Steel sections made by British Steel have been used to build Unit D at Business Park South at Teesside International Airport.

Business Park South is expected to create up to 4,400 jobs when fully operational, with 2.8 million square feet of logistics, distribution and industrial opportunities south of the runway.

Ben Cunliffe, Commercial Director, Construction, said British Steel, which operates at Scunthorpe and Teesside, had a vital role to play in supporting the economic growth of the region, and the wider UK. “Projects like this demonstrate our commitment to manufacturing the high quality products our customers require.”

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, said: “As mayor I’ve always said I’d ensure British workers and materials would be at the heart of our region’s redevelopment.

“Seeing steel from our own Teesside Beam Mill used in the construction of the new Business Park South at the airport is the latest example of that commitment. This project isn’t just about expanding our airport – it’s about supporting local businesses like British Steel, creating new jobs, and showcasing the strength of our region’s industry.”

Teesside Airport MD Phil Forster said: “We are hugely proud that sections from British Steel have been used in the first unit on our Business Park South.

“We have always been clear that the expansion of the airport as a business location will not only benefit the airport itself but also support fantastic companies such as British Steel employing local workers – and this a great example of this in action.”

Key stakeholders and major supporters of a new state-of-the-art youth centre in Grimsby – known as Horizon Youth Zone – visited the site of the pioneering project this week to see how construction firm, Hobson & Porter’s work is progressing. Due to open in Autumn 2025, Horizon Youth Zone on Garth Lane is being delivered by national charity OnSide, in partnership with North East Lincolnshire Council, which is contributing to the development as part of the Greater Grimsby Town Deal, and the Department of Culture Media and Sport, through the Youth Investment Fund. Other capital funders include Historic England, National Lottery Heritage Fund, St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation, Ørsted and Greencoats Wind UK. Attending the event were representatives from Cornerstone and Founder Patrons including Allied Protek, DFDS Seaways, Ørsted, Lincolnshire Co-op, myenergi and Prax Foundation Roots. Welcoming the guests on site was Horizon’s Young People’s Development Group; a group of local young people who meet weekly with youth workers, developing their skills through tailored experiences, and who play an integral part in making key decisions about the Youth Zone and its future. The disused site, which was formerly home to the West Haven Maltings and Migar House buildings, is being transformed by Yorkshire and Lincolnshire construction firm, Hobson & Porter. The company is restoring and repurposing the Grade II Listed 19^th century maltings and grain stores as part of the project, as well as building a major new sports hall alongside a large outdoor multi-use games area (MUGA). When it opens next year, Horizon will become part of a network of 15 existing OnSide Youth Zones operating across the country and will be filled with energy, inspiration, and highly skilled youth workers who truly believe in young people. North East Lincolnshire’s young people – aged between eight and 19, and up to 25 for those with additional needs – will be able to access over 20 activities each evening. These activities range from sports such as football, boxing and climbing, to creative arts, music, drama and employability training – all for just £5 annual membership and 50p per visit. Lucy Ottewell-Key, CEO of Horizon Youth Zone, said: “We couldn’t deliver this hugely ambitious project without the generous support of the many organisations, local businesses and our Founder Patron donors. “It was therefore an honour to welcome them onto the site so they can see how work is progressing and share our vision for how the development will look and function. We now have a very exciting 12 months ahead as we approach completion.” Jamie Masraff, CEO of OnSide, said: “Our aim at OnSide is to give all young people the chance to thrive and discover their passion and purpose. We already have 15 Youth Zones open across the country, and I can’t wait for Horizon to join the Network and give Grimsby’s young people the exciting opportunities all our Youth Zones offer.” Jason Stockwood, chair of the Horizon Youth Zone, said: “I’m so glad we can welcome our community of supporters onto the site and mark just how far we’ve come – and celebrate as we look to the future. “Horizon Youth Zone will be transformational for Grimsby and North East Lincolnshire; not only will it make a huge difference to young people’s lives, but it will also support the wider regeneration of the area. It’s very exciting to see the building take shape.” Joe Booth, business development director from Hobson & Porter, said: “This is a project that we’re very proud to be working on because it’s going to have a lasting impact on Grimsby and its people. “Our team thoroughly enjoyed hosting so many of the project’s supporters and stakeholders on site and giving them an insight into the complexities and uniqueness of this flagship project. “The delicate and intricate task of combining heritage and conservation works with the new-build elements is creating incredible state-of-the-art facilities which will genuinely change lives for the better and we are incredibly proud to play our part in that journey.” Horizon Youth Zone is an independent charity with a private sector led board, and once opened, it will be part of the OnSide Network of Youth Zones nationwide, which support over 50,000 young people annually. After completion, it’s estimated that Horizon could benefit up to 4,000 young people from North East Lincolnshire each year.

Developer Wykeland Group and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust have announced a framework agreement to create developments in which people and nature thrive together. The agreement builds on more than a decade of successful collaboration between the two organisations and aims to ensure commercially successful development and ecological enhancement go hand in hand. The innovative Ecology and Biodiversity Framework Agreement commits the two organisations to work together constructively to create and nurture wildlife and natural habitats alongside the delivery of sustainable, commercially-viable developments. The agreement with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust commits Wykeland to embedding ecological principles across the company’s entire portfolio of developments. Representatives from Hull-based Wykeland and the Trust came together for an event at Wykeland’s Bridgehead business park in Hessle, East Yorkshire, to celebrate over a decade of partnership between the organisations, introduce the new agreement and formally sign it. Wykeland and the Trust have worked closely together since 2013 to demonstrate how commercial development and environmental stewardship delivers better outcomes for both wildlife and people. A flagship project from their collaboration has been a 1km nature trail at Bridgehead, near the Humber Bridge, designed and created by Wykeland, working in partnership with the Trust. The Trust manages the pathway and its surrounding natural habitat on behalf of Wykeland. Wykeland has also worked with community volunteering charity, The Conservation Volunteers, as well as local primary schools to create the Jubilee Woodland, which features 1,200 trees and borders Wykeland’s Melton West business park in East Yorkshire. A major element of the new agreement is the integration of the Trust’s expertise at the earliest stages of Wykeland’s design and development processes, as a constructive and critical friend. Wykeland will actively involve the Trust from the initial planning and design phases, ensuring that ecological considerations are prioritised in new and existing projects, including developments such as Bridgehead, Melton West, the Fruit Market urban village in Hull, and Europarc in Grimsby. Wykeland Managing Director Dominic Gibbons said: “We’re delighted to be continuing our work with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust to enhance not just our future developments, but also our existing ones. “We’re committed to ensuring all our developments benefit the businesses that occupy them, and the people who work in and use them, as well as enriching the natural environment. “This new agreement builds on the great work we’ve done with the Trust over the past 10 years. It commits our team and the Trust to work even more closely together across our entire portfolio to create commercially successful and attractive places where both people and nature thrive.” Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is a charity dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring wildlife and wild places in Yorkshire. It looks after more than 100 nature reserves across Yorkshire and is involved in hundreds of other conservation-related projects. The Trust’s Chief Executive Officer, Rachael Bice, said: “Driving better outcomes for wildlife in new development is critical and possible, even when there is pressure for strong economic growth and more homes. “The relationship we have built with Wykeland shows solutions can be found for ecologically sensitive development when professionals bring together their different perspectives, that benefit wildlife and create attractive, healthier places where people want to live and work.”

A prime, last-mile distribution warehouse that spans more than 100,000 sq ft just outside Leeds city centre has sold in an £8.74m investment deal. Unit 3 on Benyon Park Way, which is off Lowfields Road and close to Gelderd Road, has been sold by Alt, an online platform for investing in UK warehousing, and Inflection Real Estate to an institutional investor. Alt and Inflection were advised by Leeds property consultancy, GV&Co’s investment division and Southsea Capital acted for the buyer. The sale reflects a net initial yield of 6.75%. The building offers 105,768 sq ft of space, which includes more than 7,000 sq ft of office accommodation spread over two storeys. It sits in a large and fully secure site extending to 5.25 acres and is 1.5 miles from Leeds city centre and less than a mile from the M621. The whole site is let to Encon, the independent distributor of insulation materials, interior building products, fire protection and roofing materials. The company has occupied the building since 2008 and has a lease until 2028. Daniel Walker, from GV&Co, said: “After embarking on a successful asset management strategy, we’re delighted to achieve this sale for our client, which reinforces how much demand there is in the market for prime, last-mile industrial premises in Leeds.” Oliver d’Souza, from Southsea Capital, added: “The investment is a great acquisition for my client. The location supports the buyer’s wider strategy of acquiring high quality and well-connected assets in key cities throughout the UK.” Ben Cassey, from Inflection Real Estate, added: “In challenging market conditions we pushed on the rent materially at the rent review and secured an institutional exit that delivered returns of circa 25% internal rate of return (IRR) to our investors. We continue to look for well-located, under-rented logistics opportunities in partnership with Alt.”