From rooftops to finishing touches – Newport retirement village accelerates through internal fit-out phase
Diary entry five: January 2026
With roofing works nearing completion and internal fitout rapidly progressing, the £20 million retirement community at Palisade Close in Newport has entered a critical new phase. The project that broke ground just over a year ago is now moving decisively towards its summer 2026 handover, with multiple teams working in carefully coordinated sequences to meet ambitious completion dates.
The expanding workforce tells its own story. Plasterer numbers have grown to 20 with mechanical and electrical operatives now exceeding 30, supported by a structured daily coordination rhythm that keeps every trade aligned.
At 7.15am each day, site management teams gather to review progress and plan the hours ahead. A separate 11am meeting focuses specifically on the M&E and plastering teams, ensuring the complex interdependencies between different trades don’t create bottlenecks.
Project manager Darren Lewis explained the importance of this coordinated approach: “The site’s complexity means we need constant communication to maintain momentum. When plastering depends on scaffold removal, which depends on door deliveries, which depends on kitchen installations, there’s no room for any single element to slip.”
But the project’s success isn’t just about McPhillips’ internal coordination. The effective partnership with DC Construction, who are building an adjacent care home on site, has proven instrumental in solving some of the most pressing site challenges.
A collaborative approach to shared space challenges
When space on a busy construction site becomes a premium, neighbouring contractors can easily become competitors for resources. Yet on the Newport site, the opposite has proven true.
“DC Construction have been excellent partners,” Darren said. “They’ve taken responsibility for managing relations with neighbouring residents and have been creative in finding solutions that work for everyone.”
Weekly coordination meetings between the two teams now address visitor management, delivery logistics, traffic flow and road maintenance. When McPhillips needed parking solutions, DC Construction stepped in to organise shared parking for around 20 vehicles. When McPhillips required additional compound space, DC Construction made land available until early March, allowing material storage and equipment placement that keeps the main site flowing smoothly.
“These aren’t small gestures,” Darren added. “Having DC Construction’s cooperation on parking means we can focus on construction rather than spending time managing traffic and frustrated subcontractors. It’s exactly the sort of partnership that makes complex, multi-contractor sites work.”
The benefit of this collaboration has been particularly felt in recent weeks as roofing activities have accelerated. With two areas undergoing hot melt roofing simultaneously – blocks A and C – the teams have needed flexibility with compound space and access routes. DC Construction’s willingness to work around McPhillips’ needs has meant these activities have progressed smoothly despite the challenging winter conditions.
Navigating winter challenges
Winter on a construction site brings its own particular hazards. At Newport, persistent rain and snow proved a challenge with moisture issues seeping in before some of the buildings were fully watertight. But the installation of heaters and dehumidifiers – running 24/7, monitored by security staff through the overnight hours – ensure a stable internal environment that has allowed internal works to continue.
Hot melt roofing has also presented its own logistical puzzle. The material requires a minimum temperature of 5 degrees Celsius and dry conditions after the torching process. But penetrations for services need to be wet-cut to control dust, then sealed the same day. Delays in securing holes overnight risk exposing the structure to the elements.
Racing toward summer completion
By early March, phase two utility energisation for block A’s plant room and communal areas will be complete, with meter installations following by the end of the month. Phase three, covering block C’s power and water supply, is scheduled for early May. Following these utility completions, access road tarmacking is planned for April, a milestone that will significantly improve the logistics for the final weeks of construction.
Darren added: “The scale of remaining work is substantial but the trajectory is clear. Hot melt roofing will complete within two weeks, with roofing tiling and brickwork finishing within four to six weeks. The viewing plots for blocks B1 and B3 are already in final snagging, with client inspection scheduled ahead of February’s monthly progress meeting.”
The groundworks teams are expanding from two gangs to potentially four as they support drainage and utility installation between blocks A and C. These aren’t just numbers on a schedule – they represent skilled operatives, many from within 15 miles of Newport, giving something back to their local community.
Darren reflected on the project so far: “We’ve come a long way from those first earthworks last year. We’ve faced real challenges – the roofing complexities, the space constraints of working on a shared site. But each challenge has been met with problem-solving that keeps us moving forward.”
The site continues to be documented on the dedicated Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/NewportRetirementCommunity
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