CONSTRUCTION WORK COMMENCES ON CAMBOURNE'S NEW 4-STAR HOTEL

Cambourne, 25 March 2003: Status Property Group and Marston Hotels Limited have today officially announced the commencement of development works for the new Cambridge Belfry Hotel at the new settlement of Cambourne, approximately 9 miles west of Cambridge. The new 4-star hotel is scheduled to open in the Summer of 2004, and it is likely that in excess of 100 full and part-time jobs will be created as a result.

The official commencement of works was marked by a turf-cutting ceremony on the hotel site at Cambourne involving chiefs from Status Property Group, Marston Hotels and Marriott Construction Limited - a division of Kier Construction Limited, and Councillor Mrs Daphne Spink MBE, leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council.

Mrs Spink comments "I was very pleased to be involved in the turf-cutting ceremony for this new hotel in Cambourne, which represents a new phase in the development of the settlement. The hotel will be a boost for Cambourne and the Business Park, providing a place for visitors to stay, as well as providing a gym and other facilities for Cambourne residents, those from the surrounding area, and hotel guests alike."

The Cambridge Belfry Hotel will comprise I 20 bedrooms - some of which will be executive and luxury suites, significant conference facilities and an exciting leisure club that includes a swimming pool.Marriott Construction has been appointed for the main contract works. These will comprise a high quality traditional style brick built building set in landscaped grounds with access to an ornamental lake to create a Manor House ambience. There will be an interior landscaped courtyard accessible from the public rooms.

Marston Hotels has recently won two major industry awards. Firstly the AA Hotel Group of The Year Award and secondly The Credit to the Industry RAC Award. Marston Hotels operates 15 hotels throughout the UK in a variety of sought after locations and is very pleased to be bringing its distinctive brand of quality and service to the Cambridge area.

The Cambridge Belfry Hotel is the first of a new generation of 4-star Marston Hotels being opened in quality locations throughout the UK in the next few years. The scheme represents another major landmark in the on-going development of Cambourne, a visionary new settlement of over 3,000 new homes, shops, offices, schools and leisure facilities being created by Bovis Homes, Bryant Homes and George Wmpey Homes.

For further information on Marston Hotels. please visit its website at www.marstonhotels.com For more information on Cambourne, please visit www.cambourne-uk.com or telephone the Concept Centre on 0800 389 7525.

Issued on behalf of Cambourne by Phoenixplc March 25th 2003.

For further press information, please contact Nina Chisman on 01372 370 854 or e-mail: ninachisman@phoenixplc.com

MEDIA IN FORMATION

CAMBOURNE LATEST FACTS AND FIGURES

Much has been documented about the visionary new community of Cambourne in Cambridgeshire, which will eventually be home to 3,300 homes with shops, offices and leisure facilities, and already has its own flourishing Business Park. The Cambourne dream is now very tangibly becoming the Cambourne reality.

Cambourne is a community being developed by Bovis, Bryant and George Wimpey homes. There is now a total of over 850 homes occupied and building continues at pace with many new phases coming online, including a retirement scheme of private apartments by Bovis Homes.

Cambourne is to be home to a brand new four star hotel, The Cambrdge Belfry Hotel, which will be operated by Marston Hotels Ltd. Work commenced on site in March 2003. Facilities, open to hotel guests and the general public, will include a restaurant, a brasserie, and a deluxe Ieisure complex comprising swimming pool, gym. beauty treatment room. spa. sauna, relaxation area and outdoor tennis court.

Cambourne's new supermarket, Morrisons opened in December 2002. The new store has a 30,000 square feet retail area and includes a petrol filling station and car wash.

In the summer of 2001, Monkfieic Park Primary School, Cambourne, received an excellent OFSTED report that placed it in the top 25% of schools in the country. Work on the third phase of the building commenced in autumn 2002. It includes another six classrooms, each one leading onto a central enclosed courtyard with various activity facilities, allowing the curriculum to flow freely between the classroom and the outdoors.

o An imaginative new play area with a Roman theme for Lower Cambourne opened in July 2002. The theme has been chosen to reflect archaeological findings dating back to Roman times on this part of the settlement.

o A new temporary community building, which has affectionately become known as The Ark, is up and running. Its official launch took place on I2 May 2002 and celebrations were be led by a visiting Gospel choir from London.

o Cambourne's Reverend Peter Wood moved into his brand new home, The Church House in Easter 2002. As well as being home to Cambourne's vicar, The Church House incorporates generous-sized public rooms which will be used for preparation for baptisms and marriages and other spiritual counselling.

o Looking to the future, Cambourne is planned to be an almost self-contained community incorporating such facilities as its own High Street with shops. offices. a restaurant. pub. library and apartments. and its own police station, fire station. ecumenical church and a second prirnary school.

Issued on behalf of Cambourne, March 2003

For further press information, please contact Nina Chisman on 01372 370 854 or e-mail ninachismanŠphoenixplc.com.