Fairgrove's Problem-Hit Kimberley Brewery Estate Could Be Bought by Broxtowe Borough Council
Broxtowe Borough Council is exploring the possibility of purchasing part of a troubled housing estate in Kimberley, Nottinghamshire, with a view to building new council homes on the site.
The move comes after years of complaints from residents living on the former Hardys & Hansons brewery site, where housebuilder Fairgrove began construction back in 2015.
A History of Problems for Residents
The Kimberley Brewery development has been beset by difficulties for homeowners who purchased properties in the earlier phases of the scheme. Residents have reported a catalogue of issues including leaky roofs, unfinished roads, poor drainage, and even rats. Despite years of complaints and investigations by Broxtowe Borough Council into whether Fairgrove had breached its planning obligations, some remedial works on the site still remain outstanding.
The situation took a significant turn in early 2025 when workers were sent home from the site on 29 January, and the project's funder subsequently took control of the development in February.
Council Commits £18,000 to Ground Investigations
The council has now approved spending £18,000 on groundwork investigations for the undeveloped "phase three" of the site. This phase already has planning consent for 75 homes, but the council wants to understand the condition of the land before committing to any purchase. The surveys will assess what problems may exist beneath the ground, the likely cost of any necessary remediation work, and the overall value the site could represent for the authority.
Speaking at the council's cabinet meeting on Tuesday 10 March, a council officer explained that if the survey results are favourable, the authority could then move on to commissioning a formal valuation of the site. There is also the possibility of submitting a fresh planning application to increase the number of homes that could be built on the land.
A Moral Responsibility
Councillor Greg Marshall, deputy leader of the council, was keen to stress that there is no legal obligation for the authority to step in. However, he made clear that the council wants to do the right thing for residents who have been badly let down by their experience on the estate. He described the ground investigation as an important first step in progressing what he called a very unfavourable situation, though he cautioned that the survey results would need to be assessed before any firm commitments could be made.
Council leader Milan Radulovic went further, suggesting that if the council proceeds with a bid for phase three, it could use the process to put pressure on the receivers to set aside funding for the outstanding snagging and remedial work affecting phases one and two. When asked directly whether a successful purchase of the phase three land would lead to the completion of all outstanding remedial work on existing homes, Councillor Radulovic indicated that this was essentially the aim.
He also pointed to a section 278 bond held by the County Council relating to the completion of highways and street lighting on the estate. If that bond remains intact, he said, there would be no reason why the completion of phase three could not also see the resolution of all outstanding issues across the wider development.
Strong Demand for Housing in Kimberley
The council leader expressed confidence that the authority would be successful in any bid for the site, noting that there are currently around 1,350 people on Broxtowe's housing waiting list, with more than 300 of those expressing a preference for Kimberley specifically. The potential to deliver new social housing on the site clearly adds weight to the council's interest in acquiring the land.
The Brewery's Long History
The Kimberley Brewery site has a rich heritage stretching back nearly two centuries. Originally opened in 1832, the Hardys & Hansons brewery was a major employer in the town, with more than 200 staff at its peak. It was sold to Greene King in 2006 but abandoned five years later, after which the site fell into disrepair.
Fairgrove's original vision for the development included the conversion of the old kiln stores, tower, and Grade II-listed maltings into high-quality residential properties. The brewery's Victorian-era tower was earmarked for conversion into three homes from 2021, but after years of concern over its structural safety, it was sold to another developer in September.
What This Means for New Build Homeowners
The Kimberley Brewery estate is, unfortunately, a stark example of what can go wrong when a new build development does not go to plan. Residents who bought homes in good faith have been left dealing with serious defects for years, and the developer's departure from the site has only compounded their frustrations.
Stories like this underline just how important it is for new build buyers to commission a thorough snagging inspection as early as possible. Identifying defects at the point of handover, or shortly afterwards, gives homeowners the strongest possible position when it comes to holding developers accountable for putting things right. While a snagging inspection cannot prevent the kind of large-scale issues seen at Kimberley, it does ensure that every defect is formally documented, which can prove invaluable if disputes arise later.
If you are buying a new build home and want to make sure your property is up to standard, consider booking a professional snagging inspection with New Build Inspections, or download our Snagging Checklist PDF to carry out your own review.
