Works start on new boathouse, restaurant and water sports facilities at Nottinghamshire nature reserve

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Works start on new boathouse, restaurant and water sports facilities at Nottinghamshire nature reserve

Construction works have now begun to deliver a new boathouse, restaurant space and extended visitor car park at Kings Mill Reservoir, a nature reserve in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.

Approved for planning by Ashfield District Council in February, works have now started on the new extended car park to accommodate the new boathouse building. The construction of the new building is due to start in late summer, with the demolition of the former sailing club taking place later this year.

As well as the restaurant and function space on the first floor, the boathouse building will provide modern, accessible changing facilities for water sports and a meeting/training room on the ground floor.

These facilities will support activities including sailing, paddle boarding, kayaking, and open water swimming and will allow more residents and visitors to Kings Mill Reservoir the opportunity to access water sports.

The East Midlands-based construction team has been announced as Lindum Group as main contractor, Influence Landscape Planning and Design as landscape architect, BSP Consulting as civil and structural engineer, Gleeds as project management and quantity surveyor, and Player Roberts Bell Architects.

The scheme is part of Ashfield District Council’s £62.6m Towns Fund project, and since submitting the initial planning application, the council has been undertaking surveys and site investigations, including bat surveys, to ensure wildlife is protected and habitats are enhanced by the new facility. The new building will include new bat roosts.

Cllr Samantha Deakin, Executive Lead for Parks and Environmental Services at Ashfield District Council, said: “The plans for Kings Mill Reservoir are extremely exciting. We can’t wait to be able to open up the offer of a variety of great new activities to visitors.

“The location of the new restaurant offering will be a fantastic addition to the reservoir and will bring in even more visitors to Ashfield. I want to reassure residents that the demolition and construction phases of this project will be done sensitively to ensure none of the resident wildlife will be disturbed.”

Cllr Matthew Relf, Executive Lead for Growth, Regeneration and Local Planning, said: “This is another milestone for our plans to make Mill Waters one of the top tourist destinations in the East Midlands. We want to hear from clubs or individuals, who are keen to get involved in developing and running water sports activities at the reservoir. Please get in touch with the team if you are interested.”

Newark-based Influence Landscape Planning and Design is the landscape architect on the project. As part of the planning application, Influence provided visual appraisal and comprehensive landscape design to complement the new building.

Kathryn Dunk, principal landscape architect at Influence, said: “Kings Mill Reservoir is a special place where nature and visitors flock. It’s a place for being close to nature, enjoying the surroundings and experiencing the myriad of water sports on offer.

“I’m really pleased that progress is being made to create the new leisure building which will sit alongside the water sports facilities and provide a place to dine and relax. Naturally landscape plays a key part here and we have created designs that responds to the specific character of the reserve, with a naturalistic planting palette of grasses and wildflowers and native Downy Birch trees reaching across the site to the water’s edge.”

As well as the structural design of the new building, Nottingham-based BSP Consulting’s role includes drainage design, featuring permeable car parking based on sustainable drainage systems (SuDS).

BSP Consulting director, Tony Goddard, said: “Given the sensitive water environment of the reservoir, we were keen to provide a sustainable drainage system which improves water quality, controls the flow of water into the reservoir and minimises pollution.

“As a company, BSP is very pleased to be part of the team delivering this scheme at Kings Mill Reservoir which will provide modern, accessible changing and storage facilities for water sports, along with a multi-purpose social space on the ground floor, with a dedicated restaurant on the first floor.”

Lindum Construction manager, Mark Robertson, said: “We are looking forward to getting started on this project, which will result in a superb leisure attraction for local people. The restaurant will be in a fantastic location with views of the water.

“We have a strong pipeline of local subcontractors who will be working on this scheme with us so the council’s investment will continue to circulate within the economy.

“It is good to be working with Ashfield District Council again. Lindum has a delivered several housing schemes for the authority over the past three years and we’ve developed a strong relationship, based on openness, trust and successful delivery of projects.”

The new leisure facilities will complement the expansion of the existing onsite adventure centre, Mill Adventure Base, to include outdoor activities which will be operational later this year.

The works at Kings Mill Reservoir have been procured through the SCAPE Regional Construction framework and all works are due for completion in summer 2024.

Northants housebuilder boss crowned Climate Champion of the Year

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Northants housebuilder boss crowned Climate Champion of the Year

The boss of a Northamptonshire firm said he remains committed to his net zero mission after being crowned Climate Champion of the Year at a national awards ceremony.

Luke Simmons, Managing Director of East Haddon-based housebuilder Cora, scooped the Climate Champion of the Year (North) award at Tuesday’s Unlock Net Zero Live Awards in Manchester.

The inaugural awards ceremony recognised and championed businesses and leaders in the UK housing sector going above and beyond on their journey to decarbonisation.

Judges were impressed by Luke’s work rebranding the business from Barwood Homes, signalling a shift to a profit with purpose model with a key focus on sustainability and a target to become net zero by 2050.

Luke said: “I feel incredibly humbled to have won such a prestigious national award, which I would not have received were it not for the amazing work of my team.

“Everyone at Cora is fully behind our sustainable mission and is committed to helping achieve our decarbonisation goals.

“Together we are setting the standard when it comes to being an environmentally-conscious housebuilder – and are creating amazing places throughout the Midlands in the process with consistently brilliant reviews from our customers.”

The award win comes less than a fortnight after the firm won twice at the SME Northamptonshire Business Awards, including Gold in the Sustainability category.

Steps the business has taken to support the environment include running new compounds off photovoltaic energy, while 96% of all construction waste was recycled in 2022 – equalling 374 tonnes or the equivalent weight of 31 double decker buses.

A supply chain of low-carbon businesses has also been built, alongside a new Grow Local programme that allocates procurement preferences to suppliers and SMEs within a 50-mile radius.

Cora also contributed more than £11,000 towards nature preservation in the last financial year and planted over 9,000 trees and shrubs.

Luke added: “We have already achieved so much as a business, but still have a way to go yet to accomplish our ultimate goals.

“The entire Cora team will continue to innovate, educate and collaborate with our partners and suppliers to make our net zero ambitions a reality.”

885 new homes set for Leicestershire village

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885 new homes set for Leicestershire village

Kirby Muxloe is set for 885 new homes after Blaby District Council’s planning committee resolved to grant outline planning permission at its meeting on 29 June 2023. 

Blaby District Council’s planning committee resolved to approve the scheme by 5 votes to 4. 

Kirby Muxloe is seen as one of the district’s key areas for housing growth due to its close proximity to the city of Leicester. The site represents a housing allocation within the Blaby District Local Plan (Delivery) DPD, identified for ‘at least 750’ new homes.   

The proposal relates to land north of Hinckley Road and incorporates public open space and significant areas of landscaping, plus land reserved for a new primary school. It will make financial contributions towards secondary, special and early years education.

Transport improvements include contributions towards improvements to Desford Cross Road, the A47/Beggars Lane and A47/Kirby Lane junctions and public transport and cycling improvements. There will be other contributions towards community facilities, libraries and health care facilities.  

The application was originally submitted in 2019 but later revised in November 2021 to incorporate additional parcels of land to complete the housing allocation and bringing it further in line with the adopted development plan.   

Richard Edwards, group land and planning director at L&Q Estates Ltd, said: “This decision is the result of much hard work and proactive collaboration with the council. The approved scheme will not only meet the identified housing needs of local people but also makes a significant step towards delivering a much-needed new primary school.” 

Pegasus Group project managed the planning application and environmental statement, led on the design and masterplanning of the scheme, landscape and visual assessment work and advised on matters of heritage and archaeology.   

Associate planner, Georgine Doyle, said: “As with any proposal of this scale, there have been potential impacts to work through and we have committed to working closely with the council throughout the determination period to address these and to secure a positive recommendation and approval at committee.  

“The scheme will make a huge contribution towards meeting housing needs in the district and beyond which, in the current climate, is something to be celebrated.” 

As part of Pegasus Group’s multidisciplinary service for L&Q Estates, James Fairweather (Associate Urban Designer) led the design and masterplanning team from initial concept through to the masterplan.

James said: “The residential areas proposed are balanced out by an extensive network of public open spaces, parks and play areas for the benefit of the new community. We will retain a high proportion of the existing trees and hedgerows, and provide large areas for new planting to flourish, creating an attractive place to live.  

“We have worked collaboratively for a number of years to deliver a high-quality masterplan that will benefit future residents for generations to come. The design is focused on a series of linked public open spaces that create safe walking and cycling routes around the site and lots of green spaces for children and adults to enjoy.”  

Pegasus Group worked with transport and environmental consultant Vectos, noise and air quality expert M-EC Consulting and ecological and agricultural expert CSA Environmental.  

Survey shows growing contribution of manufacturing to East Midlands economy

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Survey shows growing contribution of manufacturing to East Midlands economy
A new report out today from Make UK, the manufacturers’ organisation, and accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP shows that manufacturing is growing in importance to the success of the East Midlands economy, with the sector accounting for 16.4% of the region’s economy in 2022 (an increase from 15.9% in 2021), way above the national average of 10%. The report also shows an increase in 7,000 jobs in manufacturing in 2022 compared to 2021, up to 265,000. According to the report, which analyses the contribution of manufacturing to the East Midlands economy, the East Midlands was also the best performing UK area in terms of increasing its output in the last twelve months according to Make UK and BDO data. This is largely down to the strong recovery in the aerospace and automotive sectors which were initially slower to recover from the pandemic. Three subsectors account for almost half of manufacturing in the East Midlands. Food and drink remains the biggest manufacturing sector in the region accounting for almost a fifth of output (19.1%), followed by transport equipment (14.6%) and rubber and plastics (11.5%). The East Midlands also continues to be a strong export performer, accounting for 7% of total UK manufacturing exports, a slight increase from 6% in 2021. The EU is the region’s main export destination where its dependence has decreased (49% from 51%) followed by Asia & Oceania, which at 25% (up from 22%) is a significantly higher exposure than other UK regions. North America is the third largest market, accounting for 14% of the region’s exports. Chris Corkan, regional manager for Make UK in the Midlands, said: “Industry remains critical to the growth of the East Midlands economy, providing high value, high skill jobs and aiding the process of levelling up. To build on this position we need a national industrial strategy which encompasses local growth strategies which fit with the priorities and strengths of the region including infrastructure, innovation and skills in particular.” Jon Gilpin, head of manufacturing at BDO in the Midlands, added: “The growth in manufacturing output and jobs that we’ve seen in the East Midlands over the last year is testament to the resilience of the sector across the region. “Local manufacturing companies have had to overcome the multiple challenges thrown up by Brexit, shortages in skilled labour, pandemic-related supply chain delays and the huge energy price rises we have seen following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “While everyone is hoping for some respite, the headwinds show no sign of abating. With high inflation and interest rates continuing to rise, manufacturers will need to remain alert, responsive and resilient in the face of any future geopolitical or economic shocks.”

Reward the efforts of your team and showcase your achievements at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023

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Reward the efforts of your team and showcase your achievements at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023
Providing the perfect forum to showcase your business’s achievements, enter the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 NOW – ahead of nominations closing on Thursday 31 August. The prestigious event, organised by East Midlands Business Link Magazine, is an independent awards and publicity programme 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. The annual awards and networking event draws leaders from throughout the East Midlands and is the ideal way for businesses to promote themselves and those they work with. Indeed winning one of these awards will add considerably to a company’s or individual’s brand and enhance their commercial reach significantly. Winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 28 September, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – an evening that will also provide plenty of time to establish new connections with property and construction professionals from across the region. Jon Marston, Managing Director of Building East Midlands, Galliford Try Construction, who took home three awards at the 2022 event, said: “We are immensely proud of the work that has taken place at Broad Marsh car park, and the recognition it has received at the East Midlands Brick Awards is just reward for the efforts of the team. I congratulate all those involved for their achievement in winning these three awards.” To nominate your (or another) business/development for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023, please click on a category link below or visit this page:
The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 will also be awarded a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000.
Find out who last year’s winners were here.

Book your tickets now

Tickets can now be booked for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2023 – click here to secure yours. The special awards evening and networking event will be held on Thursday 28 September 2023 in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground from 4:30pm – 7:30pm. Connect with local decision makers over canapés and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region, and hear from Mike Denby, Director of Inward Investment and Place Marketing at Leicester City Council, our keynote speaker. Dress code is standard business attire. Thanks to our sponsors:                                                             To be held at:

All Corby Towns Fund projects given the green light by Government

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All Corby Towns Fund projects given the green light by Government
Final approvals have been given by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) for Corby’s remaining two projects in the Towns Fund – the train station to town centre link road and Smart and Connected Corby. Together with two previously approved projects, the four projects will bring many benefits to the town and surrounding area:
  • The Corby 6th Form College
  • Multi-use building
  • Train station to Town centre link road
  • Smart and Connected Corby
The last two projects in the list have now been given the formal, final go ahead to proceed by central Government. They will further add to the positive impact the overall Towns Fund project will have on the local economy and assist with the future viability of the town centre and diversify the uses of the area. The news comes as work is well underway on the new Corby 6th Form, based in Chisholm House, and will be open to students from September 2023, run by the Bedford College Group. The new college will accommodate 339 students by 2025/26 and be capable of welcoming over 660 students per academic year to study in this newly refurbished building in the heart of Corby. Also located in the town centre will be the Multi-use building, which when open will provide accommodation for a modern Cultural and Community Hub, as well as meet the identified demand for creative, media and third sector uses. Once complete, Oakley Road will provide attractive and safe pedestrian/cycle connections between the town centre and the railway station through the Train Station to Town Centre – link road project. It will connect the station directly with the Chisholm House and Multi-use Building project area, making a significant contribution to the active healthy travel agenda and help to reduce congestion and emissions across Corby. Finally, the Smart and Connected Corby project will establish Corby as a ‘smart and green’ town centre, allowing for monitoring and management of the flow of pedestrians, cyclist and motorists to assess the impact of interventions and help as the town’s population increases. Cllr David Brackenbury, the council’s Executive Member for Growth and Regeneration, said: “It is great news that we have been given the green light for all four of these fantastic projects, which will help enable Corby to grow and diversify. “The new 6th Form college will help support the education and develop the skills of our younger residents, whilst the multi-use building will provide a community and cultural hub and the final two projects will improve the local infrastructure and assist in future proofing the town. “I would like to also take this opportunity to thank the Officers who have been working extremely hard on developing these exciting projects.” Cllr Jason Smithers, Leader of the Council, said: “The £19.9m of funding we were allocated has to be used on the four identified projects, which will bring numerous benefits to the area, so I am pleased that Government has given us the final go ahead and we will be able to continue to move forward with these important projects.”

Space Park Leicester and University make space sustainability commitment

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Space Park Leicester and University make space sustainability commitment
Space Park Leicester and the University of Leicester have joined organisations in industry and academia in committing to the sustainable use of space. The initiative brings together industry, academia, government stakeholders and international bodies to ensure that space continues to support the environmental, economic and scientific interests of future generations. The University is one of over 112 signatories of the Memorandum of Principles for Space Sustainability, a UK initiative linked to the UN Secure World Foundation, which will seek to promote and facilitate understanding of outer space activities. Those principles will be echoed in the Astra Carta, a framework launched on 28 June by the Sustainable Markets Initiative. It builds on the foundation of the Terra Carta to shape a future of responsible and sustainable space exploration, development, and cooperation. The launch of the Astra Carta framework brings to reality a vision for space sustainability outlined by His Majesty King Charles III, in his previous role as Prince of Wales, at the Space Sustainability Summit in 2022. The launch of the Astra Carta coincides with a ministerial roundtable with George Freeman, Minister of State in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and symposium on Space Sustainability at the Royal Society attended by Professor Richard Ambrosi, Executive Director of Space Park Leicester. He also attended a Royal Reception in support of sustainability in space, where King Charles was presented with the Memorandum of Principles and officially launched the Astra Carta. Professor Richard Ambrosi, Executive Director of Space Park Leicester, said: “Space presents a range of exciting opportunities, but it is imperative that we ensure that space continues to support the environmental, economic and scientific interests of future generations. There is also an important cross disciplinary aspect to this initiative since it aggregates science, technology, engineering, law, policy, finance and insurance sectors. “As part of our growing collaboration with Reef Group, who will also be present for this event, we are working collaboratively on addressing global challenges as well as space sustainability challenges. At Space Park Leicester, we’re delighted to be part of this initiative and to work with the community to address this challenge. “It is an honour and privilege to be invited to attend the round table with Minister, the Symposium and to attend the launch of the Astra Carta by His Majesty King Charles III.” The Secure World Foundation defines space sustainability as: “Ensuring that all humanity can continue to use outer space for peaceful purposes and socioeconomic benefit now and in the long term.” The signatories to the Memorandum of Principles seek to promote and facilitate international cooperation and understanding of the long-term sustainability of outer space activities, and through these efforts establish transparent Space Sustainability Principles of responsible behaviour, based on, expanding and developing the initial principles. The Memorandum of Principles for Space Sustainability has been signed on behalf of the University of Leicester by President and Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Nishan Canagarajah. Professor Canagarajah said: “We are committed to the betterment of future generations and building a more sustainable world – here on our own planet and in new frontiers beyond. The potential that space affords is enormous. Leicester is proud to be among the signatories to the Memorandum of Principles for Space Sustainability and to make a commitment to use it responsibly.”

100,000 sq ft industrial unit let in Burton

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100,000 sq ft industrial unit let in Burton
Rushton Hickman have completed the letting of 100,596 sq ft of industrial/warehouse space at the brand-new Quintus development at Branston Locks, Burton alongside joint agents JLL and Cushman and Wakefield. The unit in question that was let was Unit 5 and it benefitted from 10 Loading docks, 9 EV charging spaces, 4 Level access doors and 86 car parking spaces. Graham Bancroft, director of Rushton Hickman, said: “The Quintus development has been a major success for the area and has provided much needed warehousing and logistics space. Our clients speculatively built the units due to their confidence in both the market and also the quality of build that they were going to construct. “The location of the development fronting the A38 and providing fantastic road communications to the motorway networks meant that there was always going to be strong interest from logistic based businesses which has proved to be the case here again.”

Pendragon chairman steps down “to pursue other interests”

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Pendragon chairman steps down “to pursue other interests”

The non-executive chairman of Pendragon, Ian Filby, is set to step down from his position “to pursue other interests.”

The Nomination Committee, led by senior independent director Dietmar Exler, will now commence the process to identify and appoint Ian’s successor, and is being supported by external consultants.

Ian will continue in his role at the car retailer until this process is complete.   

Dietmar Exler, senior independent director, said: “On behalf of the Board, we thank Ian for his service to Pendragon and wish him all the best for the future.”

Ian Filby, non-executive chairman, said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank my fellow Board members, the leadership team and, most importantly, our associates for their commitment to the company and passion for their work.

“I am proud of the progress that has been made both strategically and financially by the leadership team and the stability that this has created. I wish them every success in the future.”

New MD appointed at Lawson-West Solicitors

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New MD appointed at Lawson-West Solicitors
Lawson-West Solicitors has appointed existing Board director, Vicky Jones, as the firm’s Managing Director. Vicky Jones, former head of the Probate, Wills and Trusts team at the Leicestershire law firm, has been an active Board member for many years with Associate Solicitor Phoebe Skarlatos taking over the running of that department in April 2022. As well as Managing Director, Vicky who joined the firm in 1997, is a STEP-qualified Wills and Probate solicitor and continues to advise Lawson-West clients on their Wills and helping clients through the Probate process. Vicky’s appointment and promotion to Managing Director sees existing MD and locally well-known commercial solicitor, David Heys, starting a new life as a specialist consultant helping business owners grow their businesses. Lawson-West will be David’s first client and he will provide invaluable strategic advice to the Board and commercial insight in this new role. The firm’s Board of decision-making directors is made up of Vicky Jones (MD) and fellow directors Ashley Hunt, Vaishali Thakerar, Rebecca Beswick and John Stables (non-executive Director). In 2016 David Heys was appointed Lawson-West’s first Managing Director having joined the firm as head of commercial and residential property in 2004. He became a partner in 2007 and grew and led the commercial arm of the practice at Lawson-West until 2019. In recent years the firm’s prosperity has gone from strength to strength, predicting a £4.6m turnover this financial year. David’s tenure has seen the firm building a solid foundation of clients, infrastructure, systems and IT security, new offices in Meridian Business Park in Leicester and Roman Way in Market Harborough, profitable operations and nearly 70 staff. Vicky Jones said: “Having been with Lawson-West since 1997, I have seen a lot of changes from early offices in traditional high street premises at Uppingham Road, Market Harborough and Wigston and all the activities of the firm then and how our firm has grown and developed to be the firm it is today with accessible business locations and modern facilities. “I’m familiar with and proud of the quality legal services we provide in commercial and property, conveyancing, dispute resolution, employment, family law, probate, wills and trusts. “I’m delighted to be appointed as Managing Director of Lawson-West Solicitors leading an extremely strong Board with ambitious plans and highly talented Heads of Department, so you can be sure Lawson-West will continue to grow and prosper. “We operate a successful legal business, offering clients a law firm that provides quality legal advice, exceptional client service standards and we value success for all our clients and their legal and resolution needs.” David Heys, departing MD, said: “I am incredibly proud to have been part of Lawson-West.   I am a problem solver and I love helping people, whether they are clients I am helping to achieve their business dream and aspirations or coaching and mentoring colleagues to achieve their full potential. “Lawson-West is unique amongst its competitors because we are not a conventional law firm of fusty old lawyers. From top to bottom our staff are focused on helping clients and, more importantly, supporting each other so that clients get our best possible service and this is reflected in client feedback on our service-focused approach and depth of care given by our staff. “Excellence in client service is Lawson-West’s top priority and sets us apart from our competitors. My departure is another example of our careful strategic planning and I’m delighted to hand the reigns over to my friend and fellow director Vicky Jones, a dedicated, highly competent and exemplary lawyer and leader who has had an amazing 26-year career at Lawson-West having worked her way up through the firm. “All of the directors love working with her and I know great things will come of her appointment.”
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