Inquiry will decide fate of 1.3m sq ft Chorley industrial

The global infrastructure consultancy has tempted Laura Jackson Pugh away from Tetra Tech to become its head of North for project and cost management.

A year after Salford City Council launched its independent design review forum, members and users have spoken to Place North West about the initiative, one of few of its kind in the North, and whether it is achieving what it set out to.

Capital&Centric, Igloo Regeneration, and Placefirst all won spots on the £26bn National Framework for Developer-Led Schemes, while Morgan Sindall, Glencar, and John Sisk & Son were among those appointed to both the £5bn National Frameworks for Major Works and £4.3bn National Framework for Civil Engineering, Infrastructure, and Enabling Works.

Aberdeen has sold Cawley House and Heronbridge House to their occupier, which has around 15 years left to run on its lease.

Construction has started this week on a 152-strong development in Penrhyn Bay in North Wales, while a 15-acre Carrington site is being readied for 139 residences.

Fifty flats for over-55s have been created within a five-storey scheme on the site of the Manchester suburb’s former swimming pool.

Paul Walker is set to take on the lead council officer role for the local authority as it continues its push to find a permanent replacement for Rob Polkinghorne, who left in May.

At the second time of asking, Wain Homes secured the go-ahead for 240 homes on the edge of Ellesmere Port. Also approved: 86 homes south of Kelsall.

Network Rail has engaged Kier as main contractor to deliver an overhaul including extended platforms and improved track layouts, to support capacity growth.

The chair of ECF, the joint venture partnership between Homes England’s National Housing Bank, Legal & General, and Muse, is stepping down at the end of January after 25 years of leading regeneration projects across the country.

Ground has been broken on the development of 193,500 sq ft across six warehouses at Airfields, Deeside as the firm aims for completion in Q2 2027.

Having invested £1.5m in the conversion and extension of the Pumphouse building, the owner of Liverpool’s Titanic Hotel has named the incoming pizzeria 1848, in honour of the year the dock opened.

Barnfield Construction has started building a 103,000 sq ft shed at the Heywood complex for Chancerygate, while plans for an additional 130,000 sq ft have been submitted to Rochdale Council.

New Islington’s loss could be First Street’s gain, as Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s Northern office prepares to leave its temporary base at Heron House.

Parking impact and noise concerns were potential thorns in the side of the US-owned football club’s plan to increase the under-construction stand’s capacity by 2,500 seats, but approval has now been secured.

The city council wants to bring in stricter measures to control the development of houses in multiple occupation to curb harm to neighbourhoods.

Barratt David Wilson has lodged an Environmental Impact Assessment screening report as it looks to establish an outline consent close to Springbrook, off the A56 Chester Road.

Trac Precision Solutions has bought a unit on Road One of the town’s eponymous industrial estate for around £3.6m.

Hear from West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Barnsley Council, Savills, Panattoni, and more at this dedicated sector briefing taking place in Leeds.