The first housing development exclusively for clinical staff will open in Salford to help plug an acute staff shortage in the NHS. Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust has teamed up with housing association Salix Homes to provide a 26-apartment complex for doctors, nurses and other clinical staff who work at
Howdens Joinery, the leading kitchen manufacturer and supplier, has agreed terms to let 10,004 sq ft at Unit 8, Arrow Park, Brackley from Rockspring Property Investment Managers LLP (“Rockspring”), a PATRIZIA company, at £7 per sq ft on a 15-year lease with a tenant break on the tenth anniversary. Arrow
Charcon Hard Landscaping, a division of Aggregate Industries, has completed the development of a central campus square to provide a multi-use outdoor venue at the University of Leicester. The project, which was part of a wider scheme to renovate the area, saw the Fielding Johnson car park transformed into a
Construction work is underway at a £5.6 million primary school located on the old Filton Airfield in Patchway. The Charlton Wood Primary Academy is being built by Bristol-based Beard Construction and it will open its doors in September 2019. The scheme includes the addition of 14 classrooms – eight rooms
GRAHAM has won a £113 million contract for the construction of a new 1,400 bed student accommodation project for the University of York. The main contractor will complete the first phase residential expansion of the Heslington East Campus, which involves the development of high-specification student living and communal space. “This
Steelwork has been erected as the construction of a £14million industrial/warehouse development in Northamptonshire continues to make good progress. Main contractor MCS Group has been appointed by St Francis Group in joint venture with the Richardson family to deliver five units totalling 270,000 sq ft at Cransley Park, Kettering. Construction
A two-story building in Brinkburn Street Byker in Newcastle, which has stood empty for almost two years, is to be converted into a new homes development. The building was used as a central design hub by architect Ralph Erskine and his team to coordinate the transformation of the Grade-II listed
Most hotels want their guests to spend time in them; however, for millennial travellers, the priority is to get out and experience the city. Assembly is a new hotel brand from Criterion Capital, designed to inspire people to make the most out of their trip. Branding agency Ragged Edge partnered
Award-winning developer Crest Nicholson has submitted a Reserved Matters Application for 192 homes and landscaped public open space at Alconbury Weald, Cambridgeshire. Located on the former airfield to the north west of Huntingdon, Crest Nicholson will become the fifth housebuilder to join the growing development of over 5,000 homes.
Simons Group has been awarded the contract for building the second phase of the new Circle Health private hospital in Birmingham’s medical quarter in Edgbaston. The Lincoln-based contractor is currently on site at the former BBC Pebble Mill studio location, working on phase 1 of the build. This new award
The first housing development exclusively for clinical staff will open in Salford to help plug an acute staff shortage in the NHS. Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust has teamed up with housing association Salix Homes to provide a 26-apartment complex for doctors, nurses and other clinical staff who work at the organisation. It comes after the Trust revealed it was struggling to fill 200 vacancies, with the lack of affordable accommodation one of the barriers to attracting people to the area. Ian Moston, group chief finance officer for Salford Royal, said “Like most organisations in the NHS we have a significant number of vacancies. Our partnership with Salix Homes will provide a major benefit to us in helping to attract people to work and settle in Salford. “For the majority of us, the ability to live close to where we work is an important part of balancing work and home life. Through this partnership with Salix Homes we hope to provide people choosing to come to Salford with good quality, affordable housing whilst they establish themselves in the City on a long term basis. “We hope this venture with Salix Homes is the first of many areas where we believe we can collaborate to improve the health and wellbeing of people living and working in Salford, and the area and can become a template for other communities.” Salix Homes has spent more than £2million converting the former sheltered housing complex Alexander Gardens in Broughton into modern one and two bedroom apartments. The project was partially funded thanks to a £780,000 grant from Homes England Shared Ownership and Affordable Homes Programme. Alexander Gardens on Gorton Street has stood empty since the Boxing Day 2015 floods after the former residents were re-housed when their homes were damaged by the worst flooding to hit Salford in decades. Since that fateful night, extensive flood resilience measures have been implemented within the facility and the wider area to help protect against future floods. Sue Sutton, executive director of operations at Salix Homes, said: “It’s no secret that the country is in the grips of a housing crisis, but it really brings it home when our own local hospital cannot recruit staff due to a severe shortage of suitable and affordable accommodation. “In the year our wonderful NHS turns 70, we are very proud to be able to offer a solution to provide affordable accommodation for doctors, nurses and other health professionals and help ensure our NHS can continue the fantastic work it does for another 70 years and beyond. “We believe this project to be among the first of its kind in the country and shows the importance of the health and housing industries working together to help overcome some of the most critical issues facing our sectors.” Salix Homes, which owns more than 8,000 homes across Salford, has worked alongside its partner contractor A.Connolly Ltd to completely transform and remodel the facility to create 16 two-bedroom and 10 one-bedroom apartments. Salford Royal intends to let the homes to new recruits for a period of six months in a bid to encourage more medical professionals to come to Salford to work, and reduce its reliance on agency staff. The fully-furnished properties, kitted out by north-west based Fusion Furniture, will be let as part of a comprehensive employment package provided by Salford Royal and will be available for single people, couples and families. Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “This unique project is one we are extremely proud of in Salford. Salix Homes and the NHS have worked closely together to pull this together, in conjunction with our bid to Homes England to support the scheme. “There is a national shortage of affordable homes –and a national crisis in housing – so anything that can support the fabulous staff who work tirelessly for the NHS and bring more of their workers to our city is welcomed.” The project has also provided work and opportunities for local people. Chris Connolly, commercial director at contractors A Connolly Ltd, added: “Supporting communities is important to us and we have employed local people through our partnership with Salix Homes, as well as recruiting two apprentices through the Build Salford project. “A.Connolly Ltd is pleased to have played a part in this unique scheme which will enable more medical professionals to live and work in Salford. “Major refurbishment work is in of our key specialisms and we were delighted to be able to use our expertise to support Salix Homes in bringing this building back into use.” The refurbishment and remodelling work is expected to be completed this summer and it’s hoped the first residents will move in during October.
Howdens Joinery, the leading kitchen manufacturer and supplier, has agreed terms to let 10,004 sq ft at Unit 8, Arrow Park, Brackley from Rockspring Property Investment Managers LLP (“Rockspring”), a PATRIZIA company, at £7 per sq ft on a 15-year lease with a tenant break on the tenth anniversary. Arrow Park is a new 140,000 sq ft warehouse / industrial development which comprises of eight units that were constructed in January 2018. The development benefits from a prominent position fronting the A43 dual carriageway with fast access to the motorway network, particularly junctions 10 and 11 of the M40 and junction 15A of the M1. “The strong interest we have witnessed at Arrow Park is a testament to the high quality speculative build Rockspring has delivered and further demonstrates the demand we have in the market for good quality stock in strategic locations. Howdens will be able to service its customers effectively and efficiently from its new position at Arrow Park and their arrival will also help to further diversify the tenant mix in Brackley. I am confident there will be further announcements on more new tenants shortly,” said James Haestier, director, industrial & logistics at Colliers International. Home to a number of major companies including Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport, Faccenda Group and DLC, Brackley is located just six miles from Silverstone, home of the British Grand Prix. This puts Arrow Park at the heart of the ‘Motorsport Triangle’, an area which is popular with many high-value engineering, distribution companies and motorsport companies. The development will form part of a larger mixed use estate comprising where a new Sainsbury’s superstore, hotel and healthcare centre are planned. Colliers International is an industry-leading real estate services company with a global brand operating in 69 countries and a workforce of more than 12,000 skilled professionals serving clients in the world’s most important markets.
Charcon Hard Landscaping, a division of Aggregate Industries, has completed the development of a central campus square to provide a multi-use outdoor venue at the University of Leicester. The project, which was part of a wider scheme to renovate the area, saw the Fielding Johnson car park transformed into a public space for students and staff, offering the opportunity to hold a wide variety of events. Charcon was appointed for the job to provide a robust solution which would add visual appeal to the campus. Over 1,500m2 of Andover Textured Block Paving in Mid Grey, Silver Grey, Pink Granite and Heather Porphyry was specified for the main central square, having been carefully selected to complement the architectural styling of the campus. A combination of sliver grey concrete aggregate paving was selected for the square, with deeper colours also chosen to add depth. Perfectly suited to high volume pedestrian areas, the Andover Textured Block Paving offers exceptional durability whilst incorporating uniquely formulated Cornish aggregates to provide both enhanced performance and superior aesthetics. The upgraded square, which was designed to create an open space with clear access routes to the surrounding campus buildings, is now being used as a shared area for socialising, relaxing and studying. Since completion, the space has hosted Christmas markets, career festivals and Freshers’ Week activities. Mark Bodman, Director at Barry Chinn Associates, said: “We specifically chose Charcon as opposed to other key manufacturers of hard landscaping as we felt the quality of product successfully met our precise brief. The Andover Textured Block Paving lent itself extremely well to the project as it seamlessly accompanied the surrounding campus aesthetic.” Clinton Young, National Specification Manager at Charcon, said: “This project demonstrated our capabilities perfectly and we’re delighted that we have been able to deliver a full solution to the University of Leicester and we hope that the transformed space can be used to its full potential.” For further information, visit www.charcon.com. For technical support, please call 01335 372 222 or email landscaping@aggregate.com.
Construction work is underway at a £5.6 million primary school located on the old Filton Airfield in Patchway. The Charlton Wood Primary Academy is being built by Bristol-based Beard Construction and it will open its doors in September 2019. The scheme includes the addition of 14 classrooms – eight rooms for juniors, four for infants and two for reception – and it will provide places for 60 students in reception and year one. Each year, 60 new places will be created, aiming for a total of 420 pupils by 2025. The academy, which was designed by South Gloucestershire Council and BBA Architects, will include four breakout spaces, a library, kitchen, offices, staffroom and a large hall with a stage. There would also be play facilities outside, such as an outdoor timber classroom with a grass mound amphitheatre and a tepee village outdoor learning area, a multi-use court for netball and tennis and a grass sports pitch. “There are some really interesting outside features to this scheme which will be fun for our team to build, and even more fun for future students to use,” said Sean Franks, Beard Construction contracts manager. The primary school is part of Charlton Hayes – a brand-new 2,200- home extension to Patchway. The mixed-use development is named after the village of Charlton, which was demolished in the 1940s to make way for a runway extension at Filton. “Over the last year we have been working really closely with residents to ensure that the school is at the heart of the community. We are really excited to be opening next year and look forward to welcoming our first cohort,” said Headteacher Neil Lankester. The school is being run by Endeavour Academy Trust and South Gloucestershire Council awarded the building contract to Beard after a tender process.
GRAHAM has won a £113 million contract for the construction of a new 1,400 bed student accommodation project for the University of York. The main contractor will complete the first phase residential expansion of the Heslington East Campus, which involves the development of high-specification student living and communal space. “This is another fantastic win for GRAHAM and builds on our strong pipeline of projects in the region following the opening of our Leeds office in 2017,” said Michael Graham, Group Executive Chairman. “We are committed to providing outstanding student accommodation and the 1400 units delivered across the first phase of this project will bring our total output in the sector to more than 10,000 in the past five years,” he continued. Construction work is scheduled to start in January 2019, with the project expected to be completed in two years. After the first phase an addition 800 bed unit will be developed as part of Phase 2. The scheme is hoped to act as a stimulus for the University of York’s student recruitment strategy, while meeting the accommodation demands of an expanding global student body. “We look forward to developing this fantastic scheme and the positive impact it will have on the local community, creating opportunities for work and engagement with local businesses as we construct a high-class development that reflects York’s strong heritage,” said Michael. The project will utilise a state-of-the-art offsite manufacturing facility located in Byley, South Manchester. GRAHAM is a privately owned company with an impressive history built on integrity and responsibility. It became a private limited company in 1955 and 30 years after it set foot in England. Since then, it has grown steadily and significantly, becoming a leading player in all areas of construction throughout the UK and Ireland. GRAHAM now operates from 23 regional offices in the UK and Ireland.
Steelwork has been erected as the construction of a £14million industrial/warehouse development in Northamptonshire continues to make good progress. Main contractor MCS Group has been appointed by St Francis Group in joint venture with the Richardson family to deliver five units totalling 270,000 sq ft at Cransley Park, Kettering. Construction started on site in May. MCS Group managing director Keir Edmonds said: “Cransley Park, which is adjacent to the A14, is in a prime location for business. On behalf of St Francis Group, we’re delivering high quality units of up to 100,000 sq ft which will cater for a range of occupier requirements, within a landscaped environment. “Very good progress is being made on site, with the steelwork starting to go up, and we’re on schedule to reach practical completion in February 2019.” Cransley Park comprises a 32-acre gateway site strategically located just off junction 8 of the A14 in Kettering. Gareth Williams, development director at St Francis Group, said: “We appointed MCS Group because they have an excellent track record in delivering developments in the industrial/warehouse sector. This is an exciting development, which will deliver much-needed space into a strong regional market where the supply is currently limited. We expect a great deal of interest from potential occupiers now that work is well underway.” The units are being offered for both lease and purchase and have been designed to a high specification to achieve the BREEAM Very Good and EPC ‘A’ rating, featuring 50K/n floor loading, 50M service yards, 8-10M eaves height, dock levellers, level access doors, car/HGV parking and first office accommodation. Prop Search and LSH are the letting agents. Keir added: “This is one of a number of industrial schemes that we are working on. We are delivering around 1,000,000 sq ft of industrial space this year and it’s where we believe there is a major opportunity to win substantial levels of new business and to establish ourselves as one of the leading main contractors in the sector.” MCS Group is currently constructing several warehouse units at sites across the UK and has recently won contracts in Lutterworth, Hatfield and Bristol. The company has also built and refurbished more than 300 car dealerships including Audi, BMW, Mclaren and Jaguar Land Rover since its inception in 2003.
A two-story building in Brinkburn Street Byker in Newcastle, which has stood empty for almost two years, is to be converted into a new homes development. The building was used as a central design hub by architect Ralph Erskine and his team to coordinate the transformation of the Grade-II listed Byker Wall Estate, which is the reason why the development will be named ‘Ralph Erskine House’. The building will be converted into four two-bedroom apartments by the Byker Community Trust (BCT) housing association, which owns and manages over 1,800 homes on the Estate. BCT, which acquired the building from Newcastle City Council, is investing £393,300 in the housing scheme, expected to be completed by November 2018. An Empty Homes Grant of £120k was also awarded by Homes England to support the initiative. As part of the conversion, BCT is searching for a local artist to take the lead on recreating a mural of Erskine’s visual signature – a hot air balloon – on one of the outside walls of the building. “Walking around Byker you realise that Erskine’s vision was to create something of social worth. He was revolutionary in his time, by basing himself on the Estate to consult with people face to face and ensuring that they were at the heart of his design plans,” said Jill Haley, Chief Executive at Byker Community Trust. “Continuing in the spirit of community involvement, we wish to invite local artists to be a part of an exciting project. We are looking to recreate Erskine’s iconic hot air balloon visual signature on the side of his old office, as a tribute to him. It will be a great opportunity for a local person to make a lasting impression, a gesture that I’m confident Ralph Erskine would have liked,” Jill added. Originally built as a funeral parlour in the 1900s, the building was converted into an office in 1969 to facilitate redevelopment of the Byker Estate. The office acted as main focal point between Newcastle City Council, the Byker community and Erskine’s design team.
Most hotels want their guests to spend time in them; however, for millennial travellers, the priority is to get out and experience the city. Assembly is a new hotel brand from Criterion Capital, designed to inspire people to make the most out of their trip. Branding agency Ragged Edge partnered with Criterion to define a proposition aimed at young urban travellers, and bring it to life across every touchpoint, from identity right through to the customer experience. The first Assembly hotel opened last month on Charing Cross Road. A single-minded focus In today’s ultra-competitive hotel market, affordable hotel chains must achieve 97% occupancy to succeed. This drives many of them to try to be all things to all people. Criterion saw the market differently, aiming to deliver a compelling offer for a specific audience of experience-hungry travellers with distinctive wants and needs. Out went mini bars, towelling robes and tvs, in favour of the things that really matter – best in class beds, showers, sound-proofing and wi-fi and most importantly, a unmatched location to go and explore the city. Get up and go “Young travellers don’t come to the West End to hang out in a hotel room,” said Max Ottignon, Ragged Edge Co-founder. “So we set out to fuel their sense of adventure. The brand idea – Get Up and Go – reflects Assembly’s disruptive approach, and informed every element of the offer, from identity through to customer service.” An adventurous identity founded on a bespoke typeface The identity was designed as the antidote to the inoffensively bland aesthetic favoured by other millennial-focused hotel brands.It was built around ‘Assembled’, a bespoke typeface designed to reflect the diverse range of experiences on the hotel’s doorstep. The eye-catching letterforms are used playfully throughout the customer experience, scattered across layouts in a visual representation of the brand idea. Bringing the brand to life The agency delivered a full range of assets, from room art, purchased from locals in the area, right through to disruptive takes on the expected suite of hotel collateral. They also designed and wrote a website that aims to capture the energy of the hotel experience, far away from templated feel adopted by much of the category. Built to scale “We’ve created a powerful proposition designed to meet the distinct needs of young, urban travellers. That single-minded focus has allowed us to create a brand that combines an incredible location, affordability and comfort, without compromising on character or excitement. Assembly has already been a resounding success in London, paving the way for planned new sites in some of Europe’s most vibrant cities,” said Asif Aziz, Criterion Capital.
Award-winning developer Crest Nicholson has submitted a Reserved Matters Application for 192 homes and landscaped public open space at Alconbury Weald, Cambridgeshire. Located on the former airfield to the north west of Huntingdon, Crest Nicholson will become the fifth housebuilder to join the growing development of over 5,000 homes. The application comes forward under the Planning Framework and Design Code set in place by the Outline application for Alconbury Weald. The Crest Nicholson team is working closely with the master developer behind Alconbury Weald, Urban&Civic. Benefitting from a prominent location on the central hub of the first phase, the new homes have been carefully designed to reflect the character of the local area. The green spaces around the homes will be connected by safe cycle and walking routes, while a number of public amenities will be delivered along the Linear Park, including orchards, outdoor table tennis and other games. Crest Nicholson aims to deliver a mixture of house types at Alconbury Weald, including one & two-bedroom apartments and four-bedroom townhouses along the green Boulevard. Townhouses with balconies will surround the cricket pitch and semi-detached and mews properties frame the Linear Park, which follows the line of one of the former airfield’s taxi-ways creating a safe walk and scoot to school route. A mix of two, three and four-bedroom houses characterise the remainder of the development, arranged around a central green park. Contemporary buff-coloured brick and red brick are used to denote distinct character areas within the development and are complemented by blue brick and render detailing. Internally, the homes will be light and spacious, and finished to a high specification. Toby Lambert, Development Director at Crest Nicholson Chiltern: “We are excited to have secured the opportunity to become the latest housebuilder to join the growing Alconbury Weald community. With over 5,000 homes, an enterprise zone and a variety of public amenities – including new schools, sports pitches and a health centre – this is truly a visionary project for the wider Cambridgeshire area. Our plans are to deliver a mix of 192 high-quality homes and we look forward to working with Urban&Civic bringing this vision to fruition.” Tim Leathes, Development Director for Urban&Civic, said: “With 475 homes currently under construction, 130 families moved in, and families moving in each week, it is great to be able to open up the next parcel for development. Our approach ensures that housebuilders coming on site bring forward the variety of sizes, types and prices people need, but there is also a consistency in the overall quality and nature of design and in the way homes connect to community facilities and green space. “As the first housebuilders start to finish their work on the early areas around the school, we will be announcing more housebuilders coming on over the next few months. There are nearly 70 house types on sale at Alconbury Weald, offering a great place to live and set down roots.”
Simons Group has been awarded the contract for building the second phase of the new Circle Health private hospital in Birmingham’s medical quarter in Edgbaston. The Lincoln-based contractor is currently on site at the former BBC Pebble Mill studio location, working on phase 1 of the build. This new award brings the total contract to £33.5m and, when complete, will be the second largest private hospital in the UK. The hospital is based on an expandable model which can be adapted and expanded to meet clinical demand now and in the future. Phase 1, which includes three operating theatres (expandable to six), an endoscopy procedure room, and 18 in-patient bedrooms, is due to complete in March 2019. Work is already underway on Phase 2, a dedicated rehabilitation centre, which is expected to be complete in July next year. “We are delighted that our relationship with Medical Properties Trust and Circle Health is going from strength to strength,” said Simons Chief Executive Tom Robinson. “Being awarded with the next stage in this fantastic project is testament to the progress and quality of the work already undertaken on Phase 1. The hospital is going to be a great addition to Birmingham’s renowned Medical Quarter and a project of which we will all be exceptionally proud.” Paolo Pieri, CEO of Circle Health, said: “This rehabilitation facility is a game-changer in UK healthcare, bringing the latest technology and the proven European methodology for accelerating the care of neurological patients, and also for those who have undergone surgery on bones and joints. “When Circle Birmingham Hospital opens next year, it will deliver a truly state-of-the-art experience, combining leading doctors with the most advanced equipment, and rapidly become the must-go location for planned surgery. No one will be in any doubt that Birmingham is a global centre of excellence for healthcare.”
