A deal has been agreed to bring forward the development of a new 331-room hotel in Leeds. Property management business Marrico has appointed GMI Construction Group to deliver the 14-storey project within the high profile Sovereign Square scheme. Situated on the last remaining plot at Sovereign Square, the hotel will
Leading energy and services specialist, ENGIE, is playing a key role in developing the new £475 million Midland Metropolitan Hospital in Smethwick in the West Midlands. Work will now re-commence following two years of delays due to the collapse of Carillion, with the project now set to be completed by
A second office developer has set out plans for a project outside central Shoreditch due to increased interest in the area. This £33 million office scheme is located in an area that is seeing a huge amount of interest as rents and prices continue to rise in Shoreditch, resulting in
A ground-breaking ceremony has been held to mark the beginning of construction on London’s largest and tallest Premier Inn hotel. Developer Rockwell was joined by representatives from contractor Sisk to celebrate the project milestone, which also includes plans for new homes alongside the 400-bed hotel adjacent to Westferry DLR station.
Plans have been outlined to replace Leeds Bradford Airport’s (LBA’s) existing terminal with a new modern and sustainable facility. LBA is preparing to submit plans for a new terminal later this year, proposing the construction of a three floor, 34,000 sq. mt. terminal on an alternative site within the airport’s
A new pedestrian and cycle bridge has been installed on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London. Contractors GRAHAM and Mace worked on Christmas Day last year to complete the installation, connecting East Bank to International Quarter London. The 350-ton steel Carpenters Land Bridge is a key part of the infrastructure
The £150 million regeneration of Crawley town centre has taken a major stride forward with a key appointment. National Kier has been selected to deliver the new Crawley Town Hall, which will form the centrepiece of the regeneration scheme. This will see the demolition of the existing Town Hall and
Plans have been put forward for a major new science and engineering building at Manchester Metropolitan University. This project would see the existing John Dalton West building demolished and a new, seven-storey academic building constructed in its place. The development would deliver new teaching spaces for the Faculty of Science
McLaren Construction has been handed its fourth project at Quintain’s 85-acre Wembley Park estate. The contractor secured a £130 million project for the construction of plots NW09 and NW10, which will see the delivery of 396 build-to-rent homes, 1,000 sq m of ground floor retail space and 1,200 sq m
A key £150 million project which will transform the way in which Springfield University Hospital delivers mental health services has reached a major milestone. South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust (SWLSTG) has agreed deals with Springfield and Tolworth Estate Partnership (STEP), a 50/50 partnership between Sir
A deal has been agreed to bring forward the development of a new 331-room hotel in Leeds. Property management business Marrico has appointed GMI Construction Group to deliver the 14-storey project within the high profile Sovereign Square scheme. Situated on the last remaining plot at Sovereign Square, the hotel will offer short and long stay accommodation catering for both business and leisure guests as well as an on-site gym, meeting facilities, bar, restaurant and coffee shop fronting the square. It has been designed by Leeds-based architectural practice DLA Design, with the façade taking inspiration from the surrounding architecture and Leeds merchandising and textile history. The project will support around 190 construction jobs over the life of the project with the hotel creating 80 full-time jobs upon completion. Discussing more about the project, GMI Divisional Managing Director Lee Powell said: “Sovereign Square is one of the most sought-after destinations within Leeds and an extremely high-profile development. GMI are delighted to have been appointed by Marrico to deliver the final phase of this development and bring forward another high-quality hotel development. “This project serves as the 12th hotel project that GMI has been entrusted to deliver including 5 in the past 3 years and testament to the strength of our credentials in this growing sector.” Mark Barnes, partner at Marrico, added: “We are pleased to be able to share plans for a new hotel within the final remaining development site at Sovereign Square. The site is superbly located for hotel use from both business and visitors to the city being adjacent to the station, business core and the vibrant retail and leisure offer Leeds provides.”
Leading energy and services specialist, ENGIE, is playing a key role in developing the new £475 million Midland Metropolitan Hospital in Smethwick in the West Midlands. Work will now re-commence following two years of delays due to the collapse of Carillion, with the project now set to be completed by Balfour Beatty. Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, which will run Midland Met, said that securing the services of ENGIE, which aims to embrace a lower carbon and more efficient way of working, was a big step towards opening the hospital. Mark Harris, divisional managing director for ENGIE UK & Ireland, said: “We are very pleased to be working alongside the trust to bring their new flagship site online over the next two years, before becoming a strategic partner at the hospital. “ENGIE has long-term experience in successfully providing facilities management services to a wide range of healthcare establishments across the UK, including primary care facilities and major acute hospitals. We look forward to working closely with the trust and serving the local community.” Trust chairman Richard Samuda said: “This is a key long-term relationship for us, with a shared commitment to local procurement, local employment and the living wage.” Trust chief executive Toby Lewis said: “ENGIE is a major energy provider with a focus on sustainability. We know that our future will move towards a zero carbon position and we want to be at the forefront of that movement. “ENGIE provide facility management services in over 30 hospitals across the NHS and we look forward to working successfully together.”
A second office developer has set out plans for a project outside central Shoreditch due to increased interest in the area. This £33 million office scheme is located in an area that is seeing a huge amount of interest as rents and prices continue to rise in Shoreditch, resulting in ‘Shoreditch sprawl’. This is pushing demand further towards the attractive Grand Union Canal on the border with Haggerston. Developer Southern Grove aims to deliver a 4,530 sqm scheme at 16 Orsman Road, which backs on to the canal. The company exchanged contracts on the land and plans to use Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), a highly sustainable option that is much greener than concrete. This will mean the building, spanning six floors, is approximately four to five times lighter than a traditional building, resulting in much smaller foundations and minimal disruption to the neighbouring canal. Architects Waugh Thistleton were chosen specifically because they are market leaders in CLT design and have built a reputation as the foremost architects in this part of London. Southern Grove plans to allocate around 10% of the office floor area (400 sqm) to ‘affordable’ office space and the building incorporates a substantial 100-bicycle storage facility on the ground floor with additional visitor cycle spaces in front of the building. A terracotta façade will help the building blend in with the surrounding area, further raising the scheme’s sustainable credentials. This project places Southern Grove as the second office developer to enter the area, following British Land’s purchase of its first home for the flexible workspace brand, Storey, in the same road. Tom Slingsby, Chief Executive of developer Southern Grove, commented: “This is a great example of a prime development, sustainably built on an infill site that really makes the most of its surroundings. “Shoreditch sprawl means that demand is moving towards attractive neighbouring areas and the canal is an obvious draw. The glazed facade to the property is designed to embrace what the canal has to offer, providing one of the most attractive canal-front aspects to be found in central London. “We’ll be only the second developer to take advantage of a great opportunity to provide superior office space in an area that is being talked about as the next big thing now central Shoreditch has reached saturation point.”
A ground-breaking ceremony has been held to mark the beginning of construction on London’s largest and tallest Premier Inn hotel. Developer Rockwell was joined by representatives from contractor Sisk to celebrate the project milestone, which also includes plans for new homes alongside the 400-bed hotel adjacent to Westferry DLR station. The £151 million mixed-use scheme, which sits in a derelict site between West India Dock and Limehouse Causeway, was granted planning permission in October 2018 by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. When complete, the 30-storey development will also include a restaurant, café, gym facilities and a landscaped pocket park, alongside communal gardens for new residents. It is designed by architects SimpsonHaugh. Donal Mulryan, Founder of Rockwell commented: “We are immensely proud to break ground on this landmark building which will be an important asset for the area, providing significant benefits for the local community with the creation of numerous jobs for local people, enhanced public realm and much needed new homes. We look forward to working with our contractors John Sisk & Son to deliver this high-quality hotel-led scheme, and look forward to delivering similar high-quality schemes in the future.” Ajaz Shafi, Regional Managing Director at John Sisk & Son added: “We are delighted to be working with the Rockwell team on this exceptional project. We have used smart thinking and an innovative approach to the design, planning and delivery of this high rise building on a tight footprint in London. Sisk works in close collaboration with all the key stakeholders to ensure we deliver quality projects, safely, which meet the needs of the community and our client. Our track record in this type of project and our strong supply chain partnerships in the region are key to the successful delivery of this development.” This mixed-use scheme is scheduled for completion in early 2022.
Plans have been outlined to replace Leeds Bradford Airport’s (LBA’s) existing terminal with a new modern and sustainable facility. LBA is preparing to submit plans for a new terminal later this year, proposing the construction of a three floor, 34,000 sq. mt. terminal on an alternative site within the airport’s boundary. If approved, this development would dramatically improve the passenger experience at LBA and help it meet its target of net zero carbon emissions from airport operations by 2023. Features to enhance the passenger experience include better surface access, with the site located nearer to the proposed rail link, clean and airy interiors, improved shopping, restaurants and bars and excellent access and comfort through from arrival to boarding. Hywel Rees, Chief Executive of Leeds Bradford Airport, said: “This proposed development is hugely exciting for Leeds Bradford Airport and the North and replaces our previously approved plans. For more than 55 years, LBA has provided an international gateway to and from Yorkshire. Our vision is to serve our region as a truly outstanding airport and to profoundly change the percep- tion and reality of customer experience for passengers. To do this we need a terminal that meets the needs of the future in passenger flow and energy efficiency. “This proposal is not about growing beyond our predicted capacity; it is about meeting the same demand in a more efficient way, with a smaller environmental footprint; it is about creating a more modern building that can achieve operational excellence to give passengers the best experience; and it is about addressing the challenges we know our passengers face far too frequently and that cannot be overcome within our current building. “We’re confident that our vision will deliver an airport building that is better placed to support our region’s economic growth and become one that Yorkshire can be proud of.” LBA received consent to expand its existing terminal in January 2019 and the airport’s current roadmap signposts a target of seven million passengers by 2030. Residents across Yorkshire are now invited to submit their views on the plans in due course. Subject to planning consent, work could begin before the end of 2020, with the terminal completed in early 2023.
A new pedestrian and cycle bridge has been installed on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London. Contractors GRAHAM and Mace worked on Christmas Day last year to complete the installation, connecting East Bank to International Quarter London. The 350-ton steel Carpenters Land Bridge is a key part of the infrastructure for East Bank, the new £1.1 billion culture and education district being created on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The new connection will link the buildings of Sadler’s Wells, the BBC, UAL’s London College of Fashion and the V&A, including a partnership with the Smithsonian Institution, with the new business district at International Quarter London. GRAHAM is the project’s civil engineering contractor and Principal Contractor for the Installation of Carpenters Land Bridge. Mace is the London Legacy Development Corporation’s project management partner and principal contractor for the East Bank development. GRAHAM’s team took advantage of the rail network Christmas shutdown to rotate the bridge in to position and minimise disruption to three Network Rail lines, two DLR lines and Carpenters Road. The bridge was manoeuvred into place using self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) rather than a traditional crane to reduce the risk of cancellation caused by potential high winds. Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, said: “The installation of the Carpenters Land Bridge is another key moment in the East Bank development. It will provide access to local people and visitors from around the globe to the world-leading institutions that are set to be based at the country’s new powerhouse of culture, education, innovation and growth.” Jason Millett, Mace’s Chief Executive Officer for Consultancy, added: “The East Bank development at Stratford Waterfront is a vital element of the continued regeneration of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the installation of Carpenters Land Bridge is a major milestone in unlocking this new cultural and education district. “As LLDC’s project management partner and principal contractor on Stratford Waterfront, Mace has the privilege of overseeing the entire delivery of the East Bank scheme, but this bridge lift certainly stands out as one of the most memorable moments so far. The dedication of everyone involved to achieve such a complex operation under incredibly challenging time constraints – and on a day that’s very important to a lot of people – must be praised.”
The £150 million regeneration of Crawley town centre has taken a major stride forward with a key appointment. National Kier has been selected to deliver the new Crawley Town Hall, which will form the centrepiece of the regeneration scheme. This will see the demolition of the existing Town Hall and the construction of a nine-storey building that will house the 41,000 sq. ft. Town Hall as well as 77,000 sq. ft. of commercial office space. It is expected to be complete in December 2021. Work on the regeneration is already underway with 91 apartments, set over nine storeys currently being completed on the site of a former two-storey car park next to the current Town Hall. Once the new building is open, the remainder of the current Town Hall will be demolished to make way for the final phase of redevelopment – a 10-storey block featuring 182 apartments with ground floor commercial space opening on to a new public square. Chris Lawrence, Operations Director for Kier Regional Building, said: “The start of works on this impressive project is a major milestone in the construction of the new Town Hall for Crawley Borough Council. “As the local Crawley-based office of Kier Regional Building we are delighted to be delivering this project and look forward to seeing the structure take shape in the coming months.” This project is being delivered on behalf of Crawley Borough Council and property investment and development firm Westrock.
Plans have been put forward for a major new science and engineering building at Manchester Metropolitan University. This project would see the existing John Dalton West building demolished and a new, seven-storey academic building constructed in its place. The development would deliver new teaching spaces for the Faculty of Science and Engineering, as well as cutting-edge laboratories, academic offices, social learning areas and a new energy centre. Further works will see the current John Dalton Tower refurbished and connected to the development, along with the creation of new pedestrian routes across the site. Professor Andrew Gibson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Manchester Metropolitan, said: “The new building represents our ambition as a faculty and will help us to drive new scientific discovery that will benefit our students, the region and the economy. “The development will help the University to continue its role in nurturing innovation in critical research to tackle the challenges of tomorrow, including hydrogen fuel cell technology, Industry 4.0 technologies, sport and healthcare science, and supporting a sustainable society.” National planning and development consultancy Turley is providing Planning, EIA, Economics and Strategic Communications services for the project. Anna Relph, Associate Director at Turley, added: “This is a fantastic project which we’re delighted to be part of. The University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering makes a significant contribution towards the Greater Manchester economy through its ground-breaking research and partnerships with local businesses. “The new building will facilitate the continued growth of the faculty by providing additional state-of-the-art facilities and enhancing the efficiency of the retained estate. It will also create a new ‘gateway’ to the campus through the redevelopment of an underutilised site adjacent to the Mancunian Way.” Manchester City Council is expected to reach a decision on the planning application by 20 March 2020. Following approval, demolition are expected to commence at the end of 2020, and the works completed in 2023.
McLaren Construction has been handed its fourth project at Quintain’s 85-acre Wembley Park estate. The contractor secured a £130 million project for the construction of plots NW09 and NW10, which will see the delivery of 396 build-to-rent homes, 1,000 sq m of ground floor retail space and 1,200 sq m earmarked for a GP surgery. The development will include 117 properties available for discounted market rent, which will account for nearly 30% of the net internal area of the residential provision. There will also be a range of amenity spaces for residents including a large private landscaped garden at the heart of the development featuring a children’s play area. McLaren secured the contract after handing over the 340-apartment residential scheme W03 (now named Alameda) and 115,000 sq ft of Grade A office space at the W06 development along Wembley Park Boulevard in 2019. The firm is due to complete the 150-apartment residential block of W06 in March 2020. John Butten, McLaren’s Managing Director – Major Projects, commented: “This is fantastic news for McLaren, and we are pleased to have been awarded our fourth project at Wembley Park. It is a great achievement, showcasing McLaren’s continuous growth in these large-scale projects and our great customer relationships. We are delighted to continue working with Quintain to ensure this project is delivered successfully, further enhancing the area for local residents.” Matt Voyce, Quintain’s Executive Director of Construction, added: “We are delighted to have the McLaren team on board to deliver their fourth project at Wembley Park. We look forward to continuing the transformation of the 85-acre site by delivering thousands more homes, retail and office space and continuing our strong relationship with McLaren through our construction framework.” Main construction works are underway at plot NW09/10 and are due to complete in the summer of 2022. When complete, the entire transformation of Wembley Park will bring 8,500 much-needed homes to the borough, a third of which will be affordable and the majority available for rent rather than for sale.
A key £150 million project which will transform the way in which Springfield University Hospital delivers mental health services has reached a major milestone. South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust (SWLSTG) has agreed deals with Springfield and Tolworth Estate Partnership (STEP), a 50/50 partnership between Sir Robert McAlpine Capital Ventures Ltd and Kajima Partnerships. This will see STEP serve as master developer for the site with Sir Robert McAlpine as main contractor for the new mental health units and the park, surrounding public realm and infrastructure. The major scheme will involve the construction of two new mental health facilities set to open in 2022 on its largest site in Tooting, south London. This includes eight new inpatient wards which will be further boosted by the modernisation of the Trust’s community services. SWLSTG has already started construction work on this programme, which will include 839 brand new homes and a 32-acre public park. Ann Beasley CBE, Chair of South West London and St. George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, said: “This is the biggest landmark yet in our Estate Modernisation Programme and we are extremely proud of getting permission to go ahead and being able to start work on these brand-new, first class inpatient facilities. This new environment will make a huge difference to our patients and the way we provide the best quality care towards their recovery. Furthermore, this work will ensure that the Springfield University Hospital site is regenerated in a way which reduces the stigma of mental health conditions by integrating our organisation with our community.” Vanessa Ford, Acting Chief Executive of South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, added: “The wards will revolutionise the way we deliver care for generations to come and ensure we can provide high quality and safe services. The new facilities have been carefully designed alongside our clinicians and service users to provide the most supportive environment and innovative facilities for the delivery of mental health care. As well as good news for patients, the new hospital facilities will be positive for the environment with much more efficient use of energy and working towards a carbon neutral footprint.”