Grant Thorton’s Rob Parker, Jon Roden, and Kevin Coates were appointed as joint administrators for Buckingham Group Contracting on Monday.

“After 36 years of uninterrupted trading, this is an extremely sad day for all the exceptionally committed and talented people who have made Buckingham Group Contracting the business it is,” said Mike Kempley, chairman at Buckingham.

Buckingham had filed a notice to appoint administrators earlier this month. At the time, it had blamed “rapidly escalating contract losses and a sharp reduction in liquidity” as the reason for its financial troubles. It was an assessment that administrators echoed in a statement on Tuesday.

Buckingham had been attempting to refinance and sell part of the company.

Ultimately, only Buckingham’s rail division was sold – with Kier Group picking up Buckingham’s HS2 contract. The sale to Kier preserved 180 jobs, according to Grant Thornton.

Under the agreement, Buckingham’s rail assets will become part of the Kier Transportation company. Kier Transportation designs, builds, and maintains a variety of transit infrastructure, including rail, highways, and aviation.

Joe Incutti, group managing director of Kier Transportation, welcomed the Buckingham employees to the Kier fold.

“The team will further strengthen our capability and this helps to bring an end to a period of uncertainty for clients and employees by ensuring continued delivery on existing projects, and the retention of hugely important skills and expertise in the rail sector,” Incutti said.

Andrew Davies, chief executive of Kier Group, said: “We have previously stated that we would consider value accretive acquisitions in core markets where there is potential to accelerate the medium-term value creation plan.

“This acquisition is one such example – it is an excellent strategic fit and accelerates our rail strategy, providing work with new rail clients and increasing our capabilities.”

While the Kier sale preserved some of the company’s jobs, it was not enough to save the rest of the business.

“It is, however, with regret, that despite the best efforts of the directors and the company’s advisers, a sale of the company’s remaining divisions (building, civil engineering, demolition, major projects and sport & leisure) was not possible,” said Grant Thornton’s Parker.

“As a result, 446 employees from these divisions together with some other central roles at the company have been made redundant following the company entering administration,” he continued.

“The Grant Thornton team will work with the employees affected to support them through this process.”

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Regeneration housebuilder Lovell Partnerships, part of Morgan Sindall Group, has begun work at Stonedale Crescent in Croxteth to build the mixed-tenure affordable housing development for Liverpool City Council.

Designed by DK-Architects, the project will provide 80 two- to three-bedroom houses and eight one-bedroom flats built on redundant parking land, marked as one of the city’s mayoral priority development zones to improve social and economic conditions.

The scheme will offer 100% affordable housing provision, with all homes available for affordable rent, rent-to-buy, or shared ownership.

Tahreen Shad, regional partnerships director at Lovell, said: “As we begin our work on the Croxteth site, we will also be getting further embedded in the local community through our social value programme by engaging with nearby schools and groups, as well as employing and training young people through our apprenticeship scheme to deliver lasting outcomes.”

A total of £12m grant funding has been secured for the project through the Homes England Affordable Homes Programme and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Brownfield Land Fund.

Local housing provider Cobalt will manage the homes, adding to its 6,000-strong portfolio across North Liverpool.

This project forms part of a wider regeneration for the Stonedale and Stonebridge area. Cobalt has already delivered 57 new homes at Altbridge Park and is working with masterplanner Gillespies on a large-scale programme of estate regeneration works at the estate.

Claire Griffiths, chief executive of Cobalt Housing, said: “[This project] signals the continuation of our £300m investment in our neighbourhoods over the next 10 years, in existing and new homes for rent and sale, which we have set out in our new corporate plan.

“This development will be a catalyst for increased confidence and aspiration in the Stonebridge area of Liverpool, as we continue to expand our partnerships and investment, working closely with our customers and the wider community.”

Want to find out more about the project? Search for application number 21F/0330 on Liverpool City Council’s planning portal.

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Hull-based Spencer Group started phase two of work yesterday to refresh the Menai Bridge, ready for its 200^th anniversary.

Phase one of the refurbishment saw the closure of the bridge last October to allow for rigorous testing and development, including a £1.5m effort to repaint the entire main underdeck.

The second phase will deliver new permanent hangers after a detailed analysis detected a structural issue with the existing ones, with the 7.5T weight restriction for crossing the bridge to remain in place until work has completed.

Work will be carried out in a way that will not lead to a full closure of the bridge, while traffic management will be implemented in order to reduce disruption to local residents.

This construction programme has been developed by UK Highways A55, which operates and maintains the Menai Bridge on behalf of the Welsh Government.

The 417-metre suspension dates back to 1826 and was designed by engineer Thomas Telford. Thought to be the second oldest operational vehicular suspension bridge in the world, the Menai Suspension Bridge’s bicentenary is in 2026.

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Situated on a plot between Knowsley Lane and Astley Road in Huyton, Ferrersfield is the largest new-build project HMS has undertaken.

The project, when complete, will comprise 131 homes designed by Bowker Sadler Architecture. The houses will be a mixture of two-, three-, and four-bedroom residences and available on a rent-to-buy tenure.

Work started on the scheme in 2021. The first 19 homes have now been delivered, with the remaining set to complete later this year.

HMS is delivering the scheme on behalf of Torus Developments. Both HMS and Torus Developments are part of the same organisation: Torus Group.

“This was a big undertaking for HMS when we started on site in 2021 as it was the biggest new-build project we had ever mobilised, but seeing the homes we have worked hard to build completed and people receiving the keys to their new homes is fantastic,” said HMS construction director John Barrow.

He added later: “I know that Ferrersfield will provide hundreds of people with a great place to live and taking a lead on regenerating a disused piece of land is something that the whole team is proud of.”

Torus Developments’ group head of developments Anna James praised HMS’s work.

“Over the years, HMS has proven to be a resilient and reliable contracting partner and as the next 18 months will be one of HMS’ strongest in terms of handovers and completions, I am looking forward to continuing to mark these kinds of milestones with the team,” she said.

Planning permission for Ferrersfield was granted in August 2020. In addition to Bowker Sadler Architecture, the project team includes PB Sustainability, EnviroSolution, Shape Engineering, The Alan Johnston Partnership, SRL Technical Services, Hinchliffe Heritage, AJP Structural Engineers, and Resource & Environmental Consultants.

You can see the original application by searching 20/00099/FUL on Knowsley Council’s planning portal.

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Step Places is the development partner of Wigan Council for the scheme, designed by architect Southgate & Sarabia.

In total, the Pier Quarter project will deliver 55,000 sq ft of office, events, and commercial space, along with leisure, retail, and community facilities at Wigan Pier.

The regeneration of the area will also transform Piers 2 and 3 to provide a multi-event space. Piers 4 and 5 are also being redeveloped to be used for temporary events.

A tender is now out for operators to occupy the space, including three of Wigan Pier’s historic buildings. Dating from the 1790s, these are a 23,000 sq ft warehouse, the 8,000 sq ft former Orwell at Wigan Pier pub, and the 4,500 sq ft former education centre at the pier.

Proposals will bring three historic buildings back to life. Credit: via Medlock Media

Wigan Pier was originally a loading jetty where wagons piled coal onto barges bound for the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, made famous by author George Orwell’s 1937 book The Road to Wigan Pier – hence the Orwell pub.

Later, the area became famous due to the Wigan Pier nightclub, which sat near the banks of the canal.

Step Places director Harinder Dhaliwal said: “Our ambition from the start was to put this area back on the map as one of the premier cultural destinations in the North, and so this is an opportune time to go the market and see the full range of partnership options.”

Construction started on the scheme when plans were approved in 2019. Work was shut down in 2020 due to COVID-19 and was later pushed back due to contractor availability and increasing costs.

Work restarted last June and is expected to be completed next year.

James Winterbottom, director of strategy and innovation at Wigan Council, said: “We remain committed to delivering the Wigan Pier development, which will see this important and iconic part of our local heritage reimagined for future generations to enjoy.

“It’s positive news that Step Places is moving forward with the project, and we look forward to seeing so much of the hard work happening behind the scenes coming together.”

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Last year, the two developers formed a 50/50 joint venture to deliver St Michael’s tower on land bounded by Jacksons Row, Bootle Street, Southmill Street, and 201 Deansgate.

Designed by Hodder + Partners, the scheme will feature five storeys of office accommodation and a five-star hotel spanning 10 floors that will be operated under the Marriott Group’s luxury W Hotel brand.

The Relentless and Salboy JV has lodged fresh plans to add another two storeys, taking the building’s height to 43 storeys. This increase will allow another 16 apartments to be built to create a total of 229 flats.

Approval would also see a small decrease in the office floorspace from 324,000 sq ft to 316,900 sq ft, as well as a small increase in spa floorspace from 197,000 sq ft to 200,000 sq ft.

The refreshed plans come while the project is already under construction, with contractor DOMIS starting work in April.

The hotel and residential tower makes up the second phase of the wider St Michael’s project.

The first phase will deliver offices and a rooftop restaurant. Main contractor Bowmer + Kirkland began work on the first phase last year, with construction expected to complete in 2024.

Zerum is the planning consultant for the scheme. Also on the project team are Stephen Levrant Heritage Architecture, WSP, Novo, Planit-IE, GTech, and ArcAero.

To learn more about the refreshed skyscraper plans, search for application number 137873/JO/2023 on Manchester City Council’s planning portal.

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The housing provider has appointed Forshaw Construction to build the remaining 70 homes in Hartford, with works including highways and lighting.

Previously being delivered by Lane End Developments Construction, the scheme was stalled in April as the contractor entered into administration having handed over just 38 homes.

Located on land previously occupied by Mid Cheshire College’s Hartford campus, Manor Gardens will provide a total of 108 homes when completed.

JDA Architects designed the scheme, which features a mix of two-, three-, and four-bedroom houses, as well as two-bedroom bungalows.

Lorraine Donnelly, development director at Your Housing Group, said: “Your Housing Group has always remained fully committed to completing the construction and when work stopped we immediately set about the process of finding and appointing a new-build partner.

“It was really important that our new partner understood the importance of completing Manor Gardens to both Your Housing Group and our residents.”

Lyndon Forshaw, group managing director of Forshaw Construction, added: “I’ve been impressed with the effort and speed with which Your Housing Group moved forward with the Forshaw team to ensure Manor Gardens now gets completed to the high standard it deserves.”

Stantec is the scheme’s planning consultant. The project team also includes Ellis Williams Architects, Bureau Veritas, Cundall, Urban Green, and Croft.

Work is expected to complete on the final homes in early 2025.

To find out more about the plans, search for application number 19/00203/FUL on Cheshire West and Chester Council’s planning portal.

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Set on 4.8 acres of brownfield off Elizabeth Street, Trade City Manchester will comprise nine units of sizes between 3,800 sq ft and 23,500 sq ft.

Kier Property, alongside partner Investec, is aiming to make the Fletcher-Rae-designed warehouses energy efficient, achieving an EPC A rating and BREEAM Excellent score.

Groundworks are underway on the site, which meant there was not a lot to see when Place visited. However, in talking with Kier development director Henry Martin, we were able to envision what the £27.5m end result would look like.

You can watch our interview with Henry and see both the site as it stands now and what it will look like next year, by viewing the video at the top of this article. You can also find the video on the Place North West YouTube channel.

Want to learn more about Trade City Manchester? Visit tradeandlogistics.co.uk. You can also get in touch with the scheme’s joint agents: CBRE’s Paul Cook and Colliers’ John Sullivan.

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The news comes after health minister Lord Nick Markham visited the North West hospital sites last week.

Markham has since stressed that the government’s new hospital programme progressing well, with a total of five new North West hospitals set to have opened in line with the 2030 target.

That figure includes Royal Liverpool Hospital and the Northern Centre for Cancer Care, which are already treating patients. The Greater Manchester Major Trauma Centre is set to open later this year.

The new Royal Preston Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary are unlikely to meet the 2030 target. However, construction will be underway by that time, according to the health minister. The reason for the delay is the government has reprioritised the hospitals it is delivering.

“The government will keep the situation under review and do everything it can to accelerate the completion timeline of the hospitals impacted, if circumstances allow,” a press release stated.

Markham told the Manchester Evening News that major work would start on the North Manchester General Hospital in 2025.

Manchester University Foundation Trust said it was now developing the full business case for its redevelopment. This business case includes the costs and anticipated timescales for project delivery.

“The new health campus will play a central role in the area; with joined-up health and social care facilities, high-quality new homes, access to better education and training, and more inviting open spaces,” a spokesperson for the trust said.

“It is part of an exciting vision to deliver a digitally connected hospital and modern mental health in-patient unit within a health campus located at the heart of the local community. It will also create employment and business opportunities for people in the area and be a catalyst for comprehensive regeneration in North Manchester.”

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Orbit Developments has announced that work has commenced on phase two of Academy Business Park, which will be split across eight units.

Phase one completed last year and delivered 35,000 sq ft of space, set across four units.

The announcement follows global biotech company Associates of Cape Cod’s acquisition of 22,100 sq ft at the park, completing the lettings for the first phase of the development.

The company joins the existing tenants at Academy, including Screwfix, Liverprint, and Rexel, and will head up its base of UK operations there.

Dennis Dwyer, Divisional Director at Orbit Developments said “With an ideal location in Knowsley, which has a growing business base, it’s no wonder the park has attracted a huge multinational corporation like Associates of Cape Cod and we’re delighted that they have decided to join us here.

“The business park is continuing to grow, and we are creating a mix of modern business units along with other staff amenities on site.”

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Warringtonfire is a global fire testing, inspection, and certification service operating across 20 offices worldwide.

The firm has announced that it will relocate its fire resistance testing from its existing facility off Holmesfield Road in Warrington to the new test site at Birchwood Park. This move represents an almost 80% increase in size.

Project manager Arcadis and principal contractor Tilbury Douglas are already on site building the facility, which will see the creation of eight fire resistance testing furnaces.

There will be three horizontal and three vertical furnaces designed to evaluate the fire performance of different products or assemblies, as well as two indicative furnaces to provide a focused testing method to quantify the ability of a material or assembly to withstand exposure to high temperatures.

In terms of sustainability, plans include a number of measures to reduce energy use, maintain air quality, and minimise potential environmental impacts. These measures include built-in recycling systems, energy-efficient fans, and smoke and odour capture and treatment.

The £20m facility will house a 200-strong team, which will be one of the world’s largest teams of fire technical experts. Over 50 new jobs will be created, with a commitment to training and upskilling new and existing employees.

Warringtonfire’s existing facility off Holmesfield Road will continue to operate at full capacity while the new facility is under construction, before being partly converted to create a centre of excellence for reaction to fire testing.

TP Bennett Architects and Hoare Lea designed the project.

Jason Dodds, vice president of Warringtonfire, said: “Our new fire testing facility in Warrington is a major investment in the region and a statement of our ambition for the business…

“The new facility will significantly improve Warringtonfire’s testing offering for our customers, providing a faster and wider-ranging service, as well as expanded access to technical excellence delivered by the foremost experts in the fields of fire testing and certification”, he continued.

“It will solidify our position as the go-to partner for fire testing and related services and broaden our ability to serve customers across the value chain.

“Using best-in-class building design and new technology, we will also be able to greatly improve our environmental footprint, which is incredibly important to us as a company and is becoming increasingly important for our customers.”

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The Stowe-headquartered builder acknowledged that filing a notice to appoint administrators would “come as a shock” to stakeholders.

“Very strong delivery and commercial performance across most of the business has been outweighed by deep losses and interim cash deficits incurred on the three major stadium and arena contracts, and a substantial earthworks contract in Coventry,” Buckingham Group said in a statement.

“This situation on these four long-term, major projects developed through a combination of unexpected impacts such as the extreme inflation linked to the Ukraine conflict and other challenges in the sports and leisure division,” the statement continued.

Buckingham Group is the main contractor for Liverpool Football Club’s Anfield Road Stand, which was to bring an extra 7,000 seats to the stadium. This would increase Anfield Stadium’s capacity to 61,000.

Work had begun on the stand in 2021. At that time, the project was due to complete in time for the 2023-2024 season. That deadline has since been missed, although the lower tier of the Anfield Road Stand has been cleared for operational use.

Liverpool FC said that Buckingham Group’s administration status would not impact the opening of the lower part of the stand on Saturday.

“Following the successful test events earlier this week, Liverpool City Council’s building control team issued a safety certificate to operate the lower tier of the Anfield Road Stand and we look forward to welcoming supporters to Anfield for our first Premier League home game of the season,” the club said in a statement.

“We will work with Buckingham Group on the planned phased opening of the remainder of the new stand and will continue to keep supporters updated on arrangements for future games.”

Buckingham Group is also the main contractor for the £80m Headbolt Lane Station in Kirkby and began work on the Merseyrail project last year. Neither Liverpool City Region Combined Authority nor Merseyrail responded to requests for comment.

Buckingham Group stressed that it is not currently in administration. The filing of the notice was to “protect the business whilst we explore a sale of all or part of the business in a very short period (days/weeks)”, the company said.

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Architect Studio Power designed the project, which has a GDV of £195m, on behalf of Salboy.

Named in homage to Victorian architect Alfred Waterhouse, Waterhouse Gardens will provide 556 fully-funded city centre homes and 31,000 sq ft of commercial and retail space across five buildings.

Residents will also have access to a clubhouse featuring swimming pools, sports courts, lounge and games rooms, private dining areas, and a cinema, as well as meeting rooms and workspaces.

Plans feature a residents’ clubhouse. Credit: via Mountview Communications

Simon Ismail, co-founder & managing director of Salboy, said: “Waterhouse Gardens will be a residential-led, mixed-use regeneration project that pays close attention to creating an appealing landscaped environment where young people buy and rent their homes, as well as study, begin or progress their careers, and socialise, all within easy reach of Manchester’s vibrant city centre.

“We’ve specifically and painstakingly designed a new local neighbourhood that’ll suit anyone – renters and owners alike – who is seeking a vibrant, convenient, city-central lifestyle where what they need and want is available on site at a consistently high quality and easy access.”

The site, which sits next to Manchester College’s city centre campus, is currently being used as a car park following the closure of Boddingtons Brewery in 2005 and its subsequent demolition in 2007.

Salboy acquired the 52,700 sq ft plot from Realty Estates last December, taking over the project from Prosperity UX.

Prosperity was granted planning permission for its plans for 556 homes and 37,000 sq ft of commercial and retail space in February 2019. However, construction never started before the company’s collapse in May 2021.

Salboy acquired the site last December. Credit: via Mountview Communications

Property consultant Graham + Sibbald is advising Salboy on the revised plans for the commercial space within Waterhouse Gardens. Layer.Studio is the landscape architect. The project team also includes project manager and cost management consultant Artal, M&E engineer Novo, fire consultant DFC, and transport consultant SLR.

Conor Mulloy, director at Graham + Sibbald, said: “The design of the development together with the attention to detail on items such as the landscaping will ensure this brand new neighbourhood will be hugely attractive to both residents and commercial operators alike.

“With over 31,000 sq ft of quality commercial space being created with an abundance of well-designed and landscaped external seating areas, particularly along Central Avenue, Waterhouse Gardens will be an exciting opportunity for bars and restaurants seeking space within the city”, he continued.

“These new operators will not only benefit from the rapidly growing residential population but also the immediately adjacent AO Arena.

“In turn, they will bring vibrancy and activity to the area which will enhance the neighbourhood and local environment even further.”

Assael Architecture was behind the original plans for the scheme, which has since been revised and modernised.

Deloitte was the planning consultant who secured planning permission in 2019. The project team also included Wardell Armstrong, Hilson Moran, Gleeds, Future City, Urban Bubble, Cushman & Wakefield, and SK Transport.

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The second phase of the project will see the eastern portion of Lancaster University’s management complex, a 1970s office and teaching building, refurbished. 

It had originally been intended for the building to be demolished and replaced with a second new-build facility.

However, following a rethink, the university has opted to refurbish the existing building, despite earlier planning documents stating it had “passed its intended design life”.

Conlon Construction’s £15.8m contract runs for two years until July 2025. 

Deputy dean of Lancaster University Management School, James Faulconbridge, said: “We look forward to working with the appointed contractors to further develop the design for the refurbishment of our East Estate.

“As one of oldest business schools in the UK, the design will be sympathetic to our heritage but will bring the 1970s aspects of our buildings into line with the first-class, modern facilities provided by our new West Pavilion. This will mean our staff and students will have access to the same high standards and exciting spaces in all corners of our Management School.”

Plans for the overhaul of the management buildings were approved in 2017 and the first phase, a new-build £24m West Pavilion built on land next to the existing complex, opened in 2021. 

Designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios and delivered by John Turner Construction, the West Pavilion is a five-storey building housing three lecture theatres, two executive teaching suites, and three floors of workspace for academics and staff. 

A large atrium and new reception area link the new building with the existing LUMS facilities. The delivery architect was Liverpool firm ABW Architects. 

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The Marine Lakes Event Centre will be a £73m complex with a 1,200-seat theatre, 2,400-capacity conference space, and a series of offices, meeting rooms, restaurants, and production facilities. It is the dream child of Sefton Council and was the banner project of the council’s successful £37.5m Town Deal award.

MLEC will ultimately be built on the site of the Southport Theatre and Convention Centre. However, before demolition can take place, Kier is removing several heritage assets from the theatre.

The razing of the building itself will take a few months, according to Sefton Council. The local authority hopes to open the MLEC in 2026.

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Sefton Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and skills, welcomed the news that work was underway.

“Getting contractors on site is the start of our fantastic, shared vision for the future of Southport’s waterfront and tourism economy becoming a reality,” she said.

MLEC is expected to bring more than 500,000 visitors to Southport each year when it is complete. That equates to an £18m boost for the local economy, Sefton Council said.

Those kinds of figures will make MLEC “transformational for the town”, Atkinson said.

“They support our key objectives of providing more reasons to visit, to stay, to stay longer, and to do so all year round,” she said. “And all of these will mean the creation of quality employment and career opportunities in the area.”

In addition to the Town Deal, funding for MLEC came from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Sefton Council. The two contributed £20m and £19.7m, respectively.

Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram shared his support for the project.

“Southport holds a special place in the hearts of so many people in our city region and beyond,” he said. “While we’re incredibly proud of the town’s history and heritage, I firmly believe that Southport’s best days still lie ahead.

“Building on its legacy as a tourist town, I want to ensure that Southport can continue to thrive and attract visitors for many years to come,” Rotheram continued.

“Thanks to devolution, we’re committing significant investments into projects like to the Marine Lake Events Centre to help get Southport on the up again.”

Marine Lake Events Centre has been designed by AFL Architects. Gardiner & Theobald is the project manager for the scheme.

The project team also includes civil engineer AECOM, transport consultant WSP, noise and air quality consultant Hydrock, arboricultural consultant Tyler Grange, and planning consultant CBRE.

Planning permission was secured earlier this year.

You can learn more about the MLEC by searching application reference number DC/2022/01391 on Sefton Council’s planning portal.

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The framework will enable the public health agency to appoint experts in architecture, engineering, planning, surveying, and designing to build new hospitals. It also includes a net zero lot to encourage more sustainable construction.

“To achieve the level of investment and regeneration required across the NHS and public sector, customers need a compliant, secure and trusted route that helps them navigate construction consultancy services through to procurement,” said Melissa King, NHS SBS senior category manager for construction and infrastructure.

The HPCCAS framework is designed to do just that.

King continued: “Previous iterations of the framework agreement have achieved 10%-15% savings. With £1.6bn expected spend via it over the next four years, the HPCCAS framework agreement has the potential to achieve public sector savings of up £240m.”

Among the firms appointed to the framework are Eric Wright Partnerships, Civic Engineers, S I Sealy, Turner and Townsend, Ryder Architecture, Hydrock, and DAY Architectural. You can see a larger list of winners at the end of this article.

Bamber Bridge-based Eric Wright is part of the healthcare planning lot. The company has provided similar services for health centres in Ashton-in-Makerfield and Kirkholt.

Wayne Ashton, healthcare consultancy director at Eric Wright, said the company was “really pleased” to be part of the framework.

“Our experienced healthcare planning team is looking forward to using its expertise to support the design and development of new health and social care facilities across the North West and Yorkshire regions,” he said.

Kim Bebbington, head of customer relationships at Eric Wright, described how the company was well-suited to help the NHS.

“Eric Wright Partnerships has a wealth of experience across the public sector, health and social care sectors and we are well placed to deliver services, drawing on our sector expertise previous project delivery,” Bebbington said.

“This framework provides a fantastic opportunity for clients to access the team’s extensive knowledge and we are looking forward to working with existing and new clients via the framework agreement in the future.”

Civic Engineers co-founder and chief operating officer Julian Broster was similarly pleased to have the company on the framework.

“We are providing civil, structural and transport engineering services across two lots UK-wide,” Broster said.

“We recognise the importance of this framework nationally for healthcare projects, but also other sectors that include community, higher education, and regeneration projects.”

S I Sealy director Danny Madden said the engineering firm was proud to be on the framework.

“Our extensive expertise and experience, combined with our scale, make us ideally positioned to assist NHS organisations with a wide range of requirements,” Madden said.

“Our deep-rooted understanding of healthcare projects, including our involvement in significant initiatives such as the Royal Oldham Hospital, Capital Development Project, and multiple new theatre projects such as Trafford General Hospital, Theatres 10 & 11, and Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Modular Orthopedic Theatres demonstrates our commitment to delivering excellence,” he continued.

“We are looking forward to working alongside both new and existing clients through this new framework agreement and providing our expertise to meet the demands of the infrastructure and construction market across the NHS and public sector.”

Hydrock is part of four lots on the HPCCAS framework: civil and structural engineering; mechanical, electrical, and public health; multidisciplinary services; and ancillary services.

“Our position across these lots will allow organisations to access proven engineering design, energy and sustainability solutions which support the sector’s decarbonisation goals,” said Ian Alderson, healthcare sector lead at Hydrock.

“Ultimately, with a shared purpose to be a force for good, we’ll help the NHS and wider public sector meet their aspirations to become flexible, resilient and sustainable for the long term.”

Mark Walker, director and healthcare lead of Hydrock’s MEP team commented: “We’ve seen how the NHS, in particular, continues to grapple with decarbonisation across its estate while providing affordable buildings, which is a huge challenge to overcome. But it can be achieved with the right data, planning and design approach.

“Away from Hydrock, I’ve led the development of a new Healthcare Facilities Design Guide for CIBSE, and look forward to sharing best practice from that which our clients can adopt to drive forward change and implement strategies which achieve net zero goals,” he said.

List of consultancies on the HPCCAS framework*

• AA Projects
• Academy Consulting
• AD Architects
• Adept Consulting Engineers
• AECOM
• AK Design Partnership
• Alan Baxter
• Ansell & Bailey
• Archus
• Artelia Projects UK
• Associated Architects
• Atkins
• Bailey Partnership (Consultants)
• Baily Garner
• Banyard Consultants
• BDP
• Bianco Sale
• Blue Sky Design Services
• Bridger Carr Architects
• Buro Happold
• Castle Owen Construction and Property Consultants
• Castons
• Civic Engineers
• Coreus Group
• Corstorphine & Wright
• CPC Project Services
• CPMG Architects
• Craddy Pitchers
• Daniel Connal Partnership
• DAY Architectural
• DAY Cost Management
• DAY Project Management
• Design Buro (Coventry)
• Dice Consulting Engineers
• EDGEPS Limited (EDGE)
• Edmond Shipway
• Ellis Williams Architects
• Engineering Services Design Practice
• Eric Wright Partnerships
• Eta Projects
• Focus Consultants 2010
• Frankham Consultancy Group
• Fusion Project Management
• FWP
• Gardiner & Theobald
• Gb partnerships
• Gilling Dod
• Glancy Nicholls Architects
• Gleeds Cost Management
• GSCI Consultants
• HLM
• HOK
• Hollis Global
• Hoopers Architects
• Hunter & Partners
• Hydrock Consultants
• Ingleton Wood
• Jefferson Sheard Architects
• Johns Slater and Haward
• Kendall Kingscott
• KTA Architects
• Lakes Join Grandly
• Levitt Bernstein
• Lexica Health and Life Sciences Consultancy
• LSI Architects (Design)
• MA Cost Consulting
• Maber Associates
• Mace
• Martin James Medical
• NIFES Consulting Group
• Northmore Associates
• One Creative Environments
• P+HS Architects
• Pennington Choices
• Pick Everard
• Potter Raper
• Poynton Bradbury Wynter Cole Architects
• Price & Myers
• Provelio
• Purcell Architecture
• Pulse Associates
• Rekan
• Richard Jackson
• Ridge & Partners
• Robert Bird Group
• Rossi Long Consulting
• RSK Environment
• Ryder Architecture
• S I Sealy Associates
• Services Design Associates
• Sheppard Robson
• Sonnemann Toon Architects
• Stace
• Stantec UK
• Stephen George + Partners
• Stride Treglown
• Stuart McCurry & Partners
• Summers-Inman Construction & Property Consultants
• The Fulker Consultancy
• TODD Architects
• Turner & Townsend
• Vercity Management Services
• Vextrix Management
• Vitruvius Management Services
• Wallace Whittle
• Walters & Webster
• Quattro Design Architects

* This list is not complete but contains the names of the companies that were published on the framework website as of Tuesday afternoon.

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Laing O’Rourke, the main contractor on the 53,000-capacity Everton Stadium said Jones was carrying out work for a subcontractor when the incident occurred. 

The construction company said he was “seriously injured” on site before being taken to hospital where he died. 

“We are shocked and saddened by [yesterday’s] tragic incident and our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased man and our wider project team. 

“The police and the Health and Safety Executive are on site and we have suspended work until further notice. We will cooperate fully with any investigation that follows.” 

A statement from Everton FC said the club was “heartbroken by the news”. 

“The thoughts and condolences of everyone connected with Everton are with his family, friends and colleagues at this unimaginably sad time,” the statement added. 

Work on the project has been suspended while Merseyside Police and the Health and Safety Executive carry out their investigations into the incident. 

Figures published by HSE in July showed that construction is the UK’s most dangerous profession in terms of workplace fatalities. 

Of the 135 workplace deaths in the UK in 2022/2023, 45 were on construction sites, according to HSE. That number is substantially higher than the year before when the HSE logged 30 fatal injuries in the construction sector.

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SP Energy Network has constructed a series of electricity substations by five service stations in Cheshire. These substations connect to the existing grid network through underground cables. Together these electricity substations can enable the delivery of around 350 rapid vehicle charging points.

The service stations that SP Energy Network’s upgrades help are Burtonwood, Chester, Knutsford, Lymm, and Sandbach.

“The work we have completed across the five motorway service sites will help make low-carbon travel a reality for more and more people, supporting them to make the switch to electric transport and do their bit on the journey to net zero,” said SP Energy Networks’ chief operating office, Guy Jefferson.

He continued: “To make that a reality, we need to ensure we have the necessary capacity on the network, so what we’ve delivered is a real game-changer for the region, and will allow people to make that switch with confidence and support service providers in ensuring there is a reliable and resilient charging network available.”

SP Energy’s upgrades were praised by the chief executive of Moto Ken McMeikan, who described the work as “pivotal” in helping support a more sustainable future for drivers.

McMeikan said: “Increased electrical capacity for ultra-rapid electric vehicle charging points at Moto Lymm and Moto Knutsford services will help us provide EV commuters up and down the country with the capacity, reliability, simplicity and charging speeds they require to travel longer distances throughout the North West and beyond.”

The Cheshire network upgrades are part of SP Energy’s £61m Green Recovery Investment Project.

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Work restarted on the five-storey project at the beginning of this month, with a completion date set for summer 2024.

The gross development value is £6m, according to Advantage Investment, which is leading the off-plan sales of the site.

Situated at 9-11 Camden Street in Liverpool, the development is known as Camden House. Mount Property Group’s project, which had originally been designed by Snow Architects and was revised by DAY Architectural, was granted approval in 2017 by Liverpool City Council.

Work started soon after but ceased around 2018. The Mount Property Group SPV attached to the scheme, Camden House Property, entered administration in 2020. Another high-profile Mount Property Group project in Liverpool, the 574-unit Natex, would go into administration the year after.

Malone, who is the director of London Road Developments, entered the scene this year after acquiring the property from administrators. He successfully secured approval for a discharge of conditions this July and is working with Planning Consulting, LJ Architects, and Any Engineers Shape on the project.

Those interested in getting involved with Camden House can visit advantageinvestment.co.uk to learn more. You can get a taste of what the finished interiors may look like by examining the gallery or video below.