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Developers Guildhouse UK and Rosepride Properties have signed up a Chinese contractor to deliver plans for a 200m-plus residential tower close to the Whitgift shopping centre in Croydon.

It marks the latest in a series of major deals to be unveiled during the Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit this week.

The China Building Technique Group Company brings a strong reputation in high-rise buildings, which is one of the key reasons it was selected to work on the design and engineering consultation for One Lansdowne Road tower.

Earlier plans for a 55-storey tower and accompanying 15-storey block, which were to have contained offices, a hotel and flats, have been redrafted.

The latest plan, which is understood to have involved consultations with CBTGC, will comprise of a dual tower block rising to 57 floors and 35 floors, now containing 900 homes.

If this more ambitious project gains planning, it would be one of the tallest residential buildings in the country at over 200m.

Founded in 1987, China Building Technique Group Company is a subsidiary of the China Academy of Building Research, the largest R&D organisation in China’s building industry.

Wang Wei, leader of CBTGC’s UK team, said: “Through the cooperation with local government and developers in the new Croydon project, CBTGC can bring its technical expertise in building industry to the UK.

David Hudson, chief executive of developer Guildhouse UK, said: “In the UK, the high-rise is a fairly new phenomenon, and many people are sceptical about whether Croydon can finish such as magnificent project.”

“But with a partner like CBTGC, we know it is deliverable. CBTGC has already contributed a lot to the building, making it more efficient.”

Mark Waterstone of Rosepride, said: “As a local developer who has worked in Croydon for many years, it gives me great pride to bring forward a scheme of such ambition and promise. I am delighted we have teamed up with CGTGC and I am extremely confident that we will deliver one of the most iconic landmarks to London.”

Earlier this week another Chinese contractor Citic Construction signed a deal with developer ABP to turn the Royal Albert Dock into London’s next business district, aimed at Chinese companies looking to open UK headquarters. The 4.7m sq ft scheme is expected to cost around £1.7bn to deliver.

Equipment hire specialist Hewden has taken a peak into the future of construction to predict how the industry will look in 2045.

The report envisages a world of 30km tall buildings with spaceports, driverless vehicles and mini-cities in the sky while site workers will have super-strength exoskeletons creating half-man, half-machine operatives that can utilise a range of attachments.

Hewden’s 2045: Constructing the Future report has been developed by renowned futurologist Ian Pearson and was launched today to coincide with the date Marty McFly and Dr Emmett Brown time-travelled to in the ‘80s blockbuster movie, Back to the Future II.

The report takes a look at what the UK might look like in another 30 years, covering areas such as building design, transport, technology and health and safety.

Pearson said: “While we’re not all flying around in cars, there are a number of things, such as the use of drones, video conferencing and some of the physical structures that were portrayed very accurately in the movie.

“The acceleration of new technology has and will continue to be the biggest driver for change. As will look forward another 30 years we can expect to see a very different but exciting world.”

Some of the key findings of the report include:

The London Skyline in 2045 will have super-tall structures and a spaceport

In 2045 driverless vehicles will be the norm.  Unlike the more futuristic curved look, vehicles will likely be box shaped to maximise on-street capacity.

Builders will have super-strength exoskeletons creating half-man, half-machine workers that can utilise a range of attachments.

Pearson added: “Augmented reality will play a major role in the aesthetics of a building.

“It’s likely that many buildings will actually be very plain, instead using AR to create visually appealing environments for those that visit.”

Heavily populated cities such as London are likely to change the most, according to the report, with space travel and development of new cities within cities some of the major changes.

Pearson said: “The use of super-strong carbon-based materials will enable us to build incredibly tall structures, some even up to 30km high.

“This will make space travel more convenient and for major transport hubs like London, going into space will be a regular occurrence in 2045.

“A few of these structures may be so large that their capacity enables them to function as small cities in their own right, with all the usual city functions mixed within the same building,.”

Irvine Sellar’s property company has unveiled plans to transform Paddington in West London with a £1bn mixed-used scheme.

The focal point of the plan will be a slender 65-storey tower of flats and offices, already dubbed the ‘skinny Shard’ after the property tycoon’s landmark skyscraper at London Bridge.

The 224m cylindrical tower would be the fourth tallest building in the capital, equalling in height the Cheesegrater.

Sellar said: “We believe this exciting proposal will tap into the potential of Paddington and will prove to be a major catalyst for the continuing enhancement of the area, especially Praed Street – in much the same way that The Shard did for London Bridge.

“This site shares much of the same DNA with its proximity to a major transport hub with tube, railway lines and bus routes, a neighbouring leading teaching hospital and the potential to provide much needed quality public realm.”

A planning application will be submitted to Westminster Council next month and if all goes to plan construction could start late next year at the site of the former Royal Mail office next to the railway station.

As well as 150,000 sq ft of offices and 200 luxury flats the scheme known as 31 London Street, will boast restaurants on the 60th-62nd floors with a public roof garden.

Architect Renzo Piano designed the building, which is being backed by Singapore’s Hotel Properties.

Chris Lim, group executive director of Hotel Properties, said: “By partnering with Sellar Property Group on this truly transformational project, we are committed to playing our part in revitalising the area.

Proposed retail and transport hub beneath public realm

New public realm and ‘gateway’ to Paddington Station

The redevelopment of Hertsmere House at West India Quay will deliver 869 flats within a 240.5m tall building, designed by architect HOK around a clover shaped footprint to maximise views for each flat.

When built it is expected to hold the record as the tallest block of flats in Europe.

The basement runs to a depth of just 11.7m as the site sits above Crossrail running tunnels, although all piling will be outside the Crossrail exclusion zone. Affordable housing will be included in the western wing of the building.

Around half the building facade is to be fitted with vision glass and the remainder will be fitted with highly-insulated metal panel backed glass curtain wall known as “shadow boxes” to give the building the appearance of being fully glazed from the exterior while reducing solar gain.

The demolition and construction phase will employ over 900 construction workers during a 55 month programme.

Planning permission was previously granted for a 242m 63-storey commercial tower on the site but these plans were superseded by the new residential scheme.

The Shanghai-based developer is also developing the high-rise Ram Brewery scheme in Wandsworth, London where Kier is carrying out phase one works.

Fresh plans to rebuild Euston station for HS2 and unlock a major above ground regeneration site will be submitted to Parliament next week.

Eleven new platforms for HS2 will be built at the station in two stages as part of a phased approach that means less disruption for passengers.

The new blueprint includes more space for homes, offices, shops and restaurants, and staging construction work over 16 years from 2017 instead of nine to ease disruption.

The extra costs would be within the overall HS2 budget of £42bn.

The plans, which will now be considered by Parliament, also offer the flexibility to transform the station into a thriving transport and community hub.

Underpinning support structures as part of the plans will allow a range of uses above the station, allowing for wider redevelopment and regeneration of the area.

As well as the 11 high speed platforms provided by the new plan, 11 platforms will remain in the current station to serve the existing network. There will be new public spaces for shops, restaurants and cafes.

The plan allows for potential redevelopment of the remaining existing station platforms and concourses, subject to future funding and approvals.

A staged approach to building the high speed terminus means existing services can continue to operate.

London Underground facilities at Euston will also be significantly enhanced with passengers benefitting from greater space and connections to services including a new ticket hall and direct subway to Euston Square station. Access to taxis, buses and cycles will also be greatly improved.

Simon Kirby, HS2 chief executive, said: “These firm proposals will allow Euston to fulfil its potential.

“Just a stone’s throw away, we have seen how the stations at King’s Cross and St. Pancras have transformed the surrounding areas into vibrant and thriving locations.

“We must replicate and build on that commercial and architectural success. Now is the time for Euston to catch up with its neighbours to meet the requirements of the 21st century and beyond.”

The plans are proposed for inclusion in the High Speed Rail (London-West Midlands) Bill by means of an Additional Provision, which is due, subject to the approval of Parliament, to be deposited on Thursday 17 September.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “HS2 offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to revolutionise not just Euston station but a whole area at the heart of London. The new station will be the catalyst for wider redevelopment and so it is right that we are ambitious in our plans to dramatically improve the design, capacity and technology used.”

Plans for a suspended swimming pool have been unveiled for Embassy Gardens at Nine Elms on London’s South Bank.

The ‘Sky Pool’ will link two residential buildings at the 10th floor and allow residents to swim from one building to the other.

The pool is entirely transparent and structure free, 25m long, 5m wide and 3m deep with a water depth of 1.2m.

Designed by Arup Associates, with specialist input from Eckersley O’Callaghan and aquarium designers Reynolds, the pool will have glass that is 20cm thick.

Sean Mulryan, Chairman and CEO of developer Ballymore Group has been the driving force behind the pool.

Ballymore and partners Eco World are developing the second phase as Eco World Ballymore.

The buildings that the pool link are part of the second phase of the development which will be released to market in September, soon after the first residents have started to move in following the completion of phase one.

Barratt London is preparing to start construction of a 28-storey twisting tower on one of the last remaining Thames riverfront sites in Wandsworth.

Enabling and piling works will get underway this month after the developer gained full planning for the 135 apartment scheme at Lombard Wharf, adjacent to the Grade II listed Cremone Bridge.

Barratt London has allocated 20% of the apartments for on-site ‘affordable’ housing and is committing £1.6m to improve local infrastructure.

Designed by local architects Patel Taylor, wraparound balconies, rotated at an angle of two degrees, appear as a series of ‘rotating discs’. This optical twist is achieved by the diagonal lines of tapered solid balustrades jutting against the horizontal lines of the balconies.

Homes will achieve Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 and a BREEAM Excellent Rating.

The ground level features a double-height glazed residential lobby and a riverfront retail unit. The mezzanine level contains a second floor to the retail unit, a gym for residents, staff facilities and management welfare facilities. Bays for 30 cars and 182 bicycle spaces are provided at basement level.

Alastair Baird, regional managing director of Barratt London, said: “Lombard Wharf is one of the last remaining plots on the Thames and we are looking forward to regenerating this brownfield site, which has been vacant since 2012 and currently restricts pedestrian access along the river.”

Canary Wharf Group has got the thumbs up for a striking residential tower at the estate’s new phase, formerly known as Wood Wharf.

Tower Hamlets Council granted detailed planning for the 57-storey building accommodating 468 flats ranging from studios to large three bedroom family units.

The cylindrical skyscraper will be built at a prominent waterfront location on the edge of South Dock, directly to the east of the existing Canary Wharf estate.

Designed by architects Herzog & de Meuron the building will be the lead project in the wider development of a 4.9m sq ft mixed use, waterside community providing over 3,200 new homes, nearly 2m sq ft of offices and a further 335,000 sq ft of shops, restaurants, school and landscaped parks and walkways.

Sir George Iacobescu, chairman of Canary Wharf Group, said: “This decision is a major step in the progression of the new phase, a development that will broaden and extend the Canary Wharf estate, adding to its vibrancy and continually expanding cultural, community and commercial offer.”

The permission comes just days after the launch of Canary Wharf Group’s first ever homes, at 10 Park Drive, adjacent to the Herzog & de Meuron tower.

A Stanton Williams designed building, 10 Park Drive is a mid-rise 13 storey building adjoining a 42 storey tower, together containing 74 studios, 115 one-bedroom apartments, 141 two-bedroom apartments and 15 three-bedroom apartments.