Commercial : Specialist Facilities News
Firms Partner Up for London Development

Firms Partner Up for London Development

Two leading firms in London have joined forces to drive forward an £8 billion development at Thamesmead Waterfront. Property group Peabody and construction firm Lendlease have formed a 50:50 joint venture partnership to work on the scheme. The companies will deliver a minimum of 11,500 homes and make a significant

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Interserve to Develop Centre in Oldham

Interserve to Develop Centre in Oldham

Interserve has been chosen by Oldham Council to develop a £13 million centre for culture, arts, history and entertainment. The OMA centre will integrate the town’s existing Victorian Grade 2-listed former library and its current arts centre, and will substantially enhance the town’s cultural offering. OMA will showcase the story

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DTZ Investors Announce New Lettings

DTZ Investors Announce New Lettings

Printworks Manchester continues its strong performance in 2019 as DTZ Investors announce new lettings that diversify its offer and further cement its position as the destination for entertainment in Manchester. Having welcomed Treetop Adventure Golf and Escape Reality in 2018, the introduction of a 12-lane Tenpin bowling venue completes an

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Bournemouth Training Complex Plans Approved

Bournemouth Training Complex Plans Approved

AFC Bournemouth have put all major construction packages out to tender for its new multi-million pound training complex. This comes after the revised plans for the development were approved by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, subject to Secretary of State referral. The £20 million project will see the former Canford

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Build nears completion at Legacy Wharf in Stratford

The regeneration of Stratford is reaching a new milestone, with construction work on one of the area’s new residential communities nearly complete. Housebuilder Bellway London is behind Legacy Wharf, a development of one, two and three-bedroom apartments off Cooks Road. Building work is due to finish next month on the

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Site Remediation Work Completed in Birmingham

Site remediation works have been completed at Broad Street in Birmingham, allowing for construction to begin on a new £118 million residential tower. When complete, the Broad Street development, which was recently renamed The Mercian, will have 481 apartments exclusively for rent, offering hotel level service and a whole host

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Kier Confirmed as Main Contractor for New Prison

Kier has been confirmed by the Ministry of Justice as the main contractor for the construction of a new prison at Wellingborough, in Northamptonshire. Scheduled to start next month, work on the 1,680-place category C resettlement development is due to be completed by autumn 2021. The new prison will be built

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PLP UKLV Buys Development Land

43 acres of commercial development land has just been bought by PLP’s UK logistics investments vehicle from the joint venture between Harworth Group plc and Evans Property Group for an undisclosed sum. The company will now work with AVL to begin earthworks and on and off-site infrastructure, alongside the submission of

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Wykeland leads the way as regeneration changes the face of Hull

Prominent developer Wykeland Group is leading the remarkable regeneration of its home city of Hull, with a series of multi-million pound investments. Wykeland is one of Yorkshire and the Humber’s leading commercial developers and is a key player in a raft of major schemes in Hull as the city enjoys

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St Francis Group announces further land sale in Kidderminster

Latest transaction at premier 74-acre Silverwood’s Business Park now brings the development to 90% occupancy. St Francis Group, a leading UK-based property development and investment group and an expert in brownfield development and regeneration has announced the sale of 3.6 acres of land at its premier 74-acre Silverwood’s Business Park

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Latest Issue
Issue 324 : Jan 2025

Commercial : Specialist Facilities News

Firms Partner Up for London Development

Firms Partner Up for London Development

Two leading firms in London have joined forces to drive forward an £8 billion development at Thamesmead Waterfront. Property group Peabody and construction firm Lendlease have formed a 50:50 joint venture partnership to work on the scheme. The companies will deliver a minimum of 11,500 homes and make a significant contribution to the continuing economic regeneration of east London and the Thames Estuary. They will work with the community to revitalise the existing Thamesmead town centre, creating new cultural, community and commercial space, along with many new homes. The site, which currently includes 2.5km of river frontage as well as green space and two lakes, will see its full ambition unlocked by the two firms with a new cross-river extension of the Docklands Light Railway to Thamesmead. Peabody Chief Executive Brendan Sarsfield said: “Thamesmead Waterfront represents an historic opportunity to transform an isolated and underutilised riverside location in London. A new DLR crossing from east London would allow this long-term partnership to create a new waterfront district with thousands of new affordable homes and a new leisure, cultural and commercial offer for the town, for London, and for the wider Thames Estuary. This would unlock huge benefits for existing and new communities, boosting the economy and providing huge opportunities for London and the UK. “The Waterfront, alongside Peabody’s regeneration of the wider area, can help Thameshead become a sustainable new town – offering all of the benefits of urban living with unparalleled access to green open spaces by the Thames.” Neil Martin, CEO at Lendlease, Europe, added: “The breadth of opportunity and economic potential that this scheme offers Thamesmead and London, is enormous. Thousands of new homes and jobs can be created, but key to its successful delivery is improving connections for existing and current residents and businesses. Doing so would open up this area of London to new audiences and improve the opportunities for those already living there. “Improving transport links is a vital part of the long-term regeneration of the area, as it will bring those new homes within reach of the heart of London and help us deliver one of the most exciting new places to live in the capital.”

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Interserve to Develop Centre in Oldham

Interserve to Develop Centre in Oldham

Interserve has been chosen by Oldham Council to develop a £13 million centre for culture, arts, history and entertainment. The OMA centre will integrate the town’s existing Victorian Grade 2-listed former library and its current arts centre, and will substantially enhance the town’s cultural offering. OMA will showcase the story of Oldham’s past from its time as the cotton spinning capital of the world to the present day, with gallery spaces, archives and public research rooms. The venue will house the borough’s fulsome collection of objects and artworks and will increase public access to heritage assets. Councillor Sean Fielding, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economy and Enterprise, said: “This is another great step in the regeneration of our town centre and our plans to make Oldham a cultural destination. “Interserve has a strong track record in delivering similar projects to a high standard and were responsible for restoring the Corn Exchange in Manchester. I am confident that it will produce a great building which reflects our proud history and heritage, but also adds the modern touches needed to reflect the needs of society today.” Phil Shaw, Divisional Director at Interserve Construction, said: “Our team has significant experience of working on historic buildings like Oldham’s Victorian library and we will be bringing our expertise and capabilities to the project by adding a contemporary and modern addition to the building while respecting its architectural heritage.”

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DTZ Investors Announce New Lettings

DTZ Investors Announce New Lettings

Printworks Manchester continues its strong performance in 2019 as DTZ Investors announce new lettings that diversify its offer and further cement its position as the destination for entertainment in Manchester. Having welcomed Treetop Adventure Golf and Escape Reality in 2018, the introduction of a 12-lane Tenpin bowling venue completes an asset management project which will transform 50,000 sq ft of unoccupied space with new day time uses.  Anchored by Vue, Nuffield Health and a spectrum of popular food and beverage operators including Hard Rock Café, Nando’s, Wagamama and more, Printworks ended 2018 with a footfall of over 8.1 million, its highest footfall since 2011. The addition of Tenpin to the brand mix responds to changing leisure and customer trends by extending the Printworks offer and hopes to broaden the appeal of the venue to a wider customer base. Once viewed as a late-night destination, Printworks is becoming a round-the-clock venue for the whole family. The food and beverage offer at Printworks is also changing. On the ground floor independent restaurant, NY By Night recently opened offering wood stove pizza and craft beer. Additionally, a brand new all-day restaurant, bar and club concept inspired by the garden of Eden opened this summer replacing Tiger Tiger. Ben Haller for DTZ Investors said: “Since purchasing Printworks in 2017, DTZi has been committed to building on the existing brand offer in order to present our customers a varied mix of national and independent brands that can be enjoyed by the whole family. The introduction of brands such as Tenpin and NY By Night really works towards cementing Printworks as an all-day-round haven of entertainment in the center of Manchester.” Duncan Garood, CEO of Tenpin, said; “This is an exciting opportunity to develop our city centre proposition in the heart of Manchester’s entertainment hub. The Printworks site will open in 2020, offering visitors 12 lanes of bowling fun and a range of experiential entertainment to enjoy along with a bar and menu of easy to eat, delicious food.”  

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Bournemouth Training Complex Plans Approved

Bournemouth Training Complex Plans Approved

AFC Bournemouth have put all major construction packages out to tender for its new multi-million pound training complex. This comes after the revised plans for the development were approved by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, subject to Secretary of State referral. The £20 million project will see the former Canford Magna Golf Club site transformed into a state-of-the-art facility which will bring the club’s first team, development squad, academy and pre-academy training operations and facilities into one location. The centre will offer first-class facilities, including ten full-size pitches, three junior pitches, an indoor artificial playing surface, an outdoor artificial playing surface, state-of-the-art medical, fitness, sports science and rehabilitation facilities, administrative space and a press conference theatre. The existing building structures on the site have been demolished, while land levelling of the former golf course is due to commence later this month. AFC Bournemouth chief executive, Neill Blake, said: “I am delighted that Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council has approved our amended plans for the training complex at Canford Magna. “This is a development which will be state-of-the-art in its design and facilities, while remaining sympathetic to the green belt land it is situated on. “It is a hugely important scheme, as it will help continue the club’s progression at the highest level of football, which will in turn have a positive effect on the region as a whole. “This is an incredibly exciting time for the club, both on and off the pitch.”

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Build nears completion at Legacy Wharf in Stratford

The regeneration of Stratford is reaching a new milestone, with construction work on one of the area’s new residential communities nearly complete. Housebuilder Bellway London is behind Legacy Wharf, a development of one, two and three-bedroom apartments off Cooks Road. Building work is due to finish next month on the first phase of Legacy Wharf, which comprises five linked apartment blocks around an attractive communal courtyard with flower beds, meeting places and a children’s play area. The development includes commercial and retail premises, as well as landscaped podium gardens, a gym and a concierge service for residents, all within walking distance of one of London’s largest shopping centres, world-class sporting facilities and fantastic transport links. Emma Hamlett, Sales Director of Bellway London, said: “We’re delighted that this new community at Legacy Wharf is nearly complete, with many of our new residents already settled in and loving their brand new home in this flourishing part of the capital. “The 2012 Olympics legacy has made Stratford one of London’s most sought-after and fastest-growing residential districts and Legacy Wharf offers a great chance for first-time buyers and central London commuters to get their feet on the housing ladder in this fantastic location. “What’s more, Help to Buy London is making buying here possible for people who might otherwise not be able to afford their own place in the capital. “With apartments selling fast, I would encourage anyone hoping to take advantage of the opportunities here to act now and avoid missing out.” Help to Buy London allows purchasers to buy a new-build home with a five per cent deposit and a 55 per cent mortgage. The remaining 40 per cent is provided in the form of an equity loan from the government, which is interest free for the first five years of homeownership. The scheme is available on new-build homes in London worth up to £600,000. The final three-bedroom home within the first phase at Legacy Wharf is available from £593,000. Further one, two and three-bedroom designs are due to be released for sale soon. More information is available at bellway.co.uk   CAPTIONS A computer-generated image of Legacy Wharf, Stratford

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Site Remediation Work Completed in Birmingham

Site remediation works have been completed at Broad Street in Birmingham, allowing for construction to begin on a new £118 million residential tower. When complete, the Broad Street development, which was recently renamed The Mercian, will have 481 apartments exclusively for rent, offering hotel level service and a whole host of on-site amenities including a 24-hour concierge service and smart lifts that register when residents enter the building and are ready and waiting at ground level. It will also provide residents with quality health and wellness zones, including a 200m podium open-air running track on the roof – one of the first in the UK’s housing market. Rhodar completed an £850,000 remediation project at the site, removing redundant structures from the site including well shafts, the remnants of a former abattoir, and a series of Victorian-era basements. Remediation of soils across the 3,000 square metre site was carried out to remove asbestos, heavy metals and hydrocarbon contamination throughout the earthworks, removing all risks and safety hazards. Over a 16-week period, Rhodar’s team delivered an expertly-engineered platform to facilitate further operations allowing the tower construction phase to begin. Over 7,500 cubic metres of soil has been excavated and treated, with 6,500 cubic metres being returned to the site and 1,000 cubic metres of this soil being removed to achieve development levels. Specialist, heavy equipment, including a crusher, a screener, a roller and D5 bulldozer were needed for the next phase of remediation. 120 linear metres of sheet piling was installed to depths of up to nine metres below ground level to facilitate the excavation, processing and re-compaction of site soils during the removal of legacy below ground structures from previous phases of development. A specialist RTG RT21T piling rig was utilised together with concrete cutting equipment to remove difficult to access obstructions at the site boundaries and for the sheet piling to be installed. This will form part of the permanent works for the new residential tower. Construction has now started on-site after developer Moda Living held a ground-breaking ceremony on Tuesday 30 April.

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Kier Confirmed as Main Contractor for New Prison

Kier has been confirmed by the Ministry of Justice as the main contractor for the construction of a new prison at Wellingborough, in Northamptonshire. Scheduled to start next month, work on the 1,680-place category C resettlement development is due to be completed by autumn 2021. The new prison will be built on the same site as the former HMP Wellingborough, which closed in 2012. A price of £253 million (excluding VAT) for its design and construction has now been agreed with Kier, announced the minister. “I am committed to the building of up to 10,000 modern and decent prison places to replace old, expensive and unsuitable accommodation, and the start of work at Wellingborough is an important step forward. Providing offenders with decent conditions and regimes is absolutely key to turning their lives around and ultimately keeping the public safe,” commented Prisons minister Rory Stewart. The development at Wellingborough is part of the government’s Prison Estate Transformation Programme. Also part of the programme are another new facilitt at the former Glen Parva & Young Offender Institution (YOI) in Leicestershire and a new house block at HMP Stocken, in Rutland. “We’re very proud to have been appointed to deliver the new resettlement prison at Wellingborough and look forward to working closely with the MoJ and using our experience in new-build prison programmes to deliver first-class rehabilitation facilities,” added Mark Pengelly, executive director of Kier Major Projects.

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PLP UKLV Buys Development Land

43 acres of commercial development land has just been bought by PLP’s UK logistics investments vehicle from the joint venture between Harworth Group plc and Evans Property Group for an undisclosed sum. The company will now work with AVL to begin earthworks and on and off-site infrastructure, alongside the submission of a ”reserved matters” planning application to Leeds City Council for 850,000sqft of industrial and distribution space across 4 units. “We are very excited about this acquisition, which provides a clear opportunity for PLP to deliver high-quality logistics space in a variety of configurations for occupiers. Beyond this and our other three recent acquisitions, we continue to look for prime logistics developments and assets in key markets,” said Jeremy Greenland, CEO of PLP. Once the planning is approved, construction work will begin on the new units in Summer 2020. In addition to this purchase, PLP has also acquired a few other assets at Sheffield, Crewe and Knowsley, which will take the value of UKLV’s managed assets to £500m (€579.4m) on a completed basis. “This is an excellent outcome for all concerned which will deliver a significant proportion of the jobs promised when the Enterprise Zone was initially created. AVL’s focus now is to assist PLP to get on-site as quickly as possible so that thousands of new jobs can be delivered for the City Region to benefit from,” commented James Pitt, development director at Evans Property Group. Leader of Leeds City Council councillor Judith Blake also commented on the purchase, saying: “This deal is very welcome as it brings significant new investment into Leeds and the Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone, enhancing economic growth, job creation and innovation in the area and the city.” Established in 2015, the PLP platform is owned by Macquarie Capital, Peel Group, Ivanhoe Cambridge and its senior management team.

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Wykeland leads the way as regeneration changes the face of Hull

Prominent developer Wykeland Group is leading the remarkable regeneration of its home city of Hull, with a series of multi-million pound investments. Wykeland is one of Yorkshire and the Humber’s leading commercial developers and is a key player in a raft of major schemes in Hull as the city enjoys unprecedented regeneration after gaining national and international exposure as UK City of Culture 2017. The focal point for the city’s rejuvenation is the waterfront Fruit Market quarter. Once a near-derelict area, the Fruit Market took centre stage during the City of Culture year and is being transformed by one of the most significant urban regeneration schemes in the North of England. Wykeland is part of the Wykeland Beal joint venture with East Yorkshire-based housebuilder Beal Homes which is driving forward the £80m renaissance of the Fruit Market, in partnership with Hull City Council. The Fruit Market has been reinvented as one of the most vibrant and fastest-growing communities in the North, featuring a host of commercial, creative and cultural ventures. The first buyers are also moving into a £17m Wykeland Beal development that is adding the residential element to the developers’ “live, work and play” vision for the area. Wykeland Beal has just secured planning permission for the latest major phase of the Fruit Market transformation, which features a new head office for the UK’s leading safety company, Arco. Hull City Council’s Planning Committee gave the green light to the £22m scheme, including the Arco offices, a 350 space multi-storey car park, 34 residential units and 3,000 sq ft of retail/leisure space. The 55,000 sq ft Arco building will be one of the largest new corporate head office developments in the North of England in recent years. It will accommodate around 450 employees who will transfer from Arco’s current base, in a 1960s building a mile away which is set to be demolished as part of a £392m Highways England scheme to improve the main A63 route through the city centre. Wykeland paved the way for the Fruit Market to become a magnet for investment with developments such as @TheDock, which saw a vacant waterfront site incorporating a listed dry dock become a thriving tech campus, with the Centre for Digital Innovation (C4DI) digital hub as its centrepiece. @TheDock is acknowledged as one of the UK’s leading digital clusters, with around 200 start-up or scale-up tech firms based on site or closely linked to it, and last month Wykeland gained planning permission for two new buildings to complete the development. The £9m plans will provide 31,000 sq ft of offices, co-working and meeting space to enable tech companies to continue to collaborate and grow. Wykeland’s latest landmark development is a nine-storey hotel with rooftop sky bar offering spectacular views of Hull’s waterfront, as part of a scheme that will secure the future of two historic buildings and create a new city centre piazza. Wykeland has teamed up with Princes Quay Developments, owner of Hull’s Princes Quay Shopping Centre, for the Castle Buildings scheme featuring a 52,000 sq ft hotel with 150 bedrooms as part of a £20m investment creating up to 150 jobs. Dominic Gibbons, Managing Director of Wykeland Group, said: “Hull is riding the crest of a wave and, as a company founded and based in the city, we couldn’t be happier to be at the heart of the exciting change we are now seeing all around us. “Hull has never before experienced so much concentrated investment, but it’s certainly not an overnight success story and it’s fair to say some of it is making up ground on other major cities. “The seeds have been sown over many years, including by all the key players coming together behind the bid for Hull to be UK City of Culture. In fact, we were the first ‘business angel’ to back the bid, as well as becoming a Major Partner, and support from the city’s businesses community was a vital factor in the success of the bid and the year-long cultural programme. “Being City of Culture was a game-changer for Hull and, working together, the city has capitalised on the momentum the year generated.” Mr Gibbons said a key factor was unlocking the potential of Hull’s waterfront, including the unique Fruit Market area, which was home to the city’s wholesale fruit and vegetable trade for a century before falling into decline. He added: “Our own offices overlook the River Hull and the Humber Estuary, so we were very aware of what could be achieved. We kick-started the revival of the waterfront by acquiring and revitalising the Marina Court offices and then launching @TheDock and C4DI. “There had been previous plans by out-of-town developers to regenerate the Fruit Market, but these collapsed after the banking crisis. Back in 2013 we formed a joint venture with Beal Homes to bid to become Hull City Council’s partner, which has ultimately led to the thriving urban village we see today. “Key to all of this has been the strength of our relationships with public sector partners such as the city council and businesses such as Beal Homes and Arco. The investment Hull is enjoying also demonstrates the power of bringing together physical, social and cultural change – after all, regeneration is about people, not just buildings.” Wykeland was founded in Hull 50 years ago and has developed more than 11.5m sq ft of high-quality commercial space across the north of England and Scotland. Three years ago Wykeland sold a range of business parks in Scotland and the North East to focus on its “sphere of influence” in Yorkshire and the Humber and that decision has paid dividends. The company now has a development pipeline of almost £400m within the region, with flagship projects including the fast-growing Bridgehead and Meltonwest business parks in East Yorkshire. Wykeland has also established a reputation as a trusted partner of the public sector in bringing commercial acumen and delivery focus to public-private partnerships. As well as the partnership with Hull

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St Francis Group announces further land sale in Kidderminster

Latest transaction at premier 74-acre Silverwood’s Business Park now brings the development to 90% occupancy. St Francis Group, a leading UK-based property development and investment group and an expert in brownfield development and regeneration has announced the sale of 3.6 acres of land at its premier 74-acre Silverwood’s Business Park mixed use development in Kidderminster. The land is to be utilised to build new manufacturing, testing, warehouse and office facilities for Barton Firtop, a world leading manufacturer of filtration products, that will enable three existing sites to merge into a purpose built, ‘state of the art’ plant.   It is anticipated that the Phase 1 development shall provide 40,000 sq. ft. of facilities and employment for up to 100 people with a Phase 2 expansion planned to follow to increase this to 60,000 sq. ft. and potentially an additional 50 employees. Commenting on the deal St Francis Development Director Gareth Williams said: “We are very happy to welcome Barton Firtop to our premier Silverwood’s Business Park development and to support their next phase of growth and expansion needs   This deal follows several other land-sales during 2018 which now brings the park to practically 90% occupancy with only a few plots remaining. Silverwood’s is a real success story locally, creating much needed new housing, community facilities, leisure attractions and retail space in the process creating several hundred new jobs from the local community” Kevin Troughton, Managing Director at Barton Firtop said “This is a really exciting time for the Company enabling our current level of growth to progress to the next stage. Our company currently has space limitations and this problem is compounded by operating between three separate sites, so this new-build will enhance our capabilities and enable us to meet ever increasing capacity requirements, ultimately resulting in further increases in turnover and staffing levels. Over the last decade the company has more than doubled its staff base and with this acquisition it remains on course to expand further, based on the increasing demand for our World Leading Filtration® products that are supplied to prestigious clients around the globe.” John Dillon of GJS Dillon Commercial Property Consultants advised Barton Firtop on their acquisition. John Dillon explained that “Finding sites and existing warehouse / industrial facilities in Worcestershire is practically impossible at the moment without the help of an experienced Chartered Surveyor with local connections with Landowners, Property Owners, Pension Funds and Commercial agents. Working with Kevin Troughton at Barton Firtop and the professional team made up of Gavin Vickers from One Creative and Clare Regan at Whatley Weston & Fox was an absolute pleasure”.

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