Clowes Developments has reached practical completion on Unit 7 at Stud Brook Business Park, as they hand the keys over to Argon Medical Devices. Argon Medical Devices are a medical equipment manufacturer, serving a global network of hospitals, clinics and medical facilities in more than 114 countries. The company have made the move to Stud Brook following the success and expansion of their business. In a deal agreed by Tim Gilbertson of FHP Property Consultants on behalf of Clowes, a new build unit of 20,000 sq ft for Argon was agreed at the entrance to the estate. The unit benefits from two storey office and ancillary space with Argon adding in extra office and laboratory accommodation with welfare facilities to meet their business needs. There is a large secure yard at the front of the property with 17 car parking spaces including two disabled spaces and four EV charging bays. The signature ‘Clowes’ roof is Polar Voltaic (PV) ready with 10% natural roof lights. In line with planning conditions, all the units at Stud Brook Business Park have been designed to include an external natural wood effect panelling feature to soften the aesthetic and blend with the neighbouring landscape. This unit has achieved an EPC rating of ‘A’ and a BREEAM rating of ‘excellent’ which surpasses the recommended planning requirements of ‘very good’. James Holman, Finance & Operations Director at Argon Medical Devices, said: “Ever since we were shown the designs for Stud Brook Business Park, we knew it would be the perfect location. Our expanding international operations mean we will serve over 70 countries across 3 continents from this building. “As well as its close proximity to East Midlands Airport and great accessibility across the Midlands region, we were especially drawn to this development because of its quality design and environmental sustainability. “Our customers demand a strong commitment to carbon reduction and energy efficiency; and this building allows Argon Medical to fulfil this for many years to come. We’re excited to get the keys today and start on our fit-out process!” TanRo were appointed as lead construction contractors to deliver the industrial and distribution units ranging in size from 8,500 to 30,000 sq ft at Stud Brook Business Park. Unit 7 is the first unit to officially be handed over to the client. Clowes Developments together with TanRo and their wider professional team including IMA Architects, Millward Consulting Engineers, Geldards LLP and Postins Project Services have delivered the unit to Argon on time and according to schedule. James Richards, Development Director at Clowes Developments UK Limited, said: “Handing over the keys to Argon Medical Devices today was a significant milestone in the development of Stud Brook Business Park. It’s great to see units in their final stages of construction and businesses starting to move into their brand-new premises. “Having Starbucks and Sainsbury’s open has provided much needed amenity for the area, having these conveniences available for employees and visitors at the business park is such a benefit. “It’s been a pleasure working with the team at Argon, I’m looking forward to seeing how their fitout programme comes together and seeing them fully operational within the next few months.” Argon will now start their seven-week fit out programme which will see the shell finessed into a fully functioning warehouse, distribution and office centre for around 30 employees and will be looking to be operational at the earliest opportunity. Elsewhere on the business park, Unit 2, a 22,000 sq ft stand-alone unit located opposite Argon Medical has also achieved practical completion and is now being marketed to potential leasehold occupiers. Units 3A, an 8,800 sq ft unit, and 6B, another 22,000 sq ft unit, are also nearing practical completion and will be ready for occupation within the next few months. Additionally, Plot 1 comprises of five trade counter units ranging in size from 3,200 to 4,600 sq ft, with planning consent obtained. Clowes Developments will be instructing Roe Developments to begin construction from as early as April this year. Tim Gilbertson, Director at FHP Property Consultants, said: “I am particularly pleased to see Argon take occupation of their new unit at Stud Brook Business Park, being the first occupier on the site and indeed the first deal agreed some time ago. “To see this land transformed from a grassy field into a prime business park is fabulous and I would echo our client’s comments that Argon have been a pleasure to deal with throughout. I look forward to watching them grow and expand from their new base.” Richard Sutton, Managing Director at NG Chartered Surveyors, added: “We are delighted to see the continued success at Stud Brook Business Park with only three units available as all others are either let or have deals agreed.”

Acting on behalf of long-established Nottingham-based business, Pedigree Wholesale, FHP has completed two important transactions for the expansion of the firm. Pedigree Wholesale was first established as a family run business in 1972 and is now one of the UK’s leading suppliers of food and products to the pet industry. FHP has advised on the off-market sale of Harrisons Mill in Radcliffe on Trent. This mill property dating back to the early 1900s had been producing bird foods and products for the business but was outdated and inefficient. Production was outsourced to a respected family run supplier and the majority of production staff continued employment within the group. The property has been sold to Synergy Healthcare for demolition and construction of a modern care home facility. Phil Daniels of FHP said: “This site of just over 1 acre on the edge of the affluent village of Radcliffe on Trent was ideal for the construction of a care home. “We directly approached, off market, developers and operators in this sector and attracted very significant interest. Following a competitive best bid process, we were able to secure a sale on an unconditional basis at in excess of the guide price.” In preparation for the sale FHP also advised Pedigree Wholesale on the relocation of the pet food and product retail outlet that also operated from Harrisons Mill. Given the very limited availability of retail shops in Radcliffe on Trent, FHP canvassed and identified an off-market opportunity. Liaising directly with the owners of a vacant premises on Bingham Road on the edge of the village centre, FHP were able to secure the purchase of the freehold on favourable terms. The site is now open and trading under Pedigree Wholesale’s retail brand ‘Just for Pets’. Jack Shakespeare of FHP said: “It was a pleasure to represent Pedigree Wholesale in this important relocation. Our expertise and tenacity allowed us to relocate the former store in a timely manner which was integral to the sale of Harrisons Mill.” Steve Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Pedigree Wholesale, said: “It has been a pleasure to work with FHP on these important transactions which will be integral to the future expansion of our business.”

Lincolnshire County Council has launched a new paint recycling initiative at Louth Household Waste Recycling Centre to reduce waste and encourage reuse. The scheme allows residents to donate unused paint, which is then made available for free to the community.

The initiative follows the success of a similar scheme in Grantham, which has prevented 1,000 litres of paint from being discarded since December 2024. According to government data, paint accounts for 71,500 tonnes of waste annually, costing local authorities £20.6 million to manage.

Councillor Daniel McNally, executive member for waste, highlighted that 55 million litres of usable paint are wasted in the UK each year. He encouraged residents to donate leftover paint, which could benefit other households and charities.

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) and Cityheart have finalised a development agreement to transform Northampton’s Four Waterside and Marefair sites. The £130+ million project will redevelop a long-vacant brownfield area near Northampton Railway Station into a mixed-use hub.

Plans include grade A office space, a hotel, residential units with an extra care facility, and upgraded public spaces. Site preparation is scheduled to begin in autumn 2025 following planning approvals. Public consultations on the broader development will take place in summer 2025.

The project is backed by £1.5 million from The Towns Fund and £7 million from the Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone. WNC has secured £24.9 million for wider town centre regeneration, with additional developments already underway.

Commercial property consultancy Sanderson Weatherall has acquired Clark Weightman, a firm of Chartered Surveyors and commercial property consultants based in the Humber region. The deal strengthens Sanderson Weatherall’s presence in Humber, East Yorkshire, and northern Lincolnshire, including key port locations such as Hull and Grimsby.

Clark Weightman brings over 25 years of experience in the regional property market, specialising in agency, business rates, property management, lease consultancy, valuation, healthcare, dispute resolution, and public sector consultancy. The firm’s directors—Andrew Clark, Simon Weightman, and Carl Bradley—will join Sanderson Weatherall as partners, with all staff remaining in their current roles.

Sanderson Weatherall, a certified B Corp, cites economies of scale and regulatory compliance as key factors in the acquisition. Clark Weightman will continue operating under its existing name as part of Sanderson Weatherall, marking the firm’s 11th UK office.

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, has launched a new drive to help attract more women into the region’s construction industry, which faces a shortfall of more than 17,000 people by 2028. The Mayor highlighted the challenge ahead of International Women’ Day on Saturday 8 March, the annual celebration of the contribution women make to the world around us and a rallying cry for gender equality. The launch was made at an event co-hosted by Nottingham College at the brand new £4.5m Construction Skills Centre at its Basford campus. This year, International Women’s Day has a theme of ‘Accelerating Action’, and Mayor Claire says the need to bring more women into construction is an urgent example of where progress still needs to be made. Alongside Nottingham College CEO and Principal Janet Smith, the Mayor welcomed female leaders from regional construction employers and senior women in education and skills. They saw first-hand the work being done at the college to bring more women into the construction industry and chatted to a group of female students. Mayor Claire used the event to announce that the East Midlands Combined County Authority’s Careers Hub will fund Future Makers, a new initiative connecting young people with businesses, offering hands-on industry experience and guidance to help them explore career pathways. She said: “Encouraging and enabling more women to aim high in life isn’t just the right thing to do, there’s clear evidence it’s vital to the future of our economy. “The forecast skills shortage in construction will not be solved if it remains a male dominated environment. That isn’t just bad for gender equality, it risks holding back ambition and restricting our ability to build and grow. “I’m therefore proud to announce our commitment to the Future Makers project so we can play an active role in breaking down barriers for young women entering construction, offering them the support, confidence, and connections they need to succeed in a traditionally male-dominated industry. “It’s been inspiring to meet and talk with students here at Nottingham College, to see them in action and to understand their passion for progress. In construction and other industries, we need to open up opportunities and encourage women and girls to believe that anything is possible.” Nottingham College CEO and Principal Janet Smith added: “The construction sector in the East Midlands is booming, to the point where we have almost struggled to keep up with demand for skills training. “The new Construction Skills Centre at our Basford campus is part of the answer to this challenge. We have invested heavily in state-of-the-art facilities which combine hands-on skills development with fully digitised classrooms. “While the numbers of women in the industry remains comparatively small, we’re seeing rising demand from female applicants for our courses, not just in traditional trades but in new areas of the industry where there is increasing momentum, such as photo-voltaics, heat pumps and other green skills.”

Premium Home Care Services Limited, also known as Home Instead Senior Care, has received a “requires improvement” rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following an inspection. The watchdog flagged concerns over medicine management, record-keeping, and leadership at the domiciliary care provider based in Beaumont Leys, Leicestershire.

The inspection found that the service failed to meet legal requirements for the safe administration and management of medicines. Inspectors reported a lack of guidance for medication use, poor oversight, and failure to follow best practices, resulting in a breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

The CQC cited inadequate systems to update care records when multiple healthcare professionals were involved, leading to confusion over care responsibilities. Additionally, inspectors found safeguarding incidents were not always reported or addressed in line with policy due to weak managerial oversight.

Leadership and governance were also criticised, with the report highlighting a lack of audits and oversight that resulted in another regulatory breach. Multiple management changes have impacted the service’s effectiveness. However, the report acknowledged a positive workplace culture, with staff feeling valued and respected.

Despite the overall “requires improvement” rating, the service was rated “good” for its effectiveness, responsiveness, and quality of care. During inspection in late 2023, the service supported 65 people with personal care in their homes.