THING OF THE WEEK

GOT THE MOVES… Another week, another attempt to unravel the density of the latest draft of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework. A briefing hosted by (then named) GVA How Planning and Eversheds Sutherland at least introduced a bit of humour. When discussing the sites that had been included, or left out, of the rewrite, host Richard Lloyd, partner at Eversheds, quipped that “I always laugh when I hear the name Timperley Wedge. It sounds more like a wrestling hold than a land allocation. Or is that just me?”


Radius Tardis

DAVID ‘TENANT’… While agents might describe a cosier office as a TARDIS, Radius Payment Solutions have taken the idea to the next level. Their £14m HQ in Crewe Business Park, designed by AEW Architects, houses its own Dr Who meeting room. Concealed within the legendary blue police box, it doesn’t exactly blend in with the surroundings of an office building, but the doors reveal a hidden space for meetings, or perhaps the perfect spot to hide and exterminate time…


GVA How

AND HOW… THING is raising a glass this morning to the end of two well-known property brands, GVA and HOW Planning, after the acquisition by global company Avison Young was confirmed. HOW has already gone through various name iterations in the past year since its purchase by GVA, from HOW to GVA HOW, while GVA still struggles to shed the historic GVA Grimley brand which was ditched in 2011, not forgetting the brief Bilfinger phase. All companies will now be known as Avison Young; best check your pen pots for any old branding, they may be collector’s items.


Lanterns

FLOAT YOUR BOAT… It’s time for some half term planning. At Sefton Park, the City of Light festival is set to bring two public art events between the 20th and 24th of February. City of Light, City of Sanctuary will see a floating city of lanterns on the park’s boating lake, while Habitats is a trail featuring glowing animals and plants in the Palm House gardens. Accompanying the city of lantern buildings will be a soundscape of original music, poetry and real-life stories, so you can be serenaded while you try to spot lantern versions of some of Liverpool’s most distinct buildings.


Daddy Pic

WHO’S THE DADDY… It must be a challenge to come up with original branding slogans, especially for relatively straightforward buildings such as offices. Top marks to 125 Deansgate for effort, obviously keen to court occupiers particularly since it pulled out of a 40,000 sq ft WeWork deal, as revealed last month. May we gently suggest however that 125 may want to take its 125,000 sq ft ego down a notch, given it sits directly opposite the grade one-listed John Rylands Library, one of the finest historic buildings in Manchester. No offence to architect Glenn Howells, but that Neo Gothic gem deserves the Daddy crown.

Your Comments

Read our comments policy

Related Articles

Sign up to receive the Place Daily Briefing

Join more than 13,000 property professionals and receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox

Subscribe

Join more than 13,000 property professionals and sign up to receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you are agreeing to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

"*" indicates required fields

Your Job Field*
Other regional Publications - select below