Derby County Football Club and Pride Park Stadium unified
“Winning a Bricks award was a real highlight for our team” – past winner encourages firms to enter the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025
To make a nomination for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025, please click here.
Supporting imagery, video, documents, or links to these, can be sent to bricks@blmgroup.co.uk. Video nomination pitches are also welcome as an alternative or companion to written entries. Categories include:- Contractor of the Year
- Developer of the Year
- Architects of the Year
- Most Active Agent
- Deal of the Year
- Residential Development of the Year
- Sustainable Development of the Year
- Commercial Development of the Year
- Excellence in Design
- Responsible Business of the Year
- Overall Winner
Nominations will close on Friday 15th August.
To be held at:
With a limited number of sponsorship opportunities remaining, please contact Angie Cooper at a.cooper@blmgroup.co.uk to learn more if you are interested in becoming an East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025 sponsor. Construction starts on 50-home scheme in Leicestershire with £600K in local investment
Construction has commenced on a 50-home residential development in Stanton-under-Bardon, Leicestershire. The scheme, called St Mary’s Chase, represents the first project under Allison Homes’ newly launched East Midlands division.
The development will include a mix of two, three, and four-bedroom houses, eight of which are designated as affordable housing. It will feature established house designs and new models added to the developer’s range.
Outline planning permission was granted in June 2024, with full approval in February 2025. A show home is expected by autumn 2025, and full build completion is targeted for December 2026.
As part of the development, the site will include green space, a children’s play area, and new tree planting aligned with the nearby National Forest. Public footpaths running through the land will be preserved.
Through a Section 106 agreement, Allison Homes will contribute £600,000 to local infrastructure and services, including education, healthcare, recreation, and public transport. The investment underscores the development’s aim to integrate with and support the surrounding community while delivering new housing stock to the region.
East Midlands firms still cautious despite stronger UK growth
Despite a stronger-than-expected rise in UK GDP, business sentiment in the East Midlands remains subdued, with firms facing persistent cost pressures.
According to the latest Office for National Statistics data, the UK economy grew by 0.7% in the first quarter of the year. While this uptick signals the end of the technical recession seen in 2023, businesses in the East Midlands continue to report low confidence levels.
The East Midlands Chamber’s recent Quarterly Economic Survey data indicates a decline in local business confidence. Key concerns among B2B operators include increased employer National Insurance contributions, the higher national living wage, and corporate tax pressures.
Inflation remains a significant factor, with nearly half of businesses in the region expecting to raise prices. These margin pressures are contributing to cautious outlooks on investment and hiring.
Business leaders in the region are now looking to upcoming policy decisions, including the UK Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review and international trade discussions, for clearer support and incentives to stabilise operating conditions and boost competitiveness.
XR8 Technology expands services to support AI adoption and cyber resilience
IT solutions provider XR8 Technology Services is scaling operations to meet growing business demand for cyber security support, AI integration, and robust IT infrastructure.
Operating nationally from its Northampton base, XR8 has recently joined the Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce and moved into larger premises to support its expansion. With a team bringing over five decades of combined experience, the firm delivers managed IT services, infrastructure procurement, and cyber strategy guidance for B2B clients across various sectors.
As businesses explore Microsoft Copilot for productivity gains, XR8 has responded by offering tailored advice, often at no cost, to help organisations deploy the AI tool safely while maintaining data control and compliance.
The company has also seen rising demand for support with Cyber Essentials certification. With recent high-profile cyber incidents in the national spotlight, many firms are prioritising the government-backed standard to strengthen their resilience and satisfy procurement requirements.
XR8 partners with major vendors, including Microsoft, Cisco, Lenovo, Dell, HP, Fortinet, and Ninjio, offering clients access to competitive pricing and deep product knowledge. It also provides rugged device solutions, such as Zebra products, for clients operating in warehousing and logistics where durability and reliability are critical.
The company’s recent investment in facilities and staffing reflects a strategic push to grow its capacity and broaden its footprint in the UK’s business IT sector.
£10m mixed-use farming estate with commercial income potential up for sale
A 878-acre mixed-use agricultural estate straddling Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire has been listed for sale at nearly £10 million, presenting an investment opportunity for commercial and agricultural buyers.
The property includes Cowsland Farm and Lea Marsh Farm and is being marketed by Bidwells. It is available as a whole or split into four lots, offering flexibility for various acquisition strategies.
The estate features a combination of arable land, pasture, a residential farmhouse, and commercial buildings currently generating income. It has been under long-term ownership and professionally managed through local farming agreements.
The land is arranged in two main blocks: one near South Leverton in Nottinghamshire, and the other south of Gainsborough in Lincolnshire, alongside the River Trent.
Lot 1 spans 12.5 acres and includes a large farmhouse now tenanted, along with commercial buildings currently leased to Cranswick Pet Products, providing ongoing rental income.
Lot 2 consists of nearly 290 acres of arable land used for typical crop rotations such as wheat, barley, maize, peas, and oilseed rape. Fields are configured to suit modern machinery.
Lot 3, Forwood Farmland, is a standalone 92.5-acre arable block located near Treswell Wood. It offers scope for further agricultural or environmental use.
Lot 4, Lea Marsh Farm, is the largest portion with 484 acres primarily of pastureland and one arable field. Its riverside location and environmental characteristics may appeal to buyers pursuing biodiversity or natural capital projects.
The estate combines commercial, residential, and environmental value streams, making it suitable for diversified rural investment portfolios or strategic land acquisition.
Derelict Long Eaton cinema to be demolished
Nottingham talent and innovation grants become available for local businesses
Construction starts on 1.46 million sq ft Golden Triangle logistics park
Office block to be converted into shared housing for 23 people in Northampton
West Northamptonshire Council has approved the conversion of a commercial property in Northampton into shared residential accommodation.
Kingswood House, located in Cliftonville, will be transformed from its former use as offices into a house in multiple occupations (HMO) that accommodates up to 23 residents. The building previously housed an insurance firm, a fertility clinic, and a laser eye surgery business.
The development will reconfigure the property into five shared flats. These will include a four-bedroom unit on the lower ground floor, two three-bedroom units on the ground floor, an eight-bedroom unit on the first floor, and a five-bedroom unit on the second floor. All bedrooms will be en suite, and each flat will have shared kitchen and living areas. Two communal laundry rooms will be available to all residents.
The conversion is mainly internal, with only minor alterations planned for the building’s exterior. The property will retain 15 on-site parking spaces. The first floor has already been stripped of its internal services in preparation for redevelopment.
The council considers HMOs a critical part of the local housing strategy, particularly for students, young professionals, and others requiring short- to medium-term accommodation. This project is expected to support demand in the area’s pressured rental market.
