The UK Ambassador to the Czech Republic officially launched a dedicated conference exploring brownfield regeneration prospects for the region today. Her Excellency Linda Duffield hosted the unique forum at the Marriott Hotel, Na Porici 7, Prague 1 where 80 guests from property and business industries were present.
The Ambassador introduced an expert panel from Waystone CZ s.r.o. which is the new Czech operation for Waystone Ltd, a highly successful UK based regeneration specialist company and a member of the C.P. Holdings group whose interests in Europe include hotels in Czech, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia.
The Waystone panel inspired the audience with a vision for massive regeneration prospects for hundreds of disused military sites. The team talked of the issues affecting the delivery of development on brownfield sites and presented on the technicalities of master planning, methodologies and innovative design. Successful UK case studies were used to provide practical examples of how regeneration projects can be managed through partnership agreements framed with government agencies and authorities as well as private companies whose land has been despoiled by the decline of heavy industry.
Waystone’s extensive experience in this market was the subject of a number of different exhibits and computer displays and included award-winning buildings on three different sites in the U.K. Reclamation and remediation work on the contaminated sites referenced included dealing with heavy chemical pollution as well as extinguishing burning tips to create developable areas. Waystone believes that it can transfer its expertise and successes to regenerate major sites in the Czech Republic that can ultimately drive prosperity for the surrounding areas.
Waystone CZ s.r.o. is already established in Czech with offices in Prague. It is progressing visionary plans with draft agreements in place for the 29.4 hectare (14.3 hectares developable) Kralovsky Park in Marianske Lazne and the 46.1 hectare (31.9 hectares developable) Stribro Towers Development in Stribro.
Stuart McLoughlin, Managing Director of Waystone Limited comments,
“We have won awards for our work in the UK and last year we were very proud that our 300 acre Glasshoughton project in Yorkshire won Best Regeneration Project of the Year. We believe in a holistic approach to the master planning and regeneration of any site and are committed to work in partnership with local councils and development agencies for any given project. We seek to blend new ideas and initiatives with the all important aspirations of local communities to ensure sustainable development and are very excited about our new ventures in the Czech Republic.”
Sir Bernard Schreier, Chairman of the C.P. Holdings Group of Companies, said:
“The C.P. Holdings Group has extensive and diverse interests across Europe and Africa built up through many years of hard work. Entrepreneurial skills and prudent investment have been the watchwords and it is a source of pride to me that Waystone is now extending this philosophy by bringing new ideas and innovative solutions to the development of brownfield sites in Czech Republic.”
French PR - Press Release - 04 November 2008