Work starts on 75 affordable homes at Sinfin development
Nottingham Community Housing Association (NCHA) has started work to build a development of 75 new affordable homes on Goodsmoor Road in Derby.
The site on Goodsmoor Road in Sinfin, less than five miles south of Derby city centre, will provide accommodation comprising one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom homes whilst regenerating the site of a former munition depot.
Marking the first joint scheme as part of a wider partnership, MORRO Partnerships will construct the affordable homes on behalf of NCHA.
The development will be made up of 45 affordable homes for rent and 30 will be available to buy with the help of the shared ownership scheme.
NCHA, MORRO and RG+P Architects met with Derby City Council for a tour of the site.
Councillor Shiraz Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing, Property and Regulatory Services at Derby City Council, said: “The right to a warm, safe and affordable home is critical to wellbeing and is a right everyone deserves. This mix of new affordable homes is exactly what Derby needs to support local families and young professionals.
“I’m thrilled to see construction underway and look forward to seeing future residents building strong communities here.”
The scheme contributes to NCHA‘s Strategic Partnership with Homes England, to deliver new, affordable homes across the East Midlands.
Allan Fisher, Director of Development at NCHA, said: “We are working towards all our new homes being as environmentally friendly as possible, with good thermal comfort and affordability for our customers. We would like to thank Derby City Council for their support on this scheme.”
Construction is scheduled to be completed summer 2025.
The development will feature a historic World War II pillbox to the south which will be retained and maintained for the benefit of the local community, preserving the legacy of the site the homes will be built upon.
Matthew Moore, CEO at MORRO, said: “We’re really looking forward to working towards this brownfield site becoming a thriving community with some much-needed affordable housing for people in the South Derbyshire area.
“We pledge to become better community makers and better environment makers, so the progression of these homes across the lifecycle will help to fulfil that while making positive change to the area.”
£6.4m community pavilion makes progress in Stapleford
Plans for a new £6.4m community pavilion for the people of Stapleford are progressing with the release of updated artists impressions and plans for the building and sports pitches.
Due to open in 2025, the building will be a state-of-the-art, accessible, energy-efficient, multi-use building with recreation and sports grounds on the Hickings Lane Recreation Ground.
It will replace some of the town’s out-of-date community facilities and bring people of all ages together to meet, learn, play and keep fit, including:
- A new, fully accessible, energy-efficient building
- Community café
- Multi-use events and learning spaces and community rooms
- 3G sports pitches and changing rooms
- Enhanced and increased onsite car parking spaces and cycle storage
Charity gets chocolate boost from local firm
Nottingham-based accountancy firm Page Kirk has joined forces with charity PASIC to help distribute Easter eggs this week to children with cancer.
The aim is to bring some much-needed cheer to the kids themselves, as well as their siblings and parents, who are in the middle of a very challenging and emotional time.
PASIC has been working in the East Midlands since the 1970s, when it was originally founded as Parents Association for Seriously Ill Children. Today, it supports nearly 500 families across the region through financial assistance, counselling, events, outings and other initiatives.
Page Kirk, based in Forest Fields, Nottingham, has nominated the organisation as its charity of the year and the sourcing of Easter eggs is just the latest in a series of fundraising efforts.
Some 150 families will be invited to a special PASIC Easter event, but those who have children too poorly to attend won’t miss out, as eggs will also be distributed on local hospital wards.
PASIC’s Corporate Fundraiser Beth Mills said: “We’re delighted to have the support of Page Kirk as their charity partner this year. They’ve done a fantastic job with their collection of Easter eggs. Each one will bring a smile to the face of a child with cancer. Egg-cellent work, Page Kirk!”
Page Kirk’s Head Receptionist Amanda Willis co-ordinates the firm’s fundraising efforts. She said: “PASIC is doing wonderful work in the local community, helping children affected by cancer as well as their families. We’ve dedicated our fundraising efforts in 2024 to supporting them and these Easter eggs seem such a great idea. Who doesn’t want to enjoy a bit of chocolate over the holiday period?”
Nottingham floor covering distributors sold
Nottingham-based T&R Floor Covering Distributors Limited, one of the UK’s leading floor covering distributors, has been sold to TradeChoice Carpet & Flooring.
T&R Floor Covering Distributors Limited is a family-run, independent business situated in the Midlands with over 35 years’ experience in the carpet and flooring industry.
A member of the Carpetright group, TradeChoice Carpet & Flooring is a major carpet and flooring distributor in the UK with 13 branches across England, Wales and Scotland. The acquisition of T&R Floor Covering Distributors Limited furthers TradeChoice’s growth plans within the Midlands and provides more efficient transport and storage options for the wider company.
David Crump, Corporate Finance Director at PKF Smith Cooper, led the advisory team for T&R Floor Covering Distributors Limited on the deal, while Actons Solicitors provided legal advice.
Malcolm Trott, shareholder and managing director, commenting on the deal, said: “T&R Floor Covering Distributors Limited, a family run business since 1977, sought a successor who shared our unwavering dedication to superior customer service. TradeChoice emerged as the natural choice, renowned for their commitment to excellence.
“Navigating the intricate process of selling our business was unfamiliar territory, but with the invaluable guidance of David Crump and the PKF Smith Cooper team, alongside Thomas Butcher and the Actons Solicitors team, we successfully sealed the deal. Their expertise was pivotal – without them, this transition wouldn’t have been possible.”
David said: “We are delighted to have been able to support the shareholders of T&R Floor Covering Distributors Limited in concluding the deal. As a fellow major distributor in the UK carpet and flooring industry, TradeChoice was a great synergistic fit and the ideal candidate for acquiring the company. We wish the shareholders all the best in their future endeavours.”
Local charity issues appeal for corporate ambassadors
Leicestershire-based charity Freeva are calling on local businesses to join them as corporate ambassadors and help deliver vital support to survivors of domestic abuse across the county.
Freeva specialise in delivering support to those impacted by domestic violence, rape, and sexual assault in Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland. Their services include helping those living through domestic abuse with recovery, providing specialist ongoing counselling to victims, breaking cycles of abuse by working with perpetrators to change their behaviour, and educating young people on the importance of building safe and respectful relationships.
Now, Freeva have issued an appeal to local businesses to help them continue their important work, either with a one-off donation or through monthly sponsorship.
The charity relies solely on donations and funding to deliver their services, and have said that corporate ambassadors are hugely instrumental in allowing them to continue reaching and supporting survivors, alongside continuing their preventative programme, The Jenkins Project, and providing youth support with their YP Project.
In return for their support, Freeva offer ambassadors promotional opportunities, fundraising campaign partnerships, and ambassador certification.
Suki Kaur, Chief Executive of Freeva, said: “Domestic abuse doesn’t just impact the victims, it impacts entire communities. As much as we try, we simply don’t have the resources to help every person in need, which is why we urgently need corporate ambassadors to help us reach more victims and deliver potentially life-saving support.
“Corporate ambassadors can also play a pivotal role in helping us to end the stigma surrounding domestic abuse by showing solidarity and compassion for survivors. You don’t need to have been affected by domestic abuse yourself to help, it can affect anyone and we all have a responsibility to stand with them, support them, and help them to rebuild their lives.”
The Crime Survey for England and Wales estimated that 2.1 million people aged 16 years and over (1.4 million women and 751,000 men) experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2023.
Canva snaps up Nottingham design platform Affinity
Canva, the all-in-one visual communication platform, has acquired Nottingham-based Affinity, the creative software suite for professional photo editing, illustration, graphic design and page layout.
The acquisition significantly bolsters Canva’s vision to build the world’s most comprehensive suite of visual communication tools.
“Visual communication is now ubiquitous in the workplace and investing in strategies that enhance our B2B offerings is core to the future of our business,” said Canva co-founder and COO, Cliff Obrecht.
“From sales and marketing, to brand and creative teams, the need to create effective and engaging visual content is on the rise. The Affinity team comes with an incredible caliber of talent and technology and we’re delighted to welcome them to Canva as we enter our next phase together.”
Today, more than 3 million users around the world trust Affinity to create everything from complex multi-layered graphics to detailed technical diagrams, art and illustration, logos, mockups, documents, magazines and more.
Canva will continue to invest in the Affinity suite to ensure it not only meets the needs of professional designers, but also enhances their experiences and empowers them to do their best work.
“Since the inception of Affinity, our mission has been to empower creatives with tools that unleash their full potential, fostering a community where innovation and artistry flourish,” said Ashley Hewson, CEO of Affinity.
“We’ve worked tirelessly to challenge the status quo, delivering professional-grade creative software that is both accessible and affordable. Canva’s commitment to empowering everyone to create aligns perfectly with those values. We couldn’t be more excited about becoming part of the Canva family and can’t wait to see what we will achieve together.”
Derbyshire engineering business acquires insulation firm
Derbyshire-headquartered engineering business Cullum Detuners has acquired Jade Insulation, which has premises in Rotherham and Feltham.
Jade Insulation specialises in insulation and trace heating solutions for all industrial markets, emphasising water utility and waste to power (biomass).
Mark Jansen, Cullum Group Managing Director, said: “This acquisition supports our long-
term goal of wider market diversification and business simplification.
“Jade complements our Group product offering well, and we believe we are well placed to support the incumbent leadership team’s growth goals and aspirations.
“I would like to thank Colin Tarry and Peter White, for their support during what was a smooth and collaborative sale process and wish them both the best for the future.”
Jade will remain a dedicated trading entity, with no plans to integrate into the wider Cullum Group.
TopHat presses pause on plans to open major modular homes factory in Corby
Modular housebuilder TopHat has pressed pause on its plans to open Europe’s biggest modular homes factory in Corby.
Production was due to start this year at the 650,000 sq ft facility.
Backed by a £15m debt facility with Homes England and funding from the likes of Goldman Sachs, Persimmon and Aviva Capital Partners, construction work at the TopHat site is nearly complete.
Now, however, the opening is on hold, according to reports in the Construction Enquirer. A spokesperson for TopHat told the publication: “TopHat continues to believe it will only be through bringing volumetric factories of the scale of Corby on stream that the UK will be able to solve its long term housing crisis.
“However, the short term market conditions mean it is prudent to pause now with the building almost complete but no equipment yet on site. We continue to develop our pipeline and will monitor conditions closely to restart when it is right to do so.”
It follows the announcement of redundancy plans at TopHat.
40 acre Leicestershire logistics site acquired
Ashfield Land has acquired 40 acres of land to the west of Shawell in Leicestershire with the potential for high quality distribution/logistics development.
The site – which fronts the A5 and is just off the M1 (between J19 ‘Catthorpe interchange’ and J20), and M6 (J1) – is in the heart of the UK ‘Golden Triangle’ for logistics uses.
The site and location are ideally suited for centrally located and strategically connected distribution and logistics development.
The deal is unconditional. Ashfield Land will now use its experience and expertise to bring proposals for the site forwards.
Ben Holmes, Director of Ashfield Land, said: “This is a textbook Ashfield Land deal for a site which has outstanding potential for logistics development within a very exciting market.
“We’re delighted to have completed the unconditional acquisition and are looking forward to progressing with our plans to secure planning and deliver a best in class logistics development in the heart of the Golden Triangle.”
The site will now be promoted for B2/B8 commercial development.
Ashfield Land will be bringing a planning application to Harborough District Council at the earliest opportunity.
Navigating through uncertainty: protecting your property assets with the right insurance
The unpredictability of today’s business climate requires a robust strategy to protect your assets. One often overlooked aspect is the security of unoccupied commercial properties, which can present unique challenges and risks. Ensuring you have the right insurance coverage becomes a crucial step in safeguarding your investment and maintaining the continuity of your business operations.
Unoccupied commercial property insurance is not just about fulfilling a legal requirement but protecting your financial future against unforeseen events. Protect your property and ensure peace of mind by exploring your options for unoccupied commercial property insurance today. Don’t let your assets become vulnerable to the unexpected. Take the first step towards comprehensive protection now.
What You Need to Know About Unoccupied Commercial Property Insurance
When you own commercial property that temporarily stands unoccupied, the risks don’t pause. Unoccupied commercial property insurance plays a pivotal role in protecting your investment during these periods. Unlike standard property insurance, this coverage is specifically designed to address the unique challenges and vulnerabilities of properties without regular occupancy. It ensures that your asset remains safeguarded against potential damages or losses, including vandalism, theft, or environmental factors.
Selecting the right insurance coverage is vital. This type of insurance can offer peace of mind by covering risks that are often excluded in standard policies. For example, the financial implications can be substantial if a pipe bursts or a fire occurs when the property is unoccupied. Having comprehensive coverage tailored to these situations ensures that your property is protected, helping you manage your financial risk effectively.
The Risks to Unoccupied Properties
Unoccupied commercial properties are more than just vacant spaces; they are assets at increased risk. Without daily oversight, these properties become prime targets for vandalism and squatting, both of which can lead to significant financial loss and damage. Furthermore, the absence of regular maintenance can exacerbate small issues, such as leaks or electrical faults, turning them into major problems that are costly to address.
Beyond the immediate threats, there are also legal and insurance implications to consider. Many standard insurance policies limit or exclude coverage for periods when a property is unoccupied. This gap in protection can leave you vulnerable to unexpected expenses, highlighting the need for specialised insurance that keeps your property covered, no matter the circumstances.
Preventive Measures for Unoccupied Commercial Properties
Protecting your unoccupied commercial property goes beyond insurance; it involves taking proactive steps to mitigate risks. Regular maintenance checks are crucial. Ensure that security systems are operational, plumbing is intact, and electrical systems are safe. These measures reduce the risk of damage and deter potential vandals or squatters, keeping your property in a better state and potentially lowering insurance premiums.
Consider employing a property management service for regular inspections and maintenance. This can be especially beneficial if you cannot visit the property often. They can report issues before they escalate, providing an added layer of security. Establishing a good relationship with neighbours can also offer extra eyes on your property, adding to your peace of mind.
Key Terms and Conditions of Insurance Policies
Understanding the key terms and conditions of unoccupied commercial property insurance policies is crucial for ensuring your coverage meets your needs. Policies can vary significantly, so it’s important to understand what is and isn’t covered. For instance, some policies may have specific requirements for how long a property can remain unoccupied before coverage changes, or they may require you to implement certain security measures.
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How to Choose the Right Unoccupied Property Insurance
Choosing the right unoccupied property insurance requires careful consideration of your specific needs and risks. Start by assessing the coverage options available, focusing on policies that offer comprehensive protection against a wide range of risks. This includes looking for policies that cover everything from structural damage to liability in case someone is injured on the property.
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Have you considered the full extent of protection your unoccupied commercial property needs? Ensure your investment is safeguarded against all risks by choosing the right unoccupied commercial property insurance. Act now to secure your property’s future and maintain your peace of mind. Explore your insurance options today and take control of your property’s protection.
