Property developer HBD, part of Henry Boot, is bringing forward a new 31,264 sq ft commercial scheme at Markham Vale which could create more than 100 new jobs. Reserved matters planning has been submitted for Markham Vale Trade Park; a brand-new development designed for trade counter businesses and SMEs. A 4,000 sq ft pre-let is already under offer to a national operator in a deal that could create around 16 full-time jobs. Markham Vale is a 200-acre industrial and logistics scheme delivered in joint venture between HBD and Derbyshire County Council. Vivienne Clements, Executive Director at HBD, said: “The Trade Park will be the newest addition to Markham Vale aiming to accommodate trade occupiers and smaller businesses who want to benefit from the scheme’s prominence and accessibility to the surrounding demographic. “The Trade Park will provide much-needed Grade A space, allowing smaller trade businesses to operate from energy-efficient buildings in a prime business location. The job creation element is also significant, with the potential to provide 100 full-time jobs. “Almost 20 years after development began, Markham Vale remains one of HBD’s most successful projects and we’ve no doubt this latest addition will see strong interest from potential occupiers looking for well-located, high-quality space in an area with a strong local labour market.” Councillor Tony King, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Clean Growth and Regeneration, said: “This is a fantastic addition to Markham Vale bringing more jobs to the area and opportunities for small businesses, as well as providing a supplies hub to trades operating in the area. “We’re proud of the positive impact Markham Vale continues to have on the local economy and this announcement sends yet another strong signal to other investors that Derbyshire is a place that helps businesses to survive and thrive.” Occupiers will benefit from Gridserve’s new Electric Forecourt being developed on the adjacent plot. Markham Vale Trade Park is expected to start on site late this year. The letting agents on Markham Vale Trade Park are JLL and M1 Agency. Harry Fullerton, Associate Director at JLL, said: “This is an excellent opportunity for trade occupiers and small businesses to capitalise on the prominence of Markham Vale as well as the growing number of homes and population surrounding the scheme. “The energy-efficient specification and long track record of delivery by HBD at Markham Vale will undoubtedly make this latest development an attractive proposition for occupiers in a market of low supply. “Markham Vale offers an appealing location for occupiers given its population of 270,000 (expected to increase further with more than 4,000 new homes being built within the area) and 119,000 passing vehicles each day on the M1. “Its location close to amenities including McDonalds, Starbucks, KFC, ASDA and Burger King, plus the new Gridserve EV charging forecourt, will also benefit occupiers.”

Wavensmere Homes and Clowes Developments’ £75m proposals for the redevelopment of the city’s historic Friar Gate Goods Yard have been approved by Derby City Council’s Planning Committee. The detailed designs – submitted in August 2023 – set out the vision for the reanimation of two landmark Grade II listed buildings into over 110,000 sq ft of commercial space, alongside 276 new build homes. A painstaking restoration of the 19^th Century Bonded Warehouse and Engine House will deliver a total of 111,275 sq ft of flexible offices, health and fitness space, a restaurant/café, together with a regional sales centre for Birmingham-headquartered Wavensmere Homes. Extensive new areas of open space, including play areas and pocket parks will be installed, in addition to the retention of the TPO tree buffer, to help enhance the biodiversity of the site. The elevated area adjacent to Friar Gate Bridge will become a new multi-purpose public realm and community space, with retention of some of the original railway arch facades. New vehicular, pedestrian and cycle access will be created at various points around the 11.5-acre (4.96Ha) site, from Uttoxeter New Road, Great Northern Way, and Friar Gate, with the Mick Mack cycling route also to be extended. Friar Gate Goods Yard has been in the ownership of the Clowes family for over 40 years, with a number of options for redevelopment proposed but not progressed, due to heritage constraints and commercial viability. Wavensmere Homes and Clowes Developments worked with Glancy Nicholls Architects and Pegasus Group to incorporate the views from over 200 local public consultation responses into the comprehensive plans for the redevelopment of the derelict site. ​James Dickens, Managing Director of Wavensmere Homes, said: “Receiving the green light at Committee for the reanimation of this significant historic landmark has been six years in the making. There has been a tremendous amount of effort by our multi-disciplinary team – working alongside Tom Clowes and Tom Morley of Clowes Developments – to get to this fantastic result. “It is very rare to have a such a large, primely located asset of this architectural quality that has lain derelict for so long – since 1972. Bringing it back into public use will have a transformational impact on Derby’s landscape, supported by much-needed attainable city centre housing. “With the full support of the City Council’s planning department and planning committee, we look forward to commencing the restoration and construction work – to fulfil our promise. The fine attention to detail and £75m investment we will inject in the reanimation of Friar Gate Goods Yard will see it become a nationally important trophy asset in Derby’s ongoing renaissance.” Wavensmere Homes anticipates receiving formal planning approval in time to commence work on site this summer. Strong interest has already been received from prospective operators of the health and fitness centre, office space, and the restaurant/café – all of which will be within the Bonded Warehouse. The housebuilder also has a database of over 500 prospective purchasers wishing to buy one of the townhouses, indicating the pent-up demand and appeal. Adam McPartland, Director of Glancy Nicholls Architects, said: “We are overjoyed that the required funds can now be invested into saving these distressed 150-year-old listed buildings. Glancy Nicholls Architects has proudly brought its expertise in restoration and retrofit design to visualise the sustainable future of two of Derby city centre’s most notable historic structures. “From the outset, the overarching brief from Wavensmere Homes was for a huge emphasis to be placed on exemplary placemaking. By having a mix of commercial uses within the two buildings – and opening the inaccessible site up to create a series of new linear parks – hundreds of people will be able to appreciate these heritage assets on a daily basis. “The designs for the 227 two- and three-bedroom townhouses that will surround the two listed buildings are bespoke. Curved and terraced street scenes will celebrate the beauty and vista of the Bonded Warehouse, while incorporating a range of energy saving technologies and strategies. “A four-storey apartment building containing 49 apartments will also reinstate the lost streetscape of the Stafford Street frontage. The highest EPC rating of A is being targeted for the new homes, with all plots designed to be future-proofed ahead of the 2025 Future Homes Standard.” The site sits just outside the Friar Gate Conservation Area, which features notable Georgian townhouses with high-quality brickwork and fine architectural detailing. The Friar Gate Goods Yard was intended as the main goods depot for the Great Northern Railway line, to handle coal, livestock, timber, and metals. Designed in 1870, and entering operation in 1878, the Bonded Warehouse building contained extensive warehouse space and offices. It was used as a store for the American Army in WWII to house ammunition and other supplies. The Engine House was also built for the Railway by Kirk & Randall of Sleaford. It is Italianate in style and built from Welsh slate roofs. The Engine House supplied power to the hydraulic lifts and capstans at the Bonded Warehouse. The site first became derelict in 1967, and overtime became overgrown and fell into a poor state of repair. An arson attack took place at the Goods Yard in 2020, which exposed the whole inner iron structure of the two historic buildings. The Goods Yard redevelopment will promote sustainable development through the use of low carbon materials, modern methods of construction, and renewable energy generation. The redevelopment will see the retention of the majority of the protected mature trees, together with a range of biodiversity enhancements.

Clearbell UK Strategic Trust (CST or Clearbell), a Trust advised by Clearbell Capital, has agreed a new lease at 55 Maid Marian Way, Nottingham, to global recruitment consultancy, Metric Search, following a significant refurbishment project at the property.  

Located in the heart of the city centre, the office, totalling over 14,600 sq ft across five floors, has seen its communal areas transformed with new feature walls, floor coverings, lighting and external works.   

As part of the project, the c. 3,000 sq ft third floor suite was also completely refurbished to a CAT A standard and steps taken to improve energy efficiency, including the introduction of LED lighting and electric heating throughout resulting in an EPC B rating.   

Dovetailing with the refurbishment, the floor has been let to Metric Search on a five-year agreement. The speciality search recruitment business, founded in New York in 2019, works across the life sciences, MedTech, infrastructure and engineering sectors from its offices across the US and UK.  

Other occupiers at the property include wealth management platform, FNZ UK third-party capital advisors, and ALM.     

Rhys Jones, asset manager at Clearbell Capital, said: “Our refurbishment project at Maid Marian Way has completely transformed the property and the experience of our customers there, which is the driving force behind our active asset management programme across our portfolio.    

“And, it has supported us in welcoming Metric Search to the building’s community; a fast-growing and ambitious business who we have no doubt will thrive in this new space. We look forward to working with them over the coming months on this next phase of their journey.”  

Zac Flint, finance director at Metric Search, said: “Although we have offices all over the world, Nottingham is our home, so we needed an office that reflected the importance of this location to us.

“Having the opportunity to move into a newly refurbished building, that is also in such close proximity to the city centre, meant that Maid Marian Way was an obvious choice for us.   

“We are looking forward to moving in in the next few weeks and starting the next chapter of our journey in the city.” 

Clearbell Capital was supported on the refurbishment by Reynolds Associate and Interiora Projects, while FHP advised on the letting to Metric Search.