Midlands contractor, G F Tomlinson,  is progressing works on the new Barwell Medical Centre in Leicestershire. The new two-storey doctor’s surgery, located off High Street, Barwell, will replace the existing centre on Jersey Way, which is at capacity and unable to meet the growing demand for its services from the local community. Due for completion in June 2024, the new medical centre will provide modern healthcare facilities to many more local people, with demand expected to grow from its current 6,400 to 11,000 users over the next five to ten years. The additional space at the new centre will allow it to provide a greater range of much-needed health services, including physiotherapy and mental health support. The new L-shaped building will consist of 12 consulting rooms, a space for minor surgical procedures with recovery facilities, a health promotion area, as well as 52 car parking spaces and six cycle racks. The centre will be constructed to BREEAM Excellent standards, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the new Medical Centre. Demolition works at the unused brownfield site have already taken place which saw the removal of a former vehicle workshop and warehouse. Adrian Grocock, Group Managing Director at G F Tomlinson, said: “To be delivering this new contemporary medical facility which will enable more local people to access vital medical care, as well as its expanding specialist services, is a privilege. “G F Tomlinson is vastly experienced in the delivery of healthcare schemes and understand the incredibly important role they play in the local community. The team and I are looking forward to seeing this significant facility progress over the coming months.”

The Masterplan to transform the Broad Marsh area of Nottingham has been unveiled. It progresses on from just an idea of the Broad Marsh Vision, to show exactly what the area needs and what would successfully work when developing the scheme. It shows how the area could look when creating new homes, offices, leisure and green spaces. The Masterplan shows how to transform the area to create opportunities to live and work in the area, bring investment and employment for local businesses. This plan will help realise the bold vision for the site created with Heatherwick Studio following the Big Conversation, an extensive public consultation which attracted more than 3,000 responses and 12,000 comments. Key elements of the Broad Marsh vision include:

• 1,000+ new homes
• Around 2,500 new jobs
• Around 20,000 sqm office & commercial & leisure
• Excellent Public Realm
• Retention of part of old shopping centre’s structural frame to provide opportunities for innovative new spaces including NHS CDC and a Caves visitor attraction.

The Masterplan has been created by major international architecture and design practice BDP and property advisor JLL, after Nottingham City Council appointed them to develop the plan for one of the largest and most significant city centre projects anywhere in the UK. The plan will be used to help the council continue its dialogue with Homes England and the new EMCCA to de-risk and prepare the area ready to take to the market. Cllr Neghat Khan, Leader of Nottingham City Council, said: “The plan shows we are committed to finding a solution for Broad Marsh and attracting investment to support the transformation. We will continue to work with partners to find the investment and developers needed to deliver our vision. “The surrounding area has changed dramatically, from the new Central Library, bus station and car park plus new pedestrian areas along Sussex Street and Collin Street with its new play area. “We also have plans for the new NHS Community Diagnostic Centre in part of the old shopping centre and one of the biggest transformations is happening right now, with work on the Green Heart due to finish this summer. This is a significant improvement for the people of Nottingham.” The Broad Marsh sits at the heart of the council’s current c£4bn regeneration programme. Currently building work is happening to create the new wildlife-rich Broad Marsh Green Heart. A new green space will be a place to enjoy nature with 38 semi mature trees, 34 of them newly planted, plus areas of colourful planting, a new ‘marsh’ area and several footpaths and places to sit. The Green Heart is also a key pedestrian route, so there will be a main path creating a clear and direct route from the train station to the city centre. This pedestrian route will be well lit at night and will be the route to all the other seating areas during the day and a place for people with limited mobility to stop and rest. The Green Heart is the latest piece of the wider Broad Marsh public realm redevelopment. Most recently, a new play space was opened on Collin Street, which features specially designed swings, a play trail with timber stepping blocks, balancing walkways, a seesaw and green planting. This new play space is part of a Playable Cities Initiative and supports the city’s journey to become a UNICEF Child Friendly City. As well as the new play space, Collin Street is now fully open for people to walk through, with a traffic-free route connecting the Green Heart and Lister Gate, with the new green public space on Sussex Street next to Nottingham College, which features a mini amphitheatre, a skateable space and a multi-use games area. The Broad Marsh regeneration has already seen the development of a new Central Library, Car Park and Bus Station, as well as a new Nottingham College city hub, which has transformed streets and public spaces in the area by increasing footfall, particularly supporting businesses on Lister Gate. Recently, it was revealed that a new state-of-the-art Community Diagnostic Centre will be located on the Broad Marsh regeneration site and will be run and staffed by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. The CDC will be a one-stop shop which support GPs by providing direct access to diagnostics services such as MRI, CT, x-ray, ultrasound, echocardiography, ECG, and lung function testing. The Broad Marsh Masterplan was unveiled at a special Nottingham event at UKREiiF last night, hosted by Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire’s Invest in Nottingham. Urban Design Director, David Rudlin, is overseeing the Broad Marsh Master planning process. He said: “This project represents a pivotal moment for the city of Nottingham. Building on previous work, we have created a viable scheme that will deliver a lively and creative new urban quarter breathing new life into this important city centre site. “We are also seeking sustainable solutions on how to reuse part of the shopping centre’s existing concrete frame to support the development of a range of new spaces that will offer services that will benefit the community.” Megan Powell Vreeswijk, CEO of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, said: “Unveiling the Broad Marsh Masterplan presents an unparalleled opportunity for investment and growth for Nottingham. “This transformative project is set to reshape Nottingham’s landscape, creating a welcoming gateway into the city centre, with over 1,000 new homes, 20,000 sqm of office and leisure space, and around 2,500 new jobs. “The retention of the old shopping centre’s structural frame for innovative spaces, including an NHS Community Diagnostics Centre and a Caves visitor attraction, further underscores the vision driving this redevelopment and highlights the importance of tourism and innovation in our region. “Team Nottingham, which is headed up by Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire’s Invest in Nottingham, are looking forward to launching the Broad Marsh Masterplan at this week’s UKREiif investment event in Leeds alongside other exciting development sites across the region.” Phil Farrell, JLL’s development director for the Midlands, led their input into the master plan process. He said: “JLL have been supporting Nottingham City Council for a number of years on Broad Marsh. We were delighted to work with BDP, a world class master planner, to bring this concept to life. “Broad Marsh is one of the largest urban regeneration projects in the UK today, and certainly the most transformative.  It sits at the very centre of the city connecting the retail core and office quarter to the emerging areas around the railway station and river. “Broad Marsh will become the heart of the city; delivering a modern employment, residential and leisure experience, sensitively integrated into world famous heritage. JLL are proud to have been involved in ensuring this master plan is both aspirational and commercially viable.”

An historic 19^th century Derbyshire hospital building has been sold to a residential developer. Newholme Hospital, in Bakewell, which originated as a workhouse in 1841 and is now being decommissioned by the NHS, has been sold by property consultancy Fisher German to an undisclosed residential developer. Fisher German acted on behalf of NHS Property Services Ltd to market Newholme Hospital after it became surplus to requirements following the announcement of a new £11 million NHS integrated health hub which is being constructed on land adjoining the site and is expected to open later this year. Despite turbulent market conditions as a result of rising interest rates and the complexity of the site, including five Grade II listed buildings, Fisher German has now completed the sale. The hospital is expected to close when all current health services transfer into the new integrated health hub. Newholme Hospital was marketed as a development opportunity, with potential to transform the site, including its Grade II listed buildings, into residential accommodation. The developer will be revealing its proposed plans for the site in the coming months. Rupert Collis, of Fisher German, said: “We are extremely pleased to complete the sale of Newholme Hospital on behalf of NHS Property Services Ltd. “We worked closely with NHS Property Services throughout the process, as well as with its planning consultants Planning and Design Group, who produced an in-depth development brief which provides guidance to support the redevelopment of Newholme Hospital and was in-turn endorsed by the Peak District National Park Authority. “This was a particularly challenging site due to the restrictions around the development of Grade II-listed buildings, but we were able to secure a purchaser with a strong reputation in the industry. “The deal also highlights the returning buyer confidence in the commercial development market now that interest rates have stabilised. “The developer has not yet revealed its plans for the site, but we are confident that any proposed scheme will be highly positive for Bakewell. “It would also sit alongside what will be a modern new NHS facility for those living in Bakewell and the surrounding area.”

Rushton Hickman has successfully appraised, marketed and sold 114-116 High Street, Burton upon Trent on behalf of client Great Central Properties Ltd, within a timeframe of just two months. Regional Contractors Ltd has acquired the freehold of 114-116 High Street, Burton upon Trent, with plans to redevelop the first floor into residential apartments and modernise the ground floor for retail purposes. Taylor Millington, the surveyor responsible for the transaction, said: “It is always positive news when a transaction progresses swiftly, resulting in a mutually beneficial outcome for all parties involved. “Given the significant amount of interest the property got within the first week, we were able to quickly negotiate a strong deal for our client along with an agreed quick turnaround.” Taylor continued: “The property requires extensive redevelopment to transform it into a mixed-use investment, but this is something that Regional Contractors Ltd were happy to take on. “The modernisation of the retail shops will bring continued growth and addition to the busy high street and the repurposing of the upper floor into residential accommodation will help bring much needed homes to the market.” Great Central Properties Ltd said: “I cannot express my sincere appreciation for the outstanding work the team at Rushton Hickman have done in marketing and facilitating the sale of our commercial property. “The dedication, professionalism and strategic approach to marketing the property have been instrumental in attracting potential buyers. The comprehensive marketing campaign, including the well-designed promotional materials and online presence, showcased the property in the best light possible. “The team’s prompt communication, attention to detail and proactive approach exceeded my expectations and I want to express my gratitude for all the hard work, commitment and the positive attitude that was brought to every aspect of this sale. “I look forward to the opportunity of working together in the future, on my next purchase.”

Plans for the regeneration of Leicester’s market place could be under review, now that the demolition of the old market infrastructure has revealed the potential of the historic space. The removal of the old roof and the heavy wooden stalls has opened up views of the attractive heritage buildings that surround the market area and highlighted the dramatic scale of the space, prompting City Mayor Peter Soulsby to question whether reintroducing new permanent infrastructure onto the site would be the right thing to do. Council officers have now been tasked with drawing up alternative proposals, which would see Leicester’s market traders moving to a purpose-built location next to the Food Hall – and would allow the former market site to revert to its original purpose as an important meeting place in the heart of the city centre. Archive photographs from the early 20^th century show the market area as a vast open space where people would gather for political rallies or national celebrations. Market stalls would be packed away when not in use, leaving the space free for festivals and other special events – a flexibility that the City Mayor is keen to see restored. “I’m sure I’m not the only one who watched the old market roof come down and was blown away by what was revealed,” he said. “As the demolition team cleared the site, I was struck by the scale of the space and the quality of the surrounding architecture. “It made me ask myself if we were missing an opportunity to do something really special. “If we install new permanent infrastructure on the site – with stalls that would be used for just eight hours a day, six days a week – we won’t be able to use this extraordinary space for anything else. And once those new stalls are in place, they’ll probably be there for the next 30 years. “We therefore have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to do something quite bold – and that’s to reconsider our plans and create the impressive, flexible space for large-scale public events that we currently don’t have in Leicester city centre.” Under the new proposals, the city council would demolish the unattractive 1970s buildings at 12-20 Market Place to create a wide cut-through to Cank Street. The space created would accommodate a mix of market stalls and container units in a modern trading environment, protected from the elements by a roof. City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “I met with representatives of the market traders this morning (Wednesday) to explain my shift in thinking and to talk through the ideas. “While I fully appreciate their concerns about work being paused on site, I hope I was able to convey that I believe we have an opportunity to make a good scheme even better. “The proposed location for Leicester Market is a brand new cut-through that would link Market Place with Cank Street and the shops and bars of St Martin’s Square. Footfall would therefore be high – and the market’s proximity to the popular Food Hall would create a strong food-themed destination. “With Marks & Spencer announcing the closure of its Gallowtree Gate store, and with city centres everywhere becoming less reliant on traditional retail, it’s clear that Leicester city centre must keep evolving to ensure that it continues to be somewhere that people want to visit – and want to invest in. “This new proposal would provide our market traders with the clean, contemporary and attractive market area they need – and provide the city with a striking open space that could become home to the Christmas ice rink, the summer beach, live performances, outdoor cinema, food and drink festivals, national celebrations, and even open-top bus parades for our brilliant sports clubs. “Of course there’d be work to do to upgrade and refurbish the beautiful old buildings that surround the space, and to attract the cafés and bars that would help to animate it, but our intention would be to seek funding to support the conservation work and to work with development partners to bring new life to the area. “I’m now convinced that the right thing to do is to pause work on the current scheme to give people a chance to have their say, and I look forward to hearing those views.” Any comments on the new ideas for Leicester Market can be emailed to TheMayor@leicester.gov.uk by Friday 14 June.

Marketing Derby has urged Derby City Council planning committee members to back an investment which will create a food and beverage offer in one of the city’s regeneration  areas.

Burton Abbey Developments is looking to create an outdoor artisan food and beverage market – similar to those seen in London and Manchester – on an empty plot of land in St Peter’s Churchyard. The proposals have been refused twice and council officers are proposing a third refusal to the committee which meets this evening. However, the application has received strong backing from the city’s business community – including Marketing Derby and the Derby Economic Development Advisory Committee  – which has submitted letters of support. John Forkin, managing director of Marketing Derby, said: “We back this application, it’s exactly what the area needs. The report describes the site as ‘open, undeveloped space, vegetation and amenity which contributes to the verdant value of the street scene’. “In truth, it is derelict and in desperate need of some TLC which this proposal brings. The Heritage Impact Assessment actually states the scheme would ‘enhance the conservation area’ due to the investment it brings. “The proposal fits perfectly with Derby City Council’s ambition to create a vibrant city centre by regenerating such sites and this amenity will help attract more visitors. “We urge committee members to welcome this as an opportunity that will help lift the area, support its heritage as well as complementing the council’s own substantial investment into the nearby Performance Venue. It’s exactly the sort of thing the Derby is crying out for and the applicant has shown considerable patience and willingness in seeking planning for over three years.” Known as The Yard Derby, the revised scheme involves creating 10 retail units arranged in an ‘L-shaped’ configuration along the southern and western edges of the site, situated away from the Grade II*-listed St. Peter’s Church and the Grade II*-listed Old Grammar School. The plans incorporate a seating area with a capacity for up to 100 people. One key aspect of the proposal and location involves the developer’s plan to create a sympathetic entrance through the historic 19th-century wall bordering the site. Marketing Derby’s letter of support states: “This particular piece of land sits on a significant pedestrian thoroughfare for visitors to the new 3,500 capacity performance venue on the regenerated Becketwell site from areas such as Derbion, the bus station and the Market Hall. “The owner seeks to enhance and make reparations to the boundary wall and therefore improve the overall aesthetic from its current dilapidated condition.” The scheme’s backers include respected heritage architects Lathams as well as historian Maxwell Craven, both of whom have carried out detailed analysis of the site.  

Work to restore an architectural gem in Mansfield’s crown is set to begin as part of a scheme backed by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and overseen by Mansfield District Council.

Long Eaton Town Deal’s Stable Block refurbishment project is set to recommence construction activities later this month. The building is being renovated to become a centre for commerce and innovation. Work originally got under way last year but had to be put on hold when Nottingham construction giant J Tomlinson Ltd – which won the contract – rocked the building sector by going bust. Erewash Borough Council was among a string of local authorities and government bodies that were left having to find new contractors to complete projects. It meant painstaking fresh negotiations – but the town hall’s search is now over. Derbyshire-based Trident Construction Services Ltd has been engaged to complete the work. The Stable Block project is being funded by government levelling-up cash as part of a £24.8million “Town Deal” that the council helped win for Long Eaton. Offices, meeting spaces and studios will be available when the building next to Long Eaton Town Hall is transformed. The new business hub aims to create more than 30 jobs. Erewash Borough Council leader James Dawson said: “This showcase project is among several that will help transform Long Eaton thanks to the council securing huge government investment to revitalise the town. The collapse of the original builder was a blow but we are pleased to be back on course.” The old stables form part of what is known as the “curtilage” of the Grade II* listed town hall – which was built in 1778 by Joseph Pickford of Derby. Back then the town hall was a house for “gentleman farmer” Henry Howitt. Richard Ledger, chair of the Long Eaton Town Deal Board, said: “We have been pulling out all the stops to minimise delays to the refurbishment of the old stables, which will enhance Long Eaton as a place to do business. The project will create the kind of modern hub that we know there is a demand for.”