Building set to be replaced as planning permission granted for new student flats
With planning permission granted for new, 10-storey student accommodation on Talbot Street, Nottingham, East Midlands-based engineering consultancy Howard Ward Associates (HWA) has been appointed as civil and structural engineer on the development through repeat work with long established clients, McLaren Property.
The scheme, which will house 318 student beds, will replace the former Domestic and General office building located on the site.
HWA has given pre purchase advice on engineering site constraints such as contamination, site levels and services.
To support the planning application HWA provided a contamination preliminary risk assessment, transport assessment and travel plan, flood risk and SuDS strategy alongside civil and structural engineering design.
The project provides an opportunity to regenerate an inner-city site in an area which is closely linked to Nottingham Trent University.
Over the last five years, Wollaton Street, adjacent to Talbot Street, has been extensively redeveloped, providing areas which resemble an extension of the university campus. The purpose-built student accommodation provides social benefit by relieving pressure on community housing.
Dan Bailey, Managing Director at HWA, said: “We are delighted to be working on the Talbot Street development following planning approval – refurbishing the former Domestic and General building into quality student accommodation for an area closely linked to Nottingham Trent University.
“The site presents great opportunity to give a worthwhile contribution to the ongoing regeneration efforts in the inner city. We have been involved providing pre purchase due diligence on engineering matters and support through the planning phase for this student resi with McLaren Property, along with planning consultants Savills who navigated gaining the permission.”
HWA will be working alongside Leonard Design, Chord Consult, Pulse Consult, and Evolve in the following phases, with the project programmed to complete for occupation in the 2025 academic year.
New Managing Director for Nottingham Trams
Nottingham Trams Limited, which oversees the operation and maintenance of the city’s tram network for the Nottingham Express Transit (NET), has appointed Chris Wright as its new Managing Director.
In his new role at Nottingham Trams Chris will take responsibility for the strategic leadership of the city’s tram system to ensure its safe operation, oversee the company’s budget and be the primary contact for key stakeholders of the business.
Chris was previously commercial director for East Midlands Railway, which saw him lead teams responsible for marketing, retail and external relations and act as the primary interface with the Department for Transport to manage contracts and new business opportunities.
Prior to this Chris held senior roles as fleet director at East Midlands Trains, engineering and commercial director at Vossloh Kiepe UK and depot manager for London Midland’s Soho and Tyseley maintenance depots.
Alistair Gordon, Chief Executive of Keolis UK and Dubai, said: “The experience and expertise that Chris brings to our business is significant and will be valuable in meeting the current challenges.
“He will be leading an excellent and well-regarded team and I am looking forward to working with Chris to ensure that he has the resources and talent to continue to deliver the best service possible for communities across Nottingham.”
Commenting on his appointment, Chris said: “I am pleased and proud to have been appointed to this role. I look forward to working with all our stakeholders to ensure the continued success of the network.
“I am also excited to have the support of Keolis Group and its international experience as an important added value to delivering service excellence. I particularly look forward to working with the team at Nottingham Trams who have been a part of building a valued public asset for the city.”
Record revenues for Leicester joinery and fit-out company
A Leicester-based joinery and interior fit-out contractor, which has posted the highest annual revenues in its history, has £60 million of secured work for the new financial year.
EE Smith Contracts, which is celebrating its 125th birthday this year, has recorded a turnover of £61.5 million for the year to March 31, 2022.
This record-breaking activity has been secured partly by working on multiple prestigious developments including The Peninsula London hotel overlooking Hyde Park Corner and the completion of 15 super-prime apartments in Knightsbridge in London.
Profits have bounced back strongly following COVID-19 and are forecast to exceed pre-pandemic levels for the year ahead.
EE Smith Contracts enters the new financial year with £60 million of secured work, with significant flagship opportunities for the months ahead.
The business, which employs 285 staff, has reduced carbon emissions by over 20 per cent in the last year despite the growth in activity at its sites in Leicester and London by investing in a new £125,000 extraction system.
There is also continued growth in long-established apprenticeship programmes, with 35 new apprenticeships having been recruited since the outbreak of COVID-19.
Neil Simpson, finance director at EE Smith Contracts, said the company has enjoyed record-breaking liquidity through the year, giving it a secure platform for the coming years.
He said: “The annual results to March 2022 have delivered the highest annual revenue in the company’s history which is due to the hard work and unwavering commitment of our staff.
“We are in advanced discussions regarding a few contracts in the high-end residential and hotel markets which remain stable despite a challenging economic backdrop.
“All this is the best possible way for the business to celebrate its 125-year history which is a history built on employee training and development and investment in cutting-edge technology, and delivering best-in-class craftsmanship.
“EE Smith Contracts has a long history of training youngsters and a significant number of our current employees are former apprenticeships who have stayed with us because it is a family environment.
“We have established great links with London colleges and have 30 apprentices on our sites in London who are learning from among the finest craftspeople in the country. The London labour market is very dynamic and we’re building the EE Smith Contracts family environment on those sites as well to retain our apprentices and provide a pathway for their career.
“Further reductions are forecast in our carbon emissions following significant investment in carbon saving technology in the last six months because this is an area which is really important to us.
“Overall, after evaluating the cost of the pandemic, which we estimate cost the business £3.8 million, to reach a stage where profits are now healthier than pre-COVID is testament to the high standard of our work and the high calibre of our staff.”
Suppliers of health food and wellness products enter administration
Administrators have been appointed to Tree of Life UK Limited and Health Stores (Wholesale) Limited.
The companies form part of the UK’s largest independent health food and wellness products distribution platform, supplying a broad range of third party and owned brand goods, food and drink, personal care, and vitamins, minerals and supplements.
206 employees are located across the two company sites in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Nottingham.
Over recent months, the group has faced a number of challenges including an unexpected sales decline following the loss of a large customer, and unprecedented market conditions that have impacted on financial performance. Despite significant efforts by the company to avoid insolvency, the directors reached the conclusion that it was in the best interest of creditors for the company to be placed into administration.
Chris Pole and Ryan Grant from Interpath Advisory were appointed to Tree of Life UK Limited and Health Stores (Wholesale) Limited, on 22 August 2022.
Across the two companies, of the 206 employees, 63 were retained to assist the administrators in the realisation of assets and the performance of their statutory duties. The remaining 143 members of staff have been made redundant.
The joint administrators are exploring a number of options including seeking a buyer for the businesses, their assets and intellectual property.
Chris Pole, Managing Director at Interpath and joint administrator, said: “Regrettably, the loss of business from a key customer, together with the effects of the well documented economic headwinds, including inflationary pressures, have been incredibly challenging for Tree of Life UK Limited and Health Stores (Wholesale) Limited.
“Our immediate priority is to assist those members of staff who have been made redundant, and provide them with the information they require to make approproate claims.”
Wowcher takes ground floor suite at Derby office building
Wowcher has taken a new 5 year lease on a ground floor suite measuring 3,919ft² at Pentagon House, Sir Frank Whittle Road, Derby.
Pentagon House is a multi tenanted office building providing modern accommodation across four floors. The building benefits from a staffed reception, air conditioning and on site parking.
Darran Severn, director at FHP Property Consultants, says: “It was a pleasure to deal with Wowcher. We first discussed an office relocation with them back in 2021 and it is great to have now found them suitable accommodation. There has been significant investment in the building recently and it really shows. The modern reception leads to newly refurbished open plan office space which benefits from showers and individual WC’s.
“In addition to the Wowcher letting, a 786ft² pavilion suite has been let to Dovedale Logistics and another entire wing is under offer of which we hope to release further details shortly.”
Mark Roberts of Loxton Developments, who own the property, says: “Pentagon House is one of the most prominent office buildings in Derby city centre overlooking Derbyshire County Cricket ground. The suites are refurbished with kitchens and data cabling so ready to occupy now with minimum fit out required.
“With an EPC of B the building is very energy efficient which is increasingly important to tenants. We are delighted to welcome some new tenants to the building which previously has been occupied by Alstom, Citi and Balfour Beatty.”
Innes England acted as joint agents.
MRZ Logistics UK secures new 21,000ft² Nottingham premises
Chris Proctor of FHP Property Consultants, on behalf of the landlord, Abbeyfield Estates Limited, has let 4 Padge Road, Beeston, Nottingham to MRZ Logistics UK Limited on a new 10 year lease term.
The modern warehouse unit provides MRZ Logistics with the expansion space to take on further contracts for their growing e-commerce and 3PL fulfilment business.
Chris Proctor of FHP Property Consultants said: “Having dealt with MRZ Logistics for a number of years, I am delighted to finally have found them the right home for their expanding business. It has been a pleasure working with Winne and Jun and I am pleased that the result of this letting has ended with a happy tenant and happy landlord.”
Innes England were joint agents on this transaction.
Skanska secures contract to deliver A46 Newark Bypass improvement scheme
Skanska has signed a contract with National Highways to deliver the A46 Newark Bypass improvement scheme.
The contract will lead to the upgrade of a four-mile (6.6km) stretch of the A46 Newark Bypass, an important route connecting the M1 and Leicester to the A1 and central Lincolnshire, and is identified as a strategically important scheme in the Government’s Road Investment Strategy. The scheme is expected to cost between £400 – £500 million.
Skanska will undertake the design and construction of the widening of the A46 to a dual carriageway, providing two lanes in each direction between the Farndon and Winthorpe junctions. Works will also include the construction of a new five-arm roundabout at Winthorpe and traffic lights at Farndon junction to improve traffic flows during peak hours. A new bridge will be built to take traffic over the A1, and a flyover installed at Cattle Market.
“We’re really excited to be delivering these important improvement works for National Highways,” said Jonathan Willcock, Managing Director of Skanska’s Infrastructure business.
“We have established a collaborative and trusted relationship with our key customer and this contract builds on our current projects at M42 junction 6 and the A428.
“We’ll be working with National Highways and our design partner, Mott McDonald, to bring together a really strong and integrated team, alongside our wider supply chain.
“We’re taking the lead for this project from the preliminary design stage, which enables us to more closely align design, consultation and buildability activities. This will help us to identify opportunities to optimise productivity, reduce cost and carbon emissions and deliver the project safely – while leaving a positive legacy for the local community.”
The works will deliver improved capacity to address traffic congestion on the A46 around Newark-on-Trent and provide better links to the A1 and M1. It will boost productivity and economic growth through providing a more reliable and resilient road network. The scheme is due to open for traffic in 2028.
National Highways senior project manager, Phil Boffey, said: “We’re delighted to have reached a major milestone in the development of the A46 Newark Bypass, with the appointment of Skanska to deliver this much-needed upgrade.
“This scheme will bring relief for the communities enduring the current congestion, as well as drivers using this key trade corridor.
“We are determined to ensure that, as far as possible, the improvements work for the community as a whole and will continue to consider the views of road users and local people as we work with Skanska in the design and delivery of this upgrade.”
Skanska won the project through the National Highways Regional Delivery Partnership (RDP) framework, for which it is a Delivery Integration Partner for the East of England and Midlands regions.
Leicestershire logistics warehouse acquired for £35m
Urban Logistics, the last mile logistics focused REIT, has acquired a Leicestershire logistics warehouse as part of a wider £90 million swoop.
The 249,211 sq ft logistics warehouse is two miles from the M1 at Beveridge Lane, Bardon. The purchase price paid was £35,385,000.
The unit is let to DHL Supply Chain Ltd on a lease expiring in 2027.
Richard Moffitt, Chief Executive, said: “During recent market volatility we have been deliberately patient in our deployment, and that patience has been rewarded by our ability to acquire these properties in prime locations on advantageous terms.
“Our occupational market, with its focus on supply chains for essential goods, remains strong with continued upward pressure on rents. We firmly believe that, at any stage in the property cycle, if we improve lease lengths we will see yield compression.
“We therefore see substantial potential valuation increases in these acquisitions, driven by our asset management plans.”
Bookings flood in for the East Midlands Expo
As bookings for the East Midlands Expo flood in, register to attend the event for free now!
Returning on Monday 14 November 2022, the established event of over 20 years offers an ideal day for networking and business generation, and is already seeing more bookings than last year.
Event organiser Tina King said: “It is great to see so many exhibitors and delegates engaging with networking and exhibiting again following Covid restrictions.”
The expo, for which Business Link is a proud partner, is well targeted and aimed at the construction, property, business, investment, finance, professional services and related B2B markets.
Taking place at the East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham, the exhibition will open to attendees at 9am, with a seminar taking place between 10:45am and noon.
A special networking lunch (for which tickets can be purchased here) will then take place between 12:15pm and 2:15pm, and the exhibition will close at 3:30pm.
From property agents to developers, architects, contractors, investors, PR firms, and more, see the list of current exhibitors here.
For more information on exhibiting at the event click here.
To register to attend the event for free click here.
To secure tickets for the networking lunch click here.
Netherfield-based educational resources supplier acquires online Scandinavian nursery brand
Educational resources supplier Findel has acquired online Scandinavian nursery décor, furniture and baby toys brand Scandibørn for an undisclosed sum.
The Netherfield-based company will use its ownership of Scandibørn to further expand its early years offer, which is a key element of the company’s future growth plans. By joining the Findel family of brands, Scandibørn will further strengthen the company’s ethos of supporting children and growing education for generations.
All Scandibørn’s 38 employees, including the company’s founder Grace Tindall, have transferred to Findel and the Scandibørn brand and website will continue as they are.
Findel Chief Executive, Chris Mahady, said: “Scandibørn is a leading online brand for 0–4-year-old babies and toddlers which provides us with the ideal platform for further growth within the early years marketplace.
“We are very pleased to welcome Scandibørn to the Findel family. We believe the brand has tremendous untapped potential and are confident we can realise it by creating sustainable profitable growth with the support that being part of Findel will deliver.
“We will work closely with the company’s existing suppliers to further evolve Scandibørn’s offer for the benefit of our customers and the children who are the ultimate benefactors of what we provide.”
Scandibørn was founded in 2016 and has its head office in Melton Mowbray. Findel’s origins as an educational resources supplier can be traced back to 1817. Today, its brands and websites offer more than 32,000 products to educators and parents based in the UK and overseas with the business exporting to 130 countries.
In addition to its distribution centre and offices in Netherfield, the company has its headquarters in Hyde, Greater Manchester, and employs around 300 people in total.
Scandibørn founder, Grace Tindall, said: “I am extremely pleased for us to become part of the wider Findel family of brands. We are all excited by the opportunities it brings to further enhance and grow the Scandibørn brand in the early years marketplace.”
Findel is backed by private equity firm Endless, which supported a management buy-out in April 2021.
Findel was supported on the transaction by law firm Walker Morris.
