Building Design & Construction - BDC

Please read the latest issue of Building Design & Construction Magazine - April 2025 issue... MAGAZINE - https://lnkd.in/eZAF8NpV NEWSLETTER - https://lnkd.in/ebZxEZEp RICS RTPI Veriforce CHAS The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) RIBA Lawrence Turner Mark Topping David Churchill UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) Rendall & Rittner Beard HS2 (High Speed Two) Ltd Bill Jones #grenfell Mike Haywood Railpen SOLLER GROUP DC01UK Panattoni UK Building Systems UK (A Tata Steel Enterprise) Hathaway Winvic Construction Ltd Hortons Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust JM Clark Ltd Kirklees Council Stoke-on-Trent City Council Barratt London Places for London Alderley Group Homes for Scotland Stirling Developments Ltd McTaggart Group RED Construction Group Firethorn Trust Study Inn Group JCB Hemsec Tim Spann Gensler Stuart R Broadley HonFEI

McLaren Construction Midlands and North completes the UK’s largest cold store facility McLaren Construction Midlands and North is proud to announce the successful completion of the UK’s largest cold store facility, developed for Magnavale Ltd, one of the country’s leading temperature controlled warehouse and value added service providers. The fully automated facility stands at 47 metres tall with a capacity for 101,000 pallets and represents a significant milestone in logistics and sustainable storage solutions. Located near Grantham, the purpose-built, rack-clad automated cold store has been designed to support Magnavale’s goal of creating Europe’s most efficient cold storage facility, operating at a standard temperature of -200C. The 474,283 sq. ft. development can function at temperatures as low as -28°C and is powered entirely by renewable energy, reinforcing Magnavale’s commitment to sustainability. The facility features a five-storey office space, extensive external yards, an HGV marshalling area, and a large staff car park. Additionally, cutting-edge refrigeration plant ensures that the storage chamber maintains optimal conditions for frozen food products from leading retailers. The construction of the project presented a range of unique challenges. The facility was delivered while maintaining 24/7 access to the adjacent McCain food production facility, alongside another existing cold storage unit and water treatment processing works, while ensuring minimal disruption to operations and a water treatment facility. https://lnkd.in/eKe4FSBi

Beard Construction builds on success with record year Family-owned construction firm Beard has unveiled details of the most successful trading period in its 133-year history, with turnover rising by 10% and approaching £200m in 2024.   In the full year to 31 December 2024, the company turned over £198m, with pre-tax profits reaching £5.2million in a strong performance underpinned by the completion of 43 projects from its offices in Bristol, Guildford, Oxford, Southampton and Swindon.     It also saw a successful year for Beard’s newest office in Southampton, which opened in January 2024, and successfully achieved its targets by turning over £4.8million.    Finance director, Fraser Johns, said: “Having laid the foundations in 2023, we worked hard to continue this momentum into 2024 and are pleased to once again to report strong results.    “We’ve delivered projects for our customers across all our specialist sectors, including education, leisure and commercial. It was also an outstanding year for our special projects teams.    “While it’s been a more favourable trading environment from that of recent years, a continued focus on the basics of building construction has been a key driver.   “We start 2025 with a healthy pipeline of work, supporting our ambitions for further business improvement and growth.”  Laying foundations for success  Investing in people has continued to be a core focus for Beard, with new and enhanced training programmes developed and delivered. https://lnkd.in/epkUbRxf

BCIS forecasts five-year rise in civil engineering costs Civil engineering costs are set to rise by 16 per cent over the next five years to 4Q 2029, driven mainly by increasing labour costs. Over the same period, civil engineering tender prices are expected to increase by 22 per cent according to the latest forecast from the Building Cost Information Service (BCIS). Dr David Crosthwaite, chief economist at BCIS, said: “Infrastructure projects, by their nature, require long-term planning and delivery, meaning there are no quick fixes. “However, greater government clarity could help to restore confidence in the sector. “The Lower Thames Crossing, for instance, remains in limbo. Despite being a critical transport project, it has yet to receive final approval, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves recently saying it will need to be funded by private finance. But securing investment takes time, and no investor will commit without a definitive green light from the government. “If ministers are serious about revitalising infrastructure, decisive action is required. Without firm commitments and project approvals, the industry risks further stagnation at a time when clear direction is urgently needed.” BCIS has formed a Civil Engineering TPI panel to advise on the latest movement in tender prices. Comprised of cost consultants from firms involved in multiple civil engineering tenders in the UK, the panel also provides commentary on conditions affecting pricing levels on civil engineering projects. https://lnkd.in/e5ZiAhvj

AECOM & Nodes & Links: Transforming Project Controls with AI A New Era for Project Delivery For decades, AECOM, a Fortune 500 company, has led global infrastructure innovation, delivering complex projects in transportation, energy, water, and sustainability. As a trusted leader worldwide, AECOM tackles some of the world’s toughest challenges—on time, on budget, and with a growing focus on sustainability.  Yet, like the entire infrastructure industry, AECOM has long faced a persistent challenge: decisions are only as good as the data available, and in project management, that data often arrives too late. Reports take weeks to compile and analyse, meaning project teams operate in a constant state of lag. By the time a project director gets an update, conditions on-site have likely already changed.  "We used to operate on monthly cycles, with lock weeks where data couldn’t move, and reports were already outdated by the time they were read."  —Richard Newey, Head of Risk & Integrated Controls, AECOM  In an industry where delays cost millions and sustainability targets grow more ambitious, relying on outdated information is no longer an option. To solve this, AECOM partnered with Nodes & Links to revolutionise project insights, delivering real-time intelligence to clients.  While AECOM sought a partner to solve this challenge, Nodes & Links sought an industry leader to help drive real AI-powered change in project controls. AECOM was that partner.  "The future doesn’t just happen—you have to forcefully create it. https://lnkd.in/e5b36PVc

New Government Funding Creates Opportunity for Low-Carbon Social Housing, Says Baxi Baxi is encouraging social housing providers to ensure they have robust clean heat strategies in place for both new build and refurbishment projects following funding announcements in the Spring Statement. The call follows the government’s allocation of £2 billion to support the development of 18,000 new affordable homes, half of which is allocated for social housing. This funding for new build homes sits alongside the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund in place to retrofit existing social housing and improve energy efficiency. Rob Pearse, Residential Business Director at Baxi, said: “The £2 billion set aside for social housing in the Spring Statement must be used with sustainability in mind, which includes the long-term comfort and financial security of tenants as well as electrified heating. This can be achieved by working closely with manufacturers who have expertise in the sustainable heating of social housing and a raft of solutions able to match almost any requirements. “Delivering clean heat in social housing sector can be challenging, and we intend to support providers from the earliest steps of their net zero journey. It is important to identify the system that delivers the best efficiency, cost and environmental results for the building and occupants. https://lnkd.in/e9Dqn3zq

HG Construction appointed to 504 bed Stratford PBSA scheme HG Construction has been appointed as the main contractor on a new purpose-built student accommodation in Stratford being developed in partnership with HG Living and M&G Real Estate. The N16 Stratford scheme will comprise 504 student beds constructed over two blocks reaching 10 and 18 storeys. The project will also include over 1,500 sqm of high-quality amenity space for students, including roof terraces and courtyards. Situated in the heart of Stratford, home to several well-established and accredited universities, the development will provide a significant boost to the student accommodation offering in the area. N16 Stratford is targeting an EPC rating of A and a BREEAM rating of Outstanding.  HG Construction will self-deliver key elements of the build process, securing programme and quality benefits.  The scheme is currently in the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) review phase and the main build is anticipated to start later this year. Adam Quinn, CEO, HG Construction said: “We are pleased to announce our involvement in this landmark PBSA development in partnership with HG Living and M&G Real Estate, an announcement which comes as we celebrate our 25th anniversary as a company. “As we continue to navigate the ever-changing construction market, we are learning to adapt as an industry.  Working in partnership as funder, developer and contractor has enabled us to overcome early challenges to successfully secure this scheme. https://lnkd.in/eGAJHFW8

SevenCapital Sets Sights on £1bn London Expansion Birmingham-based property developer SevenCapital is making a bold move into the London residential market, with plans for a £1bn expansion across three major projects in Kensington, Islington, and the Isle of Dogs. Subject to planning approval, these developments could deliver 1,000 new homes through a combination of new builds and conversions. The first of these projects to secure planning consent is 100 Kensington, a £500m residential development featuring 462 apartments. Standing at 29 storeys, it will become the tallest residential tower in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea. The other two projects—Klein’s Wharf on the Isle of Dogs and the Archway Campus in Islington—are currently in the planning phase, with proposals for 375 and 178 new homes respectively. SevenCapital, founded in 2009 by chairman Bal Sohal and managing director Damien Siviter, has an extensive £2.1bn portfolio of completed and pipeline projects. The company has played a key role in shaping Birmingham’s residential landscape with developments such as St George’s Urban Village, The Kettleworks, St Martin’s Place, and The Lansdowne. Now, it is turning its attention to London and the Southeast. For 100 Kensington, SevenCapital is collaborating with real estate investment manager Mark Capital Management. Designed by John McAslan & Partners with detailed plans by Corstorphine & Wright, the scheme will transform a 1.7-hectare site into 462 homes, including 186 affordable units. https://lnkd.in/eibxvVrh

Bouygues UK to Deliver Major Cardiff & Vale College Campus Developments Bouygues UK has secured the contract to build two flagship education facilities for Cardiff & Vale College (CAVC): the Barry Waterfront Campus and the Advanced Technology Centre in the Vale of Glamorgan. The project, delivered under the Welsh government’s mutual investment model (MIM), is the largest to date under the programme. Developed by the Welsh Education Partnership Company (WEPCo) and designed by Sheppard Robson Architects, with engineering support from Arup, the scheme aims to enhance education and skills training in the region. WEPCo is a joint venture between the Development Bank of Wales and French investment firm Meridiam, established to support the development of educational infrastructure across Wales. Construction is set to begin in June 2024, with completion expected in summer 2027. Once operational, the campuses will be maintained and managed for 25 years by Robertson FM. The Barry Waterfront Campus will be built on a brownfield site in Barry’s Waterfront Innovation Quarter, accommodating 900 students across courses including art & design, hospitality, catering, and beauty therapy. A student-run restaurant and hair & beauty salon will be open to the public, providing hands-on training opportunities. Meanwhile, the Advanced Technology Centre, to be built near Cardiff Airport, will cater to nearly 2,000 students and focus on cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, advanced manufacturing, and net zero carbon technologies. https://lnkd.in/eZdJ536i

Round Hill Capital tops out Fairfax build-to-rent development in Manchester ahead of schedule Round Hill Capital, a leading global specialist real estate investor, developer and manager, has recently topped out on its Fairfax build-to-rent development in central Manchester. With BTR specialist Olympian Homes acting as lead developer and RG Group as main contractor, topping out was achieved eight weeks ahead of schedule. Acquired via a forward funding agreement in August 2022, the development, one of the largest in the central Manchester area, totals 488 one-and-two-bed, high quality apartments across two buildings, of 29 and 23 storeys respectively. Residents will benefit from exceptional amenities including a gym, 24-hour concierge, co-working space and roof terrace with panoramic views of the city skyline. Due to achieve practical completion in early 2026, the asset will be operated by Round Hill Capital and Allsop. Serving as the gateway to the Portugal Street East masterplan regeneration area, the project is less than a kilometre from the city centre. Appealing to a wide demographic of young professionals, families and students, the development is located next to Piccadilly Station, the largest train station in the city, which provides excellent connectivity across the region and wider UK. The scheme is on track to achieve a BREEAM Very Good certification. https://lnkd.in/e8_ZNTz5