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
A £17 million redevelopment is planned for a former prison in Northallerton, starting in spring 2019. The plans to turn the former prison into a new retail, residential, leisure and office space were approved by Hambleton District Council’s Planning Committee on the 15th of November. The Treadmills project will also
Sheffield based shopping centre, Meadowhall, is rethinking a £300 million extension. A development that originally was thought to create the perfect counterpoint to the regeneration of the city centre. Investment Company – British Land, is rethinking the 330,000 sq ft construction to cut the number of shops that have shown
A SUITE overlooking cathedral gardens, original fireplaces and character windows are just some of the features included in a new £1.8m boutique hotel in a historic location in Leicester. Two empty office buildings in Peacock Lane and New Street – adjacent to the site of the car park where King
Hospitality specialist architects, Dexter Moren Associates (DMA) is celebrating a quartet of hotel planning approvals achieved in October 2018. DMA’s ability to deliver creative and intelligent solutions for developers and operators has seen successful planning consent granted for London developments Hyatt Place Hotel in Whitechapel and Creed Court Hilton Hotel
Traditional retailers are making the wrong technology investment or delivering the wrong in-store experience, which leaves them with increasingly harsh criticism from both customers and analysts. Craig Summers, UK Managing Director, Manhattan Associates, explains why retailers cannot hope to compete with the disruptors unless they stop playing inept catch up
Designed by London-based architects WilsonOwensOwens (WOO), two new iconic entrances to Twickenham Stadium, the Home of England Rugby, will welcome spectators and visitors to the grounds from this month. Formed from standing seam zinc, the gateways frame the main entrances to the Stadium from Whitton Road – creating a true
‘The Springs’ retail and leisure complex at Thorpe Park Leeds was launched last week, following the successful completion of building work by GMI Construction Group. The project was delivered across an 80-week phasing programme that coincided with a gas main diversion and major civils work being carried out on adjacent
A new hotel-led development in East London has received planning permission. Developed by Rockwell Property, the 30-storey landmark building located at 82 West India Dock Road in Westferry includes a 400-key hotel with a ground floor restaurant, cafe and bar. The site will also house 66 new one, two and
Derby-based Davlyn Construction has secured a £6 million contract as the main build contractor for Repton School in South Derbyshire. Davlyn will be transforming the sports facilities at the historic school. Phase One has already been completed and a new strength and conditioning gym, together with a 1250 m2 state-of-the-art
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.
A £17 million redevelopment is planned for a former prison in Northallerton, starting in spring 2019. The plans to turn the former prison into a new retail, residential, leisure and office space were approved by Hambleton District Council’s Planning Committee on the 15th of November. The Treadmills project will also incorporate five Grade II listed buildings, which were retained when the remainder of the prison site was demolished, as well as the construction of a large public square. The project is being delivered by the Central Northallerton Development Company (CNDC), a joint venture between Hambleton District Council and developers Wykeland Group. “This is a very exciting project not just for Northallerton but for the area as a whole. It will generate more activity in the town centre with people coming to visit the shops and enjoy the leisure experience we will offer through the restaurants and cinema,” said Chairman of the CNDC Board, District Councillor Peter Wilkinson. So far, Lidl has been confirmed as the retail anchor for the project, while Hull-based C4DI – the Centre for Digital Innovation – has been confirmed as the operator of the digital tech office space. Negotiations are underway to finalise operators of the remaining retail and leisure units. “We’re delighted this transformational redevelopment has gained planning approval and will soon move into the construction phase. This scheme will respect and conserve the heritage of the site while delivering many economic, social and community benefits for Northallerton, the wider area and local residents,” concluded Dominic Gibbons, Managing Director of Wykeland Group, and CNDC Board Member.
Sheffield based shopping centre, Meadowhall, is rethinking a £300 million extension. A development that originally was thought to create the perfect counterpoint to the regeneration of the city centre. Investment Company – British Land, is rethinking the 330,000 sq ft construction to cut the number of shops that have shown interest in the scheme. Wanting to gain more interest on food, drink and activity sectors as the retail sector continues to struggle. Last year the extension was given the go-ahead by local planning committees who saw the expansion as a positive opportunity for the shopping centre, and for Sheffield. However it is now likely that new, amended designs will have to go through a similar process before construction works can begin. Under the original proposal, an all-new multi-level wing, with a distinct latticed glazed roof was to be built on what is currently the centre’s car park. It has been advised that the space would contain a cinema, gym, restaurant facilities, entertainment venues and space for events, with 25 new retail units being able to be purchased. This quantity of retail stores is now having to be re-designed. In the current climate, it appears that consumers are wanting to spend their money on the experience rather than the items. Meaning less time is spent buying clothes and more time is spent making memories through activities such as eating a meal or watching a movie. British Land has expressed its desire for the project to be one that further enhances Meadowhall’s position as one of the best shopping centres in Europe. In order to do this, it is being referred to as essential, that improvements reflect leisure time – meaning the centre has to cater for much more than shopping alone. If the construction plans at Meadowhall are successful, it will complement further ambitious plans to transform Sheffield into a new hub for jobs, living space and leisure activities. New designs for the expansion are being urged to compliment the city and its needs, rather than settle for more shops that aren’t thought to offer the best benefits long term. Meadowhall has released figures stating it receives around 25 million customers annually, but in such an uncertain economic climate, employees at the shopping centre are uncertain of implementing new retail spaces. Despite Meadowhall currently being a huge success, this is all subject to change, and the centre needs to keep up with the ever-changing demand of consumers in order to remain at the forefront of the industry. In 2017, four separate districts were created in a £60 million refurbishment, which developed double height stores to brands such as Hollister and All Saints. Companies including Joe Browns, Michael Kors and Flannels joined the shopping centre and a further £40 million was pumped into shop upgrades by companies such as Apple. While the latest review is likely to take a least a few months before a decision can be concluded, the new construction work could be taking place as early as Spring.
A SUITE overlooking cathedral gardens, original fireplaces and character windows are just some of the features included in a new £1.8m boutique hotel in a historic location in Leicester. Two empty office buildings in Peacock Lane and New Street – adjacent to the site of the car park where King Richard III’s remains were discovered – have been converted into the 28-bedroomed St Martins Lodge, which opened in October. Building Services Design (BSD) provided mechanical and electrical engineering services for the Grade II* listed Georgian buildings, with many of the original features being retained – including the hallway, with its chandelier and staircase. Joel Sawyer, director at BSD, the lead designer on the project, said: “We’re delighted to be involved in a project that has created modern, elegant accommodation while at the same time, honouring the heritage of the important site and its surroundings.” As 40% of the hotel – located directly opposite Leicester Cathedral – is of listed status, all original internal cornices, ceilings and floors are having to be retained, meaning BSD had to design the building services around the structure of the existing building. Joel said: “We provided a design that is a mix of traditional and modern installation, meaning some of the building services run through the floors and into the ceiling. To meet listed status building regulations, air conditioning equipment has also been moved to the roof where it is out of sight. “In order to make the spatial challenges work, we held regular on-site visits in order to overcome and catch any potential problems before they happened.” The plantroom has been designed to fit within the existing basement, which has height restrictions due to a vaulted ceiling. Joel added: “To ensure the heating system would fit within the confinements of the basement, it has been designed as a modular system for better efficiency and ease of installation. “The domestic water and hot water systems have also been centralised in the basement and we have made provisions within the design to allow for a possible connection to the Leicester District Energy Scheme, which supplies low-cost, low-carbon energy to major buildings across the city. The future advantages of this will mean energy efficiency and lower running costs.” Richard III was buried more than 500 years ago following his death at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. His remains were discovered by archaeologists in 2012 underneath a Leicester City Council car park. The king was reinterred in Leicester Cathedral in 2015. Nick Quinn, director of St Martins House, said: “With our neighbouring conference and events centre, St Martins House, located only a few steps away, we are now able to offer a 24-hour conference rate – including overnight accommodation with breakfast – alongside our function run hire and catering facilities. “This is frequently requested by conference and wedding hosts so St Martins Lodge is now meeting a known demand and adding to the room capacity available for business and for tourism in the city.” BSD is also working with the Diocese of Leicester to bring a new monastic community – called the Community of the Tree of Life – in the heart of Leicester, next door to the hotel. For more information about BSD, please visit bsd.co.uk.
Hospitality specialist architects, Dexter Moren Associates (DMA) is celebrating a quartet of hotel planning approvals achieved in October 2018. DMA’s ability to deliver creative and intelligent solutions for developers and operators has seen successful planning consent granted for London developments Hyatt Place Hotel in Whitechapel and Creed Court Hilton Hotel near St Paul’s Cathedral, as well as new hotels in Bath City Centre and at Bicester Heritage. Commenting on these planning successes, DMA said: “We’re delighted to see these four signature projects granted planning permission and further build on our strong track record of creating deliverable hotel projects that meet both client aspirations and planning requirements. Each project is different and presents unique challenges, but working closely with clients and local authorities we have been able to develop design solutions that have been supported at committee level and will result in positive contributions to their respective locations.” Hyatt Place Hotel, Whitechapel DMA was appointed by Resolution Property to reconfigure a previously DMA consented 217-key aparthotel scheme as a 280-key Hyatt Place hotel in Whitechapel, London E1. DMA proposed some clever internal changes to ensure the design of the hotel meets the expectations and requirements of Hyatt Place whilst respecting the external treatment established during the original planning stages. In particular, guestroom levels have been reviewed to satisfy the Hyatt brand and a roof bar added that overlooks Whitechapel Road with a south-facing terrace on the ninth floor. Creed Court, St Paul’s Dominvs Group appointed DMA to review this consented boutique brand 4/5 star hotel scheme near St Paul’s Cathedral. Using its extensive expertise in hotel design, in particular space planning in a prime location and a good understanding of the client’s aspirations, DMA has reconfigured the internal layout of the scheme to meet the expectations of a luxury boutique offer. The redesign increases the number of rooms from 132 to 152 keys and reconfigures the ground level to provide a bar and restaurant that optimises active frontage and facilities for both guests and the local community. Located in a conservation area, the building has been designed to achieve BREEAM Excellent, incorporating a height amendment to facilitate green roofs across the scheme. City Centre Hotel, Bath A second project with Dominvs Group is the newbuild 198 room “lifestyle hotel” on the site of a former Bath College building in the historic core of the City. The design, while respecting the World Heritage Site and character of the Conservation Area, was developed under the guidance of the local planning authority to produce an entirely contemporary scheme responding to the individual nature of its location fronting three streets. The hotel will also create a new destination, with restaurant, bar and gym facilities at ground-floor level open to guests and public alike. Bicester Heritage DMA’s design for a newbuild 252 room hotel and 92 room aparthotel for Bicester Heritage, centre of classic automobiles and aeroplanes, received unanimous approval from Cherwell District Council. Inspired by the rich former RAF base site heritage the new five storey building offers a modern interpretation of the form of adjoining listed hangers with a signature entrance atrium designed around the display of classic cars. Augmenting the extensive amenities of this centre of engineering & automotive excellence, the hotel includes a restaurant, conferencing and leisure facilities with pool.
Traditional retailers are making the wrong technology investment or delivering the wrong in-store experience, which leaves them with increasingly harsh criticism from both customers and analysts. Craig Summers, UK Managing Director, Manhattan Associates, explains why retailers cannot hope to compete with the disruptors unless they stop playing inept catch up and instead celebrate the value of the in-store interaction with truly empowered store associates able to deliver something far more engaging and valuable than any online experience. Lost Cause As long established family favourites vanish from the high street it appears the pure play disruptors, which are essentially tech companies, have won the hearts and minds of customers and the writing is on the wall for old style retail. But is that really the case? Far too many traditional retailers remain inherently scared of technology and it’s this fear of failure – fear of making the wrong technology investment, of creating the wrong in-store atmosphere – that is destroying the high street. From price match offers that take 24 hours to confirm to compelling customers to complete time consuming and irrelevant customer surveys during check-out, the high street is littered with examples of ill-considered attempts to copy slick online models in-store. It doesn’t work, especially when the technology deployed is years behind that of the disruptors. It is all wrong and it fundamentally misses the point. Golden Egg Online retail has not removed customers’ desire to buy in store or interact with sales assistants; what it has done has been to raise customers’ expectations of that experience. It is incredibly simple: people still want to come in store and be served; they want to interact with an enthusiastic and engaged individual, someone who not only knows the products – and can share experiences – but is also able to locate any item anywhere in the supply chain in real time and get that item to the customer quickly, in any location. Rather than complaining about the pure plays’ low cost infrastructure and lack of real estate overhead, traditional retailers need to stop viewing the high street as the Achilles heel and think of the retail store as the golden egg. That means investing in technology that delivers the complete supply chain visibility and mobile point of sale that ensures store associates can be continuously engaged with customers anywhere on the shop floor and also investing in high quality sales staff. Attempting to ‘become Amazon’ in two years; or replicate the model of the pure play competitor over the next 18 months is never going to work: the competition is too fast, too slick and too tech savvy. Playing catch up will result in the end of the high street. What is required is a willingness to disrupt the disruptors, to leverage the advantage of a tangible personal experience and quickly exploit relevant technology to deliver an outstanding in-store experience.
Designed by London-based architects WilsonOwensOwens (WOO), two new iconic entrances to Twickenham Stadium, the Home of England Rugby, will welcome spectators and visitors to the grounds from this month. Formed from standing seam zinc, the gateways frame the main entrances to the Stadium from Whitton Road – creating a true sense of arrival to the venue. The gates will be in use for the first time at the forthcoming autumn international matches at the stadium. The entrances are framed by simple singular folded zinc portal canopies and designed to create a heroic sense of arrival at the venue, providing an inspiring ‘first glimpse’ of the stadium. Based on a temporary structure initially created by WOO for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, the new design complements the existing Poppy and Rose Gates in look and feel. Each entrance provides new state of the art turnstile and access systems, plus weather protection of for staff and spectators alike during security checks. The main entrance canopy is capped by free standing zinc lettering announcing TWICKENHAM. The lettering is edge lit with subtle LED lighting, giving an understated and timeless classic feel to the spectacular new entrance. LED screens will be installed within the canopy to provide dynamic information and wayfinding information for visitors and fans on event and match days. Lighting will also be used on non-match days to provide a recognisable ‘moment’ for the many visitors to the stadium. Either side of the main structures are two 3-metre-high decorative gates; each carrying a verse of the hymn ‘Jerusalem’. The graphic design and concept developed by WOO’s in-house team forms a singular text surface laser cut from treated sheet steel. The project was led by WOO partner and co-founder Kevin Owens who said, “Our work at Twickenham as lead architects for the 2015 Rugby World Cup demonstrated that the West Fan Zone of the stadium could be reinvigorated and transformed by a realigned perimeter and new entrances. We wanted to deliver a true and recognisable entrance for the real fans. A destination and arrival worthy of the Home of English Rugby.” In addition to the main entrances along Whitton Road, WOO has also looked at the broader masterplan with a rationalised western perimeter to the West Fan Park, delivering new high quality flexible spaces for event and temporary activations, and an improved entrance canopy and access from the neighbouring Cardinal Vaughn School site for match days. Twickenham is the world’s largest dedicated rugby venue in the world and the second largest stadium in the UK. It staged its first rugby match in 1909 and is also home to other events including major concert events.
‘The Springs’ retail and leisure complex at Thorpe Park Leeds was launched last week, following the successful completion of building work by GMI Construction Group. The project was delivered across an 80-week phasing programme that coincided with a gas main diversion and major civils work being carried out on adjacent plots. Part of a wider 1.35 million sq ft development plan in phase two development at Thorpe Park Leeds, The Springs project was handled by Scarborough International Properties Limited (SIPL), the UK and international real estate developer and its joint venture partner Legal & General. “We were delighted to launch The Springs last week in partnership with a great team at GMI Construction. With historical knowledge of the site, which wasn’t without its challenges, GMI has shown great tenacity and outstanding flexibility in accommodating the demands of the project and its many changes to deliver a project of exceptional quality that sets a precedent across the UK. GMI had also worked closely with our team to exceed our commitment to creating new jobs and inspiring careers for young people in the region,” said Simon Marshall, Joint Chief Executive at Scarborough International Properties. The brands part of The Springs include M&S Foodhall, H&M, Next, TK Maxx, Outfit, Boots and leisure brands such as Nando’s, Gino D’Acampo’s My Restaurant and Pure Gym. A 44,000 sq ft, 10-screen ODEON offering state of the art screen and audio technology and luxury seating, is also due to open in Spring 2019 with other high street leisure and retail occupiers due to be announced over the coming weeks. “The Springs looked amazing on opening and my thanks have to go to the team at GMI Construction who worked tirelessly from start to finish. We were very clear from the start that we wanted The Springs to stand out as an out of town retail and leisure destination of the future and GMI have played a critical role in helping us achieve this vision,” concluded Gordon Aitchison, Director, Head of Transactions at LGIM Real Assets.
A new hotel-led development in East London has received planning permission. Developed by Rockwell Property, the 30-storey landmark building located at 82 West India Dock Road in Westferry includes a 400-key hotel with a ground floor restaurant, cafe and bar. The site will also house 66 new one, two and three bedroom apartments. “Our vision for 82 West India Dock Road will breathe new life into a neglected site that has been derelict for many years. This inspiring new building includes a hotel that will bring new jobs and business to the local area, in addition to much needed new homes for the local community in an inspiring new building. We are dedicated to delivering this exciting, high-quality development and look forward to turning this site into a place that locals can be proud of,” said Donal Mulryan, Founder of Rockwell. Designed by UK architects SimpsonHaugh & Partners, the development includes: ground floor retail or community space, activating the street and providing a local amenity; extensive public realm and landscaping works, both on site and in the surrounding area to significantly improve place-making and provide a more connected, safe, cohesive and green environment; half an acre of gardens and 48 additional trees including the introduction of an urban arboretum, residents’ garden and over 220m of children’s play space; and over £7 million in Section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy to fund local infrastructure improvements, training programmes for local residents and support for local recruitment. “We have worked closely with Rockwell Property to design a high quality, mixed-use scheme that will improve connections across West India Dock Road, providing new homes, employment and training opportunities, whilst creating a safer and more secure public realm environment for the community,” added Mark Savage, Partner, SimpsonHaugh. Construction work is due to start on the site in Summer 2019 and once completed, 250 jobs are expected to be created in the hospitality sector.
Derby-based Davlyn Construction has secured a £6 million contract as the main build contractor for Repton School in South Derbyshire. Davlyn will be transforming the sports facilities at the historic school. Phase One has already been completed and a new strength and conditioning gym, together with a 1250 m2 state-of-the-art sports hall, designed by Matthew Montague Architects, is in place. The new facility will be used for indoor hockey, netball, basketball and football along with new squash courts, changing rooms, seating and sports storage area. The contract, worth £3 million, also included the demolition of the old 1960s squash courts. The second phase, which is also worth £3 million, is now being delivered by Davlyn. This will see the existing Tanyard Building extended and refurbished to create a new entrance, changing rooms, briefing room, link corridor, social area, viewing gallery and the creation of a bigger car park. “Firstly, we’re delighted to have been appointed as the main build contractor on such a prestigious job at Repton School. We’re really pleased to have delivered phase one of the project to a high standard and on time and it’s fantastic to see the school and its students benefiting from it,” said David Gaskin, Director at Davlyn Construction. “Now we are very much focused on phase two and delivering that to an equally high standard. We have the constraints of working on a live site and within a conservation area but that is something we are very experienced in. We have worked with Repton School for over 14 years and have established a very good working relationship with them. We are proud to be part of their plans to deliver even better facilities for their students and staff. Education is a very important sector for us as a company so we are particularly pleased to have been awarded this contract,” David added. Repton School, established in 1557, is a co-educational independent school for boarding and day pupils and has around 650 students.
