Works on track for major Nottingham student accommodation scheme
Calls for urgent meeting over sudden closure of Lenton Business Centre
Tenants and community groups in Nottingham are calling for an urgent meeting with city officials after being given just 28 days to vacate the Lenton Business Centre due to fire safety concerns.
Nottingham City Council, which manages the site, issued notices to all tenants following a fire risk assessment that identified issues with fire doors. The decision affects around 60 businesses and organisations, including the Marcus Garvey Day Centre, which provides services to the Afro-Caribbean community, particularly the Windrush generation.
A meeting was held on February 11, where affected tenants agreed to send a formal letter to the council, highlighting the closure’s severe financial and operational consequences. Businesses argue that the short notice period makes relocation nearly impossible and have requested full transparency regarding the fire inspection findings. They also call for suspending the notice period while exploring alternative solutions.
Some tenants have expressed willingness to fund necessary repairs if they can remain in the building. In addition to the letter, campaigners have launched a petition, “Save The Marcus Garvey Centre—Protect Nottingham’s Cultural Heart,” led by the Black Community Action Group.
Nottingham City Council has stated that the decision was made with safety as the top priority and that businesses will be informed of plans once further survey work is completed.
Proposals lodged for expansion of Mercia Park
New accommodation to be built in £65m contract at RAF Digby
“This investment into Royal Air Force Digby is a clear demonstration by the MOD of its intent to enhance the accommodation offer to our personnel while making buildings more sustainable.”
Bill Hocking, Chief Executive of Galliford Try, said: “We are delighted to be continuing our partnership with the DIO to deliver this much-needed facility for those serving at RAF Digby. We have a strong track record in providing this kind of facility to the armed forces and look forward to ensuring the personnel receive the high-quality living spaces they deserve.” Construction is expected to start in March.Dr. Martens strengthens Board
Dr. Martens, the iconic Northamptonshire shoe brand, has appointed Robert Hanson and Benoit Vauchy as Non-Executive Directors of the company.
Robert is an experienced executive with a strong track record of delivering growth at consumer brands. He was CEO of John Hardy and American Eagle Outfitters and also served as EVP Wines and Spirits for Constellation Brands.
Prior to this he served for over a decade in senior roles at Levi Strauss & Co, including as President of the Americas division and, latterly, as Global Brand President, Americas. Robert brings a broad, multidisciplinary skillset and significant experience of the North American market combined with global expertise.
His prior non-executive experience includes positions on the boards of Canopy Growth, Urban Outfitters and Constellation Brands. He was recently appointed as CEO of US wine company The Duckhorn Portfolio.
Benoit is a Partner at the company’s largest investor, global investment firm Permira, where he is a member of the Investment and Executive Committees.
He has served on the board of Spanish online travel company eDreams ODIGEO as a Non-Executive Director for a decade, during which time the business has undergone a significant period of transformation.
Benoit also serves on the board of Permira Holdings Limited and has previously served on the boards of Universidad Europea, VacanceSelect and Exclusive Networks. He has worked at Permira since 2006, and previously spent six years at JPMorgan in London and Frankfurt.
Paul Mason, Chairman, said: “We are pleased to announce these appointments today. The expertise and experiences of both Robert and Benoit further strengthens our Board. Robert has significant USA and wholesale experience and is a proven consumer brand CEO.
“Benoit is an experienced financial leader and his appointment to the Board demonstrates Permira’s commitment to Dr. Martens. I am looking forward to working with them both, together with the existing Board, as we enter the next phase in the company’s history, under the talented leadership of Ije and Giles.”
More Chesterfield businesses must access apprenticeships and skills support to meet economic need
Freeths names first recipients of newly launched bursary programme
East Lindsey Council moves to exit nuclear waste site process
East Lindsey District Council is preparing to withdraw from discussions on a potential nuclear waste storage site in Lincolnshire, signaling a shift in its stance on the controversial project.
The council initially joined a Working Group in 2021 to explore the feasibility of using the former gas terminal in Theddlethorpe as a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF). However, Nuclear Waste Services (NWS), the government agency overseeing the project, has since identified a different location—four square kilometers of agricultural land between Gayton le Marsh and Great Carlton—as a preferred site.
Council leaders now argue that the new location, which has no history of industrial use and sits in a rural area near the Lincolnshire Wolds, is unsuitable for such a facility. The council has also raised concerns about additional infrastructure, including the potential construction of pylons in the area as part of the National Grid’s Grimsby to Walpole project.
As a result, East Lindsey District Council plans to withdraw from the process. However, Lincolnshire County Council remains involved, and a formal public support test is still planned for 2027. If the county council also withdraws, the siting process in Lincolnshire would likely end.
Nuclear Waste Services has acknowledged East Lindsey’s concerns and thanked the council for participating in the discussions. The agency is also considering two other potential sites in Cumbria.
Kettering Hospital to Expand Maternity Unit with £33M Investment
Kettering General Hospital has secured NHS approval for a £33 million expansion of its maternity unit after structural issues forced a partial closure in 2023. The project, expected to be completed within two years, will include a new 32-bed facility and additional upgrades to improve maternity care.
The decision follows the discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) in the roof of the hospital’s Rockingham Wing, a material commonly used in the 1970s that has since been found to deteriorate over time. The structural concerns led to significant disruption in maternity services, prompting urgent action to address the issue.
This investment is part of a broader government commitment of up to £1.5 billion for the hospital’s redevelopment. The University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN) has worked closely with NHS England to determine the best approach to restoring and improving maternity services.
Construction in the broader hospital rebuild is scheduled between 2032 and 2034.
Derelict Derbyshire site to be transformed into watersports hub
A long-abandoned garden centre in Cromford is set for redevelopment after Derbyshire Dales District Council approved plans for a new watersports facility. Peak UK Kayaking, a company known for designing gear used by Olympic athletes, will repurpose the former Cromford garden centre site along the A6 and canal.
The development will include facilities for Paddlepeak, the company’s charitable initiative, which introduces children to kayaking and supports river clean-up efforts along the Derwent. The project is also expected to create more than 10 jobs.
The garden centre, which has been vacant since 2006, has become a hotspot for trespassers and urban explorers. Local authorities have expressed support for the site’s revitalization, though concerns remain about sewage management and potential environmental impacts on the river.
Peak UK Kayaking, founded in the Lake District and operating in Cromford since 1995, has since expanded its operations and now produces 35,000 garments annually.