Milestone for £300m civic and cultural quarter scheme

COUNCIL chiefs behind Doncaster’s £300m civic and cultural quarter plan said work was “progressing well” on the town centre site after two tower cranes were moved in.

The cranes, one 55 metres high, have been erected on the site of planned new civic offices, which will become a new headquarters for Doncaster Council.

Building contractor Wates Construction said foundation work was now complete with 400 concrete piles driven nearly 10 metres deep in preparation for a ground floor slab of concrete.

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It is expected that the first concrete columns should go up in April, and Coun Jonathan Wood, the council’s business and regeneration spokesman, said he was pleased with the work.

He added: “Within a couple of years we will be well on our way to regenerating the Waterdale area with a civic and cultural quarter that brings potential opportunities for everyone.

Mark Winter, construction manager for Wates Construction, said: “The arrival of the cranes on site has caused a lot of interest and excitement locally.

“Although there has been a raft of activity to prepare the site for the build stage, this is the first real physical sign to local people that the project is well underway.

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“Our site team is continuing to work closely with local businesses and neighbours to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum during construction.”

The council said the new civic officers would include a “one stop shop for council services” and a new council chamber.

The block will overlook a new public square and it is hoped the project will encourage people back into the run-down Waterdale area.

The council said the second phase of the project, which includes the public square and a new “performance venue” should start in the summer.

It is hoped that the work, which will also include town centre housing will be complete by summer 2013.