Plans for a £2bn New Covent Garden Market site in central London, that will see the delivery of new homes and jobs, have now gone unconditional.

Joint venture development partners Vinci and St Modwen will now start the main construction enabling works this summer.

Work will involve transformation of the 57-acre site situated next to Vauxhall Cross in the Nine Elms regeneration zone.

The 10 year project will see the delivery of over 500,000 sq ft of new state-of-the-art market facilities across a 37 acre site which will house the 200 market businesses currently employing around 2,500 people.

The remaining 20 acres of land will contain three high quality residential neighbourhoods of 3,000 new homes, 135,000 sq ft of office space and 100,000 sq ft of retail, leisure and new community facilities, including shops, cafés and restaurants.

Bill Oliver, Chief Executive, St. Modwen and director of VSM, said: “This latest milestone enables the start on site of this major transformational project which is central to the Nine Elms Regeneration area.

“It will deliver a substantial positive economic impact in terms of employment, housing, and investment for London.”

Bruno Dupety, Chairman and Chief Executive of VINCI PLC and director of VSM, said: “We are looking forward to starting on site to get this exciting project underway.

“It will transform this area of central London for those who live and work there, in particular the market facilities.”

Council tenants unable to take up their Right to Buy will have the support they need to become homeowners under plans announced by Housing Minister Brandon Lewis.

The Housing Minister announced that 42 councils will each receive a share of nearly £20 million to help tenants with the Right to Buy to buy their own home on the open market.

The Right to Buy Social Mobility Fund will particularly help those looking to move for work, to be nearer to family, or those whose properties are difficult to mortgage.

Housing Minister Brandon Lewis said: “The Right to Buy offers a helping hand to thousands of council tenants across the country to become homeowners – but some remain trapped in their own homes, unable to take up this opportunity.

“The Right to Buy Social Mobility Fund changes, and offers people the chance to get on the property ladder and buy a home that best suits their needs.”

Helping people onto the property ladder

Housebuilding, and supporting aspiring homeowners, are key parts of the government’s long-term economic plan.

The government reinvigorated the Right to Buy in 2012, increasing discounts so they currently stand at £77,000 outside of London and £102,700 in the capital.

Since then, more than 33,000 households have taken up their Right to Buy, with nearly £730 million in sales receipts being reinvested in affordable housebuilding.

Overall, council housing starts are at a 23-year high.

Interserve and its joint venture partner Kajima have reached financial close on the project to design and build seven secondary schools across Hertfordshire, Luton and Reading.

This is one of the first batch of schools to be funded using the Government’s new PF2 private finance model that will also boost economic growth and create new jobs.

The scheme, which was procured under the Priority School Building Programme, has a capital value in excess of £135 million. .

Interserve Kajima, which was appointed preferred bidder by the Education Funding Agency (EFA) in April 2014, will be responsible for the design and construction of the schools as well as all maintenance services over 25-years.

Dougie Sutherland, Executive Director at Interserve said: “This is the 20th privately-financed education project in which the Group has invested and underlines our support for the Government’s investment in education.

“As well as providing some 900 new schools places for students in Hertfordshire, Luton and Reading, we will commit to take on more than 50 young people to work on the projects under NVQs, apprenticeships and work placements.”

The secondary schools included in this tranche are Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School, Hatfield; Goffs School, near Cheshunt; Kings Langley School, Kings Langley; Longdean School, Hemel Hempstead; Reading Girls’ School, Reading; Stopsley High School, Luton; and Westfield Academy, Watford.

Construction started on all the schemes last month with the first due for completion in August 2016. All of the new schools will be open by November 2016.

Family Mosaic has selected Ardmore to deliver Phase 4 of its Heathside and Lethbridge regeneration scheme under a £48 million contract in South London.

The award means that Ardmore will have worked on three consecutive phases of the regeneration project, following the successful completion of Phase 2 and the ongoing delivery of Phase 3.

Ardmore will build 236 new homes as part of the new phase alongside extensive external works to create new roads and external landscaping in the area surrounding the homes, which will be available for private sale, affordable rent and shared ownership.

Construction on the latest phase will start in summer 2015, and is scheduled to conclude in spring 2017.

Ardmore’s development director, Chris Langdon, said: “We are delighted Ardmore has been appointed main contractor on the latest phase of this significant regeneration scheme.

“We have been able to develop excellent ties with the local community over the past five years, and we are looking forward to building further on these, especially in making use of the skills and expertise of our local supply chain to boost regeneration in the area.”

Rob Warwick, Regeneration Manager at Family Mosaic, commented: “Family Mosaic is delighted to continue our partnership with Ardmore at this flagship regeneration project.

“Ardmore is extremely experienced in the delivery of complex estate regeneration projects, and we are excited that the next phase of regenerating this area of Lewisham will soon get underway.”

Heathside and Lethbridge is one of London’s biggest estate regeneration programmes, and is planned to be carried out over six phases.

The regeneration works being undertaken by Family Mosaic and the London Borough of Lewisham are transforming the estates into an attractive mixed tenure development, with over 1200 high-quality private and affordable homes.

Balfour Beatty has been awarded an £80 million contract to construct the National Automotive Innovation Centre (NAIC) in Coventry for the University of Warwick.

At the height of construction the project will employ over 750 people and will also provide opportunities for apprenticeships and graduate and work experience placements.

The 33,000 square metre development on the existing main campus of the University of Warwick site involves the construction of a four-storey ‘L’ shaped building that will house state-of-the-art facilities.

Balfour Beatty will also carry out the significant mechanical and electrical installation works.

The NAIC will provide a national focus for expertise in automotive research and development. It will accommodate over 1,000 technologists, academics, designers, students and engineers, fostering collaboration to develop and utilise new breakthrough vehicle technology.

The facility will also help to address the current shortage of skilled research and development staff in the automotive supply chain.

Nicholas Pollard, Balfour Beatty Chief Executive Officer for Construction UK, said: “This award adds to Balfour Beatty’s significant portfolio of university projects across the UK.

“Our commitment to apprenticeship, graduate and work placements, throughout project delivery will ensure Balfour Beatty’s contribution goes beyond the construction phase.”

Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, Chairman of Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), said: “The National Automotive Innovation Centre will link people, research and world-leading infrastructure to create and develop novel technologies.

“NAIC will be an ‘engine’ for economic growth, with wide economic benefit, and sustained growth from the creation of world-leading technologies.

“Building will commence soon and through Balfour Beatty the construction of such a significant facility will bring equally significant economic and employment benefits to the local construction sector.”

Work will commence this spring with completion in spring 2017.

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson has launched the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) that will build up to 24,000 homes and create 55,000 jobs.

The Corporation will lead the regeneration of Old Oak Common in West London. A High Speed 2 (HS2) and Crossrail Station is due to be constructed at Old Oak Common by 2026.

The new station will be the size of Waterloo, handling 250,000 passengers a day and acting as a super hub between London and the rest of the UK, Europe and the world.

The OPDC will work to maximise the regeneration potential of the new stations. The Corporation has the support of Government and full planning powers across the entire site straddling the boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham, Brent and Ealing.

As well as promoting and delivering physical, social, economic and environmental regeneration at Old Oak Common, the Corporation will also safeguard and develop Park Royal as a strategic industrial location and attract long-term investment to the area, including from overseas.

The OPDC will take on various statutory powers relating to infrastructure, regeneration and land acquisitions. It will also charge a Community Infrastructure Levy (once it has in place the necessary charging schedule).

ISG has been appointed on a £50 million project to create a striking new home for the Faculty of Business and Law at the University of the West of England.

The landmark building is a key element of the University’s development masterplan at Frenchay Campus, occupying a strategic site in the central heart zone, adjacent to the currently under construction student union and plaza facilities.

UWE Bristol is a leading advocate of advanced building methodologies to drive efficiencies during the construction process and beyond into occupancy.

ISG will deliver the project to Building Information Modelling (BIM) Level 2 maturity, with all design information shared between project stakeholders to create a computer-based model of the building that can be viewed, interrogated and updated by key project stakeholders.

The scheme also incorporates a Soft Landings approach from the outset, which sees the entire project team working closely with UWE Bristol to maximise efficiencies and enhance performance during the design, construction, commissioning and final occupation phases.

Rob Martin, ISG’s Western regional managing director, said: “UWE Bristol has significant built environment expertise as the university of choice for students looking to pursue a career in the industry.

“Working in partnership on this landmark building is an exciting proposition, providing the opportunity to implement many of the most advanced methodologies used in modern construction.

“The project team will foster strong links with the student community, with a wealth of training and work experience opportunities for UWE Bristol students. The Faculty of Business and Law is a true legacy project, proving an outstanding addition to the Frenchay Campus and an invaluable learning resource for the university.”

Businesses moving to the Solent Enterprise Zone are set to benefit from new state-of-the-art workshops thanks to Government funding that will create hundreds of new jobs.

It is estimated that around 3,500 jobs will be created within the Enterprise Zone over the life of the business hub, turning the area into a destination of choice for advanced manufacturing and technology businesses.

The £5.3 million Fareham Innovation Centre will provide space for companies working in the marine, aviation and aerospace fields when it opens its doors next month.

The Innovation Centre has been funded by the Government’s Homes and Communities Agency, which is working with local partners to bring thousands of new jobs and investment to the Enterprise Zone.

Companies are already moving into the building, which was officially handed over to Fareham Borough Council today.

Local Growth Minister Penny Mordaunt said: “The Solent Enterprise Zone is going from strength to strength and the opening of the Fareham Innovation Centre is the latest part of that success story. It really is a state-of-the-art facility and I’m not surprised that tenants are already moving in.

“These companies know that Enterprise Zones are great places to do business and that we are committed to supporting growth through our long-term economic plan.

“It’s why we’ve invested more than £5 million to get this Innovation Centre off the ground, giving local businesses the facilities they need to create jobs for hard-working people.”

Businesses moving to the Solent Enterprise Zone are set to benefit from new state-of-the-art workshops thanks to Government funding that will create hundreds of new jobs.

It is estimated that around 3,500 jobs will be created within the Enterprise Zone over the life of the business hub, turning the area into a destination of choice for advanced manufacturing and technology businesses.

The £5.3 million Fareham Innovation Centre will provide space for companies working in the marine, aviation and aerospace fields when it opens its doors next month.

The Innovation Centre has been funded by the Government’s Homes and Communities Agency, which is working with local partners to bring thousands of new jobs and investment to the Enterprise Zone.

Companies are already moving into the building, which was officially handed over to Fareham Borough Council today.

Local Growth Minister Penny Mordaunt said: “The Solent Enterprise Zone is going from strength to strength and the opening of the Fareham Innovation Centre is the latest part of that success story. It really is a state-of-the-art facility and I’m not surprised that tenants are already moving in.

“These companies know that Enterprise Zones are great places to do business and that we are committed to supporting growth through our long-term economic plan.

“It’s why we’ve invested more than £5 million to get this Innovation Centre off the ground, giving local businesses the facilities they need to create jobs for hard-working people.”