Top names in line up for TvPropFest

BBC business journalist Tanya Beckett will interview one of the key figures driving radical plans for Reading’s new cultural quarter at the first Thames Valley Property Festival (TvPropFest). The interview - with Sally Swift, director of Theatre & Arts Reading - will be among the highlights of a day of walks, talks, awards and music, celebrating some of the most exciting property developments in the region and discussing many of the concerns in the rapidly-evolving industry. There will also be

Three new faces at Frasers Property

Winnersh Triangle owner Frasers Property UK has announced three key appointments. Chris Stevens and Eilidh McAllister have joined its asset management team while Katharine Westcar has become head of marketing (commercial). Mr Stevens has 12 years experience in real estate investment and asset management. He was previously with Resolution Property where he asset managed UK and German office investments. Prior to that, he worked for Singaporean Sovereign wealth fund, GIC Ms McAllister was

Mothercare closures in the Thames Valley

A tweet of a leaked list of Mothercare stores to close shows several branches in the Thames Valley. The retailer is carrying out a series of closures and rent reductions through a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA). The tweet by Glasgow-based Ditchfield Property (@DitchProp) suggests the longstanding outlet in King Street, Reading along with others in Guildford, Aldershot and Newbury are on the list of 50 which will close over the next 12 months while those where a rent reduction is to be

'We have changed people's perceptions of Basingstoke'

Thames Tap spoke to two of the leading figures behind the multi-billion pound regeneration of Basingstoke; Cllr John Izett, former managing director of Rogers Chapman at the time it was sold to JLL, and Victor Nicholls, former deputy chief executive of Bracknell Forest Council. Both public and private investment is flowing into Basingstoke and the councillor overseeing the town’s regeneration has no doubts why. A combination of an 8,000-home Garden Town, the £300 million rebuilding of its main

Hotel 'will help Basingstoke compete with Reading and Guildford'

Councillors have approved plans for a 153-bedroom hotel at Basing View. The Village Hotel scheme was given approval at Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council’s development control committee on Wednesday, May 9. It will have a leisure club (including swimming pool), conference centre and meeting area, kitchen and pub, restaurant and a Starbucks. It will also have 245 parking spaces. Iain Stackhouse, head of property at Village Hotel Club, said: “We’re excited about bringing Village Hotel Club to

Go-ahead for more flats and shops in Farnborough

Permission has been granted for 30,000 sq ft of shops and restaurants, 24,000 sq ft of leisure and 68 flats in Farnborough town centre. Rushmoor Borough Council's development management committee approved Key Property Investments’ (KPI) plans for the 14-acre site, next to The Meads shopping centre, on April 25. KPI, a joint venture between developer St Modwen and Kuwait based Salhia Real Estate, will also provide a new link bridge for residents of the flats. The development is the latest part

Homes, hotel and drive-through plan for The Camrose ground

Leaflets have gone out to residents living near Basingstoke Town FC’s Camrose stadium for its redevelopment into homes, a hotel and a fast food drive-through. Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council’s cabinet agreed on March 6 to press ahead with plans that would bring about a new stadium for the club at Winklebury. Now Basron Developments has begun consulting locals on plans for 90 homes, a 90-bedroom hotel and the drive-through on the current Camrose ground. A consultation took place at the

New stadium plans for Aldershot Town FC

Aldershot Town FC is planning a complete redevelopment of its stadium. The EBB Stadium, formerly the Recreation Ground, has been the club’s home since it was formed in 1926 but on Wednesday, March 21, the club presented plans to Rushmoor Borough Council for a wholesale redevelopment. Plans include both new standing and seated areas, new bars and conference facilities. The council is also seeking an investment partner to look at development opportunities on land it owns including the

Done deal: £300m Basingstoke Leisure Park agreement signed

A development agreement has been signed to press ahead with plans for a new £300 million retail and leisure park in Basingstoke. Work on a planning application can now go ahead after the deal was signed between Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and NewRiver REIT Plc. The redevelopment of Basingstoke Leisure Park will create 500,000 sq ft of new leisure activities along with a 200,000 sq ft designer outlet village. Discussions had concluded in January. The redevelopment will involve

Basingstoke Town FC set for new stadium at Winklebury

A new stadium for Basingstoke Town FC could result from a council meeting on Tuesday (March 6). Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s cabinet will decide on a proposal for a long lease at the existing Winklebury Stadium to Hampshire Football Association (Hants FA) which will pave the way for a partnership with the football club. The Hants FA, which currently uses the complex, would manage and develop facilities at the stadium with funds from the Football Foundation under a 75-year lease. A

Hart to seek Article 4 Direction to halt PD schemes

Councillors are to seek an Article 4 Direction to slow down the number of conversions of employment sites to residential in the Hart district in Hampshire. Hart District Council’s planning committee decided on Wednesday, February 14, to implement a ‘non-immediate’ Article 4 Direction which will take more than a year to come into force and will mean Permitted Development rights would no longer be available at ‘strategic employment sites’. A report ahead of the meeting stated: “Hart has seen a