Catterick Garrison’s Marne Barracks is to receive a £54m upgrade thanks to a new deal signed by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation and construction firm Morgan Sindall. The Barracks, which is currently the home of 5 Regiment Royal Artillery and 32 Regiment Royal Engineers, requires additional infrastructure to prepare for the arrival of 21 Regiment Royal Engineers by 2027. Upgrades, being delivered under the Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) Army Programme, will see nine new facilities built alongside refurbishments to existing buildings. The new or upgraded infrastructure includes Single Living Accommodation, sporting facilities including multi-use game areas and a gym, and storage facilities. Andy Hall, Director of Morgan Sindall’s Yorkshire and North East business, said: “Our Armed Forces give one hundred percent dedication year-round and are committed to the service and protection of our country. To be one of the contractors named to support them through applying our expertise is a great honour.” Robin Hartley, DIO’s Deputy Head of Major Programmes & Projects (Army), said: “The award of this contract is the start of a major programme of upgrades for Marne Barracks, which will see some real improvements to the site in preparation for the arrival of new units. We look forward to working closely as a team with Morgan Sindall and the Army to ensure the success of the programme.” Survey work is already under way with enabling works expected to start at the end of next year, followed by the start of construction in summer 2025.

The search is on to appoint a contractor to restore and preserve the National Picture Theatre in the wake of a funding award from Hull City Council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The National Picture Theatre is the last remaining WW2 civilian ruin in the UK, and will be restored as a flexible space for community events and education, it will also be  a place of reflection for the 1,200 Hull civilians that died during WW2. The contractor will undertake work to restore the façade to its former period style, including its iconic windows and signage. Structural elements, including the two large concrete beams, which saved the lives of the 150 people inside the theatre on the night it was bombed, will also be preserved. Councillor Rob Pritchard, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure, said: “The council is looking to appoint a contractor who can sensitively restore the façade and undertake structural work. “This is an untouched site, and this work will not only protect its future but raise awareness of its significance as a rare surviving bomb-damaged building from the Second World War.” The former National Picture Theatre was designed by architects Runton and Barry for the De-Luxe Theatre Company and was constructed in 1914. The building was badly damaged during a Luftwaffe air raid on 18 March 1941, although none of the 150 people inside the cinema at the time were killed or seriously injured. The former National Picture Theatre gained Grade II listed status in 2007 due to its significance as a rare surviving bomb-damaged building from the Blitz of the Second World War. Air raids on Hull went on longer than on any other British city and, out of Hull’s 91,660 houses, only 5,945 survived the air raids undamaged. Remedial work to stabilise the building took place in 2020 and now the major works are scheduled to begin in 2024.

All the commercial space at the revitalised Stonebow House in York City Centre has now been let with new tenants Roxy Ball Room and mydentist set to join the Coop supermarket in the New Year. Wetherby-based Oakgate Group has regenerated this landmark building, which also includes repurposing the long-term vacant office space into luxury apartments, which are all sold and fully occupied. The £17m redevelopment scheme has seen the original Stonebow House stripped back to its core and remodelled to include 13 apartments, 4 duplex penthouses and 31,500 sq ft of retail and leisure space. mydentist will occupy the unit which was previously the Supersonic Gym and Roxy Ball Room will bring their unique leisure offer to the middle of the three commercial units on the ground floor of the building. This site will be Roxy Leisure’s 20th site under the Roxy Ball Room brand. Richard France, Managing Director of Oakgate Group, said: “The transformation of Stonebow House, is now nearing completion with the occupation of the final two commercial units, bringing more vibrancy and life into the immediate area. “The revitalised building is providing a new community for residents with retail, leisure and healthcare enabling it to continue to play an important part in York’s varied and historic heritage.” Roxy Leisure’s CEO, Matthew Jones said: “We are really happy to be working with Oakgate on this project, the building provides the perfect space and location for our 20th site opening in early 2024.” Stonebow House was built in 1964, following York’s slum clearance programme, and was originally designed by Wells, Hickman and Partners. It has had a chequered history in the eyes of York residents and the design for the rejuvenation of the building were by DLA Architecture.

Sheffield City Council is working towards identifying the future use of the Central Library and Graves Gallery building, decisions on which will form a crucial part of plans to transform the city centre. At a meeting of the Strategy and Resources Committee next week, councillors will consider a proposal for new feasibility studies to be completed to develop a vision for a 21st-century central library for Sheffield, and to explore the potential for the building to become a flagship gallery and arts venue. Tom Hunt, Leader of Sheffield City Council, said: “This is a big, positive step forward to identify the future use of the Central Library and Graves Gallery. “In 2024, if approved, we plan to kick off studies to assess options for the building’s future, including as a refurbished library and art gallery or a flagship standalone art gallery. “The building has been used and loved by generations of people in Sheffield. Nearly 90 years after the building opened, it is right that we take steps to ensure the full potential of the building in the 21st-century is realised.” If the process is approved, public consultation will also take place as part of the information gathering process. The report also recognises that immediate, major repair works are necessary to achieve compliance, improve building efficiencies, preserve historic and heritage features, and prevent further deterioration. If this process does go ahead, a full project timeline will be developed alongside the feasibility phase.

Hull-based family-run haulage, storage, and distribution company TEPS is building a new warehouse and office.

As part of the sixth generation John Good Group, TEPS is reinforcing its commitment to adapt and grow in response to market needs, which is being a strategic supply chain & logistics partner in the Hull and Yorkshire region.

The new development will feature a state-of-the-art 25,000 sq. ft warehouse, capable of housing 5,000 pallets, alongside a 1,900 sq. ft office block. This expansion will not only increase TEPS’s capacity to nearly 200,000 sq. ft but also enhance its operational efficiency. The new warehouse will create new roles and opportunities within the local area to be recruited for in 2024. MD Paul Fordon said: “This expansion is a significant milestone for TEPS. By constructing this new warehouse and office space, we are not just scaling our operations but also reaffirming our dedication to our clients and the environment. The integration of the new offices within the warehouse facility is a testament to our commitment to operational excellence.” Adam Walsh, CEO of John Good Group, added: “I’m delighted we were able to give the green light for TEPS on this multi-million-pound investment into the site. It’s a real vote of confidence in Paul and the team, who consistently deliver a service that makes them a standout operator in the region. I’m also pleased we were able to include a new office block in the development. Our people make the difference in our business, and to give them a new home with far superior facilities will help us retain and attract talent for years to come.” Scheduled for completion in Spring 2024, this new facility is set to be a major milestone in TEPS’s growth strategy, solidifying its position as a leader in the warehousing, storage, and distribution sector.

Sheffield City Council’s Strategy and Resources Committee meets next week to hear the latest update on the project to transform the former Cole Brothers building as part of the ongoing regeneration of the city centre, and to consider an agreement with Urban Splash over the lease. Months of negotiations on the agreement have been taking place between Sheffield City Council and Urban Splash, which was announced in June as the preferred bidder to take on the building. Those negotiations have now concluded and the agreement for lease is expected to be signed in January 2024. Once the agreement has been signed, the award-winning regeneration company will then be consulting with the people of Sheffield on their plans for the building and gathering thoughts and ideas. The proposed Agreement with Urban Splash will result in the delivery of an exciting mixed-use scheme comprising flexible workspace and cafes/retail/leisure/cultural uses/event space which are all considered to be complementary uses to the rest of the Heart of the City project. Bringing this listed building back into active use will be hugely beneficial both for the wider city centre and the surrounding Heart of the City scheme. Retaining much of the structure, whilst improving the thermal performance and energy efficiency of the building, should have a positive impact on climate change. Leader of the Council Tom Hunt, Chair of the  Strategy and Resources Committee, said: “The former Cole Brothers building is an important and much loved part of Sheffield City Centre. It’s great that we’re moving forward with Urban Splash to breathe new life back into the building. The exciting proposal from Urban Splash will add to the fantastic regeneration we’re seeing throughout the city centre in the Heart of the City development at West Bar and more. “Sheffield is a city on the up. We are creating a city centre that will be a destination for people to come and relax, shop, eat, work, and drink.”

Yorkshire Housing is set to build almost 400 new affordable homes thanks to a £74 million loan deal secured under the Affordable Homes Guarantee Scheme (AHGS). The AHGS is a £3 billion government-backed lending scheme which aims to help registered housing providers build more affordable homes by providing longer-term, lower-cost, fixed rate loans. Yorkshire Housing already has plans to deliver 8,000 new homes and this latest deal will enable it build around 380 homes. ARA Venn, a leading investment manager, manages the AHGS on behalf of the government and was responsible for the deal. Rob Parkes, director of finance at Yorkshire Housing, said: “With thousands of families on housing waiting lists and the cost-of-living still high, it’s more important than ever to provide affordable homes across Yorkshire. “This new long-term funding will help us to build around 380 quality new homes, making it possible for more people to have a place they’re proud to call home.”

Work to transform the Victoria Theatre in Halifax is soon due to start. The work, which is funded by the UK Government’s Future High Streets Fund, is set to begin, with Calderdale Council appointing the construction company Morris and Spottiswood to carry out the improvements. Plans include a new box office on Commercial Street with an amended layout to reflect current booking patterns. The current box office, along with part of the foyer area, will become a new café/bar which will provide new food and drink opportunities and could hold small performances, events and meetings. Access improvements are also included in the plans, with a new lift taking visitors to the theatre’s bars on the circle level for the first time in the venue’s history, a platform lift for access from the theatre foyer to the auditorium, and two new accessible toilets being installed. These changes will vastly improve the visitor experience for those with access requirements. Initial works will be focused around the new box office, which will be in the former Ivor Burns shoe shop on Commercial Street and the former newsagents next to the theatre entrance, which will become part of the new café/bar. Throughout the works, the theatre will be open as normal, with performances unaffected, though there will be protective hoardings and scaffolding in and around the building during the works. Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Towns, Tourism and Voluntary Sector, Cllr Sarah Courtney, said: “The Grade II listed Victoria Theatre is a landmark in Halifax and a key part of our visitor economy. We’re passionate about the future of the venue and we’re excited for improvement works to begin. “This is part of an £11.7million package of Future High Streets funding being used to deliver ambitious regeneration work in Halifax town centre. Supporting thriving towns and places is a priority for the Council, and this work will boost economic growth whilst also protecting our distinctive heritage.” Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Services and Communities, Cllr Jenny Lynn, said: “As we head towards the Calderdale Year of Culture in 2024, it’s wonderful news that one of the region’s top cultural venues is being revitalised with new and upgraded facilities to support an improved visitor experience. “The work will transform the box office and foyer area, increase the food and drink options and improve accessibility of the venue. This will encourage greater daytime use, opening the theatre to different customers who may not have visited before. “Construction is being carried out around the packed programme of events at the theatre and will be complete in time for celebrations as part of the Year of Culture.” Matthew Wall, Public Sector Director at Morris & Spottiswood, said: “We are delighted to be part of this transformative project, which will not only breathe new life into Commercial Street but also provide the Victoria Theatre, Halifax with some fantastic new spaces and improve accessibility. “We are looking forward to working in collaboration with the Council to ensure this important cultural facility can continue to be enjoyed by local people and visitors for years to come.”