Portsmouth Business News Service
New Development Undergoing Design Review
Portsmouth's regeneration hopes continue in the city centre following the demolition in 2004 of the Tricorn Centre now earmarked for shops (96,200 sq metres), leisure, cafés and restaurants (6,650 sq metres), a four-star 150-bed hotel, 200 residential apartments, and a 2,300-space car park. Originally due for completion in 2010 the project has been delayed.
The < Northern Quarter project by Centros > is undergoing a design review to ensure that it offers greater flexibility for future occupiers. The main construction phase is set to create up to 4,000 jobs with a further 2,500 jobs available once the development is open.
A range of < training schemes are planned to ensure local people have the right skills to secure these jobs. > November 2008
Portsmouth Number One
A new £35million 25 storey tower at a height of 100m and named 'Number One Portsmouth', has recently been proposed for Portsmouth City Centre. The development is for a four star, 188 bedroom hotel featuring a restaurant on the 20th floor and a cafe on the ground floor. The vast glass-and-steel building planned for Surrey Street and facing Station Street (on the old Royal Mail Sorting Centre site) is to be around 330ft tall. Detailed planning does not yet exist. It has been designed by a team of five architects from PLC Architects, Queens Crescent, Southsea, led by Rick Carter November 2008
New Show Suite Opened
The development of the former Whitbread Brewery site in Portsmouth is nearing completion and the Admiralty Quarter Tower some 22 Stories high offers a fantastic selection of studio, one, two and three bedroom apartments and penthouses. This Crest Nicholson development is situated in a central location, close to Gunwharf Quays and next to the Historic Dockyard, within the thriving city of Portsmouth. Water views are available on some properties. Price guide from £165,000 to £370,000
September 2008
Solicitors, architects, and surveyors could be the victim of the
down-turn
Many independent professional practices including solicitors, architects, surveyors, and estate agents - could see their business struggle to survive in 2008. August 2008
New tax could add 'enormous' costs to developers, warns King Sturge
Developers and landowners have been alerted to expect a new tax this year that could cost them "enormous sums". July 2008
Empty rates legislation could kill off speculative development
The impending introduction of full rates on empty industrial property will put the brake on speculative building.
Saab Seaeye Expands
Saab Seaeye (Dave Grant Managing Director) a specialist in the field of unmanned underwater vehicles bought for £13m in 2007 from Chris Tarmey, Chief Executive and 70% shareholder has opened a new 24,000 sg ft factory in. Fareham. The new facility was officially opened on Friday November 14th 2008 by Mark Hoban MP and Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury. This expansion programme comes as sales success sees the company extend its lead in the electric ROV market world-wide with sales coming not only from the booming oil and gas industry, but from the company's success in the areas of defence, marine science and civil engineering.
April 2008, Updated November 2008
The Listening Company Continues to Expand
Award winning contact centre business The Listening Company, which employs over 900 people at their offices in central Portsmouth, recently acquired by one of the UK’s leading contact centre companies – The Essential Group (Joe Costello, Managing Director). Following the acquisition, (Neville Upton Chief Executive The Listening Company) the combined Listening group of companies will employ over 2,500 people in six locations in the UK, manage over 31 million conversations a year, and have revenues of over £55 million. May 2008
Portsmouth Port Purchases MMD Shipping Services Ltd
Portsmouth Port (Martin Putman, Port Manager) has completed the purchase of Mainland Market Deliveries (MMD) Shipping Services Ltd, based at Flathouse Quay, Portsmouth Port, from Sandpiper CI Limited. The transaction was approved by Portsmouth City Council, owner of the Port. The Port's purchase of MMD, which imports 70 per cent of all bananas eaten in Britain, is expected to secure the current income for the City of Portsmouth.
MMD currently occupies a site of 22 acres, 19.22 acres of which is rented from the Port, it employs just over 200 people. The purchase of MMD by the Port will help safeguard the business's position as a significant importer of goods into the UK and therefore help maintain the status of Portsmouth as an important commercial Port in the UK.
February 2008
BAE Systems to close Fareham Factory with the loss of 20 Jobs
BAE Systems (Graeme Rumbol Managing Director Graeme Rumbol) is to end production of the Pinzgauer I at two sites, in Guildford, and one in Fareham, Nr Portsmouth, Hampshire, with the total potential loss of up to 102 jobs. Pinzgauer was acquired by BAE in August 2007, as part of its takeover of Armor Holdings. It announced in September 2007 that a new generation of the all-terrain wheeled vehicle, the Pinzgauer II, would be built in Guildford and Fareham but latter said the Pinzgauer II production would be moved to South Africa.
January 2008
Covidien site at Gosport will close by end of 2008
Covidien's site at Gosport, Hampshire, will close by the end of 2008 with the loss of more than 300 jobs. The American healthcare company, formerly named Tyco Healthcare, has said the closure is necessary to maintain “competitiveness”. Workers at the Gosport site were told they will all lose their jobs, in a move that came without prior discussion. The sudden announcement has been criticised by local politicians. Covidien is based in Massachusetts, and manufactures a range of medical devices and supplies. Company spokeswoman Lisa Clemence said: “It’s not an easy decision to make, but it is necessary to ensure Tyco Healthcare retains its competitiveness.” January 2008
Zenith Windows Petersfield is placed into Liquidation
Zenith Stabrite Windows, part of Bowater Home Improvements, a national company with a base in Bedford Road, Petersfield, Nr Portsmouth has been put into liquidation with the loss of 70 jobs. Of the ten branches of Zenith across the country it is expected that five are to close while the remainder will be taken over by purchasing company Weatherseal. Founded in Norwich in 1969 as Zenith Windows it is one of the UK’s biggest home improvements companies with annual sales of around £77m - January 2008
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