The Forest Sports Zone at the Forest Recreation Ground is to receive a major overhaul, with a £1.9 million programme set to modernise and improve the popular community venue. Both all‑weather pitches will be replaced. The existing 3G surface will be renewed with a fresh playing carpet, upgraded infill and
A former grammar school site, latterly used as a business centre, in Winsford Town Centre, Cheshire has been brought to market as a residential development opportunity. Cheshire West & Cheshire Council has appointed CBRE as its agent for Verdin Exchange. Verdin Exchange is a 51,968 sq ft listed red-brick building
Plans for two brand new South West hubs have been revealed by leading logistics network, Pall-Ex Group, as it earmarks an £8 million investment for strengthening its services across the region. The South West peninsula, often known as the ‘final frontier’, has historically been one of the most challenging delivery
The Forest Sports Zone at the Forest Recreation Ground is to receive a major overhaul, with a £1.9 million programme set to modernise and improve the popular community venue. Both all‑weather pitches will be replaced. The existing 3G surface will be renewed with a fresh playing carpet, upgraded infill and improved LED floodlighting. The neighbouring sand‑based pitch will be fully rebuilt and converted to a 3G specification, creating a high‑quality surface for training and matches throughout the year. The enhancements are designed to broaden access to top‑class facilities for local residents, schools and community organisations, supporting sustained participation in physical activity and safeguarding the site’s role as a key community asset in Nottingham. The investment is backed by a funding package of £1 million from the Football Foundation, £625,000 from Nottingham Forest Community Trust, with the balance provided by Nottingham City Council. Beyond the pitch works, the project includes an extension to the current changing block. Plans feature a new two‑storey entrance, additional office space and a dedicated community area to create a more welcoming and practical hub for clubs, groups and visitors. Collectively, these improvements aim to boost participation, improve the experience for players and spectators, and strengthen the Forest Sports Zone’s place at the heart of the community. Opened as the Forest Sports Zone in 2015, the facility has been managed and operated seven days a week by Nottingham Forest Community Trust, the charitable arm of Nottingham Forest Football Club. It is regarded as one of the most used sports sites in the UK, attracting on average over 2,000 users each week. To enable construction, the venue will close for approximately five weeks from 18 May 2026. A partial reopening is planned for the summer, with full reopening expected in autumn 2026. Cllr Sam Lux, Nottingham City Council’s Executive Member for Climate, Energy and Nature said: “We’re absolutely delighted to see this level of investment coming into the Forest Sports Zone. These improvements will make a real difference for the local players, clubs, schools and the wider community, providing high‑quality facilities that everyone can be proud of. The partnership behind this project shows what can be achieved when organisations work together for the benefit of Nottingham residents, and I’m excited to see the upgraded site take shape.” Calum Osborne, Chief Executive of Nottingham Forest Community Trust said: “This significant investment will ensure the Forest Sports Zone continues to provide high-quality, accessible facilities for local people. “The site also holds a special connection to Nottingham Forest’s heritage, as the club’s original home, helping to maintain a presence in the heart of the city while delivering real benefits for the community, now and for years to come. “This exciting project is a strong example of what can be achieved through effective partnership, with Nottingham City Council and the Football Foundation working alongside us to deliver lasting impact for local communities.” Nottingham Forest Community Trust is the official charity of Nottingham Forest Football Club. The Trust uses the power of sport and Nottingham Forest to engage communities across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, delivering programmes that support health and wellbeing, education, employability and inclusion. NFCT has operated the Forest Sports Zone at the Forest Recreation Ground since its opening in 2015, managing the site on behalf of Nottingham City Council. It provides a high‑quality venue for grassroots sport, community activity and education‑based programmes, seven days a week. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A former grammar school site, latterly used as a business centre, in Winsford Town Centre, Cheshire has been brought to market as a residential development opportunity. Cheshire West & Cheshire Council has appointed CBRE as its agent for Verdin Exchange. Verdin Exchange is a 51,968 sq ft listed red-brick building dating back to 1895 on an extensive 3.89 acre site fronting the town’s High Street (A54). Originally built as a technical school and latterly used as a business centre, the site has been identified as prime for redevelopment as a residential-led scheme, subject to planning. Initial feasibility work highlights the site’s potential for a blend of one, two and three-bedroom apartments set across the existing building and two new-builds, complemented by landscaped amenity space and high-quality public realm. The development could create a sustainable living environment in an established and well-connected Cheshire location, adjacent to the recently redeveloped Winsford Cross Shopping Centre, at the heart of the town’s ongoing regeneration. The scheme represents a rare opportunity to combine the conversion of a heritage asset with new-build development, enabling the creation of a distinctive residential destination within a revitalised town centre setting. Neil Kirkham, Head of Liverpool Office at CBRE commented: “Verdin Exchange represents a compelling opportunity to deliver a high-quality residential scheme in a well-connected and evolving Cheshire town. The combination of a prominent town centre location, strong transport links and the character of the existing building provides developers with the chance to create a truly distinctive place to live. With capacity for a mix of apartment types alongside landscaped amenity and public realm improvements, this is a site that can make a meaningful contribution to Winsford’s continued regeneration.” The site is being offered for sale on a freehold basis, with interest sought from developers capable of bringing forward a deliverable, design-led scheme. Verdin Exchange is being marketed on an all enquiries basis, but recognises there is a strong residential development opportunity. Gemma Davies, Director of Economy and Housing, Cheshire West & Chester Council “The Verdin Exchange is an iconic and much-loved building in Winsford town centre. Its striking architecture makes it a Winsford icon and it is a building that the community is keen to see open its doors again. Cheshire West & Chester Council is seeking a developer who can support its goal to safeguard the future of Verdin Exchange and give it a new lease of life by restoring the listed building and maintaining and enhancing the community uses of the site. Ensuring this building can play its part in the vitality and vibrancy of the town long into the future. The first phase of regeneration works has already been a real success story and we’re excited to see what comes forward from developers for the Verdin Exchange to support us in achieving our ambitions for this great town that Winsford residents now and in the future can be proud of.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans for two brand new South West hubs have been revealed by leading logistics network, Pall-Ex Group, as it earmarks an £8 million investment for strengthening its services across the region. The South West peninsula, often known as the ‘final frontier’, has historically been one of the most challenging delivery locations in the UK due to its landscape. In spite of that, the region has been dubbed a ‘logistics hot spot’, with brands like Pall-Ex continuing to see year-on-year growth. Now, businesses throughout the region will soon benefit from the launch of two new facilities in Willand, Devon (Pall-Ex South West), and Launceston in Cornwall (Pall-Ex Logistics), giving them access to a range of haulage services including next-day palletised freight distribution, warehousing and storage. Pall-Ex South West’s 218,000 sq ft hub in Willand, Devon, is expected to be completed by Summer 2026. While existing staff will relocate to the new site—located less than half a mile from the current facility—the expansion is expected to increase its local workforce by 15%, with roles spanning customer service and night planners, to warehouse and forklift operators. Its plans to recruit will enable the site to double its operational limits and process an excess of 60 vehicles per night across the two new sites. Meanwhile, the Launceston hub—a 114,000 sq ft purpose-built facility—is already operational, where it offers increased storage capacity of up to 3,500 pallets and the movement of 650 pallets per day. The successful relocation of its existing team will also be bolstered by a further 10 – 15% growth in its workforce; with roles in warehouse staffing, supervision and management roles soon to be available. In addition to their enhanced service capabilities, both sites will benefit from a series of sustainability-focused features, including all-electric forklift truck fleets, solar panels and green water filtering—additions that will see them meet the highest sustainability ‘BREEAM standards’. While the logistics provider already has existing hubs in the region, these have since reached capacity. This latest investment is a strategic move intended to give the company access to larger, purpose-built spaces, designed to better support its growing customer base. Commenting on the investment, Barry Byers, chief operating officer for Pall-Ex Group, said: “The South West has always been a challenging location for distribution companies. Yet in the past five years, we’ve generated unprecedented growth here, with more and more businesses around the region demanding a reliable and robust logistics network. With that growth, though, comes the need to evolve. That’s why the time feels right to make this significant investment to ensure that our distribution services are up to the challenge. “The last 30 years have been all about adapting and future-proofing the business; whether through supporting our partners around the country, investing in the latest technology to provide them with unparalleled visibility, or by enhancing our regional distribution services. This announcement really is testament to the hard work put in to get us where we are now in the South West, so that we can make sure we’re perfectly positioned to tackle the regional challenges of the next three decades.” News of the investment follows a landmark start to the year for the brand, as it celebrated its 30th anniversary. Since its incorporation three decades ago, Pall-Ex has evolved into a national and international powerhouse, with this latest South West expansion representing the next chapter in its commitment to growth. For more information on Pall-Ex South West, visit https://www.pallexsouthwest.com/ or for further details on Pall-Ex Logistics (Devon & Cornwall), visit: https://www.pallexlogistics.co.uk/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals