Pictured above: RAF Newton
Land is being cleared at the former RAF Newton site on the A46 -
to make way for a multi-million pound mixed use scheme to include
housing and commercial buildings.
The site will not only provide much-needed affordable
accommodation for Nottinghamshire - but will create jobs and
business opportunities, says Craig Straw, director of Innes
England, which marketed the site on behalf of its client Newton
Nottingham LLP.
More than 14 acres of the total 228 acre site eight miles east
of Nottingham, and close to Bingham, has been purchased by Bellway
Homes and David Wilson Homes to provide 165 houses - a portion of
which are affordable.
This is the first phase of the redevelopment of the former RAF
Newton. Proposals for the remainder of the site include a live/work
element as well as commercial and residential development.
Work has started on phase one which will see the demolition of
65 officers' homes and the officers' mess, which totals 179,000 sq
ft. The former hangars which total 273,000 sq ft have already been
let.
"This is the next exciting phase of a major new mixed use
development which will breathe new life into that area of
Nottinghamshire - and will go hand in hand with the upgrading of
the A46," said Mr Straw.
"Newton Nottingham LLP acquired the site speculatively a number
of years ago. To date, the former hangar accommodation has
been let to a number of blue chip companies including John Deere
and Babcock. The site achieved planning for housing to replace the
footprint of the officers' mess and the 65 officers' homes.
"We then sold that part of the site to Bellway Homes with whom
we have been working for some time. The development is now coming
along and David Wilson Homes is now also involved along with
Bellway.
In total, the site is 228 acres - of which 14.2 acres has
detailed planning consent for 165 houses, said Mr Straw. The first
phase of redevelopment is to adjoin the existing Newton
village.
Jon Smart, partner of Freeth Cartwright, is Newton Nottingham's
legal adviser.
He said: "This has been really interesting from a legal point of
view and it's been a pleasure dealing with Innes England and Simon
Waterfield of Newton Nottingham over the years. In crafting the
legal documentation for the Bellway deal, we needed to be sensitive
to the masterplanning for the estate as a whole. It is testament to
everyone involved that despite a tough property market they held
firm and saw the transaction to completion."
Joint agent in the sale to Bellway was Hunter Page Estates.