Sherwood Forest MP visits Harrier Park to celebrate regeneration milestone
Bassetlaw regeneration projects make progress
Progress is being made on Bassetlaw District Council’s government funded regeneration projects.
At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday (14 October), members received an update on several major proposed projects including the Priory Centre and the Creative Village in Worksop, and the North Border School site in Harworth and Bircotes.
They also approved funding adjustments within the Local Regeneration Fund following revised government guidance on delivery timelines and fund distribution.
Cllr Steve Scotthorne, cabinet member for identity, planning and place, said: “These proposed regeneration projects show our continued commitment to deliver developments with real benefits for our communities from accessing services, new facilities, and education provision to town centre improvements.
“From the Priory Centre to the Creative Village Heritage building, we look forward to these projects making good progress over the coming months ahead, subject to planning consents.”
The redevelopment of the Priory Centre aims to create a more modern family focused leisure facility including entertainment and shopping alongside improved pedestrian links, public spaces and a new canal footbridge.
It has already achieved milestones including the appointment of a construction partner, with pre-enabling works on utilities scheduled to take place from November onwards and demolition works planned for early 2026.
It follows delays caused by several different factors including a number of conditions attached to the planning approval that needed to be agreed and discharged before any development could begin.
A new Health Hub is also proposed in the Priory Centre, subject to planning, with an NHS tenant identified to take up part of the building, while early designs for the space have also been produced.
Also going through the planning process is a proposal to extend the Creative Village on Canal Road in Worksop with a second phase.
If approved it will create up to ten educational workshop spaces focused on key growth sectors such as construction, green technologies, and logistics. It hopes to raise educational attainment and expand access to high-skilled, well-paid employment opportunities across the district.
Finally, plans for affordable housing to be built on the former North Border School site in Harworth and Bircotes continue, with planning permission for demolition work granted and an additional planning application submitted to clear the full site to prepare for development.
County backs infrastructure and skills projects to strengthen regional economy
Derbyshire County Council has approved a pipeline of projects designed to boost economic growth, infrastructure, and workforce development across the region. The initiatives are supported by funding from the East Midlands County Combined Authority (EMCCA), marking the first significant investment of its kind in the area.
The programme includes strategic transport and infrastructure upgrades, such as Shirebrook access and connectivity and Chesterfield to Staveley regeneration route, improved access to Willington, and A61 corridor works supporting development at the Avenue in Wingerworth. Active travel schemes will promote walking and cycling links throughout the county.
Plans are organised into several growth zones. In the north, projects focus on the Staveley Growth Corridor and Chesterfield’s Spire Neighbourhood. In the south, attention centres on sites near Derby, including New Stanton Park and the redevelopment of the former Willington Power Station. Market towns such as Clay Cross, Swadlincote, and Shirebrook are also set for regeneration and town centre improvements.
Additional funding will support cultural and tourism projects, including canal restorations and the expansion of regional cycling routes.
Economic programmes will target labour and skills shortages through construction hubs, apprenticeship schemes, and training in priority sectors such as engineering, green technology, and advanced manufacturing. Business innovation and rural diversification schemes are also in development.
Cabinet approval will release EMCCA funds for shovel-ready projects and initiate public consultation on those awaiting further investment.
Derbyshire invests in broadband upgrades to boost business connectivity
Derbyshire County Council has approved two new grant programmes to enhance internet speeds for businesses and households that continue to experience poor broadband access.
Around 32,000 premises across the county currently receive less than 100 Mbps, with approximately 3,000 still receiving speeds below 10 Mbps. Many of these are located in rural areas with no commercial plans for a full-fibre rollout within the next three years.
Funding from the council’s Digital Derbyshire reserves will support the rollout. The Gigabit Fibre Connectivity Grant will deliver full fibre networks to clusters of hard-to-reach properties, while the Interim Connectivity Grant will provide short-term alternatives such as satellite or mobile broadband in areas where fibre installation is not economically feasible.
The initiative is designed to enhance digital capability for local businesses, improve productivity, and strengthen the county’s competitiveness. Derbyshire County Council is also working with the East Midlands Combined County Authority to identify future funding opportunities to expand broadband access further.
Cadent unveils East Coast Hydrogen Pipeline to drive industrial decarbonisation
Cadent has confirmed the route for the first phase of its East Coast Hydrogen Pipeline, a 140-kilometre network that will link hydrogen production sites in the Humber and North Nottinghamshire to energy-intensive industries across the East Midlands. The project is designed to help regional manufacturers transition away from natural gas and reduce emissions at scale.
The initiative has secured more than £42 million from Ofgem to progress planning, technical, and consenting work. Once operational, it could remove up to 600,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere annually. Industries including steel, chemicals, lime and brick production, and food manufacturing are expected to benefit from the shift to low-carbon hydrogen.
Adam Knight, ECHP Project Director at Cadent, said the pipeline marks a critical milestone in the UK’s journey to net zero. He described it as “vital to the UK’s overall decarbonisation efforts,” adding that it is about “unlocking a new low-carbon future for the East Midlands and the Humber, one that keeps industry thriving while cutting emissions.” He noted that hydrogen provides “a viable route to decarbonise sectors that can’t easily electrify,” positioning the pipeline as a key part of national infrastructure.
A central hub in the project will be the HyMarnham Power site in Nottinghamshire, a joint venture between JG Pears and GeoPura. The site’s 15MW electrolyser is due to be fully operational by autumn 2025, with the potential to expand to over 900MW of production capacity once the pipeline is in place. Andrew Cunningham, Director at HyMarnham Power, said the connection to Cadent’s network “opens up the opportunity to supply clean, low-carbon energy directly to the region’s most energy-intensive industries.” He added that the collaboration will “cut emissions, protect jobs, and build new skills in a future-focused energy economy.”
By 2050, hydrogen development across the East Midlands and Humber is projected to create 10,000 permanent jobs, 7,000 construction roles, and contribute £3.4 billion in gross value to the regional economy. It could also save more than 9.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.
The East Coast Hydrogen Pipeline is expected to integrate with a broader national hydrogen network, enhancing energy resilience and positioning the region as a cornerstone of the UK’s low-carbon transition. East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward said the project aligns closely with the region’s Growth Plan, describing it as “the kind of ambitious investment that sits at the heart of our East Midlands Growth Plan.” She added that linking HyMarnham Energy Park with key employers “helps businesses to decarbonise while also creating the foundations for sustainable economic growth and skilled jobs for generations to come.”
Cadent’s route announcement took place during the East Midlands Hydrogen Summit, where more than 100 organisations from industry, technology, and government gathered to discuss the region’s growing role in the UK’s hydrogen economy.
Plans progress for major East Midlands business park expansion
Plans for the next stage of development at Towcester Park in West Northamptonshire have been recommended for approval, signalling continued progress on one of the region’s largest employment sites.
Developer IM Properties has submitted detailed proposals for two industrial units measuring around 50,000 and 131,000 square feet within Zone B of the 45-acre site. The applications are expected to be reviewed by West Northamptonshire Council’s Strategic Planning Committee later this month.
The wider Towcester Park scheme, which received hybrid planning approval in 2022, is designed to deliver around 1,464 full-time equivalent jobs once fully operational. Earlier this year, detailed plans for two large facilities in Zone C—covering 161,000 and 468,000 square feet—were granted permission following a comprehensive planning review.
The development aims to enhance industrial and logistics capacity in the East Midlands, an area experiencing high demand for modern employment space. If approved, construction on the new units would represent another significant step in implementing the park’s long-term master plan and enhancing the region’s commercial infrastructure.
Inwido strengthens UK presence with Nottingham acquisition
Inwido has acquired Fast Frame, a Nottingham-based PVCu window and door manufacturer serving the trade and commercial markets. The deal, structured as a bolt-on acquisition to Inwido’s Dekko Window Systems, is designed to extend the group’s presence in the UK and deepen its reach in the commercial construction sector.
Established in 2002, Fast Frame employs 25 staff and reported around £7 million in sales for the 2024–2025 financial year, achieving profitability above Inwido’s average. The business has built a reputation for its PVCu products across commercial projects but has not previously offered an in-house aluminium range. The integration with Dekko, which already supplies aluminium systems, is expected to create efficiencies in production and sales, while expanding the combined product portfolio.
“By acquiring Fast Frame, we can integrate products from Inwido’s business unit Dekko into their portfolio, allowing us to capture a broader share of the commercial market,” says Fredrik Meuller, Inwido CEO. “Fast Frame and Dekko have had a professional relationship for many years, where Dekko has supplied aluminium windows and doors to several different Fast Frame projects, mainly in the commercial sector. The acquisition offers a unique opportunity to enhance Inwido’s market position to meet the evolving needs and demands within commercial construction.”
Under the agreement, Inwido will initially acquire 85% of Fast Frame’s shares, with an option to purchase the remaining 15% in early 2028. The transaction values the company at an EBITDA multiple of 4.2 based on the 2025 fiscal year. The move reflects Inwido’s ongoing strategy to build scale and strengthen its position in the UK’s competitive building products market.
Work starts to transform former Wilko store into campus for college students
Work has begun to transform Sutton’s former Wilko store into the Portland Square campus for college students.
Ashfield District Council purchased the building earlier this year using money from their £62.6m Towns Deal and have leased it to West Nottinghamshire College.
The former Wilko building is now in the process of being fully refurbished, creating a campus for students aged 16-18, adults and apprentices to gain trade skills and qualifications in plumbing and electrical installation.
The move will bring a range of benefits to Sutton. As well as bringing a major vacant unit back into use, students spending more time in town before and after college, the town centre will see more footfall, a bigger spend in local businesses, and a livelier town during the day.
Cllr Matthew Relf, Ashfield District Council’s executive lead for growth, regeneration and local planning, said: “Wilkos has stood empty for a couple of years now and we are so pleased to be able to bring it back into use. It’s a fantastic space, and will make a great new addition to West Nottinghamshire College’s offering.
“This new facility’s town centre location makes it easily accessible by public transport and brings more young people into our town centre. Breathing life into the former Wilkos complements the wider work we are doing to regenerate Sutton town centre, including the new and improved Portland Square, and the newly renovated Cornerstone Theatre, all of which are bringing new opportunities and vibrancy into Sutton.”
Portland Square campus will also be a centre for ‘green skills’ courses including ground source and air source heat pump, photovoltaics, and the wiring of electric vehicle charging points for homes.
Andrew Cropley MBE, principal and chief executive at West Nottinghamshire College, said: “I’m thrilled that work has begun to create another fantastic training facility for local people and local businesses.
“The construction sector is of huge strategic significance, both locally and nationally, and I hope this forward-looking centre will inspire even more young people to seek careers in plumbing and electrical installation, and help adults who wish to advance their careers in these valuable trades.
“This opportunity has already enabled us to complete the UK’s first Gene Haas Centre for Advanced Manufacturing on the outskirts of Sutton and will allow us to modernise and further increase our capacity in other construction trades, as well as motor vehicle maintenance. I can’t wait to see the new campus come to life.”
The conversion, carried out by Vaughandale Construction Ltd, will involve a major programme of internal works to create classrooms, workshop space, offices and student social space across three floors within 29,428 sq ft, plus renovation and redesign of the building’s façade.
Darren Atkins, contracts director at Vaughandale Construction, said: “As one of the leading construction companies in the East Midlands, we are delighted and proud to be working with West Nottinghamshire College to deliver this prestigious project, transforming the former Wilko building in Sutton into a new construction training campus.
“We are particularly pleased to be involved in the development of the new training centre. Along with our apprenticeship partnership with the college, this facility will provide tremendous benefits to our local community, inspiring the next generation of young people entering the construction industry, which closely aligns with our company values and ethos.”
Homes England supports SME developer with £7m loan to deliver Derbyshire scheme
Homes England is supporting SME developer, Forge New Homes with a £7m loan to deliver 58 new properties at Welbeck Gardens in Bolsover.
The Derbyshire development will provide a mix of three- and four-bedroom homes, including a proportion of affordable homes. Forge New Homes has secured the loan through Homes England’s Home Building Fund, which provides development finance to small and medium-sized housebuilders that may face barriers accessing traditional funding. Simon Century, chief investment officer at Homes England, said: “Small and medium-sized housebuilders are essential to building the diverse and resilient housing sector the country needs.“Welbeck Gardens is a prime example of how we are working with partners like Forge New Homes to support the SME housebuilders that are crucial to building a diverse and resilient housing sector.”
Andy Beattie, managing director of Forge New Homes, said: “Our aim has always been to deliver new homes that are both attainable and affordable for local people.“This partnership with Homes England is a significant step forward, and we’re grateful for their support in helping us make these much-needed homes a reality.”
Eco-friendly web design agency achieves B Corp status
