Press & News
Tony ‘wins’ the South Coast Construction & Property Regatta! - May 2024
Tony was part of the winning team, LNT Care Developments, sailing the yacht belonging to the biggest housing contractor on the Isle of Wight, MCM.
The South Coast CPS Regatta held in Port Hamble, in its third consecutive year, once again brought together the construction & property industry for a day of thrilling racing and camaraderie.
Ten yachts, racing under ICS rules, competed fiercely over three races in challenging conditions. Despite starting with poor visibility, the day brightened as the wind picked up, providing an exhilarating experience for all on the water.
Tony honoured at the High Sheriff of Hampshire Awards - March 2024
The High Sheriff of Hampshire, Amelia Riviere, has presented Tony with one of the annual awards for celebrating the Hampshire & Isle of Wight voluntary sector groups and volunteers for his work as a Trustee at Trinity Winchester. Tony is one of the people who willingly go the extra mile to make Hampshire a better place to live and work.
We are very proud to have him on our team at Merlion Capital Corporation.
Contracts Exchanged! – February 2024
We are happy to announce we have exchanged contracts with LNT Care Development for a 66-bed care home within the first phase of our Boulton Moor Masterplan.
LNT is a leading specialist care home developer in the UK, with over 30 years of industry experience. The scheme will offer residential and dementia care and will be built with the goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions in the operation.
We would like to thank Keeley Sharpe & Jonathan Wharam at LNT and Stephen Salloway for all their assistance in enabling the transaction.
Tony presents to Winchester City Council - February 2024
Tony Goldsby was requested to present to The Economy and Housing Policy Committee of Winchester City Council at the Winchester Guildhall on February 20, in his role as Trustee for Trinity Winchester. At the meeting, the Committee heard six options that could be used to tackle the predicted threat of homelessness.
One of the options presented was for Trinity Winchester to convert three-bed spaces within their existing building and develop five new modular buildings. This would increase supply by eight-bed spaces. Trinity believes the first units could be available by the end of the year.
The options will be subject to consultation before agreement by Cabinet.
Planning Permission Achieved!
- January 2024
We are pleased to announce that Merlion Capital has secured an outline planning permission to proceed with 228 homes, a food store, restaurants, petrol and electric charging forecourt, a transport mobility hub, and care home in Boulton Moor, Derby.
The application received Resolution to Grant in August 2022 and we have signed the S106 Agreement in January 2024. The scheme is part of the Boulton Moor Urban Extension which was approved in 2008 and reflects the 2019 design framework documents produced by Barton Willmore, now Stantec.
The Urban Extension includes a new primary school, which has broken ground and will be delivered this Autumn, and open space with leisure and community facilities. We would like to thank Stantec, Derby City, Derby County and South Derbyshire District Council for their support during the application.
Boulton Moor, Phase 3 - October 2023
We are pleased to have submitted our planning application for Boulton Moor Phase 3.
This scheme is within the 2,700 dwellings Masterplan Framework of Boulton Moor Sustainable Urban Extension (SUE), Derby. Phase 3 will deliver up to 250 new residential dwellings, including 30% affordable housing and bungalows for older people, over approximately 11.14 hectares. To enable biodiversity, there will be 2 hectares of open green spaces, with extensive walking and cycling routes, expanding around existing mature trees and hedgerows, including a central public park space.
As a part of the sustainable urban extension, this scheme offers good connectivity to public transport, and is within walking distance of the future District Centre, providing essential shopping and public EV charging. The scheme was designed to create sensible urban blocks focused on the best solar orientation for the homes.
The project team comprised:
Stantec Planning and Masterplanning
UBU Landscapes
Penny Anderson Ecology
Cannon Consulting Civil and Traffic Engineers
Nott Group Soil Investigation
RPS Archaeology
AIRO Noise Consultants
BlueBridge Public Consultation
Redmore Air Quality
Arbtech Arborcultural
Tony reads at Winchester Cathedral - October 2023
Our Director, Tony Goldsby, was asked by Amelia Riviere, The High Sheriff of Hampshire, to say a prayer dedicated to charities at Winchester Cathedral for Law Sunday.
The theme was recognising the invaluable work the third sector and volunteers who do within the criminal justice system.
Tony was able to speak on behalf of volunteer work with Trinity Winchester, where he has been a Trustee since 2020. Trinity is a homeless charity that focuses on getting the homeless back on their feet and supporting vulnerable women.
Salisbury – July 2023
We are pleased to announce the sale of the site at Old Sarum, Salisbury to Dandara, following outline planning consent granted for 46 units, including 40% affordable homes.
The scheme was successfully promoted by Peter North and Charlie Wilkinson of Footstep Living, together with Charles Chamberlain of Merlion Capital Partners. The consultant team efforts were led by Ken Parke Planning Consultants and BrightSPACE Architecture and Masterplanning.
Headbourne Worthy, Winchester - July 2023
We are pleased to announce the completion of the refurbishment of an existing Class E industrial unit with a development value of around £1.5m.
The project was undertaken by Merlion Capital Partners, is let to AFI Equipment Rental and includes an upgraded industrial unit, equipment yard, offices and training suite.
Planning consent was granted in 2022; works undertaken by Appledown Projects and Q-Two Consulting and letting completed in July 2023.
Hancock House, Dorchester - March 2023
Merlion Capital Partners and Footstep Living have delivered Hancock House, an exciting new 63-unit affordable housing scheme within the vibrant hub of Brewery Square, Dorchester. The 4-story apartment building is in the prestigious mixed-use Brewery Square Development, which has residential, retail shops, cafés, and restaurants.
Hancock House offers 57 one-bed and 6 two-bed apartments targeting essential local workers and local NHS staff, allowing them to live in an affordable modern apartment within this vibrant community.
The project finished on time and budget with financing from Merlion Capital Partners Ltd and Homes England, and purchased by Dandara Living.
The project team comprised Footstep Living, Acheson Construction, Prime PLC, Brewery Square, Peter Gunning & Partners, Snug Architects, and Scott White & Hookins.
The Riverside Collection
– November 2022
Viewings have commenced on our new Riverside Collection of homes at Navigation Point, Castleford.
There will be 23 luxurious homes in total available, with two types of 4-bed house styles to choose from –
The Stanhope
A 4-bedroom home over three floors with a garage, flexible atelier, and balcony. The generously proportioned Stanhope offers 1,514 sq. ft. of first-class living space to enjoy for all the family. Ample natural light shines through eccentric windows on the white facades, complementing the quirky architecture unique to Navigation Point. Looking outward, the Stanhope promises exceptional views of the river and the untouched plains beyond.
The Easington
This luxury 4-bed home offers all the Stanhope’s great benefits, including the garage, atelier, and balcony, but also with extra master bedroom space and a dressing room. With 1,607 sq. ft. of space, its iconic façade and atypical windows granting exceptional views of the navigation, the Easington holds the best that Navigation Point has to offer.
For more details and availability go to https://navigationpoint-riverside.co.uk/
Kilimanjaro Revisited -
November 2022
Thirteen years after first conquering Kilimanjaro, Charles was back again at the top of Uhuru Peak. Charles and his family raised nearly £3,000 for Prostate Cancer UK.
500th sale achieved
at Navigation Point, Castleford!
15 September 2022
Boulton Moor District Centre, Derbyshire – August 2022
We have now successfully secured a resolution to grant outline planning permission for the latest phase of development - a District Centre, comprising a retail food store, café/restaurants, children’s nursery, a community building, and a Transport Mobility Hub offering bus connections, a petrol filling station and an electric vehicle charging station for EVs, e-scooters and e-bikes, thereby promoting the transition to a low-carbon future.
The proposals also provide 228 dwellings, including bungalows, affordable units, and a care home to support the needs of older people within the locality.
The District Centre will form an integral part of the wider sustainable urban extension and will be highly accessible and walkable for the new community, with cycle and pedestrian routes throughout, including one designed around Thulston Brook, an existing watercourse, leading to playing fields and the historic Elvaston Castle further afield.
Focus will now be on securing an agreed S106 to ensure this integral component can be delivered over the coming years.
Great Ouseburn, North Yorkshire
–
July 2022
Completed the sale of land where we had achieved planning permission for 54 homes.
Ex-Waitrose store, Ashbourne, Derbyshire – June 2022
Purchased a purpose-built supermarket of over 10,000 sq ft in central Ashbourne in January 2020. Sold with vacant possession in June 2022 after re-designing.
Will Speed of Salloways, Derby advised.
Topping out milestone in Dorchester -
April 2022
Charles Wilkinson, Director of Footstep Living Ltd, placed the final lift shaft brick marking the completion of the roof structure of this new 4-storey apartment building. At the rooftop ceremony Charles said:
“Footstep are delighted that the construction of Hancock House by Acheson Construction has reached this important milestone. We very much look forward to receiving the completed building later in the year and adding to the stock of modern Affordable properties within Dorchester”.
The project is running to programme and will complete later this year.
Construction underway at Dorchester
Things are really moving with our 63 unit 80% of market value affordable housing scheme at Brewery Square’s Regeneration site in Dorchester, Dorset, designed by SNUG Architects.
Once complete, Hancock House will offer 57 one bed and 6 two bed apartments targeting essential local workers, including NHS staff, and giving them the opportunity to live in an Affordable modern apartment within this vibrant community.
The delivery date is anticipated as Q4 2022.
Futurebuild - March 3 2022
To keep us ahead of the curve for carbon-neutral development, Tony attended Futurebuild (previously named Ecobuild), where the focus is on sustainability.
Tony’s key takeaways from an insightful day included:
“Concrete is not the villain it’s made out to be. The concrete industry has pushed to reduce emissions over the past 20 years. No other material offers the thermal mass and amount of carbon absorption as concrete. The right specification can reduce carbon emissions right down, but it needs switched-on structural engineers to add more columns, introduce waffle slabs or other ideas to reduce the amount of concrete.
The amount of timber required to replace concrete as a sustainable building replacement makes it a non-starter due to the loss of natural wooded habitats.
Other lessons included that hybrid hydrogen/gas boilers are coming. Also, the national grid will not be able to cope with the energy demands of heat pumps, electric cars, and normal household consumption. It would require home upgrading to a 3-phase vs 1-phase supply.”
Planning applications submitted - December 2021
Winnall, Winchester - For 158 student beds and 20,000 sq. ft of office space.
Headbourne Worthy - For 25,000 sq. ft of industrial space in up to 7 units.
Salisbury - For 46 homes.
Merlion’s Marathon Man
On 3 October 2021, our Director Tony Goldsby ran a virtual marathon of 26.2 miles to support the Trinity Centre Winchester, raising nearly £3,000 for this charity which focuses on getting the homeless back on their feet and supporting vulnerable women.
Tony became an advocate for this charity in 2020 and Peter North, of our sister company Footstep, is the charity’s Chairman.
Tony says he never wanted to run a marathon until he got involved in Trinity and that he’ll have to get permission from his knees for the next one… Well done Tony!
Merlion Capital Corporation Ltd is
20 years old!
19 September 2021
Derbyshire’s finest
In August 2021, our Director Tony Goldsby met with the allotment group which is part of a future housing allocation for our Boulton Moor project. They are delighted with their new licences, space, and amenities and as a thank you, presented Tony with this cornucopia of their produce grown in their new allotments. The group also make regular donations to local charities.
Many thanks to Kevin, Debbie, John, Steve, and Sheila.
Tony Goldsby appointed Director
Tony, originally from the USA, has brought Merlion over 20 years of expertise in property development leading large urban mixed-use developments in the UK from concept to delivery. He is also from an architectural background, having a Master’s in Architecture from Yale University, so brings a keen artistic and eco-aware eye to our projects. His professional background includes the high-level management of retirement living developments with LifeStory (formerly PegasusLife).
A talented and proven project director, his enthusiasm and positive energy only enhance our company.
Fighting Homelessness
Every Christmas, for over 15 years, Merlion Capital has been donating to CRASH, which helps homelessness charities and hospices with vital construction projects. Creating places that care for people.
Revolutionary Open Water Pump Wins Sustainability Award
Kingston Courier
A revolutionary open water thermal pump, which heats 137 homes and a 142-bed hotel in Kingston, has won an award for the "Best Technology" during Climate Week, Britain's biggest climate change campaign.
The pump is the first of its kind in the UK and was built for Merlion Capital Kingston/NHP Leisure Developments to run the riverside project Kingston Heights. It is said to save about 500 tonnes of CO2 every year by using the solar energy stored naturally within the River Thames.
During the whole process, the river water changes its temperature by no more than 3°C. Therefore the pump has no impact on the river ecology. The developers say the pump will not only save a lot of CO2 that would otherwise be emitted by the building complex, but it will also reduce energy bills for the future tenants by around 16% a year.
Chamberlain (right) raised £3,000 for Prostate Cancer Research - and lost 12lbs in the attempt.
Merlion man conquers mountain - and malady
ESTATES GAZETTE - 17th January 2009
Merlion Capital slimmed down dramatically last month.
However, the move was not part of a strategic downsizing due to market conditions, but the result of a nasty bug contracted by the company's founder, Charles Chamberlain, as he struggled up Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to raise money for Prostate Cancer Research.
Despite the bug - which helped him lose 12lbs in weight - Chamberlain reached Uhuru Peak, the mountain's summit, and raised £3,000 for the charity.
Castleford redevelopment: factory will be replaced with 1,337 homes.
Chemical peel to regenerate Yorkshire town
ESTATES GAZETTE 12 March 2005
A 42-acre former chemicals plant in the centre of Castleford, Yorkshire, is to be transformed into a £120m development. This week, Merlion Capital Corporation, controlled by entrepreneur Charles Chamberlain, bought the site bordered by the rivers Aire and Calder, from Lambson Fine Chemicals. A planning application has been submitted to redevelop the site as 1,337 flats and houses, along with shops, bars and cafes. The scheme will also include a landscaped park and formal squares, four children's play areas and an eco-park. Access to the riverside will be increased and moorings for houseboats planned. The project is expected to take 10 years to complete.
Castleford has been the centre of continued regeneration efforts by Wakefield MDC, a local residents' group, Yorkshire Forward and Channel 4, which is working on a documentary about the regeneration.
Chamberlain created Merlion in 2001 after taking over the entire 1m sq ft development portfolio of Summit Property. Summit was previously owned by giant support service company Summit Group, which attempted a £70m reverse takeover of Chesterton in 1998.
Summit buyer sells off stock to private buyers
ESTATES GAZETTE 12 July 2003
The man who took over Summit Property has sold its entire investment portfolio in two years.
Charles Chamberlain set up Merlion Capital Corporation (MCC) with a consortium of Singapore investors in October 2001. He has since then sold off its completed developments to a series of private investors.
MCC bought Summit Property from Summit Group, which attempted a £70m reverse takeover of Chesterton in 1998. The sales included properties in Leeds, Epsom, Portsmouth and Kings Rd, SW3, raising £52m and removing all of the company's bank debt. Chamberlain said "If timing is the secret of sex, comedy and property, we will have to wait to see whether we are right to sell".
Chamberlain said MCC was now sourcing "the type of stock that nobody wants" in the South and Midlands. "We will probably steer clear of the intensively competitive investment market with long leases and good covenants, but would buy poor-quality, short-term income producers or sites with no income at all", he said.
Chamberlain: will head Merlion Capital Corporation, which has taken over Summit's 1m sq ft development programme.
Founder member links up with Singapore investors to buy the company Summit buyout mounted
ESTATES GAZETTE 13 October 2001
One of the founder members of Summit Property has teamed up with a consortium of Singaporean investors to take control of the company. Charles Chamberlain will head the new venture, called Merlion Capital Corporation, which has acquired Summit's entire 1m sq ft development programme. The move takes the company out of the hands of giant support service company Summit Group, which attempted a £70m reverse takeover of Chesterton in 1998. Summit Group will continue to concentrate on its role as a provider of development capital to business services groups.
Joining Chamberlain from Summit is Jonathan Parnes, whose speciality is residential development. He has also recruited Bruce Cattrell from Stannifer and Philip Ringrose of Gardner Weller. Chamberlain said: "I was under an umbrella with an acquaintance during a storm on holiday in Barbados last year. I told him I'd been thinking about taking over the property portfolio of Summit Group for some time and he put me in touch with the Singaporeans. Things just took their course".
The former Summit Property portfolio is valued at over £80m. It includes three mixed-use schemes in Basingstoke, which total more than 37,160m2 (400,000 sq ft), a refurbishment of the 5,574 m2 (60,000 sq ft) Student Halls in Kings Road, SW3, and a 12ha (30-acre) industrial site in Aylesford, Kent. Merlion is looking to spend up to £50m on new projects across the UK over the next six months. Chamberlain said: "I expect to rationalise the Summit Property portfolio within the next six to nine months. We have significant capital resources and are already on the cusp of making a £25m-plus offer for a London investment".
The Singaporean consortium has bought property in the UK before, most notably through a £35m residential conversion of Cambridge Gate in Regents Park, NW1, with the Crown Estate.
