Plans have been submitted for the regeneration of Baltic Wharf in Totnes. The application for a new vision is to create a bespoke, high quality and sustainable mixed-use development, including improving the existing boatyard facilities, has been submitted by Baltic Wharf Developments Ltd – a joint venture between Acorn Property
Over £12 million has been secured for a new mixed use regeneration scheme in Coventry. An additional £12.24 million has been approved by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to unlock a ‘strategically important’ housing development. The money will be used to unlock the Coventry City Centre South scheme, and
RED Construction Group, the specialist main contractor, has announced that its London team has completed comprehensive refurbishment works at Hines’ £36.6m flagship mixed-use retail and office scheme at 80 New Bond Street, in the heart of London’s West End. Working alongside award-winning architecture firm Orms, RED Construction London developed 37,414
Wexford County Council has appointed Ayesa as the Design consultant for the Trinity Wharf project in Wexford Town. The project, with an estimated total investment of €120 million, including €24 million of public investment, is slated to commence construction works in the fourth quarter of 2024. The Trinity Wharf project,
Mission Street and BGO have secured resolution to grant planning permission from Oxford City Council for Phase 2 of their development in the West End of Oxford, known as Fabrica. Part of Mission Street’s joint venture with BGO, the new-build scheme will provide 180,000 sq ft of prime innovation real
SOCIAL impact developers Capital&Centric are set to lead on a vision to turn a sprawling brownfield site in Wolverhampton into a creative new neighbourhood. A report – to be considered by City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet next week – recommends Capital&Centric are appointed as part of a pre-development agreement for
Developer Capital & Centric is set to transform a brownfield site in Wolverhampton into a creative new neighbourhood. A report – to be considered by City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet next week – recommends Capital & Centric are appointed as part of a pre-development agreement for the former Sainsbury’s supermarket
THE bioscience phase of The Island Quarter is one of just a handful of projects from the Midlands being showcased as part of the government’s Global Investment Summit held on Monday at Hampton Court Palace. The 51,000m2 Discovery Park on the 36-acre Nottingham site is set to feature as one
Salboy Group, the nationwide property development and funding company, has started a public consultation process, in conjunction with DOMIS, its dedicated construction partner, for revised plans for the next phase of its Viadux scheme in central Manchester. Refreshed designs for Phase Two – images of which are available to download
FLEET STREET QUARTER’S ERA OF CHANGE A radical new place-making and public realm vision has today been revealed by the Fleet Street Quarter BID, representing over 350 businesses across a 43 hectare footprint of the western part of the City. The proposed strategy could be the biggest transformation that this
Plans have been submitted for the regeneration of Baltic Wharf in Totnes. The application for a new vision is to create a bespoke, high quality and sustainable mixed-use development, including improving the existing boatyard facilities, has been submitted by Baltic Wharf Developments Ltd – a joint venture between Acorn Property Group and TQ9 Partnership LLP. Across a nine-hectare site at the southern end of the town of Totnes, the scheme – coined ‘Riverside at Baltic Wharf’ – will secure the future and ongoing viability of the boatyard, offer the potential for a major employment boost to the town and deliver much needed homes and care home. The scheme updates an extant planning permission from 2012 and builds on the first phase of development of 95 homes delivered by Bloor Homes in 2013. The updating from the original permission was required to replace the Retirement Village, which has proved impossible to deliver for over ten years, with a Care Home and respond to increased flood risk requirements with a raised walkway through the site. The delivery of the residential units will help to future-proof the boatyard by funding the new boatyard facilities and marine business space. In addition, Acorn will also provide a 25-year lease for the boatyard to ensure a sustainable and viable long-term future. The application has potential for significant uplift in employment and economic benefits from the site. It is estimated that the scheme will create around 350 full-time jobs with purpose-built employment areas in the boatyard, the care home, and office and café/restaurant facilities. In addition to providing 194 new homes, 31 of which are anticipated to be classed as affordable in the first phase, a 55-bed care home is included in the application, in line with the previous consented scheme and allocation. The number of dwellings is similar to the numbers in outline application with residential dwellings replacing the retirement village dwellings. This is in line with the Local Plan which was wholly based on the approved outline scheme. Sustainability sits at the heart of the application for the redevelopment of this underutilised brownfield site. This is due to the proximity to the town as well as measures including a ‘fabric first’ policy, electricity replacing gas and a transport policy promoting alternative transport measures and limiting the number of cars and also including solar panels and EV charging points. Ed Lewis, regional director at Acorn Property Group and on behalf of Baltic Wharf Developments Ltd, commented: “Since we began preparing the proposals for this application in 2020, we have undertaken a significant consultation programme with the District and Local Council, other stakeholder organisations and with the public. “We have listened to the thoughts and views of local people and considered the future needs of the town. As a result, we believe this application sets out a scheme which meets these needs, delivers a viable regeneration project compatible with the Local Plan. “We believe that this scheme sets out a positive vision for the future, for the local people and local businesses. Crucially, it will help to secure a sustainable future for the boatyard, an important local employment site in need of modernisation and regeneration.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Over £12 million has been secured for a new mixed use regeneration scheme in Coventry. An additional £12.24 million has been approved by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to unlock a ‘strategically important’ housing development. The money will be used to unlock the Coventry City Centre South scheme, and help transform outdated areas of the city, including Bull Yard, Shelton Square, City Arcade, and Hertford Street. It brings the WMCA’s total funding for City Centre South to £113 million – the biggest investment the combined authority has made to date into a single regeneration scheme. Coventry City Council is contributing £32 million. The development, which covers 6.3 hectares of land within the city centre, includes 1,575 new homes. Of the 1,575 homes, at least 20% will be classified as affordable housing. New retail and leisure spaces, a community health centre and potential for a hotel with 150 rooms in the second phase also make up the regeneration plans. The project, considered a strategically important housing scheme, will start in 2024 and complete in stages, with the first homes expected to be occupied from 2027. The first phase completion is expected to be 2031. Developers The Hill Group and Shearer Property Group are working in partnership with Coventry City Council and the WMCA as the developers for the regeneration project. City Centre South has long been an aspiration of Coventry City Council with the project seen as a ‘strategic priority’ for the WMCA. The project was first conceived in 2015, with the development receiving planning approval from Coventry City Council in January 2022. A further detailed planning consent is anticipated by Spring 2024. The additional £12.24 million is needed due to increased costs resulting from the revised Government Building Regulations and Building Safety Act. The project has previously benefited from a commitment to provide £98.75 million from the WMCA, with £21 million drawn to date which has been used to acquire existing properties, undertake initial demolition work, and fund planning costs. The WMCA has already invested £39.4 million in the regeneration of Coventry railway station and £51.2 million into Friargate, one of the largest mixed-use developments in the Midlands. Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and Chair of the WMCA, said: “This is an exciting time for Coventry as this brownfield redevelopment represents a landmark investment and significant regeneration opportunity – the likes of which this city has not seen for decades. “The City Centre South scheme is proof that the Deeper Devolution Deal – agreed with Government in March 2023 – is delivering results on the ground by empowering us with the autonomy to align with the local needs of Coventry residents with new apartments and office spaces. “It’s great to see a vibrant new district come to life in this historic part of the city and I’m looking forward to visiting it once completed.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
RED Construction Group, the specialist main contractor, has announced that its London team has completed comprehensive refurbishment works at Hines’ £36.6m flagship mixed-use retail and office scheme at 80 New Bond Street, in the heart of London’s West End. Working alongside award-winning architecture firm Orms, RED Construction London developed 37,414 sq ft of existing office and retail space with dual frontage to both 80 New Bond Street and 325 Oxford Street. Targeting a BREEAM Outstanding rating with a BIM Level 2, 80 New Bond Street’s structural alterations featured a complete renovation of internal steelwork, with an innovative pre-cast concrete lift core, glass-reinforced concrete façade panels, and pre-cast feature columns inserted between the ground and first floor. The team carried out the part demolition and removal of the existing lift core structure, with three additional floors added to the building, totalling eight floors to a Category A fit-out, with two retail units created on the ground and first floors, spanning 6,000 sq ft. The scheme has created a total office area of 31,000 sq ft, with floorplates ranging from 3,000 to 6,500 sq ft, and a large communal roof terrace. The office entrance has been repositioned onto Dering Street, incorporating a dedicated, spacious reception area. Dave Osborne, Group Operations Director at RED Construction London, commented: “We are extremely proud of the calibre of the 80 New Bond Street project and have enjoyed working with Hines, Orms and the full development team on such a unique London site. 80 New Bond Street now serves as another example of RED’s capability with considered regeneration works in the heart of the city and we are pleased to add yet another outstanding inner-city mixed-use development to our portfolio.” The news follows RED Construction Group’s appointment to deliver the £31m redevelopment of 55 Pall Mall, to be carried out by its dedicated London team. RED Construction London will oversee the creation of a new office development located on Pall Mall in St James’s, London, spanning a Net Internal Area of 3,271 sq m, comprising of basement, ground, and seven storeys, with terraces at fifth, sixth and seventh-floor levels. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Wexford County Council has appointed Ayesa as the Design consultant for the Trinity Wharf project in Wexford Town. The project, with an estimated total investment of €120 million, including €24 million of public investment, is slated to commence construction works in the fourth quarter of 2024. The Trinity Wharf project, spanning 10 acres, is a vital element of Wexford County Council’s strategy to attract foreign direct investment and generate high-quality employment opportunities. The initiative is funded under ‘Call 2’ of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), aimed at enhancing urban areas to make them more appealing for residents, businesses, and investors. This multi-use development includes modern office spaces, hotel accommodations, a multi-story car park, a cultural and events building, residential units, a new marina, and a boardwalk connecting Trinity Wharf to Paul Quay and the Crescent. The project is integral to the long-term regeneration and enhancement of Wexford town and environs. Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, councillor John Flemming commented: “The appointment of Ayesa marks a significant milestone in Wexford’s economic development. Today’s announcement signals a crucial step forward in delivering this project for the people of Wexford and beyond,” Luke O’Connor, Design & Build Lead for Ayesa, commented on the appointment: “Ayesa, with our delivery partners, is delighted to play a crucial role in the regenerative project for Wexford town. Our involvement aims to craft a sustainable legacy for businesses, the town, and its citizens,” “With works set to commence on site by Q4 2024, the Trinity Wharf project is a major multi-use development that will greatly enhance the quality of life for people in Wexford,” said Mayor of Wexford, Councillor John Hegarty. “This is a rare opportunity to transform an under-utilised brownfield site and bring renewal to a historic part of Wexford Town deserving of a new lease of life.” Tom Enright, Chief Executive of Wexford County Council, characterised Trinity Wharf as one of the most exciting and ambitious economic development projects in the county. “Trinity Wharf is a prime example of how the local authority has integrated a diverse set of economic, social, and recreational needs into a generational opportunity,” he said. Ayesa’s strength lies in its multidisciplinary expertise across waste management, geotechnical engineering, marine and coastal engineering, and civil engineering. These diverse disciplines will aim to collaboratively contribute to the development’s success by ensuring that the design not only meets regulatory requirements but also aligns with sustainable practices. Ayesa’s holistic and integrated approach demonstrates its commitment to overcoming challenges and crafting a resilient design that respects both the historical significance and ecological sensitivity of the site. To find out more about Ayesa’s award-winning water engineering work click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Mission Street and BGO have secured resolution to grant planning permission from Oxford City Council for Phase 2 of their development in the West End of Oxford, known as Fabrica. Part of Mission Street’s joint venture with BGO, the new-build scheme will provide 180,000 sq ft of prime innovation real estate within a 10 minute walk from Oxford station and city centre. Designed by global architecture firm NBBJ, Fabrica has been designed to provide full flexibility of wet labs and offices across 5 floors in what will be a next-generation commercial sciences building. The planning success comes in the same week as Practical Completion of Mission Street/ BGO’s Inventa building which provides 65,000 sq ft of lab, office and collaboration space. The scheme provides large lateral floor plates separated by two “high-street” atriums serving providing 8,000 sq ft of collaboration and breakout space for occupiers Inventa and Fabrica will provide the first commercial science schemes in the West End, Oxford’s central science district which is set to be transformed over the short and medium term in response to a shifting trend towards more sustainable, easily accessible urban science locations. Over 2 million sq ft of commercial and University science buildings have been identified within the West End pipeline with Nuffield College and Oxford City Council’s Oxpens scheme awaiting determination. As part of a joint venture BGO and Mission Street are delivering over 1.5 million of lab and office space in key strategic UK locations, including the “ Golden Triangle” of Oxford, Cambridge and London. CBRE and Bidwells are advising on the leasing. Artem Korolev, CEO of Mission Street, said: “The decision to grant planning permission for Fabrica is a significant statement for the city of Oxford and for the Mission Street-BGO joint venture. This is the largest commercial Sciences scheme to gain consent in central Oxford and recognises the growing trend towards urban Science. The benefits for future occupiers are clear – proximity to Oxford train station and the city centre provides access to wider talent pools, ability to adopt sustainable travel methods, access to the amenities and cultural offerings of the city centre as well as the key anchors including the University. We’re extremely excited to be at the forefront of this transformation of the West End.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
SOCIAL impact developers Capital&Centric are set to lead on a vision to turn a sprawling brownfield site in Wolverhampton into a creative new neighbourhood. A report – to be considered by City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet next week – recommends Capital&Centric are appointed as part of a pre-development agreement for the former Sainsbury’s supermarket site, to bring the neighbourhood forward. The first step will be to develop a masterplan for the 5-acre St George’s site, with early ideas for a melting pot of homes, community spaces and green streets, with the Grade II listed church repurposed as a community centrepiece. Shops, workspaces and café bars would complete the line-up, adding a vibrant new quarter to Wolverhampton’s city centre, with links to the £61million City Learning Quarter set to open in 2025. If appointed, the developers will work up a detailed vision as to how the strategic site could become a destination district for the people of Wolverhampton, with the potential for over 400 homes. The next stage would then be to consult the community prior to the submission of a planning application. Established in Manchester, Capital&Centric have gone on to deliver on award-winning regeneration projects across the UK, from homes and workspaces, to hotels and leisure destinations. They’ve earned an enviable reputation for their offbeat design, with many of their projects featuring a striking blend of restoration of historic buildings alongside contemporary new builds. Having delivered standout neighbourhoods in Manchester city centre – including Kampus and Piccadilly East – they’re now ploughing on with transformational mixed use communities in spots including Stockport, Sheffield, Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme. Everything they do is geared toward delivering social impact through regeneration, whether creating communities of independent businesses, creating skilled new jobs or inspiring young people into careers in regeneration through the not-for-profit ‘Regeneration Brainery’ they established. John Moffat, Joint Managing Director at Capital&Centric, said: “St George’s is a worthy headliner among the line-up of major opportunities in Wolverhampton and fits perfectly with what we’re about … delivering eclectic neighbourhoods that mix the old and new. It has bags of potential and we’re already brimming with ideas of how we could deliver new city centre homes alongside community hangout spaces and loads of much-needed greenery. We can’t wait to write the next chapter for the stunning St George’s church, creating a new centrepiece around which the community will revolve.” St George’s was one of a trio of development opportunities featured in the Wolverhampton Investment Prospectus, launched by the Council at MIPIM earlier this year. The prospectus was aimed at bringing the private and public sector together to unlock growth in the city, delivering more homes, jobs and investment. City of Wolverhampton Council Leader, Councillor Stephen Simkins, said: “Ambitious plans and investment as part of a wider strategy are driving the regeneration of our city centre, The Halls Wolverhampton, our award-winning £150million transport interchange and Grade-A office developments are testament to that. “The St George’s opportunity sits at the heart of this, well connected to commercial and leisure hubs, which is a priority as we transform our city centre to generate jobs, homes and growth. “If the recommendations are approved by Cabinet it will enable the council to develop an outline business case that will establish this site as a new gateway into the city centre. “St George’s can provide an inclusive, safe and sustainable new quarter that will generate new opportunities and jobs, bring underutilised assets back into community use and, importantly, deliver much needed new homes in Wolverhampton city centre, which will bring wider social and economic benefits.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Developer Capital & Centric is set to transform a brownfield site in Wolverhampton into a creative new neighbourhood. A report – to be considered by City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet next week – recommends Capital & Centric are appointed as part of a pre-development agreement for the former Sainsbury’s supermarket site, to bring the neighbourhood forward. The first step will be to develop a masterplan for the 5 acre St George’s site, with early ideas for a melting pot of homes, community spaces and green streets, with the Grade II listed church repurposed as a community centrepiece. Shops, workspaces and café bars would complete the line up, adding a vibrant new quarter to Wolverhampton’s city centre, with links to the £61 million City Learning Quarter set to open in 2025. If appointed, the developers will work up a detailed vision as to how the strategic site could become a destination district for the people of Wolverhampton, with the potential for over 400 homes. The next stage would then be to consult the community prior to the submission of a planning application. Established in Manchester, Capital & Centric have gone on to deliver on award winning regeneration projects across the UK, from homes and workspaces, to hotels and leisure destinations. They’ve earned an enviable reputation for their offbeat design, with many of their projects featuring a striking blend of restoration of historic buildings alongside contemporary new builds. Having delivered standout neighbourhoods in Manchester city centre – including Kampus and Piccadilly East – they’re now ploughing on with transformational mixed use communities in spots including Stockport, Sheffield, Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme. Everything they do is geared toward delivering social impact through regeneration, whether creating communities of independent businesses, creating skilled new jobs or inspiring young people into careers in regeneration through the not for profit ‘Regeneration Brainery’ they established. City of Wolverhampton Council Leader, Councillor Stephen Simkins, said: “Ambitious plans and investment as part of a wider strategy are driving the regeneration of our city centre, The Halls Wolverhampton, our award winning £150 million transport interchange and Grade A office developments are testament to that. “The St George’s opportunity sits at the heart of this, well connected to commercial and leisure hubs, which is a priority as we transform our city centre to generate jobs, homes and growth. “If the recommendations are approved by Cabinet it will enable the council to develop an outline business case that will establish this site as a new gateway into the city centre. “St George’s can provide an inclusive, safe and sustainable new quarter that will generate new opportunities and jobs, bring underutilised assets back into community use and, importantly, deliver much needed new homes in Wolverhampton city centre, which will bring wider social and economic benefits.” John Moffat, Joint Managing Director at Capital & Centric, said: “St George’s is a worthy headliner among the line up of major opportunities in Wolverhampton and fits perfectly with what we’re about … delivering eclectic neighbourhoods that mix the old and new. It has bags of potential and we’re already brimming with ideas of how we could deliver new city centre homes alongside community hangout spaces and loads of much needed greenery. We can’t wait to write the next chapter for the stunning St George’s church, creating a new centrepiece around which the community will revolve.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
THE bioscience phase of The Island Quarter is one of just a handful of projects from the Midlands being showcased as part of the government’s Global Investment Summit held on Monday at Hampton Court Palace. The 51,000m2 Discovery Park on the 36-acre Nottingham site is set to feature as one of the Midlands Engine’s flagship projects at the event, which will be attended by the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and more than 200 global CEOs. The landmark event will see the launch of the Universities as Drivers of Trade and Investment pilot, which has been developed by Midlands Innovation and Midlands Engine Universities (MEU). As part of the launch, the Discovery Park at The Island Quarter will be highlighted as a key hub for innovation and growth, with the aim of attracting foreign direct investment to the region. The Conygar Investment Company received detailed planning consent for the first phase of the Discovery Park in June 2023, with the second phase currently in design stage. When complete, the first phase will provide high quality, flexible research and laboratory space, further enhancing the city’s reputation as the bioscience capital of the UK. With more than 200 bioscience businesses in the city already, the proposed facility will act as an incubator for new and growing companies, in what is a strategically important sector within Nottingham. Christopher Ware, property director at The Conygar Investment Company PLC, said: “The Global Investment Summit is a brilliant place to showcase the opportunities at The Island Quarter, particularly those in the field of biosciences. Nottingham has long been a leading light in terms of science and discovery, be that the invention of the MRI scanner or the creation of ibuprofen, and the Discovery Park that forms part of the wider development at The Island Quarter is a logical next step in that journey of innovation.” Roger Mendonca, chief executive of Midlands Engine, said: “Investment in The Island Quarter’s Discovery Park clearly demonstrates the leading role the biosciences sector plays in the Midlands, as well as the power of collaboration between local and regional partners.” Having been given outline planning permission in 2019, The Island Quarter has regenerated a significant area of brownfield land in Nottingham city centre, and is now home to bars and restaurants, as well as a student living scheme set to open in 2024. Christopher said: “With the first phase having already been granted planning consent and more to come as part of the regeneration of the wider area, The Island Quarter provides unrivalled opportunities – not just with the bioscience space, but also with places for workers to live and spend quality time. “This latest step is just a part of the momentum building on site, and we’re excited to continue bringing forward a scheme that will be transformational not just for Nottingham, but for the region as a whole.” For more information on The Island Quarter, visit theislandquarter.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Salboy Group, the nationwide property development and funding company, has started a public consultation process, in conjunction with DOMIS, its dedicated construction partner, for revised plans for the next phase of its Viadux scheme in central Manchester. Refreshed designs for Phase Two – images of which are available to download below – would see the construction of two new towers: As part of the second phase of development, there will be around 780 apartments in a 76-storey building, delivering exclusive city-centre living space for domestic and international buyers. The architecturally ambitious building will be elevated above ground with its foundations built under a retained Victorian archway. A second building will stand at 23-storeys tall creating around 130 brand new affordable homes in a hugely well-connected and desirable part of Manchester. The properties are likely to be available to occupants on a range of tenure types that could include shared ownership and affordable rental. At the base of the towers, commercial and public realm space will be created to compliment a world-class, mixed-use neighbourhood that will help to meet growing demand for city centre living while bringing economic and environmental benefits to the area. In plans first drawn up in 2017, Phase Two of the Viadux scheme had been expected to comprise 240,000 sq ft of Grade A office space. The new plans, designed by the same architects, SimpsonHaugh, respond to updated market dynamics, including exceptionally strong demand for high quality living space to continue to support the growth of Manchester city centre’s residential population. If approved, these plans will see the final Viadux scheme create over 900 new homes across a very wide range of price points and tenure types in a development that will shape the Manchester skyline for years to come. Simon Ismail, Co-Founder & Managing Director of Salboy, comments: “City centres throughout the UK are facing the same falling demand for office space, but in Manchester that decline is being hugely outweighed by the ever-growing demand for high quality homes. When you are developing schemes like Viadux that will take years to come to fruition, being tenacious and adaptable is critical for success. “We are excited to reveal new plans that will complete the Viadux masterplan and deliver a neighbourhood of high quality, design-led homes that meet Manchester’s substantial need for accommodation at a range of price points and tenure types. Viadux Phase Two will deliver on that demand, while at the same time bringing to the Manchester cityscape a crowning feature that offers panoramic views of a city rich in heritage and sympathetic regeneration.” Construction of Phase One, which comprises a 40-storey tower of 364 apartments, began in 2020 and is well underway with practical completion on course for Q2 2024. By November 2023, more than 95% of Phase One properties had been sold or reserved. Proposals for the enlarged residential scheme are now out for consultation until Friday 22 December 2023. A public consultation event will be held at 53two on Watson Street M3 4LP on Monday 4 December 2023 between 4pm and 7pm. Further to feedback, submission of a planning application is expected to follow in early 2024. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
FLEET STREET QUARTER’S ERA OF CHANGE A radical new place-making and public realm vision has today been revealed by the Fleet Street Quarter BID, representing over 350 businesses across a 43 hectare footprint of the western part of the City. The proposed strategy could be the biggest transformation that this part of the City has seen since Bazalgette Embankment 150 years ago. This estimated £80 million strategic vision could see the public realm transform over the next decade to meet increasing demands from businesses, occupiers, residents, and visitors. An investment which would mirror the area’s extensive development pipeline totalling £5 billion, which includes ground-breaking schemes including the City of London’s new Justice Quarter at Salisbury Square. The proposed vision seeks to maximise the potential for Fleet Street in line with the area’s new designation in the City of London’s ‘Local Plan’ as a Key Area of Change. For 2000 years, the Fleet Street Quarter area has shown an extraordinary capacity for re-invention, with this next period of evolution set to be the most radical yet. The proposed 10 year public realm vision identifies 34 public realm opportunities that could be seen across the 43 hectare area. The Fleet Street Quarter BID commissioned global architecture, design, and planning firm Gensler, Norman Rourke Pryme and UP Projects to develop this new vision for the area, in consultation with the City of London and other key stakeholders and businesses. The strategy titled ‘Fleet Street Quarter’s Era of Change’, was launched today at an event to over 100 business and stakeholders from across the Fleet Street Quarter area. A key commitment in its BID Proposal, the proposed vision aims to deliver an attractive and sustainable community for workers, visitors and residents, supporting local business growth in the area over the next ten years. The 34 identified opportunities will result in improvements to reconnect the area, enhance movement and walkability, address issues of legibility, and provide green spaces and amenities for people to enjoy. The ambitious vision targets a more unified and improved experience for the Fleet Street Quarter area. The Fleet Street Quarter Era of Change vision highlights the following improvements: The proposed public realm vision is intended to support the re-positioning of the Fleet Street Quarter area as a key contributor to the City of London’s economy. Green shoots are already emerging in the Fleet Street Quarter area, as it looks to develop its support of the local economy. Since 2018, the total number of jobs in the area has grown by 5.9%, with GVA per worker increasing by 13% in the same period. The Fleet Street Quarter Era of Change Strategy targets an improved experience for retail and leisure, discovery and work, a blend identified by Gensler’s recent City Pulse Index Findings as criteria for a great Central Business District (CBD) experience. The proposed widening of the pavements on Fleet Street and the Holborn Forest scheme would improve the streetscape and offer green spaces where residents and visitors can relax in nature – both key physical improvements desired by respondents in the City Pulse Index Findings. This ambition to re-invigorate this area and transform it into a thriving retail and leisure destination is further amplified in the City of London’s City Plan, where it highlights the need for the creation of more distinct retail and leisure mix, using heritage assets, meanwhile uses and development opportunities to enliven the area and create more continuous active frontages. The first design ideas were revealed today and are subject to further development and consultation with City of London Corporation, Transport for London and key stakeholders and businesses in the area. Key locations for hero opportunities: Fleet Street – Major transformation project to widen the pedestrian footpath, plant new trees and introduce new greening and seating. Holborn Circus – Creating an urban forest and increased public accessibility. Providing pop-up facilities and introducing art installations. Increase the variety of seating areas for workers, visitors and local residents to enjoy. Holborn Viaduct – Creating a new gateway to the area from Farringdon Station and the new Museum of London with the creation of art installations and an infographic that celebrates the history of the Fleet River. Ludgate Circus – Improving pedestrian accessibility across Ludgate Circus through the introduction of a diagonal crossing and widened footpaths. Enhancement to pedestrian experience by creating new seating, planting new greenery and improve wayfinding. Blackfriars Gateway – Transforming the existing underpass and traffic islands to allow for additional planting, seating and introducing art installations to improve the gateway experience Following the adoption by the Fleet Street Quarter BID and its members, the strategy will also be used to start discussions and facilitate decision making with stakeholders in the area including City of London, Transport for London, developers, businesses, residents, institutions, and community groups. Improved public realm will support the local economy by creating opportunities for events, markets and cultural activities, drawing visitors to the area. The activation of the Fleet Street Quarter area’s alleys, squares and public spaces is already underway. Through an activated programme of seasonal marketing campaigns including an area wide lighting scheme for Christmas due to launch this year to animate the spaces and attract new audiences to the area. The overall mission of the ‘Fleet Street Quarter Era of Change’ strategy is to develop a vision and framework to support the development pipeline over the next decade To drive further growth in the area the City of London in its new ‘Local Plan’ identifies the area as a Key Area of Change and the Fleet Valley as an area for tall buildings. The report runs alongside the City of London’s draft Fleet Street Healthy Streets Plan, which maps out an integrated approach to improving the public realm and managing traffic and to support the delivery of the City of London’s new Transport Strategy outcomes in the area. In collaboration with VuCity, the Fleet Street Quarter BID also unveiled 3D modelling showcasing how buildings, street furniture and roads could develop
