Planning permission granted for mixed-use plot at Wembley

Quintain Estates and Development PLC has been granted detailed planning permission by the London Borough of Brent, the local planning authority, for a major 615,192 sq ft (57,174 sq metre) mixed-use building at Wembley. This is the fifth major detailed planning consent obtained by the Company for its 6.3 million sq ft (585,000 sq m) development.

The new 10 storey building will adjoin Wembley Arena and face Wembley Stadium. It will combine a 441 bed Hilton International Hotel, including a business centre, function suite and healthclub, with a 656 bed student halls of residence, five affordable housing units, 86,080 sq ft, (8,000 sq m) of retail space including food and drink outlets, as well as elements of the planned 150,000 sq ft designer outlet space (13,940 sq m), parking for 226 vehicles and 398 bicycles, and communal landscaped areas and open space.

The hotel was designed by The Manser Practice and will benefit from the transference of guests and business currently managed by the Wembley Plaza. The student accommodation was designed by PRP Architects and the retail facilities by Leslie Jones.

The student halls of residence will be owned by Quintain's student accommodation fund, iQ, a joint venture between Quintain and The Wellcome Trust. iQ already owns and operates student accommodation throughout the UK.

Construction of the project is planned to commence in late 2007, with completion during the summer of 2010. The current estimated GDV of the combined building is £230m.

Nick Shattock, Deputy Chief Executive of Quintain, commented: "Another major detailed consent, our fifth, takes us further forward in delivering a dynamic fusion of retail, entertainment and living at Wembley. A luxury hotel will play a vital part in serving Arena and Stadium visitors, as well as reinforcing Wembley's conferencing credentials. The student accommodation will ensure the scheme quickly becomes populated and also reflects the synergies inherent between Quintain's development and Fund Management businesses."