Lightsource bp has completed its largest UK solar project to date. Completion was followed by the sale of the solar farm and co-located energy storage project to specialist renewable investment manager Schroders Greencoat.
Lightsource bp will provide asset management and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) services for the solar project via its in-house O&M team.
Tiln Farm is a 49.9MWac solar project near Retford in Nottinghamshire and, now complete, is providing power to building products manufacturer Forterra via a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
The signing of the PPA with Forterra in 2022 heralded the company taking significant steps to a sustainable future. Tiln Farm solar will provide the Northampton-headquartered brick, block, and concrete producer with around 70 percent of its electricity needs, in a sector-leading investment that will provide renewable energy to Forterra’s 17 sites for 15 years.
Construction on the project began in 2022, on what is the first Lightsource bp project globally to be co-located with energy storage, with a 25MW/50MWh (two-hour duration) battery also now operational onsite.
Declan Keiley, Head of Business Development for the UK and Ireland at Lightsource bp, said: “We’re proud to have completed our first co-located energy storage project and largest solar project in the UK to date. The Tiln Farm project is a milestone for the company in many ways, and the ongoing partnership with Schroders Greencoat, as the project’s new owner, underscores Lightsource bp’s strong credentials as a trusted development partner.”
Matt Tingle, Investment Director at Schroders Greencoat, said: “We’re proud to continue to lead in renewable infrastructure with this investment. Co-located assets like this have an important role to play in balancing intermittent renewable energy generation, as well as delivering vital grid stability services. Sharing the same grid connection also helps to optimise increasingly scarce grid capacity as the UK transitions towards net zero.
“As the largest manager of operating ground mount solar farms in the UK, with around 1.9 GWp of solar assets under our management, this acquisition adds to our diverse UK portfolio. It will play an important part in meeting our investment objectives, helping to deliver long-term inflation-linked cashflows to our investors.”
Lightsource bp was advised by TLT and JLL throughout the process, and Schroders Greencoat was advised by Norton Rose Fulbright and Everoze.
Fire safety experts Global HSE Group are launching their Global Academy during Fire Door Safety Week, 23rd – 27th September 2024.
The Global Academy specialises in elevating professional knowledge in the fire safety sector. The recognised qualifications have been designed for newcomers to the fire safety sector, for those already working, and CPD for upskilling experienced professionals.
Global HSE Group has worked with the Awarding Body of the Built Environment (ABBE) to create more than just a selection of courses, but industry recognised qualifications.
Level 3 Award in Fire Door Inspection
Level 3 Award in Understanding, Maintaining and Repairing Fire Doors
Level 3 Award in Understanding and Installing Fire Doors
Level 3 Award in Understanding and Installing Passive Fire Protection
Ross O’Loughlin, Director at Global HSE Group commented, “We created Global Academy as we knew we had the skills and expertise within the business to upskill and enhance individual knowledge within the fire industry.”
For more information about Global HSE Group or Global Academy visit here
With just one week remaining until nominations close for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024, ensure to submit your entries for the annual celebration of the property and construction industry by Thursday 5th September.
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.
Take this chance to showcase exceptional new commercial and residential developments, those demonstrating a leading position in sustainability and design excellence; gain recognition as outstanding developers, architects, contractors, and agents, as well as for significant deals; and ensure efforts in corporate social responsibility are rewarded, from eco initiatives to charity work, to social value schemes.
To nominate your (or another) business/development for one of our awards, please click on a category link below or visit this page.
Award categories include:
Overall winner (this award cannot be entered, with the winner, and recipient of a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000, selected from those nominated for the event’s other awards)
Nominations end Thursday 5th September
A glittering awards ceremony revealing winners will take place on Thursday 3rd October (4:30pm – 7:30pm) in the Derek Randall Suite at the famous Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, also offering the perfect opportunity to forge new contacts with property and construction professionals from across the region.
The event will additionally feature Paul Southby, partner at Geldards LLP, chair of the Advisory Board to Nottingham Business School, chair of Broadway independent cinema, trustee of Clean Rivers Trust, chair of Nottingham Partners, board member of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, and former High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, as keynote speaker.
Guests network at the East Midlands Bricks Awards
Tickets can now be booked for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024 – click here to secure yours.
Connect with local decision makers over nibbles and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region.
Leicestershire-based e-bate Limited has been acquired by ebate Software Limited.
ebate Software Limited was formed from Evolved Ideas, a provider of bespoke software development, technology consultancy, and staff augmentation services.
Founded in 2019, e-bate Limited established itself in the rebate management industry, offering software solutions that help organizations across various sectors, including automotive, pharma, retail, and construction, to manage complex and high-value rebate programs.
The acquisition is not just a merger of two companies, as with the acquisition ebate Software Limited is forming a partnership with Enable, the rebate management platform. This strategic alliance aims to revolutionize rebate management, making it more modern, efficient, focused on financial outcomes, and overall more data-driven.
Colette Wyatt, CEO of Evolved Ideas and an original founder of e-bate Limited, said: “This is an exciting milestone for Evolved Ideas, and for the rebate management industry. In acquiring e-bate Limited, we’ve ensured that the company’s customers will continue to receive a high level of service. And in partnering with Enable, we are bringing about extensive technical capabilities and ensuring firm financial foundations.”
Andrew Butt, founder and CEO of Enable, said: “We’ve created this partnership with Evolved Ideas, and indeed have invested financially into its success, in order to add additional value for rebate strategists. Rebate management is undergoing a transformative shift due to advancements in technology, and this is leading companies to work together to drive additional innovation and set new standards for the industry.
“Enable’s acquisition of Profectus’s Rebate Deal Management arm in 2022 is representative of this, and so is our recent announcement of AI-based analytics for rebates. Followed now with this strategic partnership with Evolved Ideas, we are taking a significant step forward in our mission to enable trusted trading relationships where companies serve customers better together using the best incentive there is — rebates. By combining strengths, we are not just enhancing service delivery but actively shaping the future of the industry.”
New figures from KPMG UK’s mid-year Fraud Barometer show that money laundering has been the most common fraud type by value in the last six months.
Nine cases have been heard in UK Crown Courts collectively worth £128.2 million so far this year. With the UK regularly cited as a hub for illicit finance, it is positive that more suspected perpetrators of this crime are appearing to be prosecuted.
The research, which records alleged fraud cases with a value of £100k and above heard in UK Crown Courts, has revealed 122 fraud cases in total were heard in the first six months of the year. This is up from 105 cases during the same period in 2023.
By contrast, fraud value was just over £305 million, a 14% drop compared to the first six months of the previous year, when the total fraud value stood at £354.2 million.
Roy Waligora, Partner and Head of UK Investigations at KPMG, said: “Money laundering continues to be a problem in the UK due to the complexity and sophistication of financial systems that can be exploited for illegal activities. It will be interesting to see if the relatively new requirement for overseas entities to be registered at Companies House will result even more of these cases reaching the courts soon.”
The public sector has been the biggest victim of fraud in terms of value so far in 2024. 26 fraud cases related to the government have been heard, with a combined value of £193.4 million, an increase of 30% compared to the same period in 2023.
The general public also continues to bear the brunt of fraud, with 41 cases totalling £33.2 million being heard in the UK’s courts during the first half of 2024.
Roy Waligora observed: “Greater focus on fraud in the public sector may have contributed to more effective identification and prosecution of fraudulent activities against the government. This proactive approach to tackling fraud may also result in a higher number of similar cases being seen during the second half of the year.
“However, UK courts remain under pressure to address high volumes of fraud at a time when the UK justice system is also under pressure to tackle hard crime. The widely expected publication of guidance on what constitutes ‘reasonable procedures’ by Government will kickstart the timeline for corporates to implement improved fraud management and may make the prosecution of fraud somewhat simpler.”
When examining the most common type of fraud, account takeover fraud was the highest by volume in 2024 so far. 16 cases with a combined value of £7.2 million have reached the UK Crown Courts in the last six months. This was followed by fraud related to counterfeit, pirated, or below stated quality goods (15 cases) and embezzlement (15 cases).
Roy Waligora added: “Methods for perpetrating account takeover fraud are becoming more sophisticated, so it is promising to see that so many of these criminals are being brought to justice. However, with UK Finance reporting 121,650 cases of account takeover fraud in the whole of 2023, it’s clear that only a tiny fraction of these criminals are brought to justice.”
Work is on track to be completed at the brand new planetarium at Sherwood Observatory by the end of November.
The dome is now ready to be transformed into the planetarium which will transport visitors out of this world.
Work is now due to start on the internal areas with a specialist planetarium contractor coming in to fit it out with everything it needs – including the screens and the projectors.
It will feature 59 seats as well as disabled access with a 10 metre diameter screen that will go inside the dome showing tours of the solar system and beyond.
The project team will also get to work on the groundwork outside of the planetarium to get it ready to welcome visitors.
Councillor Matthew Relf, Executive Lead Member for Regeneration, Growth and Local Planning at Ashfield District Council, said: “It is wonderful to see construction of the new Planetarium and Science Discovery Centre nearing completion. It has been a monumental effort by all involved.
“It will be a fantastic place for schools and youth groups as well as individuals and families to come and see shows about space and about science. We know this will light the fire and passion for future scientists and engineers in the area.
“It has been a privilege to be part of the journey of seeing this move from an initial pitched idea while walking around the dark Victoria water tank, to securing the funding and now seeing the space transformed into a modern and exciting facility. I could not be more excited to see my first show in the finished planetarium.
“This really will be an incredible asset for the District and broader region and will inspire so many people with the wonders of space and inspire many onto new and exciting careers.”
The planetarium construction is part of Sherwood Observatory and Ashfield District Council’s development to create a Science Discovery Centre and planetarium at the Observatory in Sutton.
The plans for the site aim to create a unique, world-class facility that will rival those elsewhere in the UK. The observatory, on Coxmoor Road, sits alongside a Victorian subterranean reservoir which will be sympathetically transformed into an education and exhibition space. The original features of the reservoir, such as the intricate brick arches, will be kept, preserving the history of the building.
Steve Wallace, Planetarium Project Manager, said: “This is going to be a cutting edge facility and it has been fascinating to work on. We are now moving to the next stage where a specialist planetarium creator will be coming in to transform the dome.
“It is a very unique bit of software that offers theatrical shows and give visitors a tour of the solar system where they can go from planet to planet and then out into the wider Milky Way and Universe.”
A Nottingham charity that empowers young people to break the cycle of crime and gang criminality will soon be receiving additional support thanks to a new partnership between Nottingham Venues and 200 Degrees Coffee.
Nottingham Venues, the collection of hospitality destinations located on the University of Nottingham’s campuses, has announced that it will be supporting the charity Switch Up by changing the coffee it uses in its venues to 200 Degrees’ Switch Up Blend.
The blend will be served daily across Nottingham Venues’ Spokes Café, Jubilee Hotel and Conferences, and Orchard Hotel. For each 1KG of coffee sold, 200 Degrees will donate £1 to Switch Up.
Stephanie Moss-Pearce, Director of Marketing at Nottingham Venues, says: “We employ over 270 people and want all our team members to feel that they have the opportunity to progress. Unfortunately, for thousands of young people across our city, they do not feel they have opportunity and face immense struggles in which they are not supported.
“Switch Up provides that support and helps to steer young people onto the right path. The charity is an immense force for good in Nottingham and we are committed to furthering the excellent work of Dr Marcellus Baz and his colleagues, initially through our new coffee partnership.”
The coffee partnership is the first step in an ongoing programme of support Nottingham Venues will provide to Switch Up, including hosting a number of its upcoming fundraising events. More details will be announced in the autumn.
Tim Moss, Co-Founder of 200 Degrees Coffee, says: “Through our Switch Up coffee blend we have donated thousands of pounds to Switch Up in the past two years and we are proud to support the charity. It is great to see other Nottingham companies getting on board and helping our city’s young people through stocking the Switch Up blend.
“The coffee is not only improving lives in Nottingham, but also in Guatemala where it’s sourced. The coffee is produced exclusively by female farmers, and by providing women artisans with skills and income opportunities, our importer Volcafe is able to help transform cycles of poverty to cycles of prosperity – something that Switch Up is doing in Nottingham.”
Dr Marcellus Baz, Founder and CEO of Switch Up, says: “Establishing partnerships with leading businesses in Nottingham like 200 Degrees and Nottingham Venues is essential for us to continue our mission. We now rely solely on fundraising and donations to fund our work and I’m hugely grateful for all our supporters. I am looking forward to developing our partnership with Nottingham Venues over the coming months.”
Loughborough-based land development and property consultancy Mather Jamie has appointed Richard Scriven as the firm’s new Senior Associate Director.
Richard Scriven brings over 20 years of experience from his previous role at Fisher German LLP, where he served as a Rural Practice Surveyor. His extensive background spans estate management to rural property consultancy. Scriven holds a BSc (Hons) in Rural Enterprise and Land Management from Harper Adams University and is a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
In his new role at Mather Jamie, Scriven will oversee a variety of services, including estate management, rural property consultancy, valuations, compulsory purchase and compensation, as well as rural property sales and lettings.
Expressing his enthusiasm for joining Mather Jamie, Scriven stated: “The Directors at Mather Jamie are very welcoming and have provided me with a great opportunity to diversify my client base.”
Robert Cole, Managing Director at Mather Jamie, said: “Having an expert like Richard join our team is a tremendous asset. His ability to offer his vast experience in all matters rural practice will significantly benefit our clients and enhance our internal expertise. Richard’s unique insights will undoubtedly contribute to the success of our clients and the growth of our services across the property sector.”
Rushton Hickman Ltd have let 1 & 5 Borough Road, Burton upon Trent to a homecare agency.
The premises sit in a retail parade along Borough Road, which is an established mixed commercial and residential location with nearby occupiers including café’s, restaurants and a LIDL supermarket.
The location and position of the premises was a key factor in attracting G&C Healthcare Ltd, who act as a homecare agency to include housekeeping, companionship and personal care.
Upon agreement of the deal, Rushton Hickman’s client took the premises back to a bare brick ‘shell’ and installed an opening to link Suites 1 and 5 to suit the requirements of the tenant.
Taylor Millington, Agency Surveyor at Rushon Hickman, said: “We are very pleased to have been able to help G&C Healthcare secure a new site in Burton, especially in such a densely populated area which will be of tremendous benefit to them and the local people.”
Taylor continued: “Since the letting, G&C healthcare have conducted outstanding internal decor throughout, which gives the premises a modern and professional feel.”
Rushton Hickman’s client, Mr Hussain added: “I’m delighted that we’ve agreed a deal with such an excellent tenant, and I would not hesitate in recommending Taylor. Since this letting, we’ve also instructed Rushton Hickman on several other properties and look forward to continuing to work with the friendly and helpful team.”
LCP, part of M Core, has signed up a new indoor football arena tenant at Kingsfield Park, an industrial estate in Northampton.
Soccer Shack has secured a five-year lease for a 20,925 sq ft unit, which has been transformed into an indoor football arena.
Soccer Shack’s arrival adds to a diverse mix of tenants in the local area.
Will Helm, Asset Manager at LCP, part of M Core, said: “We are delighted to welcome Soccer Shack to Kingsfield Park. It’s innovative indoor football arena concept aligns well with other repurposed industrial buildings on the estate. It has been fantastic to work with Lee and his team to fulfil their long-time dream.”
LCP Solicitor, Elizabeth Alabaster completed this transaction on behalf of LCP.
More than 3,500 current and former store staff of Leicester fashion retailer Next have won a six-year legal battle for equal pay.
This is the first equal pay claim of this type against a national retailer to reach the final legal stage and secure a win. The total amount payable by Next as a result of the win is currently estimated to be in excess of £30 million.
The Employment Tribunal has ruled that Next failed to show that paying their sales consultants, who are overwhelmingly women, lower hourly pay rates than their warehouse operatives, was not sex discrimination. Sales consultants receive lower basic hourly pay than warehouse operatives (a difference ranging from £0.40 to £3). The claimants’ average salary loss is more than £6,000 each.
The store staff who brought the claim will now be entitled to compensation by way of back pay going back up to six years from when they put in their claims and including the time that has elapsed since they put in their claims. The first claims were submitted in 2018.
In addition, their basic hourly pay terms will automatically be equalised in their existing contracts. The win also extends to providing the store staff with paid rest breaks, and equal Sunday, Night and Overtime Premiums in line with comparable terms in the warehouse contracts.
Compensation (backpay) for the claimants will now be assessed by the Tribunal. Only those who have brought claims will be entitled to compensation for lost pay and guaranteed to have their contracts automatically equalised, but Leigh Day is continuing to submit claims for Sales Consultants who were not in the original 3,500 and the number of claims are expected to increase significantly over the coming weeks and months following the successful ruling.
Helen Scarsbrook, aged 68, from Eastleigh near Southampton, who has worked for Next for more than 20 years and was one of three lead claimants representing all the sales consultants in the claim, said: “We did it! We have achieved equal pay for Next sales consultants. It has been a long six years battling for the equal pay we all felt we rightly deserved but today we can say we won.
“Anyone who works in retail knows that it is a physically and emotionally tough job. Customer service, in particular, is very demanding and we do that in addition to lots of other essential tasks that go to make Next a successful business. You become so used to having your work undervalued that you can easily start to doubt it yourself. I am so grateful to the judges for seeing our jobs for what they really are – equal.”
Elizabeth George, Leigh Day partner and barrister representing the successful claimants, said: “Helen and her colleagues in this claim have achieved something hugely significant. This is exactly the type of pay discrimination that the equal pay legislation was intended to address.
“When you have female dominated jobs being paid less than male dominated jobs and the work is equal, employers cannot pay women less simply by pointing to the market and saying – it is the going rate for the jobs. We knew that already. The Employment Tribunal has confirmed employers must go further to justify paying the different rates.
“They rightly found that Next could have afforded to pay a higher rate but chose not to and that the reason for that was purely financial. Helen and thousands of her colleagues had the courage and perseverance to bring these claims and see them through to a successful end. I am so pleased for them.
“It is worth reminding people that the financial compensation they will now be entitled to is not a windfall. It is pay that they were always entitled to if Next had complied with its equal pay obligations.”
Shining a light on the region’s property and construction industry, nominations will close on Thursday 5th September for East Midlands Business Link’s annual Bricks Awards.
With 10 categories available to enter, the independent awards and publicity programme recognises development projects and people in commercial and public building across the region – from office, industrial and residential schemes, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools. We also showcase the work of architects, agencies and those behind large schemes.
Amongst this year’s categories is Commercial Development of the Year, which can be entered here.
The winner of this category will be the commercial development that has gone above and beyond in fulfilling the criteria of the build, in terms of design and construction. This can include special requirements, features or elements that make the commercial development stand out from the crowd.
Last year the award was won by Henry Brothers Construction for SportPark Pavilion 4, Loughborough, with HBD (Power Park, Nottingham) and Bolsterstone Group Plc and Chesterfield Borough Council (One Waterside Place, Chesterfield) runners up.
Upon winning Clare Swaine, business development manager, Henry Brothers, said: “I was delighted to collect this award on behalf of Henry Brothers, it was a fantastic team effort to deliver this impressive Passivhaus building which is supportive of Loughborough University’s path to net-zero and is a tremendous asset to the University and wider Leicestershire economy. The event was also a great networking opportunity and it was interesting to hear more about the various developments happening in the region.”
Submit your nominations for Commercial Development of the Yearhere before entries close on Thursday 5th September.
Winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 3rd October, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground (4:30pm – 7:30pm) – an evening also offering an opportunity to establish new connections with property and construction professionals from across the region, and hear from keynote speaker Paul Southby.
Other award categories open for entry include: Most Active Estate Agent, Contractor of the Year, Responsible Business of the Year, Residential Development of the Year, Developer of the Year, Deal of the Year, Architects of the Year, Excellence in Design, and Sustainable Development of the Year. All entry forms can be accessed here.
The Overall Winner award will also be presented at the event. This award cannot be entered, with the winner selected from those nominated for the event’s other awards. The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024 will also receive a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000.
Book your tickets now
Tickets can now be booked for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024 – clickhere to secure yours.
The special awards evening and networking event will be held on Thursday 3rd October 2024 in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground from 4:30pm – 7:30pm.
Connect with local decision makers over nibbles and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region, and hear from keynote speaker Paul Southby, partner at Geldards LLP, chair of the Advisory Board to Nottingham Business School, chair of Broadway independent cinema, trustee of Clean Rivers Trust, chair of Nottingham Partners, board member of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, and former High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire.
Dress code is standard business attire.
Thanks to our sponsors:
Shirebrook-based Frasers Group has purchased a 14.65% strategic investment in Accent Group Limited, the retail and distribution business in the performance and lifestyle market, as it looks to expand in Australia and New Zealand.
In Full Year 2024,Accent delivered AUD$1.6bn of sales from nearly 900 stores and websites, consisting of multi brand sports fashion stores, vertical owned brands, and global exclusively distributed brands such as Skechers, Hoka, UGG and Vans.
Frasers noted that the strategic investment will enable it to grow its presence in Australia and New Zealand, a key market in the Group’s ambition to become a leading global sports retailer. To further underpin thispartnership and help to drive mutual opportunities, Accent has stated that it intends to offer Frasers the opportunity to propose a director to join the Accent Board.
Michael Murray, CEO of Frasers Group, said:“This investment is an exciting step in the expansion of our international footprint, which is a key growth driver for the Group. Accent has built an incredible ecosystem of sports and lifestyle brands in Australia and New Zealand.
“They have a strong platform across stores, digital, and distribution, offering a lot of potential for Frasers concepts and brands. We are looking forward to working with the Accent management team tounlock mutually beneficial opportunities for both groups.”
Daniel Agostinelli, CEO of Accent Group, said: “We have been in discussions with Frasers Group for some time about a strategic relationship, and have been impressed by its management team and believe that there is a strong cultural alignment between both organisations.
“We see the potential for significant mutual opportunity with Frasers Group, and are excited by the beginning of this new relationship between the organisations.”
Lambert Smith Hampton’s Capital Markets team has completed the multi-million-pound sale of the 143,818 sq ft former KNP Logistics warehouse in Kettering, Northamptonshire.
Strategically situated within a prime logistics hub in the East Midlands, this expansive site features three interconnected warehouses, two office configurations, a large steel portal-framed canopy, and additional undeveloped land. The property also benefits from environmentally friendly initiatives like LED lighting and rainwater harvesting.
Significant interest was attracted during Lambert Smith Hampton’s targeted marketing campaign from a range of investors and owner occupiers.
Richard Durkin, Director at Lambert Smith Hampton, said: “Following an all-encompassing marketing campaign which resulted in significant interest we were able to select a party in order to take the transaction forward which resulted in a positive outcome for our client.”
Lambert Smith Hampton acted on behalf of the Joint Administrators, Rajnesh Mittal and Nathan Jones of FRP Advisory.
The delivery of a new 230-place school in Tiffield, Northamptonshire, has reached a significant milestone. Following the demolition and clearance of the site, which took place this spring, the steelwork for the school is now complete.
Being built on St Johns Road, on the former St Johns Centre site, the construction project is being led by national contractor Willmott Dixon for West Northamptonshire Council, Greenwood Academies Trust and the Department for Education. The new school will provide additional special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) spaces in the local community.
Set to complete in Summer 2025, the specialist school will improve access to education and increase the support available to families. Pupils aged four to 18 years old will benefit from a variety of facilities including specialist teaching spaces, a soft playroom, a sensory room and a rebound therapy room.
A playground, outdoor soft and hard play areas, and staff and visitor car parking are also included within the plans. A drop-off area and additional queuing space will also be available, making drop-off and collection easier for pupils and parents. Due to the rural landscape surrounding the school, landscaping has been prioritised on the 20,217sqm site to ensure the school blends in with the surrounding area.
Nick Heath, director at Willmott Dixon, said: “Our record of delivering SEND schools within the East Midlands is something we take great pride in. We approach each project with the unique needs of the local community, students and staff in mind, and look forward to delivering a school that meets these requirements.
“We are embedding a range of sustainable elements in this project to help futureproof the school and make it energy efficient. The school will be powered by photovoltaics (PVs) and utilise air source heat pumps, aligning with our continual commitment to sustainability.”
Cllr Fiona Baker, Cabinet Member for Childrens, Families, Education and Skills at WNC, said: “It is great news that the main construction work has started to deliver a new special school for children and young people with SEND, and their families.
“We know there is a shortfall of placements in West Northants and that demand is continuing to increase, so this is very much needed. The new facility will offer high-quality education and learning facilities in a positive environment.
“Once the school opens it will help us to manage the demand we are seeing for placements as we continue on our improvement journey. The team involved will continue to work closely with all partners and stakeholders to ensure all are kept up to date and informed on progress.”
Joining Willmott Dixon on the project team are Associated Architects, Hexa Consulting, JEH Planning, Ares Landscape Architects and SVM Building Services Design.
1284 Communications has moved into larger office space in Loughborough as the PR consultancy continues to grow.
The team moved into a new building on the Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park campus in August.
After operating from the LUinc. workspace in the Holywell Building since launch, 1284 now has larger space at the nearby Advanced Technology and Innovation Centre (ATIC).
The move will provide a solid foundation for the ongoing expansion and investment in 1284.
Managing Director George Oliver said: “1284 had a good year of growth last year and maintained that momentum into 2024-25.
“It got us thinking about where we are going next – in July we celebrated four years of 1284 and the time felt right to make the move.
“We were keen to stay on the LUSEP site and ATIC is a great fit for us and the work we do in the innovation space.”
The office move coincides with the expansion of the 1284 team. Lauren Cropper started as 1284’s new Account Executive in the same week as the switch to ATIC.
Contractor Henry Brothers Construction and Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust have jointly held a turf-cutting ceremony to mark the start of work getting under way on site for a new Belper health centre.
The event marks a key stage in the development of the new £15m hub for community health services in the Derbyshire town.
It was attended by representatives from Henry Brothers and the Trust, including Trust chief executive Tracy Allen, who carried out the honours.
She said: “Back in 2017 we first started talking publicly about the need for new community health facilities for Belper and it’s been a long and eventful seven years to reach this point, involving several changes of plan and a pandemic which put everything on hold.
“So, to be able to put the first ceremonial spade in the ground to start construction is a really fantastic moment. It’s a tribute to the many people who have helped us reach this point.
“I can’t wait to see the architect’s plans come off the page as the building takes shape and becomes a purpose-designed environment for local people to receive a range of community health services for years to come.”
The modern facilities – designed to have high environmental credentials to ensure long-term sustainability – are being built on the site of the former Belper Clinic, as part of the Babington Hospital site on Derby Road, Belper.
Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust recently commissioned Midlands-based contractor Henry Brothers to deliver the new building over a planned construction phase of 66 weeks. It is being delivered through the Pagabo Major Works Framework.
John Sowter, design and planning director at Henry Brothers Construction, said: “We are very pleased to have started work on site, marking a key milestone in the mission to provide new, state-of-the-art community health services in Belper.
“It was an honour to host members of the Trust who have been pivotal in developing this scheme to an official turf-cutting ceremony and we are looking forward to delivering these new NHS facilities for the community of Belper.”
The new health centre will include environmentally sustainable features such as photo-voltaic panels on the roof to harness the power of the sun, with pledges to use local and recycled material from demolished buildings in the build where possible, along with timber from certified sources. It is being built to BREEAM excellent standards to ensure long-term sustainability.
The health hub will feature 15 consulting rooms, six treatment rooms, a health education group room and other facilities, and will provide a range of services including community nursing, midwifery clinics, podiatry services, speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, continence advisory service, wound care and phlebotomy.
Designed by architects Race Cottam Associates, it will accommodate all existing outpatient and clinical services provided at Babington Hospital. Other members of the construction team alongside Henry Brothers include project manager Capita, civil and structural engineer Eastwood Consulting Engineers, and mechanical and electrical engineers EP Consulting.
Plans for a new Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) scheme in Nottingham, at 2 Queens Road, have been approved.
The application, by CMPG on behalf of Zen Nottingham, involves a building reaching up to six and nine storeys. The scheme would comprise 31 studios and 50 cluster beds. The cluster beds would be provided as 10 five bed cluster flats.
On the ground floor, communal space, a laundry room, plant rooms, and bin store are planned. To the eastern side of the building a service yard is proposed which would include
temporary parking spaces for loading and unloading, as well as a cycle store.
A patio area would be provided to the rear of the site and an outdoor roof terrace is also proposed.
Currently, the application site is partially occupied by a vacant, two-storey building which was originally a cinema auditorium.
Planning permission was previously granted for the erection of a nine and six storey building to provide 39 apartments and two ancillary commercial units at the site. The new PBSA scheme is largely the same, but now proposes student accommodation in place of apartments and removes the ground floor commercial units.
Chesterfield-based Superior Wellness has appointed Magda Paradell as International Sales Manager. She joins them with over 15 years’ experience in the wellness sector.
Magda’s previous role was Export Area Manager at Aquavia Spa (one of Europe’s largest spa manufacturers) where she spent almost 16 years.
Magda spent 7 years as back office and customer service before moving in sales where she was Export Area Manager for 8 years. She specialised in B2B sales of hot tubs in a wide number of European markets including France, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal and Italy. She holds a Tourism degree by the University of Manresa, and a Sales and Marketing Master by EAE Business School of Barcelona.
Gareth Ward, Global Sales Director, said: “Our sales team is growing rapidly to support the growth of the company. I am thrilled that Magda has joined the European Sales team.
“Her experience will be invaluable, she’s an outstanding addition to our existing team and I am looking forward to working closely with her.”
Magda Paradell said: “It is with great pleasure I join the Superior Wellness team. This is a global company in a state of continuous evolution, boasting significant production capacity and an extensive array of highly competitive products.
“In addition to its offerings in the spa sector, the company is diversifying into other related products within the wellness industry. I see this as a remarkable opportunity to pursue professional challenges and to contribute meaningfully to the growth of the organisation.”
Dronfield Woodhouse pub The Miners Arms has closed for a £310,000 refurbishment.
It’s being carried out by Heineken-owned Star Pubs and new licensee Jon Church, who comes from Meadowhead and has worked in pubs around Derbyshire and South Yorkshire for the past 20 years.
The Miners Arms is Jon’s first pub of his own. He said: “I’ve searched for 18 months for the right pub, visiting around 40 in person and looking at many more online. It’s fantastic to have found the ideal place just a few miles from home. When I pulled up outside The Miners Arms, I knew it was ‘the one’. It’s in a bit of a state now but the investment will transform it. I want it to be a proper pub that serves the needs of the whole community.”
Jon wants to ensure The Miners Arms “has something for everyone” and, as well as great food and drink, a whole programme of activities is planned including a weekly quiz, music from local artists and events for special occasions like Halloween and Christmas. In the offing for next summer are barbecues, a cask ale festival and family fun days. The pub will also have Sky and TNT Sports and screen major sporting fixtures.
Says Chris Carratt, area manager for Star Pubs: “Jon has extensive experience in hospitality across the region and, having been brought up in the area, knows just what The Miners Arms needs to thrive for the long term. From great food to excellent beer and varied activities, there’ll be lots of reasons to visit for local residents and those from further afield alike.”
The Miners Arms – which has an old stable in the rear garden – is thought to be named after the miners who worked in the local lead mine. Unable to discover much about the pub’s history, Jon is keen to hear from anyone who knows about its past or has pictures of The Miners Arms in bygone days.
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Winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 3rd October, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground (4:30pm – 7:30pm) – an evening also offering an opportunity to establish new connections with property and construction professionals from across the region, and hear from keynote speaker Paul Southby.
Other award categories open for entry include: Most Active Estate Agent, Contractor of the Year, Responsible Business of the Year, Residential Development of the Year, Developer of the Year, Deal of the Year, Architects of the Year, Excellence in Design, and Sustainable Development of the Year. All entry forms can be accessed here.
The Overall Winner award will also be presented at the event. This award cannot be entered, with the winner selected from those nominated for the event’s other awards. The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2024 will also receive a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000.
