Two tower cranes have been delivered on a site in Coventry where the development of new student accommodation is taking place. UNINN Parkside Development’s scheme will see 502 en-suite, mix of studio & cluster bedrooms constructed within three towers – six, 13 and 19-storeys high. The 19th floor will house a
Barings, one of the world’s largest diversified real estate investment managers, has unveiled the views from its Landmark Manchester, 180,000 sq ft office development which is currently under construction in St Peter’s Square. Set for completion in Q3 of 2019, the building will offer occupiers the largest available floorplates in
The current rise in speculative development will help replenish an undersupplied UK market, according to research from Cushman & Wakefield. Eight million sq ft of speculative development was underway across 44 buildings over 50,000 sq ft at the end of 2018, while the average void period for spec built space
Woodhead Group has made a great start to the first quarter of 2019 after securing a trio of framework wins to deliver a range of housing and public sector construction projects. The group has been appointed to the Westworks Procurement Development and Construction DPS and re-appointed to the Blue Skies
Construction work has begun on a new accommodation complex for NHS staff and medical students working at Yeovil Hospital. The key milestone in the project was marked by a turf cutting ceremony held on 15 March 2019 on the site of the town’s former Nautilus Works, just off the A30
The sports and leisure industries within the UK are booming. More people than ever before are choosing to focus on their health and fitness, thanks in part to inspiring role models within the sector. Boxing and fitness classes are becoming particularly popular, yet space for these types of facilities is
Construction work is underway on a new £400 million housing scheme in Leeds led by CEG that will see over 1,000 new homes and 400,000 sq ft of offices, retail, leisure and community spaces developed at Kirkstall Forge. Phase one of the scheme will be delivered by Tolent, including the construction
Tolent has announced its recent contract win at Kirkstall Forge, where the team will build the site’s first residential phase, with the contract initially delivering the construction of two prototype houses. Led by CEG, Kirkstall Forge is a £400 million project in Leeds that will see over 1,000 new homes
National property and construction consultancy Wakemans has completed a £2.4million SuperRoom roll out programme for Travelodge, one of the UK’s largest budget hotel chains. The Travelodge SuperRoom is the UK’s first premium economy room concept within the budget hotel sector. It is designed around the ‘premium economy’ concept familiar to
BROXTOWE Borough Council has secured a deal to bring The Arc Cinema to Beeston town centre as part of its plans to create a vibrant hub of leisure facilities and new homes in Nottinghamshire. The eight-screen cinema forms part of the mixed-use development which will include a greater choice of
Two tower cranes have been delivered on a site in Coventry where the development of new student accommodation is taking place. UNINN Parkside Development’s scheme will see 502 en-suite, mix of studio & cluster bedrooms constructed within three towers – six, 13 and 19-storeys high. The 19th floor will house a rooftop lounge terrace. UNNIN Parkside Development has been working with Winvic Construction, who completed this recent milestone, to refine the design and solve engineering challenges for the last six months. “Winvic has been making excellent progress on Parkside and their knowledge of city-centre, high-rise developments is evident. Already there is a buzz about Coventry’s next luxury student accommodation provision and we look forward to welcoming students into their new rooms in summer 2020. Together with Winvic, we’re confident to exceed expectations,” said Andrew Jamieson, Managing Director of UNINN Parkside Development. So far, the piling for the 5 metre deep basement, which will provide a gym, laundry, cinema, karaoke room and communal lounge for tenants and a plant room/energy centre, has been completed. On the ground floor there is also planned a 100 m2 of retail space. Ground works are underway with the first pile caps and beams installed. Following this will be the storm water attenuation measures, blue roof tanking over basement areas and erection of the steel framed building will. A combination of brick slips and rainscreen cladding will make up the external façade’s striking design, and the interior will take shape with high quality finishes throughout, meeting the demands of the luxury student living market. Delivered on a turnkey service by Winvic, additionally comprising works to the existing highway and the creation of 160 bicycle spaces, the 95 week project will ready for habitation in August 2020.
Barings, one of the world’s largest diversified real estate investment managers, has unveiled the views from its Landmark Manchester, 180,000 sq ft office development which is currently under construction in St Peter’s Square. Set for completion in Q3 of 2019, the building will offer occupiers the largest available floorplates in the prime core of Manchester City Centre, of circa 14,000 sq ft. Landmark Manchester will provide 14 floors of next generation office space above two basement levels. The building is being constructed with an offset core, enabling occupiers to benefit from large virtually column free floorplates to provide maximum efficiency and flexibility. Ian Mayhew, Managing Director at Barings, said: “Following the completion of over 100,000 sq ft of Grade A office lettings so far in Manchester City Centre this year, competition for available space is fierce. The average transaction in 2019 has been for around 20,000 sq ft which Landmark can easily accommodate. “Our careful assessments of the Manchester office market gave us the confidence to commit to delivering Landmark this year, as we knew that we would be hitting a supply-constrained market and would therefore have a real opportunity to help meet the demand for high quality space within the City. We’re in an advantageous position where we are able to offer occupiers a best in class office building with stunning views over the Manchester skyline, at a time when the Manchester office market needs it most.” Barings Alternative Investments (BAI), part of Barings LLC, is a 470+ associate team located across 11 countries that manages $48.5 billion in client capital. BAI seeks differentiated sources of returns by incorporating decades of investment experience in alternative assets offering investors access to a diverse range of opportunities across private equity, real assets, asset-based investments and the four quadrants of real estate. We serve as a trusted partner to clients, leveraging our global presence and robust origination capabilities to identify the most attractive risk-adjusted return opportunities. The Barings Real Estate team offers a broad range of investment opportunities globally across the public and private debt and equity markets. The team invests across all major property sectors with a focus on global relative value and trend-backed preferred strategies. About Barings Barings is a $303+ billion* global financial services firm dedicated to meeting the evolving investment and capital needs of our clients and customers. Through active asset management and direct origination, we provide innovative solutions and access to differentiated opportunities across public and private capital markets. A subsidiary of MassMutual, Barings maintains a strong global presence with business and investment professionals located across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.
The current rise in speculative development will help replenish an undersupplied UK market, according to research from Cushman & Wakefield. Eight million sq ft of speculative development was underway across 44 buildings over 50,000 sq ft at the end of 2018, while the average void period for spec built space fell to nine months in the final quarter of 2018. Cushman & Wakefield estimates that at current take-up rates, vacant newly built space will reach 14 million sq ft by the end of 2019. However, the research said that low vacancies (around 5 per cent), scarcity of land in prime locations and a restrictive planning regime are likely to prevent any over-supply while pent-up demand for Grade A space will continue to fuel rental growth. Simon Lloyd, partner, national logistics & industrial, said: “While there will continue to be demand from occupiers for built to suit solutions, particularly in the manufacturing sector, the availability of speculative buildings is important in this dynamic market sector. The immediacy of a building solution for an occupier means they can focus on the operational aspects of their requirements, and therefore satisfy the demands of their customers. The current supply of new buildings does not represent many months’ take-up, and consequently occupiers will still need to focus on building solutions at an early stage.”
Woodhead Group has made a great start to the first quarter of 2019 after securing a trio of framework wins to deliver a range of housing and public sector construction projects. The group has been appointed to the Westworks Procurement Development and Construction DPS and re-appointed to the Blue Skies Contractor framework, which delivers social and affordable homes for local housing associations. The wins come just weeks after the company’s appointment on two value bands of the Pagabo framework. Tom Woodhead, director of the Woodhead Group said: “Securing a place on three public sector frameworks demonstrates that we are trusted partners, we have delivered excellent social value returns and as a company we are passionate about working collaboratively to hand over successful projects. “This trio of appointments has got 2019 off to a flying start and we are very pleased to have secured places on each framework.” The Westworks Procurement Development and Construction DPS is available for use by all Westworks and Efficiency East Midlands (EEM) members as part of the Collaboration arrangement between several like-minded procurement consortia. Woodhead Group has been part of EEM for seven years – during this time, the company has delivered or is on site with more than £50m of projects, and is set to complete its 500th home secured through the framework in 2019. Blue Skies Contractor framework is run by the Blue Skies Consortium, which is a collection of housing associations. It aims to deliver primarily affordable housing residential developments for the different associations. Woodhead Group has previously delivered a number of challenging projects through the framework, including the multi award winning Cross Street Eco Town Development for Longhurst Group and a programme of complex infill sites for Spire Homes, which received three National Considerate Constructors Awards. The Pagabo framework simplifies public sector procurement, making it quicker, simpler and more effective. Woodhead Group is one of 46 national and regional contractors appointed to the Pagabo framework. Tom added: “These frameworks act as a strong trust signal for councils and housing associations that are looking to work with us, and is a real testament to the high standard of work we deliver and our commitment to deliver real social value to local communities.”
Construction work has begun on a new accommodation complex for NHS staff and medical students working at Yeovil Hospital. The key milestone in the project was marked by a turf cutting ceremony held on 15 March 2019 on the site of the town’s former Nautilus Works, just off the A30 at Reckleford, where the new accommodation complex will be built. There to mark the occasion were Jonathan Higman (Chief Executive, Yeovil Hospital), Paul von der Heyde (Trust Chairman, Yeovil Hospital), Leighton Chumbley, Chief Executive of development partner Prime and Chris Watkins, Contracts Manager of construction firm Speller Metcalfe. The key worker accommodation scheme is the latest project to be funded by Canada Life and delivered through Yeovil Hospital’s strategic estates partnership with Prime. To date, the joint venture has delivered the Hospital’s new multi-storey car park and link road, an Emergency Assessment Unit, outpatient waiting area and a special care baby unit. Jonathan Higman, Chief Executive, Yeovil Hospital said: “This was an exciting moment for the hospital. The accommodation being built will provide frontline staff with modern, high-quality accommodation, just yards from the hospital site. “It’s an investment into our future and one which will help us recruit and retain employees whilst adding to the vibrancy of the wider community.” Leighton Chumbley, Chief Executive at Prime said: “The key worker accommodation complex is a much-needed scheme, which will not only improve the lives of the hardworking and dedicated NHS staff and students who work at the hospital, but it will also breathe new life into a town centre site which has been derelict for a number of years. The turf cutting ceremony celebrates our progress onto the next phase in the scheme, turning plans into real transformation for the town and the hospital workers who support it.” Chris Watkins, Contracts Manager at Speller Metcalfe said: “We are delighted to have been chosen to partner with Prime and Yeovil Hospital to deliver this fantastic new accommodation complex and are looking forward to the construction phase starting. We will be using our experience of building first-class residential accommodation to deliver the modern, comfortable and high-quality facilities the NHS workers and medical students deserve for the tremendous job they do for their community.” Designed by One Creative Environments Ltd (One), the accommodation complex will provide 176 bedrooms in total, in a mixture of one, two, four- and eight-bedroom apartments. Located just 500m from the Hospital, the scheme also includes shared living spaces and landscaped gardens to enable staff and students to socialise and relax away from work. Planning permission for the key worker accommodation project was awarded by South Somerset District Council planners in November last year, and £20m of funding was secured for the build by Prime in December 2018. With building contractors now on site, the project is expected to be completed by late summer 2020. Enquiries about the project can be sent to future@ydh.nhs.uk.
The sports and leisure industries within the UK are booming. More people than ever before are choosing to focus on their health and fitness, thanks in part to inspiring role models within the sector. Boxing and fitness classes are becoming particularly popular, yet space for these types of facilities is now limited. Consequently, the construction industry is seeing a demand for leisure centres and sports clubs. Here, we’ll look at the rise in the demand for sports clubs and leisure centres and how it benefits other businesses. Sports clubs continue to grow Last year, the Sports Club Survey Report discovered that sports clubs in England were continuing to grow despite numerous challenges. Over half of clubs that responded to the survey, claimed they expected their adult memberships to continue to increase. There was also an interesting rise in the number of volunteers working within sports centres, showing the love of sports isn’t just tied to money. The challenges of building sports and leisure centres Although the rise in the demand for sports and leisure centres is increasing, there are challenges construction workers face when building these types of buildings. A lot of the new sports clubs require a unique, modern construction, rather than a standard generic layout. They are more specialised buildings, ranging greatly in size from single gymnasiums to large stadiums. Even the refurbishment of older facilities can be a complex construction process. Just some of the issues involved in the building of sports clubs and leisure centres include high up-front costs and long project completion. How the increase in demand benefits other sectors There may be challenges within the construction of additional sports clubs and leisure centres. However, the rise in demand is having benefits on other sectors. Companies which supply fitness equipment are seeing an increase in business, as are those which supply facilities for the buildings such as JLA. An additional benefit is that these new clubs and leisure centres require new staff to keep them running. So, personal trainers are seeing an increase in demand too. However, the wider benefits are even more remarkable. As there is an increase in demand for sports and leisure facilities, it means a lot of people are focused on getting fitter. This is obviously a great benefit for society as a whole. It also means less pressure will be placed onto the NHS eventually as obesity levels drop. Obviously, this isn’t a benefit that’s going to happen overnight, but it is a promising sign that people are getting fitter and healthier. Overall, sports clubs and leisure centres are becoming more popular in the UK. While there may be challenges building and running new facilities, this increase in demand is delivering a lot of benefits to associated sectors too.
Construction work is underway on a new £400 million housing scheme in Leeds led by CEG that will see over 1,000 new homes and 400,000 sq ft of offices, retail, leisure and community spaces developed at Kirkstall Forge. Phase one of the scheme will be delivered by Tolent, including the construction of two prototype houses. “This is another great win for the team which really shows the depth of experience and expertise we have as a national construction firm. With such a significant and visionary project that is already winning awards, we’re looking forward to being a part of this legacy for Leeds as well as the innovative prototype housing which is something new for us,” commented Regional director for Tolent, John Currie. The two prototype houses will be completed this summer and, once finished, members of CEG’s design team will move into the three and five-bed homes and test out the living experience. Improvement will be then made, according to their feedback, to finesse the final product. Following that, phase one of the scheme will see the construction of 112 contemporary homes, which were designed by Stirling Prize winner Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios. “This innovative way of delivering prototype housing follows the attention to detail we have paid to everything we are delivering at Kirkstall Forge,” added James Shimwell, head of residential development at Kirkstall Forge. “By testing every detail we can ensure we best complement Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios’ inspiring design, which maximises the acres of green space and waterfront opportunity.”
Tolent has announced its recent contract win at Kirkstall Forge, where the team will build the site’s first residential phase, with the contract initially delivering the construction of two prototype houses. Led by CEG, Kirkstall Forge is a £400 million project in Leeds that will see over 1,000 new homes and 400,000 sq ft of offices, retail, leisure and community spaces being developed. The two prototype houses will be completed this summer and, once finished, members of CEG’s design team will move into the three and five-bed homes and test out the living experience. Following their feedback, improvements will be made to finesse the final product before continuing with the first phase of 112 contemporary homes, which were designed by Stirling Prize winner Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios. Open plan, light and airy, offering open plan living opening out onto gardens and terraces across different floors, the homes have been designed for modern life, making everyday living refreshingly enjoyable and effortlessly cool. Regional Director for Tolent, John Currie, said: “This is another great win for the team which really shows the depth of experience and expertise we have as a national construction firm. “With such a significant and visionary project that is already winning awards, we’re looking forward to being a part of this legacy for Leeds as well as the innovative prototype housing which is something new for us.” James Shimwell, head of residential development at Kirkstall Forge, said: “This innovative way of delivering prototype housing follows the attention to detail we have paid to everything we are delivering at Kirkstall Forge. “By testing every detail we can ensure we best complement Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios’ inspiring design, which maximises the acres of green space and waterfront opportunity.” CEG’s decision to ensure Kirkstall Forge is ‘Different by Design’ has paid off to date; with the opening of a new railway station connecting this development site to Leeds City Centre in just six minutes, followed swiftly by a 110,000 sq ft office development which was 90% let less than a year from completion, securing the prestigious British Council of Offices best UK ‘Commercial Workplace’ award. Tolent, a north-east based national contractor, has been working across the Leeds and wider Yorkshire area since 1990, delivering a variety of contracts from industrial, leisure and more recently student accommodation. To find out more about Tolent visit www.tolent.co.uk
National property and construction consultancy Wakemans has completed a £2.4million SuperRoom roll out programme for Travelodge, one of the UK’s largest budget hotel chains. The Travelodge SuperRoom is the UK’s first premium economy room concept within the budget hotel sector. It is designed around the ‘premium economy’ concept familiar to airline users. It dials up the comfort factor for business and leisure customers who want the extra choice of a more premium room. Wakemans acted as project manager on the trial rooms, with responsibility for the procurement of the new amenities as well as fit-out, before overseeing the roll-out of SuperRooms in 48 Travelodge hotels around the UK. Nigel Himpson, Senior Associate Director at Wakemans, said: “SuperRooms are now available in some of the top locations around the country and offer an extra level of comfort to guests who opt for longer stays as well as those who choose to spend more time in the room.” A total of 296 SuperRooms have been incorporated into Travelodge’s existing city centre hotels. Scott Rutherford, Travelodge, Technical Services Director said: “At Travelodge we are all about bringing great value and choice to the budget traveller. More and more business travellers are opting for a budget hotel and last year we generated more sales from business customers than those on holiday. Our new SuperRoom adds an extra choice for customers who are spending more time working in the room, are staying longer or who just value that little bit more comfort. Alongside our recently upgraded classic room, this is another important milestone on our journey to become the favourite hotel for value.” The stylish SuperRoom has everything that you would expect from Travelodge but with lots of new additional creature comforts. It has been styled in a modern residential décor scheme, creating a home from home feel. It features a new dream-light colour scheme which includes tones of calming blue, warm beige and tranquil taupe, as well as blackout curtains, creating a relaxing atmosphere for a restful night’s sleep. The signature creature comforts in the SuperRoom include: Lavazza ‘A Modo Mio’ fresh capsule coffee machine to kick-start your day Hansgrohe Raindance 3-jet adjustable shower to leave you fully refreshed Multiple power and USB charging points at arm’s length throughout Relaxing ambient LED mood lighting Comfy armchair to relax in Larger desk area with a comfortable swivel chair Luxurious king-size Travelodge Dreamer™ bed Choice of firm and soft hypo-allergenic pillows Dressing stand with a powerful hairdryer In-room iron and ironing board Powerful hairdryer and full length mirror Samsung Slimline wall-mounted flat screen TV Hot chocolate and a KitKat for that extra treat when you need it
BROXTOWE Borough Council has secured a deal to bring The Arc Cinema to Beeston town centre as part of its plans to create a vibrant hub of leisure facilities and new homes in Nottinghamshire. The eight-screen cinema forms part of the mixed-use development which will include a greater choice of food and drink outlets and 132 new homes. Negotiations continue on 50 per cent of the commercial units available for food and drink outlets and the sale of the residential site has been agreed. Councillor Richard Jackson, Leader of the Council for Broxtowe Borough Council said: “This is a significant milestone in Beeston’s development which we are excited to announce. We have been in negotiations with three leading cinema operators for several months and selected Arc Cinema because of its approach to delivering high-quality screenings tailored to local communities.” Director for Melcorpo, Brian Gilligan said: “We are delighted to be launching The Arc Cinema in Beeston; I’m confident our cinema will complement the successful regeneration of this thriving town centre. “The Arc Cinema offers customers a premium cinema experience combining 700 supremely comfortable electric recliner seats, cutting-edge technology like laser projection with a friendly, personal atmosphere.” Work is expected to start on the site in August with an anticipated opening date in late 2020. The new cinema will contribute to Beeston’s night time economy, revitalising the town centre and creating a vibrant new hub where people want to spend time. Councillor Richard Jackson added: “The Arc Cinema will be an asset to Beeston and I’m really pleased the operator has selected the town as one if its locations to launch its UK rollout of 10 sites over the next three years. Our development presents an exciting opportunity for restaurants, bars and cafes looking to expand in the East Midlands.” The scheme forms the second phase of a £50 million development which involved the refurbishment of the shopping precinct, new and improved public transport connecting the town to the NET tram network, more retailers, cafes and a gym. The development is being marketed by agents HEB Tel: 0115 950 6611 and JLL Tel: 0115 908 2120. The project is also being supported by the D2N2 Local Growth Fund pt 3 N2TC Fund. For more information on the scheme and to view the designs, visit https://www.broxtowe.gov.uk/for-business/town-centres/beeston/beeston-square/
