Commercial property agency OMEETO has completed the latest in a string of letting deals on premises across Derby’s Pride Park. Utilities infrastructure and engineering services company, Avove, is opening a new office in the East Midlands, which reflects its ambitious growth plans and will allow for the creation of new jobs in the region. Avove’s business director of operations, Patrick Rafferty, said: “We wanted quality, modern offices which are in a great location and in keeping with our environmental aspirations of being energy efficient and within easy walking distance of public transport infrastructure. “Securing the second floor of Pride Park gives us a great base and provides plenty of capacity to grow our business in the region. We’ve taken a long-term lease which shows our commitment and is a statement of our intent to be recruiting further as we gear up our operations in the coming years.” Avove’s activities at Pride Park involve water and wastewater infrastructure works including design, construction, programme management, commissioning and customer service – allowing the teams to add real value for its clients. This will be Avove’s twentieth office/hub across the UK. Chris Wright, the director at OMEETO, which recently celebrated its third anniversary in business, said: “The deal with Avove is the latest in a series of completions in and around Pride Park and highlights the continued popularity of this centrally located commercial district across a number of business sectors. “We have recently also secured lettings for a number of other businesses including Explo, Scargill Mann, Derbyshire Properties, Resource Finder and Ivy Tech. “With excellent communication links, these offices have been recently refurbished and offer high quality and flexible open plan and self-contained premises which are ideal for Avove.”

Moulton College has revealed ambitious infrastructure plans to support students studying its new Construction T Level qualification. It follows Government investment through the T Level Capital Fund, which will see the college redevelop existing buildings into a next-generation Construction Science & Technology Hub. T Levels are technical qualifications introduced by the Department for Education as a new two-year post-GCSE option to prepare students going into skilled employment. Moulton College will launch its initial T Level in Construction in 2024-2025, with the first cohort able to make use of the brand-new Hub. The investment will be used to repurpose and update an existing facility, which will be transformed into a new space able to deliver the requirements of the T Level qualification, supported by industry-standard specialist equipment. The building will contain bespoke classrooms and practical skills spaces, including a construction science lab and a digital technology unit offering CAD software and leading virtual reality technology. Corrie Harris, CEO and principal of Moulton College, adds: “We are delighted to have been successful in receiving a share of the UK-wide T Level investment funding. It will enable us to deliver a first-class curriculum in a modern, high quality and engaging learning space, inspiring our students to develop the cutting edge practical and theoretical skills the construction industry requires.” Minister for Skills, Apprenticeship and Higher Education Robert Halfon says: “This boost of over £100 million is our latest investment in T Levels. These are robust, high quality technical qualifications providing a unique ladder of opportunity for students to gain both classroom knowledge and on-the-job experience. “T Levels will support young people into rewarding careers and back businesses with the skills of the future.” Moulton College will offer the Construction T Level from September 2024 alongside other T Levels in Electrotechnical Engineering and Arboriculture.

National planning consultancy Boyer (part of Leaders Romans Group) has reopened its Midlands office, based at Cedar Business Park, Normanton on Soar, Loughborough following a re-fit with sustainability at its heart. Boyer’s Loughborough sustainable office features solar panels, a biomass boiler and EV chargers. It has sustainable carpets and hard flooring made from 65% recycled material and low volatile organic compounds paint. Waste to landfill is minimised through an organised recycling and compostable waste system. Acknowledging the importance of the circular economy, Boyer will be re-using much of its original furniture and fittings. At the point at which these items are replaced, the same sustainable principles will be followed. David Hutchinson, director and head of Boyer’s Midlands office, said: “We are delighted to be the first of Boyer’s six offices to have undertaken a sustainable re-fit. “As planning consultants, we understand the impact brought about by climate change and our work is focussed on delivering sustainability through the built environment. So its entirely apt that we used this opportunity for a re-fit to put our strongly-held principles into practice in our own building. “The expansion of this office has resulted in the creation of the first regional hub accommodating our Land, Planning and New Homes services in a single office. This will enable collaboration between these linked services to better serve our clients and to help secure further growth across the region.” This, Boyer’s first sustainable refurbishment, is one of many within Leaders Romans Group (LRG), which is refitting many of its branches across its estate agency brands to focus on energy efficiency and recycling.

Plans to improve the eastern side of Derby city centre have been given the green light by planners. Derby City Council’s planning committee recently granted permission for the Eastern Gateway scheme. The project, which is part-funded by the Government’s Future High Streets Fund, will add extra shops and leisure outlets and create a new public boulevard to transform the area opposite the bus station and the eastern entrance to Derbion. The business case for the Eastern Gateway scheme, which will be delivered by Derbion, estimates that the regeneration will create new jobs, drive additional footfall and support the ongoing recovery of the city centre. John Forkin, Managing Director of Marketing Derby, which submitted a letter supporting the application, said: “We really welcome this as improving the city gateway from the bus station and two of the city’s largest hotels is long overdue. “The area has a footfall of over 12 million people which will only increase when the Becketwell Performance Venue opens in 2025.” The plans involve the removal of a section of the former Eagle Market building and the Castle and Falcon pub, opening up the streetscape and creating a vibrant new space. It will create a split-level area of landscaping, with a series of garden terraces with opportunities for seating at different levels, overlooking the street. It will also include durable play zones to offer a family friendly element to the scheme, with food and drink outlets and associated seating bringing further vitality to the site. A new double height Derbion entrance, which is designed to be welcoming and inviting to visitors, is also part of the scheme. A report prepared by planners ahead of the committee meeting stated: “The existing entrance on the corner of East Street and Morledge provides an uninviting arrival to the city. “The proposal seeks to create a welcoming ‘Eastern Gateway’ to the city centre from the Bus Station with new landscaping works. “These high-quality proposals will raise the overall design standard for Derby city centre and make a positive contribution to the character of East Street.” The city council was awarded £15 million by the Government back in December 2020, following a successful Future High Streets Fund bid to support the recovery of the city centre. Around £5 million of this funding has been allocated to the Eastern Gateway scheme. A share of the funding has also been invested in refurbishing the city’s Grade II-listed Market Hall into an attractive, flexible retail and leisure destination.

Midlands Care has acquired Gokul Vrandavan Care Home on Windsor Avenue in Leicester. This facility has been dedicated to providing culturally appropriate care to the Gujarati community, offering an Asian lifestyle that resonates with the local elderly population. This strategic opportunity has allowed Midlands Care to further its commitment to inclusivity and expand its range of care facilities to cater to the needs of local elders from diverse faith backgrounds. The newly acquired purpose-built home, consisting of 27 single en suite bedrooms, has merged with an existing residential facility to create a comprehensive care environment. The reason for acquiring this service was for the group to extend its services and become an inclusive regional organisation. Midlands Care also welcomes back Sailesh Raja, founder of Midlands Care, who will play a role in the ongoing leadership and management of the home. Additionally, Pradeep Patel, operations director, will provide expertise and support to maintain the highest standards of care whilst working with the existing staff team and Keilash Mcilwee, registered manager. Mr Shyamal Raja, Managing Director, said: “I vividly recall when my father visited the original building two decades ago. Evidently, he had a strong desire to acquire it, but he couldn’t make it happen for reasons beyond his control. “Over the years, he occasionally reminded me and Sagar about the immense potential this opportunity held to serve the local community, which he held dear. The building was purchased by Mr Pabari, who later acquired the land next door and built a purpose-built facility before joining into the original building.” Shyamal added: “Now, it brings me great joy to announce that, through a meticulously arranged, highly confidential off-market deal, we have completed the takeover of Gokul-Vrandavan Residential Home. The entire process was shrouded in secrecy, with my father completely unaware. Sagar and I orchestrated the service transfer from Mr. Pabari to Midlands Care, creating a wonderful surprise. “I eagerly anticipate the collaborative efforts ahead and the enhancement of the already exceptional level of care we provide to those entrusted to our care. Together, we will strive to positively impact the lives of our residents and the community we serve.”

New images released by Nottingham City Council show the major transformation due to begin later this year in the city centre with the creation of a wildlife-rich Green Heart. Work on the Green Heart is due to begin this Autumn as a key element of the vision developed by world renowned Heatherwick Studios for the city’s Broad Marsh area and the site of the former shopping centre. The design of the Green Heart is unique to Nottingham and has been developed by Townshend Landscape Architects along with Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, with Heatherwick Studio retained as a strategic design advisor. Nearby on Collin Street, work has already begun on a new public space outside the new Central Library building as part of a playable cities initiative to create child friendly spaces in the city centre. Local school children were consulted on the design which will feature specially designed swings and seating so the space can be somewhere families gather and spend time together. When Collin Street reopens, there will be a traffic-free route connecting the Green Heart and Lister Gate with the new people-friendly, green public space created on Sussex Street next to Nottingham College which features a mini amphitheatre, a skateable space and a multi-use games area. It will enhance biodiversity by introducing green ecologically rich areas and diverse natural spaces providing habitats and food for wildlife, forming a green infrastructure network linking across the wider Broad Marsh area from Nottingham Castle through to the Island Quarter site and beyond. The design carves into the site creating pathways, pocket spaces and seating for people to use and enjoy, bringing nature back through ecologically rich planting. A key aim is to put the ‘marsh’ back to the Broad Marsh, introducing new urban wetlands on land that was once a marshland ecosystem to capture, slow and filter rainwater, potentially preventing flooding and creating pockets of biodiversity.

Sandstone, the rock on which Nottingham Castle was built and into which the city’s unique cave system was cut, will be used for paving and seating. A long bench will arc through the planting and marsh allowing people to sit, enjoy and experience nature. Leader of Nottingham City Council, Cllr David Mellen, said: “More green space was by far the most popular response when we asked people what they would like to see happen around Broad Marsh as part of the huge Big Conversation engagement exercise the council ran a couple of years ago. “Anyone who has visited the area recently will see how much it has changed with lots of greenery, pedestrianised areas and seating. The creation of the Green Heart will take the transformation of Broad Marsh a major step further and be a beautiful addition to the city centre which is unique to Nottingham. I’m particularly pleased that Collin Street will be a family friendly space that people can enjoy right outside the new Central Library.” Gary Alden, Senior Associate at Townshend Landscape Architects, said: ”We have worked closely with Nottingham City Council and local stakeholders to design a place that encapsulates what we collectively coined ‘Nottinghamness’, creating a place that is part of, and inspired by Nottingham. “Expressing the sandstone, and creating a ‘marsh’ to manage rainwater, is a nature-led solution providing an urban wetland ecosystem for wildlife and people to enjoy. “From what the spaces once were, this has been a massive undertaking by Nottingham City Council. We are thrilled to see people enjoying the newly created public spaces on Sussex Street, and are excited that work has now started on Collin Street and then the Green Heart later this year.”