Final planning approvals received to increase affordable homes provision at Wellingborough development
Countryside Partnerships, part of the Vistry Group, the provider of affordable mixed-tenure homes, has received final planning approvals and signed forward sale agreements with two partners to enable the creation of 217 new homes at Station Island, part of Wellingborough’s Stanton Cross development.
The plans will see Countryside partner with registered housing provider Stonewater to deliver 128 of these as affordable homes, which Stonewater will own and manage.
A further 89 homes for private rental will be created on a separate new area of land as part of the same scheme and will be owned and managed by the single-family build-to-rent provider, Sigma, taken to market under its Simple Life Homes brand following a further forward-sale agreement.
The homes will deliver further much-needed housing for the local area, and form part of a new community which is already well-established at Stanton Cross.
As a whole, this flagship neighbourhood, which is situated next to Wellingborough train station, will offer 3,650 new homes alongside leisure and community facilities, shops, offices, a newly opened primary school on Irthlingborough Road, along with a 115-acre Town and Country Park as part of the site’s ongoing green infrastructure planning. The site is responsible for creating more than 3,000 jobs and will drive more than £1bn of investment into the area.
Andy Reynolds, Managing Director of Countryside Partnerships South East Midlands, said: “With the final planning consents in place and our partners lined up, we’re ready to turn plans into reality, delivering 217 mixed-tenure new homes for the local community.
“Working in partnership, we can make a significant contribution to the area’s affordable housing provision, whilst turning a previously disused area of brownfield land into another important and exciting milestone on the Stanton Cross journey. We’re looking forward to getting underway.”
Chris Montague, Development Director (East & North) at Stonewater, added: “As the housing crisis continues, and rising house prices pose significant challenges to those looking to rent or buy their own home, we know that a diverse range of housing and tenures is required to meet this need, and our partnership with Countryside will help to significantly increase the range of housing options and choice available to the benefit of local people in Wellingborough.
“Furthermore, the homes will be delivered with a range of modern energy efficiency features, including air source heat pumps and photovoltaic panels, which will bring additional benefits to customers and the wider community.”
Jason Berry, Regional MD at Sigma, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with our longstanding partner housebuilder, Countryside Partnerships on yet another development which marks a new area of our build to rent brand, Simple Life Homes. With over 5,500 properties across the UK already, we’re delighted to be offering further local people a high-quality, new-build rental option, teamed with a professional service throughout their tenancy.”
Lee Barrett, Divisional Operations Director for Stanton Cross Developments, said: “This partnership further underpins the tremendous progress we are making in creating a major residential-led development that builds a diverse and fully integrated, welcoming community where people want to live, and which allows local people to continue living locally.”
Freeths reveals another record performance
Law firm Freeths, which has offices in Nottingham, Leicester and Derby, has revealed another record performance in its financial results for 2022/23, with turnover up by 14.9% to £129m – an increase of £17m from last year.
Today’s published accounts come following a year of significant expansion for the firm. In July 2023, Freeths launched its first office outside of England, with partners Paul Ockrim and Nick Taylor joining from Addleshaw Goddard to lead the new Freeths office in Glasgow, Scotland.
As one of the fastest-growing UK firms, Freeths has continued to deliver compound organic annual growth in excess of 10% since 2015.
Karl Jansen, Freeths national managing partner, said: “Freeths’ continued success is driven by the dedication and talent of our people, and the strength of our client relationships. Our firm is built upon strong values of working together to create smart solutions for our clients.
“With ambitious plans, our ongoing investment in our people, technology and innovation, and our office network and modern working environment, continues to provide opportunities for growth, and it’s reflected in the record results we publish today.”
Derbyshire sustainable power solutions specialist acquired
Speedy Hire Plc, the provider of tools, specialist equipment and services, has acquired Derbyshire sustainable power solutions specialist, Green Power Hire Limited (GPH), for an enterprise value of £20.2m.
The total consideration represented £10m of equity value and assumed debt of £10.2m which was settled at completion. Speedy acquired GPH from its principal shareholder, Russell’s (Kirbymoorside) Limited, and four other shareholders.
GPH is a recognised owner and supplier of Battery Storage Units (BSU) to the UK rental market, mainly to the construction sector. GPH’s BSUs, with their digital capability, enable customers to achieve both financial and environmental savings compared to alternative systems available.
Mark Chamberlain, director and one of the vendor shareholders of GPH, joined Speedy at completion as an integral part of the ongoing management team.
Dan Evans, Chief Executive, Speedy, said: “The acquisition of Green Power Hire is further evidence of our Velocity strategy in action, strengthening our market leadership in combining product innovation and sustainability, and positioning Speedy well in a high growth segment of the market.
“Alongside investments such as our partnership with Niftylift and our proposed JV with AFC Energy, the acquisition progresses the sustainable and technological evolution of the sectors we operate in, supports our ambitious plan to become a net zero business by 2040 and will deliver long term benefits to our customers, our people and our investors.”
Image Scan hails strong sales and profit growth
Image Scan, the supplier of X-ray screening systems to the security and industrial inspection markets, has hailed strong sales and profit growth in a pre-close trading update for the year ended 30 September 2023 (FY23).
Unaudited revenue is expected to be £3m for FY23, up from £2m in FY22, while pre-tax profit is anticipated to be £0.1m, recovering from a £0.35m loss last year.
Restructuring and cost control programs at the Leicestershire-based firm are said to have contributed to the return to profit.
Image Scan’s Chief Executive, Vince Deery, said: “I am delighted with the work we have undertaken this year to ensure organisation changes and cost controls have had their impact which has helped deliver the hugely welcome return to profit.
“With the improving market conditions, we wish to build on this result and use the coming period working with significant shareholders to look at the strategic opportunities for growth as a listed business.”
Plans resubmitted for Derby city centre food and drink market
A developer has resubmitted plans to create an outdoor artisan food and drink market in Derby city centre.
Burton Abbey Developments has put forward revised plans for The Yard Derby, which would be sited on a small, unused plot of land in St Peter’s Churchyard.
Proposals for the food and drink market have been turned down by Derby City Council’s planning committee on two previous occasions.
Now, it is hoped that it will be third time lucky for the scheme. The latest submission includes revised plans with alterations to the market’s size and layout compared to previous proposals.
The proposal has strong backing from the local business community – including Marketing Derby, which has submitted letters supporting the proposals and the land’s change of use.
In the letter supporting the proposal, John Forkin, Managing Director of Marketing Derby, writes: “Burton Abbey Developments’ proposal to create an artisan food and drink market delivers substantial benefits for an area of the city that is challenged both economically and socially.
“It fits with the ambition of Derby City Council in regenerating underused parts of the city and to diversify the daytime and night-time economies.”
The new proposal for The Yard Derby involves creating 10 retail units, a reduction from the previous 12.
These spaces would be arranged in an ‘L-shaped’ configuration along the southern and western edges of the site, situated away from the Grade II*-listed St. Peter’s Church and the Grade II*-listed Old Grammar School.
Additionally, the plans incorporate a seating area with a capacity for up to 100 people.
One key aspect of the proposal and location involves the developer’s plan to create an entrance to the new market through the historic 19th-century wall bordering the site.
According to Derby City Council, this wall is considered “curtilage listed,” which means it’s not listed as a Grade itself but is a valuable element within an area where Grade Listed structures are present.
As a result, it should be treated with the same level of care as the Grade Listed structures in that vicinity.
However, in their updated application, Burton Abbey Developments argues that there is room for discussion regarding the wall’s “heritage significance” in the city and are once again advocating for its partial demolition.
Marketing Derby’s letter of support states: “This particular piece of land sits on a significant pedestrian thoroughfare for visitors to the new 3,500 capacity performance venue on the regenerated Becketwell site from areas such as Derbion, the bus station and the Market Hall.
“The owner seeks to enhance and make reparations to the boundary wall and therefore improve the overall aesthetic from its current dilapidated condition.
“While there is an appreciation of the historical significance of the site, the proposed improvements serve to enhance and promote the important heritage. This is proven by the encouraging endorsement of local heritage specialists.”
Funding boost for plant-based ‘Cheese from Peas’ to develop commercial processes
Alternative protein research exploring using peas to make sustainable plant-based cheese has received funding from Innovate UK to develop commercial processes for new products.
‘Cheese from Peas’ is a new product being developed by researchers from the University of Nottingham and spin-out company The Good Pulse Company who are developing techniques to turn yellow peas grown in the UK into a sustainable plant-based cheese.
This latest funding of over £300,000 from Innovate UK adds to over £370,000 in investment from scientific research organisation Rothamsted Research through their programme SHAKE Climate Change, and from food technology venture capital investors Big Idea Ventures. The grant has allowed the company to hire researchers from the university and also bring further expertise from other academics working on adjacent research areas.
Dr Vincenzo di Bari, Assistant Professor in Food Structure and Processing at the University of Nottingham has been leading research that is looking for ways to develop a new generation of functional, minimally processed ingredients from legumes for applications such as plant-based cheese that is healthier and higher in proteins than existing cheese alternatives in the market.
“We are focused on creating a product that is tasty, has excellent nutritional value and that is also sustainable. From research we previously carried out we have identified yellow peas as an ideal ingredient to achieve this because of its composition and availability in the UK,” said Dr Vincenzo di Bari, Assistant Professor in Food Structure and Processing at the University of Nottingham.
“This is a key step towards our goal to deliver healthy products manufactured using sustainable UK grown crop. We are now focused on developing technologies to be able to process the peas at a commercial level with minimal processing or extra ingredients.”
Yellow peas are a niche crop in the UK and are traditionally used for soups, stews and casseroles. They contain high-quality protein and are a good source of iron. Pea protein also contain essential amino acids that your body cannot create and must get from food.
The Good Pulse Company has already developed over 100 prototypes of plant-based cheese made from pulses using their proprietary technology and processes, as well as processes for making naturally gluten-free baked goods from pulses that are high in proteins and great in taste.
In addition to the successful funding, the company is now part of the prestigious EIT Food Seedbed programme and have also achieved key strategic milestones such as securing a major collaboration agreement with one of the largest dairy cheese companies in Europe to co-develop prototypes of cheese using their functional ingredients from pulses and unique processes leading to large scale pilot production trials, filing a first patent in the USA, and shown potential scalability of the technology and processes to other pulses and food applications.
“Vegan cheeses are often ultra-processed in nature with poor nutritional value and mostly made from coconut oil, modified starches, and artificial additives. We are addressing this with new types of ingredients blends from pulses that are tailored specifically for making plant-based cheese. We also aim to look beyond just nutrition and to help strengthen local supply chain of pulses and have a positive social impact on farming communities,” said Cesar Torres, an Exeter Business School MBA alumnus and Founder & CEO of The Good Pulse Company.
The Business School at the University of Nottingham has also been involved in research projects to support the business development. Three MBA consultancy projects were completed in September 2023 that looked into existing markets of plant-based cheese and baked goods and the company has also employed candidates from the programme MSc Food Production Management as interns during the summer as well as sponsoring projects for this programme.
Dr di Bari adds: “Creating new food products is challenging and the market is hugely competitive but we believe these new cheese products made from our unique ingredients and technology are completely unique and will offer a tasty, sustainable alternative to what is currently available.
“With the backing of industry partners and this additional funding we can push the research further to have a commercial product within the next 12 months. For this, the company will open its next investment round in early January 2024.” Six new hires strengthen APSS team
Lincolnshire-based commercial design and fit specialist APSS has appointed six new staff to strengthen the team and add new skills to the business.
Sean Cuffley has returned to APSS in a new role as commercial manager. With 18 years’ experience of the industry and his existing knowledge of APSS, Sean will be mentoring newer staff and passing on his expertise. His appointment will help speed up internal processes and ensure projects are completed within budget.
Luke Krossoy has started as a site joiner in the company’s commitment to upskilling the workforce. While in a bid to combat the labour shortage in the construction industry, Finley Davis and Ben McGarragh are welcomed to APSS as joinery apprentices as part of its programme to develop the next generation of workers which is crucial to future-proofing the business.
Finley and Ben will be gaining hands on experience learning a unique trade whilst continuing to study at Lincoln College. Luke will be responsible for ensuring that projects are installed on site as efficiently as possible while meeting the highest quality standards.
Designer, Caitlin Maginess has joined the in-house design team, and brings with her a wealth of knowledge of building regulations for new builds, extensions and conversions. She will inject fresh ideas into the business and enable the team to take on additional and more complex work.
Project manager Mark Barnes has more than 20 years’ experience overseeing construction and interior fit out projects. With his knowledge of on-site joinery, he will be an asset to the team ensuring that customer projects are completed as efficiently as possible and within the agreed timescales.
Managing Director Laurence Barrass said: “We’re committed to delivering the best possible service to our customers and supporting our team by adding new strengths and capabilities. These new appointments focus on key disciplines out on site and in the office, helping to support the management team.
“We have an impressive work culture within the business which is proven when staff return to us like Sean has recently. We are thrilled he has come back to the APSS family and with the combined skills we now have in the business, we will be able to provide an even better service to our customers.
“As an SME, our customers are everything to us. Having staff who are willing to go the extra mile for them is an important part of who we are as a company.”
For over 25 years, APSS has specialised in commercial interior designs, office fit outs, retail refurbishments, healthcare and educational interiors. The company supports its clients to refurbish their workplace and ensure the best use of space, boosting productivity.
Developer completes on Leicestershire business park
Rothley Lodge Commercial Park in Leicestershire has been completed by Rotherhill Developments, with the site now fully occupied.
The occupiers include national pharmacy group Day Lewis Plc, industrial automation component distributor BPX Electro-Mechanical Co. Ltd, and Selective Marketplace Ltd, a privately owned company with two premium womenswear brands.
Situated on the outskirts of Leicester, near Loughborough, Rothley Lodge comprises four industrial buildings totalling 223,000 sq ft. The premises range from 35,000 to 128,000 sq ft and were made available to businesses on a leasehold or freehold, design and build basis.
The 14-acre industrial site was acquired from Samworth Brothers on 14 July 2017, with funding provided by a syndicate of investors from Mattioli Woods.
Located off the A6 Loughborough Road to the north of Leicester, between Mountsorrel and Rothley, the site has links to the A46 Northern Bypass and Junctions 21 and 22 of the M1.
Paul Bagshaw, owner and Managing Director of Rotherhill Developments, says: “We are delighted to have completed on the Rothley Lodge industrial scheme and to have welcomed three growing businesses as occupiers. Rothley Lodge provided a unique and rare opportunity for occupiers to design and build to meet their needs and requirements.
“In the current market, there are few opportunities for local owner occupiers to purchase on a freehold basis, and most recently built units fail to cater for businesses seeking smaller industrial accommodation.
“Having recognised the lack of supply of high-quality, bespoke industrial space in the sub 150,000 sq ft region, we set out to develop a site capable of accommodating a range of growing businesses.”
“Situated on Leicester’s gateway, with strong surrounding road links and infrastructure, Rothley Lodge is in a prime commercial location,” Paul adds, “and we look forward to continuing to support our occupiers in facilitating the next phase of their expansion plans that are set to fuel the creation of new local jobs.”
Ben Aspell, business development manager at Custodian Capital, the property fund management subsidiary of Mattioli Woods, says: “Custodian Capital Limited, through the Mattioli Woods Private Investors Club, was delighted to support Rotherhill Developments in funding the industrial development project at Rothley Lodge.
“Over the period of the project, we have seen the UK exit the European Union, suffer a global pandemic, and experience the repercussions of the Ukrainian War but still Rotherhill has managed to forward sell and build four units ranging from 35,000 sq ft to 128,000 sq ft.
“There still seems to be a distinct lack of quality industrial stock available in the market – be that new or secondary – which is continuing to push rents upwards. The growing focus on ESG from both occupiers and investors is likely to mean that much of the secondary supply will become obsolete over the next few years, creating a further strain on existing stock.”
Paul Walsh, Managing Director of EM Pharma, part of the Day Lewis Group, says: “We are thrilled to embark on this new chapter in Rothley. It provides us with the space we need to expand our operations and places us in a state-of-the-art facility that will enable us to continue pushing the boundaries of pharmaceutical innovation.
“We remain steadfast in our mission to provide high-quality products while embracing the opportunities the convenient new location offers for expansion and development. We have already welcomed new skilled team members that have joined from the local area, and we’re excited about the fresh perspectives and expertise that they can bring to the business.”
Mark Vernon, investment/development executive at LondonMetric Property Plc, adds: “We were delighted to fund two units at this well-located logistics scheme and to work with Rotherhill on the development.
“The buildings have been finished to a high specification by Warwick Burt and we were really pleased that EM Pharma decided to lease both units to create a leading-edge manufacturing and distribution facility for its growing business.
“It was an enjoyable project to be involved with and we appreciated the hard work of Paul Bagshaw and his team. We look forward to a long-term relationship with EM Pharma and the Day Lewis Group.”
Ben Blackwall of Atlas Real Estate and Steve Jelfs of Fusion Building Consultancy advised LondonMetric Property on the acquisition. Benchmark Property Ltd provided quantity surveying and project management services to Rotherhill in respect of the construction of all phases of the development.
How to turn a losing situation into a major win: by Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR
Greg Simpson, founder of Press for Attention PR, shows you how to make the most of award losses.
Earlier this year I made a confession. I’m a loser. In fact, I’m technically a serial loser because what I’m about to admit to has happened before.
I made it to the national final of the Enterprise Nation Awards and once again, I did not prevail. In fact, this is becoming a bit of a habit, I have made it before and lost then too.
What a loser! Why would I ever admit to this? Simple, it is because I get frustrated by what I predict will happen this week at this publication’s annual “Bricks” awards – of which I am one of the judges.
NB: they will be a few weeks gone by the time you read this so see if I’m correct about the below.
You see, I know that there will be plenty of people reading this column that would quietly hide this “failure.” They don’t want to be seen as “losers” or “runners-up” or perhaps more accurately, not winners.
That’s how a lot of people see awards. It is a risk/reward question to some. In fact, some people are so paranoid about this “risk” that they won’t even blog about making a final or a shortlist ahead of the big event in case people “find out we didn’t win.”
Take a look at “The Bricks” this year. As a judge of one of the categories, I always take a close interest in what the entrants get up to pre and post awards. Being harsh, most of them don’t get up to much whatsoever. Why? Fear of failure? Lack of confidence? Lack of resource? All of the above?
NEWSFLASH – most people don’t actually follow your every move, noting what you post about your goals, ambitions, wins and losses. Oh, and by the way you made the final!
Take a look at my case. There are thousands of PR consultants out there in the UK and I made the top 5. In the country. Does that mean there are people better than me? Yep. Does it mean I’m better than most? Yep!
On the way to the final, I posted on social media, blogged and ran webinars mentioning the fact that I was in the final. Do you think that some of that might have been noticed? You betcha.
I’m “confessing” to my failure here right now. More awareness of my loss. Am I a masochist? No, I’m a marketer. Often mistaken!
Now, will SOME people go “oh well, Greg’s only in the Top 5 in the UK, probably not worth speaking to.” Well, SOME might. In fact, you might (boo hiss!). Or you and many more people might think “I’ve been meaning to speak to him” or “our PR is pants, this guy must be half decent.”
So, loathe as I am to say that it is the taking part that counts, sometimes, it is. So long as you do something with it.
Yours inconsolably better than most,
Top 5 PR consultant in the UK.
A former business journalist, Greg Simpson is the author of The Small Business Guide to PR and has been recognised as one of the UK’s top 5 PR consultants, having set up Press for Attention PR in 2008.
He has worked for FTSE 100 firms, charities and start-ups and conducted press conferences with Sir Richard Branson and James Caan. His background ensures a deep understanding of every facet of a successful PR campaign – from a journalist’s, client’s, and consultant’s perspective.
See this column in the October edition of East Midlands Business Link Magazine here.
Derby IT firm makes ‘life-changing’ donation for African school children
Derby IT services provider Infuse Technology has donated laptops to a school in The Gambia to help transform education for disabled children studying there.
The children, aged 5 to 15 years old, all suffer from sight impairments. The laptops will help the disabled children to see text more clearly and learn more effectively.
The donation is part of a wider fundraising project organised by the Rotary Club of Leicester Impact Group. Chair of the group and passionate philanthropist Diana Esho has led fundraising efforts for Wullinkamma Lower Basic School since visiting The Gambia in 2015/2016, fundraising for school meals and powdered milk for babies who have lost their mothers.
Paul Howard, Managing Director at Infuse Technology, said: “When I heard Diana was looking for laptops to send to a school in Gambia, I knew we had to help.
“IT is a fundamental part of our day-to-day lives but largely taken for granted, making it easy to overlook the impact it can have, especially in communities where tech is hard to come by. We hope the children enjoy their new laptops and that our donation contributes to providing a more fulfilling education.”
Diana Esho, Managing Director at Easy Internet Services Ltd, said: “We would like to thank Infuse for their generous donation, which will support 15 disabled children in The Gambia.
“The laptops will prove life-changing for these children, who will now have a much better opportunity to receive the education they deserve and become productive members of the local community.”
