Leeds firm invests in South Wales industrial site for SME redevelopment

April Lara
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Leeds firm invests in South Wales industrial site for SME redevelopment

Leeds-based commercial property company Industruct has acquired a disused food production facility in Blaenau Gwent for £1.25 million, marking its first investment in the South Wales market.

The 116,520 sq ft site, located near Abertillery, was formerly operated by Tillery Valley Foods, which ceased trading following administration two years ago. The asset had remained vacant since.

Industruct plans to transform the site into a series of refurbished industrial units aimed at SMEs in manufacturing, production, and logistics. Units will start at 5,000 sq ft, with flexible layout options to meet varying operational needs.

Refurbishment work has already begun, with a focus on reconfiguring the property to enable multi-tenant occupancy. The move signals Industruct’s strategic expansion into regional markets and aligns with continued demand for modern industrial space outside core urban areas. Global consultancy Knight Frank advised the seller on the transaction.

Hull secures £3.9m to expand zero-emission bus fleet

April Lara
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Hull secures £3.9m to expand zero-emission bus fleet

Hull City Council will receive £3.9 million from the UK government to support the rollout of 42 zero-emission buses, with deployment expected by spring 2027.

The funding is part of a broader £37.5 million Department for Transport initiative aimed at adding 319 electric buses across 12 local authorities in England. The move aligns with the government’s push to decarbonise public transport, while supporting UK-based manufacturing and local job creation.

The investment coincides with the ongoing passage of the Bus Service Bill, which seeks to return more control of transport services to local councils.

This follows Hull’s recent approval of a separate £7.6 million DfT grant focused on enhancing bus service frequency, adding up to 30 new shelters, and improving accessibility across key routes.

Leeds seeks new funding to complete delayed White Rose rail station

April Lara
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Leeds seeks new funding to complete delayed White Rose rail station

Business and transport leaders in West Yorkshire are preparing to present revised plans to complete the long-delayed White Rose Rail Station project in Leeds. The £26.5 million scheme, which stalled in March due to unforeseen cost increases, remains incomplete despite reaching around 70% construction progress.

Located between Morley and Cottingley on the Leeds–Huddersfield line, the new station is adjacent to the White Rose Business Park and within walking distance of the White Rose Shopping Centre. It is intended to boost transport links for South Leeds and support economic development in the area.

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), working in partnership with landowner Munroe K and principal contractor Spencer Rail, is now seeking approval to secure additional funding to resolve outstanding project issues. The matter will be discussed at the WYCA meeting on 8 May.

Remaining works include mechanical and electrical systems, lift installation, internal and external finishes, and railway-specific infrastructure such as signalling and passenger information systems.

Despite the full budget being allocated—£12 million from the Transforming Cities Fund and £5 million from the Leeds Public Transport Infrastructure Programme—the project has faced several cost and delivery challenges since construction began in Spring 2022.

Bradford day nursery sold after 25 years

Tess Egginton
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Bradford day nursery sold after 25 years
Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has sold Rainbow House Private Day Nursery Ltd in Bradford. Rainbow House Private Day Nursery Ltd is a well-established setting which provides day care for up to 88 children at any one time. It is located in Low Moor in Bradford. The previous owners, who had owned the setting for 25 years, recently decided to sell to pursue a well-earned retirement. Following a sales process with Grace Day at Christie & Co, it has been purchased by The Little Academy Day Nursery Ltd, which owns and operates two other sites around West Yorkshire. Grace Day, business agent – childcare & education at Christie & Co, said: “Working with the vendors has been an absolute pleasure from beginning to end. They have established an impressive and highly respected nursery, which I was confident would attract significant interest. “I am thrilled to have found the perfect buyers to continue their legacy and care for the team. This marks another successful nursery sale in West Yorkshire, which received multiple offers from a variety of buyers. The Yorkshire nursery market has been very active in recent months, and I anticipate this trend to continue.” Rainbow House Private Day Nursery Ltd was sold for an undisclosed price.

UK ramps up semiconductor R&D with £7m investment in AI-enhanced materials discovery

April Lara
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UK ramps up semiconductor R&D with £7m investment in AI-enhanced materials discovery

The UK government is investing £7 million in AI-powered semiconductor research, aiming to accelerate the development of advanced materials through new infrastructure at the National Epitaxy Facility based at the University of Sheffield.

Backed by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the funding will support the deployment of a Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) system equipped with artificial intelligence to streamline and optimise the discovery of next-generation semiconductors. The new system is designed to explore novel material combinations, including the integration of semiconductors with superconductors, which could potentially enable entirely new categories of electronic devices.

The National Epitaxy Facility, operated in collaboration with the universities of Cambridge and UCL, plays a key role in UK semiconductor research and development. The upgraded MBE infrastructure will focus on sustainable materials using earth-abundant elements such as aluminum, nitrogen, and zinc, with an eye on environmental impact and global competitiveness.

Semiconductors underpin critical digital technologies, and breakthroughs in materials, like the development of Gallium Nitride, have historically led to new industries, including the global LED lighting market, now valued at £100 billion. The broader semiconductor industry is worth around £900 billion globally.

New roles for senior Yorkshire partners at Saffery

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New roles for senior Yorkshire partners at Saffery
Chartered accounting and business advisory firm, Saffery, has made two key promotions in its senior leadership team in Yorkshire, with Sally Appleton becoming head of the Leeds office after taking over from Jonathan Davis who is now heading up the wider northern region. Jonathan joined Saffery in 2012 and has led the Yorkshire team for the past six years. In his new role, he will oversee the running of Saffery’s offices in Leeds, Manchester, Edinburgh and Inverness. He will continue to focus on his market presence in Yorkshire and his client portfolio which consists of owner-managed businesses, entrepreneurs, mid to large corporates and academies across the region. This year Sally celebrates her twentieth anniversary at Saffery, and she now heads up the Yorkshire office at Wellington Place in Leeds city centre, which currently has an 84-strong team. She is now responsible for managing all the office’s operations and overall client service, as well as a focus on recruitment, employee wellbeing and ensuring the office is aligned with Saffery’s national strategy. Sally will continue to oversee her existing client work which includes multi-generational businesses across Yorkshire as well as charitable organisations, including independent schools and academies. Sally, who grew up in West Yorkshire and becomes Saffery’s first female head of the Yorkshire office, said: “This opportunity is a genuine honour and it’s great to continue working alongside Jon, who will still be based locally in our Leeds office. “It also comes just a few months after I was elected on to Saffery’s partnership committee which provides a governance and oversight function of the management board, on behalf of all Saffery’s 90 partners. It is an exciting time for the firm and I’m really looking forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead.” Jonathan added: “Sally is a hugely respected member of the Saffery team, both in Yorkshire and across the wider firm, with both her clients and colleagues alike. She’s forward thinking, pragmatic and brilliant at problem solving, so she’s undoubtedly the right person to lead the Yorkshire office and I’m looking forward to supporting her in her new role. “I’m stepping into my new role at a time when Saffery is in a very strong position in the north of England and Scotland. Both Leeds and Edinburgh have recently relocated into flagship new offices, at Wellington Place and Haymarket Square respectively, and when this is combined with the expertise and established client bases in Manchester and Inverness, it’s a superb area to head up with a highly knowledgeable and dedicated team of more than 350 people.”

Torsion Homes targets regional growth with £53.3m development pipeline

April Lara
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Torsion Homes targets regional growth with £53.3m development pipeline

Residential developer Torsion Homes has announced a £53.3 million order book as it launches a new office in Stockport, signalling a focused expansion strategy across the North West.

The Leeds-based company is currently delivering seven residential schemes, including a £12 million development at Val D’or in Leeds, now under construction. Other ongoing projects include sites in Scorton, Richmondshire (£2.7 million) and Hebden Bridge (£4 million).

Torsion Homes operates a vertically integrated model covering land sourcing, development, construction, and sales. It is actively seeking land opportunities for sites with 10 to 40 units or more, with or without planning permission, to support its long-term pipeline.

The Stockport office marks a strategic step in scaling operations beyond Yorkshire, aligning with the wider Torsion Group’s three-year regional growth plan, which focuses on supplying housing across city centres, towns, and rural areas.

The expansion underlines the company’s ambitions to position itself as a key player in addressing the UK’s housing demand, particularly across Northern England.

Record-breaking year of growth for Tall

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Record-breaking year of growth for Tall
Leeds-based brand and digital experience specialist Tall has broken the £1.6 million turnover mark. Success in 2024 has seen Tall achieve a 60% increase in revenue and a 20% increase in team growth, including welcoming a new head of digital to the senior leadership team. Tall’s growth was also replicated client side with a 25% increase in client portfolio, adding to the existing roster of clients that include LEGO, SharkNinja and Tofoo. Tall now sets its sight on new achievements, aiming to hit the £2 million turnover mark by the end of 2025 while unveiling a new rebrand. Guy Utley, creative executive director of Tall, said: “With this rebrand, we have created a new proposition, which is still based on the same ethos we always had and our belief in ‘what if’. We always want to stay curious and ask what could be achieved. “This is then backed by intelligent thinking and insight to create solutions, designed to connect the right people with the right brands. As technology advances, so should our skill set. The rebrand and our growth are synonymous with all of this exciting change.”

Plans lodged for 150-home scheme in Pickering

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Plans lodged for 150-home scheme in Pickering
Keyland Developments Ltd, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister-company to Yorkshire Water, is seeking consent from North Yorkshire Authority to deliver 150 homes in Pickering. The 12.4 acre site is located north of Whitby Road on the north-eastern edge of the market town of Pickering between existing communities and a new county park. The vacant site has been identified by Keyland as prime for a high-quality, sustainable development guided by its ‘Six Capital’s’ approach ensuring positive environmental, social and economic outcomes. The masterplan has been devised by architects Tate + Co, whose past projects include working with The Eden Project. The development including areas of public space and a large-scale ‘green corridor’ for Pickering. The proposed housing mix of 1-4 bed homes includes SME builder plots, self/custom-build opportunities and volume-built homes. Matthew Turnbull, land & planning manager at Keyland, said: “Following our recent community consultations, this development represents a significant opportunity to deliver much-needed new homes for the Pickering area. “The sensitive and sustainable design supports inclusive community growth, promotes active and healthy lifestyles, enhances ecological networks and positively contributes to Pickering’s economic and social fabric. We look forward to receiving feedback on our plans which we are confident will make a valuable and lasting addition to the town.” Laurence Pinnfire, director at Tate + Co, added: “Working to Keyland’s ‘Blueprint for development’, the proposed scheme will be an exemplar of sustainable design. “Demonstrating our commitment to Regenerative Architecture, the sympathetic masterplan takes into account the nature of the site, the character of its surroundings and the location’s existing areas of biodiversity to create a diverse and inclusive, community environment. “New green links will provide improved connections with the local town and new county park. The masterplan will also deliver high-quality, ecological habitat. The team here at Tate + Co is delighted to be part of such an important – and positive – project for North Yorkshire.”

One of Yorkshire’s leading estate agents joins Lister Haigh

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One of Yorkshire’s leading estate agents joins Lister Haigh
North Yorkshire rural property consultancy, Lister Haigh, has appointed highly experienced property professional Nick Talbot to head up its residential property offering across North Yorkshire and into the North East of England. Nick said: “I have been involved in the Yorkshire property market all my working life and I know the local market inside and out. Having also been a partner and director with two major national country house agents for the last 26 years in Yorkshire, this has provided me with an unrivalled knowledge and experience of the market across the region and I’m looking forward to the move to Lister Haigh.” Harrogate native Nick has over 35 years of experience selling high end homes, rural estates and land across the region. Dacre, Son & Hartley recently acquired Lister Haigh. Nick commented: “With the backing of Dacre, Son & Hartley’s extensive regional and national reach, impressive digital and traditional marketing and a huge database of buyers, we’re in a strong position to provide a bespoke, professional and results-driven service. “The fact Dacre, Son & Hartley and Lister Haigh have joined forces was a key factor in my decision to make this move, as the new owners are investing heavily in growing the Lister Haigh brand across the region.” Patrick McCutcheon, head of residential at Dacre, Son & Hartley, said: “Nick’s appointment is part of our wider re-energising of Lister Haigh and his arrival, along with a number of impressive new listings, gives us an immediate boost in market presence. “Combined with Lister Haigh’s longstanding rural expertise, Nick significantly enhances our ability to serve both new and existing clients across the region and strengthens our presence in North Yorkshire, as well as pushing into the North East of England. “Together, we’re offering clients one of the most experienced residential and rural property teams in Yorkshire. Nick’s move to Lister Haigh reinforces the upward trajectory of the firm whose team of 10 is committed to delivering an exceptional, locally focused service.”
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