Rushton Hickman has successfully appraised, marketed and sold 114-116 High Street, Burton upon Trent on behalf of client Great Central Properties Ltd, within a timeframe of just two months. Regional Contractors Ltd has acquired the freehold of 114-116 High Street, Burton upon Trent, with plans to redevelop the first floor into residential apartments and modernise the ground floor for retail purposes. Taylor Millington, the surveyor responsible for the transaction, said: “It is always positive news when a transaction progresses swiftly, resulting in a mutually beneficial outcome for all parties involved. “Given the significant amount of interest the property got within the first week, we were able to quickly negotiate a strong deal for our client along with an agreed quick turnaround.” Taylor continued: “The property requires extensive redevelopment to transform it into a mixed-use investment, but this is something that Regional Contractors Ltd were happy to take on. “The modernisation of the retail shops will bring continued growth and addition to the busy high street and the repurposing of the upper floor into residential accommodation will help bring much needed homes to the market.” Great Central Properties Ltd said: “I cannot express my sincere appreciation for the outstanding work the team at Rushton Hickman have done in marketing and facilitating the sale of our commercial property. “The dedication, professionalism and strategic approach to marketing the property have been instrumental in attracting potential buyers. The comprehensive marketing campaign, including the well-designed promotional materials and online presence, showcased the property in the best light possible. “The team’s prompt communication, attention to detail and proactive approach exceeded my expectations and I want to express my gratitude for all the hard work, commitment and the positive attitude that was brought to every aspect of this sale. “I look forward to the opportunity of working together in the future, on my next purchase.”

Plans for the regeneration of Leicester’s market place could be under review, now that the demolition of the old market infrastructure has revealed the potential of the historic space. The removal of the old roof and the heavy wooden stalls has opened up views of the attractive heritage buildings that surround the market area and highlighted the dramatic scale of the space, prompting City Mayor Peter Soulsby to question whether reintroducing new permanent infrastructure onto the site would be the right thing to do. Council officers have now been tasked with drawing up alternative proposals, which would see Leicester’s market traders moving to a purpose-built location next to the Food Hall – and would allow the former market site to revert to its original purpose as an important meeting place in the heart of the city centre. Archive photographs from the early 20^th century show the market area as a vast open space where people would gather for political rallies or national celebrations. Market stalls would be packed away when not in use, leaving the space free for festivals and other special events – a flexibility that the City Mayor is keen to see restored. “I’m sure I’m not the only one who watched the old market roof come down and was blown away by what was revealed,” he said. “As the demolition team cleared the site, I was struck by the scale of the space and the quality of the surrounding architecture. “It made me ask myself if we were missing an opportunity to do something really special. “If we install new permanent infrastructure on the site – with stalls that would be used for just eight hours a day, six days a week – we won’t be able to use this extraordinary space for anything else. And once those new stalls are in place, they’ll probably be there for the next 30 years. “We therefore have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to do something quite bold – and that’s to reconsider our plans and create the impressive, flexible space for large-scale public events that we currently don’t have in Leicester city centre.” Under the new proposals, the city council would demolish the unattractive 1970s buildings at 12-20 Market Place to create a wide cut-through to Cank Street. The space created would accommodate a mix of market stalls and container units in a modern trading environment, protected from the elements by a roof. City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “I met with representatives of the market traders this morning (Wednesday) to explain my shift in thinking and to talk through the ideas. “While I fully appreciate their concerns about work being paused on site, I hope I was able to convey that I believe we have an opportunity to make a good scheme even better. “The proposed location for Leicester Market is a brand new cut-through that would link Market Place with Cank Street and the shops and bars of St Martin’s Square. Footfall would therefore be high – and the market’s proximity to the popular Food Hall would create a strong food-themed destination. “With Marks & Spencer announcing the closure of its Gallowtree Gate store, and with city centres everywhere becoming less reliant on traditional retail, it’s clear that Leicester city centre must keep evolving to ensure that it continues to be somewhere that people want to visit – and want to invest in. “This new proposal would provide our market traders with the clean, contemporary and attractive market area they need – and provide the city with a striking open space that could become home to the Christmas ice rink, the summer beach, live performances, outdoor cinema, food and drink festivals, national celebrations, and even open-top bus parades for our brilliant sports clubs. “Of course there’d be work to do to upgrade and refurbish the beautiful old buildings that surround the space, and to attract the cafés and bars that would help to animate it, but our intention would be to seek funding to support the conservation work and to work with development partners to bring new life to the area. “I’m now convinced that the right thing to do is to pause work on the current scheme to give people a chance to have their say, and I look forward to hearing those views.” Any comments on the new ideas for Leicester Market can be emailed to TheMayor@leicester.gov.uk by Friday 14 June.

Marketing Derby has urged Derby City Council planning committee members to back an investment which will create a food and beverage offer in one of the city’s regeneration  areas.

Burton Abbey Developments is looking to create an outdoor artisan food and beverage market – similar to those seen in London and Manchester – on an empty plot of land in St Peter’s Churchyard. The proposals have been refused twice and council officers are proposing a third refusal to the committee which meets this evening. However, the application has received strong backing from the city’s business community – including Marketing Derby and the Derby Economic Development Advisory Committee  – which has submitted letters of support. John Forkin, managing director of Marketing Derby, said: “We back this application, it’s exactly what the area needs. The report describes the site as ‘open, undeveloped space, vegetation and amenity which contributes to the verdant value of the street scene’. “In truth, it is derelict and in desperate need of some TLC which this proposal brings. The Heritage Impact Assessment actually states the scheme would ‘enhance the conservation area’ due to the investment it brings. “The proposal fits perfectly with Derby City Council’s ambition to create a vibrant city centre by regenerating such sites and this amenity will help attract more visitors. “We urge committee members to welcome this as an opportunity that will help lift the area, support its heritage as well as complementing the council’s own substantial investment into the nearby Performance Venue. It’s exactly the sort of thing the Derby is crying out for and the applicant has shown considerable patience and willingness in seeking planning for over three years.” Known as The Yard Derby, the revised scheme involves creating 10 retail units arranged in an ‘L-shaped’ configuration along the southern and western edges of the site, situated away from the Grade II*-listed St. Peter’s Church and the Grade II*-listed Old Grammar School. The plans incorporate a seating area with a capacity for up to 100 people. One key aspect of the proposal and location involves the developer’s plan to create a sympathetic entrance through the historic 19th-century wall bordering the site. Marketing Derby’s letter of support states: “This particular piece of land sits on a significant pedestrian thoroughfare for visitors to the new 3,500 capacity performance venue on the regenerated Becketwell site from areas such as Derbion, the bus station and the Market Hall. “The owner seeks to enhance and make reparations to the boundary wall and therefore improve the overall aesthetic from its current dilapidated condition.” The scheme’s backers include respected heritage architects Lathams as well as historian Maxwell Craven, both of whom have carried out detailed analysis of the site.