Property News: Durban Mill; UCLan; Sensor City; The White Swan & more
THE 4.5-acre Durban Mill site in Oldham has been sold by Gasscroft Property to Countryside Properties which plans to build 80 new homes.
Demolition of a 100 metre high chimney and “soft demolition” of the disused five-storey warehouse over a three-month period was completed in January.
Planning permission was secured two weeks ago for the new two, three and four bedroom homes.
Countryside properties says the development will have “a transformational impact on the location as the site had been vacant since 2008 and considered a blight on the surrounding areas”.
Countryside has agreed a subsequent deal with Sigma Capital to own and manage the units which will be made available for market rental upon completion.
The sale of Durban Mill represents the second deal within two months with Countryside and Sigma Capital by Grasscroft which recently sold its Coral Mill site in Newhay, Yorkshire, to them for the development of 60 plus residential units.
The Durban Mill site is located half a mile from Junction 22 of the M60 motorway and is approximately one mile from Oldham town centre and five miles from Manchester city centre. The site is also close to the Hollinwood train station.
Mike Coulter, managing director at Grasscroft Property, said: “Taking the risk of purchasing Durban Mill unconditionally underlines our confidence that this site was a prime opportunity for regeneration and had the potential to fulfil a real need for a new residential development in the area.
“We have great confidence in the Oldham market and in Greater Manchester more generally and are currently seeking new acquisitions in the region.”
Justin Cove, associate director of Nexus Planning, which are the appointed planning consultants, said: “This is a great outcome and we had an extremely positive working relationship with the planning officers at Oldham Council, which resulted in a reduction in the number of pre-commencement conditions attached to the approval.
“This ensures that development can get underway at the earliest possible opportunity.”
Preston O’Herlihy acted for Countryside Properties and WHR Property acted for Grasscroft. Nexus Planning are the appointed planning consultants for the Durban Mill site.
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THE University of Central Lancashire and The Royal Institute of British Architects have announced the shortlist in an international competition to design a new campus gateway within the University’s £200m Masterplan.
A total of 41 entries were received from world class and award winning architectural practices across the UK and Europe for the creation of a new civic square and student support centre at the heart of UCLan’s Preston campus.
A shortlist of seven firms was selected to proceed to the next stage of the RIBA organised competition, which asked for designs to deliver an excellent student experience and create a world-class campus.
Shortlisted teams will develop their initial concepts for the gateway project, which is valued at £50m in total, before final judging takes place in August.
The shortlisted teams are: Associated Architects; Austin Smith: Lord; Fielden Clegg Bradley; HawkinsBrown; Nicholas Hare Architects; Sheppard Robson; and Stanton Williams.
Michael Ahern, chief operating officer at UCLan, said: “We attracted a significant amount of interest from the architectural community and we are looking forward to working with such an outstanding shortlist of architects on this phase of the project.
“The standard of submissions was world class but what made the shortlist stand out was their grasp of our key aspirations and desire to create a new heart of campus development for both the University and the City and to enrich the student experience here at UCLan.”
Combined, the two projects will be the same size as London’s Trafalgar Square and are integral aspects of UCLan’s 10-year Campus Masterplan proposals.
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THE Minister for Small Business, Industry and Enterprise, Anna Soubry MP, is leading a ground breaking ceremony today (June 15) to launch the £15m Sensor City facility, located at the Copperas Hill redevelopment in Liverpool.
The facility, part of the University Enterprise Zone, is a joint venture between Liverpool John Moores University and the University of Liverpool.
It aims to create 1,000 jobs and house 300 new businesses over a 10 year period in a bespoke 27,000sq ft building dedicated to supporting companies as they develop novel sensor systems.
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A HISTORIC Cheshire pub has reopened after a six-week joint investment from Robinsons Brewery and its licensee.
Pints are being pulled again at The White Swan in Great Sutton near Ellesmere Port after the recent refurbishment.
Originally built in 1850, the White Swan was in need of a makeover to bring the pub into the 21st century.
Licensee David Morris said: “I have been running the White Swan for 11 years now and I am proud to have developed a fantastic customer base within the community.”
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WARRINGTON-based fit-out contractor Morris & Spottiswood has completed a major refurbishment and restoration project at the historic headquarters of the Royal Bank of Scotland.
The firm was tasked with refurbishing the bank at Dundas House in Edinburgh’s St Andrew Square – which dates back to 1860 – and reshaping the customer journey experience to pay homage to its heritage.
Morris & Spottiswood project director Andrew Neill described said it had been “a privilege” to work the RBS site. Mr Neill further revealed several fascinating discoveries during the complex 28-week project – including uncovering the building’s original tiled floor.
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PATRIZIA UK, the manager of Birchwood Park, Warrington, has welcomed new occupier Canon, the world-leading provider of imaging and information technology solutions, to 104 Dalton Avenue.
Canon, previously located at Birchwood Boulevard, will now occupy 3,000sq ft at Dalton Avenue, utilising the flexible floor plates to create a modern and attractive space for its Northern Regional Sales team.
The new space has been chosen by Canon to be the company’s Business Centre for Central England and the North. Canon has identified Birchwood Park’s proximity and key transport links to the major regional business centres as an essential component in reaching the Business Centre’s key objective of showcasing the company’s range of imaging and information technology solutions in action.
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AZoNetwork, a global information provider for scientists, engineers, technologists and researchers, has announced plans to open its UK headquarters in Manchester.
The company have taken up an office in 111 Piccadilly, where it will be looking to expand its business in the UK through recruiting talented local individuals for the team.
Although largely unknown in the North West, Sydney Australia-headquartered AZoNetwork works with many leading global organisations in the science, technology, advanced manufacturing and healthcare sectors to extract maximum value from their digital marketing efforts using its unique science based digital marketing platform.
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ONE of Liverpool’s most iconic leisure venues is now available to lease following the appointment of CBRE’s Manchester specialist markets team.
It will market the historic Old Bridewell Bar Restaurant, a Grade II listed circa 1850s former prison and police station located close to Liverpool One and Hanover Street.
Converted in 2003, the property is widely recognised as one of Liverpool’s most famous and successful bar restaurant and live music venues.
The iconic building steeped in history provides a range of quirky features including vaulted brick ceilings, a flagged bar area, original jail cells, a first floor restaurant with grand piano and a south-facing courtyard beer garden.
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BONGATE Guest House at Appleby in Cumbria has been sold from an asking price of £575,000 by the specialist hotels and licensed property team of real estate advisors Colliers International.
Acting on behalf of owners John and Mary Geary who are retiring to live closer to their family in Lancashire, the property with nine letting bedrooms and owners’ accommodation was sold by Colliers to Ann Jeffs who is moving to Appleby from Bicester in Oxfordshire.
Bongate House was originally built in the 1760s as a property for the estates manager of Appleby Manor and came into private ownership in 1962 when it was converted to a guest house.
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LEISURE property specialists Fleurets announced the sale of the Bedford Hotel, situated on Blackpool’s sea front from a guide price of just under £1m to Club 171.
The Vendor, Ron Adams, said: “My family have run this business for over 50 years with my mum and dad building a very sound business for me and my brother to take over. It has given us many happy years, but now is the time to hand over the reigns”.
The property has 42 en suite bedrooms as well as a 70 cover lounge bar and dining room with 100 covers.
Lesley Watmough from Fleurets’ Manchester office said: “The hotel has a great location on the promenade but more importantly has car parking facilities and an indoor swimming pool, with 42 en-suite bedrooms this has always been a very profitable business.”
The property’s freehold was marketed off a guide price of £975,000.
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LAMBERT Smith Hampton is expanding in Liverpool with the addition of a suite of new services.
The property consultancy, which has an office in St Paul’s Square, has added building consultancy to its existing provision and will now offer services including building surveying, construction project management, fund/project monitoring real estate due diligence, dilapidations advice, and fit out/refurbishment consultancy.
The new service line will be delivered by two of the North West’s most respected building consultancy specialists, Darren Hughes, director and Ian Johnson associate director, who have worked for clients including BBC, BT, and property investors TH Real Estate and Helical Bar.
