Clowes press on at EMDC
Clowes Developments (UK) Limited have now submitted a Planning Application for EMDC 342.
This is a huge landmark for both Clowes and FHP as the development of EMDC 342, a new 342,000ft² distribution centre which will be delivered for the summer of 2023, will complete the 200 acre redevelopment of the former Castle Donington Power Station at East Midlands Distribution Centre, J24, Castle Donington.
EMDC is a nationally recognised Distribution Park dominated by the one million square foot e-commerce Distribution Centre of Marks and Spencer.
The site is also the home to Moran Logistics who relocated their UK HQ to EMDC and to Birlea Furniture who are one of the fastest growing online furniture providers within the UK.
Plot 1 has recently been completed providing a further 521,000 sq ft (48,402 sq m), Big distribution unit on site.
Interest is invited in the remainder of the site where units are available in the size range 30,000ft² (2,787m²) to 342,744ft² (31,842m²).
The site is a hive of activity with EMDC 190 (190,000ft²) and EMDC 280 (280,000ft²) both under construction and due for completion in July / August.
Contact John Proctor or Tim Gilbertson at FHP for further information.
Brand new Ay-UpMarket event celebrates Nottingham’s independent traders
Nottingham City Council, in collaboration with Nottingham Business Improvement District (BID), the organisation behind It’s in Nottingham; is proud to present the first Ay-UpMarket.
The three-day event will run in Old Market Square from Friday 25 March to Sunday 27 March and as part of a partnership with the Creative Quarter, the market will also be held in Sneinton Market Avenues on Saturday 26 March.
The Ay-UpMarket gives Nottingham’s independent retail businesses, both bricks and mortar and online the opportunity to trade at a unique event to highlight the city’s fantastic independent retail sector.
This event has been made possible with funding available nationally from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The Welcome Back Fund has provided councils across England a share of £56 million to support the safe return to high streets and help build back better from the pandemic.
Alongside the market stalls, the event will also include a full programme of live music and other street entertainers to attract visitors of all ages.
While the event is a celebration of today’s Nottingham’s independent traders, it also recognises the heritage of Nottingham’s markets. Historically, the Old Market Square forms a meeting place for the people of Nottingham, where the first “official” mention of a Nottingham market is during the reign of Henry II (1154–1189). It seems pretty much anything and everything could be traded at the Great Market Place.
Down at Sneinton Market Avenues, the whole area was changed by the arrival of the Wholesale Market moved from the Old Market Square in 1900 to accommodate the new electric trams. All the traders moved – wholesale fruit, flower and vegetable dealers and fish, game and poultry merchants.
The entertainment programme also nods to our history of market trading, where on Friday you can make your way through a honey-perfumed bee colony, grab some gardening advice from The Strolling Gardeners, or meet the Vegetable Nannies on a day trip with their family of little ones. So, if you see an old pram brimming with some beautiful bouncing baby fruits and vegetables, come over and say hello!
On Saturday the theme turns fishy, with a chance to explore a whale’s belly, meet a mermaid as well as encountering a giant lobster, octopuses, dancing prawns, and deep-sea divers.
On Sunday the city’s makers and creators are celebrated through poetry, live music and giant colouring wall.
Cllr Sam Webster Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources said – “We are very pleased to be able to use this grant funding to encourage more people back into our city centre in this way. It’s an opportunity to support and showcase our local independent businesses which particularly felt the strains of the last two years. I’ll certainly be visiting and I look forward to meeting some of the traders at the event.”
Commenting on the event, Alex Flint, CEO of Nottingham Business Improvement District (BID)said: “We are delighted to be part of the first ever Ay-UpMarket – this is a great opportunity to shine the spotlight on all the amazing independent businesses that we have here in the city, as well as boosting footfall by encouraging both locals and visitors alike to come into Nottingham city centre.”
The team from Sneinton Market Avenues said “‘As a community, we are really looking forward to hosting lots of independent businesses along The Avenues, including exciting Nottingham based emerging brands! The day is set to be a fun one!”
Ay-UpMarket
Friday 25 March to Sunday 27 March: Old Market Square
Saturday 26 March: Sneinton Market Avenues
Opening times: Friday – Saturday: 10am – 7pm
Sunday: 10am – 5pm
New Lead for Nottingham City Place Based Partnership
Mel Barrett, Chief Executive of Nottingham City Council, has been appointed as Lead for Nottingham City Place Based Partnership (PBP). He will take over from Dr Hugh Porter as Interim Lead on 1 April 2022.
The Nottingham City PBP, formerly known as the Integrated Care Partnership, was established in 2019 to bring together health and care services including GPs, local authority services, community services and hospitals, as well as wider services provided by the community, voluntary and social enterprise sector.
All partners of the Nottingham City PBP have a key role to play in supporting the health and wellbeing of citizens, working together to provide care and support to people, regardless of background, circumstances or where people live in the city.
Mel Barrett’s role leading both the City Council and the PBP will strengthen his ambition to improve health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities in Nottingham.
He said: “The response to the Covid-19 pandemic in Nottingham has proven what is possible when a group of organisations corral together around a shared purpose and set of objectives and I am keen that we continue to build on this. However, what the pandemic has also done is bring into sharp focus the acute inequalities that exist in Nottingham.
“The fact that a woman in Hyson Green can have the second-lowest healthy life expectancy in the country is something we must address, and we will only improve this by addressing it together in genuine co-production with our citizens.
“I believe that by working together at pace with our citizens, we are stronger than any individual partner acting alone. By continuing this journey together, we have not just the opportunity but the responsibility to deliver on our shared ambition to give every person living in Nottingham equal access to care and support that meets their needs, regardless of their background, circumstances or where they live in the city. I am confident that we have what it takes.”
The Nottingham City PBP is one of four ‘place-based’ partnerships in the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care System. Subject to parliamentary process for the Health and Care Bill on 1 July, the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICS will establish an Integrated Care Board (ICB) that will be responsible for NHS services.
The Nottingham City PBP will be responsible for the delivery of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy for 2022-2025.
Dr Kathy McLean, Chair of the Integrated Care System, said:
“This is an exciting time to be leading and working in health and care and we welcome Mel into his new role as lead for Nottingham City Place Based Partnership. We are in a position of real opportunity to truly make positive change through the integration of people, teams, organisations, professions and citizens with one key aim for the benefit of our public and patients.
“Mel’s skills and leadership will be a huge asset to the city Place Based Partnership as it moves into this next phase of development, driving the work on reducing health inequalities and improving care. I know Mel will focus on real change that will address the needs and views of local citizens.”
Dr Hugh Porter, Interim Lead for the Nottingham City PBP, said:
“It’s been an honour to act as Interim Lead in addition to my role as Clinical Director for the PBP over the last two years. With the support from many colleagues, the partnership with its new ways of working has gone from strength to strength.
“The partnership has played an important role during the pandemic and the challenges we have all faced have provided learning opportunities. We know as we come out of the pandemic other challenges remain, especially addressing the health inequalities across our city and its communities.
“The new City Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the partnership’s agreed role in delivering this, together with the advent of the new Health and Care Bill that will see the formation of Integrated Care Systems as statutory bodies, means the partnership now needs to progress into its next phase of development.
“I’m therefore delighted to welcome Mel as the new Lead, who will bring the skills and expertise to really help make this next phase of the partnership flourish and start to broaden its role across the city. I’m looking forward to continuing in my role as Clinical Director, working closely with Mel and colleagues to make the next phase as successful as the first.”
Cllr Adele Williams, Portfolio Holder for Adults and Health in Nottingham and Chair of the Nottingham City Health and Wellbeing Board, said:
“Reducing health inequality is a top priority for Nottingham. We are determined that the gap in healthy life expectancy between the different neighbourhoods of our city and with Nottingham as a whole compared to other similar cities must close.
“We want Nottingham to be a healthy and inclusive city, where people are able to live well and keep active throughout their lives. We will do this by working together with our partners and with Nottingham to ensure people are supported at the right time and in the right place to live their lives as they would want to, but also by working to ensure that together we use our resources to support good local employment and procurement, and that we use our leadership to build on the progress Nottingham has made to improve air quality and other determinants of good health such as education.”
The partners of the Nottingham City PBP are Nottingham City Council, CityCare, Nottingham City General Practice Alliance, NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group, Nottingham Community and Voluntary Service, Framework, Nottingham City Homes, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, and Healthwatch Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
East Midlands leaders aim to put region “at forefront of green revolution”
Political and business leaders from across the East Midlands have joined forces to discuss how they can come together to help supercharge the region’s sustainable growth.
Chaired by Loughborough MP Jane Hunt, the virtual roundtable was hosted by Lloyds Banking Group and also featured Midlands MPs Amanda Solloway, Darren Henry and Andrew Bridgen.
They were joined by Richard Holt, Director of Global Cities Research at Oxford Economics, to discuss the findings of its recent UK Green Growth Index report.
Oxford Economics’ research commissioned by Lloyds Banking Group, found that the East Midlands has relatively high carbon emissions, in part due to the large amount of fossil-fuelled power generating capacity in the region, but also high carbon emissions from transport.
This is partly due to car use among commuters being high, with the lack of a dominant city in the region meaning less accessible public transport options. Indeed, 80% of East Midlands commutes pre-pandemic were by car, a figure which will have only increased, and transport currently accounts for more than a third (35%) of the region’s greenhouse gas emissions.
However, the findings also concluded that businesses’ innovations and the higher education courses on offer in green subjects created opportunities for green growth.
Jane Hunt MP said: “It’s clear from this report that there’s plenty of room for us, collectively, to make a difference and be at the forefront of the green revolution.
“The government’s target to reach net zero by 2050, twinned with the ongoing rise in energy costs, means we’re on the cusp of a UK-wide green movement that the East Midlands must play its role in.”
Richard Holt explained that transport had a particularly large part to play. He said it was currently the region’s main emitter of greenhouse gases, but that there was an opportunity to transition to electric vehicles, buses and trams, as well as greater levels of walking and cycling among commuters.
Host Jo Harris, Lloyds Banking Group’s Ambassador for the Midlands, cited research carried out with small businesses that found that the majority recognise the importance of sustainability to their future success. However, lots of businesses they spoke to said they are daunted by the knowledge and investment required to take the actions needed to decarbonise their business, with almost 40% of firms citing the costs and fear of low returns on investment as a significant barrier to action.
She pointed out the range of products and support Lloyds Bank is offering to firms to help them transition to a low carbon economy. These include From Now to Net Zero: A Practical Guide for SMEs, along with its Clean Growth Financing Initiative, which provides discounted lending to help businesses invest in sustainable projects, and Green Buildings Tool, which enables firms to identify, evaluate and understand their property to make it more energy efficient.
She said: “We know that our role as a bank is to offer a range of funding to fuel green activity, and we have we set our own ambitious goal of reducing the carbon emissions we finance by more than 50% by 2030 on the path to net zero by 2050 or sooner.
“From making buildings more energy efficient, to building expertise through education and reskilling, now is the time for us all to drive change – as individuals, businesses and government leaders.”
Roundtable discussion: How will the East Midlands take advantage of green growth opportunities?
Attendees
Jane Hunt MP – Conservative Member of Parliament for Loughborough
Andrew Bridgen MP – Conservative Member of Parliament for North West Leicestershire
Darren Henry MP – Conservative Member of Parliament for Broxtowe
Amanda Solloway MP – Conservative Member of Parliament for Derby North
Richard Holt – Director of Global Cities Research, Oxford Economics
Tim Lyne – Lead Economist, Oxford Economics
Jo Harris – Lloyds Banking Group Ambassador for the Midlands
Gary Lapthorn – Head of Sustainability & Responsible Business, Commercial Banking, Lloyds Banking Group
Paul Smith – Area Director, Leicester, Commercial Banking, Lloyds Banking Group
Jeremy Driver – Public Affairs Manager, Lloyds Banking Group
Charlton Haynes ‘beavering away’ in Northamptonshire with multi-let industrial estate purchase
White Commercial Surveyors have successfully sold another multi-let industrial estate, the 14 unit fully-let ‘Beaver Centre’ located in Northamptonshire at Woodford Halse, located between Daventry (M1) and Banbury (M40). The estate, totalling 19,882 sq ft, currently provides a rental income equating to £77,400 pa and White Commercial Surveyors were inviting offers in excess of the quoting price of £1.4 million.
White Commercial conducted a 4-week marketing campaign in December 2021 and created substantial interest from Investors nationwide, resulting in over 10 proposals from investors wishing to acquire the site for its current and future potential rental income; with 6 proposals received in excess of the asking price!
The estate was subsequently sold in January 2022 to Charlton Haynes Ltd, who are based in the South West of England and specialise in the acquisition, development and improvement of UK property and land, ably advised by Stephen Moore of Sampson Moore.
Chris White of White Commercial comments: “This is an excellent purchase for Charlton Haynes. White Commercial have a substantial and active database of regional and national investors actively seeking to purchase income producing investments in the region – and our proactive marketing efforts created strong demand for this property resulting in an excellent result for both vendor and purchaser.”
Investment into the UK industrial and logistics market totalled a record £6.0 billion in Q1 2021, doubling the £2.7 billion recorded in Q1 in 2020 and up 54% on the previous record in 2018.
Stephen Moore of Sampson Moore commented: “The industrial investment market is extremely competitive at the moment so we are delighted to have secured this multi-let investment. The estate currently has low rents and offers excellent scope for refurbishment, active management and improvement in rental levels.”
New homes set for Nottinghamshire as 13.5 acre site sold
National property consultancy Carter Jonas, acting on behalf of Noble Foods Ltd, has sold a residential development site at Bilsthorpe Moor in Nottinghamshire to Harron Homes North Midlands.
Harron Homes, which is based in Barlborough near Chesterfield, specialises in developing new homes across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and South Yorkshire.
An egg packaging factory and poultry farm previously occupied the site and has since become surplus to requirements.
Carter Jonas achieved outline planning permission for the 13.5 acre (5.46 ha) site, allowing for the development of 136 homes. The site was then marketed and Harron was selected as the preferred developer to pursue reserved matters planning consent. The proposed scheme will provide a mix of house types and sizes including detached and semi-detached properties and townhouses.
Steven Soper, associate in Carter Jonas’ Leeds office, said: “This development site is in a great location, approximately 8 miles from Mansfield, 12 miles from Newark on Trent and 15 miles from Nottingham, and in close proximity to Sherwood Forest Center Parcs, Rufford Abbey and Country Club. With a good range of amenities, we expect the development to be very popular with families and first-time buyers.”
Nick Hague, land director for Harron Homes North Midlands, said: “This is an ideally situated site which complements our portfolio of handpicked locations in places people want to call home. Named Bilsthorpe Chase, our development will bring a mix of high quality two, three, four and five bedroom homes to market. Construction work is currently underway and we hope to have a show home ready to open in April.”
Construction work has begun and the first homes are due to be available from October.
Yorkshire-headquartered group continues expansion with purchase of East Midlands insurance broker
Yorkshire-headquartered insurance broker group JMG Group has acquired Northampton business Astute Insurance Solutions for an undisclosed sum.
Leeds-based JMG Group, a Top 50 UK insurance broker, employs over 230 staff across 13 businesses from 11 offices throughout the UK. The acquisition of Astute Insurance Solutions takes JMG Group’s total acquisitions to six in just over a year and creates a hub in the East Midlands from which the group plans to expand further.
Astute Insurance was established in 2009 by directors Ian Mahony and Andy Baggott who bring an existing team of experienced insurance professionals to the JMG Group. The £6.5m gross written premium business provides a range of insurance broking services for corporate clients across Northamptonshire and throughout the whole of the UK. Ian and Andy retain a stake in the business.
Nick Houghton, JMG Group CEO, says: “This acquisition gives us a strong foothold in the Northampton area that we will use to develop other acquisitions. We are very selective about the businesses we invest in, with the people and culture top of the list when it comes to diligence. Ian and Andy have a great business and are a perfect fit for our Group. We are delighted to welcome them to the team.”
Ian Mahony, who has 34 years’ experience in the insurance industry, explains what the acquisition means for the business: “Our business is built on strong client relationships and growth through referrals. Astute Insurance will continue to provide the same client care provided by the same experienced team.
“The acquisition and the support gained from being part of a wider group will help propel us to the next level and give us greater security and strength in the marketplace which will ultimately benefit all our clients and our team.”
JM Glendinning underwent an MBO led by Group CEO Nick Houghton in November 2020, with private equity backing from growth investor Synova. The Group plans to double in size, through organic and acquisitive growth, over the next 12 months.
Government reveals largest-ever R &D budget – worth almost £39.8bn
The largest-ever research and development budget – worth £39.8 billion and to cover the next three years – has been allocated across the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s partner organisations, the government has confirmed.
The Spending Review committed record levels of investment in the UK’s world-leading research base, with annual R&Dspending set to increase by £5bn to £20bn by 2024-2025 – a 33% increase in spending over the current parliament by 2024-2025.
These investments will contribute to the new cross-government approach on research and development, helping to deliver strategic advantage in science and technology, work alongside industry to leverage private investment, and deliver prosperity, security and resilience this century.
In turn, the investment will support priorities that are key to the UK’s prosperity, from tackling climate change to levelling up opportunities across the country, enabling investment in new technologies from clean tech to AI, where the UK has a strong competitive advantage globally and industrial strength at home.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “For too long, R&D spending in the UK has trailed behind our neighbours – and in this country, science and business have existed in separate spheres. I am adamant that this must change. Now is the moment to unleash British science, technology and innovation to rise to the challenges of the 21st century.
“My department’s £39.8 billion R&D budget – the largest ever R&D budget committed so far – will be deployed and specifically targeted to strengthen Britain’s comparative advantages, supporting the best ideas to become the best commercial innovations, and securing the UK’s position as a science superpower.
“This includes full funding for EU programmes, for which £6.8 billion has been allocated to support the UK’s association with Horizon Europe, Euratom Research & Training, and Fusion for Energy. If the UK is unable to associate to Horizon Europe, the funding allocated to Horizon association will go to UK government R&D programmes, including those to support new international partnerships.” A significant proportion of the budget has been allocated to UK Research & Innovation (UKRI), which will receive over £25bn across the next three years, reaching over £8.8bn in 2024-2025, its highest ever level and over £1 billion more than in 2021-2022. This will include an increase in funding for core Innovate UK programmes by 66% to £1.1bn in 2024-2025, helping connect companies to the capital, skills and connections they need to innovate and grow. The UK Space Agency’s budget will also grow to over £600m by 2024-2025, recognising the fact that our world-leading space sector adds nearly £16bn to UK GDP while underpinning complementary parts of the economy including finance, logistics and agriculture. This is equivalent to a real terms increase of 14%.Lincolnshire councils urge residents to offer accommodation to support Ukrainian refugees
Lincolnshire councils are encouraging those who can, to step forward with an offer of accommodation and help in supporting the resettlement of Ukrainian refugees into the County.
Following the government’s announcement of its ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme through which people are asked to provide homes or a spare room rent-free for as a long as they can, any willing hosts can now register to take in refugees at www.gov.uk
There will be a process of vetting, security checks and matching offers of accommodation against the refugee families and individuals with an expectation of the accommodation being for a minimum of six months. Hosts will be paid £350 a month per resettlement group.
While precise details of the visa process and sponsorship scheme are awaited, it is clear that under the scheme, Ukrainians who are matched and housed with a UK ‘sponsor’ will be granted leave to remain for three years.
They will be able to work, claim benefits and access public services in that time.
All current details about the scheme are available on the government website and any further local specifics will be posted on each Lincolnshire councils’ local websites.
Additionally, working in partnership with all Lincolnshire councils, the Lincolnshire Community Foundation has launched an appeal dedicated to supporting those arriving in the county. This Local Welcome Fund which will help to meet additional costs and provisions required by the refugee families and their hosts, such as to access transport, broadband and digital resources, access to leisure facilities, vouchers for toys etc. It is at: www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/LincolnshireCF-Ukraine
Committed to jointly contributing in every way they can in supporting the resettlement of Ukrainian refugees, the Leaders of Lincolnshire’s district, city, borough and county councils said:
“The tragedy unfolding in Ukraine is on a terrible scale and it is heart-breaking to see families having to flee their own country with few possessions and little means of support. We know that, as it always has, Lincolnshire will extend a warm and generous welcome to displaced Ukrainians and that both as individuals and communities we will do whatever is needed locally to help with this humanitarian crisis.
“We encourage anyone who has the capacity to open up their homes or make available their properties to do so, in order that we can offer safety and sanctuary to those in need.
“Additionally for everyone who can, to respond through financial help and generosity of goodwill to ensure that when our guests do arrive they can be provided with everything they need in order to settle, feel safe and rebuild their lives as best they can.
“Working together, and in partnership with other public bodies, charities and organisations, there is a lot of positive work going on as we stand ready to respond in every way we can.”
Already 50-or-so offers of accommodation have been made, offers which will now be redirected to the government site.
Announcing the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme, Housing Secretary Michael Gove Mr Gove said that he anticipated tens of thousands of Ukrainians might be taken in by UK families with the first arrivals within a week.
In a later phase of the scheme, organisations such as charities and churches will also be able to sponsor refugees, with details to follow.
- There is a further programme through which Ukrainians resident in the UK, or UK-residents can take in family members fleeing from Ukraine. Details at www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-ukraine-family-scheme-visa
- For an overview on ways to help, see: www.gov.uk/government/news/ukraine-what-you-can-do-to-help
- Working together through a local charity or faith group, communities can collaborate as ‘community sponsors’. For detail email: communitysponsorship@homeoffice.gov.uk
- Private landlords, businesses and property owners willing to offer up homes in Lincolnshire for those seeking sanctuary are invited to email LincsResettlementPartnership@n-kesteven.gov.uk
- Donations of money are encouraged to organisations or community groups that demonstrate an understanding of community needs, safe and legal working practices, and systems of accountability. These include:
- https://www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/LincolnshireCF-Ukraine
- Disaster Emergency Committee website
- British Red Cross: Humanitarian aid in Ukraine website
- MSF Doctors Without Borders website
Cawarden extends sponsorship deal with Burton Albion
Burton Albion’s scoreboard sponsor Cawarden has agreed to extend its sponsorship deal for the 2022/23 season.
Cawarden began partnering with Burton Albion during the 2020/21 season with the firm’s branding on the scoreboard as well as featuring in the programme and on PA announcements.
The initial deal was for two seasons and now the partnership will continue with the addition of a player sponsorship package.
Burton Albion chairman Ben Robinson said: “We have enjoyed a very successful partnership with William and Juliet Crooks from Cawarden, who started their sponsorship in the middle of the pandemic when the games were behind closed doors.
“Cawarden is a fantastic family business, and we are now able to showcase their sponsorship to our fans in the ground as well as those who see the branding on our TV broadcasts and iFollow streaming service.
“I want to thank them for their continued support, and we are delighted to be working with them again next season.”
Cawarden is a family-owned and operated specialist contractor with over 35 years’ experience in project delivery and has a rich history of successfully delivering demolition, land remediation and earthworks projects across the UK and these activities remain the firm’s core business.
Cawarden can also offer a range of services that can be tailored to clients’ requirements fulfilling a one-off service or integrated ‘destruction to construction’ solution – resulting in value-engineering, programme efficiencies and value for money.
William Crooks said: “It’s great to be able to continue our partnership with Burton Albion, which is a family club which offers businesses a fantastic opportunity to harness the powerful brand of a League One football club.
“I want to thank chairman Ben Robinson for welcoming us and ensuring that the partnership goes from strength to strength.”
