Major refurbishment for Christ’s College
18 September 2006
The unique features of a college building dating back over 150 years will be preserved while it benefits from 21st century facilities, as Land Securities, the company behind the transformation of the Christ’s Lane retail destination, demonstrates its commitment to Cambridge.
The historic ‘C, D and E staircase’ building at Christ’s College, in part of the City’s conservation area, is undergoing a £1 million refurbishment to provide a much improved living and working environment for students and domestic staff. Due for completion in December 2006, the project embraces 16 study bedrooms, showers, ‘gyp’ rooms, storage, new catering facilities, staff toilets and locker facilities.
An important aspect of the work will be merging the ‘old’ – original oak staircases, coving, skirting and windows – with the ‘new’ – plumbing, electrics and telecoms. Land Securities and SDC Construction, the company that was awarded the building contract for Christ’s Lane, are working closely with English Heritage, Cambridge City Council heritage office and the college to ensure that the precious, traditional features and modern facilities blend seamlessly.
Geoffrey Payne, domestic bursar at Christ’s College said, ‘These much needed improvements to our facilities will enhance the quality of life for all who live and work here. The works being undertaken in this central and sensitive part of Cambridge are being carried out with great care and, once completed, will ensure the building is better suited to today’s living, working and studying requirements.'
Graham Thompson, Development Manager at Land Securities commented, 'Christ's Lane is pivotal in linking Cambridge's historic centre with Drummer Street bus station and The Grafton. Our investment in the development of Christ’s Lane with the refurbishment of Christ's College will give this location the high profile it deserves.'
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Further information:
Jo Bird - Land Securities Group PLC
020 7747 2390
jo.bird@landsecurities.com
Media information:
Jenny Kartupelis or Kate Phizacklea - Elements PR
01223 421605
info@elementspr.co.uk
Photographs available on request from Elements PR info@elementspr.co.uk
Notes to Editors
Christ's Lane
The Christ's Lane development is a distinctive retail-led, mixed-use scheme, which will respond to its setting in a conservation area, between the prestigious Christ’s and Emmanuel Colleges. The re-established historic street of Christ's Lane will become one of the busiest thoroughfares in the city providing a key link to the City Centre from The Grafton and the bus station.
The new Christ's Lane will comprise 8 shops, a restaurant looking over Christ’s Pieces and 15 apartments as well as featuring a new civic square and amazing public art. Pre-lettings have been agreed with fashion retailers Zara, H&M, Bank, and the restaurant group Giraffe.
For more information visit www.christslane.co.uk
Land Securities Group PLC
Land Securities is a FTSE 100 company, quoted on the London Stock Exchange. It has been at the forefront of the UK’s commercial property industry for over 60 years.
Today, the Group maintains its market leading position as the UK’s largest quoted property company by providing commercial accommodation and property services to a wide range of occupiers. The Group’s objective is to create attractive and sustainable returns for its shareholders through its activities, which include property investment, development and property outsourcing.
Land Securities holds a market leading position in three areas of the UK commercial property market:
- Retail,
- London offices and
- Property outsourcing
Its £12.9 billion combined investment portfolio totals six and a half million sq feet, including office and retail space in Central London, 30 shopping centres, 30 retail parks and 10 supermarket properties located across the UK.
It has a substantial development programme including major retail-led urban regeneration schemes and Central London mixed-use developments. The Group is also master planning one of Europe’s largest regeneration schemes in Kent Thameside.
The Group leads the market in property outsourcing where, through Land Securities Trillium, it provides accommodation and property-related services to the Department for Work and Pensions, the BBC, Norwich Union, Barclays Bank, DVLA and through Telereal to BT.
The Group is committed to environmental initiatives and community involvement recognised by the Group’s inclusion in the BiTC Corporate Responsibility Index, FTSE4Good Index and the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.For more information on Land Securities visit www.landsecurities.com