Stephen George + Partners LLP (SGP) has completed the first phase of the £210 million Exeter Skypark development – the Number One Tiger Moth Road, a 1,790 m2 speculative Grade A office building. The firm worked together with its client, St. Modwen, and created three storeys of energy efficient office
A luxury development of townhouses and apartments in the West End of Glasgow has officially sold out. The Botanics, from David Wilson Homes, launched in 2015 and has proven hugely popular with househunters looking for modern and spacious accommodation in the heart of one of the city’s most prestigious areas.
DEVELOPER KMRE and contractor Hollycroft Construction have started work on-site for a multi-million-pound residential development in popular Kirkstall Road, Leeds. The high-end scheme of 111 apartments has now been sold to Aberdeen Standard Investments (ASI) for £17.25 million Kam Mogul, MD of Leeds-based KMRE Group, said: “This is popular area
Gary Singleton is an ex-student from Framwellgate School in County Durham, who was also part of the team at McCarrick Construction that worked on the new £2.5 million sports hall at the school. “When I left Framwellgate School in Durham in 1996 to start my journey apprenticeship with McCarrick Construction,
Kier Construction has been selected to deliver the first stage of the Citizens Theatre’s £19.4 million redevelopment project in Glasgow. During this comprehensive redevelopment of the Victorian building, the theatre will be closed starting with the summer and will reopen in late 2020. “This appointment marks the next phase in
Design plans for a four star luxury, boutique hotel in Milton Keynes are now underway, following successful planning permission. The 250-bed hotel will be located on Marlborough Gate and it will include conference and meeting room services, a gym, spa and pool facilities, as well as a rooftop restaurant that
ISG has been awarded a £13 million contract by Queensbury Real Estate to convert Manchester’s historic Grade II listed Corn Exchange into a four-star hotel. The work will include the refurbishment of the building from levels two to five, creating a 114 bedroom ‘aparthotel’ for operator Roomzzz. This scheme is
CONSTRUCTION company G F Tomlinson has officially started work on a pioneering £23 million project on behalf of the University of Nottingham to expand its Centre for Biomolecular Sciences. A ground-breaking event took place on 4 April to mark the beginning of the scheme that will deliver a state-of-the-art research
Dexter Moren Associates (DMA), the award-winning architects, have received planning permission for a 274 key hotel on a disused brownfield site in the heart of Waterloo on behalf of client Frogmore. Apart from the guest rooms, the new development will include a ground floor restaurant fronting onto an inviting public
Since Rothgen Capital UK announced the launch of the latest funding round for The Tyram Lakes Hotel, Spa and Resort in Hatfield, near Doncaster in Yorkshire UK, Doncaster as an area has been attracting a significant amount of new attention, both domestic and internationally. As well as Doncaster’s undeniable horse
Stephen George + Partners LLP (SGP) has completed the first phase of the £210 million Exeter Skypark development – the Number One Tiger Moth Road, a 1,790 m2 speculative Grade A office building. The firm worked together with its client, St. Modwen, and created three storeys of energy efficient office space, designed to be divided into three sub-let units, one of which is already let. One of the South West’s most significant business park developments, Exeter Skypark is a cutting-edge Business Park Development and the cornerstone of the Exeter and East Devon New Growth Point. Number One Tiger Moth Road creates the gateway into the core office quarter and anchors the southern edge of enterprise Square, a vibrant landscaped area with water features and communal areas for employees to meet and relax. “Number One Tiger Moth Road sets the benchmark for development across the park and establishes the vision for a high quality public realm and built form. The overall proportions of the building are particularly successful in creating a balanced, lightweight, contemporary form which merges masonry with the crisp aesthetic of glass and aluminium,” said Ian Yallop, chairman of SGP. The Skypark’s design demonstrated an integrated approach to sustainability, with SGP taking a holistic three stage approach for its first phase. It utilises the building orientation and fabric to reduce energy, then it uses smart technology such as BMS and intelligent LED lighting systems to further reduce energy use and lastly, it installed a side wide district heating system that serves the entire development. As a result, Number One Tiger Moth Road achieved both BREEAM Excellent and is EPC A rated. The scheme aims to create a business park environment that provides space for a wide range of businesses, benefiting the local economy and business community. Its first commercial sub-let was finalised within three months of build completion, bringing 40 jobs to the area and proving its success. In total, Skypark will create a new business community of up to 7,500 employees which will be served by the on-site carbon neutral district heating system and set within a landscaped environment of more than 100 acres.
A luxury development of townhouses and apartments in the West End of Glasgow has officially sold out. The Botanics, from David Wilson Homes, launched in 2015 and has proven hugely popular with househunters looking for modern and spacious accommodation in the heart of one of the city’s most prestigious areas. And while the development is fully sold out, potential buyers should not be disheartened with plans for a new development in the sought-after southside of the city. David Wilson Homes’ sister company, Barratt Homes, has recently started work on the Riverside @ Cathcart. Located on the grounds of the former Scottish Power headquarters, the development will feature a range of two, three and four bedroom homes. Estelle Sykes, Sales Director, David Wilson Homes said: “The sales success that we have experienced at The Botanics further reinforces the demand for high quality homes within Glasgow. “I am positive that the Barratt Homes development at Riverside @ Cathcart will prove just as popular with househunters because of its prime location and selection of quality homes.” The site, located on Spean Street, has an assortment of apartments, townhouses, semi-detached and detached homes and are likely to appeal to both first time buyers and those looking to take a step up the property ladder. Riverside @ Cathcart benefits is within walking distance of a number of amenities, including several parks, train stations, bars and restaurants . For further information on Riverside @ Cathcart please visit https://www.barratthomes.co.uk/new-homes/glasgow-city/H719201-Riverside-@-Cathcart/
DEVELOPER KMRE and contractor Hollycroft Construction have started work on-site for a multi-million-pound residential development in popular Kirkstall Road, Leeds. The high-end scheme of 111 apartments has now been sold to Aberdeen Standard Investments (ASI) for £17.25 million Kam Mogul, MD of Leeds-based KMRE Group, said: “This is popular area in the city and is in walking distance to the business district. KMRE saw a big opportunity and acted quickly to develop the scheme. These are stylish, yet affordable rental apartments which are ideally suited to professionals. “We are also delighted to have appointed Hollycroft Construction as the contractor for this significant development. Hollycroft has delivered a number of schemes for us and has continued to work on our ever-expanding portfolio of high-end schemes across the UK. “Kirkstall Road is a rapidly changing part of the city. Considering Kirkstall’s close proximity to Leeds city centre and the wide range of public transport options on offer, this is a popular area of Leeds. Each apartment is designed to be generously sized, to encourage long term tenancies in a great location with a range of amenities.” The residential scheme – which will complete in spring 2019 -will be made up of superior one, two and three-bedroom rental apartments close to Leeds city centre. “Considering the likelihood of significant investment in the area due to its convenient location, and high-speed poised to bring further investment, there was an excellent chance for investors to benefit from high levels of capital appreciation and ASI saw that opportunity,” Kam added. Ed Crockett, fund manager at Aberdeen Standard Investments, said: “This deal reinforces our long-standing commitment to the private rented sector in the UK, where we continue to target high quality stock in key cities. “The market is currently worth more than £1 trillion and is set to grow with an anticipated 24% increase in private renting by 2022. With its secure long-term rental streams, residential is a compelling opportunity for investors. But product is key. Our experience in Europe, shows that what really counts is being able to create communities that people want to live in for decades. We identified this development by KMRE as a major opportunity.” KMRE Group is a leading developer with schemes throughout Yorkshire and the UK. It is working on a number of schemes in the area including Mabgate Gateway, Leeds which is also on site and offers 92 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two buildings and is located five minutes from the city centre. Toby Nicholson, head of build to rent at Colliers International, represented Aberdeen Standard Investments during the transaction. For more information, visit www.kmregroup.co.uk.
Gary Singleton is an ex-student from Framwellgate School in County Durham, who was also part of the team at McCarrick Construction that worked on the new £2.5 million sports hall at the school. “When I left Framwellgate School in Durham in 1996 to start my journey apprenticeship with McCarrick Construction, I didn’t think I would be returning to the school decades later to coordinate a project like this,” explained Gary Singleton. The project aimed to create a modern building equipped with all the necessities that a varied sporting curriculum requires. The biggest challenge for Gary and the team was that the building was scheduled to be completed within the grounds of the academy, within a live school environment, which presented both safety concerns and logistical challenges. Moreover, the old sports hall was being used daily by the school throughout the construction work. The new sports hall was set to be four times larger than the previous facility and it spans now 1,000 sq. m. of space. It features an 8 metre high climbing wall, basketball, netball, volleyball, badminton, indoor football, hockey and archery facilities, as well as a gym and two teaching suites for the new PE courses. Gary mentioned that these types of projects are rarely straightforward. “Once we were established on site, we discovered a pumped foul main drain from the school running right through the proposed new build, which was not identified on any drawings. Our task was to divert it without closing the school and to allow construction to begin.” Due to a few changes in design, notable the addition of a huge MUGA (multi-use games area), the programme changed; therefore the team found themselves in the middle of the exam period trying to keep the noise at a minimum. Furthermore, the team had to work alongside ecologists throughout the project, as the school campus had been discovered to be a hibernation ground for great crested newts. “I found myself back to school in more ways than one – I have grown professionally as a result. I am using my experience as part of my professional review in the hope of being recognised as MCIOB by the end of the year,” concluded Gary.
Kier Construction has been selected to deliver the first stage of the Citizens Theatre’s £19.4 million redevelopment project in Glasgow. During this comprehensive redevelopment of the Victorian building, the theatre will be closed starting with the summer and will reopen in late 2020. “This appointment marks the next phase in our Redevelopment Project. Kier has a wealth of experience in delivering theatre and heritage projects and it’s hugely exciting to be welcoming them to the team, led by architects Bennetts Associates, to realise our vision for the Citizens Theatre,” commented Judith Kilvington, executive director of Citizens Theatre. “Our new building has been redesigned to create level access for staff, participants and audiences members. When we reopen to the public they will easily be able to visit and view some of the best examples of theatre heritage in Europe.” For the project, Kier will work alongside the Theatre and its Design Team to make sure the Second Stage is achieved. Then, the company will carry out the construction work to transform the Victorian building. It will also contribute to the local community by providing employment and training opportunities. “We’re delighted to restore, improve and protect the iconic Citizens Theatre. This builds on our solid record of working on major heritage projects, including The Mackintosh Building at Glasgow School of Art, Edinburgh College of Art, Aberdeen Music Hall and most recently, The Burrell Collection,” said Brian McQuade, Kier Construction Scotland and North East managing director. Owned by Glasgow City Council, the Category B listed building has been leased to the Citizens Theatre Company for more than 70 years. Over the next two years, the company will keep producing shows at Tramway, Scotland Street School Museum and other venues throughout the country. The redevelopment project has already secured £17.8 million from Creative Scotland, Glasgow City Council, Heritage Lottery Fund, the Scottish Government, The Robertson Trust and other trusts and individuals. Those wishing to contribute to the remaining £1.6 million can do so through the theatre’s ‘We Are Citizens’ public fundraising campaign.
Design plans for a four star luxury, boutique hotel in Milton Keynes are now underway, following successful planning permission. The 250-bed hotel will be located on Marlborough Gate and it will include conference and meeting room services, a gym, spa and pool facilities, as well as a rooftop restaurant that will offer fantastic views over central Milton Keynes. Designed by pHp Architects, the scheme will feature an eye-catching design that will create the illusion of the sun on the east side of the hotel off Midsummer Boulevard. “We are delighted to receive the green light for the Milton Keynes hotel development. Our emphasis is on quality and the entire building design team have certainly delivered above and beyond that in their plans,” said Mark Stuart, managing director at Hotel La Tour, the owners of the development. “Hotel La Tour Milton Keynes will fill a much needed luxury services gap within the area and bring life and connectivity to it. It will also create approximately 200 new jobs as we recruit and develop local talent.” The next stage of design planning has already started for Couch Perry Wilkes (CPW), the engineers providing the mechanical, engineering and plumbing expertise, as well as the BREEAM assessor role. The other companies part of the project are Gleeds, pHp Architects and Scott, White and Hookins Structural & Civil Engineers and Sharps Redmore Acoustics. “We are busy developing client specific solutions to ensure that the guests and staff have the best possible experience when visiting and working in the hotel. We are therefore working with specialist designers for interior design, audio visual, spa specialists and artists working on commissions within the development,” explained Matt Wrate, director at CPW. The cost and project management services for the project are provided by international property and construction consultancy Gleeds.
ISG has been awarded a £13 million contract by Queensbury Real Estate to convert Manchester’s historic Grade II listed Corn Exchange into a four-star hotel. The work will include the refurbishment of the building from levels two to five, creating a 114 bedroom ‘aparthotel’ for operator Roomzzz. This scheme is phase two of a wider £30 million investment in the development of the building as a leisure destination, after the first phase saw the ground and first floor levels converted into a restaurant and bar which will stay open during the second phase of the work above. ISG is set to start work around the middle of next month and will carry out remedial works to the roof structure, before installing a cantilevered scaffold system on the first floor. After this, ISG will make significant structural changes to the floor slabs of the building to introduce new service risers to accommodate the new electrical and mechanical infrastructure. The scheme will use the existing brick walls in conjunction with new partitioning to create four new types of room, from penthouses to apartments, which will include a guest suite in the turret of the building, accessible by a new spiral staircase. An historic feature will be created within the hotel through the restoration of three architecturally listed stair cores. Northern Managing Director at ISG, Andy McLinden, said that the Manchester’s Corn Exchange is a much loved and special structure and this latest evolution builds on the growing trend for hybrid guest accommodation in Manchester. McLinden added: “This is a high-profile showcase of our capabilities delivering luxury hotel accommodation in a logistically challenging and busy city centre location, with the added complexity of working in an architecturally protected building.” He also commented that it is a great challenge for the firm, but one that he believes ISG will thrive in.
CONSTRUCTION company G F Tomlinson has officially started work on a pioneering £23 million project on behalf of the University of Nottingham to expand its Centre for Biomolecular Sciences. A ground-breaking event took place on 4 April to mark the beginning of the scheme that will deliver a state-of-the-art research facility to help identify new breakthroughs in the treatment and diagnosis for serious diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular, liver, bone and respiratory conditions. The 65,000 sq ft flexible research centre will be housed across five floors and will feature world-class laboratories and research space for 350 academics, researchers and PHD students, as well as bringing together experts currently located across six university sites. The new centre – which is due to open in late 2019 – will be located on the University Park Campus and will benefit from thermal insulation, rooftop plantrooms, photovoltaic panels and brise soleil sun screens. Two link bridges will also be created on the third floor to connect the new building to the existing Centre for Biomolecular Sciences (CBS) building and adjacent Boots Science building. Andy Sewards, managing director for G F Tomlinson said: “We’re proud to be working with the University of Nottingham again to deliver another flagship project to improve specialist research facilities; the research taking place at this centre will eventually lead to improving the lives of people affected by serious diseases. “We recently delivered the Advanced Manufacturing Building on the university’s Jubilee Campus and this development builds on our reputation for delivering high quality, sustainable buildings within the higher education sector. “This building’s sustainable features will help it to achieve BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating, meaning that it will meet strict industry standards for eco-efficiency which will help keep running costs low and protect the environment.” The expansion marks the third phase of a development by the university to satisfy demands for Biomolecular research accommodation. Several of the research groups being housed in the new facility are: Division of Cancer and Stem Cells in the School of Medicine, the Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Group, the Cancer Pathogenesis Research Group in the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, researchers from the Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre, the Division of Respiratory Medicine in the School of Medicine, the Division of Regenerative Medicine and Cellular Therapies in the School of Pharmacy. The building will also house the newly created Centre for Cancer Sciences (CCS), which will take a pioneering approach to create a new centre of excellence in the detection and treatment of cancer. The project team includes Buro Four and architects Benoy. Find out more about G F Tomlinson at www.gftomlinson.co.uk or join the conversation at @GFTomlinson.
Dexter Moren Associates (DMA), the award-winning architects, have received planning permission for a 274 key hotel on a disused brownfield site in the heart of Waterloo on behalf of client Frogmore. Apart from the guest rooms, the new development will include a ground floor restaurant fronting onto an inviting public courtyard and pocket park. The mid-market hotel will be situated in the heart of the London Borough of Southwark and it will contain two separate blocks of accommodation connected via an elegant light weight glazed bridge link. A public route between the two blocks will lead to a verdant pocket park and the new Marlborough Yard. The pocket park will incorporate seating, sculpture and abundant planting to offer respite and a sense of place within the hubbub of city life. Diverse tree species will provide shade and create a calm oasis, as well as helping to improve local air quality. Native and ornamental plants will foster biodiversity throughout the scheme and a mosaic of wildflower and sedum green roofs will provide a habitat for wildlife. “This is a complex and sensitive site and our design has been through several iterations, each taking on board comments from council officers and local stakeholders. The approved scheme is a thoughtful and outward looking development that is respectful to its context and neighbours, as well as creating a beautiful pocket park that invites locals and hotel guests alike to meander through the re-instated roadway and spend time in the restaurant and courtyard,” said director of DMA Mark Wood. The company’s design will reinterpret local materials and characteristic into a contemporary piece of quality architecture. The three colours used are glazed green, yellow London stock and pale white matt, while the textures and tones of brickwork reflect the local Victorian industrial vernacular and public houses and give a light, delicate façade, with a repetition of bay elements creating a structure and vertical rhythm. The work on the site will start this summer and will aim to achieve BREEAM Excellent rating.
Since Rothgen Capital UK announced the launch of the latest funding round for The Tyram Lakes Hotel, Spa and Resort in Hatfield, near Doncaster in Yorkshire UK, Doncaster as an area has been attracting a significant amount of new attention, both domestic and internationally. As well as Doncaster’s undeniable horse racing heritage, it has a surprising amount to offer in other areas. This has recently been demonstrated by Amazon, IKEA, Tesco, Lidl, BMW, Asda et al who are all utilising the convenient geographical location for their large distribution centres, plus Doncaster’s obvious proximity to significant transport and travel capabilities, including Doncaster Sheffield (formerly Robin Hood) airport. Amongst other news of note, the Yorkshire Wildlife Park has recently announced its £50M expansion which will potentially make it a top UK destination. With so much international attention now focussing on the Doncaster area in general, can it be much wonder that property developers have started exploring possibilities in the region? With infrastructure improving weekly, and demonstrable confidence from some of the world’s best known companies, the luxury property sector is finally also taking notice. One of these sector members is Rothgen Capital’s Tyram Lakes project, which uses cutting edge ecological and eco-friendly innovations as its basis, and is leading the field in this kind of development, thus of particular interest to energy focussed investors and the media alike. In the centre of the Humberside Peatlands, Hatfield Moor and the National Nature Reserve in South Yorkshire, plans are already approved for 325 luxury eco-lodges set on and around 65 acres of lakes adjacent to 100 acres of natural woodlands, plus the hotel and spa, constituting The Tyram Lakes Hotel, Spa and Resort. There are two types of eco-lodges. About a third of the lodges (125) will be floating structures, and a further 200 will be set amid the vast woodlands. Available from two to four bedrooms versions, all lodges will blend into the landscape providing private hideaways with natural spaces all around. Lodge features include rooftop gardens fitted with solar panels, decking areas with sunken spa bath and a choice of classic or contemporary interiors. In the centre of the resort will sit the planned boutique hotel by Den Architecture in association with Baca Architects, who are specialists in eco-friendly and amphibious projects. This unique hotel will offer 104 rooms, conference facilities, a fine dining restaurant with lakeside views, an indoor pool, leisure club, spa, gymnasium, and a picturesque wedding and party venue. How did this happen? Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council approved the application to build the green resort in December 2016, commencing with the first phase of 50 eco-lodges. The scheme comprises four phases of development: Phase1 – 50 Lakeside and floating lodges Phase2 – 104 Bedroom Hotel, Spa, and Leisure Centre Phase3 – 75 Lakeside and floating lodges Phase4 – 200 Woodland retreat lodges …. and embraces the very latest science and technology to create a resort which is designed to function through environmentally accredited solutions that are energy efficient, all of which engage and sustain the local ecosystems. “The scale and ambitious nature of the plans will ensure the resort is one the most luxurious, fun and relaxing holiday destinations in Europe. This green development will be as sustainable as it’s currently possible to build, and be exemplary case study for other developers,” says Baca Associate, Andrew Scrace. Ecological solutions Geyser Thermal Energy (GTE) has designed from scratch the heating and hot water system for the resort without a significant negative impact on the local ecology. Using the main lake as a heat source for the lodges, coupled with various (non-chemical) water filtration processes, energy consumption and the need for chemicals is vastly reduced. This innovative renewable heating system coupled with highly efficient and ecologically sound water solutions leads also to minimal running costs and environmental impact for the development. The Laws of Attraction Funding rounds by property developers are executed in a number of ways ranging from loans, finance and bridging through to private capital, usually with ease for potential investors in mind. In its hallmark innovative fashion, Rothgen/Tyram Lakes have engaged the Accounting Worx Group, based in Reading UK (along with international presence), who have designed and implemented specific financial instruments for the project to enable investors to participate quickly and easily. These range from bonds through to larger private capital arrangements – all being very attractive for new participants. The investment interest attracted by Tyram Lakes is not just from the Green and Eco sectors. The inherent design and sustainability factors have led to the world famous ARMANI fashion house /brand becoming involved with the design of a selection of exclusive lodges on the site. This means that The Tyram Lakes Resort & Spa is the first holiday resort inside the UK to have Armani participating in this way. Natural England too have partnered with Tyram, who have a sizeable park neighbouring Tyram Lakes, and who also have given complimentary access for Tyram Lakes visitors, enabling yet more acres for hiking, trails, and exploration. With all this happening then, it’s no surprise that Hoseasons, the UK’s largest park operator, are on board. They believe that Tyram could become a flagship park to sit within the Hoseasons Portfolio and have provided projected rental incomes and occupancy levels to back this up showing strong returns, thus providing evidential balance sheet background for those wishing to invest. Finishing off this latest update, Rothgen and Tyram Lakes are pleased to announce the arrival of Royal patronage in the form of Princess Alexandra Cantacuzène-Spéransky who will also be delighted to welcome new participants and investors to the project. So, Doncaster, Yorkshire, UK is ALIVE, and The Tyram Lakes Resort & Hotel is inviting investors to play along……
