Manchester-based architects Buttress Fuller Alsop Williams (BFAW) have been appointed to lead the redevelopment of the West Berkshire Museum in Newbury. Margate, Kent-based Houghton Kneale Design (HKD) have also been selected to form part of the project team and will be responsible for the exhibition and interpretation design. The appointments follow a successful first round bid for funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), with work to be undertaken during

Cork City Council (CCC) has called on Heineken Ireland and BAM Contractors to provide additional details relating to plans for a new EUR150m (£133.4m) Brewery Quarter. Proposals for the project was submitted by the joint venture partners in December, which is designed to transform the former site of the Beamish and Crawford Brewery. However, the Irish Times has reported that councillors have requested further details and have given the applicants

York-based cultural visitor attraction group, Continuum, is in discussions with the landlords of York House, Kings Square, York, as part of plans to create a new confectionary-themed visitor attraction in the city. Oakgate Group is currently applying to York City Council for 'change of use' planning permission for the premises for use as a visitor attraction and associated uses including retail and café. The 6,400sq ft space is spread across

Dublin, Ireland, has been confirmed as one of three cities to be shortlisted to become World Design Capital 2014 by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID). The Irish capital city will now go up against Bilbao, Spain, and Cape Town, South Africa, to receive the designation, which is awarded biannually. Dublin's bid - Pivot Dublin, Turn Design Inside Out - is the result of a collaboration of

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - Western Isles Council (CNES) is to hold a consultation event on 28 June to exhibit plans for a new heritage attraction at Lews Castle, Stornoway. CNES, together with its partners, is proposing to develop a new museum and archive at the historic property, which will also involve the restoration of the castle for hospitality use. Edinburgh-based Malcolm Fraser Architects has been appointed to lead a

Hadley Mace - a joint venture which includes Hadley Property Group and Mace - has been appointed as preferred development partner for London's Heart of Greenwich scheme. Plans include leisure facilities alongside 645 homes; an NHS health centre and a Greenwich Council service centre, which are earmarked for the former Greenwich District Hospital site. Centred around the Greenwich Centre, the regeneration project will delivered in partnership with the Homes and

London Golf Club in Ash, Kent, has unveiled plans for the development of a new hotel and spa as part of its ambition to establish a 'world-class' golf resort in south east England. The club - host venue of the 2008 and 2009 European Open events - has received planning consent from Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council for the £35m scheme. Designed by MacKenzie Wheeler, the new development will include

Humberside Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) has confirmed that oxygen therapy had been administered to three men, following an incident at The Pods leisure centre in Scunthorpe. According to HFRS, an explosion occurred in the venue's chlorine treatment plant due to a build-up of pressure that led to the release of chlorine gas from the swimming pool area. North Lincolnshire Council has now commenced work on a clear up operation

Sutton Council has unveiled the first look at how Carshalton's Westcroft Leisure Centre is to look, following the completion of an extensive £11.3m revamp to start later this year. The Hoca Practice-designed refurbishment will see the complex close in October and is set to include an eight-lane swimming pool; a large multi-sports hall; and a gym. A dance studio; a café; IT facilities and a library will also be provided

Middlesbrough-based Buckler Demolition has commenced work on clearing the site for a new £31m leisure, business support and community facility in Redcar. Outline plans drawn up by S&P Architects and Plus3 Architects were given the go ahead by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council (RCBC) last week. Detailed proposals for the facility will now be drawn up while the site between Kirkleatham Street and Coatham Road is cleared to make way

Historic Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) have revealed the first designs of the proposed new Battle of Bannockburn visitor centre, which is due to open in 2014. Edinburgh-based architects Reiach and Hall are behind the proposals, which will be lodged with Stirling Council and are also on display at the Bannockburn Heritage Centre. Sinclair Knight Merz; Turner and Townsend; and KJ Tait feature as part of the

Qatari Diar's masterplan for the multi-million pound transformation of London's Chelsea Barracks site has been given the green light by Westminster City Council (WCC). The local authority's planning and city development committee has backed outline plans for a 12.8-acre (5.2-hectare) mixed-use scheme, which will feature a sports centre and housing. Public art; retail space; and a medical centre are also earmarked as part of the plans drawn up by Dixon

Plans to extend the Serpentine Gallery in Kensington Gardens, London, UK have been approved. The directors of the gallery chose architect Zaha Hadid to design and create the new gallery in 2010, and the extension is now scheduled to open in 2012. As part of the project, the Grade II-listed The Magazine building of the gallery will be renovated and extended to house collections. The project, to be known as

Spanish operator Metropolitan has opened its latest health club in the new Las Arenas complex in Barcelona, this month. A former bullring, the mixed use development was designed by Richard Rogers and opened at the end of March. Metropolitan's club occupies threequarters of the complex's fourth floor. The 2,400sq m club is equipped by Technogym - including Kinesis - Life Fitness, Keiser and Power Plate. There's a pilates studio, plus

Details of a major US$900m (£557.4m) scheme planned for Baltimore's Inner Harbor, US, have been announced by leaders of the Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC). A US$325m (£201.3m), 18,500-seat arena; a US$175m (£108.4m), 500-room hotel; and a US$400m (£247.9m) expansion of the existing Baltimore Convention Center are mooted. Under the GBC proposals for Inner Harbor would see the hotel built on the top of the arena, with the arena's concourse connecting

Rugby-based construction firm Morgan Sindall has been awarded the contract to deliver De Montfort University's (DMU) new £8m leisure centre in Leicester. Work has now commenced on the S&P Architects-designed facility, which will boast a 25m pool; a gym; a climbing wall; eight racket courts; and studios for yoga, aerobics and Pilates. The design of the complex incorporates metallic outer shells and cedar-lined interiors, which are to form towers and

Bristol City Football Club (BCFC) has welcomed an "encouraging" decision by the local authority to designate part of the city's Ashton Vale site as a Town Green. The npower Championship club is looking to develop a new 30,000-seat venue on the land, although a group of local residents is opposed to the proposals. Bristol City Council's public rights of way committee has now accepted a recommendation to award Town Green

East Kilbride's Dollan Aqua Centre has reopened to the public following the completion of a £7m refurbishment of the Grade A-listed venue, which was carried out by Clark Contracts. The renovation of the complex - originally designed by Alexander Buchanan Campbell and first opened in 1968 - included structural works and new floor, wall and ceiling finishes. Among the facilities at Dollan Aqua Centre is one of Scotland's five 50m

A groundbreaking ceremony has taken place to mark the start of work on a £17.3m stadium that is to provide a new home for Rotherham United Football Club (RUFC). The 12,000-seat stadium - designed by S&P Architects - will be delivered on the site of the South Yorkshire town's former Guest and Chrimes foundry site by GMI Construction. Gleeds is project managing the scheme, which will see the north and

St Albans City and District Council (SACDC) has confirmed that two additional swimming pool lanes will be added as part of the £24m Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre scheme. Earlier this month, councillors agreed to move forward with the S&P Architects-designed project after considering the findings of a review of its business case, commissioned following May's local elections. Members of SACDC's cabinet noted a need for increased water space to meet

An official 'digging' ceremony has taken place to mark the start of construction work on a new leisure centre in Godalming, Surrey - next to the existing Broadwater park facility. Preparatory work got underway on the £6m development earlier this month after Waverley Borough Council (WBC) approved planning permission. Designed by Pozzoni and to be built by ISG, the centre will be operated by DC Leisure and will incorporate a

London mayor Boris Johnson has admitted that private funding sources may not be able to cover the £56.9m cost of the proposed new River Thames Cable Car service. In April, Johnson revealed that Mace is to lead a consortium of contractors to build the new Wilkinson Eyre-designed link between Greenwich and the Royal Docks. However, the mayor said at the London Assembly's Question Time on 15 June that there is

The Zaha Hadid-designed Museum of Transport in Glasgow - also called the Riverside Museum - will open its doors to the public next week (21 June). The £74m attraction will be operated on behalf of the property owner Glasgow City Council by charitable trust Glasgow Life, formerly called Culture and Sport Glasgow which was rebranded last year. The new museum building will house more than 3,000 exhibits across 150 displays

TUI Resorts & Hotels, a subsidiary of travel giant TUI Group, has begun construction work on the first phase of the Castelfalfi Resort in Tuscany. The 250m euro (£221m, US$362m) project will integrate a number of eco-friendly solutions and comprises a 32-bedroom boutique hotel, country houses, restaurants and a golf course. Two further hotels are to be built in phase two and plans also include the creation of a large

Sporting Kansas City's new 18,467-capacity LIVESTRONG Sporting Park venue has been officially launched with a Major League Soccer fixture against Chicago Fire on 9 June. The capacity of the Populous-designed stadium, which was delivered by Turner Construction, can be increased to 25,000 for concerts and features 36 suites and covered seats throughout. LIVESTRONG Sporting Park incorporates a 75-yard x 120-yard natural grass surface with a SubAir under-soil heating and cooling

The Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) has announced that a new 12,000-seat entertainment arena being developed in Glasgow is scheduled to open in spring 2013. Energy supplier Scottish Hydro has been unveiled as the naming rights partner for the new Foster and Partners-designed venue, which is expected to host around 140 events a year. Attracting up to 1 million visitors each year, The Hydro - as it is colloquially

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council (RCBC) planners have approved the development of a £31m leisure, business support and community facility in the heart of Redcar. S&P Architects and Plus3 Architects are behind the design of the complex, which is set to feature a 25m, six-lane swimming pool and leisure pool; a fitness suite; and a junior gym. A dance hall and performance space; a sports hall; community facilities; business space