New tunnel to link to Milton Park

Work has started on refurbishing a long-disused tunnel beneath the Great Western Railway at Milton to provide a new pedestrian and cyclist path. OxLEP is providing around £900,000 towards the Backhill tunnel improvements which will eventually link residential areas with businesses at Milton Park New lighting will be installed which will be activated as pedestrians and cyclists approach to minimise energy use and light pollution. This new link will form part of a more extensive network proposed

Thimbleby & Shorland partner Chris Boreham takes the reins on Property Race Day

One of the biggest dates in the property diary will have a special meaning for Thimbleby & Shorland partner Chris Boreham. The Property Race Day at Ascot Racecourse on July 14 will not just be the chance to enjoy a flutter and a day out. Auctioneer - and part time amateur jockey - Mr Boreham will be making his debut at the world famous course in the final race of the day. His involvement began with a casual chat with a friend about the 1975 Ascot’s King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, now

St Modwen to develop 750 homes at Crab Hill

Housebuilder St Modwen has signed up to develop up to 750 homes at a 227-acre site in Wantage. A consortium of families which owns the Crab Hill site has agreed a deal for St Modwen to build half the 1,500 homes granted planning permission by Vale of White Horse District Council in 2015. St Modwen has submitted a detailed planning application for the first phase of 150 homes. Guy Gusterson, group residential director at St Modwen said: ”Crab Hill is one of the south east’s most significant

View from the Riverbank: Collaboration is king

Some recent lettings in the Thames Valley have had a distinctly different flavour.  Signed leases in Maidenhead (MyWorkSpot), Reading (work.life) and Basingstoke (Desk Lodge) have all been to co-working office operators, which some might say is just a fancy term for serviced offices of the Regus variety. However there is increasing evidence that the WeWork model is starting to generate a new demand model for occupiers. For example, IBM in New York have recently taken a 70,000 sq ft lease

157-home scheme at Greenham resubmitted

Plans for 157 homes at Greenham have been resubmitted after they were invalidated, despite gaining planning consent. Proposals for the land, north of Pinchington Lane by developer Rivar were found to be invalid because of a ‘cartographical error’ and have to go through process again. Rivar made its initial application in April 2016 after carrying out consultation in September 2015. The developer faced strong opposition from locals including members of Greenham Parish Council who feared it

Arborfield Cross Relief Road plans to go on display

Plans for the Arborfield Cross Relief Road go on display next week ahead of a planning application to be submitted next month. The proposed ‘Option B’ alignment of the new road, which is designed to cope with the 3,500 homes to be built at the former Arborfield Garrison, was preferred by 70 per cent of the 1,300 respondents to recent consultation. The exhibition, at the Henry Street Garden Centre, will be manned on Tuesday, June 13 (11am to 5.30pm), Wednesday, June 14 (2pm to 8:30pm) and

Property success puts Bucks County Council up for award

Property investments by Buckinghamshire County Council could help win the authority a local government award. The council has made it to the June 15 final of the Commercialism in Property category of the Municipal Journal Awards which recognise best practice in local authorities. Revenue from leasing its properties has risen from £730,000 in 2012, to nearly £4.5m due, both to a number of acquisitions and the regeneration of the council’s own estate, including Old County Hall, which has been

Campaign launched to fight Village Hotel plan at Basing View

A campaign has emerged to fight proposals for a 153-bedroom hotel at Basing View. Village Hotels was chosen by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council in October 2016 as the hotel operator to be given the lease on the site and provide a business class hotel as part of the redevelopment of the business park. But the hotel will have conference facilities, leisure club including swimming pool, a pub, a restaurant and a Starbucks and is about half a mile from Basingstoke Sports Centre which is under

Positive results for Broad Street Mall asset manager Moorgarth

The South African-owned company which operates Reading’s Broad Street Mall has posted positive results despite challenging market conditions. In its results to February 2017, Tradehold, parent company of mall asset manager Moorgarth, has announced revenue up 80 per cent to £51.6 million and total profit attributable to shareholders up 210 per cent to £44.3m. The results acknowledge Brexit uncertainties and a drop in consumer income. However Moorgarth grew its property portfolio by £36m to

'Community the key for a successful hub'

The Thames Valley’s need for a collaborative hub for the region’s digital and creative sectors is the focus of a new group set up to support start-ups and help them grow. The Thames Valley Tech Group brings together diverse organisations who support new and imaginative businesses both as an incubator for them and as an accelerator. Its aim is to create a collaborative hub both online and offline which fosters innovation. Thames Valley Property joined a roundtable discussion at the group’s last