Ford news
Universal and Puy du Fou projects point to rise of Oxford–Cambridge corridor
by Liz Terry | 27 May 2026
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’ planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism investment.
For years, the corridor has been associated primarily with science, technology, housing and university-led economic growth. However, the clustering of large-scale visitor attraction projects along the
1 Hotel Mayfair launches with Bamford Wellness Spa and biophilic design by GA Group
by Megan Whitby | 17 Aug 2023
1 Hotels, the eco-luxury brand and brainchild of Starwood Capital founder Barry Sternlicht, has opened its debut European property in the heart of the UK capital with design by GA Group. 1 Hotel Mayfair has been designed to set a new benchmark for lower-impact luxury in London and adhere to 1 Hotels’ sustainability-minded philosophy that “those that travel the world should also care about it”. The London location is gearing
Clifford's Tower opens to the public after £5m redevelopment
by Tom Walker | 06 Apr 2022
Clifford’s Tower in York, considered one of England’s most important buildings, has opened to the public following a £5m redevelopment. The structure is all that remains of York Castle, which was built on the orders of William I and once dominated the former Viking city of Jórvík. While the landmark has played a crucial role in English history during its 800-year-old history, it had been pretty much an empty shell
Marianne Shillingford on the power of paint
by Stu Robarts | 04 Feb 2020
As the creative director for Dulux in the UK, Marianne Shillingford is an authority on the power of colour, but she says that paint can do more than just make a room look good and that the impact it can have is often overlooked. "Architects see paint as a protective coating rather than an opportunity to change something quite radically for very, very little money," she explained in an interview
New BDP-designed stand gets go-ahead at Old Trafford cricket ground
by Tom Walker | 20 Jan 2020
Plans to build a new BDP -designed 4,850-seat stand at Old Trafford cricket ground have been approved, meaning the venue's capacity will rise to 26,700 and that it will become the UK's largest cricket ground outside of London. As well as the extra seating, the plans will see the creation of a cricket museum and a shop. The current Red Rose Suite will be replaced with a more modern suite
University of Oxford gets potential net zero library and study centre
by Stu Robarts | 01 Oct 2019
Wright & Wright Architects, working with Max Fordham, have unveiled a new potentially net zero library and study centre at the University of Oxford's St John's College. The building is the first of its kind at the college and is powered by a 215sq m (2,300sq ft) solar array installed to cover all possible areas of the roof. The 2kWp system is expected to generate around 40,000kwh/pa, while the building
Sparcstudio, Holder Mathias Architects and Sisk Group create Ireland's first forest spa at Center Parcs Longford Forest
by Lauren Heath-Jones | 30 Jul 2019
Ireland's first Forest Spa, the Aqua Sana Spa, is set to open at the upcoming Center Parcs Longford Forest resort in Ballymahon, Ireland in early August. The Aqua Sana Spa will boast a unique forest concept developed by spa consultancy Sparcstudio, in partnership with Holder Mathias Architects and Sisk Group. Neil Fairplay, director of Sparcstudio, said: "Sparcstudio have created and designed the new 'Forest Spa' concept for Centre Parcs which
Rogers Stirk Harbour, Witherford Watson Mann and Feilden Fowles make the Sterling Prize shortlist with culture and attractions schemes
by Tom Walker | 19 Jul 2019
Three out of the six projects on this year's Stirling Prize shortlist are culture, attractions and leisure-related, underlining the sector's reputation for producing innovative architecture. The Macallan Distillery and Visitor Experience in Scotland (by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners), The Nevill Holt Opera in Leicestershire (Witherford Watson Mann Architects) and The Weston, Yorkshire Sculpture Park (Feilden Fowles Architects) have all been chosen. They're joined by Cork House, Goldsmith Street and
‘Paying homage to motorsport across the decades’: Plans unveiled for £35m vintage car museum in Oxfordshire
by Tom Anstey | 01 Mar 2018
A planning application has been submitted for a classic car museum in Oxfordshire, UK, with American vintage car collector and philanthropist Peter Mullin behind the £35m (US$48m, €39.5m) plans. Mullin, founder of the M Financial Group and Chairman of its subsidiary, M Financial Holdings, is an avid car collector, establishing in 2010, the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California and also serving as the President of the American Bugatti Club.
'Game changing' leisure destination opens in Oxford, with city's first public rooftop garden overlooking historic skyline
by Kim Megson | 26 Oct 2017
Architects and masterplanners Chapman Taylor have completed a “game changing” leisure and retail destination in the historic city of Oxford, England. Located at the west end of the city’s Queen Street, the 800,000 sq ft (74,300sq m) Westgate complex replaces a 1970s-built shopping centre, providing a contemporary fashion, film and food hub, and the city’s first public rooftop garden. The project – the largest shopping and leisure development to open
QPR eyes site of Linford Christie athletics facility for stadium development
by Matthew Campelli | 09 Feb 2017
Queens Park Rangers FC is exploring the possibility of building a 30,000-capacity stadium on the site of the Linford Christie Athletics Stadium after being thwarted in its attempt to develop at Old Oak Common. According to multiple reports, the Championship football club wants to demolish the athletics venue and build a stadium on the site alongside a new adjacent athletics facility. The Linford Christie Stadium – currently used by the
Chelsea's Stamford Bridge plans could be stalled by fears for local bats
by Kim Megson | 26 Aug 2016
Chelsea Football Club’s plans to build one of the largest stadiums in England have hit a stumbling block – the local population of endangered bats. The club submitted its plans for the £500m (US$660m, €584m) project to London’s Hammersmith and Fulham council last year, but have been asked to provide more evidence of how they will protect the nearby grade I-listed Brompton cemetery and its population of the nocturnal mammals.
New Herzog & de Meuron designs unveiled for redevelopment of Chelsea FC's Stamford Bridge
by Tom Anstey | 08 Sep 2015
Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron have unveiled new designs for the £500m (US$770m, €688.5m) redevelopment of Chelsea Football Club’s Stamford Bridge, which will see the old stadium demolished and a new 60,000-capacity home for the Premier League champions built in its place. The images, not yet officially released to the press, were presented at a public consultation held by the Premier League club, with Herzog & de Meuron working
Ashford Hospitality buys WATG-designed eco-conscious Bardessono Hotel and Spa for US$85m
by Jane Kitchen | 16 Jun 2015
Publicly-traded Ashford Hospitality Prime has bought eco-conscious Napa Valley, California, property Bardessono Hotel and Spa for US$85m (€75.7m, £54.8m). Remington Lodging will take over property management at the WATG-designed property once the sale is completed, which is expected in approximately 30 days. "The acquisition of the award-winning Bardessono Hotel and Spa fits perfectly with Prime's strategy of finding quality, high RevPAR assets in gateway and resort markets," said Monty J.
Herzog & de Meuron working on £500m Stamford Bridge rebuild for Chelsea FC
by Tom Walker | 16 Jun 2015
English Premier League (EPL) champion Chelsea FC will announce detailed plans to rebuild its Stamford Bridge stadium in London later this month. It is understood that Swiss-based architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron is working on the plans in partnership with London-based practice Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands. Despite being one of the most successful English clubs of the past decade, the club’s current home capacity of 41,000 is only the eighth
Zaha Hadid channels Iraqi roots to create new Middle East Centre for Oxford University
by Kate Corney | 28 May 2015
Zaha Hadid has designed a new Middle East Centre for Oxford University. Hadid, who was born in Iraq, expressed hope that the new building would help the Middle East Centre to continue its work in helping to foster greater understanding of the region. Hadid designed the building to connect existing protected properties and trees and has stainless steel cladding to reflect natural light and give it an ephemeral quality. The
Peel submits application for £1bn Trafford Waters scheme – architects yet to be appointed
by Kath Hudson | 16 Apr 2015
Developer Peel Land & Property has submitted a planning application for Trafford Waters, a sustainable, mixed-use development on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal, in Trafford, UK. The scheme is worth £1bn (US$1.50, E1.39) Close to the Trafford Leisure Village and intu Trafford Centre, Trafford Waters will be a sustainable urban neighbourhood, including leisure, retail and commercial space. The leisure element will include two hotels: one in the commercial
Peel submits application for £1bn Trafford Waters scheme – architects yet to be appointed
by Kath Hudson | 16 Apr 2015
Developer Peel Land & Property has submitted a planning application for Trafford Waters, a sustainable, mixed-use development on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal, in Trafford, UK. The scheme is worth £1bn (US$1.50, E1.39) Close to the Trafford Leisure Village and intu Trafford Centre, Trafford Waters will be a sustainable urban neighbourhood, including leisure, retail and commercial space. The leisure element will include two hotels: one in the commercial
Wilkinson Eyre’s revamped Oxford Weston Library opens to the public
by Katie Buckley | 24 Mar 2015
Following an £80m (US$119m, €109m) renovation by international architecture firm, Wilkinson Eyre, the University of Oxford’s Weston Library has reopened to the public. Originally designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott in the 1930s and part of the infamous grade II listed Bodleian Library in Oxford, UK, the structure needed some extreme modernisation and renovation to open it up to the public. Wilkinson Eyre have incorporated several new features into the
Experience designer BRC reimagines Ford factory tour in US$4.7m makeover
by Tom Anstey | 05 Mar 2015
BRC Imagination Arts is the creative force behind the recent US$4.7m (€4.2m, £3m) revamp of the Ford factory tour, offering visitors a close-up look at the creation of the automaker’s F-150 pickup truck. The Ford Rouge Factory Tour, based at The Henry Ford complex in Dearborn, Michigan, now includes a Manufacturing Innovation Theatre to showcase the build process at the facility. The reimagined theatre is designed to immerse visitors into
London Olympic legacy continues with plans for boutique hotel in Stratford
by Katie Buckley | 26 Feb 2015
Developer and investor Union Hanover Securities has submitted a planning application for a new boutique hotel scheme at Stratford City, the former site of the 2012 Olympic Games. Designed by New York-based Grzywinski + Pons Architects, the £100m (US$155m, €136m) dual hotel scheme has been dubbed the Penny Brook Development. The scheme will consist of a 137-bed Adagio building and a 249-bed boutique hotel, called the Penny Brook. The Penny
Milford Hall Hotel near Stonehenge plans boutique spa
by Helen Andrews | 21 Jan 2015
Milford Hall Hotel, a Georgian mansion dating back to the 1800s just a short drive from Stonehenge, UK, is adding a £500,000 (US$756,200, €652,300) spa to its four-star amenities. The property is owned by Hughes Hotels, which has brought in consultancy Spa Creators to create the Lime Spa – expected to open in May 2015. Alistair Johnson, managing director of Spa Creators, spoke exclusively to Spa Opportunities, detailing the company’s
Damage to Castleford Tigers stadium highlights club's “great need” for new home
by Tom Walker | 14 Jan 2015
Castleford Tigers CEO Steve Gill has said the weather damage caused to Wheldon Road stadium last weekend highlights the club’s “great need” to find a new home. The Super League club was forced to close its Princess Street stand for Sunday's match against Bradford after a retaining wall collapsed. The 4,000-capacity stand will remain closed for Tigers’ next two pre-season games against Widnes and York. Gill said the ageing Wheldon
Romford Leisure Development moves step further forward
by Chris Dodd | 15 Sep 2014
The long-awaited creation of the Romford Leisure Development has taken a step forward, with demolition work beginning to clear the ground of an old ice rink, allowing Havering Council to concentrate on its own plans for an ice-rink led leisure project. The development is to see the demolition of the area’s rink in Rom Valley Way, with the site expected to become home to a new Morrison’s foodstore, while the
Union Hanover plans 220-bedroom boutique hotel for London's Stratford City
by Chris Dodd | 04 Jul 2014
Hotel developer Union Hanover has revealed plans to create a 220-room hotel in Stratford City London's International Quarter, based around the design principles of New York’s meatpacking district. Union had originally intended to create a hotel development at the east London site in partnership with Starboard Hotels, but has now bought its partner out to hasten progress of the new development. The developer plans to operate the new £70m (US$120m,
Castleford Tigers reveals new stadium plans
by Tom Walker | 31 Mar 2014
Super League rugby club Castleford Tigers has revealed detailed plans for a new 10,000-capacity community stadium in the town. To be located close to the Junction 32 of the M62 motorway, the stadium will form part of a £135m mixed development project proposed by London-based developers Lateral Property Group (LPG). The stadium would also be funded in its entirety by the retail development. Designed to meet Super League requirements, the
£500m Oxford shopping centre plans gain approval from council
by Tom Anstey | 12 Mar 2014
Plans to redevelop Oxford’s West End into a £500m shopping centre have been approved by planners, with leisure facilities included. Various proposals for the Westgate Shopping Centre have been afoot since 1988, but certain factors delayed any potential plans. The proposals include 26,000sq m (279,000sq ft) of cafes and restaurants; more than 5,000sq m (54,000sq ft) of leisure use, including a cinema; between 27 and 122 homes; and two new
New leisure centre with ice rink planned for Romford
by Tom Anstey | 26 Jun 2013
Romford, London, is set to receive brand new sports facilities which will include a competition swimming pool and new ice rink. The development, which has been designed by FaulknerBrowns Architects, will include in addition to the eight-lane, 25m pool and ice rink, a learner pool, sauna and steam room, health and fitness studio, gym, dance studio, café and bar. The ice rink will be located on the second floor of
New Kent water park and housing development gets planning permission in Ashford
by Tom Anstey | 24 May 2013
Planning permission has been given for a new country park and housing development in Ashford, Kent. The Conningbrook Lakes project will see the new site, formerly a quarry for sand and gravel, transformed into a country park with water-based activities, foot and cycle paths, nature trails, a water-front restaurant and a lakeside village of 300 homes. The site will be planned and designed by BDB Design Ltd, based in Canterbury
Romford’s new "Ice Cube" leisure project gets go ahead
by Aoife Dowling | 15 May 2013
The new Romford Leisure Development in Essex, which includes an ice rink has been given the green light by Havering’s Regulatory Services Committee. The new project will be located on a compact urban site in Romford centre includes a competition pool and ice rink under one roof, something the town has never seen before. A new eight-lane 25m pool and kiddie’s learner pool will occupy the ground floor together with
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features
"Culture is the beating heart of this project"
Designed to restore neglected land and renew the identity of Iraq’s capital city, Baghdad Sustainable Forests promises a new way of living surrounded by nature. Gensler’s Ian Mulcahay tells us why he thinks the project could become a model for the repair and enhancement of urban centres
Designed to restore neglected land and renew the identity of Iraq’s capital city, Baghdad Sustainable Forests promises a new way of living surrounded by nature. Gensler’s Ian Mulcahay tells us why he thinks the project could become a model for the repair and enhancement of urban centres
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