Friday 22 July 2011

Landmark Pendleton Project Gets Go Ahead




Planning Consent has been successfully granted for a 140,000
sq ft Tesco superstore on the land next to Salford Shopping City
in Pendleton, creating 750 jobs and a much needed boost to
the local economy.

However, bringing this development to site was not
straightforward and Urban Vision’s Property, Planning,
Engineering and Design Teams have worked long and hard in
conjunction with Salford City Council to bring a 25 year journey
to a successful conclusion.

The History
In the mid 1980’s the Council wanted to locate a large modern
food retail superstore in Pendleton to work hand in hand with
Salford Shopping City. However, due to relatively low land values
at this time and issues relating to the current land usage, the
project didn’t progress.

In early 2000, the Council took the initiative to progress this
opportunity. Although the majority of the site was in the
ownership of the City Council, three private properties remained,
which included; a Roman Catholic Primary School, a Methodist
Church and a laundry building.

Negotiations from Urban Vision’s Property Team commenced to
acquire both the RC Primary School and the Methodist Church on
the basis of a Compulsory Purchase Order, which required the
Council to relocate and fund the rebuilding of the Church and
School at alternative locations. The work to achieve this was
both detailed and complex, however sites for these facilities
were successfully secured in Langworthy and Seedley, further
contributing to the regeneration of that area.

As the Council wanted a scheme that would link with the
existing shopping centre, Supplemental Planning Guidance was
developed and issued indicating how the development of the
site should be taken forwards.

The proposals have been the source of considerable debate
and dispute with the former and current owners of Salford
Shopping City, involving a number of Judicial Review decisions
that have been successfully overcome, leaving the path clear for
development works to commence.

Planning consent has been secured and the sales agreement
represents the single largest capital receipt the City Council has
ever received.
We are pleased to announce that the construction of the
superstore is anticipated to start in autumn 2011.

Thanks to Urban Vision for this article.

Friday 15 July 2011

Goodbye Mr.Fry



I had the pleasure last night of attending the leaving do of Liam Fry, Head Teacher of Lark Hill Primary School.

Liam has been head 25 years +(he stopped counting at 25 years)of firstly the old West Liverpool St, then the newly formed Lark Hill Primary. In that time he has educated thousands of children from Langworthy,Seedley and Pendleton.

He along with his staff over the years have worked tirelessly to give those young people the best possible start in life.

It has been my privilege and pleasure to work with Liam as a governor of the school and see first hand his care and commitment to the children and the community as a whole. He will certainly be missed.

I'd like to wish him well on his retirement, which he plans to spend on the golf course and to be a doting Grandad.

A man after my own heart, he plans to spend more time watching Manchester United.

Good luck Liam.

Wednesday 13 July 2011

Government backs Pendleton revamp plans



A multi-million pound regeneration project which will create 1,600 new homes in Salford has been approved by the government.

Housing Minister Grant Shapps has signed off the next stage of an investment programme for Pendleton after being reassured it will deliver improvements that are value for money for local people.

Since the October public spending review, housing private finance initiative (PFI) projects nationally have been put on hold to undergo further scrutiny from the Homes and Communities Agency.

Salford's plans survived the review which means the city council can now push forward with its plan to completely redevelop Pendleton with a mixture of new housing and improvements to some 1,200 existing homes.

The council will now put together a full business case to submit to the government for further review.

A decision is expected in the next few months after which a preferred bidder to carry out the work will be chosen.

Councillor Peter Connor, Salford City Council's lead member for housing said: "Our plan for Pendleton will give residents a better choice of affordable housing and we're pleased the government supports us in what we're trying to achieve.

"There is still lots to do but this news allows us to move to the next stage which is to submit further plans to the government so we can move to financial close and start work."

Leader of Salford City Council, Cllr John Merry said: "This review compared many PFI projects so for the Government to choose to support us shows our plans are very well thought out and good value for money for the people of Salford."

Saturday 2 July 2011

Tie a knot in it to save the planet, say the Greens.



Yes, there's trouble at the Green party, as we reported yesterday, with claims of internal strife and accusations of secrecy. But we shall not dwell on them here, for there are issues more pressing that impact on the future of mankind. The fact is there are too many people closing the curtains, dimming the lights, doing what people do with all the traditional repercussions. Caroline Lucas, the Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, says we need a good talking to about this. Interviewed by the politician/writer Dominic Carman, Lucas says this level of procreation may be OK in the developing world. But societies like ours need a rethink. "You are arguing for a shift in thinking in Britain where it is socially unacceptable to have more than two children?", asked Carman. "Yes, I am suggesting that a public debate may well lead in that direction," said Lucas. No legislation. This isn't China. Just a general frowning, perhaps, towards the careless; the excessively libidinous. Still, tell that to Peter Allen, who fought the Oldham byelection for the Greens earlier this year. He's a father of six.

From Hugh Muir's Guardian Diary.