NEWS

The latest property stories coming out of the Thames Valley

06/02/2016

Councillors agree phased plan to redevelop St Martin's Centre

Councillors have agreed an amendment designed to help rescue the plans to redevelop St Martin’s Centre in Caversham. Hermes had won planning consent in March 2015 for a major overhaul and upgrade of the Church Street precinct which involved a new restaurant, apartments, more retail, leisure, extra parking and environmental improvements. But the plans were thrown into chaos last September when neighbouring Waitrose, which was going to expand as part of the development, pulled out of its
06/02/2016

Total Carbide takes Hangar 3 at Westcott Venture Park

Westcott Venture Park, between Aylesbury and Bicester, has announced a major letting to Total Carbide, which is relocating its European manufacturing headquarters from Princes Risborough. The firm, one of the continent’s leading names in the manufacture of tungsten carbide ‘wear parts’, has agreed a 10-year lease on the refurbished Hangar 3 which has 29,503 sq ft of industrial space at a yearly rental of £177,000. Total Carbide will complete a comprehensive fit-out and plans to move it’s
06/02/2016

Another 241 homes for South Oxfordshire

Plans for 241 homes at Benson go before councillors on Wednesday (June 8). South Oxfordshire District Council’s (SODC) planning committee will consider the proposals from RJ&S Styles for the homes with associated access, public open space, landscaping, sports provision, nature park and woodland. The plans also include up to 230 sq m of retail; provision of community facilities including relocated school playing fields, youth hut, skate park and play space. The new school playing field is for
06/01/2016

Architects offer Royals seal of approval for £500m scheme

Influential architects’ body, the Design Council has been impressed by Reading FC’s Royal Elm Park development. Chief executive Nigel Howe said the finishing touches are being added to the application for the £500 million development which had a generally warm welcome from architect’s group (which now does the work of Cabe) at a presentation in May. The plans could reach Reading Borough Council’s planning applications committee in July and if permission is granted, work could start next spring.
06/01/2016

Retirement for James Cushing at Vail Williams

After 44 years in the commercial property world, one of the Thames Valley’s most familiar faces in the industry has retired. Vail Williams finance partner James Cushing has decided to take retirement 18 months before he hits 65 on Christmas Day next year. He will return for some consultancy work but says retirement from full time work will allow many things to happen. “There are places I want to go, people I want to see and stuff I would like to do,” he said. Those places include Cyprus and
05/31/2016

Cluster report says Silverstone Park could boost UK economy

A market of untapped potential which could strengthen the UK as a world-leading knowledge economy is how Silverstone Park has been described in a report on its high-tech cluster. The Cluster, a report commissioned by MEPC, asset manager and developer of Silverstone Park on behalf of Hermes Investment Management, with partners PwC and Barclays, has been written by economic and social development expert SQW, and was sponsored by a number of local authorities and LEPs. The report says the park’s
05/31/2016

Floating homes proposed at Theale Lake

Lakeside homes which are able to float when water levels rise are included in a proposed development in West Berkshire. Woking-based Berfeld Limited, a joint venture between Larkfleet Group Limited and Floodline Developments Limited, has applied to build 225 homes including 24 ‘Can-Float’ houses which will be built close to the edge of Theale Lake and which rise up with the water levels in the case of flooding. The development on land known as Burghfield Park is close to Burghfield Sailing
05/27/2016

Slough mass rapid transit system works begin

Work is about to begin on a Mass Rapid Transit scheme on the A4 in Slough. The first phase of work on the year-long £8 million SMaRTscheme to deliver a rapid bus service from Slough Trading Estate to Langley will see sections of the A4 widened to make way for new bus lanes. Some preliminary work has already begun but major work will start on London Road, between Upton Court Road and Langley High Street on Tuesday May 31 and some disruption is expected. Savio DeCruz, head of transport and

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Independent Property
NEWS & VIEWS

Reporting daily from the Thames Valley tvproperty.co.uk

News

Councillors agree phased plan to redevelop St Martin's Centre

Total Carbide takes Hangar 3 at Westcott Venture Park

Another 241 homes for South Oxfordshire

Architects offer Royals seal of approval for £500m scheme

Retirement for James Cushing at Vail Williams

Cluster report says Silverstone Park could boost UK economy

Floating homes proposed at Theale Lake

Slough mass rapid transit system works begin