Rushton Hickman takes on management of Maltings Industrial Estate
The Rushton Hickman Property Management team has been appointed at Maltings Industrial Estate.
Situated on Derby Road in Burton upon Trent, the estate comprises seven industrial units catering to a diverse array of local businesses.
Currently, only one unit is unoccupied, recently becoming available. It is now being actively marketed by the Agency Team at Rushton Hickman.
Richard Fairey, director at Rushton Hickman, said: “We are honoured to have been entrusted with the management of this estate, especially after many years of working with both the client and the site.”
Jade Martin, associate director, added: “It’s a privilege to be actively working with Maltings Industrial Estate and our long-standing relationship has equipped us with a deep understanding of their needs and vision, allowing us to enhance the site’s potential even further.”
New Green Technology Hub opens at Leicester College
Leicester College has opened a new Green Technology Hub at its Freemen’s Park Campus. The Hub will enable construction students, staff and employers to gain hands-on, practical experience with the latest green technologies.
The new state-of-the-art green tech equipment in the Green Tech Hub includes air source heat pumps, solar panels, battery storage systems and EV charging stations.
The Green Technology Hub will support a range of Leicester College courses from Level 2 to Level 4.
Nick Allen, Construction Area Manager at Leicester College, said: “Green technology is already having and will continue to have an increasing impact on the UK construction sector. It’s vital that our students have access to this equipment, to learn how to use the technology and understand the impact it will have when they get into the workplace.
“The new Green Tech Hub will provide students with a strong foundation to learn more about these technologies and incorporate that knowledge into their future work with employers.”
The Hub is funded by the Government’s Local Skills Improvement Fund and has been fitted out by Quantum Training, a UK renewable training provider, which also trains Leicester College staff on the equipment.
Long Eaton cinema to be demolished as part of £25m regeneration
Demolition of the former Galaxy cinema and Stage One nightclub in Long Eaton will begin in April as part of a £25 million town centre redevelopment. Erewash Borough Council has secured funding for the project, which includes new homes, business premises, and retail spaces.
The Galaxy Row development will feature 16 flats, four townhouses, and three commercial units, and construction is set to be completed by August 2026. The broader regeneration plan also includes a £10 million refurbishment of the High Street and transforming the former Stable Block into modern office space.
With ownership of the derelict site secured, the council avoided a lengthy public inquiry, ensuring the project moves forward without further delays. Demolition is expected to take four months, with construction beginning immediately after.
Devonshire Property Group expands with industrial acquisitions in Dorchester and Norwich
Devonshire Property Group, the commercial arm of the Devonshire Group, has acquired the Poundbury West Industrial Estate in Dorchester for an undisclosed sum. The estate, spanning over 18,000 sq ft, is occupied by Jewson and Screwfix.
The company has also purchased the 40,000 sq ft City Trading Estate in Norwich from a UK-based fund. The site includes six units ranging from 4,970 to 8,720 sq ft and houses tenants such as Screwfix, CEF, and Easy Bathrooms.
The acquisitions align with Devonshire Property Group’s strategy of expanding its portfolio with multi-let revisionary assets. This follows last year’s sale of two properties, including a 102,000 sq ft warehouse at Markham Vale. The firm aims to grow its portfolio by a third by year-end.
CBRE Bristol advised on the Dorchester deal, while Cushman & Wakefield London facilitated the Norwich transaction.
Work to start on new social housing in Derby
Contractors are set to begin work on a new residential site in Derby to provide homes for families in housing need.
Derby City Council has appointed Tanbry Construction to build two blocks of six flats on the previously vacant site on Barlow Street, near London Road. The project is expected to complete in July 2026.
The homes will be owned by the Council, managed by Derby Homes and will be made available to rent through Homefinder.
The three-bedroom homes will be built to a high standard of thermal efficiency and all flats will be heated by electricity.
Councillor Shiraz Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing, Strategic Planning and Regulatory Services, said: “Like many other cities in the UK, Derby faces many challenges in meeting demand for housing.
“Building these new council homes will help those who struggle in the private rental market access to safe, affordable, and good-quality places to live. We want to provide a solid foundation for some of the most vulnerable people in Derby, and this development is a step in the right direction to directly address their needs.
“Ultimately, it isn’t just about bricks and mortar; it’s about investing in people, strengthening communities, and creating a society where everyone has access to a safe and secure place to call home.”
University of Nottingham researchers and spinout help develop smart motor to revolutionise energy efficiency in industrial processes
University of Nottingham researchers and one of its spinouts, The Thinking Pod innovations (TTPi), have partnered with VIDAR to develop ground-breaking technology at the heart of an intelligent electric motor, which will revolutionise the energy efficiency of industrial processes in harsh environments.
VIDAR, a smart motor, can adjust its speed in response to changing workload, lowering energy usage and CO2 emissions.
The smart motor is purpose built for harsh industrial environments. It will drive pumps and fans in industrial settings, such as food and drink processing, energy production, water purification and chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing, among others.
In installations at industrial facilities, the smart motor has lowered energy usage by half, reduced costs and increased the lifespan of rotating equipment.
Dr Liliana de Lillo and Professor Lee Empringham, from the University of Nottingham Power Electronics and Machines Group, embarked on a multi-year partnership with ITT to co-develop the VIDAR power converter technology. More recently, the work has continued with the university spin out TTPi, which Professor Empringham and Dr de Lillo co-founded with others in 2017.
Professor Empringham said: “The world is turning to electricity as a source of sustainable energy to achieve Net Zero carbon emissions, which is vital for the future of our planet. The discussions and debates often focus on renewable sources of that energy, which is massively important, but there is another side to that coin and that is to use the energy we generate more efficiently.”
“Compact smart motors and the technology that makes them work are a huge step on the road to Net Zero,” added Dr de Lillo.
“They can revolutionize industrial processes, so they not only become more efficient, but also to ensure they use less of the world’s precious resources. Through the development and launch of VIDAR we have shown this can be done. It is a game-changer.”
Approximately 85% of industrial pumps and fans rely on outdated fixed speed motors and mechanical controls, which often run at full speed constantly, resulting in excess energy usage and low reliability.
Solutions on the market have included variable frequency drives (VFDs), which require costly installation and are space prohibitive in severe, cramped industrial settings.
VFDs must be installed in clean, temperature-controlled rooms to protect their sensitive electronics. A plant with hundreds or thousands of pumps and fans would require significant extra space or new electrical buildings for VFDs.
As a result, many industrial companies have been deterred from using them.
However, VIDAR and the Nottingham team have developed a solution that integrates power converters with the motor and control systems. It uses novel power conversion technology, co-developed by VIDAR and the University of Nottingham, with advanced controls supported by TTPi.
Years of collaboration, in which prototypes were iterated and refined, have prepared the VIDAR motor for real-world applications and the smart motor is compact enough to be embedded in a standard motor housing envelope.
The result is an industrial motor with advanced variable frequency technology in a package that is 60% smaller than current market offerings. The precise motor speed control ensures the rotating equipment is running at desired flow rates, reducing energy and maintenance costs and equipment downtime.
VIDAR’s advanced engineering enables it to replace an existing conventional motor as a ‘drop-in’ replacement, eliminating the need for special wiring, expensive VFDs or additional clean room enclosures.
The performance of VIDAR’s new smart motor was evaluated and assessed through thousands of hours of testing in a variety of harsh industrial environments. In one example, replacing a single fixed-speed motor on an industrial pump with VIDAR decreased power consumption by 52%.
“VIDAR’s innovative design unlocks energy and cost savings potential by addressing common barriers to efficiency and reliability that have impacted the industry in the past,” said Dan Kernan, Vice President and General Manager, VIDAR.
“VIDAR makes the advantage of adjustable speed over fixed speed motors available to more customers of pumps, fans, and fluid process systems through a simplified, combined solution that’s easy to install and simple to operate.”
The first shipments of VIDAR are expected to occur in Q3 2025, and the company expects shipments to increase considerably beginning in 2026.
East Midlands business confidence rises as more firms plan to hire
Business confidence in the East Midlands rose six points during March to 43%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds.
Companies in the East Midlands reported higher confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, up seven points at 50%. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, up five points to 35%, this gives a headline confidence reading of 43% (vs. 37% in February).
A net balance of 42% of businesses in the region also expect to increase staff levels over the next year, up seven points on last month.
Looking ahead to the next six months, East Midlands businesses identified their top target areas for growth as evolving their offering, for example by introducing new products or services (47%), entering new markets (39%) and investing in their team, for example through training (38%).
The Business Barometer, which surveys 1,200 businesses monthly and which has been running since 2002, provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide. This data was gathered between the 3rd – 17th March, ahead of the Spring Statement.
National picture
Overall, UK business confidence was 49% in March – the same as in February.
While firms’ optimism in their own trading prospects held steady at 57%, their confidence in the wider economy dropped one point to 40%.
The West Midlands and London were the joint most-confident of any UK nation or region in March (both 62%), followed by the North West (59%).
Sector insights
Retail confidence rose seven points to 58%, a post-pandemic high, reflecting positive trading prospects.
In contrast, the manufacturing sector saw the largest decrease in business confidence this month, declining 12 points to 39%, due to increased concerns about supply chain disruptions. Construction firms also saw a decline to 48% and businesses in the service sector saw confidence decline to 47%.
Dave Atkinson, regional director for the East Midlands at Lloyds, said: “It’s great to see business confidence in the East Midlands rise this month, and particularly to see it driven by greater confidence from firms in their own prospects.
“As local companies press ahead with their growth plans, we’ll continue to provide our tailored, on-the-ground support – helping them make the investments they need to achieve their ambitions.”
Zeeko moves into Space Park Leicester research lab
An ultra-precision polishing technology firm has moved into a research lab at the University of Leicester’s £100m space research and innovation facility.
Zeeko Ltd, known for machines that produce high-precision optics for the space industry, has taken up a research lab at Space Park Leicester to further their work in optical innovation.
The lab at Space Park Leicester will serve as a hub for Zeeko Ltd’s research project focused on optics for laser fusion, a technology with the potential to change the landscape of energy generation.
This project, which brings significant research and development activity to Leicester, is set to push the boundaries of what is possible in the field of freeform optics.
The research conducted in their lab will not only contribute to scientific advancements but may also play a direct role in the manufacturing of parts for future satellite missions.
Richard Freeman, Managing Director of Zeeko Ltd, said: “We moved to Space Park Leicester because it provides access to highly knowledgeable people, important diagnostic instrumentation and a fertile environment for developing links with potential end-users of research outputs.
“Our new lab is allowing us to further our research in optics for laser fusion and continue to provide groundbreaking solutions for the space industry.”
Zeeko Ltd’s Ultra-Precision Surfaces (UPS) research group has established an advanced optical manufacturing research facility at the Leicester venue run in collaboration with Space Park Leicester.
The group has been awarded the Super-polished Freeform Optical Systems (SFOS) project. Funded by the Eureka SMART program, the project is led by Zeeko Ltd and brings together Space Park Leicester and the University of Leicester with Thin Metal Films Ltd and Swiss academic and industry partners.
The project’s primary objective is to develop superior processes and metrology to deliver complex ‘freeform’ optics of unprecedented quality.
£10m Chesterfield ‘green skills’ hub takes shape
Chesterfield College’s new Advanced Manufacturing and Life Sciences building, an innovative hub for sustainable engineering and science, has marked a key milestone.
Chesterfield College, Robertson Construction Yorkshire & East Midlands, local employers and other key stakeholders attended a steel signing ceremony for the project to mark the completion of the steel frame at the 2,450m2 new-build facility.
Set to open in 2026, the project will house cutting-edge facilities for students across science, engineering, manufacturing, construction and automotive studies. This includes an advanced engineering lab, electrical installation workshop, electric/hydrogen vehicle workshop, 3D printing and prototype workshop, science labs, general teaching and ICT suite, and collaboration space.
Jonathan Sizer, Regional Managing Director, Robertson Construction Yorkshire & East Midlands, said: “With a focus on innovation, growth and sustainability, the state-of-the-art facility is progressing well with the steel frame now complete.
“We are ensuring that the project meets Chesterfield College’s mission of inspiring futures and changing lives, and look forward to continuing to work closely with students, staff and stakeholders to create a facility that everyone can be proud of.
“We have extensive experience in delivering high-quality educational projects in the area, so it’s great to bring this expertise to our first project for Chesterfield College.”
Julie Richards OBE, Principal and CEO, Chesterfield College, said: “After a long time in the planning stages I am absolutely delighted to finally share details of the new Advanced Manufacturing and Life Sciences facility we will be offering to our learning community from 2026.
“Concentrating on the latest industry skills and technology, with a real focus on vitally important green skills, the facility has been curated in consultation with local employers to ensure it produces a skilled workforce to supply local demand for years to come.”
As part of the works, the existing North Block 1 building and temporary structure will be demolished following the completion of the new facility to make way for a revitalised green space area.
Robertson Construction Yorkshire & East Midlands was appointed to deliver the project through the YORbuild3 Medium Works framework.
New homes get go-ahead in Hinckley and Bosworth
Plans for over 300 new homes have been approved by Hinckley and Bosworth Councillors across two key locations.
Persimmon Homes North Midlands’ proposals for 81 new homes in Earl Shilton were given the green light by local Councillors with 16 of the homes available through discounted ownership and social rent. Persimmon will invest £2 million through the Section 106 agreement, supporting infrastructure and services. This includes funding of over £500,000 towards primary schools and road enhancements to accommodate the new community. The housebuilder also secured further approval in Newbold Verdon, where 239 new homes will be built, with 96 designated as affordable housing. Through the Section 106 agreement Persimmon will contribute over £1.7 million, including nearly £700,000 to secondary education, over £130,000 to SEND schools, and more than £120,000 towards enhancing and maintaining existing public open spaces. In addition to these contributions, the development will provide a new country park, an 18% gain in onsite biodiversity, and two dedicated parking areas for neighbouring allotments.
Rob Blaney, Land and Planning Director for Persimmon North Midlands, said: “We are pleased to have received planning approval for these developments, which will provide high-quality homes for local people.
“Our team has worked closely with Hinckley and Bosworth Council to ensure these homes meet the needs of the community. With a wide range of homes to choose from these new developments will be a fantastic place to live for homebuyers.”
