Ukrainian vice prime minister and minister of infrastructure Borys Kolesnikov has unveiled plans to develop a new "tourist city" near Yevpatoria over the next three-and-a-half years. Addressing delegates at the recent Inside Ukraine conference, Kolesnikov said the project is part of a national programme to transform the Crimean peninsula into a visitor destination. It is expected the development will be built from scratch and will offer hotel accommodation and opportunities

Bristol Rovers Football Club (BRFC) has finalised the legal agreements for a proposed new stadium with the University of West England (UWE) and supermarket chain Sainsbury's. A 20,000-seat ground with "extensive" club shop; a banqueting and hospitality suite; a gym; and a jogging track is to be built on land near the university's Frenchay campus in Bristol. Teaching space for the university and a convenience store will also form part

Boringdon Hall Hotel director James Nettleton has announced plans for a new multi-million pound development to include a spa and a 60-bedroom expansion of the Devon property. Further details of the project are expected to be announced in the New Year, with Plymouth-based ADG chosen as architects and Ward Williams Associates named as project manager. The planned scheme follows the announcement earlier this year that the Nettleton Group had taken

UK-based Extreme Hotels has agreed a 10-year management deal for a 209-bedroom hotel in Sochi, Russia, with Rosa Khutor Ski Resort Development Company (RKSR). Scheduled to open in early 2015, Extreme Hotel Sochi will be located close to the city’s Alpine Ski slopes and the Snow Board Park - venues that will host downhill events at the 2014 Winter Olympics. The property is the seventh to be added to Extreme

The Residence Mauritius has announced the unveiling of its new-look Sanctuary Spa, which has undergone an extensive EUR700,000 (£597,000, US$939,000) refurbishment. Facilities at the 600sq m (6,458sq ft) spa include 11 treatment rooms, including two couples' rooms, which feature an Asian-influenced design with pebbled floors and lattice furniture. Beauty and haircare treatments have been designed by France-based brand Carita, which has developed the Haute Beauté concept in reference to the

Hotel and resort operator Four Seasons has opened its newest property in Baltimore, US. The 256-bedroom Four Seasons Baltimore boasts a 10,00sq ft (950sq m) spa with eleven treatment rooms including several suites with private soaking tubs - and separate men's and women's relaxation areas, sauna and steamrooms. Featuring products and treatments by ESPA, the spa also has a large relaxation zone with two pools - including a year-round heated

Nashville mayor Karl Dean has published the findings of an evaluation study that identifies three potential locations for the city's minor-league baseball stadium in Tennessee, US. The East Bank of the Cumberland River; Sulphur Dell near Germantown; and North Gulch north of Charlotte Avenue are the earmarked sites for the proposed development. Populous conducted the study on behalf of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, with each of

The construction of a new multi-million pound leisure centre in south London has reached its latest milestone after contractor Willmott Dixon topped out the building in late October. Roberts Limbrick Architects have designed the new Forest Hill venue, which will be owned by Lewisham Council and operated by Fusion Lifestyle when it is unveiled in late 2012. Facilities are to feature a 25m swimming pool; a 16.7m learner pool; a

Wolverhampton City Council (WCC) and former Wolverhampton Wanderers and England goalkeeper Bert Williams have officially opened Bilston's new £18.6m leisure centre. The Bert Williams Leisure Centre was unveiled by the 91-year-old together with city mayor Bert Turner and has been built to replace the town's existing Bilston Leisure Centre. Facilities at the 5,600sq m (60,278sq ft) venue comprise a 25m, eight-lane swimming pool; a studio pool; a sauna; a dance

Two properties in the Playa del Carmen enclave on Mexico's eastern Caribbean coast have become the latest additions to Mélia Hotels International's (MHI) Paradisus resort brand. Paradisus La Perla, the brand's first adults-only resort, and Paradisus La Esmeralda share a common area called El Zocalo, which contains the Palapa activities centre and a theatre. A 20,000sq ft (1,858sq m) YHI Spa and Health Club also features as part of El

The first phase of a £10.6m project to refurbish Royal Court Theatre Liverpool is to start in February 2012 after receiving support from the Heritage Lottery Funding (HLF). An £867,800 grant has been awarded to the Royal Court Liverpool Trust (RCLT) towards a major Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM)-designed overhaul of the historic venue. AHMM were selected to design the refurbishment after being one of seven shortlisted firms and proposed

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) in California, US, has revealed detailed designs for its proposed expansion project, the scope of which has now been increased. The attraction has revealed that it has raised its fundraising goal by 15 per cent to US$555m (£354m, EUR411m) to help create more spaces for education, exhibitions and collections. Building on concept designs unveiled in May, new detailed proposals comprise ground-level galleries and

Casson Mann has revealed that it is working in partnership with Paris-based architects X-Tu on the development of a new international cultural wine centre for Bordeaux, France. The facility, which forms part of a strategy to promote the city as the world's wine capital, is due to open in 2014 and will explore the stories behind wine and its place within culture. It is hoped the Centre for Wine Culture

Amber Valley Borough Council (AVBC) has acquired 0.8-acres (0.3-hectares) of land off Field Lane, Belper, to progress the development of a new leisure centre for the town. The deal was concluded for £1.136m from existing local authority resources, with the land bought from a private owner. The development site is now a total of 2.1 acres (0.8 hectares). Healey Associates are behind the design of the new facility, which will

The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) is to be dissolved next year, having being earmarked for closure in the 2010 Comprehensive Spending Review. Subject to Parliamentary approval, dissolution will take place after minister John Penrose laid a statutory instrument and explanatory memorandum at the Houses of Parliament. CABE has already transferred design review activities to a Design Council subsidiary, with Open City Architecture taking on its joint

Irish minister for public expenditure and reform Brendan Howlin has helped mark the start of work on a new EUR10.5m (£9m) sports campus at Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT). The multi-purpose arena, which will be located at Carriganore and has been designed by Turlough Clancy of Henry J Lyons, will complement the existing EUR8.5m (£7.3m) WIT Sports Arena and integrate with the pavilion and changing areas. Facilities will include an

Two designs for Aberdeen's City Garden Project will face further scrutiny by the jury of an international contest organised by Malcolm Reading Consultants before a winner is chosen. Six entries for the development were shortlisted earlier this year by the jury, which is chaired by the former principal of the University of Aberdeen, Sir Duncan Rice. The designs that have been chosen to go forward to be "explored further" are

DC Leisure has been appointed by Birmingham City Council (BCC) to operate and manage the city's first new public swimming pool to be built for more than 20 years. The £12.2m Harborne Pool and Fitness Centre will remain under local authority ownership, with facilities to include a 25m main pool; a learner pool; and a 60-station adult gym. An interactive children's fitness suite and an aerobics and dance studio are

The new £10m Jubilee 2 leisure centre in Newcastle will open later this month. Newcastle Borough Council (NBC) will be given the keys to the facility by developer Morgan Sindall on 9 December with an opening scheduled for 12 December. Facilities at the centre include 25m, eight lane swimming pool; 12m training pool with moveable floor and aqua gym equipment; a 90-station health club; a sauna area with steam rooms

Glasgow, UK-based swimming pool and spa provider Barr + Wray has announced that it has successfully secured two contracts in the Far East worth £2m (US$3.1m, EUR2.3m). The group has been appointed to carry out the installation of spa facilities at Resort World and the W Hotel in Sentosa, Singapore, with the latter due for completion in April 2012. Located on the southern tip of Singapore, the 240-bedroom W Hotel

Work on the new £24m Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre in St Albans, Hertfordshire, has reached a milestone after the large wooden beams that will support the roof were installed. Glulam beams have been shipped over from Denmark following an eight-week design and a 14-week manufacturing process. Each of the five beams are more than 35m long. It will take contractor Willmott Dixon three weeks to complete the installation of all

Liverpool City Council (LCC) has approved plans for the development of a new equestrian centre on a 12.9-hectare (31.9-acre) site within the curtilage of the historic Allerton Priory. Radcliffe Groves Partnership were behind the designs of the scheme, which is being led by the Maghull Group and includes a stables block to cater for up to 38 horses. Equestrian facilities will include a timber-framed indoor arena; two outdoor arenas; external

National Galleries Scotland (NGS) has reopened the Scottish National Portrait Gallery after completing work on an extensive £17.6m refurbishment of Edinburgh attraction. The gallery was initially designed by architect Sir Robert Rowand Anderson and was one of the first purpose-built portrait galleries in the world when it opened in 1889. Work has now been carried out by BAM Construction in a two-year scheme to provide new education facilities, including a

Casson Mann has been selected as exhibition designers for the Natural History Museum's new Treasures gallery, which forms part of a wider redevelopment at the London attraction. The gallery will be located at the top of the North Staircase and will open in 2012 in the first phase of the Central Hall scheme, displaying some of the museum's "greatest treasures". Casson Mann will be tasked with creating a space that

Park Hyatt Sydney, the 155-bedroom hotel overlooking the Australian city's iconic harbour, is to reopen in December following the completion of an extensive transformation project. The refurbishment has included a complete redesign of the hotel's facilities, such as the spa, restaurants and bars. Three rooftop suites have also been created on a new fourth level. Following its relaunch, Park Hyatt Sydney will provide a new-look spa designed to deliver a

New York, US-based Pryor Cashman LLP has confirmed its client, Castillo Grand, has been awarded US$44m (£28.1m, EUR32.9m) in its legal case against Sheraton Operating Corp. The New York State Supreme Court found Sheraton - part of Starwood Hotels and Resorts - breached a contract with the owner and developer of the former St Regis Hotels and Resorts. Castillo Grand's claim focused on a lack of "St Regis-style" in the

Property investment and development group Town Centre Securities (TCS) has been given the green light to proceed with the New Front leisure scheme at Leeds' Merrion Centre. The multi-million pound development will seethe transformation of 80,000sq ft (7,432sq m) of retail space into a leisure destination adjacent to the new 13,500-capacity Leeds Arena. Seven units ranging in size from 420sq ft (39sq m) to 30,000sq ft (2,787sq m) will house