In Brief: British Cycling; GENR8 Developments; McArthurGlen York

HULL City Council is working with British Cycling to identify a new location for a closed road circuit cycle track in the city.

The Council has been working with the British Cycling facilities team to identify an appropriate site for a new regional standard facility.

Initially the playing fields to the north of Costello Stadium had been identified as a preferred location for the 1.5km circuit, however a planning application was withdrawn following objections from local residents.

Since the withdrawal of the planning application representatives from the facilities team and the Council have been working together to look at alternative proposals on the same site; specifically the area to the east of the stadium, below the service road and adjacent to the existing hammer throwing area.

It has proven impossible to design a track in the space available to the south of the stadium that meets the minimum requirements for a regional standard circuit which needs to be, ideally, at least 1.5km. Despite looking at several different configurations the best length that could have been fitted into the site is approximately 800 metres.

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GENR8 Developments has appointed Taylor Wimpey to deliver the residential element of its 30-acre mixed-use Sowerby Bridge development in West Yorkshire.

Outline planning permission was granted in 2011 and Genr8 and Taylor Wimpey have now submitted a reserved matters application for 149 homes on a nine-acre brownfield site in the Copley Valley, bounded by the River Calder and the Calder and Hebble Navigation Canal.

The proposals consists of two, three and four- bed houses and 28 apartments.
The Manchester developer has also appointed Buckingham Group Contracting to undertake the next phase of infrastructure works which are expected to start on site early next year. It is anticipated that the residential scheme will start in late 2015.

Genr8 said it will also be delivering an 8.6-acre nature reserve and a further phase of employment space which will be announced in the coming months.
Partner Richard Ingham said: “We have always believed that the site offers a great opportunity to deliver high quality family housing within a fantastic environment and our appointment of Taylor Wimpey is excellent news. We are now looking forward to delivering the next phase of infrastructure which will prepare the site for both the residential and employment development.”

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DESIGNER outlet McArthurGlen York has announced further openings and store enhancements.

The additions bolster the centre’s offer of 120 brands.

British fashion brand Ted Baker has moved to a larger store, upsizing from 1,830 sq ft to 2,579 sq ft; menswear brand, Paul Smith, has upsized from 3,081 sq ft to 3,656 sq ft; Fossil has completed an upsize from 1,291 sq ft to 1,811 sq ft and Fred Perry, Hugo Boss, Ben Sherman and French Connection have all also undergone store enhancements.

L.K.Bennett, Osprey London, Sunglass Hut and Timberland have also gone through re-fits and the centre has welcomed Scandinavian lifestyle brand Napapijri as well as Watch Station.

Mike Thomas, centre manager, said: “To have these internationally renowned brands choose to open at McArthurGlen York is a testament to the strength of our portfolio and the continued success of the centre.”