The National Gemstone Centre is now open in Derbyshire

G F Tomlinson, a Midlands contractor, has successfully finished construction on the £6.15 million National Gemstone Centre at Carsington Reservoir.
Situated on 18 acres of land obtained by the client, C W Sellors, at Carsington, the National Gemstone and Jewellery Design Centre integrates C W Sellors’ jewelry design and production operations under one roof.
Initiated in the summer of 2022, G F Tomlinson began work on the state-of-the-art facility’s shell and core. The internal fit-out and finishing touches were completed from summer 2023, with the visitor destination finalized in spring 2024.
Upon completion, the 2,990 sq m center will be known as ‘Waters View’ once it opens to the public later this year. The facility will house a luxurious retail jewelry boutique, as well as spacious exhibition and lecture areas for individuals enrolled in jewelry design and manufacturing courses.
Additionally, the center will offer visitor tours, experience days, and a dining area with views overlooking the reservoir. Sustainability was a crucial aspect of the center’s design, ensuring a low CO2 emission rate of 16.9kgCO2/m2 per annum, well below the UK building target rate of 29.1.
Furthermore, the installation of three 42kW ground source heat pump (GSHP) boilers and 8,000m of underfloor heating and cooling pipework will regulate temperature year-round without the need for additional heating or air conditioning.
Nine low-energy/high-efficiency Systemair Topvex FC air handling units (AHUs) were also installed to recover heat from stale air, achieving an 80% efficiency rate of heat recovery.
Throughout the construction process, G F Tomlinson generated £1.7 million of social value added opportunities, including apprentice weeks, mental health initiatives, site tours, and career events. The company also sourced 86% of local labor within a 40-mile radius.
Adrian Grocock, the group managing director of G F Tomlinson, expressed his satisfaction with the completion of the project: “We’re very pleased to have completed works on this state-of-the-art facility at Carsington Reservoir for our client, C W Sellors. It’s been an honor to work alongside such a renowned East Midlands business, delivering a design and manufacturing hub that will provide world-class training and attract top talent to the region, further establishing Carsington Reservoir as a key visitor destination in the East Midlands.”