Belfast Grand Central Station has welcomed its first passengers, with bus services now operating from the new multi-modal terminus, set to be the largest integrated transport facility on the island of Ireland when the rail platforms open later this month. The station sets a new standard for the forthcoming renewal of public transport infrastructure and connectivity across the island.

Hines, a global property investor, developer and manager, has secured a resolution to grant planning approval from Southwark Council to build a new, landmark office and residential development at 18 Blackfriars Road. The approval, which was secured working with architect firm Foster + Partners and Lipton Rogers, allows Hines to breathe new life into a two-acre brownfield site that has remained undeveloped for 20 years.

Angela Mansell, Managing Director of Mansell Building Solutions, discusses why time needs to be called on outdated methods and mindsets.

The road to net zero may be leading the construction industry in a new direction, but some processes, like the reliance on linear supply chains, can prove to be hard habits to break. Andrew Cooper, National Specification Manager from Senior Architectural Systems, one of the UK’s largest privately-owned aluminium fenestration solutions providers, discusses the theory behind supply chain circularity and how specifiers and manufacturers can put it into practice.

While urban agriculture is nothing new – with people having sought ways to grow more in less space and with less soil for centuries – it’s certainly offering a very attractive opportunity for those who are actively looking for new ways to incorporate sustainable living into their daily lives.