Plans have been put forward to redevelop a temporary surface car park into a new flagship hotel in Leeds cultural quarter. Hammerson is proposing to build a new 205-bed hotel adjacent to its iconic retail and leisure destination, Victoria Gate. The Victoria Gate Hotel is part of Hammerson’s City Quarters concept, which will create vibrant mixed-use neighbourhoods surrounding Hammerson’s existing flagship destinations. This announcement follows the recent submission of mixed-use planning applications for Martineau Galleries in Birmingham, the Goodsyard in Shoreditch and a residential development adjacent to Dundrum in Dublin. A public consultation was held last month on the Leeds proposal, in which 92% of respondents said they supported the plans and believed that the proposals would support the continued growth of the city and cultural quarter. The building is designed by ACME, the same architect that planned and delivered Victoria Gate. The facade draws design cues from Leeds’ rich textile industry heritage creating a close visual relationship with the rest of the development. Alongside 205 spacious rooms, an on-site gym and conferencing facilities; a new contemporary bar and restaurant on the ground floor will welcome both guests and visitors to the city. The hotel will support 50 full and part-time jobs on completion, whilst up to 980 jobs could also be supported during the construction period. Robin Dobson, UK Director of Development and Project Management at Hammerson said: “Hammerson has a successful track record of creating vibrant continually evolving places in and around thriving European Cities, and we are delighted to continue this journey with a prestigious hotel, restaurant and bar for this iconic destination. This is an important next step in our City Quarters concept, which will see us develop the area into a thriving cultural quarter adjacent to Victoria Leeds. “It is hugely encouraging to have received such strong support for the proposals, and I would like to thank the local community for sharing their thoughts with us ahead of submission.”

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.”

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.”  

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.”