Latest news with #GRAHAM
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
A high street has turned into 'a ghost town'
Delayed roadworks have turned a high street into "a ghost town," as Birkenhead town centre looks set to deal with more work until June 2026. Regeneration works across Birkenhead are moving forward on the main high street on Grange Road, Charing Cross, Conway Street, and Europa Boulevard. These are intended to feed into the regeneration of the town centre and 'make the area a better, safer and a more connected place to live, work and travel.' The scheme, being delivered by GRAHAM, is understood to be a year behind schedule with more than half still to be done, and the costs have doubled. Originally approved with a £11.9m budget, it's expected to now cost £24m. READ MORE: Told to leave in 24 hours and no word on when they can return READ MORE: 'He broke my family and left three children without their mother' A new report before the local authority's policy and resources committee on July 23 has outlined the situation. Serious questions have been raised about the council's former leadership, and it's now expected the council might have to borrow £8m to cover the costs. The report said the main reasons for the delay 'relate to design, both in terms of late design information being provided together with design issues such as the depth of construction and unknown statutory utility services equipment.' Defects have also been raised by the site supervisor, which are being worked through. Violet Perkins comes to Birkenhead every week. She told the ECHO: 'It's disgraceful; it shouldn't have taken so long." She added: 'There's no shops open. I find it very difficult to go to shops because of the work. I just come in once a week because it's horrendous.' While she understood the scheme could lead to future investment by making it look more attractive, she argued: 'You aren't going to invest in a property if you can't get to it.' As the barriers keeping the public away from the works have narrowed the road, Layla Dillon said: 'I do not come into Birkenhead any more, I go to Liverpool now because of the small gaps. You can't get the pram down here. I just get on the bus and go to Liverpool. 'There's only a bit to walk down, and sometimes when it's rammed, people do not care. It's so small, especially down by the Pyramids. There's only one way in.' Stephen Oakes lives ten minutes up the road and feels the scheme would make the area look cleaner. However, he added: 'It's had a big impact on the buses; the buses are sometimes ten to fifteen minutes late. "I have got to school late because of the bus to drop my son off. I have been late for appointments.' Kimberley Trevor felt some of the delays were because 'they need to make their minds up about what is changing and what is staying,' adding: 'They are taking things away and bringing them back. It's not fair on the people that live in Birkenhead. 'I think they are trying to make it look better so more people want to shop, but that doesn't change what the town is. Down here used to be packed constantly. 'You can see the difference; not many people come here. It's like a ghost town. This used to be packed when I was little; now it's not.' It's not just the public too. In a recent committee meeting, councillors from different parties criticised the situation, and Cllr Jo Bird said there were very serious questions about the council's contract and contractor GRAHAM. Conservative Cllr Andrew Gardner told the ECHO the council needed a different approach going forward. Wirral's new council leader Cllr Paula Basnett said she shared the public's frustration and pointed to the external investigation she called for. She previously said the council needed to "get a proper grip of what is going on," adding: "Strong leadership demands that difficult decisions are faced up to." Oxton councillor Stuart Kelly also told the ECHO it was clear the scheme has been off track for a while "with scant evidence of works progressing and road closures with nothing being done." Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Phil Gilchrist said he also raised concerns in April as 'frankly anyone walking or driving through Birkenhead cannot have missed the slow progress of this work." GRAHAM, the firm delivering the scheme, said it would not be commenting. Merseytravel was also approached for comment.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Latimer selects GRAHAM for $148m redevelopment project in UK
Clarion Housing Group's development arm Latimer has appointed GRAHAM as the main contractor for the £110m ($148m) redevelopment of the former Boddingtons Brewery site in the UK. This project will transform the 1.25-acre brownfield site on Great Ducie Street in central Manchester into a residential community, delivering 505 new mixed-tenure homes. The development will include 60% affordable housing, with 115 homes designated for social rent, 171 for shared ownership, and 17 for rent classed as affordable. Located next to the Manchester College digital and creative campus, the latest project highlights Latimer's aim to regenerate key urban areas. A significant milestone was achieved with the development's Gateway 2 approval under the Building Safety Act. This is said to be the second project of Latimer to receive approval this year, alongside the Leeds Dyecoats development, both being delivered by GRAHAM. Construction is set to begin in the coming months, and completion is anticipated in late 2028. The buildings will feature aluminium windows, traditional brick facades, and juliet balconies. GRAHAM regional director Stephen Van den Hoek said: 'Securing Gateway 2 approval is a significant milestone and reflects the collaborative effort between our teams to meet the highest standards of safety and design. 'This project marks another step forward in delivering high-quality, affordable homes across the region and reinforces our commitment to creating places where communities can thrive.' The project, which forms a key element of the area's broader regeneration vision, is funded in part by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig said: 'This is an important development not only in that it will deliver significant affordable housing in the heart of our city - helping to meet demand and widen housing options for our residents - but it also signals some of the first investment that is kick-starting the major long-term regeneration of the wider Strangeways area.' Last month, Glasgow City Council in Scotland granted planning consent for GRAHAM Investment Projects' student accommodation development in the city's Anderston area. "Latimer selects GRAHAM for $148m redevelopment project in UK" was originally created and published by World Construction Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
The Herald Scotland
19-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Glasgow's new visitors levy hoped to generate £16m
1.5% of each levy will be retained by accommodation providers to cover costs incurred by the scheme's implementation. The rest, an estimated £16m, will be invested into city centre infrastructure projects and events. At a meeting of the council's City Administration committee today, Treasurer Ricky Bell said: 'We have been lobbying the Scottish Government for some time to give us more powers to be able to raise our own revenues and this is the start of what I hope will be a continuation of those powers being devolved to local government." The City of Edinburgh Council approved a similar levy in January, over the objections of leading hospitality groups. It is hoped the scheme will generate £16m each year. (Image: GRAHAM) Writing in The Glasgow Times yesterday, Bell said: 'We reckon that if we add 5% to an accommodation bill – that's an average of just under £5 per night – then we could raise around £16 million extra income annually. 'Given the unprecedented pressures on public finances, that's a decent amount of money to help improve our city and its tourism offer.' The SNP councillor added: 'Visitor levies are common across much of the world. Cities such as Barcelona, Lisbon, Berlin, Hamburg and Paris have all introduced similar schemes in recent years and all have had an increase in visitor numbers.'
The Herald Scotland
17-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
25-storey student tower near River Clyde gets green light
Representing £70m investment, the new complex at 138 Hydepark Street will transform a disused brownfield site into a 25-storey student residence, providing 410 beds in a mix of 236 studio apartments and 174 cluster flats. GRAHAM said the development will "address the demand for student homes across the city whilst contributing to wider regeneration efforts in the Anderston area". A range of modern amenities tailored to student lifestyles will feature across the development, including rooftop terraces, social lounges, group study areas, cinema and games rooms, karaoke and e-gaming spaces, a fitness studio and quiet study zones. READ MORE: Designed by Cooper Cromar, the architecture draws inspiration from the Seagram Building in New York. The wider project team also includes Iceni Projects as planning consultant and Etive Engineers as structural and civil engineers. GRAHAM Construction will be lead contractor, with construction commencing later this year and completion anticipated in time for the 2028 academic intake. John McDonald, Managing Director at GRAHAM Investment Projects, said: 'Securing planning permission for this development is a key milestone in bringing forward much-needed, high-quality student accommodation in Glasgow. Transforming a disused brownfield site into a vibrant living environment is a clear example of how targeted investment can support both education and regeneration. 'Equally, this project reflects our strong confidence in the city's future and we're proud to play a role in helping to future-proof Glasgow as a global destination for education and innovation.'
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UK's Sefton Council appoints GRAHAM as contractor for Marine Lake Events Centre
Sefton Council in the UK has confirmed the appointment of construction company GRAHAM as the contractor to oversee the Marine Lake Events Centre (MLEC) project in Southport. The events centre, for which GRAHAM was selected as the preferred bidder, is set to begin construction later this year. A preconstruction services agreement between GRAHAM and Sefton Council is now in effect, with the aim to finalise a full contract in the upcoming months. The Marine Lake Events Centre is envisioned to include a theatre and auditorium, an exhibition centre, retail businesses, and dining options such as a café and restaurant. The demolition of the existing Southport Theatre and Convention Centre, undertaken by DSM, a demolition company, has been completed, paving the way for the new development. The next step involves sheet piling works to prepare the site for the construction phase. Sefton Council regeneration, economy and skills cabinet member and councillor Paulette Lappin said: 'We are delighted that construction work can get underway now that we have officially procured GRAHAM for the creation and construction of the Marine Lake Events Centre. 'They are a major contractor with proven experience of working on projects of this scale and complexity. 'Proper procurement for the Marine Lake Events Centre is vital and our teams have been working exceptionally hard behind the scenes to ensure we have a team of the very best partners and contractors.' GRAHAM regional director Peter Reavey said: 'The Marine Lake Events Centre will not only transform Southport's cultural offering, but also act as a catalyst for economic growth in the region. 'Our commitment to delivering high-quality construction projects that benefit communities aligns perfectly with the vision for MLEC, and we look forward to bringing this exciting development to life with Sefton Council." Earlier this month, GRAHAM was chosen to continue work on the City Centre Cultural Gateway in Coventry, England. "UK's Sefton Council appoints GRAHAM as contractor for Marine Lake Events Centre" was originally created and published by World Construction Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
