Construction is big business and 2018 is proving a bumper year with multi-million-pound projects underway up and down the UK. Challenging and inspiring in their own ways, the projects below are our top picks for the year.
Tottenham hotspur new stadium, London.
Estimated Cost: £750million - £1billion
Estimated Completion: September 2018
Tottenham Hotspur’s new 62,000 seater stadium is taking shape as it emerges out of the brick buildings in White Hart Lane. Project engineers had their hands full with the ambitious installation of a 600-tonne glass roof and the creation of a five-storey glass atrium. The project will also feature a 40m high Sky Lounge bar where fans can get panoramic views of the pitch from behind a wall of glass.
Big ben and palace of westminster refurbishments.
Estimated Cost: £61 million
Estimated Completion: 2021
It has been 31 years since Big Ben last underwent major refurbishment but the Elizabeth Tower, which houses the famous clock, needs extensive renovation if it is to carry on functioning properly. Problems were discovered with the hands, mechanism, and pendulum; following an initial repair estimate of £29 million costs have now increased to £61 million.
Big Ben will remain silent and covered in scaffolding for the duration of the project but will be slowly revealed as the renovations progress. All but one of the clock dials will be covered up at any one time during the renovation.
Battersea power station regeneration.
Estimated Cost: £9 billion
Estimated Completion: 2026
Battersea Power Station’s chimneys have long been an iconic part of London’s skyline and now they represent the cornerstone of the Battersea Power Station Regeneration Project. This transformation will create 250 retail, food and beverage units, a 2,000 capacity events venue, a six-acre park, a river walk open to the public, and even a chimney lift experience.
There will be at least 1.25m sq ft of office space and more than 4,200 new homes. The biggest tenant will be Apple which plans to make the development its European headquarters. It’s one of the largest construction projects in Europe with more than 3,000 construction workers involved including project managers, quantity surveyors and site managers.
Crossrail.
Estimated Cost: £14.8 billion
Estimated Completion: 2019
Crossrail, or the Elizabeth Line as it is now known, is a new east-west rail tunnel running under London, which will speed up journey times across the city and the South East. Construction began in 2012 and the project is now 90% complete and will be the biggest addition to London’s rail network in years.
AYKON london one tower.
Estimated Cost: £240 million
Estimated Completion: 2020
Aykon London One Tower will add a new dimension to London’s skyline with its innovative combination of stone, terracotta, and glass. The 50-storey building will boast 360 ultra-modern luxury apartments, an indoor swimming pool, rooftop gardens, and gymnasium as well as optional hospitality services. Apartments went on the market in 2015 for a staggering £700,000 for a studio.
Brent cross shopping centre revamp.
Estimated Cost: £1.4 billion
Estimated Completion: 2022
Brent Cross opened in north London in 1976. The current redevelopment of the site will be the biggest in its history and will see it double in size with 150 new shops, 50 new restaurants, and other leisure businesses, including a luxury cinema, creating a world-class shopping and leisure destination.
Paddington cube.
Estimated Cost: £825 million
Estimated Completion: 2022
Work on the Paddington Cube, a “floating” glass 14-storey office block designed by renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano has only started this year following a lengthy court battle. There were some initial concerns that it would impact the Grade I Listed Paddington Station and cause delays for patients in getting to the nearby St Mary’s Hospital. The building will replace the old Royal Mail sorting office and transform the area on the eastern side of Paddington Station.
