Property round-up: Urban Splash book launch; Major letting in Blackburn; and more
REGENERATION company Urban Splash has hosted an event at the RIBA hub in Manchester to mark the launch of a new book, Transformation, chronicling the company’s 20-year history.
The event, which was attended by around 100 architects, creatives and businesspeople, saw chairman and co-founder Tom Bloxham talk through some of the highlights of the firm’s history.
He said: “The book has been a great project for me and it’s been a joy to look back on the last 20 years. In particular, it’s been a joy to host this launch in Manchester. The city has changed so much since I moved here 30 years ago, when all that existed was dark, satanic mills.
“No one was motivated to develop anything and the city would empty after 6pm so the change in attitudes in the 1990s, the succession of some very forward thinking city council leaders, ambitious developers like us. ASK, Artisan – and architects and designers who shared our ethos – began taking on some of the challenges that Manchester had to offer.
“We each came together to improve city life in Manchester and in Liverpool, and helped create better places to live, work and play. We have since grown from that and taken on regeneration schemes all around the country.”
Stephen Hodder of the Royal Institute of British Architects, added: “Urban Splash has created thousands of new homes and creative workspace, tens of thousands of jobs and once received the RIBA client of the year award.
“The change they have engendered in the culture is most significant for me, and that’s why ‘Transformation’ is such an appropriate title for this book, as the story of Urban Splash is not just about the developments or the architecture.
“Smithfield Buildings in Manchester was the first scheme I visited and I remember being in awe of what had been achieved. Very often, their work is on schemes that have been ignored, forgotten or too challenging; be it terraced housing in Salford, derelict Fort Dunlop in Birmingham and Park Hill in Sheffield or the Cardroom Estate in Manchester.
“It is this transformation of the culture of development ad the quality of what has been delivered that so many other developers have tried to emulate but never quite matched. “
The book is priced £24.99 and is available via RIBA bookshops and on Amazon.
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BEVA Investments has let 167,000 sq ft of the Beva at Walker Park Complex in Blackburn to MDA on a ten-year lease. This is the second secured letting at the 500,000 sq ft complex in the past 18 months, and only 107,000 sq ft now remains available.
Will Chadwick, managing director of Beva Investments, said: “This letting is the culmination of a number of parties expressing interest in the property in recent months.
“In spite of the difficult economic climate, we remain encouraged by the number of serious enquiries we continue to receive and we are confident that the remaining space will shortly let. What is particularly encouraging is the number of enquiries we are seeing from the manufacturing sector.
“This is reflective of Blackburn’s traditionally-strong manufacturing base, combined with the lack of quality product along the M65 corridor.”
Letting agents on the scheme are GVA, JLL and Taylor Weaver.
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SALFORD Quays-based Jacob Eco-Energy has installed one of the biggest solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in the city at the Maine Place residential development in Moss Side.
A 49.6 kW Solar PV system of 207 panels has been installed on Maine Place’s landmark curved roof, which will generate 952,000 kWh of renewable electricity over the next 25 years – enough to make over 9.5m cups of tea.
Green power will even be generated even on cloudy days, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 500 tonnes over a 25-year period.
The renewable technology, supported by the Government’s Feed in Tariff incentive, is also expected to deliver a financial return of £434,170 over 25 years.
Maine Place is a 330-home development on the site of the former Manchester City Football Club stadium at Maine Road. It has been developed by Prospect (GB), and the first properties have now been completed.
Maurice Palfreyman of Prospect (GB) said: “Our residents have some of the greenest homes in the city thanks to our ambitious solar scheme. We are very proud of our sustainable housing development and the contribution we are making to reducing Manchester’s carbon footprint.”
Chris Franks, managing director of Jacob Eco Energy said: “This was a major installation, which required our specialist knowledge of construction and roofing structures to carry out the installation. As a City fan it was a real privilege to be involved in bringing new life to the site of the former stadium.”
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A SCHEME containing 33 apartments with care on site called Fulwood Park has just been completed at Aigburth, near Liverpool.
The development, for MHA Care Group, is aimed at older residents but has been designed by Manchester-based Pozzoni Architects with a non-instiutional feel to offer residents a “home for life”.
External areas include walking paths, planting beds and a gazebo, as well as car paking next to the main entrance. Community facilities on site include a foyer area, lounge, coffee shop and a hair & beauty salon.
The scheme has been built on a former car showroom to an ‘Arts and Crafts’ style, similar to neighbouring properties. The first residents will have moved into their new homes by the end of the month.
