The jaw-dropping scale of the steep-tiered south stand at Everton Stadium is visible for the first time following the installation of terracing. Virtually all of the double-stepped concrete terracing units are now in place in the stand, which will eventually house over 13,000 Evertonians. The next major visual change will
Organizations partner to connect the origination of sustainability with the future of building technology In a landmark effort to preserve architectural history and inspire the future of sustainable construction, the R. Buckminster Fuller Dome Home Not-For-Profit and Mighty Buildings jointly announced the design and development of a new visitor center
This is the group’s fourth hotel currently being built in London. The other three new-build hotels are being constructed at the Kia Oval Cricket Ground, in Bermondsey and in Beckenham Travelodge, one of London’s largest hotel chains, is also searching for a further 100 hotel sites across the Capital Travelodge,
Construction work has started on the London Chiswick Travelodge. The 113-room hotel will feature the group’s on-site restaurant and is located next to the Chiswick Roundabout, one of London’s best known road junctions. London Chiswick Travelodge is the company’s fourth hotel currently under construction in London. The other three sites
Contractor Clegg Construction has been appointed to deliver a multi-million-pound refurbishment at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Leeds. Work has just started on site at the prominent hotel on the corner of Lower Briggate and Swinegate, which will be operated by Belfont Hotels. The design and build project will modernise the
Travelodge is looking for a further 300 hotel locations across the UK and welcomes the opportunity to work with major hospitality companies and retailers on mixed development schemes to support this expansion programme Travelodge, the UK’s first budget hotel chain, which operates nearly 600 hotels across the UK, Ireland, and Spain,
Trafford Council has given the green light to the new design for Therme Manchester. The updated scheme features a pavilion-style concept immersed and enveloped in a natural landscape. The decision coincides with the appointment of Professor David Russell as the first UK-based CEO of Therme UK and demonstrates a shift
The Royal Nawaab today confirms that it has submitted a planning application to Stockport Metropolitan Council for a change of use to turn the existing vacant office building into a restaurant and three banquet halls. Royal Nawaab has built a reputation for providing an unrivalled dining experience at its two restaurants
The major redevelopment of the lido at Northcroft Leisure Centre, Newbury has completed following a £5.7 million investment. Commissioned by West Berkshire Council and developed by Alliance Leisure working in partnership with Myrtha Pools and Universal Civils & Build through the UK Leisure Framework, the new outdoor facilities include a 50 metre, Olympic length outdoor swimming
Lendlease has been selected by Gateshead Council’s development partner Ask:PATRIZIA to deliver The Sage International Conference Centre at Gateshead Quays. The announcement follows swiftly after Gateshead Council’s planning committee approved revised plans for the 61,440 sqm riverside scheme. Design amendments included re-location of the 344-room dual branded hotel to an
The jaw-dropping scale of the steep-tiered south stand at Everton Stadium is visible for the first time following the installation of terracing. Virtually all of the double-stepped concrete terracing units are now in place in the stand, which will eventually house over 13,000 Evertonians. The next major visual change will see blue seats installed in the upper sections, as part of the ongoing programme which has spread across the north stand – and aims to have them in place across the whole upper tier of the bowl by Christmas. Externally, the south stand is also showing off its new façade following the installation of glazing in the second level concourse. The angled panels, which stretch across the entire face of the stand, have been designed to reflect the water from the adjoining Nelson Dock and help tie the stadium into its maritime surroundings. Meanwhile, the first giant speakers have been positioned into the roof spaces of the north stand. The curved units will hang from all four stands as part of the PA system. This has coincided with the departure from site of the last 600 tonne crawler crane, which was used mainly in the complex construction of the roof. A service tunnel, left open in the east stand to provide vehicular access to the pitch area, can therefore be closed off now in preparation for lower terracing units being installed. Work also continues to finish off the restoration of the historic Hydraulic Tower and Engine House. The buildings, dating back to 1883, have been lovingly renovated using existing and salvaged brickwork, new zinc roofing and the installation of windows sympathetic to the original design. A decorative capstan was this week reinstated at the entrance to the Hydraulic Tower, again as a nod to the building’s huge importance in the dock’s rich maritime history. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Organizations partner to connect the origination of sustainability with the future of building technology In a landmark effort to preserve architectural history and inspire the future of sustainable construction, the R. Buckminster Fuller Dome Home Not-For-Profit and Mighty Buildings jointly announced the design and development of a new visitor center and museum at the site of the legendary architect’s iconic “Bucky Dome” home. Located in Carbondale, IL, this architectural marvel has earned its rightful place on the National Register of Historic Places, and has captivated visitors for decades. The joint project is intended to connect Fuller’s impressive legacy to innovations that represent the future of sustainable building, thanks to Mighty Buildings’ new materials and groundbreaking offsite 3D printing construction methodologies. R. Buckminster Fuller, celebrated as a pioneer in architectural innovation, called the Bucky Dome “home” from 1960 to 1971. Today, it stands as a symbol of his visionary work, with a recent restoration breathing new life into this historic gem, ensuring that future generations can appreciate its significance. An exciting next phase of the restoration project is the construction of a state-of-the-art 2,400 square-foot visitor center and museum, designed by architect Thad Heckman of Design Works, that will be erected adjacent to the Bucky Dome. The museum aims to educate visitors about the profound legacy of Buckminster Fuller while exploring the future of architecture and sustainable building. “Preserving Buckminster Fuller’s legacy while pushing the boundaries of sustainable design has been an incredible honor,” said Thad Heckman. “Through our collaboration with Mighty Buildings, this project represents a bridge between the past and the future, inviting visitors to explore the rich history of architectural innovation and the endless possibilities that lie ahead.” Mighty Buildings, a trailblazer in 3D printing construction technology, has worked alongside Mr. Heckman to create parametric panels that pay homage to the Dome Home’s original design. These panels, which emulate the geodesic geometry Fuller pioneered, will be 3D printed offsite and assembled on location next to the Dome. This innovative approach highlights the unique capabilities of Mighty Buildings’ next generation Mighty Kit System, an easy-to-configure platform that features rigorously tested and internationally certified building materials that are designed to be sustainable, climate resilient, and offer significant improvements over prior 3D printed technologies. These innovations can significantly reduce onsite construction timelines and enable building sites with near-zero waste. Additional essential services that are critical to the success of this project have been selflessly donated by W. Gray Hodge, P.E., S.E., of Hodge Structural Engineers, and Civil Engineer Sean Henry, P.E., of Klingner & Associates, P.C. Local student construction assistance is provided by the Construction Management Program at John A. Logan College. Scott Gebicke, CEO of Mighty Buildings, commented, “We are proud to partner with the R. Buckminster Fuller Dome Not-for-Profit in creating a sustainable future in harmony with Fuller’s masterful vision. The design of our parametric panels pays tribute to his groundbreaking work while showcasing the capabilities of 3D printing in construction. Together, we are advancing the cause of sustainable architecture combined with advanced construction technology.” The City of Carbondale, IL, has been instrumental in providing approvals and support for the project, with City Manager Gary Williams adding, “The City Council’s decision to invest in the R. Buckminster Fuller Dome Home restoration reinforces the City’s commitment to sustainability and embodies Fuller’s assertion that ‘to change something, you have to build a new model that makes the old model obsolete.’ We believe that this 3D printed visitor’s center does just that.” For more information about the Bucky Dome project, please visit https://fullerdomehome.com/index.html. About Mighty Buildings Founded in 2017, Mighty Buildings is committed to transforming the housing construction sector through the development of beautiful high-quality, sustainable, and climate-resilient prefab homes. By leveraging 3D printing, advanced material science and automation for offsite prefabrication, Mighty Buildings can build houses up to 3-4 times faster than the industry standard, with near zero waste, and significantly reduced environmental impact. Mighty Buildings works with compliance and regulatory agencies to develop future-forward materials that are tested and certified to the most rigorous standards, and have been certified for high-velocity hurricane, earthquake and water damage resistance. Mighty Buildings is actively collaborating with developers to build communities of single-family homes in various configurations, based on its unique, panelized and patented Mighty Kit System. For more info, visit www.mightybuildings.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
This is the group’s fourth hotel currently being built in London. The other three new-build hotels are being constructed at the Kia Oval Cricket Ground, in Bermondsey and in Beckenham Travelodge, one of London’s largest hotel chains, is also searching for a further 100 hotel sites across the Capital Travelodge, the UK’s largest independent hotel chain is delighted to announce that construction has commenced for its London Chiswick Travelodge. The 113-room hotel will feature the group’s on-site restaurant and is located next to the Chiswick Roundabout, one of London’s best known road junctions. London Chiswick Travelodge is the Company’s fourth hotel currently under construction in London. The other three sites include the group’s 600th Travelodge, a 95-room hotel at the Kia Oval Cricket Ground (in partnership with Surrey County Cricket Club). A 73-room hotel in Bermondsey and a 72-room hotel in Beckenham are also being constructed. With the opening of these four hotels, Travelodge will operate 84 hotels in London, making it one of the Capital’s biggest hotel chains. Travelodge secured forward funding in November 2022 for the development of London Chiswick Travelodge. The funding partner, RTP Global Real Estate Investments, purchased the site and committed to fund the development for £19.4m and retain Travelodge as the development manager for the scheme. Barnes Construction, which has a long-standing partnership with Travelodge and recently constructed Travelodge’s London Wimbledon Central hotel in 2022, has been appointed as contractor for the new, six storey Chiswick development. The hotel is expected to be completed in Q1 2025 and will be let to Travelodge on a new 35-year lease, with five -yearly, index-linked rent reviews with caps and collars. London Chiswick Travelodge is being developed to the group’s new, premium look and feel design specification and will be built to BREEAM “Excellent” standards and with an EPC rating of “A”. The new Travelodge hotel design has been created in response to the feedback from the Company’s largest consumer study – which surveyed around 5,000 UK business and leisure travellers to find the psychographics of the modern budget traveller. Key findings from the study revealed that modern travellers crave style, choice and little homely touches to make it easier to work, rest and relax both inside and outside of the room. It also includes a number of sustainable initiatives such as the new carpet being made from recycled fishing nets, which are part of a project supporting clean ocean initiatives, tackling over 640k tonnes of discarded fishing nets currently impacting marine life. The carpet backing is also made of old plastic bottles. Every ten of these bottles which are recycled rather than being sent to landfill saves enough energy to power a laptop for 25 hours. The other features include low energy lighting, motion sensing controls and aerated showers and taps. London is a key growth area for Travelodge’s development strategy. A dedicated team is in place to secure a further 100 sites across the Capital for a new Travelodge opening. This expansion programme would more than double Travelodge’s presence in London and could represent a multi-billion investment for third party investors and create thousands of new jobs. Steve Bennett, Travelodge, Chief Property & Development Officer, said: “We are delighted to be expanding our London hotel network with the construction of our first hotel in Chiswick. The new Travelodge will be in a fantastic location on Chiswick High Road, 400m from Gunnersbury underground and railway line, 450m from Chiswick Business Park and within easy walking distance of the Gtech Community Stadium, home of Brentford FC; so a great place for business and leisure customers to stay, either visiting the local area, or Central London. With over 80 Travelodges in London, we now operate in 31 out the 33 London boroughs and are one of London’s biggest hotel chains. We are currently building four more new London hotels, including our 600th Travelodge at the Kia Oval Cricket Ground, but we still have room for further growth in London. Nowadays, more Britons are choosing to stay in a budget hotel than any other hotel type, but London cannot fulfil this growing trend as it has a shortage of good quality and low cost accommodation. Therefore, to help fill this growing gap, we are actively searching for over 100 new hotel sites across the Capital. This London expansion programme could collectively represent a multi-billion pound investment for third party investors and create thousands of new jobs.” Svetlana Lomovtseva at RTP RE, said: “Following on from our successful acquisition of this high profile site late last year we are delighted that we have now moved on to the construction phase of the project. We are looking forward to working with Travelodge and Barnes and the smooth delivery of this much needed new hotel in Q1, 2025.” Andy Cole at Vokins, Travelodge’s retained agent for West London, represented Travelodge for the Chiswick development deal and is currently searching for a further 15 development locations across West London. Andy Cole, at Vokins, said: “I am delighted that I could support Travelodge in securing the Chiswick hotel site. This deal is a testament of the Travelodge brand; despite the challenging marketing conditions that we are operating within, Travelodge continues to expand its hotel network. Our focus continues to grow Traveloge’s footprint across West London and we are actively looking for a further 15 hotel sites in locations such as Hammersmith, White City, Southall, Staines and Uxbridge.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction work has started on the London Chiswick Travelodge. The 113-room hotel will feature the group’s on-site restaurant and is located next to the Chiswick Roundabout, one of London’s best known road junctions. London Chiswick Travelodge is the company’s fourth hotel currently under construction in London. The other three sites include the group’s 600th Travelodge, a 95-room hotel at the Kia Oval Cricket Ground (in partnership with Surrey County Cricket Club). A 73-room hotel in Bermondsey and a 72-room hotel in Beckenham are also being constructed. With the opening of these four hotels, Travelodge will operate 84 hotels in London, making it one of the Capital’s biggest hotel chains. Travelodge secured forward funding in November 2022 for the development of the hotel. The funding partner, RTP Global Real Estate Investments, purchased the site and committed to fund the development for £19.4m and retain Travelodge as the development manager for the scheme. Barnes Construction, which has a long-standing partnership with Travelodge and recently constructed Travelodge’s London Wimbledon Central hotel in 2022, has been appointed as contractor for the new, six storey Chiswick development. The hotel is expected to be completed in Q1 2025 and will be let to Travelodge on a new 35-year lease, with five -yearly, index-linked rent reviews with caps and collars. London Chiswick Travelodge is being developed to the group’s new, premium look and feel design specification and will be built to BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standards and with an EPC rating of ‘A’. The new Travelodge hotel design has been created in response to the feedback from the Company’s largest consumer study – which surveyed around 5,000 UK business and leisure travellers to find the psychographics of the modern budget traveller. Steve Bennett, Travelodge, Chief Property & Development Officer, said: “We are delighted to be expanding our London hotel network with the construction of our first hotel in Chiswick. The new Travelodge will be in a fantastic location on Chiswick High Road, 400m from Gunnersbury underground and railway line, 450m from Chiswick Business Park and within easy walking distance of the Gtech Community Stadium, home of Brentford FC; so a great place for business and leisure customers to stay, either visiting the local area, or Central London.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Contractor Clegg Construction has been appointed to deliver a multi-million-pound refurbishment at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Leeds. Work has just started on site at the prominent hotel on the corner of Lower Briggate and Swinegate, which will be operated by Belfont Hotels. The design and build project will modernise the building and includes the refurbishment of existing bedrooms, as well as creating new bedrooms, to take the total number of guest rooms to 108. It also involves modernising ground floor function rooms, the restaurant and bar, as well as the installation of new windows and renovations to the roof and elevations. Clegg Construction pre-construction director, Ross Crowcroft, said: “We are very pleased to have started on site to refurbish and modernise one of the most iconic hotels in Leeds city centre. “This refurbishment of the Cosmopolitan Hotel for Belfont Hotels will upgrade a landmark building in the heart of Leeds and turn it into a leading hospitality venue which will be perfect for both leisure and corporate demand. “Clegg Construction is extremely familiar with the area around The Cosmopolitan Hotel, as we are currently on site at Spinners Yard in Regent Street delivering a 185-apartment private rented scheme for Rise Homes, plus we are working on an 11-storey student accommodation development in Leylands Road.” Other members of the development team include project manager Edmond Shipway, architect Franklin Ellis and engineer Rodgers Leask. Work is expected to be completed in the spring of 2025. The scheme is the latest in a long line of hotel projects undertaken by Clegg Construction, including the Travelodge London Stockley Park Hayes hotel, which was completed in 2021, and a new Premier Inn in York which is currently being built. In Leeds, Clegg Construction delivered the external recladding of the Premier Inn Leeds City Centre Arena hotel in 2021 and the creation of the Premier Inn Leeds Headingly Hotel (constructed on top of the Arndale shopping centre) in 2017. Keval Thakerar and Akshay Dhamecha, directors at Belfont Hotels, commented: “We are excited to be working with Clegg Construction on this refurbishment that will see the Cosmopolitan Hotel repositioned as one of Leeds City Centre’s leading hotels, benefitting the local economy and community.” Clegg Construction is a Midlands, East Anglia, and Yorkshire-based construction firm specialising in the delivery of public and private sector projects. The company works with organisations of all sizes and specialities across a range of different sectors. For more information visit www.cleggconstruction.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Travelodge is looking for a further 300 hotel locations across the UK and welcomes the opportunity to work with major hospitality companies and retailers on mixed development schemes to support this expansion programme Travelodge, the UK’s first budget hotel chain, which operates nearly 600 hotels across the UK, Ireland, and Spain, is delighted to announce it has entered a sublet agreement with Popeyes Louisiana Chicken. The global brand, which is renowned for its ‘Shatter Crunch’ chicken, is taking the UK by storm and has opened one of its first UK drive-thru restaurants at the Northampton Upton Way Travelodge hotel site. In a unique sublet deal, Popeyes UK is the latest retail brand to join the Travelodge mixed-scheme development partnership portfolio. Over the last three decades, Travelodge, the pioneering hotel chain has been the first hotel brand to partner-up with a number of household brands in a variety of mixed use developments alongside other complementary uses – such as retail, food & beverage, coffee shops and drive-thrus. This includes Travelodge hotels operating alongside a popular retail brand such as Starbucks, Subway, McDonalds and now Popeyes Louisiana Chicken. Travelodge was also the first hotel brand to partner with some of Britain’s biggest supermarkets and retailers such as: Tesco, Sainsbury’s, M&S, Aldi, Lidl, Home Bargains and Waitrose – making it easier for customers to pick up essentials during their stay. Today, over a third of Travelodge hotels are located within a mixed development scheme with household brands. Detailed are some of the brands that Travelodge has worked with in development partnership programmes. Aldi Burger King Costa Coffee Greggs Green Hill Pubs Home Bargains KFC Lidl Marks & Spencer Marstons McDonalds Sainsburys Starbucks Subway Tesco Waitrose Travelodge is keen to expand its development brand partnerships as part of its UK expansion programme which includes looking for a further 300 hotel sites across the country. Mixed-use development is gaining popularity not just in the UK but across the globe as it is becoming a more prominent feature of planning policy, with the aim of revitalising urban centres and generating benefits for all stakeholders and the community. It also reduces the neighbourhood carbon footprint and minimises air pollution. In addition it spurs revitalisation, supports regeneration and enhances an area’s unique identity and development potential by promoting a sense of place and community. Also certain brands such as Travelodge can influence other brands to invest into the programme and enhance the customer experience. For example our London Manor House Travelodge is a part of a mixed-use, new development, including a Co-Op convenience store, a coffee shop and a hostel. From the 300 hotel locations where Travelodge is actively looking to open a hotel – 120 of these locations currently do not have a Travelodge hotel and fifty of these sites do not currently have a branded budget hotel. Therefore opening a Travelodge in these locations would greatly impact on the town’s economy and attract more business and leisure visitors to the area. Collectively this expansion programme could create around 9,000 new jobs across the UK. The Popeyes drive-thru restaurant is located at the site of the first Travelodge hotel in Northampton at Walter Tull Way, Upton, Northampton. Today, Travelodge operates ten hotels across Northamptonshire and the group has also recently acquired the lease of the Ibis hotel in Wellingborough and is actively looking for a further hotel in Corby. Steve Bennett, Travelodge, Chief Property & Development Officer, said: “We are constantly looking at new and innovative ways to develop our estate and enhance the customer journey. We have experience of working with major retailers and hospitality companies to help maximise development opportunities to support local growth, job creation and regeneration. As pioneers of the budget hotel sector, we are delighted to enter a sublet agreement with Popeyes and to offer the first hotel drive-thru restaurant at our Northampton Upton Way Travelodge site.” “As we look to the future, we have identified that we can grow our business with a further 300 hotels across the UK and we welcome the opportunity to continue to work with Popeyes as well as other major retailers and hospitality companies on mixed-development schemes. This investment from third party investors will help to create around 9,000 new jobs, support local economies and importantly give our guests a great base location for their business and leisure trips.” Travelodge currently has opportunities for retail sublets across the UK – for further information please visit: www.travelodgeproperty.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Trafford Council has given the green light to the new design for Therme Manchester. The updated scheme features a pavilion-style concept immersed and enveloped in a natural landscape. The decision coincides with the appointment of Professor David Russell as the first UK-based CEO of Therme UK and demonstrates a shift in Therme’s focus from design and planning to delivery. With 30 years of experience in delivering large-scale projects, Professor Russell has been involved in major ventures around the world including the London 2012 Summer Olympics, The Rugby World Cup in Japan 2019 and the $8 billion Expo 2020 in Dubai. Russell takes up the role after a successful three-year tenure as CEO of a joint venture between Russell Partnership Collection, the UK’s largest food, nutrition, and technology consultancy, and Therme Group. Russell will be supported by Richard Land, Chief Development Officer of Therme UK, who has successfully spearheaded the planning process, and James Mark who has been a leading part of Therme UK’s senior team since the project began. Mr Mark now takes up the role of Chief Strategy Officer for Therme UK, with a focus on developing further city-based wellbeing resorts across the UK. Attractions include large family and adults-only zones with swimming pools, slides, warm water lagoons and multi-sensorial saunas. Alongside this, elements such as water-based fitness classes, evidence-based wellness therapies, botanical gardens, immersive art, urban farms and educational activities create an integrated wellbeing concept for all ages. The resort is forecast to contribute over £4.5 billion to the UK economy, according to an independent PwC study, with most of the positive impact in the Greater Manchester area. James Whittaker, Executive Director – Development at Peel L&P said: “After five years working in partnership with Therme, we are delighted to hear planning permission has been approved for this incredible, high-quality health and wellbeing resort in TraffordCity. We’re looking forward to working closely with the whole of the Therme team to deliver something truly unique and iconic in the UK, that is not only world-leading for health and wellbeing, but will also create a significant number of new jobs and have a huge positive economic impact for North West England.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Royal Nawaab today confirms that it has submitted a planning application to Stockport Metropolitan Council for a change of use to turn the existing vacant office building into a restaurant and three banquet halls. Royal Nawaab has built a reputation for providing an unrivalled dining experience at its two restaurants in the South East close to London in Perivale and Ilford. The planning application submitted includes a restaurant with a capacity of 350 covers, three banquet halls that will range from a small, with a maximum capacity of 150 covers; a medium sized banquet hall with a maximum capacity of 300 covers and a large banquet hall with a maximum capacity of 700 covers. Royal Nawaab’s sites are more than just a restaurant, they offer space, amenities and logistics to handle large corporate events, parties and awe-inspiring weddings. The Pyramid in Stockport is where they are hoping to start their new chapter. Mahboob Hussain of Royal Nawaab said: “After much speculation in the media, we can confirm that we have submitted our planning application to Stockport Council. We are hoping to breathe much needed life into this iconic building and bring with it a significant investment and job creation into the Stockport and Greater Manchester region. “We have received a positive reaction to our plans from local people and media. It truly is an iconic building that has put Stockport on the map. We now want to bring it back to life with a truly unforgettable dining experience for diners across Stockport, Greater Manchester and beyond.” Fozia Alharby from Eamar Developments told us: “The owner Dr Abdullah Alnaeem is delighted that Royal Nawaab is now able to share their plans for the Pyramid. We have long been fans of the brand and we wanted to ensure that we brought something special to Stockport, they are the perfect fit. The plans for the space will offer so much more than a restaurant, it presents a destination to bring more people to Stockport.” Part of the ethos behind Royal Nawaab’s approach is to work with locally based businesses to bring the project to fruition. The team has worked with NK Architects based in Cheadle, Stockport to submit the planning application. To review plans please visit DC/089342 | Change of use of existing office building to Buffet Restaurant, Banquet Halls and storage with ancillary offices | The Pyramid Kings Valley Yew Street Heaton Mersey Stockport SK4 2JU Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The major redevelopment of the lido at Northcroft Leisure Centre, Newbury has completed following a £5.7 million investment. Commissioned by West Berkshire Council and developed by Alliance Leisure working in partnership with Myrtha Pools and Universal Civils & Build through the UK Leisure Framework, the new outdoor facilities include a 50 metre, Olympic length outdoor swimming pool, a splash pad and fun slides, beach hut style changing rooms, a sun terrace and a relaxation area, all of which are fully accessible. Greg Walker, Business Development Manager at Alliance Leisure, says: “It’s fantastic to see so many people enjoying this amazing space again. There has been a lido on this site since 1870 so it’s part of the local DNA. “The original pool was affected by ground water levels, which, over the years, undermined the integrity of the structure and became increasingly expensive to maintain. Now that the pool has been re-engineered with the benefit of modern-day learnings and technologies, families will be able to enjoy the many physical, mental and social benefits of this amazing facility for generations to come.” It is forecast that the new facilities, opened on the 21st August 2023, will accommodate 50,000 attendances each season. Kevin Burns, UK business development manager at Myrtha Pools, says: “Like most lidos across the country, modern technology is affording leisure operators the chance to redevelop and plan for the future. “The new pool benefits from our precision engineered chromium-rich steel technology, which futureproofs the lido for decades to come, both in terms of ongoing maintenance costs and sustainability savings. This project is a prime example of how existing facilities can be renovated and improved upon, without beginning a new build process from scratch, which is increasingly important as council’s and leisure operators look to optimise budgets.” In addition to attracting more visitors to the facility through the inclusion of the splash pad, main pool, slides, residents will now also enjoy an extended season. Greg Walker explains that this is thanks to the redesign of the pool. He says, “By shortening the pool from 72 metres to 50 metres and reducing the depth from a maximum of 2.8 metres to a profile from 0.9m to 1.58m, pressure on the structure has been reduced and maintenance demands have been eased. This means the facilities can now be operational from April right through to the end of September. This not only extends access to this amazing community provision, but has created a more sustainable financial proposition.” Adding to this, Martin Davies, Director at Universal Civils & Build, says: “We have been privileged to manage this project almost from inception, through detailed design and build, to final delivery. This has not been without its complications imposed by budget, timescales & engineering complexity but has been a great challenge. We have used the in-house ground solution & piling teams of our Group to support us, which alongside Myrtha Pools has allowed us to jointly create a wonderful community facility.” The UK Leisure Framework, owned by Denbighshire Leisure LTD (DLL) has supported many community leisure development projects from full scale multisite leisure centre new builds to 3G pitches and pump tracks. Speaking about this project, Jamie Groves, Managing Director, says: “This is exactly the kind of project we launched the Framework to support. The Northcroft lido has been a part of the community’s landscape for more than a century and it’s fantastic to secure its future for many more years to come. “This was a technical project that required a high level of specialist expertise. Through the UK Leisure Framework we were able to engage expertise at all levels of the supply chain and feed this back through a single point of contact, Alliance Leisure. This helped to mitigate any risks that could threaten the budget or timescale of the project and ensured a smooth transition from concept through to launch.” Janine Lewis, West Berkshire’s Executive Member for Public Health, Culture, Leisure, Sport and Countryside added, “Working in partnership with Alliance Leisure, we’ve breathed new life into a much-loved facility and created a model that will enable thousands of residents and visitors from far afield to enjoy the pleasures of outdoor swimming and other water activities for many years to come. We can now all celebrate the success of this project together.” Moving forwards, Everyone Active has been appointed under a ten-year term to manage the Northcroft Leisure Centre and Lido as part of a wider leisure management agreement with West Berkshire Council.
Lendlease has been selected by Gateshead Council’s development partner Ask:PATRIZIA to deliver The Sage International Conference Centre at Gateshead Quays. The announcement follows swiftly after Gateshead Council’s planning committee approved revised plans for the 61,440 sqm riverside scheme. Design amendments included re-location of the 344-room dual branded hotel to an adjacent site and the subsequent creation of an urban park utilising the remaining space which will create a pedestrian link from the Millennium Bridge up to Hawks Road. Enabling works have been taking place over the last two years and Lendlease plan to make a start on site later this year. With a GDV of £150 million, The Sage International Conference Centre will be delivered in the first phase of the scheme and will include 5,720 sqm state of the art exhibition space, 2,520 sqm adaptable meeting space, 17 conference rooms and a banqueting suite. The first phase will also include the hotel and urban park. On completion The Sage International Conference Centre will be operated by ASM Global. Lendlease is an international real estate group that has delivered convention, event and entertainment facilities both in the UK and globally. The company brings global expertise and learnings from similar projects including the SSE Hydro (now the OVO Hydro) in Glasgow, Scotland, and the International Convention Centre in Sydney, Australia. The business is committed to creating lasting legacies and delivering new jobs, skills and sustainability initiatives on every project. David Cadiot, Executive General Manager of UK Regions for Lendlease, said: “Lendlease has a track record of building, designing and project managing some of the world’s greatest sporting and entertainment venues. We’ll bring the know how to create an exceptional venue, one which local people will be hugely proud to have on their doorstep.” The revised plans for the relocated hotel were granted planning permission in March 2023. Russell WBHO has been appointed as contractor on the £48m building, which will be operated by Accor under its Novotel and ibis brands. The delivery of The Sage ICC will be followed by The Sage Arena which will also be operated by ASM Global and which will be completed under a separate construction contract. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
