A new five year framework with UK sports charity, the Football Foundation, has been secured by four firms. The firms appointed to provide services which will improve hundreds of community sports facilities in northern England are industry consultancy Gleeds and specialist sporting architecture firm LK2, along with Couch Perry Wilkes and engineers BSP Consulting. “We are delighted to take a place on this framework with LK2. Football is the national game and the biggest team sport in England. The Football Foundation has already overseen investment of over £1 billion in improving facilities since 2000, and Sport England has invested more than £70 million into sports facilities over the past four years,” said Gleeds Director, Anthony Cork. “The sports sector is a key focus for Gleeds, and we are rapidly growing our expertise in this area so we are pleased to be part of an ongoing programme of works which will improve community sporting facilities across the north,” he continued. The work will vary depending on individual project requirements, with features including the design, supply and installation of modular buildings to provide new changing rooms and clubhouse facilities. The programme is part of a wider Government strategy to 2021 to improve ‘grassroots’ sporting facilities to encourage more community involvement. Dale Lui, Managing Director of LK2, also commented on the news: “We were keen to support Gleeds with this framework bid acting as a sub-consultant on the framework. Our firms have huge combined expertise in the sporting facilities sector. Together we will provide design and construction consultancy support and help improve large numbers of facilities in the north of England.” “We are very proud to join our peers LK2, Gleeds and BSP on this framework, which is an outstanding example of industry-wide collaboration and will no doubt deliver some truly excellent projects. Grassroots football is one of the key cornerstones of our national sport and improving the facilities local clubs have access to will go a long way to enrich the lives of aspiring sportsmen and sportswomen across the UK,” added Nilesh Mistry, director at Couch Perry Wilkes.

AS PART of a £250 million regeneration plan, a new 10 storey, 250 room hotel complex is starting to take shape in Leicester – with completion expected in late 2019. Two national hotel operators – Novotel Hotels and Adagio – have already signed up to operate the 252 bed hotels, which are being delivered by Charles Street Buildings Group (CSB), with national property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Pick Everard delivering mechanical and electrical engineering (M&E), structural engineering and quantity surveying (QS) services for the project. Graeme Milligan, national director at Pick Everard said: “Pick Everard has been delivering projects in Leicester for more than 150 years, so this is a project we’re particularly invested in. “We’re working to quite a tight, complex site so the plans – as well as the delivery itself – has had its challenges. We managed to negotiate this by an organised road closure, with a significant level of traffic management in place and the installation of tower cranes. “It has been important to consider how the development would fit into the local area so we’ve been working closely with the architects – Leach Rhodes Walker and Stephen George Partnership – to make sure that the look and feel of the city remains but is suitably enhanced and the public realm is improved upon. “Energy efficiency has been considered as being of paramount importance for new hotels. The lifecycle of the buildings has been taken into account, with future maintenance and running costs factoring into the designs to ensure that it makes as little environmental impact as possible – while remaining aesthetically pleasing. “From an M&E perspective, the designs included thermal modelling, which benefitted from the concrete mass of the building. Daylight analysis was also used throughout which influenced the final façade treatment. “We also had to factor in the acoustic elements of the individual rooms and conference facilities, which all have stringent planned noise and straight noise levels to ensure that the guests’ experience is the best it can be. The ground floors of each building really do have the ‘wow factor’, creating a strong first impression upon guests and feature creative uses of lighting and architectural features. “As a multi-disciplinary practice, with considerable experience in the hotel and leisure sectors, we’ve saved time and money through efficiencies gained by integrated working practices that are very specialist and not widely used in the industry. “We’re incredibly proud to be involved with this project and look forward to seeing the new hotels in use next year, bringing more tourism and business into the city.”

A £15 million mixed use local centre has been designed and delivered by the leading architectural practice Stephen George + Partners LLP (SGP). The centre will be located in the heart if the 3,300 homes residential extension of Didcot Great Western Park in Oxfordshire. The client, Henry Davidson Developments, was keen to balance commercial aspirations and community aspirations. SGP’s local centre consists of an 11,000 sq ft Asda anchor and 9,400 sq ft of ancillary retail, with 20 apartments and engaging public realm, providing high quality facilities and a focus on the local community. “The design centred around providing a first class local centre with first class facilities. We’ve taken on board the views of the local community to create an attractive, inclusive scheme, integrated into its surroundings, which people will want to visit and enjoy. With a strong sense of identity, the development will feed and sustain a growing local economy now and in the future,” said Stuart Hancox, Director at SGP. Taking inspiration from the surrounding area, the design incorporated material elements from vernacular and landmark buildings, while retaining a modern feel to reflect the youthful population and the scientific technologies prevalent in local workplaces. The balconied apartments are spacious and offer high levels of natural light via the generous glazing. Traditional red brick signifies the residential entrance, whilst the crisp white render gives a modern feel. Lightly coloured glass balconies enrich the facade and form a vibrant focus and backdrop to the newly created public square. In order to provide maximum flexibility for the developer, the design concept accommodated a variety of construction methodologies, including the eventual use of a timber frame for the apartment buildings. The apartment and retail elements form part of a wider SGP Master Plan delivered by Henry Davidson Developments, including a care home, public house, and nursery.