PLANNING permission has been granted for a revolutionary multi-million-pound ‘public service development’ at Western Way, Bury St Edmunds – designed to unite public services with enterprising space. The 17-acre development will provide a nationally ground-breaking way to deliver integrated public services for its communities, as part of a network of existing and planned ‘hub’ projects in West Suffolk. The development will offer a new, state-of-the-art leisure centre with an integrated health and social care hub, including large amounts of new employment space, council services, police, an advice centre, voluntary organisations, and community and education services, all located within one building, improving public access, service delivery and efficiency. As well as offering opportunities for multiple other partners to join the scheme under the auspices of the government’s One Public Estate programme, the project will repurpose a 10,000m2, 1960s depot building as part of its sustainability objectives, including significant infrastructure improvements and while further work will take place on a green travel plan with the emphasis being on reducing car travel. The plans were approved by West Suffolk Council at a committee meeting last week. A full range of services will be undertaken by built environment consultancy Pick Everard – operating under Perfect Circle’s unique collaboration, which works exclusively on Scape Group’s Built Environment Consultancy Services (BECS) framework – including architecture, building service, structural and civil engineering, quantity surveying, sustainability including BREEAM, BIM, highways engineering, interior design, and health and safety. Paul Darlow, regional lead for East Anglia at Perfect Circle, who is also regional director at Pick Everard, said: “We are really pleased to receive planning permission for the redevelopment of Western Way. This is set to be a significant project for the region and will form part of the long-term vision to create jobs and attract investment to the area.” The team has been working on the project since 2016, following their work on the original masterplan and delivery of phase one, West Suffolk House, in 2009; producing master planning options, project costs and supporting the business case, which were presented in 2019. Over this period, the team has been providing a large range of services to deliver this second phase, including architecture, building services, structural and civil engineering, quantity surveying, sustainability including BREEAM, BIM, highways engineering, interior design, landscape and health and safety. Victoria Brambini, managing director at Perfect Circle, said: “This latest step in the Western Way development has been a long time in the making, following several years of hard work alongside the council to bring this ambitious concept together and create detailed plans for the public service development.” Councillor John Griffiths, leader of West Suffolk Council, said: “We are pleased that another important step has been taken along the way to deliver another ground-breaking initiative in West Suffolk. Not only will people be able to access health, leisure, education and public services on one site, but it shows that working together across the public sector in new ways can bring greater benefits to health and wellbeing. We are now looking forward to working with our partners to consider the next stages of delivering this long-term and exciting project, which if anything, recent events have shown is even more needed than ever”. Councillor Jo Rayner, portfolio holder for leisure, culture and community hubs, said: “Western Way is part of the way public sector partners in Suffolk are working across traditional boundaries to improve outcomes for our communities. Mildenhall Hub is another such project nearing completion which brings services together in one place so people can benefit from a more holistic approach to their needs, such as having complementary facilities and expert advice, such as health and leisure, together in one place.” Perfect Circle, comprising Pick Everard, Gleeds and AECOM, was appointed for the scheme via Scape Group’s National Built Environment Consultancy Services (BECS) framework, which provides the broadest range of consultancy services available to be public sector. For more information about Perfect Circle, visit www.perfectcircle.co.uk.

Plans for a major mixed-use development, including approximately 1,200 homes, are being proposed for the former Gould Street Gasworks site north of Manchester city centre. Gasworks New Town would comprise the news homes as well as commercial units, a new park located off Gould Street, and pedestrian and cycling routes. A 33-storey tower is also lined up. The company behind the proposals is Southvalley Estates, part of MCR Property Group. Southvalley Estates has owned the land – which has been operating as a surface car park in recent years – since 2015. “Our vision for this site has been a labour of love over the past few years. Our ambitious proposals for The Gasworks New Town realise the development potential of a key city centre location and the aspirations for the Northern Gateway,” said Nick Lake, asset manager at MCR Property Group. “We have worked in close collaboration with Manchester City Council to bring forward a major transformative development that will create a new beating heart of a community in close proximity to the city centre. We look forward to finalising the formal planning application in line with public feedback.” Manchester City Council had earmarked the site for a residential-led development, designed to be a “flagship element” of its Northern Gateway Strategic Regeneration Framework. Working with WSP, Southvalley is now seeking feedback from communities, workers and stakeholders on the draft proposals before a planning application is submitted later in the year. The plans have been prepared by AHR, with landscape and public realm designed by Planit.

Revised plans have been submitted for a mixed-use development in York featuring a new Roman visitor attraction. The proposed Roman Quarter development is a partnership between North Star and York Archaeological Trust, and is set to bring a news Roman visitor attraction to the city. It aims to regenerate and revitalise Rougier Street, as well as provide a major two-year archaeological dig on the site. Three properties on Rougier Street – Northern House, Rougier House and Society Bar – would be replaced with a new building incorporate cutting edge sustainable technology and features. The scheme will include apartments, retail units, office space, leisure space, alongside the visitor attraction. “We want to deliver this exciting project as quickly as possible which is why we have amended the plans. In the post-Covid uncertain economic times, we feel that this project will be a major boost to York city centre and help with York’s economic recovery,” said a spokesperson for North Star. “It will raise the city’s profile, create a fantastic new educational and cultural attraction and will show the city moving forward. We’ve taken on board comments about the height of the development and have now lowered the proposals to make this building the lowest of the four large buildings in the immediate vicinity. We strongly believe that this addresses the main issue that was raised.” Following feedback from the council, stakeholders and other consultees, amended plans have been lodged with City of York Council to address issues raised. The height of the development has been reduced to make it lower than the adjacent Aviva Offices, Yorkshire House (soon to be the Malmaison hotel) and The Grand Hotel. Changes have been made to the design, with more stone and less glass, to complement the two taller existing buildings either side of the new development. The overall massing and width of the building has also been decreased and the mix of the apartments has been altered to provide larger, family-style. The total number of units has been reduced from 290 to 250. It has been estimated that the development would create more then 450 jobs and inject an extra £250m into the region’s economy over the next 30 years, as well as adding to York’s cultural offer. “We have had a superb response to the concept of the Roman visitor attraction, and indeed, enormous excitement about the potential of the archaeology that we will be uncovering during the dig if the plans are approved,” commented David Jennings, chief executive of York Archaeological Trust. “We know that this site has had many uses over the last 2,000 years, and we are very pleased to be partnering with an organisation that sees the building as an integral part of the city’s future – helping to regenerate this area, a fascinating and important place in the city at various points in history, with a building that fits into the urban landscape of Rougier Street and Tanner’s Moat.”

The first phase of the £650 million Island Quarter development, called Canal Turn, in Nottingham has been unveiled. Artists’ impressions of the long-derelict site include a three-storey pavilion on the water which features two restaurants, events space and a large rooftop terrace. Conygar also revealed a bandstand and significant amounts of public space. The webisode also included a new showcase video with Cllr David Mellen, leader of Nottingham City Council, and chief executive of Conygar, Robert Ware. “Conygar has been working closely with the architects and design teams to develop these plans, not only for the first phase but also for the bigger site as well. The site will create a worldwide destination for Nottingham which will provide year-round interest and community facilities which can be used from dawn until dusk,” said Richard Watson, director of Conygar Nottingham who is overseeing development plans. Outline planning permission for the whole development was granted by Nottingham City Council in April 2019. The overall plans for the 40-acre site will bring new homes, grade A office space, creative spaces, lifestyle hotel with PRS and co-working space, a ‘linear’ park and community and event space as well as student accommodation to the city. “The layers of cultural and historic legacy of this site go on for decades if not centuries. What we’re producing is a pavilion that evokes the memory of the industrial and railway age – something which looks as if it’s a legacy element that’s been left on the quayside of a working canal and will blend with that history while providing incredibly up to date and current facilities for the future,” added James Dilley, director of architect Jestico+Whiles which has worked on Canal Turn. Paul Seddon, director of planning and regeneration at Nottingham City Council, also commented: “The Island Quarter has been vacant for far too long. It is part of our wider city centre – it’s very visible and has perhaps been a symbol of our city in previous years. This project is a significant part of the once-in-a-generation regeneration of Nottingham and as we move into challenging times, seeing this site progress over the next decade will be critical for the city.”

Plans for The Mere Golf Resort & Spa to significantly expand its operations, in a move which will create jobs and help boost the area’s economic prosperity, have been backed. A range of enhancements are proposed, the main aspects being 64 new bedroom suites, the enlargement of the conference and banqueting facilities, and the remodelling of the reception areas. “This is a momentous leap for us that will allow us to meet evolving market demands and encourage guests on both a national and international scale to experience Cheshire and the North West of England. We are confident that this will help improve the local economy and job creation for the surrounding areas and we look forward to seeing our vision come to life,” said Gary Johnson, general manager of The Mere Golf Resort & Spa. The amenities are geared towards increasing capacity to 950 guests. Also lined up are improvements to restaurants, external terraces and additions to the hotel spa, all of which will be carried out within the resort’s Green Belt setting. “This is a reflection of the excellent standing and reputation which The Mere Golf Resort & Spa enjoys in Cheshire, the careful design of these significant new buildings which are a key part of its future growth ambitions and the strong economic need case that underpinned the proposals,” added Gary Halman, principal at Avison Young, who promoted the planning application for The Mere. Avison Young led a multi-disciplinary team which included Leach Rhodes Walker, the designer and masterplanner of the project.

More details have been unveiled about Sheffield’s Heart of the City II with the council set to move a number of elements of the project forward. A number of high-profile international occupiers have already been attracted to the area, including HSBC, CMS and Radisson Blu, plus Swedish fashion brands, Weekday and Monki, alongside local companies such as Marmadukes and New World Trading Company. Conversations with John Lewis & Partners were said to be ongoing and the council is seeking authority from cabinet next week to restructure the lease on its Barker’s Pool shop, which would facilitate its refurbishment. Cabinet will also be asked to authorise the release of Block G – the former South Yorkshire Fire Authority Headquarters site and now the Wellington Street surface level car park – to the private sector. Investors or developers will be asked to come forward with ideas for schemes that fit with the updated Heart of the City II masterplan. This move follows the model of Block F, where American investor Angelo Gordon is leading the development of Kangaroo Works, a residential scheme of 364 build-to-rent apartments. “Our investment in Heart of the City II has established the opportunity for Sheffield to become a thriving commercial centre and to create jobs. The ongoing success of the scheme has built up the confidence of the private sector to invest in Sheffield,” said Cllr Mazher Iqbal, cabinet member for business and investment at Sheffield City Council. “As a result, we have made the decision to release Block G of the wider masterplan to the market. This will reduce our borrowing requirements for the scheme from £470m to around £370m, which lowers the financial risk to the council – a prudent approach during the current climate – while maintaining the ambitions of the scheme. “We are also restating our commitments in the two key areas of carbon reduction and fair pay. This is all part of building a city centre that is fit for the future and supports our communities and environment to thrive.”

Construction firms are to have the chance to develop a ground-breaking building designed to attract tech and creative businesses to Swansea city centre. Tender documents for the multi million-pound project have been published for the construction of a glazed building rising six storeys on the site of The Kingsway’s former Oceana nightclub. It aims to bring new vitality to the city centre. More than 600 people could work in what aims to be a digitally-enabled and flexible work space for a wide variety of companies, educational institutions and individuals. Plans for 71 and 72 Kingsway were approved this summer. The project will be procured via a mini tender against the South West Wales Regional Contractors Framework. The building will be high-tech, eco-friendly and have flexible open-plan work spaces including the balconies overlooking the city centre. The scheme includes a new link from Oxford Street onto The Kingsway. Rob Stewart, leader of Swansea Council, said 71 and 72 Kingsway was a key to unlock the regeneration potential of the city centre. “71 and 72 Kingsway is a prestige development that will help further transform our city centre, creating high-tech, high-value jobs and offering 21st century business space to innovative and creative industries,” said Stewart. “We’re confident it’s the kind of development construction firms will want to be part of. Any visitor to the city centre recently will have seen things changing at pace. The steel framework for the £135m Swansea arena scheme is clear to see and the £12m makeover of the Kingsway area is nearly there.” It’s anticipated that construction of 71 and 72 Kingsway could start early next year, with the building opening in late 2022.