Plans for a North East training facility to provide next generation skills for next generation homes have been submitted.
Sunderland City Council, Sunderland College and the Ministry of Building Innovation and Education (MOBIE) have worked together to develop plans for a Housing Innovation and Construction Skills Academy (HICSA).
The facility will educate, train and upskill local people to create innovative factory-built new homes, the first of which will be assembled at Riverside Sunderland.
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A planning application for the £15m building has been submitted to the local authority, which – if given the green light - will pave the way for work to start later this year.
The facility earmarked for Sheepfolds will be operated by Sunderland College with support from industry partners. It will form a key part of Sunderland’s ambitious city centre housing ecosystem, enabling Sunderland people to meet the city’s future housing needs, with the skill and expertise to employ modern methods of construction (MMC).
A private investor has swooped for a Spectrum Business Park building in a £3m deal.
Avison Young acted on behalf of the Trustees of 2007/2008 Regent Capital 7+8 Syndicate to secure the investment sale of Spectrum 7 at the Seaham business park.
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Spectrum 7 is a 47,398 sq. ft. three storey office building, let to Great Annual Savings Company Ltd for a term of 15 years from June 2020, on a full repairing and insuring lease.
The tenant has invested £1.3m into an impressive fit out of the building and the £3m purchase price reflects a yield of 8%.
Paul Wellstead, developer of Spectrum Business Park said: ”Great Annual Saving’s new sea view HQ in Spectrum 7 has set a new benchmark for the standard of fit out across the park. It is testament to the flexibility of Spectrum’s office space, providing a truly inspiring workplace for their employees.
“The investment will be a fantastic addition to the purchaser’s portfolio.
Jamie Sim of Avison Young added: “Avison Young is delighted to have advised our client on the sale of this modern Grade A office to a private investor. The purchaser was drawn to the asset because of its attractive yield profile and excellent tenant fit-out.”
Two leading built environment firms have been appointed to the latest Teesside University Campus project.
The Buttery building is to be turned into a Postgraduate Student Hub, providing an innovative space for postgraduate students and researchers to study, collaborate and socialise on campus.
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It is the first project to break ground since the start of the pandemic and is the latest development in the university’s £300m Campus Masterplan.
Durham based Howarth Litchfield has been appointed as architect and Summers-Inman, based in Newcastle, has been appointed as quantity surveyor and contract administrator for the £5m scheme.
The project, which includes the design and extensive refurbishment of an existing two-storey building in addition to a new extension, will combine with earlier completed schemes to improve the campus and provide world-class student facilities.
The new extension will provide a modern entrance feature to the building while still retaining the building’s original features.
Tyneside workplace design specialist Design North has moved into new offices to accommodate its growing team.
An influx of work for hotels, offices, apartment buildings and university buildings has led to the recruitment of five new designers, prompting a move into new space at Hoults Yard in Newcastle.
And while there has been a surge in demand for Design North’s more traditional services, there has also been great interest in the company’s ‘Hypercave’ garages designed to house supercars, while design director Scott Stewart is talking to Jordan about working with the sportswear giant’s Jumpman brand.
Design North’s new designers under the watch of Mr Stewart and strategic director Jacqui Martin are helping to transform a luxury apartment development in the old Allied Irish Bank on Collingwood Street, Newcastle, and are also working on an office development in Grey Street.
Other work includes Newcastle University’s new £60m Stephenson Building which is replacing the 70-year-old original building, plus the interior design – and some external design work – on 13 pubs and hotels for The Inn Collection.
Mr Stewart said: “It’s been a crazy few months – we’ve been so busy with so many different and exciting projects.”
The Northern School of Art’s new multimillion-pound campus has been completed.
The £14.5m scheme, delivered by BAM Construction’s North East team, has seen The Northern School of Art’s college-level campus relocate from its former 1960s built premises in Linthorpe to a new purpose-built, three-storey building in the centre of Middlesbrough.
Dating back to 1870, the Northern School of Art provides a range of arts, design, theatre and film courses.
The new campus building will accommodate over 750 students, from school leavers to postgraduates, and features over 5,000m2 of teaching space including studios for fine art, textiles, fashion, digital media, photography and 3D product design.
Designed by Seven Architecture, the building’s design features an exposed concrete frame and polished concrete flooring, with exposed thermal mass to moderate internal temperatures and use less energy.
The building exterior features a glazed terracotta facade to reference the tradition of ceramics and fabrics courses provided by the school.
The building has been funded with investment from the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority (TVCA), with support from Middlesbrough Council.
BAM, which has offices in Newcastle and has built in the North East since 1916, was chosen to deliver the scheme following a competitive tendering process under the Yorbuild framework.
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