Project Spotlight: Talbot Gateway, Blackpool

Tolent’s contract required the redevelopment of Britain's first-ever multi-storey car park at Talbot Road in Blackpool as Phase One of Muse Development’s £220-million Talbot Gateway Central Business District (CBD) scheme. Muse have a long term development agreement with Blackpool Council covering the whole of the 25-acre site adjacent to Blackpool North railway station.

Completed in 1939, just before the outbreak of the Second World War, the five-storey building originally had space for around 750 cars and a ground floor designed to house Blackpool's bus station with a ceiling height which accommodates double-decker buses. Tolent’s contract involves renovating the external envelope, converting the ground floor into six commercial and retails units and refurbishing the upper floors to create a modern parking facility comprising 653 spaces. The £6-million project marks the first stage in the transformation of the under-utilised area into a thriving retail, business and civic district.

Project Spotlight: Newcastle Library

Tolent built Newcastle’s 8,500 square metre state-of-the-art Public Library comprising seven storeys situated in the city centre. The building was constructed under a PFI Design & Build Contract for Newcastle City Council. The development features several innovative techniques including the installation of unitised glazing system to the main external elevation (which also incorporates a large public artwork within the glass), an automatic book sorting system, the use of solar water heating, wastewater recycling, areas maintained under special climatic conditions and a sophisticated building management system.

A full fit-out of the library and substantial external works were also carried out as part of the contract. The building was officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.

Project Spotlight: Factory Youth Zone, Manchester

Factory Youth Zone facility in Harpurhey, Manchester, was built by Tolent as one of a series of North West Youth Zone Projects set up by the OnSide charity. The centre provides a sports hall, climbing wall, studios for dance and performing arts, music/media room, café, fitness suite, arts and craft area, training facilities, recreation area, office suite, meeting rooms, and a 5-a-side side football pitch.

Tolent received an award at the Considerate Constructors Scheme 2012 National Site Awards for standards maintained at the Factory Youth Zone, placing it in the top 7.5 per cent of over 8,500 registered UK sites completed. The awards were presented to a select number of sites that showed the highest levels of consideration towards their local neighbourhood, the public, their workforce and the environment. Tolent have also built a second North West Youth Zone Project offering a similar range of facilities at Wigan Boys and Girls Club.

Project Spotlight: Surestart Nursery, Tameside

Working on behalf of Client Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council, Tolent’s £1.3 million contract involved the development of a new 630-square-metre, multi-functional nursery and community facility in Tameside, Greater Manchester. The state of the art centre (designed in consultation with the local community who now use it) provides medical facilities, ante-natal post-natal care, a 50-place private nursery, café, community garden and a number of multi-purpose rooms.

Emphasis on flexibility and sustainability were key themes throughout its design and construction, both in terms of environmental and financial longevity. All materials were procured from sustainable or recycled sources. Natural light rather than artificial light was acted upon, with rooflights providing natural light to internal corridors. Window positions were reassessed, natural ventilation increased and low emissivity glass installed to the south side of the building. A low temperature under-floor heating system was installed to the building along with an air source heat recovery system.

Project Spotlight: Queens Park, Crewe

Tolent carried out a comprehensive restoration project at Queens Park in Crewe. A £2.775 million support grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and a further £3.725 million investment from Cheshire East Council has funded the return of Queens Park to its former glory.

The project required environmentally sensitive construction throughout with a wide variety of wildlife and existing trees to protect. Phase One involved the installation of five new bridges and the construction of hard and soft edges for retaining walls around the lake. Work on Phase Two included a Jubilee Pavilion and the construction of a Bowls Pavilion.

Project Spotlight: Open Air Theatre, Scarborough

A visit from Her Majesty the Queen marked the official opening of the new £3.5million Open Air Theatre in Scarborough following a design and build redevelopment by Tolent.

Opened in 1932, the original Open Air Theatre last hosted entertainment in 1986 and the task of restoring the historic venue to its former glory has been funded by Scarborough Borough Council.

The new facility includes a specially designed performance stage, two further stages, two control point buildings, backstage building, lighting tower, and 5,510-seat terrace which combined with a further 1,000 demountable seats makes it the largest open air theatre in Europe. The contract also included the creation of artificial terrain for a newt habitat within the site’s existing lake.