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BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Cambridge Grafton Centre: What is happening and why?
Despite a multi-million pounds building revamp eight years ago, the Grafton Centre in Cambridge is on the cusp of a major transformation. The "dying" complex - once home to Mothercare, Debenhams and a cinema - is about to be partially demolished to make way for laboratory space, offices, a new hotel and a reduced shopping is happening - and what do people think of it? The Grafton now The Grafton originally opened in 1984, with Queen Elizabeth II cutting the has undergone a number of changes since then, most notably in 1995 and in the shopping centre still holds a handful of big brand outlets like Boots and Decathlon, as well as independent businesses, a gym and a ping pong parlour. But the city's Debenhams store remains empty after its closure four years ago, smaller clothing stores have locked up for good and the curtain came down on the Vue cinema last month. John O'Shea, the centre's manager, remembers a £28m revamp of the shopping centre back in 2017 and says he is "very, very excited" to see this latest transformation take shape."It gives the shopping centre another lease of life," he said."I was here for the redevelopment last time round but, like many shopping centres across the UK, the Grafton suffered post-Covid."Mr O'Shea said they were now "considering the future" of the adjacent Vue building after the cinema franchise quit the centre last month. What is changing? The Grafton is undergoing a major facelift, with much of the interior changing to incorporate laboratory space for the ever-growing Cambridge tech the area around it will also see huge changes. Planners say the existing main entrance of the Grafton will be kept, with a corridor of shops leading to an outdoor courtyard that will take visitors to Burleigh Street, opposite the current Primark empty shops on Burleigh Street will be demolished to create another new entrance.A new life sciences building will replace Abbeygate House on East Road, with restaurants on the ground rear of the centre, where there are escalators and empty units, will become a "breakout area" for workers at the labs to will also be a new Premier Inn hotel opposite the former Vue on East Road. Why are the plans going ahead? The Pioneer Group, which got planning permission for the project from Greater Cambridge Shared Planning last year, said there was demand for science spaces from big companies and small start-ups in the city."Cambridge is one of the top places in the world for innovation and science," said director Subjit Jassy."We felt there was a trend for science places to go back into the city centre because you get the benefit of public transport and local amenities."Earlier this year, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she wanted to see "world-class companies" grow in the area between Oxford and Cambridge, in order for the region to become "Europe's Silicon Valley".A report produced in September by Greater Cambridge Shared Planning said a "significant number" of projects for new labs and offices had gained planning consent, but warned "there may remain a shortfall" in spaces. Where will the shops go? The plan is to keep the Grafton's bigger shops, including H&M, Decathlon and Boots - and relocate some independent Jassy insisted they did not want to "get rid" of the shopping centre, but "retain as much as we can".His observation was that local people thought the centre "used to have a place in everybody's heart" but that "a lot of the feedback was that the Grafton Centre's dying – something needs to happen.""I think people recognise that this scale of shops in this location doesn't work anymore," he said. What do people think? Shopper Sarah Lefever said it was "quite sad" to see the Grafton's steady decline."I've come here since I was little, it's very different to see it with all the empty shops."She said it was "really disappointing" that the cinema had left, remembering "hustle and bustle" in years gone by. Gishani Parameswaran said the Grafton was not very welcoming for young families."This is a closed space area once people get in," she said."I feel like when I get here I'm just focused on the time because there isn't much else to focus on here."Catherine Jansson-Boyd, a professor of consumer psychology at Anglia Ruskin University - which has its Cambridge campus on East Road, said she did not think many people would miss the Grafton."It wasn't the most fun, jolly space in the world," she she was not convinced there was sufficient demand for labs and offices."Increasingly big companies are shedding their office space," she said."People are talking a lot about lab spaces, I can't personally see they are going to fill up." When is it all happening? An archaeological dig has already taken place on the site, which brought up some foundations from Victorian tenement next step is for demolition work to begin on Abbeygate House, which could begin later this on the new shopping area and an initial phase of the life sciences spaces are expected to be finished by the end of 2028. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Mail
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Coleen and Wayne Rooney look smitten in Ibiza as they join his former Manchester United teammate John O'Shea on a sun-soaked boat trip
Coleen and Wayne Rooney looked smitten as they joined former footballer John O'Shea on a sun-soaked boat trip. The WAG and her former Manchester United star husband, both 39, have been enjoying a holiday in the party island. And on Wednesday, the couple headed on a luxury boat trip joined by a group of pals including Wayne's former Man U teammate, Irish national team assistant manager John, 44. Coleen looked radiant as she wore a green, white and purple ruched strapless summer dress. She cosied up to her husband, sitting on his knee while raising a glass of champagne as the group posed for selfies. The group - which also included the Rooneys' longtime pals Michael and Lisa Carrick - were seen enjoying a lavish day on the boat ride with Fancy Boats Ibiza, complete with champagne, cocktails, cheese boards, and fruit platters. It comes after Coleen was spotted looking gorgeous in a £360 crochet bikini by Missoni as she hit the beach on Monday with husband Wayne and friends Michael and Lisa. The WAG flaunted her toned and tanned figure in the skimpy swimwear which she paired with Miu Miu shades. Mum of four Coleen cooled down with a dip in the sea with Lisa, who looked gorgeous in a burgundy bandeau bikini. Coleen and Lisa have been close friends and holiday companions since their husbands were Manchester United teammates. Meanwhile Wayne, looking casual in a white t-shirt and blue cap, was spotted happily chatting to Michael and Lisa whilst enjoying a crisp glass of white wine on the beach. Their holiday comes hot on the heels of Coleen's rival Rebekah Vardy speaking out on their Wagatha Christie drama. She has claimed she faced 'more scrutiny than murderers and paedophiles' amid the court case. In 2019, the WAG was publicly accused of leaking stories about Coleen to The Sun newspaper, which she furiously denied, resulting in a high profile court battle. Rebekah, 43, suffered further humiliation when she lost her libel case and in a fresh blow last month she was ordered to pay £1,190,000 of Coleen's legal bills. And earlier this month the mother-of-five has claimed the backlash towards her was disproportionate and has continued to protest her innocence. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Rebekah insisted: 'I didn't sell stories to The Sun newspaper and that really is the end of it'. Claiming that she 'got the raw end of that', she continued: 'In fact, I think murderers and paedophiles have faced far less scrutiny than I did.' Yet Rebekah noted that now she's 'at peace' and is looking forward, in particular, to an upcoming Netflix documentary about husband Jamie. She also revealed that she is still in touch with Caroline Watt - her former agent - who she claimed was responsible for leaking the stories behind her back. Caroline was also the owner of a mobile phone filled with evidence that ended up at the bottom of the North Sea - or 'Davy Jones's locker' as it was famously dubbed in court. Rebekah claimed that Coleen's legal team had been 'unfair and completely unjust' in serving paperwork to Caroline's home rather than through her lawyers and that Caroline had been through 'considerable anguish'. Caroline did not testify during the trial, after being deemed 'not fit to provide oral evidence', and is yet to provide comment on the matter. When told that fans would be keen to hear Caroline's side of story, Rebekah mused: 'Well, maybe there's a different version of that completely.' A source close to Rebekah told MailOnline: 'It's a huge relief for Rebekah that this long legal battle is now coming to an end. 'She's looking forward to putting the whole ordeal well and truly behind her. 'Now she's just focusing on the future. And there are some big plans coming up for her now that she just wants to get cracking with.'
News.com.au
07-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Post-race jockey reports from the 2025 Queensland Derby
Proud Queenslander John O'Shea landed the quinella in the $1 million Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. O'Shea trains in partnership with Tom Charlton and the Sydney training team delivered first and second in the blue ribband with Maison Louis defeating King Of Thunder with Victorian filly Chase Your Dreams in third. The favourite Statuario was beaten early in the straight and finished well back in 14th. He's home! The G1 Queensland Derby belongs to Maison Louis thanks to a lovely ride by @RMaloney_Jockey - and @JohnOSheaRacing get the quinella with King Of Thunder in second spot! ðŸ'¥ ðŸ'° @BrisRacingClub @RaceQLD — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025 Maison Louis was having his seventh run of his first racing campaign and was ridden by Ryan Maloney and provided his stallion Super Seth with a third Australian Group 1 win this season. Maison Louis' fourth from seven starts and took his earnings to more than $670,000. This is what the riders thought of their mount's performance in the Queensland Derby. â– â– â– â– â– 1st – MAISON LOUIS (Ryan Maloney) Unbelievable, his breeding suggests he shouldn't get the trip, but he's a beautiful ride, he conserves his energy so well. It was a very dawdling run Derby, and when J-Mac (James McDonald) sort of made his move at the half mile, he increased the tempo, but not by a hell of a lot. We were sort of on the fence and everyone was starting to want to get to that better ground, and John wanted me to get one off, but after the scratchings, we ended up drawing one. But that's why I wanted to be three back the fence, so I had two options when I wanted to stake my claim. I was given the opportunity to come out and it ended up on the back of Waller horse (Imperialist) and yeah he was just too tough. When he got the gap, he pinned his ears back and was just tough as nails. 2nd – KING OF THUNDER (Mark Zahra) He ran really well, I thought we had it won but the stablemate just beat him. 3rd – CHASE YOUR DREAMS (Rachel King) She's absolutely flying this filly. If she'd drawn a gate or had a bit more luck, then she might have been tough to hold out but she couldn't be going any better. 4th – LAVALIER (Kerrin McEvoy) Great effort by James (Cummings) and the horse to travel up from two good runs in Adelaide. He stays and is very genuine, so he'll keep improving. 5th – IMPERIALIST (Tommy Berry) He tried really hard today. There was a question over whether he stays the trip or not, and he doesn't. But it was the perfect opportunity to test him and he'll come back nicely next prep. 6th – DEEP FOCUS (Michael Rodd) He ran enormous. We just copped a squeeze at the 400-metre mark, and that took our momentum away. But he picked himself back up and did a great job, especially for a horse having his first prep. 7th – BELLE DETELLE (James McDonald) It was a really good race. 8th – POLITELY DUN (Jordan Childs) I was really proud of his efforts. We had to go back from the wide gate and he finished off as well as he could. 9th – OUR BENEFACTOR (Joshua Parr) He's a lovely horse, he is just quite unsure of himself in certain situations. But next prep he'll be really nice. 10th – EXISTENTIAL BOB (Jason Collett) The distance is probably a bit far at this level. 11th – FEMMINILE (Tim Clark) She's probably come to the end of her prep. 12th – ROGAN (Koby Jennings) That run will help him grow up a lot. He had to come through the shifty part of the track, but he hit the line really well. 13th – BEAU DAZZLER (Jag Guthmann-Chester) Unfortunately he had a tough run, we were three wide punching the breeze the whole way, so probably didn't get the chance to stay the trip. 14th – STATUARIO (John Allen) Very disappointing. We never got into a good rhythm, and we were always just on one rein. We struggled from the 500-metre mark. 15th – SCINTILLANTE (Billy Egan) It's time for him to go for a spell. 16th – THE MUFFIN MAN (Ethan Brown) That was an end of prep run. 17th – FIRM AGREEMENT (Jamie Mott) He had a fantastic run through the race, he probably just came to the end of his prep. N/A – PARTY CRASHER (Craig Williams) Late scratching at the barriers.
BBC News
03-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Kelleher's Brentford move 'will benefit' Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland assistant John O'Shea believes Caoimhin Kelleher's move to Brentford "will benefit" Heimir Hallgrimsson's move from Premier League champions Liverpool to the Bees on a five-year deal for an initial £12.5m, which could rise to £18m with add-ons, was confirmed on 26-year-old made 67 appearances for the Reds, but O'Shea believes becoming the number one at Brentford will aid his progress on the international stage."He has had success and whatever happens next, hopefully he's playing. It's as simple as that," O'Shea said."Obviously it's not an easy thing for him to do. He's proven the quality that he has every time he's been asked to go in as the number one for Liverpool."I think that's what the whole of Europe and the whole of the world has seen when Caoimhin has been in goal for Liverpool. So, I'm sure we'll get the benefit of it."O'Shea was speaking ahead of the Republic's friendly against Senegal in Dublin on hopes other Irish players will follow Kelleher in making summer switches to get more game time, if the right move arises. "Every scenario will be different. Like the manager [Hallgrimsson] has always stressed, we'd love our players to be playing," O'Shea, added."That's what you want in a team because obviously time-wise, when we get together, the limited time period we have, the fitter the players are, the better it will help in the game."
