196 affordable new homes given green light for Kirkby-in-Ashfield

Tess Egginton
-
0
196 affordable new homes given green light for Kirkby-in-Ashfield

Gleeson Homes has received planning permission for the development of 196 new homes on Farm View Road in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.

The site, named Hollinwell Heath, spans 16.2 acres and will include a range of Gleeson’s 2, 3, and 4-bedroom homes in a mix of rural and urban elevations. As part of the development, and its ongoing commitment to community engagement, Gleeson will gift an existing barn to Ashfield District Council, which will be converted into a new Community Hall for local residents. This represents part of a donation of around £750,000 that Gleeson will provide to improve local facilities such as libraries, travel, and highways. Gleeson expects to commence building in late Spring/early Summer this year, with plans to start welcoming viewings in early 2025. Allen Marshall, Regional Managing Director at Gleeson Homes, said: “We are delighted to have secured this development, a key project for the region, and we can’t wait to get started. This development is in a great location and will showcase the best of our product offering to potential customers. “We are passionate about supplying much-needed high-quality affordable homes, and will also continue to invest in the areas in which we build to make a positive impact for our local communities.”

Second floor let at i2 Centre, Mansfield

Tess Egginton
-
0
Second floor let at i2 Centre, Mansfield
Anthony Barrowcliffe of FHP has let the entire second floor of the i2 Centre, Oakham Business Park, Mansfield, which comprised five office suites and totalled 10,243ft². This was not a straightforward transaction with tenants vacating, dilapidations, landlord works and a phased move in by the new tenant. The property comprises refurbished Grade A office suites which are located in close proximity to Mansfield town centre and the A38. Anthony Barrowcliffe of FHP said: “I am particularly pleased with this letting as we have managed to complete the occupation of a full floor across five suites at the i2 Centre to a large local occupier. This was a fantastic deal to complete and entailed lots of moving parts, but I am delighted we could put all the jigsaw pieces together in the end. “This is a deal I am very proud of, achieving good terms which both parties were happy with. I look forward to more success at the i2 Centre which I think is an absolutely beautiful building with so much to offer for the Mansfield area with great transport links, great connectivity to the Motorway alongside great parking ratios and a high quality internal specification. This is a high quality product with a fantastic line up of tenants, a sense of community and a feel of professionalism. “I have the two final suites available currently at the i2 Centre available on flexible terms and suitable for a variety of uses. The ground floor suite extends to 170m² (1,832ft²) and the first floor suite extends to 200m² (2,159ft²).” Martin Betts, of M7 Real Estate, the landlords, said: “We are delighted, in conjunction with FHP, to have achieved this significant letting at the i2 Centre. It demonstrates that there is clearly ongoing demand for well-located and well specified offices.”

Global Brands makes changes to senior leadership team structure

Tess Egginton
-
0
Global Brands makes changes to senior leadership team structure
Independent, Chesterfield-based ready-to-drink experts, Global Brands, has revealed continued growth plans, following changes to its senior leadership team structure. Following Mark James’ decision to step down, Julian Atkins has been appointed as Global Brands’ Managing Director. Shaun Bacon remains Group Finance & Managing Director. Previously holding the role of Commercial Director, Atkins has been with Global Brands for almost 15 years. During this time, he has played a major role in the resurrection and relaunch of premium mixer brand, Franklin & Sons, subsequently turning it into a £14m turnover brand. It has now launched into more premium channels, leading to a foothold in HORECA and wide-ranging distribution across 61 countries. Most recently, Julian has championed the brand new, innovative ‘be.’ cocktail range, featuring several classic cocktail flavours, suitably served in ready-to-drink 200ml cans. Other senior appointments include Matt Bulcroft stepping up from On Trade Sales Director to join the main board as Marketing Director, Mike Smith rejoining the business as UK Sales Director and Rebecca Jarvis-Hook taking on a newly crafted role as Head of People & HR. The changes to the senior leadership team structure reflect Global Brands’ ambitious five-year growth plan, with the recent appointments aiming to further establish the business as the independent drinks experts in the UK, with plans to increase turnover to more than £135m and break into 100 international markets. Founder and Chairman Steve Perez said: “I would like to thank Mark James for his outstanding contribution to Global Brands, who has been integral to the company’s development and success, since joining in 1993. “As Mark transitions to pursue new opportunities, we are delighted to announce the appointment of Julian Atkins as the new Managing Director. Julian, a respected, well known, and popular figure in the industry, brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success to this role. Under his leadership, I am confident that the company will continue to thrive exponentially, to achieve new heights.” The restructure comes on the back of substantial growth results for Global Brands, with the company increasing its net revenue since 2019, from £55m to £75m, and becoming the largest supplier of canned cocktails to the off-trade category in the UK (Nielsen RTD data 2023). Julian added: “We have an ambitious 5 year growth strategy, which will see Global Brands expand on its export business and move into new categories within the drinks sector. “I’m looking forward to working closely with Matt, Mike and our broader first class team, to develop our portfolio, through an exciting combination of acquisition, NPD and distribution agreements.” Global Brands’ portfolio of brands now includes VK, Frankin & Sons, be., Hooch, All Shook Up, Shake Baby Shake, Beviamo, Kick Energy, Lustre and Amigos Tequila Beer.

Broad Marsh named site for Community Diagnostic Centre

Tess Egginton
-
0
Broad Marsh named site for Community Diagnostic Centre
Plans have been revealed showing that a new state-of-the-art Community Diagnostic Centre will be located in the Broad Marsh regeneration development in Nottingham city centre, and will be run and staffed by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. The Department for Health and Social Care announced last year that it is funding 13 new Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs), including one in the centre of Nottingham, to help reduce the backlog of patients waiting for diagnostic tests. CDCs are designed as a one-stop shop which support GPs by providing direct access to diagnostics services such as MRI, CT, x-ray, ultrasound, echocardiography, ECG, and lung function testing. This allows for more rapid diagnosis of conditions such as cancer, which in turn will help patients access the life-saving treatments they need more quickly. The building will be leased from Nottingham City Council, with an initial agreement in place to proceed with the £25m NHS facility. The Broad Marsh regeneration has already seen the development of a new Central Library, car park and bus station, a new Nottingham College city hub and has transformed streets and public spaces in the area by increasing footfall, particularly supporting businesses on Lister Gate. When the CDC opens in Spring 2025, it will provide an additional 100,000 diagnostic appointments each year. Once at full capacity it will provide in excess of 140,000 appointments annually, which will be available to patients through hospital consultants initially, and eventually also via GPs. To help address the immediate backlog of diagnostics tests before the permanent CDC is open, temporary community diagnostics tests have been available behind NEMS Platform One near Nottingham Railway Station since December 2023. Paul Matthew, Chief Financial Officer at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We are delighted that we can now share the news that our excellent, highly skilled and dedicated NUH staff will be running the future CDC facility in Nottingham city centre, which will help to change the lives of so many of our patients for the better. “This centre will be vital in reducing the number of people in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire waiting too long for diagnostic tests so that they can then either have peace of mind they deserve, or can begin any treatment required sooner. It will also enable patients to access these tests without needing to travel to a hospital. “We look forward to working with our partners to further develop plans to help more patients across the city access the care they need.” Nottingham City Council Leader, Cllr David Mellen, said: “This is another major step forward in the transformation of the Broad Marsh area that has been taking place over the last couple of years. “Following the opening of the new Central Library and with work underway on the new Green Heart city centre park, we’re really pleased to be able to announce with Nottingham University Hospitals that this fantastic new health facility will also be located at Broad Marsh. “When the shopping centre closed following the collapse of intu, we said we wanted to see something different for Broad Marsh, not another shopping centre. This was underlined by the feedback we received from local people as part of the Big Conversation engagement exercise, the largest the council had ever undertaken. “The Community Diagnostic Centre is exactly the kind of facility everyone wants to see at Broad Marsh. It will provide a boost for businesses and jobs in the area by increasing footfall. By reusing part of the frame of the old shopping centre, as proposed in the Broad Marsh vision, the building will support the city’s ambitions to be carbon neutral by 2028. “It will also help address some of the significant health issues and inequalities Nottingham faces as a city. People will be able to access vital health services right in the centre of the city, near to the new bus station and car park and a short walk from the train station, in a state-of-the-art building surrounded by new people-friendly green streets and public spaces.” In addition, the CDC will create 75 new jobs in Nottingham across a range of disciplines including consultant radiologists, radiographers, imaging assistants, physiologists and administrators. When the unit is at full capacity it will employ 135 staff. Planning applications and formal contracts will now be drawn up to enable this new NHS centre to progress.

Public consultation sees mixed results for Retford market proposals

Tess Egginton
-
0
Public consultation sees mixed results for Retford market proposals
A report to Bassetlaw District Council’s Cabinet on 8th February is recommending that plans for semi-permanent market stalls on Retford market are scrapped following the results of a public consultation. The report calls for new proposals to be worked up instead, in collaboration with market traders and wider stakeholders. However, the Cabinet report separately recommends that plans to repurpose the Buttermarket at Retford Town Hall to provide an additional indoor trading space are taken forward. The Council launched a six-week consultation in November and received 571 formal responses. On the plans to install bespoke, semi-permanent, multi-purpose market stalls on the Market Square in Retford town centre, two thirds of respondents (66.38%) either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the proposal. This was largely due to concerns about new stalls being a target for anti-social behaviour, the long-term visual impact on the Market Square and the functionality of the proposed stalls. A petition opposing the proposal was also received by the Council. In contrast, the plans to repurpose the Buttermarket were positively received with 64.10% of respondents either agreeing or strongly agreeing with the proposal. The Cabinet report recommends that the Council, therefore, continues to develop the Buttermarket project. Outside of the main consultation, Council officers spoke to more than 80 traders across the Provisions, Antiques, Farmers and Craft Markets. Traders have provided a wide range of feedback and moving forwards, the Council will directly engage with traders from all markets, alongside the National Association of British Markets, to work up proposals and explore these ideas further. Councillor James Naish, Leader of Bassetlaw District Council, said: “I’d like to thank everybody that took part in the consultation which showed how much people value their local market. It is clear from the responses that the plans for semi-permanent market stalls lack public support, and it is important that we listen to this and identify other options. “I think we also have to acknowledge that we could have worked with a wider group of market traders to develop the proposals for the market in advance, and we will make sure that this happens moving forwards. “I am pleased that the evolution of the Buttermarket did have public support, and I am looking forward to seeing these plans further developed to offer new trading opportunities in the future. “We all want Retford Market to be sustainable in the long term, with the Market Square used for its historic purpose for many years to come. I will ensure that we work with our traders and key stakeholders to bring forwards new plans that help to safeguard the future of the market.”

Golf day secures hole in one for air ambulance

Tess Egginton
-
0
Golf day secures hole in one for air ambulance
Lincoln-based Streets Chartered Accountants, a top 40 accountancy practice, hosted their tenth annual Charity Golf Day raising a record amount of more than £8,000 for the Air Ambulance. The total amount fundraised will be divided between three regional charities; East Anglian Air Ambulance, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance and Yorkshire Air Ambulance. The winning team on the day was Varley Orthopaedics with Civil Recovery Solutions coming in second and The One Group in third place. The winners of the Longest Drive and Nearest the Pin competitions were Adam Aisthorpe and Paul Ward respectively. Streets would like to say a huge thank you to all those people who sponsored, donated, gave their time and helped in some way, without whom the day would not be possible. The event received fantastic support with 23 teams taking part and more than 30 local businesses sponsoring the day. There were Stableford team prizes as well as competitions such as Longest Drive, Nearest the Pin, Beat the Pro, All four hit the Green and Hole in One. Commenting on the day, Streets Partner Mark Bradshaw said: “The support we have received has been truly overwhelming and has helped us raise a staggering £8,063 for our three local Air Ambulance services. We’re delighted to be able to support our local Air Ambulance Services, who are the true winners of the day.” Streets’ 11th Charity Golf Day will take place on Friday 5th July 2024 at Lincoln Golf Club, Torksey. Once again this will be in aid of the three Air Ambulances for which Streets have raised nearly £70,000 for over the last ten years.

Vision set out to boost visitor economy and support local businesses in Northamptonshire

Tess Egginton
-
0
Vision set out to boost visitor economy and support local businesses in Northamptonshire
A new tourism strategy for Northamptonshire has been given the go ahead by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) and North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) at their Cabinet and Executive meetings this month. The Northamptonshire Tourism Strategy sets out a vision and approach to nurturing and enhancing the county’s visitor economy and aims to improve pride in place, generate inward investment and create new employment opportunities as well as reduce carbon emissions in line with both councils’ sustainability goals. The strategy, which has been developed over an 18-month period and co-produced by WNC and NNC alongside partners and stakeholders from across the public, private and voluntary and community sectors, will be implemented between now and 2030 focussing on 4 key themes: Visits and Value, Great People, Better Business and Inspirational Places. Plans also include the exploration of a new private sector-led Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) which will work with national tourism agency Visit England to oversee and drive the delivery of the strategy while playing a crucial role in promoting and marketing specific destinations to attract tourists. The LVEP will also be responsible for identifying and bidding for Government funding streams. Similarly to Visit England, which focuses on showcasing the diverse attractions, cultural heritage, and experiences offered by different regions across England, a LVEP would work on developing and implementing strategic marketing initiatives to boost tourism, support local businesses, and enhance the overall appeal of Northamptonshire to visitors both domestically and internationally. The development setting out what the LVEP could look like in Northamptonshire is a priority following the adoption of the Northamptonshire Tourism Strategy and will be explored in partnership with the private sector. Cllr Daniel Lister, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Town Centre Regeneration and Growth, at West Northamptonshire Council, said: “The visitor economy in Northamptonshire is diverse, robust and has extreme potential for largescale growth. By developing a Local Visitor Economy Partnership between the private and public sector, we can source support from Visit England to expand Northamptonshire’s tourism offer even further and realise growth for the entire county. “Our strategic location in the country, boasting proud culture and heritage, along with world-class attractions and events, makes Northamptonshire the perfect destination for visitors and engagement. National statistics show over 18 million visits to the county spending close to £1 billion a year which supports over 30,000 jobs across the county and 3,000 businesses, including a wide range of attractions, hotels, pubs and other venues that visitors enjoy. “We will work collaboratively and creatively to ensure every resident and visitor in Northamptonshire utilises the tourism offer of the county, and we will work with attractions and employers to overcome barriers and realise opportunities for growth.” Both councils will continue to deliver specific tourism activities at a local level but will work with wider partners for larger initiatives when appropriate and necessary. Cllr Helen Howell, Deputy Leader of North Northamptonshire Council and Executive Member for Sport, Leisure, Culture and Tourism, said: “We are extremely proud of the county we call home – it really is a hidden gem, which in the past may have been overlooked when people are looking for places to visit and stay. “But that shouldn’t be the case at all, and this new strategy sets out how we can attract and improve visitor numbers, encourage people to return and boost the tourism economy. It also looks at how we can maximise future potential, where both councils can continue to work together and in close partnership with the tourism industry, education and other stakeholders to promote Northamptonshire. “Our diverse offer gives visitors a huge variety of experiences and activities to enjoy, alongside beautiful towns and villages packed full of unique shops, cafes and restaurants to explore. We are also extremely fortunate to have some stunning countryside on our doorsteps, with routes and trails to help you get back to nature. We also want to encourage visitors to stay in our county and to do that we need to enhance our accommodation offering from camping, glamping, and budget to high end accommodation. We really need to shout about Northamptonshire and what it has to offer. “A huge thank you goes out to everyone who has engaged in the process so far, this is the first stage of many and stakeholder involvement plays a vital part of this plan. “Now that the strategy has been approved by both councils, we can continue to grow and develop the relationships between us, WNC and partners to put the strategy into action, alongside developing the LVEP, which will all in turn help us showcase this fantastic county.”

Funding boosts for Hinckley & Bosworth borough businesses

Tess Egginton
-
0
Funding boosts for Hinckley & Bosworth borough businesses
Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council is urging businesses and organisations to apply for two new grants.
The Rural Prosperity Grant offers a pot of £400,000 in support for rural businesses and organisations, while the Business Prosperity Grant is worth £150,000 and is open to all eligible businesses across the borough. The Rural Prosperity Grant is designed to help rural applicants boost productivity and improve community buildings, as well as to improve accessibility to tourist attractions and green open spaces that support local communities and businesses. The scheme was originally launched by the Borough Council last year and will run until March 2025. The initiative has been made possible thanks to £400,000 of funds from the Rural England Prosperity Fund. Those eligible for the grant include businesses and local organisations that wish to invest in new technologies and equipment that increase productivity; protect and improve local historic buildings and tourism venues, energy efficiency improvements and cultural offerings; provide diversification outside of agriculture and develop local tourism attractions. There are a range of grants available, with funds from £7,500 to £22,500. The grants also have an intervention rate of 75%, meaning businesses and organisations need only find a minimum 25% of the total eligible project costs to apply. The Rural Prosperity Grant is only open to rural areas and excludes Hinckley and Burbage. The first round of funding saw just over £100,000 of grant funding allocated to a range of projects investing in their business productivity, energy efficiency installations, improving accessibility to visitor attractions and green spaces. The council has £300,000 of capital funding to invest and Round 2 will close on Tuesday 2 April 2024 at midday with all successful applicants being notified in May 2024. All projects must be able to spend their funding by 28 February 2025. Executive Member for Rural Affairs at the Borough Council, Councillor Martin Cartwright said: “We are pleased to be able to offer these grants to support our rural communities and businesses, helping them to thrive especially given the challenging and difficult circumstances over the recent years. Our thanks to the Rural England Prosperity Fund for helping to make this possible. Good luck with your applications.” Meanwhile, there are a range of grants on offer for the Business Prosperity Fund grants, with funds from £7,500 to £22,500. The grants also have an intervention rate of 75%, meaning businesses and organisations need only find a minimum 25% of the total eligible project costs to apply. Businesses are being invited to apply for capital-only funding which supports micro and small enterprises looking to deliver innovative projects. The Business Prosperity Fund scheme is open to all eligible businesses throughout Hinckley and Bosworth including the urban areas of Hinckley and Burbage. The fund welcomes applications from those who wish to invest in new technologies and equipment, while delivering innovative projects that can increase productivity or create local jobs. Tourism attractions and facilities that support the local economy can also apply, while businesses can also apply for funding to invest in green technology that will improve their carbon footprint. This project has received £150,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The scheme is now open to applications and closes on Tuesday 2 April 2024 at midday. All projects must be able to complete their projects by 28 February 2025. Council Leader, Councillor Stuart Bray said: “We are excited to be able to offer these grants to so many businesses across the borough. They offer exciting opportunities for micro and small enterprises who are looking to innovate, as well as businesses who help local tourism to thrive. “There’s also an opportunity for companies who would like to reduce their carbon footprint, so please don’t hesitate to apply if you think you’d be eligible, or if you think you could benefit.”

Interest rates held at 5.25%

Tess Egginton
-
0
Interest rates held at 5.25%
The Bank of England has held interest rates at 5.25%, for the fourth time. With aims to meet the 2% inflation target, the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has voted by a majority of 6–3 to maintain Bank Rate at 5.25%. Two members preferred to increase Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 5.5%. One member preferred to reduce Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 5%. A statement from the Bank of England says: “The Committee voted to maintain Bank Rate at 5.25%. Headline CPI inflation has fallen back relatively sharply. The restrictive stance of monetary policy is weighing on activity in the real economy and is leading to a looser labour market. In the Committee’s February forecast, the risks to inflation are more balanced. Although services price inflation and wage growth have fallen by somewhat more than expected, key indicators of inflation persistence remain elevated. “As a result, monetary policy will need to remain restrictive for sufficiently long to return inflation to the 2% target sustainably in the medium term in line with the MPC’s remit. The Committee has judged since last autumn that monetary policy needs to be restrictive for an extended period of time until the risk of inflation becoming embedded above the 2% target dissipates.” The Bank is anticipating a temporary fall to 2% for inflation in the second quarter of 2024, but note that it is likely to rise again after. Anna Leach, CBI deputy chief economist, said: “The decision by the Bank of England to hold interest rates at 5.25% will come as a relief to households holding back on spending and businesses that have pressed pause on investment. “While inflation is following a downward trend towards the 2% target, it’s not clear whether rates will follow suit. Relatively high wage inflation alongside an uptick in services inflation in December means that a rate cut before the summer is increasingly unlikely to materialise. “However, that won’t stop pressure piling onto the Bank of England to reduce rates as weakness in the economy persists. A rebound in growth in November following the previous month’s decline is encouraging but masks the overall picture of a flatlining economy, still at risk of technical recession. “The stakes are high for business bearing the brunt of higher borrowing costs and soft demand. They desperately need certainty on monetary policy alongside a package of measures from government to kickstart productivity and growth. “The Spring Budget in a General Election year is the perfect opportunity for politicians to support credible solutions. The CBI’s Budget recommendations have the potential to unlock business investment, including a Net Zero Carbon Plan, a globally competitive R&D Tax Credits scheme as well as capping the increase in the business rate multiplier in England for another year.”

Sale of Pendragon’s UK motor and leasing business completes

Tess Egginton
-
0
Sale of Pendragon’s UK motor and leasing business completes

Nottinghamshire car retailer Pendragon has completed the sale of its UK motor and leasing business to North American automotive retailer Lithia in a £367 million deal.

The company said in a statement to the London Stock Exchange: “Pendragon is pleased to announce the sale of the entire issued share capital of Pendragon NewCo 2 Limited completed on 31 January 2024 for a gross aggregate consideration of £367 million, subject to certain financial adjustments, following the satisfaction of all customary completion conditions, alongside the subscription by Lithia for an aggregate subscription price of £30 million and the entry into the strategic partnership with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lithia Motors, Inc.”

It marks the beginning of the transformation of Pendragon into Pinewood Technologies, a pure-play SaaS business, which operates the company’s dealer management software business.

The business believes that the growth prospects for the company will be enhanced materially as a result of becoming a standalone business, as well as through a strategic partnership with Lithia.

Chris Holzshu, Chief Operating Officer of Lithia, and George Hines, Chief Technology Officer of Lithia, have been appointed to the Board.

In addition, Mark Willis’ resignation as Director and Chief Financial Officer of the company will become effective today. He is replaced as a Director and Chief Financial Officer of the company by Oliver Mann, previously Director of Group Finance of Pendragon.

1...342343344...1,001Page 343 of 1,001