Acting on behalf of Leeds-based property company, J Pullan & Sons, CBRE’s Industrial team in Leeds has completed a deal on a 41,598 sq ft warehouse/industrial unit at the Howley Park Estate in Morley.

Food and beverage packaging company Coptrin has relocated to the site having taken a 10-year lease on the unit. The family-owned company is amalgamating 4 regional sites into its new headquarters facility, a move which will facilitate its continued growth.  

The unit provides modern, single-story warehousing featuring extensive service yard and car parking. 

Alex Henderson, Managing Director of Coptrin, said: “This move provides a platform for us to expand our product range and improve our operational efficiencies. We look forward to this exciting next chapter as the business continues to grow.”

Ellie McCollin, CBRE Industrial team in Leeds, said: “We are delighted to complete the deal on this modern warehouse/industrial unit close to Leeds City Centre. It provides occupiers with perfect connection to the transpennine and M1 motorway corridors, as well as great recruitment access thanks to a densely populated local area.

“The availability of new design and build units of a high standard also gives potential occupiers opportunities to create bespoke space to meet their needs.” 

Bruce Strachan, Property Director at Pullans, said: “We are pleased to welcome Coptrin to Howley Park and look forward to a long-lasting relationship with them as their business continues to expand. Alex and his team have been a pleasure to work with and we wish them every success.”

Jonathan Jacob from GV&Co added: “We are delighted to have acted on behalf of Coptrin to secure this off-market opportunity at a time when buildings of this size are in such short supply.”

CBRE acted on behalf of the landlord J Pullan & Sons and GV&Co acted for the tenant.

Together with the Dewsbury Town Deal Board, Kirklees Council have been successful in a bid for nearly £4.5m investment from the National Heritage Lottery Fund, to support the development of the historic Dewsbury Arcade. The Dewsbury Arcade is a Grade II Listed building, which has been a focal feature in Dewsbury town centre since the Victorian era and is a key focus of the Dewsbury Blueprint – which lays out Kirklees Council’s ambitious plans for the future of the town. The planned improvements will bring the arcade, which has stood empty for seven years, back into regular use. Another key part of the development is the restoration work, which will future-proof the building’s beautiful historic architecture while the redevelopment brings it back to life. With this crucial injection of funding, the council are now planning to start work on the arcade renovations this autumn. With the support of the Arcade Group – a community business formed with the purpose of leasing and managing the arcade – the council are aiming to fill the reopened building with a range of independent local traders, along with a great food and drink offering. Once the works are underway this autumn, the Arcade Group will be launching a community share group. Through this, local people will be able to elect board members and have part ownership in the business. The community share group will support the Arcade Group by raising money for developments on the business side. Councillor Shabir Pandor, leader of Kirklees Council, says: “The purchase of the arcade back in 2020 was one of our first major steps in our Dewsbury Blueprint plans, so it’s fantastic to get news that we can make a start on our ambitious renovations. “The arcade has always been an impressive building and a real focal point for people visiting the town centre, so to see it returned to its former glory will be fantastic. I can’t wait to see it become a vibrant thoroughfare once again, helping to reinvigorate Dewsbury’s retail offering alongside our other blueprint plans – as well as hopefully offering new opportunities to local entrepreneurs. “I appreciate people might think things aren’t happening in Dewsbury because projects like this can be a slow process, but I hope this reassures people that we are doing a lot of work in the background. While we want to do everything right, especially where public money is concerned, and make sure we’re delivering the best possible results, we won’t deviate from our plans for the Dewsbury Blueprint.” Councillor Eric Firth, Cabinet Member for Transport and Ward Councillor for Dewsbury East, says: “The Dewsbury Arcade is one of our more iconic buildings in Dewsbury town centre. Thanks to this funding, it’s time to bring it out of retirement and open it up to the public once more – I think I speak for everyone when I say we can’t wait to get started. “I know local people are excited to once again have a bustling retail offering in Dewsbury, and this is one of several projects which should capitalise on our incredible independent traders to drive more value back into the local economy.” Helen Featherstone, Director for the North of England at the National Lottery Heritage Fund, says: “We are delighted to support Kirklees Council with this project, which will restore the Dewsbury Arcade to its former glory. “It’s fantastic to think that our investment – made possible thanks to the money raised by National Lottery players – will give this amazing heritage building a new lease of life, create new opportunities for local independent businesses and play a significant role in boosting the local economy, while contributing towards the regeneration and wider townscape of Dewsbury.” Keith Ramsay, Chair of the Dewsbury Town Deal Board, says: “The board are thrilled at this success. Many teams and partners will be involved in the delivery of this project, and we look forward to further successes as we see the arcade restored.” Natalie Liddle, representative of the Arcade Group, says: “The award is fantastic news. We can now get back to all the tenants that have already expressed an interest in the arcade. “In the autumn, we will be launching a community share issue to raise £150,000 to finance the business. “This is all about Dewsbury and turning the town centre around. We’d love to hear from anyone who wants to be part of the arcade, as a tenant or an investor.”

Disability equality charity, Scope, is set to open a major new service hub at Brewery Wharf in Leeds. The charity has agreed a deal to take 4,500 sq ft at 3 Brewery Wharf for its new Leeds Community Hub, creating its largest base outside of London. The hub will be home to more than 70 staff working across a range of services including community, family and employment teams as well as helpline support staff, and it also will feature a café and shop. The specialist fit out of the new space will begin in September ahead of the hub launching early 2024. The space will be fully accessible, with plans including wide aisles and adjustable height desks for wheelchair users, as well as braille signs and specialist lighting for those with visual impairments.   Ruth Blazye, executive director of retail and communities, says: “One in four of us are disabled and are not treated equally in society. Together, as communities, we can change that. Scope’s Leeds Community Hub will be a centre for a range of the charity’s services, retail products and our community engagement work. “The hub will also provide a space to showcase the great work, designed exclusively for Scope, by our hugely talented disabled artists and makers. The new, accessible hub will be pivotal in deepening our connections with the Leeds communities, our local Yorkshire Scope shops and will offer a community space for all.” Scope’s lease agreement comes on the back of a raft of major milestones at Brewery Wharf which is owned by Leeds-based property investor, Rushbond, specialists in repurposing cherished locations and buildings throughout the region.   In June, legal technology provider, InfoTrack, opened a new 5,582 sq ft office at 7 Brewery Place which provides space for more than 70 staff. This is the first permanent Northern base for the company, which also has offices in London and Woking. The new office will enable the company to grow the Leeds office to 30 plus team members as well as act as a collaborative hub for its remote staff across the North of England.   Scott Bozinis, InfoTrack CEO, said: “InfoTrack is delighted to be expanding our operation with our Leeds office at Brewery Wharf. With a large and growing number of customers in the North, we’re excited to set down roots here and be able to work even more closely with them. “We’re currently working from a small base on the site, with expansion and a full fit out in late 2023. With more than 250 people now driving the success of InfoTrack from across the country, we’re thrilled to be able to commit to Leeds and recognise the increasing talent the region boasts.” Channel 4 News also began broadcasting from a state-of-the art new ITN studio at Brewery Wharf in May – making history as the first prime time news programme to co-present from two locations (Leeds and London). The new studio adds to Channel 4’s growing presence in the city which already is home to its northern headquarters at the landmark Majestic building in the city centre – which is also owned and redeveloped by Rushbond – which accommodates more than 200 staff.   Richard Baker from Rushbond said: “We made a concerted effort to develop Brewery Wharf in ways that would attract more creative and new media tenants, investing heavily in the public realm and refurbishing existing spaces. “By opening up the public realm, we have created an accessible location that is ideal for Scope and we look forward to welcoming the charity and working with them to bring to life their ambitious plans for their new hub. “It’s fantastic to see nationally significant companies like Channel 4 and InfoTrack choosing Brewery Wharf as the location for their northern head office. This place spearheaded the renaissance of Leeds’ waterfront and the South Bank, and we now have only a handful of workspaces remaining for anyone who wants to be a part of this distinctive and beautiful waterside location.”