Burton & District Burton & District Chamber Patrons
Contact: Chris Plant T: 0845 6036650
New owners for golf club
Branston Golf and Country Club has been sold to the club’s current managing director and two local families. The previous owners, Roger Kerry and his
family, accepted an offer from a group of individuals including Ben Laing, who has been managing director at Branston since 2013. Mr Kerry said: “As I approach my 80th birthday,
New year, new management (from left): Steve and Francesca Sharp, Ben Laing, Abby and Marcus Litting
Partnership set to
deliver 135 homes Cannock Midlands-based affordable homes builder Trent & Dove is set to build around 135 homes in Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire, thanks to a partnership with a housing developer. The developer is Orbit, who in turn have a
partnership with Homes England, a quango that funds social housing in the UK. Homes England is set to spend £128m building
2,762 affordable by 2022, according to Orbit, whose director of regeneration and partnerships, Maggie McCann, said: “Our partnership with Homes England supports our ambition to deliver 20,000 new homes over the next 10 years as we continue to play a key role in the growth of the UK housing market and fulfil our commitment to lead in building thriving communities. “The contract we have just signed will enable
Trent & Dove to meet its own development ambitions through the Homes England funding. “This is a very positive step for the affordable
housing market in the Midlands and Homes England is fully behind this partnership. We were very impressed with Trent & Dove’s experience of building high quality, affordable homes, which are much-needed in Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.” Formed in 2001, Trent & Dove provides
housing for rent and shared ownership. They currently have 6,000 properties covering East Staffordshire, South Derbyshire and North West Leicestershire. Trent & Dove will build, own and manage the
homes, which will be a mixture of affordable rent and shared ownership properties. A number of sites have been identified to deliver the 135 new homes and work has already started on two with three currently appointing contractors and two sites are in the planning system. Charlie Riley, director of development at Trent
& Dove Housing, said: “This partnership supports our mission of transforming homes, lives and neighbourhoods and we look forward to playing a pivotal role in providing more homes across our region.”
62 CHAMBERLINK February 2020
and after 25 years of hard work establishing a premium facility serving a large and loyal membership, I wanted to make sure that anybody taking over the club would continue the high standards and offerings that underpin Branston. “I’m therefore delighted that the club will continue to operate under independent
ownership and with strong local connections.” In addition to Ben Laing, the other members
of the buy-out group are Steve and Francesca Sharp, and Marcus and Abby Litting. Mr Laing said: “We are all passionate about
retaining the core values of Branston and its independent ownership, which continues to differentiate the club from anything else in the region. I will continue as managing director and oversee the day-to-day operational delivery of all aspects of Branston. “It is very much ‘business as usual’ for us.
Looking to the future, then we have reserved a significant amount of investment funding as part of our business plan.”
Turning point as rugby club’s historic site sold
Burton-based Else Solicitors has helped the town’s rugby club sell its historic ground, Peel Croft, to a retail developer. Burton Rugby Football Club has sold the
Lichfield Street ground – where is has played since 1910 – for an undisclosed sum. The club will remain at Peel Croft until the
end of the rugby season, before moving to a new home in nearby Branston Road, Tatenhill. It is unclear what will happen to Peel Croft,
other than it will be bulldozed and turned into either a retail park or a supermarket. Peel Croft’s history goes back to the 19th
Century, when it was used by Burton Rugby Football Club, who sold it to Burton Swifts Football Club in 1890. It then became the home ground for Swifts,
at the time members of the Football League. It was also home to Burton United, formed in 1901 when Swifts merged with Burton Wanderers.
United dropped out of the league and sold the ground back to the rugby club in 1910. Neil Etherington, head of commercial
property at Else Solicitors, Neil Etherington, who acted on behalf of the Burton Rugby Football Club Trustees over the sale, said: “The Peel Croft site on Lichfield Street has been an undeniable part of the club’s long and rich history in the centre of Burton. The successful sale of the site for retail development marks a turning point in preparing for the future of the club at their new premises on Branston Road.” Colin Grimsdell, chairman of development
for Burton Albion, said: “The sale of Peel Croft has provided the majority of the funds needed to complete the development of the new location at Tatenhill and will enable men, women, boys and girls, of all abilities and ages, to play sport in a safe and supportive environment.”
End of an era: A match being played at Peel Croft (image courtesy of Else Solicitors)
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