Property Round-up: Edge Hill media centre; Eric Wright; Peel and more
EDGE Hill College has won local authority approval for a new 50,000 sq ft media and animation building to be called Creative Edge.
But as the scheme is earmarked for green belt land next to the college campus, the plans have been referred to Eric Pickles, communities and local government secretary.
West Lancashire Borough Council’s planning committee also approved a 144 bed student accommodation block.
Creative Edge will include state-of-the-art television and media recording studios, editing suites, networked computer laboratories, together with lecture theatres, teaching and social space.
The college wants to open the site in September in time for the new academic year.
Steve Igoe, deputy vice chancellor (Resources) of Edge Hill University said: “This is an important milestone for Edge Hill University enabling us to continue to enhance our current academic programmes in advertising, animation, computing, design, film, music, performing arts, and TV and media.
“This investment will ensure that the University will have state of the art facilities on a par with those used by the best in the business, such as those enjoyed by the BBC in Salford Quays, and that our students will have hands-on experience of using these facilities as part of their teaching and learning experience.”
Edge Hill has been advised by Manchester-based Turley Associates.
::
PRESTON-based Eric Wright Construction has completed a £1.1m project to change the former Bispham Library in Blackpool into a day centre for adults with learning difficulties.
Designed by architects Cassidy + Ashton, the former library, built in the 1920s, has received a facelift and also gained 3,500 sq ft of space.
The scheme has been funded by a joint partnership between Blackpool PCT and Blackpool Council.
Site manager Barrie Balaam said: “It was a pleasure to work on this part conversion, part new build project which will provide much needed facilities to members of the local community, and beyond, for many years to come.”
Alistair Baines, director at Cassidy + Ashton, added: “We are experienced in refurbishing historic buildings but this project is unlike any we have done before. The centre is unique to the area and has made great use of a space that has been loved by many for years.”
::
HURSTWOOD subsidiary Crystal has completed a business centre on the second floor of 61 Mosley Street in Manchester city centre.
It has been converted to small offices ranging in size from 175-900 sq ft. The new suites have been fully refurbished and are available for immediate occupation.
Crystal Chairman Andy Park said: “The business centre offices at 61 Mosley Street were our top performer in 2012 and have proven to be particularly popular with small businesses. Seven of the original first floor suites have been let, and four out of six of those that we made available on the third floor in October are now tenanted.
“We have already had a number of enquiries for the new second floor suites and we expect the first tenants to move in shortly.”
Existing tenants include Rullion,, Branded Product Protection Services and Bright Estate Agents.
::
THE Peel Group has restored another feature of Liverpool’s historic maritime past – the Policemans Hut at Collingwood Dock.
The hut stands just north of the Bascule Bridge and was built in the 1890’s was used by the Dock Police Force which patrolled the quaysides and checked on the goods coming in and going out of the docks.
The works are part of an ongoing programme of repairs and maintenance by The Peel Group to historic structures within the Liverpool Waters site.
The restoration works were carried out by conservation contractor Repair Services (UK) Ltd and included repairs to the brickwork, re-roofing and the securing of the openings.
