Construction of a block of luxury apartments on the former site of a ceramics factory in Dorset has reached its highest point.
Approximately 22 metres high, the development in Poole is being built on the waterfront of the town’s historic quay where manufacturer Poole Pottery was once based. When finished it will comprise 64 flats and a commercial unit on its ground floor.
Local developer Fortitudo is working on the project with main contractor Brymor Construction and subcontractor Woodmace Ltd - another Poole-based firm.
A traditional ‘topping out’ ceremony was held to mark the milestone, with representatives of all of the companies signing a wall on the fourth floor at the top of the building, which has been named Vespasian - after the first Roman leader to rule Poole and Dorset.
The signatures will remain on the wall when it is incorporated into one of the penthouse apartments at the development.
Richard Carr, chief executive of Fortitudo, said: “Poole Quay is in transition to become a better place once again and Vespasian will bring a lot of extra life with people coming to live here. It’s good for businesses and good for the area.”
Joshua Eiles-Clarke, managing director of Woodmace, said it was “pleasing” for the firm to contribute to the development of its home town.
He said: “It is great that we are helping to bring a well-known site back into use once again in one of the area’s most popular destinations.”
Brymor Construction, which has a turnover of around £85m and employs 150 people, also has an office in Poole but is based at Denmead near Portsmouth.
The company’s managing director, Mark Dyer, said: “The topping out ceremony marked a key stage in the construction of Vespasian. The view from the top was breath-taking and the ceremony was a fitting way to mark the success of the scheme so far.
“Brymor, Fortitudo and Woodmace Ltd have worked closely together to create a high-quality development to breathe new life into this prominent site on Poole Quay.”
Poole Pottery relocated its production operations from the quayside, where it was founded in 1873, to Sopers Lane in 1999, which was later closed in 2006.
The brand came out of administration the following year. It is now owned by Burgess & Leigh, which is part of the Denby group, and its products are produced at the Middleport Pottery in Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire.
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