Land deal makes way for major mixed-use scheme in North Lincolnshire
Plans for a major sustainable mixed-use scheme in North Lincolnshire, which is set to include thousands of new homes alongside potential for high-value employment, community and leisure space, have moved a step closer with the acquisition of a major development site.
Regeneration and multi-sector property development specialist Hargreaves Land has exchanged contracts with site receivers Watling Real Estate for the conditional purchase of a 550-acre plot of land at the Lincolnshire Lakes site in Gunness, near Scunthorpe.
There, over 1,150 new homes will be created over the next 15 years as part of a major master-developer partnership that will also see potential for a new Advanced Manufacturing Park to be brought forwards on part of the site, offering commercial occupiers easy access to the nearby M181 motorway.
A 65-acre section of the site has been given a strategic allocation in North Lincolnshire’s emerging Local Plan to accommodate potential for the development of a carbon-neutral Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP), which could in the future provide new commercial space to accommodate a range of emerging businesses, alongside research and development institutions, including those within the clean energy sector.
New construction jobs will be created when enabling infrastructure work by Hargreaves gets underway, followed by thousands more in the future as new businesses are created at Lincolnshire Lakes and existing employers relocate to the site to support their own growth and expansion plans.
Lincolnshire Lakes is expected to be one of the largest residential development schemes in the region and forms part of a wider strategic regeneration project set to transform the overall area, which will also include delivery of a new primary school, district centre and extensive areas of public open space.
The scheme will be masterplanned by Hargreaves to accord with the placemaking principles of a sustainable twenty-minute neighbourhood, with new opportunities created for active travel alongside large areas of blue infrastructure and biodiversity corridors.
Hargreaves Land is committed to bringing forward the wholescale regeneration of the site, moving ahead in a deal that will see it working closely with North Lincolnshire Council to secure outline planning consent within two years on its initial phases of development.
David Travis, development director at Hargreaves Land, said the deal marks another step forward in creating much needed quality new homes and amenities for the area.
“Lincolnshire Lakes is a very exciting investment for Hargreaves Land, reflecting our track record and continued focus in successfully delivering large-scale placemaking schemes throughout the UK.
“This includes our involvement in the on-going development of Unity, another large-scale mixed-use development in South Yorkshire which has a lot of similar constraints, where we are working with joint venture partner Waystone Developments to ensure project success.
“This deal represents a significant milestone for our overall growth as a business, and we look forward to delivering sustainable development on site over the next few years.”
Zoe Shearman, development surveyor at Hargreaves Land, added: “This moment represents the culmination of several months of hard work by our internal team and external consultants, and we now look forwards to progressing planning and marketing workstreams on the site as proactively as possible, with a view to facilitating our first phases of serviced residential plot disposals to housebuilders in the near future.”
Andrew Foster, joint Managing Director at Watling Real Estate, said: “On behalf of Watling Real Estate, we are delighted to enter into a 15-year joint venture with Hargreaves Land to bring forward this development for the benefit of all stakeholders.
“This is a very innovative solution to progress development for a challenged site, and Watling Real Estate thanks Hargreaves Land and North Lincolnshire Council for their support, assistance and flexibility in working within the parameters of a Receivership.”
Freeths law firm acted on behalf of Hargreaves Land for the acquisition while Pinsent Mason represented the receivers.
Devolution for East Riding and Hull takes new step
The leaders of East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Hull City Council have agreed to hold talks with the government to look at the option of an elected mayor as part of a new devolution deal.
A combined authority deal would involve the two councils working together on strategic issues such as economic investment and transport, but the delivery of day-to-day services would remain the responsibility of each individual authority.
The option to include a mayor as part of a devolution deal would potentially see the East Riding and Hull, representing East Yorkshire, secure more funding from central government and would give each authority and the public more say in where the money was best spent to benefit residents.
The proposal for a mayoral authority is a move away from the county deal on the table, which would involve the switching of power between the two authorities annually, with no elected mayor.
The two authorities are the last in Yorkshire without a deal and the new leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Councillor Anne Handley, said: “We need to start delivering the best possible deal for the people of the East Riding and Hull and that means getting more money and more powers to improve the lives of local people.
“And that sentiment is shared too with Councillor Mike Ross, the leader of Hull City Council, and both our elected members and officers are now exploring what we can achieve with a mayoral authority.
“No deal is yet on the table as it’s very early days but conversations will continue between the two authorities as we’re both committed to delivering the very best for our residents.”
Councillor Mike Ross, leader of Hull City Council, said: “It is widely accepted that there has been little, if any, progress in getting a devolution deal for the city which sets Hull back compared to many other cities of the same size across the country.
“The government is clear that to get the best possible deal on offer, the mayoral model is their preferred approach.
“While there is still a lot of work to do, agreeing to consider what Hull and the East Riding can get out of a mayoral deal does at least move the discussion on.
“Ultimately the best interests of Hull will be a paramount in the consideration of any deal.”
Thomas Martin, chairman of the business engagement board that represented the interests of coastal, rural organisations in the area, was supportive of the new proposals.
He said: “Progressing a devolution deal is absolutely the right thing to do, but firstly I need to acknowledge the courage of our two local authority leaders, who in stepping forward together have parked individual politics, as both recognise this opportunity for our region as a whole.
“Both leaders understand that we simply cannot stay isolated forever – the world is already moving on around us and as other parts of the UK take jobs, investments and economic strategies that should be developed right here in East Yorkshire.”
Drax pumps £90,000 into North Yorkshire projects
Drax Foundation has donated almost £90,000 to three projects near to Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire.
The organisations to benefit are:- North Yorkshire Business and Education Partnership for their work with schools and businesses to develop STEM programmes
- The Don Catchment Rivers Trust which offers Community-led conservation and nature-based STEM education for children
- Toranj Tuition, a Hull-based organisation established to stimulate social mobility and to facilitate equal opportunities for adults and children through educational programmes.
Phil wins national award to show he’s one of the best in the business
Beal Homes site manager Phil Evenden has been named as one of the best in the business after winning a prestigious housebuilding industry award.
He’s been Site Manager at Beal’s West Hill II development in Kirk Ella, East Yorkshire, since construction began in early 2021, where he’s overseeing the development of 141 three, four and five-bedroom homes. His leadership of the construction team at West Hill II has now been recognised by industry peers, with a Quality Award in the National House Building Council (NHBC) Pride in the Job Awards. Running for 43 years, the awards are the benchmark for exceptional site managers across the UK. Phil said: “The Pride in the Job Awards were a key focus of our Construction Director Andy Devine when he joined Beal last year and they have been promoted to all of the site managers within the business. “We all share a commitment to providing our customers with homes of exceptional quality and ensuring that quality is consistent across the entire development. It’s great to see that recognised with this award. “For me personally, being a site manager is about the passion and the energy you bring to the role. If you don’t have that passion in what you do, then how is your team going to buy into your vision and ideas? “As Site Manager, it’s also important to me that I’m visible to the team. You can’t do the job properly from an office and problem solving is something I’ve always thrived on.”Hull engineering specialist to create access system for Canadian bridge project
Bridge works specialist Spencer Group has been appointed to create a bespoke access system to inspect the stay cables on a new Canadian bridge.
The new Pattullo Bridge over the Fraser River near Vancouver, is a key connection between the municipalities of Surrey and New Westminster, and is being updated from the original construction completed in 1937. Working on behalf of Fraser Crossing Constructors GP, Hull-based Spencer Group is designing, making, testing and commissioning a semi-permanent access system to enable maintenance engineers to inspect all elements of the bridge’s stay cables. The cradle element, which transports personnel to the desired inspection location, operates similarly to a cable car, moving up and down a track rope on the four lane, toll-free bridge. The cradle will be electrically hoisted up and down the main track rope and will vertically move up and down to enable personnel to inspect the stay cable wires throughout the lifespan of the bridge. Gordon Neilson, Principal Engineer at Spencer Group and a leading industry expert in bridge gantry design, is behind the design for the Pattullo Bridge cable fan access system. The design stage of the access system project is already underway and is set to be complete by early May. Manufacturing and testing will take place in the UK before the whole access system is shipped to Canada for installation. Fraser Crossing Constructors GP will be designing the bridge to interface with the stay cable access system, before it is tested and commissioned by Spencer Group. Steven Bunting, Project Director at Spencer Group, is leading the project said: “We’re really pleased that our track record of addressing unique challenges in the bridges sector and our engineering skills are being recognised and called upon internationally. “Our unique design on this project will be transferable to other cable stay bridges all over the world. It addresses challenges faced with the need to carry out tactile inspections of cables from a dedicated work platform, at difficult to reach locations at significant elevations.” The new bridge will provide a safer crossing for bridge users with modern, wider lanes, separated by a centre barrier, dedicated walking and cycling lanes separated from traffic by a barrier on both sides of the bridge, and better connections to, from and near the bridge. The existing bridge will remain in use until the new bridge is open to traffic in 2024. Once the Pattullo Bridge replacement is open, the existing bridge will be removed.Farmers invited to take part in carbon capture research
The project, which runs from this spring 2023 until 2027, has been awarded funding by Defra, and aims to help UK farmers and growers target Net Zero and build farming resilience through diversifying arable and forage cropping. It will also enable new revenue sources through a carbon marketplace and support enhanced value chains for industries such as textiles and construction.
The research will focus on four cropping options:
- rotational cover crops
- annual fibre crops (industrial hemp and flax)
- perennial food, forage, and feed crops (including cereals and herbal leys)
- perennial biomass crops (miscanthus, willow and poplar).
Skills deficit has firms driving with the handbrake on, says Minister
More than 200 companies will attend the government’s Skills for Growth conference today, when some of the biggest British and international companies will discuss how to address the urgent recruitment needs of businesses, which together currently have more than a million job openings.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan says the lack of the right skills amongst employees feels like ‘driving with the handbrake on’. “I know from my years in business that organisations drive innovation and create opportunities, but without skilled workers, it often feels like you’re driving with the handbrake on.
“The Government is investing in building future skills for growth and calling on businesses to work with us, so that together we can build the workforce of tomorrow.
Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said: “Successful companies need skilled workforces and as the Business and Trade Secretary I want to listen to the needs of business to ensure that the skills system delivers for them, creates even more highly skilled jobs and grows the economy.“This conference is vital to show how government can support business to build our skills base and ensure we have the right workforce for the jobs of the future.”
In addition to the conference, the government is urging employers to hire more apprentices, especially younger workers, and to invest more in training and upskilling their workforce. We are also highlighting the wide range of government-backed courses and support which is available, including Skills Bootcamps and Free Courses for Jobs as well as £2.7 billion of additional funding to support businesses to take on more apprentices and the ongoing rollout of T Levels.
The event is also being delivered in partnership with World Skills UK, organisers of the participation of skilled UK professionals in the world’s largest competitive skills showcase. Previous winners of World Skills events will also be present to discuss their experiences. The critical mass of expertise assembled at the Business Connect – Skills for Growth conference will inspire business leaders and help to grow the UK economy, creating jobs, prosperity and opportunity for people regardless of their background whilst plugging critical skills gaps which many businesses face.VFC rescues Meatless Farm from administration
Vegan food company VFC has acquired Meatless Farm in a deal worth £12m in sales – rescuing the fellow Yorkshire plant-based brand from administration.
The Meatless Farm brand will be retained, with the product range diversifying VFC Foods’ existing plant-based chick*n portfolio.
The acquisition of Meatless Farm marks a crucial milestone in VFC’s growth strategy and its mission to provide more vegan products across retail and foodservice, with the aim to remove animals from the food chain.
Speaking on the acquisition, which was financed from the company’s cash reserves, David Sparrow, CEO of VFC Foods, said: “We are delighted to announce this strategic acquisition, whilst being extremely mindful of the business’s challenges and the impact on the people involved.
“Meatless Farm has built strong consumer awareness, which aligns with our core values, and their exciting product portfolio enhances our existing range. By integrating both brands, we can utilise numerous synergies with valued customers and suppliers, thus driving innovation and extending customer choice.”
Co-founder, Adam Lyons, added: “Acquiring this remarkable brand is a testament to the hard work of the Meatless Farm team, who have done an exceptional job in developing and establishing quality products. Meatless Farm aligns seamlessly with our growth strategy, and we are confident in the underlying consumer demand for plant-based products.”
Matthew Glover, co-founder of both VFC, Veg Capital and Veganuary, stated: “VFC Foods is well positioned to sustainably grow the Meatless Farm brand once the cost-of-living crisis eases, and the plant-based space has experienced further consolidation.
“Reducing our meat consumption is crucial for a healthier, more sustainable future and, at VFC Foods, we will continue developing vegan alternatives which taste so good, they render the need to kill animals obsolete.”
Packaging company expands into Sheffield business park
A growing packaging production company has expanded into 27,500 sq ft at a Sheffield business park for its new regional base and created 30 new jobs.ePac Flexible Packaging, which opened its first manufacturing facility in the UK in 2019 and is based in Silverstone, has taken the additional industrial, office space and meeting rooms at Thorncliffe Business Park to help service its increasing requirements for making innovative flexible packaging for its customers.Refurbishment of the building, which becomes ePac’s new production site for the Midlands, the North and Ireland, has been completed by local contractors.ePac Holdings Europe managing director Johnny Hobeika said: “We have outgrown our current production site so needed another base further up the country from our current one in Silverstone. The central location of Thorncliffe attracted us to the site, as well as the extended height of the unit which is perfect for our large machines.“It was important for us to use local contractors to complete the fit out and also attract a new 30-strong workforce from nearby to satisfy our growing business. We are excited about taking the space.”The flexible packaging firm joins a variety of well-established industrial occupiers on the park including B.Braun, Balfour Beatty, Presto Tools and Plumb Centre.Knight Frank’s Kitty Hendrick said: “Thorncliffe was historically the site of the Newton Chambers & Co factory and has since been redeveloped into a well-established and popular business park providing industrial units ranging from 1,500 to 55,000 sq ft. It also provides a variety of office accommodation across all sizes.“Companies are attracted to the North Sheffield location of Thorncliffe and its easy access to the M1 at Junction 35, 35A and 36.”
50% pre-let at Sheffield Catalyst ahead of completion
Mirastar’s new Catalyst development in Sheffield is 50% pre let having secured its first two occupiers prior to completion.
Surfaces specialist Cosentino has become the first tenant to sign up to South Yorkshire’s newest £60m industrial scheme fronting Sheffield Parkway.
The scheme comprises of five units totalling 285,000 sq ft and Cosentino, whose Silestone, Dekton and Sensa worktop brands are known worldwide, has taken a 33,608 sq ft unit on the prime 18-acre site.
JLA Group, a market leader in the supply and maintenance of commercial equipment, including laundry, catering, heating and fire safety equipment, has also secured 109,166 sq ft ahead of PC. This marks a significant investment for the Group who are expanding into their own facility to accommodate substantial business growth.
The Sheffield Catalyst development as a whole is expected to create around 500 jobs for the region.
Henry Watson, associate at M1 Agency, said: “We are delighted to have exchanged contracts with Cosentino on Unit 3 and JLA Ltd at Unit 1 prior to practical completion. Cosentino is a world leader in the production and distribution of engineered and other natural stone surfaces. JLA is a UK market leader in their field. Both are excellent occupiers for this prestigious new prime development.”
Rebecca Schofield, partner and head of the Yorkshire industrial team at Knight Frank, said: “Catalyst offers quality of space, but also the presence and access onto The Parkway, one of Sheffield’s main arterial routes.
“The market continues to show good demand for modern, highly specified and sustainable space for occupiers wanting growth or relocation opportunities, plus the opportunity to tap into excellent labour resources in the region.”
Rob Brophy of Mirastar added: “Sheffield Catalyst is an important scheme to deliver much needed new industrial warehouse facilities benefiting from excellent ESG credentials and unrivalled prominence and access to the Sheffield Parkway and the M1 Motorway. We’ve received strong occupier demand since commencing on site and it’s great to see the scheme come together as we near completion having successfully pre-let 50% of the scheme.”
Agents Knight Frank, Gent Visick and M1 are marketing the remaining three units of 22,448 sq ft, 28,309 sq ft and 91,923 sq ft which are suitable for warehouse and distribution, general industrial and manufacturing.Investor, developer and asset manager Mirastar committed to a multimillion-pound funding agreement last year to help deliver Catalyst, alongside developers Premcor and Peveril Securities.
