Pizza franchise Papa John’s has opened six new stores in locations across the UK in the past month and aims to keep adding to the momentum as the summer heats up. Swinton in Manchester, Daventry, Market Harborough, Bradford, Brighouse in Yorkshire, and Totton in Hampshire are the latest towns to
Wendy’s is opening five restaurants in the UK, including in London and Reading. American burger restaurant Wendy’s is set to reopen in the UK, two decades after it closed down. The fast food chain is known for its iconic square burgers and is still going strong in the US, but
Proposals for the £50m regeneration of the former Debenhams store on Princes Street, Edinburgh have received unanimous approval at a City of Edinburgh Council planning committee meeting. The proposals, which repurpose 108,000 sq ft of vacant, obsolete retail space, were described as ‘setting the tone’ for the future regeneration of
Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of multi-sector construction and civil engineering projects, has celebrated the topping out of its first hotel project, Hotel La Tour. The luxury hotel which is located at the highest point of central Milton Keynes stands at
Research from national UK estate agent, Keller Williams UK, has found that the demise of the UK’s retail industry has left empty premises with enough space to provide nearly 25,000 homes to a market value of £7.4bn. Keller Williams analysed the potential square footage of thousands of high street stores
IMAGES of an ambitious new development of grade A office space by the former Broadmarsh shopping centre in Nottingham have been revealed for the first time. The development, called New Albion Place, is a joint venture between Peveril Securities and Sladen Estates – the team behind the successful delivery of
Vegan restaurant brand Stem & Glory is moving to new, larger premises at the prestigious CB1 site in central Cambridge, part of the city’s burgeoning new business and cultural quarter. The award-winning plant-based restaurant will take up the ground floor in one of Cambridge’s largest office buildings at 60 Station
SPORTS and leisure specialist GT3 Architects has been named as the architect for a new multi-million-pound leisure centre scheme for Hartlepool Borough Council. The Newcastle and Nottingham-based practice was selected to deliver the design for the new facility, which will be situated by the town’s marina and form a key
Construction work on Colchester Borough Council’s multi-million pound Sports Park, located at Colchester Northern Gateway off junction 28 of the A12 in Colchester, has now completed. The brand-new 76-acre sports and leisure facility features a fully floodlit one-mile closed cycle track, a learn to ride facility and cycle pump track
REVISED plans to create four new retail units on the former Ram Jam Inn site in Greetham, Rutland, were given the green light yesterday (22 December) by Rutland County Council’s planning committee. Godwin Developments, the UK residential and commercial property developer, submitted alternative proposals for the prominent roadside location earlier this year
Pizza franchise Papa John’s has opened six new stores in locations across the UK in the past month and aims to keep adding to the momentum as the summer heats up. Swinton in Manchester, Daventry, Market Harborough, Bradford, Brighouse in Yorkshire, and Totton in Hampshire are the latest towns to join its portfolio. Justin Gilbert, senior operations director at Papa John’s UK, said: “Our goal is to offer Papa John’s in more and more locations across the UK so our valued customers can enjoy their favourite pizza with family and friends, where and when suits them. Despite the challenges of the past year, sales for the new outlets are already strong and it seems we are set for a sizzling summer ahead. “The brand-new stores are all run by different multi-unit franchisees who are hungry to expand their portfolio of sites with our help and support. It’s a team effort to develop these new retail outlets and each new successful opening is the result of close collaboration between our franchisees and dedicated teams responsible for acquisition, construction, planning and marketing.” Mr Gilbert said the chain is expecting to open “multiple” outlets over the next couple of months, too. “As well as launching in high street locations, we are working on innovative initiatives to partner with a range of leading leisure venues, sports stadiums and holiday parks, looking to add a quality food proposition through a leading global brand. “Introducing Papa John’s is the chance to compliment an existing offering and add a further valuable revenue stream. Franchise options are flexible, from investing in a full Papa John’s store which can deliver to both venue visitors plus local community residents, to adding branded mobile delivery units serving customers at several sites on a resort.”
Wendy’s is opening five restaurants in the UK, including in London and Reading. American burger restaurant Wendy’s is set to reopen in the UK, two decades after it closed down. The fast food chain is known for its iconic square burgers and is still going strong in the US, but hasn’t been here since 1999. Just as life is starting to return to normal after the pandemic, the company plans to open up to 400 outlets nationwide. The plans will roll out over the next few years and are expected to create at least 12,000 jobs. And it’s good news for any Wendy’s fans living around Reading, as the first new restaurant will open up in the city next month. Full list of Wendy’s opening in the UK While there are big plans to open hundreds of restaurants up and down the country, these are the only confirmed locations so far: Reading (opened June 2) Stratford (opening in the second half of 2021) Oxford (opening in the second half of 2021) There are also two more restaurants opening in the UK this year, but the locations have not been confirmed. Steven Derwoed, Vice President, Global Design and Construction for Wendy’s, said: “We’re very proud of our restaurant design in Reading, and I’m confident that we’ve built a place that our customers will love to go and our employees will love to work. “The interior has a cool vibe with a focus on natural wood, dark contrasts, comfortable seating and fun art making it feel fresh and current. “Creating a frictionless and convenient experience for our customers is at the heart of our design, whether a customer places their order via mobile before they set foot in the restaurant, at a kiosk once they arrive or at a traditional front counter with one of our friendly team members. “We’ve even incorporated an exterior walk-up window to create speedy access for delivery providers so customers can get their Wendy’s food even faster. We look forward to serving customers soon!” Wendy’s bosses first revealed the firm was returning to the UK in late 2019, with the chain currently running 6,700 outlets across 30 countries.
Proposals for the £50m regeneration of the former Debenhams store on Princes Street, Edinburgh have received unanimous approval at a City of Edinburgh Council planning committee meeting. The proposals, which repurpose 108,000 sq ft of vacant, obsolete retail space, were described as ‘setting the tone’ for the future regeneration of Edinburgh city centre. The redevelopment, spanning three separate listed properties at 109 to 112 Princes Street, creates a new hospitality hub and boutique hotel on the famous street. Plans include a 207-room upscale boutique hotel and publicly accessible restaurant, lounge, spa and rooftop bar. The proposals will create a new pedestrian link between Princes Street and Rose Street and new shopping, dining, hospitality, leisure and public event space. The rooftop bar will look directly on to Princes Street Gardens and Edinburgh Castle. Legal & General is delivering some of the UK’s most strategically important regeneration schemes that are fast transforming and reshaping Britain’s landscape, bringing jobs and services back into the centre of cities and better utilising existing infrastructure. The company’s responsible investment strategy, long-term view and ability to own and operate trading assets, make it uniquely positioned to maximise the Princes Street development’s social, environmental and economic contribution. Bill Hughes, Head of Real Assets for Legal & General Investment Management, said: “The UK needs urban centres that are fit for purpose and support growth. We continue to work hard investing in centres and creatively repurposing real estate to ensure the vitality of urban areas that need to evolve. Our long- term view and operational strategy mean we can adapt and innovate the Princes Street site to harness the full potential of these historic buildings, ensure they support economic growth and bring the widest possible benefit to the city.” Nida Rehman, Senior Development Manager for Legal & General Investment Management, said: “We have worked collaboratively with the City of Edinburgh Council to understand their aspirations for the future of Princes Street and create a financially, environmentally and socially sustainable development. The scheme will provide an exceptional anchor for the community and deliver best-in-class local services to support the post Covid recovery.” The project has ambitions to be one of the most sustainable developments in the city by targeting BREEAM Excellent and a carbon reduction Gold standard. The proposals also ensure the careful preservation of historically significant parts of the buildings, which have been past homes to both the city’s Conservative and Liberal Party Clubs, securing them for the future. The original properties were built in 1869 and the department store was developed in 1978. The scheme’s planning consultant is Montagu Evans, the architect is ICA, project manager is Gardiner & Theobald and townscape and heritage advisor is Turley. Construction work is expected to begin in 2022 with the new boutique hotel scheduled to open in 2024.
Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of multi-sector construction and civil engineering projects, has celebrated the topping out of its first hotel project, Hotel La Tour. The luxury hotel which is located at the highest point of central Milton Keynes stands at 50 metres now the roof has been completed. The roof covering programme is now underway and the Winvic team will be moving on to the floor and ceiling curtain walling, as well as focusing on the extensive glazing on the thirteenth floor where the sky bar, restaurant and public exhibition space will be. Hotel La Tour’s Managing Director Mark Stuart and Operations Director Jane Riley were invited to site along with Will Elsigood from pHp Architects to enjoy the city and park views from the roof of the fourteenth floor. A project progress tour was also provided by Winvic’s Operations Manager Mike Quinn and Project Manager Russell Sullivan which included a visit to the recently completed show bedroom and a close look at stainless steel, mirror finish cladding which the Winvic team started to install in April. Works to the envelope and cladding will continue with the 30m high, LED-lit satin finish stainless steel circle on the eastern façade completing the impressive external design. The ‘sun’ design will be visible up the city’s Midsomer Boulevard, which was created to align with the sun on the longest day of the year. Winvic is currently fitting-out the 261 bedrooms, which has included the sailing and positioning of off-site fabricated bathroom pods. Fit-out of other facilities within the hotel will also continue, such as the 12,000 sq ft flexible conference floor that comprises adaptable meeting spaces and an external terrace that has been designed to be high load bearing. The project is expected to be handed over to Hotel La Tour in July 2022. Mark Jones, Winvic’s Head of Multi-room, commented: “We started on site just two weeks after the first 2020 lockdown was announced and despite the unprecedented challenges, our team have hit milestone after milestone on, or ahead, of schedule. I’d like to say a huge thank you to them. Reaching the highest point of any multi-room project is always worth celebrating, but this is a bit more special as it’s Winvic’s first hotel. “It’s great to be able to welcome Mark and Jane from Hotel La Tour to site to enjoy the fourteenth-floor views and also for them to get a feel for the finished scheme in the fully completed show bedroom. Mark, the city planners and the people of Milton Keynes are already impressed with how the striking, mirrored cladding is looking, so we look forward to the next programme landmark when the façade reaches 50 metres up to the top of the building and boasts the 30-metre contrasting circle, which represents the midsummer sun.” Mark Stuart, Managing Director: “It’s always a pleasure visiting Hotel La Tour and seeing how Winvic have been driving the project at pace – they’ve been doing a good job so far, operating safely and swiftly. The mirrored cladding going up is an impressive spectacle, and the show bedroom provides the quality and luxury our guests will be looking forward to. Standing 50 metres high on the now completed roof has been a momentous milestone and it won’t be long before we’re welcoming members of the public to gaze at the views while enjoying a drink at the bar. For more information on Winvic, the company’s latest project news and job vacancies please visit www.winvic.co.uk. Join Winvic on social media – visit Twitter @WinvicLtd – and LinkedIn.
Research from national UK estate agent, Keller Williams UK, has found that the demise of the UK’s retail industry has left empty premises with enough space to provide nearly 25,000 homes to a market value of £7.4bn. Keller Williams analysed the potential square footage of thousands of high street stores used by 38 big retail brands to have ceased trading, or that are due to close this year. Based on the average square footage of A1 retail space (2,195 sq ft), Keller Williams estimates that these ongoing closures will leave some 19,735,230 square foot of unused retail space across the UK. With the average UK property coming in at just 790 square feet, this redundant retail bricks and mortar could pave the way for a potential 24,981 new homes. With the current average UK new build valued at £297,104, that’s a huge £7.4bn in new homes that could be developed and delivered to the market, providing a considerable boost to stock supply. Perhaps the biggest retail casualty has been Debenhams and their extensive high street presence would account for the vast majority of the new housing stock potential. The former giant of the UK high street has already liquidated 52 stores with the remaining 45 to close by 15th May this year. These 97 stores are thought to occupy 13,628,740 square feet of retail space, enough for 17,252 homes with a current market value of £5.1bn. CEO of Keller Williams UK, Ben Taylor, commented: “It’s been incredibly sad to see the demise of the high street hastened due to the pandemic, with many big names shutting their doors for good having been unable to survive months on end with no customer footfall. Hopefully, as lockdown restrictions continue to ease we will see a resurgence from the retail sector and some of these former premises can once again be used as intended. However, it’s becoming abundantly clear that we simply don’t shop in the same way we used to and so physical retail outlets are likely to remain largely redundant in many high streets up and down the nation. At the same time, we’re seeing a lack of housing stock failing to satisfy the appetites of UK homebuyers, while housebuilders and the government continue to fail year on year in meeting delivery targets. Developing unused retail space into housing could be a great way of repopulating our high streets, if only from a social standpoint, while also delivering some sorely needed housing stock to the market.” Brand Expected, potential & confirmed store closures Estimated available space for conversion to housing (sq ft) Potential number of homes if converted Potential value of new homes Debenhams 97 13,628,740 17,252 £5,125,513,931 Arcadia Group (Burton, Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, Miss Selfridge, Wallis, Evans) 440 965,800 1,223 £363,219,296 Peacocks 423 928,485 1,175 £349,185,824 Poundstretcher 250 548,750 695 £206,374,600 Brighthouse 240 526,800 667 £198,119,616 Bonmarche 226 496,070 628 £186,562,639 Age UK 133 291,935 370 £109,791,287 Paperchase 127 278,765 353 £104,838,297 Oak Furnitureland 105 230,475 292 £86,677,332 Oasis and Warehouse 92 201,940 256 £75,945,853 Jaeger 76 166,820 211 £62,737,878 DW Sports 75 164,625 208 £61,912,380 Laura Ashley 70 153,650 194 £57,784,888 TM Lewin 65 142,675 181 £53,657,396 Edinburgh Wollen Mill and Ponden Mill (EWM Group 64 140,480 178 £52,831,898 Kath Kidston 60 131,700 167 £49,529,904 Oddbins 56 122,920 156 £46,227,910 M&Co 47 103,165 131 £38,798,425 Hearing and Mobility (HHML) 27 59,265 75 £22,288,457 Victoria’s Secret (UK) 25 54,875 69 £20,637,460 Beales 22 48,290 61 £18,160,965 Harveys Furniture 20 43,900 56 £16,509,968 Hawkins Bazaar 20 43,900 56 £16,509,968 Antler 18 39,510 50 £14,858,971 Jessops 17 37,315 47 £14,033,473 Johnson’s Shoes 12 26,340 33 £9,905,981 Peter Jones (China) 10 21,950 28 £8,254,984 Le Pain Quotidien 10 21,950 28 £8,254,984 Norville Group 9 19,755 25 £7,429,486 Soletrader 8 17,560 22 £6,603,987 Oliver Sweeney Trading 7 15,365 19 £5,778,489 J Crew 6 13,170 17 £4,952,990 TJ Hughes outlet division 6 13,170 17 £4,952,990 Aldo (UK) 5 10,975 14 £4,127,492 Brooks Brothers (UK) 4 8,780 11 £3,301,994 The Hummingbird Bakery 3 6,585 8 £2,476,495 Autonomy Clothing 3 6,585 8 £2,476,495 DVF Studio 1 2,195 3 £825,498 All 2879 19,735,230 24,981 £7,422,050,482 Sources Based on store numbers multiplied by average size of A1 retail space at 2,195 sq ft Based on estimated available space divided by the average UK house size of 790 sq ft Based on the number of potential homes multiplied by the current average new build house price of £297,104 Note: Debenhams was the only value not based on the average size of retail due to available date on the total square footage of their stores
IMAGES of an ambitious new development of grade A office space by the former Broadmarsh shopping centre in Nottingham have been revealed for the first time. The development, called New Albion Place, is a joint venture between Peveril Securities and Sladen Estates – the team behind the successful delivery of the new HMRC headquarters in Nottingham – and will be built by Derbyshire-based Bowmer + Kirkland. They plan to transform two acres of land flanked by Canal Street, Collin Street and Greyfriar Gate into top quality office space. The plans will kick-start regeneration in this important part of the city, which is an area currently very much in the spotlight – and a cornerstone of Nottingham’s transformation. Ralph Jones, managing director of Peveril Securities, said: “We are in early discussions with a variety of occupiers for more than 250,000 square feet of space and are very excited to bring forward this development. For many years Nottingham has needed a dedicated central business district to provide much-needed large floor plate ‘Grade A’ office buildings to retain key employers within the city and stimulate inward investment. “We believe that this development will complement the proposed open spaces being considered at Broadmarsh and through the renovation of Hanson House and Richmond House, will retain some of the original heritage of the area. It will add to the ongoing transformation on the Carrington Street link between the station and central Nottingham, which has included the recent refurbishment of the City Buildings, the construction of the new library and car park complex, and the ongoing public realm work on Collin Street.” The developers have acquired the freehold and long leasehold interests in a large proportion of the site, including the old Midland Scooter Centre, Chinese supermarket, Albion House and open car parking. It is anticipated that the 37,167m² (400,000ft²) office space will create up to 5,000 new jobs with a completed investment value of circa £200 million. Sladen and Peveril are in conversations with Nottingham City Council about New Albion Place – which will boost the local economy and help a city in post-COVID recovery. Nick Sladen of Sladen Estates said: “This scheme is a great opportunity for Nottingham to reinvent itself following the pandemic and take advantage of the transformation of the Broadmarsh area – not just for green space and leisure areas, but for much-needed office development that will provide real sustainable growth and inward investment. “Nottingham has an opportunity to totally redefine its city centre. As a locally based national developer, we are committed to helping the city make this work and our willingness to make such a significant investment in the city will kick start the wider regeneration proposals planned by the city. “We have a proven track record throughout the UK and locally, with Unity Square – a building on former derelict land which has secured thousands of jobs for the city – and has put Nottingham on the map as a major employment city.” The developers are aiming to submit a detailed planning application in the autumn, with a view to commencing construction work in 2022. Construction is expected to take 24 months. The appointed letting agent and development adviser for the scheme is FHP Property Consultants. John Proctor of FHP said: “In order for Nottingham to retain its status as the regional capital of the East Midlands, it needs offices of a scale and nature that one finds in other major centres within the UK. “We are privileged to have national developers of the size and stature of Peveril and Sladen, which are locally-based and capable of delivering a scheme of national importance. Their initial speculative intervention and purchase of the former car park and redundant buildings opposite to Nottingham Station led to the successful delivery of the first phase of Unity Square, which will soon be occupied by HMRC. “For Nottingham to achieve its aspirations as a core city of regional significance we need schemes of this size and stature to both retain our existing employers and attract inward investment. The central business district on the south side of the city has now been more than ten years in the making and finally one can see, thanks to Peveril Securities and Sladen Estates, that this objective can now be realised.”
Vegan restaurant brand Stem & Glory is moving to new, larger premises at the prestigious CB1 site in central Cambridge, part of the city’s burgeoning new business and cultural quarter. The award-winning plant-based restaurant will take up the ground floor in one of Cambridge’s largest office buildings at 60 Station Road. The restaurant, which has been designed by world renowned designer, Afroditi Krassa, fronts Station Road, just metres from Cambridge railway station, and has a large outdoor terrace. Supported by a generous landlord package and a capital grant from Cambridge & Peterborough Combined Authority the site will open end May 2021. At this new site Stem & Glory will offer its new vegan pizza concept (currently piloting on the Stem & Glory online store) alongside its healthy and innovative vegan menu, and will also feature breakfast and brunch offerings. The site is built to service both dining and off-site sales, which is a rapidly growing part of the business. “We have been looking for the perfect site in Cambridge for quite a while, after outgrowing our existing Cambridge site soon after opening. We’ve watched the amazing CB1 regeneration project grow over the past few years, and we are really looking forward to joining now that it is nearing its completion. For us, it’s the most exciting quarter in our home town of Cambridge,” said Stem & Glory founder Louise Palmer-Masterton. Stem & Glory will join some of the world’s most successful brands at the mixed use CB1 development, including Microsoft, Apple and Amazon. As well as the restaurant, Stem & Glory will provide a stylish cafe within the office building premises at 60 Station Road, which is also home to WeWork. “We survived and thrived during 2020, and we are looking forward to resuming our expansion plans in 2021 and beyond. We feel very fortunate to have had the amazing support of our customers and our 1200 strong investor community throughout the past year. Opening our doors again last year saw both our sites extremely busy, and we are feeling very optimistic for the rest of this year. With more and more people opting for healthier lifestyles post Covid, we see our expansion as a fantastic opportunity to help people live healthier and more compassionate lives,” added Palmer-Masterton.
SPORTS and leisure specialist GT3 Architects has been named as the architect for a new multi-million-pound leisure centre scheme for Hartlepool Borough Council. The Newcastle and Nottingham-based practice was selected to deliver the design for the new facility, which will be situated by the town’s marina and form a key part of The Waterfront regeneration. The new site – which will replace the town’s existing Mill House Leisure Centre – is set to feature a range of facilities, including three swimming pools – a main, a learner and a recreation pool – a multi-station fitness suite, a flexible space for multi-activities and a refreshments area. As part of the project, GT3 Architects will be undertaking extensive stakeholder and public engagement exercises to help inform their plans and create a design that fully serves the local community. Simon Dunstan, director at GT3 Architects, said: “We’re delighted to be involved. As a local practice it’s great to see the amount of regeneration work and funding happening in the North East – and in Hartlepool particularly. “The Waterfront has been such an exciting project to be involved in over the last few years and we’re excited to take it to the next stage with the introduction of the new leisure centre. This ambitious project will create an exciting new leisure and community destination for the region and support the ongoing regeneration of the town. “We want the new leisure centre to go beyond the standard gym, studio classes and fitness facilities. Our ambition is to create a unique waterfront destination, designed for the people of Hartlepool, with a real focus on health, wellbeing, and inclusivity. The marina setting offers plenty of scope for outdoor fitness, as well as a spectacular backdrop to any indoor activities, so there are lots of opportunities for our design team to work with and be inspired by. “Our engagement work will start early this year, and we’re looking forward to speaking to the local community about their thoughts on the design and identity of the new leisure centre.” This latest project win is the latest of several similar schemes for the practice in the region, including The Sands in nearby Carlisle, and a £21 million leisure centre in Morpeth.” Councillor Shane Moore, the Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, said: “The appointment of a company of the calibre of GT3 Architects to design the new leisure centre is fantastic news. “We look forward to working closely with them to create a state-of-the-art facility that meets the needs and aspirations of local people.” GT3 Architects will be working with Hartlepool Borough Council, Desco, BGP, Summers Inman, Design Fire Consultants and Apex Acoustics to deliver the project. The appointment of GT3 Architects follows national recognition for phase 1 of The Waterfront development, which was recently named as runner-up in the Pedestrian Environment category at the 2020 LocalGov Street Design Awards for the quality of the public walkways created on the site. For further information visit www.gt3architects.com or join the conversation over on Twitter @_GT3Architects
Construction work on Colchester Borough Council’s multi-million pound Sports Park, located at Colchester Northern Gateway off junction 28 of the A12 in Colchester, has now completed. The brand-new 76-acre sports and leisure facility features a fully floodlit one-mile closed cycle track, a learn to ride facility and cycle pump track alongside two latest generation 4G pitches and seven traditional grass rugby pitches. The sports centre building provides a five-court sports hall with facilities for a variety of sports including badminton, futsal and indoor cricket. The building also houses a fully equipped fitness suite, exercise and dance studios, an interactive velo studio, meeting rooms and a café. A stunning new state-of-the-art clubhouse has also been built overlooking the 4G and grass pitches which will become the new home of Colchester Rugby Football Club, whilst an archery range and clubhouse has been constructed to the south of the site which will become home to the Colchester and District Archery Club The whole facility is set within acres of green open spaces where to date over 500 trees and almost 120,000 hedgerow plants, shrubs, perennials and grasses have been planted for people’s future enjoyment, with further extensive planting planned. Colchester Borough Council funded the £28.8 million development which was project managed by Colchester Amphora Trading Ltd. It has been supported by significant funding from groups including British Cycling, Sport England, and from England and Wales Cricket Club. Work was carried out by East Anglia’s leading construction firm, R G Carter, who have now handed over the development to Colchester Borough Council. James Wilson, Director at R G Carter, said: “It has been a pleasure to work with Colchester Amphora on a forward-thinking and unique project. Supporting the borough’s vision for providing the local community with a first-class sports hub, this new facility will encourage sport participation for many years to come.” Cllr Mark Cory, Leader of Colchester Borough Council said: “The completion of this inspiring facility marks a huge milestone towards our vision to give all of our residents new and wide-ranging opportunities to play sport, be healthy and enjoy our outdoor spaces. Importantly for me, the Sports Park will be accessible for all, offering activities for all abilities and those with disabilities. “My thanks to R G Carter for their expertise and commitment to deliver this project in what has been a challenging year. The result is an exceptional Sports Park that will enable people both locally and from across the wider region to get involved, get active and make the most of the remarkable facilities Colchester can offer. When things return to normal after Covid, this will be a facility Colchester can be proud of.” Property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Perfect Circle was appointed by Colchester Borough Council to provide a full suite of consultancy services for the complex, including project management and cost management. The delivery partners were procured through SCAPE consultancy which facilitated a direct award framework designed to drive collaboration, efficiency, time and cost savings. Galvin Tarling, regional partner for the East of England at Perfect Circle, said: “We are delighted to have been involved in Colchester’s Northern Gateway Sports Park, a project that will enrich the community it serves, provide a focal point for the local area, and offer a sustainable first-class social and leisure facility for all to enjoy for decades to come. “We provided more than 20 service elements under a single delivery agreement – speeding up the procurement process and offering an efficient and cost-effective route to market for Colchester Borough Council’s complex, community-focused new facility. Engaging Perfect Circle via SCAPE also gave the council access to our extensive supply chain. “Due to the council utilising Perfect Circle’s unique delivery model via SCAPE, together with the whole delivery team showing a true belief in collaboration, the project exceeded all expectations in providing a lasting legacy for the local community and Colchester Rugby Club.” Mark Robinson, group chief executive of SCAPE, added: “Delivering impactful and lasting social value is central to the government’s plans to build back better, faster and greener, and projects like this new state-of-the-art sports park typifies what needs to be delivered to achieve those plans. “Together, R G Carter, Perfect Circle and Colchester Borough Council have delivered a facility that will continue to enrich the community now and long into the future, creating lasting value for future generations.” The new sports and leisure park, part of the wider Colchester Northern Gateway development, is due to open in Spring 2021 under the operation of Leisure World Colchester. Anyone interested in finding out more about hiring the new sport facilities, can complete an expression of interest form by visiting colchesterleisureworld.co.uk/northerngatewaysportspark.
REVISED plans to create four new retail units on the former Ram Jam Inn site in Greetham, Rutland, were given the green light yesterday (22 December) by Rutland County Council’s planning committee. Godwin Developments, the UK residential and commercial property developer, submitted alternative proposals for the prominent roadside location earlier this year after designs were revised to incorporate feedback from local stakeholders and be more in keeping with the character of the area. Following on from last month’s deferral, the development secured go-ahead after two-way vehicle access plan for the site – from the A1 and B668 – was voted in by councillors during yesterday’s meeting. The scheme, which consists of two new drive-thru units, two drive-to units and 72 car parking spaces – including five disabled spaces – will see the currently disused land regenerated for roadside retail use, benefitting both commuters and local residents. The 1.67-acre site is located off the A1, the main arterial route between Peterborough and Grantham, and when complete would be accessed by both north- and southbound traffic as well as the local community. Matt Chandler, development director at Godwin Developments, said: ‘We are delighted to have secured planning permission for the site of the former Ram Jam Inn – our new plans will breathe life back into this historically significant roadside location, which has been vacant for seven years. “The development will benefit both commuters and local residents and will enhance the retail offer within the region, delivering choice and convenience. With limited roadside offerings within the area, it is also ideally positioned for retail brands to capture the 25,000 commuters travelling past this busy location.” Matt added: “We would like to thank residents who actively engaged with us to offer both positive and constructive feedback. By working closely with them, Nicol Thomas architects, Rutland County Council and key stakeholders from the community, we have put forward a scheme that is in keeping with the local vernacular. “Our thanks also go to Rutland County Council’s planning committee and all statutory consultees who worked closely with us to create a scheme that enabled the planning approval gained today.” The available units on site, which range from 754 sq. ft. to 4,500 sq. ft. in size, will be marketed by commercial property agents Rapleys in conjunction with property consultants FHP. The Greetham site is the latest project in the Godwin Developments portfolio which already contains a diverse range of commercial, residential, and mixed-use property assets in key regional locations. These include Godwin’s recent completion of a Lidl supermarket in Birmingham, and an investment sale deal in Rushden, Northamptonshire. The development will support the creation of up to a number of temporary jobs within the construction phase and permanent roles also once the development is complete and fully occupied. For further information on Godwin Developments visit https://www.godwingroup.co.uk/.
