UK based property developer Spicer Oppenheim and strategic partner AECOM have finalised an agreement with the City of St Petersburg to deliver a major scheme to support the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Paul Jarvis, CEO of Spicer Oppenheim and Georgy Poltavchenko, Governor of St. Petersburg signing the agreement at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum
The development comprises a €100 million ‘Bridge of Champions’ a new media centre and a major leisure complex. The agreement was signed at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum on 18th June by the Governor of St Petersburg, Georgy Poltavchenko, and Spicer Oppenheim CEO Paul Jarvis.
The Forum was attended by over 10,000 participants from 120 countries, including around 500 senior Russian business and political leaders. Many influential and distinguished visitors, such as former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, were also present.
“The agreement with the city of St Petersburg marks a new chapter in our masterplan. It’s a very complex and exciting project and we are happy to be part of it,” said Paul Jarvis.
A model of the bridge.
The scheme incudes a 1,000 metre pedestrian bridge, linking the North bank of the Neva River to Krestovsky Island, providing access to the 60,000-seat football stadium currently being constructed by Gazprom and Renaissance for the World Cup tournament.
The new MediaCity development will provide a base for national and international television and media companies, while the mixed use leisure complex will house a variety of restaurants, bars and hotels along with extensive landscaped public space which will serve as a ‘fan zone’ during the World Cup.
Paul Jarvis, CEO of Spicer Oppenheim, Georgy Poltavchenko, Governor of St. Petersburg, and Irina Babyuk, Head of Investment Committee of St. Petersburg discussing the development model.
Irina Babuyk, Head of the Investment Committee of St Petersburg, commented: “We were impressed by Spicer Oppenheim’s proposal. We believe that the new pedestrian bridge will not only significantly improve access to the new FIFA World Cup stadium, but will become a beautiful new landmark in St Petersburg.”
AECOM Director, Barry Nugent, added: “AECOM is delighted with the news. We look forward to working on this illustrious project with our long-term strategic partner, Spicer Oppenheim, and to delivering a new landmark bridge in St Petersburg.”
