Tree planting helps grow funds of much-loved hospice
A grounds maintenance company has been planting trees across Derbyshire and raised thousands of pounds for a much-loved hospice at the same time.
Shed Grounds Maintenance, which looks after the grounds of many companies including Hazelwood-based Lubrizol, embarked on its tree planting project in aid of Chesterfield’s Ashgate Hospice to mark 20 years in business.
Company managing director Peter Botham said the initiative had been inspired by the ‘Queen’s Green Canopy’ project – a huge national tree planting initiative to mark the late monarch’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
To celebrate its 20th birthday the company has been planting trees at 20 of its sites and making a donation each time to Ashgate Hospice.
Shed Grounds Maintenance has now been shortlisted for a prestigious East Midlands Chamber award in the Environmental Impact category.
Peter said many clients – including Lubrizol – had been very enthusiastic about the project and had match funded the donation, meaning thousands had now been raised for Ashgate.
Lubrizol, which is set in a former country house with lovely grounds, is now home to two silver birches planted by Shed Grounds Maintenance to replace trees felled by storm damage.
Peter explained that he had a longstanding connection with Ashgate Hospice having done some landscaping for the organisation when it first started.
“The people at Ashgate are just amazing,” he said. “Being 20 years old, we were looking to make a difference to a charity. We thought rather than just donate money to Ashgate Hospice, we’d plant a tree in our clients’ grounds and give a donation for each one. A lot of clients have matched our donation which has been great.
“We thought that tree planting was the ideal way for us to mark our 20th birthday. First of all, we all need to be doing more tree planting! Hopefully a tree is something that is going to last for many years to come. People plant trees in memory of loved ones which has also got a fitting connection with the work of the nurses at Ashgate Hospice.
“Lubrizol is located in a stunning place and it’s a brilliant place to work.”
Passionate horticulturalist Peter said silver birches had been chosen for the company’s anniversary tree planting as they are native species to the UK, having grown on this isle since the end of the last Ice Age.
Claire Hollingshurst, from Lubrizol’s charities and communities committee, said: “We were very happy when Shed Grounds Maintenance said they would like to donate two trees to us as part of their tree planting initiative for Ashgate Hospice.
“We work hard to maintain our beautiful grounds and we are very happy to be home to these two new silver birches, replacing other trees that we lost to this year’s storms. I hope the money raised for Ashgate Hospice will help it continue its great work.”
Proposals set out for new West Northamptonshire crematorium
Proposals have been unveiled for a new crematorium in West Northamptonshire to address the increasing need for cremation services across local communities.
West Northamptonshire Council has set out plans to develop a state-of-the-art and sustainable new facility on land at Wantage Farm, in the Round Spinney area of Northampton.
Residents will soon be able to give their views on the plans before a planning application is submitted for the scheme in November. With existing crematoria within the area operating above their capacity, the new facility will ease the pressure on local need, reduce waiting times and improve the service for bereaved families.
Building the new crematorium is also expected to bring benefits to the local community, with the surrounding land transformed into recreational spaces, including walking paths and green areas.
It will be designed to minimise the impact on local surroundings, particularly around traffic, noise and appearance issues, with a key focus on sustainability and biodiversity including energy-efficient electric cremators, heat recovery systems, solar panels, green roofs and thoughtful landscaping.
Wantage Farm was selected as the most suitable site following an assessment of 11 potential locations in West Northants – this included looking at factors such as size, accessibility, ecology and archaeology as well as how they aligned with key policies such as the Local Plan and flood risk management. Placing a crematorium on the site would also preserve and protect the Green Wedge.
Councillor Mike Hallam, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and HR at West Northamptonshire Council, said: “On average, 80 per cent of people opt for cremation over burial, and the new facility at Round Spinney, will relieve pressure on the other existing crematorium in West Northants, reducing wait times for bereaved families while allowing them to hold longer, more meaningful ceremonies for their loved ones.
“This new facility addresses the urgent need for additional cremation services in a way that respects and enhances our natural environment.
“In addition to providing essential services, its construction and operation will create jobs and support local businesses. The crematorium will be inclusive to everyone of all different faiths, offering a range of features to meet the diverse needs of our community and providing spaces that respect the privacy and dignity of everyone.”
Residents will be encouraged to view the proposals and give their views during the pre-planning consultation, which will start on Wednesday, 25 September.
New Gartree prison to go ahead despite call for reconsideration
The Leader of Harborough District Council has received a letter from the government confirming that the new prison at Gartree, approved under the previous government, will still be built.
This news comes despite the leader’s call for the new government to reconsider the decision that outline planning permission should be granted which was made by the former Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Lord Timpson, Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending replied to the leader on behalf of the Prime Minister and confirmed that early works which had started in July would continue due to the government’s full commitment to build the prison. Lord Timpson also said that he wished to work closely with residents, the council and other stakeholders to ensure that the new prison is a success.
Cllr Knowles, Leader of Harborough District Council, said: “I wrote to the Prime Minister at the beginning of July to ask him to call in the decision made by the previous Secretary of State to allow the new prison at Gartree to be built. I asked whether it was logical to have it situated in Gartree and whether he thought the local infrastructure can cope.
“I am incredibly disappointed with this response and that my offer to meet with ministers to show them the site was not taken up. The council will continue to work with and on behalf of the local community to help to mitigate any negative impact of the prison on the local area. I will also be writing to Lord Timpson and asking to meet him to seek the best possible outcomes for residents and the community.”
In April 2022, Harborough District Council’s planning committee refused the outline application for the new prison. An appeal from the Ministry of Justice against the decision was received in June 2022.
On Wednesday 15 November 2023 the government announced the then Secretary of State’s decision that the appeal from the MOJ should be allowed and outline permission should be granted, subject to conditions.
Lincolnshire construction firm enters administration
Lincolnshire-based construction firm C G Godfrey Limited has entered administration.
Managing Directors and Insolvency Practitioners Duncan Beat and Andrew Watling from Quantuma were appointed Joint Administrators on 27 August 2024.
Established in 1973 and located in West Pinchbeck in Spalding, C G Godfrey provided civil, mechanical and electrical engineering services, specialising in vacuum sewerage systems and deep drainage. The company provided services for a variety of customers including local authorities, private clients, water companies, district and county councils.
Turnover of the company was £4.8m in 2023, however, the company had recently experienced a loss of income of around £300k on two contracts which created cash flow problems that could not be overcome.
The Quantuma team was first engaged in July 2024 to provide advice. A marketing exercise was undertaken by Quantuma to try to find a buyer for the company, either as a going concern, or for the business and assets.
Expressions of interest were received, and NDAs signed by a number of interested parties. However, no offers were received, and the company had insufficient working capital to continue trading.
Therefore, the company entered administration on 27 August 2024 and immediately ceased to trade. C G Godfrey employed a team of 23 staff – all roles at the business have been made redundant.
Quantuma Managing Director and Joint Administrator Andrew Watling said: “It is deeply regrettable that C G Godfrey has been forced to cease trading, due to a series of challenging circumstances.
“This was a sad ending for a long-established company. Our thanks go to all of the employees who worked hard during a difficult time and gave the company every chance to find a buyer. But unfortunately, it simply wasn’t to be.
“As Joint Administrators, our immediate priorities have been to provide appropriate support to those whose jobs have been affected.”
Majority share snapped up in Alfreton communications firm
Alfreton-based Yappl has secured a strategic investment from Hugh Symons Holdings, an entity with over 50 years of experience in IT and telecoms.
This investment grants Hugh Symons Holdings a majority share in Yappl and sets the stage for accelerated growth and innovation.
By joining forces with Hugh Symons Holdings, Yappl is poised to expand its reach. It aims to enrich its service offerings and continue driving innovation in the B2B communications sector.
Yappl’s Managing Director, James Bannister, said: “I’m delighted that Yappl has Hugh Symons Holdings on board as a new investor. They share our entrepreneurial vision for Yappl and recognise that developments in the telecoms industry represent a fantastic opportunity for an enterprise focused on delivering better connectivity to businesses across the UK.
“We have worked hard to ensure that Yappl has solid foundations in customer approach, technology and, critically, customer experience. We look forward to working with our new partners on the next phase of our business growth.”
Hugh Roper, CEO of Hugh Symons Holdings, said: “This investment marks a welcome return to the telecoms sector where we have enjoyed a significant presence in the past. Yappl is a great, dynamic business focused on delivering excellent customer experience across a broad range of sectors. I was impressed with the team; their enthusiasm is infectious. I look forward to developing the business and realising its full potential.”
Secretary of State grants development consent for Cottam Solar Project
The Cottam Solar Project application has been granted development consent by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.
The project is a proposed new solar and energy storage project that would cross the county border between Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, and is being developed by Island Green Power. It’s the 85th such scheme of 142 applications submitted so far.
The Cottam Solar Project is named after its grid connection point at the existing National Grid substation at Cottam Power Station. The proposals involve a series of four site areas, known as Cottam 1, 2, 3a and 3b, which will host solar arrays, grid connection infrastructure and energy storage facilities.
The proposals also involve cable route corridors, accesses and environmental mitigation and enhancement measures. The development stretches from north of Blyton, through Corringham to an area bordered by Willingham, Fillingham, and Sturton, before turning west to cross the Trent near Marton en route to Cottam.
Island Green Power has delivered 26 solar projects worldwide totalling more than 1GW of capacity. This includes 14 solar projects in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Lincolnshire IT firm joins Kings Lynn business
Lincolnshire IT firm Jalapeno Business Services has joined Kings Lynn-based UptechLtd, signalling a change in name for the Bassingham-based company.
Mark Brown, owner and director of Jalapeno Business Services, said: “This partnership allows us to provide our clients with even more comprehensive and robust IT solutions, backed by Uptech’s decades of experience and success.
“Our clients will benefit greatly from the additional resources and expertise now available to them.”
James Fowler, Business Development Manager at Uptech Ltd, said: “This merger marks a significant milestone, promising enriched service offerings and greater innovation.
“Jalapeno’s clients will benefit from Uptech’s extensive knowledge base, cutting-edge technology solutions and industry-leading expertise.”
Despite the change in branding, all Jalapeno’s current employees will stay on board, continuing to operate from the same office locations. This continuity will ensure that the company’s clients will receive consistent and familiar support while gaining access to the expanded capabilities that Uptech brings to the table.
Council loses planning appeal for new Enderby logistics hub
Blaby District Council has lost a planning appeal for a new logistics hub at St Johns, Enderby.
Drummond Estate and Inverock Ltd launched an appeal earlier this year after the Council’s Planning Committee refused the outline application in October 2023.
The site is identified for employment use in the Blaby District Local Plan, adopted in 2019.
The Planning Inspector reviewed the Council’s decision to refuse the application at a public hearing in July, granting permission for the scheme.
The application, from the Drummond Estate and Inverock Trust, includes plans for four warehouses, offices, gatehouses and, potentially, a training and education centre.
The hub is proposed for use as a storage and distribution centre with new access off Leicester Lane.
A similar scheme, known as Hub 2, was granted outline permission on the same site in June this year.
The Council has also been ordered to pay the applicant’s costs, which are currently unknown.
Further detailed applications will now follow, including the layout and appearance of the site.
Jonathan Hodge, Blaby District Council’s Group Manager for Planning and Strategic Growth, said: “We acknowledge the Inspector’s decision on this appeal and will work with the landowner and developers as more detailed plans for the site are received.”
Second contractor working on Jewry Wall Museum project collapses
The opening of Leicester’s Jewry Wall Museum and Visitor Centre – currently under-going a multi-million pound transformation – has been delayed following the collapse of a second contractor working on the project.
Elmwood Projects, which was commissioned by the city council to design and manufacture the exhibition and displays for the centre, announced it was going into liquidation earlier this month.
Located in Scotland, the company was providing the design, build and installation of exhibition cases, large mosaic displays, object mounts and some of the audio-visual elements for the centre.
The news follows the unexpected liquidation of NMCN – one of the biggest construction companies in the Midlands – which was originally brought in to carry out the external works needed to the existing museum building and heritage site.
The council managed to appoint Olivetti and Jeakins Weir last year to continue with the construction work, and good progress was being made on the ambitious refurbishment. This new blow to the project is likely to result in some further delay to the opening, although the council hopes this will not be significant.
Richard Sword, the council’s strategic director for city developments and neighbourhoods, said: “It is very rare for two such well-established companies working on the same project to be hit in this way, but these are very difficult times for the construction industry, with three of the four companies that originally bid for this work now in administration. We sympathise with everyone affected by these company closures.
“We are grateful that Elmwood had already completed most of the work we had commissioned.
“Leicester already benefits significantly from tourists interested in our 2000 years of history and the discovery of King Richard lll. The new-look museum and visitor centre has the potential to bring in many more thousands of visitors and huge economic benefits to Leicester.
“At this point it is difficult to say exactly how this will affect the opening date and our costs, but I am hopeful we can resolve this without too much of an impact.”
Following the loss of the first contractor, the council had been working towards an opening date of January 2025. It’s now more likely this will be around summer 2025, although this is yet to be confirmed.
The council is planning a celebration of Roman Leicester to tie in with the opening of the museum, details of which will be announced later this year.
Derby flex office provider secures first London base
Cubo, the Derby-headquartered provider of flex office space, has expanded into the London market with the acquisition of a prime office space at Soho Estates’ Ilona Rose House, W1.
The company, which was founded by Marc and Rebecca Brough, began its search for a London site in July to meet increasing demand from existing members keen to deal with a single office provider across multiple cities.
It has now secured the entire 18,819 sq ft second floor of Ilona Rose House, the site of the former Foyles Bookshop on Charing Cross Road.
Ilona Rose House is regarded as one of the most iconic and attractive office buildings in central London and is strategically located just 100m from Tottenham Court Road Station.
The 300,000 sq ft scheme, which is Soho Estates’ largest mixed-use development to date, was completed in May 2021 and features 150,000 sq ft of office space, including a public courtyard with 15,000 sq ft dedicated to restaurants and bar space and planted external terraces for each office occupier.
The building is already home to Warner Bros De Lane Lea’s post-production facility, Dawn Capital, Skyscanner, and Planet Payment, as well as Soho Estates.
Cubo was advised by Russell Rigby of Rigby & Co, with Gerald Eve acting as the letting agent for Ilona Rose House.
Commenting on Cubo’s latest acquisition, Marc Brough, CEO at Cubo, said: “During the time we have been expanding our UK locations, we have continually been pressed to clarify when we will be opening one of our award-winning sites in London.
“We have been waiting for the perfect building in the perfect location, and we are 100% satisfied and excited to have identified Ilona Rose House, just off Soho Square.
“This is a superb building with brilliant amenities that existing and new members will view as very much the best in class.
“A huge thank you to Phil Thompson and his amazing team at Soho Estates who have worked hard and fast and in a very collaborative way with our team to deliver a quick transaction during the month of August.”
Philip Thompson, Director of Soho Estates, added: “We are delighted to welcome Cubo to Ilona Rose House and hope this deal is the start of a long and fruitful partnership between landlord and tenant as we continue to strive to provide the highest-quality space for creative businesses across all sectors in our part of Soho.”
This recent acquisition of Ilona Rose House forms part of the company’s strategic growth plans, bringing the total number of sites across the UK to 13.
