Commercial developer Wykeland Group has acquired a landmark site in Grimsby and announced new investment is on its way. Wykeland has purchased the former Ramsdens Superstore site from the Grimsby-based retail and cash and carry business Ramsden Group and, as the new owner, will take the lead in rejuvenating it. That has already begun with Wykeland announcing that, in a linked transaction, a deal has been agreed to sell part of the site to family-owned retailer Farmfoods, for the development of a new 15,000 sq ft store with car parking. The sale of just over an acre of land to Farmfoods is subject to full planning permission for the new frozen food and groceries store. A planning application has been submitted and, if approved, the store is expected to create up to 15-20 new jobs. Wykeland will retain the remaining 1.8 acres and explore opportunities to attract further investment and regeneration, while investing around £100,000 to improve the site, including structural repairs to a property fronting Cleethorpe Road. Wykeland has also renamed the development as Ramsden Park, in tribute to the site’s history as the place where the Ramsden Group business was founded, with the opening of the Ramsdens store in 1946. Ramsden Group and Wykeland have previously secured investment by coffee house chain Starbucks in a drive-thru and eat-in café on the corner of the site facing Cleethorpe Road and Park Street. The Starbucks facility has traded successfully for more than three years. Now, with Farmfoods also coming on board, Wykeland is exploring further opportunities to revitalise the site. Wykeland Development Director Jonathan Stubbs said: “We’re pleased to announce we have acquired the site from Ramsden Group and have also concluded a deal, subject to planning consent, to bring in new investment from one of the UK’s most popular food retailers. “As well as supporting Farmfoods through the planning process, we’ll be investing in improvements on site and exploring further development opportunities. “We’re committed to the regeneration of this important location on the main route between Grimsby and Cleethorpes and keen to hear from investors who would like to work with us to realise its potential.” The site has existing planning approval for 65,000 sq ft of retail development, with units ranging from 1,000 sq ft to 10,000 sq ft. Wykeland will also consider other viable options for development.

Salloway Property Consultants has let a prime city centre former office and training facility. Potters House Christian Fellowship, an established global network of churches, has secured a new location at 2-3 St Peters Churchyard in Derby, further expanding their presence in the community. This newly let property, located in the heart of the city, will serve as a central hub for the congregation’s worship, community outreach, and various social initiatives. William Speed, of Salloway Property Consultants, acted on behalf of a private landlord client to secure the new tenant for the 12,000 sq ft former office and training facility after development attempts were unsuccessful at the property. William said: “I am delighted to be able to let the property to a group that will add back to the local community. The building at St Peters Churchyard offers a wonderful space for both worship and community outreach. It is a prime example of repurposing city centre property to encourage more people to use the city centre. “It is no secret that Derby City Centre has been struggling in recent years but with new developments such as the Becketwell Scheme, the Nightingale Quarter and the upcoming Friar Gate Goods Yard there is real confidence that these developments will improve Derby City Centre to its former glory.” Chiso Nwokoro of Potters House Christian Fellowship said: “We are thrilled to begin this new chapter at 2-3 St Peters Churchyard. This is a significant step for us as we continue to build a vibrant church environment where people from all walks of life can come and find support, encouragement, and a sense of belonging. “The location is ideal for our growing congregation and will serve as a beacon of hope and community service for many years to come.”

A market-ready large scale commercial development in the East Midlands expects to announce a series of major deals in the coming months. New Stanton Park in Derbyshire will see the former Stanton Ironworks site redeveloped into a major destination for manufacturing and logistics businesses, with the site capable of hosting 2.2 million square feet of space and up to 4,000 jobs. The site has been brought to market by Verdant Regeneration, which has also revealed that it has been successful in attracting international company Fassa Bortolo from Italy to build a bespoke new manufacturing plant at the site. It is also in advanced talks with a number of other national and international businesses looking to expand into the East Midlands by moving to New Stanton Park. David Grier, a director of Verdant Regeneration, said: “New Stanton Park was an industrial landmark in the East Midlands for decades and with the investment we have made in redeveloping the site it will become a major commercial destination again. “Remediation of the full site means that this is the most deliverable major industrial development in the region. Our ability to accommodate people swiftly is one of the key reasons for the significant interest we have attracted from businesses looking to expand.” Verdant has already welcomed DX Group to New Stanton Park, the delivery solutions specialist opening a 22,000 sq ft regional hub on the site. Verdant is now working closely with the planners at Erewash Borough Council to bring forward further development at the site. New Stanton Park will also include branches of McDonald’s and Starbucks, while fast EV charging will also be available. New Stanton Park has been highlighted by East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward as one of the most important development sites in the East Midlands Combined County Authority’s Investment Prospectus, which is being promoted at the national and international UKREiiF event in Leeds next month. The site is being marketed by agents M1, Kimmre and Innes England. James Keeton, of M1 Agency, said: “The Verdant team has invested heavily in preparing the site for occupiers, with site infrastructure and outline planning in place. “This is capable of delivering 28m eaves height, utilities support is excellent and with the sheer scale of the plot sizes – plot 2 alone is 70 acres and capable of accommodating a single 1m sq ft building – we’re confident that New Stanton Park will soon be home to major national and international occupiers. “Verdant is currently building out speculatively on plot 1, with occupier deals secured and further announcements across the wider plot expected shortly. The principal development land is all being supported by the amenity plot for McDonald’s and Starbucks, which is also on site. Cumulatively, this is a hugely positive inward investment story for the region and the UK.” Verdant’s investment in the site also reflects the long-term commitment to the area of its director David Ward, whose recycling business already employs hundreds of local people. He said: “We have huge ambitions for New Stanton Park – this was a significant industrial landmark for many decades and will certainly become one again. “Besides the site remediation and infrastructure, we have also invested in the environment so that the green spaces, recreational fishing ponds, and wildlife around New Stanton Park are protected and nurtured. “We want to see this become a major source of employment for Erewash and to support the Mayor’s ambitions for the growth of the wider East Midlands economy.”