Colleagues from housing association Futures Housing Group, housebuilder Cameron Homes and Erewash Borough Council have joined together to celebrate the completion of 38 family friendly homes in Sandiacre, Derbyshire. The two streets at the site are called Enigma Close and Bletchley Gardens Way, chosen to honour Bletchley Park codebreaker, Rolf Noskwith. Noskwith, who died in 2017, used to live in the house which was demolished to make way for the development. With funding from Homes England, the site is made up of 22 social rent and 16 shared ownership homes, helping bring affordable housing to the Erewash community. There’s a mixture of two, three and four-bedroom houses and bungalows, and each has an electric car charging point, solar panels and increased insulation to help make the homes more comfortable and affordable to heat. Neil Laws, Head of Programme Delivery at Futures, said: “We’re committed to building and acquiring as many new homes as we can at Futures as we know the shortage of affordable, high quality homes is at the heart of the housing crisis. “So this has been a fantastic scheme to work on with Cameron Homes and Erewash Borough Council, which has now moved families waiting on the housing register into high quality, modern, affordable homes.” Paul Morrissey, Operations Director at Cameron Homes, added: “It’s been fantastic to have worked with Futures Housing Group and Erewash Borough Council on this project in Sandiacre. We’re delighted to have been involved in constructing these high-quality homes to help meet the housing needs of the local community.” Cllr Curtis Howard, who is Erewash’s Lead Member for Town Centres, Regeneration and Planning, said: “We are excited to see this new development being completed. Our thanks go to all those involved – including Futures Housing and Cameron Homes. At the same time as families move into these precious affordable homes it is fantastic to honour our local Bletchley Park hero.”

Vistry Group, the provider of mixed-tenure homes, was joined by stakeholders from South Derbyshire District Council, East Staffordshire Borough Council, Derbyshire County Council and Staffordshire County Council to celebrate the start of work on the new bypass and road bridge in Walton-on-Trent. Phil McHugh Divisional Director of Vistry North West Midlands, said: “I want to extend a big thank you to the four local authorities, Environment Agency and numerous other stakeholders who have been instrumental in getting us to this important milestone. The new Walton bridge will provide much improved transport links across the River Trent for both current and future residents alike. “The bridge and bypass scheme forms an important part of our Dracan Village Development and shows that Vistry is committed to doing more than regenerating the former Drakelow power station into 2,000 beautiful new homes. “We are building a new community providing investment in education, healthcare, and highways as well as building new infrastructure including a local centre, a new school later this year and large areas of public open space with play areas along with the new bridge which will really drive employment and economic growth in the region.” The new bridge and bypass will provide vital two-way vehicular access over the River Trent, replacing the inadequate one-way bailey bridge which has acted as a bottle neck for traffic in the area for many years. The new bridge will provide better access for current inhabitants and for the 2,000 current and expected residents of the new development on the site of the former Drakelow power station. Justin Ives, CEO at South Derbyshire District Council, said: “It’s fantastic to see the start of the new bridge at Walton, this vital piece of infrastructure will not only assist the residents of the new development at the former Drakelow power station but also relieve congestion for the entire area” Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Assets and Transport, Councillor Charlotte Cupit, said: “We are pleased work has started on this long-awaited new bridge and that it will be completed as soon as possible, as we know it will provide an important additional route over the Trent for local communities.” Cllr Michael Fitzpatrick, Leader of East Staffordshire Borough Council said: “I was delighted to be invited to this ‘commencing event’, a milestone reached at long last. Along with our local authority partners, stakeholders and engineering experts it was great to see that diggers have indeed broke the ground, and a spade of course. “An exciting village is starting to emerge and with much needed homes and the infrastructure and community facilities planned, I can only welcome and support the significant progress made. I would like to thank Vistry for their vision and commitment to delivery. “I am very grateful for the work of our planning teams in East Staffordshire and South Derbyshire who working together have, in a relatively short time, turned proposals for this by-pass and bridge, into a deliverable scheme. It now seems highly likely that we will be invited to an opening ceremony in the very near future and this would be a momentous occasion. “The economic, social and environmental benefits for our area, together with the relief for the residents of Walton, Dracon Village and for Stapenhill will be most welcomed. This will be the time, working with our Highway Authority, to restrict HGV traffic using our Stapenhill Main Street and Rosliston Road and at the same time protect the Leicester Line Bridge from the weight it has carried for several years.” Staffordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, Philip White added: “I am pleased that Vistry Group is committing to the start of work on this very important piece of infrastructure, and I welcome the start of works. However, we are clear that there is still a lot to do to get the detailed design and approvals in place before we know it is safe, and that it will be built in its entirety. “The county council will work tirelessly with partners to ensure the Vistry Group keeps its promises to the local community to build this bridge and that the cost and burden does not fall on local taxpayers.” Vistry is already working in earnest on the bridge and anticipates seeing the main structure of the bridge installed later this year with the commissioning and opening to follow shortly after.

East Midlands Aeropark has submitted plans for new modular buildings to North West Leicestershire District Council for its visitor experience upgrade. The development includes a new entrance, snack bar, and four viewing shelters. The existing entrance building will be repurposed to house exhibits related to the park’s Vulcan aircraft.

GCS Group has been appointed as the project’s principal contractor, bringing its modular construction expertise. The company will handle the design, supply, and installation of the buildings, which will be largely completed off-site to minimise disruption.

Once approved, construction is expected to begin in autumn 2025, and the new facilities will open for the winter season.

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) is set to review detailed plans for Towcester Park, a 45-acre employment site north of the A43 bypass. Initially approved in 2022, the project is designed for small to medium-sized enterprises and includes a new roundabout to manage traffic flow.

IM Properties has submitted proposals for two large industrial buildings east of Tiffield Road. The first unit, near the new roundabout, will be 15,000 sqm with a height of 15.5 metres, designated for warehouse or general industrial use. The second unit, further east, will be larger at 43,500 sqm and 21 metres in height. Both structures will feature metal cladding with a dark to light grey gradient. The application includes landscaping measures, such as native hedgerows and tree planting, to minimise visual impact. Each building will have dedicated parking, loading areas for HGVs, and integrated office space.

Local councils and campaign groups, including Towcester Town Council and the CPRE, have raised objections over environmental concerns, increased traffic, and the scale of the development. Critics argue the project will harm wildlife and alter the character of the historic market town.

WNC’s strategic planning committee will vote on the proposals next Tuesday (18 March), and planning officers will recommend approval. Each plot will be assessed separately.