THING OF THE WEEK
BIG SHOVEL… We are only a couple of weeks into January but the winner of the Largest Novelty Item on a Building Site competition might already be sewn up. Check out this massive spade that was brought along to the groundbreaking ceremony for Preston’s Animate leisure development. Eric Wright Construction started work on the £45m scheme this week. If all the tools being used on the project are as big as the shovel, work could complete before the end of the month.
View this post on Instagram
END OF AN ERA… A Northern Quarter stalwart is closing its doors for the final time at the end of the month. Oklahoma, the purveyor of all manner of quirky gifts, has been a mainstay of High Street for more than 20 years but owner Nicola Payne has decided to focus all of her attention on the store’s online shop. Payne said her focus had shifted more to the online offering due to the Covid pandemic, which had allowed the “Oklahoma magic” to reach a broader audience. She added that closing the shop, recognisable for the friendly-looking penguin that stands outside, would allow her to spend more time gardening and get back into yoga.
Credit: via planning documents
PAXTON PLAQUE… Liverpool City Council and the Friends of Princes Park have decided to honour the man who designed the park on the 180th anniversary of its completion. Joseph Paxton will be commemorated by way of a blue plaque at the entrance to the 111-acre park. Located close to the larger and more well-known Sefton Park, Princes Park features a lake, a labyrinth, and the burial site of a donkey named Judy that gave rides to children during the early 1900s.
We’ll soon be announcing our OFFICIAL HOST for our Cowgills North West Homebuilder Awards 2023!
Any guesses who it might be? 👀 pic.twitter.com/EZnknHPsGU
— North West Homebuilder Awards (@NWhomebuilder) January 10, 2023
GHOST HOST… Cowgills’ inaugural North West Homebuilder Awards were a roaring success last year. Planning for the second edition is well underway with a host already secured. However, Cowgills is being coy about who will be leading proceedings at the event. Any ideas?
Credit: via Big Partnership
DERBY HOUSE… Fancy a football-themed overnight stay in Manchester city centre for just £18.81? That’s the opportunity on offer from Booking.com in honour of the first Manchester derby in 1881. With City and United set to lock horns this weekend, the online travel company has erected a half-blue, half-red house at First Street which is being offered up to two lucky fans. And you thought half-and-half scarves were bad.
Think they need to rotate the stadium direction signs 90 degrees.
By Lanky
Also this week, Capital and Centric dropped a piling rig on a build at their Stoke development.
Not a North West project but a North West company (I think).
By Anonymous