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British Land has submitted plans for a giant new district in London’s Docklands.

The firm has entered into a Master Development Agreement with Southwark Council and submitted an outline planning application for the Canada Water Masterplan.

The planning submission also includes a detailed planning application for the project’s first three buildings, which include workspace, homes and a new leisure centre.

The three buildings are part of a major first phase of the development covering a total of 1.8msq ft of mixed use space, comprising one million sq ft of workspace, 250,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space and 650 homes.

Subject to planning approvals, construction of the first buildings will begin in spring 2019.

The wider Masterplan is expected to deliver up to 3,000 new homes, two million sq ft of workspace and one million sq ft of retail, leisure, entertainment and community space including proposed health and social infrastructure, and educational uses for all ages.

Roger Madelin, Head of Canada Water Development, British Land, said: “Submission of our planning application for the Canada Water Masterplan marks an important milestone in the delivery of this project.

“Drawing on our experience of creating vibrant, mixed-use places across the capital, this major urban centre at Canada Water will provide an exciting place to live, work and visit, delivering high quality design, active spaces and significant economic and social benefits for the local community.

“We have worked closely with Southwark Council and the local community of Canada Water to achieve this important first step, and will continue to work with them to deliver a low carbon, energy efficient neighbourhood.

“We will put health and wellbeing at the heart of our plans to ensure the buildings and spaces we create encourage and support healthy lives.”

Cllr Peter John, Leader of Southwark Council, said: “It is fantastic to see this project moving forward.

“British Land have done great work to consult and engage with local people and the resulting Masterplan will deliver what local people want to see, including a guaranteed 35% affordable housing split 70% social rent and 30% shared ownership in the first phase, new retail spaces and job opportunities, education and health facilities and a brand new leisure centre.”

The 53 acre site comprises Surrey Quays Shopping and Leisure, the SE16 Printworks, the Dock Offices and the former Rotherhithe Police Station.

The Masterplan envisages a mix of uses and innovative public spaces designed for a range of ages, incomes and life stages.

The buildings, set around water and green public spaces, will together create a vibrant destination where people can live, work and be entertained throughout the day and into the evening.

On completion, the Masterplan will be home to approximately 20,000 jobs with thousands of people working on site during construction, including apprenticeships and training.

A decision on the planning application is expected by the end of the year.

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Barratt to pay for post Grenfell cladding upgrade on Croydon block

Barratt Developments has agreed to foot the £2m bill to replace unsafe cladding on the Citiscape development in Croydon.

Cladding on the building failed safety tests in the wake of the Grenfell tragedy and worried leaseholders were facing having to pay the costs themselves.

But Barratt has now stepped forward following discussions with the government.

The company said it will cover future and backdated costs relating to employing a fire warden and the removal and replacement of unsafe cladding from the building.

Housing Secretary Sajid Javid, said: “I applaud Barratt Developments’ decision to cover the costs of fire safety works.

“They have listened to the concerns of Citiscape residents, engaged with government and have done the right thing.

“Other building owners and house builders in the private sector should follow the example set by Barratt Developments to protect leaseholders from costs and begin essential fire safety works.

“I want to see all leaseholders in this position get the peace of mind they deserve and I am keeping this under review.”

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Green light for London Deutsche Bank HQ

Developer Landsec has gained revised planning consent for its 564,000 sq ft office scheme above Crossrail’s Liverpool Street Moorgate ticket office in the City.

The east facade will consist of a series of varying trusses that will span over 60m to each side of the station

The development at 21 Moorfields will be the new headquarters for Deutsche Bank, which agreed to take most of the space contigent on planning being granted.

Landsec had already committed to construct the substructure, which is due to complete in March 2019 and now expects that construction will continue straight through to practical completion, anticipated in November 2021.

Landsec says the new building will contain twice the quantity of steel in the Eiffel Tower

Colette O’Shea, Managing Director, London Portfolio, Landsec, said: “We welcome the resolution to grant planning permission and look forward to continuing to work in partnership with Deutsche Bank and the City of London Corporation to deliver this strategically important site.”

Chris Hayward, Planning and Transportation Committee Chairman, City of London Corporation, said: “With the Elizabeth line supporting the creation of an estimated 63,000 jobs in the City of London and Isle of Dogs, this office, located above a future station, fits in well with the City’s ambitions for growth.

“Deutsche Bank’s move demonstrates a high level of confidence in the City of London as a leader in financial and professional services. The City Corporation remains committed to supporting businesses with an additional 1.37m sq m of office space under construction that has the potential to accommodate 85,000 workers.”

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Deal to start world’s tallest modular towers in Croydon

Investors have agreed a funding deal to start construction of a twin-tower scheme of build-to-rent flats that will become the world’s tallest offsite project.

Tide Construction will deliver the project using its off-site manufacturing system, Vision Modular Systems

Greystar and Henderson Park have exchanged contracts with Tide Construction to acquire the 550-apartment residential development in Croydon, London.

On completion, the 101 George Street development will comprise two of the world’s tallest towers built using modular construction, at 44-storeys and 38-storeys.

The site has full planning permission and the transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2018.

Enabling works for the twin tower scheme are already underway at the Essex House site in East Croydon.

The towers scheme, drawn up by HT Design, will be worth over £150m and will be a trailblazer for modular construction methods.

Presently, the tallest prefabricated building in the world is a 32-storey block in New York.

Tide is both a development and contracting company, and has delivered several projects in recent years using its off-site manufacturing system, Vision Modular Systems.

101 George Street is the fourth project Greystar and Tide Construction have delivered and, once complete, will bring the total number of units the partnership has delivered in London to 1,700 units.

Christy Hayes, CEO of Tide Construction, said: “The towers of 101 George Street will stand tall as testimony to the potential of modular construction within the UK and beyond.

“Modular construction is highly suited to rental developments as investors and operators can welcome residents into their homes sooner and open the revenue streams earlier.”

The modules will be shipped from a factory in Bedford with the electricity prewired and plumbing, furniture and windows already installed.

The total build time for the project will take just 24 months, from construction starting to residents moving in to their new homes.

Troy Tomasik, Greystar Managing Director, Investments, said: “This is an ambitious development and an exciting milestone for Greystar which signals our commitment to finding innovative solutions to London’s housing challenge.”

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Manchester building boom hits new heights

Manchester is leading a regional city building boom driven by ambitious residential and commercial projects.

How Manchester’s skyline could look in 2020

The latest Deloitte Crane Survey shows bumper growth for a second year in Manchester with 20 major residential projects and six major office schemes starting in 2017.

Sustained strong growth means Manchester is enjoying a 60% jump in residential and 75% hike in office projects now under construction with most major high rise schemes.

The 11,135 residential units currently being developed represents the third year of sustained growth in the city despite rising construction costs and uncertainty in the market as a result of Brexit negotiations.

Simon Bedford, partner at Deloitte Real Estate, said: “Manchester has firmly established itself as one of Europe’s fastest growing cities.

“Backed by significant investor confidence, a strong business community, and an influx of new talent, the demand for property, particularly in the residential market, has never been more evident.”

He added: “With the additional investment we are seeing from international markets such as South East Asia, Middle East, and the US, Manchester’s real estate market will continue to develop at scale, cementing the city’s position as a global destination for business, leisure, and education.”

The Crane Survey also reported strong growth in Birmingham and Leeds where developers’ confidence for city centre residential development remains strong.

Deloitte 2017 Crane Survey – No. projects
Residential Offices Student rooms Hotel Retail / Leisure Education Total
Manchester 20 5 0 5 1 1 32
Birmingham 13 4 3 2 1 1 24
Leeds 5 3 2 0 2 4 16
Residential units under construction Office space (sq ft) under construction
2016 2017 % change 2016 2017 % change
Manchester 6,963 11,135 60% 1,486,000 1,509,000 1.5%
Birmingham 2,331 4,077 75% 1,441,500 1,436,250 -0.4%
Leeds 619 1,586 156% 460,750 771,250 67%

Several significant Manchester schemes are likely to commence in 2018 including major residential developments as part of the St. John’s masterplan, residential blocks at Circle Square, further activity from Manchester Life Development Company in Ancoats and New Islington and work on Angel Meadow, which forms part of the  transformational Northern Gateway project.

Birmingham saw 24 major construction starts last year. This was again driven by the boom in city residential developments, up nearly a third to 13 schemes delivering 2,500 new units in 2018 alone.

Student housing schemes jumped to deliver a 53% rise in bedroom to 1,782 spaces. Birmingham’s office development has surpassed 1m sq ft for the second consecutive year, with over 1.4m sq ft currently under construction.

In Leeds residential construction across the city centre hit its highest level in a decade – 1,586 units across five development sites.

Leeds has also witnessed further growth in the higher education sector with four new starts recorded adding over 0.5msq ft into the development pipeline.

Leeds continues to deliver good volumes of new office space with three new construction starts in 2017.

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Barratt London shelves 27-storey Aldgate tower project

Barratt London has shelved plans to build phase two of its major Aldgate Place scheme against a backdrop of falling central London flat prices.

Previously planned phase 2 of Aldgate Place

The firm is also closing its central London Aldgate division office and planning to move around 70 staff to new offices on the Olympic Park where they will join relocating Stratford office staff to create a new bigger Barratt East London division.

Under the London business shake-up Barratt’s Brentford division will also be rebranded as Barratt West London.

Sources told the Enquirer that Barratt and joint venture development partner British Land had decided not to proceed with the final phase of the Aldgate scheme, due to launch this year.

Completed phase one of Aldgate Place; abandoned phase 2 plan with 27 storey tower

The second phase of the development incorporated two residential buildings, one of seven storey and the other rising to 27 storeys for retail, private residential and commercial space.

Property website Rightmove reveals more than 400 flats currently for sale within walking distance of Aldgate East tube station.

Gary Ennis, Regional Managing Director, Barratt London: “As part of Barratt London’s growth strategy and focus on delivery of high quality developments across the capital, we are combining our Aldgate and Stratford offices to create one new larger team, Barratt East London.

“This will bring together the skills and expertise across our London teams, and enable us to deliver focused and efficient growth. We are committed to growing our business, building successful new communities and helping Londoners get a foot on the property ladder.”

In addition to the London changes, Barratt is also opening a new division in the East region.

The new division, BDW Cambridgeshire, will help Barratt to increase volumes to meet the growing demand for new homes in the region.

BDW Cambridgeshire already has terms agreed on land for more than 1,000 units and will be creating around 50 new jobs over the next three years, with hundreds more supported in the supply chain and through local sub-contractors.

The division, which will be based in Peterborough and open this year, is focused on strong markets in areas highlighted recently by the National Infrastructure Commission’s Report, Partnering for Prosperity.

The report identified opportunities to create “well-designed, well-connected new communities” for the Cambridge – Milton Keynes – Oxford arc.

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Mayor approves £1.4bn Croydon Westfield shopping centre

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has approved plans for a £1.4bn Westfield shopping centre in Croydon, clearing the final planning hurdle.

Construction expected to start in early 2019

Joint venture specialist retail developers Westfield and Hammerson can now redevelop and combine Croydon’s current shopping centres – the Whitgift Centre and Centrale – to create the 1.5m sq ft retail-led scheme.

A 13-month demolition programme at the existing Whitgift Centre will begin later this year, with construction due to start in 2019.

Up to 1,000 flats will be delivered in five tower blocks overlooking Wellesley Road. The first two buildings will be developed with the construction of the retail scheme, with the remainder being developed in a later phase.

Plans were first granted permission in 2014, but in October last year an enhanced application was submitted with the addition of a third storey of retail and restaurants, and a new Marks & Spencer store.

Up to 2,500 people will work on the shopping centre at peak construction

The mayor gave the project the green light after it was approved by Croydon Council’s planning committee. It will be the third Westfield shopping centre in the capital, alongside the company’s sites in Shepherd’s Bush and Stratford.

Westfield UK/Europe’s Head of Development, John Burton OBE, said: “The endorsement from the Mayor of London represents a great start to the year for the project and for Croydon.

“The London Borough of Croydon responded positively to our revised outline planning application, and we’re pleased that this has now been approved by the Mayor. Our plans will help establish Croydon as South London’s best retail, dining and leisure destination and deliver new homes and 7,000 jobs.”

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£600m London Camden Goods Yard scheme approved

Masterplans have been approved for a near 600-home mixed-use scheme next to London’s famous Camden Market on Chalk Farm Road.

Landmark building on Chalk Farm Road will house new Morrisons supermarket

The scheme is being brought forward by Barratt London in joint venture with land owner Morrisons supermarket and will see the homes delivered across eight buildings alongside 300,000 sq ft of shopping space and a small amount of office space for business start-ups.

Allies and Morrison is the overall masterplan architect and designer of five of the eight blocks, with the remaining three blocks by Piercy & Company and Niall McLaughlin Architects.

The existing Morrisons supermarket and petrol filling station on the site will be demolished and replaced as part of the 3.3ha redevelopment plan.

The whole of the supermarket site will be heated by a communal heating system, with the main gas-fired heating plant located in a dedicated Energy Centre located in the undercroft of Block A.

Block B, designed by Allies and Morrison, will contain a mix of shops and flats

Block C is primarily a residential building with gym on the ground floor

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Green light for world’s tallest modular tower in Croydon

Croydon planners have given the green light for a twin-tower scheme of build-to-rent flats that will become the world’s tallest offsite scheme.

Tide Construction will deliver the project using its off-site manufacturing system, Vision Modular Systems

Tide Construction, with funding from investor Greystar, is planning to build the 44 and 38-storey scheme on the former Essex House site near to East Croydon station.

The 546-flat towers scheme will be worth over £150m and will be a trailblazer for modular construction methods.

Presently, the tallest prefabricated building in the world is a 32-storey block in New York.

Tide is both a development and contracting company, and has delivered several projects in recent years using its off-site manufacturing system, Vision Modular Systems.

Enabling works for the twin tower scheme are already underway at the Essex House site in East Croydon

VMS has delivered factory built homes for both Pocket and Greystar in recent years. Tide claims its modular based building programme often results in a 60% time saving, compared with conventional construction schemes.

Christy Hayes, chief executive of Tide Construction said: “This project is a huge milestone for both us as a company and for modular developments as an innovative, modern method of construction.

“This development emphasises the true potential of modular construction as a genuine solution to the UK’s housing crisis, where high-quality homes can be delivered at pace in sought after urban areas. Both the government and industry are realising the benefits of modular construction, with 101 George Street being a pivotal moment for modular construction in the UK.”

Tide developed the 28-storey Apex House, featuring 558 rooms, in less than a year. That development, in Wembley, is currently the tallest modular tower in London.

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Final go-ahead for UK’s second tallest skyscraper in Croydon

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has waved through plans for a 68-storey skyscraper in Croydon town centre that will rank as the country’s second tallest building.

It means work on the ambitious twin-tower project can begin construction in summer 2018.

Developer Guildhouse Rosepride in conjunction with Chinese skyscraper specialist, the China Building Technique Group Company, have been working up the One Lansdowne scheme for several years.

Khan signed off the plans enabling the Section 106 to be signed and the formal Consent to be issued.

The south London council’s planning committee had already unanimously approved the development, which will feature two towers of 68 and 41 storeys, linked by an 11-storey podium structure.

If all goes to plan the Piers Gough of CZGW Architects designed tower will be completed in 2022.

David Hudson, chief executive of Guildhouse UK, said: “Peaking at 288m high, One Lansdowne will be visible from Piccadilly to Brighton, and will be a world-class building which really puts Croydon on the map.”

One Lansdowne will feature 794 residential units, 380,000 sq ft of offices, and shops.

It will also feature  a swimming pool and gym and public viewing gallery offering panoramic views across the capital and Surrey, and the highest bar and restaurant facilities in London.

The skyscraper will be around 12m shorter than the Shard, which still ranks as Britain’s and Europe’s tallest building. It will just edge out 22 Bishopsgate in London’s Square Mile, which is presently under construction and will rise to 278m.

“We are grateful for the trust being placed in us both by the London Borough of Croydon and the Greater London Authority to deliver this scheme,” added Hudson.

“The great challenge for Croydon has always been to change perceptions in its own right and this will help the town to put the town on the map.”

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