Ashford, Brighton and Peterborough have long been areas of interest for GRE Assets. As well as offering excellent connectivity, one of the main reasons why we chose to invest in these areas was regeneration. Over the past five years alone, massive progress has been made in each location and investment looks set to continue.
We last provided a regeneration update in June 2021, so it is timely that we update on recent progress and emerging new projects. Below, we outline three of the biggest regeneration projects shaping Ashford, Brighton and Peterborough.
Jasmin Vardimon Company’s Creative Hub
Due to considerable growth since moving to Ashford in 2011, renowned dance and arts organisation the Jasmin Vardimon Company has been busy creating their new purpose-built premises. The 13,530 sq ft space at Javelin Way will include studio space with a fully sprung dance floor, incubator space for businesses in the creative sector, a cafe, meeting rooms and space for community classes.
The project has gathered a lot of interest in the creative world and beyond, JVHome will allow the company to grow its operations further. Construction began in January 2021 and is due to open in spring 2022.
Project The Lanes, Brighton
Part of The Lanes regeneration project, progress is being made on the new co-working and business hub in Nile Street, Brighton. Projects The Lanes will transform the site into “central Brighton’s largest independent Grade A workspace” and will have space for up to 800 people. As well as co-working space and serviced offices, it will also include a bar and roof terrace, a podcast recording suite and an events space. The project is on track to launch in spring 2022.
Christos Demetriou, founder of Projects, said: “This city is full of creative entrepreneurs and professionals that believe in balancing purpose and profit, but they have lacked a collaborative home that leads with these values. Projects exist to holistically support the person behind the business, making it easier for the individual to make better choices and grow their business sustainably – come spring we’ll be able to unite and support more people than ever in a sustainable and inspirational environment, building on our existing community of purpose-driven people who believe in business as a force for good, whilst also reviving an unloved area of The Lanes.”
Whittlesey Science and Technology Park
Plans for a new science and technology park have been revealed for the former Victory and Saxon brickworks site just outside Peterborough. This is in response to a strong demand for science park space that cannot be found in nearby Cambridge. Whittlesey Science and Technology Park would cover almost 50 acres, with a further 80 acres of the site committed to parkland and supporting biodiversity.
The multi-million pound project is believed to have the potential to create 1,000 jobs, supporting employment in the local area. The proposed timeline for the project is to submit an outline planning application in 2022, then if approved commence with infrastructure work in 2023. The ambition is to welcome its first tenants in late 2024.
GRE Assets has been delivering high quality, well connected homes in the UK and Spain since 2006.
