A planning application has been submitted to City of Edinburgh Council for the second phase of development at Trinity Academy, a secondary school set within the Victoria Park conservation area in the north of the city. The project builds upon the award-winning phase one – a new-build sports and outdoor
Boroughs in the capital will need to make over £500m of savings next year to balance their budgets, new analysis from London Councils reveals. Based on its latest survey of council finances, the cross-party group warns that nine in ten London boroughs expect to overspend on their budgets this year
A report to the Council’s Cabinet next Tuesday (17 October) is recommending the adoption of a Tall Buildings Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) which will be used to shape development in a proactive and positive manner. The guidance within the SPD will ensure that all tall building proposals make a positive
Regeneration proposals for MediaCity and The Quays have been unveiled. Following approval for consultation by Salford City Council’s Cabinet, a public consultation is set to commence, which outlines an ambitious vision for MediaCity and Quayside. Spanning 23.30 ha (hectares), it has the potential to bring over 3,000 new homes, more
Torbay, UK – Alan Denby, Director of Pride in Place at Torbay Council, has announced a groundbreaking deal expected to be worth over £100 million. This monumental agreement comes as a direct result of Torbay Council’s participation in The ‘UK’s Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum’ (UKREiiF) annual event held
One of Westminster City Council’s flagship regeneration projects, which delivers on the authority’s commitment to increasing the availability of social housing, has reached a major milestone. Councillor Adam Hug, Leader of the Council, this week performed the ‘topping out’ of Phase 1 of the Ebury Bridge regeneration in Knightsbridge and
The first phase of highways improvements along the A6120 Outer Ring Road are already underway, with the second phase of work programmed following a positive response to the consultation. The overall completion of both phases is scheduled for winter 2024. £20m of the work is funded by the Government’s Levelling
Network Space Developments (NSD) has been appointed as Development Manager by St Helens Borough Council for a prime edge of town centre, five-acre site. Located adjacent to the recently completed £54m Glass Futures initiative, the site was recently purchased by the Council with assistance from the Liverpool City Region Combined
The first residents have received their keys for new council homes at the transformational Meridian Water project in Edmonton, delivered by Enfield Council and developers Countryside Partnerships. Enfield Council tenants in Edmonton were the first people to be offered housing in the high-quality homes at the development. Enfield Council and
SUNDERLAND’S distinctive new car park has won a national award in recognition of its excellence. Sunderland City Council’s new Riverside Sunderland Multi Storey Car Park, which provides 657 new spaces at Farringdon Row, was named Best New Car Park Award at the British Parking Awards, an independent competition created and
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
A planning application has been submitted to City of Edinburgh Council for the second phase of development at Trinity Academy, a secondary school set within the Victoria Park conservation area in the north of the city. The project builds upon the award-winning phase one – a new-build sports and outdoor centre that serves the local community as well as Trinity’s pupils – which opened in summer 2022. Both phases were designed by Holmes Miller, who have a strong track record of designing Edinburgh schools such as Frogston, Canaan Lane and Victoria Primary Schools. During consultations on the redevelopment, staff, pupils and community felt strongly that the school’s original red sandstone Victorian building on Craighall Road, dating back to 1894, should be retained, refurbished and incorporated into the new design. If plans are approved, several newer existing school buildings which are no longer fit for purpose will be demolished to make way for a new four-storey extension to the historic building, which will offer modern learning facilities for the school’s 1200 pupils. The school will remain open during the build and refurbishment process, with detailed plans in place for phasing and decanting to temporary accommodation on site, to minimise disruption to staff and pupils. Inside the new extension, classroom accommodation will be arranged around a social and dining ‘heart’ which will provide a central point where the school can come together to socialise, learn and collaborate, fostering a sense of community and inclusion. A timber-clad ‘learning stair’ will also connect the school’s main reception space to the ‘heart’. The original Victorian building will link directly to this central space, bringing both buildings together. Designed to meet Passivhaus standards, the extension will aim to reduce energy demand for space heating or cooling, driving down running costs and carbon emissions. It will also meet the Council’s city-wide aspirations for the curriculum to be inclusive, and to meet all digital and outdoor learning requirements. A carefully considered landscape plan for the school grounds will maximise potential for outdoor learning, encourage sustainability and open up opportunities to support local groups. Features will include an ‘arrival plaza’ with seating and social spaces, an outdoor amphitheatre, a growing space, an outdoor gym and a wellbeing hub garden. The landscape design creates the opportunity for connections to Trinity Primary, creating a campus with the secondary school helping integrate both schools. The landscape also incorporates cycle storage and electric vehicle charging in both secure and public areas, encouraging active travel and the 20-Minute Neighbourhood. Ryan Holmes, Director at Holmes Miller said: “City of Edinburgh Council asked us to create a design that would ensure Trinity Academy’s facilities were fit for the 21st Century and that would provide an inspirational learning environment for pupils. Alongside the existing Victorian building, the new extension will do just that, while creating a strong civic presence that is sensitive to the surrounding Victoria Park conservation area. The combination of new extension and refurbishment of the existing building represents a significant investment in the community and promotes inclusive growth through key investment.” John Burns, Associate at Holmes Miller added: “Building on the successful completion of Trinity Academy’s Sports Campus last year, these new plans offer a modern, exciting, and energy-efficient facility for pupils, staff and the wider community around Trinity. Building on this existing relationship with the school and community through ongoing engagement offers a unique opportunity to create a sense of place and new identity, which is an exciting prospect. All users of the building will benefit greatly from this next phase of redevelopment, which will create a school they can be proud of and will positively engage with.” Cllr Joan Griffiths, Education Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “These are really exciting times for the Trinity Academy school community after the opening of their new sports and outdoor learning centre last year. The plans for the new extension, and refurbishment of the original Victorian red sandstone main school building, have been designed following consultation with the staff, pupils and local community. “Another key feature of the new extension is the Passivhaus elements which significantly reduce the amount of energy used and support us in our goal of decarbonising our building stock. In August we opened our first fully Passivhaus classroom extension at Sciennes Primary School and construction work has already started on a replacement Currie High School which will be one of the first Passivhaus high schools in the country. These new buildings will significantly reduce heating costs, improve user comfort and the learning environment as we set the standard for how we build low carbon schools.” Design team: Client: City of Edinburgh Council Project Manager: Atkins Realis MEP Engineers: Rybka Structural Engineers: Etive Landscape Architect: Wardell Armstrong Passivhaus Advisor: Architype Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Boroughs in the capital will need to make over £500m of savings next year to balance their budgets, new analysis from London Councils reveals. Based on its latest survey of council finances, the cross-party group warns that nine in ten London boroughs expect to overspend on their budgets this year – estimated at over £400m in total across the capital [1]. London Councils says boroughs face a perfect storm of prolonged high inflation, fast-increasing demand for services, and insufficient government funding – leading to a growing risk of financial and service failures. Pressures on adult and children’s social care, as well as the capital’s worsening homelessness crisis, are the biggest drivers of boroughs’ overspends. London Councils estimates that almost 170,000 Londoners – equivalent to one in 50 residents of the capital – are currently homeless and living in temporary accommodation arranged by their local authority. Boroughs expect to overspend on temporary accommodation by £90m this year. Ahead of the government’s Autumn Statement in November, where the Chancellor will set out his future spending plans, boroughs are calling for urgent action to boost support for local services and stabilise council finances. London Councils has launched its key priorities for the Autumn Statement, which include: Cllr Claire Holland, Acting Chair of London Councils, said: “Borough finances are on a knife edge – with grim implications for the future of local services in the capital. “The combination of higher costs due to spiralling inflation, skyrocketing demand for services, and insufficient levels of government funding leaves boroughs in an extremely precarious position. The pressure is relentless – we face a £400m shortfall this year, which rises to £500m next year unless the government provides more support. “Councils play a vital role in their communities providing essential services and in tackling so many major challenges, such as addressing homelessness, unlocking economic growth, and making faster progress towards net zero. “The government must use the Autumn Statement to bolster council finances. This will be crucial for helping boroughs stabilise budgets and sustain London’s local services.” London boroughs’ resources remain almost a fifth (18%) lower than in 2010, despite there now being almost 800,000 more Londoners – broadly equivalent to a city the size of Leeds. This has been exacerbated by over £1bn in unfunded or underfunded new burdens over that period, such as the government transferring responsibility to local authorities for financing Council Tax Support and a host of other measures. London Councils also highlights a recent report from the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies think-tank that found London local government funding is 17% lower than its estimated relative need – by far the largest gap of any region in England. London Councils key priorities for Autumn Statement 2023 Download Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A report to the Council’s Cabinet next Tuesday (17 October) is recommending the adoption of a Tall Buildings Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) which will be used to shape development in a proactive and positive manner. The guidance within the SPD will ensure that all tall building proposals make a positive contribution to Liverpool’s skyline, distinctiveness and image, the city’s growth and the delivery of high quality and sustainable places. On adoption of the document, which has been informed by significant public engagement, it will be used in the decision-making process for all future planning applications for proposed tall buildings. The new guidance, which sets out in detail what the Council considers to be appropriate in terms of height, design and location, will supplement Liverpool’s Local Plan and will help guide the Council’s forthcoming new waterfront strategy. As well as providing design guidance that complements the National Design Guide, this SPD ensures that future tall buildings will also protect the city’s historic character, heritage assets and city’s unique and world renowned image. Five locations in and around the city centre have been identified where clusters of taller buildings could be appropriate. They are: The Tall Buildings SPD has also mapped current developments and sets out guidelines for appropriate heights for new planning applications in these clusters. It also provides guidance based on nine core principles covering issues such as quality, sustainability, environment and economic growth. The policy also states that schemes will need to pass four tests by demonstrating: Reaction Councillor Nick Small, Cabinet Member for Economy and Development, said: “Liverpool’s skyline is world famous and its development needs to be sensitively handled. We need to ensure its historic character and charm are maintained, whilst allowing for economic growth and job creation. “This a very timely document as it will help guide and shape our new waterfront strategy and set a clear path as to how developments can provide growth for the future, without impacting on climate change and net-zero ambitions. “Maintaining that balance between environment and regeneration runs throughout the heart of this policy and it has set out clear principles around design, quality and sustainability and what the city expects from developers to meet those standards. “We want to ensure our next generation of tall buildings will have a long-term purpose and can instil pride when we look up at them – both for how they look – and what they offer. “The Spine in Paddington Village is a prime example and shows we can deliver world-class buildings fit for the 21st century and I’m confident the city can curate and foster many more in the years ahead.” Samantha Campbell, Liverpool City Council’s Director of Planning and Building Control, said: “This Tall Buildings SPD sets out a framework, with a clear objective to guide the development of tall buildings in a positive and proactive manner. “Tall buildings can play an essential part of Liverpool’s growth and regeneration. Indeed, Liverpool has a great tradition of building tall, notably with the Liver Building on the Waterfront and sky scraper construction used at Oriel Chambers, Water Street. “The SPD is part of a suite of placemaking documents, including the recently adopted Local Plan, which seek to secure the best possible development in terms of location, quality and design to further enhance the very special and unique character of Liverpool.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Regeneration proposals for MediaCity and The Quays have been unveiled. Following approval for consultation by Salford City Council’s Cabinet, a public consultation is set to commence, which outlines an ambitious vision for MediaCity and Quayside. Spanning 23.30 ha (hectares), it has the potential to bring over 3,000 new homes, more business opportunities across circa 75,000 sq metres as well as unparalleled access to employment, retail, leisure and recreation. The regeneration framework builds on the ‘Salford Quays 2030 Vision’ and outlines four key aspirations for the area: creating a vibrant and convenient town centre offering, developing more commercial office space, delivering high quality and affordable homes within attractively landscaped neighbourhoods and enhancing the current waterfront and public realm areas while creating new green spaces. The vast scale of the proposed regeneration project will stretch from MediaCity’s current footprint doubling its size including the area around Quayside and will be defined by four distinct quarters each characterised by a specific purpose. The Media Quarter includes the current cluster of creative, tech and digital companies positioned around the main Piazza and along the Manchester Ship Canal. The Waterfront and Gateway zone will maximise MediaCity and Quayside’s unique waterfront setting. As the historic gateway to the site, new flexible structures and pavilions are proposed to enable the space to be activated in all weathers. Proposals also include a new pedestrian link bridge from MediaCity to The Lowry and Quayside as well as plans to activate North Bay. The Living Hub presents a new opportunity for the destination featuring new, highly sustainable homes, businesses and convenience retail. This zone will incorporate striking architecture, leafy boulevards and tranquil courtyards. The Culture and Community Hub centred in and around Quayside and The Lowry Arts Centre is the vibrant cultural, leisure and retail heart of the destination which residents and visitors from across the region can access and enjoy Stephen Wild, MediaCity’s Managing Director said: “This proposed Regeneration Framework for MediaCity and Quayside is a once in a generation opportunity to shape the future of this dynamic area to reach its full potential over the next 10 to 15 years. “In partnership with Salford City Council, we want to deliver an unrivalled destination which will provide more quality homes, employment opportunities, community facilities, a rich cultural and leisure scene while making the most of The Quays greatest assets – the waterfront. We’re creating a place for the people of Salford to be proud of which is why feedback on the proposed framework from our local community is so important. “We’ve already started to bring forward improvements to Quayside in line with Salford City Council’s 2030 vision for the area, with the £3.5 million investment in Central Bay – the new independent food and drink destination. However, we still have a way to go to improve the town centre amenity but through working in partnership with other agencies and Salford City Council we can accelerate these improvements which will be a crucial element of the agreed planning strategy going forward.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Torbay, UK – Alan Denby, Director of Pride in Place at Torbay Council, has announced a groundbreaking deal expected to be worth over £100 million. This monumental agreement comes as a direct result of Torbay Council’s participation in The ‘UK’s Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum’ (UKREiiF) annual event held in Leeds. Denby expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We’ve worked with UKREiiF and the team behind it for the first time this year. Being present in Leeds opened doors for us, allowing us to engage in pivotal conversations with investors, developers, and occupiers. These are conversations we wouldn’t have had the chance to partake in without being there in person. We’re on the brink of recommending a preferred value partner to collaborate with us on four key sites, a testament to the opportunities that arise from being in the room when significant investments are being discussed. UKREiiF is an event of paramount importance, and we wholeheartedly endorse participation.” Torbay is currently undergoing a transformative phase, with multi-million-pound projects unfolding across Torquay, Paignton, and Brixham. This surge in investment aims to rejuvenate the towns, bolster the local economy, and enhance infrastructure. The overarching goal is to create thriving spaces for the community and to ensure job and training opportunities for future generations. Torbay Council has been instrumental in this transformation, having devised a strategy based on feedback from residents, businesses, and investors. UKREiiF Director Matt Christie said: “We are thrilled to have played a part in this monumental announcement for Torbay Council. They were an early adopter of UKREiiF and have reaped the rewards of not only attending, but have been a valued partner that fully embraces the opportunities that UKREiiF offers everyone: wall-to-wall networking with thousands of organisations that genuinely want to invest £millions. Bravo, Torbay!” For more information about UKREiiF, visit [UKREiiF Annual Event 2024](https://www.ukreiif.com/event/ukreiif-annual-event-2024/). To learn more about Torbay Council’s regeneration projects, visit [Invest In Torbay](https://investintorbay.com/news/our-projects/regeneration/). Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
One of Westminster City Council’s flagship regeneration projects, which delivers on the authority’s commitment to increasing the availability of social housing, has reached a major milestone. Councillor Adam Hug, Leader of the Council, this week performed the ‘topping out’ of Phase 1 of the Ebury Bridge regeneration in Knightsbridge and Belgravia – the symbolic stage when construction reaches its highest point of the building – by laying the final piece of the construction frame alongside lead contractor Bouygues UK. Once complete, the Ebury Bridge scheme will deliver the highest number of new socially rented properties in the borough for 50 years, fulfilling a pledge of the current administration and at a time of acute need for affordable housing in central London. Westminster has increased the number of new socially rented properties at the scheme from 41 to 171, bringing the number of new or replacement council homes for social rent to 370. Following a resident ballot earlier this year, where 91% of residents voted in favour of the scheme, the council has been able to gain £41m in funding support from the Mayor of London. Cllr Hug said: “This is an exciting moment in the delivery of the Ebury Bridge regeneration scheme. Residents who have had to move away, to enable the new homes to be built, will know their moves back are not far away. “Since introducing our ‘truly affordable’ housing strategy at the end of last year, we’ve increased the number of council homes for social rent across our pipeline. Ebury is one of the largest schemes that will see this increase come to fruition. “The building we are stood on today gives all existing Ebury families the chance to come back to a new home. This is part of our commitment to keeping the community together for generations to come.” The first residents will start moving in next autumn as the 226-home phase one, across a range of tenures, completes. Some 781 homes are being delivered across all three phases at Ebury, which will also deliver important facilities and spaces to support the health and wellbeing of residents including a new community hub, nursery, play facilities, fitness centre and four high-quality public squares and pocket parks. As housing demand rises, maximising the number and quality of affordable homes is a key pledge in the Fair Westminster strategy and includes new social housing, new intermediate rent homes and homes for sale and rent with plans for more than 2,000 new homes by 2027. As well as the Ebury scheme, Westminster’s other key regeneration project is at Church Street in the north of the borough, with plans to build 1,120 high quality new homes, with over 50 per cent affordable housing. The Ebury scheme is being built by Bouygues UK, which has donated £74,000 to community projects and given 35 hours a week to volunteering at projects including the Abbey Centre, Construction Youth Trust, Women into Construction, and Social Bite. Bouygues UK has supported career sessions, work experience placements and educational support for residents and schools, and has taken on five apprentices from surrounding London boroughs.
The first phase of highways improvements along the A6120 Outer Ring Road are already underway, with the second phase of work programmed following a positive response to the consultation. The overall completion of both phases is scheduled for winter 2024. £20m of the work is funded by the Government’s Levelling Up Fund with the remaining £3.257m being provided by West Yorkshire Combined Authority. Phase 1 Phase 1 of the work was consulted on in November and December 2021 and is made up of improvements to Fink Hill, A6120 Broadway, Horsforth roundabout and the creation of a segregated off-highway cycle path. Improvements to Fink Hill, A6120 Broadway and Horsforth roundabout are already underway and due to complete at the end of this year. Construction of the segregated cycle path, from Horsforth roundabout to Rodley roundabout, will begin early next year and is scheduled to complete autumn 2024. Phase 2 Phase 2 was consulted on between July to September 2022, and is made up of an accessible bridge, connecting the communities Calverley and Farsley; an off-highway mixed-use path for walking, wheeling and cycling between Rodley roundabout and Dawsons Corner; traffic light improvements to Rodley roundabout; no right turn safety measures out of the junctions of Calverley Bridge and Calverley Lane; planting and landscaping; and the reduction of speed to 50mph from Horsforth roundabout to Stanningley Bypass at Henconner Lane Bridge, including enforcement through average speed cameras. The second phase of works are currently in detailed design. Construction of the mixed-use path is scheduled for winter 2023 and the accessible footbridge spring 2024. The accessible ramp to Leeds-Liverpool canal is not possible to deliver due to land ownership constraints. Alternative options for the ramp also cannot be progressed due to impact on existing utilities, and extensive tree removal including the loss of at least two mature oak trees. Instead, alternative upgrades to the existing cycle network link to the canal are being planned to improve access. The speed reduction to 50mph on the A6120 Outer Ring Road and A647 Stanningley Bypass, from Horsforth roundabout to Stanningley Bypass at Henconner Lane Bridge will be enforced by average speed cameras, a first for West Yorkshire, and is currently being delivered. Additionally, the existing 40mph speed limit on A647 Bradford Road from Dawsons Corner to Thornbury roundabout shall be enforced by average speed cameras. Road signage to support the new lower speed limit and the calibration of the average speed cameras has commenced and is due to complete next month. Once completed, the cameras will become operational. Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for sustainable development and infrastructure, said: ‘It’s encouraging to see a major scheme developing in the north-west and west areas of Leeds. Phase two proposals were met with a 74% positive public response at consultation and I’m pleased the momentum of delivering this work is being swiftly progressed. Both phases aim to better link local communities, improve active travel options for residents, and make progress towards our carbon-neutral targets. The new speed limit, and enforcement through average speed cameras, will aim to reduce the number of speed-related collisions on these routes, creating a safer road environment for all users whilst aiming to meet our Vision Zero target of zero deaths on Leeds roads by 2040. Together with our construction partners, we will update local residents and businesses affected by any construction work throughout.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Network Space Developments (NSD) has been appointed as Development Manager by St Helens Borough Council for a prime edge of town centre, five-acre site. Located adjacent to the recently completed £54m Glass Futures initiative, the site was recently purchased by the Council with assistance from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Strategic Investment Fund, for an undisclosed sum. Forming part of Glass Futures’ 15-month construction programme, the land is now serviced and development-ready with access roads constructed and remediation works completed. The appointment marks the second development management role that NSD has secured from a North West local authority this year, following its appointment by Stockport Council to lead the design and delivery of Cheadle Eco Business Park at Bird Hall Lane. The proposed environmentally exemplar, industrial employment scheme is central to the Cheadle Town Investment Plan, which will unlock the town’s economic potential and drive clean growth and secured £4.4million of Towns Fund support. Councillor Richard McCauley, St Helens Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Planning, said: “Based locally in Newton-le-Willows, Network Space has an excellent track record on overseeing successful developments in our borough – from the top-class, award-winning Mere Grange to Glass Futures, a state-of-the-art, globally significant project which will once again put St Helens at the forefront of glass innovation. “I’m delighted that we will be working with them once again on this exciting new project on our journey to drive forward inclusive growth – providing contracts for local suppliers as part of our commitment to social value, as well as creating job and training opportunities for local residents, all while ensuring our borough maintains its position as a global centre of excellence.” Catherine Chilvers, Development Director at Network Space Developments, said: “We are delighted to once again be working alongside St Helens Borough Council to support their ambition to advance a new phase of development at this strategically important site for the Borough and build upon the success and momentum of the recently completed Glass Futures facility.’’ “Two development management appointments by ambitious local authorities this year demonstrates our long-standing expertise in delivering property led regeneration projects on behalf of a public private partnership. NSD has shown itself to be a trusted partner, with the commercial expertise to guide and accelerate delivery to facilitate new jobs and investment opportunities, and this latest role gives us a further opportunity to do just that.” NSD has already created and modernised almost 10 million sq. ft of multi-unit industrial workspace across the north of England, attracting a variety of global and UK-based businesses. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The first residents have received their keys for new council homes at the transformational Meridian Water project in Edmonton, delivered by Enfield Council and developers Countryside Partnerships. Enfield Council tenants in Edmonton were the first people to be offered housing in the high-quality homes at the development. Enfield Council and Countryside Partnerships have delivered a range of family-sized homes, including accessible homes for disabled tenants as well as some one-bedroom residences. The homes, Brambling House and Greatcrest House are named after native birds that can be found in the area. The 20 completed homes are part of the 50 per cent affordable housing offer being built in the first phase of Meridian One. Three hundred homes will be delivered in this phase by the end of 2024. Residents met with The Leader of Enfield Council, Cllr Nesil Caliskan, Deputy Mayor of London for Housing and Residential Development, Tom Copley and Countryside London Divisional Chair, Mike Woolliscroft.The Leader of Enfield Council, Cllr Nesil Caliskan, who met the first Council tenants at Meridian Water on 4 September, said: “This is a momentous occasion for the Meridian Water project and our plan to build decent, affordable homes in Enfield. Alongside new homes, Meridian Water will invest in Edmonton residents with new leisure facilities, training and job opportunities. “Seeing the first residents receive their keys for their new homes is a testament to the ambitions and hard work of the people of Edmonton, and this is only the start.” The Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development, Tom Copley, said: “I’m delighted to welcome the first tenants to these new, high-quality council homes at Meridian Water. This impressive development, which is set to deliver three hundred homes by the end of next year, will ensure that more Londoners can benefit from the record-levels of council homes we’re building in the capital. There is also enormous potential for regeneration and community development in Enfield through the new facilities, jobs and training on offer – helping to build a better, fairer, more prosperous London for all.” Mike Woolliscroft, London Divisional Chair, Countryside Partnerships, commented: “As one of London’s most significant regeneration projects, we are proud to have delivered the first council homes for local residents at Meridian Water, in partnership with Enfield Council. “Our ambition has been to transform a challenging brownfield site into a vibrant and sustainable new community where the design encourages residents to have healthy, active lifestyles, and where we can deliver socio-economic value for Enfield residents. Meridian One is setting the benchmark for future phases of the £6bn Meridian Water project, and we’re looking forward to welcoming many more residents over the coming years as the community grows.” This year, Meridian Water has already completed a Community Garden, Enfield Construction Skills Academy, and has been successful in securing £195 million in infrastructure costs for the next phase of the £6 billion regeneration project. Visit the Meridian Water website to find out more. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
SUNDERLAND’S distinctive new car park has won a national award in recognition of its excellence. Sunderland City Council’s new Riverside Sunderland Multi Storey Car Park, which provides 657 new spaces at Farringdon Row, was named Best New Car Park Award at the British Parking Awards, an independent competition created and presented by Parking Review magazine to recognise the leading examples of car park management, enforcement, design and teamwork. The MSCP – which was designed by the architectural firms Ryder Architecture and Tonkin Liu, and constructed by Sir Robert McAlpine – beat off strong bids from provision across the country and was recognised alongside facilities in Chester and Stevenage to scoop the urban car park title, the latest in a string of awards for Riverside Sunderland developments. Councillor Kevin Johnston, dynamic city cabinet member, said: “This is yet another award for Riverside Sunderland, which we know is world-class development that is transforming the cityscape with developments that will create jobs and opportunities for our residents. “We are proud to be leading on developments that are of a standard and quality that leads to national recognition. It is what the city and our communities demand of us and deserve.” The new facility opened earlier this summer and is split over 11 levels. It features a striking design that is illuminated on an evening, with two living walls constructed with over 50,000 plants some of which are native to Britain and were carefully selected for their ability to thrive in the local climate. The walls are located on the north and south sides of the car park, the impressive structure spans a staggering 200,000 sq ft and will provide a stunning new gateway to Riverside Sunderland. The quality of the design fits with the ambition of Sunderland City Council to deliver exceptional buildings that raise the bar of the built environment. The car park is one of a number of new buildings emerging at Riverside Sunderland and is part of a plan to boost the number of people living and working in the heart of the city. The ambition is to double the resident population of the city centre from 2,500 to 5,000 and increase employment by 50% to 18,000. For the latest developments from Riverside Sunderland, visit www.riversidesunderland.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
