Banking services boosted with new Kirkby in Ashfield hub
After more than a year of works, Ashfield District Council’s Moor Market in Kirkby is now home to a new Banking Hub.
Kirkby in Ashfield is set to experience a significant boost to its banking services following the opening of the new Banking Hub, bringing vital services to residents and businesses alike.
This comes as part of a national initiative that will see 66 new hubs established across the UK, aimed at revitalising banking accessibility in communities.
Ashfield District Council is hosting the new Banking Hub, located on the Lowmoor Road pedestrianised section of the High Street next to Moor Market Café.
Customers of multiple banks can now deposit and withdraw money, get face-to-face assistance, and carry out regular banking transactions.
Additionally, the hub features one private room for one-on-one discussions, ensuring a personalised banking experience.
The move follows the closure of three bank branches in the town centre over the past few years, culminating in the loss of Lloyds in February 2022.
The Banking Hub is operated by Cash Access UK and represents a collaborative effort to restore essential banking services to communities like Kirkby.
By reducing the need to travel out of town for banking needs, the hub will significantly enhance the convenience and financial wellbeing of the local population.
Cllr Matthew Relf, Executive Lead for Regeneration and Planning, expressed his enthusiasm. He said: “We know that so many residents and businesses have struggled with the lack of face-to-face banking in Kirkby since the banks closed and so we have been working hard to bring a banking hub here. This will make a huge difference to people’s lives.”
Cllr Andy Meakin, ward councillor, added: “We are over the moon to have secured this vital service and after months of incredibly hard work, we are really excited to see it opening.
“This is a vital part of our plans to regenerate the town centre.”
East Midlands asks laid out ahead of King’s Speech
Reform in skills, planning and business rates are among asks from East Midlands Chamber, ahead of the King’s Speech at the State Opening of Parliament on 17th July.
East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles said: “As the King reads out the bills the government proposes to make law, it’s vitally important this new government listens to the needs of the East Midlands business community.
“The East Midlands has immense potential but has been continually overlooked when it comes to investment from the centre and getting the region where it needs to be to enable growth.
“Enhancing infrastructure, rolling out high speed broadband and upgrading connectivity of the rail network are all essential components for East Midlands sustainable growth. Our labour market would be boosted with skills reform, while tax and regulation are barriers to business growth that need to be addressed.
“The ingredients for success in the East Midlands are already set out in the Manifesto for Growth launched in Westminster earlier this year. We ask the new government to engage with us so we can get the asks of the Manifesto implemented.”
Summary of asks in East Midlands Chamber’s Manifesto for Growth
- Business rates: Full review of the system
- Tax and regulation: Simplify the R&D tax credits system
- Skills: Incentives for businesses that invest in staff training
- Infrastructure: Speed up full-fibre Broadband rollout
- Planning: Let the private sector plug gaps on council staffing
- Transport: Electrification of the Midland Main Line, Reinstatement of Coventry and Leicester direct rail
Ashfield awarded £1m for three-year cultural transformation
Ashfield District Council (ADC) together with the Ashfield Arts Partnership has launched Ashfield Creates, a three-year transformational programme to inspire and sustain the cultural and creative fabric of Ashfield. The programme is supported by Arts Council England, who have awarded £1 million through their Place Partnership programme, which uses money from the National Lottery.
Ashfield is an area that Arts Council England has identified as having great potential but, where historically, investment and engagement has been too low. Arts Council has been working closely with leaders and cultural organisations in the district to encourage regeneration and growth through greater investment and access to creative and cultural activities. The programme will work to increase arts engagement and cultivate an environment where Ashfield can realise its creative potential dramatically and sustainably.
Ashfield Creates will activate the towns and neighbourhoods of Ashfield with creative activities, events and experiences through establishing ‘Local Creative Hubs’ in Hucknall, Kirkby and Sutton with a fourth hub travelling across Ashfield’s villages. The programme aims to engage over 160,000 live audience members, over 14,000 participants, 250 volunteers and over 500 creative practitioners.
Ashfield Creates will be led by the residents of Ashfield, working with local engagement producers to plan regular participatory activities across dance, art, music and craft. The programme will include weekly local events and performances, and a yearly community arts festival, as well as large-scale events and festivals working with national and international artists.
The initial three-years of the programme are part of a larger 10-year arts, cultural and creative strategy for Ashfield, commissioned by Ashfield District Council and Ashfield Arts Partnership. The aim of the programme is to galvanise the arts sector, creative practitioners and community organisations to become a strong and sustainable arts and culture sector that will thrive in Ashfield for many years to come.
Across the summer the Ashfield Arts Partnership will be talking to people at local events to find out what they want to see and do and to help shape the programme of events and activities which are due to start in the Autumn.
Jason Zadrozny, Leader of Ashfield District Council, says: “I am absolutely thrilled that the incredibly strong partnership working we have in Ashfield has led to us securing this investment. It’s fantastic that the Arts Council is entrusting us with such a large grant to achieve truly transformational change. Investment into the arts is something that I am very passionate about and I believe it will set us on our way to everyone being able to experience arts on their doorstep.”
Peter Knott, Midlands Area Director at Arts Council England, said: “We’re delighted to invest £1 million into Ashfield through our Place Partnership programme, with funding from the National Lottery.
“We’ve been working closely with local leaders and cultural organisations to improve investment and access to culture and creativity in the district. We know the positive impact that cultural investment has on places, such as regeneration, growth, employment and happiness, so we’re delighted that local people will have more opportunities to experience, connect and take part in creative and cultural activities where they live.”
Edward Boott, Artistic Director & CEO of Nonsuch Studios who coordinated the bid efforts and member of Ashfield Arts Partnership says: “This is an incredible achievement by the people and communities of Ashfield. With over 200 community members and 25 local organisations coming together to help shape what Ashfield Creates will be, we created a truly transformational, community-led proposal to Arts Council England which the whole of Ashfield Arts Partnership can’t wait to put into action over the next three years. We can’t wait to see what we can create together!”
Playwright and screenwriter James Graham says: “As an Ashfield born-and-bred writer I can’t begin to express my delight that the area is to receive this cultural boost. We all know it is not a level playing field when it comes to accessing the arts, but I know from experience the talent in these towns and villages that is waiting to be supported, and the appetite that potential audiences have for engaging as a community with work that can bring people together. Congratulations to the dedicated team who brought this project to life, I can’t wait to see the work begin.”
Joint venture acquires 82 homes from Persimmon for £18.7m
Gatehouse Investment Management has acquired 82 single-family build-to-rent homes from Persimmon Homes for £18.7 million, as part of its joint venture with global investment firm Carlyle.
Persimmon will deliver the homes within its Bardolph View development in Gedling and its Hawkers Place site in Hucknall over the next 18 months. This is the joint venture’s second deal with Persimmon, following its acquisition of 174 homes across three West Midlands schemes in December 2023.
As part of Gatehouse IM’s commitment to sustainability, all homes will have an EPC rating of ‘B’ or higher. In total the joint venture has completed the purchase of, or is under offer on, over 820 homes nationwide, all of which will be managed by Ascend.
John Coles, Director of Acquisitions at Gatehouse IM, said: “Nottinghamshire is a location we know and understand well, with strong demographic support for increased SFR provision, and as such it is fantastic to be expanding our presence in the county.
“Both Bardolph View and Hawkers Place are established master planned schemes with a strong base of amenities, excellent transport links and good local schooling provision perfect for our target rental market. Through our previous deal with Persimmon Homes, we have seen the high-quality product they deliver, and hope to work with them again on further acquisitions.”
Anssi Halonen, Managing Director and Head of Acquisitions on the Carlyle Europe Realty advisory team, added: “This acquisition is testament to our ability, alongside our partners Gatehouse, to identify high-quality, well-situated assets, complemented by excellent transport links and local amenities. We are pleased to continue expanding our UK residential platform and look forward to seeing these homes delivered between now and the end of 2025.”
Gareth Hankin, Managing Director for Persimmon Nottingham, said: “We’re delighted to have worked with Gatehouse IM to deliver much needed new housing in Nottinghamshire. With housing rightly high up the political agenda, we’re working with partners to provide the high-quality, sustainable new homes the country urgently needs.”
Derby’s new £45.8m venue takes shape
More than 100 people are now working on the site of Derby’s new £45.8m entertainment and conference venue as the auditorium begins to reveal its size and scale.
Built on the site of the former Pink Coconut nightclub and several other buildings, the new Becketwell entertainment and conference venue offers a much larger and more adaptable space than anything previously available in the city centre.
Three quarters of the glass curtain walling on the east side is now installed. Inside, all the internal work is well underway, giving a good sense of the space within the auditorium and the areas around it.
Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council and Portfolio Holder for City Centre, Regeneration, Culture and Tourism said: “It’s fantastic that we’re now getting a real idea of the impressive scale of the auditorium and a feel of what it will be like when the building opens.
“This venue is a key part in making Derby a lively city centre that puts culture at the forefront. It isn’t just a building; it’s a place where people can come together to learn new things and create innovative ideas. All kinds of events will be hosted here, from business meetings to exciting cultural activities and great entertainment.”
The main contractors, Heage-based Bowmer + Kirkland, took over the site in June 2023 and by December, the steel frame and concrete tiers for seating were already complete.
Construction work is progressing to plan with practical completion and handover scheduled for the first quarter of 2025.
The mechanical and electrical systems, which are the building’s lifeblood, are also progressing well. The cladding on all the exterior walls is nearing completion, giving the building a finished look from the outside and showcasing its striking architectural design.
The massive birdcage scaffolding that supported the terraced seating is being dismantled in the coming weeks, now that the acoustic ceiling work is finished.
Christian Parnell, Regional Director, Bowmer + Kirkland, said: “We are delighted with our progress on site and are on course for this exciting new leisure destination to be handed over early next year. As a Derbyshire-based company, it is an honour for our team to be part of such an important scheme for the city and wider region.”
The venue is set to host over 200 cultural and commercial events each year and expected to attract an additional 250,000 visitors to the city.
It is also expected to create over 200 new local jobs and provide the impetus to kick-start further investment in surrounding areas of the city centre.
The venue will be owned by Derby City Council and leased to and operated by ASM Global, the venue management and services company, and producer of live experiences, whose UK portfolio includes OVO Arena Wembley, AO Arena (Manchester), first direct Arena (Leeds) and Olympia and OVO Hydro (Glasgow).
The new 3,500 capacity entertainment and conference venue forms the second phase of the £200m Becketwell regeneration scheme. Phase one includes the city’s first purpose-built Build to Rent scheme. The Condor is owned and operated by Grainger plc and now almost fully let. The adjacent Springwell Square, a new public green space for the city, officially opened in September 2023.
The Becketwell scheme is being developed by St James Securities, a privately-owned Leeds-based property developer.
Paul Morris, Development Director at St James Securities, said: “Five years ago, discussions started on transforming this derelict five-acre city centre site, and now we’re witnessing the vision for Derby’s long-awaited new entertainment and conference centre come to life.
“We look forward to celebrating the completion of the arena with a topping-out ceremony in the autumn.”
Future planned phases of the Becketwell scheme include potential for a hotel and purpose-built student residential.
Acquisition to see former Nottingham restaurant become student scheme
National developer Taj Ubhi, CEO of 9 Property Group, has teamed up with commercial real estate buyer Emmanuel Agalamanyi, MBA, of BlackBridge Property Partners to acquire the former well-known Antibo Restaurant in Nottingham City Centre.
The building’s acquisition, led by Emmanuel Agalamanyi, is set to see it transformed as 9 Property Group begins work on the site, to develop 51 modern student living spaces.
Bought out of receivership, the purchase marks the partnership’s first pipeline of acquisitions set to take place over the coming months, which is currently in legal, as similar distressed sites throughout the country have been placed on the market.
The neglected building will be given a new chapter, providing a central location for students to call home, but still maintaining much of the building’s historic architecture.
The project is designed by ARC Design Studio.
Principal developer and CEO Taj Ubhi has a strong track record in delivering PBSA schemes and is a well-known client of finance provider Assetz Capital.
Emmanuel Agalamanyi said: “Our growing equity fund has placed us in a very strong position to acquire similar buildings and ground-up developments to cater for the student and private rental sector. We are aggressively seeking more opportunities.”
Rolls-Royce SMR signs £1.2m contract for power station simulator
Rolls-Royce SMR has signed a £1.2million contract with GSE Solutions to develop a power station simulator, as it continues to mature the design of its Small Modular Reactor technology and remains on track to complete Step 2 of the Generic Design Assessment this summer.
GSE Solutions is a world leader in advanced engineering and workforce solutions across the clean-energy and power industries. This simulator will play a key role in Rolls-Royce SMR’s programme to develop, verify and validate the performance and control systems of its unique ‘factory-built’ nuclear power plant. It forms part of a much wider programme of development activities that are focussed on ensuring the ‘delivery-certain’ nature of the plant.
David Dodd, Rolls-Royce SMR Engineering Director, said: “Commissioning a simulation and test platform is another stride towards deploying the first Rolls-Royce SMR power plant. The work with GSE is part of our ‘digital-first’ methodology and our truly modular approach to developing new nuclear power – a reliable source of clean, affordable energy for the UK and the rest of the world.”
In a recent update, the Office for Nuclear Regulation confirmed that Rolls-Royce SMR is on track to complete Step 2 of Generic Design Assessment this summer – with the intention of moving straight into the third and final step. This progress through the assessment by the nuclear industry’s independent regulators (the ONR, Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales) confirms Rolls-Royce SMR’s position as being significantly ahead of any other SMR design in Europe.
Specsavers invests further in Nottingham office space
Specsavers has submitted plans to improve its office offering in Nottingham, to make its workspaces as “inspiring and collaborative as possible.”
A design statement submitted by HSSP Architects Ltd on behalf of the business indicates that Specsavers has recently invested in additional office space adjacent to its 40,000 sq ft premises, Cirrus House. The new premises, known as The Arc, provides an additional 44,600 sq ft of space, supporting Specsavers’ growth ambitions.
Specsavers is in the process of carrying out a full upgrade and refurbishment programme across both buildings on Experian Way which “will create a new and inspiring workplace” for its support office colleagues. To support this, plans have been lodged to connect the two buildings to create a seamless transition between them.
The single-storey link between Cirrus House and The Arc will act as a flexible workspace, as well as allowing free flow access between the two buildings at ground floor level.
Specsavers asked HSSP Architects to develop the proposals for the link. Blueprint Interiors are acting as lead design consultants on the project.
A design statement said: “Nottingham continues to be a strategically important central hub for the Specsavers Group and will play a key role in its future growth plans.”
Wellbeing toolkit created to support West Northamptonshire workplaces
Employers of any size across West Northamptonshire can now access a wellbeing toolkit designed to provide practical guidance on how to enhance wellbeing in the workplace and improve business outcomes.
Research shows that a good workplace wellbeing programme can have a positive impact on employee happiness and engagement, increase productivity and improve customer service and business outcomes.
The toolkit aims to encourage businesses to adopt an insight and data led approach to workplace wellbeing, improving the health and wellbeing of their employees and subsequently their business performance.
West Northamptonshire Council has launched the free to use, self-service Workplace Wellbeing Toolkit that is available to all businesses across the area.
It offers a step-by-step guide to workplace wellbeing, providing an overview of what wellbeing is, how businesses can invest in it, how they can use existing data to enhance their wellbeing programmes. It helps employers to create an action plan across a wide range of wellbeing topics to support the specific needs of their employees.
Cllr Matt Golby, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Adult Care, Public Health and Regulatory Services, said: “We are pleased to be able to launch our workplace wellbeing toolkit which aims to support businesses with enhancing their employee wellbeing offer. It has been developed by our public health specialists in partnership with existing businesses to ensure that it meets the needs of businesses and their employees.
“We will be continuing to develop the toolkit over the coming months and years based on the feedback from local businesses.”
Fusion energy project appoints three new non-exec directors
UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd has appointed three new non-exec directors to support of the delivery of the UK’s prototype fusion energy plant.
Kaveh Pourteymour, Julie Nerney and Dr Luc Bardin will be part of STEP, the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production, to be built at the former West Burton Power Station kn Nottinghamshire, which aims to demonstrate net energy from fusion alongside paving the way for the commercialisation of fusion energy.
These strategic appointments follow the launch of a multi-stage competition to find industry partners – one in engineering and one in construction – to form a public-private alliance led by UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of UK Atomic Energy Authority Group, to deliver STEP.
Professor David Gann, Chair of UK Industrial Fusion Solutions, said: “We are delighted to welcome Kaveh, Julie and Luc to our Board, together with Charlotte Valeur and our other executive and non-exec members. Their strategic insights will be invaluable as we navigate the delivery of a new technology to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of an emerging industry.”
Kaveh is currently Managing Director – Head of Business Partnering and Projects for global mining group, Rio Tinto, and joins the UKIFS Board as a digital transformation leader with over 30 years’ experience spanning energy, utilities and manufacturing in addition to complex systems engineering and digital modelling. Throughout his career, Kaveh has successfully implemented cutting edge solutions to enhance business performance delivered through operating models that incorporated diversity and inclusion at their heart.
Julie has been delivering impactful and sustainable change in organisations for over 30 years in roles that span c-suite and board level, experiencing every stage of the organisational life cycle. She has delivered high profile and complex programmes, including a leadership role in the transport operation for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the Supreme Court in February 2023.
A current Non-Executive Director on the UKAEA Group Board, Dr Luc Bardin joins for a shorter period to help with the transition from UKAEA to UKIFS, where his world renowned expertise in organisational development and strategic partnering will be of immense value.
The UKIFS Board will also be joined by Jamie Stapleton as Board Advisor. Jamie is currently VP Digital Innovation & Synergies at Hitachi Energy.
The new appointments join fellow independent Non-Executive Director, Charlotte Valeur, an Investment Banker and experienced FTSE Chair and Non-Executive Director. Her long board-level experience spans a host of sectors and industries and covers IPOs, mergers and acquisitions, and restructuring. She is a recognised international authority and professor in corporate governance and leadership, and author of ‘Effective Directors, Questions to Ask’.
UKIFS will be responsible for the delivery of STEP from later this year. The programme aims to create future opportunities for suppliers ranging from whole plant integrators to critical system manufacturers that can design and deliver future plants worldwide in addition to benefitting the communities that surround West Burton.
The fusion process can be thought of as the opposite of fission – combining lighter atoms rather than splitting heavier ones. It is based on the same processes that power the Sun and stars and has potential to provide safe, sustainable and low-carbon energy for generations to come.
