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Woking Borough Council has nodded through plans to redevelop the town centre with a high-rise residential and retail scheme at Victoria Square. The company behind the retail project is a joint venture between Peacocks shopping centre owner Moyallen, Surrey County Council and Woking Borough Council. Their joint venture Bandstand Square Developments will build the mixed-use scheme on the site of Bandstand Square, Woking Fire Station and the former home of the town’s market. The Victoria Square proposal will deliver 125,000 sq ft of new retail floorspace anchored by Marks & Spencer, a 190-bed four star hotel in a 21 storey tower, 392 residential apartments in two towers of 30 and 34 storeys. The plans also include space for a medical centre, 380 additional car parking spaces and two new public plazas. …

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When overseeing a property development or construction project, managing and maintaining productivity is of crucial importance. Most projects operate according to strict time schedules; delays cost money and negatively affect key players across the supply chain. When a construction project loses momentum in one area it inevitably leads to delays in another; for example, if the bare shell of a building is not completed on time, plumbers, electricians, painters and decorators expecting to start work will have to be put off. As many construction workers are self-employed, they may have difficulty rearranging their schedules, so the knock-on effect can be devastating. Similarly, if a delivery of materials does not arrive on time crucial elements of the project may be delayed, resulting in a knock-on …

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Are you considering or have you already embarked on the property development path? Property development and investment can be a successful and lucrative enterprise, on both a domestic and international scale. There are various forms of international property development and investment and each have their own pros and cons. The key question in the first instance is whether you are planning to buy to sell or to let. The difference between buying to sell and buying to let Are you looking for quick money and fast returns or planning on long-term development? If you choose correctly, investing in key improvements and selling at the right time, buying property with the intention to sell it on at a profit seems like the quickest and easiest solution. Buying …

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AFC Wimbledon have submitted plans to return to their traditional south west London home. The Dons aim to build an 11,000-seat stadium, which could be expanded to 20,000 later, on the site of Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium. Dons chief executive Erik Samuelson said: “This is the culmination of 18 months’ intensive work. “It is an extremely comprehensive proposal covering every aspect of the development and associated issues.” The club will also partner up with Galliard Homes to deliver 600 homes at the Plough Lanes site,  literally yards from the former football ground. This will help to fund the £16m cost of building a new stadium. The original Wimbledon FC was forced to leave Plough Lane in 1991 following the publication of the Taylor Report. And after sharing Selhurst Park with …

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Three men have been injured after a car crashed into a construction site in Manchester on Saturday morning. Police discovered a black 4 x 4 Mercedes had driven through the site fence and fallen down a 25 ft drop into a building site on Miller Street at the junction of Corporation Street. The driver, aged 27 and two passengers, both aged 26 years, were taken to hospital for treatment. The site was not active at the time and no-on was injured from the construction team. A 27-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.  He remains in police custody. Sergeant Mark Thomas said, “The driver and passengers involved in this incident appear to have had a lucky …

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Balfour Beatty is planning to close its Barton-upon-Humber office in North Lincolnshire, putting 26 jobs at risk. Consultation has started with staff at the office about redundancies and the option of relocating to Balfour’s Leeds office. Barton-upon-Humber is the former head office of Birse Plant Hire, which was incorporated into Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering in July 2006 following the acquisition of the Birse Group. The BPH plant operation will be unaffected by the closure. A Balfour spokesperson said: “We have spoken to employees in our Balfour Beatty Barton office, regarding a proposal to close the office and relocate to our existing Leeds office. “This is in order to reduce property overheads costs. There are 26 employees based in this office. “We haven’t yet entered into formal consultation …

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The Build Show has been bought by the company which runs Grand Designs Live. Essex based Media 10 will make the Build Show part of its newly launched UK Construction Week. The event will bring together Grand Designs Live and the Build Show at Birmingham’s NEC from October 6-11 next year. UK Construction Week will also include seven other events covering all aspects of the industry and hopes to attract 50,000 trade visitors. Media 10’s CEO Lee Newton said the new show will be “the strongest trade event the building and construction industry has ever seen.” He added: “Apart from incorporating Grand Designs Live into UK Construction Week, we are proud to add the Build Show to this impressive event offering every profession valuable exposure to the latest innovation …

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Developer Capital & Counties has today confirmed that Keltbray will start demolition in February of the famous Earls Court exhibition halls in West London. The vast job is due to take 18 months to two years to complete, paving the way for major construction works to create a new 7,500-home neighbourhood. Sir Robert McAlpine and Keltbray have been on board as construction and demolition advisers on the vast project. The first phase of the £3bn Earls Court scheme at Lillie Square has been prelet and enabling works are almost complete. Lillie Square will consist of 808 homes and will sit next to four new neighbourhoods planned on 77 acres surrounding Earls Court exhibition halls. A contractor is yet to be confirmed for the first blocks at Lillie Square. The …

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Lee Hutchinson of Mace has been crowned Construction Manager of the Year 2014. The Mace project director fought off strong competition to win the coveted title for his work on a new science building at St Paul’s School close to the River Thames in Barnes, southwest London. The project was completed on time and under budget to award-winning architectural standards despite being tendered and built at the height of the recession. Hugh Muirhead, project director at St Paul’s School said: “We always found Lee imaginative and disciplined in overcoming problems, with a refreshing openness and clarity in the way he worked with the team to keep the momentum going, always with an eye to our sensitivities and requirements. “I do not recall having worked with a better …

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The University of Leeds is on the hunt for main contractors to deliver two major upgrade jobs worth up to £25m. The biggest job coming up for grabs is the £16m refurbishment of the University’s grade II listed Edward Boyle Library. The original library building was completed in 1975, and was extended in the mid-1990?s. Works comprise full refurbishment of the study areas, replacement of M&E plant and roof coverings. Secondary glazing and some alterations to windows and glazing will be needed. Planning approval and listed building consent will be applied for in November, with tenders due to be issued to shortlisted contractors in mid-February 2015. Work on the 18-month programme is due to start at the end of June 2016. The University is also looking …

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