Rolls-Royce secures funding to build Direct Air Capture demonstrator in Derby
Rolls-Royce has secured £3m from the UK Government to build a demonstrator Direct Air Capture (DAC) system, which could play a vital role in keeping global temperature rises to below 1.5C by removing CO2 from the atmosphere.
The demonstrator funding comes from the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) through the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and helps deliver on the UK Government’s 10 Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution. It follows initial Phase 1 funding of £250,000 awarded in 2021, that allowed Rolls-Royce to design the demonstrator in partnership with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
The demonstrator, to be built in Derby, will be operational during 2023 and be capable of removing more than 100 tonnes of CO2 per year from the atmosphere. CO2 removed from the atmosphere by such systems can be stored ensuring that it no longer contributes to global warming. It can also be recycled to make fuel for hard to decarbonise sectors such as aviation, enabling the more rapid phase out of fossil fuels.
A full-scale version of this plant could remove 1 million tonnes per year. The UK’s target is to remove 25 million tons of CO2 per year by 2030; and the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts that 980 million tonnes a year will need to be removed globally to limit global warming to 1.5C.
Jess Poole, Direct Air Capture lead for Rolls-Royce, said: “Every credible climate change model requires us to decarbonise today’s emissions, as well as removing CO2 already in the atmosphere via carbon negative technologies such as DAC. Our system combines our expertise in moving large quantities of air efficiently and integrating complex systems, which have been gained from designing world-leading jet engines, with novel DAC technology developed by CSIRO.
“Together the system works like a giant lung, sucking in air, absorbing the CO2, and releasing what is not wanted. We use a water-based liquid to wash around 50% of the CO2 from the captured air. Our technology is distinctive because very little water is used, and the liquid is recycled at low temperatures, making it energy efficient. Other technologies consume a lot of water and require substantial amounts of energy to generate heat for the separation of the CO2.
“This funding is great news for the team, and we’re excited about the future potential of this technology to help fight climate change.”
The demonstrator system will be built and operated by an in-house team at Rolls-Royce in an existing aerospace test facility, called Test Bed 52, on its Derby campus. This facility was previously used to test jet engines and is built for drawing in air and measuring how well new technologies perform.
Plans approved for Extra Care scheme in Northamptonshire
Planning permission has been secured for Housing 21 to provide 65 new affordable homes in Oundle.
The Extra Care scheme, located on St. Christopher’s Drive, will provide much-needed one- and two-bedroom apartments for older people with the assurance of an on-site care team for residents if and when they need it. There will be an option to purchase through shared ownership or to rent.
Peter Smith, construction project manager at Housing 21, said: “We are very pleased that planning permission has been secured for this Extra Care scheme which will be Housing 21’s first in North Northamptonshire. The site on St. Christopher’s Drive is well-placed to serve the people of Oundle and beyond. We look forward to working with members of the community to create a development that meets their expectations.”
Michelle Jeffrey, land director at Persimmon East Midlands, said: “We are delighted to work with North Northamptonshire Council and Housing 21 to enable them to deliver this much-needed scheme.”
The apartments were designed by Saunders Boston Architects.
Residents will benefit from a range of communal facilities, including a resident’s lounge, activity room, guest suite and assisted bathing suite. Additional facilities will also be available for use by the wider local community including a café/bistro and hair salon.
It is hoped that construction will begin in early 2023 with the scheme scheduled to open in late 2024.
Showcase excellent work at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022
A key event in the business calendar, showcasing the excellent work of the region’s property and construction sector, the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022 will return on Thursday 15 September, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground.
Nominations for the prestigious event are open, and now is the ideal time to make your submissions, ahead of next month’s deadline (August 19th).
Shine a light on your projects and team, reward their hard work, and boost morale.
To submit a business or development for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022, please click on a category link below or visit this page.
After winning an award at the 2021 event, Allan Joyce Architects said: “We are delighted to have won Architects of the Year at the East Midlands Bricks Awards. It is lovely for the whole team, who always work incredibly hard to create amazing designs, to be recognised in this way. It was wonderful to attend the event in person and to hear about all of the great projects happening in our region and the companies involved in them.”
Find out who last year’s winners were here.
Thanks to our sponsors:
- Most active estate agent
- Commercial development of the year
- Responsible business of the year
- Residential development of the year
- Developer of the year
- Deal of the year
- Architects of the year
- Excellence in design
- Sustainable development of the year
- Contractor of the year
- Overall winner (this award cannot be entered, the winner will be selected from those nominated)
Book your tickets now
Tickets can now be booked for the awards event – click here to secure yours. The special awards evening and networking event will be held on 15 September 2022 in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge County Cricket Club from 4:30pm – 7:30pm. Connect with local decision makers over canapés and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region. The event will also welcome John Forkin MBE DL, Managing Director at award-winning investment promotion agency Marketing Derby, as keynote speaker. Dress code is standard business attire.
To be held at:
Funding boost to help with completion of Kettering’s flagship cultural quarter regeneration project
Progress on Kettering’s flagship cultural quarter regeneration project will be discussed at a meeting of North Northamptonshire Council’s Executive this week.
Cornerstone aims to revitalise and unify the town centre site which includes Alfred East Art Gallery, Kettering Library and Kettering Museum.
Once complete there will be significant improvements to the Alfred East Art Gallery and Kettering Library and a new two-storey extension to the rear of the Art Gallery.
Executive will consider a report that recommends a further boost of capital funds to ensure that the main building work will be completed this summer.
Since the last Executive report in March, as this important project has progressed, further details and challenges have had to be addressed, including supply of building materials and the co-ordination of their delivery, which is a challenge not just being faced in this project and is impacting construction projects nationally.
Because of the challenges, and the fact that the cost of materials has now increased, an additional £412,000 contingency is now needed to cover additional costs and ensure the summer deadline is met to prevent further costly delays.
Cllr Helen Howell, the council’s deputy leader and executive member for sport, leisure, culture and tourism, said: “It’s really positive that the project is progressing despite the challenges and we’re starting to see the many elements coming together. Once complete it will be a wonderful addition to the town and also to the wider North Northamptonshire area.
“It’s essential that now the main capital works are so near to completion that we get the project over the line and this new funding boost will make that a reality.”
Cllr Jason Smithers, leader of the Council, said: “It’s important that the building works are finished as soon as possible to avoid further costly delays.
“Cornerstone will bring many benefits to the wider community and attract visitors, helping boost the local economy. I’m really looking forward to seeing it complete.”
A total of £3million funding for the project has come from the Getting Building Fund, which is administered by South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP), with the remainder from local authority funding.
Once complete, Cornerstone will provide:
- Flexible workspace and exhibition space supporting start-ups, with support provided by the British Library led Business and IP Centre (BIPC) Northamptonshire, providing the correct environment for creative and cultural businesses to start up and grow.
- Increased engagement with schools and educational institutions to deliver collaborative programmes, to build curiosity, develop creative and cultural talent, creating future user and visitor opportunities.
- Two new events / workshop spaces, café and external terrace and improved public gardens on the site, enabling a wider range of events and activities including commercial events and opportunities.
- External curtain glazing and roof lights installed
- Internal studwork within the new extension complete
- Gallery ceiling painting complete
- Lift installed
- Museum betterment works complete
- Ramp construction and brick work underway
- Hit and miss brickwork (design-type of bricks) over the new entrance underway
- Drainage connection complete
Multi tenanted Derby residential investment sold
Acting on behalf of private clients FHP Property Consultants have sold a residential investment property in Derby.
Carlton House, which is situated on London Road, Derby comprises a Grade II Listed four storey building. The property comprises six 1 bedroom flats, eight 2 bedroom flats and benefits from a private car park to the rear.
When fully let, the building produces an income in the region of £80,000 per annum. The quoting sale price was £1 million and a deal was agreed at that level reflecting a Net Initial Yield of 7.59%.
Darran Severn of FHP Property Consultants says: “I am delighted to have completed this sale which has been a great result for all involved. Given the nature and location of the property I was not surprised at the strong interest we received for the building. This enabled us to strike a deal within a matter of weeks. There is great demand for freehold properties, both occupied and vacant, particularly lot sizes under £1 million from local investors.”
Daniel Holder, the purchaser, says: “I am thrilled to take ownership of Carlton House, a few bumps in the road along the way but with the help of FHP and the managing agents Phoenix Lettings Derby we managed to complete the purchase.”
New letting at landmark Derby office building
A new letting has been secured at Cardinal Square, a multi tenanted landmark office building within Derby City Centre.
Smile Dental Triage have signed a new 6 year lease at a rent of £14.00 per ft² on 1,260ft² situated within the Third Floor South at Cardinal Square.
Darran Severn of FHP Property Consultants said: “Smile Dental Triage are a great addition to the mix of tenants already at Cardinal Square.
“We have had success letting suites between 1,000ft² and 3,000ft² over the last 18 months, so much so that we are now dividing up the Third Floor East to provide three newly refurbished suites ranging in size between 1,111ft² to 3,748ft², the larger benefiting from dual aspect windows.
“In addition, the office garden has been redesigned and now provides an excellent outdoor space providing meeting pods, breakout areas and outdoor games such as table tennis and golf.”
Xerox acquires Leicester marketing firm
Xerox has acquired Go Inspire, a Leicester-based print and digital marketing and communication services provider, to grow its global Digital Services presence.
Go Inspire serves customers throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
“We’re focused on widening the scope of Xerox’s Digital Services and Customer Engagement Services,” said Darren Cassidy, UK & Ireland Managing Director and senior vice president, EMEA Global Document Services at Xerox.
“Go Inspire’s capabilities will support the transformation of our transactional and direct mail services into multi-channel communications, accelerate growth in EMEA and create new avenues for us to help current and new clients.”
“We are thrilled to join the Xerox team and eager to contribute to the growth of Xerox Digital Services,” said Patrick Headley, Chief Executive Officer at Go Inspire. “Together with Xerox, we will expand the portfolio of high value services for our expanding client base throughout the UK and beyond.”
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Boost morale at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022
Celebrating the region’s property and construction industry, and offering a prime opportunity for networking, the prestigious East Midlands Bricks Awards will return on Thursday 15 September, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground.
Nominations for the event are open, and now is the perfect time to make your submissions, ahead of next month’s deadline (August 19th).
Shine a light on your team, reward their hard work, and boost morale.
To submit a business or development for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022, please click on a category link below or visit this page.
Thanks to our sponsors:
- Most active estate agent
- Commercial development of the year
- Responsible business of the year
- Residential development of the year
- Developer of the year
- Deal of the year
- Architects of the year
- Excellence in design
- Sustainable development of the year
- Contractor of the year
- Overall winner (this award cannot be entered, the winner will be selected from those nominated)
Book your tickets now
Tickets can now be booked for the awards event – click here to secure yours. The special awards evening and networking event will be held on 15 September 2022 in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge County Cricket Club from 4:30pm – 7:30pm. Connect with local decision makers over canapés and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region. The event will also welcome John Forkin MBE DL, Managing Director at award-winning investment promotion agency Marketing Derby, as keynote speaker. Dress code is standard business attire.
To be held at:
New acquisition for Dains Accountants
Dains Accountants has acquired Barringtons, which has offices across Staffordshire, Cheshire, and Shropshire.
Founded in 1980, Barringtons is a provider of accounting and tax services to owner-managed businesses and individuals.
Richard McNeilly, CEO of Dains, said: “Barringtons is a well-established and highly credible firm with a high-quality team and client base. We have similar values and strongly believe in delivering impressive results for clients and rewarding careers for staff.
“The acquisition builds on our position within the North Midlands marketplace and is the first of several transactions we hope to complete in 2022.”
Dains recently recorded another record year for the business. This follows the recent investment from Horizon Capital in 2021.
Managing Director of Barringtons, Phil Wood, said: “We have continued to invest in technology and in our team in recent years and we have always been determined to deliver the best possible service to our loyal clients.
“By joining Dains, our ability to deliver an even broader range of services is enhanced and we look forward to working with the Dains team for many years to come.”
Luke Kingston, partner at Horizon Capital, said: “Barringtons is a well-respected business and has performed strongly through the pandemic demonstrating its importance to customers and the critical service it provides.
“We are delighted to have supported Dains on this acquisition as they continue their journey to consolidate the fragmented SME accounting and tax marketplace.”
190,000 sq ft warehouse at Junction 28 of the M1 wins planning approval
Rula Developments has won detailed planning consent for a new 190,000 sq ft high specification warehouse unit at Junction 28 of the M1 motorway near Huthwaite in Nottinghamshire, which it will build speculatively.
The proposed warehouse unit is situated on the established Fulwood Industrial Estate and will be built to high specification with strong sustainability credentials, targeting BREEAM Excellent and an EPC A rating.
The development has a target completion date of Q2, 2023. M1 Agency and Burbage Realty have been appointed as marketing agents.
Mark Hawthorne of Rula Developments said: “It is great news that we have secured a successful planning consent and can now move forward with the delivery of this highly sustainable and strategically located warehouse. J.28 is an established and sought-after occupier location, and we are confident of delivering a successful development bringing forward further job creation in the area.”
Toby Wilson of joint agents M1 Agency added: “Obtaining planning approval is a major milestone in bringing forward the delivery of Fulwood 190. With continued strong levels of take-up and an intention to speculatively build out, we are confident of quickly securing occupier interest.”
Franco Capella of joint agents Burbage Realty finished by saying: “It is a real positive for the delivery of the warehouse that we have now secured planning consent. Combined with the underlying credentials of strong location and labour supply we welcome the development phase now coming forward.”
