204 student flats and 'energy centre' planned for Woking

Plans for 204 student flats have been submitted for a site in Woking which will incorporate an energy centre, designed to help power homes across the town. The application by Woking Borough Council-owned low carbon energy supplier Thameswey, would provide a 17-storey tower with a 2,305 sq m energy centre on the ground and first floors, communal areas, including a gym, on the second and third, and conference, bar and event space at the top. The student flats will have shared kitchens. The

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

Council leader backs Wisley Airfield refusal

Guildford council leader Paul Spooner has issued a statement backing the secretary of state’s decision to refuse plans for 2,068 homes on Green Belt land at Wisley Airfield. The hotly-disputed plans by Wisley Property Investments Ltd (WPIL) which had included shops, schools and open spaces, were refused by Guildford Borough Council in 2016. WPIL’s subsequent appeal was heard last year and in his report, refusing permission, planning inspector Clive Hughes said the plans lacked adequate

'Flexible solution' for Camberley House of Fraser store

A statement issued by Surrey Heath Borough Council (SHBC) has said its ownership of the Camberley House of Fraser store means it can help regenerate the town in the face of the shop's closure. SHBC bought The Square shopping centre (previously called The Mall) two years ago to regenerate it, so the freehold of the House of Fraser store is owned by the council. But the store is on the list of 31 destined to be closed if its creditors agree to its proposed rescue package. In a joint statement

House of Fraser 'closures' impact the Thames Valley

All three House of Fraser stores in Buckinghamshire have been earmarked for closure along with an outlet store in Swindon while the Reading shop survived the company’s CVA. The retailer announced that 31 stores face closure including branches in High Wycombe, Aylesbury and Milton Keynes while its three-storey shop at The Oracle in Reading which has been one of the centre’s anchors since it opened almost 19 years ago, is one of 28 which have survived for now. In Surrey, the Camberley and Epsom

Development partner wanted for Camberley town centre

A development partner is needed to help regenerate a section of Camberley town centre. Surrey Heath Borough Council (SHBC) is looking to transform a two-hectare area on the A30 London Road between the High Street and Park Street, opposite the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. SHBC has already invested £140 million in Camberley which includes acquiring and refurbishing The Square shopping centre, road and public realm improvements and converting Ashwood House offices into 116 flats. The new

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

248 homes planned for Camberley

Plans for 248 properties at Camberley have been submitted by Nicholas King Homes. The application to Surrey Heath Borough Council is for a 21.2-hectare site at Water’s Edge, Mytchett. The developer plans 30 one-bedroom homes, 96 with two, 78 with three and 44 with four and four-plus bedrooms. The site is largely vacant but there are buildings which were intended to be used as a golf driving range and restaurant but are currently unused. The development is around a kilometre from both North

Scoping request submitted for 1,000-home Fairoaks Garden Village

A scoping opinion request has been submitted over plans for 1,000-home Fairoaks Garden Village in Surrey. The scheme, originally intended to have 1,500 homes, has been reduced in size by a third following public consultation by architects JTP. Consultant RPS has submitted the scoping request over the need for an environmental impact assessment. The revised scheme also features: A new access road through the village from north to south An increase in the employment space to 63,990 sq m Open

New format for region's top property event

The region’s top property event has been given a new expanded format with awards for the top industry leaders. The annual Thames Valley Property Forum, which has grown into a landmark event in property circles, will this year become TVPropFest, an all-day festival based on four key themes of walks, talks, awards and music. The traditional speakers and panel debates will still form part of the day but a choice of carefully planned walks, live music and an awards dinner, at which former home

174-home Broadoaks Park scheme submitted

A mixed use scheme including 174 new homes, offices, a care home and both the restoration and demolition of various buildings (some of them listed), has been submitted to Woking Borough Council. Octagon Developments’ plans for the Broadoaks Park scheme in Parvis Road, West Byfleet include: Listed building consent to demolish an empty office building called Sherwood House to make way for assisted living homes and parking on the site. * Restoration of the listed ‘Model Dairy’ building for

'Stop dithering and deliver on Heathrow'

Thames Tap’s Andrew Gibson was invited to attend the All Party Parliamentary Group for International Trade breakfast at the House of Commons on Wednesday, March 7. The trade panel discussion, which centred on Heathrow’s expansion to incorporate a third runway, posed the question: Is the UK equipped to make the most of opportunities from global trade? Both transport infrastructure and an export strategy are needed to help make Heathrow’s third runway a success, a Commons committee heard last

Guildford gives up fight against Solum

Councillors in Guildford have dropped plans for a judicial review of the planning inspector’s decision to allow a major development around the town’s railway station. Developer Solum, a joint venture between Network Rail and Kier Property, won its appeal in January for a development that included 438 flats and new buildings at the station itself. It had previously been turned down by Guildford Borough Council. Now the council has issued a statement and video, saying it will now try to ensure

Elmbridge to set up new housing company

A housing company is to be set up by Elmbridge Borough Council. A business plan is now being set out and directors to the new council-owned company appointed across its Surrey patch which is mostly inside the M25. It plans to ensure more affordable homes are built. Cllr Roy Green, portfolio holder for housing, said: “This new company will allow us to respond to the needs of the people who live and work in Elmbridge, working with our partners and contractors to build homes that will help local

438 flats and new station buildings for Guildford

A massive scheme to redevelop Guildford station and build 438 flats with commercial space has been won on appeal. More than 18 months after Solum, a joint venture between Network Rail and Kier Property, was turned down by planners at Guildford Borough Council, planning inspector David Morgan has allowed the application, saying there will be social benefits and a significant boost to the housing supply. The scheme, fiercely opposed by the Guildford Society, proposes six blocks plus a