The Langley Hotel has successfully opened, following Practical Completion at the beginning of 2019. The new 5* hotel will form part of Marriott International’s Luxury Collection and is sited in the heart of Buckinghamshire’s Langley park, at the former hunting Lodge of the Duke of Marlborough. Extensive refurbishment and alteration works have been undertaken across the Grade II* Listed Mansion and Grade II Clockhouse, along with the construction of a new subterranean 1600 sqm spa.

A Palladian mansion, the house was largely constructed in the 17th Century by significant British architect Stiff Leadbetter. The refurbishment maintains and enhances the impressive, stately character of the building, retaining and elevating many of the unique historic features whilst enabling the rooms and public areas to meet the requirements of a contemporary luxe hotel. The Clockhouse underwent significant upgrading works, including the subtle insertion of a new extension hidden within the yard. This conversion creates many of the hotel’s bedrooms, in a slightly more rustic, still modern style. The Spa sits largely unseen below the extant carpark, minimising any impact on this Listed landscape, whilst positioned directly below and adjacent the Mansion, offering a direct link.

Thanks to a partnership between Basildon Council, Homes England and South Essex College, contractor Morgan Sindall is now on site to deliver the new three-storey building which will focus on digital technology provision in the heart of the town centre.

The new Digital Technology Campus will enable the College to better meet the skill needs of employers, providing courses to students that will meet local employment and industry demands. Alongside the new 3000sqm College building, the project will include car parking, public open space, shops and landscaping.

The project received planning approval in June 2018 and Gibberd have since been working closely with South Essex College and Morgan Sindall. A breaking ground ceremony was held on 21 June to mark the start of the works, which are scheduled to complete in summer 2020 with the building opening that Autumn, offering courses in areas such as games design, digital animation and TV production.

Angela O’Donoghue, Principal of South Essex College said: “We are delighted that work is underway to deliver our ambitious vision of bringing high quality education and training provision back into the heart of Basildon Town Centre.

Leader of Basildon Council, Cllr Gavin Callaghan said: “The College is a welcome boost to the town centre, bringing a new dimension to life in the town. We want as many partners like South Essex College as possible – organisations that are willing to invest and help build a modern, ambitious town that can thrive into the future.”

Alister Broadberry, of Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “Morgan Sindall Construction is well-versed in delivering high quality educational facilities across the UK, and we look forward to leveraging this knowledge and expertise as we deliver an outstanding campus that will educate and inspire future students of digital technology.