New Crossrail images released

New images have been released which show how some of the Crossrail stations will look. Our image shows Crossrail at Paddington while Network Rail has said there will be little noticeable change at Reading. The images of the new show some of the common features passengers will see at platform level, as well as the bespoke design of the ticket halls and surface areas which will reflect the character of their local areas. The new stations, all of which will be step-free from train to street,

Lift off for Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre

Work is due to start this summer on a massive conference centre at Farnborough International. The venue will have 134,000 sq ft of exhibition space, 2,500 conference seats and 14 multi-purpose function rooms. Named Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre, it will become the third-largest events venue in south east England. Work is likely to begin as soon as the Farnborough Air Show finishes on July 17 and be complete by 2018. Farnborough International chief executive, Shaun

Outstanding award for T A Fisher

T A Fisher was presented the Outstanding Contribution award at the Thames Valley Property Awards at Ascot Racecourse on Thursday, May 12. The award, the final one of the evening, was for a special contribution to the Thames Valley. T A Fisher managing director John Fisher was presented the trophy by Simon Perkins, managing director of category sponsor McKay Securities. The event host was former England cricket captain David Gower. The T A Fisher story Thomas Alfred Fisher was an entrepreneur

Wokingham seeks public help for development

Councillors in Wokingham have asked the public’s help on future developments. The borough council has set out two ways for residents to help; by asking for comments on assessing development land and through a ‘call for sites’. In producing a Local Plan the council works with neighbouring authorities to agree a way of assessing what land should be set aside for new homes, businesses and other uses in a process known as a Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA). It guides how

Demolition starts ahead of Farnborough retail scheme

Work is due to start imminently to demolish buildings ahead of a new retail park at Farnborough. Fairacre Asset Management has applied to begin demolition of Pyramid House, Jolen House, Oaklands House and PC World before two retail or retail/ warehouse buildings with mezzanine floors subdivided into five units along with 234 parking spaces and 26 cycle spaces, are built. The new buildings, accessed from Solartron Road, on the edge of the town centre already have planning. The consent is an

Western Rail Link project prepares for the next level

More than 80 per cent support has been reported from consultations on the proposed Western Rail Link to Heathrow as Network Rail prepares to take the project to the next level. Bosses are preparing for the third consultation at the start of next year – the statutory phase ahead of the application for the development consent order (DCO) – and have been pleased by the public’s response, even from many of those living close to the proposed route. The Western Rail Link project will provide a

TVBLEP backs Heathrow boss's letter to David Cameron

Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has welcomed the news of Heathrow airport’s response to Government pressure to meet strict requirements for a third runway. TVBLEP chairman Peter Read has issued a statement backing the letter to David Cameron by airport chief executive John Holland-Kaye. Mr Read said: “Over six months ago the long awaited Davies Commission report on airport capacity was published, and we believed London and the south-east would finally make headway in

Support for Heathrow statement

Heathrow airport’s announcement that it will meet or exceed the requirements set out by the Government to allow a third runway has won support locally. The airport’s chief executive John Holland-Kaye wrote to the prime minister today to set out details of the ways in which Heathrow will meet the stringent requirements of the Airports Commission. Mr Holland-Kaye addressed all 10 requirements and stated: “We have acted now to let you and your government make the right choice, in the long term

Sir John Madejski joins guests at First Tuesday Club

Sir John Madejski joined around 80 guests for lunch as First Tuesday Club held its latest meeting. Along with networking, guests learned the latest on developments at the Broad Street Mall at the event on Tuesday, May 10 at the Green Park Conference Centre, thanks to Thames Valley Property supporter Hicks Baker. Our Voice of Retail, Fiona Brownfoot, introduced one of the key mall bosses Tim Vaughan from asset managers Moorgarth. But Ms Brownfoot set the scene by asking guests which the first

Basingstoke retail plan faces hostile reaction

Plans to redevelop Basingstoke Leisure Park into a £200m leisure and retail park have been met with hostility from locals. Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council, which owns the site entered into an exploratory exclusivity agreement with developer NewRiver Retail in February to look into the radical plans. Under the proposals, much of the current facilities will be replaced; an aquadrome replacing the swimming pool and a velodrome and extreme sports facilities are planned to add to the existing