Wavensmere Homes and Wilson Bowden Developments’ £30m proposals for the redevelopment of one of the final plots of vacant land within Derby’s newly revitalised Cathedral Quarter have been approved by the City Council’s Planning Committee. 195 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments will be delivered at the Full Street site, within a u-shaped nine-storey red brick building. The 0.2Ha site is bounded by Full Street to the west and the River Derwent to the east. Measuring approximately 50m wide by 50m long, the site was previously occupied by a police station, which was constructed in the 1960s and demolished in 2013. Designed by Nottingham-based Franklin Ellis Architects, the apartment scheme has been carefully considered to respond to the historic riverside setting. Phase One of Wilson Bowden’s Full Street development was completed in 2016. It includes the refurbishment of the Riverside Chambers office complex, delivery of 46 new apartments at Number One Cathedral Green, and a Premier Inn hotel. Prior to it being replanned and brought forward by Birmingham-based Wavensmere Homes, this remaining parcel of land had been earmarked for a speculative office development of up to 100,000 sq ft. James Dickens, Managing Director of Wavensmere Homes, said: “This challenging brownfield site, which has lain vacant for over a decade, occupies one of the best locations within Derby city centre and benefits from rich views of the Cathedral Quarter and the River Derwent. “The City Council’s planning committee took on board how our plans reflect stakeholder feedback and are within the confines of the extant office planning permission. Receiving the go-ahead will help Derby to meet the high demand for new homes – and improve its Five Year Housing Land Supply. “As with nearby Nightingale Quarter and Friar Gate Goods Yard, we will construct an exemplary development, reflective of the prime gateway location. By appropriately densifying this derelict brownfield site, we will create highly energy-efficient homes for well over 200 people, who will then spend their time and circa £5m of disposable income per year locally. “Prior to that, our construction programme will generate around 150 jobs. We look forward to continuing to work with Derby City Council to prepare for a start on site as soon as are able to.” The new apartment scheme will benefit from a waterside location, with views of the 16th Century Derby Cathedral and its 212ft tower. Also lying adjacent to the site is the Museum of Making at the restored Derby Silk Mill, which re-opened to the public in 2021. Wavensmere’s plans for Full Street have been sensitively designed to complete the jigsaw of this prime Derby city centre site by providing dual aspect landscaped public realm over Cathedral Green, whilst enhancing activity at street level. In addition to the apartments, 2,000 sq ft of mixed-use space will be accommodated at ground floor level to overlook Cathedral Green and Full Street, providing an active frontage. A range of uses are earmarked for this space, including a new café and high-quality residential facilities such as a gymnasium, co-working zone, and concierge point. The top/ninth floor is set-back by 1.5m to create full roof terraces for nine duplex homes. All plots overlooking Cathedral Green and the River Derwent will benefit from fully glazed cantilevered balconies. The scheme will also feature two communal staircases, courtyard car parking provision and secure bicycle spaces. The latest green energy features will be incorporated into the design for the new homes, to deliver a high EPC rating, whilst exceeding the new Part L building regulations. The highly sustainable new development will utilise low carbon materials, modern methods of construction, and renewable energy generation via roof mounted solar PV panels. Matthew Branton, Managing Director of Franklin Ellis Architects, said: “Throughout the design process, our team has been conscious of the need for this unique development to carefully close the wider urban block and positively front Full Street, Cathedral Green and the waterside, improving the safety, attractiveness, and animation of the adjacent public areas. “Our context led approach to the layered facade design incorporates quality detailing and a refined material palette, whilst paying homage to the surrounding architecture and heritage assets – ensuring the Cathedral is always the star of the show. We are thrilled to have worked with Wavensmere Homes to deliver this terrific result for the Cathedral Quarter and people of Derby.”

The doors to Dock 3–5 in Space City have officially opened, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony performed by Leicester City Mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby, on October 2. The premium managed workspace stakes its ground in the Space City Enterprise Zone and is proud to foster Leicester’s low-carbon hub for high-tech, knowledge-based industries and innovative businesses. The hub will support enterprises and enable job creation, promoting the development of a thriving community of cutting-edge companies in Leicester. Inaugural tenants include Kazzoo IT Solutions, Somerbys IT, IN Focus ITS, Employee Zero, World Products, Translatr, Impact Venture, and The VoIP Shop. Applications are open to other companies associated with the downstream space sector, high tech, sustainability and innovation, or supporting companies. City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby delivered a speech, welcoming new tenants and congratulating the project team. He commended the hub’s potential to drive economic growth and innovation in the region. Dock 3 – 5 has been designed sympathetically and with sustainability at their foundation. The buildings are net carbon zero, no oil and gas is used on site, and all heating is powered by electricity only. A sustainable drainage system and ecological considerations such as bird boxes, retention of established trees, and reduced external lighting to minimise disruption to local wildlife like bats, were key considerations in the design. The design also maximises flexibility of accommodation with the office buildings, which speaks to its forward-thinking ethos. They are designed to operate independently whilst still ensuring that occupiers feel integrated into the overall building. Offices in Dock 3 and Dock 4 can be combined, providing scalability for businesses to expand as they grow and need more space. When these buildings are fully occupied there will be over 120 businesses with more than 600 employees working in these five Dock buildings. The Dock 3-5 expansion follows a cohesive campus-style design, visually in line with the adjacent Dock 1 and Dock 2 units. The project reflects a consistent approach to sustainability, aligning with Leicester City Council’s commitment to achieving net carbon zero goals. The development is part of the Council’s efforts to regenerate the area. It attracted significant investment from the Levelling Up Fund to deliver Dock 3, 4 and 5. Leicester-based firm Brackley Property Developments served as the development partner, with construction carried out by county-based Wilten Construction Ltd. Sir Peter Soulsby, Leicester City Mayor, said: “The Dock expansion marks an exciting milestone in Leicester’s sustainable economic development. We’re not just supporting local businesses and job creation; we’re also paving the way for long-term regeneration in Leicester. “This project is a testament to the council’s proactivity in fostering innovation, sustainability, and growth within – and most importantly for – our community. I’m excited to see the impact it will have on the region.” Crystal Carter, workspace development manager at Dock, adds: “After months of hard work, we’re so pleased to see this ribbon finally cut and the doors officially open. Dock 3–5 represents the future of managed workspaces, where innovative businesses can grow while contributing to Leicester’s drive toward net zero and a more sustainable future. “Both economically and environmentally. We’re excited to welcome a new set of companies to this vibrant community, which is a testament to the success of what we’ve built with Dock 1-2. Please speak to us if you want to join the community.”

Work to build a new school in Mansfield for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is progressing well. To mark the first stages of this work, Nottinghamshire County Councillors and partners gathered at the site of the former Ravensdale School site in the town. It will have capacity for up to 160 pupils across the seven to 19 years age range. It is being designed, project and cost managed by Arc Partnership, a joint venture between Nottinghamshire County Council and SCAPE, with construction being undertaken by Morgan Sindall. The school is expected to open in 2025. Nottinghamshire County Council says the purpose-built facility will provide a specialist learning environment for children with social, emotional, and mental health needs. Councillor Sam Smith, Cabinet Member for Education and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), explains why the council is investing £20 million into this project. He said: “As a council, we are committed to meeting the needs of children and young people with SEND, and their families, and to providing much-needed special school places in Nottinghamshire. This is why we are investing in this new SEND school, so it’s great to see work progressing. “It’s vital that every child in Nottinghamshire, no matter what their background, gets the best possible education, in the best possible setting.” The project is part of a wider programme being delivered by the county council to create up to 490 additional SEND school places by 2026 to address the growing demand for more specialist school places across the county. One of the partners who gathered at the site was David Cotton, chief executive officer for Diverse Academies Trust. He said: “It has been a privilege to be joined by colleagues and partners as we celebrate the first steps in creating an innovative new school building. This development reflects a significant investment in our region to support the needs of many families who require access to specialist educational facilities for their children. “We are incredibly grateful for the support of the Department for Education and Nottinghamshire County Council on this project, and particularly extend our thanks to Arc Partnership and Morgan Sindall Group for their dedication in helping bring this incredible vision to life.” Commenting on the project’s importance, Sara Williams, Head of Pre-Construction at Arc Partnership, said: “We are supporting Nottinghamshire County Council in meeting its target of 490 new SEND school places by 2026 – an incentive that will make a real difference to many young people and their families across the county for years to come. “Working in close partnership with the council and Morgan Sindall, the school is designed, cost and project managed by Arc Partnership, ensuring real value is delivered not only for the council but the local area as well.” Richard Fielding, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction in the Midlands, describes the environmental technologies being used for this project. He said: “In the spirit of looking to the future, we’re working with Arc Partnership to promote sustainable construction technologies within local communities. Our team and local supply chain have already been instrumental in reducing the project’s overall embodied carbon by 37 per cent, with more than 700 tonnes of CO2 saved on the project – that’s the equivalent to heating 260 homes annually.”