Hortons has lodged plans to develop around 270,000 sq ft of new industrial and logistics space near the Rolls-Royce Sinfin campus in Derby, targeting businesses seeking modern, sustainable units with strong transport links.

The proposed redevelopment of the 23-acre Sinfin Commercial Park includes 17 new units, ranging from 5,000 to 70,000 square feet. The site offers direct access to key transportation routes, including the A50 and M1, making it a strategic option for distribution and light industrial occupiers.

The scheme is designed to meet EPC A+ standards and incorporates electric vehicle charging infrastructure, photovoltaic panels, and landscaped green amenity areas to support environmental performance and workforce wellbeing.

Demolition has already begun on a redundant 207,000 sq ft warehouse to prepare for the build, following Hortons’ acquisition of the vacant unit last year. The firm also previously acquired 21 entirely let warehouse units on the neighbouring estate.

Clowes Developments is moving ahead with the next stage of its Stud Brook Business Park project in Castle Donington after securing planning approval for five new industrial units. Targeted at trade counter, warehouse, and light industrial users, the new units will range in size from 3,229 to 4,606 sq ft.

The development will be positioned around a recently opened Starbucks drive-thru and adjacent to a newly launched Sainsbury’s Local store, reflecting the site’s broader mixed-use vision. The business park has seen growing interest from trade operators, with specific occupiers for the new units to be announced later.

Roe Developments has been appointed to lead the 30-week construction programme, with completion expected by the end of the year. Tenants are anticipated to begin operations in early 2026.

The scheme is being designed by IMA Architects, who have worked closely with Clowes to ensure architectural consistency with the existing industrial landscape while integrating modern requirements.

The project continues to attract strong B2B interest thanks to its location and accessibility. Joint agents on the scheme include NG Chartered Surveyors and FHP Property Consultants.

Chesterfield Borough Council has approved a new 15-apartment development on Park Road, despite ongoing concerns from residents regarding traffic, parking, and the impact on local amenities. The decision allows A-Rock Construction Ltd to replace existing commercial properties with a three-storey block at a busy T-junction near Queen’s Park and the town centre.

The original proposal for a larger four-storey building with 21 apartments was revised in response to concerns about overshadowing. However, local objections persisted, particularly around increased parking pressures and the potential for traffic congestion, especially with large delivery vehicles serving nearby businesses. There were also fears that the development would exacerbate existing road safety issues at the junction.

While the development will not include on-site parking, the council argues that its proximity to sustainable transport options, including the Hipper Valley cycle route, addresses these concerns. The approval was also supported by an assessment of surface water flooding risk and the conclusion that the development would not significantly impact existing business activities in the area.

Conditions attached to the approval include a Section 106 Agreement to provide funding for local infrastructure improvements due to the lack of affordable housing in the project, along with measures to enhance biodiversity and mitigate any potential risks from previous coal mining activity on the site.

A proposed development for student flats in Nottingham, which will cater to 247 residents, is set to receive approval. PMI Developments and Harcourt Land and Development have applied to Nottingham City Council for permission to redevelop a site located behind the Victoria Centre, previously home to a tyre and car product shop, between Rick Street and Howard Street.

The plans, which include buildings ranging from three to nine storeys, would feature a mix of accommodation types: 37 cluster flats offering 197 bedrooms, alongside 50 individual studio flats. While some residents have raised concerns about noise, the scale of the project, and its impact on local services, planning officers have recommended approval. They argue that the building’s design is comparable in size to other new structures in the area and that the existing building lacks architectural significance.

There have also been concerns about the concentration of student housing in the vicinity, but officials emphasise that demand for student accommodation remains high. By providing dedicated student housing, the development could reduce the pressure on the city’s broader rental market.

The planning committee is expected to review the proposal at its upcoming meeting.

Anglian Water plans to build a major reservoir in Lincolnshire, with construction potentially beginning in 2031, pending regulatory approval. The proposed site is located south of Sleaford, near the villages of Scredington and Burton Pedwardine.

The project aims to secure a long-term water supply for approximately 750,000 homes across the region. If approved, it would result in the flooding of around five square kilometres of land and the loss of at least 15 homes and farms.

Initial survey work is set to begin shortly, although Anglian Water has clarified that this does not mark the start of construction. The utility provider is continuing to develop its plans to submit a formal application in 2028 through the development consent order process.

The proposal has received political support, including from Chancellor Rachel Reeves, signaling broader government interest in strengthening the UK’s water infrastructure. For B2B stakeholders, the project represents a significant opportunity across construction, engineering, environmental consultancy, and utility supply chains.

A major warehouse and distribution development proposed for farmland near Thrapston in Northamptonshire is now under review by the government’s Planning Inspectorate after the local council failed to meet its decision deadline.

Equites Newlands (Thrapston East) Ltd submitted plans in 2022 to develop approximately 60 hectares of land at Castle Manor Farm, close to the A14. The proposal includes large-scale logistics units with a combined maximum floorspace of 200,000 square metres and building heights capped at 24 metres.

North Northamptonshire Council had until December 2024 to decide on the application but has taken no action, prompting the matter to proceed to appeal. The government will now assess the scheme in full.

The proposed site has drawn significant local opposition. Over 760 public objections have been lodged, alongside resistance from nearby parish councils and local campaign group Staunch, which cited environmental and infrastructure concerns. Only three letters of support were recorded.

While the exact layout of the full development remains undecided, the developer claims the project responds to strong regional demand for employment space along the A14 logistics corridor and could support around 2,700 new jobs.

Interested parties have until 16 May to submit comments, with a public hearing scheduled to begin on 8 July.