The University of Bristol has revealed plans to turn the city’s old sorting office into a £300 million campus in the Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone. The Temple Quarter Campus is to be constructed close to Bristol Temple Meads train station on the derelict former Royal Mail sorting office site. The university is targeting an opening date of autumn 2021. The new campus will have a ‘Digital Innovation Hub’, a student residential village and Engine Shed 2, which is an expansion of the Engine Shed business centre. The educational concept is that new degree courses will be developed in partnership with industry partners. Hugh Brady, Vice Chancellor of the University of Bristol, commented: “We now have the opportunity to re-imagine our university as an organisation that is completely porous with our partners, enabling students, researchers and people from all walks of life to move seamlessly between the city, the academy and the workplace, feeding the talent pipeline and creating opportunities.” Meanwhile, Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, said: “This news confirms our place as the UK’s most technologically advanced city-region and one of the world’s leading digital cities. The future of UK industry relies on an ability to innovate and lead in the digital and technological sectors, but of course this must be built on the foundations of a stronger, fairer society which provides equal opportunity to everyone. He added: “The deal also gives us renewed hope of a solution to the eyesore of the former sorting office. In future, visitors will no longer be welcomed to Bristol by a derelict building, but by a flourishing and inclusive home of digital excellence, innovation, education and industry.” The new campus comes after the collaboration between Bristol City Council and the University to establish Engine Shed as an enterprise hub. Since opening three years ago it has supported 72 firms through the Bristol SETsquared Centre.

Scarborough International Properties has signed an £85 million contract with the Beijing Construction Engineering Group (BCEG) to construct the first phase of its 25 acre Middlewood Locks development in Salford. Scarborough Chairman Kevin McCabe signed the deal with BCEG Managing Director Xing Yan, with the signing overseen by Scarborough Deputy Chairman and joint Chief Executive Simon McCabe. Also present at the event were longstanding partners from joint venture partner FairBriar Real Estate, Metro Holdings Singapore chief operating officer Lawrence Chiang and Hualing Group director of investments Michael Rex. The event marks a key milestone in the first phase development, which is set to be complete in October 2018. The first phases were granted planning permission by Salford City Council in December last year and are made up of 571 homes and associated commercial space including convenience shops, restaurants and large public space. The first residents are set to begin moving into the apartments in March 2018. Kevin McCabe commented: “We are delighted to have signed BCEG for the first phase of our Middlewood Locks development. This marks the culmination of many years of hard work and collaboration between all involved, both in the UK and China.” Yan added: “We look forward to continuing our work with Scarborough on the development of this significant and strategic regeneration project.” It is anticipated that the Middlewood Locks development will deliver a vibrant mixed use neighbourhood that will provide 2,215 new homes and 900,000 sq ft of commercial development space including shops, hotels, offices, restaurants, a convenience store and gym in total. The scheme is being developed around three large basins of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal, which connects to the River Irwell and is a short distance from Manchester city centre. Phase one has a gross development value of more than £150m and is expected to create in excess of 300 jobs for the local region.

New construction and historic buildings restoration firm, Heritage Building & Conservation (NW) is launching in Greater Manchester. The firm is based in Irlam and has recruited local craftsmen with experience and traditional skills of working with historic buildings. Heritage Building & Conservation (NW)’s Manchester office is led by Adrian Walker, who has a background in stonemasonry and conservation and has worked on heritage restoration projects in the North West with architects and English Heritage, including on the cathedrals in Manchester and Shrewsbury. The new firm also has a York office led by historic buildings specialist, Chris Quinn, who has been active in the heritage building sector for 12 years, along with former stonemason Sam Weller. Walker commented: “This is an entirely new and separate company with a fresh team, bags of energy, top-level heritage buildings experience and a bright future thanks to our backing from a South African businessman recognised internationally for his work in the historic buildings sector and preserving traditional craft skills.” Heritage Building and Conservation (NW) is a subsidiary of HB&C Investments Ltd and will work along with sister company, Heritage Building and Construction, to support heritage building and restoration schemes throughout the UK. HB&C Investments Ltd is owned by well-renowned South African businessman Gordon Verhoef, who now also owns two companies who were previously based in York, Hare and Ransome Joinery and Lowery Roofing, which were formerly part of the William Anelay group, which completed a number of high profile historic and listed building projects, but were not affected by its trading difficulties. Heritage has also taken over the restoration of Bradford’s City Hall. The company will employ local craftsmen and key staff who previously worked at the collapsed William Anelay Ltd. One of its first projects is to take on the remaining work in the £4 million restoration of the Grade I listed City Hall building, from Anelay Building and Conservation, an associated business which was unaffected by William Anelay going into administration earlier this year.

Closed limestone quarry in the Yorkshire Dales, Giggleswick Quarry has been put up for sale. The quarry is being marketed as a chance for a wide range of leisure or commercial uses, subject to securing relevant planning consents. Dacre Son & Hartley has been appointed by construction materials company Hanson UK to market the quarry. The 31.1 acre site is less than a mile away from Settle town centre and is surrounded by stepped benches up to a height of approximately 100 feet, with a large flat area in the centre of the quarry’s void, which could be developed. Hanson, which operates the nearby Horton Quarry, closed the site 10 years ago after extracting all the planned reserves. Jason Preston, who heads up Dacre, Son & Hartley’s Settle office, said: “This has to be one of the most unusual properties we’ve ever handled and it represents a fabulous opportunity for the right buyer. “It’s a truly unique opportunity, in a stunning location, at the southern end of Giggleswick Scar. It will interest businesses that require a vast outdoor storage space or it could offer a dramatic backdrop for a wide range of leisure activities, subject to planning. “It has the added benefit of being in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, but still within walking distance of all Settle’s amenities and its road and rail links, as well as offering easy access to Skipton and the M6, which will further enhance its appeal with leisure businesses.” David Weeks, Hanson UK communications manager, added: “This quarry has provided a vital supply of limestone for local use for many years and employed many local people. We would love to see the site being put to beneficial after-use.”

600 new homes are set to be built in East Ayrshire, while hundreds more will be improved in the next five years as East Ayrshire Council embarks on a £131 million programme of refreshing and renewing its housing stock. The new housing scheme will be in addition to the council’s commitment of almost £500 million of investment in the area through its Capital Investment Programme which it had already approved earlier this year. Cabinet member for housing and communities, Councillor Eoghann MacColl, said the aim is to exceed national quality and efficiency targets and help all residents live in high quality, affordable homes and to build vibrant communities. Councillor MacColl added: “We’ve almost 13,000 tenants and we want to ensure that we provide sustainable and quality homes that meet their future aspirations. “We have already fully achieved the Scottish Housing Quality Standard for all of our stock and are making excellent progress towards meeting the national energy efficiency targets. “We’re seeing how successful Community Led Action Plans are in delivering improvements at the heart of the community and it makes perfect sense that housing is part of this positive and ongoing process. “One of the main changes will be to develop the housing programme in tandem with building strong, resilient, safe and vibrant communities. “Over the next five years, six hundred new homes will be built in East Ayrshire and hundreds more improved, as we embark on this exciting and ambitious £131 million programme of refreshing and renewing our housing.” A new strategic planning approach (Housing Asset Management Framework – HAMF) – is now being used help prioritise improvements and investment, which will allow resources to be used more efficiently and effectively. This will see approximately £63m invested in building the new homes. Other properties requiring modernisation will be benefit from a £68m improvement programme, including central heating installation; roof replacement; door and window replacement; modern kitchens and bathrooms installed as well as insulation, cladding and other energy efficiency measures.