planning

PLANNING APPROVED FOR NET ZERO CARBON LOGISTICS SCHEME

Work Starts On 88,888 Sq Ft Evo Warrington 89 Development Evo Industrial has secured planning consent and started preparatory work to develop EVO Warrington 89, a modern, logistics and HQ industrial unit located on Omega Boulevard in Lingley Mere, Warrington. CBRE and Williams Sillitoe have been appointed as joint agents

Read More »

Transforming Teesside’s housing choice

A North East construction and regeneration specialist is starting work on a supported housing village in Redcar. Vistry Partnerships North East has secured planning consent and agreed contracts for the 75 homes, which will be constructed for Beyond Housing, within the development at Kirkleatham Green. The homes have been specially

Read More »

Plans Revealed for Rhyl Regeneration

Denbighshire County Council and its partners are discussing plans to turn Rhyl’s Queen’s Buildings into a pivotal piece in the ongoing regeneration of the town. The talks revolved around the transformation of the site into a vibrant mix of retail, food and beverage, contemporary market, office and residential space while

Read More »

Design Unveiled for Bolton’s Urban Village

The plans for the design of Bolton’s first purpose-built, multi-generational Build to Rent (BTR) urban village, have been unveiled. Developer Placefirst aims to transform Central Street car park in the town centre into the new £27.5 million development. “Bolton Council has set out an ambitious vision for the town centre

Read More »

HLM Wins £45M Sheffield Heart of the City II Tender

HLM, a leading design and architecture practice with studios in Glasgow, has won the tender for the £45 million Sheffield Heart of the City II Block A project, staving off competition from 37 other architecture practices. The scheme will provide ground floor retail space, office accommodation, a lifestyle hotel and

Read More »
Latest Issue
Issue 325 : Feb 2025

planning

PLANNING APPROVED FOR NET ZERO CARBON LOGISTICS SCHEME

Work Starts On 88,888 Sq Ft Evo Warrington 89 Development Evo Industrial has secured planning consent and started preparatory work to develop EVO Warrington 89, a modern, logistics and HQ industrial unit located on Omega Boulevard in Lingley Mere, Warrington. CBRE and Williams Sillitoe have been appointed as joint agents on the speculatively developed scheme which will be Evo Industrial’s fifth Net Zero Carbon building. Howard Russell Construction has been appointed to construct the unit which will be available in Spring 2023. The building focuses on low running costs and a low carbon footprint and will achieve BREEAM Excellent and Net Zero Carbon when in use, targeting an A+ rating for energy performance. The property will include recycled materials, solar roof panels, comfort cooling, LED lighting, parking for 88 vehicles, EV car charging points and a warehouse flooded with natural light. The fully fitted first floor offices are designed with high-speed fibre broadband and will be ready to occupy with raised access floors making hardware installation easy. The location on Omega Boulevard and just off Junction 8 of the M62 offers easy access to Manchester, Liverpool, and beyond. Other major occupiers within the area include Amazon, Asda, Brakes, Domino’s Pizza, Hermes, Royal Mail, The Hut Group and Travis Perkins. Adam Courtenay, Director at Evo Logistics, said: “It’s a major milestone for us to be developing our fifth Net Zero Carbon building and this is a fantastic site to be bringing that aspiration to life. and we are looking forward to seeing progress between now and the building’s launch in Spring next year.” Paul Cook, Senior Director at CBRE Manchester, said: “We are delighted to be appointed on this scheme for Evo Industrial. A net zero carbon building, EVO Warrington 89 is situated in an excellent position close to the M62 Motorway with access to several cities and airports. With businesses currently seeking properties offering low running costs and a low carbon footprint, we are confident there will be high interest in this scheme.” Mark Sillitoe, Director, Williams Sillitoe commented: “Logistics developments don’t get any better than this.  Prime location, best in class building.  This will undoubtedly be well received in the market.”

Read More »

Prime “Net Zero Ready” Edinburgh Development Site Comes to the Market

Finance House offers residential consent and BTR potential A prime residential development site in the west end of Edinburgh has been brought to market by Lismore Real Estate Advisors and Scarlett Land and Development, on behalf of Square and Crescent. Located on Orchard Brae, between the west end and Stockbridge, Finance House is immediately west of Edinburgh city centre, via the main arterial route of Queensferry Road. The Finance House development site extends to 2 acres and benefits from minded to grant planning consent for 151 apartments, over a total area of circa 135,000 sq ft. It also offers build to rent (BTR) potential for 172 apartments, subject to planning consent. The main building was constructed in 1968 for Lloyds Bowmaker over eight storeys, with a substantial five-storey extension added in 1978. The 1960’s building, which is almost entirely of concrete frame construction will be retained and converted in 86 apartments, whilst the 1970’s building will be demolished and replaced with a new build block, containing 65 residential apartments, ranging in height from three to five storeys. The development will also feature 3,000 sq ft of office/coworking space on the ground floor, and 23,000 sq.ft of private and communal external amenity spaces. With vehicle access from Learmonth Gardens, the site will have 32 car parking spaces plus 380 bike spaces. With sustainability credentials firmly in mind, the development is designed to be net zero ready – all-electric energy, with a predicted EPC rating of ‘B’ and an aggregated reduction in CO2 emissions of 40.6% lower than a baseline compliant development. The re-use of existing concrete frame will capture embodied carbon. The design standards ensure the development will achieve net zero in regard to operational carbon when the grid reaches net zero. It includes air source heat pumps via common centralised plant to provide heating and domestic hot water throughout. The standards will also meet the requirement of the new build heat standard coming into force in Scotland in 2024. Colin Finlayson, Director of Lismore Real Estate Advisors said: “Few UK cities can match the performance of Edinburgh’s private residential market, which has a proven history of growth and resilience, due to a combination of constrained supply and strong demand.  “This development opportunity has so much to offer and is ideally placed in Edinburgh’s high desirable west end.  It will be a real draw and we anticipate strong interest from potential developers, as well as institutional investors seeking exposure to the Edinburgh residential market.” Will Scarlett, Founder and Director of Scarlett Land and Development adds: “Large scale prime residential sites with planning consent rarely come to the market in Edinburgh. Not only does Finance House benefit from minded to grant planning for 151 apartments, it is also net zero ready – all electric (Air Source Heat Pumps) and uses no fossil fuels. “The opportunity also exists at Finance House for a BTR scheme of 172 units within the same massing in a city that boasts some or the strongest fundamentals in the UK, yet lags other regional cities in terms of supply due to multiple constraints.” Lismore Real Estate Advisors and Scarlett Land and Development are selling agents for Finance House and the architect is Morgan Architects. Further information on can be found HERE https://lismore-re.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/24229_FINANCE_HOUSE_FINAL.pdf

Read More »

Three Chamberlain Square secures planning permission in the £1.2billion Birmingham city centre transformation project

Paradise Birmingham, the £1.2 billion transformation project at the heart of the city, has today received its latest planning approval from Birmingham City Council. In a unanimous decision from the planning committee, permission was granted for Three Chamberlain Square, a new 10-storey, 185,000 sq ft commercial building, a key part of the second phase of the Paradise masterplan. Grounded in sustainability and with a unique ‘inside-outside’ ethos to the workplace, Three Chamberlain Square will be one of the most sustainable commercial buildings located in the city centre. It will be a first for Birmingham in terms of environmental standards, while offering a unique working setting for occupiers. In addition to incorporating a low carbon approach to materials, waste and construction, the design of Three Chamberlain Square builds in a low carbon future for its occupiers. With lots of natural light and ventilation, the building reflects the demands of the modern workplace and will remain sustainable. It is the fourth commercial building at the estate after One Chamberlain Square, Two Chamberlain Square and One Centenary Way. The residential Octagon tower is also currently under construction on the northern part of the estate, fronting Summer Row. The building will offer 200 bike spaces and dedicated changing facilities, all electric power and heating, and stairwell connections between floors, creating an agile and adaptive approach to the workplace. It will be a beautiful and inspiring building, promoting health, sustainability and wellbeing among those who will work there well into the future. With its prominent setting next to the Grade I Town Hall, Three Chamberlain Square will help create new connections in and around the civic heart of Birmingham and across the city centre. Designed by award-winning architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, Three Chamberlain Square is a key statement of sustainability for the city and aims to be one of the greenest commercial buildings built in the UK post-Covid. The building will improve accessibility along Paradise Street and to metro and rail connections, as well as aiding pedestrian flows between different parts of the city centre. The building is a key part of Phase Two of Paradise, which includes the almost complete One Centenary Way, plus a new 17-storey hotel on the corner of Paradise Street and Suffolk Street Queensway, and three important new public spaces, Ratcliff Square, Western Terrace and Ratcliff Passage. These new, high-quality public spaces in the southern part of the Paradise estate will provide a more fitting environment for the surrounding historic buildings, as well as create new connections through to the Westside part of the city. The new public realm, designed by Grant Associates Landscape Architects, will build on the success of the refreshed Chamberlain Square, Congreve Street and Centenary Way, which form part of Phase One of the development. Rob Groves, regional development director at Paradise development manager MEPC, said: “This planning approval is another huge vote of confidence in both the city and Paradise, and its ability to attract new jobs, skills and investment to Birmingham. A further commercial building will enable us to meet market demand for space in the city centre, in a highly-sustainable, people-centred building of the highest quality. In addition to office space, Three Chamberlain Square will bring further leisure and retail opportunities to the heart of the city, with the prospect of more top-quality operators of the like we’ve already attracted to Paradise.” Chris Taylor, Chairman of MEPC and CEO of Federated Hermes Real Estate, said: “This is a significant next step in the Paradise story. Our ambition for Paradise is to deliver one of the UK’s leading business destinations by creating leading sustainable buildings set within the very best public realm, with first class retail and leisure amenities for all those who work, live in or visit the city.“We are committed to driving forward our investment in Paradise. Three Chamberlain Square will ensure that the momentum continues apace.” Neil Rami, Chief Executive of West Midland Growth Company: “Birmingham is the UK’s primary regional investment opportunity, as reflected through Paradise and other developments across the city centre.“The planning approval for Three Chamberlain Square underlines that status and demonstrates that the city and its operators are intent on bringing new high-quality buildings, public spaces and pedestrian routes into the city. “The quality of Three Chamberlain Square and its relationship to the Town Hall is exactly the kind of development we want to see in the city centre and can’t wait to see it take shape as an integral part of the Paradise masterplan.” George Wilson, Partner at architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, said: “Three Chamberlain Square will be a new type of commercial building for the city, one that has sustainability and post-Covid requirements at its core. It will be a welcoming environment, with active uses on the ground floor. “There will be an abundance of natural light and ventilation, with the building design unique in its pioneering approach to reduce both embodied and operational carbon, creating a low-energy, low-carbon workplace for the future. It will be a special addition to the city, with a real sense of arrival for both visitors and the public.” Paradise Birmingham has already completed phase one of the development, with One Chamberlain Square wholly occupied by PwC, and Two Chamberlain Square home to a mix of professional and financial services firms, including DLA Pipier, Knights Plc, Mazars, Cazenove Capital, Atkins and Cubo. Dishoom, Rosa’s Thai Café and Albert’s Schloss will be joined this summer by Yorks Café, along with wine bar and Mediterranean eatery Vinoteca. At almost two million square feet, Paradise is delivering up to 10 new flagship buildings, offering offices, shops, bars, cafés, restaurants, a high-quality hotel, and Octagon, the world first 49-storey, pure octagonal residential tower, across 17 acres in the heart of the city. Paradise is being brought forward through Paradise Circus Limited Partnership (PCLP), a private-public joint venture with Birmingham City Council. The private sector funding is being managed by Federated Hermes, which has partnered with Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments)

Read More »

RTPI outlines adaptable, collaborative and global approach to research in new strategy

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has launched its latest Research Strategy, setting out the Institute’s vision and aspirations for 2022-2024. Planning priorities are constantly shifting. While areas such as climate change and affordable housing remain cornerstones of research focus, issues such as the war in Ukraine and the Covid-19 pandemic, both of which have occurred since the launch of the RTPI’s 2019-2021 Work Programme, have shown the challenge of predicting the issues of tomorrow. Progress within the field will require researchers to seize on opportunities to learn internationally. The RTPI will therefore become more global in its outlook, to promote international research where possible, and increase its use of external research, particularly research undertaken by RTPI accredited planning schools. In its latest three page strategy, released today, the RTPI is taking an adaptive approach to its usual detailed 39-page Research Programme to ensure it is always prepared for ever-changing global challenges. Aude Bicquelet-Lock Deputy Head of Policy and Research at the RTPI, said: “As a professional membership body, a charity and a learned institute, we’re in a unique position to understand the research needs of planners in the UK, Ireland and globally. As such, we understand that global issues are not always predictable, and well-planned research does not always reflect current issues. “Since the launch of our last research programme, we’ve seen the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, both of which shifted critical contemporary questions around how to build healthy, resilient Cities. “Our new research strategy aims to take a broader approach to research that will allow us to be flexible, and ready to adapt when unpredictable situations happen. We want to advance knowledge across all sectors of planning to ensure that policymakers and practitioners have the information and expertise to deliver the best outcomes.” Janet Askew, former president of the RTPI and current Chair of the Policy, Practice and Research Committee at the RTPI said: “The research agenda is changing all the time. Three years ago, when we published our last Research Programme, we could not have foreseen the extent of new areas of research presented by migration and humanitarian impacts or the climate crisis. “The RTPI must work with planners internationally to show how we are responsive and flexible in our approach to the urgent needs of society. I very much welcome the initiatives and ideas in our new research strategy, and I am confident that we will develop ways of conducting and disseminating research over the next few years.”

Read More »

Transforming Teesside’s housing choice

A North East construction and regeneration specialist is starting work on a supported housing village in Redcar. Vistry Partnerships North East has secured planning consent and agreed contracts for the 75 homes, which will be constructed for Beyond Housing, within the development at Kirkleatham Green. The homes have been specially designed for customers with a wide range of support needs, including adults over 55, residents with accessibility requirements and others with learning disabilities. They will include 31 two bedroomed and 14 one bedroomed apartments, six wheelchair accessible two bedroomed bungalows, 12 single bedroomed quarter houses and 12 two bedroomed flats.   The aim is to enable people to live independently for longer, by providing appropriate housing, communal facilities and outdoor spaces – with flexible levels of support and care assistance where required. The homes have been designed to be extremely energy efficient, reducing carbon emissions – when compared to a traditional residential unit with a combi gas boiler – by 50%. This has been achieved by the inclusion of Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery, which reclaims heat from extracted air to pre-heat the incoming fresh air, minimum heat loss insulation and Air Source Heat Pump hot water cylinders. The project will bring Vistry Partnerships North East’s recent investment in Teesside to £198 million. Current projects include mixed tenure developments at Bracken Grange, in Middlesbrough – 350 homes – and Kirkleatham Green, Redcar – 375 homes – next to which, the supported housing village will be constructed, and a detailed planning application has been lodged for 385 homes at Summerville Farm, Stockton.  Andrew Rennie, Development Director at Vistry Partnerships North East, said: “Our Kirkleatham Green development offers a unique and innovative solution to the housing challenge on Teesside, delivering housing options for all. “Whether people are looking to buy outright, to rent privately or to access supported housing options – such as affordable rent or shared ownership through a registered provider – there have been homes available at Kirkleatham Green. Now, following this planning consent, an additional housing offer is to be added to what is already an inclusive project, furthering our goal to create homes that meet almost every kind of need in the wide and diverse community.” “We share Homes England’s ambition to deliver high quality, large scale housing at pace – whilst also providing jobs and training opportunities which boost local economies. We want to create communities in which people choose to live and work and homes in which they can take pride.” Clare Harrigan, Director of Development at Beyond Housing, said “We are delighted to be continuing our partnership with Vistry on this high-profile scheme which will deliver vital affordable homes with support in Redcar. “At Beyond Housing, we are committed to delivering high quality homes which meet a range of housing choices for our customers and contribute to the prosperity and regeneration of the local communities.” Vistry Partnerships North East is active on 12 construction sites around the region with a gross development value of just under £350 million and has a further four proposed projects currently in the planning process.

Read More »

Local planning authority projects explore how best to digitise planning process

Esri UK today announced the winners of a competition to find local planning authorities with innovative ideas, for how best to use geospatial technology to help modernise the planning process. Attracting almost 50 entries, the three winning councils were Nottingham City, Dacorum Borough Council and South Ayrshire who will work with Esri UK to make their pilot projects a reality, receiving free consultancy and access to GIS (Geographic Information Systems) software from the company. The competition revealed several common planning challenges faced by local authorities, being addressed by the pilots, including the improvement of community engagement, how to maximise the use of 3D visualisations and how to manage developer contributions more efficiently. Esri UK is also creating a Customer Advisory Board to help grow best practice use of GIS within planning. “As the government looks to reform the planning system with an increased use of digital technologies, we wanted to find innovative solutions to planning challenges and collaborate with authorities to bring them to life,” explained Stephen Croney, Head of Sector for Land, Property and Planning, Esri UK. “By combining each council’s domain expertise with our team of geospatial experts, the pilot projects will explore new and efficient approaches to problems all designed to help make the planning process easier for everyone.” Nottingham City Council’s project will examine how geospatial technology can help increase the use of 3D visualisations within planning, both internally and with the public. Dacorum Borough Council’s pilot will be using GIS systems to better manage the use and communication of developer contributions secured through Planning Obligations, while South Ayrshire Council’s objective is to create an innovative community consultation platform, with interactive methods of engagement to improve community involvement in Local Development Plans. “Geospatial technologies can help shape the future of the planning process by delivering significant cost and time savings,” said Croney. “Spatial data provides the common language to join different data together and make it meaningful. Helping to understand the spatial nature of our environment so that we can better determine its future, means that more sustainable communities are created and helps with the Levelling Up agenda too.” The Customer Advisory Board will provide a forum for local planning authorities to discuss best practice and share common problems and goals. Croney continued: “It became clear that finding new ways of applying GIS in planning opened the minds of councils entering the competition as to what problems could be solved. The advisory board will help Planning teams learn from each other, make better use of their investment in GIS and shape the future of digital transformation within planning.” Geospatial technology and data have an important role to play in digital planning reform, as outlined in the Planning for the Future white paper, published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in 2020. The use of mapping and associated analytical tools was also one of the recommendations in the report A Digital Future for Planning: Spatial Planning Reimagined, released in February 2022, by the Independent Digital Task Force for Planning. Selected from almost 50 entries, the winning applications are: Dacorum Borough Council Dacorum Borough Council wants to translate existing text and spreadsheets by using digital mapping to better manage and communicate infrastructure and developer contributions, secured through Planning Obligations. “The objective is to use digital mapping to help with not only the decision making around the planning of new infrastructure and make the whole process more transparent but also to support community engagement,” commented Councillor Alan Anderson, Portfolio Holder, Planning and Infrastructure at Dacorum Borough Council. “Our current system outputs are text and spreadsheet based – we believe that by providing this information in a spatial way it will provide a powerful asset which can be used by Council officers and others for planning, decision making and monitoring and also by the public to enhance understanding and engagement in infrastructure funding and planning.” Nottingham City Council Nottingham City Council’s proposition will explore how geospatial technology can help increase the use of 3D visualisations within the planning environment, internally and with the public. “If 3D assessments are conducted in a GIS environment, planning teams will be able to conduct an assessment of various constraints on a site, at the same time as a visual assessment of the impact of the site. This will enable better and quicker business decisions and greatly contribute to modernising the planning processes as per the Government White Paper,” explained Mick Dunn, GIS Service Manager, Nottingham City Council. “GIS will bring other capabilities to the process too, from in-depth flooding analysis to view analysis, which we would like to be able to share easily with interested parties. We feel this could be pushed even further, perhaps being able to provide VR (virtual reality) consultation on sites.” South Ayrshire Council South Ayrshire Council’s project will examine how an innovative community consultation platform with interactive methods of engagement can help further improve community involvement in Local Development Plans – the Proposed South Ayrshire LDP2 in the first instance. “The objective is to create a space to keep our community engaged and informed to strengthen our relationship with our stakeholders, in order to reach better planning outcomes,” said Gordon Wilson, Planning Technician at South Ayrshire Council. “Effective public engagement can lead to better plans, better decisions and more satisfactory outcomes and it can help to avoid delays in the planning process too. Our vision is to build on the work already done by South Ayrshire in creating its LDP2, developing new apps and information to create a Local Plan community engagement and consultation Hub, which will be more accessible, as the majority of people are now online.”

Read More »

The Royal Town Planning Institute responds to initial Levelling Up White Paper briefing

The Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has released initial blueprints for the long-awaited Levelling Up White Paper. Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of RTPI, has put together the following statement in response: “The Royal Town Planning Institute is reservedly optimistic of the Secretary of State’s initial briefing. There is clear recognition of the built environment’s vital role in addressing economic inequality and shifting power closer to communities. Planning is more than delivering homes, it encompasses transport, health, work, environmental sustainability, and other policy areas across the missions that Michael Gove has mentioned. “The regeneration of 20 towns and cities is a positive first step for the Levelling Up White Paper. Previous regeneration projects have put strategic planning at their heart and shown how the planning system can set the context for development, creating a more sustainable and healthier built environment. The RTPI hope the model established by these schemes can be adopted across England to help communities restore pride in the places they live, work and interact. “Our members will be encouraged by these initial announcements. Planners are passionate about the communities that they live and work in. Our members tell us consistently that being resourced appropriately to engage communities and reflect their needs in development is the most important factor. The right level of support can help to make a planner’s career fulfilling and bring planning professionals to the table early and often can create better economies of scale. “The RTPI will be keeping a close watch in the coming days, but it is our ambition that the planning system will be provided with the adequate recognition and resourcing necessary to benefit housing delivery, better quality development and regional imbalances to create and shape communities that citizens can be proud of.”

Read More »

Plans Revealed for Rhyl Regeneration

Denbighshire County Council and its partners are discussing plans to turn Rhyl’s Queen’s Buildings into a pivotal piece in the ongoing regeneration of the town. The talks revolved around the transformation of the site into a vibrant mix of retail, food and beverage, contemporary market, office and residential space while improving accessibility from the waterfront and promenade into the town centre. In addition, plans could also include an open courtyard and public space in the £30 million plus development, which includes the former Savoy Hotel and Queen’s Market buildings. Currently, work is progressing on the initial designs, costings and viability of the project, which forms part of the long term vision for Rhyl Town Centre exhibited in the former Granite Outdoors shop at the beginning of April, before a planning application is submitted later this year. “We see the Queen’s Buildings as key in the regeneration of Rhyl. This site will be pivotal in linking the regeneration on the waterfront to the town centre and providing a fantastic offer in its own right. This project can transform the town centre,” said Graham Boase, the Council’s Corporate Director for the Economy and Public Realm. “After 12 months of working with businesses, residents and visitors to Rhyl the feedback was that the town centre needed a vibrant market space to draw people into the town centre and increase footfall. This will help support and grow businesses and our vision sees local, independent traders as central to this, creating jobs and opportunities locally. Parts of the buildings are in very poor condition and whilst we will try and retain as much of the original architecture as possible, there will inevitably be areas that will need to be demolished,” Graham added. The project is being funded by Denbighshire County Council, the Welsh Government and the European Regional Development Fund. The site will remain open in the coming months with current occupiers continuing to trade. The Council recently opened the £15 million SC2 attraction and other investment includes the 1891 restaurant and remodelling of the Pavilion Theatre, while private sector investment encouraged by the Council has seen the opening of two new hotels. The Council and the previous owners have found no remaining sections of the former Little Venice attraction despite extensive work being carried out on the building over a number of years. As the project develops there will be further excavation work taking place on the site. A pre-planning consultation will be launched later this summer offering residents and businesses the chance to have their say on the more detailed plans as part of the ongoing project consultation.

Read More »

Design Unveiled for Bolton’s Urban Village

The plans for the design of Bolton’s first purpose-built, multi-generational Build to Rent (BTR) urban village, have been unveiled. Developer Placefirst aims to transform Central Street car park in the town centre into the new £27.5 million development. “Bolton Council has set out an ambitious vision for the town centre and we are excited to be working with such a forward-thinking local authority. We have developed our plans for Central Street with the wider town centre framework in mind and are confident our proposals will reflect that ambition. Having cut our teeth delivering complex refurbishment projects in regeneration areas, Bolton represents an important new milestone for Placefirst as our first major town centre new-build BTR community,” commented David Smith-Milne, managing director of Placefirst. The village consists of four blocks that include a mix of circa 200 homes – family town houses, downsized apartments, and a choice of one and two-bedroom apartments. The properties will be joined by up to 15,000 sq ft of Grade A office space, and a range of ground floor commercial units. In addition, an outdoor art gallery is also being considered for the development. The overall scheme, designed with MCAU architects, will complement the historic fabric of Bolton centre through a mix of medium-rise buildings set out to create a network of people-friendly streets, squares and courtyards. This is the latest in a series of announcements as part of Bolton Council’s £1.2 billion masterplan to redevelop the town centre. “This project will show that town centre, urban living isn’t just for young people living in boring apartments. Through good design and excellent placemaking, schemes such as this will appeal to families, downsizers and the elderly, living together in a genuinely multi-generational community,” said David Smith-Milne. “As a build-to-rent developer and landlord, Placefirst put the end-user at the forefront of our designs, ensuring we deliver great homes complimented by attractive amenity spaces that bring communities together. Central Street embraces this thinking through the creation of a new residential neighbourhood characterised by human scale urban design and an engaging public realm strategy,” he added. A planning application will be submitted later this year and, subject to approval, Placefirst aims to start work on site by early 2020 with in-house contractor, Placefirst Construction.

Read More »

HLM Wins £45M Sheffield Heart of the City II Tender

HLM, a leading design and architecture practice with studios in Glasgow, has won the tender for the £45 million Sheffield Heart of the City II Block A project, staving off competition from 37 other architecture practices. The scheme will provide ground floor retail space, office accommodation, a lifestyle hotel and residential accommodation. It forms part of the wider Heart of the City II masterplan, one of Sheffield’s key economic projects backed by Sheffield City Council alongside its strategic delivery partner Queensberry. Designed to create a dynamic mixed-use district in the heart of the city centre, it will offer Grade A office space, two hotels, residential developments, restaurants and cafés, leisure destinations, parking and stunning public realm. Block A is the city block on Pinstone Street and is the gateway to the Heart of the City II district from the east. It sits within the City Centre Conservation Area and neighbours several historically significant buildings and public spaces, including Barker’s Pool, City Hall, the Town Hall and Laycock House. It also has a commanding presence over the adjacent Peace Gardens. HLM’s winning design draws on the romance and heritage of the site as well as the independent retail culture of the city centre and the vibrancy associated with Sheffield City of Makers. Described as calm, confident and contemporary, it stitches together different uses to create a vibrant destination within the city centre. Philip Watson, Director and Head of Design at HLM, said: “As a major UK practice which had its first base in Sheffield, being part of its regeneration is a great honour. It’s a unique project with a significance that is affirmed by the 35+ practices who wanted to be considered as part of the competition. Our successful design reflects our own understanding of this great UK city as well a quality of architecture that marries the respect of the old and the potential of the new.” Nalin Seneviratne, Director of City Centre Development at Sheffield City Council, added: “Block A is one of the most prominent blocks within the Heart of the City II masterplan. It was critical for us to bring in an architect with the vision and creativity to help us to realise the true potential of this site. With HLM Architects we are confident we have found this, as they combine international experience and expertise with a detailed local knowledge and respect for Sheffield’s heritage.” HLM offers expertise across five disciplines including Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Environmental and Masterplanning. It has studios in Glasgow, London, Sheffield, Belfast, Cardiff and Manchester, as well as Dubai and Abu Dhabi.   For more information on HLM visit: www.hlmarchitects.com or follow @HLMArchitects on Twitter.

Read More »