Building Briefs: The Oakgate Group; Yorkshire PF2 schools; Pinnacle Leeds, Monaghans; Harrogate retailers
THE Education Funding Agency is planning a bidders day for the latest batch of PF2 schools to be brought to the market.
The Yorkshire private finance batch comprises seven secondary schools – the first school being The Samuel Lister Academy in Bradford.
A bidders day, which will provide details of how firms can get involved, will be held at the Samuel Lister Academy on January 27.
Contractors are being asked to design, build, finance and maintain the schools over a period of 25 years.
Funding will be provided through the Government’s PF2 aggregator model which will see a single organisation provide debt funding for contractors.
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A PIONEERING privilege card scheme has been launched to add benefits for occupiers of a landmark office building.
A special reward card, Pinnacle Privilege, providing discounts with a wide range of retailers, has been launched by the management team at office and retail property Pinnacle Leeds.
Pinnacle Privilege follows progress with a major £6m, on-going upgrade for the 20-storey tower, and the leasing of full floors to research and geological research company, RDR, and the latest letting to re-structuring and recovery business, FRP Advisory, which has taken 1,450 sq ft on the fifth floor.
The new occupiers have joined actuaries, Barnett Waddingham and highway consultants, Steer Davis Gleave, which have both extended their lease commitments to the building. Four newly-refurbished floors of 5,100 sq ft are currently available for lease with two further floors in the refurbishment pipeline.
Director of Leeds-based asset management partner Holbeck Land, Robert Firth, says: “This is the first reward scheme in Yorkshire to link the corporate office market and independent local retailers. So far, 14 retail partners, including an hotel, gymnasium, dry cleaners, bars, restaurants and florists, have joined Pinnacle Privilege scheme.
“Our location close to Park Row and Trinity Leeds and the offer of 24/7 access and good on-site parking is proving attractive to companies and staff. The privilege card is an additional benefit to our occupier partners and the opportunity to obtain discounts and for retailers to capture repeat shoppers is creating further interest. ”
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THE Oakgate Group has announced that Retro-American restaurant, Ed’s Easy Diner, has signed up to become the latest tenant to join the flagship Vangarde Shopping Park in York, leaving only one kiosk left to let.
The diner adds to the list of lettings that have already been agreed for the new shopping park in York. Family brands including Costa Coffee, Prezzo, Nando’s, Frankie & Benny’s and York’s first Giraffe restaurant will all be open for business in April.
Richard France, managing director of The Oakgate Group, said: “The addition of Ed’s Easy Diner to our restaurant line up gives another amazing dimension to our already impressive food offering. We now have only one 1,000 sq ft unit remaining, which has already received a tremendous amount of interest however we’re looking for an exciting operator to fill the last space in order to complete our fantastic line-up.
“Vangarde is well on track to open in April and we’ve worked hard to create an exciting mix of restaurants and retail units and we’re looking forward to the official opening this year.”
The Oakgate Group, which is part owned by Caddick Group, started work in March 2013 on the flagship retail and leisure development. It is set to open in Easter 2014 and will deliver 1,000 new jobs to the city and provide significant funding for the new 6,000 seat Community Stadium, the proposed new home to York City FC and the York City Knights.
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MONAGHANS, a national building consultancy with head offices in Sheffield, is playing a key role in the continued expansion of one of the UK’s best-known retailers.
Monaghans were project managers for recently completed new format John Lewis stores in Exeter, Devon and in Ashford, Kent.
In addition, the company has been engaged to carry out a similar role for planned John Lewis department stores at Birmingham, Leeds and Westfield London and have on-going schemes in York and at Heathrow’s new Terminal 2.
Monaghans has seen a significant boost in demand in the last 12 months for its services both in the UK and abroad, delivering successful programmes for the likes of Harrods, Tommy Hilfiger, Polo Ralph Lauren, Primark and TK Maxx.
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REDSUN Developments, based in Doncaster, has started on the final 46,000 sq ft phase of its eight-acre scheme at Riverview Business Park in Bromborough on the Wirral.
It will be anchored by Birkenhead food exporter Smylie which is taking 28,000 sq ft.
The remaining space is being marketed by B8 Real Estate and Bolton Birch.
Redsun’s first phase was anchored by household goods supplier Regal Wholesale. The project is being part funded by the European Regional Development Agency.
Managing director Craig Booton said: “We have established ourselves as a key player in the Merseyside development market during a period where much development activity has been stifled. We have delivered a number of successful developments in the commercial and roadside markets across the North West, north Wales and west Midlands.
“It is very exciting to see further progress on-site at Riverview Business Park and this marks the start of an exciting period for Redsun with several further North West developments in the pipeline.”
Redsun is planning a further 100,000 sq ft of development over the next year.
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UPMARKET retailers are flocking to Harrogate.
Two new retail deals have completed in Harrogate this month as the historic North Yorkshire town continues to attract new deals.
Property consultants Central Retail have acted on deals for Hugh Rice Jewellers, which has acquired 9/11 James Street and Caffè Nero, which has acquired 6 Cambridge Crescent. Central Retail has also acted for lingerie retailer Rigby & Peller, the corsetiere to the Queen, which is opening its new boutique next week. This is the first time the brand has expanded into the north.
