LONDON | Projects & Construction

[erbse]

^ Is this a completely new complex?

I tend to like this sort of postmodernism.

[Ulpia-Serdica]

Sprucing up Silicon Roundabout



David Cameron and Boris Johnson have unveiled plans to transform Silicon Roundabout - or rather Tech City as the government likes to call it.



A number of major international firms announced new investments in the east London technology cluster , but the big news is about the roundabout itself.

The Old Street roundabout, the busy and undistinguished traffic intersection which is the focus for Tech City, is to be given a complete makeover.

What we're promised is what the Prime Minister described as "the largest civic space in Europe - a place for start-up companies and the local community to come together and become the next generation of entrepreneurs".

An excited Downing Street advisor tells me that this will become a focal point for the creative and technology types who inhabit the streets of Shoreditch and the fringes of the City.

"There'll be 3D printing labs, artists and designers will drop in," he explains. With the 3D printing revolution taking off, he paints a picture of a new age of digital manufacturing, starting in the London cluster but spreading out across the UK.

The pictures of the plans certainly look a lot more attractive than what is there at the moment, and Tech City could do with a landmark venue - something for television reporters to use as a recognisable image, and a place to take visiting investors to prove that there's more to the area than a few web designers getting together over a latte.

But this does not come cheap - the government is investing £50m in the new building, and what is described as the "peninsularisation" of the area around the roundabout. There will be further contributions from Boris Johnson's budget and hopefully from the private sector.

If you were a start-up technology company in a cluster elsewhere in the UK - in Dundee or Guildford or Cambridge - you might ask why yet more money and attention was being focused on London.

Mind you, the other day I asked one of the leading lights of the Cambridge technology scene whether he was jealous of the spotlight shone on Tech City. He smiled, and said Cambridge didn't really need to worry as it had lots of real hi-tech firms started by scientists, rather than what he dismissively described as the "munchkins" starting businesses in east London.

Still, Downing Street believes that the decision by the Prime Minister two years ago to throw his weight behind the east London cluster is already paying off.

"Berlin, Paris - they've nothing like this," I am told. The government says there has been a huge increase in the number of start-up technology firms in East London since it got involved in promoting the area.

What we have not yet seen is whether any of them can grow into the world class companies that have emerged from some of Britain's other tech clusters.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20613655

[erbse]

^ That building doesn't show genuine and adequate design. It's disrespecting both its surroundings and the shape of the roundabout.

They could have easily developed a cool blob for this spot, but instead they've gone for this... Whatever it is that absolutely doesn't fit there.

[PortoNuts]

Originally Posted by erbse

^ Is this a completely new complex?

The old building is there already of course.

[PortoNuts]

Originally Posted by Ulpia-Serdica

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20613655

Interesting building. That area is a bit of a mess anyway, this can only be good.

[el palmesano]

amazing projects!!

[PortoNuts]

One Tower Bridge

by No Expert.

[PortoNuts]

Eagle House



Mount Anvil acquired this stalled development site near the Old Street roundabout in September 2012 from the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA), in joint venture with Area Property Partners.

The 27-storey project will comprise 276 new homes, including 206 for private sale. The affordable element will be managed by Family Mosaic. The development will include 6,312 sq m of commercial space, 36 parking spaces and a public square. Farrells, the original scheme architects, have been re-employed to help deliver a striking, landmark building.

With a GDV of £160m, the scheme will commence on site in Summer 2013 with the first apartments to launch in Spring 2014 and practical completion in Summer 2015.

http://www.mountanvil.com/en/our_dev...89615C1D558A65

[PortoNuts]

The Place

by anthonySE1.

[PortoNuts]

Refurbishment work keeps London construction active

There have been 25 new starts across London in the past six months, adding to the 34 recorded six months ago. The total office space now under construction in central London is nine million sq ft.

Refurbishment projects now account for 25% of all space under development with 15 of the new starts being refurbishment projects.

In the City of London, nine new schemes have started to provide a total of 4.1 million sq ft – a 15% increase on six months ago. This is the first time that construction has risen above 4 million sq ft since Q1 2009.

Six of these nine new starts are refurbishments, the largest of which is QV Unit Trust’s 187,000 sq ft at 77 Queen Victoria Street. The development profile of the City now shows just over half of the schemes as comprehensive refurbishments (14 out of 27).

However, while construction levels continue to increase, the decision to defer many scheme starts in 2009 and 2010 means that completions remain low. The survey highlights that 2012 will record the lowest level of office completions in the City for more than 25 years at approximately 718,000 sq ft.

The recent rise in activity translates into delivery of 1.5 million sq ft in 2013 and 2.3 million sq ft in 2014.

In the West End, new construction activity slowed over the summer with just eight new starts totalling 270,500 sq ft – the lowest volume of new space starting for two years. The total level of office space under construction in the West End now totals 2.3 million sq ft, a 14% drop on the last ‘crane survey’.

Despite this slowdown, the 28 schemes that are under development are up from the 23 recorded a year ago. With further schemes identified to start in the coming months, positive market sentiment continues amongst both developers and investors, Drivers Jonas Deloitte said. The West End has seen 572,000 sq ft completed over the past six months across eight schemes.

http://www.theconstructionindex.co.u...ruction-active

[PortoNuts]

[PortoNuts]

Singaporeans lead Far East interest in buying investment property in London

The strength of the private rented sector, coupled with an excellent track record for capital growth, is continuing to make the city a target for Far East investors and the rush to buy London residential property is showing no signs of slowing down, according to Benham and Reeves Residential Lettings, one of London's largest, independent letting agents.

‘We hold regular investment seminars in the Far East two but this has been our busiest trip ever, with over 100 investors, mainly doctors, lawyers and other professionals, attending,’ said Anita Mehra, managing director of the London letting agency.

‘Compared to other major, international cities, London is still a relatively affordable place to buy property, thanks in part to the weakness of the pound. Far East investors recognise prime London's outstanding potential for lettings and many of the professionals we meet already own around six or seven London residential properties. We're also seeing a large increase in capital budgets,’ she explained.

The firm has found that Singaporeans are showing the greatest level of interest and this is buoyed by the weakness of sterling and the strength of the Singapore dollar, making London property around 30% cheaper for Singaporeans than five years ago.

‘Investors are becoming more knowledgeable about the London property market. They do their homework and know what is letting quickly and which areas are most popular,’ said Mehra.

...

http://www.propertywire.com/news/eur...212067218.html

[PortoNuts]

Waltham Forest Council urges government to help it build more homes

LAWS on borrowing should be relaxed to help solve the housing crisis, it is claimed. Cllr Marie Pye, who is responsible for trying to create new homes in Waltham Forest, said 300 homes could be built quickly if the government removed restrictions aimed at cutting public sector debt.

Currently there is a cap on council borrowing but Cllr Pye has joined other councils in calling for authorities to be able secure loans against the value of their housing assets.

There are 21,000 people on the waiting list for homes in the borough, with many currently living in poor conditions.

And Cllr Pye said the simple step could make a significant difference to the lives of vulnerable families.

She added: "We need more homes. Everybody will tell you that and yet currently local government is being hamstrung by rules imposed upon us that prevent sensible borrowing to stimulate house building.

...

http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/new...ld_more_homes/

[PortoNuts]

Providence Tower - Tower Hamlets

by uk.de.

image hosted on flickr

[Sid Vicious]

this will be a grat residential tower with 43 floors!

[PortoNuts]

Originally Posted by Douglas Quaid

[SO143]

WOOOOW CW IS FLEXING ITS MUSCLE

[PortoNuts]

Three Quays

by cybertect.

[PortoNuts]

One Tower Bridge

by cybertect.

[PortoNuts]

Kings Cross Lands

by potto.

Arthouse:



David Chipperfield Underground "white tiled" passage underway



B2 Chipperfield columns installed



Looking back towards the Gymnasium & St Pancras



Camden Council building at level 11



Residentials completed and Student Block nearly externally complete