Clowes Developments (UK) Ltd have confirmed retail operators, Starbucks, KFC and Greggs are coming to Viking Park in Congleton. Construction has already begun as Roe Developments have initiated works on three retail units. The roadside convenience offering at Viking Park will consist of a detached 1,850 sq ft Starbucks drive through facility at the front of the plot. Adjacent to Starbucks will be a semi-detached unit totalling 3,200 sq ft which will house a KFC and Greggs. At the centre of the plot there will be a parking facility for up to 38 vehicles, including 4 EV charging stations for added convenience of passing trade. The retail units are located directly off Barn Road which runs through the centre of Viking Park connecting Congleton town to the A536 link road. Starbucks, Greggs and KFC will sit next to the brand-new Aldi store which officially opened to the general public in October 2024. Marc Freeman, Director, Clowes Developments (UK) Ltd, said: “It’s good to see that the roadside convenience offering is now under construction on site at Viking Park. We feel that a Starbucks ‘drive thru’, KFC and Greggs will be a welcomed addition to the business park. “Following the successful opening of Aldi back in October, it’s refreshing to watch Viking Park take shape. Our construction contractor, Roe Developments, will also be starting to construct a standalone 20,000 sq ft unit for a yet to be named retailer. We anticipate all units will be open for business by the summer of 2025.” Elsewhere on the mixed-use scheme, residential developer, Bloor Homes, are progressing well with the construction of their homes. On completion, Viking Park will deliver up to 175 homes, a 20,500 sq ft supermarket/roadside convenience, as well as 36,800 sq ft office facilities and 219,500 sq ft of industrial units.

East Midlands’ politicians are calling for government funding to help bring forward the Chesterfield Staveley Regeneration Route (CSRR), to ensure a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to revitalise several former north Derbyshire mining communities is not missed. The proposed 6km road would unlock the development of the former Staveley Works site for new housing, commercial units and community spaces, and also the former Staveley Chemical Works site for employment uses. Investment in the new road would also align with many of the projects currently being delivered through the £25.2 million Staveley Town Deal. Chesterfield Borough Council’s leader, Councillor Tricia Gilby, was joined by local MPs Toby Perkins (Chesterfield) and Louise Jones (North East Derbyshire), plus officer representatives from Chesterfield Borough Council and Derbyshire County Council, and landowners Harworth Group and The Devonshire Group, on a recent site visit to discuss the enormous potential of the Staveley Growth Corridor in terms of new homes, new jobs, a new primary school and new leisure opportunities centred on the Chesterfield Canal. Harworth Group and The Devonshire Group have both submitted planning applications to Chesterfield Borough Council to develop their respective parts of the former Staveley Works site, which if fulfilled could generate an additional £205 million of spend per annum into the local economy. In addition, The Devonshire Group is exploring how it can redevelop the adjacent former Staveley Chemical Works site for employment uses. These proposals are dependent on the delivery of the Chesterfield Staveley Regeneration Route, which if constructed will also unlock other regeneration and development opportunities in the Staveley area, relieve road congestion and improve air quality. The former Staveley Chemical Works site together with the former Hartington Colliery site are also earmarked for inclusion in the proposed East Midlands Investment Zone – where the priority will be to attract new green technology and advance manufacturing businesses and create new high-quality jobs for local people. Funding for the road project is currently being considered by the Department for Transport. Many of the region’s political leaders have signalled their support for the new route and the regeneration that would be unlocked by it, including East Midlands Combined County Authority Mayor Claire Ward, who visited the site in July. Toby Perkins MP said: “The Chesterfield Staveley Regeneration Route is vitally important to the regeneration of Staveley and alongside improving traffic flows for everyone, it is likely to lead to thousands of new jobs and hundreds of new homes. “It is important that money is found to complete the detailed land investigation work which is needed to provide certainty on the costs of the clean-up and construction. And after that we need confirmed approval that the funding for the road will be made available. “I will be stressing the importance of this to the new Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood, alongside our new Mayor Claire Ward and other local politicians and business leaders.” Louise Jones MP said: “There is huge potential for the Regeneration Route to unlock the homes and jobs that our community needs. I’m determined that we grab this opportunity with both hands – I’ll be working with Toby Perkins, Claire Ward and our local councils to secure the funding we need to get the project up and running.” Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: “We couldn’t be better placed to realise the enormous potential of the Staveley Growth Corridor. The public and private sector are fully aligned in terms of their shared commitment to delivering 1,300 new homes and separately building a commercial estate that will support the creation of 6,400 new jobs over a five to ten-year horizon. “Our collective ability to do this is however reliant on government support for the Chesterfield Staveley Regeneration Route and trying to secure this is a priority action. It is therefore very encouraging to have the full support of our local MPs and East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward. “We want Chesterfield to be a thriving borough and working together as partners we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to deliver long-lasting change and future prosperity for communities that are still recovering from the decline of mining and other traditional industries.” Councillor Carolyn Renwick, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Environment, said: “The Chesterfield Staveley Regeneration Route is one of the most significant economic growth opportunities in the East Midlands. “It has the capacity to deliver the government’s growth agenda by reclaiming brownfield land and facilitating forward jobs, homes and environmental benefits at scale, ensuring an old industrial site is brought back to life. “With our partners, Chesterfield Borough Council, Harworth Estates and The Devonshire Group, we want to work with government to deliver this transformational investment that will bring widespread benefits to communities along the Staveley Corridor and join the dots with other strategic investments in Chesterfield and across Derbyshire’s northern growth zone.” Jo Neville, Harworth Group’s regional head of planning, said: “The walkaround the site and the previous visits from the East Midlands Mayor earlier in the summer show real commitment from the region’s leaders to addressing local housing need and creating opportunities for communities. “We’re looking forward to continuing to work with our partners in Chesterfield to deliver at Staveley Works and hope the government recognises the strategic case for investing in this part of the country as part of its national growth agenda.” Andy Byrne, Group Property Development Director at The Devonshire Group, said: “We are committed to helping bring the successful regeneration of this once thriving industrial heartland to fruition, so it is reassuring to see and hear the continued support of local politicians. “With plans submitted and the support from local stakeholders, we’re raring to get started, so all that’s left is commitment from the Department for Transport to help deliver the new route and unlock this once-in-a-generation opportunity.”

An application to extend a housing scheme at Cork Lane, Glen Parva, has been approved by Blaby District Council’s planning committee. Developers Vistry are already working on the site after permission for a 165-home scheme was granted on appeal in January 2023 by a government planning inspector. This latest proposal for Phase II, featuring 26 homes, was recommended for approval due to this being an existing development. It will be at the south-western corner of the site continuing the line of planned houses. Conditions have been imposed to ensure disturbance is limited for existing residents living nearby. Lessons learned from the initial works will be taken on board by the developer when Phase II begins. Ground preparation works, including piling, on the first phase have caused concerns among some neighbours. The piling is necessary to provide stable foundations as the area is a former landfill site. Blaby District Council continues to act on these concerns and officers are actively monitoring the site to ensure all actions are within specified national guidelines. At a recent meeting between Vistry, Council officers and local Councillors, Vistry agreed to look at a series of extra mitigation measures for the current works. They also agreed to provide further information on dust sampling and piling work and liaise more closely with local Councillors and residents to keep everyone informed. A more detailed plan of action is expected from them within the next few days. The regional managing director from Vistry has also sent a letter to local residents recognising the disruption, thanking them for their patience and providing contact details for residents to raise issues. Councillor Lee Breckon, Chairman of the planning committee, said: “While we recognise there has been concern from local residents about the development at Cork Lane, the main housing scheme is progressing. As such we have approved the extension to the scheme. We will continue to work with Vistry to minimise disruption and act in the best interests of residents.”

Construction works to protect and enhance the Grade II* Listed buildings and onsite museum at Taylor’s Bellfoundry in Loughborough – the last bellfoundry of its kind in Britain – are now complete. Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Loughborough Town Deal, alongside other Trusts and Foundations, private donors, organisations and communities, the project has been led by the Loughborough Bellfoundry Trust, working in partnership with the bellfounding firm of John Taylor and Company. In a remarkable triumph for British heritage conservation, the completion of works means the bellfoundry is now saved from closure and can continue its centuries-old craft of casting and restoring bells. The construction works have seen the restoration and modernisation of the Bellfoundry buildings and the redevelopment of the site’s museum. The new museum will give visitors a glimpse into the world of bellfounding and provides an educational experience for all ages, safeguarding the bellfoundry’s legacy for generations to come.

The Loughborough Bellfoundry Trust was set up in 2016, when a small group of passionate individuals from the bell-ringing community came together to rescue the bellfoundry. Their collective determination saw the start of a 10-year journey to restore and safeguard it. Taylor’s Bellfoundry – which was built in 1859 and is on the edge of Loughborough town centre – has cast more than 25,000 bells which are located in over 100 countries. Bells from the foundry hang in famous landmarks including London’s St Paul’s Cathedral, the Washington National Cathedral in the US capital, Australia’s National Carillon in Canberra, and South Africa’s Cape Town City Hall. Following a tender process, construction works commenced in spring 2023 by specialist heritage conservation firm Messenger BCR, working alongside architects Caroe, who drew up the comprehensive plans to restore the Victorian site. Other specialists involved included exhibition designers Redman Design and museum retail experts cre8. Phase one of the programme of works included the stripping out of the existing museum, removing internal walls – which were added to the bellfoundry in the 80s – and replacing the leaking roof. Accessibility for all was a key objective of the renovation, with a lift and disabled and baby changing toilets now installed. Phase two of the project started earlier this year and saw the reconfiguration and improvement of the company archive room – which is home to an extensive working archive with documents dating back to the late-18th century, offices, and board room which is now available to hire as a meeting space for outside organisations and community groups. Further works included the restoration of the original historic entrance to the site, used by generations of the Taylor family, and the relandscaping of the Carillon Courtyard for visitors to explore and enjoy the grounds upon arrival. The museum has had a complete transformation. Its increased footprint will enable more visitors to explore the history, craftsmanship and engineering that has made the bellfoundry a world leader in bell-making. It now features an accessible, multi-function activity room and provides an interactive and inclusive experience to visitors of all ages.

There are two primary spaces to explore within the museum. Firstly, a ground floor timeline detailing the history of both the bellfoundry and the art of bellfounding. Secondly, the Patternmaker’s Gallery, which displays a series of objects that have been recovered from existing foundry spaces, located in the original patternmaking workshop. Throughout the museum, visitors will have the opportunity to touch and handle objects, making it an immersive and authentic experience for families, schools, bell enthusiasts and history lovers. Trustee of Loughborough Bellfoundry Trust, Andrew Wilby, said: “First and foremost, thank you to our funders, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the National Lottery players who make these funding pots possible. The Loughborough Town Deal, and the many passionate personal donors who supported us – it was incredibly humbling to see the number of people who cared about the bellfoundry and wanted to help protect this important part of British history. “The trustees and I are elated that we have come to the end of our epic 10-year journey. Our aim to restore, enhance and protect the bellfoundry is now complete – and not only is it safe and secure – we now have a modern and engaging new museum which will pass on the history, importance and the magic of this place to people of all ages for many years to come. “A final acknowledgement and thanks to the volunteers who are the life and soul of the bellfoundry and have been a major contributor to this project. Not only will we be able to welcome many more visitors than ever before, and we encourage everyone to come and visit us, the completion of these works means there are now more volunteering opportunities at the Bellfoundry for those who are passionate about bells, heritage and culture.” Robyn Llewellyn, Director, England, Midlands and East at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “It’s fantastic that the new Taylor’s Bellfoundry heritage experience is now open to the public, after the extensive redevelopment and renovations to the site’s Grade II* listed buildings. It’s thanks to National Lottery players that we were able to award this project with a grant of £3.7 million, ensuring that this important part of Loughborough’s unique heritage can be preserved, and its story shared for many generations to come.” Martin Traynor OBE, chair of Loughborough Town Deal, said: “Loughborough is known around the world thanks to Taylor’s bells and I am so pleased the work to preserve the bellfoundry has been completed. It is fantastic to see the difference that they have made. “This is a historic industry, not just in Loughborough but in the whole of the UK and it is so important that the Town Deal has been able to support a project to secure its future. “The bellfoundry will now be able to look ahead and keep this wonderful bell-making tradition alive in Loughborough for decades to come and encourage visitors to come to the town and visit its rich history.” The National Lottery Heritage Fund provided a grant of £3.7 million to the bellfoundry thanks to National Lottery players, plus match-funding which brought the total project value to £6.5 million. £835,000 was awarded to the bellfoundry from the Loughborough Town Deal as part of its £16.9 million from the Government’s Towns Fund, to boost skills and support the visitor economy and the town centre of Loughborough. To mark and celebrate the opening of its new heritage experience and to thank all involved, the Trust recently hosted a launch event at the bellfoundry. Messenger BCR, Caroe and all other construction partners were invited, as were special guests including members of the Taylor family, representatives from Loughborough Town Deal and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Dr Jeevun Sandher MP, Cllr Dr Julie Bradshaw MBE – Mayor of Charnwood, Bishop of Loughborough, Bishop Saju Muthalaly, and Vice Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Colonol Murray Colville, TD DL. Now a thriving hub of activity once again, the bellfoundry is still producing some of the finest bells in the world and it will continue to be a vital cultural asset to British industrial heritage and industry. Taylor’s Bellfoundry also known as John Taylor’s Bellfoundry, or simply Taylor’s, is the last major bellfoundry in Britain and Commonwealth.