£40m retail scheme planned for The Lakes

Rushden Lakes Shopping Centre is set to undergo a £40m development after being bought by LXB Retail Properties for £4.5m. Subject to planning permission, the Northampton site which spans 244 acres could host an office scheme, retail site and hotel, creating up to 350 jobs. The developer said the retail scheme would comprise a garden centre and secondary shopping units with the potential addition of a hotel and leisure services.

£50m boost to turn pasties to petrol

Fuel company Greenergy has announced plans to plough £50m into its Lincolnshire site to develop methods of using crisps, pasties, pies and sausage rolls to create an alternative source of petrol.

Cathedral Interiors to grow with NatWest loan

Shopfitting and refurbishment company Cathedral Interiors has secured additional bank funding from Natwest. The Washingborough-based company said the loan will support its future growth ambitions.

RGF tour to visit East Mids

A series of roadshows has been launched to give businesses advice on how to tap into the next round of funding from the government's Regional Growth Fund (RGF). The roadshow is expected to come to the East Midlands on 6 June.

£5m LEP office equipment fund launched

A £5m start-up fund has been set up to help local enterprise partnerships buy office equipment and organise training sessions. It is one of a series of proposals being put forward by business minister Mark Prisk to kick-start the new organisations.

Double letting agreed at Hounds Gate

Two lettings have been secured in as many months at the Hounds Gate office development in Nottingham city centre. Almost 8,000 sq ft was snapped up in deals brokered by property agents DTZ and FHP.

Loughborough professor appointed to EBA board

An economics professor from the University of Loughborough has been selected as one of five British representatives on the Banking Stakeholder Group. Professor David Llewellyn joins the 35-member group, which is the regulatory body of the newly-created European Banking Authority (EBA).

Something for the weekend

This week's pick of the best Midlands off-diary stories include: Building for the future; adding up to three-quarters of a century and to Wales with wheels.

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Talking Point: A Good Harvest reaps reward for guarantor

Never has the phrase ‘there are no guarantees in life’, been more true says commercial property agent prop-search, following a High Court decision that has far-reaching implications for landlords and tenants.

In Focus: Building blocks of recovery

New figures paint a gloomy picture of the UK economy. But, asks Sam Metcalf, is there light at the end of the tunnel?

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Ask the Expert: Sustaining a healthy bottom line after cost cutting

Rob Allison, managing director at Expense Reduction Analysts, shares his views on how organisations can sustain a healthy bottom line in the year ahead with economic recovery predicted to be some way off yet.

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