£150m incinerator project gets approval after appeal

April Lara
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£150m incinerator project gets approval after appeal

A government inspector has approved the £150m Swadlincote Energy Recovery Park project after an appeal, overturning the previous decision by Derbyshire County Council’s planning committee to reject it. The controversial scheme, aimed at creating a 60m-tall “energy-from-waste” incinerator near the A444 on the outskirts of Swadlincote, had faced opposition from thousands of residents. Over 3,400 signed a petition against it, with more than 1,200 submitting objections citing concerns about pollution, health risks, traffic, and environmental impact.

Despite the objections, government inspector Paul Griffiths ruled that the benefits of the project outweighed the harm it could cause. He noted that the facility would generate enough energy to power 36,000 homes while diverting significant amounts of waste from landfills.

The development, planned by R&P Clean Power Limited, is expected to create a low-carbon energy source and improve waste management for the region. The project is designed to handle hundreds of thousands of tonnes of waste, with lorries expected to visit the site up to 200 times daily. The approval now means three incinerators will operate in southern Derbyshire.

The decision has been met with disappointment from local campaigners, who feel their concerns were ignored. The approval also includes part-awarded costs to be paid by the county council after the inspector deemed the council’s rejection unreasonable.

Next takes on brand and intellectual property of maternity fashion retailer

Tess Egginton
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Next takes on brand and intellectual property of maternity fashion retailer
The joint administrators of Seraphine Limited, the award-winning international retailer of maternity and post-natal fashion, have sold certain assets of the business, including the brand and intellectual property, to Next plc. Will Wright and Chris Pole were appointed joint administrators to Seraphine Limited on 7 July 2025. The company traded from its flagship store in Kensington High Street, London, as well as via its online platform and other well-known stockists. Will Wright, UK CEO of Interpath and joint administrator of Seraphine Limited, said: “We are pleased to have concluded this transaction which preserves the Seraphine brand, and wish the team at Next all the very best for the future.”

Blaby Golf Centre housing plans rejected

Tess Egginton
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Blaby Golf Centre housing plans rejected
Proposals to close Blaby Golf Centre and build up to 200 homes on the site have been rejected. Blaby District Council planning committee members have refused an outline application for the housing scheme from Hallam Land Management. Officers had recommended the scheme be refused and the application had generated more than 1,700 objections from the public. In their report officers said while the development would provide much-needed housing the loss of 16 hectares of Green Wedge was “considered to be inherently harmful.” They said proposals to relocate other popular and well-used businesses at the centre, including a dance school, gym, taxi rank, boutique and beauty salon were not adequate. Councillor Lee Breckon, chairman of the planning committee, said: “Refusing a planning application is a decision we do not take lightly. We have a responsibility to ensure a sufficient housing supply and under national guidelines are generally required to approve new schemes. “However, in this case we agreed with officers that the scheme would be harmful to the local area rather than beneficial. Our main concerns were the loss of Green Wedge as well as the loss of premises for several small businesses in the local area. We felt the overall harms posed by the scheme were strong enough for us to reject the application.”

Funding boost for Derbyshire Dales digital technology firms

Tess Egginton
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Funding boost for Derbyshire Dales digital technology firms
Derbyshire Dales District Council is inviting local digital technology businesses to take advantage of new funding opportunities available through the extended UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) programme. The initiative, which has already supported a range of innovative local projects, has been extended to continue helping businesses modernise their operations and grow through the adoption of cutting-edge technologies. The previous round of UKSPF support helped unlock investment in pioneering ideas from Dales-based companies, including White Peak Design & Build Ltd, which invested in drone and scanning technology to enhance surveying capabilities, and Digital Urban, which creates immersive virtual experiences to engage communities in built environment proposals. “These are exactly the kinds of projects we want to see more of,” said a District Council spokesperson. “We know there are many talented and forward-thinking digital businesses in our area – this funding is here to help turn their ideas into reality.” Grants can support a wide range of investments – from software and equipment to product development and digital transformation.

New business school set to open at University of Derby

April Lara
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New business school set to open at University of Derby

The University of Derby’s new £70m business school, located in the Cavendish Building on Agard Street, is preparing to open its doors in September. The seven-storey building will offer a variety of modern facilities, including teaching spaces, laboratories, a virtual reality suite, and a stock market financial trading room, catering to thousands of students in the coming years.

Construction on the building was completed on 29 July, with final preparations underway to ensure readiness for the student intake. In addition to its educational offerings, the building will also support small businesses and start-ups, providing space for innovation and collaboration.

The new facility is part of the university’s broader vision to foster industry partnerships and enhance learning opportunities for its students, positioning the business school as a key asset in the region’s development.

Ipsum expands its capabilities with acquisition of Core Control Solutions

April Lara
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Ipsum expands its capabilities with acquisition of Core Control Solutions

Ipsum Group has strengthened its position in the energy and infrastructure sectors with the acquisition of Ilkeston-based Core Control Solutions. Core Control specialises in designing and building energy systems for power, water, and transport sectors, including power storage systems that support renewable energy projects, tunnels, and airports.

This acquisition is set to enhance Ipsum’s existing work in power, water, infrastructure, and telecoms, allowing the company to provide more integrated and efficient end-to-end solutions. The deal also opens doors to further expansion into additional infrastructure sectors.

By combining its engineering expertise with Core Control’s capabilities, Ipsum aims to boost service delivery and increase its market presence across the UK. The acquisition will further strengthen Ipsum’s efforts in delivering reliable power and water infrastructure solutions.

The deal was supported by legal and financial advisors Squire Patton Boggs, Grant Thornton, Dains Accountants, and M&S Solicitors, who provided expertise throughout the transaction process.

Revenue soars at J&J Global Fulfilment

Tess Egginton
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Revenue soars at J&J Global Fulfilment
Chris Baker, partner at LDC, added: “These results reflect J&J’s continued focus on service excellence and a culture of constant improvement on behalf of its customers – something that’s seen in everything the team does, from its dedication to expanding and optimising the service offering, to the ever-growing capabilities of its technology platform. “We’re looking forward to continuing to support Emma and the management team as they press ahead with their ambitious plans.”

Training specialist secures funding for growth

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Training specialist secures funding for growth
A specialist training provider for childcare and education professionals has secured funding for growth from the Community Investment Enterprise Fund (CIEF) delivered by BCRS Business Loans. Orange Moon Training has secured £100,000 to support its strategy of enhancing the delivery of skills training for early years staff and teaching practitioners, which ranges from apprenticeship courses through to senior leadership development. Led by director Barrington Oliver-Mighten, the business plans to increase its headcount and deliver teaching in more efficient ways including e-learning platforms. Orange Moon Training is also branching out into international services, having started to deliver pre-school training in India. Originally launched as a childcare provider in 2005, the business, which has its premises in Sherwood Rise, Nottingham, has expanded to offer training beyond the Midlands to the South West of England, London and the North West. Barrington Oliver-Mighten said: “The funding from BCRS Business Loans will enable us to deliver on our strategy to grow our business through delivering quality services in more efficient ways. We can position ourselves as an innovative training provider by making use of technology such as e-learning platforms. “We were recommended to speak to BCRS Business Loans through another business loan provider, our neighbour First Enterprise. BCRS Business Loans were very thorough and we were given good support throughout the application process which helped secure the amount we needed. “The outlook is positive for our business as we can see there will be greater demand for childcare training with more free places being made available under the Government policy. Our sector is always evolving but we can navigate the nuances as we grow.”

Mixed picture for Travis Perkins

Tess Egginton
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Mixed picture for Travis Perkins

Travis Perkins plc, the distributor of building materials, has seen revenue decline in its half year results for the 6 months to 30 June 2025.

The Group delivered revenue of £2.3bn, down 2.1% versus the same period of 2024. This was driven by the Merchanting segment, with activity across the majority of end markets remaining subdued. Toolstation, however, delivered a robust revenue performance with further market share gains.

Adjusted operating profit of £63m was £20m lower than the first half of 2024. This was impacted by factors including an £18m decline in gross profit – primarily driven by lower trading volumes, greater promotional activity and one less trading day in the Merchanting businesses – and property profits being £2m lower than the prior year.

Pre-tax profits, however, increased to £37.1m from £26.6m.

Chair Geoff Drabble said: “The first quarter was difficult with a continued trend of market share loss and revenue decline in Merchanting. However, I was encouraged by the response of the business to management actions to drive a more customer-focused approach. In the second quarter we delivered improved revenue performance and stabilised Merchanting market share and these trends have continued into July.

“We will build on this momentum in the second half as we deploy further system enhancements that put the difficult Oracle implementation behind us. The strong performance of Toolstation UK, which operates in similar markets to the Group’s other businesses, demonstrates our potential without internal distractions.

“Whilst the market outlook for the second half remains uncertain, the Board anticipates that the Group will deliver a full year result broadly in line with current market expectations.”

Only 10 days left to make nominations for the esteemed East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025

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Only 10 days left to make nominations for the esteemed East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025
With just 10 days remaining until nominations close for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025 ensure to submit your entries for the 10th annual celebration of the property and construction industry by Friday 15th August. It’s completely free to enter and making the top three finalists in your category also wins you free tickets to the awards ceremony. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to promote your business, showcase your successes, reward the hard work of your team, and boost morale. Scheduled to take place on Thursday 2nd October the Bricks shine a light on the outstanding work of those shaping the landscape of our region, recognising development projects and people in commercial and public building across the East Midlands – from offices, industrial and residential, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools. We also highlight the work of architects, agencies and those behind large schemes. The glittering awards ceremony revealing winners, at the famous Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, will also offer the perfect chance to forge new contacts with property and construction professionals from across the region. The event will additionally feature Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council and Deputy Mayor of the East Midlands, as keynote speaker.

To enter the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025, please click here, or on the category headings below.

Categories include: All finalists will have the chance to take home the Overall Winner award, which this year comes with a grand prize of a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000, with the opportunity to split or gift the marketing to a charity of your choice.

Nominations will close on Friday 15th August.

Lee Parry, MD for Vistry East Midlands, which won Developer of the Year in 2024, shared: “It was a real honour to be given the title of Developer of the Year at the East Midlands Bricks Awards in 2024. These awards celebrate all that is good in property and construction across our region, and I’d encourage everyone to get involved to show how your business is making a difference in the sector.”

Tickets can now be booked for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025, click here to secure yours.

Connect with local decision makers over nibbles and complimentary drinks while applauding the exceptional companies and projects in our region.

New for this year, all entrants will also have the opportunity to be featured on our dedicated nominee showcase on the East Midlands Business Link website, providing space for marketing your achievements.

The East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025

What: The East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025 When: Thursday 2nd October (4.30pm – 7.30pm) Where: Derek Randall Suite, Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, Nottingham Keynote speaker: Councillor Nadine Peatfield – Leader of Derby City Council, Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Strategy and Policy, and Deputy Mayor of the East Midlands Tickets: Available here Dress code: Standard business attire Thanks to our sponsors:                                                                        

To be held at:

 
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