Warden was delighted to support Manchester charity Wood Street Mission as part of our wider social value commitment during our work on the Manchester Christmas Markets project.

Our team got behind a number of festive fundraising initiatives in support of the charity which works to improve the life chances of children and families living on low incomes.

Rather than take part in our annual Secret Santa, we encouraged Warden staff to instead buy a present for a child aged 4-14 to be donated as part of Wood Street Mission’s Christmas toy appeal.

Our staff Christmas jumper day also raised vital funds for Wood Street Mission with our colleagues making a donation for wearing their favourite festive attire.

The money and toys were all donated to Wood Street Mission in the run up to Christmas 2023 and we then went on to select Wood Street Mission as our 2024 nominated charity with fundraising initiatives taking place throughout the year.

A team of 20 of our staff took part in the annual Tough Mudder event in Heaton Park, Manchester, which raised £6,700 for the charity thanks to donations from colleagues, families, friends, sub-contractors and other supply chain partners.

Adrian Atkinson, commercial director at Warden Construction, commented: “Through our partnership Wood Street Mission, we’ve seen the incredible work the organisation does for the people of Manchester. We were incredibly proud to make them our nominated charity partner in 2024 and get our team involved in supporting the charity throughout the year.”

Warden has completed work on the installation of the annual Manchester Christmas Markets, setting the stage for the festive season across the city.

With this year’s markets completed on schedule, visitors can look forward to exploring an array of stalls, enjoying festive activities, and seasonal treats.

We completed the installation for the second consecutive year on behalf of Manchester City Council and North West Construction Hub.

Ian Williams, managing director of Warden Construction, said: “We’re delighted to have been involved with the setup for Manchester’s iconic Christmas Markets for the second year running.

“Our team worked hard to ensure that each site across the city was prepared safely and efficiently, so visitors can enjoy the festive experience without a hitch. It’s a privilege to be part of such a beloved event in Manchester.”

The Warden team successfully oversaw the erection of all market stalls and features, including the installation and removal of Heras fencing to ensure a smooth setup process for structures and the delivery of materials.

Traffic management measures were implemented to support safe delivery routes, minimising disruptions in the city centre and carried out in coordination with the council to allow seamless operations alongside other seasonal activity.

The professional team for the installation included WMB Installations (electricians), Arena Group (fencing), and Go Traffic Management (traffic management).

The markets opened on Friday 8 November and will remain a central attraction until 22 December.

Warden has started building work to convert part of the Camden Buildings, in High Street, into a new learning and workspace on behalf of Halton Borough Council and community learning organisation Power in Partnership.

The project involves refurbishing No.59 High Street by replacing the building’s existing timber structure with a new steel structure, enabling the creation of a three-storey ‘winter garden’ style space that will act as a lobby, break-out area, and small events space.

A second part of the project involves the creation of a new-build, two-storey extension on the site of the adjacent former post office at No.57. This space will be linked to No.59 and provide an internet café, games area, learning kitchen and access to a rear garden, with a first-floor space for group activities.

The £2m project is part of Runcorn’s wider £23.6m Town Deal, which is delivering eight town centre regeneration projects overall.

Ian Williams, managing director of Warden Construction, said: “This is a project that’s delivering so many benefits for Runcorn – supporting skills development for local people, regenerating the town centre, and also enabling heritage buildings to be preserved for future generations.

“The architects and the design team have done a fantastic job coming up with a solution that enables the building and its historic façade to be retained, while creating inspiring new spaces for people to learn, grow, and work towards securing further training and employment opportunities.”

The project at 57-59 High Street is expected to be complete in Autumn 2025. The project team includes K2 as architects, Arcadis as client’s agent and AKS Ward as structural engineers.

Jack Manners, project architect at K2 Architects, said: “We’re thrilled to contribute to the transformation of the Camden Buildings. This development will bring together Runcorn’s digital and skills initiatives and create a collaborative space for community-driven businesses to thrive.”

Future work at the Camden Buildings will also see 63-65 High Street restored as a space for digital skills training and performing arts. A Georgian-era building at 71 High Street has already been restored by Warden Construction as a studio and exhibition space for artists.