Midlands-based developer Cassidy Group has submitted a planning application for a mixed-use scheme at the edge of Beeston town centre that will breathe new life into a derelict site – and bring increased footfall and economic benefit to local retailers. Built using sustainable materials, the seven-storey mixed use scheme of retail/commercial units will feature student accommodation – meeting the needs of modern student life and freeing up a huge number of Beeston and city HMO student houses for families to move into. The 419-bed scheme in Station Road, next to The Arc Cinema and Tesco, is a few minutes’ walk from the University of Nottingham campus and is on the tram route. The scheme is situated next to new bars and restaurants such as Ottimo and the forthcoming Beeston Social. Sam Rose, of Cassidy Group, said: “We are excited to bring this student scheme to Beeston. Not only will students love living there – so close to the amenities they enjoy, as well as their university campus – but we are bringing a derelict site back to life. “We feel the scheme fits well with the fantastic Beeston town centre that is emerging as a busy and exciting place to be, both day and night. We know from our research that Beeston is becoming a more desirable place for families and students to live. By providing purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), we can open up HMOs (houses in multiple occupation) for families to live in. “By creating sensitively designed student schemes with fabulous interiors like the one we are proposing for Beeston, we know we can not only create something that benefits the local area – but also an additional student environment where people really want to live.” Cassidy says the scheme will rely heavily on local transport. It will provide limited parking – allowing only for deliveries and disabled parking – because of the variety of public transport access through bus, tram, and pedestrian routes. It is just a few minutes’ walk from Beeston Railway Station. The scheme will provide 318 classic studios of 16 square metres, 76 classic plus studios of 16 to 20 square metres, and 25 premium/accessible studios of between 26 and 30 square metres. “The proposed development will attract students from the University of Nottingham. To discourage students from parking on or near the site, we will be making sure that students take full advantage of all the transport services, as well as scooters and bicycles. We will also be providing travel passes for students to use the tram,” said Sam. “Encouraging students to use Beeston’s extensive public transport network will benefit the environment, as will the scheme’s energy-efficient design, which guarantees an EPC rating of at least ‘B’-grade, if not ‘A’.” Figures produced by the Higher Education Statistical Agency (HESA) show a full-time student population of 63,000 in Nottingham in 2019, up by 22.1% since 2015. Acceptances from both universities have also been rising. Since 2015 the University of Nottingham has seen an increase in yearly acceptances of 13.1% and NTU has seen an increase of 56% in the same period. “An independent report found that 69% of direct let beds available in Nottingham are provided by HMOs, with less than one third provided by private PBSA operators. In Beeston, with no direct let PBSA available, 100% of the direct let accommodation on offer to students consists of Beeston houses split into flats,” added Sam. “With Beeston continuing to be popular with families, we know from speaking to local estate agents that there are few places for them to move into – so our planned first PBSA will release those houses to the people who really need them.” The research also found that annual demand growth in Nottingham for student accommodation at 4.9% could mean a shortfall of student beds in the city of at least 6,021 by 2024. “There are currently no live PBSA developments south-west of the University of Nottingham and so this Cassidy scheme is really needed,” added Sam. Businessman Ross Considine, who owns the nearby Ottimo, said: “I am sure I speak for a number of retailers and bar-restaurant owners when I say that I would welcome this scheme with open arms. “We opened our third bar-restaurant in Beeston because we could see what an amazing, lively town centre it is. In our first few weeks of opening, we have had great feedback – and have also welcomed students. This scheme will further boost local shops and restaurants and of course local transport. “Student footfall boosts local economies, and the student spend is worth tens of thousands of pounds a year for Beeston – and that must not be forgotten. We want the town to continue to be the bustling, lively and exciting place it is.” The scheme will be going to planning committee in July and there will be public engagement sessions for the local community and local businesses in May and June. Cassidy is working on six other mixed-use schemes across Nottingham.

A 1,933 sq m purpose built builders merchant facility has completed at the Vesuvius development off Sandy Lane, Worksop with Travis Perkins set to open in July 2022. Property development and investment company, CEG, managed the build of the bespoke unit, which will be leased by Travis Perkins. The development will create 20 new jobs, deliver a new supply chain facility for existing local business and bring economic benefits to the area. Will Moss, acquisition director from Travis Perkins plc, said: “We’re really excited to have secured this new two acre site in Worksop, which will be a key branch for Travis Perkins, providing a fantastic offering for our customers. It’s scheduled to open in July and this means we’ll be able to create new jobs in the community and help support Worksop’s construction workers and tradespeople with the expert knowledge and advice that they come to expect from Travis Perkins.” CEG is currently managing the comprehensive regeneration of the 17.75ha Vesuvius site. With planning permission for more than 200,000 sq ft of employment space, the first phase of 46,000 sq ft of multi-tenanted industrial units adjacent to Asda completed last year and is almost fully let. Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service also acquired land at the site and has built a new fire station. Subsequent phases will also offer larger employment units including speculative as well as pre-let, design and build development for office, light industry, storage and distribution requirements. Will Martin, strategic land lead at CEG, said: “We welcome Travis Perkins to this thriving business community. This brownfield regeneration has proved a success with many companies thriving on the site. It has been the largest speculative development of this scale and quality in Worksop for many years and we continue to see strong interest in the space from well-known national trade and industrial occupiers alongside smaller, local businesses.” In 2018, supported by D2N2, CEG delivered a £5.5million package of works to create a new roundabout and access road opening up the site and remediating it for redevelopment. This makes the site easily accessible to the A60, A57, Worksop and its surrounds. D2N2 LEP interim CEO, Will Morlidge, said: “It’s great to see that the new Travis Perkins branch has been completed and will soon be open to benefit the local community. The Vesuvius site represents an exciting landmark development for Worksop and the wider area, and we’re very proud to have supported it. The success of the site demonstrates the resurgent appetite for investment across north Nottinghamshire, supporting our collective ambitions to rebuild and grow our economy.” Chris Proctor & Anthony Barrowcliffe from FHP and Ben Flint from Fisher German are marketing the site. Chris Proctor said: “It is fantastic news to have attracted the big name of Travis Perkins to Vesuvius. This strong brand complements an already strong line up of names at this Worksop business destination. “We have just four industrial / trade units remaining on this first phase of the development offering from 3,750 sq ft up to 5,100 sq ft. This presents an excellent opportunity for both local and national occupiers. There are also land opportunities for units up to 200,000 sq ft.  We would be delighted to talk with any businesses considering a move to Vesuvius, Worksop.”

Construction deals worth more than £32m have been signed in the Midlands after a trio of contractors were selected on behalf of Elevate Property Group.

The independent developer, led by property entrepreneur Steve Dodd, has selected Kings Heath-based Kavanagh Construction to start work on the transformation of Imperial House in Solihull next month.

It marks the start of construction on the final phase of Princes Gate project, with the development of ‘Imperial House’ comprising 60 luxury apartments on the site of a former multi-storey car park in the town.

Also due to start in June is a multi-million pound scheme for a mixed-use retail and residential development on the riverside Muller Yard location in Nottingham, an extension to the Trent Bridge Quays scheme.

Construction of 44 apartments and 14 town houses, along with 5,000 sq ft of commercial space, will be delivered by Leicester-based Bode Contracting.

The final appointment will see Telford-based Bespoke Construction Services Ltd take on a landmark project to bring an historic site in Birmingham’s Gun Quarter back to life.

Gunsmith House, in Price Street, will be restored as part of the overall development that will deliver 85 new homes to the area.

Steve Dodd, of Elevate Property Group, said all three contractor appointments reflected the company’s commitment to working with regional partners on developments which revitalise communities. The build cost for the three projects is in excess of £32 million.

James Costello, Elevate’s development director, added: “We’re proud to be leading the way in the redevelopment of several sites across the Midlands, including investing in high-profile locations in Birmingham, supporting the UK’s heartland to recover post-pandemic.

“We want to partner with contractors who share our values and our vision for delivering exceptional projects of outstanding quality. The appointment of Kavanagh Construction, Bespoke Construction Services and Bode Contracting reflects this commitment and will give confidence to investors, buyers and ultimately the communities where our developments come to life.”

Aiden O’Gara, of Kavanagh Construction, said: “We’re currently working with Elevate on its prestigious Heaton House development in Birmingham, so we are delighted to be continuing this working partnership with a new contract to develop Imperial House at Princes Gate.”

Bode Contracting, which is currently delivering Elevate’s Priory House development, will develop the Muller Yard phase of the Nottingham Trent Bridge scheme, due for completion Q3/Q4 2023. Dan Bodell said: “We have a great working relationship with Elevate and are looking forward to this continuing with the delivery of the upcoming Muller Yard scheme.”

Arran Summerfield, of Bespoke Construction, said: “It’s fantastic to be involved in delivering this landmark project for Elevate in the heart of Birmingham’s gun-making industry. The project is expected to be completed in late 2023.”

Funding for all these developments has been provided by Paragon and Pluto Development Finance.

FHP Property Consultants have sold a self-contained office building on Pride Park, Derby, which it says shows “there is still great demand to purchase good quality well let buildings.” 1 Pride Point Drive is let to two tenants occupying a total space of 557m² (5,995ft²). The building produces an income of £75,750 per annum and has been sold to private investment clients for £855,000, reflecting a net initial yield of approximately 8.42% net of costs. Darran Severn of FHP Property Consultants said: “The office market has been particularly active in recent months and this is one of several office buildings we have sold on Pride Park. “There is good demand to purchase both vacant and occupied buildings. As availability decreases I see capital values beginning to rise.”

The start of work on 400 affordable homes at Dracan Village, Burton-on-Trent, has been marked by a ground-breaking ceremony that saw Countryside, the mixed-tenure developer, welcoming partners to the former power station site in Drakelow Park. Countryside is working with Midland Heart, the housing association, to provide over 400 affordable properties, as well as Sigma Capital Group plc, one of the leading providers in the build-to-rent market, to bring a completely mixed-tenure offer to the 1,500-home development in Burton-on-Trent. Countryside and Midland Heart were joined on site by representatives of South Derbyshire District Council and Derbyshire County Council, as well as the local Member of Parliament, Heather Wheeler MP, to officially mark the start of a project that is set to transform the brownfield site and the wider area. All the homes will be closed panel homes built off-site at one of Countryside’s modular factories. Joe Reeves, executive director of finance and growth at Midlands Heart, said: “It’s great to be onsite at Drakelow to see the early stages of this site. This is going to be a thriving and sustainable community for people to live in affordable housing and we’re really pleased to be part of that in partnership with Countryside.” Frank McArdle, Chief Executive of South Derbyshire District Council, added: “Today marks the start of a major and long envisaged regeneration project, the aim of which is to create a sustainable community development in the south west of the District of South Derbyshire.”

The UK construction sector will make significant strides in tackling sustainability in 2022, as the market attempts to lower its carbon footprint in line with the Government’s wider climate change target. Reducing carbon emissions is the area of business performance that construction leaders think will change the most in the next 12 months. According to BDO’s Construction in 2022 and Beyond, 48% of businesses surveyed as part of the annual report think their company’s carbon footprint will decrease in 2022. 66% of companies also have carbon neutral targets in place. Last year, the Government set the world’s most ambitious climate change target to reduce emissions by 78% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels. Globally, the construction sector is responsible for 30 to 40% of natural resource use and 30% of greenhouse gas emissions. Paul Fenner, partner and head of construction at BDO LLP, said: “While many large companies have already embedded environmental, social and governance (ESG) measures into their business, there is still a considerable way to go to ensure the entire sector is playing its part in meeting the UK’s ambitious climate change targets. “With a raft of Government regulations aimed specifically at construction, such as requirements to have a carbon reduction plan in place for any public sector contract over £5 million, the direction of travel is clear. “It’s promising to see that the wave of adoption and acknowledgement of ESG is gaining real momentum and viewed as one of the biggest areas of change when it comes to business performance in 2022. This is particularly clear in our latest Rethinking the Economy survey, which shows 60% of real estate and construction companies have declined to work with clients because of their ESG credentials. “However, a number of smaller subcontractors simply don’t have the ability to meet the substantial costs that are associated with ESG and, as a result, this may have repercussions on future revenues. At present, many construction companies are still in survival mode and not thinking about the wider implications of ESG, but it’s vitally important that the industry does find ways and means to invest in an ESG strategy over the next three to five years to reduce carbon emissions and help save the planet.” The Construction in 2022 and Beyond report also showed that optimism remains high in the sector, after a significant number of companies (47%) performed better than expected last year. According to the survey, 91% of respondents feel positive about the prospects for construction in the UK – up from 87% last year. Three quarters of those surveyed also expected revenue to increase in 2022, with profitability (63%), order books (63%), headcount (61%) and capital expenditure (50%) also set to rise. The latest official figures show that construction delivers £110 billion to the British economy and provides jobs for 10% of the country’s workforce. Overall, the construction sector output has grown by 1.1% at February 2022 when compared to February 2020, pre-pandemic levels, largely off the back of a 25% growth in Infrastructure. Fenner said: “Construction is arguably one of the industries that has rebounded most quickly from the impact of the pandemic, with most subsectors now close to or at pre-pandemic levels of growth. This is in large part to long-term contracts spanning two to three years. “While the outlook for construction looks bright, the sector must be mindful of the trading period that follows the end of these contracts and how this will impact on future revenue and profit. The key will be to focus on growing profitable contracts, rather than just increasing top-line revenue, while using innovation and technology wherever possible.” The report has highlighted several long-standing concerns for the sector, such as the skills gap, supply chain resilience and ongoing materials price inflation. Three quarters of respondents stated that recruitment was the biggest challenge facing the UK construction sector in 2022, with gaps in knowledge and training, an aging workforce and the supply of overseas workers also posing a problem. Fenner added: “Just when you thought it was safe to get back to the building site, uncertainty once again rears its head. After two years of seriously challenging conditions, the sector faces yet more trials in 2022 in the form of soaring energy prices, raw material prices, labour inflation and material shortages, adding to input costs and the evolving situation in Ukraine creating further unpredictability. “As a result of material price inflation, low margin contracts in the industry – and the fact that Government COVID subsidies have now come to an end, resulting in tax deferrals and loans having to be repaid – there will be a real concern in the industry that a number of subcontractor may potentially fail. This, in turn, will cause issues and delays in completing contracts, which may have a spiralling effect.”