£80 million Telford Station Quarter scheme to be showcased at major national event
An £80 million scheme to revitalize the heart of Telford is set to take the spotlight at a significant national development and investment event. Telford & Wrekin Council’s ambitious plan to rejuvenate the core of Telford – by establishing a dynamic new residential, educational, and business community, complete with an academic campus focused on digital skills and enterprise – will be featured at UKREiiF next month. This three-day event, held in Leeds, brings together key figures from the public sector alongside government officials, developers, housebuilders, international investors, and funders. The investment and potential of the borough’s flagship Station Quarter development will be explored by a panel of decision-makers and industry leaders on May 22 as part of the Midlands Engine pavilion, showcasing a £42 billion investment portfolio. Panel members will include Telford & Wrekin Council leader and LGA Chair Cllr Shaun Davies, Harper Adams University Pro-Vice-Chancellor Dr. Simone Clarke, Stuart Penn, regional managing director for leading housebuilder Lovells, and Anette Simpson, director of development and partnerships from Legal and General. During the session, attention will be given to how Telford has embraced the opportunities of the technological revolution to establish a cutting-edge education hub, fostering new partnerships between the public sector, further and higher education, and the business community. Councillor Davies stated: “Our transformation of Station Quarter will pioneer a new model of inter-generational town centre living alongside an innovative, easily accessible academic campus anchored by The Quad, offering learning pathways to individuals of all ages, from school to higher education, with a focus on digital skills. “This ambitious and dynamic transformation will establish a truly integrated residential, educational, and business community, providing a vibrant and connected lifestyle that will serve as the foundation of the town’s future.” The panel, chaired by Amy Bould, managing director of Newport-based strategic communications consultancy Be Bold Media, will also delve into the opportunities presented by The Quad – a unique collaboration between the council, Harper Adams University, Telford College, and others, aimed at creating a state-of-the-art digital skills and enterprise hub. Councillor Davies added: “The Quad will redefine education, business innovation, and digital skills provision in this region. It will equip individuals with the skills necessary for the digital era, offering start-up and incubation space to nurture great ideas into successful businesses. “Modern, sustainable housing, high-quality commercial premises, and green spaces will all contribute to building a thriving community that embodies the future of our youthful town. “We believe this development model could benefit many other towns and cities across the country and also presents a significant opportunity to attract further investment into the borough. “By showcasing the scheme at UKREiiF, we aim to highlight both the opportunities offered by our plans and the broader approach to regeneration, education, training, and business partnerships we are adopting to create an innovative and dynamic borough.” The Quad is scheduled to open in September 2024 and is expected to accommodate over 300 students annually. Further phases of the Station Quarter have already received planning approval, and de-risked by phase 1 infrastructure investment, they offer immediate opportunities for residential, leisure, and commercial development. UKREiiF will take place from May 21-23 and is anticipated to draw over 10,000 attendees, including 1,500 investors, 250 local authorities, and 1,500 developers. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Torus and Castle Green Homes £59 million Congleton deal gets green light
Further growing its new build investment in Cheshire East, housing Group, Torus, is celebrating planning permission being awarded to build 236 new affordable homes at Viking Way in Congleton. Once again partnering with award-winning developer, Castle Green Homes, Torus will invest £59 million into the scheme. As part of a larger development project for the site at Viking Way, which will see a total of 396 new homes built, Torus will deliver 215 homes for Shared Ownership and 21 for Affordable Rent. Castle Green Homes will deliver 160 private homes, to create a modern, multi-tenure community. The latest step in its ever-growing partnership with Castle Green Homes, which has already seen the two companies engage on over 360 homes across three other sites – Flowers Lane, Crewe, Bridgewater View, Daresbury and Orchard Place, Thornton – Viking Way will provide even more affordable homes to communities across Cheshire. A key growth area for Torus in the past few years, Cheshire East has already seen Torus invest over £76 million into building over 450 affordable homes, to date, and Viking Way is the latest scheme to reiterate Torus’ commitment to bolstering access to more affordable housing. Discussing Torus’ latest Cheshire-based scheme, Torus Developments’ Managing Director, Chris Bowen, said: “I’m proud of everything we have accomplished as a developer to not only expand our geographic footprint, but to work with an excellent partner in Castle Green Homes to facilitate our ambitions of building even more new, affordable homes across the North West. “Viking Way is another fantastic step in our journey to being able to create modern communities and to help regions redress the balance when it comes to the availability of good quality homes that actively help people onto the property ladder and I am excited to see how these additional 236 homes will go onto benefit Congleton.” Partnerships director for Castle Green Eoin O’Donnell explained: “We are delighted to finally achieve a planning consent on the Viking Way development. This will be another major step forward in our developing relationship with Torus, with whom this will now be our fourth project. We aim to deliver homes to Torus at a record pace to assist them in placing local families in well-designed, fuel-efficient homes as soon as possible. We believe that together Torus and Castle Green can be a driving force for the provision of much needed affordable homes over the coming years.” Kate Collins, Senior Manager – Provider Manager, from Homes England, continued: As the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, increasing the supply of quality affordable homes remains one of our key objectives and we are committed to supporting ambitious housebuilders of all sizes to build those homes and communities. “As a Homes England Strategic Partner, Torus has committed to delivering new affordable homes via the Affordable Homes Programme 2021-26. Investment at Vikings Way, Congleton will transform the site and provide much needed, good quality, affordable new homes in Cheshire. At Homes England we are committed to supporting our partners to increase the supply of good quality affordable housing in the communities where they’re needed most.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Major Boost for Ocean Terminal as Tesco Store confirmed for Leith Redevelopment Project
The owners of Ocean Terminal have confirmed they have signed a deal which will bring a Tesco Express to the Leith waterfront development as part of multi-million pound plans to regenerate the site. The addition of the supermarket to the retail section of the redevelopment is expected to create up to 20 jobs as part of a major investment in Leith’s waterfront. The 4,700 sq ft ground floor unit will look out over a new public realm and future residential development. The announcement is the latest in a chain of positive developments on the site, including the relocation and upgrade of the 24/7 PureGym to a brand new unit earlier this month. Last year Ocean Terminal revealed it had agreed a long-term lease with Level X, the gaming and immersive entertainment provider, which will see a new purpose-built, state-of-the-art leisure venue open at the centre adjacent to a brand new Club 3000 Bingo venue which promises to be one of the best clubs ever developed in the UK, enhancing the leisure offering at the new look centre. Chris Richardson, Managing Director of Ambassador Investment Management, the Scottish owners of Ocean Terminal, said: “We are delighted to confirm a fifteen-year lease with Tesco which will bring significant benefits to the Leith waterfront development, cementing our commitment to ensure this project delivers for the local and wider community. “The addition of a new major retailer is a huge boost to the project and our longer term vision to to regenerate this waterfront area into a thriving, sustainable development creating an outward-looking, mixed-use town centre here in Leith. “We’re thrilled to have Tesco fully on board, which further enhances the multi-use, dynamic offering within the leisure space at the Ocean Terminal site.” Head of Campaigns for Tesco, Tony McElroy added: “We are excited to be opening a new Tesco Express in Ocean Terminal, as part of our ongoing investment and job creation plans across Edinburgh. We look forward to serving our customers and supporting local community groups through our Stronger Starts and Community Food Connection initiatives.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Tide secures resolution to grant for 412-home student accommodation scheme in West Ealing
Leading volumetric developer Tide has secured a resolution to grant planning permission for their Hastings Road scheme. The development will transform the underutilised retail site into a vibrant mixed-use development, delivering 412 new student homes with communal and commercial spaces together with public realm enhancements. Located at a major junction adjacent to West Ealing underground station, the new student homes will alleviate pressure on the local housing market while driving new activity to the site by providing commercial space and an improved public realm. The project will be delivered using Tide’s innovative volumetric technology, which involves precision-manufacturing volumetric units before assembling them onsite. This approach is proven to reduce construction programmes by up to 50% while also cutting embodied carbon. It also minimises onsite disruption, logistics and defects. The volumetric units are built in controlled factory settings by Tide’s sister company, Vision Volumetric. The development has been designed around an external courtyard space at the heart of the site to complement students’ lifestyles. Additionally, residents will benefit from the scheme’s extensive and thoughtful amenity spaces, designed to ensure a welcoming and nurturing living environment for students. The plans also feature a biodiverse roof and photovoltaic panels, which add to the project’s environmental benefits.Helen McManus, Head of Planning at Tide, said: “We look forward to breaking ground on Hastings Road and contributing to West Ealing’s vibrant urban fabric. This exciting project marks a significant new addition to Tide’s portfolio of student accommodation projects, and we would like to thank everyone involved in this process. Our proposal seeks to be an exemplar of student development, with high-quality living conditions and generous internal and external amenity space.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Stoford and ICG Real Estate gain approval for urban logistics scheme in South East London
Leading commercial property developer, Stoford, and ICG Real Estate, the real estate division of ICG, have secured planning consent for a new job-creating urban logistics scheme in Crayford, South East London. Known as MLM Crayford, the scheme comprises three new, highly sustainable buildings with integral Grade A office space, ranging in size from c.34,000 – c.170,000 sq ft. Features will include rainwater harvesting, PV roof panels and energy efficient LED lighting, as well as bicycle storage, EV charging provision and wellbeing areas for occupiers. The scheme will target BREEAM ‘Excellent’, EPC A and net zero carbon in whole life cycle. Enabling works will commence on site in June 2024. MLM Crayford could attract in the region of £120 million of inward investment and contribute an estimated £13.3 million per year to the regional economy. The scheme will work towards the objectives and outcomes of Bexley Council’s Growth Strategy by creating significant employment opportunities during construction, and supporting as many as 470 full-time jobs once built and occupied. Angus Huntley, Director at Stoford said: “We are very pleased to be partnering with ICG Real Estate on this exciting new development. MLM Crayford will regenerate a site that has been disused for more than a decade, delivering a market leading, sustainable industrial/logistics scheme in a supply constrained location in the South East.” MLM Crayford provides easy access to Jct 1a of the A282 Dartford Crossing, less than five miles from the M25 and just 10 miles from central London. Established local occupiers include Amazon, ASDA, Currys, DHL, Sainsbury’s and Pets at Home. For further information on MLM Crayford please contact the scheme’s retained agents, DTRE and Savills, or visit www.mlmcrayford.co.uk Stoford and ICG’s professional team included Pegasus Group, Webb Gray Architects, Trinity Property Consultants, Hoare Lea Engineers, Rodgers Leask, Waterman Group and Rachel Hacking Ecology. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Thorpe Park introduces Hyperia, the UK’s tallest and fastest rollercoaster ride – Lichfields reaches new heights to land planning permission
The planning green light given for the UK’s tallest and fastest rollercoaster is to become a reality for visitors to one of the country’s leading theme parks as Thorpe Park gets set to launch Hyperia to the public next month (24 May 2024). The new £18 million, 236ft height ‘Hyperia’ ride, will offer visitors a nerve shredding experience. The new ride soon to launch at Thorpe Park – Surrey on the outskirts of London, by operator Merlin Entertainments, was supported by planning and development consultancy Lichfields. Set to open to the public on 24th May 2024, the eponymous ride inspired by the fearless Greek goddess Hyperia, will allow up to 20 riders per train to experience a new level of excitement and speed as they hurtle around the 995m-length track at speeds of over 80 mph and reaching heights of 236ft! According to an economic impact assessment, upwards of 123 seasonal and 31 full-time jobs could be created when it opens in May. Thorpe Park is expected to see an economic uplift on the back of a significant increase in visitors keen to enjoy the new rollercoaster ride. Approval for the project secured by Lichfields, is explained by planning director Hannah Whitney, as an important project for the park’s operator Merlin Entertainments, to enable them to keep ahead in a competitive leisure sector. She said: “New rides and attractions are the lifeblood of the theme park industry. We built a compelling case for the ‘Hyperia’ ride, working closely with the local authority to show the need for investment at Thorpe Park – a green belt location – and its long-term benefits. We have drawn extensively on our experience and expertise to deliver an impactful planning case to secure that approval. “It also reflects our ability to handle sensitive leisure developments and get them over the line, working in close cooperation with both local planning authorities and sector developers. It’s experience that can be shared on further big projects as other sector operators look to invest in their infrastructure and assets.” Lichfields advising on major leisure and visitor attraction projects for over 40 years, continues to advise Merlin Entertainments to develop the Thorpe Park site in the future and ensure its success in the theme park arena. Neil Poulter, Divisional Director at Thorpe Park said: “We’re delighted to be launching the UK’s tallest, fastest and most weightless ride which has been years in the making. Despite the site’s planning constraints, Lichfields worked with the Park’s Management team and wider design team to deliver a planning permission that has allowed us to add to our other record-breaking rides.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals