Waterfront scheme secures phrase one partnership
BLANCHARD WELLS have announced they are investing into the first phrase of a project which will see the creation of an important 42-acre mixed-use waterfront development at Daedalus; the company buying a major first plot in order to self-deliver a new enhanced manufacturing facility that enables 200 new jobs in the region including apprenticeships with the nearby Civil Engineering Training Centre (CETC).
This announcement from the civil engineering and concrete frame firm marks the first step towards delivering the vision for Daedalus Waterfront and the Development Company’s objectives for the project, which include bringing jobs and opportunities to the area. They are also aiming to preserve historic buildings / celebrate the site’s significant history and thirdly to support the Hovercraft Museum by nurturing it as a successful destination; all of which will ultimately restore this community’s pride in HMS Daedalus.
By early 2027 this new facility will feature a state-of-the-art Technology Centre dedicated to manufacturing precast lift cores, stairs, and columns using market-leading reduced carbon concrete. This cutting-edge facility has already sparked interest from key industry and government bodies and will position Blanchard Wells at the forefront of Modern Methods of Construction in the Southern Region.
Following that, Blanchard Wells intend to launch a Construction Hub; which will be an inspiring office space that will bring together our Blanchard Wells professional teams. These include local design / construction specialists including structural engineers, architects, thermal modelers, highways experts, landscape designers, and sea defence consultants; whilst they also plan to support and lead local start-ups through the creation of a Construction Hub Network.
Blanchard Wells have already helped to establish and run training through nearby CETC, an Award-winning and state-of-the-art training facility providing a fully operational and realistic groundworks and civil engineering training environment. The first, commercial phase of Daedalus Waterfront is called The Sir Douglas Evill Enterprise Zone; which has been named after the first commandant of RNAS Lee-on-the-Solent who played a key role in the Battle of Britain.
Blanchard Wells has recently purchased Phase 1a; which is a site adjacent to the airport / control tower and they will be submitting a new planning application in partnership with Daedalus Waterfront to bring forward this new facility. Other phases of this historic site will see barracks restored and converted into modern, mixed-tenure housing; whilst the Hovercraft Museum (home to the largest collection of hovercraft in the world) will be reinvented to become a world-class visitor attraction.
The project is estimated to bring a total of 240 full-time job opportunities to Daedalus Waterfront on completion and the Blanchard Wells partnership will contribute to this total. It will also build on local community connections with Blanchard Wells’ owner / chairman Mark Wells having grown up in Stubbington, as well as being Chairman of the Solent Civil Engineering Employers Group and established the Civil Engineering Training Centre (CETC) in 2017.
This helped create a unique Apprenticeship training programme that would address the country-wide skills shortage, support the construction industry across the region and create more jobs and opportunities for skilled groundworkers.
CETC is a state-of-the-art training centre, designed to provide a fully operational, realistic groundworks and civil engineering training environment and is fully equipped with the machinery, tools, materials and resources needed to ensure all apprentices develop work-ready skills and complete the relevant licenses needed to work successfully on-site. Blanchard Wells frequently visit the campus to support training, mentor apprentices and maintain the strong industry connections that the training scheme is renowned for.
The landmark regeneration scheme has been put forward by a joint venture between Patron Capital, MurrayTwohig Developments, and Orwell Real Estate, who were selected by Homes England as development partners for the site last year. Their proposals will boost the local economy through the creation of new commercial and leisure sector jobs, provide much needed housing, protect and reinvigorate the various historic and listed assets, and secure the future of the largest collection of hovercraft in the world in The Hovercraft Museum.
In recent years the site has been largely dilapidated and forgotten, with the important historic assets awaiting viable reuse. The Daedalus Development Company has a clear vision to bring jobs and opportunity to the area, preserve historic buildings and celebrate the site’s significant history, support the Hovercraft Museum and nurture it as a successful destination, ultimately restoring community pride in HMS Daedalus. This new transformational masterplan, designed by acme architects, will see a targeted, industrial innovation strategy implemented through the delivery of commercial space link to a thriving visitor attraction at The Hovercraft Museum.
The proposals include 24,500sqm of new, modern employment and dustrial space, as well as 5,200sqm of commercial space for new businesses and jobs in the Solent Enterprise Zone. It will also feature 346 new mixed-tenure homes and seventy-six of these will be refurbishments of the existing heritage buildings including the historic barracks square. New community services and facilities would be created including a public park, whilst there will be a world-class visitor attraction at Seaplane Square and The Hovercraft Museum.
Co-founder of MurrayTwohig Development and CEO of Daedalus Development Company, David Twohig, said: “This investment by Blanchard Wells in the regeneration of Daedalus Waterfront is the best possible start to the project; bringing advanced manufacturing, new jobs and an active partner in to help kick off the initial commercial phases of the project, helping us deliver on our commitment of this being a jobs and opportunity-led scheme”.
Mark Wells, Chairman of Blanchard Wells said: “As we celebrate 25 years of trading, it’s only fitting that we mark this milestone with a bold step into the future. This site marks a major investment in our future and will be developed in three carefully planned phases, in keeping with the historic design principles of the wider Daedalus Waterfront scheme.”
He continued: “We’re proud to name it The Sir Douglas Evill Enterprise Zone, in honour of the Air Chief Marshal who oversaw HMS Daedalus and played a key role in the Battle of Britain. This landmark project will create exciting new opportunities within our team and over 200 new jobs in the region, including apprenticeships in collaboration with the nearby Civil Engineering Training Centre (CETC).”
Kevin Cooke, Senior Partner at Patron Capital said: “Patron Daedalus Ltd welcomes Blanchard Wells as the first partner to recognise the attractiveness of Daedalus Waterfront, we look forward to investing in the future of Lee-on-the-Solent together.”
Readers can find out more information on the project by visiting this link, which includes photos and is the best place to see any updates.
PICTURED BY DAEDALUS WATERFRONT: Artist impression of how the development of this exciting project could look once it is completed later this decade.
