More than 12,000 square metres of a former tea factory is being transformed into a state-of-the-art broadcasting facility for the BBC – and Proctor Group’s Wraptite® membrane is playing a part in bringing “a 100-year-old industrial building back to life for the next 100 years.” The Typhoo Tea Building occupies a full city block in Digbeth, Birmingham, near to the city’s HS2 terminal. The factory has gone unused for four decades, but is being turned into a net zero carbon work

Keane Grantham, Marketing Manager at Roseview Windows, explains how thermal performance and practical design is reshaping window specification in commercial and heritage projects. For a product that has been part of Britain’s architectural language for centuries, the sash window is evolving in response to the demands of modern construction. In today’s commercial market, windows are no longer assessed on appearance alone. Architects and specifiers are balancing aesthetic inten

A Yorkshire based heating and renewables engineer, serving commercial as well as residential clients, has been making extensive use of high-performance valves and other products from the range of Anglo-Swedish manufacturer, ESBE, in building his business. Damon Blakemore began his career undertaking an apprenticeship with the local authority, gaining NVQ levels 2 and 3, and has also undertaken training at the Northampton Heating Academy in hydronics; also recently reaching th

Funding provided as part of planning agreements for new homes intended for improvements to local infrastructure and amenities is sitting idle in council accounts, according to research by the Home Builders Federation (HBF). The money paid as part of planning agreements for new housing developments includes £6.6 billion from Section 106 agreements and more than £2.2 billion raised through the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). The findings come from a Freedom of Information

Lighthouse Charity speaks with Roma Agrawal MBE, Structural Engineer, Author and Broadcaster Roma Agrawal has spent her career shaping the built world and cites her career highlight as the six years she spent working on the tallest building in Western Europe - the Shard , designing the foundations and the iconic spire. She was also part of the transformation of Crystal Palace station. She continues to influence the way we talk about engineering itself, so as part of the Light

Josh Collins, Heat Networks Manager at Altecnic, explores how BESA’s HIU Test regime is shaping the future of heat networks. The UK’s transition toward low-carbon heat networks is about both scale and quality. With over 50,000 Heat Interface Units (HIUs) installed each year, ensuring these devices perform to a consistently high standard has never been more urgent. Poorly performing HIUs can impact the overall health of a Heat Network, which will subsequently lead to higher en

With momentum for sustainable solutions continuing to accelerate due to net-zero initiatives such as clean energy, decarbonisation, and water conservation, there is a compelling case for specifiers to ensure that sustainability is embedded at the heart of every project. As a topic that remains at the top of the agenda, it can be challenging for industry professionals to cut through the net-zero noise and identify practical, specification-led changes that align with evolving

The Future Homes and Buildings Standard is set for imminent release. SOPREMA explains how this will impact insulation choices for specifiers. The Future Homes Standard was first proposed by government in 2019. Despite plans for implementation in 2025, as of the time of writing, the final details of the now renamed Future Homes and Buildings Standard (FHBS) have yet to be confirmed. Compared to a home constructed to Part L 2013, the FHBS should deliver new homes that emit 80%

Ian Humby, UK Sales Manager at Hochiki Europe, explores why a system-wide approach and open-protocol thinking is vital for modern fire safety. W hole-building fire safety is often only truly noticed when something goes wrong. Yet the real challenge is designing systems that protect every part of a building without interrupting day-to-day operations. That means steering projects towards intelligent, scalable solutions where devices, panels and reporting tools work together se

RINNAI HYBRID SYSTEMS – A PRACTICAL PATH OF NETZERO ENERGY PROVISION? Rinnai Director, Chris Goggin, evaluates the benefits of installing hybrid heating and hot water systems. Hybrid configurations can improve energy costs whilst offering performance that does not inhibit the continuity of daily operations that commercial properties require. To learn more about Rinnai Hybrids request your free information pack today at https:/ /www.rinnai-uk.co.uk/contact-us/ask-us-question

Award-winning specialist merchant SIG Roofing has concluded its 2026 Roadshow series, bringing together managers and teams from across the business at three venues: Birmingham on 4 February, Windsor on 10 February, and Waltham Abbey on 12 February. Each year, the SIG Roofing Roadshow provides a forum for colleagues to reflect on the previous year’s performance, share best practice and align on how to deliver even greater value for customers in the year ahead. This year’s se

Over the last few years, cohesion has become increasingly important to bathroom design. Homeowners are looking for ways to create a harmonious and unified look, where every element complements the overall design. It’s about creating balanced, thoughtful designs that meet the aesthetic and functional requirements of homeowners through intentional specification. Choosing complementary colours and materials is key, as is recognising the role that each component, from baths to ac

Howells Patent Glazing has returned to Northallerton institution, Barkers, to replace three areas of roof glazing above the iconic arcade at the High Street department store and in the atrium of Barkers Home store. This follows the installation of replacement rooflights in all four atriums in the centre of the store in 2022. The Arcade is located on Northallerton High Street and is home to a variety of retail and commercial premises, including a jewellers, shoe shop, florist

Jack Aluminium’s Technical Manager, Terry Hirons, chatted to Specify & Build about the latest changes in the aluminium market. How is glazing specification changing as we head into 2026? Glazing specification is increasingly focused on whole-system performance rather than isolated products. Specifiers now demand clear evidence that systems will perform as intended in real-world applications, particularly in commercial and public-sector projects. Security, thermal efficiency,

As National Apprenticeship Week celebrations have begun, The Residence Collection have highlighted the experiences of two of their current apprentices, Will Evans-Baines and Evie Hughes, who are both developing valuable skills while contributing positively to the business. Will Evans-Baines Will Evans-Baines started his apprenticeship at The Residence Collection as an Electrical Maintenance Engineer Apprentice on 6th August 2025, and he will complete his programme in 2029. S