A disused site on Weymouth’s coast could be transformed into a picturesque housing and industrial development in multi-million regeneration plans. The land at Newton’s Road off Newton’s Cove was formerly the base of defence research company QinetiQ Bincleaves up until its closure. The disused site has been subject to regeneration
Glass Futures, Network Space Developments, St Helens Borough Council, Liverpool City Region, MPs Marie Rimmer and Connor McGinn and contractor Bower & Kirkland welcomed UKRI and BEIS to the site to mark the ground-breaking of the Glass Futures Centre of Excellence. The 165,000 sq ft transformational global glass research and
THOUSANDS of visitors have now visited the £5.4 million extension to the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent, which now houses an original Spitfire aircraft thanks to specialist project management from national property, construction, and infrastructure consultancy Pick Everard. The project comprised the design and construction of a new
Bridgwater’s £16 million leisure regeneration project in the town centre has celebrated another major milestone in its construction. Sedgemoor District Council and main contractor Willmott Dixon held a topping out ceremony to celebrate the final steelwork being installed at the highest point of the structure on the site ahead of
Today at full council, following a thorough procurement process, Preston City Council have appointed Conlon Construction Ltd as the Re-imagining the Harris Project preferred construction partner. This is a significant milestone towards the delivery of the Harris Your Place project, which aims to create a cultural, civic and community hub
TWO leading construction consultancies have formed a brand-new consortium to add to their procurement portfolios with the appointment to one of Crown Commercial Service’s (CCS) major public sector frameworks. Pick Everard and Wood hold reputations as being among the UK’s leading providers and working together will lead to greater success and
Fifteen contractors have won places on a new £500 million framework to deliver new build, infrastructure and refurbishment works for the public sector in Scotland. The Public Buildings and Infrastructure (PB3) framework from Livingston-based SPA allows public sector organisations in Scotland to source contractors for works relating to the construction and refurbishment
PLANS for the first phase of a 10-acre business park next to Worcestershire Parkway Station, submitted by the UK property developer, Godwin Developments, have been approved today (Thursday, 14 October 2021) by Wychavon District Council. Amended proposals for the scheme located in Woodbury Lane in Norton, Worcestershire, will see 2.5
GMI Construction is making good progress at Thorpe Park Leeds as work continues apace on the new 133,118 sq ft landmark B3 office for Lovell. The project is being undertaken for Scarborough International with whom GMI’s relationship continues to flourish at al levels With GMI’s management team working shoulder to
Leeds-based property development and investment company, GMI Developments has submitted a planning application to Harrogate Borough Council to create a new mixed-use development comprising a destination restaurant and bar, retail space and 3 apartments at 132-136 Kings Road in central Harrogate. The premises, which have stood vacant since January 2020,
A disused site on Weymouth’s coast could be transformed into a picturesque housing and industrial development in multi-million regeneration plans. The land at Newton’s Road off Newton’s Cove was formerly the base of defence research company QinetiQ Bincleaves up until its closure. The disused site has been subject to regeneration developments after being earmarked for redevelopment in April 2008 to build a new hotel, takeaway restaurant and 110-residential apartment block but development never started. Read more: Inflatable park including 50ft obstacle course and huge slides is coming to Weymouth A separate application to build a care village of 195 supported living units, a 60-bed care home, 34 respite hotel suites, cafe and restaurant was approved in August 2016. Despite the existing premises being demolished, the new development was never built. Since then, the 12-acre site was sold to Juno Developments UK Ltd in 2021 as they unveiled their ambition to regenerate the disused site in a £70milllion project. The Pegasus Group, on behalf of Poole-based Juno Developments UK Ltd, has submitted outline planning permission to Dorset Council to construct a mixed-use development comprising up to 189 dwellings and 65-bed care home, with space for a gym, swimming pool and spa. The application also includes office/light industrial floorspace and a waterside restaurant with associated car parking, with vehicular and pedestrian access from Newton’s Road. The developers add they would carry out cliff stabilisation and sea defence works as well as create pedestrian paths and cycle lanes. The plans show the coastal Weymouth site will have five ‘character areas’, which comprise of a 119-flat residential block, 62-flat residential block, 65-bed care home, home zone comprising of eight townhouses and an employment block of six units. The residential flats will have 58 one-bedroom units, 108 two-bedroom units and 15 three-bedroom units. Developers feel the development would allow Dorset Council to “meet its housing needs and contribute to the vitality and viability of the economy and the social well being of the local residents.” Its design and access statement reads: “Overall, this statement has demonstrated that the siting, alignment, design, scale, mass, and materials used would complement and respect the character of the surrounding area and would actively reinforce the sense of place by ensuring that general design of the proposed buildings would be in harmony with each other whilst also making reference to the former industrial buildings which used to occupy the site. “In conclusion, this application represents an opportunity to contribute to the regeneration of Weymouth town centre with a comprehensive high-quality redevelopment proposal that will provide a sustainable mix of residential accommodation and employment-generating uses.” The application, which is in its public consultation stage, has already attracted one positive comment from a resident has he welcomed the plans for a new restaurant. Luke Brain wrote to Dorset Council: “(I) Love the plans for Newtons Cove. An area which has always looked a little bit drab can, at last, be appreciated. “It would be good to see a tourism aspect as part of the plans. I like the fact it will offer somewhere to grab food or a drink while walking around the Newtons Cove/ Nothe Area.”
Glass Futures, Network Space Developments, St Helens Borough Council, Liverpool City Region, MPs Marie Rimmer and Connor McGinn and contractor Bower & Kirkland welcomed UKRI and BEIS to the site to mark the ground-breaking of the Glass Futures Centre of Excellence. The 165,000 sq ft transformational global glass research and innovation facility is expected to complete in January 2023, ready for internal fit-out. Network Space Developments (NSD) has appointed building contractor B&K to deliver the building at Saints Retail Park, occupying a site with links to the historic glass industry for which the town is famed. Delivery of the project was conceived and is being managed by landowner and developer NSD, on behalf of a partnership including not-for-profit research organisation Glass Futures , St Helens Borough Council, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and UKRI (UK Research & Innovation). This dynamic and fast-moving partnership has rapidly turned the Glass Futures concept into a deliverable and contracted scheme in less than two years. NSD will continue to manage the delivery of the project through to practical completion. The building has been presold by NSD to global investor Standard Life Investments Property Income Trust, part of abrdn, to secure forward funding and conclude a viable delivery strategy. Property Agents B8 acted for Network Space with CBRE acting on behalf of abrdn. It has been pre let to St Helens Borough Council on a 15-year head lease and will be sub-let to Glass Futures, which will occupy and manage the building to deliver industry and government backed research and development projects focused on decarbonising glass production. It will also provide a platform for the industry to access an experimental scale furnace to test and run trials for implementation at commercial scale on a state-of-the-art line, both collaboratively and individually. Led by Bowmer & Kirkland the Centre’s construction will bring a host of social and economic benefits to St Helens and the wider Liverpool City Region including commitments to local employment opportunities and apprenticeship hours. Speaking at the ground-breaking event, St Helens Borough Council Leader, David Baines, said: “It’s great to be here today to see construction begin on Glass Futures, the state-of-the-art, globally significant project. Over the next year, the glass research and innovation facility will be built on the brownfield site of the former United Glassworks, with a focus on decarbonising glass production. “It will once again put St Helens at the forefront of glass innovation and help us play a significant role in the Green Industrial Revolution, leading the way for other industries to cut their carbon emissions. “The fact that work has begun only two years since the scheme was conceived is testament to some exceptional partnership working, and I’d like to thank Glass Futures and everyone involved for their efforts in getting us to this stage.” Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “Just a few months ago, the UK hosted world leaders at the COP26 summit in Glasgow. It was agreed there that urgent action is needed to tackle the emergency we face from climate change. Glass Futures is a prime example of how we can do that – whilst also building back from the economic fallout from Covid-19. “St Helens has always been a global leader in the glass industry and Glass Futures will be a key part of making sure it retains that role in the future of the industry as it decarbonises, whilst being a key driver for jobs and skills.” Bruce Adderley, Challenge Director of the UKRI’s Transforming Foundation Industries challenge, said: “The goal of the Transforming Foundation Industries Challenge is to help energy and resource intensive industries such as glass, steel, cement, ceramics, paper, and chemicals develop new green technologies and more efficient ways of working together. “This event at St Helens is an important milestone on the road to achieving this aim which is essential if the UK and its regions are to deliver world-leading net-zero carbon clusters. As we progress with its development, this global centre of excellence will support the glass and other foundation industries in their transitions to more efficient, productive, and environmentally conscious operating models.” Marie Rimmer, MP for St Helens South and Whiston, said: “For centuries glass has been a huge part of St Helens. It is part of the fabric that makes up our town. Glass Futures will keep St Helens at the heart of the global glass industry for many more years to come. “The ground breaking today represents a significant step towards a promising future for St Helens. Glass is going to be the green material of choice for decades to come. The research and innovation that takes places at Glass Futures will make sure that local people and our town benefits.” Catherine Chilvers, Development Director at Network Space, said: “Today’s event was a notable milestone for the project and follows two years of dedicated partnership working between ourselves, Glass Futures, St Helens Borough Council, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and UKRI. It is fantastic for all partners to see the works commencing on site as we transform a redundant former glass works site into a global R&D asset. The project will proudly secure St Helens at the forefront of glass innovation and sustainable glass production.’’ Glass Futures’ Chief Executive, Richard Katz, said: ““With the ground-breaking ceremony, Glass Futures has reached a real milestone in the delivery of its Global Centre of Excellence for glass in R&D, innovation and training. Due for completion next year, we will be targeting the elimination of carbon from mass production in the glass industry, as well as other Foundation Industries. “For the future of mankind, it’s essential the world wakes up to the damage it’s doing to itself and collectively acts now to dramatically reduce fossil fuel emissions whether from industry, transport, agriculture or domestic heating. The Glass Futures’ hot glass experimental facility is a substantial stepping stone to cutting emissions, designed to work both collaboratively or privately with industry to identify and deliver sustainable
THOUSANDS of visitors have now visited the £5.4 million extension to the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent, which now houses an original Spitfire aircraft thanks to specialist project management from national property, construction, and infrastructure consultancy Pick Everard. The project comprised the design and construction of a new 3,800 square foot, double height exhibition space with mezzanine and the alteration and refurbishment of the existing café space within the art gallery and museum, alongside extensive external landscaping. Utilising a steel frame and rainscreen cladding, the new exhibition space has been designed with specialist structural glazing to allow the main attraction, the city’s iconic RW388 Spitfire Aircraft, to be exhibited. The area also houses a flight simulator, model Hurricane aircraft and other exhibitions. Seeking an expedited project process to ensure scheduled delivery, Pick Everard – operating under Perfect Circle’s unique collaboration – was appointed as Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s multi-disciplinary construction consultant through SCAPE’s Built Environment Consultancy Services (BECS) framework. Matt Jones, associate project manager at Pick Everard, said: “Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s aspiration for a statement project that provides meeting and social space for the general public captured our imagination and we worked collaboratively with the wider project team to develop and deliver a scheme that achieves this. In the process we overcame several challenges presented by the sloping brownfield site, in addition to the adapted structure and services of the existing building that the new exhibition space needed to be adjoined to. “Since this scheme created an extension to an existing museum, the project demanded early engagement and smart collaboration with a variety of stakeholders. This included the city council’s cabinet members, planning officers, and museum curator, along with the special interest group responsible for restoring the Spitfire and the logistics company responsible for moving the refurbished plane into the completed exhibition space. “The project began on site as the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic took hold. This meant that stakeholders collaboratively supported the implementation of safe work systems to safeguard the construction team and ensure the works could be completed in accordance with national covid-19 legislation. The project team overcame international supply chain challenges and the scheme was successfully delivered within the agreed budget and programme parameters.” Stoke-on-Trent, known as the Potteries, is internationally renowned for its ceramics. The area has a history of coal mining, so specialist geotechnical design input was critical. In conjunction with the Coal Authority, an approach was agreed to backfill existing mine workings beneath the proposed building, which allowed construction to proceed. Matt Hall, national director for project management at Pick Everard said: “We are delighted to have delivered such a historically significant development, which creates a lasting legacy for the city of Stoke-on-Trent. Our expertise, combined with that from tourism and leisure architect Glancy Nicholls, has created a spectacular display space for the iconic Spitfire – a centrepiece the city can be proud of.” The project is a key development in support of Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s strategy to improve attractions in the centre of the city and the overall visitor experience. The new spaces, constructed by Morgan Sindall Construction, allow the exhibition space to be enjoyed by people both inside and outside of the Potteries Art Gallery and Museum. Cllr Daniel Jellyman, cabinet member for infrastructure, regeneration and heritage, said: “We are really happy with the outcome of this project. Not only have we managed to pay homage to one of Stoke-on-Trent’s true icons – Reginald J. Mitchell, the designer of the Spitfire plane – but we have also improved the aesthetics and accessibility for those walking to and around the site, through our new pedestrian links. “Along with the socio-economic benefits that will come from this project, the site will add tangible value and energise the community, providing them with a new landmark the city can be proud of.” Pick Everard employs more than 600 staff across its 13 offices, providing a range of project, cost, and design consultancy services. For more information, please visit www.pickeverard.co.uk. TO VIEW THE OPERATION SPITFIRE FILM, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
Bridgwater’s £16 million leisure regeneration project in the town centre has celebrated another major milestone in its construction. Sedgemoor District Council and main contractor Willmott Dixon held a topping out ceremony to celebrate the final steelwork being installed at the highest point of the structure on the site ahead of its planned opening in Autumn 2022. Guests and children from the adjacent Northgate Primary School took to some of the steel beams with pens to sign their names to mark the occasion. In reference to a 14th century building tradition in Northern Europe, a small yew tree was taken to the top of the building for the ceremony and will be planted in the redeveloped Brewery Field later. Reaching a total height of 41.8ft, the last piece of steel was secured on the roof of the 40,000 sq. ft scheme which will be boasting a state of the art 7-screen cinema operated by WTW Scott Cinema, an 8-lane bowling alley and sports bar operated by Allstars. The development will also feature 12,000 sq. ft of flexible restaurant space in five restaurant units with outdoor dining areas, available for local, regional and national food and drink brands. Commenting on this significant moment, Cllr Alan Bradford, Chairman of Sedgemoor District Council, said; “Northgate Yard is a huge investment in the town centre and is set to be a landmark destination for both locals and tourists. We’re delighted that so much progress has been made on the construction and that we’re already at such a landmark stage in the build – it won’t be long before we’ll all be enjoying the leisure and entertainment facilities that will be on offer.” Rob Woolcock, Director at Willmott Dixon said; “The topping out ceremony marks a key stage in the construction of Northgate Yard, and we’re delighted to be working with Sedgemoor District Council to deliver this landmark project. We are committed to leaving a positive legacy in the communities where we build, so it was great to have the pupils from Northgate Primary School at the ceremony to sign the steel and be a part of this exciting development.” The scheme will also feature outdoor meeting places and landscaping. The adjacent green space, Brewery Field, will be improved and updated to feature an outdoor children’s play area and parkland with a pond and landscaped planting. Northgate Yard is the culmination of many years of planning for a central entertainment and dining hub for Bridgwater. Led by Sedgemoor District Council, Northgate Yard has been conceived with the local community and local economy at its heart. The Council have worked closely with the community to create and deliver a vision reflecting what the people of Bridgwater want to see. Widespread public support means the much-anticipated development will become a destination for the local community and visitors. For more information visit www.northgateyard.co.uk.
Today at full council, following a thorough procurement process, Preston City Council have appointed Conlon Construction Ltd as the Re-imagining the Harris Project preferred construction partner. This is a significant milestone towards the delivery of the Harris Your Place project, which aims to create a cultural, civic and community hub at Preston and Lancashire’s premier art gallery, museum and library. The council will now enter into a Pre-Construction Services Agreement with Conlon, which enables further detailed discussions about the project plans before presenting a further council report in April 2022. Councillor Peter Kelly, Cabinet Member for Culture, Arts and Night time Economy at Preston City Council, said, “The ambitious plans and vision we’ve had for the re-imagining the Harris project are now coming to fruition as we take this huge step forward, with local Preston firm Conlon Construction as the preferred construction partner. We can’t wait to progress this project, which will deliver an incredible revitalised space for residents and visitors to Preston to explore arts, culture and fantastic events in the years to come. Don’t forget, while this work takes place The Harris library and IT services are still open at their ‘home from home’ in the Guild Hall. Michael Conlon, chairman of Conlon Construction, said: “The Harris is a beacon for the arts and culture in Lancashire, and we’re delighted to be the preferred project partner in bringing this vision to reality. “As a local business, proud of our Preston roots, we have worked previously at the Grade I listed Harris having constructed the Discover Preston Gallery just ahead of the 2012 Guild celebrations. Our appointment to this project is a key milestone as we celebrate our 60th anniversary this year and reflect upon decades of successfully contributing to the built environment of the city and the county.”
TWO leading construction consultancies have formed a brand-new consortium to add to their procurement portfolios with the appointment to one of Crown Commercial Service’s (CCS) major public sector frameworks. Pick Everard and Wood hold reputations as being among the UK’s leading providers and working together will lead to greater success and greater benefits for clients. The formed consortium will bring together the firms’ collective expertise, resources, and skills to support the public sector throughout the whole of the UK – and internationally. Together, the firms have been appointed to five of the six available lots under the RM6165 Construction Professional Services framework covering: Lot 1 – Built Environment and General Infrastructure Lot 2 – Urban regeneration Lot 3 – International Lot 4 – High Rise Lot 6 – Environmental and Sustainability Technical Services The Construction Professional Services framework is the UK’s largest public sector framework of its kind, with a total value of up to £1.7bn. It replaces CCS’s Project Management and Full Design Team Services framework, to which Pick Everard and Wood Group were both previously appointed. Under the new consortium, clients will benefit from the two organisations’ combined forces now serving the appointed lots in collaboration. Crown Commercial Service supports the public sector to achieve maximum commercial value when procuring common goods and services. In 2020/21, CCS helped the public sector to achieve commercial benefits equal to £2.04bn – supporting world-class public services that offer best value for taxpayers. This latest appointment follows a raft of successful framework wins for Pick Everard, including two other CCS frameworks – namely the Estates Management Services and Management Consultancy Framework Three. Managing partner Duncan Green said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be announcing this consortium agreement with Wood, another industry heavyweight. “When working in such close collaboration with another organisation, the cultural alignment is of utmost importance. We have worked closely with Wood throughout recent years and this consortium appointment is the next step in the evolution of our relationship. The complementary expertise and shared client-focussed approach across our businesses will position us well to tackle any project in the public sector, providing the best possible solutions and services for any client. “We’re also really pleased to see the appointment mark us within the top consultancies being successfully awarded more than four lots on the framework, backing up the excellent industry reputations of both businesses. We look forward to continuing our collective work to deliver the excellent, high-quality services and developments for the public sector that we are known for.” The lot appointments will see the two organisations able to support public sector bodies in delivering a wide and varied range of major and minor building and civil engineering projects throughout the UK, as well as internationally under lot 3. This will cover projects that include infrastructure, urban regeneration, and high-rise accommodation typically more than 18m in height, along with the provision of environmental and sustainability technical services. Ian Cromie, senior vice president at Wood, said: “Adding this major framework to our portfolio alongside an industry leader like Pick Everard is excellent news for us at Wood. It brings significant opportunities for our combined and complementary business expertise to create benefits for the wider public sector through our development schemes. “Being appointed to five of the six available lots is a brilliant result, seeing our solutions made available across a wider breadth of the sector through an excellent, compliant and respected procurement route. We very much look forward to working in close collaboration with Pick Everard through this consortium, and to working with our clients on schemes procured through the framework.” Wood is a global leader in consulting and engineering across energy and the built environment, operating in more than 60 countries and employing around 40,000 people. For more information, please visit www.woodplc.com. Pick Everard employs more than 600 staff across its 13 offices, providing a range of project, cost, and design consultancy services. For more information, please visit www.pickeverard.co.uk.
Fifteen contractors have won places on a new £500 million framework to deliver new build, infrastructure and refurbishment works for the public sector in Scotland. The Public Buildings and Infrastructure (PB3) framework from Livingston-based SPA allows public sector organisations in Scotland to source contractors for works relating to the construction and refurbishment of educational, healthcare, emergency service and community buildings. It can also be used for residential properties within mixed-use developments, as part of a commercial building conversion, or for delivering student accommodation. SPA Director, Clive Feeney, said: “Our Public Buildings and Infrastructure framework has been built with the Scottish public sector’s needs at the forefront. It offers a broader range of works, more flexibility for mixed use projects, and expanded value bands to provide more options for procuring projects. A significant new addition is the ability to procure standalone infrastructure projects, such as bridges, retaining walls, drainage and new roadways. “The new framework has been divided into five Scottish regions, with a range of regional and national contractors appointed, giving local authorities the chance to use local contractors where appropriate. We have also made changes to the pricing schedule to give partners more cost certainty at the start of the procurement process.” The PB3 framework has four workstreams, covering new build only; refurbishment only; new build and refurbishment; and new build, refurbishment and infrastructure for projects at three different value bands. All contractors on the framework have been carefully vetted and are compliant with Scottish public sector procurement legislation. The full list of appointed companies, listed alphabetically, is: Balfour Beatty Construction Ltd BAM Construction Ltd Bancon Construction Ltd CCG (Scotland) Ltd Clark Contracts Ltd Compass Building and Construction Services Ltd Galliford Try Construction Ltd GHI Contracts Ltd Hadden Construction Ltd Interserve T/A Tilbury Douglas Construction Ltd Kier Construction Ltd M & J Group (Construction and Roofing) Ltd Maxi Construction Ltd Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure Ltd. Robertson Construction Group Ltd The PB3 framework will run from 27 October 2021 until 30 September 2025, however individual call-off projects can be completed beyond the four-year duration as long as the contract is in place prior to the framework expiry date. PB3 replaces SPA’s previous Schools and Community Buildings SCB1 and 2 frameworks, under which SPA Partners delivered 11 new primary schools, 13 new nurseries, 28 primary school expansions and 26 primary and secondary school refurbishments. Most recently, West Dunbartonshire Council used SPA’s SCB2 framework to procure its £15.1 million Renton campus project.
PLANS for the first phase of a 10-acre business park next to Worcestershire Parkway Station, submitted by the UK property developer, Godwin Developments, have been approved today (Thursday, 14 October 2021) by Wychavon District Council. Amended proposals for the scheme located in Woodbury Lane in Norton, Worcestershire, will see 2.5 acres of currently vacant land transformed into two three-storey office blocks. When completed, the development will provide c. 3,500 sq. m. of grade A office space, and include 112 private car parking spaces, including seven disabled and 12 EV charging points, 80 cycle storage spaces and 15 motorcycle parking spots. The proposals also include new tree and hedge planting to increase biodiversity on site and a new footpath link to Worcester Parkway to enable convenient access to the train station. Businesses located on-site will benefit from excellent rail connectivity due to the development’s prime location next to the new train station, with direct routes into central London, Birmingham, Cheltenham, Bristol and Cardiff. Just a mile away from Junction 7 of the M5, it will also provide easy access to the UK’s extensive road network and fast transport connections into the airports of Birmingham and Bristol. Matt Chandler, development director at Godwin Developments said: “We are delighted to have secured planning approval for this commercial scheme which will provide much-needed grade A office space in South Worcestershire. As a part of the local Development Plan, which is expected to deliver 5,000 homes and 50 hectares of employment land by 2041, it will provide much needed additional space for new and existing SMEs to grow and establish their presence in the West Midlands. It will also deliver flexible remote working opportunities for larger businesses who seek to create a suitable base for remote workers, living in the area. “We would like to thank IMA Architects for designing a scheme that fits well into the local landscape, and Wychavon District Council for their support throughout the planning process.” The application for this scheme was delivered in conjunction with planning and development consultants Avon Planning Services Ltd. For further information on Godwin Developments visit www.godwindevelopments.co.uk
GMI Construction is making good progress at Thorpe Park Leeds as work continues apace on the new 133,118 sq ft landmark B3 office for Lovell. The project is being undertaken for Scarborough International with whom GMI’s relationship continues to flourish at al levels With GMI’s management team working shoulder to shoulder with Scarborough to maintain and develop what is a long-term and trusted partnership, GMI’s skilled Project Management team also heavily bought into that collaborative philosophy. Talking about the project Leigh Bennett, GMI Project Manager at B3, said: “We have a really good relationship with the client and it’s one that’s been built over the years. I can see where the business is going and the excellent links we have with clients, such as Scarborough. And that is just on this project. “They (Scarborough’s B3 team) visit our site to see our progress, look at our safety performance, stay in close communication with our team but more than anything they let us get on with the job as that trust is there. It’s a big scheme – the biggest single office building in Leeds out of town history – and we’re delighted to be here delivering it.” Also commenting Lee Powell, GMI Divisional Managing Director, said: “We go back a long way with Scarborough Group International and that partnership has gone from strength to strength over the years. GMI Construction Group has already developed a number of significant schemes on their behalf and I’m proud of that. “I’m also proud of the teamwork out on site and the way we are working to get the desired results. When B3 is finished it will be a real feather in the cap for the region and we will have played a part in that.” Kevin McCabe, founder and Chairman of Scarborough Group International, said: “This year we are celebrating 21 years of development at Thorpe Park, of which GMI Construction has delivered a significant part on our behalf. “The depth of trust forged between our respective teams over that time is such that we now very much see them as an extension of our business. This alignment is what enables us to create thriving spaces for people to live, work and enjoy.” For further information about the development visit: https://thorpeparkleeds.com/
Leeds-based property development and investment company, GMI Developments has submitted a planning application to Harrogate Borough Council to create a new mixed-use development comprising a destination restaurant and bar, retail space and 3 apartments at 132-136 Kings Road in central Harrogate. The premises, which have stood vacant since January 2020, comprise a range of interconnected, largely two-storey buildings which extend to more than 7,300 sq ft. Ocean House (134-136 Kings Road), the former Ramus retail unit (132 Kings Road) and an industrial unit fronting Bolton Street will be redeveloped into a mixed-use lifestyle and residential development in keeping with the local area. A pre-let for the ground floor unit in Ocean House has already been agreed with Moxmoor Limited to manage a new concept restaurant and bar, led by experienced local operator Roger Moxham, one of the founding owners of the Cold Bath Brewing company. Roger Moxham has more than 35 years of hospitality expertise, including board level roles in both public and privately funded pub and restaurant companies and co-founded the highly successful Cold Bath Brewing bar opposite the town’s International Conference Centre. The new restaurant, which will create up to 20 new jobs, comprises a 70 seat internal restaurant and bar with external pavement and courtyard seating. Commenting on the offer Roger said “We will serve a diverse array of global meals rooted in Asia and the Americas which we intend to rotate throughout the year. The menu will be underpinned by a weekend brunch offer all supported by a full range of hand crafted cocktails and beers and an interesting selection of soft drinks, teas and coffees.” GMI has submitted a detailed planning application for a change of use of Ocean House to house the new restaurant and bar, as well as two apartments above. The ground floor of 132 Kings Road will remain in retail use with an apartment above and the demolition of the industrial unit on Bolton Street will provide parking and outside amenity space for the new apartments. Situated close to Harrogate town centre and 13 miles North of Leeds, the site’s neighbouring occupiers include Regal Fruiter, a Sainsbury’s convenience store and a number of well-known local indies. Harrogate town is one of the principal tourist centres in the region, benefiting from its position on the A59 which provides access to the local motorway network. Chris Gilman, Managing Director, GMI Developments commented: “Following the recent acquisition of the Kings Road property, we are excited to take this mixed-use development forward to regenerate the vacant site, subject to planning approval. With a proven, successful hospitality expert in Roger on board to create the new restaurant and bar, we are confident that his team will bring a unique and exciting destination restaurant offer to the town complemented by the rest of this high quality scheme.”
