Urban Regeneration
17 January Cowcross Street

In January Tom Bloxham described as an "Innovative developer" addressed a well attended event at Cowcross Street entitled "Urban Splash" the name of his company. He explained how Urban Splash, set up in 1993, with his architect co-director Jonathan Falkingham had provided 600 new dwellings and created 3000 new jobs. Based in the north west they have concentrated on inner city renewal, mainly in Manchester and Liverpool.

Originally from South London, he started life as a fire extinguisher salesman, studied politics in Manchester, sold posters to students, leased inner city properties which were sublet to young entrepreneurs, and then in Liverpool, employed an architect after buying two derelict buildings in a conservation area which he successfully converted into a bar. This early award winning project prompted Bloxham to take risks and redevelop more inner city semi derelict buildings that other developers would not consider worthwhile. To date Urban Splash has completed 93 projects.

Another early project was a factory in Manchester which was converted floor by floor. Then 18 loft apartments were created in Liverpool as well as making a new space - Concert Square. The philosophy behind this is creating lively urban areas with attractive open spaces serving mixed uses with 50% residential, 50% commercial. In Sally's Yard, Manchester they have created lofts for only £50,000, since it is their policy to build for the less affluent. Also in Manchester, the Smithfield Buildings, a former department store in a rundown part of the city centre has been converted into 81 lofts around a central atrium. Similarly Britannia Mills, also in a depressed area and next to a canal only 500 metres from the edge of the city centre, has been converted into 150 loft apartments. Many of these loft conversions have increased in value by 30% to 50% from purchase prices ranging from £50,000 to £250,000. In Liverpool they have converted the Collegiate School buildings originally designed by Harvey Lonsdale Elmes in an inspired neo-Gothic style into 95 apartments as well as converting factories into offices and housing. Recent commissions have included the conversion of Manningham Mills in Bradford and proposals for the Royal Navy Yard in Plymouth. Tom Bloxham attributes his success to attracting all social groups back to city centres and in particular believes he is reversing the trend of the wealthy moving out to suburbia.

In reply to questions Tom Bloxham gave some succinct and pertinent answers to some of the following points:

He works with old buildings because there is a great stock of old buildings in Manchester and Liverpool. It is much better to convert old buildings because much more energy goes into new buildings. Moreover good old buildings can last almost indefinitely.

He is not yet prepared to be involved in London as there is so much scope elsewhere - also he likes to take on buildings rejected by other developers.

The average age of their housing communities is 42 with many in their late 20s and early 30s but also quite a few people in their 50s relocating from suburbia plus some gays but few families.

Tom Bloxham exudes overwhelming self confidence and a clear sense of direction shown by what Urban Splash has achieved in just eight years. However this loft centred empire has been criticised by Clare Melhuish in the AJ(25/1/01) for not providing families with children with such basic needs as day nurseries and launderettes. But despite that, when John Prescott has pledged that 60% of new homes are to be built on brownfield land, Urban Splash shows how it can be done. No wonder that Tom Bloxham and Jonathan Falkingham have personally received so many awards. Their works speak for themselves. #

Derek Abbott