolio, and having secured sites in Chiswick and Hampton Court we look forward to announcing further exciting news in the capital soon.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Mace has completed the UCL Marshgate building, part of the first phase of UCL’s new campus at East Bank on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Marshgate is UCL’s single largest building to date providing over 35,000sqm of cross-disciplinary teaching, research and learning spaces over eight floors. Designed by architects Stanton Williams to provide new spaces for collaborative thinking, Marshgate unites activities across the arts, technology and science under one roof. Enabling students and staff to immerse themselves in innovative activities and cutting edge research. The floors are clustered into a series of ‘neighbourhoods’, each with its own double-height collaboration space to encourage cross-disciplinary knowledge share. The lower levels of the building include a network of publicly accessible spaces, with a café, exhibitions, art programmes, and activities, designed to draw the public into the heart of the building. The building creates a key interface with the wider Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park community. Its publicly accessible lower floors feature a curated programme of art and activities, including works by local artists, and landscaped outdoor settings providing a newly animated and accessible public realm. During construction Mace partnered with the UCL Plastics Waste Innovation Hub to replace all single-use plastics with fully reusable modular hoarding panels, recognised by LLDC as the new standard for all hoarding across Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Reflecting UCL’s overarching mission to embed sustainability through its campus and culture, durability and energy efficiency were central to the design approach. The BREEAM Excellent-rated building is powered in part by renewable electricity, with the aim to reach net zero carbon by 2035 in keeping with the district’s wider sustainable energy strategy. Terry Spraggett, MD Public Sector Construction, Mace said: “Together with UCL, the project team and our supply chain partners’ we’ve delivered an outstanding building. We are immensely proud to be part of this journey. Marshgate is exceptional in its vision – championing collaboration not just between the students and academics but including the wider public. Working closely with the community has been key for us to ensure we create long-term social value for the wider campus. I can’t wait to see Marshgate open and all the great ideas and innovations come to life.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
J Murphy & Sons has been appointed to develop a new railway station for Chelmsford’s Beaulieu development in Essex. It is the second of two contracts awarded by Network Rail. The £124 million contract includes main construction work for the new station on behalf of partners Essex County Council and Chelmsford City Council. This phase of the work includes the construction for the new station facility, the associated infrastructure, and progress towards opening to train services for the benefit of passengers. As part of a wider regeneration scheme, the new station has been designed to support the economic development of the Beaulieu area and its construction will include: Beaulieu Park station is currently expected to be completed by end of 2025. Once open, the station will be managed by Greater Anglia and served by its fleet of new trains with services into London. Katie Frost, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia said: “J Murphy and Sons have made an excellent start with the enabling and civils works and this contract award will allow us to seamlessly continue to deliver this amazing new station for Chelmsford without pause. “Beaulieu Park station is an excellent example of what the railway industry can do when working in partnership with local organisations to improve the railway for the benefit of communities and businesses by delivering a new station for the Beaulieu community.”
Zentia, a pioneering leader in ceiling systems, is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated launch of three new creative additions to Sonify. This innovative release introduces an array of cutting-edge features that redefine the possibilities of acoustic design, enhancing both aesthetics and functionality. Launched on 6th September, these three new additions to the Sonify range enables architects, designers, and space planners to craft truly immersive environments that prioritise both form and function. The update includes the introduction of Sonify Tilt, a solution for creating motion in design using angled panels, redefining precision alignment without the need for cable adjustments. The incorporation of 3D free-flowing materials opens up new avenues for captivating raft solutions, making spaces more engaging and visually stimulating. Installation is seamless and swift, and the innovative angles not only serve as design elements but also enhance sound absorption by disrupting sound waves and curbing reverberation within the environment. Another addition is the introduction of Sonify Highway, which introduces an innovative design approach by allowing wider gaps between panels, emphasising the support grid as a prominent visual element. The dual layer grid, available in an array of 35 colours, contrasts aesthetically with panel and soffit shades, injecting a personalised flair. Sonify Highway not only showcases the grid but also facilitates easier access to areas requiring constant entry without the need for panel adjustments, allowing designs to evolve and reflect the dynamic nature of modern spaces. Sonify Wall Absorbers are also now available, offering pioneering solutions in acoustic design. Sonify Wall Absorbers can effortlessly adhere to walls offering rapid and efficient installation. Architects and designers can leverage the panels as visual elements, combining multiple units to create patterns and infuse colour into the rest of the room. By achieving a vertical dimension of sound absorption, the wall absorbers deliver both acoustic and visual excellence. John Spicer, Head of New Product Development at Zentia, expressed the company’s enthusiasm about these exciting new features: “With these latest additions to our Sonify suite, we empower architects and designers to go above and beyond traditional acoustic solutions, and foster boundless creativity. Each component may seem small, but as a collective, they amplify design choices, offering a new dimension of individuality.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Following a £500,000 investment to redevelop the 18th-century Brookfield House in Leeds, tailored office providers, WorkWell, has celebrated 50% occupancy pre-let. Purchased by the Corrigan family in 2002, Brookfield House has been the home to Leeds-based businesses for the last 21 years. Currently undergoing an extensive renovation, the office space is set to open in September 2023 and is already signing up new customers ahead of its launch. Located next to Brookfield Court on Selby Road, the renovation of Brookfield House will create access between the two impressive red-brick office buildings, and will feature new office space, an open plan kitchen, a new reception and additional meeting space including two new meeting rooms and a 16-person boardroom available to the public for corporate bookings. Oliver Corrigan, Managing Director at WorkWell, said: “Brookfield House has proudly been a part of the WorkWell portfolio for many years, and my family has personally farmed the area for 50 plus years, so we’re thrilled to be able to create a greater future for the building while respecting its incredible past. “At WorkWell we’re proud to offer a different way of working with Leeds businesses. Our approach is not just about offering an office space with four walls. Each office park within our portfolio perfectly balances aesthetics with functionality, to create a purpose-designed office space which aligns with our member’s company values and purpose.” Designed by northern-based creatives, Ekho Studio, the former manor house will combine impressive aesthetics with performance-enhancing technology and will feature 9,000 square feet of workable space set amongst 100 acres of accessible countryside. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Lendlease has been selected by Gateshead Council’s development partner Ask:PATRIZIA to deliver The Sage International Conference Centre at Gateshead Quays. The announcement follows swiftly after Gateshead Council’s planning committee approved revised plans for the 61,440 sqm riverside scheme. Design amendments included re-location of the 344-room dual branded hotel to an adjacent site and the subsequent creation of an urban park utilising the remaining space which will create a pedestrian link from the Millennium Bridge up to Hawks Road. Enabling works have been taking place over the last two years and Lendlease plan to make a start on site later this year. With a GDV of £150 million, The Sage International Conference Centre will be delivered in the first phase of the scheme and will include 5,720 sqm state of the art exhibition space, 2,520 sqm adaptable meeting space, 17 conference rooms and a banqueting suite. The first phase will also include the hotel and urban park. On completion The Sage International Conference Centre will be operated by ASM Global. Lendlease is an international real estate group that has delivered convention, event and entertainment facilities both in the UK and globally. The company brings global expertise and learnings from similar projects including the SSE Hydro (now the OVO Hydro) in Glasgow, Scotland, and the International Convention Centre in Sydney, Australia. The business is committed to creating lasting legacies and delivering new jobs, skills and sustainability initiatives on every project. David Cadiot, Executive General Manager of UK Regions for Lendlease, said: “Lendlease has a track record of building, designing and project managing some of the world’s greatest sporting and entertainment venues. We’ll bring the know how to create an exceptional venue, one which local people will be hugely proud to have on their doorstep.” The revised plans for the relocated hotel were granted planning permission in March 2023. Russell WBHO has been appointed as contractor on the £48m building, which will be operated by Accor under its Novotel and ibis brands. The delivery of The Sage ICC will be followed by The Sage Arena which will also be operated by ASM Global and which will be completed under a separate construction contract. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The government has approved two SSE green hydrogen projects proposed to progress to the final stage of its Net Zero Hydrogen Fund. The fund aims to back the development and deployment of new low-carbon hydrogen production to de-risk investment and reduce lifetime costs. Following a period of due diligence, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has confirmed it will enter negotiations with SSE to provide support for its Aldbrough Hydrogen Pathfinder and Gordonbush Hydrogen projects. Aldbrough Hydrogen Pathfinder, which is being developed at SSE Thermal’s existing gas storage site in East Yorkshire (pictured above) aims to demonstrate the interactions between renewable hydrogen production, storage and power generation. Pathfinder could be operational by the middle of the decade and serve an important role in proving the role flexible hydrogen power can play in the UK’s net zero journey. Gordonbush Hydrogen plans to produce and deliver green hydrogen through electrolysis using renewable energy from SSE Renewables’ 100MW-plus Gordonbush onshore wind farm in Sutherland (pictured below). The project would demonstrate the value in co-locating green hydrogen production at existing renewables sites, with the potential to maximise renewables output unlocking further growth as well as enabling decarbonisation of other sectors. Catherine Raw, Managing Director of SSE Thermal and Group Executive Committee lead for hydrogen, said: “Hydrogen will be crucial in getting the UK to net zero, as well as significantly boosting our energy security by maximising our ability to harness homegrown renewables. At SSE, we are developing projects across the hydrogen value chain, from production to storage to power generation. “For a thriving hydrogen economy to be developed, we need to see projects brought forward at pace and the Net Zero Hydrogen Fund aims to achieve exactly that. “We welcome the recognition from UK Government on the potential of both Aldbrough Hydrogen Pathfinder and Gordonbush Hydrogen and look forward to the continued development of these important low-carbon projects.” SSE’s Aldbrough Hydrogen Pathfinder would utilise green power sourced from grid through Renewable PPAs when supply is plentiful, in compliance with the Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard. Hydrogen would then be produced via a 35MW electrolyser and stored in a converted salt cavern before being used in a 100% hydrogen-fired open-cycle gas turbine, exporting flexible green power back to grid at times of system need. SSE aims to produce hydrogen and start filling the cavern by 2025, subject to planning consents and reaching a final investment decision later this year. Gordonbush Hydrogen is currently undergoing refinements prior to the submission of a planning application to the Highland Council. If developed, the Gordonbush Hydrogen facility could produce up to 1,300 tonnes of green hydrogen annually in an electrolyser unit. The green hydrogen could then be used as a clean alternative to petrol, diesel or natural gas to help decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors such as industry, transport and manufacturing. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard has been appointed to the £1.6 billion NHS Shared Business Services framework agreement. Operating across a four-year term, the move will see the firm deliver each of its core services and more across ten lots of the NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) Healthcare Planning, Construction Consultancy & Ancillary Services Framework Agreement, spanning architectural and project management services to net zero environmental consultancy. Open to local authorities, emergency services, higher education, NHS and the wider public sector, the new agreement builds on the previous NHS SBS Framework Agreement and a nine-year working relationship Pick Everard has held with the organisation on the NHS SBS framework agreement. Alex Hamilton-Jordan, associate director at Pick Everard, said: “This agreement provides an efficient route to market to procure our services, and offers flexibility for organisations to adapt to meet their requirements. “Collaboratively, we aim to deliver better, together. Nothing can be achieved in isolation, and key to our continued success on this framework will be to engage and work with a full range of partners throughout the supply chain, including local SMEs that can offer valued, local insight. “We’re excited and open to the opportunities this will bring to appoint our professional services, engaging public bodies through the framework agreement.” Pick Everard has successfully delivered a wide range of projects through the existing NHS SBS framework agreement, including the relocation of congenital heart services for the Leicester Children’s Hospital in 2021 – which had been threatened with closure until campaigning efforts ensured the centre received part of a £450m pot of government funding. The firm also designed and managed a £250m+ schools expansion programme for the London Borough of Hounslow, which delivered more than 1,000 new school places. Alastair Hamilton, partner at Pick Everard, said: “Our strength as a business is being able to create a positive impact for local communities, that scale regionally and nationally. We’ve made huge strides in growing our operation over the past five years, and part of this owes to our framework appointments, which have a real focus on quality, a broad range of service delivery and technical excellence. “We’re hugely proud to be able to continue our journey with NHS SBS and the success the framework agreement delivers – ensuring the best possible outcomes for clients and end-users.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Notting Hill Genesis (NHG) has announced the appointment of energy and regeneration specialist, Equans, to undertake an upgrade and investment programme at the Paragon estate in Brentford. It means work can start on bringing 1,000 homes back into use between 2025 and 2026 and restoring a local community on the estate. Those who previously lived at Paragon were successfully supported to find new homes and move on with their lives, following the difficult decision to ask them all to leave the estate in October 2020; due to Notting Hill Genesis’ concern that the buildings did not meet adequate levels of safety. John Hughes, group director of development and sales and deputy chief executive of NHG said: “The safety of our residents is always our first priority and, as such, we felt moving residents from Paragon was the best course if action and has enabled us to assess the full scope of the proposed works. We know how much of an upheaval this was for everyone, so we established dedicated teams to work with every household to find a permanent solution. “The subsequent thorough investigations give us a great deal of confidence that we have a robust plan and we are looking forward to working with Equans and our expert team of surveyors to deliver our remediation and reinvestment plan. We look forward to people once again calling the Paragon estate home and to it being a thriving west London neighbourhood once more.” Equans will carry out remedial works across all six blocks, enhancing fire safety measures, by installing much thicker insulation and a new façade to dramatically improve the comfort and efficiency of the homes. Of the £72m investment, £36m will be spent on works to bring building services and finishes up to a modern standard, including the installation of sprinkler systems, upgraded mechanical, engineering, and public health systems, and completely refitted homes. The work also includes a complete internal refurbishment to all areas, including new lighting, ceilings, furniture, flooring, and landscaping. Dan Germann, regional managing director for Equans added: “Following months of significant, intrusive investigations and comprehensive planning and testing, we are delighted to have been appointed to undertake the remedial and reinvestment works at the Paragon estate development. “Equans is very much looking forward to continuing the proactive and collaborative working relationships which have developed over the past number of months with Notting Hill Genesis and their appointed professional team. We are committed to ensuring that this significant project provides both safe and modern accommodation for all residents at Paragon estate.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
