Richard Paxman OBE, CEO of Paxman, said: “I am truly looking forward to collaborating, connecting, and combining the best of our two organisations, with new perspectives and shared strengths as we move forward.”
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LATEST ARTICLES
Huddersfield scalp cooling device manufacturer acquires Swedish competitor
Huddersfield scalp cooling device manufacturer Paxman has acquired Swedish counterpart Dignitana. The two companies will merge to create a new, unified group named Paxman AB.
The deal begins a new chapter in chemotherapy side effect management for Paxman and Dignitana.
As two companies once working in competition, the merger will enable valuable collaboration and connections, the sharing of new perspectives, and leverage of each other’s strengths, to improve patient outcomes.
Sanderson Weatherall swoops for West End expert
Leeds-based property consultancy Sanderson Weatherall has bolstered its London footprint with the acquisition of BDG Sparkes Porter, a commercial property agency established for 30 years with expertise in the West End office and investment markets.
The acquisition brings seven experienced agents to Sanderson Weatherall.
David Rastrick, COO at Sanderson Weatherall, said: “This acquisition strengthens our agency and capital markets presence in London, particularly in one of the UK’s most resilient office markets.
“It also enables us to expand our client base and further broaden the range of services and knowledge we can offer stakeholders with property interests and assets in the capital.”
Richard Dunn, head of agency at Sanderson Weatherall, added: “I am thrilled to welcome the agents at BDG Sparkes Porter to Sanderson Weatherall.
“The West End office market is experiencing robust growth driven by increased occupier activity and rising prime rents. Investment volumes are also rising and with improved occupier sentiment, this is a great time to expand our agency offering in the capital.”
Greg Porter, founder of BDG Sparkes Porter, said: “Joining Sanderson Weatherall, a nationally recognised and B Corp certified firm, unlocks significant growth potential and enables us to deliver enhanced services to our clients.
“We are committed to continuing our sector specialist roles in the West End, with myself, Ross Blanchflower and James Harrison joining as shareholding partners, and the rest of the team continuing in their valuable roles.”
Harrogate environmental services business snaps up Southwest firm
Adler & Allan, a Harrogate environmental services business backed by Goldman Sachs, has acquired drainage and civil engineering specialists, Glanville Environmental.
Glanville Environmental delivers drainage civil engineering, installation and remediation, specialising in geospatial surveys, CCTV surveying, high-pressure water jetting, gully cleansing, liquid waste movement, and septic tank emptying. Its clients include water, rail, and construction, as well as domestic customers.
With more than 180 employees, working across five depots throughout the Southwest, Glanville Environmental is Adler & Allan’s largest acquisition to date and tenth overall in the last three years.
Jamie Treliving, managing director, Glanville Environmental, said: “We are thrilled to be joining the Adler & Allan Group. The extent of Adler & Allan’s service range, combined with our presence in the Southwest is a fantastic opportunity to broaden our customer offer, whilst further strengthening Adler & Allan’s leading position in the wastewater recycling industry.”
Mike Williamson, managing director – water division, Adler & Allan, said: “Driven by our purpose of creating better environmental outcomes, welcoming Glanville Environmental into the Adler & Allan family represents another tangible step towards realising our plan to scale our operations and further strengthen our market leading package of integrated environmental solutions.”
Coast to Coast passport targets tourism-driven business growth
A new passport scheme has been introduced along England’s Coast to Coast route as part of a broader strategy to stimulate economic activity in rural communities ahead of the route’s reclassification as a National Trail in 2025.
Stretching 190 miles from Cumbria to North Yorkshire, the Coast to Coast path currently attracts around 6,000 walkers each year. The passport, developed by the Richmond Yorkshire Community Interest Company and backed by multiple local authorities and stakeholders, is intended to turn this foot traffic into a more measurable economic benefit for small businesses situated along the trail.
Participants can collect stamps from 80 registered venues, such as local pubs, shops, cafés, and attractions. Many of these venues are offering small incentives to encourage additional spending. The initiative is expected to drive greater dwell time and transactional activity in areas that rely heavily on seasonal tourism.
The scheme precedes a £5.8 million investment from Natural England, aimed at upgrading infrastructure to meet National Trail standards. Stakeholders anticipate that formal National Trail status will boost the route’s visibility, drawing increased visitor numbers and enabling more consistent income streams for hospitality and retail operators along the corridor.
The programme is being positioned as a model for how public-private collaboration can support rural regeneration through experiential tourism.
Harrogate Spring Water moves ahead with revised expansion plan
Harrogate Spring Water has submitted its final expansion plans to North Yorkshire Council. The company, owned by Danone since 2020, aims to grow its bottling operations while addressing earlier environmental concerns. The company revised its proposal following further consultation with local groups and planning officials.
The updated scheme includes a slight increase to the building’s footprint, up 9 square metres, but remains within approved limits and avoids impact on surrounding landscaping. To meet biodiversity goals, the business has scaled back the number of trees planted on-site, shifting from a dense layout to fewer, native species better suited to long-term growth. As part of its broader commitment, it will increase tree planting elsewhere in the Harrogate area from 1,500 to 2,500. So far, 840 trees have already been planted.
The project is expected to deliver over 50 permanent roles and boost the company’s annual contribution to the local economy to £6.2 million. A formal consultation will follow before the proposal goes to committee.
Construction work has begins on extra care housing scheme
Construction work has begun on an extra care housing scheme that will open up new independent living opportunities for older people in Leeds.
Leeds City Council’s Middlecross development in Armley will provide 65 energy efficient apartments for affordable rent by people aged over 55 with care and support needs.
The homes are being built for the council by Morgan Sindall Construction and will breathe new life into a two-acre brownfield site that has lain empty for several years.
To mark the start of construction, the council’s executive member for housing, councillor Jess Lennox, paid a visit to the site to meet some of the project team and see the early progress that has been made.
Councillor Lennox was joined by representatives from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which has contributed £1.3m from its Brownfield Housing Fund towards the cost of the scheme.
A further £1.3m has been drawn from Leeds’ commuted sums funding stream, which supports affordable housing delivery using pooled financial contributions paid by developers as part of planning agreements.
The rest of the funding for the project – due for completion in 2027 – has come from the council’s housing service via Right to Buy receipts and borrowing.
The scheme’s three-storey apartment building has been designed to encourage everyday social interaction as well as independent living, with a restaurant, a hair salon and an open-plan lounge and coffee bar among the communal spaces that will be available to residents.
Sustainability and energy efficiency were also key design considerations and, as a result, the building will have high levels of ventilation and insulation while benefiting from features such as ground source heat pumps and roof-mounted solar panels.
The site for the scheme – which sits between Armley Grove Place and Simpson Grove – was occupied by Middlecross Day Centre until its demolition in 2018.
Councillor Jess Lennox, Leeds City Council’s executive member for housing, said: “It’s great news that construction work is now under way on this important scheme, which will help address the well-documented shortage of affordable extra care housing in Leeds.”
Ben Hall, Yorkshire area director for Morgan Sindall, said: “We are proud to be playing our part in creating high-quality extra care housing, enabling older people to enjoy later life.
“It was a pleasure to welcome Councillor Lennox and other stakeholders to our work at Middlecross. We’re looking forward to delivering this much-needed new scheme, which was procured via the SCAPE Construction framework.
“It will bring significant benefits for the Armley community, both through the completed building and our contribution to the local economy during the build programme.”
Revised plans submitted for Huddersfield’s George Hotel
Kirklees Council has submitted revised plans for the George Hotel in Huddersfield, seeking to increase the number of rooms while preserving the building’s character.
Having worked with architects and Historic England, Kirklees Council have identified an opportunity to rework the original plans for the interior creating 17 more rooms whilst still preserving the building’s architecture and heritage.
This is the second planning application the council has submitted for the refurbishment of the historic George Hotel. The revised plans come following a large amount of the restoration now being completed in preparation for the renovation works.
The revised plans would see the number of rooms planned increase from 91 to 108. Expanding the hotel’s capacity in this way would enable it to support more guests and generate more income to repay the council’s £30m investment.
Councillor Graham Turner, cabinet member for finance and regeneration, said: “The Huddersfield Blueprint is really starting to take shape now, with our vision for the town becoming a reality.
“The recently opened leisure complex – the Light at Kingsgate, together with the enhancements to the public realm on New Street and St Peter’s Gardens and the eagerly anticipated Our Cultural Heart will all enhance the high street.
“External investments like the University of Huddersfield’s National Health Innovation Campus, the West Yorkshire Investment Zone, and the Transpennine Route Upgrade are helping to put Huddersfield on the map.
“The George Hotel plays such a key role in Huddersfield’s past, and for people travelling by rail, it will always be one of the very first buildings to welcome you as you enter the town centre. Once rejuvenated, hotel will be perfectly placed to thrive and channel current investment back into the local economy.”
Phoenix Brickwork plays key role in Doncaster school upgrade
Phoenix Brickwork, a construction company specialising in brickwork, scaffolding, and steel frame systems (SFS), is providing essential support in the redevelopment of Ridgewood School in Doncaster. The project is part of the UK Government’s £1 billion schools rebuilding programme, which is set to transform 50 schools nationwide.
Based in Derbyshire, the company is supplying multiple services for the project, including brickwork, SFS, internal partitions, ceilings, and scaffolding. The goal is to replace outdated infrastructure with a modern, three-storey learning environment for 500 students, incorporating eco-friendly and sustainable designs.
The project, led by BAM Construction, is already making progress. The steel framework is now in place, and the building’s foundations are complete. Ridgewood School will operate as a net-zero building, contributing to a green, biodiverse educational campus.
Phoenix Brickwork’s involvement in providing multi-trade solutions simplifies the project management process, offering efficiency and coordination to ensure the work progresses on schedule. The project reduces potential delays and streamlines delivery by consolidating services under a single contractor.
As part of the development, Ridgewood students will also engage in activities to personalise the new building, including selecting a name and contributing to a time capsule. This project marks an important milestone in the Government’s schools upgrade programme and showcases Phoenix Brickwork’s capacity to deliver integrated construction solutions.
Major step forward for £36m Rotherham Markets transformation
The £36 million refurbishment of Rotherham Markets has taken a major step forward with the demolition of the Guardian Centre buildings now completed and the markets’ iconic tent roof removed.
Appointed by lead contractor Henry Boot Construction, Rotherham-based demolition experts, Demex, were responsible for the dismantling of the tensile fabric tent and its supporting metal structure, which has been a recognisable part of Rotherham’s town centre for almost three decades.
Demex were also in charge of managing the pulling down of the former Drummond Street shops – also known as the Guardian Centre buildings – to the Henry Street corner of the site.
This process has seen the first visual changes at the historic site and showcases the change Henry Boot Construction is delivering in the town centre.
Construction began in May last year on the project, which is a key part of Rotherham Council’s wider town centre masterplan set to become a new cultural and social focal point for the town.
Modernisations to the existing Rotherham Markets structure will build upon the existing shops and services on the ground floor, with the addition of a new food hall and dining area on the first level. The adjoining outdoor market will be refurbished to become a multi-functional space used to host exhibitions and community events.
Alongside the markets, a new library has been designed with the town’s community needs in mind. This modern venue will feature a dedicated children’s area, café, community meeting spaces, working spaces, a business development facility and IT centre.
Interlinking the markets and library will be a series of public spaces, helping to enhance the appearance, accessibility and inclusivity of the area, as well as connecting it to the rest of the town centre and Rotherham College.
With the demolition stage now complete, work will continue with the installation of the steel frame for the new outdoor covered market (OCM) and library.
The project is expected to complete in 2027.
527,000 sq ft logistics site hits the market
A prime distribution and logistics site by Junction 36 of the M62 has been put on the market.
The 29-acre Axis 36, unveiled by developers Sterling Capitol, has planning permission for a single distribution facility.
Paul Beckett, CEO of Leeds-based Sterling Capitol, said: “We are delighted to launch Axis 36 to the market. This prime site is located immediately adjacent to the M62 at Goole and benefits from reserved matters planning consent for 527,000 square feet of hi-spec industrial and logistics accommodation.
“With the benefit of planning consent in place, we can deliver a unit to prospective occupiers swiftly.”
Iain McPhail, partner in Knight Frank’s Yorkshire Industrial & Logistics team, who are marketing Axis 36 alongside the Leeds office of Colliers, said: “As the regeneration of Goole continues at pace, Axis 36 is an exciting prospect for industrial and logistics occupiers to invest and grow their business.”
Rob Whatmuff of Colliers added: “Axis 36 offers a truly oven-ready development platform upon which a large scale, institutional grade logistics facility of over 500,000 sq ft can be delivered immediately.”
