A former school site in Leeds is set to be transformed into a community sports hub. Proposals for the new development – on land in Holbeck once occupied by Matthew Murray High School – have been given the go-ahead. Work is now expected to start next year on the council-led
Spencer Group is to develop a new dock gate as part of a £1.9 million project to preserve a historic vessel. The project to improve and repair Hull’s North End Shipyard is part of a wider £32m cultural regeneration project led by Hull City Council to celebrate the city’s rich
Work has continued behind the scenes as University of Cumbria prepares to start building its new campus at The Citadels site in Carlisle city centre. The University has obtained possession of various properties on English Street and Victoria Viaduct, with plans to vacate the remaining occupied properties on English Street
Lanark Station has received a substantial boost following a significant investment from Network Rail and the Railway Heritage Trust. The renovation work on the Grade B listed platform 2 building roof and canopy at Lanark station was successfully concluded by the end of 2023. This effort has extended the lifespan
Barratt Developments has commenced work on the first phase of expansion at Selkirk-based Oregon Timber Frame Limited (Oregon). The work is part of a wider £24 million investment by Barratt following its acquisition of the plant. Work has started on new office premises after the UK’s largest housebuilder announced plans
Monkwearmouth Development (MDL), a Joint Venture between Sir Robert McAlpine Capital Ventures Limited (SRMCV) and Argon Property Development Solutions Limited (APDS), with funding from Railpen, have handed over its first development to NTW Solutions Ltd at Monkwearmouth Hospital in Sunderland. Located within the grounds of the existing hospital, the new
Morgan Sindall has been appointed to two new Pagabo frameworks. The two frameworks are valued at £1.6 billion each and will run for four years. It was confirmed earlier this month that Morgan Sindall had been appointed to the new £1.6bn Healthcare Decarbonisation Framework from Pagabo, which has recently been
McLaren Construction has been selected to build a four-story last mile logistics hub for Southwark and central London. The firm was appointed by British Land. The first of a new generation of multi-storey logistics hubs by British Land, the 140,000 square foot building on a 0.78 hectare site on Mandela
Plans have been submitted to North Yorkshire Council for a multi-million-pound maritime hub in Whitby. The hub will provide training and certification opportunities for the maritime, marine and offshore industries, to residents of Whitby and the wider area. The application has been submitted following a public consultation in January and
Wykeland Group has announced a new development at Melton West business park in East Yorkshire. Evolve @ Melton West will comprise two larger units of 37,000 sq ft and 22,000 sq ft and a terrace of five smaller units of 5,000 sq ft each, all available to let from early
A former school site in Leeds is set to be transformed into a community sports hub. Proposals for the new development – on land in Holbeck once occupied by Matthew Murray High School – have been given the go-ahead. Work is now expected to start next year on the council-led project, which will include three full-size artificial grass football pitches, two multi-use games areas and a two-storey building with facilities such as changing rooms, a gym and a café. The building will also be home to a GP surgery and pharmacy, with these services contributing to the wide-ranging health and well-being benefits that the development as a whole will bring to local residents. Other elements of the scheme will include the creation of a children’s play area and improvements to a portion of existing green space at the site, which covers 6.3 hectares and sits off Brown Lane East and Ingram Road. Outdoor seating areas, footpaths and a segregated cycle route are also planned, along with a 267-space car park and dozens of bike storage bays. The scheme is one of three new sports hubs planned for Leeds as part of the national Parklife programme, which aims to deliver improved facilities for grassroots football using funding from the Football Association, the Premier League, Sport England, the Department for Culture, Media & Sport and the Football Foundation charity. This and other major sites (메이저사이트) will show investment by these groups. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Spencer Group is to develop a new dock gate as part of a £1.9 million project to preserve a historic vessel. The project to improve and repair Hull’s North End Shipyard is part of a wider £32m cultural regeneration project led by Hull City Council to celebrate the city’s rich maritime heritage. The North End Shipyard is set to become the new home for the country’s last remaining sidewinder trawler, the Arctic Corsair, which will form a new visitor attraction when in place. The city council has appointed Hull Esteem Consortium LEP as the principal contractor for the shipyard project, with Spencer Group designing and delivering the vital lock gate element for the dry dock. Spencer Group will remove the existing gate, before installing the new 15m by 6m, 50 tonne steel replacement from the River Hull following berthing of the vessel. The gate will then be sealed in place by forming a reinforced concrete wall, providing a permanent home for the Arctic Corsair. The new dock gate is being produced in Grimsby before being installed at North End Ship Yard. Hull-based Spencer Group has already completed work to create a new home for another iconic vessel, the Spurn Lightship, as part of the Hull Maritime project. The company created a new wet berth for the lightship in Hull Marina earlier this year which is set to become another local maritime visitor attraction in the coming months. Neil Hewitt, Pre-Construction Project Manager for Spencer Group, said: “This is a really important project for us. “The Arctic Corsair is one of the flagship vessels of the city’s maritime history and we’re extremely proud to be playing our part in preserving it for future generations. Having previously been involved in constructing her berthing outside the Streetlife Museum over 20 years ago, the business is proud to play its part in settling her into her new home. “It means a lot to everyone at Spencer Group to deliver projects like this, particularly in our home city of Hull.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Work has continued behind the scenes as University of Cumbria prepares to start building its new campus at The Citadels site in Carlisle city centre. The University has obtained possession of various properties on English Street and Victoria Viaduct, with plans to vacate the remaining occupied properties on English Street throughout the summer. Concurrently, the University of Cumbria and Cumberland Council persist in collaborative efforts towards land assembly, nearing completion of agreements for the transfer of council-owned land and property crucial to the project. Further surveys and ground investigations have also been completed, in order to finalise the designs, ahead of moving into the construction phase. A Contract Notice has now been issued inviting expressions of interest in tendering for the building contract for the next stage of the project. University of Cumbria Chief Operating Officer, Mark Swindlehurst said: “We have a fantastic design ready to go and will now be going through a tender process to select a new contractor with a view to building work starting on site in early 2025. It’s an exciting time for the university, the wider city and region, as we move towards realising our vision and the next phase of delivery for this transformational project. “I’d like to thank SRM for all their work over the last two years getting us to this point and I know that they will be supporting us from the side-lines.” The Carlisle Citadels campus project has been developed by the University of Cumbria and Cumberland Council (previously Cumbria County Council and Carlisle City Council) with Cumbria LEP as a key partner. The project’s funding is sourced from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) via the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, along with contributions from the University of Cumbria. Additionally, funds for the Carlisle Business Exchange Centre are allocated from the Carlisle Town Deal Fund. SRM, in collaboration with the university since March 2022, has secured tenders for two significant infrastructure projects, prompting their decision to prioritise these endeavours. Grant Findlay, Executive Managing Director of Buildings, Sir Robert McAlpine, stated: “We will watch with pride as The Citadels campus starts to take shape and will continue to support the project through our supply chain. This is an exciting project for whoever takes over the reins and we look forward to seeing the finished campus.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Lanark Station has received a substantial boost following a significant investment from Network Rail and the Railway Heritage Trust. The renovation work on the Grade B listed platform 2 building roof and canopy at Lanark station was successfully concluded by the end of 2023. This effort has extended the lifespan of each component by up to 25 years. Prior to the renovation, both structures were in a state of disrepair, with deteriorating timbers posing a risk of the Georgian wired glazing panels slipping and potentially causing harm. Engineers conducted extensive rot repairs and implemented new slate coverings, lead flashings and a modern ‘twinfix’ polycarbonate glazing system. Furthermore, the building has been rendered wind and watertight for future occupants, with the Railway Heritage Trust providing £75,000 in grant funding towards the £310,000 project cost. Valerie McMillan, senior asset engineer, Network Rail, said: “We are delighted with the end result following the completion of works by our framework contractor CPMS, and sub-contractors Kerr Roofing and Eradakil Joinery and Preservation. We are grateful to the Railway Heritage Trust for their grant funding which has contributed toward this project becoming a reality. This completes our planned works at Lanark station which delivered the external restoration of the main platform 1 building, reinstatement of railings and renewal of the station access stairs.” Tim Hedley-Jones, executive director of The Railway Heritage Trust stated: “We are pleased to support Network Rail’s restoration of the Platform 2 building at Lanark. The first station was opened by the Caledonian Railway in 1855 so it is an important part of the heritage of the town.” Phil Campbell, customer operations director with ScotRail who manage the station, said: “We’re delighted to see the works completed at Lanark, securing the future for this historical station on the ScotRail network. ScotRail is grateful for the significant investment made by Network Rail and the Railway Heritage Fund, enhancing the station environment, and improving the customer experience.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Barratt Developments has commenced work on the first phase of expansion at Selkirk-based Oregon Timber Frame Limited (Oregon). The work is part of a wider £24 million investment by Barratt following its acquisition of the plant. Work has started on new office premises after the UK’s largest housebuilder announced plans in 2022 to increase its workforce and invest in plant development. The 900m2 office block will accommodate up to 60 permanent staff members, approximately double the capacity of the current temporary block. Plans for a new training room, which will hold up to 20 people, have also been revealed as well as more meeting rooms and improved kitchen and welfare facilities over two floors. The Oregon expansion, comprising two phases, will create over 70 new jobs in the Borders community. Phase one includes the development of a new office for its growing workforce, due to be completed in 2025, while phase two will see the extension of the plant’s existing manufacturing capacity. The plans form part of Barratt’s long-term goal to increase its use of modern methods of construction off-site while reducing its carbon footprint, both of which are enabled by timber frame technology. Timber frame construction is also a key element of Barratt’s strategy for addressing the skills challenge facing the industry. Douglas McLeod, Regional Managing Director for Barratt Developments Scotland, said: “Starting construction on phase one of this expansion is a fantastic milestone for us. Since acquiring Oregon five years ago, we’ve worked hard to bring our plans to fruition, so commencing work on the new office is one step closer to achieving our goals. “The new block will double in capacity which aligns perfectly with our ambitions to create new employment opportunities in Selkirk. We’ve invested in a great business with a high-quality product and look forward to rolling out both phases of the project.” Building more homes off-site will help Barratt meet the 2025 Future Homes Standard, cut carbon emissions, reduce waste and minimise disruption to local communities, as part of its wider commitment to become carbon neutral in its operations by 2030. By 2030, Barratt aims for at least 30% of its homes to be built using modern methods of construction. Using a timber frame system also enables Barratt to cut the build time on development by an average of five weeks, compared to using traditional methods of construction. In FY 2023, Barratt built 3,200 of its 17,000 homes across the UK using timber frames from its two Oregon factories. On completion of phase one, work will commence on phase two with the expansion of the north and south factories. The north factory will welcome 24 new factory operatives with two semi-automated open line panels and three extra floor benches. Meanwhile, the south factory will accommodate 26 new operatives with three extra floor benches and five spandrel benches. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Monkwearmouth Development (MDL), a Joint Venture between Sir Robert McAlpine Capital Ventures Limited (SRMCV) and Argon Property Development Solutions Limited (APDS), with funding from Railpen, have handed over its first development to NTW Solutions Ltd at Monkwearmouth Hospital in Sunderland. Located within the grounds of the existing hospital, the new modern fit-for-purpose building provides a welcoming, level and accessible front entrance to the main outpatient facilities. In addition to the new entrance and reception area, the new accommodation includes meeting rooms, flexible open-plan workspaces and breakout areas, and consultants’ offices on upper floors along with areas for their support teams to work in. The new building has created the perfect office environment for employees at the site and encourages collaborative working and support; all of which service users should benefit from. The building also houses a Changing Places facility, and the new ‘Café Bede’ community café is open to the general public, visitors, staff and service users across the Hospital. The new café includes areas for inside and outside dining and is home to a time capsule placed in the ground during the construction works; telling the story of the build, the history of the site and the previous building for people to read in years to come. Sir Robert McAlpine completed the construction of the 3,287 sq. m, three-storey building for MDL over 19 months with the facility achieving a Design stage BREEAM Excellent standard. In addition to a replacement tree-lined staff car park, the development delivers level access and a beautifully landscaped piazza area including seating and extensive planting, along with a memorial garden. The external works have transformed the previous parking area that fronts onto Newcastle Road and create better connectivity within the estate for hospital users, staff and visitors. MDL worked with NTW Solutions Limited, a limited company established by Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, to provide premises that will enable NTW Solutions to deliver improved facilities and a range of important services to the Trust. Cumbria Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest mental health and disability Trusts in England. Monkwearmouth Development Ltd is a Joint Venture between Sir Robert McAlpine Capital Ventures Limited and Argon Property Development Solutions Limited. It was appointed to this work through SRMCV’s place on the Pagabo Developer Led Framework, a nationwide procurement framework available for public sector organisations that focuses on delivering social value for each development. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Morgan Sindall has been appointed to two new Pagabo frameworks. The two frameworks are valued at £1.6 billion each and will run for four years. It was confirmed earlier this month that Morgan Sindall had been appointed to the new £1.6bn Healthcare Decarbonisation Framework from Pagabo, which has recently been named as an NHS Accredited Framework Host. Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) is serving as the healthcare sector-specialist contracting authority for the framework, which will run for four years. The suppliers appointed can provide a complete business solution for clients, allowing them to go directly to main contractors to undertake retrofit assessments, work up costs, self-deliver or bring in supply chain partners to deliver schemes, while serving as a single point of contact. The second framework – Decarbonisation Solutions Framework – is open to clients from all other sectors and is hosted by Kingston upon Hull City Council. Projects delivered through this framework will be focused on decarbonising existing domestic and non-domestic estates (education, commercial, leisure) by reducing operational carbon emissions and improving energy performance. For both frameworks, Morgan Sindall successfully bid for Lots 2 (£1-5m), 3 (£5-15m) and 4 (£15m+). Typical projects may include, but are not limited to, installation of specialist heating, cooling and ventilation systems, installation of renewable energy sources, fabric upgrades, installation of energy-saving lighting, and replacement of inefficient glazing. Since 2015 Morgan Sindall has collaborated with Pagabo to deliver projects using its Intelligent Solutions approach, which brings together digital and platform design capabilities with modern construction methods and innovative carbon reduction tools to create unique, sustainable, and inspiring places. Rob Hall, Framework Director, Morgan Sindall Construction said: “On the many projects we have been appointed to and delivered through Pagabo’s frameworks in recent years, decarbonisation and the deployment of green technology has always been a focus. It’s therefore fantastic news that we have won places on these two new frameworks specifically designed for decarbonising public estates. “Given the climate emergency and the need to reach challenging net zero targets, we envisage demand for decarbonisation services within the construction industry to soar in years to come. These frameworks provide an excellent means by which we can offer creative solutions to ensure public buildings can continue to serve their communities while being as sustainable as possible.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
McLaren Construction has been selected to build a four-story last mile logistics hub for Southwark and central London. The firm was appointed by British Land. The first of a new generation of multi-storey logistics hubs by British Land, the 140,000 square foot building on a 0.78 hectare site on Mandela Way is designed for a unique blend of industrial and logistics. Stacking logistics space over multiple floors allows the building to be subdivided, multi-tenanted and adaptable to future trends and climates. The ground floor provides access for a variety of distribution vehicles, including HGVs and cargo bikes. The building is served by 5 goods lifts, a further 3 lifts for cycles and cargo bikes and 6 passenger lifts. McLaren’s contract includes plant, landscaping, access, vehicle and cycle parking. Building services works are limited to give maximum flexibility to future tenants, meaning around 90% of the build is shell and core only with the remainder built to a CAT A office fitout. The BREEAM Excellent design includes low carbon materials and 1,470 square metres of rooftop photovoltaics above a mix of green and blue roofs, the latter collecting for a grey water system. The total biodiversity net gain for the former car pound site is 167%, which includes creation of an ecological corridor alongside a residential boundary. David Gavin, managing director for industrial and logistics at McLaren, commented: “We are seeing a new generation of clever industrial buildings that stack light industrial, warehouse and distribution space to keep a broader range of jobs in urban areas and serve demand for last-mile distribution space. If there’s one thing they have in common, it’s that they maximise their use of tight urban sites, requiring ingenuity and careful planning for the plant and materials we need for construction.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans have been submitted to North Yorkshire Council for a multi-million-pound maritime hub in Whitby. The hub will provide training and certification opportunities for the maritime, marine and offshore industries, to residents of Whitby and the wider area. The application has been submitted following a public consultation in January and February when 69 per cent of those who responded to the survey were supportive of the scheme. Chief Executive, Richard Flinton, said: “Submitting the planning application is an exciting step forward for this project. The Maritime Hub will open doors to new economic growth in Whitby and help provide a route for young people into the maritime and marine industries. I encourage everyone in the community to look at the plans on our website and leave comments if they wish.” Concerns about the hub being located on a flood plain have also been mitigated as the building will be designed to flood. In the event of a flood, the ground floor units will allow water to enter, and all services will be raised above one metre. After water levels drop, the units would be easily washed out. Corporate director of community development, Nic Harne, added: “We have listened to stakeholders and consultation feedback throughout the planning process before submitting this application. “Endeavour Wharf will still retain around 200 parking spaces and the height of the Maritime Hub will match the surrounding buildings such as The Angel Hotel. “We have received some suggestions that following Eskdale School’s merger with Caedmon College this summer, the school site would be a better location. But existing and potential future tenants of the wharf have stated they need direct access to the water and as such the school site would not be a suitable alternative.” The project has been developed to address a local need to develop a better supply of technical abilities in the maritime sector and put the town at the forefront of the growing renewable energy sector. The hub will also provide accommodation for maritime businesses and service providers. Workshops on the hub’s ground and first floors will house the current and new wharf-based operations and functions of the Harbour Authority. There will be classroom space, engineering workshops and marine biology laboratories, offering opportunities for training and employment in areas ranging from marine biology to off-shore wind. The second floor will be an office space for marine-based start-up businesses and other maritime industries. The space is intended to be occupied by local, regional and national businesses and organisations, making Whitby a hub of maritime activity. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Wykeland Group has announced a new development at Melton West business park in East Yorkshire. Evolve @ Melton West will comprise two larger units of 37,000 sq ft and 22,000 sq ft and a terrace of five smaller units of 5,000 sq ft each, all available to let from early 2025. Leading Yorkshire commercial property developer Wykeland Group has announced a new speculative development, Evolve @ Melton West. This computer-generated image shows one of two larger units within the scheme. The development will form part of the wider Melton West site, off the A63 west of Hull, and will create a total of 84,000 sq ft of business space, to enable companies to grow and expand their operations. The £10 million development is being delivered speculatively by leading Yorkshire commercial property developer Wykeland as the latest major investment at Wykeland’s thriving Melton West site. Construction is expected to begin in May, with the new units due to be ready for occupation late in the first quarter of 2025. Evolve @ Melton West will feature a terrace of five smaller units, as well as two larger buildings. The new development, forming part of the wider Melton West business park, will provide modern, energy-efficient and fully fit-for-purpose facilities for growing businesses. Wykeland Development Director Jonathan Stubbs said: “We’re delivering Evolve @ Melton West to provide much-needed modern space to meet the needs of growing businesses. The market is telling us there is a shortage of high-quality facilities of this kind and a pent-up demand for them. “We are approached regularly by businesses looking for a new space to move into, to support their growth. Those companies are looking for facilities that are ready-made, modern, energy-efficient and fully fit for purpose. “The shortage of such facilities is stifling investment and growth within the region and that’s an issue that Evolve @ Melton West will help to address.” The buildings will be EPC A-rated, with rooftop solar panels, green living walls and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Cycle storage shelters will form part of the development, which will also feature planted green roofs, with fast electric vehicle charging also available for public use. The buildings allow high levels of natural light in, thanks to translucent roof panels, creating bright and attractive workplaces and reducing the length of time when artificial lighting is required. The project will create almost 100 jobs during the construction phase, with employment for around 150 full-time equivalent positions once the facilities are occupied. Evolve @ Melton West will feature a terrace of five smaller units, as well as two larger buildings. This image shows the living wall on the building’s side elevation of the building featuring the smaller units. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
