APRIL 2024 LEICESTERSHIRE BUILDER MAGAZINE online

LEICESTERSHIRE 

BUILDER 

PROPERTIES • PLANNING APPS • BUILDING NEWS • A FEW JOKES 

rg+p partners 

with Zicon to fast 

track a radical new 

housebuilding system 

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY design practice, rg+p 

Ltd has joined a panel of development partners 

to help fast track a new building product, the 

Zicon system, that could revolutionise traditional 

housebuilding. 

The Zicon system is a lightweight single block and innovative 

construction system that enables fast construction with minimal 

environmental impact. Developed by entrepreneur and Zicon 

Group CEO, Ramon Gray, it has been extensively modelled 

and concept tested with exceptional results. rg+p is one of ten 

panellists Zicon has curated to drive the system into mainstream 

production. 

APRIL 2024 

Leicestershire Assistant Site 

Manager Advocates Diversity For 

International Women’s Day 

AN ASSISTANT Site Manager for Barratt Homes in Melton 

Mowbray has highlighted her experience working in the 

construction 

industry for 

International 

Women’s Day 

(Friday 8th March). 

Jess Fletcher (25), 

runs the King’s Meadow 

development on Kirby 

Lane, and is one of 

the youngest members 

of Barratt Homes’ site 

management team. Her 

daily responsibilities 

include scheduling 

the program of work 

for all trades on site, 

monitoring health and 

safety regulations and 

overseeing the production 

of new properties at the 

development. 

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 ...> CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 ...> 

Assistant Site Manager, Jess Fletcher, 

on site at King’s Meadow 

She quickly climbed the corporate ladder having graduated from the ASPIRE 

programme in 2020 and, in light of International Women’s Day, is now encouraging 

more women to join the construction industry. 

Jess said: “Construction needs a diverse workforce like any other industry. Diversity 

creates a better working environment where people can share their ideas and 

experiences which helps us to grow. 

“Women have great attributes which are very much need in the construction 

industry.” 

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2 Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • APRIL 2024 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@buildermagazines.co.uk 

Radical new housebuilding system - from page 1 

“Whilst I’ve been fortunate enough 

to work all over the world, this has 

caused me to witness first-hand the 

state of the housing crisis caused by 

unrealistic targets, under-resourcing 

and poor recovery from natural 

or manmade disasters,” explains 

Ramon. “I took action and started 

developing Zicon as a system for the 

masses. It can be built by ordinary 

people, with no specialist skills, to 

meet the needs of all markets, from 

disaster relief shelters to UK mass 

market affordable, self-build and 

luxury housing.” 

In R&D since 2018, the Zicon 

system now has full UK and Saudi 

Arabian patents, and others in the 

pipeline. Key benefits include: 

• RAPID BUILD (estimated 3 to 

4 times faster) by unskilled workers 

to an accuracy of 1mm - enables 

an end-to-end digital process, exact 

sizing allows all fittings to be factory 

made. 

• CO2 REDUCED BY OVER 90% - Blocks are made using 

very high strength, cement-free concrete 

• EXCELLENT INSULATION - A full wall tested U value of 

0.13W/m2k – achieving Passivhaus standard 

• VERY LOW LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT 

with waste cut to less than 5% - as compared with current 

industry waste levels of approx. 35% 

• REUSE OF 95% OF BUILD COMPONENTS – system 

can be easily disassembled, and 

the materials reused to rebuild as 

necessary 

• SUPERIOR STRENGTH 

YET LIGHTWEIGHT - Blocks 

are tested to 100 tonnes each in 

compression. The full wall weight 

is 90kg/m2, which is three times 

stronger but only a third of the 

weight of a traditional wall. 

• AT LEAST 20% CHEAPER 

rg+p has had a longstanding 

involvement with Zicon but since 

joining the development panel has 

focused on the practical application 

of the technology. Specifically, 

this has involved using the design 

principles for a standard house 

and applying these to achieve the 

technical resolution of how the 

block system will be assembled. 

The practice’s director, Rob 

Woolston, comments: “Any 

innovation in the built environment 

that accelerates affordable housing, 

supports humanitarian efforts, 

promotes reuse, and minimises 

the sector’s environmental impact 

should be considered a serious 

proposition. 

“The Zicon system has the 

potential to achieve all of this, 

to pinpoint accuracy, and we’re 

excited to be part of the team 

propelling the system forward.” 

Zicon’s development panel is now 

seeking manufacturing partners for 

national and international delivery 

at scale. 

Jess Fletcher - 

Assistant Site 

Manager 

FROM PAGE 1 

Jess believes that whilst 

it is stereotypically a maledominated 

industry, her 

experience hasn’t been 

negatively impacted by that 

and she praised Barratt 

Homes for its inclusive 

workforce. 

She continued: “Barratt 

Homes offers female 

leadership programmes, 

and its outreach for women 

in construction is the best I 

have seen which shows the 

company genuinely cares and 

sees the importance of having 

females in the industry. 

“Even though it is a maledominated 

industry, fortunately 

it is becoming more and more 

diverse.” 

Recognising the importance 

of an inclusive workforce, by 

encouraging more women 

to join the industry, allows 

companies to understand their 

consumers better and broaden 

their ideas and attributes. 

This year’s International 

Women’s Day campaign 

theme, #InspireInclusion, 

is focused on sharing the 

importance of diversity and 

empowerment in all aspects of 

society. The campaign aims to 

inspire women to be included 

and feel a sense of belonging 

and relevance. 

When asked for her 

advice for women who are 

considering a career in the 

construction industry, Jess 

said: “It’s a fantastic industry 

to be a part of, and if you are 

interested and take the leap 

then it will be something you 

won’t regret. I am glad I came 

into construction and hope that 

more women will join too.” 

“It’s hands-on working in a 

fast-paced environment every 

day and seeing people move 

into their new homes and 

loving where they live is the 

most rewarding thing.” 

For more information about 

the career opportunities 

available at Barratt Homes, 

visit the website at Barratt 

Careers. 

For details about any 

developments in the county, 

visit the website at Barratt 

Homes in Leicestershire. 

Don’t forget to send 

us your news. Thanks! 

I’m trying to get back to my original weight. 7lbs 8oz.

0 10 m 20 m 

© Crown Copyright and database rights 2022 OS 100060020 

created on Plotted Scale - 1:500 


Female brick plant manager 

inspires industry change 

ON INTERNATIONAL 

Women’s Day, 

Forterra celebrated 

Charlotte Wood, 

Plant Manager at its 

Measham Brickworks 

in Leicestershire. 

International Women’s Day 

celebrates the achievements 

of women across the globe 

and raises awareness of the 

importance of securing fair 

opportunities for women and 

underrepresented groups. 

This year the theme is Inspire 

Inclusion. 

Nottingham-born Charlotte, 

53, brings a unique career trajectory to her current role. Her journey 

ventured outside the typical path for a plant manager, moving through 

diverse sectors such as food production, beverages, and healthcare, where 

she honed her skills in management, lean process improvement, and 

cultural change, before taking on the role of Plant Manager at Measham 

brickworks in January 2023. 

Brickworks have traditionally been occupied predominantly by male 

workers, and a large proportion of careers in the industry rely on 

engineering and mathematics-related qualifications, in which women are 

still underrepresented. 

“I think those stereotypes can deter many women from entering an 

industry such as this one,” says Charlotte. “When people are deterred 

from even considering a particular career, it becomes a significant barrier 

against inclusion. 

“I was of course apprehensive about starting this new role, and I didn’t 

know extraordinary amounts about brickmaking when I joined. With 

my 23 years of extensive experience in leadership, improvement and 

development, though, I knew I was more than capable. 

“I can confidently say that, contrary to the stereotypes, I’ve felt so 

welcome at Measham. There’s such a strong team here and such a strong 

sense of community, with several employees being long-servers for 30 

years or more, and many others being the second or even third generation 

from their family to work there. What’s inspiring is that this sense of 

tradition hasn’t at all proved a barrier to inclusion in my case. Measham is a 

testament to the fact that honouring tradition and effecting change can and 

should complement one another.” 

“Endless bureaucracy at previous roles prevented real change, but 

at Forterra there’s scope to really impact things,” adds Charlotte. 

“The organisation is on a great cultural journey, focused on driving an 

improvement in its values and ensuring it continues manufacturing 

excellence.” 

College site sold in Melton Mowbray 

FHP, acting on behalf 

of Melton Mowbray 

Town Estate, have 

completed the sale of 

the former Brooksby 

College on King 

Street in Melton 

Mowbray. 

David Hargreaves, who 

handled the sale, said: “The 

college relocated long ago from this site and it had sat there partly derelict 

for a while despite being in a really good central location in the town centre, 

opposite a car park and close to the bus station.” 

The building totals some 16,000 sq ft with parking for 10 cars and was 

marketed with a guide price of “offers over £400,000.” 

It is understood the Peterborough-based buyer is proposing a 

refurbishment of the property into apartments for rental plus some new 

build accommodation. 

Ÿ Building plot for the 

erection of a two-storey 

building to accommodate 

FOUR one-bedroom 

apartments. 

Ÿ FULL Planning 

Permission granted by 

Blaby District Council 

(ref: 21/0577/FUL) 

Ÿ 4,305 sq.feet (400 sq.m) 

Substantial 

plant nursery 

for sale in 

Catton 

discussing the opportunity of selling the 

HOWKINS & HARRISON 

property as separate lots, by negotiation. 

are offering for sale Driving Distances a wellestablished 

6.38 acre plant 

• Burton upon Trent: 7.4 miles 

• Lichfield: 9.5 miles 

• Coalville: 17.6 miles 

• Leicester: 39.5 miles 

• Derby: 20 miles 

nursery along with a threebed 

detached bungalow 

Area Map 

• Birmingham: 26.2 miles 

 

Consumer Protection Legislation 

(subject to These an sales agricultural 

details have been written to conform to 

Consumer Protection Legislation. Whilst we endeavour to 

occupancy make condition) our sales details accurate and and two reliable, agricultural if there is any barns with 

point of particular importance to you, please contact the office 

consent for and we conversion will check the information into for you. residential dwellings. 

Tenure 

The property The land – Summerfields is being sold freehold with Nurseries, Vacant Possession Catton, upon Swadlincote, 

completion. 

Derbyshire DE12 8LW – is for sale as a whole, but the vendors are open 

Disbursements 

to discussing selling the property as separate lots, by negotiation. 

Guide Price: £765,000. 

Summerfields Nurseries, 

Catton, Swadlincote, 

South Derbyshire DE12 8LW 

A unique opportunity to purchase a 

substantial and well-established plant 

nursery extending to approximately 6.34 

acres in total, along with a three-bedroom 

detached bungalow subject to an 

agricultural occupancy condition and two 

agricultural barns with planning consent 

for conversion into residential dwellings. 

The property is for sale as a whole, 

however, the vendors are open to 

Please see the legal pack for any disbursements listed that 

may become payable by the buyer. 

Buyers Administration Fee 

~ FOR SALE ~ 

Building POTENTIAL Plot BUILDING for 4 PLOT Flats 

Main Stamford Street, Street, Thornton, Glenfield Leics. Leicester LE67 1AH LE3 

• Building plot subject to 

planning permission. 

• Potential for a 4-bed 

detached property with a 

garage and driveway. 

• Located in the popular 

village of Thornton 

Ÿ Tenure: within FREEHOLD walking distance 

of Thornton Reservoir. 

• Ÿ Viewing Tenure: strictly FREEHOLD. by 

appointment. 

Viewing strictly by 

appointment. 

GUIDE PRICE: 

Guide £175,000 Price: £170,000 

ROY GREEN 

CHARTERED SURVEYORS 

LETTING & ESTATE AGENTS 

Contact Anna 

Buyers 

Meynell 

will be required 

at 

to pay 

Howkins 

an auction administration 

& Harrison 

fee of Floor Plans 

on 01530 877977 or email: 

£1,200 inc VAT 

anna.meynell@howkinsandharrison.co.uk 

Buyers Premium 

The buyer will pay the seller's auctioneers fees of 1.5% of the 

sale price. 

Plot for a bungalow in Great Glen 

AUCTION HOUSE Leicestershire are 

offering for sale BY AUCTION a prime 

0.275 acre plot of residential land with 

planning consent (ref: 22/00847/FUL) 

for a detached bungalow. 

Land at the rear of Thornton Working Mens Club, 231 Main Street, Thornton, Coalville, 

LE67 1AH 

First Floor, 15 The Nook, 

Anstey, Leicester LE7 7AZ 

Email:office@roygreen.co.uk 

Web: www.roygreen.co.uk 

Tel: 0116 235 3009 

The plot is situated at 28A London Road, Great 

Glen, Leicestershire LE8 9FL. It is due to be 

offered for sale by auction on Thursday 18th April 2024 at 2.00pm, with a 

Guide Price of £250,000. 

For more information, contact Auction House Leicestershire on 0116 222 

7575 or email: leicestershire@auctionhouse.co.uk 

Thornton Sale 

Energy Efficiency Graph 

My dad’s motto is ‘neither a borrower nor a lender be’, which is why he lost his job at the British Library.


Demolition team starts 

Leicester Market revamp 

An artist’s impression shows what the revamped market 

will look like, once works are complete. Image courtesy of 

Leicester City Council 

The first stage in the ambitious transformation of 

Leicester’s historic market will get under way last month. 

National construction company Speller Metcalfe has been awarded the 

£8 million contract to lead the revamp of the market and has already begun 

preparing the site for demolition. 

Once the site has been cleared, the city council plans to create a market 

that’s fit for the 21st century but retains all the character of a traditional 

market place. 

Among the improvements for the new-look market will be better lighting, 

smart new paving and a shuttered perimeter that will keep the site secure 

at night. 

All the old wooden stalls – now in poor condition – will be removed, and 84 

smart new stalls installed in their place, creating an attractive environment 

for the fruit and vegetable traders and other small businesses. The new 

stalls will be set out in an improved layout to create better pedestrian routes 

through the market. 

The existing market roof will be removed and replaced with a smaller 

covered area, opening up views of the Grade II* listed Corn Exchange and 

creating space for new trading opportunities. 

On one side of the Corn Exchange, attractive, flexible and lockable units 

– featuring green roofs and solar panels – will be installed in front of the 

indoor food hall to attract a new generation of traders and a wider range of 

quality goods. 

On the opposite side, the space will be used for temporary specialist 

markets and special events, while an expanded café will be relocated to 

a site adjacent to Dolphin Square, where it will offer its customers more 

outdoor seating and a much more attractive view of the market area. 

OLD telephone directories make ideal personal address books. Simply 

cross out the names and address of people you don’t know. 

MEN: When listening to your favourite CD, simply turn up the sound 

to the volume you desire - then turn it down three notches. This saves 

your wife having to do it. 

National Minimum Wage 

increase: 1st April 2024 

ALL EMPLOYERS need to be aware that National Living and 

Minimum Wage rates increased on 1‌‌‌ April‌ 2024. Also, the 

National Living Wage will be extended to workers aged 21 

and over (previously only for age 23 and over). 

All employers should ensure that their workers are paid correctly, according 

to the new rates. Businesses can take these simple actions to meet their 

legal responsibilities and avoid falling foul of the law: 

• check the new rates on GOV‌.UK 

• identify which staff are due the new rate 

• update payroll and communicate the changes to staff as soon as possible 

• call the Acas helpline to get advice and support on paying workers correctly 

• visit the calculating the minimum wage guidance page to view practical 

advice. 

From 1 April 2024, workers aged 21 and over will be entitled to the National 

Living Wage. 

Apprentices 

Apprentices are entitled to the apprentice rate if they’re either: 

Example 

• aged under 19 

• aged 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship 

An apprentice aged 21 in the first year of their apprenticeship is entitled to 

a minimum hourly rate of £5.28. 

Apprentices are entitled to the minimum wage for their age if they both: 

Example 

• are aged 19 or over 

• have completed the first year of their apprenticeship 

An apprentice aged 21 who has completed the first year of their 

apprenticeship is entitled to a minimum hourly rate of £10.18. 

HM Revenue and Customs 

Pair of plots in Nuneaton 

FOX Estate Agents are offering for sale a parcel of land 

with Outline Planning Permission granted (ref: 039034) for 

up to two dwellings. 

The land is situated at The Rookery, Galley Common, Nuneaton, 

Warks. CV10 9PB. 

The asking price is £375,000. 

For more information, contact Fox Estate Agents on 01455 890898. 

When I die, I’d like the word ‘humble’ to be written on my statue.


AUCTIONS 

SDL Auctions 

Thurs 25th April 2024 

Thurs 30th May 2024 

Thurs 27th June 2024 

Thurs 25th July 2024 

Thurs 29th August 2024 

Thurs 26th September 2024 

Thurs 31st October 2024 

Thurs 28th November 2024 

Visit www.sdlauctions.co.uk 

COTTONS 

Wed 22nd May 2024 

Wed 10th July 2024 

Wed 11th September 2024 

Wed 23rd October 2024 

Wed 11th December 2024 

Visit www.cottons.co.uk 

BOND WOLFE 

Thurs 16th May 2024 

Thurs 11th July 2024 

Thurs 12th September 2024 

Thurs 24th October 2024 

Thurs 12th December 2024 

Visit www.bondwolfe.com 

SHONKI BROS 

LS Sangra 

Wed 15th May 2024 


Wed 18th September 2024 

Wed 30th October 2024 

Wed 18th December 2024 

Visit www.shonkibros.com 

SHONKI BROS 

K Sangra 

Wed 17th April 2024 

Wed 12th June 2024 


Visit www.shonkibrothers.com 

Bloor Homes Hits 

Five Stars for Sixth 

Consecutive Year 

BLOOR HOMES’ East 

Midlands region, based 

in Hinckley is celebrating 

a sixth consecutive year of 

quality recognition as a Five 

Star developer by the Home 

Builders Federation (HBF). 

The coveted Five Star status is 

dependent on an impressive 90 per 

cent of purchasers who bought a 

newly built home between October 

2022 and September 2023, and 

who completed the HBF’s National 

New Homes Customer Satisfaction 

Survey, stating that they would recommend 

the developer to a friend. 

In a joint statement, Divisional 

Chairmen, Andrew Marns and Richard 

Oldroyd at Bloor Homes said: 

“Every year developers look to the 

annual results of the survey as 

they give a very true, industry-wide 

benchmark of customer satisfaction. 

To have over ninety per cent of our 

customers happy to recommend 

Bloor Homes is something all the 

teams across all our regions should 

be very proud of. It is a testament to 

building quality homes and ensuring 

the customer remains the focus of 

what we do.” 

The housebuilder’s latest results 

demonstrate Bloor Homes’ commitment 

to quality and superb customer 

service, where getting things right 

first time and excellent after care 

are a priority, evident by the number 

of NHBC Pride in the Job Quality 

Awards received by Bloor Homes’ 

site managers, across the country, 

last year. 

PREVENT burglars stealing 

everything in the house by moving 

everything into your bedroom 

when you go to bed. In the 

morning, move it all back again. 

Staff at Bloor Homes’ East 

Midlands region based in 

Hinckley is celebrating a sixth 

consecutive year of outstanding 

quality and customer care after 

receiving Five Stars in the HBF’s 

National New Homes Customer 

Satisfaction Survey 

House with 

plot at side 

TAYLOR COLE Estate 

Agents are offering for sale 

a three-bed semi-detached 

house with a building plot 

to the side. 

The property – at Green Lane, 

Green Lane 

Grendon, Atherstone, Warwickshire, CV9 2PL 

Atherstone, Warks. 

CV9 2PL – is situated on a quaint 

lane with field views beyond. 

Full planning permission (ref: 

PAP/2023/0410) has been granted 

for a detached house to be built on 

the side garden. 

Guide Price: £380,000. 

Guide Price £380,000 

Contact Taylor Cole on 01827 

311412 or email: sales@taylorcole. 

co.uk 

ASTRONAUTS: If 

contemplating another moon 

landing, increase your chance of 

success by travelling there when 

the moon is full. 

Take your dustbin to the supermarket with you so that you can see which items you have recently run out of.

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Planning permissions for new 

homes continue to plummet 

Number of new sites approved in 2023 lowest on record. 

THE LATEST Housing 

Pipeline Report from the 

Home Builders Federation , 

containing data supplied by 

www.glenigan.com , shows 

that the number of planning 

permissions granted for 

new homes continues to fall 

sharply, down 20% year 

on year, with 2023 seeing 

the fewest number of sites 

approved since records 

began in 2006. 

Planning permissions are a lead 

indicator of future supply levels, 

and the latest Housing Pipeline 

confirms industry warnings that 

an increasingly anti-development 

policy environment, including new 

taxes on building and challenging 

conditions for homebuyers is 

resulting in decreased investment in 

future housing delivery. 

The latest Housing Pipeline 

Report, covering the period to the 

end of 2023, found: 

• The number of sites that 

gained planning permission 

in 2023 dropped to the 

lowest level for a 12 month 

period since the Housing 

Pipeline Report began in 

2006. The 10,527 sites 

granted permission in 2023 

represented a 16% decrease 

on 2022; a 23% fall on 2021 

levels and only around half 

of theW average annual 

permissioned between 2015 

and 2019 when government 

policies were focused 

on improving housing 

affordability. 

• The number of units gaining 

planning permission in 

England during 2023 

dropped to the lowest for any 

12-month period since 2014. 

• At under 233,000, the number 

of units approved in 2023 

dropped 20% on 2022, 27% 

on 2021 and was down 30% 

compared to pre-pandemic 

levels, when housing delivery 

was increasing year on year. 

The figures released today come 

just days after the Government 

published housing completions 

figures for 2023 which confirmed 

that the number of new homes built 

in Southern England were down by 

13% year-on-year. 

They also come just months 

after Michael Goves’ capitulation 

to NIMBY backbenchers that 

saw some fundamental planks 

of the (National Planning Policy 

Framework) planning system 

removed, in particular housing 

targets for Local Authorities which 

were aimed at ensuring councils 

plan for local housing needs. The 

two years the Government spent 

deliberating over the changes 

saw 64 Local Authorities withdrew 

or pause their Local Plans, the 

vast majority of these in Southern 

England. 

The number of plans adopted last 

year was the lowest for a decade. 

Research conducted by consultancy 

Lichfields warned Government in 

advance that their proposals could 

cause a drop of 77,000 homes a 

year. 

In its investigation into 

housebuilding that reported last 

month the Competition and Markets 

Authority (CMA) concluded that, 

in order to deliver a given number 

of homes the number of planning 

permissions granted must be 

sustained at a somewhat higher 

level over an extended period. The 

CMA concluded that the nature and 

operation of the planning system 

is exerting a significant downward 

pressure on the overall number of 

planning permissions. Importantly, 

it stated that ‘local and national 

targets for housing supply are 

crucial in enabling Local Authorities’ 

to establish accurate local plans 

and approve sufficient applications 

to meet local and national 

housing need” and that local 

plans were “fundamental to giving 

housebuilders a clear and coherent 

framework within which to bring 

forward successful sites, planning 

applications and build new houses”. 

The CMA made clear that the recent 

changes to the planning system 

as a result of the pressure from 

Conservative backbenchers, would 

result in fewer planning permissions 

in the future. 

The impact of the Government’s 

‘political’ approach on planning 

has hit the south of England in 

particular. The report shows that 

the number of units approved in 

2023 was the lowest since 2015 in 

the South East, the lowest since 

2013 in London and the lowest 

since 2012 in the South West. Year 

on year, each of these regions 

saw falls of 13%, 26% and 18% 

respectively. The same regions 

have already seen annual falls 

of more than 10% in new build 

completions. 

While some regions saw a slight 

increase in the number of units 

approved in 2023 as compared to 

2022, across the country there were 

significant dips when compared to 

2021. Unit approvals for the North 

of England dropped 18% for 2023 

compared to 2021, 23% for the 

Midlands and 28% for the South of 

England. 

All recognised housing supply 

indicators are now showing falls. 

In the year to December the 

number of Energy performance 

certificates (EPCs - a good proxy 

for housing supply)being registered 

dropped 9% nationally, and 13% 

in the south of England. Both 

planning permissions and EPC 

registrations are key indicators for 

housing supply, tracking the same 

trajectories, and so these consistent 

drops are concerning for housing 

delivery in the coming months and 

years. 

Last week’s Budget also failed 

to deliver any good news for 

homebuyers, delivering a further 

dent to any hopes of achieving the 

Government’s supposed target of 

building 300,000 homes a year. 

The chancellor passed up the 

opportunity to help beleaguered 

buyers get onto the property ladder 

leaving today’s prospective firsttime 

buyers without any government 

initiative to support them – the first 

time in 25 years that a Government 

has chosen not to support aspiring 

homeowners. Alongside the 

collapsing planning system, the 

challenges for first-time buyers in 

accessing affordable mortgage 

finance is a key barrier to housing 

supply and suppressing home 

buying and selling more generally. 

The Office for Budget Responsibility 

last week highlighted that a faltering 

housing market is costing the 

Exchequer billions of pounds in tax 

receipts each year. 

Stewart Baseley, executive 

chairman at the Home Builders 

Federation said: “Amidst a 

deepening housing crisis and 

with house building levels already 

falling sharply, this report should 

send alarm bells ringing across 

Government and the country. 

“As we have been warning for 

some time, the sharp decline in 

housing supply is the inevitable 

result of several years of antigrowth 

policy and rhetoric. The 

politically driven weakening of the 

planning system will impact housing 

supply for years to come and needs 

to be urgently reversed. 

“Allied to the total lack of support 

for buyers in the Budget and the 

resultant impact on demand for 

new homes, it is an increasingly 

gloomy climate for industry and for 

a generation still clinging to the 

dream of home ownership. 

“Removing the requirement for 

local housing needs assessments 

and allowing councils to ignore the 

housing needs of their areas has 

been shown by the independent 

Competition and Markets Authority 

to significantly impact housing 

affordability moving forward. 

“Rather than listening to the 

hysterical demands of antidevelopment 

backbenchers, 

ministers would be wise to consider 

the plight of aspiring homeowners 

and act on the recommendations 

of the CMA to restore local housing 

targets and address the longterm 

inefficiencies of the planning 

process. 

“The social and economic 

implications of driving down 

housing delivery are deepening, 

with a generation unable to access 

decent housing and investment in 

jobs and communities all suffering. 

Putting short term politics over 

the needs of the country will have 

long-term consequences for the 

economy and society.” 

The changes to the NPPF will, in 

effect, allow councils to build as few 

homes as they wish by removing 

the requirement for local housing 

needs assessments. These 

assessments, calculated using a 

‘Standard Method’, will instead 

be made advisory as a result of 

the revolt of MPs led by Theresa 

Villiers. They will give further 

license to anti-development local 

authorities to delay the adoption 

of local plans and reduce levels of 

new housing supply. 

Alongside the Government’s 

planning proposals, the ongoing 

failure of politicians to find a 

solution to the disproportionate ban 

on new housing by Government 

quango Natural England’s that is 

holding up 150,000 homes across 

swathes of the country is also 

continuing to impact development. 

This is despite the clear evidence 

that new homes are a minimal 

contributor to the nutrient levels 

in rivers. with research published 

by Brookbanks showing that the 

occupants of new homes account 

for just 0.29% of total nitrogen 

emissions each year. 

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Ashby de la 

Zouch logistics 

firm ups bid 

for Wincanton 

ASHBY DE LA ZOUCHbased 

CEVA Logistics 

UK Rose has upped its 

offer for Wincanton, as a 

competing bidder comes 

forward for the firm. 

In a statement to the London 

Stock Exchange Wincanton 

said that its directors “continue 

to recommend unanimously to 

Wincanton shareholders the 

increased and final cash offer 

by CEVA Logistics UK Rose 

Limited.” 

The increased offer values the 

entire issued and to be issued 

share capital of Wincanton at 

approximately £604.7 million on 

a fully diluted basis and values 

Wincanton at approximately 

£802.7 million on an enterprise 

value basis. The new bid 

represents an increase of 

approximately 6.67 per cent on 

the original offer. 

Successful Ratby Shared 

Ownership development 

comes to a close 

PLATFORM HOME 

Ownership has 

announced the 

conclusion of a 

successful Shared 

Ownership development 

in Ratby, in partnership 

with Miller Homes. 

The final homes were handed 

over to the newest residents 

recently at the Bluebell Croft 

development, off Markfield Road, which comprises a blend of stunning twoand 

three-bedroom Shared Ownership homes in multiple styles built by the 

five-star developer in a sought-after location. 

Shared Ownership allows homebuyers to purchase a share of their home 

and pay rent on the remaining amount, typically buying between 10% and 

75% of the property’s full market value, depending on the model purchased 

with. 

This lowers the amount needed for a deposit, with most deposits on 

Shared Ownership schemes between 5% and 10% of the share and not 

the full amount. 

Through the process of staircasing, those using Shared Ownership can 

gradually increase the amount of their home that they own. 

Platform has seen an increase in popularity in the Shared Ownership 

scheme. In fact, they have sold 55% more Shared Ownership homes 

between April 2021 and March 2022 compared to the previous year. 

For more information on Shared Ownership homes, visit the Platform 

Home Ownership website at https://www.platformhomeownership.com/finda-home/search/. 

*T&Cs apply. 

Construction Estimator 

to the building trade 

www.fordestimatingservices.co.uk 

Call Martin on 

07860 695 806 

Or Email: 

martin@fordestimatingservices.co.uk 

PEOPLE whose surname is 

Toblerone should always take 

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chocolate box when attending 

interviews for office jobs. This 

would save your potential 

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chances of getting the job. 

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soiled area with a permanent pen 

so that when you remove it from 

the washing machine you can 

check the stain has gone. 

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Implementing Effective Water Management Solutions 

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Plan to 

demolish 

Leicester 

antiques store 

for student 

flats rejected 

AS REPORTED in the 

Leicester Mercury, a bid 

to knock down a former 

antiques store in Welford 

Road to make way for 

student accommodation 

has been refused. Leicester 

City Council’s planning 

department said there 

were “significant and 

fundamental issues” with 

the proposal. 

Some 50 apartments over two 

blocks were proposed for the site 

of the former home of the Leicester 

Antiques Warehouse, which closed 

its doors in October 2019. A fourstorey 

building would have housed 

29 of the flats, and a second, threestorey 

block at the rear of the site 

would have taken the remaining 21, 

a planning application submitted to 

Leicester City Council revealed. All 

of the apartments would have been 

studio flats, the application showed. 

There is currently planning 

approval in place for a similar 

scheme which would provide 43 

student homes across the threestorey 

and four-storey buildings if 

implemented. However, applicant 

Rampard Ltd said it reworked 

the plans to make it a “car-free” 

scheme, freeing up space for the 

seven extra flats and a shared 

courtyard space for its possible 

future tenants. By removing the 

car parking spaces proposed in 

the original application, the new 

scheme has also removed the risks 

related to vehicles reversing onto 

the main highway, Rampard Ltd 

added. 

However, the city’s planning 

department was not impressed 

by the new proposal, labelling 

it “unacceptable”. Planning 

officers said they had new 

concerns over the loss of the 

store and the subsequent student 

accommodation. 

The new scheme was considered 

inferior to that previously approved 

in a number of respects. The 

proposed building would “appear 

bulky, tall” and would “dominate the 

Welford Road streetscene” and “jar 

with the neighbouring 1930’s semidetached 

houses”, they said. 

The top floor of the original 

scheme was angled, reducing its 

dominance over the street. In the 

new design the top floor is vertical 

and described as an “intrusion” by 

officers. 

Norman Foster and Holcim 

develop modular housing unit 

for displaced communities 

THE NORMAN FOSTER FOUNDATION has collaborated 

with building materials company Holcim to develop the 

Essential Homes Project, a concrete-wrapped modular 

housing concept for displaced people. 

Presented in Venice during the 2023 Architecture Biennale, the low-carbon 

and energy-efficient housing prototype is designed to improve living 

conditions for the estimated 103 million people who are currently displaced 

across the globe. 

The Essential Homes modular housing units are built using a range of 

Holcim’s sustainable building solutions. They have a 70 per cent lower 

carbon footprint compared to traditional structures, according to Holcim. 

Each dwelling is wrapped in low-carbon rollable concrete sheets, which 

serve as an external shell. Holcim says that rollable concrete uses up to 95 

per cent less material than standard applications. 

The units are designed to be 

installed en masse to support 

displaced communities. When 

installed side by side, the modular 

homes carve out open public 

spaces. 

Permeable pathways made of 

Ecopact low-carbon concrete 

connect the homes. To reduce 

energy use and light pollution, 

the concrete was mixed with 

luminescent aggregates that 

absorb light during the day and 

reflect it at night. 

The design of the modular housing 

units incorporates Holcim’s 

energy-efficient insulation systems, 

including Elevate boards across 

the interior floor and Airium mineral 

insulating foam across the roof. 

Both materials were designed to 

optimise thermal and acoustic 

comfort for residents. 

The base of the Essential Home 

prototype is made from Holcim’s 

Ecocycle product, which comprises 

recycled construction demolition 

materials. The product aims to 

strengthen the homes and make 

them more weather-resilient. 

The housing units do not require 

any excavation as the base lies 

on Holcim’s Elevate membrane, 

which the company says prevents 

moisture from penetrating the 

structure. 

For more information visit Holcim’s 

website: https://www.holcim.com 

Tel: 0116 2853 777 

Breedon Group 

acquires US firm 

in £238m deal 

BREEDON GROUP, the 

construction materials 

group, has acquired 

BMC Enterprises Inc. for 

an enterprise value of 

US$300m (£238.1m). 

BMC is a supplier of ready-mixed 

concrete, aggregates and building 

products headquartered in St 

Louis, Missouri. 

Rob Wood, Chief Executive 

Officer, 

said: “The 

acquisition 

of BMC 

represents a 

compelling 

opportunity for Breedon to launch 

our third platform in the USA. BMC 

has an excellent performance track 

record over a sustained period and 

is positioned in an attractive market 

for future growth. 

“As a high-quality aggregates 

and concrete business that has 

grown at pace, organically and 

through acquisitions, with a strong 

management team and deep local 

knowledge, BMC’s culture and 

values are fully aligned with the 

Breedon business model. 

Leema Technologies Limited. 

The Warehouse, 1a Stamford Street, Leicester LE1 6NL 

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News from NCHA 

Build commences on 

75 affordable homes in 

Derby 

Calls for tool thieves to 

face stricter punishment 

NOTTINGHAM Community Housing Association 

has started work on a 75-home development on 

Goodsmoor Road in Derby. These new affordable 

homes will contribute to the 370 NCHA have pledged 

to build annually across the East Midlands. 

The site on Goodsmoor Road in Sinfin, less than five miles south 

of Derby city centre will provide safe and secure accommodation, 

comprising one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom homes whilst 

regenerating the site of a former munition depot. 

MORRO Partnerships will construct the affordable homes on NCHA’s 

behalf, with sights set on a commendable energy rating, as part of their 

commitment to building sustainable homes. 

The development will be made up of 45 affordable homes for rent and 

30 will be available to purchase with the help of shared ownership. 

Construction started in January and is scheduled to be completed 

summer 2025, and once finished, the development will provide homes 

perfect for young professionals and families with good links to the local 

community. 

The development will also feature a historic World War II pillbox to the 

south which will be retained and maintained for the benefit of the local 

community, preserving the legacy of the site the homes will be built upon. 

Tree lined plot in Donisthorpe 

JOHN GERMAN Estate Agents are offering for sale a tree 

lined private plot with detailed planning permission (refs: 

22/00350/FUL, 23/00277/VCU and 23/01640/VCU) for a 

two storey, four-bedroom, two bathroom luxury home of 

around 1,900 sq.feet. 

The plot – at Church Street, Donisthorpe, Swadlincote, Derbyshire 

DE12 7PX – is for sale at offers in excess of £225,000. 

For more information, contact John German Estate Agents on 01530 

412824 or email: ashbysales@johngerman.co.uk 

CALLS ARE being made for 

criminals to face stricter 

punishments for robbing 

hard-working Brits of their 

van tools. 

The motoring team at Lease Van 

are calling for offenders to have 

harsher sentences in hopes of 

reducing the amount of tool thefts 

in the UK. 

Under the Theft Act 1968, a 

maximum sentence of seven years 

can be given to someone found 

guilty of breaking into a van. 

If the amount stolen totals under 

£200, the maximum sentence they 

can face is six months. 

However, the problem many van 

owners face is not all criminals are 

caught and convicted meaning they 

can be left thousands of pounds out 

of pocket. 

Tradespeople also face the 

chance of uncaught thieves 

returning and stealing the newly 

replaced equipment. 

Tool thefts have been on the 

rise over the last few years, 

with London alone facing a 25% 

increase, making matters worse for 

van owners. 

The experts believe introducing 

stricter punishment for tool thieves 

can help to reduce the number of 

offences committed as harsher 

sentences may deter them from 

committing it in the first place. 

Tim Alcock, motoring expert 

at Lease Van, said: “A van is like 

a second home to tradespeople 

and having it broken into is a 

devastating experience as it 

severely restricts their work routine. 

“Stolen tools can also cost 

thousands to replace and this can 

be even worse if there’s damage to 

the van itself. 

“What’s shocking is that if a 

criminal steals under £200 worth of 

tools, the maximum sentence they 

can receive is six months. This is 

only the maximum, so in a lot of 

cases, this sentence won’t even be 

applied. 

“Of course what makes the 

situation worse is that not all 

criminals are caught which may 

reinforce the fear that they’ll return 

and steal again. 

“While van alarms, CCTV and 

padlocks can help deter thugs from 

stealing the tools, it can’t guarantee 

that the equipment won’t be stolen. 

“We believe increasing the 

maximum sentence will make 

people think twice before breaking 

into someone’s van and stealing 

their hard-earned resources.” 

“We’re calling for stricter 

punishment to be introduced 

immediately so we can stop the 

number of offences from rising any 

higher.” 

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Sod-cutting ceremony 

marks the start of new 

Tamworth school 

A NEW PRIMARY SCHOOL is coming to Dunstall Park Estate 

in Tamworth and will be open to students for the start of 

the new school year in 2024/25. 

Construction works for Dunstall Park Primary School are being led by 

Midlands contractor, G F Tomlinson, on behalf of Staffordshire County 

Council and alongside project managers and concept architects, Entrust. 

The project was procured through the Constructing West Midlands (CWM) 

framework. 

Ideally located to accommodate a number of new housing developments 

in the area, the new one-form entry two-storey school will open its doors 

in September, catering for 210 primary pupils and 26 nursery places. The 

school also has the capacity for expansion to 315 places in the future, in 

line with the demand for school places generated by further housing growth. 

The 1,500 sq. metre state-of-the-art educational facility comprises seven 

classrooms, a separate nursery and practical area, an indoor school hall, 

staff offices and catering areas, alongside an outdoor space dedicated to a 

range of sporting activities. 

The school’s energy-efficient design prioritises daylight and natural 

ventilation into the building and, to ensure easy adjustment to temperature 

changes, high levels of insulation and thermal mass will be applied to walls 

and ceilings. 

The school will be part of the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership (ATLP), 

which operates ten other successful schools in Staffordshire, among its 

new overall total of 22. G F Tomlinson previously delivered Anna Seward 

Primary School in Lichfield in 2023 for the ATLP. 

The contractor has established liaison with the local community and 

will continue to keep neighbours informed of progress and plans through 

frequent newsletters and public consultations. 

Demonstrating its vast experience working in the education sector to 

provide quality school provision, this is the tenth scheme that G F Tomlinson 

will deliver for Staffordshire County Council, alongside Entrust. Recent 

projects include the current construction of the Garden Village Primary 

School in Amington and the Beaconfields Primary School in Stafford, both 

of which commenced in autumn last year. 

Hugglescote Housing 

Development Exceeds 

75% Sold Milestone 

BARRATT 

HOMES is 

celebrating 

the success 

of its 

Grange View 

development 

in 

Hugglescote, 

which is now 

over 75% 

sold. 

The high 

demand on the 

Leicestershire development is largely due to the semi-rural setting on offer, 

with the National Forest and nature reserves on the doorstep. 

Grange View hosts a range of three, four and five bedroom homes, all 

of which benefit from meticulous designs to meet the demands of modern 

living. 

To help home buyers take the next step on the property ladder and 

achieve the perfect balance of countryside and modern living, Barratt 

Homes’ Part Exchange scheme is available to break down any worries 

about the housing chain and avoid estate agent fees. 

Martyn Parker, Sales Director at Barratt Homes North Midlands, said: 

“We are thrilled to hit the 75% milestone at our Grange View development 

and we’re pleased to see the community taking shape with a wide range of 

home buyers now moved in. 

“The surge in demand reflects the variety of properties available, and the 

welcoming nature of the Hugglescote community.” 

Loughborough plot for sale by 

Modern Method of Auction 

WILLIAM H BROWN Estate Agents are offering for sale a 

building plot with planning permission (ref: P/21/2245/2) 

for a residential dwelling new access drive and parking, at 

21 Rectory Road, Loughborough, Leics. LE11 1PL. 

The property is being offered through Modern Method of Auction, with a 

start bid price of £98,000. 

Contact Joe Perriam at William H Brown on 07763 212358 or email: 

loughborough@williamhbrown.co.uk 

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5 Sheene Road, Leicester LE4 1BF • Tel: 0116 235 7101 • Email: sales@lbs.uk.net

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PROOFING YOUR ADVERT 

Thank you for your order with Sportwise Marketing, this is a proof of your advert, 

is your sole responsibility to check all elements Regional of housebuilder the advertising appoints carefully prior t 

publication. Failure to respond within new Head 48 hours of Engineering of the date shown 

may result in the advert being printed HOUSEBUILDER as Allison shown Homes below for which 

East has appointed a new Head 

we accept no liability. 


East Midlands property 

market returning to 

of 

‘normal’ 

of 

pre-pandemic 

your advertisin 

of Engineering to help drive 

growth in the region. 

conditions 

Joe Marks has joined the company 

with a wealth of experience. He 

THE PROPERTY MARKET Please in the East sign Midlands and is returning fax back started your his career advert at Rolton Group, approval/amendments 

to pre-pandemic conditions, according to new figures. 

an engineering consultancy company 

Property firm Quick Move Now analysed the average number of 

after completing his A-Levels. He then 

properties on the market and the percentage of properties that are sold achieved a degree in Civil Engineering 

subject to contract. The number of available properties fell significantly Management before going on to work 

during the post-covid market boom, but it seems things are now returning in the Engineering Department at David 

to more normal levels. Quick Move Now suggests this is good news for Wilson Homes South Midlands. Prior to 

buyers, sellers, and the wider economy. 

joining Allison Homes East, he worked 

as a Senior Technical Manager and 

Engineering Manager at Morris Homes. 

CAREFULLY - 

FORMATION ABOUT PROOFING YOUR ADVERT 

order with Sportwise Marketing, this is a proof of your advert, it 

sibility to check all elements of the advertising carefully prior to 

e to respond within 48 hours of the date shown 

e advert being printed as shown below for which 

iability. 

Danny Luke, Quick Move Now’s managing director, says: “During the 

post-pandemic market boom, there were more properties listed with 

estate agents, but a greater percentage were sold subject to contract. This 

meant, in reality, choice was more limited for people hoping to move. In 

February 2022, there was an average of just 7 properties for sale within a 

quarter-mile radius in the East Midlands, down from 16 in February 2019. 

“Now, we’re back to an average of 16 properties for sale, and both the 

number of properties registered with estate agents and the percentage 

of properties that are sold subject to contract are at similar levels to the 

pre-pandemic market. This is good news for both buyers and sellers. 

Buyers in the region have more choice, which is important in keeping the 

market moving, and prices are largely remaining stable, which is needed 

to combat higher mortgage interest rates and the current cost of living 

challenges. 

“Although home sellers might be concerned about a lack of property 

price growth, this period of price stability is necessary for the longer-term 

health of the property market and the economy, especially in light of the 

recent announcement that the UK slipped into recession at the end of last 

year. The level of price growth we saw post-pandemic was never going to 

be sustainable and would have been damaging to the economy if it had 

continued any longer. 

“We’ve seen a lot of negativity around the property market over the 

last year and it has, at times, been very challenging for both buyers and 

sellers, but ultimately what we’ve been experiencing is a transition back to 

pre-pandemic conditions, in terms of price, volume, and sentiment.” 

For anyone hoping to move in 2024, Quick Move Now has put together 

some tips for navigating current market conditions. This can be found at: 

https://www.quickmovenow.com/blog/top-tips-quick-house-sale-2024 

Great Dalby plot 

to us on 01332 897621 or email adproof.nw@sportwise.co.uk 

Club/Org: 

Publicatio 

BENTONS are offering for sale a single building plot with 

planning permission (ref: 20/01218/FUL) for a threestorey 

property, having four 

for 

bedrooms 

over 20 

and 

years 

a basement, 

plus double garage. 

The plot – adjacent to 3 Main Street, Great Dalby, Leicestershire LE14 

2ET – has a Guide Price of £200,000. 

Call Nick Bonfield on 07794 157718 or email: nick@bentons.co.uk 

Joe’s previous roles have allowed him 

to gain plenty of the experience of the engineering process, from initial site 

identification and appraisal through to adoption of sites. He was also able 

to build excellent relationships over the years with various stakeholders, 

such as local authorities, groundworkers and consultants. 

Joe, from Rushden, Northamptonshire, said: “It’s satisfying to see sites 

progress and not only see houses constructed but also infrastructure and 

facilities improved for local communities. 

“As the market picks up for us and our competitors, the ability to achieve 

planning approvals and Section agreement approvals from the local 

authorities, within suitable timeframes to meet our program for growth, is 

going to be a major challenge. However, with the excellent team we have in 

place here at Allison Homes East I feel that we can meet it. 

e sign and fax back your advert approval/amendments 

on 01332 897621 or email adproof.nw@sportwise.co.uk 

Supplying the East Midlands 

Free advice 

and no obligation 

quotations 

“The ability to lead and mentor junior members of staff and see them grow 

and improve also makes me feel proud and I look forward to seeing what 

we achieve together.” 


for over 20 years 

Free advice 

and no obligation 

quotations 

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Supplies Ltd 


for over 30 years 

I thought I found a mass snowman grave the other day. Turns 

• Residential 

out it’s just 

and 

a 

Commercial 

field of carrots. 

Customer 

Proof date 

Proof prepa 

To discuss 

your adver 

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THE PERFECT SECURITY SOLUTION 

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from automated barriers to gates and bollards. 

BARRIERS 

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Magtec offers a wide range of security propositions to suit your business needs. 

Our specialist team are here to help you customise your bespoke requirements, from survey, 

civil and installation work, to project completion and maintenance. 

Interested? Don’t hesitate to contact Justin West on 

justin@magtecfabs.com or pick up the phone: 07384 893042 

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www.magtecelectricgates.co.uk 

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Harborough District 

Improvements made 

to community facilities 

and public open spaces 

thanks to developer 

funding 

COMMUNITY PROJECTS that support the health and 

wellbeing of residents in the Harborough district have 

benefitted from funding received from developers as part 

of planning obligations set out by the council. 

Harborough District Council’s Section 106 developer contributions have 

delivered vital infrastructure for residents between April 2022 and March 

2023 providing better healthcare, improved open spaces and more sport 

and recreational provision. 

Major projects solely or part funded by S106 contributions include: 

• Lutterworth Rugby Football Club’s clubhouse renovations – For 

the team’s 150th anniversary these works involved constructing a 

single-storey extension to the pre-existing club building. Within the 

new extension are additional changing rooms including two en suite 

changing rooms, two playing equipment storage areas, with the 

capacity to convert them into two extra en suite changing rooms if 

required, a rehabilitation area and two externally accessible toilets. 

• Kibworth Skatepark – A new skatepark costing circa £260,0000 has 

been built in the Warwick Park Recreation Ground. 

• All-Weather Sports Pitch – A state-of-the-art floodlight facility costing 

around £1 million has been built at Robert Smyth Academy in Market 

Harborough. It is used by students, community groups and Market 

Harborough Hockey Club. 

Other projects include contributions towards the Pavillion in Husband 

Bosworth, the footpath path in Kibworth Beauchamp cemetery, the Hub 

in Scraptoft, Manor Field Recreation Ground in Thurnby and Lutterworth 

Community Centre. 

Cllr Simon Galton, Deputy Leader of Harborough District Council, said: 

“I am delighted we have been able to allocate funding from developers to 

worthwhile projects that make a real difference to people’s lives. We want 

to support communities where we can and help to improve community 

facilities and open spaces for the benefit of residents in the Harborough 

district.” 

You can read the council’s Infrastructure Funding Statement 2022/23, 

which is an annual statement of the financial and non-financial Section 106 

contributions, and outlines Community Infrastructure Levy (where charged) 

and Section 278 agreements (where applicable) from new developments 

here: www.harborough.gov.uk/downloads/file/8348/infrastructure_funding_ 

statement_2022-23 

To apply for Section 106 funding towards a community project in the 

Harborough district visit: www.harborough.gov.uk/section106 

Bellway teams up with 

Own New to offer 

lower-rate mortgages 

at Barleywoods 

HOUSEBUILDER BELLWAY has partnered with Own New 

to make mortgages more affordable to buyers at its 

Barleywoods development in Rutland. 

A new mortgage product, Own New Rate Reducer, could see buyers of 

new-build Bellway homes benefit from interest rates from below 1.00 per 

cent.* 

The product, which launched on Monday 4 March, will be available on 

selected homes at Barleywoods. 

Rhiannon Jones, Head of Sales for Bellway Eastern Counties, said: “It’s 

an exciting time for anyone looking to purchase a Bellway home. Here 

at Bellway, one of our key priorities is putting customers at the heart of 

what we do. We have a range of incentives available and our partnership 

with Own New on the Rate Reducer product will have a positive effect on 

affordability for our customers, giving them access to as many ways to 

purchase as possible and making it easier for more people up and down 

the country to move. 

“Regardless of deposit size, the positive benefits will be felt by 

homeowners each month as their monthly outgoings are lessened. 

“Rate Reducer could be suitable for any type of buyer, whether looking 

for their first home or to move into a larger property. We would encourage 

anyone thinking about purchasing a new home at Barleywoods to get in 

touch with us to find out more about the scheme and put you in touch with 

an independent mortgage broker to talk you through the possibilities.” 

Own New Rate Reducer is funded by housebuilders. Under the scheme, 

Bellway will pay a three or five per cent subsidy direct to the lender, minus 

an arrangement fee to Own New, which will be offset against the mortgage 

interest rate to reduce payments for the first two or five years. 

The product will be available across the country and is being launched 

with national lenders Virgin Money and Halifax. 

Eliot Darcy, Founder of Own New, said: “Our ethos is to make home 

ownership and mortgage lending in this country open to more people and 

we are confident that the launch of the Own New Rate Reducer will achieve 

that. 

“We believe that Rate Reducer will be a significant boost to many people’s 

home-buying dreams. 

“This is just the product to stimulate the housing market and to give more 

people a helping hand and initial boost to get onto the property ladder or to 

secure that new home that will give them the extra space they need.” 

Eliot set up Own New having felt frustrated when in the process of buying 

his first home. His aim was to create a more accessible system of mortgage 

lending for future new-build buyers. 

MAKE shopkeepers feel like criminals and con men by carefully checking 

their change and holding bank notes up to the light before accepting them. 

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CITB sitting on 

£100m cash pile 

CONSTRUCTION training 

body CITB is sitting on a 

£100m cash pile despite 

the industry’s ongoing skills 

crisis. 

The £102.6m of current assets in 

the bank are detailed in the CITB’s 

latest set of accounts for the year 

to March 31 2023 which were 

published recently. 

The training body is funded mainly 

be levy income from contractors 

which hit £170.6m last year as the 

organisation handed back £85.3m 

in grants. 

CITB chiefs said the accumulation 

of funds was due to contractors 

being “focussed on areas other 

than training.” 

A CITB spokesperson said: “As 

a result of the pandemic CITB has 

seen its reserves grow and this 

trend continued into 2022/23 where 

the economic backdrop impacted 

training uptake. 

“Understandably employers have 

been focused on navigating and 

then on recovering following the 

pandemic. It has taken time for the 

construction sector to recover from 

the impact of the pandemic and 

have been battling the challenging 

economic situation. 

“This has meant that many 

employers have been focussed on 

areas other than training. We are 

now seeing the demand for training 

and claims for grant increase. 

“We aim to halve our reserves 

by the end of the financial year 

2026/27 and details of this will 

be detailed within our business 

plan and strategy. But our plans 

include bold investments in our 

National Construction College 

estate as well as the full rollout of 

Employer Networks that will enable 

employers to have a greater say 

in the training provided within their 

regions.” 

The accounts also show that staff 

costs at the CITB rose to £37m 

from £33m last time with 660 

people directly employed by the 

CITB with 79 staff earning more 

than £60,000 a year. 

Positive signs 

on the horizon 

for small 

builders, says 

FMB 

THE 1.1% GROWTH in 

construction is welcome 

news after the 0.9% fall in 

construction output in the 

three months to January 

2024, says the Federation 

of Master Builders (FMB) in 

response to newly released 

data from the Office for 

National Statistics (ONS) 

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of 

the FMB, said: “The continued 

decline in new building work in 

the three months to January 

is deeply concerning, with an 

overall decrease in output for the 

industry being seen. However, 

there is positive news for small, 

local builders, as the figures show 

positive growth for the repair, 

maintenance and improvement 

sector, which increased by 4%. 

Worryingly, the new work from 

private housing saw a fall of 5.2%. 

With the country going through a 

housing crisis, last week’s Spring 

Budget was a missed opportunity to 

boost housing output.” 

Berry continued: “The construction 

industry has had a tough time but 

the 1.1% increase in growth for 

January suggests a more promising 

future for 2024. It’s encouraging 

for small building companies that 

repair and maintenance work is 

accounting for much of the positive 

growth. SME builders have kept 

the industry going during this tough 

time and are well placed to boost 

economic growth if the barriers they 

face building more homes could be 

reduced.” 

Berry concluded: “As we approach 

the General Election the political 

parties should be supporting the 

building industry to build more 

homes and improve the ones we 

have as the best means to help 

turbo charge the economy in the 

years ahead.” 

News from NCHA 

Sileby Open Day 

NOTTINGHAM Community Housing Association are holding 

an open day for potential home buyers in Sileby in April. 

The development will offer 33 affordable homes for rent and 22 to buy 

through shared ownership. Giving local people the opportunity to take their 

first step onto the property ladder. 

Keely Hedley, Senior Sales Negotiator at NCHA, said: “Potential buyers 

looking to find out more about these new homes are invited to visit the 

development on Saturday 13th April. 

“The team will be available from 11am to 2pm. Visitors will have the 

chance to take a look inside the last few homes that are available to buy 

with the help of shared ownership and ask questions.” 

• Date: Saturday 13 April 

• Time: 11am to 2pm - just drop in, no appointment 

necessary 

• Location: 41 Homefield Road, Sileby, LE12 7WT 

The 55-home development off Homefield Road which has fantastic views 

over the Soar Valley is due for completion this month. 

All of the new homes have been designed by RG+P architects to EPC 

A standard, the best standard in energy efficiency, making them more 

affordable to heat and run. 

Plot for sale in Naseby 

O’RIORDAN BOND Sales & Lettings 

are offering for sale a building plot 

with full planning permission for a 

three-bedroom detached house in 

the historic village of Naseby. 

The plot – at Church Street, Naseby, 

Northants. NN6 6DA – is being offered for 

sale at a guide price of £170,000. 

For more information, contact O’Riordan 

Bond Brixworth Sales on 01604 880077 or 

email: brixworth@oriordanbond.co.uk 

91 Church Street 

Naseby, Northamptonshire 

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• Bathrooms • Showers • Taps • Tiles • Sealant & Adhesives 

• Security & Hardware • Nails/ Screws & Fixings 

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Freemens Common, 

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Email: enqu 

‘Housing crisis 

is caused 

by a broken 

planning 

process’ - CMA 

THE COMPETITION 

and Markets Authority 

(CMA) has released it’s 

‘Housebuilding Market 

Study: Final Report,’ which 

confirms what anybody 

who deals with planning 

already knows; that the 

housing crisis is caused by 

the planning process and 

government failure. 

Richard Beresford, Chief 

Executive of the National 

Federation of Builders (NFB), 

said: “Planning should be 

enabling homes, better places and 

competition which benefits not just 

Britain, but the British consumer. 

The CMA has correctly identified 

that the UK planning system does 

the opposite.” 

As well as pouring cold water 

on many criticisms made towards 

housebuilders, the CMA report 

disproved the landbanking myth, 

highlighted the need for better 

resourcing of planning departments 

and total planning reform, plus a 

need to support small and medium 

sized builders (SMEs). 

Rico Wojtulewicz, Head of 

Policy, and Market Insight for 

the NFB and House Builders 

Association (HBA), said: “The CMA 

report has confirmed that a broken 

planning process is the reason we 

have a lack of social housing, why 

big builders build too many of our 

new homes and SMEs are shut out, 

that homes are in the wrong places 

and too expensive, there are some 

issues with quality, and we don’t do 

placemaking.” 

None of this is new or 

uncontroversial but the UK needed 

this CMA report to keep hammering 

home the reality that politicians of 

all colours are the reason we have 

a housing and placemaking crisis. 

It’s time they stopped blaming 

builders and instead, were held 

accountable for the mess they have 

caused and keep causing.” 

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carpets by rolling them up and 

keeping them in the garage. 

BUS DRIVERS. Pretend you’re 

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a heavy book, securing the 

steering wheel with some old 

rope, and then strolling back 

along the bus chatting casually 

to the passengers. 

ROUTE 

5 

Tel: 07912 120 052 

Planning Portal unveils 

integrated Building 

Control service 

TERRAQUEST, the operator of Planning Portal, is unveiling 

a new Building Control Portal, offering a raft of new 

features designed to benefit local authority building 

control teams (LABCs), planning agents, architects and 

developers, as well as householders. 

The move is a key step in streamlining and digitising the building control 

application process for all users, creating a single portal that serves as the 

home of planning and building control. 

Built on TerraQuest’s proprietary KeyChain software platform, which is 

recognised by international experts for its quality, the new building control 

Portal expected in spring 2024 allows applicants to pull information through 

from existing or approved planning applications to pre-populate elements of 

building control applications. 

A single sign-on will give users direct access to all their planning and 

building control applications, while the platform brings with it a host of 

usability and interface enhancements that will save users time and money. 

Meanwhile, LABCs stand to benefit from a single portal for all 

development applications across planning and building control. The single 

portal means they will have the same high degree of integration with their 

back-office systems that they already enjoy from Planning Portal, bringing a 

streamlined approach that allows for a substantial reduction in manual data 

entry, processing and time. 

TerraQuest has cautioned users that existing Planning Portal building 

control service accounts will not carry over to the new system, and that 

draft applications will not be transferred. Existing drafts will need to be 

submitted before the transition to the new system or inputted into the new 

system when it launches. 

Site for 8 dwellings in Newhall 

BAGSHAWS RESIDENTIAL are 

offering for sale a development 

site at 83 Wood Lane, Newhall, 

Near Swadlincote, Derby DE11 

0LX. 

The site has Outline Planning 

Permission for the demolition of the 

existing house and outbuildings, and 

the erection of 8 dwellings. 

For sale BY AUCTION on Tuesday 

16th April at 9.00am at The De Vere 

LOCATION DETAILS 

Grand Connaught Rooms, 61-65 Great 

Queen Street, Covent Garden, London WC2B 5DA. You can also register 

for online bidding. 

CONSTRUCTION 

CONSULTANTS 

Route 5 is a nationwide building and development 

consultancy based in Leicestershire. 

We offer the following construction consultancy services: 

Quantity Surveying Estimating Energy/SAP 

Party Wall Surveying Project Management 

Guide Price: £500,000-£550,000. 

Email: enquiries@route5qs.co.uk 

Development Site 83 Wood Lane, Newhall, Swadlincote, DE11 0LX 

(For indicative purpose only, not to scale) 

The opportunity to acquire a freehold development opportunity with outline 

planning permission for the demolition of existing house and outbuildings and 

the erection of 8 dwellings. The site is situated in the suburb of Newhall 

approximately 4 miles from Burton upon Trent with convenient access to the 

A511 and A444. 

FOR SALE BY AUCTION 

GUIDE PRICE: £500,000 - £550,000 

For more information, call Joe Perriam on 07763 212358 or email: 

Mickleover@bagshawsresidential.co.uk 

Need any of the follo 

Quantity Surveying Estim 

Party Wall Surveying Pr 

Vistry Group 

to deliver ROUTE 

CALL 133 

affordable OR 

5 

homes 

EMAIL 

for 

Rushden 

Vistry Tel: 07912 Group, 120 the 052 UK’s Email: enq 

leading provider of 

affordable mixed-tenure 

homes, has announced 

a £34 million deal to 

bring 133 much-needed 

affordable family homes to 

Rushden in partnership with 

Platform Housing Group. 

The site, which was marketed by 

Savills East Midlands development 

team and formerly owned by Coop, 

benefits from full planning 

permission and work is expected to 

start in summer 2024. 

This new development will consist 

of one-, two-, three-, and fourbedroom 

houses and maisonettes, 

including air source heat pumps 

to reduce carbon emission, with 

thoughtfully designed green spaces 

to create a beautiful new area which 

will integrate well with the local 

community. 

As well as new homes, the 

development will also mean more 

than £700,000 of investment 

in services to benefit the whole 

community. 

All the homes will be manufactured 

off site using open panel timber 

frames from the Vistry Works East 

Midlands factory in Bardon. Building 

homes using this modern method 

of construction (MMC) reduces the 

carbon footprint of every property. 

Each home built using these panels 

emits 14,460kg CO2e less than a 

traditional brick-and-block house. 

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S&P Global / CIPS UK Construction PMI® 

Renewed improvement in order books helps to 

stabilise construction activity in February 

Key Findings 

• Total activity falls only 

fractionally as house building 

stabilises 

• New work rises for first time 

since July 2023 

• Business optimism remains 

most upbeat since January 

2022 

FEBRUARY DATA pointed 

to improved demand 

conditions across the 

UK construction sector. 

Although only marginal, 

the rate of new business 

growth was the fastest 

since May 2023. A 

turnaround in construction 

order books contributed 

to a near-stabilisation of 

overall output levels in the 

latest survey period. 

Business optimism improved 

for the third time in the past four 

months and was the highest 

since January 2022. Construction 

companies often cited hopes of 

a sustained upturn in customer 

demand as well as more favourable 

economic and financial conditions 

over the course of 2024. 

At 49.7 in February, up from 

48.8 in January, the headline S&P 

Global UK Construction Purchasing 

Managers’ Index (PMI®) – a 

seasonally adjusted index tracking 

changes in total industry activity 

– registered its highest level 

since August 2023 and was only 

fractionally below the neutral 50.0 

threshold. 

All three main categories of 

construction activity saw a nearstabilisation 

of business activity in 

February. House building saw the 

biggest turnaround since January, 

with the respective index at 49.8, 

up from 44.2 and the highest 

level since November 2022. 

Survey respondents suggested 

that improving market conditions 

had gradually contributed to 

a stabilisation of residential 

construction work. In contrast, 

the commercial segment saw a 

more subdued performance than 

in January, with construction 

companies typically citing hesitancy 

among clients and constrained 

budget setting. 

Total new work increased 

marginally in February, thereby 

ending a six-month period of 

decline. This appeared to reflect a 

turnaround in tender opportunities 

and greater client confidence, 

especially in the house building 

Comment 

TIM MOORE, Economics Director at S&P Global 

Market Intelligence, which compiles the survey 

said: “A stabilisation in house building meant that 

UK construction output was virtually unchanged in 

February. 

This was the best performance for the construction sector since August 

2023 and the forward-looking survey indicators provide encouragement 

that business conditions could improve in the coming months. 

“Total new orders expanded for the first time since July 2023, which 

construction companies attributed to rising client confidence and signs 

of a turnaround in the residential building segment. Meanwhile, the 

degree of optimism regarding year ahead business activity prospects 

was the strongest since the start of 2022, in part due to looser financial 

conditions and expected interest rate cuts. 

“However, a protracted downturn in activity has made construction 

companies cautious about their employment numbers. Staffing levels 

dropped for the third time in the past four months and the latest round 

of job shedding was the steepest since November 2020. Purchasing 

activity also decreased in February, but construction firms continued 

to cite supply side challenges. Moreover, input costs increased for 

the second month running as strong wage pressures and renewed 

materials price inflation placed upward pressure on operating 

expenses.” 

© 2024 S&P Global 

S&P Global UK Construction PMI® 

segment. 

Employment was a weak spot in 

February, despite positive trends 

for order books and sales pipelines. 

Staffing numbers decreased for 

the second month running and, 

although only moderate, the rate 

of job shedding was the fastest 

since Data were collected 12-28 

February 2024. 

Planning 

application 

submitted 

for homes at 

Tollerton airfield 

A SECOND planning 

application for new homes 

at the site of Tollerton 

Airfield has now been 

submitted to Rushcliffe 

Borough Council following 

the first submission 

in December 2020 for 

housing, a primary school, 

local centre and supporting 

infrastructure. 

The new application has now been 

validated on the authority’s website 

at www.rushcliffe.gov.uk under 

application reference 24/00347/ 

HYBRID. 

It proposes a mixture of full and 

outline planning permission for the 

phased residential development 

that could see dwellings, a second 

primary school and supporting 

infrastructure such as open spaces 

and sports pitches. 

There is a further area of land 

that does not form part of the two 

planning applications received, 

which could be for additional 

homes, community infrastructure, 

employment land, and a secondary 

school. 

The Council have advised the 

applicants it cannot determine 

either application until such time 

that a Supplementary Planning 

Document (SPD) is in place, which 

is a masterplan for the site. 

Planning officers are working with 

the consortium of landowners for 

the development of this masterplan 

to ensure all public and community 

infrastructure is planned properly 

and to the highest standards, taking 

account of the needs of the new 

and existing communities. 

Rushcliffe Borough Council’s 

Cabinet Portfolio Holder for 

Planning and Housing Cllr Roger 

Upton said: “We are duty bound 

to validate the application if it is 

correct and cannot decline to do 

so, but the applicants are aware we 

cannot determine the application 

until the SPD is in place. 

“We will formally consult technical 

consultees, ward members, the 

relevant Parish Councils and local 

residents.” 

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NBG Appoints New 

Managing Director and 

Targets Further Growth 

NATIONAL BUYING Group 

(NBG) has appointed 

Mark Hughes as its new 

Managing Director. 

Mark is a well-known figure within 

the building industry with more 

than 35 years’ experience in a 

number of senior positions with 

building products manufacturers. 

During that time, he has worked 

closely with independent merchants 

and buying groups, developing a 

comprehensive understanding of 

the construction supply chain as a 

result. 

Mark takes over from Nick Oates, 

who will step down at the end of this 

month following his announcement 

back in October 2023. 

Plans submitted for 

18-storey residential 

development in 

Nottingham 

PLANS FOR a new residential 

building, reaching to 18 

storeys, on Queens Road 

in Nottingham City Centre 

have been submitted. 

MRP Nottingham Ltd are behind the 

proposals, which represent Phase 2 

of the wider redevelopment of the former 

1-4 Queen’s Road site. Phase 1 

comprises a 406 bed student accommodation 

building currently under 

construction. 

The new plans are for a hybrid 

residential development, comprising 

Build to Rent (BtR) and shared 

apartments. The building will be positioned 

to the south of the brownfield 

site, forming a central courtyard to be 

shared by both the Phase 1 student 

accommodation building and the proposed 

Phase 2 residential building. 

The development would contain 274 

dwellings (a mix of build-to-rent studios, 

1 bed, 2 bed, and 3 bed apartments, 

and shared 4 and 5 bed apartments) 

as well as a range of amenity 

spaces, including co-working space, 

meeting rooms, a cafe, landscaped 

roof terrace, and sky lounges. 

Crest Nicholson to 

offer homebuyers in 

Leicestershire access to 

lower rate mortgages 

LOCAL HOUSEBUILDER Crest Nicholson in collaboration 

with Own New has launched Rate Reducer, a mortgage 

support scheme in Leicestershire. The scheme, which 

is now available at its Potter’s Grange development is 

designed to make it easier for buyers of all kinds to access 

lower rate mortgages. 

‘Rate Reducer’ 

sees Crest Nicholson 

contribute between 3% 

to 5% of the purchase 

price of an eligible new 

build home, giving 

buyers access to a 

regular mortgage, but 

at a reduced rate for 

the initial period of 

fixed interest. 

Open to home 

movers and first-time 

buyers alike, the scheme is available on several homes at the popular 

Leicestershire development, including three and four homes. Situated 

just one mile from the centre of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Potters Grange offers 

residents the best of both worlds living in a historic market town, whilst 

being surrounded by picturesque countryside. 

The scheme could lower a buyer’s mortgage rate by up to 2%, saving 

them as much as £296 per month on their payments1 and allowing them to 

save the additional funds or set more aside for purchases to help settle into 

their new property. 

Accessible via selected lenders, interested buyers must be financially 

eligible and pay a minimum 10% deposit. 

Vaness MacNee, Sales and Marketing Director at Crest Nicholson 

Midlands, said: “We are keen to do all we can to help people get on or 

move up the property ladder, as we help thousands of customers across 

Leicestershire to realise their home ownership dreams. We’re excited to 

be able to help more people in Leicestershire access high quality, energy 

efficient new homes through our launch of this scheme. We encourage 

anyone who is interested to get in touch with our friendly Sales team for 

more information.” 

Rate Reducer is one of several initiatives provided by the local 

housebuilder to help buyers in Leicestershire move onto or up the property 

ladder. 

There are seven properties available at Potter’s Grange with full prices 

starting from £275,000 for a three bedroom home and £370,000 for a four 

bedroom home. For more information about the scheme, development, or 

to book a viewing, call 01530 553 599 or visit www.crestnicholson.com/ 

developments/leicestershire/potters-grange. 

Bank of 

England holds 

interest rates 

at 5.25% 

IN MARCH, The Bank of 

England held interest rates 

for the fifth time, at 5.25%. 

The Bank of England’s Monetary 

Policy Committee (MPC) sets 

monetary policy to meet a 2% 

inflation target, which is expected 

to be achieved temporarily in Q2 

of 2024. At its meeting ending on 

20 March 2024, the MPC voted by 

a majority of 8–1 to maintain Bank 

Rate at 5.25%. 

One member preferred to reduce 

Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage 

points, to 5%. 

Anna Leach, CBI Deputy Chief 

Economist, said: “The Bank of 

England has as expected chosen to 

keep interest rates on hold for the 

fifth occasion, following February’s 

inflation number which came in at 

its lowest since 2021. 

“Nonetheless, services inflation, 

though falling in line with 

expectations, remains relatively 

high at 6.1%. And wage inflation, 

while likewise having fallen back is 

still running too hot to sustainably 

deliver 2% inflation, with risks that 

the forthcoming rise in the national 

living wage may yet spur renewed 

wage pressures. 

“The CBI’s own surveys have 

shown the downward trend in price 

expectations stall across much of 

the private sector recently, amidst 

a renewed uptick in cost pressures. 

And the ongoing conflicts in the 

Middle East and Ukraine present 

further risks to the inflation outlook. 

“Unsurprisingly therefore the 

Bank has reiterated that they’re 

looking for further evidence of 

sustained declines in domestic 

inflationary measures in particular 

in the coming months before 

they’ll consider dropping rates, 

with markets expecting the first 

downward move to come in June.” 

DON’T 

FORGET 

TO SEND 

US YOUR 

NEWS 

Email: info@ 

buildermagazines. 

co.uk 

I have a fantastic memory. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I forgot something.

howkinsandharrison.co.uk 

Development site at Summerfields, Catton, 

Swadlincote, South Derbyshire, DE12 8LW 

Summerfields offers a unique opportunity to purchase two agricultural 

barns with permission for conversion to residential dwellings, threebedroom 

detached bungalow subject to an agricultural occupancy 

condition and land extending to approximately 6.38 acres in total. 

Available as a whole or in three lots. 

CONTACT: Anna Meynell | anna.meynell@howkinsandharrison.co.uk 

Development plot with planning permission, 

Robinson’s Hill, Melbourne, 

Derbyshire DE73 8DJ 

The Barn at Robinsons Hill offers an exceptional and unique opportunity to 

purchase a building plot with planning permission for a substantial 4 bedroom 

family home set in 1.33 acres, with exquisite views over the attractive Georgian 

market town of Melbourne. 

CONTACT: Anna Meynell | anna.meynell@howkinsandharrison.co.uk 

For sale by ONLINE AUCTION: two bedroom 

semi-detached home, Newhall. Swadlincote, 

Derbyshire DE11 0SN 

Requiring full modernisation and renovation throughout the property 

currently offers and open plan dining/kitchen, separate reception 

lounge, ground floor family bathroom and two double bedrooms both 

with en suite shower room, rear gardens and patio. 

CONTACT: Lily Taylor | lily.taylor@howkinsandharrison.co.uk 

ENQUIRIES 

Howkins & Harrison 58 Market Street, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire LE65 1AN 

ashby@howkinsandharrison.co.uk | 01530 877977 option 4


Car Thefts Have Risen By 50% 

Due To ‘Smart Keys’ - Expert 

Reveals How To Keep Yours Safe 

Car thefts are now at their highest in a decade, and the 

recent rise is down to the automatic systems that unlock 

cars with ‘smart keys’. 

The number of stolen cars has risen from 85,803 vehicles in the year to 

March 2012 to 130,270 in the year to March 2023, an increase of more than 

50%, and this is largely down to the new technology. 

As a result, Ben Pitcher, car expert and owner of DPFexperts, has 

explained how to keep your car safe and out of the hands of thieves if you 

have ‘smart keys’. 

Please find Ben’s advice below: 

Signal Blocking 

Faraday cage your keys: It may be worthwhile 

investing a relatively small amount of money in a 

Faraday pouch, a metal-lined box that blocks the 

signal emitted by your key fob, in order to deter any 

car thieves. 

When your keys aren’t in use, simply store them in 

the Faraday cage, especially at night if you usually 

keep them near windows or doors. 

Faraday cage available from Amazon for £18.99 

Metal containers work too: If you don’t want to 

splash out on a Faraday cage, a metal tin may also do the same job. Even 

your fridge can offer temporary signal-blocking protection from car thieves, 

but you may want to tell anyone you live with beforehand so they don’t start 

asking questions! 

Habitual Security 

Double-check the lock: Although it may 

seem obvious, it’s important that you always 

double-check that your car is physically 

locked and don’t solely rely on the automatic 

locking feature, especially after you think 

you’ve locked it using the key fob. 

Keep keys out of sight: It’s unfortunate 

that you have to think about such mundane 

things, but it’s important that you don’t leave 

your keys near windows or doors, even inside 

your house, as this makes them vulnerable to 

signal relay attacks. 

Consider a steering wheel lock: Steering locks may have gone out of 

fashion some time ago, but they are an effective way of keeping your 

vehicle out of the wrong hands. While not foolproof, a visible steering wheel 

lock can deter opportunistic thieves. 

Steering wheel lock available from Toolstation for £23.98 

Advanced Security 

Talk to your car dealer: It’s important to be informed about the technology 

you are purchasing or are already in possession of, so it’s advisable to ask 

your car dealer about your specific model’s capabilities. Newer key fobs 

might have features like motion detection that deactivate the signal when 

not in use. 

Invest in a tracker: It may seem a tad extreme, but it could prove very 

beneficial to install a hidden GPS tracker in your car as this can help 

authorities locate your vehicle even if it’s stolen. 

Explore aftermarket solutions: Additional security systems like ghost 

immobilisers, which require a separate code to start the car, can add 

another layer of protection. 

Understanding The Threat 

Relay attacks: Thieves use two devices, one near the key fob and another 

near the car, to amplify the key’s signal and trick the car into unlocking. 

Source: DPFexperts 

Melton Borough 

Council adds three new 

homes to its housing stock 

MELTON BOROUGH 

COUNCIL has 

acquired three 

new homes, 

adding to its 

housing stock and 

providing new, 

high-quality homes 

for households in 

housing need. 

The brand-new 

properties are situated across the borough, with a two-bedroom house 

located in Melton Mowbray and two three-bedroom properties located 

in Asfordby and are the first in a pipeline of housing acquisitions being 

progressed by the council as part of its affordable housing development 

plan. 

The new homes are now available through the Council’s Housing 

Register and eligible housing register applicants can express an interest in 

the homes via their Housing online account. The houses will be allocated 

in line with the Council’s Housing Allocations Policy and will be let at an 

affordable rent. 

Cllr Carter and Cllr Clay, who represent the Asfordby Ward, recently 

joined housing colleagues to view the new homes in the village. They 

commented that “These two new homes in Asfordby are well located for 

the village’s amenities and will provide a good quality housing option for 

families in need. We were delighted to see that both properties are fitted 

with integrated kitchen appliances, and are fully decorated and carpeted” 

Residents can apply to be on the Council’s Housing register at www. 

melton.gov.uk/housing/apply . 

TO ADVERTISE IN LEICESTERSHIRE BUILDER 

call Mike Wilkinson on 01530 244069 

Or email: info@buildermagazines.co.uk 

My girlfriend’s nose is pointed like a triangle. The first time I met her I told her she had acute nose.


Interesting properties for sale at the 

April Kal Sangra Brothers Auction 

THE FOLLOWING properties are due 

to be offered for sale at the online 

Kal Sangra Shonki Brothers Property 

Auction on Wednesday 17th April 

2024, starting at 2.30pm: 

LOT 2: 73 Markfield Road, Groby, Leicester 

LE6 0FL 

A detached dormer bungalow with two 

bedrooms and single storey side extension. The 

property was undergoing refurbishment and 

requires total redevelopment. There is potential 

to redevelop to a two-storey property, subject to 

planning. GUIDE PRICE: £155,000-£165,000 

LOT 9: The Old Council Offices, 53 

Northampton Road, Market Harborough, 

Leics. LE16 9HB 

An attractive and spacious Grade II Listed twostorey 

former Council Offices of approximately 

2,788 sq.feet on a site area of 0.24 acres. The 

property has planning for residential conversion 

to provide 5 self-contained flats with parking. 

GUIDE PRICE: £650,000-£675,000. 

LOT 10: Land between 52 & 71 Woodhouse 

Road, Narborough, Leicester LE19 3ZA 

A level site of 

public open space 

of approximately 

2,904 sq.yards 

(0.6 acres). 

Potential for 

development, 

subject to planning 

permission. An 

illustrative scheme 

is available 

showing 7 

dwellings. 

GUIDE PRICE: £25,000 plus VAT. 

LOT 20: Former Saffron Housing 

Neighbourhood Office, 499 Saffron Lane, 

Leicester LE2 6UJ 

A two-storey property of approximately 

10,936 sq.feet with total site coverage, used 

as a Neighbourhood Area Housing Office. The 

property has air conditioning units, gas central 

heating, double glazing, 2 boilers, smoke 

detectors, intruder alarm system, suspended 

ceiling, fire alarm system, and emergency 

lighting. There is potential for redevelopment of 

the site, subject to planning permission. 

GUIDE PRICE: £500,000-£520,000 plus VAT. 

For more information, or to view the full 

catalogue of properties online, 

visit the website at https://www. 

shonkibrothers.com 

FIS LAUNCH UPDATED BEST 

PRACTICE DRYLINING GUIDE 

THE FINISHES AND INTERIORS Sector (FIS) has 

launched a revised and updated Best Practice Guide - 

Installation of Drylining to help promote best practice 

in the installation of drylining, and to take account of 

new working practices, the Building Safety Act and 

sustainability. 

First published in 2015 and updated in 2018, this revised guide is 

an invaluable aid to specifiers, contractors, clients and installers. This 

publication will guide them through the design and installation of internal, non-loadbearing drylining 

constructions using gypsum plasterboard on rigid metal framework. It also includes descriptions of 

other non-plasterboard, such as calcium silicate board, which are also used in drylined systems. This 

guide includes drylined partitions, linings and passive fire protection. 

Split into sections, the revised guide covers everything from the initial tendering and planning stages 

through to the eventual installation. It offers a series of points to consider when carrying out the 

installation of all types of drywall and provides updated and revised information. You can download the 

Best Practice Guide - Installation of Drylining at https://www.thefis.org/membership-hub/publications/ 

best-practice-guides/installation-of-drylining/. 

For further information contact the FIS at info@thefis.org or call 0121-707-0077 

Believe It or Not: 

HR Manager Shares 

Shockingly Real Sick 

Day Excuses 

WHEN IT COMES to calling in sick, 

most employees stick to the usual 

suspects: flu, migraines, or stomach 

bugs. However, as HR Manager 

Graham Grieve from A1SEO reveals, 

some excuses stretch the boundaries 

of believability while remaining 

shockingly real. 

The Thin Line Between 

Believable and Bizarre 

Graham Grieve has encountered a plethora 

of sick day excuses throughout his career, 

but some stand out for their unique blend of 

creativity and authenticity. Here are a few that 

left him both amazed and amused: 

The Unfortunate Hair Dye 

Incident 

One employee couldn’t come to work because 

a hair dye job went horribly wrong, resulting in 

a severe allergic reaction. Their face swelled up 

to the point where they couldn’t see. It was a 

health concern, certainly, but the circumstances 

were so unusual it took us all by surprise.” 

The Stubborn Kitchen 

Appliance 

“Another case involved an employee who 

was held hostage by their broken kitchen 

appliances. Their dishwasher malfunctioned 

and locked with the house keys inside. They 

had to wait for a technician to come and free 

their keys before they could leave the house.” 

The Aggressive Swan Attack 

“We had someone call in after being attacked 

by a swan during their morning jog. The 

swan was particularly aggressive, leaving the 

employee with minor injuries and a fear of 

crossing the park to come to work. It was one 

of those situations where reality was stranger 

than fiction.” 

The Misplaced Parking Spot 

“One of the most bewildering excuses came 

from an employee who couldn’t find their car. 

They had parked in a different area than usual 

and spent hours searching for it, ultimately 

missing their shift. The combination of panic 

and confusion made it a sick day they’ll never 

forget.” 

The Unexpected Animal 

Rescue 

“An employee once had to skip work to rescue 

a stray dog that had followed their child home 

from school. The day was spent visiting vets 

and searching for the dog’s owners, a noble 

cause that certainly warranted a day off.” 

Graham Grieve from A1SEO believes these 

examples highlight the unpredictable nature 

of life and the importance of empathy in the 

workplace. “While it’s crucial to maintain 

professionalism and accountability, we 

also need to remember that employees are 

human. Life can be unpredictable, and as 

HR professionals, our response should be 

grounded in understanding and flexibility.” 

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LEICESTERSHIRE 

HOMEBUILDER 

DONATES £1,500 TO 

CANCER CHARITY 

Housing survey reveals 

planning permissions at 

an all-time low 

THE NUMBER of sites that gained planning permission in 

2023 dropped to the lowest level for a 12-month period 

since The Housing Pipeline Report began in 2006. 

The 10,527 sites were granted permission in 2023 - a 16 per cent decrease on 

2022 and a 23 per cent fall on 2021. 

The volume is about half the average annual permissions granted between 

2015 and 2019, according to the report by market intelligence consultancy 

Glenigan for the Home Builders Federation, HBF. 

The number of units gaining planning permission in England during 2023 

dropped to the lowest for any 12-month period since 2014. 

At under 233,000, the number of units approved in 2023 decreased by a fifth 

on 2022, 27 per cent on 2021 and was down 30 per cent on pre-pandemic 

levels. 

The figures follow hard on the heels of government data which show a 13 

per cent year-on-year decrease in house completions in southern England in 

2023. 

Fewer local plans 

The Competition and Markets Authority’s investigation into housebuilding noted 

that councils’ local plans were crucial for gauging the number of permission 

approvals needed to meet housing need. 

The HBF has pointed out that since housing and levelling up secretary Michael 

Gove’s decision to make housing targets ‘discretionary’ last Autumn, 64 

councils have paused or withdrawn their plans. 

The number of plans adopted last year was the lowest for a decade. Planning 

consultancy Lichfields’ research points to the fact that this could cause a drop 

of 77,000 homes a year. 

The trade body said most councils who have done this are concentrated in 

southern England and accused Mr Gove of pandering to ‘nimbyism’. 

The Housing Pipeline Report shows the number of units approved in 2023 was 

the lowest since 2015 in the Southeast, the lowest since 2013 in London and 

the lowest since 2012 in the Southwest. Year-on-year, each of these regions 

saw falls of 13, 26 and 18 per cent respectively. The same regions have 

already seen annual falls of more than ten per cent in new build completions. 

Unit approvals for the North of England dropped 18 per cent for 2023 compared 

to 2021, 23 per cent for the Midlands and 28 per cent for the South of England. 

Brokers Hank Zarihs Associates said development finance lenders were 

concerned the planning process had become so complicated and underfunded 

causing unacceptable delays for SME housebuilders. 

Developers were disappointed the chancellor Jeremy Hunt failed in last 

month’s budget to help first-time buyers with getting a deposit together to 

enable them to get their foot on the property ladder. 

They argue this is a further blow to the government’s target of building 300,000 

a year by the mid-2020s. 

The construction industry is also blaming Natural England’s policy on 

maintaining nutrient neutrality of rivers across different parts of England for 

halting 150,000 new homes. They argue that intensive farming rather than 

housebuilding is the main pollution culprit. 

A COALVILLE-BASED charity has received a £1,500 

donation from David Wilson Homes to support its services 

dedicated to improving the physical appearance and 

overall wellbeing of people living with cancer. 

Look Good Feel Better realises how challenging it can be to process a 

cancer diagnosis and manage the physical and emotional side-effects of 

cancer treatment. The charity runs workshops and classes virtually, and at 

cancer care centres and hospitals across the UK, to support women, men 

and young adults through this time. 

The Community Fund donation of £1,500 from David Wilson Homes will 

help Look Good Feel Better to continue to run its face-to-face workshops 

that help restore the confidence and self-esteem of its beneficiaries whilst 

they are going through cancer treatment. 

Ian Daniels, Director of Fundraising and Head of Communications at 

Look Good Feel Better, said: “We were absolutely delighted when we 

heard that David Wilson Homes was going to support us. There are 

currently three million people in the UK living with cancer and that number 

is expected to rise to four million by 2030, so the demand for our specialist 

services continues to grow. 

“Every donation makes a difference. £20 goes towards recruiting and 

training a workshop volunteer, while £500 funds an entire face-to-face 

workshop for up to 10 people, which builds confidence and self-esteem for 

those living with cancer. Thank you to everyone at David Wilson Homes for 

the support.” 

The developer’s donation was made as part of its Community Fund 

scheme via The Barratt Foundation, which is run by its parent company, 

Barratt Developments. It is designed to support national and local charities, 

large and small, across the UK to leave a legacy in the communities in 

which the housebuilder operates. 

Site with planning to 

convert three barns 

WOODFORD & CO Estate Agents are 

offering for sale a development site with 

planning consent (ref: 17/01325/FUL) 

for part demolition and conversion of 

barns to form three residential dwellings. 

The planning permission has been implemented 

and has a Certificate of Lawfulness under reference 

NE/21/01091/LDE), enabling consent in perpetuity. 

The property is situated at Wigsthorpe in 

Northamptonshire. Guide Price: £750,000. 

For more information, or to arrange a viewing, 

DEVELOPMENT SITE 

contact WIGSTHORPE Chris | NORTHAMPTONSHIRE Woodford at Woodford & Co. on 01832 274732 or email: 

chris@woodfordandco.com 

My girlfriend dumped me because I ‘take things too far’. So I called the police.

Leicestershire BUILDER Magazine • APRIL 2024 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@buildermagazines.co.uk 39 

Highest number of new builds 

in the UK: Harborough makes 

the top five 

A NEW STUDY by 24housing.co.uk reveals that Stratfordon-Avon 

had the most completed new builds in the UK 

from 2020 to 2023. 

The study examined building completion rates in various local authorities 

across the UK between 2020 and 2023 and compared them to the 

population of each local authority to determine the number of builds 

completed per 10,000 people. 

Stratford-on-Avon takes first place with 283.9 new buildings completed 

per 10,000 population, reflecting a concerted effort to meet the growing 

demands of its populace. The total number is 3,860 houses compared to 

its population of 135,964. This picturesque locale, renowned for its historic 

charm and cultural significance, comprises the town of Stratford-upon- 

Avon, globally famous for its association with William Shakespeare, which 

makes it a popular location for tourists and, given the surge in builds, also 

among people who want to relocate and buy a house in the area. 

Second is South Derbyshire, which follows closely behind, with 3,000 

builds completed, translating to 277.6 new houses per 10,000 population. 

The region’s strategic location and robust economic infrastructure 

contribute to its attractiveness for developers and residents. 

Mid Suffolk has demonstrated a commendable commitment to urban 

development, ranking third on the list, with 2,670 builds completed between 

2020 and 2023. This accomplishment translates to 258.2 builds per 10,000 

population, showcasing the region’s proactive approach to addressing 

housing demands while maintaining its distinct rural character. 

Further down on the list, Harborough is fourth, with 2,530 completed 

builds over the same period. With a rate of 257.4 builds per 10,000 

population, the region exemplifies a balance between urban expansion and 

environmental stewardship. 

The top five closes with Midlothian with 251.4 newbuilds completed per 

10,000 population, which reflects its strategic positioning within the Greater 

Edinburgh area and its role as an economic hub in Scotland. 

Zentia introduces Hydrabloc 

ZENTIA IS 

PROUD to 

announce the 

launch of its 

Hydrabloc 

family 

(previously 

known as 

Hydroboard). 

Successfully 

launched on the 

29th February, 

the ranges 

renaming is 

part of Zentia’s wider strategy to streamline and simplify its product name 

portfolio, making it even easier for architects and contractors to specify its 

range of ceiling solutions. 

Whilst the product name may have changed, the tiles are still the same 

exceptional quality Zentia is known for. Designed for high humidity spaces 

such as showers, hydrotherapy rooms and changing areas, the Hydrabloc 

tiles are moisture resistant, with proven stability in permanent Relative 

Humidity (RH) of 95%. The tiles can also perform in temporary conditions 

of up to 100% RH, meaning the tiles will not deflect or deform in damp 

conditions. 

Offering an acoustically-sound solution with a Class A rating for sound 

absorption, the Hydrabloc family can reduce echo and control noise levels 

within high humidity environments. 

The white tiles provide 89% light reflectance, brightening interiors 

naturally and reducing the need for artificial light, further improving the 

wellbeing of occupants. 

The Hydrabloc tiles are available in two different edge types, Board and 

Tegular24, allowing different visuals dependent on project requirements. 

The system comes with a 30-year guarantee, offering specifiers extra 

confidence and peace of mind when opting for Hydrabloc. 

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Recent Planning Applications 

Leicester City 

Ms Lauren Tyrell (c/o Agent: 

Tim Sloan, Levitate Architecture 

& Design Studio, Patch, North Lee 

Lane, Aylesbury, Bucks. HP22 5YB) - 

Variation of condition 28 (Drawings) 

attached to planning permission 

20220960 (Demolition of existing 

buildings and construction of 44 

houses (2x1 bed, 30x2 bed, 12x3 

bed) and 9 flats (5x1 bed and 4x2 

bed) with associated landscaping, 

public open space, roads and car 

parking) to change approved drawing 

references – at Site of Southfield 

Infant School, Southfields Drive, 

Leicester LE2 6QT. 

Mr Haroon Adam (c/o Agent: Mr 

Muhammad Imtiaz, Architecture365 

Ltd, 20 Lynmouth Road, Leicester 

LE5 1NA) - Change of use of ground 

floor & first floor from light industrial 

factory (Class E) to 8 flats (7x 

1-Bed, 1x 2-Bed) (Class C3) – at 94 

Halstead Street, Leicester LE5 

3RD. 

Cheswold Welford Road Limited 

(c/o Agent: Miss Emma Bilton, 

Quod, Capitol House, Bond Court, 

Leeds LS1 5SP) - Non material 

amendment to planning permission 

20221990 to amend the description 

of development to: Demolition of 

existing office building (Class E). 

Construction of a new building for 

apartments (Class C3) and/or student 

accommodation (sui generis) with 

ground floor commercial, business 

and service unit (Class E); car and 

cycle parking, landscaping and 

new pedestrian infrastructure and 

substitution of new plan reference 

numbers into conditions 11 (FFL’s) 

and 31 (approved plans) – at Former 

James House, 55 Welford Road, 

Leicester LE2 7AR. 

Mr Karavadra (c/o Agent: Miss 

Dhyana Nagar, SKM Design, Unit 

D, Edward House, Grange Business 

Park, Enderby Road, Whetstone, 

Leicester LE8 6EP) - Demolition of 

existing garages; construction of four 

houses (Class C3) – at Garage Court 

Adjacent to 73 Turner Road, 

Leicester LE5 0QB. 

Mr J Goutam (c/o Agent: Robert 

O’Callaghan Architects, Ivy House, 

Church Street, Churchover, Rugby, 

Warks. CV23 0EW) - Change of use 

from dwellinghouse (1x4 bed) (Class 

C3) to four flats (4 x1 bed) (Class C3); 

construction of first storey extension 

at rear; alterations – at 52-54 

Rosedale Avenue, Leicester LE4 

7AU. 

Mr K Sangra (c/o Agent: MasterPlan 

Design Limited, The Vicarage, First 

Floor, 1 Woodhill, Vulcan Road, 

Leicester LE5 3JB) - Change of use 

from offices (Class E) to two flats (2x1 

Bed) (Class C3) – at 55 London Road, 

Leicester LE2 0PE. 

Rutland County 

Mr Jon Gibbison (c/o Hereward 

Homes (Greetham) Ltd, 27B Crocket 

Lane, Oakham, Rutland LE15 

8PW) – New commercial office unit 

and access road – at Greetham 

Quarry, Stretton Road, Greetham, 

Rutland LE15 7NP. 

Ana Vilela (c/o Agent: Ms Ellen Fortt, 

Pegasus Group, 33 Sheep Street, 

Cirencester GL7 1RQ) - Full Planning 

Application for the installation and 

operation of a solar farm together 

with all associated works, equipment, 

necessary infrastructure and 

biodiversity enhancement areas – at 

Land To The South Of Pilton 

Village, Luffenham Lane, Pilton, 

Rutland. 

Mr Jon Gibbison (c/o Hereward 

Homes (Greetham) Ltd, 27B Crocket 

Lane, Oakham, Rutland LE15 

8PW) – Creation of a foul pumping 

station and balancing pond for 

adjacent residential development - at 

Greetham Quarry, Stretton Road, 

Greetham, Rutland LE15 7NP. 

Mr Bruce Tolmie-Thomson 

(c/o Agent: RTK Stamford Ltd, 

20 Belton Street, Stamford PE9 

2EF) - Application for Full Planning 

Permission further to 2021/1367/OUT 

for access, appearance, landscaping, 

layout and scale for two new dwellings 

with ancillary garaging and a pool 

house – at Land To The West Of 

Wing Road, Manton, Rutland. 

Jeakins Weir Limited (c/o Agent: 

Alasdair Thorne, Marrons, The Atrium, 

Waterfront Plaza, 35 Station Street, 

Nottingham NG2 3DQ) - Reserved 

matters application for details relating 

to external appearance, layout, scale 

and landscaping for the construction 

of 92 dwellings, pursuant to Outline 

Permission ref 2021/1124/MAO – 

at land North of Braunston Road, 

Oakham, Rutland. 

North West Leics. 

Mr P Wheatley (c/o Agent: David 

Granger Architectural Design, The 

Old Cottage Hospital, Leicester Road, 

Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire 

LE65 1DB) – Change of use of former 

public conveniences to offices (Use 

Class E (c) and E (g) (i)) – at Public 

Conveniences, Wolsey Road, 

Coalville, Leicestershire LE67 3TR 

Mr J Emerson (c/o Agent: Mr Scott 

Wilcox, S & S Architecture (Ashby) 

Limited, 21 Hackett Close, Ashby 

de la Zouch, Leicestershire LE65 

2HP) - Erection of 3 dwellings and 

the part demolition of agricultural 

buildings (reserved matters to include 

appearance, scale and landscaping to 

outline planning permission 23/00240/ 

OUT) – at Field House Farm, Lily 

Bank, Thringstone, Coalville, 

Leicestershire LE67 8NB. 

Blaby District 

Mr Liam Edwards (c/o Agent: Mr 

Jonathan Bradbury, JEB Planning, 

45 Brighton Terrace, Sheffield S10 

1NT) - Erection of 23 dwellings and 

associated works including demolition 

of existing bungalow & outbuildings – 

at Site Of Elms Farm Bungalow, 

Springwell Lane, Whetstone, 

Leicester LE8 6LT. 

Messrs S & S Sykes (c/o Agent: 

David Granger Architectural Design 

Ltd, The Old Cottage Hospital, 

Leicester Road, Ashby de la Zouch, 

Leicestershire LE65 1DB) - Erection of 

two self build dwellings and change 

of use of land to form associated 

parking, turning and residential 

garden (outline only with access and 

layout details provided) – at Land 

At Cosby Road, (located To The 

West Of Holt Way), Littlethorpe, 

Leicestershire LE19 2HG. 

Mr J McGarry (c/o Agent: John 

Hackman, The Drawing Room 

(Architects) Ltd, Chartered Architects, 

130 Moat Street, Wigston, Leicester 

LE18 2GE) - Outline application for 

the erection of up to 3 new dwellings 

and demolition of existing dwelling (All 

matters reserved except access) – at 

77 Station Road, Countesthorpe, 

Leicester LE8 5TB. 

Mr Gregory Pollard (c/o Agent: Mr 

Jack de Vere Hunt, IMA Architects, 

6 Rose Way, Blaby Business Park, 

Lutterworth Road, Blaby, Leicester 

LE8 4BY) - Erection of one industrial 

unit for B2 & B8 use – at Leicester 

G B Tools Ltd, Regent Road, 

Countesthorpe, Leicestershire 

LE8 5RF. 

Glen Parva JV LLP (c/o Agent: 

Mrs Olivia Hewitt, Vistry South East 

Midlands, Penman House, 1 Penman 

Way, Grove Park, Leicester LE19 1SY) 

- Full application for 26 dwellings with 

associated infrastructure – at Land 

To South West Of Cork Lane, Glen 

Parva, Leicestershire. 

Mr James Vernon (c/o Agent: 

Corporate Architecture Ltd, Venari 

House, 1 Trimbush Way, Rockingham 

Road, Market Harborough, Leics.) 

- Change of use from builder’s 

merchants and conversion of former 

goods shed (Sui Generis) to a mixed 

use of storage and offices. Proposed 

refurbishment of the former goods 

shed, including the removal of existing 

brickwork, installation of new windows 

and doors, new entrance canopy, roof 

lights and raising the existing roof 

to allow thermal improvements the 

proposed offices – at Land To The 

South Of Former Travis Perkins 

Warehouse, Station Road, 

Narborough, Leicestershire LE19 

2HR. 

Mr Neil McVea (c/o Agent: Paul 

Roberts, Architects LE1 Limited, 

Westwood House, 78 Loughborough 

Road, Quorn, Loughborough, Leics. 

LE12 8DX) - New testing facility 

building (82D) including offices and 

control rooms, associated battery 

store building, new warehouse, 

side extension to blocks 82B & 82C 

(Power Bulge), relocation of existing 

temporary store buildings, ancillary 

buildings and external works – at 

Block 82, The Whittle Estate ( 

Alstom Site), Cambridge Road, 

Whetstone, Leicestershire LE8 

6LH. 

Mr Joshua Wesson (c/o Agent: 

Mr Satnam Flora, Stephen George & 

Partners, Waterfront House, 2A Smith 

Way, Grove Park, Enderby, Leicester 

LE19 1SX) - Extension to front of 

existing Geary’s Bakery (Class E (g) 

iii / B2 / B8) for additional bakery 

production space, together with 

additional car parking – at Unit D, 

Optimus Way, Glenfield, Leicester 

LE3 8JR. 

Charnwood 

Borough 

Think 123 Limited (c/o Agent: 

David Granger Architectural Design 

Ltd) - Proposed demolition of 

existing dwelling and associated 

buildings including removal of trees. 

Erection of 3 new dwellings with 

garages including access and parking 

arrangements – at 132 Hallfields 

Lane, Rothley, Leicestershire LE7 

7NG 

Mr Iqbal Hussain (c/o Agent: 

Homescape Architecture Ltd) - Class 

MA Prior Approval change of use 

from ground floor Commercial, 

Business and Service (Use Class E) to 

Dwellinghouses (Use Class C3) – at 

28A Boyer Street, Loughborough, 

Leicestershire LE11 1DT. 

Mr John Mark Hutchinson - 

Removal or variation of condition 12 

of P/21/2593/2 Erection of 5 dwellings 

and garages with vehicular accesses 

and associated works following 

demolition of existing farm buildings 

– at Hollies Farm, Old Gate Road, 

Thrussington, Leicestershire LE7 

4TL. 

Mr Jaz Sahota (c/o Agent: Bailey 

Design Limited) - Section 73 Variation 

of Condition 2 (Approved Plans) of 

Planning Application ref:P/18/0476/2 

(Conversion, alterations and 

extensions to farmhouse and 

outbuildings to create 13 dwellings 

and construction of two dwellings 

(listed building consent) (revised 

scheme - P/17/0570/2). Variation 

to consist of layout changes, 

demolition of outbuildings and 

rebuild outbuildings – at Park 

Grange Farm, Newstead Way, 

Loughborough, Leicestershire 

LE11 2FB. 

As my late father always said, get a decent watch.


Messrs Mark Horsnall & Robert 

Bentley (c/o Agent: HSSP Architects 

Limited) - Demolition of existing 

dwelling and felling of specific 

boundary trees. Construction of a 

new 183 bed purpose built student 

accommodation facility with associated 

communal facilities and service areas. 

Alteration to access off Browns Lane 

(Resubmission of Planning Application 

ref: P/23/0742/2.) – at Brookside, 

Browns Lane, Loughborough, 

Leicestershire LE11 3HE. 

Mr Richardson Henderson - 

Reserved Matters application pursuant 

to Outline Approval ref: P/20/2140/2, 

Erection of 70 dwellings and associated 

works including landscaping, drainage 

infrastructure & access to existing 

allotments (Reserved Matters of 

P/20/2140/2, including details of 

appearance, landscaping, layout and 

scale) – at Land South of Farmers 

Way/Brookfield Road, Rothley, 

Leicestershire. 

Hinckley & 

Bosworth Borough 

John Cooper (c/o Agent: Andrew 

Moore Architectural Services, 2 

Netherley Road, Hinckley, Leics. LE10 

0RF) - Proposed two storey warehouse 

industrial unit – at Unit 2, Arthur 

Street, Barwell, Leicestershire LE9 

8GZ. 

Wayne Worsdale (c/o: 1 Phoenix 

Place, Phoenix Centre, Nottingham 

NG8 6BA) - Application for approval 

of Reserved Matters (relating to 

Layout, Scale, Appearance, and 

Landscaping) of appeal decision 

APP/K2420/W/23/3321670 (outline 

planning application 22/00192/OUT) 

for the provision of 82 dwellings, car 

parking, open space, children’s play 

area and associated infrastructure 

– at Land Opposite Spring 

Acre, Lychgate Lane, Burbage, 


Mrs Nicola Lea (c/o: A R Cartwright 

Limited, Vicarage Street, Nuneaton, 

Warks. CV11 4AZ) - Proposed 

development of 7 dwellings - the 

conversion of the existing building 

into 2 dwellings and 5 new build 

properties – at Oddfellows Arms, 25 

Main Street, Higham On The Hill, 

Nuneaton, Warks. CV13 6AH 

Mr Paul Waterfield (c/o: 

Davidsons Homes, Blisworth Hill 

Farm, Rickyard Barn, Stoke Road, 

Blisworth, Northants. NN7 3DB) 

– Full Planning Application for the 

Provision of Additional 23 Residential 

Dwellings Including Vehicular Access, 

Landscaping, Drainage and all other 

Associated Works - at Land North Of 

Deepdale Farm, Lutterworth Road, 

Burbage, Leicestershire. 

Melton Borough 

Mr & Mrs Neil & Freda Rowbotham 

(c/o Agent: Mr Cory Staton, HSSP 

Architects Limited, Pera Business Park, 

Nottingham Road, Melton Mowbray, 

Leics. LE13 0PB) - Proposed Change 

of Use of two Agricultural Buildings 

to Two Larger dwellinghouses 

under Schedule 2, Part 3, Class Q 

of the Town and Country Planning 

(Permitted Development) Order 2015 

(as amended) – at Field OS 3354, 

Meadow Croft, Melton Road, 

Scalford, Leics. 

Messrs Nicholas Homewood (c/o 

Agent: Mrs Helen Broadhurst, Elder 

House, 2 Boyers Orchard, Harby, 

Melton Mowbray, Leics.LE13 4BA) 

- Erection of 4 no. dwellings with 

associated access from Chetwynd 

Drive – at Gardens Rear Of 249 

To 253 Asfordby Road, Melton 

Mowbray, Leics. 

Coy (c/o Agent: Mark Abell, Mark 

Architecture Limited, 1 Vicary Lane, 

Woodhouse, Leics. LE12 8UL) - 

Change of Use from existing farm 

buildings to create 3 large dwelling 

houses (more than 100m2 but no 

more than 456m2) – at Washdyke 

Farm, Long Lane, Stathern, 

Leicestershire LE14 4HJ. 

Harborough 

District 

Mr S March (c/o Agent: Mark 

Winklewski Associates, 4 park Mews, 

Burnmill Road, Market Harborough, 

Leics. LE16 7JQ) - Erection of 6 

dwellings and associated access. 

Variation of Condition 11 (Plans) of 

21/01003/FUL to add a single storey 

garden room to the side elevation 

of plot 6 – at Bridgedale Rise, 

Medbourne, Leicestershire. 

Mr Roy Holyland (c/o Agent: 

Jonathan Oxley, Concept Zero 

Architects Ltd, The White Hart, 

Leicester Road, Billesdon, 

Leicestershire LE7 9AQ) - Alterations 

and change of use of former 

Magistrates Court to three dwellings, 

including regularisation of existing 

unauthorised works – at The Old 

Magistrates Court House, 5 

Gilmorton Road, Lutterworth, 

Leicestershire LE17 4DY. 

Mr Craig Free (c/o Agent: Johnathan 

Monk, Chartered Architect, 82 

Coleridge Drive, Enderby, Leicester 

LE19 4QG) - Erection of 6 dwellings 

with associated access, car parking 

and landscaping (revised scheme of 

20/00614/FUL) (Variation of Condition 

2 (approved plans) of 20/01470/ 

FUL to amend plans and elevations 

of houses and garages previously 

approved for Plots 1, 4, 5 and 6) – 

at Land North of Ashley Road, 

Medbourne, Leicestershire. 

Mr Mitesh Rathod (c/o: Jelson 

Limited, 370 Loughborough Road, 

Leicester LE4 5PR) - Erection of 

130 dwellings (Reserved matters 

of 14/00669/OUT) - Variation of 

Condition 1 (Plans) of 17/00602/ 

REM to regularise the public right of 

way – at Land Off Pulford Drive, 

Scraptoft, Leicestershire. 

Ministry of Justice (c/o Agent: 

Katharine Morgan, Cushman & 

Wakefield, St Pauls House, 23 Park 

Square South, Leeds LS1 2ND) - 

Reserved Matters for the construction 

of a new Category B prison of 

up to 82,555sqm within a secure 

perimeter fence, together with access, 

parking, landscaping and associated 

engineering works (appearance and 

layout to be considered, pursuant 

to outline planning permission ref: 

21/01600/OUT (access, scale and 

landscaping)) – at Land Adj HM 

Prison, Welland Avenue, Gartree, 

Lubenham, Leicestershire. 

Mr David Wright (c/o Agent: 

John Hackman, The Drawing 

Room (Architects) Ltd, 130 Moat 

Street, Wigston, Leicester LE18 

2GE) - Erection of two dwellings 

(Reserved Matters of 18/01313/ 

OUT including details of access, 

appearance, landscaping, layout 

and scale). Variation of Condition 

5 (Plans) of 19/01080/REM – at 9 

Broad Lane, Husbands Bosworth, 

Leicestershire LE17 6FD. 

Mr Richard Henderson (c/o 

Agent: Davidsons Developments 

Ltd, 207 Wilson House, Leicester 

Road, Ibstock, Leics. LE65 6HP) 

- Erection of 150 dwellings and 

associated works (Reserved Matters 

of 18/00579/OUT, including details 

of appearance, landscaping, layout 

and scale) (Variation of Conditions 

1 (permitted plans), 2 (electricity 

substation), 3 (parking and turning 

facilities), 7 (CEMP), 8 (Landscaping), 

10 (footpath material) and 11 

(Birdcage Cottage) of 21/01222/ 

REM to amend/redesign the layout 

and housetypes and accordingly 

amend the Conditions/wording). 

Variation of Conditions 1 (Plans) and 

2 (Parking) of 22/01620/VAC – at 

Land Off Arnesby Road, Fleckney, 


Ms Kayleigh Perry (c/o Agent: 

Jonah Mastin, Mastin.DFL Limited, 5 

Martin Avenue, Oadby, Leicester LE2 

4NH) - Erection of 4 dwellings with 

associated infrastructure. Variation 

of condition 2 (Plans) of 22/00634/ 

FUL to install air source heat pumps 

(ASHPs) – at Land Adjacent 27 

Lutterworth Road, Walcote, 


Martyn Jones (c/o Agent: Martyn 

Jones & Associates, The Reading 

Room, 33 Main Street, Medbourne, 

Market Harborough, Leics. LE16 

8DT) - Conversion of existing single 

dwelling into three dwellings – at 

14 Leicester Road, Kibworth 

Harcourt, Leicestershire LE8 0NN. 

Design Studio Architects Limited 

(c/o: Regent House, 7 Upper 

King Street, Leicester LE1 6XB) - 

Notification to determine if Prior 

Approval is required for a proposed 

change of use from commercial, 

business and services (Use Class E) 

to three dwellinghouse (Use Class 

C3) (Part 3 Class MA) - at Wesses 

Bakery, 55 The Square, Market 

Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 

7PA. 

Susan & Janet Porter-Davison & 

Eastwood (c/o Agent: Tom Donnelly, 

Parker Planning Services Ltd, 13-15 

Cathedral Street, Norwich NR1 1LU) 

- Outline application for the erection 

of two dwellings (custom/self build) 

(access only to be considered) – at 

Land Adjacent Manor Road, 

Ullesthorpe, Leicestershire. 

BM King Limited (c/o Agent: Mark 

Shrive, 48A Northampton Road, 


9HE) - Residential development for 

4 dwellings (approval of reserved 

matters 22/01240/OUT) – at Land 

Adj 1A Victoria Street, Fleckney, 


Mr Scott Chamberlain (c/o: 

Davidsons Homes South Midlands Ltd, 

Rickyard Barn, Blisworth Hill Farm, 

Stoke Road, Blisworth, Northants. NN7 

3DB) - Reposition of 10 dwellings and 

associated garages and paths (Revised 

scheme of 21/02182/REM for phase 

2) – at Land South Of Kettering 

Road, Market Harborough, 


Mr Jason Lowes (c/o Agent: Rapleys 

LLP, 66 St James’s Street, London 

SW1A 1NE) – Erection of sub station - 

at Land Adjacent To Hawke Way, 

Bitteswell, Leicestershire. 

Ms T Wheatcroft (c/o Agent: Jeremy 

Murfitt, Everything is Somewhere 

Limited, Manor Cottage, 60 Main 

Street, West Leake, Leics. LE12 

5RF) - Conversion of an agricultural 

building into two dwellings (self-build 

and custom build) – at Agricultural 

Building, South Of Lutterworth 

Road, Arnesby, Leicestershire. 

Mr James Phillips (c/o Agent: Tim 

Necklen, Corporate Architecture 

Ltd, Venari House, 1 Trimbush Way, 


7XY) - Erection of two retail units 

with ancillary storage to first floor 

(resubmission of 21/00394/FUL) – at 

Car Park, High Street, Fleckney, 


Mr Richard Henderson (c/o: 

Davidsons Developments Ltd, 207 

Wilson House, Leicester Road, 

Ibstock, Leicestershire LE67 6HP) 

- Erection of 315 dwellings and 

associated garages and parking 

(reserved matters of 13/01483/ 

OUT) - revised scheme of 17/01966/ 

REM covering plot substitutions and 

layout revisions (covering details 

of appearance, landscaping, layout 

& scale) (Variation of Conditions 1 

(approved plans) and 2 (parking 

and turning facilities) of 23/00309/ 

REM Phase 3 to update housetypes 

to 10 plots including an updated 

layout plan) – at Land To The 

West Of Leicester Road, Market 

Harborough, Leicestershire. 

Rugby Borough 

Morro Partnerships & Rugby 

Assets Limited & Rugby Assets 

1 Limited (c/o Agent: rg+p Limited, 

Waterloo House, 71 Princess 

Road West, Leicester LE1 6TR) – 

Construction of 105 dwellings with 

associated access, roads, parking 

and landscaping – at Land North of 

Projects Drive, Rugby, Warks. 

Orangestar Capital Rugby Limited 

(c/o Agent: Mr Ben Rayner, Holland 

Lloyd, Advantage House, Stowe Court, 

Stowe Street, Lichfield WS13 6AQ) – 

Erection of 4 dwellings, landscaping, 

access and associated works – at 

land to the north of the Old Dairy, 

Coton House, Rugby, Warks. 

My wife just said she left me four weeks ago because of how unobservant I am.


Recent Planning Applications 

East Northants. 

Travers Property Holdings Ltd 

(c/o Agent: Mr J Bratby, VJS Projects 

Limited, 2nd Floor, 181 Queensway, 

Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Bucks. MK2 

2DZ) - Splitting of 1no. retail unit 

(class E use) into 2no. retail units 

(class E use) with part change of 

use of ground floor and conversion 

to create 2no. residential dwellings, 

including demolition of former 

outbuilding with associated private 

amenity space, refuse storage, cycle 

parking and landscaping - at 49 

High Street Rushden NN10 0QE 

Aaron Simon (c/o: Seagrave 

Developments, Higham Road Trading 

Estate, Higham Road, Burton Latimer, 

Kettering NN15 5PU) - Modification 

of Planning Obligation pursuant 

to application 18/01109/FUL: Full 

application for 10 dwellings, including 

access, parking, landscaping and 

associated infrastructure and Planning 

Appeal no APP/G2815/W/20/3259241, 

to waive/cancel the Unilateral 

Undertaking dated 20 November 

2020 – at Land To The North East 

Side Of Midland Road Raunds, 

Northants. 

Mr Bob Fett (c/o Agent: Anna-Louise 

Jardine, Copper Beech Architecture, 

21 Mallows Drive, Raunds, 

Wellingborough, Northants. NN9 

6SE) - Change of use of agricultural 

barn to two dwellings and associated 

operational development. Installation 

of external cladding, roof, windows, 

doors and timber door (Re-submission 

of NE/23/00252/PDU) – at Land 

Between 56 And 58 Avenue Road, 

Rushden, Northants. NN10 0SJ. 

Oundle School (c/o Agent: Emily 

Warner, Smith Jenkins Planning & 

Heritage, 7 Canon Harnett Court, 

Wolverton Mill, Milton Keynes, Bucks. 

MK12 5NF) - Demolition of former 

primary school buildings and the 

construction of a purpose built girls’ 

boarding house for Oundle School 

with associated works – at Oundle 

Church Of England Primary 

School, Milton Road, Oundle, 

Peterborough PE8 4AB. 

Corby Borough 

Mr Frank Burns (c/o Agent: Mr 

Alex Jelley, Alpine Planning Ltd, 4 

Donnington Road, Burton Latimer, 

Kettering, Northants. NN15 5WL) – 

Demolition of existing bungalowand 

garage and construction of 2 dwellings 

and associated infrastructure – 

at 143 Corby Road, Weldon, 

Northants. NN17 3HU. 

South Derbyshire 

District 

Needwood Homes Limited (c/o 

Agent: Steve D Piearce, Pant Glas, 

Manordeilo, Llandeilo SA19 7BL) - 

Partial demolition of existing house, 

alterations to existing vehicular 

access and extension of driveway and 

erection of garage and three detached 

dwellings with garages – at Land 

to the rear of 162 Wood Lane, 

Newhall, Swadlincote, DE11 0LY. 

McDiarmid (c/o Agent: Niche 

Architecture Limited, South Street, 

Ashby de la Zouch, Leics. LE65 

1FR) – Construction of 2 semidetached 

houses – at 24 Sunnyside, 

Newhall, Swadlincote, South 

Derbyshire DE11 0TJ. 

Mr Sanghera (c/o Agent: Mrs 

Marissa Sudar, Worcester Architects 

Ltd, Studio 20, Sadler Bridge 

Studios, Bold Lane, Derby DE1 3NT) 

– Conversion of existing building 

to provide habitable spaces – at 

Mill House, Swarkestone Road, 

Chellaston, Derby DE73 6WB. 

Mr & Mrs Roland & Marie Wain 

(c/o Agent: Mrs Claire Preston, JMI 

Planning, 62 Carter Street, Uttoxeter, 

Staffs. ST14 8EU) – Conversion of two 

agricultural buildings to residential 

use and sub-division of a residential 

dwelling to 2 apartments – at 186 

Station Road, Hatton, Derby DE65 

5EH. 

Rushcliffe 

Mr Harry Warren (c/o Agent: David 

Carnell, Unit 2B, Melton Road, West 

Bridgford, Notts. NG2 6EP) – Prior 

approval application for conversion 

of existing offices into C3 dwellings 

– at Oxford House, 18 Easthorpe 

Street, Ruddington, Notts. NG11 

6LA. 

Unnamed Applicant (c/o Agent: 

Tom Beardsmore, Pegasus Group, 

The Courtyard, 4 Church Street, 

Lockington, Derby DE74 2SL) - 

Application for approval of reserved 

matters for access, layout, scale, 

appearance and landscaping of outline 

permission ref. 13/02329/OUT for 28 

Dwellings (Phase 4) and amended 

landscaping proposals to form an area 

of Public Open Space and Attenuation 

Basin – at Land Off Shelford Road 

(Princes’s Place), Radcliffe On 

Trent, Nottinghamshire NG12 

1BA. 

Vistry Homes Limited (c/o Agent: 

James Bonner, Turley, 9 Colmore 

Row, Birmingham B3 2BJ) - Hybrid 

planning application compromising: 

(1) Full planning application for a first 

phase of residential development for 

400 dwellings with associated access 

from Tollerton Lane, partial demolition 

of the runway, drainage, open space 

and associated infrastructure works; 

and (2) Outline planning permission 

(all matters reserved) for a phased 

residential development at Tollerton 

Airfield compromising demolition 

of existing buildings and runway, 

development of dwellings, a primary 

school and supporting infrastructure 

including accesses from Tollerton Lane 

and A52, open space, sports pitches, 

green and blue infrastructure and 

other supporting infrastructure – at 

Land North Of Tollerton, Tollerton 

Lane, Tollerton, Nottinghamshire. 

WHEN reading a book try tearing 

out the pages as you read 

them. This saves the expense 

of buying a bookmark, and the 

pages can later be used for 

shopping lists. 

AVOID parking tickets by leaving 

your windscreen wipers turned 

to ‘fast wipe’ whenever you leave 

your car parked illegally. 

 

 

 

 

Potential 

development 

site in Allestree 

BB&J Estate Agents are 

offering for sale a 0.77 acre 

potential development site 

at Brook Farm, 1 Somme 

Road, Allestree, Derby 

DE22 2NP. 

The site has significant residential 

development potential, with a 

number of nearby dwellings having 

been sold for around £1,000,000. 

For sale by Private Treaty. Offers 

in excess of £550,000 are invited. 

Contact Cameron Godfrey at 

BB&J on 01332 292825 or email: 

c.godfrey@bbandj.co.uk 

Opportunity to 

build a barnstyle 

 

home 

THE LONG BARN, 

CHURCH FARM BARNS, OVERSTONE PARK, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE NN6 0AE 

TOTAL APPROX. NEW BUILD FLOOR AREA 4000 SQ FT/372 SQ M 

 

 

 

JACKSON-STOPS Estate 

Agents are offering for sale 

a building plot with detailed 

planning permission (ref: 

2023/6278/RM) for a 

contemporary barn-style 

detached property on a 1.7 

acre site. 

The plot – at Church Farm 

Barns, Overstone Park, 

Northants. NN6 0AE – is available 

at an asking price of £595,000. 

Alternatively, a completed 

‘turn key’ home option could be 

purchased for £1,595,000. 

For more information, or to 

arrange a viewing, contact 

Jackson-Stops on 01604 632991 

or email: northampton@jacksonstops.co.uk 

DIST 

Nort 

(Lond 

Well 

(Lond 

M1 ( 

Distan 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DESC 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GUIDE 

Or £1 

FOR S 

Leicestershire Builder Magazine 

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Why don’t autobiographies ever end with the person writing a book?


Collaborative project 

aims to develop future 

planners 

A NEW PROJECT to inspire and support the next 

generation of planning officers is underway. 

Charnwood Borough Council is working alongside planning consultancy 

Marrons and law firm Shakespeare Martineau to help Loughborough 

University students learn about the planning application process. 

The project which is part of the third year Planning, Policy and People 

module on the Urban Planning BSc/MPlan course will run until May this 

year. 

Around 18 students will gain an understanding on the documentation 

required to submit a planning application as well as learning about the 

process from submission through 

to decision-making. They will 

also find out how objections to an 

application can be put forward. 

It comes as the borough council 

recently welcomed a third-year 

Urban Planning student from the 

University to the planning team on 

a 12-month internship. 

The project is being ran across 

two phases. The first will include 

the preparation of a fictional 

planning application and a series 

of objections, both of which will be 

heard at a mock plans committee. 

The second and final phase will 

consist of a mock planning appeal 

hearing which will be supported 

by planning lawyers from 

Shakespeare Martineau. 

David Pendle, a Partner at 

Marrons has been supporting the 

delivery of the project. He said: 

“We are delighted to be working 

with key partners to help inspire 

the next generation of planners. 

“The project fits well with our own 

Marrons apprenticeship scheme 

as we look to develop talent and 

also complements our responsible 

business initiatives. I am looking 

forward to helping the students 

understand the different stages 

of the planning process and 

watching them grow as they put 

their learning into practice.” 

As the Local Planning Authority, 

Charnwood Borough Council is 

responsible for making decisions 

on planning applications (in line 

with local and national policies). 

The Council receives and 

processes around 2,500 planning 

applications each year. 

Redrow East 

Midlands to 

bring 93 new 

homes to 

Nottingham 

A LOCAL housebuilder is 

set to bring 93 homes to 

Fairham, in Nottingham. 

Work is set to begin for Redrow 

East Midlands, who will be joining 

the Fairham scheme with planning 

now officially granted by Rushcliffe 

Borough Council. 

Dovecote Grange will include 

a mix of private and affordable 

homes for those in the community, 

including a mix of three, four and 

five bedrooms on offer from the 

housebuilder’s Heritage Collection. 

The properties will also be part 

of Redrow’s new Eco Electric 

generation, featuring air source heat 

pumps and underfloor heating as 

standard – designed to significantly 

reduce energy bills. 

Dovecote Grange will form part of 

the wider 606-acre Fairham site, 

which will see a new neighbourhood 

created in the region. 

Two churches for sale at the SDL 

April Auction 

SDL PROPERTY AUCTIONS are offering for sale a couple of 

church buildings at their auction on Thursday 25th April 

2024, starting at 9.00am. 

• Methodist Church, 

Nottingham Road, 

Cropwell Bishop, 

Notts. NG12 3BP 

Comprising a Methodist 

Church with separate School 

House on approximately 0.2 

acres of land. The property 

has scope for conversion 

to two residential dwellings, 

subject to obtaining planning 

permission. 

GUIDE PRICE: £300,000+ plus fees. 

• Westhouses 

Methodist Church, 

Alfreton Road, 

Westhouses, 

Alfreton, Derbyshire 

DE55 5AH 

Comprising a detached 

former Methodist Church with 

land to the rear. Planning 

permission (ref: 23/00242/ 

FUL) has been granted for 

a pair of semi-detached 

dwellings. GUIDE PRICE: £145,000+ plus fees. 

For more information, visit the website at www.sdlauctions.co.uk 

advertising 

rates 

ADVERT SIZE PRICE 

sixteenth 

of a page 

eighth of 

a page 

quarter 

page 

half page 

full page 

45mm wide 

65mm tall 

95mm wide 

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130mm tall 

194mm wide 

130mm tall 

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268mm tall 

£22.50 

plus VAT 

£45.00 

plus VAT 

£90.00 

plus VAT 

£165.00 

plus VAT 

£290.00 

plus VAT 

These prices are PER INSERTION. 

10% Discount If You Book Three or More 

Call 01530 244069 - info@buildermagazines.co.uk 

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APRIL 2024 LEICESTERSHIRE BUILDER MAGAZINE online

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