Grove Spa Resort Blog Update 19th October 2010

We are delighted to have taken possession of Plot A of The Grove Spa Resort from GCC. It has been a challenging year for everyone involved, given the seismic changes in world economic conditions but we are proud to have delivered a top class scheme.  It is looking really excellent now the outside work has been finished and the pools have been filled.

View of Blocks B and G from the poolside

We have had a busy programme of handovers to clients and this continues throughout October and November. The feedback is very positive and clients have been enjoying the serenity and views from the resort when staying overnight.

During the day the site is a hive of activity with contractors finishing the last details, clients taking possession of properties, furniture deliveries and utility companies doing the final sign-off checks.

Plot A from the Spa building

One of the giant Jacuzzis in action

One of the pool technicians demonstrated today how the pool water, which is cleaned without chlorine using an environmentally-friendly process,  is cleaner than the municipal tap water and can safely be drunk.

Pools on Plot A

The decking and gardens on Plot B

View of Plot A from Block H

Work continues on Plot B (comprising Blocks C, D, E and F) to the end of the month when all private apartments will be ready, all external communal works completed and GCC hand over this plot.  Work will continue on the Spa building, shop, restaurant, green area and roads to the end of the year.

Planting begins on Plot B

Spa reception building

Installation of the decking around the pool in front of C-Block

One of the townhouses in D-Block is now fully furnished and provides a cool retreat from the heat and dust of the building site.   

Townhouse

Master Bedroom

Second Bedroom

 

First client takes possession of property at The Grove Spa Resort

David Pepper was the first client to take delivery of his apartment on 15th September 2010. David is pictured here in the kitchen of his penthouse in Block A receiving the keys from Joanne Patterson from InvestinCyprus.com Developers Customer Services. David inspected the apartment, transferred his utility accounts and installed all his furniture and window coverings in a jam-packed short trip to the island. He will return in October for a holiday with his family in his new property.

David Pepper receives the keys to his penthouse in Block A from Joanne Patterson

Site Progress Meeting 8th September 2010

Plot A

The apartments on Plot A, ie those in Blocks A, B, G and H are now finished and fully snagged internally. We are waiting for delivery of the last pieces of expansion joint materials to enable the rest of the communal external area to be completed.

The site was due for handover by the construction company on 1st September but due to a few items still to finish off externally, as well as waiting for the electricity authority to finish the testing and commissioning of the electricity supply to each apartment, we will now take possession of the site on 5th October. Delivery of Plot B (comprising Blocks C, D, E and F) will be on 20th October. This new handover timetable does not affect the delivery of the apartments which are finished and undergoing final snagging ahead of the delivery to clients between 15th September and 15th November.

Kitchen of Block D Townhouse

In the communal external spaces, the Gripstone areas are almost completed and the wooden decking around the pools has begun to be installed.

Installing the wooden decking

All garden areas have now been planted and the artificial grass installed between Blocks A, H, G and B which gives a cool, calm feeling to the resort.

View from ground floor apartment in B block

View of resort from upper floor of Block H	View of Block B

The utility companies have finished the installation of water and electricity connections around the development so the road construction is now underway. With so much messy work going on around the edges of the resort to complete the roads and pathways we are delaying filling the pools until the end of the month.

Laying out the visitor car park next to Block G	Finishing the main car park of the Spa building

We spent time this week with potential operators of the restaurant and supermarket and also continued with the interviews for resort staff. The Spa building continues to shape up well.

Spa building reception

Roof top café bar	View from the gym

Sound proofed ceiling of the dance studio	Dominic and Joanne in the TV room

View of plot B from Spa building

Back of Block H

The underground car parks are finished as are the ramps in and out. The fire shutters will be installed next and the individual car park space markings.

Underground car park entrance	Underground car park exit

Underground car park

The next site meeting will take place on Tuesday 5th October.

Monthly Progress Meeting 3rd August 2010

The holiday season has well and truly begun - and just as well, as the mercury hit 46 degrees last week in Cyprus with 98% humidity in Larnaca and poor visibility – which is not pleasant when working on a building site. Luckily for the construction workers the site is closed from 7th to 16th August with most businesses across Cyprus taking a full 3 weeks holiday till the end of August.

The team in Liverpool is also taking the opportunity to squeeze in a few days holiday before the handover season begins in September. The office will remain open for the first time this year in the run up to completion but with a reduced staff till the end of the month as we rotate through holidays.

In the final month before completion the last details are being finished across the site.

Across the site

The finishing touches are being made to the external areas with the wooden decking being laid around the pool areas and the pathways being finished off.

Wooden decking is laid around the pools

Central path is laid in front of E block	Finishing the pathways and landscaping

The Spa building in on track with further work done on the reception area with feature tiling and the floor to ceiling glazing in the gym is being installed, providing a great view of the resort while doing a cardio workout.

The glazing in the gym is installed

The work on the public roads surrounding the development has begun. This is great news as this work is often subject to delay in Cyprus as it is generally not within the control of the developer. However the utility companies have started to lay the cables and pipes necessary to connect the development to the main services. Once this work is finished the public pathways surrounding the development will then be completed.

Trenches are dug for utilities beneath the public pathways around the development

Work on the public roads begin

The interior fit out of the hydrotherapy area continues and the mosaic feature wall of the hydrotherapy pool is finished as is most of the tiling in the pool, Jacuzzi, plunge pool and showers. The wooden walls and seating of the sauna have been installed and construction of the barrelled ceiling of the steam room is underway.

The tiling of the hydrotherapy pool is completed

The seating is installed in the sauna

The cold plunge pool – brrr!	The steam room takes shape with a barrelled ceiling to avoid drips

The private apartments are virtually finished and are now being systematically cleaned and snagged prior to the formal handover from the construction company on 1st September. Our own staff will then do another snagging inspection of each property before the owners begin to take possession over the coming months.

Balcony of Apartment in G Block with access to private roof terrace	Private roof terrace on G Block

Constantinos the architect inspects the external staircase between A and H block with Yiannos the site engineer

G Block

The construction site is closed until 16th August then it’s all hands on deck to finish plot A by 1st September and plot B by 30th September. The next progress meeting will be on Tuesday 7th September.

Monthly Progress Meeting 9th July 2010

Early July saw a short but very busy visit to the island. On site, the construction pace is quickening and a lot of progress is visible. We are on track for completion of construction of Blocks A, B, G & H by 1st September and Blocks C, D, E & F by 30th September.

Construction on site is now entering the final three months, everything is shaping up well and we remain on schedule for delivering the residential units by the end of August. We will then move on to the handover programme between 1st September and 31st October. All owners will receive by email detailed information about the delivery handover timings and process in the next couple of weeks to enable you to plan your trip to Cyprus to take delivery of your property.

Cengiz Dervis

I spent a good couple of days with Cengiz Dervis, our Spa consultant, who was visiting the island meeting with suppliers and viewing the site.

We met with several suppliers for the gym and spa equipment as well as with Elemis who will provide the signature product line for the Spa. Felicity Leahy, the International Business Manager for Elemis, made some excellent suggestions to enhance the use of space which we were swiftly able to incorporate into the interior plan.

The focus of the week was firmly on the operational requirements of the Spa and the central reception building. Claire Chrysostomou, the interior architect, continues to do a fine job supervising the contractors with the build.

The central reception desk takes shape

Artist’s impression of the completed Spa reception area

The hydrotherapy pool area is shaping up well with the huge mosaic back wall is now installed.

Given the style revisions made to the Spa since the launch of the development we have some new artist’s impressions showing how the finished area will look.

Hydrotherapy area with Jacuzzi, bubble beds, massage jets, sauna, steam room and plunge pool

Hydrotherapy pool and relaxation area

The Relaxation Room	Artist’s impression of one of the seven treatment rooms

The show house in D-block is now completed and used as a cool, calm meeting venue at the heart of the hot dusty chaos of the building site. Watch this space for the latest interior photos to follow.

Externally, there has been a lot of visible progress. The palm trees have been lifted into place on plot A and the work on the surfaces then began. Crazy paving defines the pathways with stone grip in the communal areas and wooden decking around the pools and whirlpools.

Manoeuvring the palm trees into position

Lifting and planting

Pouring concrete for the pathways

Creating the pathways

The steel girders for the roof terrace pergolas have been lifted into place and the white wood cross beams installed. To protect the visual integrity of the roof line and conceal the solar panels we have fitted additional mesh panels to the front of some of the blocks.

Painting B Block	Painting D block pergolas

The main contractor GCC and all their sub-contractors continue to do an excellent job of delivering top quality and keeping the project delivery almost on time, despite some severe weather challenges earlier in the year.

Christos and Panicos levelling the visitor car park	The 3 Kings of GCC: Thelis,Site Supervisor; Nick, Project Manager; and Yiannos, Site Engineer

The team in Liverpool has been speaking with all clients to keep you abreast of progress and book your delivery and handover appointments in Cyprus. Also, everyone has received their furniture packs with indoor and outdoor collections. Your orders have been processed to ensure timely delivery to coincide with the handovers starting in mid September. If you have not already booked your delivery and handover appointment with us, please call Jemma on 0151 243 5420 as soon as possible.

The next on-site progress meeting will be Tuesday 3rd August.