An acoustic attenuation solution provided by Sto has helped create a new acoustic environment at a leading London restaurant. The StoSilent Distance system has been installed at Lyle’s – a restaurant that is quickly becoming recognized as one of most prestigious establishments of its kind in the capital. Located in
Biggin Hill War Memorial Museum in London has opened its doors to the public, with spitfire aircraft and previously unpublished photos of World War 2 pilots and Winston Churchill being available for at the public display. The museum aims to creating an environment where people can learn about the Battle of
A £15 million contract to deliver the new Central Library and Museum in Doncaster has been secured by Willmott Dixon. The project, designed by architect Bond Ryan, involves the transformation of four existing buildings into a cultural and learning centre that includes a new library, rail heritage centre, art gallery
When the Cheltenham Festival begins each year, hundreds of thousands of people flock to the town of Cheltenham and, in particular, the racecourse, to catch a glimpse of what could be the next big name in horse racing. Each year jockeys and trainers battle to become the best in the
A new housing development in Edenbridge is set to throw open its showhome’s doors to home-hunters in the area. The Aldwych showhome at Bellway’s Oakley Park development, off St Johns Way, is being unveiled to the public on Saturday, February 2. This outstanding four-bedroom property will showcase all that’s best
Master developer Nakheel has started constructing the rooftop infinity swimming pool at The Palm Tower, its 52-storey, luxury hotel and residential complex at the heart of Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. Perched 210 metres above ground and covering 775 square metres, the infinity pool – one of the highest in the
Around £7 million of funding is to go to three culture and tourism projects in Yorkshire. £6.9 million have been confirmed by Sheffield City Region to go towards Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Gullivers World and Vulcan to the Sky, which will also see almost 500 new jobs created. The funding for
Premier Inn has been announced by Rockwell Property as the occupier of a new 400-bedroom hotel in Westferry, East London. Whitbread, Premier Inn’s parent company, will take a 30-year lease of the hotel and restaurant within the 30-storey mixed-use scheme which is at the gateway to Canary Wharf, next to
Two-thirds (66%) of property professionals in the UK believe former retail premises could be the biggest untapped resource for new residential development, according to a survey by MRI Software, a global leader in real estate software solutions. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of those surveyed see residential redevelopment of sites previously used by
Bicester Heritage’s ambition to become the number one leisure destination for automotive fans has moved into pole position with the granting of planning permission for a new hotel, designed by award-winning hotel architects and interior designers Dexter Moren Associates. Situated on a former RAF base in the heart of Motorsport
An acoustic attenuation solution provided by Sto has helped create a new acoustic environment at a leading London restaurant. The StoSilent Distance system has been installed at Lyle’s – a restaurant that is quickly becoming recognized as one of most prestigious establishments of its kind in the capital. Located in the historic refurbished Tea Building in Shoreditch, Lyle’s frontage consists of original individual glazed windows, which lead into a clean modern, large open plan area. Within this area there are exposed HVAC services below the soffit, a bar space and an open kitchen experience. “Although the interior is clean, light and modern and gives a feeling of space, unfortunately all the original features of the building, i.e. glazed tiles to the walls, original concrete columns and polished concrete floors are hard and reflective and only add to the acoustic conundrum with attenuation, reverberation and speech clarity,” explains Sto’s Technical Consultant for Acoustics, Mike Wallace. “Add to the mix the open kitchen and bar, mood music and hard wooden tables and chairs, and it was vital that the correct acoustic balance was achieved. “For a restaurant, it’s important to create the correct balance. You want the area to have a good background atmosphere, and at the same time, the customers need to be able to hold conversations without straining to hear, where speech is intelligible. This is when good all-round acoustic design becomes a vital element within the space. To achieve this, we were asked to provide a Class B solution, which translates to 0.8 and 0.85 as a weighted sound absorption coefficiency.” The Sto Silent Distance 115 system was chosen to achieve this balance and Sto worked closely with Billy Hookway of Trishna Group to provide the optimum design. The Sto Silent Distance 115 system allows the creation of seamless, sound-absorbent walls and ceilings up to 200 m², allowing inclined planes, sharp and consistent joints, bulkheads and floating return bulkheads. In line with the aspiration of the client wishing to have a modern, clean, uncluttered aesthetic, it was natural for Lyles to choose the Sto Silent Distance system. The interior soffit consisted of existing pre-constructed square concrete coffers, and the client wished to retain these, so Sto designed the individual canopies to be tight to the soffit and give the impression of height and depth, and to accentuate and express the natural concrete coffers. The use of the Sto SW150 minimal void solution, in conjunction with the 25mm 115 board, provided the perfect balance in achieving the all-important acoustic design and the aesthetic requirements. Installation of the system was managed by Craft Interior, a trained Sto Acoustic installer. “The overall installation was finished with Sto Silent Décor M in white, to create an eye-catching finish that is very in-keeping with the clean and minimalist design of the restaurant’s interior,” adds Graham Chadwick of Craft Interior. “The StoSilent Décor M is spray-applied and can be tinted to match a wide range of shades from the StoColor system”. The final effect has been extremely successful, with Lyle’s diners able to enjoy their meal in surroundings that are attractive and contemporary from both a visual and acoustic viewpoint. Picture caption: A StoSilent Distance acoustic attenuation solution has helped create a new acoustic environment at this leading London restaurant. Picture courtesy of Adam Luszniak Photography
Biggin Hill War Memorial Museum in London has opened its doors to the public, with spitfire aircraft and previously unpublished photos of World War 2 pilots and Winston Churchill being available for at the public display. The museum aims to creating an environment where people can learn about the Battle of Britain and those who lost their lives in the conflict. “The museum offers a new way of telling for what some people would be a familiar story,” said director of the Biggin Hill War Memorial Museum, Jemma Davey. Other artefacts on display include objects that reflect the lives of those who worked at RAF Biggin Hill and those that reflect the personal stories of service men and women that operated at the airfield. “The history of Biggin Hill goes so much further back than the Battle of Britain. It is one of Britain’s oldest aerodromes and was instrumental to the development of wireless communication technologies,” added Jemma. Called by Winston Churchill his “strongest link” during the Battle of Britain, RAF Biggin Hill is an airfield in South London. Pilots from the airfield took down 1,400 Luftwaffe aircraft during World War 2. Construction work on the £5.3 million (US$6.9m, €6m) museum started in Q4 2017 and the project received funding from the UK Government, the National Lottery, the local Bromley Council and private donors. The historic airfield site is also home to St George’s RAF Chapel of Remembrance, where those who died working from Biggin Hill sector are commemorated.
A £15 million contract to deliver the new Central Library and Museum in Doncaster has been secured by Willmott Dixon. The project, designed by architect Bond Ryan, involves the transformation of four existing buildings into a cultural and learning centre that includes a new library, rail heritage centre, art gallery and museum. “The new Central Library and Museum project is one of many schemes we are on the ground and delivering as part of our comprehensive and ambitious Urban Centre Masterplan. We are transforming Doncaster, making it a highly desirable place to live, work, visit and invest in,” said Cllr Bill Mordue, Doncaster Council’s Cabinet Member for Business, Skills and Economic Development. Throughout the project, the central frontage of the former Hall Cross Girls School building will be retained and encased in a glass façade to showcase an iconic part of Doncaster’s architectural heritage. “Scape and Willmott Dixon have a strong and ongoing relationship with Doncaster Council, with a proven track record of delivering much-needed programmes in the area,” added Mark Robinson, Scape Group chief executive. “Our delivery partner, Willmott Dixon, has played a key role to support Doncaster Council in the regeneration of the local area, providing upgraded community facilities and affordable housing. By utilising our framework Doncaster Council has ensured cost-effective and efficient project delivery, while ensuring local suppliers benefit from the inward investment.” Located on the junction of Waterdale and Chequer Road, the new development is expected to open in summer 2020. This latest contract adds to a series of schemes in Doncaster by Willmott Dixon.
When the Cheltenham Festival begins each year, hundreds of thousands of people flock to the town of Cheltenham and, in particular, the racecourse, to catch a glimpse of what could be the next big name in horse racing. Each year jockeys and trainers battle to become the best in the business and lift the Gold Cup, seen by many as the grand prize of the festival. As the number of visitors to the festival increased year on year, the outdated facilities and layout were struggling to cope with the sheer number of people coming through the gates. With this in mind, the decision was taken to redevelop the racecourse and from 2013-2015 Kier developers were contracted to modernise the course so that it could handle the influx of people. The construction involved building a new grandstand on request of the Jockey Club, who were financing the ambitious redevelopment. The new grandstand was to replace the current “A&R” block, which was over 90 years old at the time the project was commissioned. The project comprised of 14 sectional completions and 18 separate projects, all the while ensuring that events such as the Cheltenham Festival were unaffected during the construction. It took 19 months to construct the five-and-a-half storey grandstand and it was unveiled in November 2015 by Her Royal Highness Princess Anne. The capacity of the new grandstand was increased on the previous one to 6,500 and a royal box and new hospitality boxes were included in the build. On the top floor there is a premium superclub. The redevelopment of the racecourse was not limited to the building of the grandstand as in the plans there was also a new crescent walkway which was designed to help spectators’ movement while also allowing for the spectators to have a good view of the parade ring. The total cost of the redevelopment was £45 million, £25 million of which was raised by the Jockey Club. They achieved this total through the Jockey Club Racecourse Bond, which made history by becoming the first retail bond in British sport. The remaining £20 million to fund the project came from multiple sources including HSBC, AIB and RBS as well as a Horserace Betting Levy Board capital fund loan. The Jockey Club’s cash flow and commercial deals made up the rest of the funding. People who attend the Cheltenham Festival 2019 will have the opportunity to view the grandstand as well as appreciate the facilities that were built alongside it. The Jockey Club will hope that this latest redevelopment of the facilities at Cheltenham will last for many decades to come as they have already invested £80 million in the facilities at the racecourse. As one of the most popular events in the racing calendar, the Cheltenham Festival is well worth the upgrade and with improved bar and toilet facilities as well as more public viewing areas, Cheltenham will appeal to more people and in turn, the racecourse will be able to handle further increases in spectators to one of the biggest festivals of the year.
A new housing development in Edenbridge is set to throw open its showhome’s doors to home-hunters in the area. The Aldwych showhome at Bellway’s Oakley Park development, off St Johns Way, is being unveiled to the public on Saturday, February 2. This outstanding four-bedroom property will showcase all that’s best about the spectacular mix of two, three, four and five-bedroom houses as well as one and two-bedroom apartments at the development. Work on Bellway’s landmark site began in late 2017 and will be made up of 300 homes. The development will also feature public open space featuring a children’s play area, walkways and wildlife areas. Mark Harrop, Sales Director for Bellway’s Kent division, said: “We are very excited to be opening our new showhome at Oakley Park on February 2. “It will give people seeking their dream home an excellent insight into the beautiful properties we are building here. “It looks set to be very busy on the launch day because there has been such intense interest in Oakley Park from people keen to move into the area and we’re gearing up to meet high demand. “Our development offers a wide range of homes to suit everyone from first-time buyers looking to get on to the property ladder to families who’d like more room and those looking for the ideal place to downsize. “Our properties at Oakley Park have already been going down well so I’d urge anyone interested in making this their home to come along and view our showhome so that they don’t miss out.” Bellway will be ploughing almost £1.5 million into local infrastructure and facilities as part of the Oakley Park planning agreement. There is currently a range of two-bedroom apartments and three, four and five-bedroom houses available to buy. Prices for two-bedroom apartments start at £264,995. More information on the homes being built at Oakley Park can be found at bellway.co.uk.
Master developer Nakheel has started constructing the rooftop infinity swimming pool at The Palm Tower, its 52-storey, luxury hotel and residential complex at the heart of Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. Perched 210 metres above ground and covering 775 square metres, the infinity pool – one of the highest in the world – borders all four sides of the building, boasting unrivalled, panoramic views across Palm Jumeirah, the Arabian Gulf and the Dubai skyline. The pool – which will hold 930,000 litres of water – is on the 50th floor of The Palm Tower. Above the pool will be a podium housing a 51st level speciality restaurant and a 52nd storey public viewing deck, 240 metres high. Construction of the rooftop dining viewing deck complex will begin soon. Located at the heart of the world-famous, award winning Palm Jumeirah, The Palm Tower comprises a 289-room St. Regis hotel, 432 luxury residences and an array of dining and leisure facilities. The hotel occupies the first 18 floors, with fully-furnished studios and one, two and three bedroom apartments on the upper floors. Currently, around 850 construction workers are on site at The Palm Tower, rising to more than 1,500 when internal fit out gets in full swing in the next few weeks. Fit out of the St. Regis – due to open later this year – has already begun. The Palm Tower is directly connected to the under-construction Nakheel Mall – the access point for the public viewing deck – and its 350 shops, restaurants and attractions. Nakheel Mall, which has its own Palm Monorail station, is due for completion this year. Several other dining, leisure and entertainment venues are nearby, including the St. Regis Beach Club, part of Nakheel’s Palm West Beach complex, to which hotel guests and residents will have priority access; Al Ittihad Park, the UAE’s first indigenous park, spanning 1.1 million square feet across the heart of Palm Jumeirah; and the newly-opened Pointe at Palm Jumeirah, with 70 seafront restaurants and shops. For more information on The Palm Tower apartments, visit the Nakheel Sales Centre, call +971 4 390 3333 or log on to www.nakheel.com
Around £7 million of funding is to go to three culture and tourism projects in Yorkshire. £6.9 million have been confirmed by Sheffield City Region to go towards Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Gullivers World and Vulcan to the Sky, which will also see almost 500 new jobs created. The funding for the projects is part of the Sheffield City Region’s Local Growth Fund (LGF) allocation, funded by the Government. Funding of £5 million was approved for the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, £1.5 million for Gullivers Valley, and £400,000 for the Vulcan to the Sky project at a Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) meeting. “It’s great to be able to fund such a diverse range of projects, which will create new jobs, boost our visitor economy and complement the existing range of fantastic arts, culture and heritage sites we have here in our region. Not only do cultural attractions enrich our quality of life, but they act as a driver for economic growth. By working together, we can be more than the sum of our parts,” said Mayor Dan Jarvis, who chaired the MCA meeting. Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster will add an additional 150 acres to the current site providing a new entrance, expanded car parking, new animal reserves and a large lake, all due to the funding. There will be also a visitor hub incorporating a 148-bedroom hotel, an events and conference venue, restaurants and shops, with aims to grow to 1.2 million visitors by 2022. The Gullivers Valley project will receive £1.5 million towards the £7.5 million cost of the whole theme park project, which will offer rides and attractions aimed at children aged from two to 13. The resort will also offer family-friendly accommodation, and is expected to create around 250 new jobs. Meanwhile, funding for the Vulcan to the Sky project will help to create a permanent home in Doncaster for the restored Vulcan XH558 bomber. “We are obviously thrilled that the Sheffield City Region has recognised the significance of the region being the permanent home to the Vulcan by the award of a significant grant towards the new hangar. The funding from the Sheffield City Region will be vital in delivering this heritage hangar, ensuring that XH558 is given the home she deserves and that the public can once again visit this iconic aircraft,” commented Dr Robert Pleming, on behalf of the Vulcan to the Sky Trust.
Premier Inn has been announced by Rockwell Property as the occupier of a new 400-bedroom hotel in Westferry, East London. Whitbread, Premier Inn’s parent company, will take a 30-year lease of the hotel and restaurant within the 30-storey mixed-use scheme which is at the gateway to Canary Wharf, next to Westferry DLR station. “I’m delighted that Rockwell have secured Premier Inn as the operator for our new hotel-led development at the Westferry gateway to Canary Wharf. Premier Inn’s emphasis on being a force for good aligns perfectly with our aspiration to deliver exceptional schemes which make a positive and lasting difference. It is an exciting time for Rockwell and this agreement further expands our growing hotel portfolio as well as illustrating our proven track-record. The desirability of this scheme is a testament to Rockwell’s expertise. We are eager not only to deliver it to our high standards but to continue building upon this with similar projects in the future,” commented Donal Mulryan, Founder of Rockwell. The development includes private and affordable residential accommodation, community space, and retail units, as well as a ground floor Whitbread-branded restaurant all set in a landscaped public realm. Rockwell Property was granted planning permission on the site by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in October. On completion, the hotel will be the tallest Premier Inn in the UK and Whitbread’s largest hotel in London (outside of airport hotels). Construction work is due to commence in summer 2019.
Two-thirds (66%) of property professionals in the UK believe former retail premises could be the biggest untapped resource for new residential development, according to a survey by MRI Software, a global leader in real estate software solutions. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of those surveyed see residential redevelopment of sites previously used by retailers giving the British High Street a new lease of life, the research report, Charting UK Property Trends, shows. The research also reveals that three-quarters (76%) of the industry experts MRI canvassed think Brexit will not seriously hamper the ability of the UK property sector to get the funding it needs to develop properties – including 94% of the property investors, owners and developers. Over three-quarters (77%) of respondents also see demand for residential rentals in the UK accelerating, driven by the continued high cost of buying a home. “Charting UK Property Trends provides a comprehensive inside view of the challenges property players face today and where the opportunities lie,” says Dermot Briody, Executive Managing Director, Europe at MRI Software. “The research shows we will see a far greater number of people living in town centres, which will give a boost to retailers on the High Street while feeding other businesses such as gyms and entertainment venues.” The survey took the responses of 144 senior property experts from a range of organisations, including investors/owners/developers, consultants, contractors, property managers, sales and lettings agents, service providers, and business occupiers. “The vast majority of industry players we surveyed were bullish on the outlook for the sector,” Briody notes. “Even where Brexit is concerned, the positive outweighed the negative, as two-thirds maintain that even a Hard Brexit won’t hurt their ability to get funding for property development.” Other findings in the survey of property professionals include: Eight in ten (82%) say ‘Generation Rent’ – young adults unable to purchase a home due to high housing prices – is here to stay, with little likelihood buying conditions will improve The same proportion (82%) say Generation Rent is renting for longer, driving demand for higher quality properties Nine in ten (90%) see rentals becoming more important to the UK residential market over next 12-18 months Four out of five (81%) say co-working / shared office spaces such as WeWork are likely to be users of former retail premises in UK town and city centers Three quarters (75%) say their organisation struggles to turn the data it holds into actionable insight but needs to be able to do so Over half (54%) say connecting up or linking applications, processes and data within their company is difficult and want an easier way to do it The online survey took place in October and November. To download a copy, click here. About MRI Software MRI Software is a leading provider of innovative real estate software applications and hosted solutions. MRI’s comprehensive and flexible technology platform coupled with an open and connected ecosystem meets the unique needs of real estate businesses – from property-level management and accounting to investment modelling and analytics for the global commercial and residential markets. A pioneer of the real estate software industry, MRI develops lasting client relationships based on nearly five decades of expertise and insight. Through leading solutions and a rich partner ecosystem, MRI liberates real estate companies to elevate their business and gain a competitive edge. For more information, please visit mrisoftware.com.
Bicester Heritage’s ambition to become the number one leisure destination for automotive fans has moved into pole position with the granting of planning permission for a new hotel, designed by award-winning hotel architects and interior designers Dexter Moren Associates. Situated on a former RAF base in the heart of Motorsport Valley, a stone’s throw from numerous Formula One teams and the Silverstone Circuit, the approved scheme will feature a 252-room hotel, 92-unit aparthotel, restaurant, leisure facilities and conference centre. The hotel design, granted unanimous approval by Cherwell District Council last week, is inspired by RAF Bicester’s rich heritage, offering a modern interpretation of the form of adjoining listed hangars and featuring a signature entrance atrium designed around the display of classic motor vehicles. “We were thrilled to be selected to design this landmark hotel within the former RAF base, forming part of the Bicester Heritage Masterplan vision focusing on motorcars and aeroplanes. The design objective has been to respond in a contemporary manner to the site’s unique past, drawing inspiration from its historic position at the forefront of aviation, engineering, and innovation while complementing the existing period buildings. The elevations take inspiration from the listed aircraft hangers within Bicester Heritage, whilst the metal-clad curved façade references the sinuous line of a classic car,” said Dexter Moren Associates. “Providing 344 hotel and aparthotel rooms, and with extensive facilities including food and beverage, leisure and conferencing, this new hotel will contribute to the greater Bicester and Oxford area hospitality offer while enhancing the activities of Bicester Heritage and its future plans for accommodation, theatre, automotive research and maintenance,” Dexter Moren Associated added. Dexter Moren Associates is an award-winning practice of 70 architecture and interior design specialists, working right across the hospitality spectrum. Over the past 26 years in business we have established a world-renowned reputation as leaders in hospitality design, based on our ability to deliver intelligent, creative and bespoke solutions which meld both developer and operator requirements.
