Devolution vision revealed for Nottinghamshire
Leaders from the nine councils in Nottinghamshire have set out their ambitious joint vision for devolved powers to improve investment in the economy, the environment and health.
In a paper to the joint City of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Economic Prosperity Committee, councils have outlined how they would work in partnership to help boost economic investment, improve the environment, and tackle health and educational inequalities across the city and county.
Nottingham and Nottinghamshire are aiming to be one of the government’s pathfinder sites for devolution deals, the details of which will be outlined in the much anticipated ‘levelling-up’ white paper expected this autumn.
If a deal was to be agreed, powers would be handed equally to Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council to work in partnership with district councils to take responsibility from the government over major decisions and services that affect people in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
If successful, a devolution deal could result in extra powers and money from government to deliver a county and city-wide approach to improve investment in education and skills, transport and the environment, the economy and infrastructure, land and housing, health and social care, youth services and support to vulnerable young people and potentially much more. Extra powers could also be gained to deliver community safety, tourism, and heritage, as well as better control over regulatory powers.
Any devolution deal would not affect the status of the local councils who would continue to provide local services to their residents.
Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, Councillor Ben Bradley, MP, said: “Councils in Nottinghamshire serve 1.1 million people. So many decisions that impact on their lives are decided in Westminster. This is our opportunity to bring those decisions closer to home, so they reflect the needs and ambitions of local businesses and communities here in the city and county, rather than 130 miles away.
“The right devolution deal would enable us to deliver economic and social prosperity across our city and county. We would use any powers to grow the private sector by attracting investment in jobs and make sure the skills needed match the sectors that invest in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. The long-term result would be to create jobs, raise living standards and to restore local pride. Devolution is also an opportunity to improve public services.
“Levelling up is not just about concrete infrastructure projects such as roads and rail. It needs to go hand in hand with improvements in the conditions for good quality health and education to improve the life chances of people in areas previously underfunded. This could transform the lives of people across Nottinghamshire.”
The government has invited council leaders from areas across the country to show how they can work jointly on the new ‘levelling-up’ agenda, its initiative to make sure every area of the country has the powers and resources needed to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and achieve economic growth and prosperity.
Councillor David Mellen, leader of Nottingham City Council, said: “It’s important that councils across Nottinghamshire work together to make the most of the possible opportunities that a devolution deal would represent to bring more investment, jobs and prosperity to the region and address the significant underfunding we have seen over many years.
“Local leaders want what’s best for local people and we share common ground on a number of key issues. It’s still really early days but the themes and priorities are emerging with a focus on transport and infrastructure, skills and employment, and climate change.
“The challenges we face are immense and partnership and collaboration is critical to improving both the long-term future of communities, and the day to day lives and prospects of local people.”
60-bed student scheme gets go-ahead in Nottingham
Plans for a new student accommodation scheme in Nottingham have been approved by the City Council.
The 60-bed scheme would replace a disused play centre – a two storey red brick terrace style property.
Thorpe and Fletcher Developments Ltd are behind the proposals which would see the existing building at 34 Tennyson Street demolished and ten, 6-bed student accommodation dwellings constructed.
Two short terraces of identical three storey buildings would be built.
Each student accommodation dwelling would have a shared kitchen/living space on the ground floor and three bedrooms on both the first and second floors.
National recruitment company lets Lace Market offices
A national recruitment company has let the second floor at 39 Stoney Street in Nottingham’s historic Lace Market.
The office suite provides just under 2,700 square foot of high quality, recently refurbished space, benefitting from period features and modern fit out including heating/cooling system and attractive glazed partition meeting spaces with herringbone effect flooring finishes.
Thomas Szymkiw of FHP’s Office Agency Department, who agreed the letting, acting on behalf of a retained client, said: “The Lace Market is one of Nottingham’s premier office locations with the former lace mills providing beautiful period buildings benefitting from modern open plan layouts that offer the perfect opportunity for forward thinking occupiers.
“I have been in touch with the agent who acts on this company’s behalf for a number of months regards their city centre requirement and after several viewings at other properties, it was clear that the second floor at 39 Stoney Street ticked all the boxes in terms of size, quality of fit out and also location.
“I am pleased that this deal has finally completed and wish them the best of luck in their new Nottingham home.”
RIBA recognises The Curve as an exemplar housing project
The Rayner Davies designed scheme on the corner of Gregory Street and Abbey Bridge, Nottingham has been recognised as an exemplar housing project by the RIBA East Midlands.
The recognition is part of the RIBAs commitment to identifying and promoting good design and takes into consideration durability, functionality, interiors, location, and the aesthetics of each development. As part of the judging process representatives from the RIBA, led by Mike Baulcombe, director at RIBA East Midlands, conducted a tour of The Curve.
As part of its RIBA recognition, The Curve’s exemplar housing design will be showcased to an audience of property professionals on 18 November 2021.
23 one and two bed apartments were built in a single block over two and four storeys. The external envelope curves around the site, enveloping a private central courtyard garden and residents parking.
The project was complex as it is within an area at risk of flooding and also within an area of archaeological constraints. Opposite the site, to the south, is The Priory Church of St Anthony which is a Grade II Listed Building and is bounded by a Grade II listed boundary wall. The site stands within the Lenton Priory Scheduled Monument Area. Archaeological investigation works took place prior to work starting on site.
Steve Rayner, partner at Rayner Davies, said: “This recognition by our peers is a testament to the quality of the work the team undertook here. We are proud that we were able to help make this project a reality.”
Major Newark employer creates 40 jobs
Nottinghamshire firm Rototek is looking to fill 40 new positions at its Newark factory due to a significant increase in demand for its plastic manufacturing services.
Rototek, which has a second factory in Worksop and employs over 140 people, is one of the UKs biggest technical rotational moulding plastics businesses and creates over 100 different products ranging from sailing boats to water tanks.
With a surge of orders, the business is undertaking significant recruitment in Newark and the surrounding areas and is looking for new team members to help fulfil its order book.
The factory, on Sylvan Way off Great North Road (A1), runs three existing shift patterns throughout the week, but following a change in lifestyles for some families post the pandemic, the business has decided to introduce a new shift pattern which includes the option to work on Saturday and Sunday only – something that was not previously available.
Sean Conway, Managing Director at Rototek, said: “This expansion will significantly increase our manufacturing capacity, enabling us to broaden our portfolio of clients and products and to provide more jobs in Newark.
“We pride ourselves on being one of Europe’s leading technical rotational moulding companies and continuing to hire passionate, hard-working people who are eager to grow with the business is key to our success.
“Making the decision to open the manufacturing facility seven days a week means that we will be able to offer more shift patterns that will in turn mean more flexibility for our team members, something that has become a priority for many people post-lockdown.
“We also hope that the new shift patterns will appeal to a wider demographic of workers – attracting people who had not previously considered this type of work before to apply.
“For those who are new to the industry, we have training in place and all employees are supported in their new role. We are a friendly bunch and it’s a great place to work – we have staff that have been with us for over 20 years which is incredible!”
The company was founded in 1993 and has continued to expand since its inception and the creation of these new jobs is a significant step in the business’s growth plan.
Work to commence on new landmark £35m Art & Design building
Planning permission has been granted for a new state-of-the-art building to house the Nottingham School of Art & Design at Nottingham Trent University (NTU).
The building, designed by architects Hawkins\Brown, will create a signature presence on the university’s city campus, and is part of an ambitious plan to build on NTU’s reputation as one of the world’s leading art and design schools.
The new development will replace redundant buildings on the corner of Shakespeare Street and North Sherwood Street, exploiting views to and from the city whilst respecting the neighbouring heritage buildings.
It will enable NTU to develop its creative industries offering by bringing new technologies for film, animation, UX design, gaming and graphic design and illustration together with traditional design practice.
The building – which is 5,300 square metres – will feature a glazed ground floor entrance which will be used as an exhibition space, providing visitors with an exciting sense of arrival and offering opportunity for collaboration within the university, industry and the local community, through social open learning spaces.
There will be dedicated spaces for visual communication, moving image and digital screen disciplines as well as a cafe, Digital Innovation Lab and Black Box Studio.
The building will support NTU’s zero carbon commitment and has been designed with the aim of achieving BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and DEC ‘A’ ratings.
A future aspiration, alongside the development, is to create a nearby green space for students, colleagues and the local community to enjoy as part of NTU’s commitment to greening the city and enhancing the biodiversity of the university environment.
Professor Edward Peck, Vice-Chancellor of Nottingham Trent University, said: “This building will enable the Nottingham School of Art & Design to become the leading art and design school in the UK, positioning us at the heart of one of the UK’s most innovative cities, creating the best talent in one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK economy.
“It will expand our contribution to the creative industries and be a major driver of innovation and technology in art and design, allowing us to be at the forefront of the creative industries and building upon our heritage of the past 175 years.”
Michael Marsden, Executive Dean of the Nottingham School of Art & Design, said: “This new building pushes the boundaries, not only through the architecture and technologies used to create it, but through the courses on offer, the opportunity for collaboration, and the graduates it will produce.”
Work on the building will commence soon and is expected to be completed by Autumn 2023. This significant investment is expected to create more than 350 jobs and over an additional £1 million in student expenditure in the local economy.
Derbyshire childcare group adds to portfolio with nursery acquisition
A Derbyshire childcare business has added to its portfolio with the acquisition of a day nursery in the village of Shirland.
The White House Nursery group has purchased the former Nursery Rhymes Day Nursery from its previous owner Lin Yin in a deal arranged by Abacus Day Nursery Sales, and has refurbished and rebranded the business.
The property on Main Road in Shirland has housed a day nursery since 1992 and was acquired by Mrs Yin in 2012, from which point it traded as Nursery Rhymes. Mrs Yin recently appointed Abacus Day Nursery Sales to find a new owner, with a guide price of £299,950 to take over the business and the freehold property.
The nursery, which was rated “Good” by the regulator Ofsted at its most recent inspection, is run by a team of 12 staff, led by manager Fiona Keohane-Gaskell, all of whom have stayed on following the change in ownership. It is registered to provide 50 full-time childcare places and, in its last full financial year, turned over more than £170,000.
The new owner, The White House Nursery group, is a family-run Derbyshire childcare business established more than 34 years ago. The former Nursery Rhymes site is its sixth childcare setting, joining existing nurseries in Alvaston, Alfreton, Borrowash and Oakwood, as well as a Kids Club in Spondon which provides wraparound care for older children. All of its sites are rated “Good” by Ofsted.
Mike Morgan, director of The White House Nursery group, said the business was particularly attracted to the Shirland site by its strong local reputation and its links to schools and community organisations, as well as its spacious garden and onsite carpark.
Mr Morgan said: “I would like to thank all our parents and staff for their patience during the building work. I hope they will agree that the disruption was well worth it, and that our renovated nursery provides a fantastic, safe and enriching nursery experience for all of our children and their families.”
Although the business has no immediate plans to add to its team at Shirland, The White House Nursery does intend to begin taking on both qualified nursery practitioners and apprentices as necessary when the number of children on its rolls increases. The group is also on the lookout for other properties with potential for development.
Chelsea Melnyk, sales negotiator at Abacus Day Nursery Sales, said: “I am really pleased to have been able to find a new owner for the Nursery Rhymes business, to enable our client to move on. It is also great to see the investment being put into the site by The White House Day Nursery.
“This is part of a pattern we are seeing at the moment. While a number of founders are finding that this feels like the right time to sell and retire or move on, there are also a lot of childcare entrepreneurs who are now deciding to build their businesses by acquisition and take them to the next level.
“We have noticed these trends across the board, but demand from buyers is particularly strong for premises with a good amount of outside space, which is perhaps a reflection of the appreciation of the great outdoors many of us have gained during the pandemic. The East Midlands, too, is a region in which the market for childcare premises seems to be particularly buoyant.”
In addition to Abacus Day Nursery Sales, The White House Day Nursery received advice on the transaction from Flint Bishop Solicitors.
Business Gateway offers big ideas to support microbusinesses
The Business Gateway this week launched a new series of webinars designed specifically to support Leicestershire’s many microbusinesses to grow and thrive using new ideas.
The webinars start in early November and run weekly until mid-December. Like all Business Gateway support, they are fully Government-funded so free of charge to the microbusinesses.
At least 30 microbusinesses can take part in each webinar and the Business Gateway recommends that interested businesses sign up for all seven sessions so that they can become experts in thinking differently, developing new ideas and using customer feedback to test them before launching.
The seven webinars – each of which lasts just 90 minutes – will be delivered by local company Solvers Studio and led by founder, Carl Quinn.
Carl said: “I’m passionate about helping Leicestershire’s microbusinesses develop the skills they need to get a new perspective on business challenges; by doing this and using some simple techniques which we’ll share, a microbusiness owner can generate ideas for new products or services, test them to see which ones are viable and then launch them with a much higher chance of success.”
Carl will be supported by Lindsey Newman-Wood.
Sonia Baigent, chair of the Business Gateway Board, added: “Leicestershire’s economy is fortunate in being so varied and a massive 90% of businesses here are microbusinesses – that means they have fewer than five employees.
“With so many small businesses, it’s vital that they get the support they need to get through these difficult times and have the chance to thrive in the future.
“By helping them to learn how to generate and test new ideas, we’re giving them skills that will be useful for years to come. It’s that kind of thinking that can make the difference between surviving and not.”
The full programme of webinars is:
- ‘Problems and Priorities’ – 02/11/21 (14:00-15:30)
- ‘The Idea Generation Game’ – 09/11/21 (14:00-15:30)
- ‘Rapid Prototyping’ – 17/11/21 (10:00-11:30)
- ‘Developing products and services with users’ – 23/11/21 (14:00-15:30)
- ‘Winning at failing’ – 30/11/21 (14:00-15:30)
- ‘Implementing new ideas’ – 07/12/21 (10:00-11:30)
- ‘How to Sprint’ – 15/12/21 (10:00-11:30)
Corby warehouse complex snapped up in £21m deal
A substantial warehouse complex at Darwin Road in Corby, Northamptonshire has been acquired by a global investment and asset management company.
The site comprises five modern units of 263,586 sq ft which are predominately let to Rhenus Logistics, one of the UK’s leading freight forwarding companies with specialities including transporting groupage freight, express consignments, hazardous goods and providing warehouse services.
Other tenants include Truckeast Ltd, which is a main Scania dealership.
Acting on behalf of Longmead Capital, commercial property agent Prop-Search sold the investment for £21,000,000. The purchaser was represented by CBRE.
Prop-Search’s director, Richard Baker, said: “We are pleased to have completed the sale of this substantial investment. Rhenus Logistics occupies approximately 95% of the site and has proved to be a robust tenant for a significant number of years.
“Its long-term position and the potential for significant rental growth was very attractive to the purchasers, which was reflected in the price achieved.”
Business pledges to offset COVID impact on local environments with ambitious litter pick challenge
Midlands-based SF Recruitment has set an ambitious challenge for its employees to pick up a minimum of 20,000 pieces of litter from the local area throughout October and November.
The activity aims to clean up local parks, streets and waterways, such as Birmingham’s Lickey Hills and canal network, Nottingham’s Sherwood Forest and River Trent and Leicester’s River Soar in support of the local environment and community.
Each employee is being encouraged to take time out of their working week to collect their share of the litter and will be recycling all items, where appropriate. SF Recruitment hopes to take almost one tonne of plastic and litter out of the local environments with this activity.
Team SF will don high-vis jackets, protective gloves and biodegradable bin bags as and when they take their litter pickers to the streets. Eager to exceed the set target of collecting 20,000 pieces of litter, the company is also inviting other local businesses to get involved with similar pledges to help clean up the local areas.
CEO, Saira Demmer, said: “As an organisation, we have been pioneering environmentally friendly policies for some time now as it is a cause close to our hearts. We were disappointed to see that one of the side-effects of the pandemic has been an increase in litter in the form of disposable masks and gloves.
“This got us thinking about what we could do to help and so we decided on a company-wide clean-up to show our appreciation of the cities we work in and places we call home. With our staff working flexibly between our offices and home, we felt this was an ideal way to bring everyone together whilst covering more ground.”
