Archive: Jun 2023

  1. Watch the Gastonbury movie!

    Here’s the film we made at our first Gastonbury event, held on 14 June 2023.

    Common Projects, the team behind the plans for the transformation of the former gasholder site at the centre of Wandsworth, announced its intention for the charity to take over a significant amount of the ground floor space within the future development and become its first permanent occupier.

    Find out more about the wider plans for Wandsworth Gasworks here.

  2. Local live music charity to breathe life and soul into Wandsworth Gasworks

    On Wednesday 14 June, at “Gastonbury” a special event held at music charity Neko Trust’s ‘the dEPOT’ near Armoury Way, Common Projects, the team behind the plans for the transformation of the former gasholder site at the centre of Wandsworth, announced its intention for the charity to take over a significant amount of the ground floor space within the future development and become its first permanent occupier.

    The team spoke passionately about the richness of Wandsworth’s musical heritage, and the importance of ensuring young people in Wandsworth and beyond can access training and employment opportunities within the industry.

    The charity, already operating from its temporary home on the Gasworks site, the dEPOT, will work alongside developer Common Projects to deliver a music campus which will be at the heart of the proposed new community at Wandsworth Gasworks. The campus will include recording studios, rehearsal and writing spaces as well as training areas, breakout spaces, green room and artist accommodation.

    Established in 2005, Neko Trust provides education and training programmes to help local young people develop their skills in live music performance and production. To date over 1000 young people have worked with the charity, and the permanent move into a future Wandsworth Gasworks will ensure its continued success.

    Glen Rowe, founder, Neko Trust said: “Neko Trust is the major charity for the live music sector. Resident in Wandsworth since 2005, we are part of a thriving yet little known music scene in this part of the borough. Our education and training programmes create pathways to employment, focusing on those facing barriers to progression. We draw on the expertise of a large pool of working professionals.

    “Neko wants to retain talent within the borough of Wandsworth and encourage collaboration. The charity’s young creative community share facilities with established businesses and A-list artists. We clearly share an aspiration with Common Projects for a thriving music industry in the centre of Wandsworth.

    “Neko’s vision is for a more sustainable music industry with a workforce more representative of the UK population. Our mission is to help the next generation of music and live events talent to reach their potential, regardless of background.”

    Steve Sanham, director, Common Projects said: “At Common we take a community driven approach to our projects. We strongly believe in culture as a driving force to help to create and bring communities together, and with Wandsworth’s rich musical heritage, working with Glen and his team at Neko Trust is a perfect fit. We are planning to create something incredibly special here at Wandsworth Gasworks.”

    Invited guests to Wednesday’s event, including the Lord Mayor of Wandsworth Councillor Juliana Annan, were treated to a performance by up and coming band Carpark. The band are longtime friends of Neko Trust. Scottie said: “We are so pleased for Glen and everyone at Neko. It is going to be fantastic for us, and so many other artists like us, to have amazing facilities on our doorsteps and we can’t wait to see how everything works out.”

    Music is just one part of the story at Wandsworth Gasworks. Plans submitted by Common Projects to Wandsworth Borough Council for the 1.8 hectare, former gas holder site also include:

    • Opening a 150 metre stretch of the River Wandle for the first time in a century
    • Creating over a football pitch worth of new public spaces and play areas
    • Planting 170 semi-mature trees and improving biodiversity
    • Installing a new pedestrian bridge to complete the Wandle Trail
    • Improving walking and cycling routes for local people – connecting the town, the river, the site and the station
    • Providing 646 new homes, 35% being affordable, across four new buildings ranging from 10 to 30 storeys
    • Building 3,700 sq metres of new work space and ground floor spaces for community use as well as for new businesses
    • Retaining and repurposing the 67 metre circular foundation of the former gas holder and in doing do save the carbon equivalent of over 100 new-build homes.
    • Creating a zero carbon ready energy centre to provide heating for the entire development

    Steve Sanham said: “Our proposals for Wandsworth Gasworks are the culmination of two and a half years of engagement with the Council and its various departments, more than 1500 local people, local businesses, and community groups. It’s been a complex process, because it’s a complex site, but it is a process we have really enjoyed. We very much look forward to seeing what the Council make of our proposals.”

    “We are excited about the potential to create a dynamic new community on this under-used, un-loved industrial site. Our team has worked hard to design public parks and green spaces for everyone to enjoy, as well as creating new homes and places to do business. Wandsworth Gasworks will truly transform this corner of Wandsworth.”

    Visit www.wandsworthgasworks.co.uk for more information and to watch the film which was shown at the event about the journey so far between Neko Trust and Common Projects.

     

  3. Emmott launches new residential agency Kingsdene

    Louise Emmott has announced the launch of Kingsdene, a new homes sales, residential lettings and management agency. The new outfit is the result of Louise leading a management buyout of the JLL Residential operation in the north, and sees the offices in Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool renamed Kingsdene.

    Louise, who has worked at JLL for 20 years and been head of residential agency and development for the past five years, is joined by co directors Oliver Dolan and Lynsey Smith and the 24 employees across the three offices.

    Kingsdene will remain close to JLL, working as joint venture partners and sharing local, national and international resources to best meet the needs of their developer clients.

    Louise Emmott said: “When the opportunity presented itself for Oliver, Lynsey and I to take over JLL’s residential operations in the North, we jumped at the chance. We know our market inside out and have great relationships with our clients across the region.

    “Kingsdene will offer unrivalled local expertise in city centre sales, lettings and property management, and this coupled with our unique relationship with JLL’s UK and global capital markets team means we have an exciting offer to help our ambitious property developer clients access international funding and investment.

    “We are thrilled to be in a position where we can take the business forward in what is undoubtedly a significant period for residential development with both the rental and new homes markets performing exceptionally well. Our independence and ability to be nimble and agile will be essential to our consumer facing operations in Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool.”

    Kingsdene will continue to work with new homes clients which include Muse, Clarion, Grainger and Urban and Civic. While the consumer facing side of the business will take over the estate agency on Deansgate at the Great Northern Warehouse.

    Stephen Hogg, managing director of JLL’s Manchester office said: “I have worked alongside Louise for 20 years and Oliver and Lynsey for 15 years and I think it’s fantastic how JLL can support this MBO and strategic partnership going forward. The focus is ensuring our client base receives the best service and this new hybrid model of global and local advisers gives us best in class advice. I look forward to working with the team for another 20 years!”

    The name Kingsdene is derived from King Sturge a nod to the 250 year old firm Louise originally joined in 2003, which was sold to JLL for circa £200 million in 2011.  “Dene” is the original river which once flowed through Manchester which Deansgate is named after.

    The news of Lousie opening Kingsdene was covered by national and regional titles including React News,  Insider and Place North West.