Latest news with #officeblock
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Fareham office refurbishment scrapped by Hampshire County Council
Plans for a £2.5m refurbishment of an office block have been scrapped by a County Council said, following a review, the Fareham Parkway offices on Wickham Road were deemed "surplus to requirements".The offices were purchased by the council in 2016 and have since been home to the multi-agency safeguarding hub and adult health and care money saved will be used on other council buildings. The refurbishment was approved in 2022, following increased use by council project aimed to refurbish toilets and welfare facilities, replace carpets, improve thermal insulation, install a new flat roof, update the fire alarm system, and improve building in a cabinet meeting last week, the project was removed from the capital programme as part of the council's strategy to reduce the number of buildings it strategy was initially approved in 2024 and aims to improve the efficient use of the council's council said the refurbishment would not go ahead and staff and services provided would be relocated and "address the future of the building".It confirmed that the £2.5m will be reinvested into adaptation works on other council council's strategy aims to adapt its buildings to optimise their use - including transforming libraries to provide more public services and creating drop-in office spaces for staff. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Massive 46-storey skyscraper next to the Gherkin in the City of London gets green light
A 46-storey office block has been approved by The Gherkin in the City of London's eastern cluster. The plans for 63 St Mary Axe, which is also in close proximity to the Can of Ham, will see the existing buildings knocked down and replaced with the new tower. A public park, an auditorium and food and drink spots are planned, plus the opening up of part of the ancient Roman wall. Historic England had previously objected to the scheme during consultation partly due to the loss of a suspected 13th-century burial ground. The heritage body wrote that under AXA IM Alts' proposal, which was submitted with the City of London Corporation in February, the potential burial ground would have to be removed. Being the only remaining physical evidence of two churches, St Augustine Papey and St Martin Outwich, the lack of an archaeological evaluation means it is unknown how much of it remains. Despite this, Historic England wrote that 'there is also the potential for other remains to be present here which pre-date the burial ground, possibly to the Roman period, which cannot be identified or assessed without proper evaluation'. They added: 'We therefore have to assume on the basis of desk-based evidence that, at a minimum, the burial ground is largely intact and that it retains its evidential value.' A spokesperson for 63 St Mary Axe previously told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) the potential burial ground 'has been paved over for decades', and that the plans will celebrate the space with significant greening and the unveiling of a buried section of the Roman wall. Other concerns were raised by a handful of statutory consultees, including over the potential impact on the Tower of London if the scheme was approved. Two residents also filed objections, as did The Wardens and Society of the Mistery or Art of the Leathersellers of the City of London, which owns a number of nearby properties, due to fears such as the loss of light. Ahead of a planning meeting, corporation officers had recommended the proposal be approved. While acknowledging the concerns raised, they pointed to benefits such as the huge amount of office floorspace to be delivered, almost 4.23 per cent of the required commercial space by 2040, and work to be done to ensure any archaeological finds are appropriately removed. The treatment of the suspected burial ground was raised by Common Councillors Jacqueline Webster and Philip Kelvin. Cllr Webster asked about the archaeological opportunities for the site, to which she was told there are two: the excavation of the burial ground, which will provide insight into historic local communities; and the opening up a section of the old Roman Wall, deemed to be the 'primary' opportunity. Cllr Kelvin queried this determination, in-part due to there being no assessment of the archaeology and no plan as to where any remains may be moved to. Jonathan Smith from planning consultancy DP9 clarified the applicant's understanding of the wall to be the primary opportunity was due to it being statutorily identified as a scheduled monument, while the burial ground is non-designated. Cllr Kelvin later asked about the potential impact on the Tower of London and how, given the committee refused a Bury Street application late last year partly due to this consideration and concerns raised by Historic England, members should proceed. 'From a consistency perspective, how should we as members think about this when we refuse one very similar-type concept and why the public benefits outweigh it in this application but didn't in one not too long ago.' Tom Nancollas, Assistant Director (Design) at the Corporation, told the committee each scheme must be taken on its own merits and that the two applications are different in key ways. The profile of the 63 St Mary Axe proposal, for example, 'clearly and unmistakably displays deference to the Tower', largely due to it leaning away from the historic site. It is also physically distinct, he added, telling members: 'The viewer really can be left in no doubt that what they are seeing is two separate entities each with their own integrity but which can be appreciated in juxtaposition visually or on their own terms.' Cllr Kelvin further referenced comments from Historic Royal Palaces, which manages the Tower and had called for changes to the scheme including a steeper design. Mr Nancollas said such concerns were valid, though that the points raised had been incorporated into the scheme and the application has done 'all it can' to fit into the existing cluster. The committee voted to approve the proposal, with just Cllr Kelvin against. Rob Samuel, UK Head of Development at AXA IM Alts, said: 'This resolution is a strong endorsement of our proposals and builds on AXA IM Alts' track record of delivering future-focused, landmark office developments that create lasting value for both occupiers and the wider community. 'New buildings such as 63 St Mary Axe and 50 Fenchurch Street are essential to the capital maintaining its position as a world leading centre of business.'
BBC News
10-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Office plans amended after Roman basilica found in City of London
Revised plans for an office block in the City of London have been approved, after a Roman basilica was found beneath the site.A rethink of the 85 Gracechurch Street scheme was forced upon premises owner Hertshten Properties earlier this year following the planned as a 32-storey building, the block was reduced to 30 storeys and a public exhibition showcasing the near 2,000-year-old basilica will be created. The remains, which are believed to date to the late 70s or 80s AD, were discovered during investigations by Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA). The location of the ancient basilica was known by experts, though the extent of its preservation was a surprise, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Sophie Jackson, director of development at MOLA, said the proposal would add a "compelling, world-class display of the remains of the first basilica, right in the centre of the City".She said: "Finding substantial remains of the basilica is one of the most remarkable discoveries made in the City in recent years, and it has been described as the equivalent to discovering the Speaker's Chair in the Chamber of the House of Commons in 2,000 years' time." Fresh plans were submitted with the City of London Corporation in April, which also featured a public walkway providing views of the nearby Leadenhall will deliver an increase of about 27,000 square metres of office floorspace compared to the existing building, which will be Hertshten, chief executive of Hertshten Properties (UK) Limited, said the development embraced the City of London's revised plans were approved on 8 July.
Irish Times
03-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Permission given for new office block on Dublin City Arts Centre site
Dublin City Council has granted planning permission to Ventaway for a 14 storey office block scheme for a site on the former City Arts Centre at City Quay in Dublin 2. The council has granted planning permission to the firm, headed up by developer, David Kennan and Winthrop engineering group founder, Barry English, despite opposition from the Office of Public Works (OPW), an inner city primary school, a religious trust and An Taisce. In granting planning permission to Ventaway Ltd, a Council planner's report concluded that the scheme 'will result in the redevelopment of a massively underutilised vacant site in a prominent location within the city centre'. The report found that the proposed alterations 'ensure that the development will not only create valuable commercial space but will also add much needed artistic spaces, while also providing managed space for the adjoining school'. READ MORE Underlining the scale of the scheme, the council has ordered Ventaway to pay €3.18 million in planning contributions towards public infrastructure and €1.08 million towards Luas works. The current plans follow An Bord Pleanala refusing planning permission in May 2024 to Ventaway to develop what would have been Dublin's tallest building at 24 storeys for the same site. Ventaway lodged its revised plans last December and the scheme - designed by architects, Henry J Lyons - is 61.05m tall, which is a 46.95m lower than the high scheme refused in 2024. Principal of City Quay National School, Philip Kelly, told the council that the school's board of management were objecting 'in the strongest possible terms' to the new planning application. The OPW is the State agency charged with the care and management of the James Gandon designed Custom House and in its objection, the OPW stated that the construction of a building at this scale and magnitude 'has the potential to adversely impact the historic and architectural character of the Custom House'. In a separate objection on behalf of St Laurence O'Toole Trust and The Administrator of the Parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, planning consultant, Declan Brassil stated that the scheme 'represents a significant overdevelopment of the site'. The country's largest industry lobby group, IBEC also weighed in, stating that approval should be granted. IBEC's Head of Infrastructure and Environmental Sustainability, Aidan Sweeney told the Council that the proposal 'offers an effective revitalisation of a prime location in the city centre and is exactly the sort of project Dublin requires going forward'.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Office block near Wiltshire village to go under hammer
An office block in a village just off the A36 near Warminster is set to go under the hammer next month. The property is on Station Road in Codford, and has been listed at a guide price of £425,000. According to the listing, the property consists of 603 square metres of floor space, and presents an open-plan office space arrangement with parking for 20 cars. (Image: Rightmove/Symonds and Sampson)READ MORE: Town's new lounge bar: opening date revealed The listing states: 'The space offers flexibility, with two staircases with category II style lighting, fitted carpets and air conditioning. Forecourt parking offers space for around 20 vehicles.' Estate agents Symonds & Sampson said it is due to go under the hammer on July 24 at 2pm in Sherbourne, Dorset, and online via livestream. The agent also adds: 'There is likely mobile network coverage inside the property and likely mobile coverage outside. 'We are not aware of any planning applications in the postcode that affect the property. The property is in flood zone one. 'The neighbours at Ashton House have a right of access over the entrance and car park. 'The septic tank may not comply with current regulations and buyers should factor the cost to replace the system into their maximum bid.'
