OakNorth, a digital bank tailored for entrepreneurs, has provided a £48.3m loan to Vabel, a London-based developer, for a new mixed-use project at 28-34 Queensway, West London. The project, set to complete by Q4 2025, will include 27 new homes, a 24-hour concierge service, landscaped communal gardens, and 251 sqm
Clowes Developments have successfully purchased a 35-acre site at Pleasley Hill in Mansfield. Pleasley Hill was initially presented to the land and planning team at Clowes Developments in 2017 by land promotor, David Winterbotham. Since then, extensive due diligence and research into the sites potential has been happening behind the
RED Construction Group, the specialist main contractor, has announced its appointment to complete the works on Alumno Group’s Hollis Wharf, the former Jubilee Centre, Bath. RED’s South West division is set to carry out the £13m mixed-use development, creating purpose-built student accommodation and commercial space. Designed by AWW Architects for
The approved mixed-use residential development will be Forshaw Group’s largest residential scheme to date and will include 224 open market apartments, an aparthotel and coffee bar on a key gateway site into Manchester. Manchester City Council have approved plans submitted by Forshaw Land & Property Group to transform a vacant
A planning application has been submitted for the regeneration of the Teviot Estate in Poplar, East London. The £800 million redevelopment by The Hill Group and Poplar HARCA will provide around 1,900 new homes with 35% affordable, over five phases. This will be complemented by new open green and play
Developer HBD, part of Henry Boot, has selected Sheppard Robson to lead on the design of its second phase of the landmark Golden Valley scheme in Cheltenham. The architecture practice will be responsible for the design of the next two buildings to come forward, with partner David Taylor leading a
Plans have been put forward to regenerate Teviot Estate in Poplar, East London. The £800 million redevelopment by The Hill Group and Poplar HARCA will provide around 1,900 new homes with 35% affordable, over four phases. This will be complemented by new open green and play spaces, shops, and community
Oxford North, the new innovation district in Oxford, has reached its highest point in construction and topped out its first phase with the Red Hall’s new cantilever roof lowered into place and two new lab buildings’ steel frames completed. Oxford North is the new £700 million innovation district in Oxford
Asda has today unveiled plans for a transformational Mixed-Use Redevelopment of its ten-acre Park Royal site in North West London. The retailer has partnered with leading property Developer Barratt London on plans to redevelop the Brownfield site which is currently home to its Park Royal Superstore. The proposal, which is
Regeneration Area Starts to Take Shape with the Opening of the ‘The Social Hub’ in UK First A significant milestone has been reached in the £300 million regeneration of Candleriggs Square in Glasgow’s Merchant City, one of Scotland’s most high-profile city centre development sites. Developed by a joint venture bringing
OakNorth, a digital bank tailored for entrepreneurs, has provided a £48.3m loan to Vabel, a London-based developer, for a new mixed-use project at 28-34 Queensway, West London. The project, set to complete by Q4 2025, will include 27 new homes, a 24-hour concierge service, landscaped communal gardens, and 251 sqm of ground-level retail space. Vabel, founded by Daniel Baliti and Jeremy Spencer, aims to revolutionise the quality of new build homes through an integrated approach that combines in-house architecture, interior design, project management, and construction. The company employs approximately 40 professionals who collaborate within this innovative model. Vabel’s projects are distinguished by their focus on sustainable construction. They utilise renewable technologies such as LED lighting, aerated taps, heat recovery ventilation systems, solar panels, and thermally efficient glazing. Their upcoming Blackheath development will feature a ground source heat pump system, and they aim to recycle building materials and retain existing building fabric whenever possible. Co-founders Jeremy Spencer and Daniel Baliti expressed their excitement about the Queensway project: “We are thrilled to contribute to the area’s evolution through exceptional architecture and homes. Queensway is re-energising as a vibrant community, and we’re proud to be part of this transformation. This is our largest project to date, and we appreciate OakNorth’s support and understanding of the London real estate market.” Deepesh Thakrar, Senior Director of Debt Finance at OakNorth, added: “Vabel has a proven track record of successful projects across London, even during challenging market conditions. Their integrated operational model and responsible development approach stood out to us. We’re delighted to support their growth and bring new homes to a revitalised central London area.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Clowes Developments have successfully purchased a 35-acre site at Pleasley Hill in Mansfield. Pleasley Hill was initially presented to the land and planning team at Clowes Developments in 2017 by land promotor, David Winterbotham. Since then, extensive due diligence and research into the sites potential has been happening behind the scenes and resulted in an off-market deal and outlined planning consent to develop the site. At a time when the group have been heavily developing existing land banks across England and Scotland, the purchase of Pleasley Hill demonstrates Clowes’ commitment to growth, ensuring a healthy pipeline of future development remains in place for years to come, Thomas Clowes, Managing Director at Clowes Developments commented on the deal, “The length of time this has taken highlights the need for strategic land when immediate opportunities are hampered by planning restrictions or heavily fluctuating markets. Fortunately, this is something Clowes has in abundance, and I’m delighted to be able to add another active site to our portfolio. Remarkably I’ve been working with David Winterbotham on this since I was a graduate surveyor, luckily for myself and the group it’s been a pleasure to do so. We’re very excited to get this one out of the ground in the coming months”. Clowes Developments is one of the UK’s largest and strongest privately-owned property investment and development organisations, dedicated to a simple aim: to build a legacy of strong, sustainable places that will enable future generations to prosper. Clowes and their team of professional advisors have been working with the local authority, Mansfield District Council who allocated the site for development in their ‘adopted local plan 2013-2033’, to create a masterplan that meets the need of the community and surrounding areas. The site at Pleasley Hill achieved outlined planning consent for a mixed-use development in 2023. In line with the adopted local plan, Pleasley Hill will benefit from 320,000sq ft of employment opportunities ranging from industrial, manufacture and logistical use to convenience, filing station, retail and leisure facilities. The site also has outlined consent for 850 homes with housing developers lined up to deliver the residential arm of this development. Clowes Developments are currently working with Avant and David Wilson Homes to bring forward the residential element of the development. It is expected that agents marketing Pleasley Hill will be announced in due course, in the meantime, enquiries are directed to tom.morley@clowes.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
RED Construction Group, the specialist main contractor, has announced its appointment to complete the works on Alumno Group’s Hollis Wharf, the former Jubilee Centre, Bath. RED’s South West division is set to carry out the £13m mixed-use development, creating purpose-built student accommodation and commercial space. Designed by AWW Architects for accommodation specialists Alumno Group, the Hollis Wharf will span 45,000 sq ft across five-storeys, and is set for completion in summer 2025. RED South West will complete the 120-student apartment building, also creating a new bespoke commercial unit to provide a long-term space for the charity, Mercy in Action, that has been based in Bath for over 20 years. Catering specifically to the city’s student population needs, the development will feature cluster flats and studios, alongside a laundry room on the first floor and three accessible flats. Other features include various communal spaces, including an expansive living room on the first floor overlooking the river Avon, and an impressive external roof terrace on the fourth floor. Situated within a World Heritage Site, Housing Development Boundary, and Enterprise Area, the Hollis Wharf will be adjacent to two Grade II listed buildings, Twerton Viaduct and Rackfield Place. RED Construction Group is committed to minimising the environmental impact of the works and respecting the heritage of the area, both crucial considerations within the construction team’s process. The development has been designed with sustainability front of mind, featuring photovoltaic panels (PV) on the roof, electric heating, alongside various planting including a living wall on the north elevation, green roofs, and bird and bat boxes. Derek Quinn, Executive Director of RED Construction South West, commented: “The trust that Alumno has put in RED South West to complete work on the Hollis Wharf is testament to our reputation within the region, and we are proud to be a part of what is set to be an amazing riverside location for the students of Bath. The historical significance of the location is not lost on us, and we are dedicated to carrying out the works in a considered and sustainable fashion, uplifting the local community through our ‘RED to Green’ approach to building within the region.” David Campbell, Founder and Managing Director of Alumno Group, added: “There is huge demand for high-quality student accommodation in Bath, with the student population a significant portion of the local community. Following the works carried out by a previous contractor, it was crucial and imperative that we partnered with a team who had a strong track record and reputation for delivery in the region. Who could also mitigate the project’s challenges, as well as hit the ground running to drive the scheme forward within the time frames required. We are pleased to have found that certainty and confidence within RED Construction Group’s South West team and appreciate their dedication to getting things turned round and on track.” This announcement follows the news that RED Construction Group’s South West division has recently celebrated a major milestone in the creation of the £22m Zeal Hotel in Exeter Science Park, one of the UK’s first full life cycle net zero carbon hotels. Recently marking the final stages of the build with a topping out ceremony, the hotel is being constructed with half the embodied carbon of a standard hotel, while generating 100 percent of its electricity through solar panels, achieving BREEAM Outstanding at the design stage. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The approved mixed-use residential development will be Forshaw Group’s largest residential scheme to date and will include 224 open market apartments, an aparthotel and coffee bar on a key gateway site into Manchester. Manchester City Council have approved plans submitted by Forshaw Land & Property Group to transform a vacant brownfield site at Cornbrook into a high-quality, mixed-use residential and commercial scheme. The collaboration between the Bolton based developer and waterside regeneration specialists Peel Waters will see the 1-acre plot which sits adjacent to VOX Manchester and the Cornbrook Metrolink station, turn into a key landmark site for both the city centre and the emerging Manchester Waters district. The approved 24-storey development will consist of 224 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and five, two- three- and four-bedroom penthouse apartments with private terraces. Spaces to play, socialise and connect with fellow neighbours have been thoughtfully designed into the scheme, with the inclusion of a games room, communal coworking spaces, private dining room, yoga studio and a residents’ gym. Community building and socialising will be further enhanced by the ground floor retail spaces which will be used for further amenity space and an independent coffee bar, providing a convenient space and service for Manchester Waters residents, workers, commuters, and visitors on their way to-and-from the city. Also included within the approved plans is a four-storey, 87 room apart-hotel, which will be part of Forshaw Group’s new ‘Vivere’ brand collection. Located between Manchester City Centre and Old Trafford, the site offers a desirable location and further rooms to meet demand for Greater Manchester’s growing visitor economy. Leach Rhodes Walker have been instructed as the architects on the project and have taken design influence for the development from the historical industrial context of the site. The proposed creation of this high-quality gateway building will mark the arrival point into the City and Manchester Waters, whilst complementing the other new buildings close to the site. Lyndon Forshaw, CEO, Forshaw Group said: “We are very pleased our plans have been approved by Manchester City Council. “Our approved scheme sits on a hugely important gateway site and we are looking forward to continue working closely with Peel Waters to create a development that delivers on the ambitions of the Cornbrook Regeneration Framework. “This will be our largest residential led scheme to date and we are excited to deliver much needed new housing as well as launching our first hotel under our new Vivere Aparthotel brand.” Forshaw’s development will form part of the wider Manchester Waters masterplan which has been designed by Peel Waters to regenerate the brownfield site and bring much needed quality homes and amenities to the area. James Whittaker, Managing Director, Peel Waters added: “After years of acquiring the land and securing outline planning permission for the Cornbrook Hub, it is fantastic to see detailed planning permission being granted for another development at Manchester Waters. “Our long-term vision for the wider Manchester Waters neighbourhood is to create a vibrant and sustainable waterside community, offering a mix of tenures in one of the most desirable waterfront locations in Greater Manchester. “Forshaw Group’s approved plans will further enhance our vision and we now look forward to seeing the delivery of this development.” Manchester Waters is part of Peel Waters, a UK wide portfolio of vibrant and innovative, waterfront developments, delivering large-scale, sustainable regeneration projects, creating jobs, economic growth, new homes and new public realm across the country. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A planning application has been submitted for the regeneration of the Teviot Estate in Poplar, East London. The £800 million redevelopment by The Hill Group and Poplar HARCA will provide around 1,900 new homes with 35% affordable, over five phases. This will be complemented by new open green and play spaces, shops, community and faith facilities, alongside improved infrastructure. As one of the largest estate regenerations in London, the redevelopment of Teviot will transform the area with upgraded designs and enhanced community amenities, creating a safer and better place to live. Hill and Poplar HARCA have worked closely with Teviot residents at every stage to ensure the plans meet the community’s needs and aspirations. The partnership has submitted an outline planning application for all phases of the masterplan, including detailed proposals for the first phase of development. Phase 1 is set to deliver 475 homes, 45% of which will be affordable. Subject to approvals, the project is scheduled to start onsite in April 2025, with the first homes expected to be completed by 2028. The entire project is forecast to be completed by 2042. The proposals provide a wide range of benefits for local residents including provision for an improved mosque that will be at the heart of the development and delivered in the third phase. Green open spaces will be prioritised, with substantial improvements to Langdon Park brought forward in phase one and an informal play area for public use. Extensive landscaping is planned with green corridors which will boost biodiversity, greener streets and a new public square that will create a place to socialise and relax. The masterplan for the project, designed by leading architects BPTW, covers eight hectares and offers a wide range of homes from studios and apartments to family houses. The regeneration will feature new shops and commercial spaces, as well as a new multi-use community centre. New infrastructure and public realm design focuses on creating safer streets with better pedestrian routes to Langdon Park station and a new foot-tunnel under the A12, with enhanced lighting and CCTV to help reduce anti-social behaviour. The regeneration has already invested £427,500 to local projects through the Teviot Community Chest Fund. Over its 15-year duration, the initiative is set to generate over £278 million in social value, which covers a wide range of community projects. such as a new pontoon on the Limehouse Cut Canal, planned to open later this year that will increase community access to water sports. Andy Hill OBE, Group Chief Executive at The Hill Group comments: comments: “The regeneration of Teviot is going to change the lives of thousands of residents, bringing high-quality homes and improved wellbeing. The community has been at the heart of the plans since conception and we are committed to delivering on our promises to residents, collaborating to create an improved neighbourhood for all. We know that people not only want better quality, energy-efficient homes, but also improved access to jobs, more support for young people and less fear of crime, so we are pleased to reach this important milestone in rewriting the future for this community.” Paul Dooley, Director of Regeneration and Development at Poplar HARCA, added: “I am really pleased to reach this significant milestone for this important regeneration scheme. It is one step closer to delivering more affordable homes and community facilities for Tower Hamlets residents. “In partnership with The Hill Group, the project has already made a real impact in terms of social value. Local residents have been instrumental in shaping these plans and we are committed to making sure this exciting programme of regeneration reflects the things that matter most to them.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Developer HBD, part of Henry Boot, has selected Sheppard Robson to lead on the design of its second phase of the landmark Golden Valley scheme in Cheltenham. The architecture practice will be responsible for the design of the next two buildings to come forward, with partner David Taylor leading a team of six. The firm joins the Golden Valley team alongside architect BDP, which is already well progressed with designs for the Innovation Centre and mobility hub, which will form the first development phase. Golden Valley is one of the country’s most high-profile schemes; a once-in-a-lifetime project at the heart of the UK’s National Cyber Strategy. Once complete, it will deliver 1million sq ft of commercial space and is expected to create 12,000 new jobs. The masterplan also includes the development of 1,067 low carbon homes nestled within green space and with various community services and amenities. HBD is delivering the development alongside Cheltenham Borough Council and key local partners. Planning permission for Golden Valley was submitted in October 2023 and a second application specifically for the National Cyber Innovation Centre will follow this summer. Sheppard Robson will play a key role in meeting HBD’s sustainability goals for Golden Valley, targeting BREEAM Excellent and EPC A ratings for office buildings. The practice will carefully consider the building’s fabric from the outside in, maximising energy efficiency and ensuring the space achieves best-in-class sustainability credentials. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans have been put forward to regenerate Teviot Estate in Poplar, East London. The £800 million redevelopment by The Hill Group and Poplar HARCA will provide around 1,900 new homes with 35% affordable, over four phases. This will be complemented by new open green and play spaces, shops, and community and faith facilities, alongside improved infrastructure. As one of the largest estate regenerations in London, the redevelopment of Teviot will transform the area with upgraded designs and enhanced community amenities, creating a safer and better place to live. Hill and Poplar HARCA have worked closely with Teviot residents at every stage to ensure the plans meet the community’s needs and aspirations. The partnership has submitted an outline planning application for all phases of the masterplan, including detailed proposals for the first phase of development. Phase 1 is set to deliver 475 homes, 45% of which will be affordable. Subject to approvals, the project is scheduled to start onsite at the end of 2025, with the first homes expected to be completed by 2028. The entire project is forecast to be completed by 2042. The proposals provide a wide range of benefits for local residents including provision for an improved mosque that will be at the heart of the development and delivered in the third phase. Green open spaces will be prioritised, with substantial improvements to Langdon Park brought forward in phase one and an informal play area for public use. Extensive landscaping is planned with green corridors which will boost biodiversity, greener streets and a new public square that will create a place to socialise and relax. The masterplan for the project, designed by leading architects BPTW, covers eight hectares and offers a wide range of homes from studios and apartments to family houses. The regeneration will feature new shops and commercial spaces, as well as a new multi-use community centre. New infrastructure and public realm design focuses on creating safer streets with better pedestrian routes to Langdon Park station and a new foot-tunnel under the A12, with enhanced lighting and CCTV to help reduce anti-social behaviour. The regeneration has already invested £427,500 to local projects through the Teviot Community Chest Fund. Over its 15-year duration, the initiative is set to generate over £278 million in social value, which covers a wide range of community projects. such as a new pontoon on the Limehouse Cut Canal, planned to open later this year that will increase community access to water sports. Andy Hill OBE, Group Chief Executive at The Hill Group commented: comments: “The regeneration of Teviot is going to change the lives of thousands of residents, bringing high-quality homes and improved wellbeing. The community has been at the heart of the plans since conception and we are committed to delivering on our promises to residents, collaborating to create an improved neighbourhood for all. We know that people not only want better quality, energy-efficient homes, but also improved access to jobs, more support for young people and less fear of crime, so we are pleased to reach this important milestone in rewriting the future for this community.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Oxford North, the new innovation district in Oxford, has reached its highest point in construction and topped out its first phase with the Red Hall’s new cantilever roof lowered into place and two new lab buildings’ steel frames completed. Oxford North is the new £700 million innovation district in Oxford and will deliver one million sq ft (92,903 sq m) of laboratories and workspaces for science and technology companies, 480 new homes, and amenities which will include a market square, hotel, nursery, cafe, bar and three public parks. The first three buildings, two acre central park and market square for pop-up markets, food vendors, sports and cultural events programme, are due to complete in Q2 2025. The Red Hall, a landmark building, will provide prime office space at the heart of the new district as a new shared workspace for local occupiers. Over five floors, the Red Hall’s ground floor will include a significant amount of amenity which will include a cafe-bar, event, meeting and community space, co-working spaces and retail units. The four upper floors will offer office space from 4,000 sq ft (371 sq m) to accommodate a range of science and innovation start-ups and SMEs. 1 & 2 Fallaize Street will be two laboratory buildings for companies which range from SMEs looking to grow, to larger corporate occupiers which need high specification new workspace. Each building will total 58,700 sq ft (5,453 sq m) NIA over four floors and mezzanine to offer space to generate ideas, collaborate and innovate. As a low-carbon district, the buildings will be all-electric and energy-efficient, powered by renewable sources and on-site photovoltaics, and will target BREEAM Excellent. Oxford North Ventures is the joint venture company of Thomas White Oxford, the development company of St John’s College, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and Stanhope. The project has a resolute focus to ensure that Oxford North has a far-reaching positive impact on the local economy through the delivery of its Community Employment Plan. Since the project started, 1,067 construction jobs, of which 25% are currently locally based, and 22 new apprentices have been employed through the project’s three construction partners: Laing O’Rourke, Careys and The Hill Group. The new park and market square have been named after Professor Elizabeth Fallaize (3 June 1950 – 6 December 2009) who was a British academic, a leading scholar in French Studies and was pro-vice chancellor (education) of the University of Oxford. Professor Fallaize was educated at Dame Allan’s School, Newcastle upon Tyne. After graduating with First Class honours in French from the University of Exeter in 1972, she was appointed in 1975 as a lecturer at the School of Languages at Wolverhampton Polytechnic, before moving to Birmingham University’s French department in 1977. In 1989 she was appointed a fellow of St John’s College, Oxford, the first woman ever to hold this post, and played a leading role in the establishment of the Women’s Studies masters course. Victoria Collett, development director, Thomas White Oxford said: “Generations of undergraduate and graduate students benefited from Professor Fallaize’s teaching and scholarship. She was proud of and deeply committed to the College, enthusiastically supporting her peers and students, taking on many roles within both the College and University. Today we are proud that her spirit will live on at Oxford North.” David Camp, chief executive officer, Stanhope said: “Our ‘topping out’ is a significant milestone for delivering Oxford’s new innovation district. Our thanks to the many people involved in reaching this moment. We are building a new sustainable district for Oxford, purposefully designed to enable the next century of life-changing discoveries in science and technology.” “With major advances happening on our doorstep, we need spaces which enable such discovery. We’re delivering new labs and workspaces, surrounded by public parks, amenities and public art for people living, working and visiting here, which will open in Q2 2025. We are talking to a number of exciting companies from start-ups to SMEs to larger corporates about joining us, as they need space to grow, rooted in Oxford.” Charles Rowton-Lee, head of commercial agency, Savills Oxford added: “The current demand from science and tech companies needing workspace in Oxford is currently 650,000 sq ft with limited availability. With Oxford North delivering stunning new flexible lab and workspace ready this time next year, in a prime location with access to amenities, talent and transport connectivity, we have significant interest from a range of companies. They are either already based in Oxford or are looking to move into Oxford’s thriving ecosystem which brings together academia and industry to deliver discoveries that will benefit us all.” Acting on behalf Oxford North Ventures are Fletcher Priest Architects, Gustafson Porter + Bowman, Townshend Landscape Architects, Buro Happold, Savills, Turner Townsend Alinea, Gardiner & Theobald, Hoare Lea, Stantec, AKT II, Contemporary Art Society Consultancy, Endpoint, Spacecraft Consulting and Storey Consulting. Watch Oxford North’s topping out drone footage c.30 secs: Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Asda has today unveiled plans for a transformational Mixed-Use Redevelopment of its ten-acre Park Royal site in North West London. The retailer has partnered with leading property Developer Barratt London on plans to redevelop the Brownfield site which is currently home to its Park Royal Superstore. The proposal, which is subject to planning approval, includes creating a new town centre for the local community, at the heart of the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation major regeneration area. It will feature a brand-new 60,000 sq. ft flagship Asda Superstore and up to 400 car parking spaces for customers. In addition, up to c.1500 new homes are planned, c.500 of these will be provided as affordable. A large number of the apartments will utilise a landscaped podium above the new Asda. The majority of the homes will provide high quality dual aspect accommodation. Sustainability will be at the heart of this new site – with the scheme providing significant biodiversity and ecology net gains. The use of public transport will be encouraged at the proposed car free residential development, while the Asda car park will benefit from new EV parking spaces. This Mixed-Use Redevelopment of an established store site is a first for Asda and represents one of the largest land deals of the last couple of years. The plans would also enable complementary businesses associated with a new town centre to open new retail units, restaurants, health and wellness facilities, and high-quality public realm space. Plans would allow for Asda’s existing Park Royal Superstore to remain fully open and continue to serve the local community whilst work was carried out on the new store development. Ian Lawrence, Head of Mixed-Use Developments at Asda, said: “Asda’s venture into Mixed-Use Property re-development marks a significant milestone for the Business. By working with leading developers like Barratt London, we are able to maximise the full potential of our property portfolio for the first time.” “This allows us the opportunity to better serve local communities like Park Royal, with a new flagship store fit for the future, whilst creating windfall sites for Housing delivery. We are also unlocking further opportunities to release value from our extensive property portfolio, which can be reinvested back into the business to fund other initiatives and support our long-term growth ambition to become the UK’s second largest supermarket chain.” Work on the planning application for this ambitious redevelopment deal is already underway and will be submitted later this year to the relevant bodies. Craig Carson, Managing Director of Barratt West London, comments: “We are proud to be partnering with Asda on their first mixed-use development. At Barratt London, we have a strong track record in both rejuvenating brownfield sites and delivering new homes in the Borough of Ealing, so it’s a partnership and site that makes perfect sense for us. This transaction is a sign that there is still land to be unlocked in the capital and reflects one of the markets largest land transactions since 2019. The redevelopment of Park Royal will have a huge impact on the area, with the new town centre unlocking new commercial opportunities for local businesses and providing a new hub for the local community. While the proposed delivery of 1,500 new homes will play a vital part in the Old Oak and Park Royal regeneration plans and will help to unlock much needed new and affordable homes in Ealing.” Newsteer Real Estate, who have worked with other major retailers on similar redevelopment deals in the past, are acting as advisors to Asda throughout the process. Ross Bettridge, Director at Newsteer, said: “Retailers such as Asda at Park Royal provide great opportunities to utilise brownfield sites and deliver much needed housing for people living in the capital. At Newsteer, we are actively advising on similar opportunities with the potential to deliver c.12,000 homes. The key to unlocking these sites is about protecting and enhancing the retail offer while balancing the viability.” Asda recently announced it has now opened 479 Asda Express stores, as part of its rapid convenience expansion, enabling the retailer to reach the landmark of 1,000 UK sites for the first time in its 59-year history. The retailer is on track to have 500 Asda Express stores by the end of this year as new ‘standalone’ sites open throughout the UK as part of its ongoing growth ambition Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Regeneration Area Starts to Take Shape with the Opening of the ‘The Social Hub’ in UK First A significant milestone has been reached in the £300 million regeneration of Candleriggs Square in Glasgow’s Merchant City, one of Scotland’s most high-profile city centre development sites. Developed by a joint venture bringing together Drum Property Group and Stamford Investments, the site has marked its first completed building following the highly awaited opening of the UK’s first The Social Hub – a four-star hybrid hospitality location combining hotel, student & extended stay accommodation, co-working space and leisure facilities. The 3.6-acre Candleriggs Square site – bound by Wilson Street, Hutcheson Street, Candleriggs and Trongate – is regarded by many as the last and most important piece of Glasgow’s Merchant City regeneration jigsaw. Originally home to Glasgow’s flourishing fruit and vegetable market for most of the 20th century the square played host to a department store before remaining unoccupied and derelict for more than two decades, following the closure of the last operator there in 1999. The regeneration of the area is now starting to quickly take shape, with the next building to complete on site – the 346-apartment build-to-rent scheme delivered on behalf of Legal & General – forecast for practical completion this summer. Graeme Bone, Group Managing Director of Drum Property Group, welcomed the completion of The Social Hub Glasgow as heralding an exciting future for Candleriggs Square. “The development vision we outlined when we first took ownership of the site in 2019 is now starting to come to fruition,” he said. “Despite many construction and delivery challenges, we are now seeing this vital part of the city centre, which had lain dormant for more than 20 years, beginning to take shape. It’s great to see these spectacular buildings coming out of the ground, bringing people, investment and excitement back into the heart of Glasgow city centre. The opening of The Social Hub Glasgow marks the return of Candleriggs Square to what it once was as part of the city’s rich commercial history – a bustling market-place full of life, vitality and interest, intrinsically linked to the rest of the city centre.” He added: “We can now look forward to more high-quality housing, local amenities and open spaces combining with new pedestrian and access links creating a new sense of place, and making the whole Merchant City more accessible, welcoming and exciting for people living, working and visiting the area.” The Social Hub Glasgow spans some 20,000 sq. metres is the result of a £90 million investment, and has space for up to 222 co-workers along with 20 private offices and eight flexible meeting and event spaces totalling 1,500sq metres. There are 494 rooms including dedicated four-star hotel rooms for leisure and business travellers, as well as those for students and extended-stay guests, making it Scotland’s largest hotel by room numbers. The Social Hub concept is the brainchild of Edinburgh native Charlie MacGregor, who set up the first of what has grown into a portfolio of 23 hubs across Europe, in 2012 in Rotterdam – 18 of which are now open. Driven by its purpose of creating a better society, The Social Hub is now a pan-European investor, developer, owner and operator of a ‘hybrid’ hospitality model combining hotel accommodation, co-living and co-working spaces with restaurants, bars, conference rooms and fitness facilities, all coupled by pioneering community-centric experiences and social-impact focused programmes. Glasgow City Council initially approved plans for The Social Hub Glasgow in May 2020, as well as granting approval for ‘Planning Application in Principle’ for the entire 3.6-acre site. Drum and Stamford’s proposals include a high-quality mixed-use scheme combining homes, offices, hotels, restaurants and local amenities together with landscaped open spaces and accessible walkways – with a new public square at the heart of the development. Plans for Candleriggs Square match Glasgow City Council’s stated desire to bring more people back into the city centre to live, work and visit. Council Leader, Councillor Susan Aitken, attended the hotel’s groundbreaking ceremony in September 2021, and said at the time: “Glasgow needs a city centre that is an attractive place to live, work, study, visit and invest – and the regeneration of Candleriggs Square can play an important role in delivering on all of those aims. We can now look forward to further stages of the development bringing economic and social benefit to the Merchant City’s residents and businesses – and contributing to a wider renewal of the city centre.” For more information on Candleriggs Square, visit www.candleriggs-square.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
