BNP Paribas Real Estate (BNPPRE) has completed the unconditional sale of a Depot and former Gas Holder site in Lincoln on behalf of National Grid to Hawksmount Properties for a price in excess of £600,000. The circa 5.93 acre site on Clayton Road (LN5 8RE) has development potential for a range of uses (subject to planning). It was sold subject to a short term lease to Cadent Gas for the office / depot, workshop, stores, car parking and yard located within the northern section of the site. The remainder of the site was vacant and comprises the cleared site of the former gas holders and associated hard standing used for parking, storage and access. The site is located less than 2 miles from Lincoln City Centre and is surrounded by a number of commercial and residential properties, as well as The Priory Academy LSST secondary school. Alex Willis, senior associate director, development consulting at BNP Paribas Real Estate, said: “The sale of this significant site demonstrates the continued attraction of the National Grid property portfolio, as well as the strength of the Lincoln and wider East Midlands markets. Development sites in major towns and cities such as Lincoln are currently in high demand, particularly where amenities, transport links and a skilled local work force can be easily accessed.” John Carter at Hawksmount Properties Limited said: “We were very pleased to acquire this interesting site in Lincoln and will continue to operate it at its existing use as warehouse/storage accommodation for the foreseeable future but will explore its potential for alternative uses in the longer term. We are currently looking for tenants for the 2 acres of open storage.” Hawksmount Properties is an investment / development company specialising in properties which have challenging and complex land use and planning issues and the company is actively on the lookout for similar opportunities. BNP Paribas Real Estate and Shakespeare Martineau acted for National Grid. Browne Jacobson acted for Hawksmount Properties Ltd.

Plans to construct a new student scheme in Nottingham have been submitted to the city council. PMI Developments are behind the application which consists of a 401 bed student accommodation development reaching up to 16 storeys. The proposal is to create 57 shared cluster flats of varied sizes and 40 studios. The scheme would sit at the junction of Glasshouse Street, Rick Street and Howard Street. An existing industrial building at the site would be demolished.

Urban Logistics, the last mile logistics focused REIT, has acquired two assets in the East Midlands. It has purchased the £40.7 million East Midlands Logistics Hub, which consists of a 72 acre site with four units, substantial yard space and land with the potential for a further 175,000 sq ft of development. Three large units totalling 665,527 sq ft are let to Asfordby Storage and Haulage on a short term lease, with the remaining unit (6,773 sq ft) let to Royal Mail. Located close to the A1 and A46/M1, it will benefit from planned local infrastructure improvements. The second purchase is a £4.2 million logistics asset on Outer Circle Road, Lincoln. The property consists of a 25,924 sq ft unit on a 2 acre site that is let to Wickes Building Supplies Limited for a term of 10 years. Richard Moffitt, Chief Executive, said: “Our portfolio continues to grow at a substantial pace, having completed 14 transactions since our December 2021 equity raise. As we look ahead, we are optimistic that we can continue to source attractive value accretive acquisitions that are strategically positioned in current and emerging logistics hubs. “With these latest acquisitions, our blended NIY on all completed transactions since our fund raise in December 2021 is 5.4%, exactly as targeted during the raise. “East Midlands Logistics Hub (EMLH) near Melton Mowbray sits very well with some of our recent acquisitions, as it provides balance to our portfolio in terms of long income and short term asset management opportunity and we are already talking to occupiers about letting the campus location for fast moving consumer goods. “We look forward to completing further acquisitions in the coming weeks and months and are on track to be fully-deployed on a geared basis by the end of June.”

Rayner Davies Architects have submitted a planning application for apartments in Nottingham’s Arboretum Conservation Area. 29 one and predominantly two bed apartments are planned on a disused bowling green, pavilion building and car park on Addison Street. The site is bounded by a tall Bulwell stone wall to the East on Addison Street. An existing pedestrian gate and separate vehicular access points are present to this boundary and form the access points into the site. Whilst the bowling green itself won’t be retained, the rectilinear and open feel of the site as a green square with buildings and mature vegetation to the perimeters is one of the key design concepts adopted in the proposals. The Clubhouse building is Georgian and will be retained, refurbished and converted to apartments as part of the proposal, with new buildings behind the Bulwell Stone wall fronting Addison Street. These buildings are set out in relation to an axis which is created between the reinstated existing pedestrian site entrance and the historical landmark – The Chinese Bell Tower – in the Arboretum. The scale and architectural language of the proposed Addison Street buildings are informed by the semi-detached Victorian villas present in the surrounding area. Materials used are predominantly red brick with ashlar and brick decorative features to gables, dormers and window heads. The use of two-tone brickwork is prevalent in the conservation area and is reflected in the design. The proposed landscaping scheme has been designed to maintain the characteristic of the site. Rectilinear path arrangements are used to define the perimeter of the ‘square’, as a reference to the former bowling green. Unitech Plus are the developers behind the proposals. With ten years of presence in the East-Midlands, Unitech Plus have a long-term strategy to invest in and develop high-end and sustainable apartment complexes for young professionals and families. A planning decision is expected in the summer with work starting soon after.

Landlords will be banned from charging ground rent to future leaseholders, under the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022, which comes into force on the 30th June. The government is taking action to rid future homeowners of annual costs – known as ground rent. Sometimes worth hundreds of pounds a year, these charges provide no clear service in return and can be set to escalate regularly, with a significant financial burden for leaseholders. Leases granted after 30th June 2022 that breach these provisions will expose the person granting them to penalties and fines of between £500 and £30,000 will be enforced by a civil penalty regime. In preparation, many landlords have already reduced ground rent to zero starting a new lease with them. Anyone preparing to sign a new lease on a home in the next two months is urged to speak to their landlord to ensure their ground rent rate reflects the upcoming changes. Leasehold Minister Lord Stephen Greenhalgh said: “This is an important milestone in our work to fix the leasehold system and to level up home ownership. Abolishing these unreasonable costs will make the dream of home ownership a more affordable reality for the next generation of home buyers.

The ban on landlords charging ground rent on new residential leases, announced today, will also apply to retirement homes. This will come into force no earlier than 1 April 2023 and more details will be confirmed in due course.

Leading construction firm, Henry Brothers, has been awarded an internationally-acclaimed RoSPA Gold Award for its outstanding health and safety practices while delivering the Sherwood Lodge project for its clients, Nottinghamshire Police and Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service. The prestigious award recognises organisations that go above and beyond to ensure the safety of its employees, contractors, and clients, and is one of the most sought-after achievements for health and safety professionals worldwide. David Wallace, Safety, Health, Environment and Quality Director at Henry Brothers, commented: “It is a huge honour to win a RoSPA Gold Award and is a testament to the commitment, diligence and dedication of our staff and contractors in completing this project in a safe manner. “At Henry Brothers, our operations are built on the values of acting with integrity and dependability while delivering high-quality construction. All of our employees and partners receive continuous health and safety training, and we actively engage in a number of forums to ensure our high standards are maintained. “The majority of the Sherwood Lodge construction was completed during the Covid-19 pandemic, which presented additional challenges in itself, so we are thrilled that we have been recognised as leaders in health and safety practice.” Sherwood Lodge, part of the new headquarters for Nottinghamshire Police and Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, comprises shared office space, conference rooms, a tactical and police control room, training classrooms, and a sports hall. Henry Brothers handed over the building in January. Chief Constable Craig Guildford, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “From start to finish this most complex and demanding project has run extremely smoothly, with minimal disruption of day-to-day activities at a busy operational police facility. Henry Brothers have delivered a genuinely first-class facility that is already revolutionising the way we operate as a force, and I commend them on this award.” Candida Brudenell, Assistant Chief Fire Officer at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Congratulations to Henry Brothers for this brilliant achievement. As Services we worked closely with the site team to deliver the joint headquarters project, and we know our staff will enjoy the facilities for years to come. “Henry Brothers performance has been of the highest of standards throughout, with the site always well organised, clean, and safe. The team were extremely personable and communicated proficiently at all levels, overcoming challenges to produce an outstanding example of collaboration in Nottinghamshire.” Julia Small, RoSPA’s Achievements Director, said: “This is a fantastic and well-deserved accomplishment. All our award entrants demonstrate their unwavering commitment and passion for keeping people safe at work. “By receiving this recognition, Henry Brothers join like-minded businesses and organisations worldwide, who represent the very best in their approach to Health and Safety. I would like to add my personal thanks for all the work that it has taken to secure this well-deserved award – congratulations to all those involved, who champion and drive up Health and Safety standards every day. You are a fantastic example to others in your sector.”

Local events production company, Presentation Design Services, has taken up a 5,010 sq ft unit on West Meadows Ind estate in Derby. The property is located on West Meadows Industrial Estate, a well-established location for trade counter, manufacturers and storage operators, and is situated conveniently off the A52 at Pentagon Island. FHP Property Consultants are pleased to have completed on the letting and Dan Mooney comments: “The property had been on the market for quite some time, however as a result of an extensive refurbishment to split the former 9,000ft² warehouse into two separate units, both were under offer within a couple of months. This is a great result for all parties involved as we agreed new lease terms for a period of 5 years, so I am pleased to have got this one over the line. I wish Presentation Design Services Ltd the very best and hope that their move into the unit is a success. Clearly this proves that there is still a good demand of occupiers looking to move into sub-5,000ft² second-hand units in Derby. Therefore, I would invite any property owners to get in touch should you be looking to dispose of a freehold or leasehold property.”