West London Mental Health NHS Trust, advised by Oxford Architects and independent design, environment and energy consultants LDA Design, has received planning permission from Bracknell Forest Council, subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement for the redevelopment and upgrade of Broadmoor Hospital in Crowthorne, Berkshire.

Originally built in 1863, Broadmoor Hospital provides specialist mental health care services within a high secure environment for male patients from London and the south of England. It’s one of three high-secure hospitals in England, and internationally recognised for its specialised work with patients with some of the most challenging mental health needs as well as its research activities.

The redevelopment and planning application lead by Oxford Architects includes 16 wards - ten new, and six existing - providing accommodation for 210 patients within a new secure environment. The redevelopment will also include a new entrance building, central facilities building, a replacement energy centre, new gardens, recreation areas and extensive landscaping.

Bedford Borough Council has approved plans for an exciting new mixed-use scheme east of Ampthill Road, adjacent to Interchange Retail Park. The plans were submitted in December by HPG Developments in partnership with B&Q, the UK’s largest home improvement and garden centre retailer, after consulting with Elstow Parish Council and Kempston Town Council.

The £18.5m investment plans will deliver:

• A new B&Q, enhancing the DIY shopping offer in Bedford - which is the largest town in the country without a B&Q store - reducing the need to travel elsewhere;

• New employment units - of a range of different sizes, including smaller units that are ideal for small businesses and new business start-ups;

VINCI Construction UK has been awarded a contract by UPP to construct two multi storey student accommodation blocks for Nottingham Trent University. The project follows VINCI Construction UK's successful completion of the Clifton campus student residences at Nottingham, also for UPP.

VINCI Construction UK is working with Freyssinet, a concrete specialist subsidiary of VINCI to provide specialised economical solutions to the mezzanine decks of the new building.

The two facilities, which range from four-storey to nine-storey blocks, are close in proximity to each other and will accommodate 911 bed spaces, sport facilities, a student union and an entertainment venue and retail space.

VAUGHAN, ON, March 9, 2012 /CNW/ - NorthGrid Solar Inc. ("NorthGrid"), an Ontario-based Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) company, is pleased to announce the construction of a 701kW rooftop solar project, part of the Ontario Power Authority's Feed In Tariff (FIT) Program and located at The Metropolitan Tea Company Ltd. ("Metro Tea") in Etobicoke, ON.

National planning and design consultancy Terence O’Rourke Ltd and architects Foster & Partners have won a MIPIM award in Cannes for their exceptional work with the McLaren Production Centre.

The MIPIM awards are the oscars of the property world and annually recognise the most innovative industry projects, with only the most outstanding technical and architectural work making the final selection process.

Tim Hancock, Terence O’Rourke managing director, comments: “It’s a great honour for us to receive this international award, especially as we were the only UK project nominated in this category. The award is a testament to the hard work and dedication our team show on behalf of clients.”

The McLaren Production Centre project won the new category of Best Industrial and Logistics Development, which was added this year. The new category reflects changes in the real estate industry and places more emphasis on the specialist technical requirements of specific projects.

Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has announced a shortlist of 10 bidders for its future commercial arrangements for the delivery of large-scale construction projects across the UK Defence estate.

The Southern regional heat of this year's SkillBuild, the UK's biggest construction skills competition, is to be hosted by Highbury College on 22nd May, it has been announced today.

Greenbuild Expo 2012 returns to Manchester with a stellar line up of speakers and exhibitors ahead of the Green Deal launch

Greenbuild Expo 2012, the largest sustainable refurbishment and building event in the North of England, returns to Manchester Central in May (9-10) with a whole host of exhibitors, speakers and a Green Deal debate arena.

The West Midlands construction sector will shrink at an average rate of 1.1 per cent every year until 2016, according to a new report.

Labour market data produced by CITB-Construction Skills for the construction industry shows the decrease will include a 2.3 per cent fall in new work but an increase of 1.7 per cent in repair and maintenance.

RTPI Planning Consultancy of the Year, Terence O’Rourke Ltd, has obtained a resolution to grant planning permission for major development at Silverstone Circuit on behalf of Silverstone Holdings Ltd.