University's top spot will help boost the region

Oxford University’s position as number one in the world will help the region compete globally. Last week the university became the first in Britain to occupy top position in the World University Rankings which judges the performance of 980 universities across 79 countries. The rankings, which began 13 years ago, had previously been headed by either the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and Harvard University. But by bringing the spotlight to Oxford, Jeremy Long, chair of

The Ivy Collection and OKA sign up for Tunsgate Quarter

Two of the most prestigious names in retail and dining have signed up for Guildford’s new Tunsgate Quarter. Queensbury which is extensively refurbishing the former Tunsgate Square, has announced lettings to the Ivy Collection and luxury British homewares brand OKA to anchor the regeneration project. Owners of The Ivy, Caprice Holdings will take 8,500 sq ft over two levels, including an alfresco dining terrace, with views over Guildford’s historic castle and gardens. The Ivy Collection boasts a

Council may step in to allow Station Hill to begin

The local authority is to consider buying a stake in land earmarked for Reading’s Station Hill development in a bid to thwart nearby landowners who are pursuing right to light claims. Reading Borough Council’s policy committee meets on Monday, September 26 to consider using rare powers to buy a share in the land which will allow Sackville Developments to continue its wholesale redevelopment to provide 930,000 sq ft of offices, 300 homes, 150,000 sq ft of retail plus leisure facilities at the

Row between two councils leads to CPO for new school

A Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) is to be issued by West Berkshire Council to buy land for a new school after a long-running row with one of its parishes. Councillors at West Berkshire voted to proceed with the CPO after a protracted row between the authority and Theale Parish Council over relinquishing the lease Theale has on the five acres of land which is owned by the Englefield Estate. West Berkshire needs to create more places for Theale Church of England Primary School and wants to

Alnylam to pioneer revolutionary drugs from Maidenhead

A US biotech company developing revolutionary treatments has chosen the Thames Valley for its new development and commercial hub for Europe. Alnylam which is about to start worldwide clinical trials in humans of a treatment called RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics, has set up at 20,000 sq ft of offices at Braywick Gate, close to Maidenhead station. The firm has just 13 staff in the building but plans to rapidly expand to between 120 and 150. And it was the area’s classic attractions of

Call for sites prompts 200 suggestions

A ‘call for sites’ by Wokingham Borough Council has prompted 200 suggestions. All 200 sites which members of there public put forward for development, are being put on a map which can be viewed at www.wokingham.gov.uk/localplanupdate. It shows each site and its size with what the promoter of each has suggested it could be used for. The sites will help the council in deciding how the Local Plan will pave the way forward for development in the borough until 2036. Executive member for planning

Earth Trust plans major rebuild at Little Wittenham

The Earth Trust has unveiled proposals for a major redevelopment of visitor facilities at its Little Wittenham centre in South Oxfordshire. Plans sent to South Oxfordshire District Council show the charity plans new access, car park, learning and skills centre, amphitheatre with seating for 250, three barns, replica roundhouses and the conversions of its offices to a small cafe and farm shop and of the existing learning barn into new offices. The trust which already attracts around 150,000

Toys R Us plans to move to Reading Gateway

Toys R Us plans to move to the new Reading Gateway development alongside the A33 when its Kenavon Drive site closes for redevelopment. Kier Reading LLP is building a mixed use scheme at the former Hewlett Packard site at Worton Grange and has had to seek clarification in its planning permission, namely to allow the sale of baby and children’s clothing which was not among the stated items allowed to be sold in its original consent. The request is to allow Toys R Us to incorporate a 74 sq m area

Foreign Investment success for Thames Valley Berkshire LEP

The numbers of foreign investment projects into Berkshire rose 52 per cent in the last 12 months. Figures published by Thames Valley Berkshire LEP (TVBLEP) show 67 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects came to the area in the last year, 52 per cent up on the previous 12 months. Many were classified as good or high value wins creating 1,714 new jobs, which is itself a 68 per cent increase on the previous year. The highest level of investment from the Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific.

Abbey Gardens South signs up two new occupiers

Two new occupiers have signed up to move into office space totalling 10,200 sq ft at the Abbey Gardens South development in Reading. Provider of cloud services Inframon has taken 2,644 sq ft on the ground floor on a five-year lease, while recruitment business Premier Group, has taken 7,556 sq ft on the fifth floor of the refurbished development which is part of the Abbey Gardens complex owned by Hermes Investment Management. Stephen Ellis, asset manager at Hermes Investment Management said: