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Developers Capital & Centric and Henry Boot have submitted plans to Manchester City Council for the first phase of a £200M mixed-use project in Manchester, UK.The project, designed by architects Mecanoo and Shedkm, will be located off Aytoun Street on a 2.3-acre plot of land acquired from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2014.Subject to planning consent, the residential-led mixed-use development in central Manchester will feature its own 'secret garden' as part of an innovative design.Phase one of the development will include about 500 private rented flats across two 12–16-storey buildings, featuring retail and leisure space at the ground floor level.The project will also include the refurbishment of the existing 1960s former Aytoun Tower, including a roof village of timber Dutch townhouses.Plans for the second phase, which will involve the redevelopment of the listed Minshull Mill and Minto & Turner Mill, are to be submitted later this year.Adam Higgins from Capital & Centric’s said: “We have worked closely with Manchester city council and importantly, the local community to create this exciting scheme, which will rejuvenate this area of our city that has been neglected for too long.“The ‘secret garden’ concept is pivotal to our vision to create a vibrant new bohemian destination for the city.”
Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran) has announced that it will facilitate the development of Oman’s first world-class family waterpark in Muscat.The project has been developed by six graduates of the National CEO Programme (NCP) — an initiative by the public private partnership taskforce (Sharaka), under the benefaction of the Diwan of Royal Court.The team has worked on the development for one year, spending 5,000 hours on the elaboration of a detailed business plan, including financial modelling and stakeholder research.James Wilson, CEO of Omran, said: “Omran’s mission is to seek and support projects of national significance that can help position Oman as a leading global visitor destination. “We actively look to support develop and grow national capacities to develop and manage these projects, which is why we are fully committed to collaborating with the NCP. “Based on extensive market research carried out by the NCP team it is clear that there is significant interest from the younger generation in Oman and as is the case at other successful Waterparks in our neighbouring countries it is a significant driver of family based hotel occupancy.”
Sewell Group has unveiled plans for the construction of a new business park in Yorkshire, UK.Sewell is partnering with telecommunications company MS3 Networks and developer Chiltern Groupon proposals for the development.A pre-application consultation has been undertaken with East Riding of Yorkshire Council and a project team has been appointed to prepare an outline planning application to submit later this year.Early proposals for the project include a mixture of space for businesses operating in key strategic sectors for the region, a further/higher education space and associated accommodation, an energy centre and a data centre. Rob Cawkwell, Sewell’s project director, said: “It is at the very early stages and we are very keen to engage with all stakeholders, as well as ensuring good dialogue with both East Riding of Yorkshire and Hull local authorities.“This is a strategic site for the Humber Estuary, which is the first of its kind in Yorkshire, bringing together businesses, data, energy and education all in one place.“We are in it for the long haul and we are committed to local labour, with a proven track record of investing in the region to create economic and social impact.”
Pfizer has started construction on its new $200M biologics clinical manufacturing plant in Andover, Massachusetts. The 16,300sq m five-storey facility will enable the production of complex biologics and vaccines. According to Pfizer, the new facility is designed with five independent manufacturing suites to support its complex and diverse biologics research effort.The plant will implement flexible design to fully enable next generation manufacturing strategies, use the latest single-use bioreactors and disposable process technologies and provide clinical manufacturing options with the lowest cost and greatest flexibility for efficiently driving important clinical drugs to patients.Senator Barbara L’Italien said: “This five-storey building will add 75 new permanent manufacturing jobs and 200 temporary construction jobs to Pfizer’s Andover campus, already home to 1,200 employees.”The plant is expected to be operational by January 2019.
German automaker BMW has broken ground on its new $1bn production plant in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. The new facility will build the BMW 3 Series Sedan, starting in 2019, and balance out production capacity at BMW Group Plant Rosslyn in South Africa, which will build the new BMW X3 instead of the BMW 3 Series in the future.The project will comprise a body shop, a paint shop and an assembly plant. BMW said that the new plant will feature an innovative production system and comprehensive sustainability standards.Once operational, the facility will have a production capacity of up to 150,000 units annually, creating at least 1,500 new jobs in the region.The plant will operate using 100% CO2-free power, as it will have a solar-powered network on the site.According to BMW, the plant will have the lowest water consumption per vehicle manufactured in the production network. This will be the company’s first paint shop to produce zero process wastewater, as the water needed for the painting process is reconditioned and recycled.
Legal & General Capital has unveiled plans to collaborate with Newcastle City Council and Newcastle University to help construct and finance the £350M Newcastle Science Central development.The development will be located in the UK city’s Accelerated Development Zone, adjacent to Newcastle United’s football ground, St James’s Park, and to the north of Newcastle train station.The project will include the development of 47,000sq m of office space and 450 new homes. Legal & General Capital’s £65M initial investment will help create more than 19,000sq m of Grade A office space.Rachel Dickie, Legal & General Capital head of urban regeneration, said: “The delivery of Newcastle Science Central will help support the wider Newcastle economy and we are delighted to be working with Newcastle City Council and Newcastle University to deliver this major regeneration scheme.“Providing an excellent match for our long-term money, this public and private sector partnerships model demonstrates that we can unlock major regeneration projects that support the economic growth prospects of the UK by closing the funding gap, as well as delivering strong financial returns for our shareholders and policyholders.”The project is expected to create more than 4,000 jobs in the region.
Plenary Properties Merced (PPM) has been selected by The University of California, Merced, as the winning bidder for its next phase of the $1.14bn campus development.PPM will design and construct the new facilities as a single, fast-track project and ensure major building systems operate effectively over the 39-year term of the contract.The new facilities will be constructed in a 219-acre site that currently supports the existing campus and its 6,700 students. The four-year project is expected to almost double the physical capacity of the campus by 2020.The project will support Merced’s environmental sustainability objectives, as the campus has been recognized as one of the greenest in the country by the US Green Building Council.Furthermore, the developer will be responsible for raising the required private financing as part of the public-private partnership.Construction is set to commence in September 2016 with the project’s first phase scheduled for delivery in 2018. The remaining facilities are scheduled to be completed in 2020. The project is expected to create over 10,000 construction jobs in the region.
BASF Shanghai Coatings has begun construction on a new €140M automotive coatings plant in Shanghai, China.The new plan, to be located at the company’s existing site at the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park in Caojing, will expand the existing automotive coatings plant, which started production in 2014.BASF’s president and chairman for Greater China Stephan Kothrade said: “With the expansion, we continue to invest in local production to get even closer to China’s automotive industry.“As the leading chemical supplier to the automotive industry, BASF will take an active role in developing this rapidly growing business, based on our local production network, innovative power and market knowledge.”The plant is expected to commence operation in the fourth quarter of 2017.
Swedish construction firm NCC and Region Örebro County have agreed on the design and implementation of a new hospital project in Örebro, Sweden.The construction company was commissioned to build the new university hospital in October 2015.Both parties have agreed on a contract worth SEK1.5bn ($180M) and have worked together to plan the project and prepare detailed system documents. The new facility, known as the H building, will replace existing premises that no longer adhere to the current requirements. It will feature residential care, outpatient care and surgery for areas including ear, nose and throat (ENT), dermatology, anesthesia and emergency care clinics. NCC’s Building head in Sweden Henrik Landelius said: “NCC has extensive experience of building major hospitals, which we will utilize in this project. A partnering project such as this means that, at an early stage, we can plan together with the Region to obtain the best results.”The project is aiming to achieve Sweden Green Building Council (SGBC) Gold certification.
Gammon Construction, the Hong Kong-based joint venture of Balfour Beatty and Jardine Matheson, has secured an HKD4bn ($515.3M) contract from Taikoo Place Holdings for the redevelopment of Somerset House in Taikoo Place, Hong Kong.The project will include the redevelopment of Somerset House into a 48-storey office building on top of a two-storey basement, covering a total gross floor area of approximately 94,000sq m. It will also involve the construction of the associated walkways.The development will incorporate Building Information Modelling (BIM) to define the efficient approach to design, avoid programme and utility clashes, as well as enhancing environmental efficiencies.Gammon’s CEO Thomas Ho said: “We are delighted to have been selected by Swire Properties and to be involved with this landmark project.“Gammon’s advanced technological standards and expertise in building construction was critical for the award of this project.”Construction is set to start immediately with completion scheduled for 2018. The project will create 1,400 jobs during peak construction.
WinnCompanies business unit WinnDevelopment and GDD Properties have started construction on a $200M project to redevelop the Sibley Building in downtown Rochester, New York.The project will start with the $100M phase, which includes the construction of 96 modern luxury apartment homes on the 9th–12th floors. The first phase will also include the addition of retail space on the Main Street and office space in the mid-rise, the construction of active senior living apartment homes, and a complete rehabilitation of the entire façade and windows of the building.Construction work on the top floor of the Sibley building — once home to the Tea Room of the Sibley Department Store — is in progress. Upon completion, the floor will become the headquarters of the High Tech Rochester’s Finger Lakes Business Accelerator Cooperative. WinnCompanies’ CEO Gilbert Winn said: “We are thrilled to take this leap forward in a project that will restore energy and economic development to the region’s most beloved building.“With Class A office space and luxury apartments, the new Sibley Building is transforming into the innovative center for office, retail, and housing while maintaining its historic character.”
Gammon Construction has secured a HKD2.6bn ($335M) contract from Chinachem Group to build a residential project in Hong Kong.To be located at Tseung Kwan O Town Lot No. 93, the project will include the construction of six 12–18-storey residential towers, and five four-storey homes that together will provide 857 new homes.Gammon — a joint venture between Balfour Beatty and Jardine Matheson — will use a range of innovative approaches, such as aluminum formwork instead of traditional timber formwork for the tower structure and 3D scanning and Building Information Modelling (BIM) to assist with detecting construction programme clashes.Gammon’s CEO Thomas Ho said: “Our team is excited to work with Chinachem Group to deliver excellent and meticulous building works that will add to their impressive and diverse range of high-quality properties.“We are looking forward to the unveiling of this new phase of development in the Southern part of Tseung Kwan O.” Construction has recently started and the project is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2017.
Purdue Research Foundation has partnered with Browning Investments for the $1.2bn project to transform the west end of the Purdue University in Indiana, USA.The project, known as the Purdue Innovation District, involves the development of nearly 450 acres.Browning will be responsible for a comprehensive master planning that will include student and non-student housing, a lab, research and other collaboration spaces.It will also include office, discovery and entrepreneurial spaces, retail and public spaces, aerospace industry-focused research, and advanced manufacturing and light industrial space.The development will complement other initiatives already taking place on the west side of the campus.Purdue Innovation District director Jeff Kanable said that Indianapolis-based Browning was chosen because of its expertise in long-term development projects.Kanable added: "Browning has a strong history in funding, creating, and executing comprehensive plans for major long-term projects. We are confident in their leadership in the development of the Purdue Innovation District as well as the Research Park Aerospace District."The project is expected to commence late 2016 or early 2017 and is slated to take place over a 15-20 year period.
Springfield Properties’ plans for phase one of the £1bn Bertha Park mixed-use development in Scotland, UK have received the go-ahead from Perth and Kinross Council.The first phase will include construction of 1,061 new homes, commercial buildings, as well as leisure and recreation areas. Plans also include a new network of roads, and a new secondary school.Springfield Properties managing director Innes Smith said: “Perth is a very attractive place to live and work. Not surprisingly the city is one of the fastest growing places in Scotland. We are committed to enabling that expansion with homes, business and leisure opportunities over the next thirty years. Already we have spent five years developing this plan.”“The plan provides everything a growing community needs. It is important that there are homes for every age and stage. “There will be lots of options to suit all budgets. Homes for sale, homes for private and mid-market rental and homes for rent through housing associations; all are proposed. Many of the homes have been designed especially to suit the site. And all homes are designed to be very energy efficient, keeping bills low for householders.”Bertha Park scheme will be carried out in phases over 30 years, and is anticipated to create more than 2,000 jobs.
NCC has bagged a SEK830M ($100.2M) contract from Fabege to build a new office building next to the Arenastaden city development project in Solna, Sweden.Covering an area of 40,000sq m, the seven-storey building will mainly accommodate ICA’s new headquarters. The building will comprise an underground parking garage with nearly 120 parking spaces. The project will feature large glazed facades and is set to comply with BREEAM-SE Excellent specifications. Preparatory groundwork on the project has already commenced, while construction of the actual building is set to start at the end of 2016. NCC Building Sweden head Henrik Landelius said: “Cooperation during the project engineering phase has been excellent and we look forward to carrying out this project together with Fabege. It is our first large-scale assignment for Fabege and we are using a collaboration form known as partnering. It is a form that we have used before for similar projects and our experience of it is extremely positive.”Fabege’s director of projects and development Klas Holmgren added: “We feel assured about how the initial preparations have been carried out and our impression of NCC’s staff is that they are highly competent and committed. Together, we have created a solid basis for a successful project and we are looking forward to the start of construction.”The project is expected to be complete in the end of 2018.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed three loan agreements worth €400M in total to support urban transport, education, and a combined-heat-and-power plant in Finland.EIB has signed a €140M agreement with the City of Espoo, which will support the construction of four new pre-schools and day-care centres as well as three new comprehensive schools.The programme will also include the expansion of three school campuses and renovation of one comprehensive and one upper secondary school.The second agreement involves a €180M framework loan to fund the investment plan of the transport company of the City of Helsinki. The plan involves procurement of new tram, extension of existing tramlines, and upgrades to the network. A significant part of the funding will be used for the newly produced ARTIC trams.In addition, EIB has also offered a €75M loan to Finnish energy utility firm Lahti Energia to deploy a biomass-fired CHP plant.The new plant, to use 100% renewable fuel, will replace the old Kymijärvi I coal-fired power plant by 2019. It will have the capacity to reduce emissions by allowing recovery of condensation from fuel and recycling ashes back into forests as fertiliser.EIB’s vice-president for Finland operations Jan Vapaavuori said: “The agreements signed today are good examples of where the European Investment Bank can add value for local infrastructure, services and energy generation.“The Bank has continued to invest in Finland over the last few years and we are glad that Finnish citizens will soon be able to find that the EIB’s activities have concrete benefits for their daily lives.”
Nationwide Children’s Hospital has unveiled details of the second phase of its master facilities plan to expand the hospital existing campus in Ohio, USA.The centrepiece of the $730m project will include the construction of a new eight-storey behavioral health pavilion on the main hospital campus. The building, estimated to cost $158M, will eventually accommodate up to 66 inpatient beds. The facility is anticipated to break ground by the end of 2017, and open in 2020. The project will also involve the construction of a $28M parking garage, expected to be complete in mid-2020.Phase II will also include a 20,600sq m Livingston ambulatory building, a 20,400sq m research building, a Near East office building with 800 parking stalls, a data centre, and a central energy plant.In addition, the Livingston Park will be upgraded, the existing childcare centre will be renovated and 51 inpatient beds and five additional operating rooms will be added to the main hospital.The second phase of the hospital master facilities plan is slated to be complete in 2022.
US-based steel producer Nucor has announced an equal stake joint venture with Japan-based JFE Steel to construct and operate a steel plant in central Mexico.The $270M plant will have capacity to produce 400,000t of galvanized sheet steel annually.Currently the firms are working to obtain the necessary conditions to move to completion, including regulatory approvals. Nucor’s chairman CEO and president John Ferriola said: "JFE Steel is a natural partner for us. They are a premier supplier of high-quality products to the automotive industry and share our focus on long-term growth."This joint venture builds on our efforts to increase our production of differentiated and value-added products. Continued growth in Mexico's automotive production presents an opportunity for Nucor to increase our sales to this important market."The plant is expected to commence operations in the second half of 2019.
Johnson Controls has established a joint venture with Binzhou Bohai Piston to construct a new $200M automotive battery manufacturing plant in China.To be located in Binzhou, Shandong Province, the new facility will be the company’s fourth battery manufacturing plant in the country.Once operational, the unit will be able to manufacture 7.5M batteries annually. Johnson Controls’ president for Asia Pacific region Trent Nevill said: "Johnson Controls remains committed to serving our customers wherever they are in the world with investments such as this manufacturing plant and joint venture, which brings our leading technologies and global best practices to China."Construction of the new plant is anticipated to commence in 2017, with production starting two years later. The unit will employ 650 people at its full capacity.
UK-based construction firm Crest Nicholson has secured approval to deliver the £100M Brightwells regeneration scheme in Farnham, Surrey.The mixed-use development will feature 239 homes — 167 private homes and 72 homes under the Shared Ownership project to be purchased by Thames Valley Housing.The development will include new shops, restaurants, leisure and community facilities, including a cinema. It will also involve the restoration of the Grade II listed Brightwells House.Crest Nicholson will deliver the project over the next three years, creating 400 jobs during the construction work.
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