THING OF THE WEEK
BIG BIRD… A giant cockerel was unveiled in North Wales this week. Kellogg’s famous mascot Cornelius has been immortalised in the form of a weathervane and now stands proud at the cereal giant’s Wrexham plant. Hovering 21ft above the ground, Cornelius can surely lay claim to the crown of loftiest and largest (all but) flightless fowl in North Wales, if not the world.
Credit: via planning documents
BULGE… Ellesmere Port’s skyline is about to get a little more interesting thanks to Cheshire West and Chester Council’s decision to approve an odd-looking building off Myrtle Street. The design of Mewbourne Properties’ five-storey self-storage scheme is by no means boiler plate. According to CHQ Architects, the 50,000 sq ft building takes inspiration the area’s maritime heritage and “evokes a ship’s hull” and “a fully loaded container with bulging sides”.
Credit: via 32West
ON THE STRAIGHT AND BARROW… Freshers’ week. Those two words can conjure up all manner of feelings. From nausea to euphoria, the first week at university is a whirlwind. Over recent days and over coming weeks, students will leave their homes and start a new, exciting, and unhygienic chapter of their lives in a strange city or town.
Cities like Manchester, Sheffield, and Newcastle are accustomed to the chaos of freshers’ week, but for one North West town the next little while might be something of an adjustment. University of Cumbria has this week opened its first ever campus in Barrow, with courses offering qualifications in healthcare and advanced manufacturing in line with the town’s growth areas. If you’re out and about in Barrow soon, be prepared.
Credit: via Oldham Council
SPIN… The transformation of vacant retail space in Spindles shopping centre in Oldham into offices for the council has transformed the fortunes of a struggling 1990s retail complex, according to the British Council for Offices.
Awarding the scheme a Northern Innovation gong, the BCO said that the scheme was a “groundbreaking” example of adaptive reuse. Representatives from Willmott Dixon, AEW Architects, Hive Projects, Gleeds, and SpaceInvader attended a special ceremony at Spindles to present to trophy to council Leader Arooj Shah and chief executive Shelley Kipling.
LANDMARK… In other office news, Blackpool Council has released fresh timelapse footage of the construction of the new civil service hub off East Topping Street in the town centre. The building, that could house 3,000 DWP workers at any one time, is seen as a key component of plans to drive footfall back into the town centre, increasing local spend.
Cllr Mark Smith, Blackpool Council’s cabinet member for economy and built environment, said: “This is one of the most ambitious builds in Blackpool since the Tower and I’m delighted that this council was able to make it happen.” A bold statement indeed.
