Building Briefs: GBR Phoenix Beard, Tesco, RLB, David Moorcroft

GBR Phoenix Beard host champagne reception to celebrate merger

OVER 300 people gathered for a drinks reception at the central Birmingham offices of GBR Phoenix Beard to celebrate its creation in July. Guests heard how Phoenix Beard and GBR agreed to the merger deal over the course of three years as it became clear synergies between the two companies made it clear that a merger was a good move. Its manager director Simon Farrant said: “In the run-up to the merger, we recognised the benefits to our co-directors, staff and clients were immense. My colleagues and I are really excited about the opportunities ahead.” Phoenix Beard was established over 45 years ago, has bases in Birmingham and London and had 65 staff at the time of merger. GBR was founded in September 2003 and employed eight staff at its previous offices in Victoria Square, Birmingham.

Giant supermarket plan due for green light from planning chiefs

SOUTH Staffordshire planning chiefs are expected to give the thumbs up to a large new Tesco superstore today as part of a wider regen project. Councillors and officers from Cannock Chase District Council are conducting a site visit in Hednesford town centre after which they will debate whether to grant the application approval. Officers have recommended that the 85,000 sq ft store, which it is estimated will create around 600 jobs, is given the green light subject to it being called in by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles. Also included in the Hednesford Gateway scheme are a new car park, the majority of which will have parking allocated to Tesco, a new roundabout and community facilities.

RLB saddles up for cross-Britain cycle ride

SADDLE sore staff from the Birmingham office of property consultancy Rider Levett Bucknall have raised over £3,000 for the Birmingham Community Foundation. The team took six hours to cycle 96 miles from the second city to Bristol as part of nationwide relay effort by RLB staff to celebrate the company’s 225th birthday. Building surveyor and team leader Tom Williams said: “Even though we had meticulously planned for the relay and committed to some serious training, the ride itself was a tough challenge but great fun. We raised a few smiles from onlookers as two of our team took part on a tandem, but some of the hills proved too much for some of the team who had to dismount and push.”
Birmingham Community Foundation provides funding for disadvantaged community charities and projects in Birmingham and the Black County. The relay involved over 100 staff and took in over 500 miles via Manchester, Sheffield, Birmingham, Bristol, Wokingham, London and Welwyn.

Former Olympic runner fires starting gun on leisure project

FORMER Olympic athlete David Moorcroft cut the first sod of a new £12m leisure regeneration project in Newcastle by a West Midlands developer. Rugby-based Morgan Sindall was awarded the £7.5m contract last month and is working with Newcastle Borough Council to build the centre on the site of a former Suburu garage in Brunswick Street. It has been designed by specialist sport architectures Wm Saunders Partnership and will have a 25-metre swimming pool, learner pool, fitness suite, climbing wall, spectator gallery, dance studio children’s activity room. Mr Moorcroft, pictured, said: “It’s wonderful to see a project that hasn’t been hit by the recession, available for residents of all ages and abilities who want to get active and feel good about themselves.” NHS North Staffordshire has also contributed £500,000 towards the scheme which is scheduled to open by the end of 2011. It will replace the aging Jubilee Pool and Knutton Recreation Centre. A council spokeswoman said it had not yet been decided what will happen to the two sites.