The construction of three new Waterside Lodges at Center Parcs Elveden Forest is an ambitious architectural and engineering project. The stunning new lodges have been designed to compliment the woodland landscape in which they sit, while connecting guests with the surrounding natural environment. Wood was a natural choice of building
The UK’s first dedicated football stadium for women is in discussions to be built at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park. Scarborough Group International has submitted a planning application for a 3,900-capacity stadium, which would become the new home of Sheffield United Women Football Club. Designing the £5 million (US$6.5m, €5.6m) Stadium
Retailer John Lewis has completed the pre-let of Unit 3 at South Central, Southampton, at £9 per sq ft, on a 15-year lease, from Peel Logistics and Rockspring. “We were delighted such a household name as John Lewis chose South Central for their relocation and look forward to securing tenants
J Tomlinson is undertaking £4m of refurbishment work on student accommodation blocks at the University of Warwick. The scheme is the second completed for the university by the Nottingham-based firm and follows a £1m refurbishment project at the Avon building on the Westwood Campus. In addition, the company has also
A multi-million pound plan to revamp a Shoreham yacht club and open up the riverside to the public has been backed by Adur District Council. Sussex Yacht Club (SYC) applied for permission to create a new premises in Brighton Road. The project will see the riverside opened up to the
Barings Real Estate, part of Barings LLC, one of the world’s largest diversified real estate investment managers, has announced that Landmark Manchester (Landmark), a 180,000 sq. ft. office development that it is undertaking on behalf of an institutional investor, is emerging onto St Peter’s Square with the concrete core now
MiiHome project, a pioneering home safety project that uses XBox technology to monitor the welfare of elderly people has been shortlisted for a national award. The project, which is being trialled in Salford, aims to help older people live more safely in their homes for longer by tracking their movements
A unique development in Stafford which saw a former 19th century hospital restored to become a collection of luxurious apartments, has now been completed. Previously named St George’s County Asylum, the grade II listed building on Cooperation Street first opened in 1818 and housed over 1,000 patients with dysentery and
A new five year framework with UK sports charity, the Football Foundation, has been secured by four firms. The firms appointed to provide services which will improve hundreds of community sports facilities in northern England are industry consultancy Gleeds and specialist sporting architecture firm LK2, along with Couch Perry Wilkes
Proposed new house designs can now be revealed for the aspirational collection of luxury properties that Duchy Homes intends to build in the picturesque Warwickshire village of Tanworth-in-Arden. The premium house builder has now submitted Reserved Matters to Stratford-on-Avon District Council and hopes to be granted planning permission to redevelop
The construction of three new Waterside Lodges at Center Parcs Elveden Forest is an ambitious architectural and engineering project. The stunning new lodges have been designed to compliment the woodland landscape in which they sit, while connecting guests with the surrounding natural environment. Wood was a natural choice of building material, which would blend in seamlessly with the natural forest setting. When designing the new accommodation, the choice of building materials was a key consideration for the architectural practice Jackson Design Associates (JDA). They were faced with the challenge of not only creating a design, which would blend in with the natural surroundings, but also be sufficiently lightweight to achieve the impressive arches, overhangs, and cantilever designs, without needing a considerable amount of foundation works. The only material that could meet all the requirements of the structure was Metsä Wood’s light, yet extremely strong Kerto® LVL (laminated veneer lumber). The use of Kerto LVL enabled an efficient and fast building time, which was a key factor as the project needed to be completed in time for the summer. Innovative design Architects JDA created an elegant shape, reminiscent of a boat turned upside-down. The lodges have two levels; the forest-facing side is situated higher, accessed through a wooden bridge on the first floor. The first floor contains three en-suite bedrooms, two of which open onto a deck and balcony facing the lake. The ground floor combines kitchen, living and dining areas opening out on to a terrace on the waters edge. Luke Hunter, Director at JDA said: “It was important to the Client to develop an exciting and interesting building form that made references to the boating activities of the watersports lake. This concept is continued inside the lodges where the ‘ribs’ of the boat hull are exposed to express the building’s structure and form.” Particularly unique to this project is a two storey ‘leaning’ arch overhanging the lake edge, which is also curved three times to suit the sectional profile of the main roof. While providing an impressive architectural feature, the arch also serves as a shelter to the cantilevered terrace and first floor balcony, which look out over the lake. The architects at JDA needed to find a solution that would make the structure easy to assemble and stay/remain stable from wind action or ground settlement. They choose to use lightweight and versatile Kerto LVL for the portal frames. Paul Kent, Development and Construction Director at Center Parcs said: “We have been delighted to work with Metsä Wood on the supply of Kerto LVL for our new Waterside Lodges at Elveden Forest. The versatility of their product has helped to create a unique design feature in this brand new style of accommodation, complementing the nautical theme and lakeside setting.” Fire safety Another important consideration was fire safety – an issue that often discourages architects from specifying wood. However, in the event of a fire, Kerto LVL performs predictably. As a result of burning, the surface of Kerto becomes charred, which protects the product, insulates it and slows down the burning process. Strong yet lightweight building material Kerto LVL was chosen as the construction material as its solid bonded structure offers incredible strength and dimensional stability, while its high strength to weight ratio allows for smaller spacing in mechanical connections. It is also a versatile and lightweight material, which is easy to work with. Luke Hunter, also said: “Kerto LVL was the perfect choice to help us achieve the leaning arch and thin roof / facia profile on the lake facing elevation. This flexible material helped to overcome the challenge of cutting the leaning, curved roof edge on an angle. A number of systems were investigated to achieve this, however, Kerto LVL was the only material that fully achieved the concept’s vision.“ One of the most complex elements of the structure was an exposed arch at the front, which leans towards the lake. This needed to withstand biaxial bending and compression, while supporting the roof structure with a large cantilever. Kerto LVL Q-panels were used to create the long span to the first floor deck, which was designed to bear the weight of the column horizontally with a spring support. Another factor was that the angled arch had to have a considerable bending moment connection at the top. This had to be manufactured in such a way that there was a perfect connection between the deck and arch, resulting in an irregular shape. Vertical columns were formed with two members spaced to support the first floor’s beams and curved roof beams. Kerto LVL was also used to create a recessed infill detail, closing the gap between the two vertical columns, a bespoke detail developed by JDA and Metsä Wood. Innovative bracing and connections The columns, floor beams and support ribs of the curved roof were created using Kerto LVL Q-panel structural members. This allowed for smaller spacing in the doweled circular bending moment connection and better moisture stability. The bracing of the roof and floor was provided by Kerto LVL Q-panels, which were connected together with 3-dimentional screwing. In this way no steel bracing was required. Engineering firm, BSP Consulting, designed the foundations and the steel platform supporting the frames, which cantilevered over the lake. The Kerto LVL frames, consisting of the arch, two columns and the floor beam, are connected to the steel through metal shoes, which transfer shear and horizontal forces to the platform. Working together to solve the structural engineering Divisional Operations Manager at Cocksedge Building Contractors, Tom Courtney, said: “The project combined a unique architectural approach with challenging structural engineering to great effect. The success of the project demonstrates the technical know-how and expertise of everyone involved. “The use of engineered wood allowed us to overcome a number of challenges that simply wouldn’t have been solved using other materials, while at the same time maintaining a look and feel to match the surrounding natural environment.” “The use of such a versatile and lightweight material
The UK’s first dedicated football stadium for women is in discussions to be built at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park. Scarborough Group International has submitted a planning application for a 3,900-capacity stadium, which would become the new home of Sheffield United Women Football Club. Designing the £5 million (US$6.5m, €5.6m) Stadium will be Whittam Cox Architects, supported by Arup Sheffield. It will feature a single grandstand, housing hospitality and conferencing facilities, as well as office space. “We’re looking forward to working with all Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park stakeholders as we deliver the Community Stadium,” said Mark Jackson at Scarborough Group. “This will be the start of an important phase in realising the vision of the Park, bringing forward significant private sector investment. We plan to start on site as soon as possible, once we have finalised the necessary documentation with Sheffield City Council.” The plans for a dedicated women’s football stadium come two months after Sheffield United Football Club rebranded its female team as Sheffield United Women, ditching the old ‘Sheffield United Ladies’ name. The club said the name change “reflects the club’s position as an emerging presence within the women’s game”. “The owners, board and everyone associated with the club were in favour of the change, as the excitement continues to build about seeing the women’s team mirror the men’s team in playing in the second-tier next season,” said Sheffield United’s chief operating officer, Andrew Birks. “It’s a decision we feel is right to reflect the modern times of the women’s game and we are focused on having an identity and brand consistency when promoting ourselves within the women’s game.” The 60-acre Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park already houses the English Institute of Sport Sheffield (EISS), iceSheffield, Don Valley Bowl, Oasis Academy Don Valley, UTC Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park campus, 3G pitch and park environment including Outdoor City Run Routes, cycle paths and green open spaces.
Retailer John Lewis has completed the pre-let of Unit 3 at South Central, Southampton, at £9 per sq ft, on a 15-year lease, from Peel Logistics and Rockspring. “We were delighted such a household name as John Lewis chose South Central for their relocation and look forward to securing tenants for the remaining detached units of 40,000 sq ft and 117,000 sq ft which each benefit from high eaves and a secure yard,” said Adrian Whitfield, Director, Industrial and Logistics at Lambert Smith Hampton’s South Coast offices, who advised Peel Logistics. The 46,353 sq ft build-to-suit warehouse facility within South Central will enable John Lewis to deliver a new customer delivery hub service, with additional capacity to service Southampton and the wider south coast region. This facility will replace the retailer’s existing warehouse provision, located nearby in Southampton city centre, with the full relocation expected to be completed by April 2019. “Southampton’s geographic location, infrastructure and industrial heritage makes the city an incredibly desirable place for retailers and manufacturers to position their warehouse and logistics facilities. However, there is a distinct lack of industrial space. At South Central, John Lewis has successfully collaborated with Peel Logistics to strategically build a facility to its exact needs and design which has also been delivered on time and to specification,” said James Haestier, Director, Industrial and Logistics at Colliers International, who advised John Lewis. South Central is a new 205,935 sq ft industrial warehouse development comprising three units that were constructed in July 2018. It is adjacent to J3 of the M27 / M271 motorways and within close proximity to Southampton Port. Colliers International Group Inc. is top tier global real estate services and investment management company operating in 69 countries with a workforce of more than 13,000 professionals. Colliers is the fastest-growing publicly listed global real estate services and investment management company, with 2017 corporate revenues of $2.3 billion ($2.7 billion including affiliates).
J Tomlinson is undertaking £4m of refurbishment work on student accommodation blocks at the University of Warwick. The scheme is the second completed for the university by the Nottingham-based firm and follows a £1m refurbishment project at the Avon building on the Westwood Campus. In addition, the company has also won a £900,000 contract to replace windows at the university’s conference centre, Scarman, which began at the beginning of August. The latest project involves the full redecoration of around 250 bedrooms and bathrooms, along with communal and circulation spaces, at two of the Arthur Vick accommodation blocks on the university’s main campus in Coventry. This scheme will see major improvement works undertaken within the halls of residence, including the installation of new aluminum windows and en-suite shower rooms, full rewiring of lighting, and new floor coverings throughout each block. It will also include the replacement of sanitary ware, new plumbing and extractor fans to en-suites, fire stopping works, small power, data cabling, sub-mains cabling and fire alarm works, along with a new heat exchanger and ancillary works to the mechanical plant. Work got under way in July and is expected to be completed ready for the start of the new term in early September, in accordance with a 10-week fast-track programme. The contract, which was won following a tender, is being delivered by J Tomlinson’s commercial refurbishment and regeneration teams. J Tomlinson’s construction director, Pete Woods, who heads the refurbishment team, said: “This is our second refurbishment project for the University of Warwick, and follows an earlier scheme at the Westwood Campus. “It is always a ringing endorsement of the standard of work achieved when a client appoints a second and subsequent contract, and J Tomlinson is delighted to once again be supporting the University of Warwick as it invests in and improves its facilities for students.” J Tomlinson, which also has a West Midlands office in Canwell, completed the refurbishment of the Avon building for the university in February this year. It included revamping a café and the Centre for Lifelong Learning, and creating an editing suite, a drama room, green room, family room, and toilets. Jonathon Buckingham, Senior Projects Manager at the University of Warwick, added: “The services-led refurbishment being undertaken at Arthur Vick 1 & 2 will significantly improve the standard of student and conference accommodation for 250 bedrooms and provide the buildings with brand new infrastructure.” J Tomlinson, which was founded in the 1950s, provides a range of integrated building solutions including construction, refurbishment, repairs and maintenance, mechanical and electrical services (M&E), and facilities management. The company operates primarily across the East Midlands, West Midlands and Yorkshire. It works across all major sectors, including student accommodation, healthcare, social housing, commercial and industrial. For more information about J Tomlinson, visit www.jtomlinson.co.uk.
A multi-million pound plan to revamp a Shoreham yacht club and open up the riverside to the public has been backed by Adur District Council. Sussex Yacht Club (SYC) applied for permission to create a new premises in Brighton Road. The project will see the riverside opened up to the wider public, flood defences improved and lead to the creation of pedestrian and cycle access along the southern section of the A259 coast road for the first time. “These are exciting plans which first and foremost will see a stunning new building created for the members of the Sussex Yacht Club. Committee members were unanimous in the view that the proposal will go beyond a recreational use; it will have a big impact on the wider community too with the improved transport links and new riverside public space a major boost to the area,” said Councillor Carol Albury, chairman of the planning committee. The approved plans are part of a wider project to revamp the Brighton Road site and surrounding area. As part of the project, Adur District Council has been transforming Shoreham Harbour from industrial units into new homes and workspaces with an expansive waterfront promenade. Meanwhile, the Environment Agency has been installing more than seven kilometres of tidal walls defences on the River Adur, reducing the risk of flooding to thousands of residential and business properties in Shoreham and Lancing. “I’m delighted we have been able to work with Sussex Yacht Club, the wider community and partners to bring forward the first stage of this development,” said Councillor Neil Parkin, Leader of Adur District Council. “Not only does it feed into our wider vision of regenerating the harbour arm but it will plug the gap in the flood defences and open up the southern section of the coast road to cyclists and pedestrians. I look forward to seeing construction work progress in the coming months and am certain that, when complete, the project will have a tremendous impact on the thousands of residents and visitors to our district,” he concluded.
Barings Real Estate, part of Barings LLC, one of the world’s largest diversified real estate investment managers, has announced that Landmark Manchester (Landmark), a 180,000 sq. ft. office development that it is undertaking on behalf of an institutional investor, is emerging onto St Peter’s Square with the concrete core now complete. With Castlebrooke Investments retained as development manager, benefiting from their strong track record in project delivery, and having spent over a year in the demolition and basement formation phase, construction work is well underway with the Grade A, BREEAM Excellent office building set to be launched in Summer 2019. Appointed contractor Bowmer & Kirkland has completed the basement levels, which will support 14 floors of virtually column free office space and a double-height reception at ground level. The building’s concrete core is now visible on the Manchester skyline and, when completed, the scheme will add to the vibrancy of one of the North’s most significant public squares. Designed by world-renowned architects Squire & Partners, Landmark has been created with the next generation occupier in mind. The building is being constructed with an offset core to enable large and efficient floorplates to be designed offering maximum flexibility to occupiers. In a market that is currently experiencing strong levels of demand coupled with limited supply, Landmark is one of only two new build office developments due to be completed in Manchester City Centre in 2019. The scheme has received overwhelming support from Manchester City Council and will complete the Council’s vision for St Peter’s Square and the Civic Quarter. Situated in the heart of Manchester’s central business district at St Peter’s Square, Landmark is in a prime location close to St Peter’s Square Metrolink and several train stations. The development also has easy accessibility to the M60 via the M602 with the location being furthered strengthened by the planned High Speed 2 railway project which will connect Manchester with major cities across the U.K. Charles Weeks, Head of Barings Real Estate – Europe, said; “The city of Manchester is thriving. It is consistently one of the strongest, most active city centre office markets outside of London. Landmark will play a pivotal role in enhancing what the city has to offer by providing businesses with a destination that is both modern and flexible as well as providing excellent infrastructure and connectivity. Barings Real Estate has a proven record of accomplishment adding significant value to investments both within the U.K. and globally and we are delighted to oversee this important development project.” Agents on Landmark are CBRE and Colliers International. Barings Alternative Investments (BAI), part of Barings LLC, is a 450+ associate team located across 11 countries that manages $52.3 billion in client capital (as of March 31, 2018). 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. Barings Barings is a $306+ billion* global financial services firm dedicated to meeting the evolving investment and capital needs of our clients. We build lasting partnerships that leverage our distinctive expertise across traditional and alternative asset classes to deliver innovative solutions and exceptional service. Part of MassMutual, Barings maintains a strong global presence with over 1,800 professionals and offices in 16 countries. Learn more at www.barings.com
MiiHome project, a pioneering home safety project that uses XBox technology to monitor the welfare of elderly people has been shortlisted for a national award. The project, which is being trialled in Salford, aims to help older people live more safely in their homes for longer by tracking their movements using artificial intelligence. A collaboration between housing association Salix Homes, working alongside Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, The University of Manchester, and The University of Salford, MiiHome project has been shortlisted in the Innovation of the Year category in the prestigious 24 Housing Awards, which recognises excellence in the housing sector. As part of the trial, X-Box Kinect sensors, which detect movement, were fitted into a number of properties at Salix Homes’ sheltered living schemes, which provide accommodation for older people. “The idea of MiiHome is that it acts as a sort of ‘digital guardian angel’ which is able to detect changes in behaviour that could mean something is wrong, for example someone’s gait may have slowed down, or they may be getting up more than usual in the night,” said Jonathan Drake, service director at Salix Homes. “Its aim is to provide an early warning system to enable a health professional to step in and provide the right sort of care before the situation escalates, and hopefully reduce hospital admissions and pressure on our already overstretched NHS,” he continued. The nomination for the prestigious award represents a double reason for celebration for Salix Homes, as its new affordable housing development – Alexander Gardens in Broughton – has also been shortlisted in the Affordable Housing Scheme of the Year Category. “It’s a real honour for Salix Homes to have two of our projects named as finalists in the 24 Housing Awards, and it’s testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved,” said Lee Sugden, chief executive at Salix Homes. The winners of the 24 Housing Awards will be announced at an awards ceremony in October.
A unique development in Stafford which saw a former 19th century hospital restored to become a collection of luxurious apartments, has now been completed. Previously named St George’s County Asylum, the grade II listed building on Cooperation Street first opened in 1818 and housed over 1,000 patients with dysentery and syphilis, before it closed in 1995. When work began to transform the structure, floors and walls were crumbling and some parts of the building had to be demolished, following 20 years of neglect. However, today the building is unrecognisable. What was once a decaying and uninhabitable building, is now a collection of beautiful one, two and three-bedroom apartments and has been renamed St George’s Mansions. Behind the incredible transformation is housebuilder, Shropshire Homes who has been working on the development since 2015. The team was keen to preserve the history of the hospital and maintain the Georgian architecture. In order to achieve this, Shropshire Homes worked closely together with leading roof tile manufacturer Russell Roof Tiles, who has extensive experience in re-roofing and restoration projects. The manufacturer supplied 20,000 of its Lothian tiles in Slate Grey. The cost-effective tiles were able to replicate the look of other natural slate tiles on the building, whilst providing the sustainable benefits of concrete. The Lothian tiles form part of Russell Roof Tiles’ Natural Range – an expanding selection of thinner leading edge interlocking concrete tiles. When laid, the tile gives the appearance of a small format tile with the commercial benefit of a larger format tile. “This is the first project that we worked with Shropshire Homes on and we are proud to have been part of such a fantastic transformation. With significant experience in re-roofing, the Russell Roof Tiles team is equipped to provide suitable roofing solutions which not only meet the current building requirements but which also provides sustainable benefits for many years to come,” said Andrew Hayward, Managing Director at Russell Roof Tiles. Managing Director for Shropshire Homes, Howard Thorne added: “These magnificent old buildings deserve some TLC invested back into them. The original architecture is captivating and we enjoy the challenge and are motivated by the outcomes we can achieve – characterful, luxurious homes with attractive period features. “We work with the best of the original features and combine innovation and vision with craftsmanship to transform the old and unloved into something new and desirable. “It’s been a privilege to deliver this project and give Stafford a truly wonderful building that will stand with dignity for many years to come.” Russell Roof Tiles is a leading independent roof tile manufacturer providing products for leading UK house builders and high-profile social housing and commercial projects, where sustainability and eco-credentials are of the utmost priority.
A new five year framework with UK sports charity, the Football Foundation, has been secured by four firms. The firms appointed to provide services which will improve hundreds of community sports facilities in northern England are industry consultancy Gleeds and specialist sporting architecture firm LK2, along with Couch Perry Wilkes and engineers BSP Consulting. “We are delighted to take a place on this framework with LK2. Football is the national game and the biggest team sport in England. The Football Foundation has already overseen investment of over £1 billion in improving facilities since 2000, and Sport England has invested more than £70 million into sports facilities over the past four years,” said Gleeds Director, Anthony Cork. “The sports sector is a key focus for Gleeds, and we are rapidly growing our expertise in this area so we are pleased to be part of an ongoing programme of works which will improve community sporting facilities across the north,” he continued. The work will vary depending on individual project requirements, with features including the design, supply and installation of modular buildings to provide new changing rooms and clubhouse facilities. The programme is part of a wider Government strategy to 2021 to improve ‘grassroots’ sporting facilities to encourage more community involvement. Dale Lui, Managing Director of LK2, also commented on the news: “We were keen to support Gleeds with this framework bid acting as a sub-consultant on the framework. Our firms have huge combined expertise in the sporting facilities sector. Together we will provide design and construction consultancy support and help improve large numbers of facilities in the north of England.” “We are very proud to join our peers LK2, Gleeds and BSP on this framework, which is an outstanding example of industry-wide collaboration and will no doubt deliver some truly excellent projects. Grassroots football is one of the key cornerstones of our national sport and improving the facilities local clubs have access to will go a long way to enrich the lives of aspiring sportsmen and sportswomen across the UK,” added Nilesh Mistry, director at Couch Perry Wilkes.
Proposed new house designs can now be revealed for the aspirational collection of luxury properties that Duchy Homes intends to build in the picturesque Warwickshire village of Tanworth-in-Arden. The premium house builder has now submitted Reserved Matters to Stratford-on-Avon District Council and hopes to be granted planning permission to redevelop Cank Farm’s four-acre site with a prestigious housing scheme. Situated on Well Lane, Duchy Homes’ vision is to deliver 18 new homes with a perfect blend of period charm and manor house opulence. Inspired by a farm and village theme, the award-winning developer has incorporated delightful architectural features such as traditional timber boarding, front gables and glass atriums set amongst impressive Georgian symmetry and the stately grandeur of columned entrances and deep statement windows. Buyers would be able to choose from seven unique house designs ranging from distinctive 4-bed and 5-bed traditional style detached homes to a stately 6-bedroom house design with a games room, triple garage and the option to include a private paddock. Focused on combining the idealism of country living with modern luxuries, each house would boast a high-quality specification for which Duchy Homes is renowned, including stylish open-plan living spaces, designer kitchens, indulgent bathrooms and luxury bedrooms with walk-in wardrobes. Its beautiful village location surrounded by picturesque Warwickshire countryside will make it ideal for home buyers to enjoy a relaxed lifestyle whilst also being easily-accessible from Birmingham and Stratford-upon-Avon via the M42. If planning permission is granted, demolition of the existing commercial buildings is anticipated for September with construction work expected to begin early next year.
