Cambridgeshire County Council has allocated £500,000 to redevelop East Barnwell Library on Newmarket Road. Councillors on the Assets & Procurement Committee agreed to sell the land where the dated single storey library is based and the community centre space to the city council in support of the community redevelopment scheme.
Top 10 UK homebuilder Keepmoat, has announced the appointment of Neil Smith as Land and Partnerships Director for the West Midlands branch of the business. Neil’s appointment will see him work alongside the existing land team and oversee the delivery of a regional land pipeline, lead on development requirements with
Construction firm GRAHAM has been awarded a £70 million contract by property developer Bricks Group for the two-stage design and build Bendigo Building project in Nottingham. Operated by Bricks’ acclaimed management platform ‘true student,’ the development marks a noteworthy advancement in the realm of purpose-built student accommodation in Nottingham and
Improvement works to Romano Park in Ingleby Barwick have been completed, including a revamped play area with a unique, ‘dragon fort’ feature, which is the first of its kind. The bespoke play equipment includes the unique dragon fort and climbing ‘bloqx’ that were developed with input from local schoolchildren and
Plans have been approved to redevelop Catterick Garrison town centre in a move aimed at bringing jobs and vital new facilities for local communities as well as military personnel on one of England’s largest Army bases. Permission to build a new community and enterprise building and a multi-use events space
Construction work has started on the Livv Homes first affordable housing scheme in Warrington, Cheshire. The £5.2 million Parkside Place development on Wilderspool Causeway is set to support local people onto the property ladder with 29 apartments for Rent to Buy. Located within a predominately residential area along Wilderspool Causeway,
Bhangals Construction Consultants, an award-winning construction consultancy, has relocated to a newly refurbished two-storey office space in Northampton. The company spent months meticulously planning and designing the new office, in Grange Park, which offers open plan working, as well as dedicated meeting rooms, a kitchen and staff breakout areas. All
HG Construction has been named as the main contractor on a new purpose-built student accommodation scheme for Studio Hive in Bristol. Silverthorne Lane Plot 6 will comprise 706 student rooms including cluster bedrooms and studio rooms along with amenity spaces. The development will form an important part of the regeneration
Gilbert-Ash has been appointed as main contractor for a major reimagining of the landmark gallery on Royal Albert Dock, Tate Liverpool. This £29.75 million redevelopment will transform one of the UK’s most important spaces for modern and contemporary art. Designed by 6a architects, the plans have recently been granted planning
A new public consultation has been launched on the development of the UK’s first purpose-built and co-produced majority LGBTQ+ Extra Care housing scheme in Whalley Range, south Manchester. Proposed by Great Places, the development is planned for the site of the former Spire Hospital in Russell Road, Whalley Range, which
Cambridgeshire County Council has allocated £500,000 to redevelop East Barnwell Library on Newmarket Road. Councillors on the Assets & Procurement Committee agreed to sell the land where the dated single storey library is based and the community centre space to the city council in support of the community redevelopment scheme. It is anticipated that the project will deliver significant social and economic benefits to the area in line with the county council ambition to ensure places and communities prosper. In return, the county council will be given a 125 year peppercorn lease on space in the new building to create a new library. Depending on planning permission, which has already been applied for by the city council, the new library could open as soon as 2026. Under the proposals, the library site would move across the road to a more prominent position next to Newmarket Road, with a new shared entrance for the community centre and library next to a pocket park. As well as providing a greener, more attractive setting, the shared space will mean key library functions like book collection and returns can remain open for longer. The area, known as Site 1 in the plans, will also be home to a new pre-school, which will be leased to the county council. The location is allocated as a mixed-use development in the city’s Local Plan and will also include 59 new homes. The community centre will be owned by the city council who will choose an operator to run the facility. The bowls club currently on the site, will be relocated to the Abbey Leisure Complex where a new green, pavilion and multi-use games area will be created. Across the first two sites, which will be developed in phases, the city council proposes 120 new affordable homes for social or intermediate rent, with four new homes purpose built for people with disabilities. The redevelopment programme is subject to funding from Homes England. The relocation means the community centre and library can remain open throughout the building works, minimising the time the library service will be unavailable to the time needed to transfer books, computers and materials to the new building. Detailed plans for the location of the existing community centre will be outlined in a separate planning application. The existing library is single-glazed with a flat roof and static shelfing. The new building, built to modern building regulations, will be much more sustainable, benefiting from greater energy efficiency and heated via an air source heat pump. It is anticipated that the new library facilities will include flexible shelving units, which can be moved to create space for events like Storytime and Rhymetime and will offer more meeting spaces and study bays than currently available at the existing library. There will also be accessible public toilets and changing facilities provided on site. The details of the library layout will be subject to engagement with the local community closer to the time. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Top 10 UK homebuilder Keepmoat, has announced the appointment of Neil Smith as Land and Partnerships Director for the West Midlands branch of the business. Neil’s appointment will see him work alongside the existing land team and oversee the delivery of a regional land pipeline, lead on development requirements with a focus on partnerships, progress local opportunities, and support the team to achieve further organic growth across the Midlands. Neil brings 17 years of experience in all aspects of land acquisition to the homebuilder, including previous roles across affordable housing, development management, funding and consortium management – most recently working for developer Vistry Partnerships. In addition, Neil was previously a Head of New Business across all regions at Orbit Homes, a role which saw him supporting regional teams with land, large bulk deals, and external third party service contracts. Commenting on his appointment, Neil said: “I am thrilled to have been appointed by such a well-established, national homebuilder and I’m looking forward to working with the West Midlands team to continue building on the region’s track record and growing our land pipeline. “I am proud to be part of Keepmoat and I align with the overall values of the business. I’m really looking forward to getting involved and growing the division, whilst delivering good quality housing and utilising the best skills and resources from the public and private sectors.’’ Amanda Bishop, Regional Managing Director for Keepmoat’s West Midlands region, added: “I’m really pleased that Neil has joined the West Midlands team and I look forward to working with him to further strengthen our land pipeline and support the planned growth of our business. “Our West Midlands team is currently delivering 10 operational sites and has created 594 new homes in the last year. We specialise in developing brownfield land, most recently with West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), Homes England, and other partners, where we committed to building 4,000 future homes with net carbon zero emissions. I’m excited to see Neil push forward our goal to regenerate areas through our partnership model and drive relationships with landowners to create thriving, sustainable communities.” Keepmoat is a top 10 UK partnership homebuilder with a track record of delivering quality homes in regions across the UK. To date, Keepmoat has built over 35,000 homes, transforming brownfield sites into thriving new communities. Keepmoat has achieved five-star builder status in the National Home Builders Federation Award, receiving a rating of at least 90% in the National New Homes Customer Satisfaction Survey. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction firm GRAHAM has been awarded a £70 million contract by property developer Bricks Group for the two-stage design and build Bendigo Building project in Nottingham. Operated by Bricks’ acclaimed management platform ‘true student,’ the development marks a noteworthy advancement in the realm of purpose-built student accommodation in Nottingham and adds to true student’s impressive brand portfolio of over 7,000 beds across the UK’s student market. Originally built in the late 1960s, the Bendigo Building served as a Royal Mail Sorting office. After nearly two decades of vacancy, the redevelopment will bring new vibrancy to the area and high-end accommodation to students, offering great connectivity to Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham train station and high street – all less than half a mile away. ‘True Nottingham’ – a 661-bed development, offers a compelling variety of living options including beautifully designed studios and four, five and six en-suite bedroom apartments. As with all true student sites, the luxury all-inclusive accommodation will be fitted out to exceptional specification, providing amenities such as the festival zone, multi-media/games lounge, state-of-the-art gym with personal trainers plus fully landscaped garden with outdoor seating areas, car parking and cycle storage. Two ground-floor commercial units will provide additional amenities for the benefit of both students and the wider community. GRAHAM will work in collaboration with the consultancy team, including Bricks Development team, Abacus as Employer’s Agent and Principal Designer, KKA Limited as Architect, HSP Consulting as Civil & Structural Engineer and ME7 as Mechanical & Electrical Engineer. Ronan Hughes, Regional Director at GRAHAM, said: “We are delighted to be continuing our relationship with Bricks Group to deliver this development that represents a significant investment in student accommodation, contributing to the growth and vibrancy of Nottingham. We have similar experience in delivering major projects in the city and look forward to transforming an unused space into a thriving new community for Nottingham’s student population.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Improvement works to Romano Park in Ingleby Barwick have been completed, including a revamped play area with a unique, ‘dragon fort’ feature, which is the first of its kind. The bespoke play equipment includes the unique dragon fort and climbing ‘bloqx’ that were developed with input from local schoolchildren and members of the public. Young people and the Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees marked the completion of the installation of the items at the play park on Thursday (11 JAN) to officially open the new equipment. The children, from nearby Barley Fields Primary School in Ingleby Barwick, were on the site to use the dragon fort for the first time. The dragon’s features include a climbing wall, net and rock climber, a slide, balancing discs and intricate play panels. Other additions to the playpark include a new basket swing and repairs and replacement of existing items in the play area. In line with the Council’s ambition to make the Borough’s parks more inclusive for as many families as possible, the park also includes three new in-ground trampolines, accessible features on the dragon fort and a new sensory trail with musical instruments. A community garden on the site and a planting scheme with trees, shrubs and benches are also part of the overall improvements. The growing area will allow direct access from All Saints Academy school for young people to enjoy as well as wider community groups. There will also be better access to the platform near the Barwick Pond nature reserve and a re-marking of the Multi Use Games Area, which will allow children and young people to play various types of sports. The work has created a key visitor attraction as part of the town’s leisure offer and is part of the Council’s town centres investment programme, ensuring they are vibrant places and fit for future generations. Councillor Jim Beall, Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees, said: “It’s great to see the plans for Romano Park become a reality so that the Borough’s young people and their families can enjoy the open space and play equipment in a safe environment. “The improvements provide another useful addition to the active and healthy lifestyle offer for the residents of Ingleby Barwick, alongside the new leisure centre. “They combine with Council investment in the likes of IB Leisure Centre to play an important part in serving the community.” As part of the scheme, improved signage, replacement litter bins, additional benches and CCTV cameras were also installed, as well as an extension of the hard standing surfacing around the existing war memorial so that pop-up food and beverage concession opportunities can be explored. The improvements are a result of the ‘Let’s Talk About Our Towns’ public consultation that took place in 2020. The consultation showed support for more community leisure facilities, parks and gardens, as well as activities for young people. The Council worked with pupils at Myton Park Primary School, St Therese Primary School and Winstone Primary School to come up with ideas that would create a stand-out play area for families to enjoy. New swings, a dragon theme, climbing boulders and trampolines were just some of the ideas that children created and drew up to help shape the plans. The play equipment design and installation was completed by KOMPAN and the wider park improvements were completed by BCE Northern Ltd. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans have been approved to redevelop Catterick Garrison town centre in a move aimed at bringing jobs and vital new facilities for local communities as well as military personnel on one of England’s largest Army bases. Permission to build a new community and enterprise building and a multi-use events space as well as create a new public square was given by members of the Richmond (Yorks) Area Constituency Planning Committee. Plans also include landscaping improvements, upgrades to Coronation Park and Shute Road, improved play spaces, accessible routes to the town centre and improvements to footpaths and cycleways. Richmond (Yorks) Area Constituency Planning Committee chairman, Cllr David Webster, said: “This scheme will see significant improvements to the centre of Catterick Garrison as well as contribute to our work to reduce carbon emissions through the use of sustainable design and renewable energy.” The redevelopment of the town centre, which covers four acres of land around Shute Road, will see us working with the Ministry of Defence (MOD). We have received £19 million from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, with the remaining match-funding coming from the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and ourselves. It is hoped they will be brought to fruition by summer next year (2025). The community building will house offices for small businesses and include space for community groups and food retail. Improvements to the park will include new play areas for all ages from toddlers and woodland play areas to a skatepark for older users. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction work has started on the Livv Homes first affordable housing scheme in Warrington, Cheshire. The £5.2 million Parkside Place development on Wilderspool Causeway is set to support local people onto the property ladder with 29 apartments for Rent to Buy. Located within a predominately residential area along Wilderspool Causeway, the five-storey contemporary apartment block will comprise 21 one-bedroom apartments and eight two-bedroom apartments. There will also be 32 parking spaces, associated landscaping, cycle and refuse storage. Livv has secured grant funding from Homes England to support the delivery of the scheme in Warrington. Northwest construction company, PGS Projects, has been appointed principal contractor. Yvonne Westhead-Fyles, Director of Development, Growth and Sales at Livv Housing Group, said: “We’re excited to be bringing Parkside Place to Warrington – our first development in the area. With house prices in Warrington averaging over £250,000 and the town experiencing significant population growth, many first-time buyers are finding it difficult to get onto the property ladder. “Parkside Place will bring high quality and affordable new homes to meet local housing need, enhancing the sustainability of the neighbourhood and community, whilst providing a pathway to home ownership through Rent to Buy. “We’re aiming to provide 1,000 new homes over the next three years across the Liverpool City Region, Warrington and West Lancashire. We’re building in places where we can make the greatest impact and Parkside Place will contribute to creating a thriving community, whilst establishing our presence in Warrington. We’re delighted to be here.” The scheme is utilising Modern Methods of Construction, such as structural insulated panels (SIPS). Graeme Spencer, Managing Director at PGS, commented: “Building new homes is essential to meet the growing demand for affordable housing in the UK and we are thrilled to be working with Livv on Parkside Place. “At the heart of our new construction project is a commitment to sustainability. We are using the latest technology and materials to ensure that our homes are energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. “We are proud to be part of this exciting project and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the community. Working in partnership with Livv, together we are creating a better future for everyone.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bhangals Construction Consultants, an award-winning construction consultancy, has relocated to a newly refurbished two-storey office space in Northampton. The company spent months meticulously planning and designing the new office, in Grange Park, which offers open plan working, as well as dedicated meeting rooms, a kitchen and staff breakout areas. All the desks have been purpose built to fit the ample space, and the renovations have been completed to the highest standard to enable the best possible working environment for staff. A yet to be opened upstairs space will soon also provide a versatile events area for both Bhangals staff and the wider business community. The entire space totals 7,500 square feet. The move, which has rehoused the company’s 30-strong workforce, will allow for further growth as managing director Parm Bhangal adds to the team. It comes just five years after the company doubled the size of its previous office space by taking over the office next door. Parm said: “I am very proud and excited to finally share our new office space with everyone. This has been in the works for over a year, and after months of meticulous planning and renovations, it’s great to see the team settled into their new home. I had a very specific vision in mind – an office space that not only fosters collaborative working but also stands out in a way people haven’t seen before. “It’s been a massive project, and I won’t deny there were moments of stress, however, the outcome is truly worth it, and I take pride in the modern and inviting atmosphere we’ve created. We really thought about our team and our clients throughout the entire process. Their needs and expectations were at the forefront of our decisions so, it’s really satisfying to see them settle into their new office space and bring their enthusiasm into the workspace. We thank our team for their continued support and hard work and look forward to continuing our growth. “I can’t wait to see what our incredible team achieves in this space. Welcoming our clients here adds another dimension to our ability to serve and collaborate effectively. The new office is not just a physical space; it’s a vibrant home for our collective success and growth.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
HG Construction has been named as the main contractor on a new purpose-built student accommodation scheme for Studio Hive in Bristol. Silverthorne Lane Plot 6 will comprise 706 student rooms including cluster bedrooms and studio rooms along with amenity spaces. The development will form an important part of the regeneration of land off Silverthorne Lane, in Bristol’s Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone (TQEZ), which will see c£375 million being invested into residential, student accommodation and commercial developments, as well as a new comprehensive school. The new student accommodation scheme is split over four blocks ranging from five to 15 storeys high, with blocks being interconnected in pairs. A landscaped external courtyard at the centre of the buildings will provide an important meeting place for students, with sports and games facilities along with quieter areas for relaxation. HG Construction has a strong track record of delivering high-quality large-scale student accommodation projects across the UK. HG will be self-delivering the piling and prefabricated utility cupboards on this scheme, securing quality and programme benefits for the client. Adam Quinn, CEO HG Construction said: “We are delighted to be involved in the regeneration of the Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone. This is our first scheme for Studio Hive and it’s a pleasure to be working in partnership with them on this landmark PBSA development. With a carefully thought-out design which will benefit the local community and enhance the student experience, the scheme will make a very positive addition to Silverthorne Lane. As our first scheme in Bristol, we’re looking forward to getting to know the local area and will maximise opportunities for local employment and community engagement throughout the construction of this project.” Jason Collard, Managing Director of Studio HIVE Ltd said: “We have been involved in the Silverthorne Lane Masterplan for a number of years and it is now very exciting to have HG Construction on board and delivering a great new piece of regeneration for this part of Bristol. Our partners Far East Orchard, Woh Hup and Atlas Land are equally excited about this new PBSA scheme which is acting as a catalyst for private investment in the TQEZ.” Studio Hive are working in partnership with Far East Orchard, Woh Hup and Atlas Land who acquired the site in June 2022 as part of the wider Silverthorne Lane masterplan. The scheme is well located for the nearby Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus as well as key transport hubs and will benefit from the proposed improvements to pedestrian and cycle connections through Silverthorne Lane to the wider Temple Quarter. It is expected to complete in 2026. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Gilbert-Ash has been appointed as main contractor for a major reimagining of the landmark gallery on Royal Albert Dock, Tate Liverpool. This £29.75 million redevelopment will transform one of the UK’s most important spaces for modern and contemporary art. Designed by 6a architects, the plans have recently been granted planning permission and listed building consent. This year Gilbert-Ash completed work on the National Portrait Gallery in London and previously worked on the Stirling Prize winning Everyman Theatre in Liverpool. They have also acted as the main contractor for other celebrated cultural capital projects, including Battersea Arts Centre and Bristol Old Vic. Their heritage portfolio includes the refurbishment and restoration of the Grade II-listed City of London Freemen’s School and the refurbishment and extension of the Grade I-listed kitchen and dining building at Jesus College, Cambridge. Emma King, Capital Director, Tate, said: “Gilbert-Ash’s track record of working to the highest standards on both cultural and heritage buildings makes them the perfect contractors to deliver the reimagined Tate Liverpool. We look forward to collaborating with the architects and contractors to deliver this once-in-a-generation renewal, creating an art museum fit for the 21st century.” Raymond Gilroy, Construction Director, Gilbert-Ash, said: “We are delighted to have been selected to deliver this landmark and transformational project at Tate Liverpool. It is another unique project to add to our extensive portfolio in the Cultural, Arts and Heritage sector. Project Director, Rodney Coalter, who recently completed the National Portrait Gallery, London, will head up the team. The team is already in place finalising plans to deal with the many logistical and technical challenges that lie ahead, in advance of a start on site in early 2024. We are looking forward to developing successful and collaborative relationships with both our new client at Tate Liverpool, the wider project consultant team, and to a very successful project delivery.” Tate Liverpool is housed in an iconic 1846 warehouse that was redesigned by Sir James Stirling and Michael Wilford in the late 1980’s as the cornerstone of the reinvention of the Royal Albert Dock. It helped establish Tate as a pioneer for arts-led regeneration in the UK. The upcoming transformation will reimagine the gallery to meet the scale and ambition of today’s most exciting artists and to welcome visitors into a brand new museum environment. The designs include a new public ‘Art Hall’ on the ground floor, opened up to admit daylight and views across the historic dock. New gallery spaces over three floors will showcase the incredible diversity of Tate’s collection and are interspersed with public riverside foyers. Opening up the gallery’s façade will increase its visibility on the waterfront and within the Royal Albert Dock, creating an inviting destination with striking spaces for learning, play and relaxation. Environmental standards and thermal performance will be significantly improved with new services replacing fossil fuel, with renewables and natural ventilation introduced to the building to ensure better energy performance. Planning permission and listed building consent for the project was granted by Liverpool City Council in October and construction will commence early in 2024. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A new public consultation has been launched on the development of the UK’s first purpose-built and co-produced majority LGBTQ+ Extra Care housing scheme in Whalley Range, south Manchester. Proposed by Great Places, the development is planned for the site of the former Spire Hospital in Russell Road, Whalley Range, which was demolished in 2019 and the brownfield site has since remained vacant. The proposals for the majority Extra Care housing scheme have been developed with the input of the Russell Road Community Steering Group, Manchester City Council and LGBT Foundation. The planned scheme will deliver 80 one- and two-bedroom social rented apartments for older people in a brick building of four to five storeys. The low-carbon scheme will include shared facilities, lounges and treatment rooms and landscaped gardens which will look to ensure an overall net gain of trees on the site. Extra Care housing developments look to increase the affordable housing opportunities for older people to move into high quality accommodation, with flexible care and support services available to meet changing needs encouraging independent living. The residents will be required to be aged 55 years or over, with the majority of residents being members of the LGBTQ+ community from Manchester. Living alongside allies and other members of the local community, the aim is to provide an open and inclusive, physical and psychological place of safety for the older LGBTQ+ community and a welcome addition to the Whalley Range area. The site will also include a neighbouring separate shared ownership block consisting of around 40 apartments, a mix of 1 and 2 bed apartments, delivering affordable homes to first time buyers and eligible customers, helping to address emerging affordability issues in places such as Whalley Range. Residents will be able to see the plans and give their views at public consultation meetings at the site on Russell Road on Friday 12 January 2-8pm and Saturday 13 January from 12-2pm. Members of the local community will also be able to provide their views online by visiting https://ourvoice.greatplaces.org.uk/russell-road-your-views or by contacting Chris.Baldwin@greatplaces.org.uk by 8 March. Commenting on the launch of the consultation Helen Spencer, our Executive Director of Growth, said: “We are delighted to launch our public consultation for this exciting and innovative project, which aims to create the UK’s first purpose-built and co-produced LGBTQ+ Extra Care housing scheme in Whalley Range. “Russell Road will provide high-quality, affordable, and inclusive homes for older people who identify as LGBT+ or allies, as well as shared ownership opportunities for local residents. We believe this scheme will not only meet the specific needs and aspirations of the LGBT+ community, but also enhance the diversity and vibrancy of Whalley Range as a neighbourhood. “We look forward to hearing the views of the local community and working with our partners, Manchester City Council and LGBT Foundation, to make this vision a reality.” Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development, said: “This is landmark development for Manchester’s LGBTQ+ community and there has been a lot of interest in this development already. We know there is a gap in the market for affordable housing for older people where care needs are met onsite – and where they can feel accepted and live with dignity. “Critical to this project has been the co-production process with our community steering group that have helped guide the design principles for these homes to ensure they meet the needs of future residents. “Now it’s the time to present the proposals to the wider community – and I’d urge as many people as possible to take a look and give us their thoughts. This feedback really does help ensure developments like this complement and enhance our neighbourhoods.” Paul Martin, CEO at LGBT Foundation, said: “LGBT Foundation is proud to have been involved in the development of the LGBT+ majority Extra Care housing scheme in Whalley Range since it was proposed some years ago. “The views of the local community are key to making this development a success and we encourage people to use their voice to help shape the future of this landmark project, to ensure it offers a safe and welcoming home for older LGBT+ people.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
