A detailed application has been submitted to Broxtowe Borough Council for a £41 million housing development on the site of Raleigh’s former headquarters in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire.

Developer Homes by Honey is seeking approval for the design, layout, and appearance of 125 residential properties planned for the Church Street location. Outline planning permission was previously granted in January.

The site was vacated by Raleigh in 2024 when the company relocated its head office to Durban House, also in Eastwood.

The proposed development, branded “Raleigh” to reflect the site’s history, includes new vehicle access from Church Street, pedestrian routes from the north, and green spaces integrated throughout the layout.

More than £1 million in financial contributions has been pledged by the developer to support local education, healthcare, and bus infrastructure. The council will issue a final decision on the full application in due course.

Legal & General has acquired a 409-bed student accommodation asset in Nottingham for its Institutional Retirement business, continuing its push into the purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) sector.

The property, located near the University of Nottingham’s new Castle Meadow Campus, was completed in August 2024. It is now in its first academic year of operation and will continue to be managed by Homes for Students under the Prestige Student Living brand.

L&G’s PBSA strategy focuses on recently developed, operational assets with strong sustainability credentials. The Nottingham site meets this brief, holding BREEAM Excellent, WiredScore Platinum, and EPC A certifications.

The deal aligns with L&G’s plan to deploy around £500 million into the PBSA market over the next two years, with a target of managing more than 5,000 beds and building a portfolio exceeding £1 billion.

To support platform growth, L&G has appointed James Brant as Senior Asset Manager. He joins from CRM Students, bringing over a decade of experience across university partnerships and private PBSA operations.

The acquisition adds to L&G’s broader residential portfolio and supports its long-term strategy of delivering institutional-grade rental housing on a larger scale.

Work transforming the eastern side of Derby city centre is in full swing, with the Eastern Gateway development set to be completed this summer. Delivered by Derbion and part-funded by Derby City Council, through the Government’s Future High Streets Fund, the Eastern Gateway will introduce a new façade and urban garden, transforming the area opposite the bus station and the eastern entrance to Derbion. In the coming weeks, work will begin on a brand-new play area, including a climbing feature and interactive activity panels designed to provide inclusive play for children of all needs. The space will also feature new planting and bench seating, creating a welcoming outdoor area for visitors to enjoy. In addition, plans are underway to bring additional attractions to the area, such as brand promotions, family-friendly activities and pop-up food stalls once the area is fully opened. The Kinetic Wall and Playground are expected to be in place later this year. Planning is also in progress for a large-format advertising wall, with installation expected during autumn/winter 2025 if approved. Beth McDonald, Managing Director of Derbion, said: “The Eastern Gateway project forms part of an exciting vision for Derbion, contributing further to the vibrancy and attractiveness of the city centre. “With development now in its final phase, we’re looking forward to seeing the transformative impact that this project has in providing a new, welcoming and inclusive space for visitors.” Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council and Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Strategy and Policy, said: “This development is key to better connecting different parts of our city centre, and it’s brilliant to see the progress happening on site. “By transforming this area, we’re not just enhancing the look and feel of this important gateway into our city centre but creating a welcoming space for everyone to enjoy. “We’re really pleased to be partnering with Derbion on this and are looking forward to seeing the vision turn into reality over the coming months.” Derby City Council was awarded £15 million through the Government’s Future High Streets Fund to support the development of the city centre, with £3 million allocated to the Eastern Gateway project. Derbion has funded a further £1 million towards the development.

NG Chartered Surveyors has completed the sale of three industrial units at Erewash Court on the Manners Industrial Estate in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, with the combined value nearing £1.1 million.

Units 2 and 3 were sold on behalf of a landlord by NG director Charlotte Steggles, while Unit 5 was handled separately by surveyor Alicia Lewis for another private client.

The transactions signal continued investor and occupier demand for well-located industrial space in the East Midlands, with Erewash Court drawing notable interest due to its accessibility and specification. The deals reflect ongoing strength in the region’s commercial property market, particularly for SME-targeted industrial units.

The estate remains a key location for regional businesses seeking functional, mid-sized premises with good transport links.

Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has sold the former care home, The Heights, in Chesterfield. The former care home comprises a 33-bedroom purpose-built property that was constructed in the 1990s, along with communal and back-of-house accommodation. It is located in a residential area in Tupton, a village in North East Derbyshire, approximately 4.5 miles south of Chesterfield. The home was previously registered for 36 residents and closed in November 2022. Following a sales process with Sam Fazackerley at Christie & Co, it has been purchased by Good Day Care Homes Limited which owns two other homes in South Yorkshire. Alexmon Baby, business development director at Good Day Care Homes Limited, said: “We opened our first home, Jubilee Care Home, a 59-bed care home in Rotherham, in November 2019, and expanded further with the acquisition of Alexander Court, a 56-bed care home in Sheffield, in September 2023. “With The Heights, we plan to refurbish the building and to reopen the home as a dedicated EMI residential/nursing facility, with in the next 6 months. Looking ahead, we are committed to expanding Good Day Care Homes into a large-scale care provider, delivering high-quality services across a broader portfolio.” Sam Fazackerley, business agent – care at Christie & Co, said: “As expected, there was a lot of interest in The Heights, attracting considerable interest from both regional and national care operators and local developers for alternative use. “I am so pleased to have completed on the sale with Good Day Care Homes Limited, and look forward to the home being reopened as an EMI nursing facility, especially considering there is an ongoing need for this type of requirement across the country.” The Heights Care Home was sold for an undisclosed price.

Two major retrofit programmes worth over £15 million have been awarded to Sustainable Building Services (SBS) to upgrade the energy efficiency of more than 700 homes in North East Derbyshire.

The projects, spanning both social housing and privately owned properties, will be delivered over the next three years. Funding comes from the UK Government’s Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund Wave 3 (WH:SHF) and the new Warm Homes: Local Grant (WH:LG).

Rykneld Homes is leading a £10.4 million initiative under the WH:SHF banner, aiming to upgrade around 400 properties. Meanwhile, North East Derbyshire District Council is managing a separate £5.1 million programme, funded through WH:LG, which targets over 300 fuel-poor households using a place-based strategy.

All homes involved are set to be upgraded to at least an EPC C rating. Retrofit measures will include cavity and external wall insulation, loft insulation, new double-glazed windows and doors, solar PV systems, and air source heat pumps. The focus is on reducing energy consumption, lowering carbon emissions, and cutting household energy bills.

SBS will deliver both schemes and is building on previous experience in the area, including a £21 million programme completed with Rykneld Homes under the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 2, which retrofitted over 640 homes.

The appointment was made through a direct award under the EEM Property Improvements and Decarbonisation Works Framework. Both retrofit projects are part of broader national and regional efforts to address fuel poverty, support decarbonisation goals, and stimulate the local green economy through job creation and infrastructure upgrades.