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Insider at MIPIM
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Road charging offers sustainability edge
Manchester should seize the initiative and create a city centre plan to drive sustainability. Speaking at an Insider round table at the MIPIM property exhibition in Cannes this morning, Drivers Jonas partner John Adams said: "There is the expertise and the will in the city to come up with a plan, encompassing community, transport and behavioural issues, starting with the city centre and moving outwards in time. No city has done that and it could provide a real edge." Sir Howard Bernstein, Manchester City Council's chief executive agreed: "We need to be proactive and the Transport Innovation Fund bid is an exemplar of sustainability that will give Manchester a real edge."
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Bolton's Church Wharf takes shape
Bolton Council has signed a development agreement with a joint venture between Ask Developments and Bluemantle to create a 14-acre mixed use scheme in the heart of the town centre. Subject to planning permission, Church Wharf will be a £210m, mixed-use scheme. The announcement about the planning application was made by Bolton Council's director of development and regeneration, Keith Davies, on the Manchester stand at MIPIM. The scheme will create a new quarter in the north-east of the town centre and will bring back into use a large area of brownfield land. 
Waugh secures new post
David Waugh, former chief executive of the Liverpool Land Development Company (LLDC), has been appointed chairman of development company Cosmopolitan Enterprises, whose profits help fund new social housing projects in the North West. The company acts as the commercial development arm of the Liverpool-based Cosmopolitan Housing Group, which also comprises a not-for-profit housing association and a commercial provider of student homes. During his five years at the helm of LLDC, up to May 2007, Waugh oversaw the regeneration of key strategic areas of Liverpool such as Edge Lane and Speke Garston.
WB chosen again in Rochdale
Rochdale Council has chosen Wilson Bowden as its preferred developer for the £250m redevelopment of the town centre, a project that includes 350,000 sq ft of new retail floor space, new squares, an arts centre and a food store, within a wider scheme including new civic offices and a transport interchange. After further public consultation, work could start in early 2010. Valad and a joint venture between Ask Developments and Sultan Properties were the shortlisted bids beaten by Wilson Bowden, which is already working on Rochdale's £350m Kingsway business park.
Forty but nice
Consultancy Atisreal has been appointed by Bayer CropScience to provide planning consultancy and agency advice on the forthcoming sale of its 40-acre manufacturing site in Widnes, one of the largest sites in single ownership in the North West, which sits near the Widnes Waterfront regeneration zone. Following selective demolition, a series of industrial and office accommodation totalling approximately 75,000 sq ft can be left in position.
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Oglesby backs Heathcote expansion
Chris Oglesby, the chief executive of leading Manchester landlord Bruntwood is backing food entrepreneur Paul Heathcote in his recent expansion drive. Oglesby and Heathcote hold 50 per cent each in Heathcote's Restaurants, which is currently in the middle of a £3m investment programme. These include Grado in Manchester and London Road in Alderley Edge. Simply Heathcote's in Manchester is being relaunched and refurbished as The Elliot. Heathcote told Insider: "It's a neat fit. Chris is genuinely passionate about the restaurant business."
New-build nuclear for Cumbria?
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is to market four sites in Cumbria to developers. Proposals are being invited at Sellafield, Calder Hall, Windscale and the low-level waste repository at Drigg, with the NDA stipulating that any proposal must demonstrate how it would give value to the UK taxpayer. Rosie Mathisen, director for nuclear opportunities at urban regeneration company West Lakes Renaissance, said: "West Cumbria's nuclear sites have massive potential for a new nuclear power station. The early marketing of the sites will get across the message that there are many good reasons for new build here."
Lookers motors on
Quoted Manchester car dealer Lookers has reported a 17 per cent increase in turnover to £1.68bn for the year ending 31 December 2007, despite tough market conditions. Pre-tax profits were also up 7 per cent to £23m, but profits before exceptional items and amortisation fell from £26.4m to £24.5m. The group said its Used Car Supermarkets operation has underperformed after posting a loss of £4.2m. Lookers has already closed one site in Essex and rationalised another two sites, but expects the business to return to profit in 2008.
Ascribe remains confident
Ascribe, the Bolton-based IT provider to the healthcare industry, has reported lower first-half pre-tax profits as revenues fell and expenses increased, but said it is confident of meeting full-year expectations. For the six months to 31 December 2007, operating profit fell from £1.8m in 2006 to £900,000, while turnover slipped 5.6 per cent to £7.1m. Executive chairman Stephen Critchlow said its sales and profitability for the current year to June 2008 will be weighted towards the second half.
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Daisy spends winnings
Lancashire-based telecoms business Daisy Communications has acquired more than 5,700 new business clients from Cardiff-based telecoms reseller Economy Calls. The deal, worth an estimated £3.6m in annual revenue, will boost Daisy's customer base by 25 per cent. It is the first acquisition by the company after it was awarded £5m interest-free funding in the inaugural Bank of Scotland Entrepreneur Challenge.
Stobart swallows Irlam
Carlisle-based haulage giant Stobart Group has announced its £59.9m takeover bid for regional rival James Irlam & Sons. The deal proposal includes the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of the Irlam Group, a substantial road transport and logistics business, for a consideration of £36.2m in cash, £10m in shares and £13.7m in loan notes provided by The Royal Bank of Scotland. Plans also include the proposed acquisition of WA Developments, a transport infrastructure engineering specialist, for a total consideration of £10m in cash, and an option agreement for the acquisition of Carlisle Airport, a company that owns a strategic site on which Stobart proposes to develop a new logistics centre.
Expand and deliver
Poulton-based manufacturer of precision components for the aerospace industry, A&G Precision & Sons, has completed a £400,000 factory expansion with funding from NatWest. The company employs 38 people and has a turnover of £2m. Arthur Pinder, managing director at A & G Precision, said: "The old premises no longer provided room for expansion and had started to impinge on the effectiveness of our manufacturing process. It was essential to create additional space."
Seeds of growth planted
Ornamental Plants, the UK's fourth largest producer of hanging baskets and bedding plants, is to expand into the retail sector with the acquisition of a plant nursery in Southport. Funding for the deal was provided by NatWest. Colin Bowers, director of Ornamental Plants, said: "Developing a retail presence gives us the chance to grow the company both in terms of turnover and also in the range of products that we can offer. To find a suitable site close to our existing base is a real bonus."
Logistical move for Denholm
International freight forwarding and warehousing business Arends International has been sold to Liverpool-based Denholm Logistics for an undisclosed sum. Arends International has its head office at the Sankey Valley Industrial Estate in Newton-le-Willows, as well as an office in Hampton, Middlesex. Denholm Logisitics - a subsidiary of J&J Denholm - is based in Liverpool and has 35 offices throughout the UK, Middle East and the US.
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Manchester mourns exceptional leader
Greater Manchester is today mourning the death of police chief constable Michael Todd, who was found dead on Snowdon in north Wales yesterday afternoon. A well-respected figure in business circles, Todd was known for his strong leadership style and his passion for Manchester. Paul Murphy, chairman of Greater Manchester Police Authority, said: "Michael Todd's death is a tragedy, for his family, friends and colleagues but also a massive loss to Greater Manchester Police and the police service in general. He was a great chief constable and exceptional leader. He was an outstanding man and his death is a terrible loss."
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Top Tory donors revealed
The March issue of Insider reveals the top ten North West business donors to the Conservative Party. Heading the list is Nigel Alliance, brother of Lord Alliance, the Iranian born textile magnate and Liberal Democrat peer. In 2007 he donated £106,000 through his property business Cringle Corporation. A special feature on the party includes interviews with David Cameron and George Osborne.
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Telephone: +44 (0)161 907 9711
Email:
insider@insiderweekly.co.uk
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