Grant Thorton’s Rob Parker, Jon Roden, and Kevin Coates were appointed as joint administrators for Buckingham Group Contracting on Monday.

“After 36 years of uninterrupted trading, this is an extremely sad day for all the exceptionally committed and talented people who have made Buckingham Group Contracting the business it is,” said Mike Kempley, chairman at Buckingham.

Buckingham had filed a notice to appoint administrators earlier this month. At the time, it had blamed “rapidly escalating contract losses and a sharp reduction in liquidity” as the reason for its financial troubles. It was an assessment that administrators echoed in a statement on Tuesday.

Buckingham had been attempting to refinance and sell part of the company.

Ultimately, only Buckingham’s rail division was sold – with Kier Group picking up Buckingham’s HS2 contract. The sale to Kier preserved 180 jobs, according to Grant Thornton.

Under the agreement, Buckingham’s rail assets will become part of the Kier Transportation company. Kier Transportation designs, builds, and maintains a variety of transit infrastructure, including rail, highways, and aviation.

Joe Incutti, group managing director of Kier Transportation, welcomed the Buckingham employees to the Kier fold.

“The team will further strengthen our capability and this helps to bring an end to a period of uncertainty for clients and employees by ensuring continued delivery on existing projects, and the retention of hugely important skills and expertise in the rail sector,” Incutti said.

Andrew Davies, chief executive of Kier Group, said: “We have previously stated that we would consider value accretive acquisitions in core markets where there is potential to accelerate the medium-term value creation plan.

“This acquisition is one such example – it is an excellent strategic fit and accelerates our rail strategy, providing work with new rail clients and increasing our capabilities.”

While the Kier sale preserved some of the company’s jobs, it was not enough to save the rest of the business.

“It is, however, with regret, that despite the best efforts of the directors and the company’s advisers, a sale of the company’s remaining divisions (building, civil engineering, demolition, major projects and sport & leisure) was not possible,” said Grant Thornton’s Parker.

“As a result, 446 employees from these divisions together with some other central roles at the company have been made redundant following the company entering administration,” he continued.

“The Grant Thornton team will work with the employees affected to support them through this process.”

The post ‘Extremely sad day’ as Buckingham enters administration appeared first on Place North West.

Regeneration housebuilder Lovell Partnerships, part of Morgan Sindall Group, has begun work at Stonedale Crescent in Croxteth to build the mixed-tenure affordable housing development for Liverpool City Council.

Designed by DK-Architects, the project will provide 80 two- to three-bedroom houses and eight one-bedroom flats built on redundant parking land, marked as one of the city’s mayoral priority development zones to improve social and economic conditions.

The scheme will offer 100% affordable housing provision, with all homes available for affordable rent, rent-to-buy, or shared ownership.

Tahreen Shad, regional partnerships director at Lovell, said: “As we begin our work on the Croxteth site, we will also be getting further embedded in the local community through our social value programme by engaging with nearby schools and groups, as well as employing and training young people through our apprenticeship scheme to deliver lasting outcomes.”

A total of £12m grant funding has been secured for the project through the Homes England Affordable Homes Programme and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Brownfield Land Fund.

Local housing provider Cobalt will manage the homes, adding to its 6,000-strong portfolio across North Liverpool.

This project forms part of a wider regeneration for the Stonedale and Stonebridge area. Cobalt has already delivered 57 new homes at Altbridge Park and is working with masterplanner Gillespies on a large-scale programme of estate regeneration works at the estate.

Claire Griffiths, chief executive of Cobalt Housing, said: “[This project] signals the continuation of our £300m investment in our neighbourhoods over the next 10 years, in existing and new homes for rent and sale, which we have set out in our new corporate plan.

“This development will be a catalyst for increased confidence and aspiration in the Stonebridge area of Liverpool, as we continue to expand our partnerships and investment, working closely with our customers and the wider community.”

Want to find out more about the project? Search for application number 21F/0330 on Liverpool City Council’s planning portal.

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Hull-based Spencer Group started phase two of work yesterday to refresh the Menai Bridge, ready for its 200^th anniversary.

Phase one of the refurbishment saw the closure of the bridge last October to allow for rigorous testing and development, including a £1.5m effort to repaint the entire main underdeck.

The second phase will deliver new permanent hangers after a detailed analysis detected a structural issue with the existing ones, with the 7.5T weight restriction for crossing the bridge to remain in place until work has completed.

Work will be carried out in a way that will not lead to a full closure of the bridge, while traffic management will be implemented in order to reduce disruption to local residents.

This construction programme has been developed by UK Highways A55, which operates and maintains the Menai Bridge on behalf of the Welsh Government.

The 417-metre suspension dates back to 1826 and was designed by engineer Thomas Telford. Thought to be the second oldest operational vehicular suspension bridge in the world, the Menai Suspension Bridge’s bicentenary is in 2026.

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The latest update from BDO, the administrator for the two DeTrafford vehicles behind the Castlefield project, states that five bids from unnamed developers have been received. 

While details of the bidders were not provided, the opportunity is likely to be of interest to several developers already active in Manchester, given that it benefits from planning permission. 

The land is estimated to be worth between £1.5m and £4m and is saddled with various debts. 

Lender Daiwa is owed £25.1m by the two SPVs – £2.7m in the form of a direct loan to facilitate the Gallery Gardens project and £22.4m by way of cross guarantees against other DeTrafford projects.  

Another lender, Maslow, is owed £11m by the Gallery Gardens vehicles by way of cross guarantees against other DeTrafford projects.  

Unsecured creditors are owed £7.2m by the two companies, the majority of which is intercompany debt.  

More than 80 of the flats have been sold off-plan and £2.1m of deposits has been paid, according to BDO. Around 70 of the purchasers hold unilateral notices. 

The five bidders want to acquire DeTrafford’s leasehold and freehold interests in the site.   

The company’s ownership extends to the plot where one of the blocks, comprising 195 apartments, would have been constructed.  

Gallery Gardens Block A Limited owns a 44-year leasehold on part of the site. DeTrafford Regiment Limited owns the freehold on the remainder.  

Manchester City Council owns the freehold to the other half of the scheme, earmarked for a 171-flat block.  

DeTrafford had signed a 150-year development agreement with Manchester City Council to bring the project forward. However, this agreement has now expired, according to BDO. 

BDO is liaising with the city council about the potential sale of the site. 

Roger Hannah is leading the sales process and Daiwa, the first-ranked secured creditor, is considering the bids, according to BDO’s report. 

The two vehicles behind Gallery Gardens are among a glut of DeTrafford entities to collapse in recent months. 

No1 Castlefield is another troubled DeTrafford project. Credit: via planning documents

Most recently, the collapse of DeTrafford No1 Castlefield was the seventh domino in director Gary Jackson’s DeTrafford empire to fall. That vehicle was behind a 420-home Manchester development.  

Planning consent for the scheme was granted in 2017 but no work has taken place in the last six years. 

More than 300 apartments within the project have been sold off plan to investors who are owed in excess of £13m for unbuilt properties. 

In total, No1 Castlefield, the most indebted of the DeTraffoird vehicles to collapse, owes £50m to creditors. 

Just a few days before the collapse of Gallery Gardens, the vehicle behind the developer’s completed 166-apartment Sky Gardens was put into administration.  

Last August, Place North West revealed that the company behind Wavelength, DeTrafford’s proposed 421-home development at Salford Quays, had gone into administration.   

Creditors on this scheme, which has never been built, are owed almost £11m, according to a report by administrator Kroll.   

In September, BDO was appointed by lender Maslow as administrator to DeTrafford St Georges Gardens, the vehicle behind the completed 138-apartment development of the same name.    

The following month, Maslow once again instructed BDO, this time over DeTrafford City Gardens, the company behind a 109-flat development.   

In December, a report by BDO on City Gardens and St George’s Gardens revealed the companies owed a combined £26m to creditors.   

The collapse of the Sky Gardens vehicle means the companies behind three of the four completed blocks within the Castlefield masterplan are in administration. Roof Gardens is not in administration. 

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Domis Construction has completed Cole Waterhouse’s debut BTR scheme ahead of schedule and interest in the properties has been high. 

The lettings team received more than 500 enquiries for the homes in the initial days of marketing, according to Cole Waterhouse. 

Simon Gallanders, managing director of Cole Waterhouse Residential, said: “We’ve worked in close partnership with our joint venture partner Taurus and our contractor Domis to achieve this milestone. 

“[We have] taken a highly collaborative approach from start to finish, which has had a significant impact on the speed and quality of delivery.” 

The scheme’s main contractor also pointed to the collaboration between the project team as the reason behind the early completion of Eda. 

Lee McCarren, managing director of Domis Construction, said he is “proud” to have completed the project “well ahead of time”. 

“That achievement is down to the dedication and commitment of our superb team working in close collaboration with Cole Waterhouse and Taurus.  

“The team developed an incredible bond during the delivery of this prestigious scheme, taking a real partnership approach, with flexibility and trust shown on all sides.” 

Eda is the second time Cole Waterhouse and Domis have worked together following the completion of No1 Old Trafford in 2021. 

Following the success of their Eda partnership, Cole Waterhouse and Taurus are now working together on a scheme at Upper Trinity Street in Digbeth. 

“The delivery of Eda really has been a great example of a best-in-class partnership working together to achieve a superb sustainable project,” stated Nick Jacobs, managing director of Taurus UK.  

“We started this programme in Covid and despite the continued economic turbulence and the associated supply and skills issues Domis has completed a remarkable job to achieve such an early handover of the building.” 

Designed by Chapman Taylor, Eda is a 250,640 sq ft, two-part residential building comprising one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, located close to the Anchorage Metrolink stop. 

The scheme features two landscaped terrace gardens on the mezzanine and level 19, plus private terraces for each rooftop penthouse apartment.  

At ground level, there is 4,000 sq ft of commercial space pre-let to Co-op Food, as well as extensive areas of internal amenity including a co-working space, residents’ lounges, a cinema room, bookable private dining and entertaining facilities, and a gym.  

In terms of sustainability credentials, Eda features high grade insulation for thermal efficiency, energy-efficient appliances, LED lighting
to minimise energy consumption and reduce utility costs for residents, as well as MVHR systems to reduce heating loads.

The Eda delivery includes Jon Matthews Architects as delivery architect, WSP Planning, structural engineers Renaissance, M&E consultants Novo, landscape architects Exterior Architecture, project managers/quantity surveying services by Henry Riley, Project Four Safety Solutions providing CDM and Principal Designer services with legal advice from Ward Hadaway. 

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Wrightington, Wigan, and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust wants to build a 16,000 sq ft extension at the Wigan Lane site.

Designed by Day Architectural, the scheme would build upon the Royal Albert Infirmary’s courtyard-facing façade to provide endoscopy rooms, recovery areas, a waiting room, and office space.

The hospital’s three existing endoscopy rooms would be relocated to the new unit, which would sit on the ground floor of the four-storey extension.

There is currently no designation for the upper floors of the proposed development, however proposals state that they will be used for the enhancement and expansion of hospital services.

The project team includes Arup, Malcolm Hughes Land Surveyors, Bradshaw Grass & Hope, Graeme Ives, and Sumo Services.

To learn more about the plans, search for application number A/23/95751/MAJOR on Wigan Council’s planning portal.

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Blunstone, who will work from both the Leeds and Manchester offices, has been with CBRE for more than a decade and was previously a director in the London and South East team.

She brings more than 15 years’ experience as a chartered town planner across a range of sectors, most recently focusing on life sciences, higher education and student accommodation, film studios, healthcare and mixed use development.

Iain Jenkinson, executive director, CBRE planning & development, said: “We are delighted to welcome Hannah into the northern team.

“She brings a wealth of experience from London and the South East in many of the growth areas we are seeing right now and will add depth to our strategic advice and the project management of major planning applications in these sectors. We look forward to Hannah joining us.”

Blunstone added: “With the government’s focus on the regeneration of northern towns and cities and many transformational projects identified, it is an exciting time to be joining the growing Northern planning & development team.

“I am looking forward to utilising my recent experience in some of the alternative use classes which are key to many large scale regeneration projects.”

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Also on Preston City Council’s agenda are Community Gateway Association’s returning plans to build 58 homes off Tabley Lane, as well as Wain Homes and Liberty Care Developments’ proposals for a 72-bedroom care home off Sandy Lane.

Residents would have access to a roof garden. Credit: via planning documents

Winckley Square

Application number: 06/2023/0124

Branco Winckley Square wants to demolish one of two remaining parts of the former Preston Catholic College to make way for 35 flats off Mount Street.

Designed by Studio John Bridge, the scheme would see the grammar school’s 7,000 sq ft sixth form centre bulldozed and replaced with a five- to seven-storey apartment block.

There would be 27 one- and eight two-bedroom homes, several of which would benefit from their own roof terrace or balcony.

Proposals also feature a 500 sq ft gym and 100 sq ft of co-working space, along with a shared roof garden.

The former sixth form centre is currently used as a canteen building, joined to an office building through a linked footbridge. The footbridge would also be demolished under the proposals.

Opened in 1865, the college has a rich history with ex-pupils including footballer Mark Lawrenson and Beano cartoonist Leo Baxendale. Gateley Smithers Purslow provided the heritage statement for the site.

Plans for the school’s redevelopment were submitted in February.

The project’s developer, Branco Winckley Square, is a subsidiary of Branco Capital and already owns a 40,000 sq ft office building in the area.

If approved, the flats would join more than 200 residences already built in Winckley Square alone as part of the city council’s City Living Strategy to build more quality homes in the city centre.

Smith and Love is the scheme’s planning consultant. BWB is providing the flood risk assessment and drainage strategy, while MJM is advising on transport.

The 38,500 sq ft facility would provide 72 beds. Credit: via planning documents

Land at Sandy Lane

Application number: 06/2023/0599

Liberty Care Developments and Wain Homes are seeking reserved matters approval to deliver a 72-bedroom care home, made up of four connecting blocks off Sandy Lane.

C Squared Architects designed the scheme, which would see the construction of the 38,500 sq ft complex surrounded by 19,500 sq ft of community gardens.

Designed to provide specialist dementia care and 24-hour elderly nursing, the care facility would also provide residents with a tearoom, an activity room, a cinema room, and a hair salon.

There would be 28 car parking spaces, including three accessible and four electric vehicle charging bays.

Outline permission was granted for the project in January 2021 to create flexible floorspace, drinking establishments, hot food takeaways, a medical centre, a pub and hotel, and a care home on a wider six-acre site.

The developers are only moving forward with the care home and retail space, which will be the subject of a separate reserved matters application.

Plans were submitted in June and form part of a wider development area known as the North West Preston Strategic Location, which proposes around 5,500 homes on an 800-acre plot.

The one-acre plot is currently being used as a site compound for Wain Homes’ creation of 230 homes there.

JLL is the planning consultant for the scheme. Also on the project team is transport consultant Cameron Rose Associates, landscape architect Landstruction, and engineering and environmental consultant BWB Consulting.

Tabley Lane

Application number: 06/2021/1226

Community Gateway Association’s plans to build 58 residences off Tabley Lane will return to Preston City Council’s planning committee on Thursday, two years after it was first considered.

The Levitt Bernstein-designed scheme would feature 12 apartments, as well as two two-, 11 three-, and seven four-bedroom houses. The remaining 26 plots would be reserved for custom-build housing.

Currently agricultural land, the site is allocated for housing under Preston’s local plan and benefits from outline permission for up to 58 homes, which was granted in December 2018.

Plans form Parcel A part of a wider scheme. Community Gateway was granted planning permission to deliver 175 homes on the adjacent Parcel B in December 2021.

The proposals for Parcel A were first considered by the planning committee in December 2021, and again in November 2022 due to a financial error in the original report.

The application was recommended for approval both times, subject to a Section 106 agreement securing a financial contribution towards the East-West Link Road, the provision of on-site affordable housing, and the future management and maintenance of the public open space.

In August, the developer approached the local planning authority due to difficulties in securing the S106 provisions and suggested that planning permission be granted before the agreement is signed, with an additional condition preventing any development from taking place until it is completed.

The development is recommended for approval on Thursday.

PWA Planning is the scheme’s planning consultant. The project team also includes Amenity Tree Care, Powers, SCP, and Hepworth Acoustics.

The post Preston primed to permit 165 homes appeared first on Place North West.

Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete was a prominent building material used between the 1950s and 1990s. Last week, the government issued an urgent directive for some schools to close because of safety concerns regarding the structural integrity of buildings that contain RAAC.

RAAC has a lifespan of 30 years and has been found in public buildings across the country. RAAC is one of the reasons the reconstruction of Leighton Hospital in Cheshire has been expedited as part of the government’s New Hospitals Programme.

Of the schools impacted in the North West, none are set to be permanently shut down, with most closing off select areas of the building or delaying their opening by a week.

The BBC is reporting that the following five North West schools are impacted:

• Canon Slade School in Bolton
• Cockermouth School in Cockermouth
• Our Lady’s Catholic High School in Preston
• St Bernard’s School in Bolton
• St William of York Catholic Primary School in Bolton

The Manchester Evening News’s list includes:

• Altrincham College
• All Saints Church of England Primary in Newton Heath
• Sale Grammar School in Sale

Lancashire County Council has said that of the 303 schools it maintains, no safety concerns have been found because of RAAC. However, the county council did add that a few schools will be undergoing detailed surveys to verify that this is the case.

There have not yet been any reports of Merseyside or Cheshire schools being impacted by the government’s RAAC decision.

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Stockport Council’s regeneration committee will meet next week to sign off what it describes as a “critical” land swap. The deal will see land for some of Stockport 8’s 1,200 homes freed up, the relocation of the town’s ambulance station, and the creation of a new ZEBRA bus depot.

Stockport Council plans to take control of the current Ambulance Service facility at Travis Brow, where it wants to build a replacement depot for its fleet of electric buses.

The other half of the swap will require the ambulance service to move to a new-build facility on a former Hazel Grove park and ride site. Stockport Council has agreed to fund the development of the ambulance station.

The new bus depot at Travis Brow is required as the current one, located nearby, was acquired by the council in 2021 as part of the Stockport 8 land assembly process. The plan is to knock it down and build homes.

English Cities Fund was selected by Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation’s delivery partner for the scheme earlier this year.

With ECF on board, a planning application for the £250m scheme – which will see the creation of a digitally enabled, green, and fully walkable mixed-use neighbourhood – is expected to be submitted in summer 2024.

Cllr Colin MacAlister, cabinet member for economy, regeneration and housing said “This is a really important component of the council and Mayoral Development Corporation’s vision for delivering new homes and jobs in the borough.

“The brand-new ambulance station will provide better coverage for our residents which will in turn enable a new all-electric bus depot with 170 electric buses at Travis Brow and 1,200 new homes in Stockport 8. All of this will be achieved through partnership working with both the public sector – NWAS, TfGM and GMCA – and ECF.”

Stockport 8 forms part of the council and the MDC’s ongoing regeneration of the area west of the town centre.

Overall, the plans for the Town Centre West will see the creation of up to 4,000 homes, 1m sq ft of employment space, major public transport improvements, new green space, and local amenities over the next 15 years.

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Gladman Developments had lodged outline proposals to build 170 homes on the plot off Warrington Road, west of Lymm town centre. 

Of these homes, around 30% would be delivered on affordable tenures. 

Around 11 acres of the site would be given over to housing, with seven reserved for public open space. 

While currently designated as Green Belt, the site is earmarked for release in Warrington’s emerging local plan, which is on course to be adopted this autumn. 

A design and access statement prepared by Gladman states that the application is “made in the context of the government’s ambition to boost housing delivery and the identification of the application site as a suitable and sustainable location to meet Warrington Council’s housing needs”. 

To learn more, search for application reference 2023/01074/OUTM on Warrington Council’s planning portal. 

Pegasus is advising on heritage, Tetra Tech on transport, and FPCR Environment and Design on arboriculture.

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Rigmaden Bridge was shut down in December 2021 after being deemed unsafe for vehicles and pedestrians. The grade two-listed bridge crosses the River Lune, linking Rigmaden and Bainsbank. It is nearly 37-metres long. Built in 1890, the bridge is largely wrought iron with underslung trusses.

WSP is leading the restoration effort with the council and submitted a listed building application to restore the bridge’s structural integrity. Yorkshire Dales National Park has since approved that application.

WSP’s plans include installing two steel weathering plate girders under the carriageway on the bridge, situating them between the trusses. The bridge’s current concrete deck will be replaced with reinforced concrete slabs, which the girders would support.

Cllr Peter Thornton, the Westmorland and Furness Council cabinet member for highways and assets, described Rigmaden Bridge as “a key part of our highways network that connects communities surrounding Kirkby Lonsdale”.

Reflecting on the successful listed building application, Thornton continued: “Working collaboratively with Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority has been integral in achieving this, and we will continue to do so as our team develops a feasible construction plan and funding options to deliver a more resilient bridge.”

You can find more information on the bridge by searching S/10/8A/LB on Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s planning portal.

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Situated on a plot between Knowsley Lane and Astley Road in Huyton, Ferrersfield is the largest new-build project HMS has undertaken.

The project, when complete, will comprise 131 homes designed by Bowker Sadler Architecture. The houses will be a mixture of two-, three-, and four-bedroom residences and available on a rent-to-buy tenure.

Work started on the scheme in 2021. The first 19 homes have now been delivered, with the remaining set to complete later this year.

HMS is delivering the scheme on behalf of Torus Developments. Both HMS and Torus Developments are part of the same organisation: Torus Group.

“This was a big undertaking for HMS when we started on site in 2021 as it was the biggest new-build project we had ever mobilised, but seeing the homes we have worked hard to build completed and people receiving the keys to their new homes is fantastic,” said HMS construction director John Barrow.

He added later: “I know that Ferrersfield will provide hundreds of people with a great place to live and taking a lead on regenerating a disused piece of land is something that the whole team is proud of.”

Torus Developments’ group head of developments Anna James praised HMS’s work.

“Over the years, HMS has proven to be a resilient and reliable contracting partner and as the next 18 months will be one of HMS’ strongest in terms of handovers and completions, I am looking forward to continuing to mark these kinds of milestones with the team,” she said.

Planning permission for Ferrersfield was granted in August 2020. In addition to Bowker Sadler Architecture, the project team includes PB Sustainability, EnviroSolution, Shape Engineering, The Alan Johnston Partnership, SRL Technical Services, Hinchliffe Heritage, AJP Structural Engineers, and Resource & Environmental Consultants.

You can see the original application by searching 20/00099/FUL on Knowsley Council’s planning portal.

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Select Property has secured £128.5m of development finance for the Manchester scheme, which is due to complete in 2025. 

The deal comes despite volatility in the debt market caused by high interest rates that some experts have predicted could see development slow down. 

“Significant appetite from investors and funders alike is testament to the strength of the opportunity promised by One Port Street,” said Adam Price, chief executive of Select Property. 

Since sales of the units launched earlier this year, Select says it has sold £135m worth of properties. 

“The residence will deliver the very best of city centre living, with luxury amenities and a stunning contemporary design throughout the apartments and communal spaces. 

“With Maslow Capital at our side once again, One Port Street will bring forward a new neighbourhood that will connect the Northern Quarter with Ancoats – two of the UK’s most thriving places to live – and will deliver a lasting multi-million-pound boost to the city’s economy.” 

Select Property completed the acquisition of the Port Street site from Town Centre Securities for £12.95m last year having secured planning approval at the third time of asking.  

Select twice saw the application rejected by Manchester City Council.  

However, a reduction in height from 34 to 33 storeys saw the scheme given the green light by planners in July 2022.  

Designed by SimpsonHaugh Architects, the development also features an 11-storey block. The shorter element fronts Great Ancoats Street, while the tower portion faces Port Street. 

Renaker is the main contractor for the project, which can now continue apace thanks to Maslow’s nine-figure facility. 

The deal is the second between Maslow and Select. The companies previously struck a deal for the development of CitySuites II. 

Matt Pigram, senior partner at Maslow Capital, said: “One Port Street is an excellent addition to Select Property’s impressive portfolio that sets new benchmarks in residential living. 

“This ambitious project reflects Maslow Capital’s unwavering commitment to the UK’s housing sector and to supporting large-scale projects that are critical in addressing the nation’s housing shortage.” 

The post Select bags £128m for 33-storey Manchester project appeared first on Place North West.

Bruntwood has sold Hatch, which is home to independent food traders and retailers, to STACK, which operates several similar venues across the country. 

Plans are now being worked up for the redevelopment and expansion of the shipping container complex, which is to relaunch in 2024. 

Plans will see Hatch rebrand as STACK, creating a “permanent offering with a larger footprint, providing more opportunities for traders in the city”, according to a statement provided by Bruntwood. 

Originally launched in Newcastle, STACK is developing proposals for other sites across the North in places such as Durham, Whitley Bay, Bishop Auckland, Middlesbrough, Lincoln, Northampton, and Carlisle. 

Plans are also in place for a new Newcastle site after the original closed in 2022. 

Neill Winch, chief executive of STACK, said he is keen to continue the “fantastic work that Bruntwood has started at Hatch”. 

“We have a proven track record in providing venues that bring together the very best in street food and bars and we are also renowned for delivering a full programme of live entertainment for people of all ages, which has been a huge part of our success and an element we are looking forward to elevating in Manchester. 

“This location is the perfect fit for us, and we look forward to building on the great work Hatch has already done and taking it to the next level under the STACK brand.” 

Stack’s owners have confirmed that current Hatch traders will be given priority during the selection process if they choose to apply for a unit within the new scheme. 

Hatch opened in December 2017 as a way of utilising underused space while Bruntwood’s Circle Square was being developed. 

“We are incredibly proud of what we accomplished at Hatch,” said Peter Bearpark, asset management director at Bruntwood.

“It has been a success in terms of the vision we set out for it – supporting start-up businesses, allowing brands to experiment, grow and thrive, and creating a place for people to enjoy excellent food, drink and shopping.  

“It’s always hard to say goodbye to a site that we are proud of, but now is the right time for Stack to take it to the next stage in its development.”  

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Brickland, through its chief operating officer Darren Leary, is named as the applicant for recently submitted plans to demolish the B&Q store close to Old Trafford Cricket Ground. 

Plans for the redevelopment of the site will be submitted separately. However, documents lodged with the demolition application give a flavour of what the scheme could entail. 

A feasibility study drawn up by Falconer Chester Hall earlier this year outlines proposals for 204 apartments across three blocks, plus an eight-court padel tennis complex to the rear. 

Vibe Padel, a company controlled by Andrew Bell of AJ Bell and his wife Tracey, acquired the site from Accrue Capital last year for just shy of £5m. 

Accrue had failed in its own bid to redevelop the 2.5-acre site. Trafford Council refused proposals for a 332-apartment scheme and the company then tasted defeat at appeal. 

Brickland’s potential scheme features more than 100 fewer flats than Accrue’s and follows on from the completion of another residential in the borough recently. The developer’s 363-apartment build-to-rent complex Botanica wrapped up in 2021.  

That scheme, located close to Cornbrook Metrolink stop, was developed in partnership with global investor Heitman.   

To learn more about Brickland and Vibe Padel’s Great Stone Road proposals, search for application reference 111673/DEM/23 on Trafford Council’s planning portal. 

The proposals follow failed attempts from another developer to rework the site. Credit: Falconer Chester Hall via planning documents

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Cheshire East’s Southern planning committee met on 30 August to debate the applications in a nearly six-hour meeting. The largest of the projects on the agenda were the three mentioned. Read on to learn more about each.

Land off Sydney Road in Crewe

Application reference number: 22/1412N

Councillors spent more than an hour debating Anwyl Partnership’s application for 45 affordable homes on 2.5 acres of former pastureland situated off Sydney Road in Crewe.

Ultimately, they voted to reject the application, stating that the benefits of the project did not outweigh the harm it would have on the open countryside because of the scheme’s cramped form, layout, and design.

This is the second time an affordable housing development has been rejected on this site. Anwyl had issued an earlier application that was refused in 2019. This newer application had sought to address the concerns of the committee, by offering more smaller units, bungalows, and a children’s play area.

In total, Anwyl was proposing to build three bungalows, 16 one-bedroom apartments, 14 two-bedroom homes, and 12 three-bedroom residences. The project would have been 100% affordable rented homes.

Anwyl’s plans had been recommended for approval by the council’s planning officers, however, the application faced opposition from 14 neighbours and Crewe Town Council. The objections described the scheme as overdevelopment and said the accommodation was contrary to Nationally Described Space Standards.

Ascerta was the landscape architect for the scheme, which was designed by JDA Architects. Stantec was the planning consultant.

Acanthus Darbyshire Architects drew up the plans for the care home for Crown Care Group. Credit: via planning documents

The Limes in Sandbach

Application reference number: 21/4635C

Crown Care Group’s plans for a 57-bed care home got the green light from the committee, despite concerns over the amount of parking provided. The decision was in line with officer recommendation.

The care home will be built on the site of the former The Limes Public House, which has been closed for more than two years. It will provide accommodation for a mixture of care needs, including those with dementia.

Only 23 car parking spaces are provided, which is less than the 27 that is policy standard.

Acanthus Darbyshire Architects designed the care home, which will keep the Limes Bowling Green for use by the area’s bowling team. The project team also includes ITransport Planning, The Home Engineers, Pennine Ecological, and arboriculture consultant Iain Tavendale.

Cheshire East councillors did not agree with BLOK’s argument that its office park would not harm the open countryside. Credit: C4 Projects via planning documents

Land north of Alvaston roundabout in Nantwich

Application reference number: 22/0720N

Councillors agreed with their planning officers when it came to BLOK’s application to construct six office blocks totalling 60,600 sq ft on a nearly three-acre site north of Avlaston roundabout in Nantwich. The plot in question sits next to Alvaston Business Park.

Officers had recommended the rejection of the application because of the development’s size and the site’s location within open countryside. The officers stated that BLOK had not adequately justified the need to build employment space on the site when there was other land provided in the local plan.

This is the second time an office development has been proposed on the site. An earlier application was rejected in 2021 for similar reasons. In BLOK’s application, submitted by Gartner Town Planning, the company argued that these reasons for refusal were not valid, stating that the project would integrate well into the landscape and was well contained.

The project team included Mode Transport Planning, marketing commentator Legat Owen, landscape and visual appraisal reporter Enplan, flood risk and drainage consultant Tier Consult, and ecologist ERAP. C4 Projects designed the offices for BLOK.

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Step Places is the development partner of Wigan Council for the scheme, designed by architect Southgate & Sarabia.

In total, the Pier Quarter project will deliver 55,000 sq ft of office, events, and commercial space, along with leisure, retail, and community facilities at Wigan Pier.

The regeneration of the area will also transform Piers 2 and 3 to provide a multi-event space. Piers 4 and 5 are also being redeveloped to be used for temporary events.

A tender is now out for operators to occupy the space, including three of Wigan Pier’s historic buildings. Dating from the 1790s, these are a 23,000 sq ft warehouse, the 8,000 sq ft former Orwell at Wigan Pier pub, and the 4,500 sq ft former education centre at the pier.

Proposals will bring three historic buildings back to life. Credit: via Medlock Media

Wigan Pier was originally a loading jetty where wagons piled coal onto barges bound for the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, made famous by author George Orwell’s 1937 book The Road to Wigan Pier – hence the Orwell pub.

Later, the area became famous due to the Wigan Pier nightclub, which sat near the banks of the canal.

Step Places director Harinder Dhaliwal said: “Our ambition from the start was to put this area back on the map as one of the premier cultural destinations in the North, and so this is an opportune time to go the market and see the full range of partnership options.”

Construction started on the scheme when plans were approved in 2019. Work was shut down in 2020 due to COVID-19 and was later pushed back due to contractor availability and increasing costs.

Work restarted last June and is expected to be completed next year.

James Winterbottom, director of strategy and innovation at Wigan Council, said: “We remain committed to delivering the Wigan Pier development, which will see this important and iconic part of our local heritage reimagined for future generations to enjoy.

“It’s positive news that Step Places is moving forward with the project, and we look forward to seeing so much of the hard work happening behind the scenes coming together.”

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The chophouse chain has five restaurants currently, which are all in London. Planning documents submitted to Manchester City Council by the building’s owner Clearbell suggest that Blacklock is about to make Manchester the site of its first regional eatery. 

A planning statement prepared by Paul Butler Associates describes Blacklock as a “high-quality restaurant group…focussed on delivering incredible experiences for great value for money”. 

In addition, the group’s restaurants have been voted in the Top 100 restaurants in the UK across industry awards and guest review platforms, PBA said. 

Blacklock’s five restaurants in the capital include sites in the City, Shoreditch, and Covent Garden.  

The company’s Manchester restaurant forms part of Clearbell’s revitalisation of Freetrade Exchange. The investor has already refurbished the office space under plans approved last year. 

Under those refurb plans, the ground floor of the six-storey, 36,000 sq ft building was originally going to be a bar. 

Clearbell Strategic Trust acquired Freetrade Exchange in 2021 from CBREIM for around £10m.   

Blacklock is not the only meat-centric restaurant to look North from London and pick Manchester. Earlier this year, Flat Iron announced plans to open its first restaurant outside the capital on the corner of Deansgate and Quay Street in a unit that has been occupied by Blacks since 1997.   

Manchester’s central core is becoming something of a hub for London-based restaurants.  

In 2015, having established itself in the capital, Hawksmoor opened on Deansgate and In 2021, Place North West reported that Mayfair–founded, high-end Asian restaurant Sexy Fish was planning to take over the former Armani unit in Spinningfields.  

Chotto Matte, a Japanese-Peruvian venture, has also committed to opening its first regional site in Manchester – within the St Michael’s development, which is located next to Freetrade Exchange. 

AXI and Other Side are advising Blacklock on design and Paul Butler Associates is the planning consultant. Stephen Levrant Heritage Architecture is also advising on the scheme.

To learn more, search for reference number 137820/FO/2023 on Manchester City Council’s planning portal.

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Trebor Developments and Hillwood Investment Properties bought the 345,000 sq ft Crewe industrial complex in an off-market deal. The purchase price was not disclosed. 

The site comprises 13 acres and benefits from having already secured detailed planning consent for a single 335,000 sq ft logistics unit, which will start on site in Q1 2024. 

Demolition of the former Bargain Booze facility will begin this autumn. 

Greg Dalton, development director for Trebor, said: “We have long held an interest in acquiring this site for redevelopment and are delighted to have reached an agreement with AEW that satisfies both parties aspirations. 

“The deal is an example of our proactive approach to acquiring new opportunities, even against the challenging market conditions of the past 12 months, and we look forward to investing in new logistics space for the area and greatly improving on what is available on site today.” 

Knight Frank acted on behalf of Trebor and Hillwood on the acquisition and will be retained as joint letting agents alongside Avison Young.  

TT&G Partners acted on behalf of AEW UK Core Plus Property Fund. 

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