Wembley City regeneration
by Tom Walker | 14 Jul 2008
Quintain Estates and Development (QED), the firm behind the new Wembley City urban regeneration scheme, has forced several publications to withdraw stories that speculate the firm has stopped working on its regeneration masterplan.
Nick Shattock, deputy chief executive of QED, told Leisure Opportunities "The scheme is entirely on course," and that a two-week pause was necessary to review the design work on the emerging phase II masterplan, to accommodate a new deal with London Borough of Brent for a civic centre on 2.5 acres of land.
Phase II, a 42-acre site referred to as the Northern Lands, is being designed in conjunction with architects Make, and will include a shopping street parallel to Olympic Way with independent stores, restaurants and cafes. There will also be a new park with courtyards and public squares.
The civic centre for Brent Council, which will be the subject of a separate outline planning application, could feature a new library and learning centre, as well as exhibition and performance spaces, at the heart of the scheme.
Shattock said: "This is a hugely important area linking the Arena and Stadium to Wembley Park Station, either side of Olympic Way. It is currently dominated by old industrial offices and a large retail park, which bring limited benefit to the people of Wembley and provide no community facilities."
Approved leisure-related facilities for the scheme include a 10-screen cinema and a 441-bed Hilton Hotel - the second on the site - all of which will be completed by 2010/11. Quintain will put the £250m building contract for this phase out to tender.
Similarly planning consent has been granted for a new Wembley Park Boulevard - as long and as wide as Regent Street - lined with restaurants, cafés, bars, leisure facilities and shops. As well as major new public squares and spaces for arts, sports and cultural activities.
To date Quintain has already invested £350m into Wembley City in line with Brent Council's vision to transform the area into one of London's most vibrant areas. The company expects to be re-engaging all consultants within the next two weeks, after it has updated its plans and expects to submit an outline planning application for phase II soon.
Quintain Estates and Development (QED), the firm behind the new Wembley City urban regeneration scheme, has forced several publications to withdraw stories that speculate the firm has stopped working on its regeneration masterplan. Nick Shattock, deputy chief executive of QED, told Leisure Opportunities "The scheme is entirely on course," and that a two-week pause was necessary to review the design work on the emerging phase II masterplan, to accommodate a
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