A variety of developments in the Midlands have been announced, such as a Nottinghamshire planetarium, a mixed-use development in Nuneaton, as work begins on a £24m student accommodation project in Birmingham
Developments in the Midlands have seen a spate of activity as a £24m student accommodation development gets underway, a mixed-use redevelopment that will bring a cinema, hotel and workspace to Nuneaton is announced, and an underground Victorian reservoir in Sutton-in-Ashfield will be renovated into a new planetarium.
Pre-construction work begins on a multi-million-pound planetarium in Nottinghamshire
G F Tomlinson has been appointed through Scape’s Beyond the Public Sector framework to complete pre-construction design and planning for the Sherwood Observatory Science Discovery Centre in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.
Plans were submitted to Ashfield District Council by Mansfield and Sutton Astronomical Society in November, following aspirations to increase annual visitor numbers from 3,000 to 20,000.
The Midlands developments will transform a disused underground Victorian reservoir, which was dug in the 1880s, into an education centre for school and group visits. They will feature an exhibition hall, classrooms, a café and meeting rooms, as well as the state-of-the-art planetarium.
The reservoir will have a new structure built above it, to increase the useable space and transform the existing structure into a habitable and unique building.
The scheme aims to inspire interest and careers in STEM learning
Craig Stopper, framework construction manager at G F Tomlinson, said: “We feel very privileged to have been chosen as the main contractor by Mansfield and Sutton Astronomical Society, to lead on such an exciting and unique project, and what promises to be a pivotal tourism and educational attraction.
“The multi-million-pound scheme will attract thousands of visitors to the region and raise not only awareness of the local area and the history of the site but STEM career opportunities for future generations. We very much look forward to bringing the vision for this planetarium to life.”
£3.1m of funding was secured for the project through the second round of the government’s Levelling Up Fund. Further funds were also secured through the council’s £62.6m Towns Fund.
The centre is expected to be completed and fully operational by autumn 2024.
Brownfield site to become £24m student accommodation in Birmingham
Regenerating a former BT brownfield site within the Stirchley community, the purpose-built managed student accommodation project on Dogpool Lane will accommodate the growing number of students attending local universities and the city’s dental hospital, taking pressure off private housing in the area.
Funded by Woh Hup, the building will comprise a mix of cluster beds and single occupancy studio rooms for 167 residents, together with a reception and communal areas.
Paying homage to local architecture
Designed by Glenn Howells Architects, the new building will comprise brickwork and terracotta detailing to reference local materials.
“The elegantly crafted red brick/terracotta design of Dogpool Lane responds to several key local landmarks, including the red brick Selly Park Church and Dogpool Lane Hotel,” explained Dav Bansal, partner at Glenn Howells Architects, which designed the development.
The scheme will also provide an improved retail space for the site’s original Post Office and newsagent outlet, which has been relocated close by during construction.
The local community will also benefit from an enhanced public area in front of the building, including landscaping, seating, and cycle stands.
Green spaces are a key feature of the Midlands developments
“The project also reinstates a piece of under-utilised green space as a matured setting for the building for both students and the local community to enjoy,” Dav continued. “It will provide a much-needed sustainable home to embed students in the wider community, but also a catalyst for regenerating this local neighbourhood.”
The development will be car-free to promote a cleaner local environment, with students prohibited from bringing vehicles to Birmingham through their tenancy agreements.
Student residents will benefit from easy access to public transport, with the development close to bus, rail and cycle networks, as well as being within walking distance of local university campuses.
Gareth Jones, GMI’s joint divisional managing director, said: “This is the third project we have undertaken in collaboration with Alumno, having last year completed the Church Inn development in Manchester, as well as working alongside them on the Whitelock Street scheme in Leeds.
“We’re proud to add another project to our growing portfolio in conjunction with Alumno, and it is a development which underlines our versatility in constructing a wide range of builds.”
Alumno and GMI plan to have the new Midlands developments complete in time for the 2024 student intake.
Grayson Place development to bring a new culture and leisure destination to the Midlands
The 2.3-hectare town centre redevelopment in Abbey Street will include 29,000 sq ft of leisure, a 10,000 sq ft food fall and 8,000 sq ft of other F&B and retail, as well as an extensive new public realm, designed to offer a safe and flexible space for markets, pop-ups and cultural uses.
The Midlands development is the first landmark project from Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council and development partners Queensberry’s Transforming Nuneaton programme.
The scheme’s town centre location connects easily with Nuneaton’s rail and bus stations, as well as a catchment of 186,000 people within a 15-minute drive and a further 2.2 million within 40 minutes drivetime.
The development has been newly named Grayson Place, paying tribute to the late entertainer Larry Grayson, who called Nuneaton his home.
Developments in the Midlands will boost local economies and provide jobs
Cllr Kris Wilson, Leader of the Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council, said: “We are excited to unveil the name and vision for Grayson Place, a project which has been years in the making and will create a prosperous town centre that is set to add an estimated £70m to the local economy and create 400 jobs during construction and 1,500 jobs upon completion for the town centre.
“We are confident that the regeneration will create a strong hub for the community whilst ensuring that the town reduces its impact on climate change. The programme will unlock a wealth of business and education opportunities, as well as pave the way for additional housing development and infrastructure.”
Grayson Place is already under construction with partners BAM Construct UK. Phase 1 of the Midlands development scheme will open in early 2024 with the launch of a new Hampton by Hilton hotel.
The next phase of Grayson Place, adding new leisure and culture facilities, a public square and a new town centre campus for North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College, will complete in early 2025.
