The Salvation Army has confirmed  McLaren Construction as the main contractor on its new 55,000 sq ft territorial headquarters in Southwark, London.

The £32m HQ building will allow the international charitable organisation to relocate from its current headquarters, consolidating its administrative office and training provision in one location.

The Breeam Excellent building will be located at the William Booth Training College site in Denmark Hill, Southwark – an underutilised part of the Salvation Army’s existing campus.

The HQ varies between five and six storeys and includes open-plan office space, designed to be flexible and support smart working, arranged around an atrium. It will accommodate up to 450 employees and Salvation Army officers.

Additional Facilities within the headquarters include a series of multi-function rooms, recording studios, an editing suite and a café open to the public. A landscaped terrace at the southern end of the site will provide a private space and retreat for staff to enjoy.

The architectural intent is to have exposed concrete soffits, with extensive architectural timber throughout.

Darren Gill, Managing Director, London for McLaren Construction, said: “McLaren’s appointment on The Salvation Army Territorial headquarters is testament to our expertise, can-do culture and an ability to deliver exemplary projects, exceeding expectations.

“We recognise the importance of delivering this once in a lifetime project for The Salvation Army, a renowned organisation steeped in values. We are delivering a new HQ, bringing together disparate facilities and employees into a modern and sustainable building, on the site of the iconic William Booth Training college, where we are honouring the place and neighbouring area, while providing collaborative and much needed workspace for the international charity.”

The façade will be carefully detailed in precast masonry panels, stone and glazing and take a cue from the adjacent listed buildings and feature a series of tall, multi-brick and stone bays punctuated by brick piers, creating a strong vertical emphasis on the street.

The project is scheduled for completion in 2023.

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Network Rail is aiming for a radical shake-up in the way renewals are delivered across its large southern region by appointing a new integrated collaborative team of firms to deliver a vast works programme over 10 years.

The fresh delivery approach will involve a switch to integrated and collaborative Project 13 principals of delivery for an estimated work programme of £4.5bn to £9bn over Control Period 7 and 8.

Its new Southern Integrated Delivery model will be used to deliver all categories of railway asset work including: signalling & telecoms, track, buildings & civils, electrification and plant and minor works.

Of the total spending estimate, buildings and civils will constitute 30% – 45%, track 15% – 25%, signalling & telecoms 5% – 15%, electrification and plant 5% -10% while minor works will constitute 20%- 30% of the overall estimated value.

The southern region is now starting the hunt for the first partners for the first work areas to deliver buildings & civils; and electrification and plant

The SID approach aims to harness the strengths, capabilities, and knowledge of the supply chain, through a knowledge sharing and digital transparent approach that breaks down tier one, two and three hierarchies to deliver better outcomes.

Under the new enterprise approach, financial rewards will be based on value and performance, rather than transferred risk and volume outputs.

Works will be undertaken on Kent Sussex and Wessex routes, primarily for renewals, although options exist to enable enhancements to also be delivered, subject to capacity and where the SID is considered the optimum procurement route.

Under the present procurement plan, all appointed firms will initially sign into a development phase agreement, scheduled to commence in December 2022 / January 2023 and run up until April 2024.

After this Network Rail will commence the main SID agreement.

Network Rail plans to host a virtual market briefing event on 1 November to set out the forthcoming procurement process.

To register for the event or for details of the presentation, email your name, organisation and contact number to Network Rail before 25 October 2021. Emails should be entitled “Southern Integrated Delivery (SID) – Market Briefing”.

Leeds-based developer Priestley Homes has been granted planning permission to transform a Grade-II listed former Victorian school in the city centre into an apartment and commercial scheme.

The 2 Great George Street building will be renovated into 34 one-bedroom, 43 two-bedroom and six three-bedroom apartments – including the city’s first £1million-plus penthouses.

A new-build, three storey glazed extension will be added to the rooftop of the building alongside a communal roof-top garden and winter terrace.

New ground-floor office accommodation will be sub-divided into several units, providing 815m2 in high-quality workspaces for Leeds businesses.

The developer’s contracting arm Priestley Construction has started the initial strip-out of the building with the aim to complete in Q1 2023.

Nathan Priestley, chief executive officer of the Priestley Group, said: “As a Leeds-based business, it’s a privilege to be able to transform one of the city centre’s most ornate historical landmarks and bring it back into use as beautiful new homes and high-specification workspaces.

“Our strong reputation speaks for itself when breathing new life into heritage buildings and we can’t wait to make these ambitious plans a reality.

“Most of the development in Leeds city centre is allocated to student housing and PRS schemes. We believe there is a huge shortage of truly magnificent homes for owner-occupiers that give a taste of individuality and elegance; something that we will set out to deliver at 2 Great George Street.”

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Willmott Dixon has been formally appointed as main contractor on a £60m scheme to build 242 new apartments for rent and a Hampton by Hilton hotel in Rochdale town centre.

The contractor has been readying the Upperbanks site for months and will now start main construction within days.

Willmott Dixon recently built the neighbouring shopping and leisure development Rochdale Riverside and is aiming to ensure 40% of its local spend is committed within a 20 mile radius of the Upperbanks site, while 75% of it will be spent within 40 miles.

The scheme has been awarded £20m of external funding from the government’s Future High Streets Fund and the Greater Manchester’s Combined Authority’s Brownfield Development Fund.

Councillor John Blundell, cabinet member for economy and communications, said: “The appointment of Willmott Dixon is another crucial step forward for this fantastic scheme, which will regenerate this key brownfield site, and create a brand new housing and leisure offer which is unlike anything we currently have in this area.

“Willmott Dixon is a known and trusted company, which previously constructed the Rochdale Riverside retail and leisure development. On that project, they contracted key local companies like Hovingtons, and created a number of local employment opportunities, including for ex-armed forces personnel.

“I’m looking forward to seeing them build on this track record to deliver wider social benefits once again this time round.”

Anthony Dillon, managing director for Willmott Dixon in the North, said: “We are hugely proud to continue to play our part in shaping the future of Rochdale town centre and to be working in partnership once again with Rochdale Borough Council, Rochdale Development Agency, Genr8 and our architect partners Leach Rhodes Walker and KKA.

“We are committed to delivering brilliant buildings, transforming lives, strengthening communities and enhancing the environment so our towns are fit for future generations.

“This project will be built for the people of Rochdale by the people of Rochdale, and we will work with our local supply chain partners to create sustainable employment opportunities and a lasting positive legacy in this community.

“The local pride in Rochdale Riverside and the continued level of inward investment being attracted to exciting developments such as Upperbanks, make it a blueprint for vital town centre regeneration across the UK.”

Construction is set for completion in early 2024.

Multi-utility contractor Fulcrum saw its order book charge up in the first half of the year from £25m to £81m.

The growth came mainly from smart metering and strong orders for multi utilities in industrial and commercial markets.

Much of Fulcrum’s growth came from expansion in smart metering activity, where its order book jumped £19m to around £30m.  This includes a five-year agreement with energy supplier E to manage its 320,000 UK meter points and exchange 80,000 points to smart meters.

Fulcrum has also continued to service the buoyant housing market where it is aiming to continue to increase its market share.

Projects secured in the first half of the year include a pair of contracts, with a combined value of nearly £6m, to deliver multi-utility infrastructure at a major new development in Fairham, Nottinghamshire.

As preferred utility partner the door is also open on the scheme to deliver multi-utility connections for the development’s 3,000 new homes in the future.

Within its Industrial & Commercial division, Fulcrum has secured delivery of high voltage electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to power a commercial fleet, and a major £5.5m contract to design and install multi-utility infrastructure to support sustainable vegetable production at a large-scale greenhouse in Cambridgeshire.

Other Industrial & Commercial contracts included a £4.9m contract to design and install a high voltage electricity, water, and gas infrastructure for a major new innovative employment park, in the West Midlands, and a £1.6m project to deliver a 7km gas pipeline to help power a significant new sustainable cereal processing plant in Northamptonshire.

Terry Dugdale, CEO, said: “The positive progress we are making across all our core markets gives me confidence for the full year and beyond.

“I see significant opportunities for the business and so it is pleasing that the group continues to be increasingly better positioned to take advantage of the many and significant opportunities presented by the UK’s smart energy revolution and the utility infrastructure the UK needs for a net-zero future.”

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United Living New Homes has clinched the deal to deliver a 432-home build to rent scheme in Cardiff.

The proposed Anchorworks scheme is being developed by a joint venture between real estate investment firm Angelo Gordon and residential investor and operator Ridgeback Group.

It is the latest residential scheme planned for the Dumballs Road regeneration area close to the city centre and just yards from Cardiff Central Railway Station.

The scheme, which will range in height from seven to 15 storeys, also includes vital low carbon infrastructure, with electric vehicle charging points and solar panels.

Delivered over two phases, the development is scheduled to be completed in October 2024.

Conor Bray, Chief Operating Officer, United Living Group, said the builder was accelerating its growth into the build to rent sector with over £300m worth of schemes in the pipeline, due to commence construction next year.

“This contract award is an exciting addition to United Living Group’s growing portfolio of large-scale development projects.

“Cardiff is a thriving city that is growing and needs new, good quality housing to meet demand and we look forward to playing a central role in creating much-needed new homes that residents will be proud to call home.”

Public space between the two brick enveloped blocks

Two workers were taken to hospital following a fire at a David Wilson Homes North West site in Stockport on Tuesday.

Merseyside Fire & Rescue managed to get the blaze under control after three hours.

The brigade said the fire involved an external gas main that spread to three houses under construction.

Two people were taken to hospital with minor injuries following the incident at the Pavilion Gardens development in the town.

A David Wilson Homes North West spokesperson told the Liverpool Echo: “There was a small fire in an unoccupied building under construction at our Pavilion Gardens development in Southport today.

“We would like to thank the emergency services for their swift response in making the site safe.”

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Met Police and officers in Romania arrested 13 men on Tuesday morning in a series of raids as part of a major investigation into human trafficking.

Following the raids 54 men and one male juvenile have been safeguarded

The investigation was launched by detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command in August 2019 after intelligence highlighted a Romanian organised crime group (OCG) operating between Romania and the UK.

Romanian adult nationals have been recruited and trafficked to the Kingsbury area of north London to work on building sites as unskilled labourers.

Four warrants were executed in Harrow and Brent. Cash and a firearm were also seized.

The males were found housed in multi-occupancy addresses with mattresses covering the whole floor space. Occupants were found sleeping in extremely cramped conditions. They are now receiving support from specialist officers.

Eight men have been arrested in London for human trafficking. They have been taken to a north London police station.

A further five men were arrested in Romania where gold and around 250,000 Euros were seized from the OCG.

Those arrested are aged between 22 and 49 years old. They have been arrested for a variety of offences, including causing another to complete forced or compulsory labour and human trafficking contrary to the modern slavery act 2015.

Detective Constable Dec Wilson, from Central Specialist Crime, said: “These arrests in the UK and abroad are the result of working closely with our partners in Romania for the past 18 months, to identify those involved in the human trafficking and labour exploitation.

“This Eurojust Joint Investigation Team should serve as a warning to other organised crime networks that the Met is committed to working with international law enforcement to target those committing modern day slavery offences in London.

“We need the public’s help as they have an important role to play in recognising and reporting modern slavery. If you suspect someone may be a victim of modern slavery, report it. You will always be taken seriously, and protection and support is available.

“Often those affected do not see themselves as potential victims of labour exploitation and many will have been coerced into this life to make money for an organised crime network.

“We believe there are victims of modern slavery in every borough across London and the public may encounter them every day, possibly without realising.

“As well as being exploited for labour, victims have been found working in construction, domestic servitude, agriculture, cannabis factories and in places you use yourself, such as car washes, barbers and nail bars.”

Police said their enquiries are continuing.

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Manchester high-rise specialist Renaker has submitted plans for a 42-storey residential building, forming the second phase of its Salford Greengate cluster. 

Denton Corker Marshall Architects has designed the 444-apartment building, which was originally due to be brought forward as the final of three towers at the Greengate regeneration scheme.

The sequencing has now been swapped to facilitate development with Renaker already on site delivering its 52-storey Colliers Yard building, designed by OMI Architects.

Subject to planning approval, work on the second 160m tall residential tower is due to begin in January.

The base of the latest building has been designed with a brick-clad podium, with the facade above consisting of glazed and solid anodised aluminium panels.

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Buckingham Group Contracting will start construction next week on the £60m expansion of the Anfield Road Stand for Liverpool FC.

The club confirmed the go-ahead for the scheme on Wednesday morning following an extensive round of public consultation on the plans.

Enabling works have been ongoing throughout the off-season and an official ground-breaking ceremony is now planned for next week.

The redevelopment of the stand will see 7,000 more seats added to Anfield, taking its overall capacity to more than 61,000.

Construction of the stand will work in the same way as the redeveloped Main Stand, with the build taking place throughout the season while matches continue to be played throughout.

Andy Hughes, managing director of Liverpool FC, said: “We have been clear from the beginning that in order for this expansion to go ahead we needed the co-operation of local residents and the community, to successfully navigate the complex planning landscape, and to ensure the project is financially viable.

“We needed certainty for this project to progress and are now in a position to be able to move forward. We began this journey in 2014 and are grateful to everyone for the contributions they have made to bring the project to this stage.”

The work will reroute Anfield Road itself around the footprint of the new stand.

The project was given planning permission by Liverpool City Council in June with the club also awarded permission to hold up to six concerts and major events at the stadium for a period of five seasons.

Buckingham will work with local employment groups and education establishments to offer work experience, apprenticeships, graduate placements and employment to local people. Buckingham is committed to offering around 35 work placements and more than 800 apprentice and training weeks across the build.

The redeveloped Anfield Road Stand is anticipated to be ready for the 2023-24 season and its design will see the lower tier retained and refurbished with a new upper tier built above it.

As well as an increased capacity, the redeveloped stand will be similar to the Main Stand, with improved concourses and sports bar lounge hospitality facilities. This stand will also see the relocation of the Family Park to a covered position.

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