Developer BioRegional Quintain has appointed contractor GB Building Solutions to construct RiversideOne’s next phase which is its south car park area.
RiversideOne is being funded by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and One North East. This element of the scheme will provide pedestrian and vehicular access into the £200m development off Windward Way. Due for completion in September 2011, it will include 300 car parking spaces as well as attractive and innovative landscaping and public spaces.
Pete Halsall, BioRegional Quintain’s managing director, said: “With the construction of RiversideOne’s first residential building, CIAC (Community in a Cube), progressing at pace we are very pleased to maintain our momentum by starting this next phase of the development.
“The GB Building Solutions team is also currently engaged in the construction of CIAC and we are happy with what we have seen so far. As with the rest of RiversideOne, there is a high degree of innovation within the south car park so it is important for us to have a construction partner with the appropriate quality, safety and environmental focus.
“RiversideOne is a hugely prestigious development and one which is setting new standards in urban design and construction. The work we are currently undertaking on both this latest project and CIAC will ultimately provide Middlesbrough with a vibrant, futuristic new district in which people can live, work and relax.”
In adherence to BioRegional Quintain’s commitment to providing a sustainable community at RiversideOne, the car park will feature solar powered parking meters and four electric vehicle charging points. The whole of the south car park will also feature energy efficient LED street lighting, which is believed to be the single largest installation of LED street lights in the UK to date.
Mark Rutledge, GB Building Solutions site manager, commented: “We are delighted to have been awarded this contract following on as it does from our appointment to build CIAC. It shows the confidence that BioRegional Quintain has in us as a professional construction firm that is able to deliver high quality projects on time and on budget.”
The pedestrian entrance to the car park area will lead to a landscaped area featuring trees, planting beds and LED lighting columns. Many of the trees will be encircled by art features whilst a walk to the edge of the dock will provide stunning views of the Temenos sculpture.
With bays for a car club and numerous cycle parking spaces, the car park will have four access points linking RiversideOne directly to Windward Way. It will be surfaced in two shades of green – parking aisles in light green and parking bays in dark green. Pedestrian zones will be furbished in a buff colour whilst parking bays and aisles will be defined by planters and planting beds. The car park will also utilise the latest CCTV technology to make it as safe as possible for users.
Cllr Charles Rooney, Middlesbrough Council’s executive member for regeneration and economic development, said: “Work starting on the South car park area at RiversideOne is the latest significant development at Middlehaven.
“The car park will be innovative, aesthetically pleasing and environmentally-friendly and is a key addition to enhancing the landscape near CIAC.
“The quality of this development is indicative of the high standards we are achieving for Middlehaven and will help make it a truly world class development.”
Anne Mulroy head of area at the Homes and Communities Agency said: “This is another step forward for Middlehaven, helping to reconnect the area to the town centre.
“In recent years, we have invested over £30m in reclaiming the site and bringing learning, jobs and homes to the area.
“Our role is all about helping to unlock complex problems and find solutions, so we are delighted to be able to keep things progressing at Middlehaven in spite of the difficult economic climate.”
Emma Speight, head of special projects at One North East, said: “This marks significant and welcome progress for this important regeneration scheme. Middlehaven is central to the town’s ongoing regeneration.”
A total of 80 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments priced from £79,995 to £199,000 are currently being built within CIAC (Community in a Cube), the first residential building at RiversideOne. A show apartment is located within the marketing suite at RiversideOne demonstrating both the excellent level of specification available and quality of building materials being used at CIAC.
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