Birmingham Post

Boycie's Back Yard

Hitting the Right Note

Contents

Winning Ways - Again

Crest Nicholson, the developers behind the award-winning Park Central scheme in Birmingham city centre, scored two major wins at the recent Housebuilding Innovation Awards 2009 - 'Sustainable Housebuilder of the Year' and 'Housebuilding Innovator of the Year'. -novation Awards showcases best practice within the industry, raising standards and setting a benchmark for UK housebuilders.

Who's Who in Construction

In a Manor of Speaking ... ; Situated On the Former Estate of Kenilworth Castle, Rudfyn Manor has Its Own Fair Share of History, Writes Annie Roberts

-through the Warwickshire countryside,soaking up the views of the castle. Not that the couple need to have bravedthe elements.

Talk of the Town ; Annie Roberts Explores Four Worcestershire Townhouses That Are Sure to Set Tongues Wagging

Imagine the thrill of a young boy moving into a home like The Homestead. An elegant Grade II listed Georgian house with a wealth of architectural features standing in one of Worcester's most prestigious addresses - Lansdowne Crescent.

Number 1 Barbourne Terrace Worcester, Pounds 695,000

6 Rainbow Hill Terrace Worcester, Pounds 450,000

Holywell House Worcester, Pounds 450,000

Townhouses

Having a house in town generally meant owning a second or third home one visited during certain seasons, but there has been a dramatic shift. Now townhouses are owned by people who want a convenient style of living, within walking distance of many amenities.

Record Collection ; Annie Roberts Takes a Look at Two Properties with Recorded Links in William the Conquerer's Domesday Book: Redhill Mill Shrewsbury, Pounds 1.1 Million

The Domesday Book records the site where Redhill Mill has stood for four centuries. It is more than 50 years since the mill was working but its heritage lives on in the home that stands on the edge of the village of Hook a Gate, just miles from Shrewsbury.

A Sound Investment ; Cotswoldhome: Voted As One of the Best Loved Market Towns in the Country, Bank House in Shipston-On-Stour Is a Capital Choice, Says Alison Jones

The delightful south Warwickshire town of Shipston-on-Stour was voted as one of the top market towns in which to live by the Sunday Times. Its name harks back to its past as an important sheep market town when it became known as Sheep-wash-Town.

Why the Waiting Game May Not Always Work ; Anthony Wood of Samuel Wood & Co Looks Ahead to a Possible Summer of Stagnation On the Property Market Propertyexpert

Putting off moving until after the summer holidays or waiting until after Christmas are the usual causes of home buying inertia. But now we have lots more reasons to put off the evil day. First there is the General Election.

Addressing the Skills Challenge for the Future

People from across the home-building industry are being called upon to respond to a consultation to help tackle the skills agenda - one of the biggest challenges facing the industry over the next decade. While this agenda impacts across the construction sector home builders are at the forefront.

A Woman's Room to Think ; a Unique Author-in-Residence Projectcultivating Work by Olderwomen Needs Freshintellect. Alison Jones Spoke to Its Founder

Where are the poets? Where are the philosophers? Where are the physicists? Sarah Hosking's clarion call to intellectual women is prompted by a genuine bafflement at the lack of response from them to her offer of shelter, money and peace in which to work. In spite of her zealous attempts bringing the existence of Hosking Houses Trust to the attention of those it is intended to benefit, she admits she has been disappointed in the lack of variety in the candidates that have been coming forward. ...

The Stage Is Set ; As Birmingham Royal Ballet Hits 20, Director David Bintley Is Looking to the Future, Writes Diane Parkes

It was 1990 when the then Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet made the move to Birmingham's Hippodrome Theatre, changing its name and in many ways its identity in one step. That decision has helped put BRB firmly on the map, says David Bintley who became artistic director in 1995 and gained a CBE in 2001.

An Eye-Opening Celebration of Dance ... And Life ; Ballet Review

20 YEARS CELEBRATION Birmingham Royal Ballet It's two decades since Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet moved lock, stock and barrel up the M1 and became The Birmingham Royal Ballet at a purpose-built home at the Hippodrome theatre. And Tuesday's gala was a stunning celebration of the last 20 years of its repertory and history, in terms of different dance styles, choreographers, composers and costume designers. The story unfolded through pieces from BRB's rep interspersed with filmed interviews and f...

Cheeky, Whimsical, but Sketchy ; Theatre Reviews

THE DARK SIDE OF BUFFOON B2, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry At Christmas the Belgrade's second theatre hosted an alternative seasonal entertainment from Coventry comedy double-act The Cheeky Chappies, and now here is another original show from a duo hailing from the city. The Brothers Marquez are indeed brothers called Martin and John Marquez, but they have busy individual careers in theatre and television as well as a collective one. Their last appearance on stage together in the West Midlands w...

New Frontiers ; Christopher Morley Talks to Composer Louis Andriessen About His Love of Vocal Harmonies and His Forthcoming City Residency

The leading Dutch composer Louis Andriessen is in residence next week at Birmingham Conservatoire, and there is an exciting programme of events planned around his work for what is this year's Frontiers+ festival at the Birmingham City University Music Faculty. Performances of student compositions will run alongside concerts featuring works by Andriessen himself, and the programmes will also include hearings of works by such composers as Stravinsky, Steve Reich, Steve Martland and the Conserva...