BAM Construction has been chosen by the University of Nottingham (UoN) to build a new £20m eco-friendly hotel adjacent to the East Midlands Conference Centre. Funded entirely by the institution, the property has been designed by RHWL Architects and will incorporate the latest technology in a bid to reduce carbon emissions. The hotel is due to open by the end of 2012 and will boast a gym; a restaurant; and

Plans for a new £18.2m aquatics centre as part of the Aberdeen Sports Village development have taken a step forward after Graham Construction was appointed to build the complex. Designed by FaulknerBrowns Architects, the Aberdeen Aquatics Centre will comprise a ten-lane, 50m swimming pool with a dividing boom and a part-floating floor. A 25m x 16.5m diving pool, fitted with water cushioning systems and an adjustable floor, is also planned,

Four teams have been invited to submit proposals for the design and build of the new Royal Alberta Museum in Edmonton, Canada, following a Request for Qualifications stage. The Request for Proposals part of the project has now been launched by the Government of Alberta, which received an initial seven expressions of interest now whittled down to four. EllisDon Construction Services; Graham Design Builders; PCL Construction Management; and Ledcor Design

Construction work is now underway on a new £21m sports and leisure facility to replace the existing Fife Institute for Physical and Recreational Educational (FIPRE) in Glenrothes. Graham Construction has been chosen by Fife Council to build the new complex, which has been designed by B3 Architects and Cre8 Architecture. Facilities will include a 25m x 17m, eight-lane competition pool with viewing gallery to cater for 250 spectators and a

Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC) has backed plans for the development of a new multi-million pound sports and leisure village on the site of a former prisoner of war camp. A special meeting of the full council on 4 July approved the Island Farm scheme, which had already received the backing of the local authority's planning committee in late June. The plans - comprising a 15,000-seat rugby league stadium and

Spa management and skincare company ESPA revealed ESPA Life, its brand new spa concept, at the five-star, 294-bedroom Corinthia Hotel London, UK, yesterday (4 July 2011). ESPA Life is billed as 'a leading voice in the next generation of spa' and will offer a fully integrated wellness approach alongside a luxury spa experience. The wellness menu includes lifestyle programmes that focus on detox, sleep, weight-loss, pregnancy and general vitality. It

London-based artist Cecil Balmond has been selected to work with designer Charles Jencks on the creation of a new contemporary landmark to be located at Gretna, Scotland. The Star of Caledonia is the working title of Balmond's response to a design contest for "The Great Unknown" as part of The Gretna Landmark Project. Wide Open (South Scotland) will develop and produce the project for the Gretna Landmark Trust, which evolved

Dudley Zoological Gardens (DZG) is a step closer to embarking on a £1.5m redevelopment of its four iconic Tecton structures after securing a first-round funding pass from the Heritage lottery Fund (HLF). HLF awarded DZG development funding of just over £123,000, giving the zoo up to two years to submit more detailed plans and apply for a full HLF grant of £970,000 towards the project. The attraction contains the world's

Churchill Sports Centre in North Somerset is undergoing a £900,000 redevelopment. The leisure centre, a dual use site with Churchill Community School, is managed by leisure trust Tone, which is investing more than £100,000 towards the work, whilst North Somerset Council will provide the further £800,000. The redevelopment, carried out by leisure development partner Createability and project managed by Alliance Leisure, will include a 35-station gym, two studios and a

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club (THFC) has submitted a bid for public sector support to help kick-start the stalled Northumberland Development Project (NDP) in North London. The Premier League club had previously stated that the multi-million pound development - including a new 56,250-seat stadium and designed by KSS - was financially unviable. However, THFC has now submitted an application for Round Two of the Regional Growth Fund in a bid to

A split-level, 85-station fitness suite and a six-court sports hall are among the first facilities to be opened today (4 July) at The Pods leisure complex in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire. Two exercise studios; a sauna; a spa bath; a steamroom; and a café with an outdoor terrace have also been unveiled at the venue by North Lincolnshire Council (NLC). However, the council has yet to confirm a date for the opening

The Four Seasons Marrakech resort in Morocco has opened. The resort has 141 rooms and suites and facilities include three restaurants and a luxury spa. Blu Spas has been working with architect Didier Lefort of DL2A Paris and the UK-based GA Design on the interior of the property. The US$15m (11m euro, £9m) spa boasts 17 treatment rooms with the main pavilion offering 15 treatment rooms. There is also a

A ceremony has taken place to mark the start of construction work at the £13.7m Tollcross Aquatics Centre in Glasgow, which is to be used for swimming events at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The scheme has been designed by an in-house team at Glasgow City Council (GCC), with Barr Construction appointed to deliver the development. Work will include the creation of a new six-lane, 50m warm-up swimming pool to add

Researchers at the University of Bradford have devised a new formula for measuring tranquillity, which could help to increase the health benefits of urban and country parks. According to Greg Watts, professor of transportation noise at the School of Engineering's Centre for Sustainable Environments, the toolkit could help in the design of better parks. Methods to assess noise levels and the visual setting have been devised by Professor Watt, which

London's Design Museum has confirmed that it has received a £7.5m donation towards its new development project from the Conran Foundation - endowed by Sir Terence Conran. The cash gift has been pledged by the foundation, in addition to the value of the sale of the lease of the current museum building at Shad Thomas, which is valued at £10m. Under its development plans, the Design Museum is aiming to

Engaging with Architecture Scheme 2011 - designed to support new projects that bring the public and architecture together - has been launched by the Arts Council Ireland (ACI). First developed in 2010 as a partnership response to government policy and ACI research, the scheme is now accepting bids until 21 July. Projects must take place by 31 March 2012. Waterford Festival of Architecture and Kinsale Arts Week were among funding

The first phase of a new sports centre at the University of Cambridge is scheduled to open in time for the 2013-14 academic year, after a £16m funding proposal was approved. Deborah Lowther, chair of the university's sports syndicate, announced that the institution was now satisfied that the scheme would provide value for money and help meet demand. A sports hall and gym will be created in the first phase

A topping out ceremony has been held to mark the latest milestone in the construction of the new £46.5m Life Centre leisure complex in Plymouth, Devon. Representatives from the local authority joined Balfour Beatty's senior project manager Jim McGee to fix the final sheet of the 9,100sq m (97,952sq ft) roof into place at the building. Designed by Archial, the 18,161sq m (195,483sq ft) Life Centre is to be operated

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