Councillors have approved plans for a 72-bed residential care home in Leicester Forest East at Blaby District Council’s Planning Committee meeting. Located on Hinckley Road in Leicester Forest East, the new development will sit on the site of the current Kathleen Rutland Home, which currently accommodates 42 older residents and a low vision clinic, operated by the charity Vista. In addition to 30 more spaces at the care home, the new development will replace the old structure, which is considered to be “outdated and of a visually poor design.” The charity, which operates in Leicestershire and Rutland, worked with the Blaby District Council Planning Team throughout the application to help shape the proposal to ensure it was acceptable for the local area. This included work on the look of the building, which has been designed to make sure it fits in with the variety of styles in the local area. Other facilities on the site will include a new shop, physiotherapy centre and a gym which will benefit both residents and the wider community. Following extensive work during the planning process, and with further residential care an essential need in the district, the application was recommended for approval. Councillors rubber stamped the plans at the most recent meeting of Planning Committee on Thursday 28 July. As part of the approval, conditions will be imposed on the construction to reduce any disturbances for residents, as well as pedestrians, drivers and cyclists who use Hinckley Road. Councillor Nick Chapman, vice chair of Blaby District Council’s Planning Committee, said: “We are pleased to have approved this important development. “Vista are a charity who make a hugely positive difference to the lives of many people, both in the district and across the county. Their commitment to modernising the old Kathleen Rutland Home with a new, high-quality structure highlights their support in our local communities. “I look forward to seeing the development progress in the coming months and years.”

A worldwide supplier of swim spas and hot tubs has launched its first UK distribution hub at Leicestershire’s Meridian Business Park. East Midlands commercial property specialist Andrew + Ashwell has negotiated the lease of large warehouse premises at Meridian North, to Dutch supplier Fonteyn. Based in the Netherlands for 25 years, Fonteyn supplies the largest range of home spas and swim spas in the world. First stocks from Meridian are already available to dealerships, despite current refurbishment of the premises, while Fonteyn also seeks to expand the workforce and its UK distribution network. The chosen unit occupies a prominent position on the north side of the park on the southern sector of the estate. It was previously occupied by online fashion retailer Boden and comprises 84,101 sq ft of office and warehouse space, plus extensive loading and parking areas. The refurbished building will feature offices, warehousing and what is planned to be the largest spa showroom in the world, ultimately stocking more than 1,000 models to satisfy increasing demand. Outdoor living has nurtured the trend for in-home spas. Marcus Sleath, Fonteyn director, said the new hub would facilitate faster turnaround and delivery to meet the huge demand in the UK. “This is a very exciting time for us. The UK is one of our biggest markets, with more than 85,000 spas and swim spas sold here to date. The new distribution centre at Meridian perfectly meets our needs as a convenient and cost-effective central hub for UK expansion. “While conversion of the building will be completed by the end of the year, we already have around 500 spas and swim spas in stock, plus more on the way. This means much faster delivery for the 30 dealerships we already serve in the UK and we expect this number to increase.” Mike Allwood, A+A partner, said: “This is a positive development for the local economy, enabling an international company to use a sought-after Leicestershire business park as a vital first base for expansion. “It’s certainly one of the larger secondhand units to hit the market over the last few years. Having been involved in the marketing since March this year we are delighted to have completed the letting within three to four months and wish Fonteyn every success in their new venture.”

Planning permission has been refused for a mixed-use scheme of student accommodation and commercial space in Beeston despite being recommended for approval by officers at Broxtowe Borough Council. The 419-student bed space scheme from Midlands-based developer Cassidy Group in Station Road, next to the Arc Cinema, was submitted for planning earlier this year. Cassidy previously said that the scheme at the edge of Beeston town centre would breathe new life into a derelict site and bring increased footfall and economic benefit to local retailers. They added that it would also free up much-needed housing in the town, currently occupied by students, for family homes. A council report agreed and recommended that councillors approve the scheme. The report stated that the scheme would create a “significant boost of housing numbers when maintaining an adequate supply is becoming more challenging. The additional dwellings would also be on previously developed land that is not in green belt or otherwise protected, reducing pressure on land that is.” The report added: “The proposal would therefore be purpose built and could accommodate occupiers who could otherwise occupy C3 dwellings [houses, flats, apartments], to the detriment of the wider community, as this would represent the loss of accommodation that would be more suited to families and other longer-term residents.” In the report, officers noted that while a part of the building rises to eight storeys and would be the tallest structure in Beeston, the development would take place on a prominent town centre site “considered to be capable of accommodating a building of the height proposed without detriment to the character of the area or neighbour amenity.” The report also noted that the design and scale of the Station Road development would relate well to its town centre location and that the building’s tallest block would be of a comparable height to the cinema complex next door. Officers also stated that the scheme would boost local trade in terms of restaurants, leisure and retail. The 34-page report concluded that “any potential concerns would be outweighed by the benefits of the scheme, which is considered to be in accordance with the policies contained within the development plan.”

GMI Construction Group PLC has reached the topping out stage for Derby’s first purpose-built Built to Rent (BTR) scheme which is under construction for St James Securities and Grainger plc as part of the Becketwell regeneration scheme. The development, which features 259 one- and two-bedroom units, has now reached 11 storeys, which was marked with a topping out ceremony attended by representatives from St James Securities, GMI, Grainger plc and key stakeholders from across the city. Construction work is progressing to plan with the building expected to be completed by March 2023. The development is being forward funded and will be owned and operated by Grainger plc, the UK’s largest listed provider of private rental homes. The homes, which are being built on the site of the former Debenhams store on Victoria Street, form part of the first phase of the Becketwell scheme and will be adjacent to the new public square, which is the centrepiece of the development and will also be delivered as part of phase one. The development, named by Grainger as The Condor, the famed Rolls Royce engine, will feature 2,962 sq ft of internal ground floor amenity space for residents, including a shared resident’s lounge and co-working space, in addition to 2,185 sq ft of external rooftop space with a terrace overlooking the new public square. In addition to a gym, secure car parking, bike store, and electric car charging points, residents will also benefit from complimentary superfast WiFi and the services of a dedicated onsite Grainger Resident Services Team. Commenting on the progress, GMI divisional Managing Director Andy Bruce said: “Our team onsite at Becketwell have made huge strides since the start of the year and to be topping out today is a noteworthy achievement. “You can see the development now really starting to take shape and bring the vision into reality. The regeneration of Becketwell is a land-mark project in Derby City Centre which once finished will create a brand new urban quarter and sense of place. “GMI are proud to be playing a leading role within those plans and to further our excellent credentials in terms of city centre regeneration creating vibrant and attractive places to live and work and generating significant investment and job opportunities right across the regions in which we operate.” Paul Morris, director of St James Securities, said: “More than five years since we first visited this much neglected site, we are delighted to see this landmark first phase of the development reach the topping out stage. “The Becketwell regeneration scheme will be transformational – allowing hundreds of people to live in high-quality homes in the heart of the city and revitalising an area which has been challenged for many years. “Alongside the apartments and public square that will make up phase one of the scheme, there will be wider development, including an exciting new performance venue, which will be developed by St James Securities and owned by Derby City Council and run by ASM Global, the world’s leading venue management and services company, and producer of live experiences.” Helen Gordon, Chief Executive, Grainger plc, added: “This is a great milestone for our Condor scheme, which is Derby’s first Build to Rent development and a new city for Grainger. We look forward to seeing the works progress over the coming months as we prepare our inhouse team to launch and welcome our first residents – delivering high quality homes, a range of added value resident amenities and excellent customer service for renters in Derby.” Councillor Chris Poulter, leader of Derby City Council, said: “Reaching the topping out ceremony in phase one of the Becketwell development is a real milestone, and we’re now well on the way to seeing the completion of what will be a truly transformative development for this part of the city centre. A site that needed regeneration will soon be a vibrant place that provides much-needed quality homes in the city centre. “The plans for the wider development, which includes an exciting new performance venue, a hotel and offices, will rejuvenate our city centre – making it an attractive space that supports the local economy and increases investor confidence.” Future planned phases of the scheme include a range of other complementary uses of the site that may include a hotel, multi-storey car park and purpose-built student residential. It is also hoped that the substantial levels of investment proposed at Becketwell will provide confidence for further new investment in surrounding areas of the city centre. More than 2,000 jobs are expected to be created by the development.