689-Home Development Named as First Through New Pagabo Framework

A significant housing project has been announced as the first large-scale project procured through national framework provider Pagabo’s Developer Led Framework.

Southwark Council has selected Linkcity as developer for its Tustin Estate scheme, which will feature nearly 700 new homes. This includes 200 replacement council homes, around 50 shared equity properties, around 220 additional council homes including keyworker homes, and around 220 homes for sale. A Pre-Construction Services Agreement is set to be signed to kick off the process.

The project also includes a central park, several refurbishments of existing council homes and at least 1,800 sqm of commercial floorspace.

Linkcity, part of the Bouygues Construction group, will work with the authority over the coming months with a view to signing a full development agreement in summer 2022 with Bouygues UK as the main contractor for the scheme. Construction will begin late 2022 and is planned to complete in summer 2028.

Pagabo’s £47bn Developer Led Framework was the first framework of its kind when it launched to the market in December 2020, with 29 companies appointed across nine lots to deliver projects across a huge variety of development sectors.

Jonathan Parker, head of construction at Pagabo, said: “I am thrilled to have been involved with the procurement of a developer for the Tustin Estate low rise redevelopment programme, which will provide much needed improvement and expansion of Southwark Council’s existing social housing provision, as well as upgrading the facilities for people in the area.

“The Developer Led Framework was launched as a unique market offering to help procure significant projects that make a huge social difference, and Tustin Estate is exactly that. Having been heavily involved from the outset, we’re really excited to see this project come to fruition over the coming years.”

As part of the framework and procurement process, Pagabo assisted with the procurement advice, development’s business case, early engagement, expression of interest, formulating the invitation to tender, quality scoring and tender moderation, tender summary report, and notification letters.

Cllr Stephanie Cryan, Cabinet Member for Council Homes and Homelessness, said: “We are delighted to welcome Linkcity to the Tustin Estate and look forward to working with them and our residents to build quality new council homes. Southwark has one of the most ambitious council house building programmes in the country and the work on Tustin Estate will not only help us reach our aim of providing new housing but also enhance the estate for current residents.”

As part of the initial phase of development, Linkcity will create around 200 new homes to rehouse current tenants of the estate. In addition, the developer will deliver 440 homes across two further phases over the next three years, through its construction partner Bouygues UK, with at least half of these designated as affordable housing.

Tom Jackson, development director at Linkcity said, “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Southwark Council and the Tustin Estate residents to deliver the first project on Pagabo’s Developer Led Framework. It’s a great opportunity to provide social and economic value through local employment and education opportunities, as well as new homes for this thriving community.”

For more information about Pagabo please visit www.pagabo.co.uk

We are delighted to announce that the Moulsecoomb East student accommodation campus for the University of Brighton has reached Practical Completion. The keys have now been handed over to our facilities management sister company, Bouygues Energies & Services.

Financed, designed, and developed by Uliving, Linkcity UK’s specialist student accommodation developer, Moulsecoomb East provides over 800 student bedrooms as well as Students’ Union and fitness facilities. The build was completed by Bouygues UK and Bouygues Energies & Services (UK) will maintain, operate, and provide the lifecycle of this facility for 50 years. Uliving partnered with John Laing for the project, with Aviva Investors’ Lime Property Fund providing long-term development finance through an income strip deal.

The entire development has been built to the highest environmental standards with an emphasis on sustainability, and forms part of ‘The Big Build’, a vast transformation project for the University.

Reaching the end of this project is a huge achievement for Bouygues UK and Uliving, who, despite the challenges thrown at them over the last 18 months, managed to deliver the project on time to our university partner, in the face of a global pandemic. We would like to wish Bouygues Energies & Services all the best for their facilities management responsibilities over the next five decades. We look forward to seeing students moving into their new accommodation in the coming weeks.

As the tallest residential block in Bristol nears completion, Linkcity and Bouygues UK welcomed Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, for a visit to the 26-storey tower yesterday. The Mayor learnt more about the building work and received a tour of the impressive building which will soon bring 375 much-needed new homes to the city centre, including 75 affordable homes.

Developed by Linkcity, built by Bouygues UK, designed by Chapman Taylor and with the support of M&G Investments, Homes England, Bristol City Council and Abri (formerly Yarlington Housing Group), construction of Castle Park View will be finished in Spring 2022.The new homes will host a range of sustainable features as part of the council’s plans to build new homes sustainably in central locations.

Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, said: “It’s great to see these homes nearing completion. This is a great example of building the homes we desperately need without putting undue pressure on the environment by making the most of brownfield sites in the city centre, as well as bringing value to the community throughout the build. Recommendations from the recent Citizens’ Assembly included the need to rapidly reduce the impact of our homes on climate change and to make changes to neighbourhoods that make traveling easier, healthier, and better for the environment. Castle Park View supports these ambitions by bringing high quality new homes to Bristol in a sustainable location, with direct access to walking and cycling links and heated by our low-carbon heat network.”

Castle Park View’s design includes numerous sustainability features which contributed to it achieving a level four standard in the Code for Sustainable Homes certification, an environmental assessment method for rating and certifying the performance of new homes. The sustainable design features include nearly 200 photovoltaic roof-mounted solar panels, more than 500 cycle parking spaces, energy efficient light fittings and kitchen appliances, electric charging points at 20% of the car parking spaces, as well as diverting 99.9% of waste generated during the build from landfill.

By making efficient use of a brownfield site near the city centre, Castle Park View will also support sustainable living in Bristol. The site is within walking distance of Bristol Temple Meads station and Bristol Bus and Coach Station, as well as on walking and cycling routes across the city, reducing car traffic within the city centre.

Axel Boutrolle, Managing Director of Linkcity, said: “Linkcity is very proud to be delivering this much needed building for the people of Bristol. Doing so in such a collaborative way on public land has been a challenging but very rewarding and worthwhile experience. The sustainability credentials of this building are second to none, and we have created environmentally friendly, energy efficient and more importantly affordable homes for hundreds of families in this city, a cause which is very close to our hearts. We hope Castle Park View will be the first of many developments in the UK that uses inner city brown field sites to build much needed housing for thriving cities such as Bristol.”

Linkcity is thrilled to announce that Uliving has reached financial close on the third phase of the student accommodation scheme for the University of Essex for £168 million including construction and facility management.

Uliving, student accommodation brand of Linkcity UK in consortium with Equitix has successfully achieved financial close of the 50-year concession for the delivery of 1,262 student bedrooms for the University of Essex. The project known as ‘The Pastures’ is located on the Colchester campus and is the third phase of student accommodation that Uliving will be delivering for the University of Essex, following the handover of Phase 1 (648 new build bedrooms and stock transfer of 772 bedrooms) and Phase 2 (643 bedrooms) in 2013 and 2018 respectively.

Construction of the project will be delivered by Bouygues UK and facilities management services will be carried out by Bouygues Energies & Services, both sister companies of Linkcity UK, and all being entities of Bouygues Construction. Equitix is Uliving equity partner on this scheme funded by £113 million indexed and fixed rate bonds listed on The International Stock Exchange and wrapped by Assured Guaranty.

Construction works are due to start in September 2021 and completion is scheduled for the beginning of the 2023/2024 academic year.

Oliver Campbell, Uliving CEO, said:

“Well designed and well managed accommodation is a key consideration for UK and international students, and we have worked hard with the University of Essex over the last eight years to support their plans for expansion, delivering high quality and affordable living spaces. The Pastures will complement the University’s existing portfolio of student accommodation and we are very pleased to be collaborating with our sister companies Bouygues UK and Bouygues Energies & Services, combining our expertise to maximise the value and innovation we can bring to the scheme.”

Chris Oldham, Director of Estates and Campus Services, University of Essex, said:

“With two phases already delivered, we are delighted to further grow our partnership with Uliving on a third student accommodation project, which will be crucial in meeting the increased demand we are seeing from the growth in student numbers. ‘The Pastures’ will be a fabulous home to our students, with a range of accommodation types to meet a range of needs, and we’re looking forward to seeing work progress.”

Linkcity has been selected as Preferred Bidder by the London Borough of Barnet to develop new homes and community space on the Watling Avenue Car Park site. The new development will bring to Burnt Oak a bespoke Build to Rent scheme of over 300 units, of which 50% will be affordable housing. Linkcity is delighted to be working with the London Borough of Barnet to develop Watling Avenue and help the Council to address the housing need in the borough as well as providing a long-term income stream.

The project will be delivered in partnership with the Council using an income strip deal structure to secure institutional funding. It will incorporate community uses, a public car park, as well as providing enhancements to the landscaped area alongside the Silk Stream. The scheme will be delivered by Linkcity’s sister construction company Bouygues UK, who are expected to start on site next year.

Tom Jackson, Development Director at Linkcity, said: “We are so pleased to have been selected by Barnet for this important project. We are very excited to be partnering with the Council and local stakeholders as we work up our proposals in more detail.”

Linkcity’s Luton Street development for Westminster City Council reaches a major milestone as the contractor for the project, Bouygues UK, completes the highest point of the build.

The topping out ceremony saw Linkcity, Bouygues UK, and Westminster City Council all come together to celebrate this key milestone in delivering the Luton Street development. Linkcity is working with Westminster Builds, Westminster City Council’s self-development arm to provide 1,750 homes for Westminster City Council as part of their ambition to create a ‘City for All’, enabling people of all backgrounds, needs and aspirations to live harmoniously in the city. Luton Street is one development within the Church Street regeneration programme.

The development will see the creation of 171 new homes, with 62 affordable homes provided at social rent. As well as new high-quality homes, a sports hall and community space are being built which will benefit members of the Church Street community.

The new homes will be surrounded by a green pathway between Fisherton Street and Salisbury Street, called the Green Spine.

The development at Luton Street began in September 2019 and is due to be completed in 2022.

Linkcity Managing Director, Axel Boutrolle, said:
“We are very pleased to be celebrating progress on this landmark scheme, providing 168 much needed high-quality new houses alongside community facilities and public realm for the local community. Luton Street is an important first step in Westminster’s City Council’s Church Street regeneration programme and we are very proud to be working in joint venture with Westminster Builds a part of such transformational development.”

Bouygues UK Chief Executive, Rob Bradley, said:
“It is very rewarding to mark the progress of a project which will have such a positive impact on the residents of Luton Street and the wider community. This is one of many projects we have delivered for Westminster City Council and a scheme we are very proud to be involved in, providing good quality, affordable new housing and community spaces for one of London’s most vibrant communities.”

Cllr Heather Acton, Westminster City Council Cabinet Member for Communities and Regeneration, said:
“Luton Street is one of many sites being developed in Church Street as part of our unprecedented regeneration programme which will provide new, sustainable and affordable homes plus improved facilities for the community. The additional homes are recognised as much needed in the area and we want local people and businesses to remain at the heart of this strong, vibrant and diverse community.
“It’s brilliant to see how far we have come with this site after working closely with local residents to ensure the building is the right scheme for the community, and I’m very much looking forward to seeing it completed next year.”

Today is the United Nations’ World Bee Day.

We all depend on the survival of bees.

They, and other pollinators, contribute to the fundamental pollination process that keeps our ecosystems alive. Nearly 90% of the world’s wild flowering plant species depend, entirely, or at least in part, on animal pollination, along with more than 75% of the world’s food crops and 35% of global agricultural land. Not only do pollinators contribute directly to food security, but they are key to conserving biodiversity.

It is, therefore, crucial to monitor the decline of such pollinators and halt the loss of biodiversity.

The theme this year is “Bee engaged – Build Back Better for Bees” and, at Bouygues UK, we are doing just this.

Bouygues UK is happy to announce its new partnership with BeeOdiversity, a Belgian start-up that works to regenerate biodiversity by combining innovative tools based on nature and unique biodiversity expertise. Working with all kinds of industries and sectors, BeeOdiversity helps municipalities, real estate actors, the agri-food sector, industrials and corporates alike protect our most precious resources, i.e. nature, water, air quality, food, well-being, etc.

Through our partnership with BeeOdiversity, Bouygues UK are monitoring the local environment around our construction site at Hallsville Quarter in order to enhance local biodiversity and to raise awareness regarding pollution. We are collaborating not only with BeeOdiversity but with real-life bees, to monitor key air quality and biodiversity indicators like plant diversity and level of local pollutants (pesticides and heavy metals).

Local beekeepers, Bushwood Bees, have kindly supported our work by providing us with their own bees to work on the project. These bees report to beehives installed at our Hallsville Quarter project, fitted with BeeOdiversity’s BeeOmonitoring tool. The bees act as natural drones, collecting billions of pollen samples from the local area of around 700ha. These samples are then analysed at BeeOdiversity’s facilities in Belgium to identify the origin and level of pollutants (heavy metals and pesticides) as well as the plant diversity quality.

Thanks to this award-winning tool and scientifically validated metrics, Bouygues UK will be able to understand the impact that the landscape and green roof at Hallsville Quarter have on the local area. We will, therefore, be able to make informed decisions and implement actions to enhance biodiversity in future phases of the development. These goals are a testament to Bouygues UK’s Responsible and Committed Policy.

“It is so rewarding to be working with nature to support key pollinators whilst also building an exceptional project that will have a positive impact on the local community. Through this collaboration with BeeOdiversity, we are helping not only to bring about ecological change to the local area, but we are also supporting local business owners like Bushwood Bees; it is a pleasure to do so.” Geoffroy Bieth, Hallsville Quarter Phase 3 Project Manager.

“It is a real honour and source of motivation for BeeOdiversity to enter into an innovative partnership with an environmentally committed group like Bouygues UK and Bushwood Bees! This innovative project perfectly illustrates how, through collaborative means, nature and real estate development can improve the local region, its environment and the well-being of pollinators and humans.” Michaël Van Cutsem, BeeOdiversity CEO.