Construction of a major new premium used car dealership in Northamptonshire has reached practical completion.
Premier Car Supermarket has expanded into Kettering with the completion of the new facility on a 3.55-acre site at Cransley Park.
The premium used car retail operation, which has other dealerships in Derby and Leicester, is creating new jobs at the dealership which is located off the busy A43 at its junction with the A14 at Junction 8.
The development includes a sales building incorporating a workshop and repair bay with external car wash facilities. There is also customer and visitor parking with most of the spaces for display sales vehicles. Other work included landscaping the site.
Keir Edmonds, Managing Director at MCS Group, said: “The entire MCS Group team involved in the construction of the new Premier Car Supermarket at Kettering can be extremely proud of the fantastic new facility they have delivered. It has been a pleasure to work alongside the company on the project and we wish them huge success.”
Premier Car Supermarket Chief Executive Neil Chapman said: “We are delighted to bring this growing brand to a new store in Kettering, and proud to be generating a number of new jobs and exciting new business opportunities for the town and surrounding areas.
“The new site is in a great location and gives us access to thousands, if not millions of potential customers within a specific drive time radius. Car buyers will now have better access to our convenient, friendly and guided buying experience and hundreds of cars across the Midlands.”
Premier Car Supermarket’s new dealership is adjacent to a new 1,800 sq ft drive-thru Costa Coffee outlet at the entrance to the recently constructed 270,000 sq ft Cransley Park industrial warehouse development.
Revenue has hit record levels at Belvoir Group, the property franchise and financial services group with its central office in Grantham.
According to a pre-close trading update for the year ended 31 December 2022, group revenue increased 13% to £33.5m, up from £29.6m 2021.
The business noted that the housing sector performed better in 2022 than many commentators had forecast at the start of the year, with UK residential sales transactions down 15% on 2021, but around 6% ahead of pre-pandemic levels, and rents on new tenancies increasing by 10.8% during the year.
As a result, Belvoir’s financial performance for the year, including profit before tax, is anticipated to be slightly ahead of managements’ expectations.
Revenue from the financial services division increased by 24% to £17.9m, while revenue from the property division was up 1% to £15.5m.
During the year the Belvoir Group acquired TIME Mortgage Services and Mr and Mrs Clarke (MMC).
Dorian Gonsalves, CEO, said: “I am delighted to report that during 2022 our acquisition strategy both at group and at franchisee level enabled Belvoir to both extend its service offering and mitigate the lower level of activity in the housing market following the exceptionally strong conditions in 2021.
“Our property franchisees and financial services advisers are highly motivated entrepreneurs who continue to demonstrate the ability to make the most of the opportunities presented in all market conditions.
“Our property franchisees benefit from significant recurring lettings revenue that contributes around 56% of group gross profit and our financial services advisers have substantial client books from which to offer remortgages and other financial products, so are not entirely reliant on new mortgage business.
“Whilst we anticipate continuing challenging market conditions in 2023, we remain confident that the resilience and diversity of our business model will enable the group to perform well against the market as a whole. As always, the Board will continue to identify suitable acquisition targets to support continued growth and enhance shareholder value still further.”
Profitability in 2023 as a whole is anticipated to be slightly below 2022 and is expected to return to an upward trend in 2024. This is due in part to the mini budget in September 2022 creating a high degree of uncertainty within the property and related financial services markets.
Between August and December, base rates doubled from 1.75% to 3.5% which led to a rapid rise in mortgage lending rates, the withdrawal of many mortgage products by lenders and a tightening of mortgage criteria. This impacted on instruction levels for house sales and demand for mortgages in Q4 which will in turn impact trading in H1 of 2023.
While the Autumn statement reversed many of the fiscal initiatives proposed in the mini budget, which somewhat reassured borrowers and lenders, and the level of sales instructions and mortgage applications to date in 2023 have shown signs of improvement compared with Q4 2022, the recovery is expected to build slowly over the year.
Belvoir noted that given the lead time from instruction to completion of a house sale and from mortgage application to drawdown can be up to five months, the improvement in activity in H1 is not likely to flow through into financial performance until H2.
Nottinghamshire-headquartered software company Ideagen is set to support Air India with end-to-end safety management.
The airline joins 750 aviation and aerospace organisations worldwide already using Ideagen to support them with their quality and safety operations.
Ideagen software covers all aspects of risk, giving management full visibility of safety data from maintenance of the aircraft through to cabin crew checks on board. It provides the Air India leadership team with complete visibility across their entire organisation, allowing them to access the latest data and use this to spot and mitigate potential risks, enhancing the safety of their operations.
Ideagen CEO Ben Dorks said: “We are honoured to be supporting Air India to continue to assure the safety of their passengers, crew and high-skilled workforce.
“Air India, like Ideagen, are in an exciting period of growth, adding more routes to connect India with the rest of the world and we are delighted to be with them on that journey.
“As an expert in software solutions within regulated and high-compliance industries, we have a strong pedigree in quality management, health and safety, risk mitigation, auditing, training and collaboration software. Air India customers can be assured that they are in safe hands.”
Henry Donohoe, head of Safety, Security and Quality, Air India, said: “We are going for a significant and substantial upgrade of our existing systems and processes to ensure seamless flow of intelligence and data on a real time basis.
“Ideagen Coruson is trusted by aviation industry globally for risk mitigation, auditing and training. Its induction will go a long way in enhancing our capabilities for the safety and well-being of our passengers and crew, particularly at a time when Air India is rapidly expanding its network on both national and international routes.”
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead. It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.Here we speak to Jason Hercock, Andrew McFarlane Holt and Trevor Wells, directors atChartered Surveyors and Property Consultants, Wells McFarlane, who present their views on the future of the office, industrial and land markets in 2023…
“It’s unlikely the office market will experience much variation from the past 12 months; the old adage of the high-quality properties attracting interest and tenants will certainly remain true,” says Jason. “This is not only compounded by a shortage of labour and skilled people, but also the rising costs of fuel and living impacting on the workforce’s willingness to commute. Offices in accessible locations with good transport links such as rural market towns will be the most desirable, followed by those on city perimeters or semi-rural locations.
“From a landlord perspective, perception is critical. There’s an oversupply in the market so premises that are modern, energy efficient, flexible enough to facilitate hybrid working, and located in a well-connected environment that stimulates creativity and productivity will be the most in demand, so it’s advisable to talk to your agent about how best to market your property. I’m also starting to see a pleasant rebalancing in terms of freehold office space. Pre-Covid, there were very few available but with the changing interest rates and working patterns, an increase in freehold supply is emerging that could offer businesses alternative options next year,” concluded Jason.
The demand for modern, high-quality units looks set to be the same in the industrial sector, as Andrew explains. “The better quality, thermally efficient buildings, like the Net Zero ready one at Hinckley Park we’ve just launched for IM Properties, will always hold their value and be well sought-after despite market conditions. We must expect the general uncertainty to be reflected in tenant enquiry levels, but in any recession there are still businesses up- and downsizing, meaning activity in the market. In certain areas, and on certain properties, I anticipate corrections in prices will be needed – tenants will be looking for deals and this will be the primary motivation for relocation – but the Midlands boasts excellent transport links and a strong labour pool, so is in a positive position and deals will continue.”
On the land side, despite the announcement from government that housing targets will not be mandatory, there will still be pressure on the housing market, and therefore land supply. Trevor says: “Development land is already in short supply, and these changes are likely to make parcels even more scarce so I expect competition for consented sites will remain strong. The knock-on effect of course is that this likely lack of supply should sure up land prices, and hopefully as we see inflation fall back and interest rates stabilise, mortgage lenders will offer more competitive rates which should once again see sales rates of new homes start to pick up. Getting on with the strategic promotion of land will be more important than ever given the proposed changes to the way local authorities will have to deal with their housing supply numbers, so those with land which may have potential are advised to seek advice or a no obligation appraisal.”
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead. It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.Here we speak to Christopher Taylor, design director at Marchini Curran Associates.
The industry is dramatically shifting to incorporate sustainability at the forefront of design, rather than paying lip service to it, and this is fantastic to see. We commend our home city of Nottingham for having an inspiring target of being carbon neutral by 2028, two years ahead of the national target of 2030.
For 2023, we predict that our industry will be heavily looking to incorporate high quality sustainable design in all projects, and as a RIBA Chartered Practice, we have a strong commitment to this.
Focusing on ethical and responsible sourcing of materials will also be more important than ever, as will recommending ways to build more efficiently, especially from a thermal perspective, in light of the current financial climate. Industry professionals will also be looking at creative ways of reinterpreting redundant building stock for contemporary purposes, and this is a key focus of our practice.
We plan to continue developing our sustainability credentials across multiple aspects of the business, and our sustainability lead will oversee appraisals, addressing how we can continue to meet and exceed national and global targets, by reducing operational energy and embodied carbon in our buildings.
The only way is up on the sustainability ladder, and it has to be this way – we are excited to see and contribute to the future of the industry by taking necessary environmental action.
Grosvenor Shopping Northampton is under new ownership after it was snapped up by Evolve Estates, the national commercial property and investment company.
The real estate company, which is part of the M Core group, has added the 319,048 sq ft prime retail, leisure and events destination to its rapidly growing retail portfolio, acquiring it from L&G for an undisclosed sum.
Joe O’Keefe, one of the founding partners of Evolve Estates, said: “We are pleased to have completed this acquisition in an incredibly challenging market, cementing our commitment to continued investment in the retail sector.
“This is one of the largest retail centres to come under our ownership and we’re excited to get to work. We’re already in discussion with numerous tenants who will complement the scheme and the wider Northampton town centre offer.
“It’s also rare to find a scheme like this, with so many positive projects going on in and around it. There are more than £25 million of government-backed development projects immediately surrounding the centre on three separate sites, with Market Square, Greyfriars and the Abington Quarter, plus the Clock House key worker residential scheme. These will provide significant opportunities for us and the town to grow and fulfil its potential.”
The two-storey shopping centre was comprehensively refurbished in 2015 and is anchored by Primark, Boots and Next. Other national retailers include: Office, Superdry, Lush, Pandora, Smiggle, Deichmann Shoes, and River Island. It has an 809-space multi-storey car park, which is owned and operated by West Northamptonshire Council.
Evolve Estates has a UK-wide portfolio over more than two million square metres, and a value of about £340 million.
TriSpan, a global private equity firm, has invested in Mowgli Street Food, an Indian casual dining restaurant group with sites in Nottingham and Leicester, through Rising Stars, its dedicated restaurant program.
The founder and management have maintained a significant interest in the company with Nisha Katona MBE, the founder, continuing to lead the group as CEO in its next phase of growth, supported by TriSpan and the board. Matthew Peck and Lucy Worth will continue in their roles as CFO and COO respectively.
Robin Rowland OBE, TriSpan European Operating Partner will chair the board. Dame Karen Jones, current chairperson, will remain on the board as a non-executive director.
The first Mowgli restaurant opened in 2014 and it has since expanded to 15 sites nationally.
The group has confirmed plans to open sites in Brighton, Bristol, Edinburgh in 2023, and is actively reviewing other expansion opportunities around the UK.
Nisha Katona MBE, founder of Mowgli, said: “Founding and growing Mowgli has been an unremitting joy for me. I soar with excitement when I think of the future possibilities for Mowgli and the way the public and our teams have embraced our food and our brand.
“TriSpan understands the elements that have made Mowgli, her food and her culture worthy of this affection and loyalty. They get it and always have, and I look forward to sharing the board table with colleagues that are committed to continuing to grow Mowgli with this delicious integrity at her heart.”
Robin Rowland, chairman, added: “I have admired Mowgli for a number of years and am looking forward to working alongside Nisha and her proven management team and strong board to continue the evolution of this unique and loved brand, delivering authentic, fresh and exciting Indian cuisine.”
Commenting on the opportunity to support Mowgli, TriSpan partners Fady Michel Abouchalache and Joseph Patrick Dib said: “We are proud to have been given the opportunity to partner with Nisha and her exceptional team during its next phase of growth.
“We are very excited at the prospect of bringing more Mowgli restaurants and their distinctive approach to Indian cuisine to more and more cities across the UK. This investment is once again testament to TriSpan’s commitment to the sector, especially in the face of the difficult macroeconomic environment present in the UK and globally.”
This is TriSpan’s tenth restaurant investment globally, and its fourth in the UK, following previous UK investments in Pho, Rosa’s Thai Café, and Thunderbird Fried Chicken. Debt financing for the transaction has been provided by OakNorth Bank. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Nottingham Venues, the brand behind meetings, events, hotel stays and a collection of venues across the University of Nottingham’s campuses, has appointed Peter Bartlett as hotel manager at their Orchard Hotel venue.
Bartlett joins a growing team at the hotel and the wider group (nearly 250 employees) from the DoubleTree by Hilton, where he recently oversaw a £6m refurbishment of one of their West Midlands venues during the pandemic.
With over 20 years in the hospitality industry and having worked in France, America (Long Island) and London, Bartlett brings a wealth of experience to the role as the business continues to build on a resurgence in business post-pandemic.
Peter says: “This is a very exciting time to be joining the group as they have transitioned from being part of a major organisation in terms of De Vere into a thriving independent brand incredibly well.
“This has been against a backdrop of huge uncertainty and challenges for the industry but Tom and his team have shown incredible vision to hit the ground running since last summer and are now reaping the rewards of a carefully managed process.
“As well as having a firm focus on putting our customers first, I am looking forward to continuing the development of the growing team here at The Orchard Hotel and helping to forge a fantastic culture in the hotel and as part of the wider business.”
General manager of Nottingham Venues, Tom Waldron-Lynch says: “Peter brings a wealth of experience to our growing team, both from his previous role and his wider global experience in the industry. His involvement in the major refurbishment programme at DoubleTree and the associated changes required within the team and the customer experience at his previous venue is also invaluable as we continue our own journey.”
Jay Cooledge has been appointed as head of the Stockyard in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.
His appointment comes at an exciting time for the unique food and drink destination in the Rural Capital of Food after news that it will be receiving Levelling Up Funding from the Government.
The funding will support development of additional food production units and events space at the Stockyard in the town’s Cattle Market – building on its reputation as a site for food and drink producers to manufacture and sell their artisan products and a visitor destination for food and drink lovers.
Jay, a former East Midlands Entrepreneur of the year (2016), has a wealth of experience in the food and drink and hospitality sectors, having helped to build up and run The Griffin Inn and the Old Stables in Swithland in Leicestershire as a family business. More recently he was marketing, sales and events manager in Dickinson and Morris’ Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe in Melton.
Jay and his team will be responsible for bringing new tenants, stallholders and events to the Stockyard, driving visitor numbers and delivering the levelling up development.
Hugh Brown, CEO of Gillstream Markets Ltd, which operates the site, said: “We are delighted to have Jay on board. He has an extensive background in catering and hospitality and shares our vision of delivering a regional destination in Melton Mowbray.”
The Stockyard, located in the old livestock market sheds, provides a unique space for food and drink producers to manufacture and sell their wares in the heart of the Rural Capital of Food. It hosts a number of food and drink festivals through the years attracting thousands of visitors from all over the country.
It is already home to a number of artisan producers and retailers including the multi award-winning Round Corner Brewing, Melton Premium Craft Distillers, along with butchers, bakers and pork pie makers. Smoked food specialist Feast and the Furious is also about to open.
The Levelling Up Funding will support the creation of a Hub at the Stockyard to provide an area for food production, education and support services for small or upcoming producers, networking opportunities for local producers and a café for visitors. In addition, under-used, dilapidated buildings and sheds will be converted into smaller food production units for local food and drink businesses, where production activity can be part of the visitor experience.
Jay said: “I am very pleased to be joining the Stockyard at such an exciting time and look forward to helping to deliver these inspiring plans which will benefit the whole town and attract more visitors to the area, boosting the local economy.
“I’m from both a small business background and a catering and hospitality background, and I am passionate about supporting and incubating entrepreneurs working in this sector. This is perfect timing for us to lay the foundations and be ready as a shining beacon when the economy picks up.”
The Stockyard, working in conjunction with Melton Borough Council, is part of the wider Food Enterprise Centre in the borough, building on the rich food heritage of the local area. Melton Mowbray is the home of the pork pie and Stilton cheese. And for hundreds of years, Melton Mowbray Market in its various guises has played a key role in the ‘farm to fork’ story.
Today it has markets on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, plus many special events and festivals.
One of Lincolnshire’s largest engineering companies has reported that 2022 was its best-ever year.
GAME Engineering, which is based at Witham St Hughs, saw sales top £40 million in 2022.
The company was founded in 1986 and employs 70 people across two divisions: material handling and process design and custodial.
Of the record sales, £26 million was secured by the custodial division, with projects ranging from minor repairs to new build turnkey projects and major refurbishments. The custodial division was introduced in 1999 and works with His Majesty’s Prisons, police forces, secure hospitals and financial institutions.
“2022 was a challenging yet successful year for us, and I have to thank our team for all their hard work and commitment. Without them delivering to a consistently high standard, we could not have earned the trust of our clients,” says Stuart Hasler, custodial director.
“On the custodial side of the business, it was very pleasing to see us win work in all four UK nations, with projects ranging from just a few hundred pounds to more than £5 million and spanning everything from a simple repair all the way through to major new build and refurbishment projects.
“2023 has started in the same way as 2022, and we are very pleased to have won a variety of projects, including work that will be undertaken in 2024 and 2025.”
The success of the custodial division is mirrored by the performance of GAME Engineering’s material handling and process design team, which received its largest ever single order. The seven-figure project saw GAME designing and building a process plant for blending and packing grass seed.
“2022 was a fantastic year for us,” says Adam Conroy, project sale director. “As well as winning our largest ever order, at the end of the year, we were also awarded a contract to design and install all of the process equipment within a new factory producing animal feed. It’s a significant project for us and represents a great start to 2023.”
Leicestershire-based flooring specialist Floorstock is marking a year of substantial growth – achieving a 170% increase in sales revenue online in the last 12 months, with an overall 35% increase in sales across the board since 2020.
The business, formed in 2008, has invested heavily in its online presence in the last two years – increasing both sales and visibility substantially. Its success follows an influx in demand for interior based products and a desire for consumers to upgrade their homes succeeding the Covid-19 pandemic.
In particular, the firm has seen a boost in sales for trend-led flooring styles such as herringbone wood flooring and custom floors, following the announcement they were appointed to be the UK distribution partner for Whiteriver, a leading UK flooring supplier.
As members of the Contract Flooring Association (CFA), the firm supplies a wide range of flooring products including solid wood flooring, engineered wood flooring and vinyl to trade and consumers, alongside all the accessories, tools and maintenance products required for installation.
Wayne Haslam, sales director at Floorstock, says: “The success we’ve had in the last 12 months is a real testament that hard work really does pay off. Despite various setbacks including price increases, supplier delays, and raw material shortages due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, Brexit and the after effects of Covid-19, we have managed to keep regular supplies of our best-selling materials and ensured our customers are well looked after during their busiest periods.
“Due to the economic climate, it is hard to predict what the future holds, however we are looking to focus on our core strengths – providing the very best levels of stock, service, and support to our customers.
“We continue to keep our pricing competitive, whilst holding maximum stocks for next working day delivery. Customer service is of paramount important to us as a business and we are incredibly grateful to our current customers for the ongoing support we receive.
“We have many exciting plans in the pipeline which we’re looking forward to announcing this year.”
Partners, businesses and the Mayor have shared their excitement, visions and hope about the latest regeneration project planned in Mansfield.
Mansfield District Council recently found out it had been successful in its bid to the Levelling Up Fund and was one of only four projects in Nottinghamshire to be awarded the money. What these funds can be spent on are ring-fenced to regenerate and level up towns and cities across the country.
The newly-awarded £20m will see the former Beales building revitalised into a multi-agency hub – Mansfield Connect – that will house key partners in the district, including the NHS, Vision West Nottinghamshire College and Mansfield CVS. The project is being led and facilitated by the council.
As well as public sector provisions in the building, there will also be the opportunity for private sector spaces available for investment.
Jay Rowlinson, Chief Executive at Mansfield BID, shared his support for the Mansfield Connect project.
He said: “The impact the hub will deliver to our local businesses is two-fold. We will see an increase in footfall in the town centre, by having the one-stop shop for health care, council services and education.
“Also, our businesses will further reap the benefits with the staff and visitors using their eateries, shopping with them for goods and enjoying what the town offers. Bringing a building that has stood empty in a prime location back into use for the public can only be a good thing for our town.”
The Mansfield Connect scheme forms a vital part of the council’s ambitious long-term town centre regeneration plans, and it is hoped the repurposing of the building will then have a knock-on effect, stimulating the local economy and encouraging private-sector investment into the wider Mansfield district.
Vanessa Whitton, Chief Executive of Mansfield CVS explained the project was essential in giving people another reason to come in to the town centre.
She said: “The idea of us all connecting in this project is brilliant, it brings all services in to one place with the view to spread it across the district wider – but we have to start somewhere.
“It is important there is a reason to come to the town centre, if we don’t have that we could lose it. We need to make Mansfield town a place where people want to live, work and socialise, and having this as a focal point will help that.”
The council was successful in being awarded the full bid of £20m for this project during the round two of applications. The major investment announced by the government included an allocation of £1.7 billion to 105 projects from round one of the Levelling Up Fund in 2021– taking the total allocated so far from the fund to £3.8 billion.
David Ainsworth, Director of Strategy and Partnerships at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust emphasised the multi-agency hub will create aspiration in the next generation.
He said: “I’m delighted for our local community that we have managed to get this funding. It is a brilliant initiative and health is right in the middle of these plans.
“Just down the road, we have also been lucky enough to get at least £20m of funding to build a community diagnostic centre. You can see the regeneration of the Mansfield town both with the levelling up agenda and our new centre. There is a real opportunity to create local jobs for local people and give our children and young people some hope and aspiration for this area.”
Elected Mayor of Mansfield, Andy Abrahams, emphasised residents are at the heart of the project’s ambitions.
He said: “This building will be transformed into a multi-agency hub, and yes, will house the district council, but it will also be home to our partners so we can deliver services for residents in a coordinated and direct way – a one-stop shop.
“The council has a history of bringing old and derelict buildings back to use for the public when private investments have otherwise failed.
“The White Hart Street area sat disused and an eye-sore for multiple years, and now we have been able to fund a new multi-million residential development. The general hospital site was derelict for a quarter of a century, but the council took the site on and created our housing with care provision, now called Town View. Now, here we are, taking proactive action on Beales.
“We are demonstrating civic leadership to take the reins of this failing market building that otherwise would have represented the decay of the town centre.”
Mansfield MP Ben Bradley said: “The truth of the matter is, if we don’t intervene with this kind of funding from local stakeholders it will just be left – it is not a commercially viable building to invest in.
“It’s really important that we bring it back to life with multi-agency use, services, businesses, leisure – all sorts of stuff in the town centre – and reviving Stockwell Gate, which can only be a good thing for the town and regeneration.”
Health and education services as well as spaces for private sector opportunities are also key players in the Mansfield Connect project.
Tom Glynn, Director for Retail Development at Colliers, added: “Public sector leadership in re-purposing challenging large former town centre retail units is essential in the current market.
“Mansfield Connect proposals will create direct new footfall from both staff operating from the building as well as visitors using services which in turn creates private sector confidence and new investment.
“This will be a great stimulus for Mansfield town centre.”
Richard Ledger, chairman of the Long Eaton Town Deal Board, has backed a decision by all members to cancel the proposed £6.93 million Derby Road junction project in favour of securing and enhancing other regeneration projects.
Due to the complexity of the issues around these junctions and the current exceptional inflationary pressures, it has not proven possible to design a Derby Road Junctions project that is value for taxpayer’s money.
It is proposed that the funding will instead be reallocated to secure three other key projects; Long Eaton High Street, Long Eaton Walking and Cycling Network, and the Stable Block Managed Workspace. This will include:
An additional £3.43 million for the High Street project which will see a redesign and upgrade of the High Street with the aim being to enhance the public space by making it a more sociable space with seating and planting. The reallocated funding also enables an expansion in scope to include Tamworth Road.
An additional £2.96 million for the walking and cycleway improvements which will include lighting along the cycleway within West Park and replacing the bridge which connects West Park to the town centre, as well as the construction of a new bridge on Britannia Road.
An additional £540,000 for the Stable Block which will see the conversion of a former Stable Block next to Long Eaton Town Hall into modern office spaces and studios.
Richard Ledger, chair of the Long Eaton Town Deal, says: “Unfortunately there has been no alternative but to cancel the Derby Road Junctions project. Costs accelerated at a rate where we could no longer deliver this as a viable project, however we can now make the best use of the remaining funding by enhancing other Town Deal projects. These developments will benefit the residents of the town and deliver value for money.”
2023 will see the regeneration of Nottingham’s Southside “continuing apace,” according to the City Council, despite the setback of £20m of Levelling Up Funding for part of the Broad Marsh vision not being granted by Government.
Work to start on Broad Marsh Green Heart
The Broad Marsh site itself will see work start on the Green Heart element of the scheme later this year. This will see an area the size of the City Ground football pitch turned into a green urban park, complete with extensive planting and wetland/marsh areas, bringing nature into the heart of the city centre, along with walkways and what could be the longest bench in Europe. This will be created in the area where the western end of the former shopping centre has been demolished and cleared.
Masterplanning to provide detailed proposals in line with the overall vision will also take place this year, with a number of highly regarded contenders lining up to take on this vital and exciting work.
A major new study into rejuvenating the unique cave network underneath Broad Marsh and caves across the city centre is also due to be published by the University of Nottingham. And temporary uses for spaces to bring activity and businesses into the area will be progressed while the long-term development plans are being finalised.
Family-friendly public space and unique area for skateboarding
Linking to this are the streets immediately south of the shopping centre site. Work funded from a successful bid to the Government’s Transforming Cities fund will begin later this year turning Collin Street – previously a busy five-lane road through the city – into a pleasant family-friendly space with planting, seating and playable areas overlooked by the new library.
Amphitheatre-style steps at the eastern end lead down to the area in front of the new Nottingham College building on Sussex Street, where more planting and seating have already transformed the space beneath the tram viaduct, which also now boasts a unique skateable space codesigned with local groups for skateboarders close to the City of Caves entrance and Nottingham Contemporary.
Work is continuing to extend the segregated cycle lane and improved pedestrian access through the Broadmarsh area along Canal Street and London Road, linking to the Island Quarter in the east and Castle Boulevard in the west.
New Central Library to openThe fit-out of the new Central Library as part of the bus station and car park complex will be completed later this year, complemented by the Transforming Cities-funded public realm improvements along Carrington Street leading up to Collin Street, and the reduction in traffic along Canal Street, with its new east-west cycle lane. The library will feature a high-quality children’s library with an immersive story telling room, extensive book collection and comfortable areas to sit and read, as well as a café and exhibition and performance space.
New buildings on Station Street
Further south, the new Domestic & General office on the pedestrianised section of Station Street is nearing completion, while student accommodation takes shape on the other side of Nottingham Station on Queen’s Road and Traffic Waterway Street.
Major Island Quarter development continues
The Island Quarter is a significant development site with a masterplan in place which also missed out on Levelling Up Funding – but developers Conygar are committed to delivering their vision for the site. A new canalside bar and restaurant along with public square and event space has already opened and plans for a new hotel, private apartments, offices and bioscience laboratories are in the pipeline. New student accommodation is also under construction.
The new Island Quarter bioscience building has been designed by CPMG Architects
Investment also continues elsewhere across the city, including developing a new library in Sherwood, improvements to Bulwell bus station, over 350 new affordable homes currently under construction around the city towards a target of 1,000, roads, pavements and streets lights in every part of the city benefiting from improvements and upgrades, along with wider transport investment.
City Council leader, Cllr David Mellen, said: “While the news about our Levelling Up bids was undoubtedly disappointing, there’s a lot to be positive about, not only in terms of what’s planned for this part of the city, but what we’ve already achieved.
“Arriving in the city from the station – itself and nearby Station Street improved a number of years ago – the two walking routes into the city centre are vastly improved, with Carrington Street and Sussex Street offering welcoming pedestrianised environments and the former barrier of Canal Street traffic reduced to buses, taxis and bikes.
“The stunning new car park and bus station are fully operational, while new Nottingham College building not only looks striking but also brings students and life to the area.
“This year will see our efforts continue apace. I’m excited to see the Green Heart start to take shape – the part of the Broad Marsh vision that most people said they want – and for more work to get underway to hone the vision into a deliverable blueprint for the whole site. Getting the new Central Library open and starting the new Collin Street public space plaza to link up the rest of the improved spaces will also be major milestones for the city this year.
“Elsewhere we can see private developers showing their confidence in Nottingham, with the vision for the Island Quarter taking shape and new offices and accommodation being added to the city skyline.”
A new report from the Midlands Engine has called for a co-ordinated regional effort to capitalise on booming investment into the Midlands nuclear sector.
The report has been authored with the Energy Research Accelerator (ERA) and is published today to coincide with Nuclear Week in Parliament. It calls for action for the region to seize on major opportunities granted by a national commitment to increase the UK’s nuclear power supply fivefold, and capitalise on the benefits of next-generation nuclear technology.
To this end, the Midlands Engine partnership is encouraging regional organisations to collaborate with local and national government to advance seven clear recommendations aimed at bolstering the region’s nuclear and related industries capacity.
These include supporting regional bids for nuclear manufacturing sites, establishing a Midlands nuclear consortium, and a focus on new technologies such as fusion and small modular reactors. Underpinning these is a commitment to pan-regional collaboration in advancing projects throughout the nuclear supply chain.
In promoting regional nuclear, the report aims to stimulate investment in industries capable of contributing to the provision of cheap, low-carbon, domestic energy – crucial to ensuring the UK’s long-term energy security and climate goals, while lowering bills for consumers.
The deep dive into the region’s nuclear and related industries potential follows a swathe of recent success stories, including the historic decision to site a prototype fusion power station on the site of a former coal-fired power plant in West Burton, Nottinghamshire.
The project aims to produce a commercially viable fusion prototype by 2040 and has the potential to usher in a new wave of safe, sustainable, low carbon energy for generations to come.
The Midlands Engine partnership report also points to a rapidly growing regional investment base, with investment in nuclear related sectors in the Midlands growing 23% between 2017/18 and 2019/20 to £2.5bn. Over the same period, the report found regional growth in the sector was 29%, compared to just 2.9% nationally.
Coupled with an increasing number of regional organisations working across the nuclear supply chain, including Rolls-Royce’s small modular reactor programme, The National Centre for Nuclear Robotics, and firms such as Cavendish Nuclear and Goodwin International, the report highlights the region’s immense potential to provide the technology and manufacturing base needed to spearhead the UK’s nuclear revival.
Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, said: “This is a hugely exciting time for the nuclear industry, and the Midlands has everything in its arsenal to develop into a nuclear powerhouse.
“Communities up and down the country are feeling the benefits of having a vibrant nuclear sector; well paid, skilled jobs, which help keep the lights on and protect the planet.”
Sir John Peace, chairman of the Midlands Engine partnership, said: “As the nuclear energy sector enters a period of substantial growth, the Midlands is well placed to develop and benefit from the advancement of this critical industry. By improving our region’s nuclear capacity, we open ourselves to economic advancement, and provide the Midlands with a proven, cheap, low carbon domestic energy source.
“Our region has long provided the technological expertise and industrial capacity required to power the UK via alternative methods of generation, so it is fantastic to see this Midlands Engine partnership report set out clear, achievable targets to ensure we also gain maximum benefit from nuclear.”
Faye McAnulla, programme director at the Energy Research Accelerator, said: “From specialist machinery to the safe disposal of waste, this report sets out how our region can capitalise on the economic and net zero advantages of nuclear.
“The research and manufacturing expertise found across the Midlands makes it the perfect site for the expansion of the UK’s nuclear capacity, and we look forward at ERA to working with organisations across the region and the wider UK to further develop new nuclear technologies, and ensure we make the most of our existing capabilities.”
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead. It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.Here we speak to Gary Cramp, Managing Director at McLaren Construction Midlands and North.
Following a very busy construction market in 2022, the challenges following Covid have presented themselves with inflationary pressure on materials and labour resource to carry out projects.
At McLaren, we have been selective with our customers ensuring that we have strong relationships and that we ensure our teams are supported to allow for delivery on our projects and repeat business.
Our repeat business for 2023 is in the region of 75% and has allowed us to secure our targets for the year with some big wins on projects across the region.
For the forthcoming year, we believe will see a tougher market emerging based on funding restraints and labour constraints remaining. Energy prices and inflationary pressure will still remain but to what extent could be anyone’s guess.
Our focus will remain on key relationships and supporting our valued customers through the next two years whilst investing centrally to enhance our social value, diversity and sustainability offering.
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead. It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.Here we speak to Joshua Toon, director at Armsons Barlow, which provides Project Management, Construction Cost Management/Quantity Surveying and Building Surveying Services from its base in Derby.
2022 was an interesting year for business, as the impact of COVID-19 finally lessened, only to be replaced by the pressures on the economy, with a cost-of-living crisis, rocketing energy bills and an impending recession.
Unsurprisingly, the industry has seen a relatively steady start to Q1 2023, with many institutional investors opting to take stock of the current market conditions before re-engaging with schemes. I predict scheme re-engagement will take place towards the latter end of Q2 2023, thus enabling investors to take a view on inflationary trends and the state of the market before making any medium to long term commitments.
As far as construction costs are concerned, I would expect material costs to finally stabilise this year and ‘construction related inflation’ to become less prominent, which should provide a boost for the sector.
A trend I expect to see this year, and beyond, is a larger drive for sustainable construction methods. Many businesses are now looking to reduce their carbon footprint and become more environmentally friendly through adoption of sustainable construction techniques, where able to do so.
The increase in energy costs will almost certainly lead to a greater uptake in adoption of sustainable construction methods, and I predict this will filter through to all sectors. This, factored with the stabilisations of material costs, will hopefully ensure a wider adoption of sustainable construction techniques throughout the construction industry.
All in all, I think we have reason to be cautiously optimistic for 2023. The construction sector has faced economic challenges many times in the past and I’m confident the industry will be able to come out the other side of this ‘economic crisis’ in a healthy position.
Property developer HBD will bring forward a further four buildings at Markham Vale as planning permission is approved for an additional 107,250 sq ft.The industrial and logistics scheme will see another six acres developed to deliver the new units, with the potential to create a further 150 jobs at the site.
Sustainability will be a key focus for each of the new buildings, which will be designed to achieve BREEAM “Excellent” and will be available on either a freehold or a leasehold basis.
Richard Hinds, senior development manager at HBD, said: “Markham Vale is one of the region’s most successful destinations for industrial, logistics and warehousing space so it’s great to be able to expand the scheme to meet demand for well-located Grade A space.
“The decision to approve a further 107,000 sq ft is testament to the longstanding partnership between HBD and Derbyshire County Council and our commitment to continuing to progress crucial regeneration schemes like Markham Vale when the economic outlook is more challenging.
“We are currently in discussion with several occupiers looking for bespoke design and build units and expect work to start on site in the second half of the year.”
Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Clean Growth and Regeneration, Councillor Tony King, said: “This marks the beginning of another exciting chapter for Markham Vale which continues to prosper despite the difficulties of the current financial climate. We look forward to welcoming more businesses bringing more jobs in the future.”
Markham Vale is a 200-acre joint venture scheme between property developer HBD and Derbyshire County Council. It is one of the region’s flagship industrial schemes, attracting new businesses and creating a total of 2,702 new jobs to date.
Just 11 acres now remain for development, accommodating a further 190,000 sq ft.
WestBridge Group (WestBridge), the independent provider of SSAS services and tax experts, has completed the acquisition of Rowanmoor Executive Pensions Limited’s book of 3,500 small, self-administered schemes (SSAS), for an undisclosed sum.
The firm has also taken the opportunity to rebrand the business to WBR Group to reflect the larger organisation.
The Group is headquartered in Leicester and following completion now has offices in Bolton and Salisbury providing support to clients across the UK. There are now over 4,000 SSAS and almost 150 employees across the three sites.
WBR Group provides specialist tax advice to the owner-managed business sector and high net worth individuals in addition to independent administration, consultancy, actuarial and trustee services for SSASs. Established in 2016, the firm boasts an executive team that has over 150 years’ experience providing advice to business owners and other professionals seeking guidance on tax planning opportunities and the benefits of using a SSAS pension.
Tom Moore, CEO of WBR Group, said: “We have made no secret that we are acquisitive for the right books of business and have shown how we can successfully integrate them into the model. This is the second major acquisition we have made and follows the purchase of the James Hay SSAS book in March 2021.
“We are creating a hub of SSAS excellence, with a dedicated account manager model that is hard to beat. We have been really pleased at the response we have had from clients, staff, financial advisers and other intermediaries and can’t wait to continue to develop our people and grow our business.
“The business has grown and evolved since its launch in 2016, particularly in the last two years, and we want to ensure that our brand and identity work continues for many years to come.
“It is important to acknowledge the businesses that have joined us through acquisition and to have a clear business strategy that everyone understands and can focus on. That is why we have also unveiled a fresh and modern brand identity and a new name, WBR Group. WBR Group will continue to provide service excellence, high levels of technical support and specialist assistance to clients.”
Independent homelessness charity Emmanuel House Support Centre has received planning permission from Nottingham City Council to change the use of the first and second floors of its premises on Goose Gate, Hockley, in the city centre.
The scheme includes the creation of 20 bedrooms that will provide short-term emergency accommodation for people who find themselves homeless. The charity’s ground floor will continue to provide day support while the first and second floors will be converted into bedrooms providing 24-hour emergency care.
Following the successful planning application, which was approved on Friday 27 January, phase one of the development will start in the coming months. The replacement of the support centre’s existing windows will be the first element of the development to be delivered. New double-glazed aluminium windows are currently being procured by the project team, which will significantly improve the thermal performance and aesthetic appearance of the building.
Denis Tully, CEO at Emmanuel House, said: “This is fantastic news for the charity as it means we’re one step closer to our ambition of providing short-term emergency respite care becoming a reality, contributing to reducing the number of people who are homeless in Nottingham.”
The project team is made up of Nottingham suppliers such as architectural practice CPMG Architects, project managers EDGE, structural and civil engineers Hexa, and mechanical and electrical engineers Chord Consult.
Steve Milan, associate at CPMG Architects, said: “The journey that Emmanuel House is embarking on has only just started, but an important milestone has been reached and we’re proud to be working within a highly skilled project team that cares about the city of Nottingham. We look forward to moving forward with the project and supporting with fundraising efforts.”
Geoff Tindsley, director at EDGE, said: “We’re grateful to Nottingham City Council for its quick approval of a project set to significantly change homelessness support in Nottingham. Helping Emmanuel House make its new vision a reality has already been an exciting process to date, and we’re looking forward to continuing to work closely alongside the trustees and project team in this next phase, offering our expertise in any way we can.”
Fundraising for the project, which is predicted to cost the charity £2 million, will start when the team has completed the preparatory work.
James Garment, director at Hexa, said: “We’re incredibly pleased to be working with Emmanuel House on a scheme that will make such a difference to the local community. With the project involving significant remodelling of the internal layout of the existing building, collaboration across the project design team, which has a long-standing and proven record of delivering successful projects together, will ensure that the finished development really stands up to the charity’s vision.”
Denis added: “We’re continuing to work with Nottingham City Council and our consultants before we can go out for funding. We have more work to do before we can start the crucial fundraising stages. The immediate need for Emmanuel House remains the significant task of raising vitals funds for our Winter Appeal, which will support people in crisis and at risk of homelessness over winter.”
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Amphitheatre-style steps at the eastern end lead down to the area in front of the new Nottingham College building on Sussex Street, where more planting and seating have already transformed the space beneath the tram viaduct, which also now boasts a unique skateable space codesigned with local groups for skateboarders close to the City of Caves entrance and Nottingham Contemporary.
Work is continuing to extend the segregated cycle lane and improved pedestrian access through the Broadmarsh area along Canal Street and London Road, linking to the Island Quarter in the east and Castle Boulevard in the west.
New Central Library to open
The fit-out of the new Central Library as part of the bus station and car park complex will be completed later this year, complemented by the Transforming Cities-funded public realm improvements along Carrington Street leading up to Collin Street, and the reduction in traffic along Canal Street, with its new east-west cycle lane. The library will feature a high-quality children’s library with an immersive story telling room, extensive book collection and comfortable areas to sit and read, as well as a café and exhibition and performance space.
New buildings on Station Street
Further south, the new Domestic & General office on the pedestrianised section of Station Street is nearing completion, while student accommodation takes shape on the other side of Nottingham Station on Queen’s Road and Traffic Waterway Street.
Major Island Quarter development continues
The Island Quarter is a significant development site with a masterplan in place which also missed out on Levelling Up Funding – but developers Conygar are committed to delivering their vision for the site. A new canalside bar and restaurant along with public square and event space has already opened and plans for a new hotel, private apartments, offices and bioscience laboratories are in the pipeline. New student accommodation is also under construction.
