Kimberley Brewery plans get green light

A campaign group that was trying to block the redevelopment on the former Kimberley Brewery has backed down on its opposition to a local housebuilder which wants to turn the site into new homes.

Fairgrove Homes and Community Conservation Group Save Our Brewery (SOBS) are “united and preparing to face calmer waters for the year ahead”, following what the housebuilder is calling a “positive” face-to-face meeting which took place just before Christmas.

Managing director of Fairgrove Homes, Steve Midgley, invited chairman of the Community Conservation SOBS group, Darren Warner, to the site of the old Kimberley Brewery to talk through the approved plans for the regeneration of the area – outlining the designs of Fairgrove’s new homes. These plans were the subject of much controversy during 2016 as the original design requirements stipulated by Broxtowe Borough Council’s former design and conservation officer were vehemently opposed by the local campaign group.

Now, following a change in personnel at the Council, an agreement has been reached that will see work begin on the development in the next few weeks.

“Meeting with Steve, it was clear that both sides have always had exactly the same aims and aspirations for the site,” said Warner. “We recognise that regenerating the area is a positive move that will bring lots of benefits to the local community, but we were passionate about making sure the site’s history wouldn’t be forgotten. It was important that the house designs would reflect the Grade II-listed maltings building in the heart of the conservation area.”

Fairgrove Homes says it had always been aware of the significant role Kimberley Brewery played in the lives of the local community.

“We appreciated and valued the site’s history and heritage from the outset, and were just as surprised as anyone by the design requirements insisted upon for planning to be approved last year,” said Midgley. “We are enormously pleased that an agreement has now been reached and we can finally begin work on the improvements to this derelict site.”

Warner added: “We appreciate that, in terms of the planning requirements over the last year, Fairgrove’s hands were tied. It’s reassuring to establish that both sides have always been ‘singing from the same song sheet,’ and I’m now confident that Fairgrove will take great care in designing and building quality homes that reflect Kimberley’s heritage.”