Completion of new £3.7m Nottingham fire station

Station Manager Andy Lindley and J Tomlinson Construction Manager Jim Hardie

The team behind the construction of a new £3.7m fire station in Nottingham has handed over the development to Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Following a year-long building project on site, contractor J Tomlinson has completed work on the three-storey building in London Road, which will use less than a quarter of the energy of the fire station it is replacing - significantly reducing carbon emissions.

The development of the new fire station has been a Nottinghamshire project from start to finish, involving a number of key Nottingham companies.

It was designed by city architects CPMG, constructed by Nottingham-based J Tomlinson, and project managed by CPMG’s client, the Nottingham office of Turner & Townsend. Structural engineer Curtins and mechanical and electrical consultants Couch Perry Wilkes from the city also played key roles in the development, which houses three fire engine bays, modern training facilities, including a tower, and office space for Nottingham City Council’s Emergency Planning Team. 

The new fire station will replace the iconic Central Fire Station which has served the city centre and surrounding area since the 1940s. 

Built to significantly exceed efficiency standards through the use of smart lighting, insulation, and solar panels on the roof, it is also linked to the Nottingham City District Heating System, which provides a low carbon fuel source to homes and businesses in the city using energy recovered from waste.

It has been designed so that heating in the appliance bay will automatically cut out when the appliance bay doors are open.

Martin Gallagher, construction managing director for J Tomlinson, said: “J Tomlinson works on construction projects across the East Midlands, West Midlands and Yorkshire, but it is always pleasing to be involved in a high-profile project in our home city of Nottingham, especially when it is something as important for the community as a new fire station.

“The year-long build has gone smoothly and to plan, and we are delighted and proud to have handed over a new, state-of-the-art facility to Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service on time and on budget.”

Aiden Bell, architect for CPMG, said: “As a Nottingham-based firm, the London Road Fire Station is clearly a project close to our hearts and one which we’re delighted to have designed. The three-storey building complements the city’s south side regeneration plans and meets the needs of a modern emergency service, fit for the future. 

“As well as providing vital services to the people of Nottingham, the building’s energy efficient features will save the fire service money and will provide state-of-the-art facilities for training and our firefighters.” 

Peter Orton, director, Turner & Townsend Nottingham, said: “Being involved in this project is something we’re immensely proud of. We have been involved since 2013. Throughout this time, we have worked closely with Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service, acting as lead consultant and providing project management, cost management and design services. It’s exciting to now see this state-of-the-art facility come to life.”

Councillor Darrel Pulk, chair of Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Authority, said: “London Road Fire Station has been purpose built for a modern fire service and I am delighted that the project has been delivered on time and to a high specification.

“I am looking forward to the next phase of the project which will see fire crews from Nottingham’s Central Fire Station rehome here in early September before the station’s official opening.

“The new station has been built to significantly exceed efficiency standards through the use of smart lighting, insulation and solar panels and I am pleased that handover has been completed and accepted which means that the final stages of the project can begin.”

The London Road fire station has been built in collaboration with Nottingham City Council.

Press release issued by Nottingham based PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk 

Focus Consultants celebrates Royal Transformation Project funding success

Royal Transformation Project plans

Funding experts at Focus Consultants are celebrating the news that one of the East Midlands’ key arts and entertainment centres has been successful in securing £1.5m from the Arts Council England.

The grant, along with £1.8m from Nottingham City Council, will support the £3.3m Royal Transformation Project being planned by Nottingham’s Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall.

Focus, which is based in the city, worked alongside the Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall team to create the masterplan to develop the two venues, and more recently has been the project manager, quantity surveyor and business planner for the successful Arts Council England Round 2 application.

Robert Sanderson, managing director for the venue, said: “We are so delighted in this vote of confidence from the Arts Council England and from Nottingham City Council. I would also like to thank Marsh Grochowski Architects and Focus Consultants who led the professional team, for their expertise, advice and support throughout the bid process.”

Focus, which is based at Phoenix Business Park, Nottingham, and has offices in London, Leicester, and Boston and Aubourn in Lincolnshire, specialises in creative approaches to securing funding packages and delivering high quality projects across the UK. Since its creation in 1994, Focus has helped to secure more than £953 million of grant assistance for a range of projects and businesses across the UK and delivered more than £1.3 billion of projects and programmes – making it one of the most successful companies of its kind.

Focus Partner Steven Fletcher said: “The ambitious programme of building and development works for the Royal Concert Hall and the Theatre Royal is designed to ensure the sustainable future of two of the largest arts and entertainment venues in the East Midlands, and we are very pleased to hear that the Arts Council England Round 2 bid has been successful, paving the way for phase one of the work to begin this summer.”

The Royal Transformation Project aims to increase daytime use of the venues by improving facilities and underused spaces such as meeting rooms, foyer spaces, the café bar and roof terraces.  The project will also see accessibility improvements to ensure that the new facilities can be used by everyone.

Developments include improving the building façade and streetscape on South Sherwood Street by creating a striking two-storey canopy and a new entrance way to both the Theatre Royal and the Royal Concert Hall, remodelling the Box Office and Royal Concert Hall entrance foyer, refurbishing the Royal Concert Hall foyer bars and repositioning the foyer kiosk, enlarging and improving the Theatre Royal’s ground floor café bar and upper floor roof terraces to provide a better dining experience throughout the day, and creating a new street-level outdoor seating and performance area under cover of the new canopy on South Sherwood Street.

Work will take place in two phases - phase 1 during summer and autumn 2016 and Phase 2 during summer and autumn 2017. 

Press release issued by Nottingham based pr company Perfect 10 PR http://www.perfect10pr.co.uk 

Food and Drink Forum welcomes latest news on Southglade Food Park expansion

Trade organisation The Food and Drink Forum has welcomed news that the expansion of a pioneering food and drink business park is a step closer today.

The Forum played a key role in planning and developing the first phase of Southglade Food Park in Nottingham which opened in 2005 and was the first business park of its kind in the UK.

It has since managed the on-site Business Centre and services for the park, which is home to six food manufacturers.

Now Nottingham City Council has announced support for Southglade phase 2 by agreeing to pay £1.67 million of the £6 million expansion plan.

The funding approval is a key step in enabling additional finances of £4.254 million to be released from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The plan is to build additional quality food grade industrial units next to the phase one development, which has a waiting list of food and drink manufacturers keen to move in. This would double the size of the food park.

It is expected to create at least 90 jobs in the food and drink sector, as well as jobs during construction.

Food and Drink Forum managing director Fiona Anderson said: “Since opening in 2005, Southglade Food Park has been a great success, and it is excellent news that Southglade phase 2 has support from the city council.

“Expansion of the food park will provide additional high grade manufacturing units for food and drink producers and help to create new job opportunities for the area. We have had a waiting list of firms keen to move onto Southglade for some time, and I am sure they will welcome the news too.

“As the first food and drink business park of its kind in the UK, Southglade has acted as a blueprint for similar schemes across the country and in other parts of the world, such as Malaysia – helping to put Nottingham on the map for its pioneering food and drink sector – and if phase 2 gets the go-ahead it can only strengthen the city’s position as an attractive place for food and drink manufacturers to launch and develop.”

Southglade phase 1 is home to a range of different-sized food grade manufacturing units designed for firms at different stages of development.

The on-site Business Centre includes a new product development kitchen, meeting rooms and other facilities available to tenants and others in the sector.

It is hoped that the enlarged development will create a regionally significant business cluster in the food and drink sector, enabling Nottingham to attract new business and foster growth in the sector to benefit the regional economy.

Councillor Graham Chapman, deputy leader of Nottingham City Council said: “This scheme creates at least 90 local jobs and even more in the construction of the units, helps the manufacturing industry and will bring a financial return for the council of just over £125,000 a year when our ERDF application is approved. It is an excellent deal all around.”

Food manufacturing is the UK’s largest manufacturing sector. For more information visit www.foodanddrinkforum.co.uk


Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Regional and Speciality Food and Drink Market boosts visitor numbers

Latest statistics have revealed that a monthly speciality food and drink market brings up to 10 per cent more visitors to the heart of a city.

Regional food organisation East Midlands Fine Foods has been running a regular Regional and Speciality Food and Drink Market in the Old Market Square, Nottingham, since April 2007 in conjunction with Nottingham City Council.

The market is the chance for producers and suppliers of food and drink from across the East Midlands to sell direct to the public, and has built up a loyal following of customers.

Now statistics have revealed that footfall to the Old Market Square goes up by between 7 and 10 per cent on market days, representing an extra 3,000 to 5,000 visitors to the city centre.

“The positive relationship between East Midlands Fine Foods and Nottingham City Council has helped to create a vibrant and popular monthly market which attracts visitors to the heart of the city,” said Councillor David Trimble, portfolio holder for leisure, culture and customers at Nottingham City Council.

“The Regional and Speciality Food and Drink Market has been a great asset to Nottingham, and very much welcomed by shoppers, which is reflected in our latest statistics on visitor numbers to the Old Market Square.”

As well as the Nottingham market, which takes place on the third Friday and Saturday of each month, East Midlands Fine Foods organises a number of speciality food and drink markets across the region at specific events, such as the Burghley Game and Country Fair near Stamford.

The Nottingham event features around 30 stalls from Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland selling a wide variety of produce, including meat, cheese, condiments, cakes, fruit and vegetables, ethnic snacks and other items.

“Speciality food markets continue to be very popular with shoppers,” said Briony Clarke, operations manager of business support organisation The Food and Drink Forum, which runs East Midlands Fine Foods.

“Our members and associated stall holders produce some of the finest regional and speciality food and drink from across the East Midlands, and we’re delighted to see that this monthly event in Nottingham city centre is such a draw for the public.

“As one of the largest food and drink organisations in the region, we have links to a wide variety of food and drink producers, so between us and the council we’ve been able to run a successful regular event.”

East Midlands Fine Foods provides a range of focused support and assistance to small and medium-sized speciality food and drink producers in the region, including regular exhibiting and selling opportunities. It is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham.

http://www.foodanddrinkforum.co.uk/