Construction works have officially completed on The AMP building at Arnold Town Centre in Gedling, Nottinghamshire.
G F Tomlinson has been leading the construction of the building, having previously built the council’s Café 1899 at Gedling Country Park, since works started on the flagship scheme in May 2021.
The opening ceremony for the new facility took place in October, with Deputy Leader, Councillor Michael Payne, Councillor Jenny Hollingsworth, Chief Executive of D2N2, Will Morlidge, tenants from three of the new units and representatives from G F Tomlinson.
The two-storey building will be home to new start-up businesses, including a wine tasting experience outlet, a cat and dog accessory and treats store, a cake shop and delicatessen, as well as the Post Office which was the first to open its doors to the public this month.
The £4 million scheme has been commissioned by Gedling Borough Council and procured via the SCAPE Regional Construction framework, which is dedicated to creating spaces and experiences that leave a sustainable legacy within the local community.
Funding for the project came from the council’s capital programme budget, which was boosted by a successful bid for £1.25 million from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership’s Local Growth Fund to support town centre improvements. Overall, 40 new jobs have also been created, through business employment and during construction of the new buildings.
Sustainability and renewable energy are at the heart of the building’s design, with initiatives such as 51 solar panels, natural ventilation points, high efficiency LED lighting and air source heat pumps installed within the building.
Rainwater retention tanks have also been installed to reduce flood risks and help feed the semi-mature trees that have been planted around the public realm to offset carbon emissions.
Craig Stopper, Regional Construction Framework Manager at G F Tomlinson, said: “We’re really pleased to have successfully completed The AMP building and play our part in contributing towards Gedling Borough Council’s pledge to decrease its CO2 emissions by 2030.
“The flagship building is a significant investment for the local region, which will revitalise the town centre and help to boost the local economy. We look forward to seeing residents enjoy the new shops and eateries and welcoming visitors to the community.”
Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke adds:“We are incredibly pleased that the AMP building is officially complete and our new tenants will begin moving into this wonderful new building in the heart of Arnold Town Centre. I would like to thank everyone involved in helping to get this ambitious project over the line, it has taken an colossal amount of work to get this done by Gedling Borough Council staff, G F Tomlinson and several other partners who all contributed to this project and made it a success.
We made a manifesto pledge that we would revitalise the town centre and this will be the jewel in the crown for Arnold.”
