Royal Mail's South London Mail Centre, which is to close following an operational review, is to be transformed as part of a new mixed-use scheme approved by the local authority. Wandsworth Council has approved the Nine Elms Parkside scheme, which has been drawn up by Allies and Morrison Architects and will include a range of sport and leisure facilities. Cafés, restaurants, bars and a 3.3-acre (1.3-hectare) public park are also

International spa company ESPA has announced the first of its planned cultural partnerships for 2012 with the sponsorship of the annual Serpentine Gallery Pavilion in Hyde Park, London, UK. The pavilion is a temporary structure commissioned annually by the Serpentine Gallery to provide a showcase for contemporary architectural practice. This year, the gallery has been designed in partnership by Chinese artist and architect Ai Weiwei and Swiss architects Herzog &

Cork County Council (CCC) is planning to establish a "cluster" of activities and attractions as part of its vision for Spike Island, a former military and penal site in southern Ireland. A masterplan design team led by Scott Tallon Walker Architects has been appointed to draw up proposals for the site, which includes landscape strategist Mitchell and Associates. The initial phase of developing the island will be to increase the

Chester Zoo has unveiled plans to bring the islands of Sumatra, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines to Cheshire, UK, as part of a £30m scheme showcasing its conservation work. The Islands project is to enable visitors to explore the themed and immersive landscapes by boat or on foot, with features including educational exhibits, play areas and eateries. Species including the Indonesian Rhinoceros Hornbill and the Sumatran Orang-utan will be

A new 81-bedroom hotel is to open at the independently-owned Mere Golf Resort and Spa near Knutsford, Cheshire, this weekend to mark the completion of a £15m redevelopment. Mather and Co worked on three parts of the scheme, which has included the interior design of the new hotel - an extension to the resort's original golf club building. The Cheshire-based consultancy also carried out interior design work on a 1,253

Sofitel Luxury Hotels, a division of France-based hospitality group Accor, has announced the opening of its latest So-branded hotel with the new Sofitel So Bangkok, Thailand. Thai architect Smith Obayawat and five Thai interior designers teamed up with France-based fashion designer Christian Lacroix to devise a concept based around five elements. All 238 bedrooms and suites incorporate the elements of water, earth, wood and metal, while the dining and restaurant

Architects Foster + Partners have confirmed that the Hermitage Plaza, a mixed-use development planned for Paris, France has been granted 'permis de construire' - the final approval. The result of a close collaboration with EPAD, the City of Courbevoie, Atelier de Paysage Urbain and Département de Hauts-de-Seine, the project is intended to inject life into the area east of La Défense by creating a sustainable, high-density community. The project incorporates

Nottingham City Council (NCC) has announced the opening of the city's new £9m Victoria Leisure Centre in Sneinton, which forms part of a wider investment in local facilities. The council joined forces with inspiredspaces - a company established by Carillion - to lead the project through a public-private joint venture, the Local Education Partnership. A 70-station gym fitted with Technogym and Power Plate equipment and a fitness studio are among

Neath's Gwyn Hall arts and cultural venue is to be officially opened on 8 March, following the completion of a £9m transformation of the building undertaken by the local authority. The venue was damaged in an October 2007 fire while undergoing a £4m revamp, but has now been restored and revitalised under plans drawn up by Holder Mathias Architects. Morgan Ashurst and Swansea-based contractor John Weaver have been involved with

Sun Lane Leisure, a new £10m swimming pool and fitness centre being built in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, is now at its highest point after the project reached the topping out stage. Due for completion this summer, the NPS North East -designed complex is being delivered by Willmott Dixon Construction and will include a six-lane, 25m swimming pool. Other facilities will include a 13m x 7m learner pool; a 100-station fitness

The National Museum of Scotland (NMS) and Hepworth Wakefield have been included among 52 schemes to be recognised at this year's Civic Trust Awards (CTA) in Edinburgh. A total of 27 projects across the UK and overseas were confirmed as award winners, with a further 18 receiving commendations and seven given a community recognition accolade. Six of the award winners picked up special awards, which are designed to celebrate projects

SportHouse, a multi-million pound sports arena and newly-built Games-time training venue for London 2012, is to officially launch in Mayesbrook Park, Dagenham, on 27 March. Morgan Sindall was appointed last summer to build the LRK Associates-designed complex, which will boast one of the UK's largest multi-use sports hall at 5,000sq m (53,820sq ft). The sports hall has been fitted with Taraflex flooring manufactured by Gerflor and has been designed to

Aberdeen's Union Terrace Gardens are set to be transformed after the City Garden Project was backed by the majority of voters in a referendum organised by the local authority. More than 45,000 residents voted in favour of the project, which secured a majority of more than 4,000 over those who opted to retain the Union Terrace Gardens in their current guise. The decision means Aberdeen City Council can now move

The Ampersand Hotel, one of London's original Victorian boutique properties, is to reopen in South Kensington following an extensive redevelopment and renovation programme. Dexter Moren Associates have overseen the exterior and interior design of the 111-bedroom property, which spans 5,665sq ft (526sq m) and will boast a Technogym-equipped gym. Facilities at the seven-floor Ampersand Hotel will also include The Drawing Rooms patisserie; the Apero all-day dining concept; and event space.

Major League Soccer (MLS) club San Jose Earthquakes has moved a step closer to its new stadium after planning officials for the California, US city backed the proposals. The San Jose Planning Commission was unanimous in upholding the planned development permit for the scheme, which now enables the club to commence work on the scheme. Designed by 360 Architecture, the 18,000-seat stadium is expected to cost around US$60m (£37.7m, EUR44.9m)

Bristol City Council (BCC) and operator Parkwood Leisure have announced the opening of a £32m flagship leisure facility as part of the regeneration of the city's Hengrove Park area. Hengrove Park Leisure Centre was funded with £35.06m of private finance initiative credits from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and was built by lead contractor Kier. The LA Architects -designed building has opened on time and on budget, with

Chinese architect Wang Shu, designer of the Ningbo Museum of Art and Ningbo History Museum has been given the 2012 Pritzker Architecture Prize. Wang becomes the first Chinese architect to win the coveted accolade, widely acknowledged as the highest honour in architecture. Commenting on the award, Wang said: "This is really a big surprise. I am tremendously honoured to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize. I suddenly realized that I've done

Aberdeen City Council (ACC) has announced that work has commenced on a multi-million pound restoration of Duthie Park, which is scheduled for completion by the end of the year. The local authority approved the scheme in November 2010 and has contributed £2.67m to help fund the work, with the Heritage Lottery Fund providing a further £2.56m. Hunter Construction has been appointed to deliver the restoration, while consultants URS is to

A new NZ$20m (£10.6m, EUR12.5m, US$16.8m) temporary stadium is scheduled to open in Christchurch, New Zealand, ahead of the 2012 Super Rugby Season next month. Populous have designed the 18,000-seat complex, which boasts two partially covered stands and will be the city's only outdoor sports and entertainment facility for the next few years. It follows a devastating earthquake more than a year ago, which left the city's AMI Stadium -

St James Theatre is to become central London's first newly-built theatre complex for three decades when it opens on the site of the former Westminster Theatre in September. The new facility, which has been designed by Foster Wilson Architects, is located on Palace Street, Victoria, and has been entirely funded through private sector investment. A 312-seat auditorium, a brasserie and a bar will be included among the facilities, along with

Renowned musical theatre composer Andrew Lloyd Webber has marked the topping out of a new £10m arts complex being built overlooking the River Clyde in Greenock, Scotland. The LDN Architects -designed Beacon Arts Centre is on course to open this summer and is to replace Greenock Arts Guild Theatre, which has been operating for more than 60 years. Part of the wider regeneration of industrial land along the Inverclyde waterfront,

Shakespeare's Globe has received a £1.5m gift from an anonymous private donor towards its plans to open the historic London arts venue's Indoor Jacobean Theatre next year. The £1.5m donation will be used to match every pound raised by the Globe and it is hoped the match-giving scheme will encourage more people to contribute towards the project. Allies and Morrison were appointed last summer to work on the £7m scheme,

St Albans City and District Council (SACDC) has welcomed the latest milestone in work to construct a new £24m leisure centre for the city, following the installation of the roof. S&P Architects are behind the design of the new Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre, which will boast a 500sq m (5,382sq ft) spa area with a 60sq m (646sq ft) terrace when complete. Willmott Dixon is the lead contractor and is

Rugby Borough Council (RBC) has "unanimously approved" proposals for a new £12.5m leisure centre to be built on the site of a car park at the Warwickshire town's existing venue. The B3 Architects -designed complex is to be called the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Centre and, once complete in 2013, will lead to the demolition of the 40-year-old Ken Marriott Leisure Centre. A 25m, eight-lane swimming pool and a 17m x

Bianca Sharma, a US-based businesswoman, is to launch a new boutique hotel and spa within a former a 17th century monastery on Italy's Amalfi Coast in May. Sharma, who is also a director of the Sharma Foundation, acquired the building after visiting the region in 1999 and has taken more than 10 years to transform the historic property. Howard Consulting has worked on the conversion of the building into the

London's historic Café Royal will reopen in June as a member of The Set, a newly-unveiled hotel collection established by Alfred and Georgi Akirov, following an extensive renovation. David Chipperfield Architects and Donald Insall Associates have overseen a comprehensive facelift of the Regent Street property, which has been carried out over the last three years. Among the new additions to the 159-bedroom hotel is the 800sq m (8,611sq ft) Akasha

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced that one of its affiliates has signed a management agreement for Thailand's landmark Park Hyatt Bangkok, which is due to open in 2014. The deal has been signed for Central Embassy - a wholly-owned mixed-use scheme owned by the Central Group of Companies - and will see the hotel located in the heart of the city. Park Hyatt Bangkok will be housed in an iconic