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Thursday, Jul 17

15

UU looks to draw from the Bollin

United Utilities has lodged an EIA scoping report with Trafford Council for a river water abstraction scheme, along with associated treatment works and a service reservoir on land between Warburton and Broadheath.

14

Salford fails to make a decision on 3,300-home ‘city in the sky’

“One party is going to be happy and one party is going to be unhappy,” that was the message from the planning committee chair ahead of the tense deliberation of divisive plans to redevelop Regent Retail Park, which include a 70-storey…

13

PWA promotes Leyland to director

Having joined the planning consultancy in 2016, Louise Leyland will now take up a role as a key cog in the firm's executive management team.

Bury set to trigger £80m transport programme

Approval next week for infrastructure including a new footbridge will set in motion a wider improvement programme at the town’s transport interchange.

12

BOOK NOW | Greater Manchester Development Update 2025

Hear from Stephen Young for the first time in his new role as Salford City Council’s chief executive about his priorities for the city at Place North West’s September conference.

St Helens transport interchange tipped for go-ahead

ECF is seeking a green light from the local authority for scale, layout, and appearance of the project's second phase, recommended for approval at next week’s planning committee meeting.

11

Castle Chambers primed for upgrades

Owned by Merseyside Pension Fund, the Liverpool office building is set to receive a £5m refurbishment to bring it up to modern standards.

Landowner moves to cash in on Everton stadium hotel site

Having secured planning approval for an 80-bed scheme directly opposite the Toffees’ new stadium earlier this year, the owner is now looking to sell the site on.

10

June flurry boosts industrial sector’s H1 performance

A new record rent for the region in Warrington and 1.8m sq ft of deals across sheds larger than 50,000 sq ft were among the highlights of the first six months of the year, according to research by agency BOX4 Real Estate.

Manchester’s second largest Premier Inn tops out

The 229-bedroom hotel off Rochdale Road is being built by GMI Construction and is on course for an autumn 2026 opening.

Wednesday, Jul 16

16

Sensory room specialist plumps for new-build Cheshire HQ

Sandbach-based Rhino UK has decided to build a 16,000 sq ft office and warehouse from scratch having tried and failed to find any suitable existing stock close to its current base.

15

Trafford ramps up effort to stop the rot in ‘deteriorating’ neighbourhood

Placed on Historic England’s heritage at risk register more than 13 years ago, the blighted Empress Conservation Area in Old Trafford is now the subject of an attempt to “stimulate investment”.

13

Darwen Market Hall revamp tipped for go-ahead

Town Deal-funded, the project covers structural upgrades and a layout change to accommodate more stalls and F&B outlets.

Plans in for Bury office-to-resi

Prior approval is sought by Long View Estates to convert commercial space at Lester House into 28 town centre apartments.

Alexander appointed Tameside chief executive

Emma Alexander will take the top job at the troubled council in November when she joins from Derbyshire County Council, where she is currently managing director.

PODCAST | Scheming with Pete Swift

This week on Scheming, Planit co-founder Pete Swift lifts the lid on Liverpool’s UNESCO debacle and designing gardens for the Japanese mafia.

12

Tilbury Douglas to build Liverpool AI and robotics labs

The builder will deliver high containment level three labs for the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in Mount Pleasant, which will allow the school to provide advanced robotic labs with AI and automated systems able to handle the…

Spruce up planned for Manchester’s Spring Gardens

The building’s owners, Melcotton, want to modernise the 1980s office to improve the appearance of the main entrance and its thermal performance under plans designed by PRP Architects to be led by project manager OBI.

Wirral adds £8m to Birkenhead revamp budget

A report to the council’s policy & resources committee has confirmed that the likely final cost of the public realm and highways programme will be close to £24m, around double the original estimate.

10

Praxis maps out regeneration of Preston’s St John’s Shopping Centre

The underutilised retail asset in the heart of the city will be redeveloped into a resi-led scheme featuring 500 apartments.

Tuesday, Jul 15

17

Trafford nudges Lacy Street plans forward

The local council is seeking feedback from residents on proposals for 53 homes on the site of the former Royal Mail sorting office five years after the building was demolished to pave the way for development.

14

New-build spec office development returns in Manchester

Despite economic headwinds and sector uncertainty, Landsec has today commenced construction of a 243,000 sq ft office at Mayfield, underlining its confidence in the city’s workspace market.

13

Bruntwood SciTech rounds off £87m No 3 Circle Square

GMI Construction has handed over the 15-storey block, which has already attracted several established brands and aims to take advantage of the wealth of educated talent along Manchester’s Oxford Road corridor to lure more into the 67,000…

First phase of FEC’s Victoria Riverside completes after contractor switch

DEX, Far East Consortium’s in-house builder, took over from CR Construction earlier this year and has now handed over 341 of the scheme’s 634 homes.

12

Handforth could see 76-bed care home resurrection

Wrightcare Developments, a subsidiary of Eric Wright Group, has applied to Cheshire East Council to develop and subsequently manage a 24-hour residential care facility on the same plot where a similar facility was set alight in 1996.

Knauf plots Deeside expansion

Working with WSP, the insulation business intends to build a 160,000 sq ft rock mineral wool manufacturing facility at Shotton.

10

Last demolition phase underway for Blackpool Central

The former Bonny Street police station is being flattened, clearing the way for the town’s flagship £300m project.

Council cash to kickstart £13m Monument Place transformation

Plans for the public square in Liverpool's Fabric District will see footpaths improved, crossings upgraded and the introduction of segregated cycle lanes, while the plaza would be enhanced with an open bandstand, rain gardens, seating,…

09

Brack Construction proposes £18m Liverpool apartments

The local business has applied for permission to build 85 apartments in two six-storey blocks in the city’s Pumpfields district.

Monday, Jul 14

17

Wirral’s new broom looks to get house in order

An independent review has been commissioned into the council’s regeneration programme, as recently elected leader Paula Basnett seeks to address issues including delays and ballooning costs on Birkenhead's town centre improvements, along…