NEWS

The latest property stories coming out of the Thames Valley

03/22/2018

Harwell expansion for Oxford Nanopore

One of Harwell’s high-tech successes has announced an expansion to a new 34,500 sq ft building on the science and innovation campus. Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd, which deals in DNA sequencing, has signed for the new purpose-built manufacturing base to meet growing demand. It includes high-spec clean rooms, laboratories, office space and logistics areas. The site will be used to manufacture and distribute the DNA and RNA sequencing products. Chief executive, Gordon Sanghera, said: “This
03/21/2018

£300m bid for Grazeley funds reaches Government shortlist

Infrastructure which could pave the way for 15,000 homes at Grazeley has moved a step closer after a £300 million funding bid moved up the Government’s agenda. A joint bid by West Berkshire, Reading and Wokingham councils was submitted to the ministry of housing, communities and local government last year and now the department has placed it on a shortlist of projects requiring infrastructure funds. The councils calculated that £750m of works was needed with the shortfall made up by
03/21/2018

Oxfordshire gets its first £32m for infrastructure

Around £32 million is to be spent on infrastructure in Oxfordshire in the first round of funding from the county’s £215m growth deal. Ten specific projects will each be given between £200,000 and £3.25m in the first year (2018/19), starting in April. In addition £20m will go to South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, Cherwell, West Oxfordshire district and and Oxford city councils for further projects which have not yet been announced. Similar sums will be spent in each of the following four
03/20/2018

68-home Cholsey scheme approved on appeal

A refusal by South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) to allow 68 homes in Cholsey has been overturned on appeal. The Bracknell office of Pegasus Group, representing Bellway Homes, has now gained full planning permission for the homes on a predominantly greenfield site at East End Farm, south east of Wallingford Road. SODC planning officers had recommended the application for approval, based on the lack of a five-year housing land supply. However, councillors supported local action groups and
03/20/2018

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
03/19/2018

View from the riverbank: Slough rises up the MIPIM agenda

Matthew Battle offers first hand thoughts from MIPIM in Cannes last week. It was a full house at the Cannes-upon-Thames MIPIM lunch last Wednesday. In fact we even had a couple of gatecrashers - James Swindlehurst, leader of Slough Borough Council and Joe Carter, director of regeneration - who added a little more glamour to the lunchtime proceedings. Ironically, Slough was one of the hot topics at MIPIM as the town offers what many people at the event were looking for - land to invest in,
03/19/2018

Northwood Regional to sharpen The Blade

Owners of The Blade in Reading have announced the landmark building’s first refurbishment. Northwood Regional, which acquired the 110,000 sq ft building last September from Aviva Investors, has announced plans to make a series of improvements inside and out. Occupiers of the building, Reading’s tallest office tower, include Bracket Global, Barton Wilmore and Urban Science and they will now be joined by Northwood itself which is due to relocate to the building later this month from its current
03/19/2018

Three pitch in for Maidenhead Golf Club

The shortlist of the final three developers to help build 2,000 homes at Maidenhead Golf Club has been published. The Royal Borough approved an emerging masterplan for the site last October and had announced its initial list of five possible development partners for the132-acre site in January, but has now selected the top three. They are: * Cala Homes in a joint bid with Home Group * Crest Nicholson * Taylor Wimpey The development, which is to the south of Maidenhead station, will include

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Independent Property
NEWS & VIEWS

Reporting daily from the Thames Valley tvproperty.co.uk

News

Harwell expansion for Oxford Nanopore

£300m bid for Grazeley funds reaches Government shortlist

Oxfordshire gets its first £32m for infrastructure

68-home Cholsey scheme approved on appeal

Done deal: £300m Basingstoke Leisure Park agreement signed

View from the riverbank: Slough rises up the MIPIM agenda

Northwood Regional to sharpen The Blade

Three pitch in for Maidenhead Golf Club