Developer loses Blackpool Odeon appeal

Steve Rumbelow will stand down as the council’s chief executive after 10 years in the job to “seek new projects”.

Developer Capital&Centric, working with the council, has formally appointed the contractor to redevelop the 1970s Civic Centre into 32,000 sq ft of offices.

Proposals to reinvigorate Blackpool’s Central Library and the neighbouring Grundy Art Gallery into a cornerstone of Blackpool’s arts scene will be put to councillors next week.

The insurance giant is the first company to sign up for space with Gilbanks’ 34,000 sq ft St Michael’s space, exiting around 6,000 sq ft on King Street.

Having launched an archaeological and heritage consultancy last month, the group has now acquired placemaking consultancy New Practice.

Two buildings totalling 105,000 sq ft and previously occupied by Lloyds Bank are to be converted into 176 apartments.

Former Peel director Jane Gaston will take over as chief executive of the industry collective from Ged Barlow who has retired. 

After a successful MIPIM in 2024, the lender has upgraded its package for next year’s edition of the global property expo.

The UK is pinning many of its growth hopes to the life sciences sector. But will labs turn out to be as lucrative as previously thought? Plus: Rental houses are beating flats in the war for investment and a shed in Doncaster attracts a £54m cash injection.

Inflation, the pandemic, and the war in Ukraine have all contributed to the cost of the complex heritage restoration project rising from £353.8m to £429.8m, the city council said.

Cheshire East Council has granted planning permission for 305,000 sq ft and 125,000 sq ft units at Radway Green.

Savills has been appointed to sell the 50,000 sq ft Four Hardman Street in the city’s Spinningfields district.

Property services company Liberty was previously under the ownership of social housing provider ForHousing.

Rowlinson Construction is aiming to be on site before the end of October to deliver the 89-apartment Academy for Living Well, a multi-generational care home.

The housebuilder has taken control of a piece of land at one of the North West’s largest mixed-use development sites and plans to deliver 153 homes.

Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council have expressed an interest in receiving more decentralised powers for the county.

As well as changing its name to Zentra Group, the development company plans to sell a portfolio of assets valued at £7m to reduce debt, acquire a 30% stake in a Manchester apartment scheme it is developing, exit the co-living sector on viability grounds, and delist from the London Stock Exchange.

Elizabeth School of London is in talks with landlord Custodian REIT about taking the whole of the 30,000 sq ft Arthur House.

Several applications were approved by the Liverpool City Council planning committee on Tuesday, including the redevelopment of the Littlewoods building, the International Slavery Museum, and a Cavern Quarter hotel.