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Asian wedding venue in Aston to get modern upgrade successful wedding venue in the heart of Aston, while preserving the character, significance and appearance of one the area’s most historical buildings. “We are extremely thankful to Birmingham City Council officers for their invaluable pragmatic advice to get this application over the line. The positive preapplication discussions and the granting of listed building consent reflect the strong collaboration and shared vision between us, the council and our client.
An Asian wedding venue in Aston will be given a modern upgrade after plans were approved for the creation of a first-floor terrace, following support from planning experts at Marrons. The Grade II-listed Victorian tram depot, in Trinity Road, was transformed into the Majestic Conference & Banqueting Hall in 2013. Since then, it has become a haven of cultural celebrations, with two banqueting halls accommodating up to 400 guests. As part of the approved plans, owner Taz Ulfat will demolish and replace an existing and unauthorised wooden canopy with a new enclosed and glazed first-floor terrace. Improvements will also be made to the visual appearance of an existing singlestorey extension and a new street entrance from Witton Lane will be created to align harmoniously with Aston’s evolving urban landscape.
The plans seamlessly align with the ongoing redevelopment of Aston Villa Football Club’s iconic Villa Park Stadium – situated a stone’s throw from the Majestic Conference & Banqueting Hall – and the broader masterplan for the neighbourhood, which will see significant public realm enhancements and the creation of dynamic open space. The building was constructed in 1882 and was the first purpose-built tram depot in Birmingham. Originally the home of steam trams, the building was converted for electric trams in 1904 and remained in operation until 1949. From the late 1980s, it became the Aston Manor Road Transport Museum, but closed in 2011 due to funding issues. Sachin Parmar, Planning Director at Marrons, who led the plans, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have secured planning permission that will enhance an already
“Demolishing the existing wooden canopy is a positive step towards the continuing preservation of this historic site’s authenticity and charm. The grandeur of the venue will be enhanced through the addition of an enclosed, glazed first-floor terrace, designed with sensitivity to the building’s rich past while embracing the demands of modern aesthetics. “Acknowledging the importance of visual coherence, the single-storey extension is set for a contemporary reimagining, seamlessly blending the old with the new. A new street entrance from Witton Lane, a thoughtful addition, not only increases the building’s legibility but also aligns harmoniously with the area’s evolving urban landscape.” Adam Partington, Partner at Marrons, assisted with expert heritage advice. Simon Stanion, Planning Partner at law firm Shakespeare Martineau, provided legal advice as part of the application. The design was completed by Leicester architecture firm DSA and the concept design was by Lapworth Architects.
Join the St Basils Big Sleepout: Transform lives one night at a time
Are you ready to make a real impact on the lives of young people experiencing homelessness in your community? The St Basils Big Sleepout is your chance to make a difference, one night at a time. St Basils is a dynamic charity dedicated to supporting young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The charity firmly believes that every young person deserves a safe and stable place to call home, and it works tirelessly to make that vision a reality.
The Big Sleepout: Why It Matters The St Basils Big Sleepout is more than just a fundraising event. It's a chance to stand in solidarity with young people who face the harsh reality of homelessness every night. By participating, you can help raise vital funds to provide shelter, support, and hope for a brighter future.
Here's why your participation matters: 1. Awareness: When you sleep out, you
experience a fraction of what homeless young people endure daily. This firsthand experience helps raise awareness about the challenges they face, fostering empathy and understanding.
www.cw-chamber.co.uk
Under Construction, published by Operational Compliance Systems Ltd - a collaboration between Warwickshirebased WA Management and Image Plus was officially titled as the Overall Winner of the SGUK Innovation Awards. Representatives from both companies spent the day at the IOSH Headquarters in Leicester, where they heard from keynote speakers, learnt about the projects developed by other winners, and accepted the Lord Cullen Trophy as the winners of the Innovation award. The app garnered interest from a number of attendees and caught the attention of the IOSH PR and media team, with whom WA Management Director William Whittaker is currently collaborating with to produce a good practice case study centred on Under Construction. Following the awards held in September, William said: “It’s been a very exciting day for us at the SGUK Awards ceremony, as we can really now see proof that the scope we hope to achieve with Under Construction is very realistic. “Speaking to other health and safety professionals it is clear that the need for an app like this is recognised across the industry, and we are looking forward to bringing it to a wider market and making a positive impact on health and safety culture across the UK.” The Innovation awards encompass all organisations of any size based or operating in the UK, with the aim of celebrating and sharing innovation and best practices in health and safety management. This award category focuses on best practice and celebrating the latest innovations and ideas in managing health and safety.
What is St Basils?
For over four decades, St Basils has been providing shelter, support, and opportunities to young people across the UK. Its mission is to end youth homelessness but can't do it without your help.
Warwickshirebased health and safety compliance app accepts SGUK Innovation Award
2. Funds for Change: The funds you raise during the Big Sleepout directly support the charity’s vital work, including emergency accommodation, education, employment training, and mental health support.
3. Community Spirit: The Big Sleepout brings people from all walks of life together. It's a chance to connect with others who share your commitment to ending youth homelessness, building a supportive community dedicated to change.
4. Advocacy: Your participation sends a
powerful message to policymakers and communities alike. By taking a stand against youth homelessness, you're advocating for policies and resources that can make a lasting impact.
How You Can Get Involved Sign up for the St Basils Big Sleepout on the website www.stbasils.org.uk/events/ the-big-sleepout-2023. Gather your friends, family, or coworkers to form a team, or participate as an individual.
These values are the core of Under Construction’s development, with the key focus of the app being to address the digitisation needs of construction, manufacturing and engineering SMEs. It is essential that these industries are able to modernise their processes in order to maintain a positive health and safety culture, be successful, and continue to win work.
As the Big Sleepout approaches, prepare for a night under the stars. Collect warm clothing, sleeping bags, and anything you'll need to stay comfortable.
Currently, solutions that are available on the market are not fit for these smaller businesses, due to their cost, complexity, and lack of breadth. This is why Under Construction’s aim is to provide a personalised, easy to use, and affordable project management system app, conforming to ISO 9001 requirements and aimed at SMEs.
On the designated night, sleep outside in solidarity with homeless youth. Share your experience on social media and encourage others to support your cause.
The app has recently implemented a number of quality-of-life changes to further streamline the user experience, with a large update introducing more functionalities coming soon.
Set up a fundraising page and share it with your network. Use social media, emails, and personal conversations to ask for support.
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