The Pegasus Report - Issue #150

In the South East, construction work has started on a Grimshaw-designed energy-from-waste plant and visitor centre in Edmonton, north-east London. Plans have been unveiled for 800,000 sq ft extension at the British Library King’s Cross site. Willmott Dixon is set to build a new £9.7m Performing and Production Digital Arts Facility for North Kent College campus in Dartford.

In the North West, planning approval has been granted for an 11-storey office block covered entirely in a living facade in Salford. Also in Salford, construction work is due to start in March 2021 on a new £68million hospital at Salford Royal. The proposed multi-modal terminal on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal has been included in Liverpool City Region’s bid for ‘freeport’ status, despite it being in Greater Manchester. The craft beer company, Brewdog, is to open an 18-bedroom hotel within Bruntwood Works’ Bloc office development on Fountain Street this summer, its first in England. The green light to build a high-rise scheme of 352 flats in the developing Piccadilly East area of Manchester has been given.

In the North East, offsite specialist Merit has secured the job to build a £30m hospital in Northumberland.

In the South West, the English Football League has given the green light for Forest Green Rovers to build the world’s first all-timber football stadium.

In the Midlands, workhas started on a £15.5m leisure centre and community hub project on the Festival Hall site in Kirkby-in-Ashfield. Plans have been revealed to build 438 homes on land at Belgrave Middleway on the site of the former Joseph Chamberlain College and Birmingham Sports Centre in Balsall Heath in Birmingham.

In Yorkshire, a £40m contract to build a new rail manufacturing site at Goole has been signed. Plans to expand Leeds Bradford Airport by building a new terminal have been approved despite objections.

In Scotland, Robertson Construction has confirmed it has signed a £78m deal to deliver Moda Living’s first build-to-rent development in Glasgow. A £32m contract to build a world-class Ophthalmology and Orthopaedic health facility in Inverness on behalf of NHS Highland has been signed off.

In Infrastructure, a March start date has been given for main works £150m contract to upgrade one of the busiest stretches of the M6 motorway in the north west and HS2 has been given the green light for a £4.5bn extension to Crewe.

This week’s technology news.

This week’s green news.

This week’s global round-up.

Research shows that leaders with any sense of humor are seen as 27% more motivating and admired, which leads me to this week’s first article , ‘how to be funny at work’ - let’s face it we could all do with a laugh!

Stay safe & have a great week.