McLaren Property and Arlington Real Estate have been selected as the strategic developer for one of the UK’s largest city centre regeneration schemes. Network Rail and Homes England have selected McLaren Property and Arlington Real Estate as the preferred developer for their major brownfield scheme, York Central. York Central is being brought forward by a partnership between Network Rail, Homes England, the City of York Council and the National Railway Museum. The scheme has the potential to significantly boost the local economy by creating up to 6,500 jobs and delivering over £1.1 billion of Gross Value Added to the economy of York per annum. There are already £135m of infrastructure works underway to enable this major regional scheme to progress. These include over 3km of new roads, footpaths, cycleways and also include two new bridges over the East Coast Main Line. The appointment of McLaren Property and Arlington Real Estate as a development partner is the latest milestone in delivering York Central, which will see a key piece of York city centre brought to life by transforming underutilised railway land into vibrant and distinctive residential neighbourhoods, cultural spaces, high quality public realm and a high-quality commercial quarter. McLaren Property and Arlington Real Estate partnership have significant experience in delivering major mixed use regeneration schemes and neighbourhoods including Durhamgate, Newton Aycliffe and Upper Brook Street, Manchester. Peter Denton, Chief Executive at Homes England said: “This is a major milestone in the important regeneration of York Central. Over the last few years, Homes England and Network Rail have worked closely with City of York Council to create a vision and masterplan, and have invested in the critical infrastructure to make this a reality. “It will now be delivered at pace through our chosen development partner for long term delivery and stewardship.” Robin Dobson, Group Property Director at Network Rail, said: “This is a strategic step forward in the regeneration of over 110 acres of underused railway land to deliver significant investment and social value for the City and region. “York Central puts infrastructure at the heart of a new residential, commercial, and cultural neighbourhood. The project demonstrates the pivotal role Network Rail Property can play in unlocking sites which deliver growth, jobs and housing.” John Gatley, Chief Executive of McLaren Property, said: “We are proud to have been selected to deliver York Central – the most significant regeneration scheme in the north of England. McLaren have deep roots in Yorkshire, and we are committed to working with local stakeholders to enhance the great city of York.” Allan Cook, founder of Arlington Real Estate, said: “Having spent the last 15 years focussing on the delivery of large scale mixed use development schemes in the North of England we have witnessed firsthand the positive benefits, to both communities and the local economy, of large scale regeneration. “We are delighted to have been given the opportunity, alongside our partners McLaren Property, to be able to write the next chapter in the story of this great historic city.” York Central is a 45-acre site that will deliver up to 2,500 homes, 20% of which will be affordable, and create up to 1 million sq ft of commercial space for offices, retail and leisure. A network of vibrant public squares linking to surrounding neighbourhoods in the city centre will be delivered, as well as improvements to York Railway Station and an expanded and enhanced National Railway Museum.

Plans to invest £3 million to build almost 300 new, affordable homes in Leeds look set to be approved by regional leaders. The proposals will see high-quality dwellings for rent built on brownfield sites across the city, as part of West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin’s efforts to turbocharge regeneration. Up to 88 new homes will be built in Seacroft and Gipton, in east Leeds, while 204 rented homes are earmarked for Saxton Lane, in Leeds city centre. The homes will benefit from a range of measures that will help tenants save money on energy bills, such as through heat pumps. A full meeting of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority will consider the plans today (Thursday, December 7). Funding for the new homes is part of a wider £89 million Brownfield Housing Fund devolved to the region from the Government. Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “Everyone should have access to a safe and secure place to call home, so I’m delighted we’re able to bring forward plans for hundreds of new homes in Leeds. “These schemes would be an important step forward in our mission to build a brighter, more vibrant West Yorkshire that works that for all. “However, the Government must now provide the flexibility we need to make better use of disused land and buildings so that we can deliver thousands more homes right across the region.” Mayor Brabin has called on the Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove to allow for more flexibility to develop on brownfield land. Current government rules make it difficult for regional leaders to back housing projects in areas where the land values are relatively low, yet regeneration is needed. In a letter to Mr Gove, Mayor Brabin said the overall financial benefit of multiple sites should be assessed instead of each site on its own, opening up more opportunities for housebuilding across West Yorkshire. Mayor Brabin has also recently launched a consultation so the public can have their say on a new housing strategy for West Yorkshire. The strategy will aim to boost the delivery of high-quality, affordable housing and improve the quality of existing homes to cut energy bills.

The Competition and Markets Authority has taken action to protect supermarket shoppers by securing agreements from Morrisons and Marks and Spencer that they’ll stop using unlawful anti-competitive land agreements. These unlawful agreements include restrictions on land being used by a rival supermarket, or restrictions lasting five years or more that stop landlords from allowing competing stores to set up. The CMA found that the retail giants, who together hold 12% market share of the UK’s supermarket industry, have both breached the Groceries Market Investigation (Controlled Land) Order 2010 Morrison 55 times between 2011 and 2020, and M&S 10 times between 2015 and 2019. The legislation was introduced to stop supermarkets imposing new restrictions that block rivals from opening competing stores nearby. By ensuring supermarkets compete freely, the CMA is ensuring that shoppers have more choice and so benefit from a wider range of groceries and access to cheaper prices – which is even more important as the cost of living rises. Morrisons currently has the poorest compliance record with the Order that the CMA has seen to date. Although 14 of these restrictions have ended, there are an outstanding 41 restrictions that Morrisons has agreed to address. Likewise, five of M&S’s restrictions have ended and it has agreed to address the remaining five. The CMA has written to both supermarkets outlining the breaches and the actions agreed to improve compliance in the future. Adam Land, Senior Director of Remedies Business and Financial Analysis at the CMA said: “At a time when the weekly shop is a source of financial pressure for many families, it’s crucial that competition between supermarkets is working well to help people get the best deals they can. “These restrictive agreements by our leading retailers are unlawful. There can be no excuses made for non-compliance with an Order made in 2010, especially when we know the positive impact for shoppers of new stores on the high street.

“Our continued crackdown on these unlawful restrictions is part of our wider action to tackle the cost of living and ensure that people benefit from more competition and choice.”