Adderstone Group’s Eastlands has been highly commended at The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Awards 2017.
Over the last 10 years Adderstone Group has painstakingly restored two derelict semi-detached student hostels, last occupied in 1995, into one magnificent and well-loved residential home, known as Eastlands, in Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne.
The North East RICS Awards, took place on Friday 21st April at the Civic Centre in Newcastle, where more than 50 of the North East’s most impressive property schemes battled it out for a chance to be crowned. The awards showcase the most inspirational regional initiatives and development in land, property construction and the environment.
Architects, Ainsworth Spark Associates nominated Eastlands for the ‘Design through Innovation’ category, having been instructed in 2007 to transform the building into one of the most impressive residential properties in the UK. Peter Nugent, Partner at Ainsworth Spark, explained: “The project has been a labour of love for both ourselves and the Adderstone Group team. We have literally lived and breathed the project as we worked collectively to deliver a vision which would reinstate this magnificent residential home.
“Eastlands serves as an exemplar of what can be achieved when a client and architect are unified through deliberate, purposeful and determined collaboration.”
The winner of the Design through Innovation category was The Word, an inspiring and community-led centre based in South Shields. It also scooped the Project of the Year title on the night as well as winning in the categories, Community Benefit and Tourism and Leisure.
The detail
Eastlands has been brought back to life over the last 10 years and its coveted heritage was respected throughout the restoration project. Archaeological surveys and historical evidence were commissioned, photographs and stories were collated. From the outset, original artefacts, railings, cornice and stonework were salvaged.
Internal detailing in the front half of the property respected the original design themes.
The three stone facades that were capable of being retained shrouded a more traditional conversion: Oak hardwood flooring, raised and fielded wall panelling based on moulds of originals, grand square utile balustrade as the closest modern day equivalent to the original mahogany, all assembled around a grand central staircase incorporating solid utile bulled nose treads, profiled bannisters sweeping out of handcrafted square utile newels, swans necks into mitred corners.
Solid stone fireplaces were reinstated, in stone to match the impressive and sympathetic solid stone portico at the front of the house. Cast railings and gates were sourced from an original Victorian cast that was the closest match to existing cast iron works.
In contrast, it was ensured that the rear half of the property would play host to a fine sequence of contemporary interventions: Glazed apex’, a 25m swimming pool/steam room/sauna/spa flooded with light from walk-on skylights, an underground cinema den with underwater viewing window, structural glazed balustrade, an expansive Ibizan roof terrace with outside barbecue and pizza oven and spiral stair leading down into a minimalist but practical family garden with pavilion, which merges into an authentic continental red clay tennis court.
The two halves of the building are linked by a 12m high seamless glazed internal curtain wall. Windows and internal glazed panels afford views from the restored, “old” half through to the “new” half and then beyond, through full height, frameless glazed doors into the garden and beyond across to the tennis court.
Throughout the build a practical and enduring approach to sustainability was adopted. High levels of insulation were added in the walls, floors and roof, strategically located, clean, modern wood-burning stoves were installed. Reuse of materials was paramount and all stone from original unstable elevations and outbuildings was recut on site and reused.
In conclusion, Eastlands has been transformed into one of the most impressive homes in the UK. A 10-year project of careful restoration of the building into a stunning residential home and one which Adderstone Group is very proud to have in its portfolio.
Turbo Power Systems (TPS), the Gateshead-based power electronics manufacturer and partner business of Adderstone Group, has won first prize in the Losses category at the annual Energy Innovation Centre Awards.
The ceremony was held at the Rum Warehouse, Titanic Hotel in Liverpool on 28th September 2017 and was hosted by Jason Bradbury, star of Channel 5’s Gadget Show. Throughout the event, eleven awards were handed out to different product and service providers to showcase the value they have added to the UK utilities sector through applied innovation and perseverance.
The Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE) inaugural 'Losses' category award won by TPS commends innovative solutions that generate a reduction in distribution network costs. TPS’ Soft Open Point (SOP) converters were commended due to their great impact on improving losses on the electricity distribution network.
The unique SOP converters enhance the network when they are installed where the Normally Open Point usually exists on the distribution network. Installing a SOP converter in such a location provides means to share power between concurrent lines and phases. Transferring power from a heavily loaded line to a lightly loaded line reduces the total additive losses in the two lines. This, in turn, reduces stress on existing assets and releases capacity in the current infrastructure to support greater use of Distributed Generation and Low Carbon Technologies, such as Electric Vehicles.
Applying a converter at the Normally Open Point ensures that controlled power exchange between the two lines is achieved. In addition, the converter provides extra functionality which further contributes toward the reduction of losses on the lines and assets, including voltage regulation, harmonic reduction and power factor correction.
TPS’ Soft Open Converters have been operating successfully on the Low Voltage distribution network in the South East of the UK for a number of years. As part of the award, TPS demonstrated how they plan to achieve the same benefits using a different architecture of converter for deployment as a Soft Open Point on the Medium Voltage distribution network.
TPS were presented with the award by SSE managing director, Stewart Reid. Collecting the award were Engineering Manager for Smart Grid and Energy, Dr Fainan Hassan, and Engineering & Business Development Director, Dr Nigel Jakeman.
Dr Jakeman said “It’s a real honour for TPS to be awarded winner of the first ever Losses Award. EIC do a fantastic job supporting and recognising innovators in this sector, so to have them and the utility sector recognising the significance of our technology once again serves as real testament to the importance of these converters in the electricity distribution network of the future.”
TPS would like to thank UK Power Networks for their support in winning this prestigious award.
In 2016 Adderstone Group’s dedicated letting agency, Exchange Residential triumphed at the regional student housing ‘Oscars’.
The team behind Exchange Residential were voted Newcastle’s Student Letting Agent of the Year at the second ever North East Student Housing Awards held at Newcastle’s Assembly Rooms.
In addition, Union Square retained the prestigious award for North East and Newcastle Student Hall of the Year, and team member Jeremy Belton walked off with the Property Manager of the Year accolade.
The awards, which are voted for by a panel of 16 property-based experts across a host of sectors, are the culmination of a great year which has seen Exchange Residential, almost double the size of its portfolio, sourcing and managing quality accommodation for over 1500 students.
The North East Student Housing Awards, which began in 2015, aim to celebrate those in the region who continuously go above and beyond legislation to deliver property, services and standards at the highest possible level, with the hope of improving standards overall.
Exchange Residential was established almost 15 years ago and, over the years, has provided accommodation for more than 20,000 students across the region. The award for Newcastle Student Letting Agent of the Year was one of the most fiercely contested categories but judges highlighted the customer service and team spirit which set apart the Exchange Residential team.
It was a second year of success for Union Square, also situated in Upper Ouseburn, which is currently home to 233 students from 24 countries across the world, after retaining the award for North East Student Hall of the Year, a title it first won in 2015.
Union Square is the largest student accommodation development completed to date by Adderstone Group, and the award is recognition for the team behind the project.
Union Square won Newcastle Halls of the Year before also walking away with the North East crown, after being assessed by a tough panel of industry experts including Ian Fletcher, Director of Policy at the British Property Federation, Peter Savage, President of the Association of Residential Landlords (ARLA), Steve Simpson, local representative from the National Landlords Association, as well as student sabbatical officers from all of the region’s universities.
For further information on Exchange Residential click here.
For further information about Union Square visit /developments/project-portfolio/union-square/
In 2015 Union Square was voted North East and Newcastle Student Halls of the Year, at the inaugural North East Student Housing Awards.
Union Square won Newcastle Halls of the Year before also walking away with the North East crown, after being assessed by a tough panel of industry experts including Valerie Bannister, President of the Association of Residential Landlords (ARLA), Steve Simpson, local representative from the National Landlords Association, as well as student sabbatical officers from all of the region’s Universities.
The awards are the culmination of an incredibly successful first year for Union Square, situated in Upper Ouseburn, which is currently home to 228 students from 24 countries across the world and which first opened its doors in August 2014.
Union Square is the largest student accommodation development completed to date by Adderstone Group, and the award is recognition for the team behind the project, from architects to developers, construction team, lettings agency and marketing expertise.
The North East Student Housing Awards aim to celebrate those in the region who continuously go above and beyond legislation to deliver property, services and standards at the highest possible level, with the hope of improving standards overall.
North East Student Housing Awards founder, Paul Allison presented the team behind Union Square with their awards and said: “Union Square is a hall that makes the most of a great location, modern design and great customer service.
In winning the North East Student Hall of the Year title, the judges felt that Union Square demonstrated a great attention to detail in both décor and layout, as well as providing an excellent level of care to their tenants.”
For further information about Union Square visit /developments/project-portfolio/union-square/
In 2010 Quay West Business Village was awarded The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) 'Regeneration Award'.
The development saw the creation of 100,000 sq. ft. of prime office space located on the historic Austin & Pickersgill shipyard site.
Convinced that the site could form part of Sunderland’s economic future, Adderstone Group acquired the site and developed it into 9,200 sq. m. (100,000 sq. ft.) of commercial space, perfectly located on the banks of the River Wear, with great transport links and flexible, creative commercial office space suitable for SMEs and independent businesses.
Originally occupied by derelict warehouse units, Adderstone Group adopted a collaborative approach to the development, working with its funders, Allied Irish Bank, building contractor Brims Construction and architects Ainsworth Spark Associates to create a commercially attractive addition to the urban landscape along Sunderland riverside.
The Quay West scheme includes 48 high quality offices in a range of sizes and represents one of the most significant business park / office developments to be carried out within the City of Sunderland for many years.
For further information on Quay West Business Village click here.
In 2007 Ian Baggett was awarded the title of ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ – a prestigious award nominated by his peers at The Entrepreneurs’ Forum.
This award was in recognition of Ian's property development achievements with Adderstone Group and significant impact on creation of jobs and regeneration in the North East region.
The Awards acknowledge the people who Forum members consider to have been the most inspirational and successful each year. At the time of the award, Adderstone Group was one of the fastest growing in the North East, recording 160% increase the year.
Ian received his award from Mark Hatton of Ernst & Young who presented Ian with a commissioned sculpture by Durham artist, Brian Brown. Mark said: "Ian started the company with a small financial windfall and built it up into something much, much bigger. He has seemingly limitless levels of energy, determination and passion."
Ian said: "This award has been earned by the people who work around me and is the first business award I've ever received from my peers."
Carole Beverley, chief executive of The Entrepreneurs' Forum said: "These awards are the only ones given by the Forum each year and are always cherished by the winners because they know they have been nominated by their fellow members.
"The recipients say that being recognised by your peers for your achievements is a very humbling experience and consequently the awards mean so much more."
