conygar

A city within a city – The Island Quarter set to accelerate investment

THE ISLAND QUARTER WILL ACCELERATE INVESTMENT IN CITY, SAYS DEVELOPER  THE Island Quarter will create a “new city within a city” and represents an opportunity unlike any other in the UK, according to the developer behind the major scheme.  Robert Ware, chief executive of The Conygar Investment Company, says that work on the 36-acre site is progressing at pace, with the first phase of the development

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FURTHER ISLAND QUARTER PLANS REVEALED AS PART OF ON-SITE EVENT

NEW images of the proposals for The Island Quarter  have been released as part of an event to mark the progress of works on Canal Turn, the opening phase of the development. Nottingham South MP Lilian Greenwood, Nottingham City Council leader David Mellen, chief executive Mel Barrett, and other guests were shown

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THE ISLAND QUARTER ANNOUNCES NEW PARTNERS FOR MAJOR NOTTINGHAM DEVELOPMENT

THE ISLAND Quarter, Nottingham’s largest redevelopment project, has announced its latest project partners, which will help take the high-profile site forwards. The Conygar Investment Company PLC – the developer behind the scheme – has chosen a mixture of local and national contractors, designers and consultants to partner with, who are

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PLANS ANNOUNCED FOR 702-BED STUDENT ACCOMMODATION AT THE ISLAND QUARTER

PLANS for the latest stage of The Island Quarter development will feature accommodation for Nottingham’s growing student population, with the developer behind the scheme submitting plans to Nottingham City Council today (DATE). The designs – drawn up by DAY Architects and submitted by The Conygar Investment Company PLC – show

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ISLAND QUARTER TO TRANSFORM CITY LIVING, SAYS LEADING URBAN EXPERT

A WORLD-leading urban scientist has thrown his support behind The Island Quarter in Nottingham during a recent webisode. Professor Carlos Moreno, who created the concept of a 15-minute city where inhabitants have access to all the services they need within their immediate vicinity, told the audience at the latest CC

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PROPOSALS ANNOUNCED FOR ‘UK FIRST’ LEISURE SCHEME

A UNIQUE ‘cohesive use’ scheme featuring a 223-room hotel, extensive food and beverage space and a day spa which developers hope will bring international interest to Nottingham has been submitted for planning today (4 January). Proposals for the ground-breaking, multi-million scheme also include a 100m-long atrium, co-working space, apartments, green

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Latest Issue
Issue 325 : Feb 2025

conygar

Significant student accommodation scheme tops out marking progress on 36-acre site

Significant student accommodation scheme tops out marking progress on 36-acre site

THE LATEST phase of The Island Quarter in Nottingham moved a step closer to completion on Wednesday 7 June, as the final structural beam of its student accommodation scheme was put in place.  The moment was marked with a topping out ceremony for the ongoing phase, which will be home to nearly 700 students from next autumn. The block is currently under construction by Bowmer + Kirkland, and once completed will be managed by Fresh, a leading student accommodation provider. In addition for students and anyone else in medical learning is a way to learn to write, visit essay help online and this service will help you out. The student accommodation forms the second phase of the 36-acre development, with the initial phase – restaurant and entertainment venue 1 The Island Quarter – opening its doors in September 2022.  The Conygar Investment Company – the developer behind the scheme – has also recently received planning permission for nearly 250,000 sq ft of bioscience and laboratory space which will be situated next to the student accommodation.  Christopher Ware, property director at Conygar, said: “Alongside the recently updated masterplan and the planning consent for our bioscience facility, this topping out is another key landmark in what has already been a pivotal year for The Island Quarter.  “From the very outset, we wanted The Island Quarter to be an exemplar of intergenerational living, and this high-quality student accommodation will not only help us reach those ambitions, but also strengthen the offer that Nottingham has for students, ensuring we get the highest calibre of students in our city and attending our universities.”  Designed by DAY Architectural, the student accommodation will offer a range of room types including studio flats and cluster living, and also features a high-level sky lounge, private courtyard, socialising and studying space.    Christian Parnell, Bowmer + Kirkland regional director, said: “We are delighted to be a part of this significant milestone for the project. The topping out ceremony marks the one year anniversary that B + K started work on this site. Everyone – Conygar, consultants, and ourselves – have worked well together, and collaboratively, to get where we are today. We are now focused on delivering the project for next year’s student intake.”   Craig Bryant, strategy and business development director at Fresh, said: “The topping out today is a hugely significant milestone as we move a step closer to welcoming our first cohort of students to their new home in 2024. Fresh has been involved throughout the development, providing advisory services to ensure our unique insight has been designed into the scheme from the beginning to deliver what students want and to exceed our client’s expectations. The Island Quarter is set to be a very exciting development in this great university city, and we can’t wait to add 693 beds to our existing presence in Nottingham.”    For more information on The Island Quarter, visit theislandquarter.com.   

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NEW APPOINTMENT AT THE ISLAND QUARTER TO DELIVER ‘ONCE IN A CAREER’ DEVELOPMENT

NOTTINGHAM’S city within a city, The Island Quarter development, has strengthened its project delivery team with the appointment of Steve Thornton as project manager. Bringing more than 35 years’ experience in the construction industry with him, Steve is set to add impetus to the development team, ensuring each phase is completed on schedule. Steve stepped into the role in October 2021 and is responsible for assisting the wider team with the planning for each phase of the development. Having worked in the industry since 1987, he has been brought on to The Island Quarter due to his extensive build experience and additional involvement in civils projects. Steve said: “I’m delighted to be a part of the team delivering The Island Quarter to Nottingham. Developments of this scale and significance don’t come along very often so it’s a once in a career opportunity. For me, it is particularly remarkable to play a role in bringing it to fruition as I’ve lived in Nottingham for almost 30 years, it’s the place I call home, and I’m excited to create a space the city will benefit from for generations to come.” Prior to this role, Steve worked on a range of developments across the country, from the Canary Wharf Project in London to his recent work on the local Lace Market Point. Steve pairs his strong built environment knowledge with his further experience in civils, which lends itself to the demands of the The Island Quarter site, where a mixture of both is required. Robert Ware, chief executive of the Conygar Investment Company, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Steve’s expertise to The Island Quarter. He’s already making an impact on the efficient running of the site, having hit the ground running earlier this year. As work on site is rapidly progressing, and phase 1A is set to open in Spring 2022, Steve will play a pivotal role in pushing the plans forward, on time, working with the relevant parties to do so. “We are continuing to develop our plans for the later stages of the site, at the same time as delivering the initial ones. Steve’s role will ensure the pre-construction procedures are in place and that progress is monitored once work begins, a position that will be vital as we advance through to completion at each phase.” The Island Quarter will open its doors to Canal Turn, the first phase, in spring 2022. Meanwhile, planning approval is expected within the next few weeks for phase 1B, which includes a hotel, 247 apartments and extensive food and beverage outlets. To find out more about The Island Quarter and Canal Turn, please visit: theislandquarter.com  

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Planning approved for 702-bed student living scheme at The Island Quarter

CONYGAR STUDENT LIVING SCHEME WILL BE 12-STOREY ‘BEACON’ FOR CITY THE LATEST phase of The Island Quarter development is set to help alleviate Nottingham’s student bed shortage, after plans for the next stage of the site were yesterday (22 September) approved by Nottingham City Council. The approved plans – drawn up by DAY Architectural for The Conygar Investment Company PLC – feature an up-to-12-storey, 702-bed purpose-built student development, featuring blocks dedicated to a range of accommodation types including studios and cluster living. Amenities for the students in this latest phase of The Island Quarter include high-level sky lounges that offer projected views across the city and a pavilion with views onto a private courtyard space that will provide the opportunity for working, socialising, dining and exercising. The approved plans also feature multi-media lounges and co-working spaces, as well as gaming zones and quiet areas for study and relaxation. The new accommodation – which forms part of the developer’s plans for intergenerational living on The Island Quarter, the £1 billion 36-acre redevelopment – is likely to start on site shortly and be available for students from the start of the 2023/24 academic year. With Nottingham facing an expected shortfall of 7,000 student beds in the coming years, the Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) on The Island Quarter will free up family homes currently used by students and help return them to their intended use. Christopher Ware, property director at Conygar, said: “We’re delighted that the planning committee has approved the plans for the proposed student accommodation on The Island Quarter. Nottingham is a world-renowned university city, and the student population is growing rapidly to reflect that. Add in the demand from second- and third-year students to remain in PBSA, and it is clear there is a real need for quality student beds in the city. “This element of the scheme really supports our plans for intergenerational living across the site. One of the biggest impacts of the pandemic has been that people of all ages are reassessing their relationship with where they live, and we want to create places and spaces where people can live, work and thrive.” David Jones, director at planning consultant AXIS, said: “This phase will be a real step forward for the development as a whole. The location of this phase – right next to BioCity and close to Sneinton – means that it will act as a beacon, bringing life to the eastern edge of the site and providing a space that will draw people into The Island Quarter.” The Island Quarter masterplan, which received outline planning approval in April 2019, has been designed with a full lifecycle of uses, including hotels and hospitality, office space and community living. Recent changes to the plan were made in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, adding 10,000sqm more green space to the site and rethinking the street plan to create an ‘urban river’. Richard Watson, of Conygar, said: “The PBSA on The Island Quarter site forms an integral part of what we are trying to achieve with the development. In the wake of COVID-19, it has never been more important to encourage healthy, sustainable and resilient living, and this element of the scheme will help in creating a true community around the site. “The reimagined masterplan creates active, liveable and safe spaces that will connect the various elements of the scheme with each other and, more importantly, with the area’s existing vibrant communities.” Tom Exell, director of architecture at DAY Architectural, said: “This will be a unique PBSA offering in a highly competitive market, with a real focus on high quality design and student wellbeing across all aspects. We’re delighted to have achieved planning approval and excited to see the development move onto the next stage.” Work on the vast redevelopment is progressing at pace, with the first phase of the Canal Turn – at the opposite end of the site set to open to the public in early next summer.  Once complete, Canal Turn will bring a new three-storey restaurant, bar and meeting and banqueting space to the city’s waterfront, as well as a canalside plaza and outdoor stage for entertainment. Watson added: “The Island Quarter is a massive opportunity for our Nottingham community – the city has an ambitious regeneration strategy and our site will bring 4,500 jobs to support that, as well as millions of pounds of inward investment into the city.” To help accelerate the development’s progress, The Island Quarter has been included in the city council’s Levelling Up Fund bid, which is designed support ‘shovel-ready’ infrastructure projects that will boost local economies.  He said: “While we already have investment in place to support the development of the various phases that make up the site, the Levelling Up Fund allows us to accelerate work on-site so that Nottingham can make the most of the economic benefits of The Island Quarter as quickly as possible.” To hear more about the wider plans for the site, visit The Island Quarter YouTube channel for an in-depth look at placemaking and masterplanning with David Leonard of Leonard Design Architects and David West of Studio Egret West: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UEOSgq1eXA To find out more about The Island Quarter, please visit: www.theislandquarter.com/

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A city within a city – The Island Quarter set to accelerate investment

THE ISLAND QUARTER WILL ACCELERATE INVESTMENT IN CITY, SAYS DEVELOPER  THE Island Quarter will create a “new city within a city” and represents an opportunity unlike any other in the UK, according to the developer behind the major scheme.  Robert Ware, chief executive of The Conygar Investment Company, says that work on the 36-acre site is progressing at pace, with the first phase of the development set to open to the public in early next summer.  The developer also confirmed that the scheme has been included in Nottingham City Council’s bid for the Levelling Up Fund, which could potentially provide significant funding for some of the infrastructure works required to unlock areas of the site.  Ware said: “We’re very pleased with the progress of work on the site’s first phase, Canal Turn. There are very few cleared central sites in major European cities with this potential to create and curate an entire community and, when you combine that with the fact that Nottingham has one of the youngest demographics in the UK, you can see why we are so excited by the scale of the opportunity and what it can bring to the city.”  Once complete, Canal Turn will bring a new three-storey restaurant, bar and exhibition space to the city’s waterfront, as well as a canalside plaza and outdoor stage for events.  Planning applications have been submitted for a striking cohesive-use building incorporating hotels, rental apartments and office space, which will sit adjacent to Canal Turn and also a purpose-built 702-bed student accommodation project, situated on the Manvers Street side of the vast site.  With designs developing for other projects on site, the overall plan for the entire site are proceeding apace.  Ware said: “The Island Quarter is a massive opportunity for Nottingham – the city has an ambitious regeneration strategy and our site will bring 4,500 jobs to support that, as well as millions of pounds of inward investment into the city.  “The student accommodation aspect of the scheme is particularly important. The city council has recently highlighted the potential 7,000 shortfall in student beds over the coming years, which illustrates both the draw of Nottingham and the scale of the need for purpose-built student spaces, allowing existing student accommodation to revert to family housing.  To help accelerate the development’s progress, The Island Quarter has been included in the city council’s Levelling Up Fund bid, which is designed support ‘shovel-ready’ infrastructure projects that will boost local economies.  Ware said: “While we already have investment in place to support the development of the various phases that make up the site, the Levelling Up Fund allows us to accelerate work on-site so that Nottingham can make the most of the economic benefits of The Island Quarter as quickly as possible.  “There are major infrastructure works that need to take place on-site to enable this, and grant funding will mean that this can take place immediately and, crucially, speed up delivery.  “We are in a prime position for the grant funding because we are already on-site and can guarantee we will use the funds immediately to show real results”  The site will also help support the city’s ambitious climate targets, bringing high-performing, environmentally friendly buildings and improved green-blue infrastructure with a focus on sustainable and recycled building materials.   Ware said: “It’s also important to make clear that this won’t be a concrete jungle. We want to introduce beautiful, open green spaces for people to relax and enjoy, as well as reimagining the waterfront overlooking the canal and bringing to life a neglected part of Nottingham.  “The Island Quarter will be a new city within a city, complementing the best Nottingham already has to offer with its own unique proposition.”  For more information and to add support to the campaign, visit: theislandquarter.com 

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FURTHER ISLAND QUARTER PLANS REVEALED AS PART OF ON-SITE EVENT

NEW images of the proposals for The Island Quarter  have been released as part of an event to mark the progress of works on Canal Turn, the opening phase of the development. Nottingham South MP Lilian Greenwood, Nottingham City Council leader David Mellen, chief executive Mel Barrett, and other guests were shown around the 36-acre site by Robert Ware, chief executive of The Conygar Investment Company PLC. The dignitaries were joined by children from Sneinton C of E Primary, who planted a time capsule as part of the ongoing work on Canal Turn, which is due for completion in early 2022. The images released at the event included an updated masterplan for the site, showing increased amounts of green space and the positioning of the currently active phases in the wider context of the site.   The event was the first chance to welcome guests onto the site since work started in November 2020, with lockdown restrictions limiting outdoor social gatherings.  Robert Ware, chief executive at Conygar, said: “We’re thrilled to have been able to welcome people down to The Island Quarter to see both the progress that is being made at Canal Turn and the wider plans for the site. “Canal Turn will be a true entertainment spot for the city, with event spaces, restaurants and panoramic views across the waterfront. When completed, it will open up the canal basin area, enhancing one of the city’s most under-utilised assets.” Plans for the opening phase also feature a bandstand and a substantial area of new, attractive public space, which will link with a network of public realm and access routes for pedestrians and cyclists. The Island Quarter masterplan, which received outline planning approval in April 2019, has been designed with a full lifecycle of uses – including hotels and hospitality, office space and community living – and green spaces at the heart of the plans. Ware said: “The Island Quarter is one of the biggest projects of its kind in the UK and is a huge part of the regeneration of Nottingham’s Southside. The masterplan images released today reiterate the scale of what we are trying to achieve with the development, as we look to create something that will make the city stand out on a national and international stage.” As part of the development of the site, Conygar has applied for Homes England funding and is in the process of exploring the Levelling Up Fund, which is designed to support investment in places where it can make the biggest difference to everyday life. Cllr David Mellen, leader of Nottingham City Council, said: “It was great to see progress on The Island Quarter site and to get a sense of the scale and potential for the area. Conygar has some really exciting ideas for what is a huge site, which will become a significant new destination as it develops.  “The mixture of proposed developments for The Island Quarter will really complement what’s going on elsewhere in the Southside area, reanimating this part of the city as a place to live, work and play. It’s transformative developments like these that put Nottingham in a strong position to bounce back from the pandemic and forge a bright future.” Julie Doyle, partnership and enrichment lead at Sneinton C of E Primary School, said: “We have been very appreciative of the support that Conygar has given to our school over the past 12 months.  “The children were very excited to be involved in this special event today and have enjoyed  deciding what should go into the time capsule. We are delighted to have an ongoing partnership with Conygar and look forward to the opportunities that this will bring to our children in the future.”

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THE ISLAND QUARTER ANNOUNCES NEW PARTNERS FOR MAJOR NOTTINGHAM DEVELOPMENT

THE ISLAND Quarter, Nottingham’s largest redevelopment project, has announced its latest project partners, which will help take the high-profile site forwards. The Conygar Investment Company PLC – the developer behind the scheme – has chosen a mixture of local and national contractors, designers and consultants to partner with, who are all working together to transform the southside area of the city. Engineering consultancy Couch Perry Wilkes is the latest Nottingham-based company to join the list of project partners – which already includes other local businesses such as CPMG Architects, Leonard Design and Macaulay Sinclair – having been appointed to provide mechanical and engineering services for phase two of the development. Also announced are Quartz Project Services as quantity surveyors for phase 1A, Canal Turn, and Studio Egret West, which will be responsible for placemaking and the public realm. Work is now well underway on the first phase, 1A, of the development, which will regenerate the canal basin area on the southwest corner of the site – with two restaurants, an event space and rooftop terrace, as well as a bandstand and public spaces. Planning for the second phase, 1B, was submitted in January for a UK first ‘cohesive use’ scheme, featuring a combination of hotels, co-working space, apartments, green public realm and leisure facilities. Christopher Ware, property director at Conygar, said: “The Island Quarter is one of the biggest city centre regeneration schemes in the UK, and for that reason it’s vital that we have a team on the site that has both the skills and local knowledge to make it a success. That’s why we want to partner with local companies, like Couch Perry Wilkes, because they’re as passionate about the area as we are. “It’s an incredibly exciting time for the city, especially now that spades are in the ground and progress is being made every day. We want to make sure The Island Quarter is a community the people of Nottingham can be proud of, and to do that it’s crucial to work with a wide variety of partners that will each bring unique and exciting ideas to the table.” Ashley Cowdrey, director at Couch Perry Wilkes, said: “We’re thrilled to have been appointed to work on such a prominent scheme. The whole development is really exciting, not just because of its scale but the fact it’s brimming with potential to widen the city centre as an attraction. “This area has sat derelict for years, so it’s great to see Conygar breathing new life into it with aspirations that pull so many elements of Nottingham’s character together – hospitality, residential, business, public realm and more – it feels like a concentrated snapshot of the city and, as a local business, we can’t wait to see it move forward.” The Island Quarter masterplan, which received outline planning approval in April 2019, has been designed with a full lifecycle of uses, ranging from student housing, office space and community living. It will introduce a network of public realm and access routes for pedestrians and cyclists, with green spaces at the heart of the plans. Daniel Gillespie, director at Quartz Project Services, said: “We are extremely excited to be part of a project that encapsulates the city’s reputation of foresight, individuality and creativity so perfectly. We’ve already made several visits to the site to conduct a number of valuations and are monitoring the development’s progress closely. Being involved in a scheme like this will be extremely rewarding for us and we look forward to being part of a project that’s going to bring so much to the city of Nottingham.”   David West, founding director at Studio Egret West, said: “This is a unique opportunity to work on a project that’s going to have such a massive impact on the city as a whole, by evolving a distinctive, pioneering and landscape led neighbourhood. We’re entering a new era of placemaking and that’s why a collaborative approach is going to be so important for The Island Quarter to ensure it meets the post-pandemic needs of our cities. We want to bring as many people as possible on this journey with us and help create a destination the people of Nottingham will enjoy for generations to come.” The landmark development will create hundreds of jobs, strengthen the local economy and help to elevate Nottingham as one of the UK’s key regional cities for investors and employers.  Project managers WES Consultancy and investors Lavignac Securities are also both leading on the delivery of the project on behalf of Conygar Investment Company.

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PLANS ANNOUNCED FOR 702-BED STUDENT ACCOMMODATION AT THE ISLAND QUARTER

PLANS for the latest stage of The Island Quarter development will feature accommodation for Nottingham’s growing student population, with the developer behind the scheme submitting plans to Nottingham City Council today (DATE). The designs – drawn up by DAY Architects and submitted by The Conygar Investment Company PLC – show a 702-bed purpose-built student development, featuring a range of accommodation types including studios and cluster living. Amenities for the students in this latest phase of The Island Quarter – which is set to be available from September 2023 – include high-level sky lounges that offer projected views across the city and a pavilion with views onto a private courtyard space that will provide the opportunity for working, socialising, dining and exercising. The student accommodation will support The Island Quarter’s plans for intergenerational living across the site, with rental apartments forming part of phase 1B – which is currently in for planning – and future plans for family housing. Christopher Ware, property director at Conygar, said: “The plans submitted today are an exciting step for The Island Quarter development. Nottingham has a fantastic reputation as a university city, and the growth of the student population over the last few years reflects that. Purpose built student accommodation means more choice for students and less on them to live in traditional houses in residential areas of the city. “Our aim for The Island Quarter is true intergenerational living, with housing and accommodation that works for all. One of the biggest impacts of the pandemic has been that people of all ages are reassessing their relationship with where they live, and we want to create places and spaces where people can live, work and thrive.” The Island Quarter masterplan, which received outline planning approval in April 2019, has been designed with a full lifecycle of uses, including hotels and hospitality, office space and community living. It will introduce a network of public realm and access routes for pedestrians and cyclists, with green spaces at the heart of the plans. Tom Exell, director of architecture at DAY Architects, said: “It’s fantastic to see the scheme reach this significant milestone. This will be truly high-end student accommodation, offering exceptional living and amenity spaces whilst providing unparalleled, immediate access to public and private external space, something we feel will be key to the health and wellbeing of residents, particularly as we emerge from the pandemic. We’re extremely proud to be part of this flagship development for Nottingham and feel phase two will be another example of Conygar’s commitment to quality design across the entire masterplan.” Alex Jones, director at engineering consultancy Couch Perry Wilkes, which will be providing mechanical and engineering services for phase two of the development, said: “The Island Quarter is a significant development for Nottingham and the Midlands as a whole. We’re delighted to be working with the team for the student accommodation phase of the site, which will bring much needed residential capacity to support the city’s growing universities.”

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ISLAND QUARTER TO TRANSFORM CITY LIVING, SAYS LEADING URBAN EXPERT

A WORLD-leading urban scientist has thrown his support behind The Island Quarter in Nottingham during a recent webisode. Professor Carlos Moreno, who created the concept of a 15-minute city where inhabitants have access to all the services they need within their immediate vicinity, told the audience at the latest CC Live webisode that the Nottingham development has all the characteristics to transform the way people in the city live, work and spend time. Speaking during a live Q&A with audience members, Professor Moreno said: “I’m very happy that The Island Quarter and Nottingham is exploring the 15-minute city concept. The main attribute for cities looking to change in this way is a desire to transform their current model of urban life. “By having that, the city of Nottingham has the chance to develop a polycentric model, with The Island Quarter being one of the sectors. There is the potential for totality of services and urban social functions within a happy proximity, which is the 15-minute city in a nutshell.” Appearing alongside Professor Moreno was Christopher Ware, property director at The Island Quarter’s developer Conygar, who told the audience about the company’s reasons for investing in the city. Ware said: “Our intentions for The Island Quarter site have always been for it to be truly mixed-use – we wanted to avoid the creation of an office district that shuts down at 6pm on a Friday and becomes somewhere you don’t want to walk through. “This is where our plans pair quite nicely with the 15-minute city concept, as we want the site to reflect the full lifecycle, from student accommodation, to offices where those students may then have their first job, to areas for family homes. “The whole opportunity is very exciting. Nottingham has a young population – the proportion of young people is comparable to Berlin and Amsterdam – and is seen as a bit of a fintech hub. There’s a strong underlying entrepreneurial spirit, but we feel that maybe there’s been a lack of a voice to shout about it. “We see The Island Quarter working along with other projects in the city to harness the energy that’s naturally there, because we see the demand for what the site can offer. Ware also gave an overview of the next steps for the site, which had lain derelict for many years before Conygar’s purchase of the former Boots Island in 2016. “The opening phase of the site is well underway and it’s going to really open up the canalside area, which has been such an underused part of the city for a number of years. It’s creating some really exciting public realm, which is going to bring the people of the city back to The Island Quarter site. “We’ve submitted the planning application for the next phase – which is the cohesive-use building adjacent to the opening phase – and we’ll be submitting a further application for some student accommodation in the coming months as well. “We’re also working hard in the background on a number of other elements of the site including the heritage warehouses, which we know are of great interest and a lot of people will be interested to hear our proposals when they come forward.” As well as the live Q&A, attendees heard the thoughts of BioCity’s CEO Toby Reid, The Nottingham Project’s director Lee Walker and Dr Lucelia Rodrigues from the University of Nottingham, who talked about The Island Quarter’s potential for creating a new community. To view the full webisode, visit The Island Quarter’s YouTube page. For more information on The Island Quarter, visit theislandquarter.com. 

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PROPOSALS ANNOUNCED FOR ‘UK FIRST’ LEISURE SCHEME

A UNIQUE ‘cohesive use’ scheme featuring a 223-room hotel, extensive food and beverage space and a day spa which developers hope will bring international interest to Nottingham has been submitted for planning today (4 January). Proposals for the ground-breaking, multi-million scheme also include a 100m-long atrium, co-working space, apartments, green public realm and leisure facilities. The latest phase of The Island Quarter development is believed to be the UK’s first cohesive-use development, incorporating multiple uses within the same flowing space. The ambitious plans submitted to Nottingham City Council feature a stunning bar and busy forum for people to meet. It has been hailed as a ‘UK first’ which leads the way in terms of sustainability, innovation and engagement with nature and green space in a post-Covid world. The proposal – which will create more than 550 jobs when completed – is believed to be the UK’s first cohesive-use development, incorporating multiple uses within the same flowing space, similar to Roppongi Hills in Tokyo. Richard Watson, of developer Conygar, said: “The Island Quarter is the biggest city centre regeneration schemes in the UK, and we believe it is vital for the development to bring something outstanding to Nottingham, for which the city and the Midlands can be proud of. “We are fortunate to have a site in Nottingham with its great heritage and an international reputation – with developments such as this and, among other schemes, the renovation of Nottingham Castle, we want to ensure it retains its rightful place as the Queen of the Midlands and a core UK city. “It is an ambitious project – unmatched across the UK. The scheme will raise the profile of Nottingham, so we are working closely with our team of architects and designers to create a lasting legacy and community for Nottingham.” The first glimpse of the proposals highlights such features as large archways, wide open spaces within the hotel areas and an atrium to create a light and airy atmosphere for residents and visitors. Several aspects of the design have been created to meet changing needs anticipated in the aftermath of the pandemic, such as flexible spaces, relaxing community areas and green public realm. David Jones, director at Axis Planning, which has coordinated all planning-related inputs on the scheme since its inception, said: “This latest phase of the Island Quarter is groundbreaking in a number of ways. The innovative blending of hotel, office and residential space and the distinctive combination of high quality internal and external environments will, I’m sure, generate significant footfall in this soon to be revitalised part of the city”. “The ground floor provides an extensive, mixed-use food and beverage-led experience incorporating restaurant, bar, forum and atrium space in a way that hasn’t been done before in the UK. “The mix of linked buildings together with integral and adjacent open spaces provides a fluidity within the development which will be essential in a post-Covid world.  We’re convinced this will create a truly unique experience for people to visit and to stay, live, work and play. “The scheme will complement future plans for the city, such as the highly anticipated redevelopment of the Broadmarsh. Together, these developments will lead the way for the ambitious Southside regeneration.” The Island Quarter masterplan, which received outline planning approval in April 2019, has been designed with a full lifecycle of uses, ranging from student housing, office space and community living. The development will introduce a network of public realm and access routes for pedestrians and cyclists, with green spaces at the heart of the plans. Operating in tandem with Canal Turn, the opening phase of the scheme, the architecture of this phase mirrors the heritage buildings opposite, as well as taking inspiration from the nearby Victorian railway buildings. James Dilley, director at architect Jestico+Whiles, said: “This design truly blends with Canal Turn and its surroundings. It is about place making, focused on a spirit of community, conviviality and collaboration. The design we have brought forward really reflects the synergy of uses that the wider scheme will create, and we hope will create a ripple effect across the entire site and across Nottingham itself. “This building is inspired by the rich and layered context of The Island Quarter, respecting and referencing its centuries of heritage while creating something entirely new. This isn’t helicopter architecture – we aren’t just dropping something in and hoping it works with its surroundings, it is born of its special context.” Alongside the hotel – which will provide short and long-stay accommodation with city views from a landmark 17-storey building – the latest phase will feature 3,000 sqm of serviced flexible office space. The latest phase will also see the creation of significant amounts of landscaped green space in the form of a linear park, creating a clear link through the site from the city centre to the suburbs to the east of the city. For more information on The Island Quarter, visit theislandquarter.com.

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LANDMARK DECISION FOR NOTTINGHAM AS PLANS TO TRANSFORM ISLAND SITE APPROVED

NOTTINGHAM is on the cusp of creating “possibly the biggest regeneration scheme in the UK” as outline plans to transform the high-profile 40-acre former Boots Island site have been approved this week (17 April) by Nottingham City Council planning committee. Conygar Investment Company PLC intends to transform the site, which has laid derelict for many years, into new homes, grade A office space, creative market space, a five-star hotel, retail units, a ‘linear’ park and community space and student accommodation. The landmark decision, which was overwhelmingly supported, will see hundreds of jobs created, strengthening the local economy and helping to elevate Nottingham as one of the UK’s key regional cities for investors and employers. Christopher Ware of Conygar said this was a significant milestone in Nottingham’s story and one they were proud to be a part of. “I am really pleased that the outline plans have been approved by Nottingham City Council and I look forward to working with our partners to meet the requirements set out by the council to develop all aspects of the mixed-use scheme into a thriving community,” he said. “We are passionate about delivering a sustainable development where people aspire to live and work. This is a long-term phased project which is likely to take up to ten years to complete and will create hundreds of jobs in the region before and after the building work. “Nottingham is a vibrant and creative city where several exciting developments are taking place and our plans for the site are a key part of this regeneration. We believe this is a unique development which will help to elevate Nottingham’s position in the Midlands and the UK.” Councillor Chris Gibson, chair of the planning committee said the scheme was the biggest opportunity Nottingham had seen in years. He said: “This is Nottingham’s biggest regeneration scheme to happen in decades and currently the largest in the East Midlands and perhaps the UK.” Paul Seddon, director of planning and regeneration said this was the right time for the crucial site to redeveloped. “Now outline planning is in place we will continue to work very closely with Conygar to ensure the progress of this hugely important scheme for the city. It’s our priority to help make the Island Site a high quality and vibrant part of the city that Nottingham deserves.” Lorraine Baggs, head of investment for Invest in Nottingham said: “This is a landmark decision which marks a significant milestone for Nottingham. These plans will breathe new life into a site which has sat unloved for many years and I’m confident they will be the catalyst our city needs to help strengthen our economy – particularly with the additional grade A office space which many businesses are interested in.” Greg Millers-Cheevers from urban regeneration specialists Lavignac added: “This decision has been more than two years in the making. We have worked very closely with Nottingham City Council, existing site occupiers and stakeholders in the city to develop these plans. We have also taken the time to listen to the public which has shaped how we plan to integrate the development into the city and neighbouring communities.” Work is expected to start on site during 2019, with the first phase of office and homes intended to be complete by 2020.

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