News in Brief May 2020

A turf cutting ceremony has marked construction work officially kicking-off for a new speculative office and laboratory space at the Exeter Science Park. The building will aim to be net zero carbon for operational energy as a result of innovative design features, including a 44kw roof-mounted solar PV panel system.

Billington Holdings has announced a record performance for the year ended 31 December 2019. Revenue increased by 35.7% to £104.9M and profit before tax increased by 20.4% to £5.9M. Billington Chief Executive Officer Mark Smith said: “I am very pleased that we have delivered a record performance in 2019, although these results will inevitably be overshadowed by the current global COVID-19 pandemic.”

Developer Cole Waterhouse has submitted plans for a new mixed-use scheme that will create a new cultural, commercial and residential neighbourhood in the Digbeth area of Birmingham. The proposed development comprises almost 6,000m² of mixed creative, retail, leisure and workspace, and over 900 new homes with a mix of private sale and build to rent apartments that will help to meet the local housing need.

Architects Hawkins\Brown has secured planning consent for a 250-bed hotel in Glasgow city centre on behalf of Artisan Real Estate. The hotel will be located on the corner of St Vincent Street and Pitt Street and will help convert the previously commercial district into a thriving mixed-use quarter.

Legal & General has agreed to invest £150M in the first phase of Sheffield’s West Bar Square development. The scheme is being developed by Urbo (West Bar), a joint venture between Urbo Regeneration and Peveril Securities, the development arm of the Bowmer and Kirkland Group. The first phase of development will comprise 18,500m² of Grade A office space, 350 ‘Build to Rent’ homes, a multi-storey car park and high quality landscaped public spaces.