Holst lands œ16m theatre role

Norwest Holst starts the new year with new contracts worth over œ30 million.

The largest job is a œ16.2 million contract for new construction work and refurbishment of the Victoria Concert Hall and Regent Theatre in the Hanley Cultural Quarter in Stoke-on-Trent. The work is part of a œ21 million project, which has received œ14 million from the National Lottery.

Work involves the construction of a new foyer building with link bridges to the existing Victoria Concert Hall. A new "crush" area will be built between the new front of house and existing wall. The Hall itself will gain upgrading dressing rooms and new ventilation.

A new fly tower will be built at the Regent Theatre, which will accommodate new dressing rooms. The front of house will be refurbished and replanned, air conditioning installed, new balconies created and external repairs undertaken.

The other major contract is for a œ9.9 million student accommodation project at Manchester Metropolitan University. It will comprise two four-storey buildings incorporating 90 self-contained flats.