The £6.5m plan to transform Derbyshire’s National Stone Centre has been given the green light. A detailed planning application jointly submitted to Derbyshire Dales District Council last year by the National Stone Centre and the Institute of Quarrying plans to turn the site, near Wirksworth, into a centre of excellence for the industry – and a place to inspire the next generation. The first phase of the project includes a 100-seater café/restaurant, four classrooms with a combined capacity for 120 learners, museum/exhibition space, souvenir shop, playground and open-air circular piazza for community events. The National Stone Centre officially opened in 1990 to inspire people to engage with the origin, industry and the history of stone. It is set within six former limestone quarries on a 40-acre Site of Special Scientific Interest. The design of the new centre draws on influences from local rock formations, including the overhanging rock formations found in local gritstone outcrops, such as Black Rocks and Stanage Edge.

Property developer HBD has completed Power Park in Nottingham, providing 426,000 sq ft of sustainable industrial and logistics space. Construction began in May 2022 following a £53.8m forward-funding deal with Oxenwood Logistics Fund 1 SLP, a discretionary fund managed by Oxenwood Real Estate. The project transformed the former home of Imperial Tobacco, one of the city’s best-known sites, with seven sustainable new buildings taking shape across the 28-acre development. Sustainability has been a major focus, both throughout the construction process and within the completed development. Each of the seven units meet BREEAM “Very Good” standards, which will help occupiers to keep running costs low and limit the scheme’s environmental impact.  Justin Sheldon, Director and Head of Region at HBD, said: “It’s fantastic to see the regeneration of the site now complete. Power Park provides sustainable Grade A space in a prime industrial location. Supply remains constrained throughout the region and our decision to develop Power Park demonstrates our confidence both in the scheme and established demand.”  Jeremy Bishop, co-founder of Oxenwood, said: “Power Park is a high-quality development for Nottingham and for our fund. The variety of unit sizes and their specification are designed to address the regional demand in a market with an acute undersupply of 30,000 – 150,000 sq ft units.”  The agents for Power Park are M1 Agency and Knight Frank.

Property and asset management specialists FI Real Estate Management has completed all phases of a full refurbishment of The HQ, Rowland Hill House to reveal 44,000 sq ft of modern open-plan office space. The £1.2m project has seen FIREM upgrade the former Royal Mail building to Grade A office space specifically designed for flexible working, offering bespoke and turnkey packages tailored to meet specific business needs and requirements. The rise of hybrid working has created a shift in office requirements for businesses across the region, with The HQ pioneering a new approach in the Chesterfield business community. Commercial vehicle hire company Northgate has recently signed a lease of 8,000 sq ft, alongside other tenants, Derbyshire Police and Reed in Partnership, demonstrating the diversified offering of the office facilities to suit a range of businesses. Tim Knowles, founder and Managing Director of FIREM said: “The HQ’s office concept has never been seen before in Chesterfield and reflects the work we are doing to progress Chesterfield’s business offering in line with nearby cities. “It is arguably the most competitive office product in the Chesterfield market, offering businesses a bespoke turnkey service from day one that can be modified to suit their changing needs and requirements.” Modern, well connected office spaces are now available across Chesterfield. Regardless of your workspace requirements, from co-working and hotdesking to spacious offices for a large team, our aim is to make you as productive as possible.

Agents FHP and Phillips Sutton, acting on behalf of Northwood Urban Logistics, have concluded a string of deals at the Teal Park Trade & Industrial Scheme in Nottingham. It sees an established line up of trade occupiers now in place with just 1 of the 14 trade units remaining. The latest occupiers to sign up on the trade scheme include ETB Tyres, a brand owned by Bridgestone, Clifton Trade Bathrooms, and Octopus Energy, who join an already established trade line up including PaintWell, Screwfix, Howdens, Toolstation and Karcher. The scheme also includes a 155,000 sq ft industrial scheme with individual units from 9,606 sq ft up to 31,553 sq ft. The recent letting of Unit 1 and Unit 2 to Yellow Octopus UK and Upcycle Labs leaves remaining availability from 17,785 – 31,553 sq ft. Anthony Barrowcliffe of FHP said: “This scheme has proven very popular and we are delighted to have secured such a high quality tenant line up for our clients. “The scheme is located on a busy arterial route to the east of Nottingham surrounded by a lot of new housing development taking place which makes it a perfect new location for new trade occupiers, last mile logistics companies and also production occupiers who can take advantage of the emerging population in this location. “There are ongoing discussions on the remaining units and we hope to announce further occupiers in the near future.” Brodie Faint of Phillips Sutton said: “It is great to see this development fulfil its potential as a new location for both trade and industrial occupiers. The strength of the trade counter scheme has been further enhanced with the most recent lettings to Clifton Tiles & Bathrooms and Octopus Energy. “With continuing demand and limited remaining availability, the goal of securing 100% occupation across the estate is now within reach.” Iain Taylor at Northwood said: “We are very pleased to welcome our latest occupiers to Teal Park demonstrating that it is appealing to a wide range of occupiers who will be able to adapt the units for a variety of uses.”

Excel Therapy Limited has taken the lease on a prestigious office building in the heart of Nottingham’s historic Lace Market in a deal completed by commercial property specialists Landa Associates and FHP Property Consultants. Sunny Landa FRICS, director of Landa Associates, acted on behalf of Excel’s founder Scott Poundall to successfully secure a new home for the sports and performance therapy business at 48-50 St Mary’s Gate. Amy Howard, surveyor at FHP, acted for landlord Nigel Rhodes. Poundall established Excel Therapy in early 2019. The specialist osteopath has worked with members of the Nottingham Forest first team squad and the Nottingham Panthers, where he worked for 14 years. The Excel Therapy team will use the space to deliver a wide range of therapeutic services including rehab, osteopathy and sports massage as well as high-level specialist training for aspiring and established therapists. The site has something of a storied history, having once been occupied by Bombardier, who took a lease on the premises in 2008 in another deal completed by Sunny Landa. The property has also belonged to the well-known Strauss family in times past. Sunny Landa FRICS said: “I’m delighted to have acquired this distinguished property for a great client. Excel Therapy really is a one-of-a-kind business, great to work with, and I firmly believe Scott will do very well there. “48-50 St Mary’s Gate has a fascinating history and it’s a property that’s very close to my heart, given I once let it to Bombardier. I used that deal as a case study for my APC qualification many years ago.” Scott Poundall, founder of Excel Therapy Limited, said: “I’d like to thank Sunny for securing such fantastic premises for the business. His work on this deal was meticulous and his expertise was invaluable at every stage of the process. We will be using our new home to offer an expanded range of services and specialist training.” Amy Howard of FHP said: “It was a pleasure to work with Sunny and Scott on this deal. This is one of the most prestigious properties in an area brimming with prime assets. The building really is special – you can almost feel the history of the place. Excel Therapy is exactly the kind of tenant my client was looking for. They will bring something fresh and exciting to this historic part of Nottingham. I wish them all the best in their new home.” Nigel Rhodes, landlord, added: “Excel Therapy is already one of the most dynamic businesses in Nottingham and I am delighted to welcome Scott and the team to the Lace Market. Hats off to Amy and Sunny for their sterling work in getting the deal over the line. As a landlord, it’s vital to surround yourself with advisors who know the market inside out, and I’m very pleased to say the advice I received on this occasion was second to none.”

Placemaking and regeneration expert LCR has completed the £2.8m acquisition of Midland House, further accelerating Derby’s city centre regeneration plans. The high-profile 19th century heritage building sits adjacent to Derby railway station amid an area earmarked for regeneration by Derby City Council to create a new, more effective gateway to the city centre. The acquisition was made possible with the support of £500,000 funding from Derby City Council. LCR and the City Council are now working to bring forward a regeneration masterplan for the station area as part of the wider regional growth story. The plans will then be subject to consultation with residents, local businesses and other key stakeholders. The c.55,000 sq ft building was originally the headquarters for Midland Railway and has also served as a free school. Local residents may associate the building with its most recent use as a COVID vaccination centre. Midland House forms a key component of regeneration plans for the area, with the building linking multiple plots of underutilised land ready for regeneration. The sale of the building to government-owned LCR ensures that the heritage of the building will be protected and serve as a focal point for the wider regeneration of the city. The transformation of Derby has gathered pace in recent years, with the Castleward and Derbion projects among those aiming to provide new housing, amenities and public realm. The news also follows the confirmation that Derby will be the home of the headquarters for Great British Railways. Karl Drabble, regional director at LCR, said: “It is an exciting time to live, study and work in Derby, with plans to transform the city and its surrounding areas already moving at pace. News of Great British Railways’ arrival will only galvanise these, and it’s crucial that the area around Derby station, which has long been under-loved, provides a gateway that is symbolic of the direction the city is heading. “We’ll be working hand-in-hand with Derby City Council to kickstart plans to regenerate the area, and the iconic Midland House will play a crucial role. Residents’ and visitors’ experience will sit at the heart of efforts to revitalise the area, and in partnership with the council, we want to ensure that the area is an exciting space for people to live and work again.” Rachel North, Deputy Chief Executive (Communities and Place) at Derby City Council, said: “The news of the acquisition of Midland House by LCR is particularly welcome now that Derby has been confirmed as the new home of Great British Railways. It is an important building close to Derby station and its heritage will be protected. As well as having a proud rail history, Derby has an exciting future. “The planned regeneration will help build the potential of the city’s Railway Conservation Area and continue to make Derby a more attractive place for residents, businesses, tourists and investors.” Pinsent Masons advised on the acquisition for LCR.