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Brownfields in UK and Czech Republic An Engineer’s Experience

Brownfields in UK and Czech Republic An Engineer’s Experience. Dr. Martin Duris. Presentation for COBRAMAN Training Programme 5 th Training, 21 st – 22 nd September 2010. Introduction. PBA – Engineering Consultancy 500 staff in total 400 staff in UK, 100 overseas

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Brownfields in UK and Czech Republic An Engineer’s Experience

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  1. Brownfields in UK and Czech RepublicAn Engineer’s Experience Dr. Martin Duris Presentation for COBRAMAN Training Programme 5th Training, 21st – 22nd September 2010

  2. Introduction • PBA – Engineering Consultancy • 500 staff in total • 400 staff in UK, 100 overseas • Prague Office since 1999 • Brownfields Regeneration and Land Development are the main business areas • HQ located in Reading, former industrial centre in SE England

  3. Reading • History – industrial city: brewing, biscuits (Huntley and Palmers), bulbs, bricks • Dull, undesirable place to live in or visit

  4. Reading • Regeneration over the past 20 years has changed Reading out of recognition • Production changed to high tech IT companies (Microsoft, Oracle) with offices in the centre, leading to pedestrianisation • Huntley & Palmers demolished, just one building left

  5. Reading • City centre regeneration included construction of a major shopping centre – The Oracle

  6. Reading • New business was also attracted with extensive regeneration of edge of town sites: - Thames Valley Park, former coal- fired power station - Green Park, former landfill & other low grade land - Madejski Stadium, former landfill, now home to a Premierships team

  7. Reading

  8. Reading

  9. Reading • Reading is now one of the top SE destinations for retail (The Oracle Centre) • The Reading area is one of the best performing regions in the country • It has become a desirable destination

  10. Prague & Czech Republic • Has not benefitted from the post-WWII growth as UK • Many old factories, dilapidated industrial estates • Poor maintenance, poor quality of construction, heavy pollution • Sometimes arrogant decision-making by the ruling party left big scars • Proper regeneration activities started only 10 to 15 years ago • Issues identical to UK, but delayed, some issues more prominent, lack of public funds

  11. Prague • Zizkov Cargo Station redevelopment • Former cargo station, full of old tracks, buildings and contamination • Massive size – 55 ha • Two private developers – Discovery and Sekyra Group • Discovery – northern part, 30 ha, 1st phase 6 ha • Future uses – residential, office, retail (300m x 120m), hotel • Project value CZK 6 billion

  12. Zizkov Cargo Station

  13. Zizkov Cargo Station

  14. Zizkov Cargo Station

  15. Prague • Laser Centre Dolni Brezany • ELI – Extreme Light Infrastructure (laser) • Former wood processing plant • Site 8 ha, buildings 35,000 m2 • EU-funded, supported by Ministry of Education & Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences • Four buildings: laser hall, labs, offices, lecture halls, library, gallery • Project value CZK 1 billion

  16. ELI Laser Centre

  17. ELI Laser Centre

  18. Engineer’s role • Developments can be Engineer - led • Green Park – PBA were approached by the landowner 25 years ago for advice on how to develop the land • Opportunities identified, PBA approached Prudential as a potential investor • Green Park has become one of Pru’s flagship projects • Same story with Thames Valley Park • PBA still look to introduce potential investors to land that needs another use (quarries, landfill sites, etc)

  19. Brownfield vs. Greenfield • Often high clean-up costs, public funding often necessary (gas works, heavy metal manufacturing particularly onerous) • Service diversions and tight access frequent issues • Advantages in town centre – connectivity to public transport and well served by the utilities • Greater attention now given to retain & restore industrial buildings – more sustainable, retains character of the site • Greater emphasis placed on retaining or establishing communities through mixed use developments, even business parks • Some recent redevelopments were too sweeping, removed character & critically damaged or destroyed communities

  20. Image & Wealth • Regeneration stimulates growth, but: • Needs to be supported by local availability of skills • Businesses need to be willing to relocate and/or expand (attractive image) • New communities must be created • Mix of old character and new imaginative landscaping • Public money needed for clean-up

  21. Image Change

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