MEPC - Wellington Place Open Day
Hi,
One of CIRG’s members, Wendy, attended the MEPC open day on Friday, and has kindly captured what she found out in the report below. MEPC are an immediate neighbour of City Island and seem to be very fair and thoughtful, and always inform CIRG of such developments.
Wendy’s report:
I went to the meeting at Wellington Place yesterday and was very impressed. They had invited all the neighbours including Crowne Plaza, PWC, King Sturge, Allianz, Watson Wyatt, Irwin Mitchell and ourselves, to tell us what their plans were in the short and long term, and to ask what we would like to see. The meeting was also attended by Rachel Unsworth of University of Leeds (geography) who is undertaking a project for greening of places. She is being assisted by a 3rd year geography student who is using it for her dissertation.
MEPC can't start building works until they have pre-let enquiries on each block. In the long term, they are proposing a mixed use development of 2.6m sq ft. In the short term, they are looking to make the area smarter and put it on the map. There was a general view that the journey up Whitehall Road from the station is grim and they will make significant improvements. They don't want to just open it up for public car parking (although they could make a lot of money) but will have some increased parking areas for businesses on site. In the short term, they want to clean up the site and scope out the footprint of each building (using coloured gravel or grassed areas) so that the aerial view looks good.
They do have planning approval on a number of units but don't want us to alert the planning dept to their temporary ideas until these have been agreed. Ideas include:
They will demolish the remaining MFI block in the next few weeks and clear the site before xmas.
A 10' grassed perimiter will be completed along North Street in the near future.
There will be a main square near the tower. As a temporary measure they will gravel this over in coloured gravel.
They will build a main path from this square to Whitehall Road, that will be well lit and tree-lined.
One of CIRG’s members, Wendy, attended the MEPC open day on Friday, and has kindly captured what she found out in the report below. MEPC are an immediate neighbour of City Island and seem to be very fair and thoughtful, and always inform CIRG of such developments.
Wendy’s report:
I went to the meeting at Wellington Place yesterday and was very impressed. They had invited all the neighbours including Crowne Plaza, PWC, King Sturge, Allianz, Watson Wyatt, Irwin Mitchell and ourselves, to tell us what their plans were in the short and long term, and to ask what we would like to see. The meeting was also attended by Rachel Unsworth of University of Leeds (geography) who is undertaking a project for greening of places. She is being assisted by a 3rd year geography student who is using it for her dissertation.
MEPC can't start building works until they have pre-let enquiries on each block. In the long term, they are proposing a mixed use development of 2.6m sq ft. In the short term, they are looking to make the area smarter and put it on the map. There was a general view that the journey up Whitehall Road from the station is grim and they will make significant improvements. They don't want to just open it up for public car parking (although they could make a lot of money) but will have some increased parking areas for businesses on site. In the short term, they want to clean up the site and scope out the footprint of each building (using coloured gravel or grassed areas) so that the aerial view looks good.
They do have planning approval on a number of units but don't want us to alert the planning dept to their temporary ideas until these have been agreed. Ideas include:
- Five a side pitch
- Tennis courts
- Outdoor ice rink
- Would like outdoor concert facility but there is a conflict with the council on this (I think due to the new city venue)
They will demolish the remaining MFI block in the next few weeks and clear the site before xmas.
A 10' grassed perimiter will be completed along North Street in the near future.
There will be a main square near the tower. As a temporary measure they will gravel this over in coloured gravel.
They will build a main path from this square to Whitehall Road, that will be well lit and tree-lined.
I said my (and therefore CIRG's) objectives are:
- Not too many residential units
- A feeling of security and personal safety achieved by good lighting, open spaces and avoiding places where undesirables can hang out
- A good restaurant
- Something to put the West End on the map, attracting business and financial institutions (as we have started to build given the companies represented)
- Good pedestrian access from City Island into the City
The pocket park will go ahead soon. Thereafter, MEPC will complete the footbridge (which is now their responsibility).
I came away feeling very positive about the plans and looking forward to watching developments. This can only have a positive impact of the price and desirability of City Island.
We will receive a questionnaire shortly asking us for more ideas.
posted by City Island Residents Group at 3:31 PM
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