Light-rail line at Brent Cross: Hammerson's earlier plan

Click above, then scroll down to Simpsons video

"After Mr. Burns is caught storing his excess nuclear waste inside Springfield Park’s trees, he is ordered to pay the town $3 million. The town is originally set to agree to fix Main Street, but the charismatic Lyle Lanley interrupts, and convinces the town to use the money to buy one of his monorails."

Also: link to less silly plans. (no, really)
 

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Link to HOME (see all posts).

London Borough of Barnet's Planning Policies: 'Firm but Fair'

Link to Mrs Angry's 'Broken Barnet' report

"Quite a few councillors - and bloggers - were absent from tonight's full council. Some councillors, like Robert Rams, had important engagements elsewhere. He was at a meeting about the controversial Cat Hill development, which he opposes because it is so 

ENORMOUS

and it is something in his back yard, but in another local authority. 

"Brent Cross Cricklewood is 

ENORMOUS

too, but it is in Tory Barnet, in a Labour ward, so it is of no consequence. 

"Sadly, therefore, as we shall see, any questions to him in his Cabinet member capacity had to be answered by the leader, Richard Cornelius - and what a mistake that was ..."

The Observer: Battle of the Titans - 'Farrell v Foster' (Hammerson not even an after-thought)

London's new airport: should Beijing be a blueprint for the Isle of Grain? 

"Architect Norman Foster says a Thames estuary hub is essential for Britain's economy; critics warn of a £50bn white elephant that could harm the environment"

Link to The Observer

"What is at stake, according to all sides of the argument, is nothing less than the economic and spiritual future of the nation. We are in danger of 'denying future generations to come', says architect Lord Foster. It is about the importance of our 'world-class natural environment', says the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. 

"It could be a 'white elephant' that would deal a near-fatal blow to our economy, says Sir Terry Farrell, another leading architect. Also at stake is national identity: how much Britain should try to match growing countries such as China, and how much we should do our own thing."

Bruce Gillingham Pollard and the 'Hammerson Restaurant Portfolio' (admit it, you didn't know they had one)

The 'Hammerson portfolio' (too bashful to show Brent Cross)

"Newly-appointed sole agents for all restaurant and café lettings across Hammersons portfolio in England. The instruction encompasses existing asset management opportunities on food courts and existing food areas and villages within the estate and new developments in Sheffield, Leeds and an extension at Southampton."

And the 'London' web page (without, of course, Brent Cross) ...

John Lewis and Eastgate Quarters: Judges rule on 'Hammerson Delight, Once Removed'

Link to Inside Media web site

"John Lewis managing director Andy Street is to outline why his company has chosen to anchor the £675m [Hammerson] Eastgate Quarters at an event in Leeds next week.

"Street will speak at the Leeds Chamber Business Lunch, sponsored by Hammerson, which is taking place on Tuesday (8 November) at the Queens Hotel. 'We are:

delighted 

to welcome Andy to Leeds to talk about his experiences running one of the biggest retail giants in the UK and his investment plans in the city,' said Gary Williamson, chief executive of the chamber. 

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The 'Campaign for a Sustainable Brent Cross Cricklewood Redevelopment' judges have ruled that, while they welcome investment in Leeds city centre, the lampooning of the use of "delighted" by someone other than Hammerson itself falls outside of the terms of the regular, ever-popular web site feature.

The judges hope to have further qualifying "Hammerson Delight" reports soon, since they know web site readers are so appreciative of them.

In the meantime, the judges welcome any comment from John Lewis on its massive new store at Westfield White City, and its apparent lack of interest in Brent Cross.

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Yorkshire Post: John Lewis in pledge over £675m Leeds Eastgate plan

Link to Yorkshire Post

"High street retailer John Lewis has moved to reassure Leeds that it remains committed to the city’s proposed Eastgate Quarter development, after pulling out of a similar scheme across the Pennines.

"The company withdrew from the £700m Tithebarn shopping development in Preston, which means the scheme will now have to be scaled down."

Pork Scratchings and Baltis?: "Countdown to opening of [Hammerson's Bull Ring] newest dining destination"

Link to Birmingham Mail

"IT’S just three weeks to go until Birmingham’s newest dining destination opens. Spiceal Street, part of [Hammerson's] Bullring [sic] development, will feature three new restaurants, to sit along the five existing eateries.

"Thirteen restaurants put in offers for units next to Jamie’s Italian and Mount Fuji. But it was ChaoBaby, Browns Bar and Brasserie and Handmade Burger Co. which were successful."

Thursday 3 November: "What future? New ideas for urban living – live-streamed debate"

Link to The Guardian web site

"The future of the built environment is shaped by political, economic, social and technological challenges. These interlinked issues demand creative and innovative ideas for urban living, but what are these ideas, and who is responsible for creating and developing them?

"You're invited to join a debate on what the future of urban living holds, live-streamed here between 6.30pm and 8pm on Thursday 3 November." [Grauniad misprint corrected.]

 

"The people of Eindhoven in Holland were named the most intelligent community in the world by an international thinktank, because of their holistic approach to collaboration and development."

(Not something Hammerson would ever win.]

Link to The Guardian, 5 October:

"How do we create an holistic urban environment?".

Investors Chronicle: "The end of boom and bust?"

Link to web site

"Alex Ross is no property bull. The fund manager expects the commercial real estate market to flatline for at least three years, and he's less gung-ho about the City office sector than most property brokers.

"Yet even he thinks property stocks are due a year-end bounce, as investors start to shrug off Europe's sovereign debt problems.

"He says:

"The equity markets are pricing in a considerable amount of fear. I'm not saying I know more than anyone else, but my view is that Europe will muddle through. And if we don't get a banking crash and a credit crisis, then we won't see property values hit.

Of course, if we do get another credit crisis, then all bets are off."

'Consolidated PR', Brent Cross's new PR outfit, says: "We deliver exceptional results" (Er, have you started yet, then?)

Link to Consolidated PR web site

"We Love Shopping at Brent Cross"

"We work with Brent Cross to remind shoppers in North London of what they love about the pioneering shopping mall.

"Situated in one of the world’s most heavily-contested retail catchment areas in the country, Brent Cross is faced with fiercely ambitious competitors, who can outspend them in every area."

"Situated in one of the world’s most heavily-contested retail catchment areas in the country, ..."

Please be kind enough to re-read that. We are right, aren't we? That is gibberish, isn't it? Still, perhaps they haven't started yet. Early draft, and all that business. The jury is out. Will be okay in the end. Let's have another meeting: Shall we take out "world" or "country"? What sounds best?

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Link to previous exciting appointment last July.

Sunday Telegraph: "Lloyd's of London chairman John Nelson finds his early days have been far from a natural disaster" (although he's still chairman of Hammerson, so don't be too certain)

Link to Sunday Telegraph

"Mr Nelson is optimistic about the future of the City regulator, which he says has been presented with a great opportunity to 'do exactly what it says on the tin'. ... However, he is less optimistic about 'Solvency II', the new capital rules set to govern the European insurance industry.

"... In the meantime, Nelson says he will continue engrossing himself in the market, which remains the only one of its kind in the world. Market insiders say he has certainly made a promising start: 'I think the chairman's chauffeur is the only unhappy person at the moment,' one joked.

[We say: No, we're unhappy as well.]

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Link to "Maybe He'll Jack It In at Hammerson" (we paraphrase)

or link to HOME (see all posts).

The Sun: "M&S to cut 300 jobs on night shifts"

Link to the Soaraway Current Bun

"MARKS & SPENCER is axing the night shift at 15 of its biggest stores — to save more than £1.3million.

"Stores involved include Brent Cross, Milton Keynes, and Aberdeen."

Public Transport, Hammerson! - Evening Standard: "Open market and 2,450 homes in Battersea boom"

Link to Evening Standard

"Plans for a huge regeneration of Battersea centred on a rebuilt New Covent Garden Market have been unveiled.

"The proposals would create 2,450 homes, almost 700 more than first proposed, on a 57-acre site between Vauxhall station and Battersea power station, and would sit alongside the new high-security US embassy.

"The scheme would tie in with Boris Johnson's plans to open a privately-funded branch of the Northern line from Kennington, with new stations at Nine Elms and Battersea."

Evening Standard: "Boris backs Crystal clear vision of architecture"

Link to Evening Standard

"An exciting new building called the Crystal has been backed by the Mayor, as a blueprint for the future of London's architecture.

"Built by Siemens, the £30 million project will open next summer in Royal Victoria Docks."

Thursday 27 October: "Keep London Moving" (not something Hammerson has ever tried to do)

Hammerson's July 'London Group Update' video - no mention of Brent Cross!

"We must stay nimble."

"We are passionate about delivering the best in class."

[Although in the case of Brent Cross, we are keeping our heads down.

We sometimes ask ourselves why we are in the mess we are in, at Brent Cross. 

Was it 'London Communications'?

Was it our local, contracted-out management?

Was it Mike Freer and his Barnet Council?

Was it merely our own incompetence?] 

No really, it is.

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Link to HOME (see all posts).

Newcastle Chronicle: "Hammerson planning to revamp Newcastle’s Monument Mall"

Link to Newcastle Chronicle

"World-renowned developers Hammerson are planning a facelift for Monument Mall, in the heart of Newcastle.

"Sean Bullick, chief executive of city centre development company NE1 Ltd, said: 'I have been meeting with the portfolio director of the developers. ...

Hammerson is an international force.'

"A spokesman for Hammerson said:

'We are active asset managers'."

[Not at Brent Cross, they aren't]

The Guardian: "Financial sector needs to re-establish trust, says Lord Mayor of London" (And we know about Sir Michael Bear of Finchley, already, don't we?)

Link to The Guardian

"Michael Bear, the 683rd Lord Mayor of the City of London, is beating the drum for finance during tumultuous times. Anti-capitalist campaigners from the Occupy movement are camped out at St Paul's in the heart of Bear's parish – copying similar demonstrations in New York, Melbourne and Hong Kong.

"Given the state of the economy and ongoing euro crisis, haven't the protestors got a point?

"Before he became Lord Mayor, nearly a year ago, he was Regeneration Director at Hammerson, the property company."

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Link to "Michael Bear, Regeneration Director at Hammerson (and new Lord Mayor of London) shuns Brent Cross's temporary 'rapid transit bus' for the Lord Mayor's Show 2010" (and more links there).

Fundweb: "Prime retail sites are key, say property managers"

Link to Fundweb

"... Over at Premier, Alex Ross (right) concurs that retail can be an attractive sector for property investors, ... [and is] seeing companies increasingly move towards the prime end of the market.

"Ross highlights south-east shopping centres such as Westfield and Bluewater, along with Meadowhall in Sheffield and The Bullring [sic] in Birmingham, as benefiting from this trend. He says:

"If you’re not at the top end, you’re dead.  At least one-third of UK retail property is obsolete in its current form."

"A vigil to mark the passing of Barnet planning services in the public interest" (only in Hammerson's interest in the future?)

"BARNET Council planning staff held a candlelight vigil outside Hendon Town Hall last night, as part of the day’s industrial action against the council’s service outsourcing plans.

 

"The group distributed and read from a booklet entitled 'A vigil to mark the passing of planning services in the public interest'. The booklet included information from blogger Barnet Eye."

(Click on images to link to the Barnet Times.) 

Old Oak Common: 'Our circles are bigger than your circles, Hammerson'

Click either image for an Old Oak Common promotion (PDF file) by the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, from 2009.

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Link to (wait for it...):

"Terry Farrell's Old Oak Common video (why is Hammerson and 'London Communications' too incompetent or ashamed to make a Brent Cross one?)".

Manchester tram scheme gets EU loan (Get your begging bowl out, Hammerson)

Link to web site

"Manchester's Metrolink expansion scheme is to receive £500 million in long-term low-rate loans from the European Investment Bank.

"The EIB, the EU's long-term lending arm, offers finance for major projects seen as promoting EU economic polices. In the last five years, it has provided more than £17 billion for UK projects.

"The money for Manchester was described by the EIB today as part of the bank's pledge to support:

"sustainable public transport in leading European cities, and to reduce reliance on private car use."

"The Network, our kid:"

"Sound mate, sound."

Video: Envac system at Wembley (with another architects' fly-through)

This system is already in use. 

(Some of the buildings are already built, some are being built, and some do not yet have planning permission.)

TheBusinessDesk: Hammerson's 'DELIGHT-o-METER' overloads yet AGAIN!

Link to TheBusinessDesk web site

"THE Eastgate Quarters shopping development in Leeds has moved a step closer after developer Hammerson secured planning permission to move a church.

"Joe Swindells, Hammerson's development manager, said:

“We are delighted..."

London Cycling Campaign's street design (Don't worry Brian, It's not in Barnet)

Link to web site

"What's good about our design? 

• RISK-FREE TURNS: Right-turning cyclists have their own traffic lights for extra safety 
• SAFE BIKE LANES: Bicycles separated from motorists with wide, kerbed lanes 
• FASTER ON FOOT: Wide and direct pedestrian paths 
• PEOPLE SPACE: Opportunities for cool café culture? 
• BUS LANES: Priority retained for high-volume public transport."

How 'Transport for London' want to do it... 

Cable Car from Brent Cross to Finchley Central (well, actually North Greenwich to Victoria Dock)

But link to 'London Reconnections' web site
for an analysis of the cost!

Daily Telegraph: "We need to safeguard London's playing fields or suffer the consequences"

Link to Daily Telegraph

"Those of us concerned about how the National Planning Policy Framework (which is out for consultation until October 17) will impact upon green open spaces of the National Planning Policy Framework have good reason to be thankful for The Telegraph’s Hands Off Our Land Campaign. The document’s presumption in favour of 'sustainable development' and ensuring there is 'enough land for growth' will set alarm bells ringing for supporters of community sports.

"London is already at a disadvantage, with 16 per cent of the country’s population being served by only 8 per cent of its playing fields, and the Government’s target of delivering two million new homes by 2016 will inevitably put enormous pressure on existing open space.

"The London Playing Fields Foundation, one of the country’s oldest sporting charities, has spent the over 120 years actively fighting the cause for playing fields. Those whose lives have been enriched by sport would recognise the importance of having accessible, affordable and attractive facilities, and the contribution they make in tackling two of the biggest threats to London life, namely poor public health and disorder on the streets."

London Playing Fields Foundation
73 Collier Street, London, London N1 9BE  Tel. 0845 026 2292

Evening Standard: "Fun after the Games: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park"

Link to Evening Standard
(there are two other images there as well)

"The Olympic Park Legacy Company submits its planning application today for the 20-year transformation of the Olympic site in Stratford into five new neighbourhoods around the edges of what, from 2013, will be known as the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

"The Mayor has billed it 'the most important regeneration project that the city has seen in 25 years', it compares in size to the biggest regeneration projects in London in recent years (Brent Cross/Cricklewood, for instance), and the eyes of London are on it. We have been told by politicians of all persuasions that this Olympics should be judged by what it leaves behind, and this is the plan that sets out what that legacy will be."

Wednesday 5 to Sunday 30 October: Stephen Walter, 'The Island: London Series' at Fenton House

Link to web site

Stephen Walter’s drawings are a tangle of signs, words and images, that draw the viewer into the artist’s intricate worlds. Inspired by the continually unfolding drama of his home city, his iconic map of London and collection of meticulously-detailed London Boroughs celebrate ‘a city’s ability to constantly reinvent itself, building on top of what was before, continually shifting its cultural identity.'

"In each print he combines history, trivia, personal experience, local knowledge and imaginative additions, to creatively explore the area in all its contradictory complexity."

Sky News: "Economy And Europe 'Cast Shadow' At Conference"

Link to Sky News

"Where's your growth plan?" I shouted at the Prime Minister outside the Midland Hotel in Manchester, in that annoying way that we political correspondents do. 

"He ignored me, naturally, and hurried inside, grasping the hand of his wife Samantha. But his answer to those Tory MPs like Andrew Tyrie who claim he lacks a 'coherent and credible' growth plan is a two-point housing initiative. 

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"PM Vows To 'Fire Up Economy' Amid Protests" 

Link to second Sky News report

"David Cameron has arrived at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, as he promises to 'fire up' the engines of the economy. One scheme the Conservatives hope will kick-start the economy, and in particular the housing market, is a 'build now, pay later' plan for homebuilders. 

The Tories will also propose to build a new council house for every one sold to a tenant. Communities Secretary Eric Pickles told Sky News:

"It would be 'one for one' in the local authority, with no averaging out. Of course, we've also just announced another scheme, which is 'build now, pay later'."

The Guardian: "Don't let nimbys pull up the housing ladder"

Link to The Guardian (15 September)

"Writing in the Sunday Times recently, Dominic Lawson had the honesty to express the truth behind a lot of the opposition to the current proposed planning changes: most of us are nimbys at heart. We want to solve the housing crisis in principle, but as soon as it means building in our neck of the woods our self-interest kicks in, and we start reaching for green arguments as a cover for the truer, but less altruistic ones.

"No planning reform, however smart or sensitive, will overcome this contradiction in what we want from the system – or our hypocrisy, as Lawson is brave enough to call it. And while the current proposals may not be perfect, their introduction signals a welcome commitment by the government to see more housing built – and yes, even in your backyard."

The Guardian: "Regeneration? What's happening in Sheffield's Park Hill is class cleansing"

Link to The Guardian

"There have been arguments about Park Hill ever since it was built in 1961. Its attempt to create 'streets in the sky' through wide, airy internal walkways has caused endless debate over whether they are real streets. But given that people congregate on them, there is public access to them and crimes sometimes happen in them, it would seem that they are as open-ended and tricky to police as the Victorian terraces they replaced.

"... It's all a microcosm of how public housing was treated during the boom. Property speculators became hungry for previously neglected spaces, going from regenerating derelict factories all the way to redeveloping dilapidated council estates. But in the latter case, there were people in the way, who first had to be decanted, or evicted as it used to be called, albeit with the promise of a 'right of return'. Yet already more former Park Hill tenants have registered their interest in returning than there will be 'social' units to accommodate them."

Link to previous 'The Observer' story.

Reuters: "Hammerson treasurer Duncan Beardsley to leave after shakeup -source"

 (pic: drei.dimensional)

Link to Reuters web site

"The group treasurer of retail developer Hammerson will leave the company as part of a cost-cutting drive at its finance division, a source close to the process told Reuters. 

"Duncan Beardsley is one of several employees who will leave the company, which owns the Bullring [sic] shopping centre in Birmingham and the Brent Cross mall in London." 

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 (See The previous one to go...)

Hammerson jolly for Espirito Santo Investment Bank, Panmure Gordon and Evolution Securities

"Downturn does little to dim Hammerson"

Link to web site

"Hammerson, the operator of retail and office space in the UK and France, was espousing an upbeat view on the sector, on an analyst trip to its retail assets in Reading, Didcot and Gloucester at the start of this week.

"The analysts at Espirito Santo Investment Bank, Panmure Gordon and Evolution Securities bought into the Hammerson pitch, with all reaffirming their 'buy' recommendations, with target prices ranging from 474p to 480p."

[One year on...] Evening Standard: "London planners must embrace civilised living" - Simon Jenkins

Link to Evening Standard, Sept. 2010

"We are not correcting but replicating the mistakes of London's post-war renewal. We are ignoring the message of the streets. 

The issue is not density or modernity: there is plenty of space into which to cram London's booming population, without imitating Hong Kong."

Good news Hammerson - No Barnet Planning, No Barnet Regeneration! All gone (soon)! Meet BT (or Capita) (or HCL Axon) (or Serco)

Barnet Planning and the public interest, RIP.
(Link above to 'Broken Barnet', and scroll down to 24 September report
on Barnet's four short-listed outsourcing companies)

Hammerson's Lawrence Hutchings explains 'the squeezed middle'

'Investor & Analyst Retail Site Visit'
(a jolly up the M4) 
Link to Hammerson PR Morgan Bone's press release

"Lawrence Hutchings, Managing Director UK Retail said:

"We are witnessing a number of trends in retail, which play to the strengths of our portfolio and our management expertise. Consumers are increasingly polarising in their requirements for either a full leisure experience or a simple, convenient transaction.

"Retailers are consequently focusing on both regionally-dominant centres, offering retail, catering, and leisure, and our accessible, well-located retail parks. The combination of high quality assets and retailer-focused asset management has allowed us to maintain consistent strong demand for space within our portfolio."

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There's still nothing about Stuart's 'sudden' departure, by the way.

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PLUS:

Link to web site

"UK retail developers eye safety, urge high st revamp"

"'The number of people now playing in our playground are becoming fewer and fewer,' Development Securities' head of retail, Paul Redstone, said of secondary retail property on the sidelines of the British Council of Shopping Centres (BCSC) conference in Manchester. 

"Developers such as Hammerson, Land Securities and fund manager Henderson Global Investors said their pipelines were centred on key regional cities, because of rental growth prospects and their affluent customer bases. 

"Redstone said:

"Britain is overshopped. The problem we have is that the number of financially-viable opportunities outside London in this country, which are going to provide (retail shop) accommodation that's in demand, are very few."

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PLUS: 

Link to web site

"Foundations strong for retail property despite concerns at BCSC"

"Statistics produced by the BCSC for this year’s event show that 11 per cent of all retail units in the country will remain empty on a long-term basis, and the group’s Chairman Richard Akers has called for reform of rental rates and empty property charges to try and address this.

"... If anyone needed inspiration on how to manage and complete these huge projects they could have done worse than hear the presentation by Ardent’s Joint CEO Roger Madelin on Tuesday, about his company’s development of the huge King’s Cross site in central London.

"He explained how:

• extensive research, 
• active involvement in a community, 
• the creation of something inspiring, and 
• groundbreaking architecture 

should all preoccupy the mind of the modern property professional."

[enlarged for the benefit of Hammerson.]

No fevered speculation over Sarah Booth replacing Stuart "I'm off!" Haydon as Hammerson Company Secretary

Link to web site

"23 Sept: Stuart Haydon has resigned as company secretary of Hammerson."

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(Link to The next one to go...)

Hammerson's David Atkins: Brent Cross is no longer the flagship? (it's Bullring [sic])

Link to 'More Vision 2'
(can enlarge to full-screen)

"How can retailers and urban developers reach out and engage with [the] influential yet fickle urban tribe?

"... David Atkins, CEO of Hammerson [says] that developers and investors need to be aware of the changing needs of Citysumers [sic]. In Birmingham, the company's flagship Bullring [sic] centre had six restaurants when it opened:

"At Aberdeen, which is half the size, we started with 26."