Starlight Investments, a global real estate investment and asset management firm, has exchanged on an acquisition to purchase 84 Kirkstall Road, a 111-suite Build-to-Rent (BTR) community in Leeds. The nine-storey newly built residence features a range of suite layouts, including one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom suites with many featuring balconies as well as larger terraces on the top floor. The property contains amenities including a co-working space, media room and a dedicated resident lounge. The building’s design also incorporates renewable energy systems and high-efficiency lighting. “This new residence is a strategic addition to our UK portfolio and further complements our previously announced BTR acquisitions in Manchester, Liverpool and Ashford and will increase our overall portfolio in the UK to 1,038 suites with an additional 1,200 suites in our active pipeline,” said Daniel Drimmer, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Starlight Investments. ​“We are pleased to establish Starlight’s presence in Leeds, a dynamic city that is among the fastest growing in the UK, to support the introduction of new rental housing to meet increasing demand.”

Hull City Council and Caddick Construction have broken ground on-site to create 99 affordable homes at Dane Park Road, with handover due in Spring 2027. Once complete, this new build neighbourhood will comprise 20 one-bedroom, 49 two-bedroom, 20 three-bedroom and 10 four-bedroom homes, all of which will be available for affordable rent. The Dane Park scheme will incorporate Air Source Heat Pumps and Photovoltaic roof panels to all homes, as well as EV charging points to some properties. As well as green spaces around the site, there are over 250 trees being planted around the surrounding area. Caddick was appointed to the project via a Direct Selection under the EN:Procure New Build Framework, to promote early contractor involvement and de-risk the project to bring greater value to Hull City Council. Sister company Caddick Civil Engineering has also been appointed to deliver the groundworks ahead of the main construction work. Paul Dodsworth, Construction Group Managing Director, says: “We are proud to be growing our presence on frameworks such as EN:Procure, which help to drive high standards in project delivery. “Through early engagement between our team, our client and project stakeholders we can ensure that all public sector projects are delivered efficiently and with real value for money. “With all aspects of the build included in this framework, from site preparation and remediation to civil engineering, we are able to create further efficiencies by working closely with our civils arm, Caddick Civil Engineering. “We are pleased to have been appointed to the scheme at Dane Park, and we look forward to working closely with Hull City Council to bring these much-needed homes to families across the city.” Cllr Paul Drake-Davis, Hull City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Housing, said: “We welcome our new partner Caddick Construction and the opportunity to work together at Dane Park, one of the biggest council house new build developments to start in Hull for many years. “As well as building 99 well designed, energy efficient, family homes, these much needed houses will enable the Council to play its part in tackling climate change and just as importantly, help our tenants save money with lower electricity and heating bills.” Managed by social housing consortium, Efficiency North, EN:Procure is a specialist procurement body providing services designed to support the need for more investment in affordable new housing. Emma Mottram, director of operations at EN:Procure, said: “The appointment of Caddick Construction via our New Build framework marks a significant step forward for this development, which will provide essential new build housing for the area. “Our new build frameworks are developed to ensure efficient, reliable procurement is accessible for Members delivering affordable housing. It’s fantastic to see this achieved for Dane Park Road with added value around sustainability and delivery of apprenticeship through the EN:Able Futures Flexible Apprenticeship Services.”

Vastint UK, the developer behind Aire Park, the 24-acre mixed-use district on Leeds’ South Bank, has submitted its planning application for the future of the iconic Tetley building. The proposals, which will not only guarantee the future of the 92-year-old building but also increase the building’s accessibility so that it can be used by all, include the retention of the art deco façade and opening up of new areas to the public for the first time. Plans show that the basement, which previously connected the building with the wider brewery site, will be used as a speakeasy lounge/bar, whilst the ground floor features a market hall space and amenities including Changing Places facilities. The proposal then looks to continue The Tetley’s long-standing connection with both culture and commerce through the upper floors which include areas earmarked for event space and 13,000 sq ft of office accommodation. Alongside the application, a selection of new images has been shared, revealing a roof terrace and details of the proposed extension to the eastern façade of the building. The application highlights how the historic building will be brought up to modern sustainability standards, whilst retaining important historic aspects of both the interior and exterior of the building, including the Tetley Boardroom on the second floor. Simon Schofield, Head of Development North at Vastint UK, said: “The Tetley is an iconic building within Leeds, and we’re privileged to have it as a cornerstone of the Aire Park development. “As custodians of this important piece of the city’s history, we have been working hard with our architects Supervene and Enjoy Design, Leeds City Council and others to look at how we preserve this beautiful building, ensuring it remains at the heart of the community for another century. “Our plans aim to create a variety of spaces within the building including public amenities such as a Changing Places facility, food and drink opportunities and event spaces, which will be accessible to all. We also want to continue the building’s history of being a place of business, by creating new office space. “Ultimately this project is unique in its scope, as it not only adds to the wider development but also ensures a major landmark continues to play an active role in the future of Leeds. We’d like to think that Joshua Tetley would be impressed by the ambition we have for the site he purchased for £402 in 1822 and grew to be the largest brewery in the North of England.” Vastint UK acquired the Tetley Building from Carlsberg in 2022 and since then has been working on its plans to make the iconic landmark the crown jewel and focal point for Aire Park, Leeds’ newest mixed-use district, which includes a new 3.5-hectare city centre green park, up to 1,400 new homes and 800,000 sq ft of office space. As part of this commitment to safeguarding The Tetley, the developer recently partnered with Kirkstall Brewery to reopen the building to the public whilst planning approval is sought from the council. Wesley Dodds, director at Enjoy Design, said: “The recent partnership between Vastint UK and Kirkstall Brewery has provided a glimpse of what the future holds for The Tetley. The building has evolved constantly over its almost one-hundred-year history and we’re very proud to be a part of the next evolution of Leeds’ beloved Tetley.” Michael Westlake, director at Supervene Architects, added: “To be given the chance to work on a building which holds such an important place within a city’s cultural history and be able to shape its next chapter is really exciting. “We believe these plans will not only breathe new life into the building and open aspects which have never been open to the public before, but will also ensure the building can continue to act as a beacon to attract both locals and visitors to the area and the wider Aire Park.”

Global property consultancy Knight Frank has established a finance centre of excellence in Leeds for its UK Property Asset Management team. The brand-new team will be based at Knight Frank’s offices at 9 Bond Court in the heart of the city’s professional quarter. The new team members are: Jamie Thornton; Danny Gregory; Kyle James; Tatiana McDougall; Tracey Fakora; Daniel Clark; Nicky Chadwick; Adam Hellas; and Ryan Cook. Ronan Gallagher, partner with Knight Frank and head of Property Asset Management Accounts (PAM), explained: “This major expansion of our operation in Leeds makes it the UK hub for Purchase Ledger, Treasury and Client Accounting for Shopping Centres and National Portfolios. “The overall UK PAM team is growing, but this is a deliberate effort to centralise certain functions in Leeds, where we are focusing on building a centre of excellence. Leeds has been chosen due to the talent pool in the region and the city’s easy access from all parts of the UK. “For Leeds, this provides exciting opportunities for the existing team to grow and to nurture and attract new talent. Having a team under one roof will benefit of clients and our team in terms of efficiency, response times and service levels. “At Knight Frank, we have resisted the temptation to move our PAM operation offshore and we are keen to develop our PAM bases within the UK. This investment will also encourage other organisations to make a similar move to the Leeds area, thereby benefitting the region,” said Mr Gallagher. Knight Frank has recently invested in refurbishing its offices in Leeds city centre with space for clients to come and interact and network together.

A stunning new Show Village showcasing prestige housebuilder Beal Homes’ luxury properties has officially opened at The Greenways development in Goole. The Show Village was declared open by East Riding of Yorkshire Council Leader, Councillor Anne Handley, who cut the ribbon before guests were given guided tours of the show homes. As a Goole Ward Councillor, Goole Town Deal Board member and resident of the town, Cllr Handley has been a passionate advocate for Goole’s exciting regeneration, working with businesses such as Beal which are investing millions of pounds to rejuvenate the town. Speaking at the Show Village opening event, alongside Beal Chief Executive Richard Beal, Cllr Handley said: “As a local resident myself, I’ve watched The Greenways grow and grow and it makes me really proud to see it. “It’s an outstanding and aspirational development and supports all the investment we have going on in the town, with more to come. It has put Goole firmly on the map. “I can’t thank Richard and the Beal team enough. It’s wonderful what they have brought to Goole and it gives me great pleasure to officially open this Show Village.” The Show Village enables prospective buyers o view a selection of East Yorkshire-based Beal’s thoughtfully designed house types. The four properties showcase the quality of new homes at The Greenways and the wealth of design options and upgrades available to homebuyers. The Greenways is at the forefront of an ongoing wave of large-scale investments, alongside developments by other blue chip companies, which are creating hundreds of highly-skilled jobs in Goole. Richard Beal said: “The opening of the Show Village marks a major milestone for The Greenways and signposts how this exciting development continues to grow. “Behind the Show Village, the foundations are in place to enable more people to own their own home in one of Yorkshire’s most up-and-coming towns. “We’re investing more than £200m here over more than a decade to deliver hundreds of much-needed, high-quality homes. With that investment comes highly-skilled jobs in construction and other disciplines, training opportunities and apprenticeships, and long-term work for our supply chain.”

Two environmentally-friendly building projects from North Kesteven District Council have been shortlisted for the Unlock Net Zero awards in recognition of their positive climate impact. The Unlock Net Zero awards are designed to champion progress in housing and the built environment on the journey to decarbonisation, in which environmental impacts from buildings are reduced or eliminated. In the ‘Building or development of the year – Commercial’ category, the Council’s Sleaford Moor Enterprise Park has been shortlisted, while in the ‘Green homes upgrade of the year – Central and East of England’ category the Council has been recognised alongside partners Equans for retrofitting of council homes. Both of these projects were conceived and undertaken with a view to advancing the Council’s aim for its operations to be net zero by 2030, and to support tenants by making it easier and cheaper to heat and run their homes and business premises. Sleaford Moor Enterprise Park, off Pride Parkway, is designed to provide a low-carbon home for growing businesses of various sizes, and includes planet-friendly features such as solar panels and electric vehicle charging points. All the units so far completed achieved energy efficiency ratings of A or higher following a fabric-first approach. The site even takes wildlife into consideration, providing extensive trees and planting to benefit biodiversity. Phase one of the scheme was completed in late 2023. Already eight of the 15 units in phase one are fully let and occupied by businesses. Three of the remaining units are under offer and undergoing all the final legal preparations before businesses can move in, and the remaining four units are either the subject of ongoing discussions or are continuing to generate enquiries. The Council’s retrofitting project sees the lowest EPC-rated homes in the Council’s portfolio being prioritised for green upgrades such as improved insulation, new heating systems, air source heat pumps and solar panels. The first wave of the 600 initial properties to be treated has been completed with partners Equans who are recognised leaders in this field. Tenants in these properties are already reporting noticeable reductions in their energy usage, as well as increased comfort and health benefits. The Council’s long-term aim is to raise EPC ratings across the portfolio to minimum C, which helps save each household on average £1,200 per year, ensuring an estimated carbon reduction of 2.56 tonnes of CO₂ per year each. Overall the project to retrofit the first 200 properties should save 512 tonnes of CO₂ per year, equivalent to that captured annually by a hectare of 100-year-old woodland or by taking 304 cars off the road per year. North Kesteven District Council Leader Councillor Richard Wright said: “Being shortlisted for these awards places us amongst the top organisations working to achieve net zero in the built environment. It’s something we put a great deal of effort into, both for the environmental benefits and the immediate improvements felt by tenants, both domestic and commercial. “It’s gratifying to have this work recognised and to have the opportunity to share our progress. We acknowledge that there’s a long way to go to achieve our goal of net zero for North Kesteven, but this demonstrates that it is possible and we are making strides in the right direction.”

GMI Developments Limited and Miller Developments have created a new Joint Venture, GMI Miller Limited, to deliver development schemes across the north of England. Following the acquisition of the partnership’s first site, an 80-acre site in Scholes Leeds for up to 600 new homes, the venture is close to agreeing terms on an employment site and a 500-unit edge of centre residential development. Chris Gilman, Managing Director of GMI, said: “We are delighted to have joined forces with Miller Developments to initially bring forward the development of our site at Scholes. Their extensive track record and strong capital base make them the ideal partner for both this site and the other opportunities we are working on. We look forward to a long and successful relationship.” GMI Developments, part of the GMI Holdings Group, has a long track record of bringing forward complex regeneration projects in partnership with both public and private sector organisations. The Directors have successfully delivered some of the region’s most high-profile developments including the 200-acre award-winning Thorpe Park. The company also has extensive knowledge of working with local authorities on complex regeneration schemes, including the redevelopment of Clay Cross town centre in Derbyshire. Miller Developments, which was bought out of the wider Miller Group in 2018 by its management team, is well-known for the delivery of significant projects across the UK, including the mixed-use logistics and residential project at Omega Warrington in the north. The company already controls land capable of delivering over 5,000 new homes. The privately owned and well-funded company has assets in excess of £70million which the company is keen to reinvest in further development opportunities throughout the wider UK, either directly or through further joint venture opportunities. David Hodgson, Development Director at Miller Developments, said: “The GMI Miller JV will exploit the vast experience the two companies have in acquiring, securing planning and delivering high quality employment schemes, serviced residential land and mixed-use developments across the north of England. “Seeking opportunities to utilise the equity within the company, we are currently engaging with agents to look at a variety of both strategic greenfield and unconditional brownfield sites, on and off-market, and look forward to bringing forward serviced land for the residential sector, boosting local economies through investment and job creation.”