Intellectual property law firm, Potter Clarkson is moving to new offices in the heart of Nottingham city centre, with Geo Hallam & Sons securing a 10-year lease on 15,000 square feet of space at Chapel Quarter. The search for new space has been driven by a desire to provide a modern, sustainable and technologically advanced office environment, which more closely supports the new working practices established during the pandemic. It also follows the recent relocation of the firm’s London team. In an unusual transaction, the accommodation has been acquired in it’s existing un-refurbished condition which will be stripped back to a shell, fully refurbished and fitted out as Grade A offices by Claremont Group Interiors, with an element of the cost being funded by the landlord. The refurbishment works are due to commence shortly with Potter Clarkson set to relocate from their existing offices in January 2023. Steve Smith, managing partner of the Potter Clarkson group, said: “In Chapel Quarter we have found an office that supports our position as a leading European intellectual property law firm. “We are excited by the opportunity to design and develop a new working environment that supports greater flexibility and productivity – something that is tailor-made for our staff and clients. “Our new office will provide the highest quality environment to meet the new and future needs of our business, ensuring that Nottingham remains the beating heart of our firm.” The lease negotiations were overseen throughout by Roger Davis of Geo Hallam & Sons and supported by Freeths. Additional support was provided by Oval Real Estate, as advisers to the Landlord along with Mark Tomlinson at FHP who acted for the outgoing tenant Adrak, in the surrender negotiations.

Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Planning Committee will meet on Thursday July 28 to consider Nottingham Forest’s major plans for amendments to the City Ground and a residential development. The Council’s planning application report recommends approval of the plans which consist of a full planning application for the redevelopment of the Peter Taylor stand, including the demolition of existing buildings/structures, new public realm and car parking, and an outline planning application for up to 170 residential units. The residential scheme, meanwhile, would be housed in a 13 floor development with vehicle and cycle parking, commercial floor space, back of house and plant spaces, access and support facilities at the ground floor, additional vehicle parking and resident amenity space at first floor level followed by 11 levels of mixed sized residential units and roof top plant/terrace areas.

Councillors have agreed to proactively work with other Leicestershire districts, the City Council and County Council on the distribution of new homes and employment land from Leicester. Like all other councils, Blaby District Council is required to identify land for new homes and employment sites. The Council is set targets by the Government based on various factors such as population growth. Under national planning law, Blaby District is required to look at taking on a share of unmet housing from Leicester, which does not have enough land to meet its growth targets. The Council is legally obliged to co-operate with other districts to meet this need. To fulfil this requirement, the Leicester and Leicestershire Statement of Common Ground has been produced to distribute this unmet need of housing and employment land. At the Full Council meeting on 19 July, Councillors approved the intention to be the first council to sign the Statement of Common Ground. The signed document increases Blaby District’s annual housing need for 2020-2036 from 346 homes to 687 homes per year, an increase in 341 homes annually. No additional employment land has been allocated to the area. A comprehensive method to distribute the unmet need has been used to calculate the 346-home figure. The Housing and Economic Needs Assessment (HENA) looks at each council’s relationship with Leicester City, the balance of jobs and homes in each authority area and the ability for each area to deliver the additional allocation. Signing the Statement of Common Ground will also help to protect the integrity of Blaby District Council’s Local Plan. Not undertaking proactive work could see any Local Plan fail at examination which may make the Council more vulnerable to speculative and unwanted planning applications. Councillor Terry Richardson, leader of Blaby District Council, said: “I want to reiterate that this is a significant challenge for all councils in Leicester and Leicestershire. “This work needs to be undertaken proactively and in partnership with other councils. If we don’t do it, Central Government will do it for us, and this way gives us a lot more say than the alternative. “I understand how people may feel when they see Blaby District taking the biggest number of homes from the unmet need, but significant technical work has been done to reach the initial distribution figure. “It will also be important for the Government to recognise and support this joint working with the necessary funding of critical infrastructure, such as transport, schools and health provision to support the growth. “We are a Council that is prepared and strategic in its thinking and committed to shaping and making great places for our residents in the future. I am confident that any additional homes will be properly planned for so that we continue to do what is best for our local communities.”

Short-term finance specialist PMJ Capital has provided £3.2m funding to senior living specialist, Arbor Living, to fund the next phase of a retirement village, located just outside Lincoln. The scheme, The View, is a contemporary development of detached eco bungalows for the over 55’s, set in parkland overlooking a lake, just a short walk from Burton Waters Marina, just three miles from the city of Lincoln. The initial scheme consists of 13, 2-bedroomed bungalows and PMJ has provided funding via an 18-month peak cashflow facility of £1.75m. Graham Richardson, Managing Director at Arbor, said: “The View is located in a highly enviable location which we know will appeal to buyers, but the eco-design is also incredibly forward thinking and an attractive proposition, providing buyers with a unique opportunity to downsize to a highly efficient, single-storey home. “PMJ are an incredibly supportive partner. They understand what we are trying to achieve and ensure that they structure a deal that fully meets our requirements and enables success.” David Rainford, Managing Director of PMJ Capital, added: “This is a fantastic project and we are delighted to be able to work with Arbor once again. Graham and the team have created a well-thought-out and attractive project in an enviable location catering to the over 55 market. Whilst only recently out of the ground initial buyer response is strong which is really pleasing to see.” Construction has begun, with the first phase due for completion in Autumn this year.

Custodian REIT, the property investment company, has acquired two retail warehouses in Measham, Leicestershire, and Droitwich, Worcestershire, occupying an aggregate 40,077 sq ft. The units are both let to DFS Furniture. The agreed purchase price of £8.9 million was funded from the company’s existing debt resources. Richard Shepherd-Cross, Managing Director of Custodian Capital Limited (the company’s discretionary investment manager), said: “These high yielding assets let on long-term leases to a strong covenant are a great addition to our portfolio. “Retail warehouses continue to demonstrate their relevance and appeal alongside the continued rise of e-commerce, with one out of three sofas sold in the UK purchased in-store, while the ‘halo’ effect of a physical store supporting local online purchases is particularly strong for furniture. “The attractive entry yield will be accretive to dividend capacity over the medium term. As bricks and mortar retail undergoes a renaissance, and retail parks continue to outperform, we anticipate future market rental growth which should mitigate some of the acknowledged over-rent, support valuations and protect long term income streams.”