News
Highcross unveils plans for future of Lakeside Portsmouth
Property fund manager Highcross has unveiled plans for a major new business development at its 100-acre Lakeside North Harbour site in Portsmouth.
The proposals involve the development of around 750,000 sq ft of new office space, including a series of iconic office buildings alongside the scheme’s 14-acre lake. Also proposed are a landmark hotel building at a new eastern entrance to the site and a prestige car dealership.
An outline planning application has been submitted for the future development of the site, which currently houses the 1000 Lakeside office building and IBM’s UK headquarters.
At the heart of the development will be a new central square in front of 1000 Lakeside, flanked by two new office buildings with a tented events area in the centre. Also proposed is the creation of a new Lakeshore Drive roadway, to provide vehicle access to the new lakeside offices and The Boardwalk, a pedestrian/cycle route which would stretch from 1000 Lakeside to the eastern edge of the site where it will link with existing footpaths and cycle ways.
In total, the proposals comprise almost 1 million sq ft of development, including the new office schemes, 70,000 sq ft hotel and conference centre and facilities for businesses located at the site, ranging from small shops and restaurants to a new medical centre.
Highcross has owned the North Harbour site since 2005 and earlier this year, launched its 1000 Lakeside office scheme, following a major refurbishment programme, including the installation of a new atrium. These latest proposals form a masterplan for the site’s phased future development, expanding an incomplete office complex into a major business asset for Portsmouth and the surrounding region.
A key issue in the development of the proposals has been retaining the attractive, landscaped environment and ensuring a high degree of sustainability. The proposals include the installation of two wind turbines to contribute energy to the whole site, plus options for ground source and air source heat pumps for the proposed buildings and combined heat and power units (CHP) and solar heating for the hotels.
Highcross technical director, Keith Woods, said the plans would create a dynamic, varied and integrated business community: “We are proposing the highest standards of architectural and landscape design for this important location at the gateway to Portsmouth. The new central square at the front of the 1000 Lakeside building will become the core of a vibrant, exciting community, set within an attractive environment which is integrated into the surrounding area.”
The first phase of the development would include the development of two new office buildings of 28,000 sq ft, either side of the new central square. Also in phase one, would be the construction of the hotel/conference centre, car dealership and medical centre, plus the new eastern entrance to the scheme and the development of both Lakeshore Drive and The Boardwalk.
Details of Highcross’ plans for the proposed development will be on display at its 1000 Lakeside building from Tuesday 6 January for three months, between 9 am and 5pm Monday to Friday.
Joint agents for Lakeside are Knight Frank and Vail Williams.