Students create new logo for the Chesterfield Town Board
Students from Parkside School were challenged to create a new logo to be used by the Chesterfield Town Board, which is driving forward almost £20 million of investment over the next ten years.
More than 80 designs were submitted by students from the school, and from these Cindy Lin’s design was chosen as the winner by a panel of Town Board members. Cindy Lin, aged 15, said: “I can’t wait to see my design attached to some really exciting projects!”
The logo will be used to help promote initiatives being spearheaded by the Town Board over the next ten years.
Chesterfield Town Board is made up of local business and community representatives, together with public sector organisations, and is responsible for deciding how to spend almost £20 million of funding announced as part of the Government’s Long Term Plan for Towns.
Dominic Staniforth, a Partner at BHP LLP Chartered Accountants and Chair of the Chesterfield Town Board, said: “I want to thank all the students who submitted their designs for the Town Board logo, there were some fantastic entries, and it was a difficult job to select one winner. Cindy’s design reflects our town and will help identify the projects led by the Town Board.
“Chesterfield is already a great town full of wonderful people and organisations that share a common purpose to make it even better – a place to live, work, invest and study – and this funding will further bolster our ability to deliver on that collective ambition.”
The winning design includes the town’s most iconic landmark, the Crooked Spire, and will now be turned into a digital logo that can be used throughout the programme.
Andy Kelly, Headteacher at Parkside Community School, said: “We are delighted that Cindy’s design for the Chesterfield Town Board logo was chosen as the winner. She is an incredibly talented artist who has done a fantastic job in capturing an iconic image that shows our town moving from strength to strength. We look forward to seeing Cindy’s design across Chesterfield over the next 10 years!”
Allison Homes expands marketing team with trio of new appointments
Regional housebuilder Allison Homes has hired three new team members, to grow its marketing team and further develop the company’s brand.
Michael Hudson, Dan Bursnall and Connor Nottingham have been appointed as Group Marketing Manager, Regional Marketing Manager and Digital Marketing Executive respectively. The trio will all be based at Allison Homes’ head office in Peterborough, with Michael and Connor working on the company’s Group marketing and Dan covering its East region.
Michael has worked in marketing for more than a decade and in 2022 made the move to housebuilding, spending time at both Avant Homes and Miller Homes. Dan has been in the property sector for 13 years and began his career in sales, and Connor joins Allison Homes with five years of experience from working in digital marketing agencies.
Michael, now living in Chesterfield, said: “I joined Allison Homes as I wanted the opportunity to work for a trusted housebuilder at an exciting time of growth and development. I’m thrilled to be in a business that has a genuine culture of friendliness and offers support for its all employees.”
Dan, from Cambridgeshire, added: “I was looking to build my career with an organisation where I could make a difference. Being local, I knew a lot about what Allison Homes was doing in the area and was blown away by the quality of homes and passion of the staff. When this role came up, I applied immediately and was thrilled to secure the position.”
Connor, from Peterborough and now living in Deeping St James, Lincolnshire, said: “I wanted to join a company where I could fully commit myself, and work with a team that truly believes in its goals and cares about its customers. Having heard great things about Allison Homes, I knew I had to apply.”
Michael’s role as Group Marketing Manager includes making strategic brand decisions, analysing data and creating attention-grabbing campaigns.
Michael said: “There’s no such thing as a typical day and that’s why I love working in marketing. From HR and sales, to technical and commercial, getting to know people in different walks of life makes my job fun and varied, and helps me to create marketing materials and brand documents that are more effective.
“I’m looking forward to supporting Allison Homes through its exciting growth plans. As we grow into more sites and regions of the UK, I’m keen to ensure our brand stays consistent and that the incredible work we do achieves high levels of success.”
In his role as Regional Marketing Manager, Dan covers the marketing for upcoming and active developments and campaigns in the East region, as well as assists with the company’s Partnerships division.
Dan said: “The needs of the developments drive the priorities, so I could be working on a brochure for an exciting upcoming site, creating a new campaign to promote a particular home, or out on site looking at signage opportunities.
“Everyone at Allison Homes has been incredibly welcoming and supportive, and it is a genuine pleasure to be part of this outstanding team. Property marketing is my passion, and I am excited to establish myself at Allison Homes and make a meaningful contribution to the company’s success.”
Northern Lincolnshire Environmental Farmers Group gets the backing of leading law firm
A farmer-led cooperative has secured the funding needed to initiate trading opportunities for sustainably-minded farmers in North Lincolnshire, with the support of Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire’s largest law firm, Wilkin Chapman.
The firm joins agricultural machinery supplier Peacock & Binnington as the first sponsors of the Northern Lincolnshire Environmental Farmers Group (EFG), which aims to deliver positive environmental change, funded through natural capital trading.
The organisation aims to increase biodiversity in North Lincolnshire, improve water quality, achieve net carbon farming by 2040 and generate new trading opportunities for farmers.
The Northern Lincolnshire EFG is the 10th group of its kind to be established across the UK since 2020, with the EFG network now comprising 433 farmers, covering around 3% of England’s farmed area and a trading pipeline worth c. £10 million.
The Northern Lincolnshire group – which covers areas surrounding Grimsby, Scunthorpe, Immingham, Louth, Crowle and Epworth – has been set up by local farmers Andrew Jackson, from Pink Pig Farm, and William Sowerby, from Farming Forward. The group is now appealing for more members in the area.
Catherine Harris, head of the agriculture sector at Wilkin Chapman, said:
“When farmers work together, they can have a great deal of power. While there are groups that represent farming as a whole, the EFG is a rapidly growing voice for farmers who are particularly mindful of their sustainability, as well as their financial success.
“Farming plays a major role in the care of our ecosystem and I know environmental custodianship is very important to a great many farmers, so we hope that supporting the establishment and growth of this EFG will help farmers to work together to achieve this.”
The first Environmental Farmers Group was officially launched in May 2022, after a group of farmers came together in the Avon area to build on their local Farmer Clusters to strengthen their position to deliver environmental goods and services for fair reward.
It was convened by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), which founded the Farmer Cluster concept and whose scientific research is behind many of DEFRA’s ELM scheme agri-environment options. Against a backdrop of the transition away from the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), the group grew in numbers and expertise, eventually forming a cooperative two years later.
The EFG acts as a trusted navigator for farmers and landowners in industries that focus on natural assets such as soil, air, water, plants and animals (known as the ‘natural capital sector’). Its goal is to use scale and member cooperation to secure the best environmental results and financial returns for a wide range of natural capital goods and services.
Members of the EFG get access to trading opportunities in natural capital markets, guidance on how to trade and benefit from farmer buying power in natural capital markets.
£84.5m secured to support delivery of student accommodation on former Royal Mail site in Nottingham
Bricks Group, development and management specialists in the student and co-living sectors, has secured £84.5m in funding from London Wall Lending to support the delivery of high-end Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) on a former Royal Mail site in Nottingham.
The landmark new scheme will see the transformation of the former Bendigo Building site in the center of the city, which lay vacant for nearly two decades before its demolition in 2023. Once complete, the scheme will contain 752 beds over 13-storeys, with the potential to rise to 781 beds subject to planning permission.
The accommodation will be managed by Bricks’ in-house operating brand, true student, building on its brand portfolio of more than 7,000 beds across the UK. It will also provide a range of indoor amenities and landscaped gardens as well as commercial units on the ground floor for residents and the neighbouring community.
The 28-month loan facility will fund the two-stage transformation of the building by Graham Construction, with potential for a further £5.5m of funding to be unlocked if planning permission is achieved.
The deal represents the latest collaborative venture between the two firms, with London Wall having funded the development and disposal of Bricks’ Discovery Quays 1 and 2 schemes in Salford Quays, as well as providing a further £4m gross facility to assist with the purchase of a 355-bed PBSA plot in Leeds.
John Graham Construction has been selected to deliver Bricks’ vision for the scheme, with Fladgate providing legal support and Knight Frank providing valuation services.
Lev Loginov, Partner at London Wall, said: “This is our first investment in Nottingham, and is illustrative of our strategy to support ever-growing residential demand across the UK’s regional markets.
“With a strong student population spread out across two top-class universities, the city is going from strength to strength and presents exciting opportunity for development. Having worked extensively with Bricks in the past, we’re confident in the business’ ability to seize on this sentiment and provide a top-quality option for the area’s student community.”
Peter Prickett, Founder and CEO of Bricks Capital, said: “We have a well-established relationship with London Wall built over a number of successful projects, so when the chance arose to deliver much-needed student accommodation in such an iconic Nottingham building, we knew that it was one we needed to take.
“The UK remains an attractive proposition to both home and international students, and we’re continuing to experience surging demand for the services provided through our true student brand. We look forward to meeting the students of Nottingham and working to allow them to make the most of their university experience in the years to come.”
Building begins at Broadnook Garden Village
The construction of more than 150 new homes on the upcoming Broadnook Garden Village development has begun following a groundbreaking ceremony.
Midlands developer Cora Homes is building its first collection of 154 homes at the garden village, located off the A6 near Leicester. The development will be the county’s first garden village, made up of more than 1,900 homes and community centres.
Members of the Cora Homes team met with representatives from partner firms and the Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress of Charnwood to mark the start of works on Wednesday, July 31.
Steve Keenan, the firm’s Construction Director, said: “This is a momentous occasion for both our business and the county of Leicestershire as we commence works on this historic development.
“At Cora our mission is to create amazing places – something we are very confident of achieving at Broadnook through our highly energy efficient homes and the mix of green spaces and community amenities.
“Broadnook is designed to meet the long-term needs of homeowners while creating much-needed infrastructure, community hubs and enterprise zones that will be a real benefit the wider area.
“We anticipate interest in our homes to be very strong given the high desirability of this unique garden suburb.”
Aside from an array of energy-efficient homes, Broadnook will also be home to extensive parkland, community and healthcare facilities and education centres including a 570-capacity primary school. Other additions include an early years facility, GP surgery, retirement village, shops and cafes.
More than 50% of the entire garden village will be devoted to green spaces, with other sustainable additions including car-free zones. The first 500 trees on the 12 hectares of designated woodland space have already been planted.
Together, all developers behind the garden village are investing £750,000 into local bus services to optimise transport links.
Cllr David Northage, Deputy Mayor of Charnwood, said: “It’s a real privilege to be here today to witness another step forward in bringing this dream to life.
“Charnwood Borough are immensely proud to be host to Leicestershire’s first garden village. This development is so exciting – a brand-new stand-alone community is being created. A community complete with every up-to-date facility to provide for modern day living.
“Cora Homes are excited and proud to be part of this amazing project, and so they should be. We wish them well and thank them for being part of the Broadnook journey.”
Bert Broadhead, a Director at Cora Homes, added: “We’re hugely proud to be breaking ground at Broadnook. It’s a real privilege for Cora to be working in a wonderful part of the country and we’re very excited to be bringing the Broadnook vision a step closer to reality.
“We’ve worked incredibly hard alongside our partners to bring forward a new garden village in the truest sense of the word.
“We can’t wait to see the project advance and for people to see the Cora way; that Britain’s extraordinary lack of homes can be tackled without compromise and that we can deliver new communities with very high design quality, open spaces, playing fields, facilities, a sustainable ethos and a long-term stewardship structure that ensures it is residents, and not developers, who make the key decisions for the area moving forward.”
Cora is working with a number of local contractors and subcontractors to help bring the development to life.
Jamie Langthorne, Group Commercial Director at groundworks and civil engineering partners RM Contractors, added: “We are excited to be working with Cora Homes at Broadnook Garden Village, delivering the groundworks and infrastructure programme as this thriving community continues to grow.
“We will be working to the highest standards, building on our long-standing relationship with Cora Homes as they meet the needs of homeowners across the region with this landmark development.”
Calls for improvements to ‘sparse and underfunded’ rail services in the East Midlands
Leaders across the East Midlands region have come together to call for a long-term plan for improving regional rail services, following a report from Transport for the East Midlands (TfEM) that shines a spotlight on the opportunity to improve regional rail services.
The report, titled ‘A Platform for Growth’, highlights the need to develop a more competitive rail offer in the East Midlands, improve performance standards, and for an East Midlands voice within the new Great British Railways.
Sir Peter Soulsby, City Mayor of Leicester and Chair of TfEM, said: “Our evidence suggests that regional rail services in the East Midlands are directly worth around £356 million per year to our regional economy. We have major population growth forecast and exciting local plans for many more new jobs and homes.
“Due to years of underinvestment, the East Midlands rail network is sparse and infrequent compared to other regions. This inevitably impacts on punctuality and the ability to run the level of services the region requires.
“Around 75% of stations in the East Midlands are served by just one train per hour or fewer, with even lower levels of service levels on Sundays and increasingly overcrowded trains on Saturdays.
“But it doesn’t have to be this way.
“We need to see a new clear plan for growth for this region in terms of both services and performance. The rail industry cannot ‘cut itself’ to financial sustainability – it must grow patronage to survive, and the East Midlands is a great place to start!”
Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, said: “Rail is proudly embedded in the culture of our region, yet there is so much more room for improvement when it comes to infrastructure and regional services in the East Midlands.
“Our regional rail network doesn’t yet match the ambition of our towns and cities. Commuters, local communities and business can see what rail investment has done elsewhere and rightly expect the same standards here.
“If we’re going to reduce the number of car journeys and meet our climate goals, we need to boost sustainable travel by investing in our rail network and making sure commuters are getting a fair deal. If we get this right, we could unlock tens of millions of pounds of direct economic benefits.”
Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “Chesterfield Railway Station is one of the busiest in the East Midlands and of vital importance to unlocking the economic potential of our borough and the wider economies of north Derbyshire and the Peak District.
“We need our train services to be catalysts for growth bringing more and better jobs to our economies, stimulating inward investment, enabling social mobility and introducing new audiences to the area’s visitor attractions.
“To achieve this, there needs to be investment in our stations, better quality trains, more frequent and reliable services, and fare structures that encourage people to leave their cars at home.”
Will Rogers, Managing Director at East Midlands Railway, said: “Although our regional fleet is undergoing a major £28.2 million refurbishment, the East Midlands transport spend per head has been significantly below the UK average level for all of the last 25 years.
“We are keen to work in partnership with Transport for the East Midlands, our mayors and other stakeholders to improve this situation. Rail is a key enabler of economic and social value and for our region to compete, grow and meet the ambitions of its citizens, greater investment in rail infrastructure and services is vital.”
Foresight celebrates £100 million investment in Midlands
Foresight Group, the regional private equity and infrastructure investment manager, has now invested a milestone £100 million in the Midlands and is ready to partner with more growing companies across the region.
Among the businesses Foresight has invested in is Nottingham-based Lightbulb Credit, which provides solutions to enable companies to monitor and improve their credit rating. Lightbulb has helped SMEs to raise over £700 million in funding.
It has also backed Loughborough University spin-out, Previsico, a developer of a software-based flood forecasting and warning system; ReadyGo, a start-up diagnostics company that detects infectious diseases; and Postworks, a Northamptonshire company which has digitised the corporate mail sector and is seeing rapid growth.
Ray Harris, Director at Foresight Group, said: “The Midlands is home to a diverse and inspirational business community, packed with entrepreneurs and dynamic teams ready to take their enterprises to the next level.
“Our passionate and experienced team has significant funds to invest here and are very keen to meet business owners and their advisors to discuss how we can potentially support them on their growth journey.
“We know that every business is different so we take time to nurture relationships and understand where we can add value. Our investment is much more than providing funding – we have a large network of contacts and non-executives who play an important role in helping management teams to grow sustainably, benefiting the local economy.”
IMA Architects appointed by Lidl GB on two regional distribution centre projects
Leicestershire-based IMA Architects has been appointed by discount supermarket Lidl GB to provide architectural services and advice on the construction of two new Regional Distribution Centres (RDCs) in Gildersome, Leeds and in Belvedere, London.
As experts in logistical warehousing architecture, IMA has worked with Lidl GB since 2012 and has now been instructed on 10 RDCs for the company.
In Belvedere, IMA is working with Lidl to rebuild and expand a 36,825m2 RDC. The company has been hired to deliver the RDC through the construction phase to completion.
Anthony Day, Managing Director of IMA Architects, says: “Work is progressing well, and we are excited to be delivering another large-scale project with Lidl GB. The RDC specialises in storing and distributing food at both refrigerated and ambient temperatures and will become another vital part of Lidl’s distribution network in the south east when complete.”
In Leeds, IMA, on behalf of Lidl GB, prepared the architectural designs and planning packs for the RDC for submission to Leeds City Council. The plans have now been approved and will see the creation of a 54,000m2 distribution centre on a 34.6-acre site in the southwest of the city, with good transport links to both the M621 and M62 motorways.
Once complete, the new RDC in Leeds will create around 400 jobs for people in the local area. The site is part of the retailer’s multi-million-pound investment plan to support its growing network of stores and foster local economic growth.
Anthony Day, Managing Director of IMA Architects, adds: “We are proud to be working with Lidl GB on both schemes and bringing forward both projects. IMA is currently active on over 20 logistics and warehousing projects across the UK on behalf of our clients, making new sites for businesses and employment opportunities for local people.”
Mario Viduka, Construction Director at Lidl GB, said: “Our ambitious warehouse plans demonstrate our commitment to investing not only in our distribution network but the UK as a whole, and we look forward to working with IMA Architects to increase that capacity further.”
Next upgrades profit guidance following strong sales
Leicestershire retailer Next has upgraded its profit guidance for the year.
It follows a strong first half in which full price sales were up 4.4% versus last year, exceeding expectations of a 2.5% increase.
Total Group sales, meanwhile, including markdown, subsidiaries and investments, were up 8%, with additional growth thanks to the acquisition of FatFace and an increase in Next’s shareholding in Reiss.
Next has increased its profit guidance for the full year by £20m to £980m, up 6.7% versus last year, as a result of additional sales (£11m) and cost savings (£9m), mainly in logistics.
Bank of England reduces interest rates for first time in four years
The Bank of England has reduced interest rates for the first time in four years.
“It is now appropriate to reduce slightly the degree of policy restrictiveness,” the Bank of England said. “The impact from past external shocks has abated and there has been some progress in moderating risks of persistence in inflation.”
The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) sets monetary policy to meet the 2% inflation target, and in a way that helps to sustain growth and employment.
At its meeting ending on 31 July 2024, the MPC voted by a majority of 5–4 to reduce Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 5%. Four members preferred to maintain Bank Rate at 5.25%.
Alpesh Paleja, Interim Deputy Chief Economist, CBI, said: “Today’s decision to cut interest rates was on a knife-edge, as illustrated by the narrow majority of the Monetary Policy Committee voting in favour. At best, there is only mixed evidence that inflation persistence has been defeated. While the labour market is loosening and wage growth slowly easing, the unexpected strength in services inflation remains a red flag.
“We still think that today’s meeting marks the start of a rate cutting cycle, but the pace of this is now more uncertain. Several MPC members will be looking for more definitive signs of inflation persistence easing, to be swayed towards reducing rates further. They will also be conscious of continued upside risks to inflation, with economic growth firming and survey measures of manufacturing pricing pressures picking up.”
Rolls-Royce’s transformation proceeds “with pace and intensity”
Rolls-Royce has hailed “strong first half results,” giving it confidence to raise guidance.
The business reported significantly higher operating profit despite a challenging supply chain environment. Underlying operating profit rose by £0.5bn to £1.1bn, a 74% increase versus the prior period.
This was driven by Rolls-Royce’s transformation programme and strategic initiatives, with commercial optimisation and cost efficiency benefits across the group.
Underlying revenue, meanwhile, passed £8bn, up from just under £7bn in the same period last year.
Full year guidance has now been raised, with Rolls-Royce expecting underlying operating profit between £2.1bn and £2.3bn.
Tufan Erginbilgic, CEO, said: “Our transformation of Rolls-Royce into a high-performing, competitive, resilient, and growing business is proceeding with pace and intensity. We are expanding the earnings and cash potential of the business in a challenging supply chain environment, which we are proactively managing. We are on track to deliver our mid-term targets.
“Our strong first half results reflect the continued delivery of our strategic initiatives and a relentless focus on commercial optimisation and cost efficiencies across the Group. These results and our increased financial resilience give us the confidence to raise our 2024 guidance and reinstate shareholder distributions in respect of the full year 2024 results.”
Light Science Technologies increases revenue and reduces losses
Light Science Technologies Holdings (LSTH), comprising three divisions: controlled environment agriculture (CEA), contract electronics manufacturing (CEM) and passive fire protection (PFP), has increased its revenue and reduced its losses.
According to unaudited interim results for the six months ended 31 May 2024, the business’s revenue hit £5.2m, up from £4.4m in the same period of the year prior.
The firm, meanwhile, reduced its loss before tax by 58.4% to £0.3m.
Simon Deacon, CEO of LSTH, said: “In the first half of 2024, the structural changes made in the business began to take hold and we are seeing accelerated growth in both revenues and margins. With this progress, our losses are narrowing and therefore we are confident of achieving break even with continued progression across our divisions.
“Strategically, we are better positioned as a Group than we ever have been. CEM continues to provide robust revenues and expands into new markets, PFP is adding strong margin revenues in a large addressable market that benefits from regulatory tailwinds, and we continue to establish a global footprint in CEA; a market that we believe underpins exponential long-term growth opportunities for LSTH.
“While some hurdles remain, the landscape for the Group is steadily improving. CEM, recently positioned to handle larger volume projects, stands to benefit from emerging market trends. PFP is targeting an enormous domestic market, which is facing increasing governmental pressure, as the less invasive, lower cost solution and within CEA we are increasingly reminded of the global pressures that are forcing us to re-think how we approach food production. It is the Board’s view that both the short and long term prospects for the Group are very positive.”
Rolls-Royce completes sale of lower power range engine business
Rolls-Royce has completed the sale of the lower power range engines business of Rolls-Royce Power Systems to Deutz.
The sale follows the announcement on 13 December 2023 of an agreement in principle being reached and the sale price is in the high double-digit million euro range.
Dr. Joerg Stratmann, CEO of Rolls-Royce Power Systems, said: “This deal follows the realignment of our strategy to focus on the supply and maintenance of engines and systems primarily from our own production. We are handing over a good business, an excellent customer base and a strong team.”
As a result of the transaction, Deutz will take over the distribution of the mtu Classic series in the lower power range and the mtu engine series 1000 to 1500, which are based on three Daimler Truck engine platforms. These engines are in the 5 to 16 litre displacement class with an output of up to 480 kW and used in a variety of off-highway applications, primarily agriculture and construction.
Power Systems will continue to use engines based on Daimler Truck technology to power railway and military land vehicles, as well as for power generation. The servicing activity related to engines already in use is also part of the sale and, following a transition phase, is expected to be covered exclusively by Deutz-authorised partners from 1 January 2025.
Hundreds of Derbyshire charities face “devastating” cuts
The future of voluntary and community groups across the High Peak is under severe threat due to a significant proposal by Derbyshire County Council (DCC) to end discretionary grant funding as it looks to tackle financial pressures. This move could have catastrophic consequences for numerous charities and services that play a crucial role in the community.
These discretionary grants are a lifeline for the voluntary sector, enabling a wide range of essential services to operate throughout the High Peak. The proposed cuts are indiscriminate and far-reaching, jeopardising the existence of small voluntary groups that provide crucial support to some of the most vulnerable members of society, including young people, the elderly, and disabled.
Infrastructure organisations such as High Peak CVS, Connex in Buxton, New Mills Volunteer Centre, and The Bureau in Glossop, which all support the local voluntary sector, also face cuts which will severely impact the support on offer to groups and charities.
These organisations say they are now joining forces to fight these cuts and need the general public and residents of Derbyshire to unite to make their voices heard.
If the cuts go ahead, over £1 million in grants will be lost for community and
voluntary groups across the High Peak and Derbyshire. Specifically, groups providing adult social care would lose just over £722,000, while groups receiving corporate services and transformation grants would forfeit just over £333,000.
Derbyshire residents are being urged to fill in a survey the County Council has put together as part of the consultation period it is currently holding about the proposed cuts.
A representative from HPCVS urged people to get involved: “We need as many people as possible to unite together and make a stand against these cuts. We need to make our voices heard that the voluntary sector is valued, needed, and relied upon in this area by so many people!
“These grants are a lifeline to the voluntary sector, supporting a wide range of essential services locally. The consultation survey is open until 20th August 2024, and can be accessed through High Peak CVS’s website at highpeakcvs.org.uk/dcc-survey.
“Please tell all of your family and friends to ensure everyone is aware of the emergency that is facing our voluntary sector. We need to act now as time is running out!”
In addition to the survey, Derbyshire Voluntary Action are asking the Council to
debate in full any proposed cuts to discretionary funding and consider the significant impact to communities if services are reduced.
Mayor welcomes new homes plan
Claire Ward, the Mayor of the East Midlands, has welcomed Government plans announced on Tuesday (30 July) to overhaul planning rules in a bid to accelerate housebuilding across the country.
Mayor Claire, who included a pledge to build more affordable homes in her mayoral campaign, said: “These are bold plans to revolutionise housebuilding – and my priority is to make sure they will make a real difference to the many people in the region who want and need a good, affordable home.
“These plans are still at a very early stage and we need to wait to see more detail before we can work through the implications of what it means for us, but a radical overhaul of a system that just wasn’t working is important for all of us who want to make this region a great place to live, work and learn.
“This is a region unlike any other in terms of the challenges around developments in the right places and I will be having early conversations with government so they get a clear idea about what will work here.
“We know we have some big opportunities if we are prepared to be ambitious and that’s what we want to do.
“I’ve always been clear that building the homes we need is an absolute priority, supporting our drive to deliver inclusive growth across the region and make a difference in our communities, but we want to do it in the right way, working with district and borough councils across the region.”
Mayor Claire said she was looking forward to working with the Government to get the best outcome for the East Midlands: “Our region needs new homes and, crucially, the infrastructure to go with it so that housing developments have good connections to jobs, schools and colleges.
“So I will continue to make the case for the funding we need to deliver the infrastructure of road, rail and public transport so we can unlock the private sector investment in new homes and jobs.
“I’m impatient to get on with delivering for the people in our region and this is a very welcome first step.”
Government axing of railway scheme must not impact East Midlands asks, says Chamber
A range of proposed rail improvements for the East Midlands must not be overlooked by the government, says East Midlands Chamber, following the Chancellor’s announcement that the ‘Restoring Your Railway’ fund was to end.
The Chamber’s Manifesto for Growth 2024 contains a series of asks for the government to significantly upgrade the transport infrastructure in the East Midlands:
- Commit to the full electrification of the Midland Main Line
- Reinstate direct rail services between Leicester and Coventry
- Put £18m of funding into improving the Nottingham to Lincoln line
- Prioritise schemes within the Midlands Rail Hub scheme following the HS2 East cancellation
Cameron Homes reveals new leadership structure
Midlands-based homebuilder, Cameron Homes, has announced a new leadership structure, a key step in its strategic growth plan.
The homebuilder, which is part of Tara Group, has a newly formed Senior Leadership Team, led by Managing Director, Guy Bebbington. Guy has taken on the role from Founder and Director of Cameron Homes, Ian Burns, following his decision to step down from the board.
Alongside Guy, the Cameron Homes leadership team will oversee a range of disciplines, crucial to the homebuilder’s continued success in the new build sector.
The newly formed team boasts a wealth of experience and expertise, and includes:
- Guy Bebbington – Managing Director
- Collette Bradbury – Sales & Marketing Director
- Lewis Brazier – Head of Production
- Steve Cassie – Development Director
- Michael Dean – Commercial Director
- Carli Gallier – Head of People
- John Hickman – Group Land Director
- Paul Morrissey – Operations Director
- Luke Sidaway – Head of Finance
- Kate Tait – Group Land & Planning Director
Property consultancy retained after assisting in acquisition of major new business park in Nottinghamshire
A property consultancy has assisted Clowes Developments in the off-market acquisition of a major new business park in Nottinghamshire with permission for around 500,000 sq ft of warehouse and industrial space.
Harrier Park in Hucknall, Nottingham, has planning permission for six new buildings to be constructed for industrial and logistics use. The site has been purchased by Clowes off Rolls-Royce via their development manager Muse.
Property agent Fisher German has been retained, jointly alongside fellow agents FHP, at the 31-acre site which dates back to World War II when it was used as an aerodrome.
In the 1950s, it was the location of the world’s first vertical aircraft take-off, leading to the development of the famous Harrier ‘Jump Jet’ which led to the name Harrier Park.
Now, Fisher German has been instructed as joint marketing agents and is inviting interest from occupiers for ‘build to suit’ industrial and warehouse buildings either to buy or rent.
Rob Champion, Partner and Head of Industrial and Logistics at Fisher German, said this is a key site in Nottingham which would boost the economy through the jobs that would be created at the business park.
He added: “The site has an interesting history and the development will see the legacy of industrial innovation preserved through the delivery of best-in-class buildings for today’s forward-thinking businesses.
“We are expecting very strong interest from a range of sectors since the market remains strong and we will be using our market knowledge and key connections to identify potential occupiers.”
Miles Youdan, Partner in Investment at Fisher German, added: “This will help to create jobs for local people which will have a positive knock-on effect for the local economy.
“We are confident Harrier Park will be a real success story for the area, particularly with the variety of unit sizes, access to skills and its great transport links.”
Sarah Day, Senior Land Manager at Clowes Developments, added: “The site has the potential to develop just over 500,000 sq ft of industrial use facilities in a prime location with great connections across the East Midlands.
“We look forward to working with the local planning authority, Ashfield District Council, to bring forward a business park which will enhance the economy and provide employment opportunities locally.”
Aggregate Industries enhances local sea defences
Aggregate Industries, a building materials supplier, has delivered 89,000 tonnes of rock armour as part of the Environment Agency’s £29 million Stallingborough Sea Defence Improvement Scheme.
Aiming to enhance coastal defences and protect critical infrastructure along the Humber Estuary, between the ports of Immingham and Grimsby, this ambitious project required 70,000 tonnes of granite to be shipped from Aggregate Industries’ Glensanda superquarry in Western Scotland via Immingham Dock.
The granite, with each piece weighing between 0.3 to 1.0 tonnes, made its two-day sea voyage aboard the 90-meter-long Hagland Saga. Each of the 17 shipments carried approximately 4,500 tonnes. Upon arrival at Immingham, the cargo was swiftly offloaded and transported by road to the Stallingborough project site.
Additionally, 19,000 tonnes of smaller grade rock armour, ranging from 60kg to 300kg, were sourced from the firm’s Bardon Hill quarry in Leicestershire and delivered in approximately 700-tonne loads.
In collaboration with Jackson Civil Engineering, Aggregate Industries ensured a seamless delivery, overcoming challenges such as unpredictable docking times and the migration of vital bird species which limit works within the designated Humber Estuary site between April and September every year.
Nick Gilbert, business development manager for Aggregate Industries, adds: “We are proud to have played a crucial role in protecting Stallingborough and its surrounding areas.
“Our comprehensive network and methods enabled us to meet the logistical challenges of this complex and reactive project which effectively saw the equivalent of a quarter of the Humber Bridge’s tonnage seamlessly delivered and discharged, directly contributing to the safety and resilience of the local community.”
The Stallingborough Sea Defence Improvement Scheme is the third phase of ongoing coastal improvements and is designed to provide a further 25-year design life to the current flood defence embankments.
This project will see the repair and fortification of a 4.5km stretch – including some 3km of rock armour – with the works comprising resealing and improvements of existing revetments, some of which date back to the 1953 North Sea flood. This effort will safeguard 2,300 homes, vital infrastructure and industry, as well as precious habitats in the Stallingborough area.
Nigel Priestley, Senior Project Manager for the Environment Agency, said: “Aggregate Industries have provided a great service to Jackson and the Environment Agency by supplying the smaller rock to allow installation to commence in 2023, and then the larger rock from Oban, through the winter, impacted by numerous storms, in time for a March 2024 start.
“The option to deliver by boat from the UK has also saved a significant amount of carbon too and minimised transportation by road.”
The granite used in this project, known for its durability and longevity, is an ideal material for modern sea defences. With a lifespan exceeding 100 years, these specialist aggregates are designed to withstand harsh weather conditions and dissipate wave energy, mitigating soil erosion and maintaining the natural integrity of the landscape.
Beyond its protective capabilities, the rock armour also promotes vegetation growth and facilitates habitat creation, aligning with Aggregate Industries’ commitment to environmental sustainability.
Nottingham’s Altia strengthens presence in APAC region with senior hires
Investigative technology specialist Altia has appointed two senior figures in a bid to drive further growth across Asia, Pacific, Australia, and China (APAC).
The additions to the APAC team will see Rob Cordy join as Head of Sales with Brandan Lizotte taking on the position of Senior Business Development Manager, with both tasked with developing the company’s presence in the region.
Headquartered in Nottingham, Altia serves a global audience, providing law enforcement agencies, government departments, and private sector businesses with intelligence and investigation software.
The new additions to Altia’s APAC team follow the company announcing a new partnership with SOCO – a multi-award-winning IT consultancy, based in Australia, which specialises in the delivery of digital solutions, business applications and integration projects – in February this year.
Rob’s arrival will complement Altia’s services, bringing with him over 30 years of experience in the IT industry across both the private and public sectors, with a proven track record of leading high-performing teams at organisations such as Dell, HP, and IBM.
With extensive expertise in driving sales growth and cultivating team success, his focus will be on helping organisations achieve business process improvements, risk mitigation, and operational efficiencies through Altia’s software solutions.
Brandan brings with him an extensive background in sales and business development and will support Altia’s expansion goals in the region, establishing strategic partnerships and maintaining long-term client relationships.
He holds a background in law enforcement, having served as a police officer between 2012 and 2017, where he ensured operational safety through patrols, responded to incidents, enforced laws and investigated offenses.
Rob Sinclair, Altia CEO, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Rob and Brandan to our team. Individually, they both have a strong track record of driving businesses forward with their expertise in sales, business development, and in creating long-lasting relationships with customers.
“With their combined experience and leadership they will play a pivotal role as we continue to grow and strengthen our presence in the APAC market.
“We look forward to their contributions and the positive impact they will bring to our organisation, as well as the support they will bring to existing and new customers within the region, helping them to utilise Altia’s technologies and streamline their operations.”
Rob Cordy said: “I am thrilled to join Altia and help lead the expansion of our innovative solutions in the APAC region. The dynamic and rapidly growing market here presents incredible opportunities for us.
“I’m looking forward to working with the team to enhance our presence and further drive our ambition of providing cutting-edge investigative technology to new heights.”
Brandan added: “When it comes to providing investigative tech Altia is a world leader in what it does, so naturally I’m delighted to join the team and start contributing to the company’s growth.
“I can’t wait to hit the ground running with the rest of the team, build strong partnerships and help to deliver Altia’s innovative solutions across the region to bring exceptional value and support for our clients.”
