THING OF THE WEEK

MARATHON EFFORT… Falconer Chester Hall associate Alexandra Harrison this week ran the Tokyo marathon in a personal best of three hours 40 minutes. This, in itself, is impressive going. Tokyo was the final race she needed to complete to earn her 6-star medal for the Abbot World Marathon Majors. Harrison has also completed the Chicago, Boston, New York and Tokyo marathons. A truly international woman. 

Some councillors want to see Timperley Wedge and Carrington Moss removed from any future local plan. Credit: via PfE

POLITICKING… Another day another motion to pull out of the Places for Everyone joint plan. After rebel Bury councillors failed in their bid to have the council withdraw a la Stockport in 2020, Trafford’s Conservatives and Lib Dems have tabled a motion imploring the authority to pull out of the plan amid uncertainty around proposed changes to the NPPF. Alas, like in Bury, the Trafford rebels are destined for failure. The 18 seats held by the Tories and Lib Dems probably won’t be enough to sway an authority with 41 Labour councillors. 

Richard Topham was speaking to a room of aspiring property developers. Credit: PNW

WORDS OF WISDOM… At Close Brothers’ Tomorrow’s Developer event held in Manchester this week, aspiring homebuilders gathered to hear some pearls of wisdom from a pair of property professionals. Ben Fearns and Richard Topham, managing directors of Novo Property Group and Westchurch Homes respectively, took to the stage to offer advice for those eyeing a career in development. Among the tips on acquiring land and structuring funding deals was a piece of nugget of advice sure to stick in the mind. “It is all about people,” Topham said. “If you have got good people, look after them.” 

Tidal Shame was the 2020 winner of the plinth spot. Credit: via Liverpool BID

PLINTH PLANS… Liverpool BID company is making its annual call to artists to submit their ideas for The Liverpool Plinth. Located next to the Church of Our Lady and St Nicholas in the city centre, the plinth project has been running since 2018 and has hosted an array of installations tackling issues such as disability, mental health, and climate change. You might remember Gail Dooley’s Tidal Shame, a collection of rubbish plucked from the River Mersey, and topped with a ceramic gannet, to signify humans’ impact on the environment. Applications are open until the end of April. As well as having their work on display, the selected artist will receive a £1,000 prize.   

Credit: via Redwood Consulting

A GOOD NIGHT’S WORK… Last week saw more than 200 property professionals from across Greater Manchester converge on Sale Rugby Club for the annual LandAid Sleep Out. The event, sponsored by Knight Frank and Addleshaw Goddard, was the biggest in the history of the Manchester Sleep Out, raising in excess of £70,000. David Russell topped the charts for individual donations received with more than £5,000.  

Credit: via planning documents

SKY’S THE LIMIT…  Overhall Water Hotel’s plans to introduce six dark night sky lodges have been refused by Lake District National Park councillors. The off-site cabins would have offered guests a true room with a view, in addition to a sunken spa. The scrapped whiskey bar would also have had people seeing stars. The hotel’s existing bespoke rooms and award-winning restaurant will have to do.