development

NETWORK SPACE SECURES PLANNING PERMISSION FOR BROADHEATH NETWORKCENTRE IN ALTRINCHAM

Network Space has secured planning permission for the redevelopment of the former Cartwright headquarters on Atlantic Street in Altrincham, Greater Manchester. Broadheath Networkcentre will include a mixture of high-quality refurbished space alongside new builds, creating a modern, multi-let industrial site designed to attract a variety of businesses. The development will

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CONSTRUCTION STARTS ON MAJOR MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT IN WAKEFIELD

Multi-disciplinary construction company, Harris CM, has started work on a £10 million contract building a major new mixed-use development at Wakefield’s City Fields development. The 110,000 sq ft development, by DeVeer Estates, which is the commercial arm of Berkeley DeVeer, is located on Neil Fox Way and will be known

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The Secrets of Casino Design: An Inside Look

Casinos are entertainment hubs, from the non-stop games to the shopping, restaurants, bars, hotels, swimming pools, and live music shows. There is nothing that the best casinos can’t offer. How do these places keep us engaged and wandering around for hours? Well, of course, everything we just listed has a

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Devonshire Homes acquires another key North Devon site  

Independent West Country housebuilder Devonshire Homes has exchanged contracts for the acquisition of land for contemporary new build homes in West Yelland, North Devon. This latest acquisition is testament to how the housebuilder is accelerating its five-year growth plan. The announcement comes just three weeks after Devonshire Homes revealed it

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Wykeland secures £80m world-class Smith+Nephew facility for Melton West business park

Leading Yorkshire commercial property developer Wykeland Group has secured an £80m-plus investment by global medical technology business Smith+Nephew. Subject to planning approval, Smith+Nephew has announced it will build a new research and development and manufacturing facility for its Advanced Wound Management franchise at Wykeland’s Melton West business park in East

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GLP begins earthworks on G-Park Ashby-de-la-Zouch

GLP, a leading investor and developer of logistics warehouses and distribution parks, today announced that it has begun earthworks on the site of G-Park Ashby-de-la-Zouch. G-Park Ashby is a 48-acre development site benefitting from an outline planning permission to deliver build-to-suit logistics warehouse opportunities of up to 736,487 SQ FT.

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Panattoni to speculatively develop £250 million, 1.3 million sq ft Avonmouth logistics development

Panattoni, the largest logistics real estate developer in Europe, is planning a £250 million speculative logistics development, which will include the UK’s largest-ever speculative logistics building, in Avonmouth, Bristol. The development, called Panattoni Park Avonmouth, will be located on a prime, 73-acre site, Central Park, which Panattoni has just acquired

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Latest Issue
Issue 330 : Jul 2025

development

NETWORK SPACE SECURES PLANNING PERMISSION FOR BROADHEATH NETWORKCENTRE IN ALTRINCHAM

Network Space has secured planning permission for the redevelopment of the former Cartwright headquarters on Atlantic Street in Altrincham, Greater Manchester. Broadheath Networkcentre will include a mixture of high-quality refurbished space alongside new builds, creating a modern, multi-let industrial site designed to attract a variety of businesses. The development will deliver 205,000 sq ft of accommodation across 25 units, with workspace available from 2,100 sq ft to 39,500 sq ft.   A highly sustainable development, Network Space will reuse and recycle existing steel and concrete structures on site, resulting in a significant reduction in embodied carbon in the development. The units are also designed to accommodate photovoltaic panels for renewable energy provision and electric vehicle charging on all units. Simon Eaton, Senior Development Manager at Network Space Developments, said: “With planning permission now secured, we can fully commence our development of this well-located and highly popular site which will appeal to local businesses, trade occupiers and last mile urban logistics firms. “We have already received very strong interest in the scheme from a range of businesses and with demolition already well underway, we hope to have units ready for occupation in early 2023. The scheme aligns perfectly with our strategy to deliver high quality, highly sustainable developments in key urban ‘last mile’ locations.  We look forward to working closely with Trafford Council to deliver a scheme the borough can be truly proud of.” Network Space commenced the demolition in early May and are aiming for practical completion in early 2023.The scheme is set to revitalise the site, creating upwards of 400 new jobs and providing much needed speculative workspace in the region. Once complete, the scheme will have an estimated GDV of £45m. Jonathan Williams at Savills and Will Kenyon at B8 have been appointed as letting agents for Broadheath Networkcentre. The wider professional team includes Walker Sime, project management and quantity surveying, AEW architects and Spawforths is the planning advisor.

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CONSTRUCTION STARTS ON MAJOR MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT IN WAKEFIELD

Multi-disciplinary construction company, Harris CM, has started work on a £10 million contract building a major new mixed-use development at Wakefield’s City Fields development. The 110,000 sq ft development, by DeVeer Estates, which is the commercial arm of Berkeley DeVeer, is located on Neil Fox Way and will be known as the City Fields District Centre. It will consist of eight retail units including a 24,500 sq ft supermarket, a children’s nursery, a management suite and 14 apartments. City Fields is a substantial 375-hectare new development that is creating a new community of over 2,500 homes, a new primary school, parkland and other public realm, connected via the new Wakefield East Relief Road. Harris CM is also currently building 77 houses at City Fields on behalf of Rula Homes. Jason Adlam, CEO at Harris CM, said: “It’s great to be starting work on another major development that will contribute towards the continued regeneration of our hometown of Wakefield. We are also thoroughly enjoying working on City Fields District Centre alongside several other Wakefield based companies including architects, The Harris Partnership and HJ Consulting Engineers. “When work completes in May 2023, this development will provide a focal point for City Fields and benefit both the development’s new residents and Wakefield as a whole, thanks to the new road connections to the city.” Jason added: “This continues to be an exciting time for Harris CM and City Fields is an important contribution to our strong pipeline of work for the next 18 months, which puts us on track to hit £70 million turnover in 2022.” Harris CM is a privately owned construction company that provides new-build and refurbishment property solutions throughout the UK, with over 50 employees in 2022.

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The Secrets of Casino Design: An Inside Look

Casinos are entertainment hubs, from the non-stop games to the shopping, restaurants, bars, hotels, swimming pools, and live music shows. There is nothing that the best casinos can’t offer. How do these places keep us engaged and wandering around for hours? Well, of course, everything we just listed has a lot to do with it, but there is also something else at play. Clever layouts, subliminal messaging and positioning of services, and thought-out strategies to keep the public inside the doors and spending money. It’s clever, and you may not have ever considered it, which is the casino designers’ main objective! Brick and mortar casinos are different from online gaming sites like AmazonSlots Casino, where there is unlimited space and games to play. It takes a lot more planning to maximise the entertainment for all customers. Casino Layout If you think about it, the casino invites all types of players, from highrollers to casual players to beginners and those who are only there for the other entertainment. How does the casino keep everyone happy and engaged? The answer is a clever use of game positioning. You will notice the red-roped games for VIPS and highrollers are hidden away from the rest of the games. Easy access with no obstacles such as bars and shops, the casino wants to get these players to the table as quickly as possible, without disruptions. The layout for the other games is a lot more haphazard. This is intentional. You will find different games next to each other, designed to keep players moving from one game to the next. Don’t be surprised to find shops, bars, and eateries dotted around the casino floor. Anything to keep people inside the playing area, spending money, and having fun. Casinos used to cram the games onto the floor, but modern casinos have turned the page making the experience much friendlier. High ceilings, more walking space, and a more “playground” concept over the “maze” design help players feel more welcome and comfortable. Clever Mind Tricks The layout of slot machines is one thing that extends to something that can only be described as “mind games”. The old row layout of classic casinos such as The Golden Nugget was not exactly social. However, the cluster design you now see in modern casinos makes everything and everyone a lot more socially active. It makes it easier for people to wander the floors, watch big wins, and enjoy more of a “togetherness” feeling with other players. Another little trick up the sleeves of casinos is not putting up any clocks or ways to view the time. Combine the absence of clocks with zero windows, and you have no idea what time of the day it is (unless you check your phone, but why would you when you are deep in the excitement of roulette or a winning slot spin!). You could be in there for hours and find yourself walking out a 6am, thinking it was 12am. It’s a sneaky strategy, but it clearly works as people enjoy themselves, and of course, they spend their money to line the casino pockets even more!

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Devonshire Homes acquires another key North Devon site  

Independent West Country housebuilder Devonshire Homes has exchanged contracts for the acquisition of land for contemporary new build homes in West Yelland, North Devon. This latest acquisition is testament to how the housebuilder is accelerating its five-year growth plan. The announcement comes just three weeks after Devonshire Homes revealed it had exchanged conditional contracts on 36 acres of land in Penzance. The West Yelland site strengthens the award-winning housebuilder’s presence in North Devon, where construction has recently started on its East-the-Water site, The Grange. This development, known as the ‘Sun Houses’, is located in the desirable village of Yelland which is between the coastal village of Instow and Fremington, off Yelland Road. Within a short distance the popular beaches of Westward Ho! and Saunton Sands can be found and Yelland has easy access to the A39 and A361. This architecturally exciting scheme designed by Guy Greenfield Architects will complete the development and deliver 27 open market and 22 affordable homes in North Devon. The three, five and six bedroom detached homes are in an elevated position and make the most of their southerly aspect with estuary views and are surrounded by green, wooded hillside. Designed to maximise the use of natural light with large expanses of glazing, the open plan living makes the most of the desirable outlook benefiting from living areas and at least one bedroom South facing into a walled garden. The stylish contemporary homes take on a modern interpretation of the traditional bungalow. Devonshire Homes will invest more than £430,000 in the local community under the S106 contributions, including: £294,225 towards education, £127,291 towards recreation and £10,000 towards play equipment. Benefitting the existing occupied homes on the centre of the site, Devonshire Homes will also resurface the neighbouring roads which adjoin the site. Angus Cook, Managing Director at Devonshire Homes, commented: “We’re delighted to announce that we have exchanged contracts on land in West Yelland just three weeks after securing land in Cornwall. We are focused on securing excellent development sites and I am pleased we’ve been able to do exactly that here. As an independent and West Country housebuilder, we are able to react rapidly and progress quickly when this type of land opportunity arises, and we look forward to bringing more of our high-quality, new build homes to North Devon house hunters who need them. “These new homes will be truly spectacular. Each property has been carefully designed to make the most of their elevated position on the North Devon coastline so that homeowners can truly embrace the beautiful views. “Construction will start later this year and we will ensure to communicate with the existing homeowners already on site throughout the project. “If you are landowner or agent looking for a developer capable of delivering on their promises, Devonshire Homes should be your first call. This deal has set a new record for the business, going from nothing to an unconditional exchange in 4 days!” The acquisition of land in West Yelland is another important strategic milestone for Southwest based Devonshire Homes. The 30-year-old residential home developer is aiming to double turnover and build 400 homes per annum by 2026.   The Devonshire Homes team has decades of experience in building new communities across the West Country with current developments including: The Grange, Bideford; Tarka View, Crediton; Longston Cross, Bovey Tracey; Applegate Park, Kingsbridge and Gwallon Keas, St. Austell. To find out more about Devonshire Homes, visit www.devonshirehomes.co.uk.

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SEGRO raises sustainability bar with green refurbishment scheme on Slough Trading Estate

SEGRO has started work to deliver a refurbishment scheme on the Slough Trading Estate that will raise the bar in terms of its environmental sustainability. The 20,210 sq ft unit is located on Bestobell Road at the East of the Slough Trading Estate and was built originally in 1988. The refurbishment will transform the unit into a state-of-the-art, environmentally sustainable industrial and warehouse space, furthering SEGRO’s low carbon growth ambition on the Trading Estate. The refurbishment will be net-zero carbon in operation and is targeting a BREEAM Excellent and an EPC A+ rating. It will include a wide range of sustainability features, including: Smart building sensors to enable energy-efficient operation of the building Photovoltaic panels on the roof which will save 26 tonnes of carbon emissions per year, the equivalent to planting 1,226 trees. Energy efficient LED lighting throughout, which will reduce CO2 by 12 tonnes and save around £11,000 per year A 55m² living wall on the front of the building will trap 7,150 grams of dust, extract 126.5 kg of gas and 71.5 kg of particulate matter from the air, and produce around 93.5 kg of oxygen every year. An internal green wall will also be featured in the reception area Air source heat pump providing heating and comfort cooling Water reducing products throughout e.g., self-closing taps for all wash basins, waterless urinals etc. Use of a natural, photocatalytic paint on all wall surfaces that purifies the air through CO2 absorption and reduces ambient odours Electric vehicle charging points Secure bicycle parking with rich biodiverse growing roofs and wildlife habitat panels. It will incorporate low-maintenance, drought-tolerant planting that is nectar-rich for butterflies, bees, moths and other invertebrate wildlife Additional bird and bat boxes, beehives and insect habitats to nest and increase pollination across the plot The redevelopment is part of SEGRO’s growing portfolio of low or zero-carbon developments and aligns with the company’s Responsible SEGRO commitments to champion low-carbon growth and be net-zero carbon by 2030. James Craddock, Managing Director at Thames Valley, SEGRO, said: “The refurbishment of older buildings is an important part of our journey to be net-zero carbon by 2030. This scheme at Bestobell Road is a great example of how these existing buildings, where appropriate, can be transformed into more modern, efficient, greener spaces that enable low-carbon growth now and into the future. “Creating more sustainable spaces for a diverse mix of customers is also critical if we want to ensure that the Slough Trading Estate is the location of choice for both large and small businesses within the Thames Valley.” The refurbishment is due to be complete in September 2022. Slough Trading Estate is the largest privately-owned business park in single ownership in Europe. Over one third of the estate is less than 10 years old. The vacancy rate is just over two per cent, with the remainder being leased to a mix of small and large businesses, across a diverse range of industry sectors. Local amenities including high street banks, restaurants, shops, fitness facilities and healthcare centres are all within easy reach on the estate, creating a vibrant business community for occupants.

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Wykeland secures £80m world-class Smith+Nephew facility for Melton West business park

Leading Yorkshire commercial property developer Wykeland Group has secured an £80m-plus investment by global medical technology business Smith+Nephew. Subject to planning approval, Smith+Nephew has announced it will build a new research and development and manufacturing facility for its Advanced Wound Management franchise at Wykeland’s Melton West business park in East Yorkshire. The location is just eight miles from Smith+Nephew’s current site in Hull, where the business has been located for more than 100 years. The new facility is expected to open in 2024. The investment will create a world-class R&D, manufacturing and flexible office environment, which is expected to support more than £8bn of sales in its first 10 years of operation. Melton West business park has been selected for the investment because of its proximity to the existing Hull facility. It also offers a site with the size and established infrastructure to accommodate the new facility and is allocated under the East Riding of Yorkshire Local Plan for developments of this kind. Dominic Gibbons, Managing Director of Hull-based Wykeland, owner and developer of Melton West, said: “We are delighted the strategic, long-term investments we have made in the infrastructure at Melton West business park have enabled Smith+Nephew to stay within the region and make such a huge investment in a state-of-the-art new facility. “Smith+Nephew is one of the region’s leading employers, with a proud local history and heritage. This investment will open an exciting new chapter in that story.” Simon Fraser, President of Advanced Wound Management for Smith+Nephew, said: “This major investment demonstrates our commitment to the UK and to building our leadership in Advanced Wound Management. “Smith+Nephew was founded in Hull in 1856 and we are proud to make this major investment in the region for future generations.” The 200-acre Melton West business park is one of Yorkshire and the Humber’s premier locations for investment and job creation. It enjoys a prime location west of Hull, off the A63 and connecting to the national motorway network within minutes via the M62. The Smith+Nephew facility will be the latest major development at the growing site, which features more than one millionsq ft of completed warehouse, distribution, manufacturing and office space. In December last year Wykeland secured planning permission from East Riding of Yorkshire Council for a £170m retail logistics fulfilment centre at Melton West. This centre will have a footprint of 558,000 sq ft and create 1,300-1,500 permanent jobs, additional seasonal and indirect employment, and further jobs during the construction phase. Last year Amazon opened a 125,000 sq ft last mile delivery centre on an adjacent site at Melton West and a new command and control facility for Humberside Police has recently been handed over and is due to be operational later this year. Other leading businesses at Melton West include Heron Foods, which has its national Distribution Centre and Store Support Centre on site; generator manufacturer Allam Marine; shower maker Kohler Mira; and Needlers, the UK’s leading supplier of safety and hygiene products to the food manufacturing industry.

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Glencar appointed to build STIHL Great Britain’s new headquarters and distribution facility in Surrey.

New state of the art 121,000 sq ft built to suit development will benefit from first class environmental facilities and include warehouse, office, training and workshop accommodation. Glencar, a leading UK construction company that was recently ranked amongst Europe’s fastest growing businesses, has today announced that it has been appointed by world renowned German manufacturer of chainsaws and other handheld power equipment STIHL to construct their new GB headquarters and distribution facility at a site in Surrey just off the A331. The new state of the art 121,000 sq ft development designed by Hale Architects will include 97,000 sq ft of warehouse space that will utilise state-of-the-art picking and storage systems to maximise productivity, efficiency and the use of space.  An adjoining 25,000 sq ft HQ will boast dedicated retailer training facilities, an on-site restaurant, flexible collaborative workspaces and a technical workshop. The development will also incorporate new car parking, service yard, landscaping and the construction of a new access from the adjoining A331. The new HQ also benefits from first-class environmental credentials including two-thirds of the total roof area (17,000 sq ft) covered with photovoltaic solar panels to provide power to the new facility. In addition, there will be provision for 26 EV charging points in anticipation of the continued move towards the use of electric vehicles. The project is expected to take 42 weeks to build with the new facility expected to be complete by May 2023. Speaking about the contract award Roy Jones Glencar Managing Director London and South said: “STIHL are world leaders when it comes to chainsaws and garden power tools, setting the standard for over 90 years so Glencar are both honoured and proud to have been appointed to design and build their new headquarters and distribution facility. This state of the art project goes to serve as a further example of our design and build credentials and proven ability to construct buildings tailored to our customer exacting specifications.   We look forward to working with STIHL GB and the extended project team and delivering on time and to budget. Also commenting Kay Green, Managing Director of STIHL GB, said: “STIHL has enjoyed a sustained period of growth in recent years, and as a consequence, we have outgrown our existing warehouse and office facilities. Our new purpose-built headquarters represents a significant capital investment and is a commitment to the future for our local workforce. This cutting-edge facility will allow us to plan for many years of future growth, which will continue to benefit the local economy. We are delighted that we were able to secure a suitable site in Camberley and we’re looking forward to working with Glencar and seeing construction progress”

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GLP begins earthworks on G-Park Ashby-de-la-Zouch

GLP, a leading investor and developer of logistics warehouses and distribution parks, today announced that it has begun earthworks on the site of G-Park Ashby-de-la-Zouch. G-Park Ashby is a 48-acre development site benefitting from an outline planning permission to deliver build-to-suit logistics warehouse opportunities of up to 736,487 SQ FT. Earthworks are progressing rapidly and are expected to be finished by early 2023, with the full development set to complete by Q1 2024. The site has a prime location in the Midlands logistics hub, in the heart of the Golden Triangle. G-Park Ashby is conveniently situated adjacent to the A42 and A511, providing access to the M42 to the South and the M1 10 miles to the North East.  Urban hubs Birmingham, Nottingham and Leicester are all close by, with Manchester, Liverpool and London also easily accessible. East Midlands Airport, only 10 miles away, and Birmingham International Airport, 29 miles away, also provide convenient air links for transportation. The site can be developed as either one single unit or two units, depending on customer requirements, with clear internal heights of up to 18 metres. As with all GLP’s developments, the units will be built to enhanced specification and will follow GLP’s rigorous ESG standards. The development will be BREEAM Excellent and WELL ready, and will feature a range of sustainability features including rainwater harvesting and energy tracking and consumption tools for customers. The development is a prime example of the care taken by GLP to respect and nurture the natural environment. For example, a colony of great crested newts was discovered on the site, which GLP has taken significant time and consideration to rehome, delaying progression with the earthworks until the colony was safely relocated. There will also be an extensive green outdoor space for landscaping and nature, including ecological ponds. Adrienne Howells, Senior Development Director at GLP, said: “G-Park Ashby is an exciting addition to our portfolio in the Midlands and indicates our ongoing confidence in opportunities in the Golden Triangle, following the success of projects such as Magna Park Lutterworth. Trends such as e-commerce have buoyed already high demand for prime logistics space, particularly high-quality, conveniently-located, sustainable facilities such as this.” Not only will this new development bring excellent opportunities for our customers; it will also boost employment in the region, creating almost 1000 new jobs and providing major benefits for the local economy. Once again, we are planning our development with place-making as a priority, focusing on environmental features such as our ponds, green open spaces and our G-Hive bee programme.”

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Panattoni to speculatively develop £250 million, 1.3 million sq ft Avonmouth logistics development

Panattoni, the largest logistics real estate developer in Europe, is planning a £250 million speculative logistics development, which will include the UK’s largest-ever speculative logistics building, in Avonmouth, Bristol. The development, called Panattoni Park Avonmouth, will be located on a prime, 73-acre site, Central Park, which Panattoni has just acquired in an off-market deal. Panattoni will commence speculative development of 1.3 million sq ft of consented space in two units of 406,000 sq ft and 882,000 sq ft, which will be the UK’s largest-ever single speculative logistics building. Panattoni expects to start construction shortly, with the intention of completing the development in the third quarter of 2023. Panattoni Park Avonmouth is strategically positioned for local and national distribution via the M32, M48, M49, M4 and M5 motorways. Major occupiers in the area, include Amazon, The Range, Lidl, DHL, Tesco and Davies Turner. James Watson, Development Director at Panattoni, said: “Our new acquisition gives us the ability to deliver large-scale speculative units in an established logistics location. UK stock remains at an all-time low at a time when Bristol and the wider south-west and south-east markets are experiencing their strongest take-up for many years”. Agents for Panattoni Park Avonmouth are DTRE, JLL & Colliers.

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SITE IN WARWICKSHIRE TOWN SET TO BECOME NEW ENERGY EFFICIENT LNT CARE HOME

Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has announced the sale of a site with the benefit of a full planning consent in the market town of Nuneaton, Warwickshire, to LNT Care Developments. Full planning permission was granted in September 2019 for the demolition of existing buildings on the circa 1.3-acre site as well as the erection of a new 78-bedroom care home in one three-storey block. Situated in a highly visible roadside location, the consented care development is close to Nuneaton town centre and is well placed to benefit from desirable community amenities and public transport connections.  The site was previously owned by Linden Homes, and has now been sold to LNT Care Developments, the largest provider of carbon-zero, affordable and high-quality care homes in the UK. Plans have been submitted to Nuneaton and Bedworth County Council for a care home development comprising 66 beds with social spaces including a cinema room, health and beauty facilities, garden room, and café bar. External features include attractively landscaped gardens to enhance wellbeing whilst boosting the ecological value with use of pollinating, habitat friendly sensory planting. The building is designed to be resource and energy efficient with a key aim of generating the majority of the care home’s energy needs on-site using solar power and ground source heating. Speaking on behalf of LNT Group, Land Director, Keeley Sharp, comments, “LNT Care Developments is delighted to have acquired this scheme in Nuneaton, adding to an established and emerging pipeline of sites across the Midlands and in line with our strategy to continue to address the shortfall in quality care provision across the UK. Detailed planning has been submitted for a 66-bedroom care home, providing outstanding accommodation with fully en-suite bedrooms, spacious communal areas, and state-of-the-art amenities with a planned construction commencement September 2022.” Sara Hartill, Business Agent – Healthcare Development at Christie & Co, who handled the sale, comments, “A care home development site in this location is well suited to the needs of future residents and will integrate well into the town as a vital community asset where there was a demonstrable need for a new, purpose-built care home.” David Charles of Linden Homes added, “We are delighted that LNT acquired the site and plan to develop a care home for the elderly which is much needed in the area and we look forward to seeing the site develop.” The Nuneaton site was sold for an undisclosed price.

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