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regeneration

Salboy’s £300m Viadux scheme in central Manchester targets industry-leading green credentials 

Kenneth Booth May 27, 2022

Salboy, the nationwide property development and funding company, has introduced a planning amendment for the commercial phase of its £300m Viadux mixed use scheme currently under construction in central Manchester.  Together with architectural practice Simpson Haugh, Salboy has submitted amended plans to significantly increase the environmental credentials of the commercial

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LEGAL & GENERAL ANNOUNCE £4BN INVESTMENT COMMITMENT, WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY  

Kenneth Booth May 19, 2022

·         L&G makes seven-year multi-billion-pound landmark investment commitment to help the West Midlands Level Up  ·         Includes support for provision of housing of all tenures, including social and modular; commercial property and urban regeneration across multiple sites  ·         First project for the partnership will deliver new affordable homes in the

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1,000 Homes for the Future Will Benefit South West Residents

Kenneth Booth May 17, 2022

People across Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset will benefit from a new partnership to build more energy-efficient homes for rent and ownership. Magna Housing and Wiltshire Council have joined forces to address the housing crisis, appointing offsite manufacturing company Rollalong via the South West Procurement Alliance (SWPA) Offsite Construction of New

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Homes take shape at Salford’s new Neighbourhood development

Kenneth Booth May 13, 2022

New homes are starting to take shape at the ambitious Neighbourhood development being built on brownfield land in Salford that has stood empty for more than a decade. Housing association Salix Homes and partner developer Step Places are building 157 new homes on two parcels of vacant land off Kara

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DCN responds to Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill

Kenneth Booth May 12, 2022

Commenting on the publication of the Government’s Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen, Chair of the District Councils’ Network said: “The Levelling Up Bill is mixed news for DCN councils. We want to work with the Government to deliver their commitment to level up the country and empower

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RTPI ready to support Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill

Kenneth Booth May 11, 2022

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) welcomes the inclusion of the planning system within the a ‘Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill’. Planners can be an asset to the Bill, increasing living standards and home ownership, cultivating pride in place, improving transport infrastructure and population health and strengthening local leadership. Victoria

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Work begins on £8.4 million affordable housing scheme in Essex

Kenneth Booth May 6, 2022

United Living Group, the provider of infrastructure, housing and property services, is pleased to announce that work is underway on an £8.4 million housing project to create 53 new affordable homes in Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex. Named Wheater’s Meadow, the 100% affordable development is being delivered by United Living New Homes’

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Latest Issue
Issue 330 : Jul 2025

regeneration

Salboy’s £300m Viadux scheme in central Manchester targets industry-leading green credentials 

Kenneth Booth May 27, 2022

Salboy, the nationwide property development and funding company, has introduced a planning amendment for the commercial phase of its £300m Viadux mixed use scheme currently under construction in central Manchester.  Together with architectural practice Simpson Haugh, Salboy has submitted amended plans to significantly increase the environmental credentials of the commercial phase (known as ‘phase two’) of the Viadux development.  The new proposals will enable Salboy to put in place during the construction process the foundations needed to enable future commercial tenants to operate their businesses in a carbon neutral way. Salboy is targeting industry-leading environmental accreditations (including WELL Core certification and Gres B) in the way it develops the Viadux commercial scheme, future-proofing the development for the modern, ecologically sensitive world.  The new plans for the 14-storey office building involve vastly increasing green spaces with 900 sq ft year-round winter gardens on every floor, rooftop gardens and an expanded main lobby entrance. These plans will build on existing intentions for the building which will provide 251,000 sq ft of workspace, to have Grade A specification, large efficient floor plates and other best-in-class ESG credentials.  Simon Ismail, Co-Founder & Managing Director of Salboy, comments: “Occupier wellbeing and amenity are at the heart of Viadux, as well as our commitment to developing living and work spaces that help deliver a more sustainable future. Adding more high quality amenity, alongside winter gardens and roof gardens, promises to give occupants plenty of space to relax, breathe and enjoy.” Viadux is a complex mixed use scheme built on the former Bauer Millett site in the heart of central Manchester. The project includes almost 380 apartments and Grade A office space, which sit above a Grade II listed viaduct and bridge an existing Metrolink tram line. Phase One began in 2020 to construct the residential tower; Phase Two is now under construction, expecting to complete Q3 2024..  Knight Frank is the leasing agent for the project. Matt Shufflebottom, Associate at Knight Frank, comments: ‘We are excited by the prospect of Viadux 2 and delighted to be working with Salboy who have a proven track record delivering best in class developments across the city. Viadux will push the boundaries for quality and occupier amenity whilst meeting important sustainability targets to provide much needed Grade A workspace for the city.’ Salboy’s dedicated construction partner, DOMIS Construction is active on site, with residential and commercial development now underway.  Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News

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LEGAL & GENERAL ANNOUNCE £4BN INVESTMENT COMMITMENT, WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY  

Kenneth Booth May 19, 2022

·         L&G makes seven-year multi-billion-pound landmark investment commitment to help the West Midlands Level Up  ·         Includes support for provision of housing of all tenures, including social and modular; commercial property and urban regeneration across multiple sites  ·         First project for the partnership will deliver new affordable homes in the Black Country  ·         Strong innovation focus to drive economic growth across the region  West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Mayor, Andy Street, and Legal & General (L&G) CEO, Sir Nigel Wilson, have today signed a partnership agreement with L&G committing to invest £4bn in regeneration, housing and levelling up across the West Midlands.    The landmark agreement, L&G’s first with a combined authority, sets out a commitment to a seven-year programme of L&G investment, building on the region’s 2022 Investment Prospectus.   The programme is designed to create vibrant, dynamic communities in the region which, by providing attractive environments for people to work, live and play, will further enhance the West Midlands as a driver of UK economic growth. This builds on similar partnership agreements the WMCA has signed since 2018 with organisations such as Lovell and St Modwen.    The clear statement between both organisations combines the respective strengths of the WMCA and L&G. The Combined Authority has a clear and ambitious vision for the region with a strong commitment to Levelling Up, net zero, brownfield regeneration, affordable housing, inclusive growth and devolved powers to deliver on issues from land assembly to infrastructure, both physical and digital.     L&G, which manages £1.4 trillion as the UK’s largest investor, has financed over £30bn of regeneration in UK towns and cities outside London, and wants to repeat the scale of this investment.  It has already invested over £2bn in the WMCA’s region, including the £210m Birmingham Health Innovation Campus and multiple housing projects.     The 2022 West Midlands Investment Prospectus launched in March provides a range of possible development opportunities spread across the region which L&G and other investors can invest in. These prioritise creating thriving and more prosperous places and communities, including “corridors” and city and town centre development.      Alongside investment into new commercial developments, the agreement envisages a major contribution by L&G into climate-friendly projects, local communities and social and affordable housing, including build-to-sell and build-to-rent – providing high-quality homes across the range of tenures.   The agreement will also support the region’s target to deliver 215,000 new homes by 2031, as set out in its ground-breaking Housing Deal with Government in 2018, and the WMCA’s drive for wider inclusive growth.    Since the Housing Deal was signed, the West Midlands has secured upwards of £600m from Whitehall to drive regeneration with new housing and commercial schemes focussed predominantly on derelict or vacant urban sites, often referred to as brownfield land.   Using a nationally leading ‘brownfield first’ approach, WMCA investments have unlocked scores of disused industrial sites for new homes and jobs with developers required to make at least 20% of those new properties affordable under the WMCA’s own locally applied definition, linked to real world local wages rather than property prices.   The first scheme for the partnership will be The Junction, a brownfield site in Oldbury which has lain empty for over 20 years. The site will be brought back into economic use through the investment of L&G. The development will deliver 234 energy efficient new homes of which nearly 50% will be for affordable housing under the WMCA’s local definition.   Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the WMCA, said: “The unveiling of this £4 billion partnership agreement with L&G is a prime example of how the West Midlands is getting on and delivering Levelling Up. This major investment will help regenerate long neglected areas across the West Midlands, provide affordable homes in the communities where the need is most felt, and supercharge economic growth in the years ahead.      “The scale of the ambition L&G is showing is evident in both the huge sums involved and the breadth of projects envisioned. It is a tremendous vote of confidence in the future of our region from one of the world’s biggest investors, and I am delighted L&G came to the table and agreed such a monumental commitment with us.   “I cannot wait to see this investment rolled out, projects underway, and the lives of our residents changed for the better.”     Sir Nigel Wilson, CEO of L&G, added: “We have been investing across the UK in partnership with cities and universities for a decade.  It’s part of our ‘Inclusive Capitalism’ approach and has delivered terrific economic and social results. With Andy and his colleagues as ambitious partners at WMCA, we can take this to a new level.    “The West Midlands’ economic plan, resources and skills make it an attractive destination for trade and investment from across the world; our role in this is to put UK funds including pension savings to work here so UK savers benefit from UK prosperity.”   Cllr Mike Bird, WMCA portfolio holder for Housing and Land and leader of Walsall Council, said: “There’s no doubt that Covid has been hard on our regional economy but this partnership brings together public and private sector investment and skills on an unprecedented scale in the West Midlands.   “It also shows how our determination to press on and continue making key investments throughout the pandemic, bringing solid delivery on the ground, has been critical in driving private sector confidence and trust.    “The level of investment that L&G has set out will be an incredible shot in the arm for the West Midlands as we continue our recovery, helping to bring sustainable economic growth that benefits all our communities and supports our ambition to be a net zero region by 2041.”   L&G’s Director of Levelling Up, John Godfrey, adds: “Towns, cities and regions across the UK can do much, much better – this is the essence of the levelling up agenda. This framework agreement with the West Midlands enables political will to combine with financial resource so policy intentions become deliverable realities. We fully expect

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Dandara Living lay last concrete at brand-new build-to-rent Birmingham apartments

Kenneth Booth May 18, 2022

The last piece of concrete has been laid at Dandara Living’s brand-new build-to-rent development, U&A (Unity & Armouries) on Bromsgrove Street, Birmingham. U&A will bring 162 one, two, and three bedroom apartments to central Birmingham alongside co-working spaces, lounges, a gym and fitness studio, as well as outdoor spaces for relaxation and socialising. Part of Dandara Living’s work at U&A involves giving a new lease of life to Unity House, a building dating back to the 19th century. The restored façade of Unity House will sit alongside a brand-new building, together allowing U&A to be a true combination of old and new. Construction of the concrete frame began in July 2021, with the development expected to be ready for resident occupation in Summer 2023. Councillor Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “I’m delighted to see the scale of progress being made at Dandara Living’s landmark U&A development. They are making great use of the Unity House site, which has been vacant for many years. “The regeneration of this brownfield site contributes to the wider urban revival of the area. It represents a significant investment into Birmingham’s City Centre while offering a different choice for residents who are keen to live in purpose-built rented accommodation at the heart of a vibrant community. I look forward to seeing residents moving to the development next year.” U&A is situated just south of Birmingham City Centre, near to the popular Gay Village and Chinese Quarter, home to a large number of vibrant restaurants, bars and other amenities. Jim Davies, Managing Director BTR at Dandara Living, said: “Dandara Living was born out of our ambition to deliver excellent places to live that reflect the way people want to live today, and U&A perfectly embodies this. “Birmingham is an ideal fit for us – as the UK’s second largest city, it is home to the largest number of start-ups outside of London, and a unique and exciting cultural offering which makes it one of the UK’s most popular places to live and work. “U&A will be a vibrant and inclusive community for residents to work, live and play and we look forward to welcoming residents to the development next year.” U&A has environmental sustainability at its core. The former brownfield site has been fully remediated – effectively recycling the land and contributing to the delivery of new high-quality homes in Birmingham without the need to build on greenfield land elsewhere. From its Local Growth Fund programme, Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) provided a £855,000 Unlocking Stalled Housing Sites grant for land remediation, arrangement, security & monitoring costs. Henriette Breukelaar, Acting CEO, Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) commented: “Over the last 11 years, GBSLEP has supported local councils and businesses to unlock and revitalise commercial and residential development sites across the city-region. This has been critical to delivering our mission to deliver inclusive economic growth. “This latest project is another example of how our triple helix structure of public, private and education partners is creating better places for our local communities to visit, work and importantly live in. Combining this with wider investments like our £8.7 million Enterprise Zone funding, Southside is continuing to transform into a vibrant, welcoming area of our city.” The development’s concrete construction reduces the building’s embodied energy and carbon footprint by shortening the overall build programme and reducing the number of deliveries to site, saving transport miles. The development exceeds current building regulations by approximately 10%, and features energy efficient windows fitted throughout; dual flush toilets, flow reducing taps and shower heads to help reduce water usage; low energy lighting in all apartments and PIR motion sensor lighting in all communal areas to reduce energy usage. U&A expands Dandara Living’s residential offer in Birmingham, which already includes Aston Place – completed in 2020. Looking to the future, Dandara Living’s emerging Warners Fields development will be one of the greenest neighbourhoods in Birmingham, comprising 3,000 homes with construction works scheduled to begin in 2023. For more information and to register your interest, please visit: U&A · Dandara Living (dandarabtr.com).

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1,000 Homes for the Future Will Benefit South West Residents

Kenneth Booth May 17, 2022

People across Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset will benefit from a new partnership to build more energy-efficient homes for rent and ownership. Magna Housing and Wiltshire Council have joined forces to address the housing crisis, appointing offsite manufacturing company Rollalong via the South West Procurement Alliance (SWPA) Offsite Construction of New Homes framework, to build nearly 1,000 new homes over the next three years. At the forefront of this work in the local area, the partners are committed to accelerating the delivery of modular homes in the UK, using offsite manufactured, precision-engineered techniques to deliver much needed homes in the local area, as well as modernising and speeding up the overall process. The latest range of homes are net zero carbon ready and net zero carbon living, supporting the Government’s objective of delivering net zero carbon homes by 2050. They are cheaper to run than traditionally built homes, with better insulation and more efficient heating, and people living in them will be better off as a result.  Designs can flex from traditional to contemporary to suit the towns and villages across Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset. The development of these new homes, designed with the end user in mind, supports the local economy by employing local people and using local suppliers. The construction process also reduces any environmental impact as it uses less energy, reduces waste and creates less disruption to local residents, thanks to fewer deliveries to site over a shorter period of time. With a faster turnaround than traditional methods of construction, as well as a high-quality, standardised product, they will be available more quickly and will be more cost-effective and safer for occupants. The partnership has made extensive efforts to make sure that the concept and approach works: Rollalong has already manufactured 120 homes and completed the first three sites at Barton Gardens, Woodlands Way and McCreery Road in Sherborne, Dorset. Paul Read, Magna’s Executive Director for Sustainability and New Supply, said: “We have been on an exciting journey leading this approach to modular homes. I am delighted that we are now seeing our hard work turn into reality with new homes now on site and people being ready to move in. “Our priority, in addition to creating homes designed for living, is to reduce the amount of carbon in delivery and occupation of homes. So in addition to creating great places to live, and beautiful homes, they are also more sustainable and cheaper to run, providing huge benefits for our customers. This partnership will not only make more homes available for local people but will lead the way in how we can transform the delivery of these.” Steve Chivers, Managing Director of Rollalong, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the contract by Magna Housing and Wiltshire Council to design and build these modular homes that will provide a range of high-quality, affordable housing for everyone. “We are building the homes of the future designed for living today. It’s another great opportunity to demystify modular housing and champion the benefits that this style of housing can provide in the face of a nationwide housing crisis. “This unique partnership delivers the volumes that we require using a market tested portfolio of standard designs – we are aggregating demand through client cluster relationships and rolling out through a regional delivery model. “We are now working with experienced clients in the South West, bringing jobs and apprenticeships and using our local supply chain partners which demonstrates our commitment to social value.  “Local communities built by local people, using local manufacturers for local people – we are creating systemic change in our transition towards a circular economy in the South West. “The next step for us is setting work to further reduce carbon from the way we build and live in homes.” Councillor Phil Alford, Cabinet Member for Housing at Wiltshire Council, said: “One of our key missions within our business plan is to deliver high-quality, attractive homes that provide residents with truly affordable housing, with reduced energy bills.  “Not only are we doing that, but we firmly believe we’re building the highest quality affordable housing in Wiltshire with the lowest rents. “The work that has gone into securing this three-year contract with Rollalong will provide long-term benefits for residents and the environment and we are really pleased to be on this journey with Magna Housing. This work has demonstrated that when you collaborate and join forces, collective buying power is greater than working alone. “We can’t wait to see our innovative vision become a reality.” Mary Bennell, Director of SWPA, said: “We have worked closely for a long time with Magna Housing, and more recently with Wiltshire Council, to provide the innovative procurement solutions required to meet their housing aspirations. “The demand aggregation approach used here will provide a stable pipeline of homes, via a manufacturing process, and demonstrates benefits in terms of value for money. We hope that this becomes the preferred route for all social housing clients to deliver affordable, high-quality and energy-efficient homes.”

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Homes take shape at Salford’s new Neighbourhood development

Kenneth Booth May 13, 2022

New homes are starting to take shape at the ambitious Neighbourhood development being built on brownfield land in Salford that has stood empty for more than a decade. Housing association Salix Homes and partner developer Step Places are building 157 new homes on two parcels of vacant land off Kara Street and Liverpool Street in Seedley South. The eco-friendly development, comprising social housing, homes for affordable rent and properties for shared ownership and outright sale, is on track for completion in summer 2023. Terry McBride, development manager at Salix Homes, said: “Neighbourhood will bring a new era of housing to Salford and complement the wider regeneration taking place in the area, so it’s great to see these new homes starting to take shape. “This brownfield land has stood empty for over a decade and we’re very proud to see our long-awaited vision to breathe new life into the area and deliver much needed housing, start to become reality. “With housing in such short supply, we’re confident that Neighbourhood will deliver more of the right types of homes that people need in Salford, including social and affordable housing, creating a vibrant, sustainable and aspirational community of modern, high-quality and energy efficient homes.” The community-focussed development is a mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes and one and two-bedroom apartments, and Salix Homes is working with Salford-based contractor Watson Homes to deliver its part of the scheme. The housing association has secured funding from Homes England to help finance the multi-million-pound project. Manchester poet Tony Walsh marked the start of work at Neighbourhood last year, when he penned a new poem – Salford Keys – to honour the spirit of Salford and commemorate a new era of housing and regeneration in the city. The honorary Salfordian, also known as Longfella, has a close affinity to the area, having previously worked in the Seedley and Langworthy communities as a regeneration manager. Speaking at the development launch last year, he said: “I have an association with Salford going back 40-years and know every back alley of this area in particular. Having worked on the regeneration project 15 years ago, it’s great to see what was planned back then finally come to fruition and the new Neighbourhood development will be central to the regeneration of the area.” The innovative design of Neighbourhood is a modern take on the traditional terrace house, complete with raised terrace gardens for some of the properties. There will be a public green space at the heart of the development, 86 trees planted, and all houses will have cycle storage and electric car charging points. Harinder Dhaliwal, managing director of Step Places, added: “It’s a great scheme of mixed tenures and innovative house types with sustainability high on the agenda. In the current climate of rising energy prices, the air source heat pumps and highly insulated homes will be a real benefit for occupiers” In total, 91 of the properties at Neighbourhood will be shared ownership, affordable rent or social housing, while 66 will be available for market sale, with Help to Buy support available. Salford Council is purchasing 25 of the homes for social rent, while a further five properties will go to Inspiring Housing Community Land Trust for a community-led housing model, which aims to support affordable homes for local people. Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “It is fantastic to see this vacant site being brought back to life and it is very positive news this new development is eco-friendly. I look forward to joining the celebrations when the site is finished next year and people can move in. “These homes are provided against a backdrop of a national housing crisis with people on our housing lists that are desperate for affordable homes. We need to continue to work together to provide many more affordable homes in the city that local people can live in.” The 32 affordable rent homes will be allocated via Salford Home Search, while the remaining properties will be available via Salix Homes’ affordable home ownership brand – Willo Homes. The first phase of 47 homes at Neighbourhood, have already been reserved, with a further 20 homes released this month. Properties available as part of the Shared Ownership scheme are due to be released this summer, and people are urged to register their interest with Willo Homes now. For more information about homes available, email neighbourhood@salixhomes.co.uk or visit Neighbourhood Salford. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News

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DCN responds to Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill

Kenneth Booth May 12, 2022

Commenting on the publication of the Government’s Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen, Chair of the District Councils’ Network said: “The Levelling Up Bill is mixed news for DCN councils. We want to work with the Government to deliver their commitment to level up the country and empower our local communities. “However, we’re concerned that district councils’ local knowledge and ability to deliver on levelling up is being overlooked when it comes to delivering new County Deals. The legislation would prevent district councils being constituent members of the new-style combined authorities and appears to allow district powers to be transferred to the combined authority without their consent. We think this is unnecessary and counter-productive. District councils are well placed to help the Government deliver ambitious deals to improve outcomes for our residents. We want the opportunity to do that as equal partners in county deals and call on the Government to recognise that in the legislation. “We’re pleased with the change of direction on planning reform. It’s right that local plans should drive development and that councils’ powers to regenerate their high streets and local places should be strengthened. Stronger compulsory powers, rental auctions for empty high street properties, and the new local infrastructure levy – to name a few – are all positive on paper. We look forward to working with the Government to make sure they deliver on their promise. “We also welcome the principle of encouraging positive public participation in local planning. The acid test for the idea of street votes will be implementing it in a way that boosts neighbourhood involvement without the unintended consequence of stopping developments that enhance our local places and support economic development “Increased numbers of second homes present challenges to local councils, particularly in rural and coastal communities, and exacerbate housing shortages and affordability for ordinary people. It’s excellent news that the Bill will give councils the power to increase council tax on underused second homes, allowing us to reinvest in improving local infrastructure and services.” Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News

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RTPI ready to support Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill

Kenneth Booth May 11, 2022

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) welcomes the inclusion of the planning system within the a ‘Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill’. Planners can be an asset to the Bill, increasing living standards and home ownership, cultivating pride in place, improving transport infrastructure and population health and strengthening local leadership. Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the RTPI said: “We welcome government recognition that a strong planning system will be essential to levelling up. We hope that such a system will help communities better shape the places they live, work and enjoy. “Our members stand ready to support the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to develop a system. But, if we’re going to achieve the overall ambitions of Levelling Up and regeneration, we need to ensure we’re building the right homes in the right places. “It is essential that any reform comes forward as soon as possible to help prevent further delays. It is also key that all local areas have an up to date local plan, are sufficiently resourced, and open to a dialogue with their local communities, including businesses and residents current and future.” The RTPI will continue to work with Government, officials and parliamentarians based on its member’s experiences, its expertise and timely research to help shape these planning reforms. The RTPI will follow up with further analysis on the role of planning within the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill as news develops. Building Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction & Property News

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TODD Architects submits hotel plans for refurbishment of Grade II* Central Methodist Hall in Birmingham

Kenneth Booth May 10, 2022

TODD Architects has submitted a planning application on behalf of Press Up Hospitality Group and sister company Oakmount to refurbish and redevelop Birmingham’s Grade II* Listed Central Methodist Hall into a destination hospitality and leisure scheme with up to 150 new hotel rooms and eight new bars and restaurants at ground and basement levels. The proposed scheme on Corporation Street will be operated by Press Up Hospitality Group under ‘The Dean’ brand. The Dean is a boutique, design-led hotel with locations in Dublin, Cork and Galway. This will be the first Dean location outside of Ireland. Originally built in 1904, the Central Methodist Hall became the legendary Que Club in 1989, attracting major artists such as David Bowie, Daft Punk and Blur. Despite becoming an important part of Birmingham’s musical and cultural scene, the club went out of use in 2017 and the building declined onto Heritage England’s At Risk Register. TODD Architects’ hotel-led proposal sensitively extends and adapts this much-loved landmark, preserving many of its original features whilst once again allowing it to take its place at the heart of Birmingham’s cultural landscape. Fundamental to the plans will be the refurbishment of the Central Hall into a luscious 1500-seat event space, with the pulpit area redefined as a stage for visiting acts. In addition, a traditional members’ club cocktail lounge, two expansive external terraces and a flagship rooftop restaurant with panoramic views across the city are proposed. Seamus Lennon, Principal, TODD Architects, comments: “The Central Methodist Hall offers the opportunity to mix the height of Victorian grandeur with a fresh and contemporary take on the modern hospitality offer. Whilst it remains necessary to extend the building vertically to ensure the project is commercially viable, our proposals will ensure this is done sensitively and allow the full restoration of the Central Hall space to be enjoyed by generations to come.” The proposed three-storey rooftop extension will be set back from the parapet and terraced backwards as the volume rises. A single-storey extension to the south will also be set back from the parapet and above this rests a new restaurant with a pitched roof matching the form of the original. The new elements make explicit reference to the qualities of the original building, whilst also utilising modern methods of construction and material technologies. TODD Architects’ Seamus Lennon concludes: “It is a rare opportunity to contribute to the ongoing story of such an important cultural landmark as Birmingham Central Methodist Hall. Building on our growing portfolio of hospitality and leisure schemes throughout the UK and our specialist knowledge in commercially successful adaptive re-use of buildings, our proposal will deliver a high-quality hotel and leisure destination that will have a transformative impact on the immediate neighbourhood and support Birmingham City Council’s wider regeneration targets.”

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IRWIN MITCHELL ADVISES PROPERTY DEVELOPER JAYNIC ON LAND PROMOTION DEAL ON 279-ACRE SITE AT BARTON MILLS, SUFFOLK

Kenneth Booth May 6, 2022

The property division of national law firm Irwin Mitchell has advised land promoter and developer Jaynic on its a land promotion agreement on 279-acres adjacent to the A11 at Barton Mills, Suffolk, with the land offering significant potential for future commercial development. Located on the ‘Cambridge-Norwich A11 Tech Corridor’, this significant employment opportunity would provide a safe new entrance to Barton Mills via a new roundabout on the A11, and the opportunity to close the staggered A11-Newmarket Road crossroads at Herringswell Road and the A11 access from Newmarket Road at Tuddenham Road, both of which have poor highway safety records. Pedestrian/cycleway connectivity would be improved, and sustainable links created via new and existing routes. Andrew Anderson, Director at Jaynic responsible for the proposal, said: “We hope to achieve a local plan allocation in due course for a significant new business park along this strategic corridor, together with key highway safety improvements, both of which will provide local and district-wide benefits. “The site has not been allocated in the draft local plan but was identified in a recent evidence-based document as a potential opportunity to grow the district’s existing commercial sites,” added Anderson. Jaynic said it looks forward to working with all stakeholders including West Suffolk Council, the local community and businesses to promote the very real economic development and highway benefits that would come from such a development. The scheme would also deliver improvements to the ecological constraint zones within the site, meeting Biological Net Gain requirements and providing wider ecological benefits, with potential to help bring forward other developments in the area with significant ecological constraints. The Irwin Mitchell team was led by property partner Martyn Holland, assisted by senior associate Sarah Swann. Martyn Holland said, “This is a great development opportunity for our client for whom we have been advising for many years on numerous development and promotion deals. We believe this new project will provide significant economic benefits to the local area as well as improved traffic safety and we are excited to have been involved.” Jaynic is an established property company focusing on land promotion and business space development in the south and east of England. At Suffolk Park, Bury St Edmunds, it has developed 1.3m sq ft of warehouse and business space to date and has another 283,000 sq ft under construction. Jaynic is also appointed by Mid-Suffolk Council on its Gateway 14 site at Stowmarket to manage the development of up to 2.36m sq ft of business, logistics and innovation development. The company has a strong track record in the promotion of land through the planning process and, thereafter, the delivery of high quality, sustainable and efficient development.

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Work begins on £8.4 million affordable housing scheme in Essex

Kenneth Booth May 6, 2022

United Living Group, the provider of infrastructure, housing and property services, is pleased to announce that work is underway on an £8.4 million housing project to create 53 new affordable homes in Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex. Named Wheater’s Meadow, the 100% affordable development is being delivered by United Living New Homes’ subsidiary, Partner Construction, on behalf of leading housing developer, Flagship Homes. It will see a mix of 46 social rent and seven shared ownership homes constructed on the site, on Kirby Road in Walton-on-the-Naze. Built on part of a former caravan park and supported by Homes England funding, all the properties will be available for shared ownership or social rent, ensuring genuine affordability for residents and widening the range of housing options for the local community. The first delivery of new homes is expected in August 2022, and the site is due to be completed in early 2024. At a ground-breaking ceremony to get work underway, Frank Lincoln, Regional Managing Director of Partner Construction, United Living New Homes, said: “We are incredibly pleased to have started building at Wheater’s Meadow, working closely with Flagship Homes to create much-needed new homes that residents will be proud to call home”. Tony Tann, Managing Director with Flagship Homes, added: “We are delighted to have commenced construction on this site in Walton-on-the-Naze with United Living and Partner Construction. It is a beautiful area and these rented and shared ownership homes will be tremendous for the local community. We are thrilled to see this development get underway and couldn’t be happier to work alongside Partner Construction on the development. It will provide a huge housing boost to the area and really shows our shared vision with everyone involved.” Wheater’s Meadow is one of two projects being delivered in close partnership between Partner Construction, United Living New Homes and Flagship Homes. The other, is a £9.7 million scheme that will see the creation of 73 new homes, again, all for shared ownership and affordable rent, in Necton, Norfolk. Partner Construction and United Living New Homes is part of United Living Group. It is currently active on 13 live sites across the country and has plans to deliver circa 500 new homes in the current financial year.

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