Raleigh, the British bicycle brand, has relocated to Durban House in Eastwood, Nottingham, after being based locally on Church Street in Eastwood since the early 2000s.
Durban House, built in the late 19th century, is renowned for its historical significance as it was once the wages office for the local collieries where the father of the famed writer D.H. Lawrence worked. The property, which later became a D.H. Lawrence Heritage Centre, has been a symbol of local heritage and cultural pride, so was a natural site of interest for Raleigh whose past is also entwined with the local area.
Broxtowe Borough Council had two primary objectives: to restore Durban House to its former glory and to create a functional business space. Raleigh’s move to the premises achieves both goals, marking just the first stage of a longer-term plan between the Council and Raleigh.
Work started on turning Durban House into a Community Hub in 2021, but a bid for Levelling Up Funding was unsuccessful. The challenges this created have now been solved by the agreement with Raleigh.
The Council, through UKSPF, has identified new locations for community activities. Some community projects connected to the Hub, such as the Gardening Group, will continue to work on the grounds of Durban House and the surrounding area. Raleigh is committed to supporting community activities outside of working hours wherever possible.
Chris Slater, Managing Director at Raleigh, said: “We are pleased to remain in Eastwood and deeply appreciate the ongoing support and collaboration from Broxtowe Council in facilitating this move. Raleigh’s rich heritage is deeply intertwined with the Borough, making it essential for us to stay connected to our local roots.
“Durban House represents an exciting next step in our long-term strategy, offering a space that not only honours our storied past but also aligns with our vision for future growth as we continue to invest in our ambitious plans for the bicycle business.”
Milan Radulovic MBE, Leader of Broxtowe Borough Council, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Raleigh to Durban House in Eastwood. It’s vital that we support our local businesses and particularly strategically important businesses like Raleigh. We’ve been working on this partnership for a number of months to secure Raleigh with a new home.
“As soon as we heard the news that they needed to relocate their head offices we wanted to ensure we worked with the team to support them through this change. It’s also been really important that we ensure that we can keep these jobs in the local area and help support our local economy.
“The project was made possible by support from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and used a new local enterprise – Wilborne Painting & Decorating Limited to complete the renovation, further supporting local jobs.”
