New Beeston student scheme to boost town centre
Midlands-based developer Cassidy Group has submitted a planning application for a mixed-use scheme at the edge of Beeston town centre that will breathe new life into a derelict site – and bring increased footfall and economic benefit to local retailers.
Built using sustainable materials, the seven-storey mixed use scheme of retail/commercial units will feature student accommodation – meeting the needs of modern student life and freeing up a huge number of Beeston and city HMO student houses for families to move into.
The 419-bed scheme in Station Road, next to The Arc Cinema and Tesco, is a few minutes’ walk from the University of Nottingham campus and is on the tram route. The scheme is situated next to new bars and restaurants such as Ottimo and the forthcoming Beeston Social.
Sam Rose, of Cassidy Group, said: “We are excited to bring this student scheme to Beeston. Not only will students love living there – so close to the amenities they enjoy, as well as their university campus – but we are bringing a derelict site back to life.
“We feel the scheme fits well with the fantastic Beeston town centre that is emerging as a busy and exciting place to be, both day and night. We know from our research that Beeston is becoming a more desirable place for families and students to live. By providing purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), we can open up HMOs (houses in multiple occupation) for families to live in.
“By creating sensitively designed student schemes with fabulous interiors like the one we are proposing for Beeston, we know we can not only create something that benefits the local area – but also an additional student environment where people really want to live.”
Cassidy says the scheme will rely heavily on local transport. It will provide limited parking – allowing only for deliveries and disabled parking – because of the variety of public transport access through bus, tram, and pedestrian routes. It is just a few minutes’ walk from Beeston Railway Station.
The scheme will provide 318 classic studios of 16 square metres, 76 classic plus studios of 16 to 20 square metres, and 25 premium/accessible studios of between 26 and 30 square metres.
“The proposed development will attract students from the University of Nottingham. To discourage students from parking on or near the site, we will be making sure that students take full advantage of all the transport services, as well as scooters and bicycles. We will also be providing travel passes for students to use the tram,” said Sam.
“Encouraging students to use Beeston’s extensive public transport network will benefit the environment, as will the scheme’s energy-efficient design, which guarantees an EPC rating of at least ‘B’-grade, if not ‘A’.”
Figures produced by the Higher Education Statistical Agency (HESA) show a full-time student population of 63,000 in Nottingham in 2019, up by 22.1% since 2015. Acceptances from both universities have also been rising. Since 2015 the University of Nottingham has seen an increase in yearly acceptances of 13.1% and NTU has seen an increase of 56% in the same period.
“An independent report found that 69% of direct let beds available in Nottingham are provided by HMOs, with less than one third provided by private PBSA operators. In Beeston, with no direct let PBSA available, 100% of the direct let accommodation on offer to students consists of Beeston houses split into flats,” added Sam.
“With Beeston continuing to be popular with families, we know from speaking to local estate agents that there are few places for them to move into – so our planned first PBSA will release those houses to the people who really need them.”
The research also found that annual demand growth in Nottingham for student accommodation at 4.9% could mean a shortfall of student beds in the city of at least 6,021 by 2024.
“There are currently no live PBSA developments south-west of the University of Nottingham and so this Cassidy scheme is really needed,” added Sam.
Businessman Ross Considine, who owns the nearby Ottimo, said: “I am sure I speak for a number of retailers and bar-restaurant owners when I say that I would welcome this scheme with open arms.
“We opened our third bar-restaurant in Beeston because we could see what an amazing, lively town centre it is. In our first few weeks of opening, we have had great feedback – and have also welcomed students. This scheme will further boost local shops and restaurants and of course local transport.
“Student footfall boosts local economies, and the student spend is worth tens of thousands of pounds a year for Beeston – and that must not be forgotten. We want the town to continue to be the bustling, lively and exciting place it is.”
The scheme will be going to planning committee in July and there will be public engagement sessions for the local community and local businesses in May and June. Cassidy is working on six other mixed-use schemes across Nottingham.
New build Travis Perkins development completes at Worksop
A 1,933 sq m purpose built builders merchant facility has completed at the Vesuvius development off Sandy Lane, Worksop with Travis Perkins set to open in July 2022.
Property development and investment company, CEG, managed the build of the bespoke unit, which will be leased by Travis Perkins. The development will create 20 new jobs, deliver a new supply chain facility for existing local business and bring economic benefits to the area.
Will Moss, acquisition director from Travis Perkins plc, said: “We’re really excited to have secured this new two acre site in Worksop, which will be a key branch for Travis Perkins, providing a fantastic offering for our customers. It’s scheduled to open in July and this means we’ll be able to create new jobs in the community and help support Worksop’s construction workers and tradespeople with the expert knowledge and advice that they come to expect from Travis Perkins.”
CEG is currently managing the comprehensive regeneration of the 17.75ha Vesuvius site. With planning permission for more than 200,000 sq ft of employment space, the first phase of 46,000 sq ft of multi-tenanted industrial units adjacent to Asda completed last year and is almost fully let. Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service also acquired land at the site and has built a new fire station.
Subsequent phases will also offer larger employment units including speculative as well as pre-let, design and build development for office, light industry, storage and distribution requirements.
Will Martin, strategic land lead at CEG, said: “We welcome Travis Perkins to this thriving business community. This brownfield regeneration has proved a success with many companies thriving on the site. It has been the largest speculative development of this scale and quality in Worksop for many years and we continue to see strong interest in the space from well-known national trade and industrial occupiers alongside smaller, local businesses.”
In 2018, supported by D2N2, CEG delivered a £5.5million package of works to create a new roundabout and access road opening up the site and remediating it for redevelopment. This makes the site easily accessible to the A60, A57, Worksop and its surrounds.
D2N2 LEP interim CEO, Will Morlidge, said: “It’s great to see that the new Travis Perkins branch has been completed and will soon be open to benefit the local community. The Vesuvius site represents an exciting landmark development for Worksop and the wider area, and we’re very proud to have supported it. The success of the site demonstrates the resurgent appetite for investment across north Nottinghamshire, supporting our collective ambitions to rebuild and grow our economy.”
Chris Proctor & Anthony Barrowcliffe from FHP and Ben Flint from Fisher German are marketing the site. Chris Proctor said: “It is fantastic news to have attracted the big name of Travis Perkins to Vesuvius. This strong brand complements an already strong line up of names at this Worksop business destination.
“We have just four industrial / trade units remaining on this first phase of the development offering from 3,750 sq ft up to 5,100 sq ft. This presents an excellent opportunity for both local and national occupiers. There are also land opportunities for units up to 200,000 sq ft. We would be delighted to talk with any businesses considering a move to Vesuvius, Worksop.”
Elevate appoints trio of contractors to deliver £32m+ builds across the Midlands
Construction deals worth more than £32m have been signed in the Midlands after a trio of contractors were selected on behalf of Elevate Property Group.
The independent developer, led by property entrepreneur Steve Dodd, has selected Kings Heath-based Kavanagh Construction to start work on the transformation of Imperial House in Solihull next month.
It marks the start of construction on the final phase of Princes Gate project, with the development of ‘Imperial House’ comprising 60 luxury apartments on the site of a former multi-storey car park in the town.
Also due to start in June is a multi-million pound scheme for a mixed-use retail and residential development on the riverside Muller Yard location in Nottingham, an extension to the Trent Bridge Quays scheme.
Construction of 44 apartments and 14 town houses, along with 5,000 sq ft of commercial space, will be delivered by Leicester-based Bode Contracting.
The final appointment will see Telford-based Bespoke Construction Services Ltd take on a landmark project to bring an historic site in Birmingham’s Gun Quarter back to life.
Gunsmith House, in Price Street, will be restored as part of the overall development that will deliver 85 new homes to the area.
Steve Dodd, of Elevate Property Group, said all three contractor appointments reflected the company’s commitment to working with regional partners on developments which revitalise communities. The build cost for the three projects is in excess of £32 million.
James Costello, Elevate’s development director, added: “We’re proud to be leading the way in the redevelopment of several sites across the Midlands, including investing in high-profile locations in Birmingham, supporting the UK’s heartland to recover post-pandemic.
“We want to partner with contractors who share our values and our vision for delivering exceptional projects of outstanding quality. The appointment of Kavanagh Construction, Bespoke Construction Services and Bode Contracting reflects this commitment and will give confidence to investors, buyers and ultimately the communities where our developments come to life.”
Aiden O’Gara, of Kavanagh Construction, said: “We’re currently working with Elevate on its prestigious Heaton House development in Birmingham, so we are delighted to be continuing this working partnership with a new contract to develop Imperial House at Princes Gate.”
Bode Contracting, which is currently delivering Elevate’s Priory House development, will develop the Muller Yard phase of the Nottingham Trent Bridge scheme, due for completion Q3/Q4 2023. Dan Bodell said: “We have a great working relationship with Elevate and are looking forward to this continuing with the delivery of the upcoming Muller Yard scheme.”
Arran Summerfield, of Bespoke Construction, said: “It’s fantastic to be involved in delivering this landmark project for Elevate in the heart of Birmingham’s gun-making industry. The project is expected to be completed in late 2023.”
Funding for all these developments has been provided by Paragon and Pluto Development Finance.
Martin Ward relinquishes position on Mather Jamie management board
Leicestershire-based specialist land development and property consultancy, Mather Jamie has announced that one of its founding directors, Martin Ward, has relinquished his position on its management board.
Martin was one of the founders of the company in 1991, and has sold his remaining shares to fellow directors Rob Cole and Andrew Bamber over recent years. Since then, he has relinquished responsibility for business operations but continued managing an extensive and long standing client portfolio. He will remain a director of the company and the Mather Jamie management board now comprises Robert Cole, Andrew Bamber, Alex Reid and Gary Owens.
Whilst Martin has stepped down from his managerial responsibilities, he will continue to focus on the completion of a number of deals that are in the pipeline for his long standing clients, including his work on the sustainable urban extension at New Lubbesthorpe on behalf of the Drummond Trust, and advising the Harpur Crewe Estate on short and medium term residential and commercial development south of Derby, including Infinity Park and Infinity Park Garden Village.
In February 2021, Mather Jamie announced four new senior promotions when Gary Owens and Amy Biddell were promoted to director, Gary Kirk to senior associate director and Hamish Byers to associate director, and Martin will also work alongside the management team to ensure a smooth succession of responsibilities.
Martin said: “Whilst I may no longer be the first person in and the last person to leave the office, I will continue to work for clients and enjoy passing on my knowledge and expertise to the next generation. I plan to work hybridly and will flex my hours to suit the needs of clients and my other personal interests and hobbies. Rest assured, my retirement is still very far away as I am just far too busy and committed to my clients.”
Nottingham PR agencies lead the way in UK-wide rankings
Cartwright Communications and Tank – both based in the city’s Lace Market – are once again the highest ranking agencies in the East Midlands as part of the PR Week Top 150, a national league table of thousands of PR agencies across the UK. Tank was ranked 167th overall, with Cartwright Communications at 178.
Cartwright Communications – led by former journalist Liz Cartwright alongside directors Rose Hayes and Annie Brafield – was named the 34th B2B agency in the country and 85th on the national consumer list. Meanwhile, Tank – headed up by Trevor Palmer and co-owners Martin Stone and Max Bevis – ranked as the 32nd agency outside of London, as well as being named as 51st for its credentials in the technology sector.
The pair are consistent features on the list, which is compiled annually from the roughly 5,000 agencies practicing PR in the UK.
Rose Hayes, director at Cartwright Communications, said: “After two years of an unpredictable market, it’s great to be recognised for our team’s fantastic work and the business’ continued growth. To be ranked in the top 100 for both B2B and B2C is a huge achievement and one that not many agencies in the region can lay claim to.
“While the Top 150 recognises financial achievements and growth, our business plan has very much focussed on workplace culture. We’re equally proud of recently gaining our Great Place to Work accreditation as well as being a finalist in the upcoming Inspiring Workplace Awards which mean we’re a fantastic place to work as well as being a top agency to work with.”
Commenting on the rankings, Martin Stone, director at Tank, said: “Being named as the top performing East Midlands agency in the overall Top 150 listing for a second year is testament to the strong team that we’ve built at Tank and the culmination of a real group effort.
“2021 was not so much about client acquisition but more about taking the lessons learnt during the pandemic and realigning for growth, while also focusing on what makes Tank what it is – our people. This approach resulted in our best performing year to date, marking a solid 12-years of growth.”
£430k investment improves efficiency at Fortec Distribution Network
Fortec Distribution Network has invested heavily in its Northamptonshire hub to improve efficiency and capacity.
The company has invested £250,000 in a new fleet of 36 forklift trucks from Still, while an additional £180,000 has been spent on upgrading the roof of its 210,000 sq ft warehouse.
The state-of-the-art RX70 LPG forklifts will enable its warehouse team to load and unload more quickly, ensuring a better service for Fortec pallet network members and customers.
Safety was paramount in the choice of forklift truck, with the RX70 LPG delivering excellent all-round visibility alongside its high performance.
The roof upgrade, which is currently being installed, is designed to provide additional visibility through the use of skylights.
Kevin Buchanan, Pall-Ex Group CEO, comments: “This is a significant investment that has provided the operations team with more reliable kit, ensuring quicker turnarounds and an all-round better service from the central hub.
“The Still RX70 LPG is the best in class for the industry and benefits from state-of-the-art technology, a spacious driver’s cab, lateral battery change programmable drive and hydraulic performance, while complying with Euro V emission standard regulations.
“We have replaced the previous fleet and increased it, enabling us to improve handling within the hub and reduce waiting times for our members.
“The addition of the new roof will vastly improve the warehouse environment and provide the right setting to support our ambitious growth plans.
“Since acquiring the business, Pall-Ex Group has invested in all areas of the network to ensure Fortec is operating to the same standard as Pall-Ex and to position it as best in class among the pallet networks.”
Two new starters at marketing agency Purpose Media
Full service digital marketing agency, Purpose Media has further expanded its team following the appointment of Jodie Pringle as a content and marketing executive and Joshua Ware as a digital support technician apprentice.
Jodie was previously a freelance SEO and content writer, having gained experience working for the NHS where she held several roles. She has experience of writing content for travel, mental health, lifestyle companies and small brands and will be working with Purpose Media clients to help create marketing strategies that build brand identity and online presence.
Her role will include creating multimedia content online for social media, website blog articles and other online content to maximise the effectiveness of organic search results (SEO) and paid advertising campaigns (PPC). In her spare time Jodie is also a book blogger and fiction writer.
Commenting on her new role Jodie said: “When searching for my next career move, I was looking to work for a forward-thinking company in a supportive environment where I could develop further. Working at Purpose Media will enable me to expand my experience and widen my skills and knowledge of other sectors and business topics.”
Continuing its support for young people, Joshua joins Purpose Media on a Digital Marketing Apprenticeship provided by EMA Training. His ultimate goal is to support the website development team where he will learn to build new websites and implement ongoing improvements. Joshua plays the piano and also enjoys gaming and IT.
DSP-Explorer acquires Claremont to extend data management capabilities
Oracle Cloud and Database technology specialist DSP-Explorer has completed its 5th acquisition, the purchase of UK-based Oracle Applications Partner Claremont, materially extending its services capabilities.
With offices in London, Nottingham and Leeds, DSP-Explorer is an enterprise database infrastructure and managed services specialist that has established a reputation as a trusted partner for companies that want to invest in Oracle, Microsoft, and indeed multi-cloud technologies.
Following funding and investment from YFM Equity Partners in 2018 and 2021, DSP has grown revenues from an initial £5m to an expected group out-turn of £30m in 2022.
Simon Goodenough, CEO of DSP Group, said: “DSP and Claremont already have several clients-in-common, so when the opportunity arose for us to work together as a combined business I was hugely excited.
“We share similar cultural values, especially those of responsiveness and customer success, and both want our businesses to be great places to work for our employees. Where DSP has traditionally been known for its strength in core database and cloud infrastructure, they have been successful in building a first-class Oracle application management business.
“In an industry where both skills and experience are in high demand, this merger allows us to offer a wider variety of complementary services to our customers, whether they are on a journey to the cloud or in the cloud, and whether that have on-premise application workloads, or hybrid models.”
Founded in 2004 and with offices in Guildford and Newcastle, Claremont is an Oracle Managed Services Provider. They are best known in the marketplace for the provision of Oracle E-Business managed services, their infrastructure cloud offering Claremont CloudTM, and the delivery of business-critical Oracle E-Business migration and upgrade projects.
Mark Vivian, CEO of Claremont, who joins the board of the DSP Group, said: “As a provider of complementary services in the Oracle marketplace, DSP-Explorer is a known quantity to Claremont, and a well-respected Oracle partner.
“I am very excited about the fusion of the Claremont and DSP businesses, combining our applications and technology strengths together with a comprehensive multi-cloud services portfolio.
“The breadth of our combined service offering, along with our shared delivery excellence ethos, will enable us to deliver an even more compelling proposition to customers. I’m looking forward to working with Simon and the team.
“I think that this corporate union presents a really invigorating opportunity for the Claremont team as we join forces with our new DSP colleagues to help to shape and grow the combined business going forwards.”
Simon Goodenough added: “Whilst this acquisition hugely broadens our Oracle portfolio, and takes our client base to well over 500, it also gives us greater opportunities to increase our share of the other fast-growing markets that we address through our Any Database | Any Cloud proposition, both here in the UK and globally.
“I already know a number of the Claremont team and it’s going to be a real privilege to start working with them, and indeed learning from them, as we look to grow our mutual business.”
Record first half revenues for Topps Tiles
Topps Tiles, the Leicester-based tile specialist, has reported record first half turnover.
According to unaudited consolidated interim financial results for the 26 weeks ended 2 April 2022, turnover reached £119 million, compared to £103 million in H1 2021.
Meanwhile the company recorded a pre-tax profit of £5.6 million, up from £4 million. Topps noted that like-for-like sales are up 22.7% on a two-year basis in the first half, and up 19.7% on a one-year basis.Rob Parker, Chief Executive, said: “The group has delivered record first half revenues against a backdrop of continued robust demand for home improvements. While supply chain and inflation headwinds strengthened in the period, we are managing these challenges effectively overall and believe we remain well positioned relative to many of our competitors.
“We have continued to develop the Topps Tiles brand, enhancing our store portfolio and introducing a number of new developments to our award-winning website to further strengthen our omni-channel capability.
“We are pleased to announce the launch of Tile Warehouse, a new online-only brand which brings everyday low prices to homeowners. This builds on the acquisition of Pro Tiler Ltd in March and forms the basis for a new, high growth, online-only sales channel, leveraging our core strengths in product, service and scale.
“Looking ahead, we are mindful of the growing burden on consumers from inflation and rising interest rates as well as ongoing supply chain challenges, however, we remain confident in our strategy and medium term growth prospects.”
Pride Park office investment sold
FHP Property Consultants have sold a self-contained office building on Pride Park, Derby, which it says shows “there is still great demand to purchase good quality well let buildings.”
1 Pride Point Drive is let to two tenants occupying a total space of 557m2 (5,995ft2). The building produces an income of £75,750 per annum and has been sold to private investment clients for £855,000, reflecting a net initial yield of approximately 8.42% net of costs.
Darran Severn of FHP Property Consultants said: “The office market has been particularly active in recent months and this is one of several office buildings we have sold on Pride Park.
“There is good demand to purchase both vacant and occupied buildings. As availability decreases I see capital values beginning to rise.”
