Nottingham planning consultancy Nineteen47 secures go ahead for new 350,000 sq ft aluminium extrusion factory in Ashfield

Michael Fisher
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Nottingham planning consultancy Nineteen47 secures go ahead for new 350,000 sq ft aluminium extrusion factory in Ashfield

Nottingham planning consultancy Nineteen47 has advised aluminium trade extruder Garnalex on securing permission to build a new 350,000 sq ft multi-million-pound manufacturing facility in Ashfield.

Nineteen47, which has offices in Nottingham, Sheffield and York, supported Garnalex with the preparation of a hybrid planning application. This included co-ordination of a full environmental impact assessment together with 3D visualisation services.

The planning permission secured by Nineteen47 totals 1,000,500 sq ft on a 23.75-hectare site. Phase one is dedicated to the new factory with the remaining space for phase two which will comprise additional Garnalex facilities. Once both phases are complete, it is anticipated they will deliver more than 1,000 jobs.

Located south-east of junction 27 of the M1, the proposals, which are located within the green belt, have been carefully designed to assimilate into the landscape.

This includes significant tree planting and bunding providing screening which, together with a detailed landscape scheme, will deliver an 11 per cent increase in biodiversity net gain including a 68 per cent increase in hedgerow units.

Roger Hartshorn, who founded Garnalex in 2018, said: “We’re thrilled to bring this development to Ashfield. Garnalex is ambitious and we have plans to expand further and create hundreds of more jobs in the coming years.

“The team at Nineteen47 has excelled in providing us with expert planning consultancy advice, understanding the requirements of our new factory and the complexities of the planning situation to ensure the desired outcomes were achieved. We now look forward to work starting on the new site.”

Established in 2016, Nineteen47 advises private and public sector clients nationwide across a range of sectors. These include residential and commercial development, healthcare, hospitality, education and manufacturing.

Jamie Pyper, co-founder and director at Nineteen47, added: “Garnalex’s new manufacturing facility showcases the company’s commitment to delivering not only high-quality products, but also economic growth within the local area.

“It was fantastic to work with Roger and the team to secure planning for both phases of the development, and we now looking forward seeing them come to life.”

Work starts on 169-home Nottinghamshire development

Tess Egginton
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Work starts on 169-home Nottinghamshire development
Peter James Homes has started work on a new development in Bramcote, just a few miles away from its headquarters. The 169-home Hemlock Gate development, on Coventry Lane, will become Peter James Homes’ most eco-friendly site, with every home holding an A-rated Energy Performance Certificate on completion. The 22-acre site will provide a mixture of two- to five-bedroom homes, including bungalows, with a provision for around 30 per cent (51 properties) allocated to the affordable housing scheme. Simon Gardiner, managing director of Peter James Homes, said: “Situated in our home patch, Hemlock Gate is one of our most important projects. We always strive to create environments that reflect their surroundings and engage the local community, but this development is particularly close to our hearts here at Peter James Homes.” A total of £1.05m has been allocated to the local community for investment in public transport, improvements to roads, education, and wildlife habitats. The first phase of the development, which over its lifecycle will create around 100 East Midlands construction jobs, will be released for reservation in phases from early Summer this year. Simon added: “This is an exciting project for us. The sloping L-shaped site, which is partly sheltered by mature trees, giving it privacy and instant maturity, alongside the popularity of Bramcote and its proximity to Nottingham, and the broad selection of property types will appeal to both families and professionals.”

Bucher Municipal secures 30,000 sq ft facility at Stud Brook Business Park

Tess Egginton
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Bucher Municipal secures 30,000 sq ft facility at Stud Brook Business Park
A 30,000 sq ft facility at Clowes Developments’ Stud Brook Business Park has been let to Bucher Municipal. Bucher Municipal, the suppliers of municipal vehicles, have secured the brand-new Unit 4 as they expand their nationwide portfolio of bases. The deal sees Bucher Municipal take a 10-year leasehold agreement for the unit, which has been built and designed to meet their exact requirements and specifications to provide them with a best-in-class facility. The unit will be available for them to move in from May 2025. Terry Flannery, UK After-Sales Manager of Bucher Municipal, said: “The expansion in the range of Bucher Municipal products offered to the UK market demands larger and more flexible service centres. Stud Brook Business Park with its efficient connections make it an ideal location. “Clowes and their development team have been excellent partners, helping us adapt the building to our specific business needs. The Stud Brook facility with its modern sustainable design and high-quality construction will be a flagship service centre in our national network.” James Richards, Development Director of Clowes Developments, added: “Stud Brook Business Park is witnessing a sustained high volume of interest. Welcoming a leading company like Bucher Municipal to the business park is testament to it’s quality, location and benefits to businesses looking to make the move to the East Midlands. “You’re literally a stone’s throw away from the M1, A50, East Midlands Airport and East Midlands Gateway Train Station. It really is a great location for business.” The deal was put together by Tim Gilbertson, Director of FHP Property Consultants, who added: “It’s great to welcome Bucher Municipal to Stud Brook Business Park and to provide them with a best-in-class facility in such a prime location. “Due to us being able to agree terms early with Bucher Municipal, our clients were able to create a bespoke build for them on this fabulous site meeting all their requirements and exacting criteria. “Of the nine units being speculatively built at Stud Brook Business Park in the first phase, only two now remain and there are early discussions on those which hopefully will result in the park being full at or shortly after completion of the first phase of development.”

£650k surfacing contract set to transform former Derbyshire railway

Tess Egginton
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£650k surfacing contract set to transform former Derbyshire railway
A Leicestershire-based surfacing company has been awarded a £650k contract to help convert a former Derbyshire railway line running from Little Eaton to Rawson Green into a Greenway for the local community. HMS Decorative Surfacing has been selected by construction firm Pugh-Lewis as part of its contract with Derbyshire County Council to transform the 5.6km former Midland Railway Ripley Branch Line into an accessible, eco-friendly path for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. The new, durable path will provide a popular travel route between Derby City and Ripley. Once completed, it will create an environmentally friendly greenway, which has been a long ambition for Derbyshire County Council to promote greener community space and eco-friendly travel whilst increasing tourism to the area. HMS, a resin surfacing specialist, is installing a long-lasting and flexible Decra®Flex path. This eco-friendly solution combines the flexibility of recycled rubber with the strength and durability of aggregates and resin. The path will be installed along the greenway within the natural wildlife corridors of Derbyshire. Phase 1 is set to begin at the end of March and is expected to take 4-5 weeks to complete. Laura Wilson, Director at HMS, commented on the contract win. She said: “Providing safe, attractive and environmentally friendly spaces for the public has always been one of our top priorities as a company, so when we were awarded this contract for the Little Eaton Greenway, we were delighted. “The material we are using on the path is cutting-edge. It’s porous and most importantly, flexible, to absorb any impact from the public and reduce the risk of injuries from falls whilst jogging, walking, wheeling, cycling or horse riding. “Weather dependent, we’re hoping to complete Phase 1 by early May and then begin Phase 2 later in the year. This is a huge turning point for HMS and will be one of our biggest jobs to date, helping to create brilliant future growth for our company.” Tim Pugh-Lewis, Director and Owner of Pugh-Lewis, said: “This project will provide Derbyshire’s community with greener infrastructure, to reduce carbon emissions and boost biodiversity, whilst protecting the natural environment. “HMS Decorative Surfacing will be using the very best in eco-friendly surfacing to create a durable, sustainable and safe way for the local community to travel and spend more time outdoors. We look forward to working with them and seeing the much-anticipated finished result.” The redevelopment of the greenway on the former railway line is set to transform the area by connecting surrounding towns and villages with greener commuter routes and further strengthen Derbyshire’s green infrastructure by forming part of its Key Cycle Network.

Manufacturing output contracts in the quarter to March

Tess Egginton
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Manufacturing output contracts in the quarter to March
Manufacturing output volumes fell in the three months to March, at a slightly steeper pace than in the three months to February, according to the CBI’s latest monthly Industrial Trends Survey (ITS). Looking ahead, manufacturers expect output volumes to be broadly unchanged in the quarter to June. The volume of total order books in March was stable relative to last month, while export order books improved slightly. Both total and export order books are still well below their long-run averages. Firms reported that stock adequacy picked up compared with February, with the balance returning above the long-run average. Expectations for selling price inflation over the quarter ahead were largely unchanged relative to February, remaining above the long-run average. The survey, based on the responses of 344 manufacturers, found:
  • Output volumes fell in the three months to March at a steeper pace than last month (weighted balance of -18%, from -12% in the quarter to February). Manufacturers expect output volumes will be broadly unchanged in the three months to June (-2%).
    • Output decreased in 14 out of 17 sub-sectors in the three months to March, with the decline driven by the glass & ceramics, building materials and electrical goods sub-sectors.
  • Total order books were reported as below “normal” in March (-29% from -28%). The level of order books remained far below the long-run average (-13%).
  • Export order books were reported as below “normal” but improved relative to last month (-29% from -36%). This was still below the long-run average (-18%).
  • Expectations for average selling price inflation were broadly unchanged in March (+22% from +19% in February). Expectations remain above the long-run average (+7%)
  • Stocks of finished goods were reported as more than “adequate” in March (+16% from +4% in February), with stock adequacy now standing above the long-run average (+12%).
Ben Jones, CBI Lead Economist, said: “Conditions in the UK’s manufacturing sector remain subdued. Although there are some pockets of strength, notably in the aerospace and defence sectors, many firms continue to report that their order books remain weak. “Manufacturers responding to the survey reported that customers are generally nervous about proceeding with capital investments and are conserving funds ahead of upcoming increases to National Insurance and minimum wages, leading orders to be cancelled or at least delayed until later in the year. “While output expectations are not as gloomy as at the turn of the year, the sector looks set to remain in a holding pattern in the short-term. “Next week’s Spring Statement and continuing challenges to the public finances means a lot of the growth the country needs will have to come from the private sector. But businesses need a reason to grow and invest in uncertain times. “A number of measures could help boost confidence – setting an ambitious R&D spending target so the government can position the UK as a world leader for innovation or ensuring that the Apprenticeships Levy is fully flexible to allow companies to invest in a range of employee training, will go some way to delivering the sustainable growth the country needs.”

Conygar secures extended loan terms for Nottingham development

April Lara
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Conygar secures extended loan terms for Nottingham development

Property investment firm Conygar has restructured its development loan with Barclays Bank, extending the repayment deadline from March to December 2025. The revised agreement lowers the loan facility from £47.5 million to £46.6 million and reduces the interest margin from 3.25% to 2%, offset by a £500,000 exit fee.

The extension aims to support further lettings and stabilisation of Winfield Court, the student accommodation project within Nottingham’s Island Quarter development, which serves as security for the loan. As of December, Winfield Court was 54% occupied, generating £1.5 million in net income before financing costs.

The restructuring provides Conygar additional time to improve occupancy levels ahead of the 2025-2026 academic year.

Nottinghamshire secures £50m in external funding for infrastructure projects

April Lara
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Nottinghamshire secures £50m in external funding for infrastructure projects

Nottinghamshire County Council has secured over £50 million in external funding for transport, flood resilience, electric vehicle charging, and active travel initiatives as part of its 2025/26 capital programme. The funding forms part of a wider £149 million capital and revenue investment for the year.

The East Midlands Combined County Authority is contributing £7.5 million towards the A614/A6097 Major Road Network Scheme, subject to final approval from the Department for Transport. The council has resubmitted its business case with updated costs and a revised timeline to secure the remaining funding.

Active travel improvements will receive £5.6 million, with projects including pedestrian crossing schemes. The county’s bus network will also benefit, with £9.3 million from the Bus Service Improvement Plan funding new bus priority measures, a park-and-ride site, and better access to bus stops. A further £5.7 million from the same programme will support 60 local bus routes, including Nottsbus on Demand zones.

Flood mitigation efforts will be reinforced with £500,000 allocated to the Potwell Dyke flooding scheme in Southwell, which is part of a larger £4.4 million project designed to protect 240 homes from flooding.

The rollout of electric vehicle charging infrastructure will continue with £5.5 million from the Department for Transport’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure project, with installations expected to begin in spring 2026. An additional £500,000 will support a pilot programme integrating charging infrastructure into footways through electric vehicle cable channels.

Other projects benefiting from external funding include tree planting under the Local Authority Treescape Fund, road safety education through the Bikeability scheme, sustainable transport initiatives funded by Nottingham City Council’s Transforming Cities Fund, and the expansion of zero-emission buses under the Zero Emission Bus Regional Area programme.

The council says the investment will enhance connectivity, improve sustainability, and support businesses and communities across the county.

Nottingham firm among UK recipients of smart airport tech funding

April Lara
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Nottingham firm among UK recipients of smart airport tech funding

The UK government has allocated £450,000 to six British technology firms, including one in Nottingham, to develop advanced airport screening equipment aimed at improving security and reducing delays. The funding, announced by the Department for Transport (DfT), supports innovations designed to enhance threat detection, reduce false alarms, and speed up passenger screening.

Companies based in Tewkesbury and Cambridge are also among the recipients. In addition to funding, businesses will receive tailored guidance on technical development, regulation, and corporate finance through workshops led by the Connected Places Catapult.

Airlines UK and AirportsUK have welcomed the investment, highlighting its potential to improve airport operations and support the aviation sector’s goal of achieving net zero. Industry leaders are also calling for reforms to the UK’s airspace design process to reduce delays further and enhance resilience.

Aviation Minister Mike Kane stated that the funding aligns with the government’s broader strategy to strengthen security, boost international competitiveness, and drive economic growth in the aviation sector.

Foreign visitor spending in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire up 25% since pandemic

April Lara
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Foreign visitor spending in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire up 25% since pandemic

Spending by international tourists in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire reached £437 million in 2022, a 25% increase from £350 million in 2019, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics. A decade earlier, the figure stood at £264 million.

Nationally, foreign tourism spending hit a record £50 billion in 2022, up 7% from 2019 and 63% higher than in 2012. In Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, £142 million was spent on hotels and restaurants, while £21 million went towards recreation and cultural activities.

Despite the rise in spending, industry leaders warn of ongoing challenges. The Tourism Alliance cautioned that many businesses in the sector continue to struggle and said recent changes to National Insurance contributions could further impact hospitality and tourism.

Kate Nicholls, CEO of UKHospitality, urged the Government to reduce VAT for the sector, arguing that the UK’s 20% rate is among the highest in Europe and hinders competitiveness. She also called for a review of planned business rate reforms and a delay to National Insurance changes, warning that rising costs are becoming unsustainable for many hospitality businesses.

The Government has targeted 50 million inbound visitors by 2030 and plans to release a tourism growth strategy later this year.

Free support programme returns to help UK microbusinesses grow

April Lara
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Free support programme returns to help UK microbusinesses grow

Small Business Britain has reopened applications for its Small and Mighty Enterprise Programme, a free six-week initiative designed to help microbusinesses and sole traders scale up. The April 2025 intake will offer over 500 places, providing expert-led guidance, mentorship, and peer support.

Research by Small Business Britain found that more than two-thirds of UK microbusinesses expect to grow by 50% over the next five years, despite economic challenges. The programme, delivered online in partnership with Xero and ARU Peterborough, aims to equip participants with business strategy, marketing, finance, and resilience training.

Since launching in 2022, the programme has trained over 3,500 small businesses. Participants receive two hours of free mentoring and access to a network of entrepreneurs. Experts from ARU Peterborough and Xero will lead sessions, offering flexible learning to fit around work commitments.

Industry leaders emphasise the need for tailored support, with Xero’s UK Managing Director, Alex von Schirmeister, calling for greater differentiation between small and microbusinesses. ARU Peterborough’s Professor Tom Williamson highlighted the programme’s success in helping businesses think strategically and grow with confidence.

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