Major step forward in £14m town centre homes plan
Plus: The new owner of a Wetherspoon pub is confirmed
Good morning and welcome to your Monday briefing of Ashfield News. In today’s newsletter, a £14m housing and commercial development takes a big step forward, the new owners of a Wetherspoon pub are confirmed, police have closed down two homes and a fundraiser has been launched following a major fire.
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Major step forward for £14m development
Land and buildings in part of Kirkby-in-Ashfield will be bought by the district council as part of a £14m regeneration development.
The North Kirkby Gateway Towns Fund project aims to create a “housing-led development” and commercial space in the area around Low Moor Road.
The overall scheme will involve regenerating the ‘Pond Hole’ site to create more town centre housing, the plans show.
It will also lead to the expansion of the Portland Pathways project into Kirkby.
The employability initiative works alongside employers to support people with learning difficulties and disabilities to find work.
A delegated decision taken by the council in June shows it will purchase the freehold of land and buildings in Ellis Street as part of the project.
It will also agree to pay the owner’s legal costs.
In its decision, a spokesperson said: “The North Kirkby Gateway project focusses upon the redevelopment of the Pond Hole site as well as the adjoining development opportunity sites on Pond Street and Ellis Street, including the council’s car park.
“The development seeks to create a gateway building forming an active western boundary to the Kirkby Plaza, delivering new town centre living accommodation and some commercial units.
“The acquisition of the Ellis Street site is critical to the development of the gateway building and the delivery of the North Kirkby Gateway project.”
The cost of the purchase has not been made public due to confidentiality and its commercial nature.
Family forced to ‘stand and watch’ business burn to ground
Thousands of pounds have been raised to support a business which was destroyed in an industrial fire.
Cabourns Carpentry was badly damaged in the incident at the Urban Road Business Park, Kirkby, on Friday evening, June 28.
It was one of a number of shops affected, including Lockdown Tackle and Bait, whose owners said they were “heartbroken” as their shop was destroyed.
In a statement on GoFundMe, the owners of the carpentry store said: “Last night was possibly the worst night of our lives.
“We had to stand on the street and watch our business burn to the ground. Our whole livelihood, our life.
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