THING OF THE WEEK
RECYCLE, REUSE… Wigan-based education charity Apple Cast, which supports young people into careers in property and construction, will soon take delivery of a new dedicated learning space, thanks to a partnership with housebuilder Northstone. The Huddle – a Scandi-style wood-clad building previously used by Northstone as an on-site marketing suite – is currently being dismantled at the developer’s Silkash scheme in Bolton. It will then be packaged up and transported to its new home at Apple Cast’s base at Cobbs Brow Lane in Newburgh. “It’s been fantastic to strike up a really meaningful partnership with Apple Cast and identify lots of ways in which we can support their brilliant work,” said Berni Barry, senior development manager at Northstone. “The donation is all part of our mission to ensure we’re not only getting behind local causes at a time when support is needed most, but we’re making sustainable choices by securing a lasting use of the building.”
Credit: via consultation documents
A NEW LEASE OF LIFE… Plans have been drawn up to convert the former library and Conwy Civic Hall into a tourist hotspot. Conwy Council selected Nautical Point as its preferred bidder for the scheme and the developer has now unveiled its plans. They feature a food hall, restaurant, and a 15-bedroom aparthotel. It all could have been very different, though. In 2018, the council turned down a bid from JD Wetherspoon for the site.
Credit: Google Earth
NOBODY HOME … An office building in Salford built around 15 years ago is due to be demolished having never been occupied. Orbit built Broadway House in Weaste just before the global financial crash and the 21,000 sq ft building has sat vacant ever since. It will soon be replaced by a data centre that is being brought forward by Atlas Edge. Broadway House is a stark reminder of the chaos the economic crisis wrought but it could have been worse for Orbit. The company had planning permission for a second, larger office next door but luckily, construction of that building never started.
Credit: via Salboy
PALATIAL PENTHOUSES… Salboy has several major apartment schemes in the pipeline, including Viadux, St Michael’s, and Victoria House, all in Manchester. Combined, these projects will deliver hundreds of homes, including a handful of painfully plush penthouses. Salboy has commissioned StudioPower to draw up concept designs of what its high-end homes might look like, complete with walk-in wine fridges, personal jacuzzies, and panoramic views.
We’re delighted to announce @Muse_Devs have become our latest kit sponsor for the next three years!
💪 #TogetherStronger | 🔴👹
— Salford Red Devils 👹 (@SalfordDevils) December 9, 2022
SALFORD SUPPORT… Muse Developments has shown us all that its commitment to Salford is not just about developing buildings. As part of English Cities Fund, Muse has driven dramatic change in Salford Central over recent years, delivering more than 1m sq ft of offices and hundreds of homes. While work continues there, the company is also pressing ahead with plans at Salford Crescent, a 240-acre swathe of the city that is due to undergo a £2.5bn regeneration over the next 15 years. Muse is very much part of the fabric of Salford. From next year, the company’s name will be physically woven into the fabric of one of the city’s sporting institutions. The developer has penned a deal to sponsor Salford Red Devils for the next three years. “Salford Red Devils is a proud club and we can’t wait to see the men’s, women’s and PDRL teams take the field with our branding emblazoned on their shirts,” said Phil Mayall, Muse’s rugby league-loving managing director for the North West. “Muse and the city of Salford’s history together spans decades, and we’ll continue our commitment to both the city and its people for many more.”
