The UK’s largest wholesale tableware supplier, Utopia Tableware, has moved into a prime 168,000 sq ft unit at Langham Park near Chesterfield as part of a £15m expansion.

Utopia purchased One Langham Park at Temple Normanton consolidating their operations from several properties near to J29 of the M1.  Key to the expansion, which sees Utopia retaining one unit at Holmewood Industrial Park, was the need to relocate nearby, retaining staff, coupled with vital fast-access to the motorway and close proximity to the company’s remaining unit at Holmewood Industrial Park.

Mark Rammell, owner and CEO at Utopia Tableware, said: “This is a great opportunity for Utopia, it allows us to increase capacity and hold more stock throughout our whole hospitality range. Our total number of distributors has grown rapidly during 2018 and we now have over 1,100 sales representatives promoting our products across the world.

“The new warehouse facility has been purpose built to accommodate our Hospitality Division and we have also installed additional office space and a showroom at the new unit.”

Rebecca Schofield, Partner at Knight Frank, said: “The sale of One Langham Park is a milestone for Utopia Tableware as it expands the business from three, mid-sized existing premises to consolidate most of its operations under one roof following substantial market share growth in 2018 and the start of 2019, both in the UK and overseas.

“The unit is just two miles from the company’s remaining depot at Holmewood Industrial Park and provides a high specification facility with 12 metre eaves height, 15 dock-level loading doors and large secure loading yard, key requirements for the business.”

Utopia Tableware is the largest UK based supplier of Glass and Tableware to the Hospitality industry. It has its headquarters and main warehouse and distribution facility in Chesterfield and a showroom in London and the new warehouse allows the company to hold more than 30,000 pallets under one roof.

The company has been operating from Holmewood Industrial Park for 10 years and has appointed Knight Frank to market its two vacant units at the site, following the move to Langham Park.

Rebecca added: “We are now appointed to let Utopia’s two former units, of 55,000 sq ft and 61,000 sq ft, located close to junction 29 of the M1 motorway, south of Chesterfield, which would suit businesses requiring mid-sized industrial or warehousing accommodation with excellent motorway access.

“These units are being made available at a prime time for the market as we continue to see a shortfall of available stock of this quality across South Yorkshire and the East Midlands.’’

Find out more about investing in Chesterfield and search available commercial property in Chesterfield

Ashgate Hospicecare are thrilled to announce that one of their amazing supporters, Designer Contracts, are supporting the Hospice’s Three Bedded Bay Appeal through their amazing gift of £100,000.

Designer Contracts, the UK’s largest flooring contractor, have once again gone above and beyond to support their local Hospice, helping transform the Hospice’s Three Bedded Bays by sponsoring a bay which will create a homely, welcoming space at the Hospice for patients and their families.

This is not the first time Designer Contracts have made a huge difference to patients at Ashgate Hospicecare. Last year, the Chesterfield based business completely redesigned and rejuvenated the Hospice’s family room, creating a home from home for patients and families of North Derbyshire.
Barbara-Anne Walker, Chief Executive at Ashgate Hospicecare, said: “We can’t thank Designer Contracts enough for their outstanding generosity and continued support.”

“At Ashgate Hospicecare, we believe every person matters and they matter until the end of their life. The time that patients and their families spend with us will often be the most precious days and nights. However, for many of the people who need to be on our Inpatient Unit, we are no longer able to offer them the privacy and dignity that they deserve and that we would all want for ourselves or for someone we love.”

“Thanks to this amazing gift, we will be able to give our patients and their families a spacious, private and dignified environment when they need it the most. On behalf of everyone at Ashgate Hospicecare, thank you so much!”

Peter Kelsey, Chief Executive at Designer Contracts, said: “Designer Contracts are delighted to be able to continue to give their support to Ashgate Hospicecare and their patients and families.”

“Everyone we have met that’s associated with the Hospice has been so dedicated and caring, everyone does such wonderful work. The refurbishment plans that we have been able to contribute to will make even more of a difference to their patients, so we are so happy to be able to be a part of that.”

Greg and Lauranne share what Ashgate Hospicecare meant to them when Lauranne’s sister, Julie, came to the Hospice. Julie had brain cancer and as she became more poorly, her family cared for her at home. But when Julie’s symptoms became unmanageable for them to cope with, she was admitted to a single bedroom on our Inpatient Unit at the Hospice.

They said: “The Hospice provided us, as a family, with so many precious moments together. We feel incredibly lucky that Julie was able to have her own bedroom. I can’t imagine half of these moments being possible in a bay. We wouldn’t have all fitted around the bed, that’s for sure.”

Want to find out more about how you could support this amazing project and how your support could make a difference to the lives of local people? Just call Ali, Capital Appeals Manager on 01246 567250 or email alison.ward-foster@ashgatehospicecare.org.uk.

Work has started on site at Henry Boot Developments’ newest addition to Markham Vale, a 55,000 sq ft industrial warehouse, ‘MV55’, which is being developed on a speculative basis.

Markham Vale is a 200-acre industrial and logistics development located at Junction 29A of the M1 in Derbyshire, a joint venture between Henry Boot Developments (HBD) and Derbyshire County Council.

One of the region’s most successful industrial locations, Markham Vale is home to the likes of Great Bear, Gist, Ferdinand Bilstein and Sterigenics.

This latest building fronts the M1 and includes flexible office space ranging from 2,500 sq ft – 5,000 sq ft alongside high-quality industrial facilities and 50 on-site parking spaces.

Andrew Priestley, Development Surveyor at HBD, said: “Our decision to build our latest unit at Markham Vale on a speculative basis is very much a reflection of the strength of the market and continued demand for high-quality, well located industrial property. There is an acute shortage of good quality industrial space across the Yorkshire and East Midlands markets, particularly for buildings between 20,000 sq ft and 100,000 sq ft, resulting in a high degree of latent demand for new-build product like MV55.

“We currently have a total of 108,000 sq ft under construction at Markham Vale, with this latest unit scheduled to complete in September along with Protec International’s new purpose-built premises, which started on site last month. Initial conversations have been very positive – businesses are keen to capitalise on its location as well as the high-quality build, which is something occupiers can always count on from HBD.”

Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration, Councillor Tony King, said: “This is a great opportunity for another business to join our thriving Markham Vale site.”

“This plot has a lot to offer with great links to the M1 and a skilled workforce, high-quality industrial facilities and flexible office space.”

“We look forward to welcoming even more businesses at the site very soon and for those looking to relocate or expand, we still have opportunities available so please get in touch for more information.”

Plots of up to 15 acres remain available at Markham Vale and can accommodate flexible design and build units up to 300,000 sq ft.

Please click here to find out more about the opportunities available at MV55. Find out more about relocating to Markham Vale and investing in Chesterfield.

Derbyshire County Council is set to spend £100 million over the next five years improving the county’s roads including the A61 between Sheepbridge and Wingerworth.

The council has earmarked the cash to be spent on fixing potholes, resurfacing and surface dressing roads and pavements, repairing retaining walls, fixing drains, upgrading bridges and replacing worn-out traffic lights and lamp posts.

On Thursday 18 April, Derbyshire County councillors will be asked to approve the money – given to the council in the form of Government grants – to be spent between now and 2024.

Councillor Simon Spencer, Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure, said:

“Keeping Derbyshire moving by making sure the county’s roads remain in a good and safe condition remains a top priority for us.

“Because of new systems we now also have the most comprehensive information about the current condition of our road-related infrastructure meaning we can look ahead and take a more planned approach to fixing and improving our highways.”

Next year the council is set to spend around £23m. This will go towards resurfacing and surface dressing stretches of some of the county’s main roads including the A619 around Staveley,the A515 around Buxton and Ashbourne, the A57 Snake Pass, the A6 around Bakewell, and the A610 Ripley.

Around 40 more minor ‘B’ roads and 30 pavements countywide are also earmarked to be resurfaced or surface dressed.

General repairs to bridges, the installation of a new footbridge in Fenny Bentley and improvements along sections of the Trans Pennine, Skegby and Five Pits Trails and further upgrades to some cycle paths in the north east of the county are also set to take place.

Junction improvements, improved signage and extra anti-skid surfaces, have also been identified to improve road safety at various locations around the county.

•£933,000 towards improving roads, cycle paths and access routes to new housing developments along the A61 between Sheepbridge and Wingerworth;

•£1m towards the Woodville Swadlincote Regeneration Route to provide a link road to ease congestion between the A511 through the Tollgate Park site to the A514;

•£242,000 to work up further plans for the A515 Ashbourne Bypass;

•£550,000 to roll out electronic bus stop signs in Amber Valley and Erewash.

The remaining funding is set to be split over the following four years. Specific improvements have yet to be identified but are likely to include resurfacing and surface dressing local roads and pavements and tackling issues with bridges and retaining walls.

Chesterfield at night

Vicar Lane Shopping Centre in Chesterfield has announced the opening of a brand new Iceland store on Tuesday 16th April 2019.

The new store at Vicar Lane is in a prime location in the heart of the town’s shopping district, offering its customers a convenient alternative to the supermarket offer already in the town.

Shaun Brown, Centre Manager, Vicar Lane said, “We’re really excited to be welcoming Iceland into our store line up. We know how time-poor people are these days, so it’s great that we can now offer the convenience of a weekly food shop, with the appeal of our high street fashion and general ‘pleasure shopping’ offer.”

To celebrate the opening, Iceland will be handing out promotional leaflets offering its first customers £3 off when they spend £15 in store. There will also be the opportunity for customers to get their hands on a limited number of free chocolate twists throughout the day!

Iceland currently has over 900 stores in the UK and prides itself on being a convenient and friendly place to do the family’s weekly shop, as well as to meet everyone’s daily top-up shopping needs for fresh, chilled and frozen food.

The new store will be open from 8am – 6pm from Monday to Saturday and 10am – 4pm on Sundays and customers can expect to find the full range of fresh, chilled and frozen food that they’ve come to know and love from the UK leader in frozen food.

Find out more about shopping in Chesterfield.