Twenty years on – the East Midlands renaissance

5 March 04

Twenty years after the miners’ strike began, the East Midlands is experiencing a revival, with the area becoming increasingly sought-after by property buyers and other investors. In the two decades following the strike, around 35 collieries were closed in the region. While closures were a personal tragedy for people who lost their jobs in the mining industry, new investment has provided opportunities in other business sectors throughout the region.

Initiatives and funding from organisations such as the East Midlands Development Agency, as well as the European Union, are helping towns and villages in the region to experience their own renaissance. Colliery sites are coming back to life in a number of forms: as business parks – providing economic regeneration to the region – or as nature conservation areas, providing peace and an attractive place to visit.

Fairgrove Homes, which last year built 78.8% of its developments on brown-field sites, has seen the results of economic regeneration first hand. “The projects and assistance provided by organisations in the region have helped to create a buoyant economy which is seeing more businesses and home owners realise the benefits of being based in the region,” says Steve Midgley, managing director for East Midlands-based Fairgrove Homes. “We have more open spaces for people to explore. At the same time, the region is providing new jobs and opportunities in a variety of industries ranging from finance to tourism. In the last year, we have seen property prices throughout the whole region rise by almost 20% - and we’re confident that demand will continue to be strong.”

About Fairgrove Homes
Fairgrove Homes is a locally owned business that prides itself on building individual homes of character. The company combines quality with small developments in desirable locations to meet customers’ needs. Fairgrove Homes’ current development sites include:

• Dobson’s Mill in Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire
• Olders Valley, Woodville, and Old School Woods, Shipley Park, Derbyshire
• The Old Bull Farm, Sutton Bonington, Nottinghamshire.

Further new developments are situated at The Bruntings, Eakring Road, Mansfield, and Orton Fields, Bramcote, Nottinghamshire, as well as Loscoe, Derbyshire.

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