Archive: Sep 2015

  1. James Robertshaw to exhibit at BBSA 15

    Bolton based James Robertshaw will be exhibiting at the British Blind and Shutter Show being held at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena from 4-6 October.  The company design, manufacture and install awnings, roller blinds and roof systems for trade clients across the UK and at the Show, the stand will feature:

    • New 12 metre wide roller blind
    • New automated screen blinds
    • New roof systems
    • New awning products

    The sales team will be in attendance at the Show, and if anyone would like to make an appointment to meet them, contact 01204 574 764 or sales@jamesrobertshaw.co.uk

  3. EKPS gains approval for Bootle scheme

    Euan Kellie Property Solutions has secured planning permission from Sefton Borough Council on behalf of Brickland Limited, for the construction of a new £3.5 million 33 apartment scheme in Bootle.  The new development will ensure the sustainable and efficient re-use of a long-term vacant commercial site, in the Derby Park Conservation Area and opposite the Grade II Listed Christ Church. The development is expected to start to site in the New Year.

    Located at 240 Hawthorne Road on the junction with Oxford Street in Bootle, the scheme, designed by Nicol Thomas Architects will be aimed towards the over 55’s market and Brickland Limited is in discussions with a Registered Provider (Housing Association) to take on the long term management of the building.

    Kelly Paddick, Euan Kellie Property Solutions said: “The plans for Hawthorne Road were unanimously approved on 2 September and it is very positive to see that this former commercial site which has vacant for a long time, being brought back to life to provide much needed housing in Bootle for the over 55’s.”

    The news was featured in Place North West and Insider

  4. Alumno completes All Saints Green

    On Thursday 10 September London based student housing developer Alumno formally handed over the £11 million All Saints Green to the Norwich University of the Arts.  Students will move in to the development from Saturday 12th September.

    Located adjacent to Norwich Bus Station on the corner of Queens Road and Bull Lane, All Saints Green will provide accommodation for 228 students with gardens and a landscaped square.  The adjacent Grade II Listed No 50 building is being refurbished and will open soon as a yoga studio and café, complete with a pocket park open to the public.  It is an ideal location for student housing, as it’s within easy walking distance of the University.

    Other facilities at the development include:

    • Eighth floor common room, The Reading Room with stunning views of Norwich
    • Seven accessible apartments with disabled access parking
    • High speed WIFI throughout
    • Ground floor reception featuring art works by Norwich University of the Arts graduates
    • Built to BREEAM Very Good rating
    • Brompton Bike Hire for both student and public use
    • Green roofs to attract wildlife
    • Special rainwater capture system in the landscaping to minimise use of mains water

    Norwich University of the Arts has taken an exclusive 21 year nominations agreement on the development and it will be managed by Derwent Facilities Management.

    Angela Robson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Norwich University of the Arts said:  “We are delighted with All Saints Green; the excellent facilities have been designed and built to a very high standard and the attention to sustainability is in-keeping with the University’s own ethos.  We know our students are going to love living here.”

    David Campbell, managing director, Alumno Developments said:  “This is our first development in Norwich and we are proud to have worked with the local community, Norwich University of the Arts and its students from the start.  By creating the public park and yoga studio, and Brompton Bike Hire, as well as the student homes, we hope the whole community will benefit.”

    Morgan Sindall was the main contractor on the development.  Gavin Napper, area director for Morgan Sindall, said: “We’re very pleased to have successfully delivered the All Saints Green project for Alumno Developments.  This was a high-profile scheme which challenged us due its tight, urban location in the city centre, but our team and our great network of local subcontractors and suppliers managed the situation with real proficiency and we’re pleased to be handing over this exciting project on time and on budget.  The development drew on the expertise of a number of Norwich-based companies and we’re privileged to be able to work with such strong local suppliers and contractors.”

    The handover was covered by the Eastern Daily Press.

  5. OBI appointed on rentalcars.com projects

    Following the design and fit out of the new HQ at 35 Fountain Street, Manchester for Rentalcars.com, OBI Property has been appointed to remodel the existing 63,000 sq ft operations centre at Sunlight House, Manchester and the fit out works on the first floor of 35 Fountain Street.

    Hailed as Manchester and the UK’s coolest office by the local and wider press, OBI Property’s design for the second to sixth floors at 35 Fountain Street brought the Rentalcars.com customer experience to life for the 400 staff, with each floor dedicated to a different theme – from renting a car for a beach holiday to a road trip across the States.  Now the company which hires out in excess of 5 million cars a year, has exercised its option to take the first floor of Fountain Street, in a deal in which they were advised on by OBI Property.

    At Sunlight House, which is home to 700 operations staff, OBI Property will be designing the space around the theme of Manchester and its people. The fit out is scheduled to be completed in early 2016.

    James Scott, lead of the Workplace Consultancy department, OBI Property said:  “Working with such an open-minded and creative client like Rentalcars.com is great.  When we were engaging on the design for 35 Fountain Street, we really got to know how the business worked and how we could improve the productivity, happiness, interaction, health and wellbeing throughout the company.

    “We were able to create a place that the team want to be in and work more productively, as well as having some fun too. We aim to create an equally exciting work place at Sunlight House but using a completely different theme.”

    The new project news was covered by Manchester Evening News, Insider and Place North West.