PROPERTY London’s Garden Bridge gets approval


Thomas Heatherwick and Joanna Lumley’s controversial Garden Bridge over the Tames has won planning permission from Westminster Council. Planning permission for the £175m


Caruso St. John masterplanned the project


Liverpool Philharmonic Hall reopens after refurbishment


Liverpool Philharmonic Ha l l , welcomed back members of the public on 13 November following the completion of part of its £13.8m refurbishment. An ongoing project to completely refur-


bish the interior of the 1939 concert hall is being headed up by architects Caruso St. John, which has previously worked on sites including the Tate Britain and the Barbican. Originally designed by Herbert Rowse,


the project at the Grade II-listed hall is split across two phases, both of which will hope- fully be complete by Q3 of 2015. Phase one is focused on the main hall,


including work on the auditorium, all front of house spaces and backstage dressing rooms. Phase two will see construction of a new space – a smaller performance venue. Details: http://lei.sr?a=P2u8a


Exeter bidding to become major retail and leisure hub


Crown Estate and TH Real Estate are set to invest £70m in Exeter city centre, adding a leisure extension to their jointly-owned existing Princesshay retail development. Princesshay Leisure will redevelop the


bus and coach station, creating 180,000sq ſt of new leisure space including a new cin- ema, restaurants and cafes. Te site will be adjacent to a proposed council-led swimming pool and sports facility. Te £20m leisure facility will boast a 25m,


eight lane competition pool with seating for 250 spectators, a 20m four-lane training pool and a small leisure pool. Te pool will have a moveable floor to be fully accessible. Also included in the plan is a fitness


suite, three studios, sauna, steam and relaxation area, a climbing wall, soſt play, a creche, seminar rooms, and coffee bar. Exeter city council is currently look-


ing into pools and leisure facilities around Europe to get ideas for the most cost effective, environmentally-friendly pool. Details: http://lei.sr?a=g4T3v


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bridge was granted in early December at Westminster City Hall in a meet- ing attended by more than 120 people. Te Garden Bridge plan will con-


nect the South Bank and Temple areas of London. Westminster Council is the second body to grant planning per- mission for the build, aſter Lambeth Council did so on 11 November. Funding for the bridge will come


Tomas Heatherwick’s controversial Garden Bridge proposal


from several sources. Transport for London (TFL) has agreed to pay £30m, which will be matched by the Treasury and the rest will met by private donors. Te Garden Bridge Trust has reportedly raised £120m towards the costs. Westminster Council has also suggested


TFL act as a guarantor for the yearly running costs of the bridge – expected to total £3.4m. Controversy has surrounded the Garden


Bridge, with concerns repeatedly raised about the bridge’s impact on sight lines of St Paul’s Cathedral and Monument. Despite this,


Westminster Council granted permission, with a spokesperson saying the bridge was given planning based on the “significant public ben- efits, iconic design, increased connectivity and creation of a large open space in London.” City Hall still has to ratify the proposal


in January 2015 as the project is a major infrastructure development. Mayor Boris Johnson will have the final say on the bridge, which if approved, would break ground at the end of 2015 for an opening in 2018. Details: http://lei.sr?a=n5x4W


Iconic TV studios to become event hotel


Allied London has revealed plans to redevelop Manchester’s Granada Studios, the former home of Coronation Street, into an event hotel. Studios, rehearsal and pro-


duction rooms – including the studio where Te Beatles played their first ever live TV performance – will be brought to life with a programme of live entertainment, for which guests will be able to buy packages. Development of The


Te famous Quay Street studios hosted many historic events


Manchester Grande is expected to begin in 2016, following a formal plan- ning process. The hotel will incorporate four restaurants and a number of dif- ferent bars. It will form a key part of the development of the St Johns neighbourhood. Inspired by hotels in New York, Miami and


the Far East, the focus will be on music, film, theatre and arts and club events. Michael Ingall, CEO of Allied London, said:


“We’re creating a new neighbourhood in the heart of Manchester. A place that distinguishes itself by its unique cultural history, diverse mix of inhabitants, rich context and its position at the crossroads of Manchester’s network.”


Read Leisure Opportunities online: www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/digital Levitt Bernstein Associates has been


appointed as architects. Te firm has collab- orated with Allied London on a number of projects including nearby No 1. Hardman Street. Gary Tidmarsh, chair at Levitt Bernstein,


added: “Te creation of St Johns, with the exciting concept for the Manchester Grande at its heart, will preserve the studios as a key part of Manchester’s heritage and cultural destination.” A rooſtop lounge bar is being created on the ninth story, which will look like a glowing box on the Manchester sky- line and replace the iconic Granada sign. Details: http://lei.sr?a=K9G4p


Twitter: @leisureopps © CYBERTREK 2014


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