Designed by London-based architects WilsonOwensOwens (WOO), two new iconic entrances to Twickenham Stadium, the Home of England Rugby, will welcome spectators and visitors to the grounds from this month. Formed from standing seam zinc, the gateways frame the main entrances to the Stadium from Whitton Road – creating a true
A Swansea-based housing association has received £4.8 million in grant funding from the Welsh Government to deliver three new innovative housing projects across south west Wales. As part of its Innovative Housing Programme, the Welsh Government is to distribute a total of £43 million of housing funding among 26[1] projects
THE MOST transformational office development scheme to happen in the East Midlands in more than a decade has been submitted to Nottingham City Council, creating thousands of jobs – and setting a ‘cornerstone’ for the city’s Southern Gateway. Developers Peveril Securities and Sladen Estates have lodged a planning application to
1,500 new homes are to be delivered by Wates Developments and Redrow Homes in Wretchwick Green, Bicester. Cherwell District Council’s Planning Committee granted approval to the revised planning application, which includes housing of dwelling types, sizes and tenures to meet the range of local needs. “This is a great example
Dulux Trade received a prestigious national award for its pioneering work in the healthcare sector. The ProCure 22 awards, which recognise those approved suppliers in the NHS procurement framework providing best in class service, awarded Dulux Trade its Collaborative Working award. Announced at the IHEEM conference and exhibition in Manchester,
‘The Springs’ retail and leisure complex at Thorpe Park Leeds was launched last week, following the successful completion of building work by GMI Construction Group. The project was delivered across an 80-week phasing programme that coincided with a gas main diversion and major civils work being carried out on adjacent
A new hotel-led development in East London has received planning permission. Developed by Rockwell Property, the 30-storey landmark building located at 82 West India Dock Road in Westferry includes a 400-key hotel with a ground floor restaurant, cafe and bar. The site will also house 66 new one, two and
A residential development in Canary Wharf, London, has reached a significant milestone. With leading developer Canary Wharf group building residential apartment on the 10 Park Drive site, the building has recently been topped out, reaching its full height of 149 metres above ground level. It will offer 345 homes when
A major new £195 million student accommodation scheme for Kingston University in London has announced the regeneration specialist, Engie, as the preferred bidder. As part of the contract, the firm will be responsible for energy management and monitoring across the site, as well as bringing leading edge technology to deliver
Staticus has been appointed as the façade contractor for Royal Mint Gardens, one of the most prestigious new luxury residential developments in London, located next to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. It incorporates 263 high-specification apartments and facilities including a concierge lounge, pool, cinema and gym. Staticus is
Designed by London-based architects WilsonOwensOwens (WOO), two new iconic entrances to Twickenham Stadium, the Home of England Rugby, will welcome spectators and visitors to the grounds from this month. Formed from standing seam zinc, the gateways frame the main entrances to the Stadium from Whitton Road – creating a true sense of arrival to the venue. The gates will be in use for the first time at the forthcoming autumn international matches at the stadium. The entrances are framed by simple singular folded zinc portal canopies and designed to create a heroic sense of arrival at the venue, providing an inspiring ‘first glimpse’ of the stadium. Based on a temporary structure initially created by WOO for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, the new design complements the existing Poppy and Rose Gates in look and feel. Each entrance provides new state of the art turnstile and access systems, plus weather protection of for staff and spectators alike during security checks. The main entrance canopy is capped by free standing zinc lettering announcing TWICKENHAM. The lettering is edge lit with subtle LED lighting, giving an understated and timeless classic feel to the spectacular new entrance. LED screens will be installed within the canopy to provide dynamic information and wayfinding information for visitors and fans on event and match days. Lighting will also be used on non-match days to provide a recognisable ‘moment’ for the many visitors to the stadium. Either side of the main structures are two 3-metre-high decorative gates; each carrying a verse of the hymn ‘Jerusalem’. The graphic design and concept developed by WOO’s in-house team forms a singular text surface laser cut from treated sheet steel. The project was led by WOO partner and co-founder Kevin Owens who said, “Our work at Twickenham as lead architects for the 2015 Rugby World Cup demonstrated that the West Fan Zone of the stadium could be reinvigorated and transformed by a realigned perimeter and new entrances. We wanted to deliver a true and recognisable entrance for the real fans. A destination and arrival worthy of the Home of English Rugby.” In addition to the main entrances along Whitton Road, WOO has also looked at the broader masterplan with a rationalised western perimeter to the West Fan Park, delivering new high quality flexible spaces for event and temporary activations, and an improved entrance canopy and access from the neighbouring Cardinal Vaughn School site for match days. Twickenham is the world’s largest dedicated rugby venue in the world and the second largest stadium in the UK. It staged its first rugby match in 1909 and is also home to other events including major concert events.
A Swansea-based housing association has received £4.8 million in grant funding from the Welsh Government to deliver three new innovative housing projects across south west Wales. As part of its Innovative Housing Programme, the Welsh Government is to distribute a total of £43 million of housing funding among 26[1] projects across Wales this year, including three projects put forward by Coastal Housing, a housing association which operates across Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot. Each of the successful applicants had to demonstrate how they would use innovation in a bid to improve the quality of housing in Wales. The first Coastal project – a collaboration with Gower-based social enterprise, Down to Earth (DTE) – will provide six new homes as part of a larger site in Pennard. The homes will be built using timber frame, clad using traditional methods, and will generate over half of their heat passively, from the sun and their design, ensuring that residents’ utility bills cost just £15 per month. The £2m project’s most innovative feature, however, is the people who will be building the homes. DTE provides the opportunity for some of south Wales’ most vulnerable groups – including adults with brain injuries and young people at risk of psychosis, as well as asylum seekers and veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – to reduce their depression and anxiety levels and improve their skills by working on these construction projects. The project will bring together the previously siloed areas of construction and healthcare by providing vital rehabilitation for local people who are suffering from a variety of mental health issues. A second £500,000 grant will allow Coastal to build 12 homes planned at Killan Road in Dunvant to energy-positive standards, which means they will produce more energy than they use. The homes will be built using the Homes as Power Stations (HAPS) model, with a focus on reducing energy consumption and addressing fuel poverty through reduced reliance on fossil fuels. This new street of innovative, energy positive homes will use solar PV, electric battery storage and borehole ground source heat pumps (GSHP) to generate up to 80% of their energy required for heat and power. The remaining 20% will be provided by the electricity grid, of which a small percentage will come directly from a community owned local solar farm, administered by Gower Power. Coastal Housing will also provide an electric vehicle for communal use as part of the project. The third project to receive grant funding will be Innovation Park in Neath Port Talbot. This £2.2m development will comprise of 8 new homes, all constructed off-site, to showcase the best modular designs from Wales and Japan. As modular housing is still an emerging construction technique in Wales, Costal hopes that the project will provide an opportunity to learn from other countries where it is more advanced. Gareth Davies, director of development at Coastal Housing, said that without the grants, it would not have been possible to progress these three important projects. “At Coastal, we pride ourselves on demonstrating innovation in all we do, from how we deal with people to how we manage our finances, from how we build our homes to how we develop communities, so we are thrilled to have three of our most innovative housing projects selected for funding. “All three developments are very different but equally exciting. Each one will seek to deliver affordable and environmentally-friendly homes, using modern and innovative, energy-efficient construction methods, but will also help the wider community by helping to reduce fuel poverty and providing much-needed job and skills development opportunities. “By providing this vital support, the Welsh Government has shown its commitment to backing the cutting edge work that is going on in housing innovation across Wales, which can only have a positive influence on the Welsh built environment of the future.”
THE MOST transformational office development scheme to happen in the East Midlands in more than a decade has been submitted to Nottingham City Council, creating thousands of jobs – and setting a ‘cornerstone’ for the city’s Southern Gateway. Developers Peveril Securities and Sladen Estates have lodged a planning application to bring 62,022 sq m of Grade A office space to Unity Square, the 1.14 hectare site in Queensbridge Road, opposite Nottingham Train Station. The eagerly anticipated scheme will advance the £250 million Southern Gateway regeneration project – creating a new business district within an area of the city desperately in need of redevelopment. The planning application encompasses two office buildings – the first being ten storeys and the second being 13 storeys high. The build will be in two phases with landscaping and an attractive urban space connecting Unity Square and the station, creating a stunning entrance to this part of the city. The height and scale of the office buildings, along with urban spaces is set to create a brand new city landscape. Peveril Securities and Sladen Estates purchased Unity Square in 2015 and demolished the derelict car park buildings last year. Unity Square is seen as a crucial area of redevelopment with huge potential – and a cornerstone of Nottingham City Council’s vision for the city’s Southern Gateway, said Ralph Jones, MD of Peveril Securities. Today’s planning application hails the next step of the Unity Square story – and development is likely to commence early in 2019. The contractor is Bowmer & Kirkland. Jones said: “There is significant long-term investment in this area of the city. Nottingham Train Station was the catalyst and coming up is intu Broadmarsh’s forthcoming redevelopment along with other significant schemes expected over the next couple of years. “It is an exciting time for Nottingham with many significant schemes on the horizon and cranes expected on the Unity Square site in the next 12 months. “Looking ahead, the occupiers of Unity Square will be at the heart of this regenerated area of Nottingham, allowing them to take advantage of the multitude of local facilities and excellent transport links.” “The city council has been proactive in supporting the scheme which has generated strong interest from a number of office occupiers. Now that the existing buildings on site have been demolished, it is possible to see the huge potential for not just this site, but for the city as a whole,” said Nick Sladen, Sladen Estates’ chief executive “Unity Square is a major piece in the Southern Gateway jigsaw. “Unfortunately, Nottingham has struggled to provide Grade A office space over the last few years. Unity Square will help to bridge that gap. “With hundreds of people working in offices in Unity Square, we see ourselves as helping bring forward an entirely new business community – breathing new life into the southern gateway – and boosting the Nottingham economy. “There will be significant job creation up to and during the build programme, and once complete local eateries and shops will benefit from the hundreds of people working there. “Unity Square will benefit from Nottingham’s superb transport links – bus, train and tram -and it will create a magnificent backdrop for commuters arriving from Nottingham Station – providing the sort of dynamic surroundings you’d expect to see as you step from the train in one of the UK’s Core Cities. “We have strong occupier interest in the site, which is why we’ve submitted a planning application. Peveril Securities and Sladen Estates have an in-depth knowledge of the local market and national development, along with contracting expertise, and has the scale, expertise and resources to bring this scheme to fruition,” Sladen added. Lorraine Baggs, head of investment at Invest in Nottingham, said: “Unity Square is a prominent high quality development in this significant part of Nottingham – already seeing a massive resurgence in attracting multi-million pound regeneration. “The scheme indicates the growing confidence in Nottingham as a city which is ripe for both occupiers and developers and we anticipate other substantial interest over the months to come. 2019 is gearing up to be a momentous year not just for Nottingham’s regeneration plans as a whole, but for this area of the city to considerably advance its landscape.” Based in the East Midlands, and headquartered in Derbyshire, Peveril Securities and Sladen Estates have an established background in the regional commercial property market. They have a track record of delivering large-scale developments across the UK. Over the last 20 years, they have jointly completed projects worth more than £500 million in sectors including office, industrial, leisure and student accommodation. Peveril Securities and Sladen Estates have a portfolio with a development end value of around £750 million. Peveril Securities and Sladen Estates bought the Unity Square site from Peel Land and Property Group in 2015 for an undisclosed sum. The site came with planning approval for a mixed use scheme of office, hotel, retail and leisure. This new planning submission will supersede the previous application.
1,500 new homes are to be delivered by Wates Developments and Redrow Homes in Wretchwick Green, Bicester. Cherwell District Council’s Planning Committee granted approval to the revised planning application, which includes housing of dwelling types, sizes and tenures to meet the range of local needs. “This is a great example of how large-scale developments can be brought forward successfully and sympathetically which local people will be proud of for years to come,” said a spokesperson for Wates Developments and Redrow Homes. “While we have changed significant aspects of the masterplan over time, the core ethos for the site has remained in place. We want to create a great place to live and work, with a strong identity of its own, but with equally strong links to Bicester and the surrounding area. Our aim now is to continue to work positively with all stakeholders allowing development to be brought forward swiftly and homes to be built to meet the urgent local need,” the spokesperson added. A key part of the ‘garden town’ plan for the area, the project ensures the amount of open space extends to 71.64 hectares, which equates to over 50% of the overall site. Over four hectares of sports pitches are also provided in one location. Adjacent to the shops and community facility, a new primary school is planned. Meanwhile, approximately eight play areas will be provided across the site including a destination play area which has been designed to be accessible to existing local residents, as well as new ones. In addition, up to 7 hectares of employment land provision has been included, which could provide around 750 high quality local jobs and a vibrant mix of uses within the scheme, together with creating a significant number of jobs through the development phase. The project team consulted with Historic England to redesign the area around the medieval village to the west of the site in order to better respect its setting.
Dulux Trade received a prestigious national award for its pioneering work in the healthcare sector. The ProCure 22 awards, which recognise those approved suppliers in the NHS procurement framework providing best in class service, awarded Dulux Trade its Collaborative Working award. Announced at the IHEEM conference and exhibition in Manchester, the award recognises the work of Dulux Trade in developing its Colour & Design principles for use in healthcare environments. The collaboration between Dulux Trade and Tarkett (flooring) was commended for driving innovation through collaboration. “The Colour & Design principles demonstrate the transformational power of colour and are friendly even to the most vulnerable users,” said Paul Fleming, marketing manager contractor/specifier for Dulux Trade. “By pulling key learnings together into a framework based on the key NHS requirements, the benefits of good design supported by research means designers and colour consultants can make well informed and reinforced decisions. When their decisions are combined with product and life-cycle considerations, for the first time, the proposition offers tangible support for an NHS under pressure, by helping improve quality while cutting costs,” he continued. The Dulux Trade Colour & Design principles have been endorsed by the Department of Health and supported by 16 colour schemes, as they demonstrate the benefits of good design, supported by research to allow designers and colour consultants to make informed decisions. “The Healthcare Colour & Design principles for P22 was launched at the Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management Conference in October 2017 and this generated advocacy from P22’s Preferred Supply Chain Partners, and the Department of Health, who endorsed our thought leadership credentials, underlining our expertise in harnessing additional value for their budgets, increasing hospital operational effectiveness and expediting development of hospitals in the UK,” explained Paul. The project was hailed by Rosemary Jensson of Architects for Health as ‘a really powerful piece of work’.
‘The Springs’ retail and leisure complex at Thorpe Park Leeds was launched last week, following the successful completion of building work by GMI Construction Group. The project was delivered across an 80-week phasing programme that coincided with a gas main diversion and major civils work being carried out on adjacent plots. Part of a wider 1.35 million sq ft development plan in phase two development at Thorpe Park Leeds, The Springs project was handled by Scarborough International Properties Limited (SIPL), the UK and international real estate developer and its joint venture partner Legal & General. “We were delighted to launch The Springs last week in partnership with a great team at GMI Construction. With historical knowledge of the site, which wasn’t without its challenges, GMI has shown great tenacity and outstanding flexibility in accommodating the demands of the project and its many changes to deliver a project of exceptional quality that sets a precedent across the UK. GMI had also worked closely with our team to exceed our commitment to creating new jobs and inspiring careers for young people in the region,” said Simon Marshall, Joint Chief Executive at Scarborough International Properties. The brands part of The Springs include M&S Foodhall, H&M, Next, TK Maxx, Outfit, Boots and leisure brands such as Nando’s, Gino D’Acampo’s My Restaurant and Pure Gym. A 44,000 sq ft, 10-screen ODEON offering state of the art screen and audio technology and luxury seating, is also due to open in Spring 2019 with other high street leisure and retail occupiers due to be announced over the coming weeks. “The Springs looked amazing on opening and my thanks have to go to the team at GMI Construction who worked tirelessly from start to finish. We were very clear from the start that we wanted The Springs to stand out as an out of town retail and leisure destination of the future and GMI have played a critical role in helping us achieve this vision,” concluded Gordon Aitchison, Director, Head of Transactions at LGIM Real Assets.
A new hotel-led development in East London has received planning permission. Developed by Rockwell Property, the 30-storey landmark building located at 82 West India Dock Road in Westferry includes a 400-key hotel with a ground floor restaurant, cafe and bar. The site will also house 66 new one, two and three bedroom apartments. “Our vision for 82 West India Dock Road will breathe new life into a neglected site that has been derelict for many years. This inspiring new building includes a hotel that will bring new jobs and business to the local area, in addition to much needed new homes for the local community in an inspiring new building. We are dedicated to delivering this exciting, high-quality development and look forward to turning this site into a place that locals can be proud of,” said Donal Mulryan, Founder of Rockwell. Designed by UK architects SimpsonHaugh & Partners, the development includes: ground floor retail or community space, activating the street and providing a local amenity; extensive public realm and landscaping works, both on site and in the surrounding area to significantly improve place-making and provide a more connected, safe, cohesive and green environment; half an acre of gardens and 48 additional trees including the introduction of an urban arboretum, residents’ garden and over 220m of children’s play space; and over £7 million in Section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy to fund local infrastructure improvements, training programmes for local residents and support for local recruitment. “We have worked closely with Rockwell Property to design a high quality, mixed-use scheme that will improve connections across West India Dock Road, providing new homes, employment and training opportunities, whilst creating a safer and more secure public realm environment for the community,” added Mark Savage, Partner, SimpsonHaugh. Construction work is due to start on the site in Summer 2019 and once completed, 250 jobs are expected to be created in the hospitality sector.
A residential development in Canary Wharf, London, has reached a significant milestone. With leading developer Canary Wharf group building residential apartment on the 10 Park Drive site, the building has recently been topped out, reaching its full height of 149 metres above ground level. It will offer 345 homes when completed in the final quarter of 2019. “This is an exciting step in the construction of 10 Park Drive, both for the area and for us at Canary Wharf Group as we top out our first residences on the Estate. The work that has gone into the development so far has been phenomenal, and we look forward to it reaching completion and for the first residents to move into Canary Wharf,” said Brian De’ath, Director of Residential Sales at Canary Wharf Group. “Some of our purchasers camped out overnight to be able to secure a home at 10 Park Drive which I strongly believe says a great deal about the quality of the offering here. The extensive calendar of events, diverse community and excellent transport links on the Estate are making it an increasingly hard location to beat within the London property market,” Brian added. 10 Park Drive has been designed by Stanton Williams Architects and it forms a key part of Canary Wharf’s new residential district, Wood Wharf, alongside neighbouring residential development, One Park Drive. It will comprise 74 studios, 115 one-bedroom apartments, 141 two-bedroom apartments and 15 three-bedroom apartments. The apartments’ design maximises the light and vistas of the surroundings at every opportunity, with interiors developed by Make Architects. Residents of 10 Park Drive will have access to a private sky terrace on the 13th floor, with bookable facilities and free use of shared spaces. The development sits adjacent to South Dock and is linked to the water by landscaped gardens and parks. Purchasers will also have access to a state-of-the-art new health and fitness club with a swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and fitness class studio.
A major new £195 million student accommodation scheme for Kingston University in London has announced the regeneration specialist, Engie, as the preferred bidder. As part of the contract, the firm will be responsible for energy management and monitoring across the site, as well as bringing leading edge technology to deliver a sustainable student experience and also optimising levels of energy efficiency within the buildings. Initially, Engie will provide a £55 million redesign and refurbishment of the existing student accommodation, followed by a 50-year facilities management and lifecycle contract worth a further £140 million. Moreover, alongside leading infrastructure investment firm, Equitix, Engie will also take an equity stake in the refurbishment project. Engie will carry out interim FM services during the refurbishment phase. “We are delighted to have been selected as preferred bidder by Kingston University for this first-of-its-kind contract for ENGIE in the UK. This is further proof of the ability of our teams to combine their energy, services and regeneration expertise to propose integrated offers meeting the public sector needs. This project illustrates how ENGIE’s global approach meets its client’s needs in their entirety and complexity. This is enabled by a comprehensive offer and by an integration into local and global ecosystems. The project is aligned with our strategy to assist local authorities and other public sector customers, working alongside them to shape the future use of their estates and public spaces through planning, design and management, to improve the lives of those who use them,” said Judith Hartmann, Engie Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President in charge of the United Kingdom and North America Business Units. As a leader in the energy revolution, Engie offers a comprehensive range of clean mobility solutions that transform the way energy is used. The Group has developed a systems-based approach that combines its skills and expertise in alternative fuels, transport infrastructures, smart transit systems, and upstream design and planning.
Staticus has been appointed as the façade contractor for Royal Mint Gardens, one of the most prestigious new luxury residential developments in London, located next to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. It incorporates 263 high-specification apartments and facilities including a concierge lounge, pool, cinema and gym. Staticus is one of the largest façade contractors in Northern Europe and responsible for the iconic look of several new builds in London, Manchester and Liverpool. Over the next six months, the company will install more than 13,000 square metres of unitised façade Panels across the building. Unitised façade comprises pre-fabricated panels, designed and manufactured to order and delivered direct to site for faster installation; a cost-efficient method, and factory quality control, makes it increasingly popular in the UK. Established 20 years ago in Lithuania, Staticus owns a 14,000 square metre factory that can operate up to 12 production lines at the same time. The company is therefore ideally positioned to deliver the Royal Mint Gardens contract as a ‘one-stop-shop’ for façade engineering from initial concept and design to manufacture and installation. “We are both excited and deeply proud to be part of the development of this historic area in London, which is close to The Royal Mint, the origin of British coin production,” said Staticus’ UK MD Paulius Gurksnys. “We love to innovate and will realise this project with a number of unique solutions including frameless façade elements hanging on tension rods with horizontal glass fins and a spider glass fixing system. It is going to look very special indeed.” With offices in Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and now London, Staticus is growing its presence in the UK, with recent projects including the X1 Media City towers in Manchester and the Aspire Point Tower in Stratford, East London. Paulius continued: “We utilise advanced research, methods and technology to help create visually stunning smart buildings, where people can live and work in harmony with the environment. This latest project at Royal Mint Gardens is a real coup for Staticus and strengthens our position in the UK façade market.” For more information, please visit www.staticus.com.
