Spacehub’s Post

We are pleased to announce that we have been awarded the Design Contract for Castle Square, Swansea, on behalf of the City & County of Swansea. Situated at the city's heart, Castle Square connects the bustling Kingsway with the picturesque Waterfront, all under the historical oversight of Swansea Castle. The project aims to enhance the Square, to raise its quality and to make it more active, distinctive and vibrant, in line with other investment taking place in the city. The project will deliver a modern, functional and well-maintained public space that can accommodate a range of events, temporary arts and cultural experiences. The proposed redesign of Castle Square encompasses several key elements: Enhanced Urban Greenery: The new planting strategy introduces multi-functional greenery, including amenity lawns and ornamental planting. The project also incorporates sustainable urban drainage systems and increases biodiversity within the area. By expanding green spaces, the scheme aims to create a lush, welcoming environment for residents and visitors alike. Innovative Commercial Opportunities: The construction of two Pavilion buildings for diverse commercial uses marks a significant step towards revitalising Castle Square as a bustling market space. These pavilions will offer valuable opportunities for local businesses and entrepreneurs to contribute to Swansea’s economic vitality. Interactive Features: The scheme includes the integration of a new water feature and innovative ‘Digital Bamboo’ structures, which will act as way finders and link to the Copr Bay scheme; together, they will offer interactive experiences catering to all ages. Infrastructure Upgrades: From constructing a new bandstand to enhancing pedestrian routes and introducing modern lighting solutions, every aspect of the redesign focuses on improving accessibility and comfort. The square’s infrastructure redevelopment is rooted in a desire to create a safe and aesthetically pleasing environment for all. #CastleSquare #Regeneration #SUDS #Infrastructure 

A dream team of architects has planning permission to convert a former ironworks in the old Sussex market town into a sustainable new community for all, with low-rise flats, courtyard gardens, electric car share and more. If built, it could spearhead a transformation of British housing Imagine a new district of an old town, made up of multiple good things. Its blocks of flats, mostly four or five storeys high, would achieve what’s called “gentle density”, which means getting a good number of homes on to a piece of land without it feeling overcrowded. Their shared courtyard gardens, based on Danish and Swedish models, would help foster community life. It would be a place for all generations, different tenures and levels and affordability, of creative work and leisure as well as its energy-efficient homes. It would be designed by skilful and scrupulous architects and engineers, using materials such as cross-laminated timber and hemp to minimise its environmental impact. https://lnkd.in/efw_wgPb

Plans are set to be approved for more than 100 apartments in the final phase of redevelopment at Sheffield's iconic Park Hill complex. Park Hill, located on a hill above the city's railway station, is one of the Sheffield's best-known landmarks. The property was built in 1961 and was one of the first Brutalist buildings in the UK. It was awarded grade II*-listed status in 1998. The estate has been the subject of several TV documentaries and a musical, Standing at the Sky's Edge. Urban Splash acquired Park Hill in 2004 and, together with joint venture partner Places for People, has brought forward 455 new homes, accommodation for 356 students, more than 50,000 sq ft of workspace, and extensive landscaping and green spaces for residents. Made it Together (MIT), on behalf of Urban Splash and Places for People, is seeking full planning and listed building applications for Phase 5 at Park Hill. Advertisement Planning permission is sought for the refurbishment and alterations to the Talbot Street block for a mixed-use development comprising 105 apartments and commercial space, together with landscaping, car parking and associated works. The proposed development includes 105 apartments and 2,260 sq ft of commercial space. New areas of open space and public realm would be created, including the introduction of an allotment, as well as 142 cycling spaces and 32 car parking spaces. Phase 5 is the final residential block to be refurbished at Park Hill as part of its overall regeneration. In a report to be scrutinised by Sheffield City Council's planning committee, the phase five application has been recommended for approval. The amended proposal is said to represent sustainable development overall, and it is "therefore recommended that planning permission and listed building consent be granted, subject to the suggested conditions". Plans for the fourth phase of development, comprising new homes, workspaces and public realm, were approved in November 2023.

I am very pleased to report that on Tuesday night resolution was made by the LB Lambeth planning committee to grant consent for the redevelopment of the Homebase Site at 100 Woodgate Drive, Streatham Vale, SW16 5YP. The scheme was referable to the GLA and is a joint venture between Hadley Property Group and Clarion. The site is currently a Homebase, located close to Streatham Common railway station and Network Rail has access rights through it to the railway line and an adjacent storage area. The site is PTAL 3-4 and does not fall within a CPZ. The proposed development includes four new buildings delivering 237 homes (Class C3) and a GP surgery / flexible commercial unit (Use Class E) at ground level. The proposed scheme is car free with 10 accessible on-site spaces (nine for the residential and one for the GP Surgery) with an internal ambulance drop-off/ parking bay and two car club spaces on Woodgate Drive. It also includes a cycle hub in Block A which includes cycle parking, a cycle workshop and a repair stand area. Steer supported the project by providing design advice for the servicing strategy to support the proposed uses, with the majority of vehicles using the northern access point and an internal courtyard for deliveries and refuse collection. Some refuse collection is also proposed on-street from Woodgate Drive. We also provided design advice in relation to the waste strategy, cycle parking) and the vehicle access strategy. A key challenge was to provide an appropriate level of the car parking. Based on London Plan Policy and the PTAL 3-4 rating, a car free strategy was proposed for the site. However, as it does not currently fall within a CPZ we undertook overspill parking assessments based on overnight residential parking stress surveys within the surrounding area. We also agreed a range of mitigation measures including car club membership, and S106 contributions towards consultation and implementation of a future CPZ in the area as well as external highways works. We also produced a Healthy Streets Transport Assessment (including an outline Construction Logistics Plan), a Residential Travel Plan, a GP Surgery Travel Plan Statement and a Delivery and Servicing Plan to support the planning submission, and are appointed for RIBA 3 design advice.

Mission Rock: San Francisco’s Waterfront Future. Developed as a public-private partnership between the San Francisco Giants, Tishman Speyer, and the Port of San Francisco, it’s far more ambitious than most cities’ stadium-adjacent developments (aka Ballpark Villages), featuring office and residential buildings designed by MVRDV, Studio Gang, WORKac, and HENNING LARSEN ARCHITECTS SL; 40 percent affordable housing units; and active ground floor uses, highlighted by local retail favorites like Arsicault Bakery, Ikes Love & Sandwiches, and Proper Food. The newest piece, tying the project together and connecting it to San Francisco Bay, is the 5-acre China Basin Park, designed by New York-based SCAPE Landscape Architecture DPC, whose local office is just around the corner. Their park, connected to the larger development via textured pedestrian paseos jutting between buildings, opens Mission Rock to stunning views of the stadium and the Bay Bridge—but it also protects it from quickly-emerging tidal threats via a soft, flexible approach that is slowly (perhaps too slowly) gaining steam in the U.S. “Business as usual is the sheet pile bulkhead,” says Orff. “How do you make that space between building and water something that is fluid and flexible, but understand that’s not a fixed edge?” https://lnkd.in/ep_WYTwH

The City of Milwaukee is rising as a global epicentre with groundbreaking urban projects involving Renewable plantation forest trees transformed into Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT). Among these projects is the development of the world's tallest CLT building. However, this achievement is set to be surpassed by the innovative Hybrid/CLT office tower currently under construction in the City of Sydney, representing an impressive over $1 billion investment. Adding to the competition, a new city in Sweden will emerge early next year, entirely constructed in CLT. "World's largest wooden city" set to be built in Stockholm https://lnkd.in/dzfbBDci This initiative aims to serve as a model for a sustainable future by emphasizing stored carbon and promoting a walkable eco-city concept. Stay tuned for this remarkable project that signifies an exciting new era in urban development and the Thrive Alliance consortia plans for Australia. The Thrive Alliance's expertise is over 100,000 primary reference urban projects in CLT advanced modular construction platforms worldwide. #Milwaukee #CLT #UrbanDevelopment #Sustainability #Sydney #Sweden #EcoCity #FutureUrbanism #Harropfactor #advancedmodular #sustainability #inclusiveness #residentialgrade #midrise #ThriveAlliance #AffordableHousing

Clowes Developments’ Dove Valley Park. The saving grace for lack of space? Dove Valley Park at Foston just off the A50 between Derby and Uttoxeter has seen terrific growth over the last few years, with just under one million sq. ft. built and either sold or let to expanding local and indeed national companies including Hines, MEG, GXO Logistics, Inc., TopHat and JCB to name a few. It’s also one of the few locations in the East Midlands where bespoke built warehouse or manufacturing space can be offered for sale as well as to rent and it’s possibly the reason why we are seeing increased levels of activity centred on the park in early 2024. Design and build is very much a ‘posh phrase’ for having something built to an occupiers’ needs and their exact specification, but the message that such buildings can often be delivered within as little as 12 months from initial discussions seems to be permeating the local and regional market, particularly as with Dove Valley Park where freeholds can be offered as well as leasehold opportunities. Given that buying an existing building can often take many months and even then, it might not be ideal for an occupier, if of course a vaguely suitable building can be found, then design and build becomes a more and more keenly followed route when occupiers try and procure new space. Dove Valley Park can offer property solutions to buy from as little as 30,000sq ft upwards in what is an excellent location, just off the A50 between Derby and Stoke on Trent, providing great access to both the East and West Midlands markets. https://lnkd.in/eGgdFHcA

EDQ have released the proposed Development Scheme for Woolloongabba (‘The Woolloongabba Plan’) promising to deliver 14,000 new dwellings, significant public green space, and a network of improved pedestrian connections from the Gabba to Southbank and the CBD. A copy of the Draft Scheme and supporting documents can be found at https://lnkd.in/edyDXvem. Key observations include: 1.    Building height – Uplift in building heights in specific locations up to 75 storeys. 2.    Affordable Housing – Mandatory provision of social and affordable housing comprising a minimum of 20% for developments (of more than 10 dwellings). 3.    Dwelling diversity – Mandatory diversity in tenure (e.g. built-to-rent, key worker accommodation, retirement or community housing) OR dwelling size (bedroom) mix. 4.    Sustainable design – A minimum 5-star Green Star rating across the PDA and minimum 6-star Green Star rating for sub-area 1b. 5.    Communal open space – Aspirational target of a minimum 80% of the site, or 15% of GFA (which the greater). 6.    Heritage & Character Protection – Protection of heritage places, commercial character buildings and pre-1911 buildings (as identified under the Brisbane City Plan 2014). 7.    Reduction in car parking – Application of maximum carparking rates for residential and non-residential uses. 8.    Promotion of active transport – Application of minimum bicycle parking rates (1 space/bedroom + 0.5 visitor space/units) – The Gabba will be Brisbane’s very own Little Amsterdam! The Draft Scheme is on public notification, submission period open until 14th June 2024. If you would like to know more about the Draft Scheme and how this affects your property, please reach out.

#Tacticalurbanism is a #blessing for making #responsive streets/places. #Anything that we had #bought after we are allowed to #try has higher probability of meeting our needs, so does #tacticalurbanism in making our #streets/ #places for us. Placemaking Education

Enjoyed reading through the recently published draft development framework for Trafford Wharfside prepared by Hawkins\Brown with Avison Young, LDA Design and Civic Engineers on behalf of Trafford Council. It sets out the vision for the transformation of the Wharfside from current collection of underutilised surface car parks, piecemeal light industrial and commercial development and stranded cultural assets into a diverse and distinct place to live, work and visit. We have been working on a key site within the study area for the last couple of years and met with Hawkins/Brown during the preparation of the framework. It’s reassuring to see our proposals for the site aligning with their vision. The framework acknowledges the importance of enhancing the visitor experience to Old Trafford and the Imperial Wharf Museum North whilst creating a landscape-led approach which incorporates high-quality public realm, active travel routes, a new park and public open space to support healthier lifestyles and create a connected community. Our ‘City of Multiple Centres’ concept sketch illustrates clearly the Wharfside’s strategic location and opportunity is has to improve wider connections north-south from Salford Quays through Pomona Island and Old Trafford Football Stadium to the Civic Quarter. We suggested this could be a ‘green corridor’ inspired by the former Throstle Nest Plantation that once extended across both the Bridgewater Canal and the Cheshire Lines Railway, linking the Wharfside to the former Royal Botanical Gardens and Old Trafford before the rapid industrialisation of the early Twentieth Century. The framework outlines a vision that is residential-led but importantly identifies character areas which maintain the previous commercial and light industrial presence, celebrate the historic waterfront and retain key existing buildings which will hopefully preserve the Wharfside’s unique sense of place and character. A great step forward!