Two major tool, accessories, and hardware retailers have moved in at Ashbourne’s Waterside Park. National brands Screwfix and Toolstation have taken over the former Countrywide Country Store in a double deal, brokered by Salloway Property Consultants. The deal comes after planning permission was granted to allow the building to be split into two 4,400 sq ft units and for the permitted use to be changed. Salloway’s Hugo Beresford, who represented the landlord, said: “We had a tenant lined up to take the whole building but the deal failed to materialise and so I advised my client that splitting the space was the way to go. Once that decision had been made, terms were quickly agreed with both occupiers.” Beresford added: “The planning process was not straight-forward but permission came through and I’m delighted to have been able to secure two high quality tenants for our client.” Richard Pigott (Planning & Design Practice Ltd) represented the Landlord in respect of the planning application and Sharon Lowe (Geldards LLP) in respect of the lease documentation.

The Judge’s Lodgings, an iconic and historic property in the heart of the cathedral city of Lincoln has been acquired by locally based businessman Andrew Long, following his recent purchase of the adjacent White Hart Hotel. TSP Developments (part of Andrew’s Travel Sector Property Group) has acquired a 999-year ‘virtual freehold’ interest in the Judge’s Lodgings from Lincolnshire County Council. Coleby-based businessman and Chartered Surveyor Andrew Long recently acquired the White Hart Hotel, together with the site of the White Hart Garages and car park in July this summer. Proposals for the hotel’s major refurbishment and the redevelopment of the White Hart Garages site are now being prepared in conjunction with his planned full refurbishment of the Judge’s Lodgings building. Andrew explains: “My TSP group of companies are working closely with locally-based John Roberts Architects and our wider project team to produce a major redevelopment and significant overall enhancement scheme for the St Paul’s Lane, Bailgate and Castle Hill quarter of the city. “Subject to obtaining the respective statutory consents, there is now a unique opportunity to deliver a fully interrelated redevelopment scheme for the White Hart Garages and car park site, in conjunction with the refurbishment and sustainable long-term future use of the Judge’s Lodgings.” Andrew added: “With long-established vehicular access from and to St Paul’s Lane, we are proposing a high quality dedicated arcade of ‘kiosk-style’ retail units for artisan crafts and products/services, that will be situated within the frontage of 2 Bailgate, immediately opposite the White Hart Hotel. “This arcade will then also provide an attractive safe pedestrian link through to the new on-site parking area, as to be situated immediately to the rear of the Judge’s Lodgings, from which there will also be direct customer access. “Subject to further detailed design, we will also create an additional 30 hotel bedrooms within a combination of the upper floor level of the original Judge’s Lodgings building and ‘new build’ elements within the overall site, all to be operated through the White Hart Hotel (currently 50 bedrooms) and situated within a fully integrated landscaped setting. The ground floor of the Judge’s Lodgings is to be used for high quality restaurant and other hospitality facilities, on which further information will be released at a later stage.” The Grade II ‘star’ Listed building was owned by Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) who had declared it surplus to their requirements and sought to find a suitable new owner committed to the full refurbishment of the building and its appropriate long-term use. Andrew France, associate director at Lambert Smith Hampton, marketing agents for the property, said: “Acting on behalf of LCC, we are pleased to have concluded this transaction with TSP Developments and have been impressed with the proposed refurbishment scheme in conjunction with Andrew Long’s redevelopment of the immediately adjacent White Hart Garages site.” Marketed with a guide price of ‘offers in excess of £850,000’, the negotiated contracted price is strictly confidential. James Cook, of Kier Design & Business Services on behalf of LCC, added: “There has been detailed engagement to successfully finalise the transaction to the satisfaction of both parties over the last eight months, for what should now be a secure long-term future for the Judge’s Lodgings.” The predominantly Georgian building was first built in 1810 and has a commanding ‘landmark’ location overlooking Castle Hill Square, immediately adjacent to the Eastern Main Gate of Lincoln Castle (built by William Conqueror in 1068). Andrew Long added: “There is a relatively unattractive 1958 utilitarian-style flat roof extension that has no architectural merit, but there is now a significant important redevelopment opportunity in conjunction with the site of the White Hart Garages, which will also retain approximately 40 on-site customer parking spaces for the White Hart Hotel.” Shoosmiths Solicitors of Leeds acted on behalf of TSP Developments, in conjunction with PBC Surveyors and Project Managers of London, Andrew having worked closely with both of these firms on numerous major projects throughout the UK for in excess of 25 years. Paul Philips, Managing Director at PBC, added: “We are very pleased to be working with Andrew in the wonderful historic city of Lincoln, based on established long-term professional relationships and also Andrew’s renewed close working relationship with John Roberts Architects, together with other locally based members of the project team.”

A Derby-based specialist IT, Cyber Security and Digital Marketing apprenticeship training company, has moved into new premises to pave the way for future growth. Althaus was launched in 2019 with a focus on offering fully remote digital apprenticeship training across the UK. It has since branched out into delivering innovative 12-week Digital Bootcamp programmes on behalf of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership to tackle the growing skills gaps in the sector by enabling people to upskill online. The company currently has 27 employees and, with plans to double in size and turnover year on year, Althaus has bought new 4,055 sq ft offices in Victoria Way, Pride Park, from East Midlands Chamber in a deal jointly secured by property consultants OMEETO and FHP. Althaus co-director Josh Stamp said: “Having established Althaus in Sadler Bridge Studios in Bold Lane, we have outgrown these premises and are delighted to move into our new HQ in Pride Park. “The offices are in a prime position with excellent transport links for our team of advisors and training consultants and also gives us the capacity to expand our studio space where our online training materials are produced in-house. “Despite launching in the middle of a global pandemic, we have grown to be a highly regarded training provider both within the East Midlands and nationwide. From our head office in Derby, we currently employ a team of 27 staff who deliver impactful training courses in IT, Cyber Security and Digital Marketing. “We have already trained more than 300 individuals across over 80 organisations with 75% of our learners gaining employment or progression in their workplace. “With excellent feedback in our first interim Ofsted inspection and from employers who are recognising the high quality of our provision, we predict rapid growth of the next two years and these premises will cater perfectly for this sustained expansion. “Chris at Omeeto has been a pleasure to work with from start to finish, keeping in regular communication throughout and proactively working with myself and the Chamber to ensure a timely transaction. The Chamber have particularly been super helpful.” Chris Wright, director of OMEETO, continued: “The commercial property market in Pride Park continues to be in high demand and this deal reflects the continued desire for growth amongst SMEs – particularly those focused on and servicing the growing IT and digital sectors.” Joint agent Darran Severn from FHP added: “I am pleased the sale has completed in what has been a great result for all parties. There continues to be a lack of good quality office buildings available on Pride Park and, as a result, capital values and rents remain strong.” Lucy Robinson, director of resources at East Midlands Chamber, concluded: “We took the strategic decision earlier this year to co-locate the Derby office with the University of Derby at the Enterprise Centre and contribute to the overall regeneration of the city centre. “We are delighted this prominent office will now support the expansion of Althaus, which has a vital role to play in addressing much-needed skills in our local and regional economy. “The teams at OMEETO and FHP have done a sterling job in bringing this deal to fruition.”