Council set to give final go-ahead for landmark new River Trent bridge
Nottingham City Council’s ambitious project to build a new 85 metre long pedestrian and cycle bridge over the River Trent between Trent Basin and Lady Bay has reached a new milestone, with the project expected to receive a final approval from the Council at its Executive Board meeting on 22 October.
Once this approval is given, the project will get a final go-ahead from the Department for Transport before contracts are signed and work can begin in the new year.
The bridge will be the flagship, and final project to come out of the City Council’s Transforming Cities Fund programme, which began in 2020 following a successful bid for over £160 million of central Government funding for projects which encourage inter-city connectivity and lower carbon journeys.
The new traffic-free bridge, the first to be built over the river Trent since Clifton Bridge in the 1950s, and its new and enhanced connecting paths will be a key link between the regenerating Trent Basin area with its new homes and schools, and the south side of the river with its many sports facilities including the City Ground, Trent Bridge, Holme Pierrepont and Nottingham Rugby Club.
By enhancing connections between communities, green spaces and riverside paths, the bridge will make it easier for people living and working in the Nottingham area to travel in a more sustainable way, linking those in communities such as Sneinton and the city centre with green space south of the river.
The new bridge will also help the city towards its Carbon Neutral 2028 ambition as well as improving local air quality and congestion levels by enabling people to get around for work or play without needing a car.
Planning for this ambitious and complex project has been underway since 2019, with many important milestones already achieved including public consultations, detailed design work, land agreements, securing planning permission from the City Council and Rushcliffe Borough Councils, as well as working with the Environment Agency, local residents and other stakeholders to make sure the new bridge works for everyone.
Since the project began, plans have evolved as the design and methods of construction have been refined and this along with other factors outside of the Council’s control, including Covid, the war in Ukraine and periods of high inflation means that the maximum delivery budget for the total project is now £18 million. The final construction costs will be confirmed by December 2024.
Looking ahead, the City Council intends to enter into contracts with the lead delivery partner Balfour Beatty in January with enabling works starting early in 2025.
Then, into the spring and summer, a warehouse used by Flo Skate park will be demolished to make way for the bridge sections to be brought to site and erected before being lifted into place by a gigantic crane during autumn 2025. The new bridge is expected to officially open in early 2026.
Nottingham City Council Leader and Executive Member for Strategic Regeneration, Transport and Communications, Councillor Neghat Khan said: “I’m proud to present this ambitious project to create a new landmark bridge for Nottingham at our Executive Board on 22 October.
“The new bridge will be the first built over the Trent in Nottingham for more than 60 years, creating a vital link between developing new communities and opening up new safer commuter and leisure routes, offering a huge boost to cyclists, pedestrians and runners as well as everyone in our city through improving air quality and congestion.”
Other Transforming Cities-funded projects already completed include the new bus station in Bulwell, the expansion of safe city centre cycle routes and a secure new cycle store at Broad Marsh, the transformation of Collin Street into a new area of public realm and playground and the newly opened Green Heart area.
Progress continues on multi-million-pound refurb to create Chesterfield cultural venue
The multi-million pound refurbishment of Stephenson Memorial Hall – which will create a cultural venue in the heart of Chesterfield town centre – is progressing at pace.
Representatives from Chesterfield Borough Council were provided with a behind-the-scenes tour to review progress and see how work to transform the building has been progressing.
Midlands construction firm, G F Tomlinson, took control of the site last year and has been working to achieve the ambitious plans which include creating a single entrance to both facilities, an expanded theatre, a reconfigured museum, community spaces and a new café bar.
Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “The building has changed dramatically since December 2023 and the work so far is starting to show how this building will feel when it is completed.
“I’m excited to welcome residents and visitors back to this venue once it is completed and think it will be a truly spectacular experience that we can all be proud of.
“This is an ambitious project for our borough and there is a lot of hard work still to do, but it will create a truly unique building where residents and visitors can experience culture and learn about the history of our borough.”
Adrian Grocock, Group Managing Director at G F Tomlinson, said: “We’re pleased with how works are progressing for the delivery of the multi-million-pound sensitive refurbishment of the Grade II Listed Stephenson Memorial Hall and you can really see the pivotal stages taking place to breathe new life into the Corporation Street site.
“Once complete, the landmark state-of-the-art facility in the town centre will be revitalised with its expanded theatre, reconfigured museum and improved community spaces, bringing many new opportunities to the local vicinity for arts and entertainment.”
In the auditorium the changes are significant – the circle has been stripped back, with the decorative panelling being safely stored ready to be reinstalled once the project is complete, and new steelwork brought into the building ready to build an enlarged seating area.
Cut outs have also been made in the walls to create a new access point to the circle from the upper floor of the new café bar. New entrances to the auditorium on the ground floor have been created and a new concrete slab has been laid on the auditorium floor which will allow for the installation of a new air conditioning system that provides heating and cooling for theatre guests.
A new accessible lift shaft has been built that will ensure all guests can access every floor of the building including the circle which will include new accessible seating and the basement where a Changing Places toilet will be created.
On the Corporation Street side, part of the roof has been removed ready for a new Link Gallery to be installed. This will house rooms that can be used for events, school trips, and community activities, and as extra space during performance intervals.
As well as upgrading the facilities, much of the work is also about improving the fabric of the historic building to protect it for generations to come, and ensure it is more energy efficient.
This has included improvements to the roof, where the existing roof tiles have been lifted, and upgrades to the structure, lining and insulation have been installed to help improve the thermal efficiency of the building and ensure the roof is watertight for many years to come.
Works have also included the cleaning of external brickwork and some re-pointing to restore the building its original splendour.
On Station Back Lane a new extension is being built which will house dressing rooms and a new backstage area to provide performers with modern accessible facilities. A new foundation has been laid and the blockwork in this area is progressing well.
In Autumn 2021 Chesterfield Borough Council received almost £20 million from the Government’s Levelling Up fund.
A portion is being used to improve connections across the town centre and create attractive public spaces to support a range of events and markets. Work began on the Market Place earlier this year.
Around £11 million of the Levelling Up Fund grant funding will be used to fund the renovation and remodelling of Stephenson Memorial Hall.
The project received a further funding boost with £695,000 from Arts Council England’s Capital Investment Programme which will be used to install a ventilation system in the auditorium and create a new Changing Places toilet.
AxFlow UK acquires Moody Direct
AxFlow UK, a fluid handling solutions firm, has acquired Moody Direct, a long-established supplier of solutions and services to the dairy, food & beverage, brewery, chemical, and pharmaceutical sectors headquartered in Retford.
Shorts’ Corporate Finance team were lead advisers to Moody Direct and Wake Smith Solicitors provided legal advice to the sellers.
“We are thrilled to welcome Moody to the AxFlow family,” said Neil Langdown, Managing Director of AxFlow UK. “Their expertise in hygienic sales & servicing and reputation for best-in-class customer service will strengthen AxFlow’s existing position in the UK.
“Moreover, this will enhance our onsite service capability and enable us to offer our customers a comprehensive service offering for homogenisers, separators and plate heat exchangers.”
“Moody’s success has been built on technical expertise and a commitment to customer satisfaction,” noted Ken Wild, Director of Moody. “Joining forces with AxFlow UK not only strengthens our ability to serve customers in our core segments of F&B and Dairy but also opens up new avenues for growth, particularly in the processing industries.”
Andy Ryder of Shorts said: “We are delighted to have successfully concluded this transaction on behalf of the owners of Moody Direct, Ken and David.
“It has been a pleasure for our team of myself, Adam Ames, Brian Gooch and Ahad Choudry to work with them on this international deal and we look forward to hearing of the continued success of this great business as it becomes part of the Swedish owned Axel Johnson AB Group, giving it access to further fantastic opportunities ”
Rebecca Robinson of Wake Smith said: “It was a privilege to act on this transaction. Wake Smith has acted for the Moody group for over 20 years, so it was a real pleasure to be able to assist the shareholders in achieving a successful exit after all their years of hard work and dedication to the business.”
Gateley RJA appoints new technical director in Nottingham
Gateley RJA, the specialist quantity surveying, employer’s agent, project management and clerk of works arm of professional services group, Gateley, has strengthened its residential team with the appointment of Chris Tutin as a technical director in Nottingham.
Chartered quantity surveyor, Tutin, joins from Diafora and brings more than 20 years of experience spanning the construction sector.
This includes ten years specialising in the affordable housing sector both as a contractor, as well as working in-house for housebuilders and developers on residential schemes such as joint ventures with local authorities.
In his role at Gateley RJA, Tutin will be responsible for growing and developing the residential team and its offering in Nottingham, as the consultancy continues to increase its number of affordable and social housing sector projects across the region.
Tutin is also a RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) counsellor and East Midlands board member, as well as a Chartered Institute of Building mentor. He will contribute to Gateley RJA’s internal APC programme to support team members with the chartership process.
On his appointment, Tutin said: “I’ve known and worked with Gateley RJA for many years through previous schemes where they were appointed as the employer’s agent, so I know the directors well and our values and work ethic are very much aligned.
“Gateley RJA has seen tremendous success over the past few years, and I was ready for a new challenge, so joining the consultancy in a new technical director role was the perfect opportunity.”
Hardeep Kooner, director of residential at Gateley RJA, said: “We have secured several significant instruction wins over the past few years which has seen us expand our residential team.
“In line with our growth strategy, it was the right time to bring in a senior appointment to help with developing our people and offering in Nottingham to continue this trajectory.
“Chris has worked both in-house as well as a contractor and so has an enhanced understanding of what our clients need to enable us to work seamlessly as an extension of their team. I’m really looking forward to seeing how he settles in at what is a really exciting time for us.”
Nottingham garden care product manufacturer receives King’s Award for International Trade
Nottingham-based garden care product manufacturer Doff Portland is celebrating after being awarded the King’s Award for International Trade.
Regarded as one of the highest honours in business, the King’s Awards recognise the outstanding achievements by UK companies and are valid for five years.
Doff Portland received the International Trade accolade for “the sale of environmentally responsible horticultural products to European hobby gardeners, and the agricultural sector.”
The award was officially presented during a ceremony held at Doff Portland’s Nottingham headquarters by Lord-Lieutenant for Nottinghamshire Professor Veronica Pickering and Deputy Lieutenant for Nottinghamshire Mark Goldby.
Established in 1946, Doff Portland manufactures a number of leading brands and private label products for major retailers in the UK and EU. These brands include Doff, Portland Garden, Power Up and Green Fingers.
Commenting on the award, Ben Sharpio, CEO at Doff Portland, said: “It is fantastic to be recognised with the King’s Awards for International Trade for our ongoing commitment to providing high-quality garden care products across the European market.
“This achievement would not have been possible without the efforts of our team, so I thank them all and look forward to working with them to further deliver for our customers both in the UK and Europe.”
Doff Portland was acquired by global pest control manufacturer and supplier Pelsis Group in August this year.
Alex Ashmore, CEO at Pelsis Group, added: “This King’s Award is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team at Doff Portland to support its customers. I congratulate all those involved in being awarded this highly impressive accolade.
“It is fantastic to have Doff Portland as part of our retail portfolio and I look forward to supporting them to enable further growth in its international trade.”
Local businesses raise £9,950 for PASIC at Rushcliffe Golf Course
Members of the East Midlands business community gathered last month for the annual CAPs (Construction and Property Sector) Golf Day, held at Rushcliffe Golf Course, to raise an impressive £9,950 in support of PASIC.
The event, sponsored by Gleeds, Hexa Consulting, Wilmott Dixon, Influence Planning & Design and Sytner BMW, saw participation from 22 teams comprising property and business professionals, each raising funds through team entries, player pledges, beat the trickster and a raffle.
Stand sponsors Blueprint Interiors, 200 Degrees Coffee and pop-up bar establishment, Rum-ba, provided additional support and hospitality throughout the event.
After a day of friendly competition, guests were treated to an evening BBQ followed by an awards presentation and raffle, with prizes generously donated by sponsors and local businesses.
The winning team of the tournament was BSP Consulting, whose skills on the course earned them the top spot of the day. Other prizes were given for longest drives, nearest the pin and beat the pro competitions.
Beneficiary, PASIC, is a Nottingham-based charity that provides vital emotional, social, and practical support to families of children and young people diagnosed with cancer across the East Midlands.
Since 1977, PASIC has been offering services such as emergency financial assistance, social outings, and peer support groups, helping families navigate the immense challenges of childhood cancer.
The charity works closely with hospitals like Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre and Leicester Royal Infirmary, making a significant difference to the lives of children undergoing treatment, and their families.
Beth Mills, a Fundraiser at PASIC, said of the day: “We are incredibly grateful for the generous support shown at this year’s CAPS Golf Day. Events like this are vital in ensuring we can continue our work with families across the East Midlands, offering a lifeline during some of the most difficult times in their lives.”
David Ford, Director at Gleeds, said: “It’s always inspiring to see the property and construction community come together for such a worthy cause. The generosity shown by everyone at this year’s Golf Day was incredible, and raising £9,950 for PASIC will have a real impact on the families they support.
“A huge thank you to our sponsors, players, and everyone involved in making the day such a success.”
CAPS anticipates a robust calendar of events in 2025, with the next Golf Day already scheduled for 18th September, at Radcliffe on Trent Golf Club.
Frasers pitches revised offer for Mulberry following rejected bid
Following the rejection of Frasers Group’s bid for Mulberry Group, it has submitted a revised offer for the portion of the business it does not currently own.
Frasers is a significant minority shareholder, owning approximately 37% of the issued share capital of the fashion brand. Frasers’ initial offer (in which Mulberry shareholders would have been entitled to receive 130 pence in cash for each Mulberry share) followed Mulberry announcing a proposed subscription for 10,000,000 new ordinary shares in the capital of the company by Challice Ltd (the company’s majority shareholder), at a price of £1 per share, and a separate offer to existing shareholders of the company of up to 750,000 new ordinary shares at the subscription price.Following the rejection of Frasers’ proposal, the business has said it is “unclear to Frasers how…the Board of Mulberry could have concluded that the Subscription Price was appropriate before, days later, rejecting [its] Initial Proposal (at a price 30% higher).”
Frasers further shared “significant reservations” that the £10 million raised under the subscription will be enough to support the business through the near to medium term. Frasers also pushed back against Mulberry’s statement that its offer did not recognise the “substantial future potential value of Mulberry,” noting: “Frasers is clear that there is no current commercial plan, turnaround or otherwise.” It added: “Despite…Mulberry’s catastrophic results, its necessity for emergency funding and difficult market backdrop, Frasers strongly believes it can provide the appropriate insulation and investment to support a much-loved British brand. As part of the Frasers portfolio, the Mulberry brand would be provided with the platform to ensure its long-term survival and success.” Under the new offer by Frasers, Mulberry Shareholders would be entitled to receive 150 pence in cash for each Mulberry Share. This implies a valuation of approximately £111 million for the entire issued, and to be issued, ordinary share capital of Mulberry, or approximately £72 million for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Mulberry that Frasers does not own. It marks a premium of 50 per cent to the subscription price of £1.00 per share.Challice Limited, the company’s 56.4 per cent majority shareholder, however, has been quick to state publicly that it “has no interest in either selling its Mulberry Shares to Frasers or providing Frasers with any irrevocable or other undertaking.”
Commuters in Greater Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to get discounts
Commuters in Greater Nottingham and Nottinghamshire who purchase annual bus and tram passes through their employers will soon benefit from a discount thanks to the county and city councils.
Nottinghamshire County Council and Nottingham City Council are working in partnership to bring the offer to employers, which has been funded through the Greater Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIPs).
As part of the scheme, employers will be able to offer staff a 20% discount on the cost of annual commuter bus and tram passes.
In Greater Nottingham, annual passes sold to employers by all the local bus operators, including the Robin Hood 12-month season card will be discounted from 1 November 2024.
In Nottinghamshire, Stagecoach East Midlands and trentbarton will also be offering discounts on their products, purchased through employers.
Councillor Neil Clarke MBE, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “We are once again working in partnership with the city council through our Bus Service Improvement Plans to bring about valuable bus travel offers to passengers.
“As more people return to offices for work, we’re offering a discount on annual bus and tram season tickets purchased through employers to give an extra boost to encourage passengers to travel by bus.
“The discount will apply to passes purchased between 1 November 2024 and 31 March 2025.
“We continue to work closely with transport operators across Greater Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to offer ticketing initiatives and improvements to passengers and look forward to hearing about the success of this scheme for employers and employees alike.”
Nottingham City Council Leader and Executive Member for Strategic Regeneration, Transport and Communications, Councillor Neghat Khan, said: “We want to get as many people as possible out of their cars and onto public transport – and so I hope lots of local people will take up this offer, saving them 20% on the cost of their annual bus pass, including the Robin Hood 12-month season card, which is a great option for people who need to travel on the tram and bus frequently.
“I’m proud to see Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council once again working in partnership to bring great value public transport to residents across the county.”
Nissan collaborates with University of Nottingham for electric vehicle charging breakthrough
Nissan has announced the launch of affordable on-board bi-directional charging on selected electric vehicles from 2026, following a successful collaboration with the University of Nottingham.
The initiative forms a key step towards its vision of creating a sustainable energy ecosystem.
The Vehicle to Grid (V2G), or Vehicle to Everything (V2X) technology, which allows EV (electric vehicle) owners to use electricity stored in their car’s battery to power their homes, or sell it back into the grid, will launch in the UK initially, followed by other markets in Europe.
The project progresses the commitment made in Nissan’s business plan, delivering differentiated innovation that enables the EV transition, while unlocking new revenue streams. It also supports the company’s long-term vision, Ambition 2030, to create a cleaner, safer, and more inclusive world.
The project is underpinned by Nissan’s extensive experience in V2G, with around 40 pilot projects conducted worldwide throughout the past decade.
Following a successful year-long project at the University of Nottingham, Nissan has become the first car company to gain G99 Grid code certification with an AC-based solution, needed to supply electricity into the UK national energy supply.
The University of Nottingham has hosted Nissan on campus for the past year to allow them to run their testing and space to experiment. Staff with significant research experience in V2G have supported the project, and its integration within energy systems.
The University of Nottingham was also pivotal in the trial, providing a base of operations at its on-campus Creative Energy Homes, a 8-home micro-grid research test bed, and supporting academic research.
Under the banner of Nissan Energy, the company’s aim is to roll-out V2G technology across markets in Europe and beyond, empowering consumers with either AC or DC-based V2G solutions, in alignment with local infrastructure and regulatory requirements.
By using Nissan’s on-board bi-directional V2G technology, customers can cut the annual cost of powering an EV by 50%. The same technology can also reduce net CO2 emissions from charging by 30% per year, per EV for the average UK household.
EVs equipped with V2G technology can play a crucial role in integrating and increasing the mix of renewables into the energy supply, by storing electricity generated by wind or solar, and directing it back into the grid when needed, reducing dependency on fossil fuels.
Professor Lucelia Rodrigues, Chair in Sustainable and Resilient Cities at the University of Nottingham, said: “I’m delighted that our collaboration with Nissan has enabled such a significant breakthrough that will transform the future of electric mobility and contribute to more efficient and resilient energy systems.”
She continued: “This is a great step forward in the sector and will hopefully be the start of seeing such developments across other companies and countries as we move towards cleaner methods of energy and transport.”
Hugues Desmarchelier, Nissan Vice President, Global Electrification Ecosystem & EV Programs, said: “The technology we are bringing to customers is a potential game-changer for how we view the car.
“Not just as a means of getting from A to B, but as a mobile energy storage unit, capable of saving people money, supporting the transition of our energy systems away from fossil fuels and bringing us closer to a carbon-free future.
“Nissan is proud to democratise technology for the benefit of society. The breakthrough in an on-board solution for two-way charging will be a substantial reduction in the cost of integrating a future EV into your energy supply, and the ability to leverage the car as a source of income over its lifecycle.”
Nissan is continuing to work with the university, and other partners, to achieve the necessary grid certification in other markets, develop a seamless user experience and expand the technology availability to more customers.
Chairperson of Nissan’s Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania region, Guillaume Cartier, said: “One of the big challenges faced by society today is energy supply – how do we make it affordable, reliable and clean.
“At Nissan, we see a future for our customers where their energy comes from the car on the driveway – not only the power station – fully integrated, flexible and cleaner.” 