Good morning! Here's your update for Friday, covering the latest news from across our borough.

Hope you have a long Bank Holiday weekend and we'll be back on Tuesday!

144 new homes to be built in Redhill after developer snaps up 17-acre site

A developer has completed its largest land acquisition to date, securing a 17.2-acre site in Redhill for a £40m residential development that will include 144 new homes.

Cameron Homes has acquired a 6.95Ha (17.2-acre) site in Redhill, Nottinghamshire, to deliver 144 new homes. The £40m scheme has full planning consent from Gedling Borough Council. It is the largest acquisition made by the Staffordshire-headquartered developer since its inception in 1994.

A mixture of one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom family homes will be delivered, 21 of which are allocated for low-cost housing. The housebuilder says it will be making an immediate start on site to undertake enabling works.

The new development will be known as Hawksley Rise, paying homage to the 19th Century civil engineer Thomas Hawksley, who was born in Arnold. He was the engineer for the Nottingham Gas Light and Coke Company and Nottingham Waterworks Company. In 1831, he completed the Trent Bridge waterworks, which delivered Britain's first high pressure 'constant supply', preventing contamination entering clean water mains

The exterior elevations of the Hawksley Rise development will be constructed in red brick and styled to complement the local vernacular. The latest green energy features will be incorporated into each home, with a very high EPC rating targeted. Specification highlights will include smart Hive thermostats, electric vehicle car chargers, and solar PV panels.

As part of the development programme, Cameron Homes will deliver ecological enhancements and increase the biodiversity of the site, with an attenuation pond situated at the lowest point – identified as the optimal location to gather surface water. Bird and bat boxes will be installed on retained trees and incorporated within the design of the 144 new homes.

Retailer specialising in ‘screen-free activities’ opens new store in Arnold town centre

A retailer that specialises in ‘affordable, screen-free activities for the whole family, has openied a brand-new store in Arnold.

The 1560 sq. ft. store is located in the former Clarks Outlet unit next to Greggs in Arnold town centre.

Over the last 40 years The Works has established itself as a popular and distinctive high street brand. Across more than 500 stores in the UK & Ireland, The Works provides customers with excellent value, offering products across its four zones of books, arts, crafts & hobbies, stationery and toys & games. The Works makes reading, learning, creativity and play accessible to everyone and is the go-to place for inspiring customers to embrace their free time.

Customers at the new Arnold store will be able to shop for the products they love including Hello Kitty, Peppa Pig and popular books including sprayed edge versions of Frieda McFadden’s latest release, all at exceptional value.

The new store has opened the chain’s newest product ranges, providing customers with a fantastic choice of screen-free products to enjoy.

A spokesperson for The Works said: “We are thrilled to be opening a brand-new store at Arnold, which is a hive of retail activity and a location we have had our eyes on for some time.

“At The Works, we aim to inspire our customers to read, learn, create and play through our offering of affordable screen-free activities for the whole family, and our stores play a very important part in this. We look forward to welcoming new and existing customers through the doors of our newest store!”

Consultation launched over funding for council’s faith school transport scheme

A comprehensive review of the county’s discretionary faith school transport scheme has been launched by Nottinghamshire County Council, with a formal public consultation running from 30 April to 12 June 2026.

The council say the review forms part of the wider efforts to address significant financial challenges to ensure essential services can be protected whilst balancing the budget. Last year, the discretionary scheme cost approximately £1.25 million with families contributing 20% towards the cost and the council covering the remaining £1 million.

You can read more about the consultation HERE

🌦️ Weather Update

There will be another fine start to the day and soon feeling very warm in the sunshine. Cloudier conditions will develop through the afternoon, with perhaps some rain or showers, culminating in some thundery showers locally. Tonight, any rain or thundery showers will soon clear, leaving a mostly dry night. Variable cloud overnight and mild, with a few mist or fog patches possible by dawn.

Variable cloud and sunny spells are expected on Saturday. Isolated showers are possible during the day, but many places dry, with rain or thundery showers perhaps developing more widely later.

Sunday will be more unsettled than recently, with rain or showers, some thundery. Gradually turning cooler. More sunny spells from Monday, but still also showers, these becoming lighter and further between on Tuesday.