This week, Charnwood Borough Council will decide whether to approve a revised student accommodation scheme in Loughborough, following months of public objections and planning revisions.

The project proposes a six-storey block housing 167 student beds on Browns Lane, replacing the existing building on the site. The original plan, submitted in May 2023, proposed 211 beds over eight storeys but was withdrawn after 170 objections. A revised version initially offered 183 beds, later scaled down to 167 after further consultation.

Despite ongoing opposition—87 objections remain—the council’s planning officers have recommended approval. Residents’ concerns include the building’s scale, impact on nearby homes and landmarks, flood risk, pressure on roads and parking, and fears over antisocial behaviour.

To address flood concerns, the plan includes a “blue roof” system to manage rainwater, with all bedrooms above ground level. The ground floor would house communal facilities, cycle parking, and refuse areas designed to be flood-resilient.

The proposal includes two staff-only parking spaces and 83 cycle spaces, 54 for residents. Students must book time slots for loading and unloading on move-in days to reduce traffic disruption.

Planning officers argue the scheme could ease pressure on local housing by increasing purpose-built student accommodation, improve surveillance in the area, and boost local economic activity due to increased footfall near the town centre. The final decision now rests with councillors.

Derbyshire County Council has lodged a formal application to redevelop its County Hall site in Matlock into a major mixed-use scheme incorporating residential units, commercial space, and a hotel, as well as a new net-zero carbon headquarters.

The proposed plans include converting existing buildings into apartments and a hotel, building 50 new homes, and adding retail and office space designed to attract local business activity. The development would also involve demolishing several outbuildings, removing two disused footbridges, and restoring heritage assets such as the Winter Gardens.

Council planners say the aim is to consolidate operations into a modern, sustainable facility while opening up the wider site for investment-led regeneration. Derbyshire Dales District Council has requested planning and listed building consent.

While the proposal supports commercial growth and housing supply targets, it has drawn resistance from some local residents concerned about the scheme’s scale. Objections have focused on traffic congestion, inadequate parking, flood risk, and pressure on local services. However, none of these concerns have yet stalled the application process.

The redevelopment marks a broader trend of local authorities repurposing legacy properties to generate long-term value, reduce environmental impact, and stimulate local economies. The project’s success could set a precedent for similar public sector transformations across the UK.

Magnavale has finished construction on a 474,283 sq ft cold storage facility near Grantham, now the largest of its kind in the UK. The 47-metre-tall, fully automated warehouse has capacity for 101,000 pallets and will operate at temperatures as low as -28°C.

The site, developed by McLaren Construction Midlands and North, is designed to support high-throughput logistics and energy efficiency. The facility runs entirely on renewable energy and includes a five-storey office block, HGV marshalling areas, external yards, and parking.

The brownfield site—previously an iron ore drift mine—required demolition, waste removal, and utility diversion. The build incorporated a steel fibre slab to reduce steel fixing labour, and a refurbished on-site gas generator now delivers 1.45MW of power. An on-site batching plant was installed to prevent delays during large concrete pours.

Magnavale aims to create one of Europe’s most efficient cold storage operations, driven by automation, high-density racking, and sustainability.