Leeds’ 12 Greek Street acquired
Catella APAM (APAM), the specialist UK & Ireland real estate asset manager, has acquired 12 Greek Street in Leeds city centre from Epsilon Real Estate Partners on behalf of its Cape Town based client, New Property Ventures (NPV).
Comprehensively refurbished in 2016, Greek Street is a high quality and prominent multi-let asset. It has frontage to both Greek Street & Russell Street and is only 3 minutes’ walk from Leeds central train station.
The building totals c. 23,500 sq ft set over 7 floors and is fully let to eight tenants including Netcompany UK Ltd, First Intuition Leeds Ltd and Marstons.
Andrew Day, head of asset management (North) at APAM, said: “We are delighted to acquire 12 Greek Street as part of the continued expansion of NPV’s UK regional office portfolio, which now exceeds £70m. The asset is in an excellent location, based in the heart of the city’s CBD and high-end leisure pitch ensuring it benefits from the city’s vast transport network.
“12 Greek Street presents several asset management opportunities and, following the recent leasing success at APAMs One City Square and 2 Whitehall Quay assets, we will utilise our extensive knowledge of the local market and asset management expertise to reposition the asset as a best-in-class office provision to reflect the markets continuing demand for good value, high quality accommodation, which is complemented by a strong amenity offering and ESG strategy. It also typifies the ongoing investment we make into our assets throughout the portfolio.”
Scott Shufflebottom, director at Sixteen Real Estate, said: “Sixteen Real Estate are delighted to secure this off-market acquisition on behalf of APAM. 12 Greek Street is excellently located within the heart of Leeds central business district and offers a unique opportunity to quickly unlock reversionary investment value through proactive asset management.
“Whilst currently a fully let asset, the short-term nature of the occupier profile provides extensive opportunities to drive the asset forward through internal refurbishment and attracting new occupiers to the building.”
Scunthorpe manufacturer falls into administration
Scunthorpe-based Birkdale Manufacturing Group Limited has entered administration.
The company is an established manufacturer of garage doors and roller shutters, and in more recent years increased its range to include composite front entrance doors, window security shutters, awnings, pergolas, patios and fence panels.
The business had been experiencing trading difficulties which led to cash flow pressure, and in recent weeks was also subject to a winding-up petition from one of its creditors.
Prior to the appointment of James Lumb and Howard Smith from Interpath Advisory as joint administrators, the company ceased to trade.
The administrators are seeking interest in a going concern sale, and at this point, no redundancies have been made while this interest is explored.
James Lumb, Managing Director at Interpath Advisory and joint administrator, said: “Companies across the sector have experienced significant difficulties in recent months, including softening demand, as well as rising input costs and interest rates.
“Unfortunately, these challenges proved insurmountable for Birkdale Manufacturing Group. However, we are presently working towards a solution which could see the business rescued as a going concern. We will continue to update workers regularly while this process unfolds.”
Clothing firm upsizes from Wombwell to Hoyland
Fashion brand Lucy and Yak has opened new premises at Barnsley’s Gateway 36 Business Park earlier today.
Created by Barnsley-born Lucy Greenwood and Chris Renwick in 2017, the independent retailer has grown into a popular clothing provider with more than 800,000 followers across their social media platforms.
With shops in major cities such as Brighton, Bristol, Nottingham and a new store which will open its doors in Manchester’s Northern Quarter next month, the heart of the business remains in Barnsley.
The new 40,000-square-foot site in Hoyland will see the company move from their previous home, a 10,000-square-foot unit in Wombwell, where they made scrubs, scrub caps and bags for frontline workers in local NHS hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Councillor Robert Frost, Cabinet spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture, said: “It’s brilliant to see Lucy and Yak moving into a new site and staying in the borough. For such a well-known fashion brand to continue to operate from Barnsley demonstrates the potential and opportunities we can offer to businesses.
“Our award-winning Enterprising Barnsley business support team are proud to have paid their part by assisting the company in identifying local properties for their expansion as well as providing specialist business coaching support. We will continue to support the company for many years to come.
“It’s clear that Lucy and Chris have not forgotten their roots and are investing in Barnsley, giving something back by providing skilled job opportunities for local people. We look forward to seeing Lucy and Yak continue to grow their business operations in the borough.”
Lucy said: “I still can’t believe how far we have come in six years from our first distribution centre being in my parent’s basement in Kendray to now having this beautiful new distribution centre and providing so many jobs to people from my hometown. It feels weird seeing my name on such a huge building!”
Chris added: “We’re really proud to continue growing in Barnsley, Lucy’s hometown, and creating more jobs for the wonderful Barnsley locals!”
Huge question marks hang over steel industry’s future, warns manufacturers’ trade body
Without carefully thought through Government leadership, decarbonising costs will weigh down and suffocate this country’s steel industry, according to the Director of trade body UK Steel.
He’s Gareth Stace, who says there are huge question marks over if Government really wants to sustain steel, the backbone of British manufacturing, or just leave it to shrink and rely on other nations’ supply.
“Without a hawk-like vision, a carefully planned capital expenditure and a powerful decarbonisation strategy, we could simply close down steel plants and de-industrialise the nation.
“We are committed to decarbonising by 2035 if the right business environment is created, and ETS free allowance, the level of the cap and a CBAM will help this. Yet Government is plainly taking with one hand and not giving back with the other when it issues one-off policies without a strategic plan for capital expenditure and aligning ETS regulations with CBAM implementation.”
His comments come in response to publication of the Government’s response to its UK Emission Trading Scheme (UK ETS) consultation, announcing that the scheme will have a tighter limit on industrial, power and aviation emissions, maintaining the existing free allowances until 2026.
UK Steel, the trade association for the UK’s steel industry, warned that without thorough strategic support from government, retaining the sector’s free allowances until 2026 will not be enough to help decarbonise UK steel.
Gaps are evident in the ETS reform details, says Stace. “With 2026 less than three years away, and with only nine years to decarbonise the steel industry according to the Climate Change Committee, the lack of detail, strategy and financial long-term leadership leaves steelmakers in the dark.
“It is essential that Ministers shine a light of leadership by putting a robust Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in place by 2026, so that imported high-emission steel faces equal carbon costs to UK-made steel.
“To hit industrial decarbonisation targets, government policies need to be packaged together to help industry transition to new low-emission production methods. The UK’s ETS reforms should be introduced strategically with the CBAM and a long-term capital expenditure strategy to give steelmakers the financial support to decarbonise.”
Onto reveals plans for 96 bungalows in seven locations
Social housing organisation Ongo has announced plans to build 96 bungalows across Scunthorpe, Doncaster, Hibaldstow, Belton, Winterton, Manton and Skellingthorpe over the next two years.
These are set to include one, two and three-bedroom homes for affordable rent, social rent, shared ownership, rent to buy and outright sale.
Special features delivered in some homes include a dormer style three-bedroom layout and fully accessible wheelchair standards. Some will also be flexible one-bedroom bungalows, built large enough to divide the main bedroom, creating a second where needed.
Martin Phillips, Development Manager at Ongo said: “Housing Needs surveys and demand data provided by local authorities has consistently shown a need for smaller occupancy dwellings with one and two bedrooms. This was the case particularly for older people in locations where they have always lived, but are unable to secure a smaller home because of lack of supply.
“To address this, Ongo has incorporated a large number into their development programme. We’re very proud of is the variety we have. From social rent making homes more affordable than ever, to different options for people wanting to buy, that may have thought it wasn’t achievable for them without a large deposit.
“We look forward to watching these sites progress and handing keys over upon completion.”
Ongo also has plans to spend over £45million on major investments and decarbonisation work on existing homes in the coming years, along with building hundreds of new homes.
Poundland starts recruitment for 120 jobs in Darton
Poundland has today confirmed it has begun recruitment for around 120 new roles at its Barnsley chilled and frozen food hub in Darton.
The Darton centre, acquired when Poundland bought Fultons Frozen food to power the roll out of chilled and frozen food to hundreds of stores, has now been chosen to host Poundland’s second digital distribution centre.
In the course of the coming months, Poundland says it intends to significantly increase the number of roles at Darton from 77 today to almost 200 by December as the centre becomes a second hub for Poundland’s growing digital business.
Roles available include shift managers, team leaders and warehouse operators.
Poundland’s online business is growing rapidly after the 2022, acquisition of Poundshop.com and its picking and fulfilment operations centre in Wednesbury, West Midlands.
The expansion at Darton adds to Poundland’s commitment when it acquired Fultons, to grow employment at the site.
Poundland director of digital Tom Hill said: “We’re extremely proud to bring good jobs news to Barnsley and South Yorkshire. Since bringing Fultons into our family as we’ve built our food offer, we’ve made Darton a true centre of excellence in the buying and distribution of chilled and frozen ranges for a rapidly growing number of stores.
“We now look forward to building a team at Darton that can help us also expand our digital business as we offer our customers more ways to shop at Poundland.”
Councillor Robert Frost, cabinet spokesman for regeneration and culture at Barnsley Council, said: “It’s fantastic to see Poundland investing into their Darton site and choosing to make it a second hub for the business, further proving that Barnsley is a great place for businesses to invest and grow.
“The variety of new, quality roles available provide excellent job opportunities for the people of Barnsley. We look forward to seeing Poundland expand their business operations in the borough and wish them every success moving forward.”
Poundland adds it is on track to add over half a million sq ft of new space this financial year as it opens and relocates stores.
Bradford Council prepares to make chief executive appointment
Bradford Council is poised to appoint Cheshire East Council Chief Exec Lorraine O’Donnell, pictured, as its Chief Exec to replace Kersten England who announced in January that she would retire this year.
The appointment will be recommended to full council on 11 July and, following council’s approval and standard background checks, a formal appointment will be made.
Lorraine has a wealth of experience in local government, having worked in a number of authorities in the north east before joining Cheshire East as chief executive in early 2020. She has been part of corporate management teams from 18 months into her career – helping Darlington become the highest performing authority in the country and Durham County Council become Council of the Year three years from its creation as one of the largest unitary councils in the country.
Prior to local government, she completed a doctorate in theoretical physics at Oxford University and as the first in her family to go to university and the first from her school to go to Oxford, she is passionate about ensuring that people from all backgrounds are able to realise their ambitions.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council, said: “I am delighted that someone of Lorraine’s calibre has been identified as our preferred candidate.
“The chief executive of Bradford Council is one of the biggest jobs in local government. The chief executive plays a very significant role in contributing to the delivery of the council’s priorities.
“Lorraine is an experienced leader with an impressive track record of delivering improvements and will be a real asset to us as we work to continue to drive forward with our ambitions for the district.
“I would like to express my gratitude to Kersten England for agreeing to delay her retirement while we completed a thorough and competitive recruitment process. I know Lorraine will build on Kersten’s legacy and bring new energy and focus to the job in hand.”
Court imposes £48,000 penalty over waste permit breaches in Scunthorpe
Fines and costs totalling £47,970 were imposed in a case against a Scunthorpe-based company and a director, heard at Grimsby Crown Court on Friday 30 June 2023.
SBR Group Developments Limited, of Winterton Road, Scunthorpe, admitted operating a waste facility in contravention of environmental permits. The company was fined £25,640 and ordered to pay costs of £17,000.
At the same hearing company director Matthew Berry, 44, of Clitheroe Road, Knowle Green, Longridge, Lancashire, was fined £3,330 and ordered to pay £2,000 costs after he pleaded guilty to the same charge.
The court was told that Berry had bought the site in Winterton Road in late 2017/18 from Thompsons Waste Management Limited. This company, which had gone into liquidation, had previously been prosecuted for keeping waste in excess of its environmental permit.
In an effort to reduce this waste which his company had inherited, Berry contacted the Environment Agency in August 2018 to discuss how to clear the site. However, he was told he needed an environmental permit or a registered exemption to carry out waste activities on the site.
Further site visits were carried out in June and December 2019 when waste was still present. Officers from the Environment Agency also found a heap of fines from a trommel machine which is used to break up waste.
The defendant attended a formal interview in January 2020 when he said that nearly all the waste had been removed to landfill.
But at a further visit in June 2021 officers noted that large piles of shredded waste were still on the site. It was finally cleared in November 2021.
Officers estimated that the operator had avoided £19,189.50 in permitting charges. The site was also assessed to have stored more than 750 tonnes of waste.
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “We welcome this sentence which should act as a deterrent to other companies who breach environmental legislation.
“As a regulator, the Environment Agency will not hesitate to pursue companies that fail to meet its obligations. The conditions of an environmental permit are designed to protect people and the environment.
“Failure to comply with these legal requirements is a serious offence that can damage the environment and undermine legitimate businesses.”
National Park Authority names new Chair and Deputy Chair
Rotherham medical device manufacturer acquires Manchester business
Rotherham-headquartered Marsden Group is targeting future growth within international and UK healthcare markets following the acquisition of specialist surgical instruments and medical device manufacturer Bailey Instruments.
The acquisition of Manchester-based Bailey Instruments will complement and strengthen Marsden Group’s international growth strategy, by expanding the company’s existing range of medical instruments which are used by medical professionals operating within the UK’s public and private healthcare sectors.
The deal will see the Bailey Instruments brand retained by Marsden Group, with chairman Tim Bailey playing a consultancy role within the business. Fellow director Gemma Bailey will remain actively involved within Bailey Instruments and will be responsible for leading Bailey’s international growth.
Launched in 1989 by Tim and Sally Bailey, Bailey Instruments developed high quality re-usable products for the podiatry sector. Today the company is responsible for manufacturing a diverse range of single-use and reusable medical devices which are used in general surgery, podiatry, maternity and ENT.
Mark Holdaway, CEO for the Marsden Group, said: “There is a great deal of synergy between the innovative work being delivered by Bailey Instruments and the Marsden Group. The acquisition of Bailey Instruments will provide new opportunities for both businesses, by extending and diversifying the range of solutions we provide to our customers within the healthcare sector.
“The acquisition will provide new opportunities for both businesses, both in terms of investing in research and development, bringing new products to market, as well as building on their expertise, experience and manufacturing capabilities, as we target future growth.”
Tim Bailey, chairman of Bailey Instruments, said: “Joining the Marsden Group of companies will provide us with an opportunity to continue the innovative work we have been delivering in the healthcare sector for nearly 40 years. Together, we will continue to enable caregivers to make a real difference to patient outcomes everywhere.
“When we first entered into discussions it was very clear that our vision was very much aligned with that of the Marsden Group and I am confident that the acquisition will provide opportunities to share our expertise and knowledge, helping to improve patient outcomes by continuing to invest and innovate, whilst crucially providing business continuity as well as helping to unlock new opportunities to grow and develop our operations.”
Established in 1926, Marsden is a leading manufacturer of medical weighing devices and has been responsible for delivering services to the NHS for more than 50 years. Headquartered in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, the company employs 50 members of staff. Marsden is a member of the UK Weighing Federation and is accredited by SGS Limited.
