Stepnell has won its first project through SCAPE, the public sector procurement authority. The new £1.27m scheme will see the complete construction partner undertake a variety of improvements for Kettering General Hospital (KGH) NHS Foundation Trust in Northamptonshire – starting with a waiting area and adjoining landscaped garden for breast cancer patients. Procured through the SCAPE Regional Construction Framework, the project benefits from money raised by the Crazy Hats Appeal, which generously funded the first extension portion of the project. Stepnell has committed to prioritise waste reduction of 0.032 tonnes per m2 and with a focus on social value, committed to building back into the region by allocating a minimum of 50% local labour and 60% local project spend within a 30 mile radius of the scheme. Furthermore, targets have been set to ensure that a minimum 40% social economic value is added through the project. Part of the project spend will also be allocated to local social enterprises and Stepnell will be employing a minimum of one apprentice to help provide skills and employment opportunities in the area. Adrian Barnes, regional director at Stepnell, said: “Working with Kettering General Hospital and Crazy Hats is an honour and one that continues to add to Stepnell’s expertise in the public sector. “We relish the opportunity to work with our partners on projects that provide so many benefits to the community. We are also pleased to be demonstrating our commitment to working within the collaborative and efficient scope of working that is so important within the SCAPE framework.” This is the third scheme that Stepnell has worked on to support the KGH NHS Foundation Trust in collaboration with local cancer charity Crazy Hats. Salam Musa, consultant onco-plastic surgeon at Kettering General Hospital, said: “The Crazy Hats Appeal has made an enormous contribution to breast care facilities at Kettering General Hospital by donating a wide variety of equipment and helping us to make our Treatment Centre more welcoming. “This final donation will help us to further improve care for our breast cancer patients – and outside of those clinics for other patients as well – by providing the Treatment Centre with a much-improved waiting area, surrounded by a small-landscaped garden.” Glennis Hooper, executive fundraiser at Crazy Hats, said: “On behalf of Crazy Hats, I would like to say how excited we are that the work is now underway. We are also delighted that Stepnell is the build partner due to the high quality of their work – so we are very confident that the end result will be fantastic. “Having had breast cancer myself and having supported so many other patients, I know the feelings of dread as you sit in the waiting room, waiting to hear if you have cancer, or not. It can be a lonely space and frightening. We hope that by creating a new tranquil, spacious and light waiting room area, patients, and their loved ones, will feel more relaxed and comfortable.” Stepnell is one of eight firms to have secured a place on the SCAPE Regional Construction Framework earlier this year, which expects to deliver up to £750m of public sector investment across the East of England and the Midlands. The project with KGH is the first milestone towards significant growth opportunities for Stepnell over the next four years. Christian White, SCAPE framework manager at Stepnell, said: “We are proud to have been successful in winning our first SCAPE Regional Construction Framework project. Standards are extremely high, but we are always committed to delivering against stringent project requirements. “We are looking forward to working on this and future SCAPE projects, which will continue to utilise local and national supply chains, sustainable solutions, high social value and collaboration to deliver projects that engage with the community and are both on time and on budget.” Mark Robinson, group Chief Executive at SCAPE, said: “The NHS and healthcare system is currently facing significant challenges, and schemes like these are vital for improving facilities and care for patients. Therefore, we are delighted to be supporting Stepnell on its first SCAPE project via the Regional Construction Framework, helping to accelerate the project forward and deliver better services for the local community.”

Estate agent, Hannells, has expanded into a new, larger office in Chaddesden – across the road from its previous Chaddesden branch. At 513-515 Nottingham Road, the branch is located at the end of the shopping precinct, where Hays travel used to be. Michelle Tinson, who has been the branch manager at Chaddesden for over 17 years, said: “We’re really excited about our brand-new office. It’s much more prominent and is so convenient for our customers with loads of parking right outside the front door. “We’ll be sad to leave our current office as there’s been a lot of happy memories and success stories there over the last 12 years. But, with the team continuing to grow due to our on-going success, we were starting to get a little bit cramped! We can’t wait to get settled in and start creating plenty more moving experiences for our customers!” Hannells was launched in 2003 from a small office on the high street in Hilton after joint founders Michael and Alison Brain were less than impressed with the options that were available when trying to sell their own property. Michael Brain, joint founding director, said: “From day one, our secret recipe has been local branches with friendly, helpful and knowledgeable staff who serve their local communities. Despite the recent trend of estate agents cutting back on offices and moving to an ‘online’ model to save on costs, we have no intention of moving away from our roots. “Our track record of success for our customers in Derby speaks for itself. We’re a customer service, people-focused business and we just don’t think it’s the same from behind a screen.”

FHP have let Unit 5a Rani Drive, on behalf of Chartwell Properties Limited, to Green Buildings Renewables, who have been “actively looking in the market for some time.” The unit comprises industrial/warehouse space with office and ancillary areas situated across two floors of accommodation. Rani Drive Business Park is an established estate positioned just off Nottingham’s ring road. The estate has a mixture of both office and warehouse occupiers and has now achieved full occupancy throughout the site. Amy Howard, surveyor at FHP Property Consultants, says: “It has been a delight to work alongside both parties on this deal and seeing it cross the line, achieving a rental tone of £7.00 per sq ft. Although it placed itself on the market for a few months, it confirmed that persistence is key and maintaining communication and relationships between present and past enquiries is vital, especially as we are now facing uncertain times approaching 2023. “It has been a pleasure to work alongside Jack Digva at Chartwell Properties Limited and I look forward to working alongside him in future endeavours and securing him more tenants. I also wish Green Buildings Renewables all the best in their Nottingham branch.” Jack Digva at WSD 1 Limited says: “We are delighted with working with FHP, we were confident this unit would let in a short space of time. “There is a large demand for high-end industrial units and Rani Business Park ticks all the boxes. Chartwell Properties have been in the property market for over 25 years, and we have seen demand has outstripped supply. “We have many new and exciting projects on the go and look forward to working with FHP in the future.”

The final unit has been sold at Wymeswold Business Quarter, where 95 local jobs will be created when construction is completed on the site.

The unit has been sold to Fleet Auction Group.

Adjoining the existing Wymeswold Industrial Estate, Wymeswold Business Quarter, Prestwold is a new industrial development which will be completed in early 2023 to provide 20 purpose-built new build industrial units, ranging in size from 1,900 sq ft to 12,000 sq ft.

With all units now sold or let, over 95 local jobs have been created. This will benefit the local economy and help to reduce the commuting times of those who work at the business park – as most of the business owners and their employees live within a 5 mile radius. The developer, The Prince Group, has included a number of incentives to further reduce the environmental impact of the development, including a green travel plan, ride to work scheme and free bus passes.

The development has been built on land that is part of The Prestwold Estate, which is managed by Loughborough-based specialist land development and property consultancy Mather Jamie.

Acting as their strategic land adviser, Mather Jamie initiated the idea to create Wymeswold Business Quarter and acted as project manager to assist The Prestwold Estate and The Prince Group to obtain planning permission, commission construction and then promote the units for sale or lease.

The site forms part of the old Officer’s Mess from the WW2 Wymeswold Airfield. The developers have plans to name some of the buildings after some important figures that were stationed at the airfield during the War.

Geoff Prince, Managing Director from the Prince Group, said: “We have a long standing relationship with Mather Jamie and always value their advice and guidance which on this occasion has helped The Prince Group deliver and create something that will benefit businesses and create local employment.”

A second phase development at Wymeswold Business Quarter is now proposed which will create 21 units and 80-100 more local employment opportunities. Mather Jamie, along with consultants Pegasus Group, Golby & Luck and Gordon White Hood, are currently project managing the planning application for this second phase. If approved, construction on the next wave of units will begin in Q2 2023 and will be available to let/buy early in Q1 2024.

Hamish Byers, associate director, Mather Jamie, said: “The speed in which all units have been occupied shows the success of the development and that there is definitely a demand for industrial units within a rural community and when carefully planned these facilities can positively impact local communities and the environment.

“My clients, the Prestwold Estate, are committed to developing opportunities which benefit the local community and as long standing owners and employers in the local area, it was very important for them to deliver a scheme of high quality and maximising local opportunities.”

As part of the first and second phases of the development, the Estate are trying to minimise the environmental impact and provide additional benefits. Throughout 2022 the Estate has planted over 450 trees and have plans to develop and enhance the natural environment further over the coming years.