'Can-Float' homes plan sunk by council

Proposals for 24 ‘Can-Float’ homes at Theale Lake have been refused before reaching West Berkshire Council planners. Developer Berfeld Ltd had planned 201 new homes plus 24 along the border of the lake at Burghfield Sailing Club in Hangar Lane - first proposed over a year ago - which could ‘float’ if the water level rose. But officers ruled the plan failed to have due regard to the sensitivity of the area to change, was inappropriate in location and scale and would have a harmful impact on the

Park Farm spot for OxTS

Navigation system developer Oxford Technical Solutions (OxTS) has expanded to new offices at Park Farm Business Centre, north of Oxford. The firm develops cutting edge systems, not just for traditional automotive uses but for others including  scanning road profiles, assessing the condition of trees from the air and navigating driverless vehicles. It has grown out of its existing premises at Upper Heyford to take 5,872 sq ft at the barn conversion at Middleton Stoney near Bicester. Tom

View from the riverbank: Councils, it's time to talk

Our recent Industrial round table appears to have set a few hares running across the Thames Valley housing and planning landscape.  The issue of how the region as a collective increases the number of housing completions and the provision of genuinely affordable housing, is fast becoming mission critical. As one of the powerhouses of the UK economy, it is essential that we have housing available for the growing workforce and without a joined up discussion between the adjoining regions of South

LEP warns it's Green Belt or flood plain

In Part 3 of our round table debate on the issues around industrial developments, delegates debated the local authority emphasis on housing, an area on which Thames Valley Berkshire LEP has been working. The LEP chief executive Tim Smith has contacted us with the following contribution to the debate: “Thames Valley Berkshire LEP is keen to add to the TVP Debate, Part 3. It is crucial that housing availability and affordability do not become serious constraints on the future growth of our

Hermes sells half its share in Milton Park for £200m

Milton Park owner Hermes has agreed to sell a 50 per cent share in it to Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) for around £200 million. The 250-acre park at Didcot is home to many leading global science and technology companies as well as emerging businesses, including several spin-offs from Oxford University. Around 9,000 people work at the park which is managed by MEPC. Chris Taylor, head of private markets for Hermes Investment Management, said: “The deal marks another significant

LSH report says Thames Valley is holding up well against uncertainties

The office market in the Thames Valley has remained resilient despite the many political uncertainties, according to a new report. The 2017 Thames Valley Office Market Report by Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) says there has been a significant shift in demand and the region’s continued success required decisions to be taken using ‘granular detail from each micro-location’. Nick Coote, head of Thames Valley for Lambert Smith Hampton lists the key events as: Referendum fallout, triggering of Article

'We've ducked the Local Plan'

Politicians have ducked the issue of the Royal Borough’s Local Plan for over a decade and must now do all they can to get it accepted by the examiner. The council's cabinet member for Maidenhead regeneration, Cllr David Evans, gave the candid view to guests at the The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Property Forum on July 6 at Windsor Guildhall. He told the audience of industry professionals: “We started that exercise over 10 years ago, had a plan turned down at its examination and

'Windsor has lost a third of its offices to residential'

Around 800 jobs have been lost to Windsor’s business market as offices have given way to residential developments. Christopher Thomas from Christopher Thomas property consultants, the town’s main player in the office and retail market, told guests at the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Property Forum at Windsor Guildhall around 100,000 sq ft had gone from the market which was roughly a third of what was available. Office rents which had been £35 per sq ft in 1991 and had sunk – in one

Windsor Castle's £27m facelift unveiled

Plans to make £27 million of visitor improvements to Windsor Castle were unveiled to industry professionals at a Royal Borough property forum. A learning centre, café, signs, toilets and a gallery to explain the history of the medieval castle, will be installed along with a new system of entry to cut queuing at peak times. Tot Brill, future programme director at the Royal Collection Trust was keynote speaker at the July 6 Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead (RBWM) Property Forum at Windsor

Two-year events plan to boost Basingstoke town centre

Councillors in Basingstoke have approved the latest two-year programme of events to keep bringing people to the town centre. Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council’s cabinet approved the fourth town centre plan which will run from 2017 – 2019, at its meeting on July 11. The council wants to encourage investment to the town and reported an increase in the take up of units over the last six months including opening of sports shop Up and Running, steakhouse and wine bar Number 12 and a Mexican