Midlands contractor, G F Tomlinson, has secured two major builds for Nottingham College.

Procured via Pagabo’s Medium Works Framework, construction has been approved for a new £5.4m Centre for Employment and Independent Living for Students with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (CEIL for SLDD), as well as a new £5.4m Construction Skills Centre (CSC), as additions to Nottingham College’s existing portfolio.

Works for the CEIL for SLDD scheme will include delivering a two-storey new build with a gross internal floor area of 1,350m², comprising 13 classrooms, teaching kitchen, dining area and ancillary spaces across its two levels, as well as associated external works.

The CSC scheme will consist of a new build specialist centre to meet the growing need to provide training for construction skilled trades in the local area.

Offering a flexible teaching and learning facility that will support the curriculum and estate objectives of the College, the 1,500m² building will comprise a large double height construction trades workshop, as well as additional classrooms, a smaller modern construction workshop and associated staff and support facilities.

Meeting the rising demand for post-16 sector education to meet the needs of local employers, the building will be used as a critical educational tool in line with the Department for Education’s (DfE) output specification in addition to supporting the sustainability ambitions of Nottingham College towards Net Zero Carbon in operation.

Chris Flint, Managing Director of G F Tomlinson, said: “We’re delighted that these two pivotal educational schemes are moving ahead for Nottingham College, procured through the Pagabo National Framework for Medium Works.

“We’re very much looking forward to delivering the CEIL for SLDD build alongside providing a much-needed learning facility in the form of the CSC, which will support the College’s curriculum, and more importantly, the critical demand for upskilling in the construction sector to support businesses in the region.”

Carl Ara, assistant principal at Nottingham College, said: “We’re excited to be working with G F Tomlinson to bring these two new developments on our Basford campus to fruition.

“As a key driver of economic growth in the north of the city, we are really aware of our responsibility to provide a curriculum offer that helps support young people and adults in the city to learn and succeed in their chosen industry.

“Once complete, the CEIL for SLDD and CSC buildings will provide top class education facilities for both our SLDD and construction cohorts respectively and enable us to ensure our offer is future ready.”

Adam Brumfitt, regional delivery manager (Midlands) at Pagabo, said: “We’re delighted that our Medium Works Framework was used by Nottingham College to appoint a contractor for these key projects.

“Pagabo supported the college in understanding the procurement needs of the two projects and have delivered a successful outcome through the compliant appointment of G F Tomlinson.

“The two new buildings that will be delivered on the college’s Basford campus are set to have a huge positive impact on the experience of students and staff. We’re proud to have played our part in getting these schemes underway.”

The former House of Fraser building on Grimsby’s Victoria Street West has been bought by North East Lincolnshire Council. Contracts have been exchanged and the sale, which has been advised by strategic partner Queensberry, also includes a leasehold on an adjacent car park. The five-storey building sits within the council owned Freshney Place and with a frontage on 9 to 29 Victoria Street West. It has been empty since House of Fraser closed four years ago. Continuing to see it unused was not an option, said Council Leader Cllr Philip Jackson, who has responsibilities for regeneration and the economy. This purchase, he explained, would provide yet more opportunity for the authority and its partners to look at the redevelopment and diverse use of Freshney Place as a whole. “In order to effect change, which we all know is needed, we must look at opportunities such as this with a view to shaping and guiding redevelopment. Town Centres across the country have changed almost beyond what any of us would have anticipated and that is what we are determined to do here,” said Cllr Jackson. “We have a fantastic opportunity to re-invent Freshney Place and complement its retail offer with the new cinema, leisure attractions, and fresh new market. The House of Fraser building will now form an integral part of those plans. This is a good move for the town centre,” he added. Over the last five years, the reshaping of the town centre has been led by the local authority. Along with partners and stakeholders including the Greater Grimsby Town Board, it has won multi-million-pound funding bids from Central Government. This money, all ring-fenced for specific projects, has seen the transformation of St James’ Square and Garth Lane with its new footbridge, river dredging and extensive paving and landscaping. Further to that, work has started on the redundant St James’ House with the E-Factor purchasing the building to create a business hub. This is in addition to the Future High Streets Fund, and projects earmarked for Towns Fund money including the already underway full refurb of Riverhead Square, a plan for new housing at Alexandra Dock and the new OnSide ‘Horizon’ Youth Zone. The latter involves the transformation of the historic redundant buildings along Garth Lane into a state-of-the-art centre for young people. Meanwhile initial work has now started with Queensberry on the multi-million-pound Freshney Place Leisure & Market Hall Scheme with its new cinema, market, and leisure attractions. More good news is the arrival, in mid-2024, of a Community Diagnostic Centre. The NHS facility in Freshney Place will bring thousands more people into the town centre every year – with such increased footfall through the town centre presenting more opportunities.

Plans for the upward extension and conversion of buildings along Lennox Street in Nottingham for new student accommodation have been submitted to the city council. Hockley Nottingham Ltd is looking to provide a mix of nine cluster flats and 17 self-contained studios and add two new floors. The site currently hosts three separate buildings facing the length of Lennox Street and the corners of Cranbrook and Lower Parliament Street. A design statement submitted by Debtal Architecture says: “The proposal is to create a purpose built student accommodation in a disused building along Lennox Street by converting the existing space and adding an upward extension to create 4 floors altogether. “The design of the proposal is entirely governed by the existing proportions in the façades. It is celebrating the past looks of the buildings and is contributing to the quirkiness and distinctive character of the area. “The architectural style introduced is in keeping with each individual building. It will refresh the existing facing brick and introduce contemporary materials with high quality design. The proposal to refurbish the existing façades and extend the buildings to create student accommodation will bring a welcome uplift of a run down ensemble on a vibrant upper coming central location. “The design which respects the existing architectural features of the buildings will complement the street scene and will be a suitable addition to the area.”