Four plots in the newly released third phase of a riverside eco-housing development near Colwick Park have been snapped up by eager homebuyers.
The 31 homes in Phase 3 of the Trent Basin scheme, which stretches along Trent Lane to Colwick Park, were released for sale only just before Christmas.
But the development on the banks of the River Trent, which will include a further 200 homes and a new school over the next few years, has seen an unprecedented take-up over the Christmas period.
The news comes as the effects of Covid-19 see buyers flocking to the river front as they look for the health benefits of outdoor space, at the £100m sustainable development featuring low carbon-emission homes, where residents share a commitment to use energy responsibly.
The last available property in Phase 2 of the scheme, which also featured 31 homes, was reserved this week, and potential homeowners can now reserve the remaining plots in Phase 3, ahead of their scheduled completion in late Spring.
Estate and letting agent William H Brown took over the marketing the properties in March 2020, when there were 10 plots remaining in Phase 2. Since then, the agents have sold 15 plots – even during the lockdowns and Tier three restrictions.
PICTURED: One of the kitchens in the new luxury apartments on sale now
Kerri Bywater, new homes area partner for William H Brown, said: “We’re delighted but not entirely surprised at the rapid take-up of these beautiful new eco-homes, particularly as people are clamouring to live healthier lifestyles as a result of Covid-19..
“We took over instruction to market the properties as we went into the first lockdown. The first week that we could conduct viewings was after the first lockdown in June, and we saw 10 viewings in one weekend, leading to a sell-out in phase two.”
Highlights drawing in buyers include the spectacular views over the River Trent, the inclusive feel of the Trent Basin community, the sustainable build ethos and its handy location linking the city to the river and Colwick Country Park.
Phase one enjoyed a successful launch in 2016, followed by Phase two in 2018, and developer Blueprint Regeneration has been delighted with the take-up so far.
“We found that people were wanting to come out of the city centre as the outdoors became so vital for people on a daily basis,” said Kerri. “Working from home and not needing to be in the city centre has also drawn people to make the move.”
Phase 3 of the development will consist of a mixture of two, three and four-bedroom homes to suit a range of buyers. Many feature open-plan living, spacious kitchens and first-floor balconies.
Three typologies of homes draw inspiration from the industrial heritage of the wider area and their immediate context, while incorporating generous terraces that take advantage of waterside views.
On the basin front and at the waterside end of the new street, a common frontage forms terraces with repeated pitched roofs that take their form from red brick factory style buildings of the wider area.
An invasive non-native species of mussel that can harm wildlife and cause water pipe blockages has been discovered by environmental experts in the River Trent.
People in Gedling borough using the river are now being urged to follow ‘check, clean, dry’ procedures to try to prevent the spread of quagga mussels.
The Environment Agency has increased its monitoring to establish the extent of the problem and is working with the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat to agree an appropriate bio-security response.
WARNING:The Environment Agency has issued the alert
The Agency said that while quagga mussels do not pose any immediate direct threat to water quality, animals or people, they do spread rapidly and can block pipes and water based assets resulting in significant future maintenance costs.
Quagga mussels were first recorded in the UK in 2014 and have previously been found in the Thames catchment. It is not known how they arrived in the Trent.
Geoff Craig, area environment manager for the Environment Agency, said: “Unfortunately, further spread of the quagga mussels is highly likely, but we can slow down the spread.
“We urge all water users in the affected areas to follow the required biosecurity procedures of ‘check, clean, dry’ whenever working or engaging in leisure activities in or near the water.
It once echoed with the sound of trains carrying coal produced by Gedling Colliery – but this new video gives a rare glimpse along a borough railway line now abandoned and reclaimed by nature.
A video of a walk down the old Gedling Colliery line this week featured on the popular Trekking & Towpaths Youtube channel – and has already attracted over 2,000 views.
The former GNR line to Gedling, Daybrook and Basford was closed to passenger traffic in 1960 and was then only used by Gedling Colliery up until the early 90s.
Plans are now in place to turn the former railway route into a heritage walk and possible tram line extension.
Host Ant begins his difficult journey along the overgrown route near to the old Gedling Station and follows it all the way down to the station at Netherfield.
He said: “I’ve been here a few times in the last few years just to scope it out a bit but it’s always been far too overgrown but this year I thought I’d give it another go.”
On his trip down the old track he finds a number of old sleepers still knocking around, along with old telegraph poles and remnants of signalling equipment – and lots of flytipping.
PICTURE: Trekkers & Towpaths YouTube channel
It’s not the first time Gedling borough has featured on the channel. Mapperley Tunnel and the old Daybrook line both appeared in earlier videos.
The popular YouTube channel aims to cover walks along every towpath in the UK and also covers lost and abandoned railways.
Demolition of existing detached single garage and erection of new triple garage with office space above.
141 Lambley Lane Burton Joyce NG14 5BN
Ref. No: 2020/1246
Application for Change of use and part demolition of existing Barn to form single large dwelling along with associated garage parking, amenities, and boundary treatments.
Land To The Rear 106 Bridle Road Burton Joyce NG14 5FP
Provision of fencing around the perimeter of the application site (Unit 1), installation of entrance gate and additional tree planting in the existing grass verge at the entrance to the application site.
Single Storey Extensions to Front & Rear of Garage with change of use of the garage to an embroidery/sewing business (use class E)
14 Lea Road Ravenshead NG15 9EG
Ref. No: 2020/1222
Redhill
Single storey rear extension, Flat roof with Proposed lantern light and proposed roof light on existing rear extension. Internal and external modifications. Removal of existing rear garden fence. Retaining wall and associated fence to be built on true boundary with returns each side as per the drawing
6 Derry Drive Redhill NG5 8RT
Ref. No: 2020/1045
Woodborough
Reduce Maple by 2m (T1); Reduce Silver Birch by 2m (T2); Reduce Cherry by 1m (T3); Fell Hawthorn (T4); Remove 2x lower limbs of Hawthorn (T5); Reduce Malpe by 2m (T6) and reduce Silver Birch by 2m (T7 and T8)
161D Main Street Woodborough NG14 6DD
Ref. No: 2020/1264TCA
Repollard multi-stem Sycamore tree
34 Main Street Woodborough NG14 6EA
Ref. No: 2020/1268TCA
Oak tree – Reduce in height by 25-30%, 2-3 metres.
21 Park Avenue Woodborough Nottinghamshire NG14 6EB
Ref. No: 2020/1251TPO
Replacement front porch and approach steps, and over cladding of existing garage
25A Main Street Woodborough NG14 6EA
Ref. No: 2020/1211
Woodthorpe
New guest annex extension to dwelling
2 Plains Grove Woodthorpe NG3 5QU
Ref. No: 2020/1291
Single storey rear and side extension.
13 Arno Vale Road Woodthorpe NG5 4JH
Ref. No: 2020/1261
Change of use required from cafe (Class E) to beauty salon for aesthetics (sui generis)
1 Wensley Road Woodthorpe NG5 4JW
Ref. No: 2020/1225
Double storey side extension, single storey rear extension and loft conversion with rear dormer
Erection of a single storey rear extension, erection of external staircase, relocation of an existing storage container, erection of a shed and construction of a new boundary wall
Parker House Private Nursing Home 6 Albemarle Road Woodthorpe NG5 4FE
Ref. No: 2020/1103
Single storey rear extension 8.3m wide, 4.3m deep with cantilevered flat roof extending out 6.10m from rear of property.
13 Arno Vale Road Woodthorpe Nottinghamshire NG5 4JH
Ref. No: 2020/1109PN
Installation of new MRI suite, fire exit door and quench pipe
Children in Woodthorpe will have to find somewhere else to play over the next few months as work begins on a £100k revamp of the playground at Breck Hill Park.
Works to the new play area will begin on Monday, January 11 and are expected to be completed in March 2021, the play area will be closed during this period while works are carried out.
The Breck Hill Park in Woodthorpe will be improved thanks to funding from FCC Communities Foundation, a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community, conservation and heritage projects from funds donated by waste and resource management company FCC Environment through the Landfill Communities Fund. FCC Communities Foundation will be providing a grant total of £98,000.
The park will have over 20 new pieces of equipment including balance beams, Olympic basket swings, a wheelchair accessible roundabout, climbing net, multi play unit and more. As well as the play facilities themselves, tables and chairs, cycle stands and a wildflower area also form part of the works.
PICTURED: An artist’s impression of the new-look playground at Breck Hill Park
The funding bid was made jointly by Gedling Borough Council and the Friends of Breck Hill Park, a local residents’ community group who undertook community consultation and identified a strong community need for the project.
Cheryl Raynor, FCC Community Foundations local grant manager said: “We are delighted to be supporting Gedling Borough Council and the Friends of Group to bring this project to fruition. Both the need for the project, and the benefit to the local community were well evidenced and we very much look forward to work starting on site shortly.”
Catherine Honey, the Chair of Friends of Breck Hill Park said:“Breck Hill Park has really come in to its own over the last year during the Covid-19 restrictions with lots of people enjoying the open space. The old playground was outdated and neglected. This much needed new play area will encourage even more local residents to enjoy the park and be active.
“Thank you again to FCC and also Gedling Borough Council for their support. We can’t wait to see local families and children enjoying the brand new play area.”
Portfolio Holder for Environment, Councillor Peter Barnes said: “We take great pride in our parks and open spaces so it’s fantastic to see yet another one of our facilities receive this funding so we can continue to offer first class play facilities like this for our residents.
“We’ve worked alongside The Friends of Breck Hill Park group, to help secure this funding and make these improvements a reality.
“I’d like to thank everyone involved for helping us get to this stage, and another huge thank you to FCC for providing funding on yet another project, I can’t wait to see what our residents think when the works are completed.”
Anglers in Gedling borough can now enjoy fishing again during the third national lockdown after the government made a U-turn.
Fishing was initially banned when England officially went into lockdown on Wednesday morning – but the Angling Trust yesterday revealed they have managed to get that decision overturned.
Angling Trust chief executive Jamie Cook said: “We have worked extremely hard to reach this position and we as anglers have a duty to abide by the strict conditions under which fishing is once again permitted.
“With infection rates and death tolls rising we must stick to the Government’s rules and ensure that angling remains part of the solution and does not cause problems.”
Mark Collins is a keen angler from Carlton and got in touch with Gedling Eye following the U-turn.
“It’s great to hear. I think fishing boosts mental health and I was worried how I’d cope in lockdown without it.
“A big thanks to the Angling Trust for fighting our cause and I’m looking forward to fishing –locally of course.
The Angling Trust have now issued the following guidance to ensure those fishing don’t breach lockdown rules:
This is a strictly limited resumption of local fishing and very different to how anglers have been allowed to operate since May.
We are in a National Lockdown and this must be respected. The law requires a ‘reasonable excuse’ to leave your home or penalties will apply.
The Government has recognised that fishing can be seen as exercise, which is expressly permitted under the lockdown rules, although outdoor recreation is not.
Organised sporting gatherings are prohibited so no match fishing.
The exercise is limited to once a day so no overnight fishing whatsoever.
The notice states: “We are aware that some people may be booking their COVID vaccine appointments at Richard Herrod Centre through Swift Queue without waiting for their official letter. Whilst this is permissible, it is for over 80 year olds only at this moment.
“Please be aware that if you book an appointment slot and you are NOT over 80 years of age, it will not be accepted at the receiving end, and you will be turned away when you get there.
PICTURED: Trentside Medical Group run the new medical centre on Ashwell Street in Netherfield (PICTURE: Gedling Eye)
People are now being vaccinated at the Richard Herrod Centre in Carlton
“This means that the appointment will have been wasted and this will likely slow down the vaccine roll out programme, and delay your vaccine.”
The plea continued: “Please don’t try to book in unless you are over 80 years of age. Wait for NHS to write to you.”
Those eligible for the jab are also being asked to have their NHS number to hand when turning up for their dose.
AN NHS spokesman said:”Please make sure you and your family all dig out your NHS number and have a copy of it immediately to hand for when you or they are called for the COVID jab.
“From my colleagues on the front line this is far and away the biggest bottle neck when it comes to administering the vaccine to as many people as quickly as possible. Please also take ID with you like.a passport or driving licence.”
He has now asked officials why school staff have not been mentioned as a priority for the Covid-19 vaccination.
Wheeler said: “We’ve had lots of noise arguments and debates about the safety of schools. We’ve had lots of noise from the government about testing in schools, however I am yet to see or hear about a single school in Gedling borough where tests for Covid-19 have been carried out”.
“I’ve not heard a single Government minister mention vaccinating school staff. It’s not rocket science, it makes perfect common sense to me if we want schools to be safe for school staff”
People are now being vaccinated at the Richard Herrod Centre in Carlton
“Throughout the Autumn Term staff in schools worked flat out trying to ensure schools were safe places to learn, despite this there were cases of Covid -19 in schools weekly, sometimes daily and sometimes there were multiple cases.
“In some schools students came back from isolation only to be sent home to isolate again creating huge disruption for pupils and parents and carers”
“Yet school staff are not even mentioned within the professions being priotised for the vaccine why! It needs to be said that despite schools being closed to most pupils.”
“School support staff Teaching Assistants, Learning Support Assistants, Learning Mentors and Pastoral staff will be proudly working in school looking after vulnerable children and the children of key workers, whilst site staff, cleaning staff.
“They will be proudly working to ensure school sites are safe and clean for those vulnerable children and children of key workers, as well as those Learning Support staff who will be continuing to be at schools across the Borough during this lockdown”.
“Surely if we are to resolve the situation in schools then staff working in schools should be given parity with other professionals working in healthcare or other frontline services such as the police.”
Mr Wheeler said he s backing the TUC and Labour Party Let’s Vaccinate Britain Campaign.
He raised the issue of vaccinating school staff at yesterday’s Health and Wellbeing Board meeting.
The weekly Clap for Carers will be reintroduced tonight, but is now being called Clap for Heroes instead.
The day and time of the weekly clap across Gedling borough will stay the same, Thursdays at 8pm, and the premise is still to honour key workers, but the people being applauded will be called ‘heroes’ rather than ‘carers’.
Annemarie Plas, the woman behind the Clap for Our Carers initiative has confirmed its return at 8pm this Thursday.
In March last year, people across the UK would stand on their doorsteps every Thursday evening to clap for carers.
The Civic Centre in Arnold was lit up blue during last year’s Clap for Carers campaign (IMAGE: Gedling Borough Council)
Boris Johnson joined people across the country in thanking frontline healthcare workers who were going above and beyond to help treat victims of the coronavirus pandemic.
At the time a Downing Street spokesperson said: “Like millions of people across the country, the prime minister joined in the Clap for Carers this evening, to say thank you for the incredible efforts of the country’s doctors, nurses and care workers.”
Now Ms Plas has called for a return, she posted on social media hoping for it to “lift the spirit”.
She said: “We are bringing back the 8pm applause, in our 3rd lockdown I hope it can lift the spirit, of all of us.
“Carers teacher, homeschooling parents, those who shield and ALL who is pushing through this difficult time! Please join & share! #clapforheroes”
Organiser Ms Plas, from the Netherlands, was inspired by similar campaigns in her home country, France and Spain when she first started the campaign back in March.
Gedling Borough Council has helped open the one of the first NHS COVID-19 Vaccination Services at the Richard Herrod Centre in Carlton.
The site opened today (Wednesday 6 January) and will support the roll out of the national vaccination programme. In the coming weeks, other locations across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire will also open for vaccinations.
Recipients of the vaccine will be called forward in priority order as set out by the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The NHS will send letters to eligible people in due course and vaccines will be by appointment only. First priority at the site is for those over the age of 80 and frontline health and social care workers.
Health bosses have asked the public to wait until they have received a letter before contacting the NHS, their GP or local hospital hub – the letter will have full details of how to make an appointment. They are being advised not to call their GP or turn up at A&E or doctor’s surgery. The only way to get an appointment and the jab is to follow the instructions in the letter. Once they have received a letter, they are advised to book an appointment as soon as possible.
One of the first people to receive a vaccination at the new service was John Waplington from Arnold. John is over 80 and a former miner who worked on the nearby former Gedling Colliery. He has been shielding due to having respiratory issues caused from his time working in the pit. He will receive the vaccination along with hundreds of others as part of the roll out.
Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke said: “This is a very important moment in the fight against covid and I am very pleased that Gedling is hosting one of the first vaccination services in Nottinghamshire. Our centre will play an important role in the largest immunisation programme in NHS history.
“With the announcement of further lockdowns, it is important that we do everything we can to get the vaccination rolled out to our most vulnerable residents. We will need your patience as the NHS prioritises the over 80s and our health and social workers. The NHS will contact you when it is time to have your vaccination so please do not contact the NHS, ring your GP or local hospital.
“If you have received a letter please make sure that you book a slot as soon as possible. If you know someone who has received a letter, a parent or grandparent for example, who may not be able to book on themselves, help them to do so and let’s get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible.
I’d encourage everyone who receives a letter inviting them to have the vaccine, to get it. This will protect them from COVID-19 and hopefully help us all return to a more normal way of life as quickly as possible.”
John Waplington, 82 and a local resident from Arnold who is shielding and was one of the first people in the borough to be vaccinated at the new service said:”I am very grateful to be vaccinated and hope that we can get back to normal as soon as possible.”
Dr Nicole Atkinson, GP and Clinical Lead for South Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Partnership said:
“This is a hugely important day in the roll out of the Covid-19 programme locally across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and it’s fantastic to see that John has had his first vaccination today at the Richard Herrod site.
“A tremendous amount of work is going into the vaccination programme so I’d like to give a big thank you to everyone who has been involved.
“Our priority is to vaccinate those most at risk first so we’re asking the public to be patient and work with us. When it’s your turn to be vaccinated, you will receive a letter from the NHS so please wait for this. In the meantime, the public can help us in the fight against Covid-19 by continuing to follow the guidance to help control the spread of the virus and save lives.”
