Contractor named for £9m first phase of Island Quarter
Building and civil engineering company Sir Robert McAlpine has won the race to be named as the main contractor to kickstart the £650m redevelopment of The Island Quarter.
Sir Robert McAlpine will be delivering phase 1A of The Island Quarter scheme. Known as Canal Turn, the £9m first phase will include a three-storey 2,000 sq m pavilion on the waterfront featuring two restaurants, around 500 sq m of events space with panoramic views and a large rooftop terrace.
Phase 1A, which was submitted for planning on July 24, is expected to receive full approval from Nottingham City Council in October – followed by an immediate start on site. Phase 1A will be completed by November 2021.
Christopher Ware, property director of Conygar, the developer behind the scheme, said: “We are delighted to have appointed Sir Robert McAlpine for this scheme.
“This is the exciting first phase of The Island Quarter development. We are keen to start on site as soon as planning is granted – in order for us to have the pavilion with its two exciting restaurants open ready before Christmas 2021.
“The first phase will also include extensive improvement works to the canal at the London Road end of the site, which will help form a focal point for The Island Quarter. Conygar and its partners are working closely with The Canal and Rivers Trust to create an outstanding area for the Nottingham community to enjoy.”
July’s detailed planning application also features provision for a bandstand and a substantial area of new, attractive public realm – all of which will open up the canal basin area enhancing one of Nottingham’s most under-utilised assets.
“The ultimate vision is to create a unique place that will be seen as a worldwide destination for Nottingham, providing year-round interest and community facilities and will be a place for Nottingham to come together, to live, work and enjoy.”
It is expected that when complete, the pavilion, restaurants and events space will provide 100 permanent jobs.
Over the one-year build, Sir Robert McAlpine will seek to employ at least seven trainees on NVQ or apprenticeship schemes. The company says that 40% of the project spend will be within 20 miles of Nottingham.
Ian Cheung, regional managing director, Sir Robert McAlpine, said: “We are delighted that Conygar has chosen Sir Robert McAlpine to support them in the first phase of their plans for The Island Quarter. We have a long tradition of delivering place making projects at the heart of communities. We are excited to work with Conygar to transform The Island Quarter for the people of Nottingham.”
Richard Watson, director of Conygar Nottingham, said: “We have undertaken a lot of research over the last few years, not only with Nottingham City Council, but also the people of Nottingham to ensure that we are creating a development that is fit for the city and the UK.”
The overall 40-acre site will be totally transformed to bring new homes, grade A office space, creative spaces, a lifestyle hotel, PRS apartments and co-working space, retail units, a ‘linear’ park and vibrant community and event space as well as student accommodation to the city
“The whole development will be of huge benefit to the local economy and will create thousands of jobs during the build phase and beyond,” added Watson.
