BFLNov.08 18/11/08 5:00 pm Page 8
news
Go ahead for SnOasis
GOVERNMENT approval has been given activities, visitor numbers are projected to cycle tracks and a 50-acre ecological
to the SnOasis indoor winter sports resort. be in the region of 650,000 per year. mitigation area.
Work will now commence on the 350-acre, Godfrey Spanner, md of developer
£350m, privately-funded development in Transport links Onslow Suffolk (see also bfl Oct),
Suffolk. During the construction phase, which will expressed his relief that the scheme was
As well as housing Europe’s largest indoor take 30 months, it is expected that 3,500 finally able to move forward after eight
ski slope, SnOasis intends to provide a jobs will be created. When complete, a years in development. He told bfl: “SnOasis
centre of excellence for winter sports athletes, further 1,800 full-time equivalent jobs will be will now become a reality bringing with it
catering for 14 different sports disciplines. provided. Locally, a package of benefits countless opportunities for jobs, the local
As a tourist destination offering an extensive costing £29m will be put in place, to and national economies, education,
array of sports, leisure and entertainment include improvements to road and rail links, athletes and the winter sports industry.
Team in place for Campus design
Birmingham Library challege
THE NEW £193m Library of Birmingham, designed by Dutch architects THE UNIVERSITY of Northampton has launched a
Mecanoo, will be built by Carillion. design competition for architects to master plan
The new building will be developed on land adjoining the Birmingham future developments at its 14.5-acre Avenue
Repertory Theatre in Centenary Square, with the library and theatre joining Campus in Northampton.
together and sharing a number of facilities to create a cultural centre for The aim is to enhance the site’s role as a centre for
knowledge, learning, arts and entertainment. Arts and Applied Sciences education and research,
As well as a shared reception, studio performance space and catering as well as to support community engagement.
facilities the new building will include purpose-designed study areas, new Gill Winder, director of Estates at the University,
exhibition spaces and interactive displays giving access to collections of told bfl: “The master plan will predict the
regional, national and international importance.
development of the Campus over the next 15-20
The delivery team, led by Capita Symonds, also includes engineers, Buro
years, embracing short term accommodation needs,
Happold, and design co-ordinators, Davis Langdon Schuman Smith.
and longer term plans for growth in Arts, Sciences
The Library, which is due to open in 2013, is part of a £1 billion public
and Technology, community facilities, and business
investment in the city. Other schemes include plans for the redevelopment
engagement.
of New Street Station and the expansion of Birmingham Airport.
Performance space
“The competition brief also includes plans for the
inclusion of new teaching spaces, a cinema,
Facilities strategy for
performance space and gallery, together with a
restaurant and bar, all of which will expand public
county cricket
access to the University’s facilities, particularly during
evenings and weekends.”
THE ENGLAND and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has implemented a county The competition is a two-stage process and is
facilities strategy to cover the next five years. supported by RIBA and CABE. The process will
The strategies are required to be completed by each County before the end actively seek input from stakeholders such as
of January and will be used by the ECB as the basis for prioritising residents, the business community, regional agencies
development resources, future funding and working with other partners. The
and local authorities as well as comment from the
process will be supported by consultant TrioPlus, which has undertaken similar
students and staff at the University along with the
work for the FA and LTA.
collaborative partners. Closing date for first stage
submissions is 17 December 2008.
8 building forleisure November 2008
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