News

Nottingham, Unite Against Westfield!

Sun, 9 May 2010 03:16:49 +0100

More info coming soon.

Gaming Firm Takes a Space in Southreef

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:16:27 +0000

SOUTHREEF. the mixed commercial and residential development on Canal Street in Nottingham, has made its first office letting.
German-owned Crytek, one of the world's leading developers of interactive computer games, is to take 17,500 sq ft for its UK headquarters.
It is moving from its current base at Interchange 25 near Sandiacre.
Crytek, which employs 70 staff, expects to move into the multi-million pound scheme next March.
Director of business administration Karl Hilton said: "We wanted to be in the middle of town, there's a lot of buzz.
"We are a social company so Southreef is a great location.
"We expect to grow over the next few months.
"The UK is the biggest for video games and it has some of the best designers. We talk to Nottingham Trent University about potential recruits."
Cryek was founded in Frankfurt am Main in 1999 and is privately owned.
This is the first commercial letting at Southreef, a scheme led by businessmen Charles Fish, Anthony Price and Andy Grogan who is an architect. The £50m completed value mixed scheme comprises 250,000 sq ft.
About 54,000 sq ft are offices and the remainder is 237 flats.
Crytek are thought to be paying nearly £19 a square foot, a figure comparable with accommodation at the NG2 Business Park.
The Crytek let is one of the biggest in the current Nottingham market.
Chris Sinclair, of joint agents Innes England, said: "There is an area of demand which is not being serviced and Southreef has got on with the development and space is being taken.
"Nothing new is being built although others are looking.
"E.on is still in the market place."
Joint agents were John Proctor of Fisher Hargreaves Proctor and Jonathan Bishop, of Heb, acted for Crytek.
Crytek has opened offices in Kiev, Ukraine; Budapest, Hungary; Sofia, Bulgaria and Seoul, South Korea.
It creates high quality video games for the PC and next-generation consoles, powered by their three-dimensional game technology.
Multi-award winning PC titles include Far Cry and Crysis.
SOURCE: NEP - http://www.thisisbusiness-eastmidlands.co.uk/nottinghamshire/Architects-Sneinton-Market-design-named/article-1452544-detail/article.html

Broadmarsh: Application Remains Unchanged

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:01:02 +0100

Westfield’s new application for the Broadmarsh Centre remains unchanged. Their previous agreement to build on the site ran out just a few days before Westfield submitted their latest application.

The application is likely to be the highlight of the City Council’s next development committee agenda. If approved, Westfield may be granted a further three years to begin development on the Centre. This could push the start of construction as far back as 2013.

The development - first proposed over a decade ago - comprises of 136,000 sq m of retail outlets, a new bus station, a new tram stop and a public interchange.

New Outline Application - Finally Some Progress

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:35:17 +0100

Westfield have finally answered Nottingham’s calls for some sort of progress on the redevelopment of the Broadmarsh Centre. The world’s largest property group submitted a new outline planning application for the redevelopment of the centre yesterday.

In 2006, the group submitted and received approval for an outline planning application for 1.4m sq ft of floorspace. This application just a few days ago. The re-submission of this application suggest either that Westfield would like to make significant changes to the original plans, or more simply are seeking more time to begin construction.

The application is currently going through the validation process and will be made public shortly.

Armani Store - New Application for Windows

Fri, 15 May 2009 11:54:20 +0100

The owner of 13 St Peters Gate has submitted a second application to the city council for the removal of the timber frame on the windows of the historic townhouse.

The application follows talks between surveying agents FHP Proctor, prospective tenant Armani and Nottingham City Council.

If approved, Nottingham looks set to host the first Armani Store in the East Midlands.

Application for River Crescent Moorings

Fri, 15 May 2009 11:51:21 +0100

Trent Park Development have submitted an application to construct moorings along the River Trent for private use by residents at the River Crescent.

Construction of the River Crescent was completed last year. The River Crescent includes the first apartment in Nottingham to sell for £1m.

Nottingham Riviera

Wed, 13 May 2009 10:43:43 +0100

THE Old Market Square will be turned into a beach for the summer holidays.
Known as the Nottingham Riviera, the £200,000 attraction will host entertainment and free events for families.
The square was used to recreate a beach three times in the 1990s – but organisers the Mellors Group say this one will be bigger and better than before.
Edward Mellors said: "This is taking it to another level. It will be a big attraction for the city."
Previous Nottingham 'beaches' used 50 tonnes of sand – but this will use 300 tonnes. There will be a 600 square metre boardwalk, and a paddling pool measuring more than 100 square metres.
The beach will be a traditional seaside scene, with pony rides, 'hook-a-duck', crazy golf, trampolines, deck chairs, and even 'Nottingham Rock'. It will be created in partnership with Nottingham City Council, which is allowing Mellors Group to use the square.
Councillor Dave Trimble, portfolio holder for culture, leisure and communities, said: "This is a fantastic way to enjoy the seaside and it does not have to cost a penny. There will be fun for the family and plenty to enjoy for residents, people coming to work, and tourists."
Free events will be organised each day, including Punch and Judy, sand castle contests and volleyball. The attraction opens on July 22, and closes on September 5.
SOURCE: Evening Post

New bid to bring in Armani after planning ‘farce’

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:34:13 +0100

Nottingham is making a high-level attempt to resurrect its bid to bring an Armani fashion store to the city.
The news comes weeks after a city council committee controversially blocked moves to make changes to Armani's preferred location in Bank Place, close to Bridlesmith Gate.
Development Control committee members voted against allowing bigger display windows in the vacant listed property - even though similar changes had been allowed for a neighbouring listed building now occupied by Hugo Boss.
The decision left retail property agents furious, with FHP's Ben Tebbutt - who has been trying to bring Armani in for months - calling the decision "farcical".
Now it has emerged that senior figures at the city council are seeking a meeting with Armani to try to rekindle the Italian design giant's interest.
Agents claim the committee decision - which was taken on a casting vote - sent out all the wrong signals about Nottingham's attitude towards retail during a recession.
The city said its development control committee had taken the decision in order to preserve the appearance of a building viewed as a key part of the Bank Place and St Peter's Gate area.
But it contrasts with a decision taken five years ago to allow original windows to be removed and replaced by full height display panes in the former County Court building occupied by Hugo Boss.
A similar alteration was also allowed to the former Nat West Bank on Thurland Street, which has since been turned into two upmarket retail units.
Like the Hugo Boss building before it switched to retail, Bank Place has been empty for months after a series of failed attempts to establish it as a restaurant venue.
But while the city council allowed a change of use to retail, it balked at the idea of display windows at ground floor level, saying they would change the character of the building too much.
Armani had not committed to moving into the site, but agents felt if planning permission had already been granted a deal would have been easier to achieve.
Tebbutt said: "Giorgio Armani is a flagship retailer who we should be welcoming to Nottingham with open arms.
"We are doing everything that we can to resurrect negotiations with them, and the city council has shown some willingness to help encourage them.
"They want to meet with Armani, which I believe is the right thing to do on the back of what can only be described as a farcical planning decision."
Tebbutt says it is crucial that Nottingham keeps up the pressure to attract top retailers in the wake of news that Westfield is unlikely to start work on redeveloping the Broadmarsh Centre for at least two years.
He said: "We have to maintain the city's edge. We need more top quality retailers to bring in consumers who will spend their money in the city.
"I know that the city council supports that and their Invest in Nottingham team works to encourage them.
"But the starting point is being able to offer these retailers the right opportunities."
After the Armani decision was taken, the city council said: "We try to encourage high-end stores like Armani into Nottingham and we try do everything we can to accommodate their needs.
"We've granted planning permission for the change of use of this building to retail and we've supported the extensive internal alterations. But the application to replace the ground floor windows was refused as this would significantly change the appearance of a building which is important to conserve."
Source: Nottingham Evening Post

Another Tesco

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:28:43 +0100

Tesco have continued their massive expansion in Nottingham despite the recession.

Bildurn Properties have confirmed the letting of a site on Station Street to Tesco. The site will be Bildurn’s second letting to Tesco after a 5000 sq ft unit in the Pod was let out to Tesco last year.

Tesco have just put through a planning application for the site. The store will be the 5th in the city centre.

First Eastside Block Gets Go Ahead

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 10:22:36 +0100

THE first application for a building on the eagerly anticipated Eastside Regeneration Zone has been given planning consent – despite politicians describing its design as "underwhelming".
The large seven-storey glass and terra cotta office block – planned to go next to the East Midlands Development Agency building – was given planning consent yesterday.
However, councillors told the meeting that "first-class design" was needed to generate more business interest in the rest of the 13.7 hectare regeneration zone.
Coun Malcolm Wood told the meeting: "We have a golden opportunity here to do something substantial.
"I have to say I am underwhelmed by the iconic building we are proposing to start this off."

He said it would be better for councillors to see designs earlier on in the planning process.
"I think we have got the opportunity here to do something pretty dynamic," he said.
"Frankly I have not got the confidence we are going to deliver."
The 10,000 square metre building, by Eastside and City Developments, in Saville Row, London, is proposed to open onto Popular Street and Lace Way and accommodate 750 workers.
It will have a ground floor car park which will be hidden from the public eye.
Coun Cat Arnold told the meeting: "I do think it is important we have a first-class design if we are going to attract business, especially when the competition is tough.
"The problem I really have is it does have a 1960s look to it. It is monolithic."
Coun Rob Lee said: "I am quite excited about by the prospect of the finished development on the entire site. I do feel the quality of the buildings should be of such a high standard that it will be encouraging for businesses to come to Nottingham."
Coun Graham Chapman, deputy leader of the city council, had however said before the meeting that the application was "welcome" and that he was "delighted someone is willing to take a risk given the state of the economy".
Councillors granted planning permission, subject to some minor conditions.
They also agreed to the master plan for the regeneration zone, which is earmarked for new shops, offices, and flats around a large water feature.
Commercial buildings will be built first, starting at the north end of the site, behind the BBC buildings, followed by infrastructure, such as roads and drains, the water feature, and then residential property.
The plan is to have commercial buildings at the edge of the development, with residential property in the middle. The scheme will be developed during the next 15 years.
The city council pointed out that completion of the scheme would depend upon the economy.
Source: Nottingham Evening Post