Willmott Dixon 2024 Spotlight

We’re accelerating urban regeneration in the Midlands by helping customers to transform towns and cities and make them destinations to live, work, study and visit.

Towns and cities up and down the UK are going through an evolution; one that has been driven by the changing needs, desires and behaviours of people.

With strong foundations in the Midlands, we’re helping customers in the East Midlands to regenerate their spaces and make them fit for the future – from helping them to create Masterplans, to building science and technology buildings to creating public realm spaces.

Find out how we’re transforming towns and cities in the Midlands here.

Hollycroft Primary School: Leicestershire’s first net-zero in operation school

As the county’s first net-zero in operation school, the 210-place primary school will now act as a template for future schools in the region, with the next school having already been granted planning permission.

Embodied carbon is reduced through a timber frame and exposed timber walls, M&E features have been left exposed to enrich STEM learning for pupils, and advanced modelling at design stage has enabled the school to reach net-zero for both regulated and unregulated sources of energy.

We’re also implementing our innovative Energy Synergy process, which means we’ll monitor energy usage over the next three years. This will allow us to identify areas of inefficiency, make any necessary changes and help to close the performance gap.

Phoenix Cinema and Art Centre extension: helping to stimulate the local creative sector

Having built the scheme back in 2009, we’re returned to the project to extend the building and provide additional facilities for the local community.

The extension houses new creative and education spaces, two cinema screens, a larger café bar and a roof terrace with accessible toilets and lifts.

The hope is that the extension will double participation in arts, cinema, and creativity over five years as well as providing enhanced support for local artists and creative businesses.

George Davies Centre at University of Leicester: first-class learning facilities, built to Passivhaus standards

The centre was, at the time of completion, the UK's largest non-residential project built to the ultra-energy efficient Passivhaus standard.

Meeting the Passivhaus standard creates ultra-low energy buildings, in the case of George Davies Centre, energy consumption is 80kWh/m² compared to the previous 500kWh/m² produced by the old building!

The new centre now houses world-leading medical research and medical education under one roof. It will help to meet the demand for more capable and caring doctors, as well as housing applied research that will be at the forefront of improved patient safety and the fight against chronic disease.