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.

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.

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.

"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."