Deal ensures Biodiversity Net Gain requirements met at Queniborough housing development

Tess Egginton
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Deal ensures Biodiversity Net Gain requirements met at Queniborough housing development
A new housing development in Queniborough will meet its Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements following the purchase of units from the Midlands’ off-site unit provider, The Habitat Bank. Davidsons Homes has secured units at The Habitat Bank’s Ratcliffe-on-the-Wreake site, which is currently Charnwood’s only bank site. The transaction enables Davidsons Homes to deliver its Willow Grove development, which will bring 47 homes to the Leicestershire village, as the firm’s land director, Richard Stevenson explains: “When it became clear it wouldn’t be possible to achieve the full BNG requirement on site at Willow Grove, we hoped to find a solution that would enable us to make meaningful environmental gains nearby. “Through collaboration with The Habitat Bank, we were able to secure units at their bank site in Radcliffe-on-the-Wreake, which is less than 3km from our Willow Grove site. The Habitat Bank’s smooth handling of the transaction gave us confidence throughout the process, and we are pleased to be contributing to ecological restoration across Charnwood.” The Habitat Bank’s Radcliffe-on-the-Wreake site represented Charnwood’s first statutorily established BNG offset site. Extending to over 70 acres and running adjacent to the River Wreake, the site will restore, create and enhance diverse habitats, including grassland, scrubland, traditional orchards and hedgerows. Trevor Wells, director & co-founder of The Habitat Bank, negotiated the sale. He said: “It’s excellent news to have secured the sale of these units at Radcliffe-on-the-Wreake, marking a significant milestone in the delivery of nature-positive development in the region. “The Davidsons team has been fully engaged throughout, truly taking the time to understand the mechanisms and long-term benefits of off-site BNG. Their proactive approach has been instrumental in achieving an outcome that will not only significantly benefit local biodiversity but also create high quality, sustainable homes for Leicestershire families.” The Habitat Bank was advised by RammSanderson Ecology Ltd and Shakespeare Martineau, with support from Charnwood Borough Council to bring the site forward.

Major industrial sale completed in Enderby

Tess Egginton
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Major industrial sale completed in Enderby
Units 1–2, Feldspar Close, Enderby, totalling over 70,000 sq ft of industrial accommodation, have been sold. Located within Warrens Business Park, the site comprises two modern, self-contained warehouse and distribution buildings on a 4.34-acre plot. Unit 1, built in 2004, offers extensive production space with mezzanine flooring and high-spec office accommodation. Unit 2, constructed in 2009, provides flexible storage and distribution space with scope for further office development. Adding a layer of complexity to the deal, the transaction involved two separate owners. Andrew + Ashwell coordinated negotiations to deliver the sale to a single purchaser. Kelvin Wilson, director at Andrew + Ashwell, said: “We received strong interest in these buildings, with multiple bids submitted. This level of demand highlights the continued appetite for well-located, good quality industrial space across the region.” The sale reflects the strategic appeal of Leicester’s central UK location, motorway connectivity, and access to a strong local employment pool. The premises benefit from B2 and B8 planning consents, parking provision, and modern infrastructure. Andrew + Ashwell acted on behalf of the vendors, while CPP Surveyors represented the purchaser.

Nottingham Venues partners with Doughnotts

Tess Egginton
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Nottingham Venues partners with Doughnotts
Nottingham Venues has formed a new partnership with Doughnotts, the Nottingham-based handmade doughnut brand. Doughnotts’ signature handmade doughnuts are now available at two Nottingham Venues locations: Deli Central at Castle Meadow Central and Spokes Café at Jubilee Hotel and Conferences. The partnership reflects Nottingham Venues’ ongoing commitment to supporting local suppliers and working with the Nottingham business community. The company prioritises sourcing from suppliers within 30 miles of Nottingham and already works with local partners including 200 Degrees Coffee, which is also served alongside Doughnotts at its venues. Stephanie Moss-Pearce, director of marketing at Nottingham Venues, said: “We’re excited to be partnering with Doughnotts, a brand that shares our values around quality and supporting the local community. Our guests tell us they want access to the best local produce and independent brands that Nottingham has to offer, and Doughnotts is exactly that. “Supporting local suppliers is at the heart of what we do at Nottingham Venues. We believe in championing Nottingham businesses and showcasing the incredible talent and entrepreneurship in the city. This partnership with Doughnotts is another step in that journey, and we’re excited to see our guests enjoying their doughnuts across our venues.” Megan Scaddan, co-director of Doughnotts, said: “We’re proud to have our Doughnotts doughnuts available at Nottingham Venues’ fantastic locations across the city. Since we started Doughnotts in 2015, we’ve been passionate about creating quality products and supporting the local community and this partnership allows us to reach even more people and be part of the excellent food and drink offering at Nottingham Venues.”

Site manager builds on success with promotion

Tess Egginton
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Site manager builds on success with promotion
An award-winning site manager has earned a promotion thanks to his excellence on a new homes scheme in Northamptonshire. Lee Joyce, who has been leading the build project at Miller Homes’ Norwood Quarter development off Berrywood Road in Duston, has been promoted from senior site manager to contracts manager at the Northamptonshire-based housing firm. The new role for Lee follows a successful year for both himself and his team at the Norwood Quarter development, earning the first ever NHBC Pride in the Job Award for Miller Homes’ South Midlands region. Lee and his team were awarded with a Quality Award. Lee said: “2025 has been a brilliant year for me personally and more widely for the team at Miller Homes South Midlands, experiencing significant growth in our region with the number of sites being brought forward in a relatively short period. “The NHBC award win for Norwood Quarter’s on site team was the culmination of a huge team effort and we feel very proud to now have that accolade and become the first award winning group for the South Midlands. “I’m now really proud to have rounded off my year personally with a promotion to contracts manager, for which I’d like to thank everyone within the group who has helped me achieve this latest milestone. I’m looking forward to a very busy and productive year with the team in 2026.” Lee’s promotion will provide him with the platform to have a wider role within the Miller Homes South Midlands region, overseeing the developer’s schemes across its patch.

Skills Relay gets underway to inspire next generation of construction talent

Tess Egginton
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Skills Relay gets underway to inspire next generation of construction talent
PfP Thrive, part of social enterprise Places for People (PfP), has launched the Skills Relay – a challenge to tackle the UK’s construction and housing skills crisis. With demand for qualified workers at an all-time high and a shortfall of 250,000 needed to deliver the Government’s housing and construction plans, the Skills Relay supports apprentices, trainees, and professionals looking to upskill while inspiring the next generation of skilled workers to address the sector’s growing talent gap. A bright pink baton stars as the symbol of the challenge. It was unveiled at the official opening of PfP Thrive’s Skills Centre in Derby and will now travel across the country, visiting construction sites, colleges, and skill centres. Each handover will connect learners, employers, and training providers, making the skills challenge visible across the industry. Tom Arey, director at PfP Thrive, said: “The UK’s skills shortage is a crisis for construction and housing so that’s why we have launched the Skills Relay as a call to action for every organisation to step up. That includes our industry peers, the supply chain, education providers and the government, as we invite more collaboration to combat the biggest threat to our sector. “This baton represents knowledge, progress, and opportunity. Every apprentice and learner who takes part is helping close the skills gap and secure the future of our sector.” The initiative launched with Amplius as the first recipient of the Skills Relay baton in Derby. Zoe Ferris is head of organisational development and engagement at Amplius, which owns and manages almost 39,500 homes, and said: “Collaboration is key to tackling the skills crisis. We are proud to take another step forward in our partnership with PfP Thrive and commit to giving more people the chance to learn, upskill, and progress their careers.” Officially opening the building and launching the Skills Relay, MP for Derby South, Baggy Shanker, said: “It’s a real privilege to open PfP Thrive’s Derby Skills Hub. The skills gap is one of the biggest challenges facing our economy, and this government is determined to work alongside industry to fix it. “What’s happening here in Derby shows exactly how that can be done – employers, educators and local people joining together to equip the next generation with skills, grow talent and build a stronger future for our city and our country.”

Hospital service move paused after review

April Lara
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Hospital service move paused after review

Plans to transfer nine outpatient services from Buxton to Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport have been paused while NHS leaders carry out further scrutiny.

Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board confirmed it had raised concerns after Stockport NHS Foundation Trust signalled in October that it intended to relocate ophthalmology, ENT, rheumatology, gynaecology, urology, respiratory care, surgical, diabetes, and pain management clinics.

The board said its issues related to the planning process and the level of engagement undertaken before the announcement. It has asked the trust to produce a full business case explaining the rationale for the proposal, alongside detailed impact assessments and an outline of required public involvement before any permanent changes can be authorised.

Discussions between the two organisations are ongoing, and the proposed changes remain on hold while further evidence is gathered.

Global transport and logistics company to become first occupier of Mercia Park expansion

Tess Egginton
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Global transport and logistics company to become first occupier of Mercia Park expansion
Global transport and logistics company DSV is to become the first occupier of the expansion of Mercia Park, creating 420 additional jobs, subject to planning permission, IM Properties (IMP) has revealed. The £150m Mercia Park expansion could deliver between 1,000 and 1,700 jobs on site when fully occupied. DSV is set to take 600,000 sq ft which will leave a further plot capable of delivering up to 450,000 sq ft designed for manufacturers and logistics companies. The site has been identified as a potential location for future development in North West Leicestershire District Council’s emerging plan. DSV currently occupies around one million sq ft at its existing flagship facility within Mercia Park. The continued growth of DSV, following its acquisition of Schenker, has driven the need for additional space to support its expansion. Richard Sykes, development director at IM Properties, said: “DSV’s continued investment in Mercia Park demonstrates the long-term confidence occupiers have in both the quality of the location and our partnership approach with occupiers and local stakeholders. “Their commitment to community and sustainability aligns closely with our Sustainable Futures strategy and we’re proud to create further growth and job opportunities in North-West Leicestershire and support them as they expand their operations here.”

Plans lodged for new retail units at Fernwood Business Park

April Lara
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Plans lodged for new retail units at Fernwood Business Park

Newsholme Developments has submitted planning applications to Newark and Sherwood District Council for a new Tesco supermarket, a Costa Coffee drive-thru, and a further drive-thru restaurant at Fernwood Business Park.

The proposal outlines around 150 new jobs. It includes a full-line Tesco store, a Costa Coffee unit with indoor and outdoor seating, and a second drive-thru restaurant, to be named once an operator is confirmed.

The applications follow a public consultation held in September. A total of 385 responses were received. Most respondents supported the introduction of a Tesco supermarket. Many participants said the facilities would help meet the needs of the growing local population.

The planned retail units sit within the wider Fernwood Business Park masterplan. The site is earmarked in the Newark and Sherwood Local Plan for employment space and community services linked to more than 3,200 new homes planned for the area.

Nottingham College plans new sustainable construction centre

April Lara
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Nottingham College plans new sustainable construction centre

Nottingham College is preparing to establish a Centre for Sustainable Construction Technology at its Ruddington campus, with the first students expected in September 2026. The project is backed by more than £1.2m in Office for Students capital funding, supported by matched investment from the college.

The plan is designed to address persistent regional skills shortages. The centre will offer Level 4 and 5 qualifications in Modern Methods of Construction and Electrical Engineering, expanding the supply of higher technical training in low-carbon and advanced construction practices.

Janet Smith, CEO and Principal of Nottingham College, said: “This Centre for Sustainable Construction Technology will be a unique learning environment for students to develop the skills needed to be future ready. We are incredibly excited to be working towards the opening of this facility, as something of a ‘living laboratory’, where students will experience net zero construction through daily interaction with renewable energy systems, energy-efficient building services and environmental monitoring technologies.”

She continued: “Today’s announcement combines our commitment to sustainability with our agile response to local skills need, directly supporting our students embarking on a career in construction and green energy, and in turn contributing to the region’s economic growth and the UK’s net zero ambitions.”

The centre will occupy a refurbished building fitted with photovoltaic installation, LED lighting, and renewable energy training systems. Students will train on industry-standard equipment, including BIM workstations, timber frame assembly stations, and immersive digital technology for safety instruction.

The project reflects priorities set out in the D2N2 Local Skills Improvement Plan and Skills England’s focus on Construction, Clean Energy Industries and Advanced Manufacturing. It aligns with wider investment in the Trent Arc Corridor near Ruddington, where major housing development is planned.

Electrical engineering has been the college’s fastest-growing area over the past two years, providing a pipeline for further technical advancement. The new centre builds on recent expansion in engineering and green skills facilities across the college estate. All construction and installation work is scheduled for completion by March 2026.

University of Northampton attracts £800,000 investment to create cutting-edge facility

Tess Egginton
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University of Northampton attracts £800,000 investment to create cutting-edge facility
The University of Northampton is set to benefit from a capital funding investment of more than £800,000 to facilitate the creation of a cutting-edge biomedical laboratory teaching and data analysis suite at its Waterside Campus. The Office for Students (OfS) capital funding is allocated to institutions dedicated to delivering new opportunities for students and support national growth, regional economies, and local employers through investment in new buildings, facilities and equipment for universities and colleges across England. As one of only 60 institutions across the UK to receive the funding, the University of Northampton has committed to delivering a biomedical laboratory teaching and data analysis suite to enhance practical training in scientific and digital skills. Housed within the University’s School of Life and Environmental Sciences, the state-of-the-art facility will include microscopy equipment, analysis workstations, and specialised software, including refurbishing existing laboratories to support continued work-based learning in bioscience data, artificial intelligence (AI) in life sciences, as well as digital health. “We’re incredibly grateful to the OfS for its investment and support of the University of Northampton’s mission to support aspiration, create opportunities, and deliver social impact,” said the University of Northampton’s vice chancellor, professor Anne-Marie Kilday. “The installation of the new laboratory spaces will continue to ensure environmental sustainability and pioneering STEM education are at the forefront of our mission to continue delivering a gold-standard education for our student scientific minds of the future.” As a direct result of this financial investment, the University of Northampton will enhance its teaching provision to more than 420 core students and additional interdisciplinary learners, improving graduate readiness and strengthening the region’s capacity for groundbreaking innovation in life sciences and digital health. Aligning with the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy and Lifelong Learning Entitlement, the installation of the laboratory spaces will be fully operational as of September 2026, ahead of the next academic year. As of 2028, the laboratory spaces will address the training needs of small and medium-sized enterprises and ensure long-term sustainability through the delivery of short courses and continuing professional development (CPD).
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