Major demolition works underway as regeneration of Northampton’s town centre gathers pace
Major demolition works are now well under way at Northampton’s 35–45 Abington Street as the regeneration of the town centre gathers pace.
The removal of long-vacant buildings, including the former M&S, BHS, and Job Centre, is clearing the way for a new development that will bring modern homes, retail, and leisure opportunities to the heart of the town.
Specialist contractor Colemans has completed key preparatory works, including internal soft strip, services disconnection, and the safe removal of asbestos. Hoarding and scaffolding have been installed along Abington Street and Wellington Street, and heavy machinery, including 40-tonne and 70-tonne excavators, has now entered the site to begin mechanical demolition, initially focusing on the former M&S building.
Cllr James Petter, cabinet member for local economy, culture and leisure at West Northamptonshire Council, said: “Colemans have made excellent progress so far to carefully deconstruct these long-vacant buildings, overcoming complex challenges such as asbestos removal and site preparation, and we’re now seeing the physical transformation take shape.
“This phase of works is all about preparing the site ready for a developer to come on board and deliver a vibrant scheme that will bring much-needed housing, modern retail and leisure spaces, and a more attractive public realm.
“It’s a bold step forward in our long-term strategy to revitalise Northampton, support local businesses, and attract new investment. I’m proud of the work being done and excited for what’s to come.”
James Doherty, project manager for Colemans, said: “We’re pleased with the progress made so far, with the safe delivery of heavy machinery to site marking an important milestone.
“Our team is now carrying out the careful deconstruction of the buildings using a combination of precision equipment and controlled sequencing.
“This approach allows us to safely remove each structure while keeping the site secure and disruption to a minimum.
“It’s a privilege to support the council’s vision and help create a clear, ready site for the next stage of Northampton’s regeneration.”
Once demolition is complete, the site will be transformed into a residential-led development with flexible ground-floor units for retail and leisure.
Sandyford enters East Midlands with Derbyshire industrial estate purchase
Sandyford Properties has acquired Salcombe Road Industrial Estate in Alfreton, Derbyshire, marking its first investment in the East Midlands. The 35,300 sq ft multi-let estate comprises 16 units ranging from 1,550 sq ft to 3,100 sq ft.
The estate was purchased at auction for £2.5 million from Derbyshire County Council, which had owned the property since its original development. It generates a gross rental income of £203,114 annually, with potential to increase in line with market trends. The units feature steel portal frame construction, brick and block elevations, high eaves, roller shutters, and a large forecourt with dedicated parking.
Sandyford plans refurbishment and proactive asset management across the estate. Salcombe Road Industrial Estate benefits from direct access to the M1 motorway and strong connectivity to Derby, Nottingha,m and Mansfield.
The acquisition extends Sandyford’s portfolio beyond Staffordshire and Cheshire and positions the company for further growth in the region. FHP acted as advisor and will manage lettings, while Hill Dickinson provided legal counsel.
Double letting for event production specialist in Castle Donington
On Event Production Co., a live, virtual and hybrid event production specialist, has let Units 27 and 28 at Trent Lane Industrial Estate.
The deal sees On expand its footprint on Trent Lane Industrial Estate, where it is headquartered, enhancing its capacity to deliver large-scale event productions and bespoke scenic fabrication projects.
The acquisition of two further 10,500 sq ft units will allow the company to scale its operations, increase workshop capacity, and further develop its technical and scenic production services.
Brokered by Thomas Szymkiw, NG Chartered Surveyors’ head of agency, the lettings were arranged on behalf of a private landlord client.
Thomas Szymkiw said: “We are delighted to welcome On Event Production Co. to Units 27 and 28 at Trent Lane Industrial Estate. Their move underscores the appeal of modern, flexible space in highly connected locations. It also reflects the ongoing strength of demand from creative and logistics-focused businesses across the East Midlands.”
East Midlands has emerging employment hub shows PwC Good Growth for Cities Index
The 2025 Demos-PwC Good Growth for Cities Index indicates that the East Midlands has an emerging employment hub, with Derby and Lincoln both performing above average for jobs, measured by unemployment rates. Leicester and Northampton all performed above the UK average for the number of new businesses established per head.
Lincoln ranks 20th in this year’s Index due to improvements in job opportunities, higher educational attainment for 16 to 24 year olds, and more equal income distribution, compared to last year. Nottingham was the lowest performing city in the region, ranking 40th.
The Index ranks 50 of the UK’s largest cities, excluding London, based on both the public’s assessment and the actual performance of 12 economic measures, which this year, in order of public importance, were: income; income distribution; safety; work-life balance; health; jobs; housing; environment; transport; high streets; skills and new businesses. The higher the city scores on the public’s top priorities, the better the city performs on the Index.
Financial measures such as income and jobs have previously led in their importance to the public by a wide margin, but results from this year’s survey reveal a rise in the importance of non-financial measures. Skills, high streets, housing and transport have all risen on the public agenda. Income and income distribution remain the top two priorities but have seen their sharpest year-on-year decline.
The East Midlands performance
The six Good Growth Cities in the East Midlands generally performed below the national average when measured against public priorities.
Rankings in the Index are as follows:
The six Good Growth Cities in the East Midlands generally performed below the national average when measured against public priorities.
Rankings in the Index are as follows:
- Lincoln: ranked 20th (24th last year)
- Derby: ranked 24th (23rd last year)
- Leicester: ranked 32nd (20th last year)
- Northampton: ranked 36th (39th last year)
- Nottingham: ranked 40th (25th last year)
Gi Group helps 50% of candidates secure new roles in seven days
Gi Group UK, part of Gi Group Holding, has helped 50% of unemployed and redundant candidates in the East Midlands secure new roles within a week of first contact.
The region recorded an unemployment rate of five percent from March to May 2025, the third highest in the UK. Candidates have been connected with employers across manufacturing, logistics, industrial, pharmaceutical, engineering, and automotive sectors, supporting workforce continuity during periods of job transition.
Working alongside its sister brand, INTOO UK & Ireland, Gi Group provides career coaching, financial guidance, CV development, and outplacement services. Redundancy is viewed as an opportunity for upskilling, enabling individuals to transition into new roles with confidence.
From Nottingham, Gi Group engages with a network of 25 local businesses. Across the UK, it employs around 240 staff in 69 locations, supporting over 1,000 clients.
Expansion in East Midlands business activity accelerates to fastest since February 2024
Output grew at the sharpest pace in 18 months during August, despite a further contraction in new business, according to the latest NatWest Regional Growth Tracker.
At 53.3 in August, the headline NatWest East Midlands Business Activity Index was up from 50.1 in July and signalled a solid upturn in output at firms in the East Midlands.
Meanwhile, new orders continued to fall but at the slowest pace in nine months.
Firms were buoyed by less subdued demand conditions, as business confidence ticked up to the strongest in 2025 so far. Nonetheless, the pace of job shedding accelerated amid lower new order intakes.
On the price front, inflationary pressures picked up as input costs and output charges rose at the fastest rates since May and April, respectively.
Lisa Phillips, regional managing director, Midlands and East, commerical mid markets, said: “August data signalled a more upbeat performance in the East Midlands private sector as output rose at the fastest pace since February 2024. The decline in new orders softened notably amid signs of less hesitancy at customers, which spurred a boost to business confidence.
“Underlying business conditions remained tricky, however, as cost-cutting measures and spare capacity led to a faster drop in employment.
“Meanwhile, strain on margins remained as an acceleration in input cost inflation pushed firms to hike selling prices at a sharper pace. Fragile purchasing power at customers may hamper tentative signs of improvements in demand if inflationary pressures continue to intensify.”
Performance in relation to UK
The rate of increase in business activity at East Midlands firms was the quickest since February 2024 and broadly in line with the UK average.
Private sector firms in the East Midlands indicated a further decline in new work midway through the third quarter, as has been the case in each month for almost a year. The pace of contraction eased, however, to only a modest rate that was the softest since November 2024. Nonetheless, the decrease in new sales contrasted with an expansion seen at the UK level.
The level of confidence rose to the highest in 2025 so far and was broadly in line with the long-run series average. Companies in the East Midlands were among the most upbeat of the 12 monitored UK areas, with only the West Midlands, London and the South East recording greater positive sentiment.
August data signalled a sharper fall in employment at East Midlands firms. The rate of contraction in staffing levels was the steepest since April and strong overall. Lower workforce numbers were commonly linked to cost-cutting measures. The pace of decline in headcounts was quicker than the UK average.
Private sector firms in the East Midlands indicated a quicker increase in operating expenses midway through the third quarter. The pace of cost inflation was the fastest since May and steeper than the long-run series average, but slightly softer than the UK trend.
In line with the trend for input costs, companies registered a historically elevated rise in selling prices in August, but the rate of inflation was softer than the UK average. The pace of increase was the sharpest since April, with firms noting that greater costs were passed on to customers via a hike in output charges.
Acquisitive Phenna Group expands presence in Europe
Marking its 17th acquisition of 2025 and expanding its presence in continental Europe, Phenna Group has snapped up AC&E, a global specialist in machinery compliance, certification, and technical safety services.
AC&E brings a complementary offering to Phenna Group’s Testing, Inspection, Certification, and Compliance (TICC) portfolio. Headquartered in Verona, Italy and with locations across Spain, North America, China and Brazil, AC&E supports manufacturers and end users in navigating complex compliance landscapes across diverse regulatory environments.
Gino Zampieri, managing director of AC&E, said: “Joining Phenna Group represents a pivotal milestone for AC&E. Our mission has always been to support our clients in delivering safe, compliant products to market and with Phenna’s support, we’ll be able to scale that mission further and faster.
“Their investment enables us to enhance our service offering while staying true to the technical standards and commitment to compliance that define our brand.”
Phil Marshall, CEO of Phenna Group, added: “I’m delighted to welcome AC&E into the group. Their highly specialised compliance and certification services add a critical capability to our global platform.
“This acquisition not only expands our geographic reach but also deepens our technical expertise in regulated equipment and international standards. Together, we’ll continue to offer our clients peace of mind in navigating complex, evolving regulatory environments.”
Transpennine Route Upgrade adds financial wellbeing support for workforce
Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU), the multi-billion-pound railway programme connecting Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York, has partnered with Northampton’s Commsave Credit Union to offer financial wellbeing support to its workforce.
The initiative provides TRU staff with access to ethical savings accounts, affordable loans, and financial education resources. Employees can participate in workshops, webinars, and use the Commsave Educates app for budgeting and money management guidance.
The partnership forms part of TRU’s broader employee benefits strategy, recognising the long-term nature of the project, with some staff engaged for up to ten years. By supporting financial resilience, the programme aims to maintain focus and stability among employees while delivering a major infrastructure upgrade on time and on budget.
Commsave Credit Union, a UK-based not-for-profit co-operative, specialises in providing members with secure savings, responsible credit, and financial literacy resources. The collaboration marks a strategic move to integrate workforce wellbeing into the delivery of complex infrastructure projects and could serve as a model for the wider construction and transport sectors.
Expand your network at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025
As judging for the highly anticipated, 10th annual East Midlands Bricks Awards takes place, tickets for the prestigious event can now be secured.
Recognising development projects and people in commercial and public building across the region – from office, industrial and residential schemes, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools – attend the Bricks on Thursday 2nd October at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground to celebrate the region’s property and construction industry while connecting with local decision makers.
With time for networking before and after the glittering awards ceremony revealing the winners of Most Active Agent, Commercial Development of the Year, Responsible Business, Residential Development of the Year, Developer of the Year, Deal of the Year, Architects of the Year, Excellence in Design, Sustainable Development of the Year, Contractor of the Year, and Overall Winner, don’t miss this opportunity to forge new contacts and strengthen existing ones.
The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025, sponsored by SEV, will also be awarded a grand prize – a year of marketing/publicity with Business Link worth £20,000, with the opportunity to split or gift the marketing to a charity of their choice.
The event, which will begin at 4:30pm and continue until 7:30pm, will additionally feature Councillor Nadine Peatfield – Leader of Derby City Council, Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Strategy and Policy, and Deputy Mayor of the East Midlands, as keynote speaker.
Tickets for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025 can be booked here.
Complementary drinks and nibbles will be served on arrival. Dress code is standard business dress.With the shortlist now announced, see who the finalists are here.
The East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025
What: The East Midlands Bricks Awards 2025 When: Thursday 2nd October (4.30pm – 7.30pm) Where: Derek Randall Suite, Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, Nottingham Keynote speaker: Councillor Nadine Peatfield – Leader of Derby City Council, Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Strategy and Policy, and Deputy Mayor of the East Midlands Tickets: Available here Dress code: Standard business attire Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with property and construction professionals while applauding the exceptional companies and projects in the region. Thanks to our sponsors:
To be held at:
AGG Electrical Safety Testing sold to private investment firm
AGG Electrical Safety Testing Limited, a Mansfield-based provider of electrical safety testing and facility management services, has been sold to Rose Street Partners, a private investment firm.
Starting in 2006, brothers Andy and Gavin Griffiths established AGG to provide cost-effective and hassle-free Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) for local businesses and schools. Just a few years later, the company moved into offering full property maintenance services, and in 2018, it expanded to provide nationwide coverage by employing engineers across the UK.
The sale was the culmination of a collaborative effort, with Gavin and Andy Griffiths receiving guidance from local firms Mitchells Chartered Accountants & Business Advisers and CMP Legal.
Mitchells Chartered Accountants & Business Advisers, who had a long-standing relationship with AGG, initiated the process by helping Gavin and Andy explore potential exit strategies.
“Choosing the right team for this journey was crucial,” said Gavin and Andy Griffiths. “The collaboration between Mitchells and CMP Legal made what could have been a stressful process incredibly smooth. Their combined expertise and coordinated effort meant we could focus on our business, knowing the transaction was in safe hands.”
Andrew McDaid, partner at Mitchells, said: “Having worked with Gavin and Andy for years, it was a pleasure to guide them through this significant milestone. Their success is a reflection of the hard work they’ve put into building AGG.”
Anna Cattee, a co-founder of CMP Legal who heads the Company and Commercial Department, said: “We were delighted to work with the team at Mitchells and the Griffiths to ensure the legal aspects of this transaction were handled efficiently. The strong communication between all parties was key to delivering a positive result for everyone involved.”
Unlike traditional private equity firms that operate on a fixed time horizon, Rose Street Partners is structured to be a permanent home for enduring businesses, focusing on a “forever” time horizon.
“We are thrilled to welcome AGG into our family of companies,” said Daniel Skyte from Rose Street Partners. “Andy and Gavin have built a phenomenal business with a strong reputation for excellence and a commitment to its customers. Their dedication to quality and service is exactly what we look for in our partners.
“Our long-term approach means we are not just acquiring a company; we are becoming a custodian of its legacy and a partner in its future growth. We look forward to supporting the AGG team as they continue to serve clients and expand their services.”
A multi-disciplinary team from Freeths provided legal advice to Rose Street Partners. Corporate partner Francis Dalton said: “We are delighted to have supported Rose Street Partners on this acquisition. AGG is a well-established business with a strong growth trajectory, and this deal reflects RSP’s thoughtful approach to investing in businesses with long-term potential. It was a pleasure to work with the RSP team and help bring this transaction to a successful close.”
