Wembley and Greenwich: Quintain hitting the jackpot in London's regeneration game (Hammerson only holds a joker on the North Circular)

Max James of Quintain
Link to Evening Standard

"The great thing about being an investment banker is you can strike a deal, pocket the fees, and move on to the next one. Max James doesn’t have that excuse any more. Nearly two decades of cut and thrust for HSBC, Lazard and others are behind him. Now at the helm of Quintain, the property group, he can’t waltz away before the ink is dry. Nor do you sense he wants to.

"Poring over glossy brochures for Quintain’s flagship regenerations of Wembley and Greenwich, he says:

"We have now got to deliver — there is no doubt about it."

BBC: "Transformation of London's Olympic Park gets under way"

Link to web site and iPlayer

"Workmen have moved in to the Olympic Park in Stratford, London, to begin the £300m process of transforming it into a site that will includes homes, workspaces, sports venues and facilities.

"Planners promise a vibrant, mixed community but, as Graham Satchell has been finding out, some local residents fear they will not reap the benefits of the new-look park."

Mon 17 - Fri 21 Sep: Barnet and Hammerson's Nemesis and Hypocrisy (as a sponsor): "Green Sky Thinking Week"

Link to Green Sky Thinking web site

"Open-City's Green Sky Thinking Week is a London-wide programme for built environment and property professionals highlighting new thinking and practice in how to 'design in' sustainability, from 17 to 21 Sept 2012.

"Sustainability-focused B2B events hosted by leading companies, practices and public sector organisations will be taking place across London. Programme listings are available now here. Advance booking for each event is essential as spaces are strictly limited.

"Open-City’s Green Sky Thinking Week 2012 gives an inside view from top experts, industry leaders and collaborative teams of how we could move towards successfully ‘greening’ entire districts and neighbourhoods, as well as buildings, to inform better decision-making.

"To give a true picture of how professionals are leading the transformation to a greener built environment for the capital, we will also be creating a map of sustainable London highlighting key projects, communities and planned development."

THREE THEMES

Visioning the City

"Events exploring future concepts and solutions for a sustainable city, and sustainability in practice" 
As an example:

The Glass-House Community Led Design
 ‘Future Cities: A Collective Vision’

Wednesday 19 Sept, 8.30am –10.00am

This interactive workshop explores how we collaborate towards change in our cities
and develop a collective vision of communities, considering questions like:
How do changes to an area impact how the place works?
Do we favour organic growth, or large-scale regeneration?
What are the implications in each case?
Supported by examples of Glass-House projects, this playful start to your day
will increase your understanding of the spatial complexities of urban placemaking,
and how these contribute to developing sustainable communities.

Location: Second Floor, 29-31 Oxford Street, London W1D 2DR

To book: http://futurecitiesacollectivevision.eventbrite.co.uk
Website: www.theglasshouse.org.uk
Twitter: @GlassHouseCLD

Retrofitting the City

"Events and activities exploring how we can adapt the city to continuous change"
As an example:

Marks Barfield Architects
 'Green Retrofit'

Tuesday 18 Sept, 8.15am for 8.30am start – 9.30am

Presentation & Q&A on the challenge of reducing carbon emissions
in the context of updating the UK’s ageing housing stock.
Priory Grove is a 150-year-old family home within a Conservation Area
transformed with a contemporary extension for the 21st Century
achieving a one-third reduction in carbon emissions.

Location: Marks Barfield Architects, 50 Bromells Road, SW4 0BG

To book: green@open-city.org.uk (20 places)
Website: www.marksbarfield.com
Twitter: @MarksBarfield

Integrating the City

"Events and activities exploring the wider issues relating to a sustainable city - including public realm, infrastructure and energy" 
As an example:

Ash Sakula Architects
 ‘Adaptable Neighbourhoods and Friends’

Monday 17 Sept, 5.30pm – 9.00pm

Adaptable Neighbourhoods Think Tank:

eating, drinking, drawing and gaming designed to shake up ideas

on greener, richer, more friendly neighbourhoods.

A fresh way of thinking about our cities is needed, that harnesses the potential

of our existing buildings, communities and businesses.

We can build upon these assets to create resilient, vibrant towns and cities.

Big change does not always require large investment.

Thinking creatively and working with what you have can be transformative.

Finding, facilitating and harnessing the grass-roots energy of these

'adaptable neighbourhoods' provides an efficient means to rapidly

initiate regeneration without large, singular capital injections.

We are testing these concepts at three scales,

that of the street, the market and the city.

These projects are live, ongoing and all completely

dependant on working directly with communities.

Location: Ash Sakula Architects, 5 Hatton Wall, EC1N 8HX

To book: adaptable@ashsak.com (40 places)

Website: http://adaptableneighbourhoods.com

"26% of city centre shops are empty", says survey

Link to Sheffield Telegraph

"After years of delays, Sheffield council is expected to express its frustrations at this month's negotiations with developer [and Brent Cross owner] Hammerson.

Hammerson project director Richard Brown said:

"In the past three months, we have agreed six new lettings in the area of the development site. In addition, five existing businesses have agreed to continue to trade, to maintain an active presence.

... We continue to actively manage the site, in advance of our development proposals coming forward."

"Hammerson has exchanged contracts to acquire Leeds’ Victoria Quarter, which is anchored by upmarket department store Harvey Nichols, for £136m, reinforcing its presence both in Leeds and in the fast-growing luxury retail sector."

150 great things about the Underground: Brent Cross

Link to web site

"When the retail complex that shares this station’s name was opened in the 1970s, a problem was created that has yet to be solved: how to persuade people intending to visit Brent Cross shopping centre that they should not use Brent Cross Underground station.

"... I know that, as a consequence of the bungled planning and construction of Brent Cross shopping centre, local residents (not consumers) are blessed with a rather lovely station, whose bearing sits wonderfully at odds with its neighbourhood."

Hammerson's new footbridge over the North Circular Road (Oh, wait a minute, no, it isn't)

"The proposed connection between Chelsea Harbour and Battersea would be beneficial to the communities, transport links and businesses on both sides of the river, and is supported by planning policy." 

[Which sounds like they haven't raised the money yet.]

Source: One World Design

Evening Standard: "A £2bn vision of Stratford after the Games" (After heavy investment in public transport, Hammerson)

Link to Evening Standard

"The developers of a £2 billion business quarter next to the Olympic park hope the 'golden glow' of the Games will help establish Stratford as a more 'human-friendly' rival to Canary Wharf.

"More than four million square feet of office space is being built on two plots next to the park — a key element of the legacy masterplan — and will be known as the International Quarter.

"Kevin Chapman, head of office at property company Lend Lease, said potential tenants were now prepared to move to a part of London that would have been off their radar a year ago."
 

---

Link to Evening Standard

"MPs could 'decant' to Olympic park as Parliament is renovated"

"Commons chiefs are to consider setting up 'Eastminster' by moving Parliament to the Olympic park.

"MPs may 'decant' out of Westminster for several years, to allow at least £1 billion of renovation work to be carried out."

PropertyWeek: "BCSC: CBRE reacts to Portas at BCSC-2012" (do keep up)

(Why's it so dark?)

---

"BCSC: Councils and BCSC partner up, to tackle town centre regeneration" (link)

"The BCSC held a meeting with the Local Government Association at the BCSC conference in Liverpool yesterday to discuss new ways of stimulating investment in UK high streets.
 

"Sir Merrick Cockell, chairman of the Local Government Association said:

"We are pleased to work with the BCSC on regenerating our towns and cities. Town centres are at the heart of local economies, and play a vital role in the life of communities. Up and down the country councils are working with business and other partners, to drive growth and development.

The national policy landscape is changing all the time, offering opportunities and challenges to local areas. Partnership is essential for a successful response locally, and we are keen to put our heads together with BCSC to work out how councils and the retail property sector can make the most of new local opportunities to revitalise our struggling high streets."

Evening Standard: "Westfield Stratford City shopping centre draws record 47-million visitors in its first year"

Link to web site

"Westfield's Stratford City shopping centre has smashed all records for a British mall, with 47 million visitors in its first year.

"The owners of Europe’s largest urban shopping centre, which celebrates its first anniversary today, said the footfall had hugely exceeded expectations."

Brentcross [one word?] Shopping Centre has a new web site! (Bit clunky, too database-driven) (Owned by non-existent company!*)

* Is there no limit to Hammerson's incompetence? Apparently not!
 

"Brent Cross is the only shopping destination in London to offer free customer parking all year round so you can relax and enjoy the shopping and dining experience in style, without worrying about your ticket running out or how high the parking charges will be." [Unlike now, in much of Barnet!]

...

"This website is owned by Brentcross Shopping Centre Limited [that company doesn't exist] and provides information of a general nature and is designed for information purposes only and should not be relied upon without making other inquiries appropriate to the circumstances. 

"Any personal information you supply to Brentcross Shopping Centre Limited [we've told you, THAT DOESN'T EXIST!] or Lawton Communications Group Ltd [that does!] will be used as set out in the Brentcross Privacy Policy. [There's not much reason why that isn't the 'Brent Cross Privacy Policy', is there?]

---

We think we understand:

"Brentcross Shopping Centre"

is a registered trademark [at least, they say it is].

On the other hand,

"Brent Cross Shopping Centre"

is not, being purely descriptive and geographical!

Furthermore.

"Brentcross"

isn't either.

Yours, etc.,

The Brentcross Coalition

We exist to show up the shortcomings of Hammerson at Brentcross.

So you don't have to.

[Reposted] Sat 15 Sep: Cricklewood Festival

Sun 16 Sep: FINCHLEY SOCIETY: "The Walk"

Waterways of Finchley:
The Walk!
 

"The third and final part of 'The Waterways of Finchley Walk' is scheduled for 16th September, when things will still be beautiful. We will venture across the boundary of Finchley towards Totteridge, and then back into Finchley and Friern Barnet for a finish at Friary Park. This is another very pretty walk."

Part Three - Sunday 16th Sept. at 12-00pm

A fascinating and picturesque tour of Finchley’s water features

Meet outside Woodside Park station

 at 11-45am for a 12 noon start

"Join us for this lovely tour of the north western part of Finchley. We will follow Folly Brook to Totteridge Green to see the picturesque pond and follow Dollis Brook through Whetstone Stray to Swan Lane Open Space for our lunch stop at The Redwood Café. After lunch we will visit the lakes at Baxendale and the North Middlesex Golf Club, St James Church and then follow Blacketts Brook for a finish in the Friary Park tea house."

2.7 miles to Redwood Café.

Total distance to Friary Park - 5.0 miles

Bring packed lunch or buy food at the Redwood Café.

At Friary Park, there are buses to
Woodside Park, Whetstone and Friern Barnet.

For more details please contact: Mike Gee 0208 346 5503

Wed 12 - Sat 15 Sep: Westfield Whitgift Croydon Wars: The Hammerson Empire Fights Back

"Developer Hammerson will hold an exhibition on its plans for the Whitgift Centre, Croydon, during September. The company is proposing to build up to 130,000sq metres of retail and restaurant space on the site of the shopping mall.

"Members of the public will be able to view the plans between Wednesday 12 and Saturday 15 September in the North End Mall, adjacent to Café Giardino.

"A spokesman for Hammerson said:

“Whitgift Quarter will incorporate the Whitgift Centre site, Centrale and North End, and is designed to link in with the rest of the town centre to the benefit of the entire local economy, creating in the region of 5,000 jobs.

The scheme has been specifically designed to meet the needs of Croydon, and to fit in sympathetically with the town’s heritage and existing streetscape, reinstating North End’s role as the town centre’s retail spine.”

"The plans will also be available online from 10 September at www.whitgiftquartercroydon.co.uk.

"They also include:

• Up to 10,000 m² of additional leisure space
• Up to 500 residential units, developed in conjunction with renowned developer Urban Splash, which has been behind some of the most innovative city centre living schemes, including the Rotunda in Birmingham. The residential element will be at the heart of the scheme, and include the conversion of Centre Tower to form a landmark residential development
• Potential for a 130 bed hotel or 200 bed student accommodation and or 1,000 m² of offices on the Wellesley Road frontage
• Over 3,150 parking spaces."

---

Domain name:
        whitgiftquartercroydon.co.uk

    Registrant:
        Hammerson (Croydon) Limited
        UK Limited Company, (Company number: 4044457)
        10 Grosvenor Street, London W1K 4BJ

    Registrar:
        Nabarro LLP [Tag = NABARRO]
        URL: http://www.nabarro.com

    Relevant dates:
        Registered on: 30-Jul-2012

Brent Cross: "More upmarket than you might expect" (the Coalition is more 'common as muck')

Link to Foursquare

(Foursquare is "a free app that helps you and your friends make the most of where you are."
The photo above is from 'Keith W'.
The title uses a 'Londonist' comment on the web site.)

Cycling, in "The Land of BBC4 Investigative Drama"

"Copenhagen's Bicycle Strategy & Policies"

"When it comes to cycling issues, everything that happens in the City of Copenhagen is the result of long-term planning on many different levels. You can read a bit about the various plans, visions and policies for improving cycling conditions in Copenhagen here."

Link to web site

"Barnet's Bicycle Strategy & Policies"

"Pretty useless, really."

The Guardian: "Why We Build, by Rowan Moore – a vivid but too even-handed study of architecture"

Link to The Guardian

"Imagine a speculative development, on the edges of London. The designers were anonymous; the style was out of fashion; the materials were cheap; the build quality low. 

"Soon after it was built, and left partly unfinished, local people started calling the half-occupied units 'Brent Cross'*. 'The whole estate,' wrote one contemporary, 'was a graveyard of buried hopes.' 

"Later, this depopulated failure became a byword for overcrowding, with a notoriously exploitative slum landlord. It was known for rioting and drug dealing. Imagine, finally, that this place had been praised by an architectural writer as 'a wonder of the world, a feat of construction the equal of the Pyramids'."

[* we made that bit up.]

---

Review:

"Straphanger: Saving Our Cities and Ourselves from the Automobile, by Taras Grescoe"

Link to The Guardian review

"Margaret Thatcher once declared that:

"a man who, beyond the age of 26, finds himself on a bus can count himself a failure". 

Taras Grescoe is proud to be – in Thatcher's estimation, at least – a failure. Although he can drive, the Canadian author, who is in his mid-40s, has never owned a car. And he is not alone. Half the population of cities such as New York, Toronto and London do not own cars. Every day some 155 million people take the underground. 

"And although being a straphanger in North America may be, as Grescoe shows, a 'depressing experience' due to underfunding and bad planning, elsewhere public transport – particularly in cities – is enjoying a renaissance.

"The heyday of the car has passed."

Daily Telegraph: "Hold up housing and lose powers, town halls told"

Link to web site

" The Communities Secretary warned that he would strip individual local authorities of responsibility for planning if ministers thought they were unduly slow in approving developments or made the wrong decisions.

"Applications would then be decided instead by the Planning Inspectorate, which answers to ministers.

"... Ministers want to make it harder for residents to object to new developments. Councils are also being encouraged to allow building on green belt land."

---

"Sketch: Eric Pickles leads the conservatory party"

" 'The Right Honourable Gentleman is a millionaire and an aristocrat,' said Mr Pickles dryly, to Hilary Benn, 'so he’s probably not used to measuring land other than in terms of acres. But speaking as a working-class lad who is proud to own a detached house, and whose garden is smaller than the Right Honourable Gentleman’s croquet lawn…'

"No, it’s not a sight you often see: a Conservative minister taunting his Labour counterpart for being a rich, posh land-owner. Remarkably, another Yorkshire Tory, Andrew Percy (MP for Brigg and Goole), got in on the act, announcing that he’d just got a conservatory 'for my two-up, two-down terrace. Sadly I can’t afford it.'

"Mr Pickles peered at him sternly. 'I hope my Honourable Friend isn’t trying to outdo me as working-class hero.' It felt like Monty Python’s “Four Yorkshiremen” sketch, except that there were just the two of them. Still, that’s the cuts for you.

"Nick Raynsford, who was Minister for Housing and Planning under Tony Blair, mocked the Coalition’s idea. Big mistake. 'He,' cried Mr Pickles, 'represented the heavy hand of centralism! Whereas I represent… muscular liberalism'!"

---

Left Foot Forward:

"While the government are blaming everybody but themselves, Londoners are suffering"

by Nicky Gavron, London Assembly Member 

Link to web site

"Londoners are suffering as the government blames everybody else for their economic mess. The economy is not flat-lining because of the planning system or Section 106 agreements for much needed affordable housing, it is flat-lining because of the lack of confidence and demand, caused by the government’s failing economic plan.

"In London alone, there are 93,000 houses with planning permission which haven’t been started or been stalled by developers, although the real figure will be much higher."

Barnet Times: "Work to fully repair North Circular could take days"

Link to Barnet Times

"Work to fully repair North Circular Road after a burst water main could take days, according to Thames Water.

"Engineers are working round the clock to repair the North Circular Road, after a burst water main caused severe damage to the carriageway yesterday.

"Litres of water gushed out of the 24in pipe, forcing its way through the tarmac road which was left raised and cracked as several feet of water flooded underneath the Brent Cross Flyover."

---

Thames Water say all lanes should be re-open tomorrow (fri) on #A406 Brent Cross after burst water main ..

— Tom Edwards (@BBCTomEdwards) September 6, 2012

[Reposted] Sun 9 Sep: A stone's throw from Brent Cross!

 GOLDEN SUMMER STAGE (main stage)

"Get on down with summer sounds from across the globe!

The Golden Summer Stage is playing host to the nationwide Bandstand Marathon, which will see musicians take to the stage all across the UK on the same day, at the same time. It will showcase a diverse range of music from up-and-coming musicians and with over six hours of live music and entertainment, there’s something for everyone!

"Dance to Cuban band Son Yambu, jazz it up with Ronnie Scott’s Rejects and listen to some reggae rhythm and pop tunes from Hip Replacement. Rock out to indie from the IC1s and support young pop musicians Next Time Natalie and The Fourtune. 

"After the music marathon, be wowed by the Roundhouse’s Funk Da Cirque high energy show! Witness their popping and locking and awe inspiring acrobatic skills.

As we look forward to Rio 2016, the Golden Summer Stage finale will be play host to a South American visually astonishing carnival performance by leading show group, Tropicana."

 THE SPORTS ZONE

"Feeling inspired by London 2012 Olympics? Brent Council Sports and Parks Service will be running free and fun activities for all ages. Try your hand at a number of different sports with local clubs and coaches providing FREE taster sessions. Improve your skills and beat the coaches with prizes to be won throughout the day!

Try out athletics with our community coaches who will teach you some of the skills which helped Jessica Ennis win gold for Team GB.

• Bend it like Beckham with football coaches from Premiership football club Queens Park Rangers
• Hone your skills with basketball coaches from Guildford’s professional Basketball Team Guildford Heat
• Tennis coaches from Elmwood Tennis Club will help you improve your serve
• Give rugby a try with rugby coaches from Kilburn Cosmos Rugby FC."

 HIGH ADRENALINE ACTIVITY ZONE

"Thrill seekers, get your adrenaline fix. Take part in a number of fun and FREE challenging activities on the day! Burn off some energy with a Parkour coaching session from the Parkour Generations team, test your head for heights and dangle 13 feet above the ground on the High Ropes Climbing Course, wind your way through a maze of elasticated spider’s webs on Spider Mountain, move like Spiderman on the Spiderman Wall and if that’s not enough, test your balance and inner core with Slack Lining."

 MUSICAL MASTER CLASSES

• Puncture Kit ‘Bicycle drummer’ David Osbourne, the official drummer for the London 2012 Olympic roadcycling will be running interactive drumming workshops for people of all ages! At the Puncture Kit workshop you can expect to bang and thrash on a number of recycled objects such as pots, pans and sticks!
• Taru drum making Let the kids get creative and make their own drums with the Taru Arts Team. Once the hard work has been done, the instruments will be put through their paces with a 30 minute drumming workshop.
• Beatboxing with Simply Si and Bass Face Two of the best beat boxers around will help you learn some stylish skills. Using only your mouth, lips and tongue you will start to produce a vocal percussion masterpiece.
• Scratching with DJ Switch In this 45 minute demo and workshop session, you’ll see how scratching really works and get to have a go with one of the best DJ’s around.
• B My Voice Open Mic Session If you are aged 11-25 and think you can rap, beat box, recite, sing or even act, then come and show Brent residents how it’s done! The open mic session starts at 4.30pm with pre-registration from 12noon. Spaces are limited, so get there early to register and avoid disappointment.
• Funk Da Cirque’s Circus Sessions If you are a street dancer – popper, locker, breaker, acrobat, have circus skills or just fancy giving it a go come and try Street Circus workshops with the Roundhouse’s Funk Da Cirque.

 FOOD AND SHOPPING ZONE

"Tantalize your taste buds with food from around the world at the diverse range of food and drink stalls on offer. Share with neighbours and friends at the communal picnic seating area. Enjoy a refreshing drink at the Kilburn Cosmos RFC Bar. Gladstone Park’s resident rugby club will be supplying a mobile bar area, with plenty of seating. (Please note this area will be strictly over 21s) Take a wander round the various craft and gift stalls where you can buy handmade items such as bags and jewellery!"

 COMMUNITY AND KNOWLEDGE ZONE

"Become the fount of all knowledge after visiting the various Brent Council and community stalls in our knowledge zone. Fun and interactive stalls from local sports and community groups, charities and local businesses."

 FUNFAIR

"Irvin Leisure will be bringing you all the favourite rides and funfair attractions to spin, scream and shout to!"

 OLYMPIC MASCOTS

"Look out for the 40 foot London 2012 mascots Wenlock and Mandeville. Record this moment in history by taking a photo with these inflatable characters."

[Or there again, perhaps not.] 

---

HOW TO GET THERE

"We strongly recommend that you use public transport. The nearest London Underground station is Dollis Hill (Jubilee Line). It takes around five minutes to walk from the station to Gladstone Park [and from the A5 Edgware Road].

"Buses that go to Gladstone Park are 226 (Kendal Road), 182 (Crest Road), 232, 245 & 332 (Dollis Hill Lane) and 302 (Dudden Hill Lane) [and 266 from Brent Cross]. Visit www.tfl.gov.uk or call Transport For London on 0843 222 1234 to plan your journey."

Brent Cross: WATERGATE CRISIS on the North Circular Road

Link to Sky News
(note the Dirty Digger)

WATERWORLD: Harrow Times: "Brent Cross North Circular flooding: 'It's like a giant lake'" (well, it used to be part of the Welsh Harp*)

Link to Harrow Times

(* okay, not that far east)

"Brent Cross has been brought to a standstill, after a burst water main left the North Circular Road under several feet of water.

"Traffic is queuing in both directions for up to five miles, due to the flooding under the Brent Cross Flyover.

"Water supplies in the area are believed to be affected, and the road is expected to be closed in both directions for some time." 

---

Link to Barnet Times

Barnet Times: 
"Water supply to begin returning to normal, says Thames Water"

"Water supplies will be restored to homes and business in the Brent Cross area from early this afternoon, according to Thames Water.

"A burst main caused extensive flooding of the North Circular Road under the Brent Cross Flyover, and brought traffic to a standstill this morning."
 

---

3pm-ish:

#A406 Nth Circ reopened eastbound Staples Corner Fly to A1 Henleys Corner after burst water main W/bnd still closed Delays on all...
— BBC London Travel (@BBCTravelAlert) September 5, 2012

---

Link to HOME (see all posts).

Daily Telegraph: "Surprise contraction in UK construction"

Link to Daily Telegraph

"Britain's construction sector activity fell unexpectedly last month, as new orders slumped at the fastest pace since the height of the 2008 financial crisis, a further blow to the Chancellor's recovery plans.

"Tim Moore, senior economist at survey compiler Markit, said:

"August data reaffirms that UK construction firms are suffering a prolonged downturn in new work and there is little evidence to suggest an imminent rebound in output levels.

Most worryingly, the latest drop in new orders was the fastest since the sector was in full-scale retreat in early 2009."

Vole O'Speed: "The red tape that strangles cycling provision"

Link to web site

"... It seems from statements by government ministers, that there is a problem with [infrastructure] investment, aside from whether we can afford it or not: 'red tape'. 

"It suddenly seems to be the idea of the moment that 'red tape' needs to be swept away, to allow government, in collaboration with the private sector, to build the infrastructure that we need. According to George Osborne today, the planning system is too cumbersome, and it is getting in the way.

"In fact, I agree with this, but on, I suspect, completely different grounds to the ministers who have been talking about it. The kinds of projects I am thinking about are quite different. 

"I am thinking not about a new runway for Heathrow, but about modest changes to the streets of London. But these things are all related. Let's face it, if we can't get kerbs and signs right, what chance have we with airports and high speed rail?"

Outsourcing Barnet Planning Department: 'Guest blog worries'

Monday, 7 March 2011
Guest Blog
"Planning to Outsource Barnet Planning"
by Julia Hines

Sunday, 4 September 2011
Guest Blog
"Greensquare Field – Planning to Outsource Planning"
part 2 by Julia Hines

---

As just tweeted... by Julia Hines

The Observer: "Marks and Spencer gambles on bringing internet age to the shop floor"

Link to web site

"... The 62-year-old retired social worker was one of hundreds of shoppers crowding the aisles of the new Marks & Spencer superstore at Cheshire Oaks in Ellesmere Port, when it opened last week. With a shop-floor area equivalent to the size of 11 Olympic swimming pools, the vast store – codenamed 'concept 11' – is M&S's best crack to date at merging the worlds of physical and online shopping.

"... The striking store, which has a curvy wooden roof made of 'glulam' (glued laminate) and hemp walls, might be M&S's greenest to date, but in the six long years it has taken to come to fruition it has increasingly been argued that big stores are growing obsolete, as shoppers defect to the virtual high street."

---

Link to 'Marketing' web site

'Marketing':
"M&S pledges to 'fail fast and move on', with £250m ecommerce drive"

"Marks & Spencer is embarking on a strategy of 'failing fast and moving on', to turn the business into an e-commerce powerhouse through a £250m investment.

"The retailer is currently pouring £150m into its new e-commerce site and £100m into technological innovations in-store, as part of plans to revolutionise its business."

The Independent on Sunday: "Planning reform aims to deliver boost to flagging economy"

Link to web site

"Ministers are to re-write the planning rules, to speed up development and deliver a boost to the flagging economy, Chancellor George Osborne said today.

"Mr Osborne warned that the the country could not afford to wait years for new development, at a time when the economy was struggling.

"He said that, while the economy was 'healing', there was no easy route to a 'magical recovery'.

Barnet Times: "Festival to celebrate 'the best of Cricklewood'"

Link to web site

"A festival will celebrate 'the best of Cricklewood' this month.

"Volunteers behind the Cricklewood Improvement Programme (CIP) will host the Silk Road Festival on Saturday, September 15.

"There will be a variety of activities, including live music, dance performances, face-painting and a market selling food, as well as arts and crafts."