果冻影院

Commonwealth Games - Sandwell Aquatic Centre

The construction industry in the Birmingham area is set for a major boost as  the 2022 Commonwealth Games construction work gains pace. A host of projects are already in development and site mobilisation began in March on the flagship proposal to build a 拢350 million Athletes Village at Perry Barr (果冻影院 Project ID 18129238).

Lendlease is building the village, which comprises 1,400 homes to accommodate 6,500 athletes plus a running track and green spaces. The village will be close to Alexander Stadium where the track and field events take place.

Work to the stadium will cost 拢70 million and Mace has been recruited as project manager and 果冻影院鈥檚 construction market intelligence reports that the procurement process for a main contractor started in late April.

Arup is already working on the design to increase the capacity of the 40-year-old Alexander Stadium in Perry Park from 12,700 to 40,000. After the Games, about 20,000 seats will be retained to create the country鈥檚 second largest athletics stadium (Project ID 17459888).

Other projects

Other projects linked to the Games include a 拢60 million aquatics centre. This proposal secured final approval in early April and Wates as the main contractor鈥檚 role.

Arup is also working on this project and 果冻影院鈥檚 construction market intelligence shows that detailed planning permission has been secured and work should start later this year. Designed by architects Roberts Limbrick, the scheme will feature a 50-m Olympic-sized competition swimming pool, a 25-m diving pool, a studio pool and seats for 1,000 spectators (果冻影院 Project ID 18030745).

A host of temporary projects will also be delivered including a 拢1 million three versus three basketball venue with seating for 1,000 people (果冻影院 Project ID 18092680). The University of Birmingham鈥檚 two synthetic pitches are also undergoing a 拢4 million upgrade and 5,000 temporary seats will also be added to host the hockey tournament.

Short lived slump

In a recent report titled 鈥楪old Opportunity鈥�, Mace estimated that the minimum benefit to the West Midlands of hosting the Games would be 拢1.5 billion plus 拢500 million-worth of 鈥榦ne-construction benefits鈥�.

鈥淚f we get it right, the Games will also be about much more than sport,鈥� says Mace board member Dennis Hone.

The Games should help revive building work in Birmingham, where Deloitte鈥檚 2018 Crane Hire Survey found that new office starts in the city were at their lowest level since 2014.

果冻影院 expects a fall of around 9% in the underlying value of construction starts across the wider West Midlands region this year, but this will change.

果冻影院 economics director Allan Wil茅n says: 鈥淭he Commonwealth Games are already having an impact on construction activity in the pipeline.鈥�

Urban regeneration coming out of the Commonwealth Games is also aiding this resurgence.

Councillor Ian Ward, Birmingham City Council鈥檚 leader said: 鈥淭he regeneration of Perry Barr will be the most tangible and transformative legacy we achieve as a result of hosting the Games, bringing investment and regeneration to an area that has long been crying out for it.鈥�

Further phases of the regeneration of Perry Barr will come out for consultation this year and should boost optimism in Birmingham鈥檚 construction industry for the future.