Trebor Developments have completed the final letting of Unit 2 at its Avion development, located at Aero Centre, Doncaster Sheffield Airport. The long-term letting is to Lontra, a specialist pumps manufacturing business who have support from Sheffield City Region. The unit of 59,271 sq ft has been under offer to Lontra for many months and completed last week, with Lontra taking immediate occupation for Fit Out. Trebor were represented by Knight Frank and CPP, who both supported the letting of each unit, the other taken by SCS in January 2022 for manufacturing and distribution use. Bob Tattrie, managing partner of Trebor, said: “We are very pleased to see both these speculative units let to long term occupiers. It supports our commitment to build speculative, high quality, industrial units at this location which will see considerable further growth over the coming years. Our commitment to undertaking developments in the region remains very strong with a range of further industrial sites coming forward.” Rebecca Schofield, partner, Knight Frank (Sheffield), said: “The two units at Avion are finished to a high specification and are located in an advantageous prime position with easy access to the M18 at J3 as well as being located adjacent to Doncaster Sheffield Airport. This was attractive to incoming occupiers and we are pleased to see the lettings now complete.” Ed Norris, director of CPP (Sheffield), said: “The conclusion of the two lettings is fantastic news and testament to the quality of the units on offer and the increasing appeal of the wider DSA as an established and growing business location.” Trebor/Hillwood are represented by CPP & Knight Frank, Sheffield.

Fifth-generation family bedmaker Harrison Spinks has expanded into new North Yorkshire farmland to support the business’s growth and sustainability plans, which will increase the company’s hemp production. The new Ryther-based farmland spans 80 acres and will be used to increase the company’s production of industrial hemp. The increase in hemp production will see the company producing in excess of 1,000 tonnes of hemp straw annually, making Harrison Spinks the largest grower of industrial hemp in the UK. Hemp fibre, a key component of the company’s mattresses, is one of the strongest natural fibres. Known to have environmental benefits, hemp absorbs more CO2 per hectare in its growth cycle than any other forest or commercial crop. Richard Essery, director of sustainability and innovation at Harrison Spinks, said: “Acquiring the new farmland will be an incredible asset to the business and will allow us to continue producing luxury mattresses in the most environmentally responsible way possible. “In addition to furthering our hemp production, we are conducting a biodiversity survey across all our farmland to assess the best environmental use of our land. As our business grows, we look forward to furthering our on-going sustainable efforts.”

Rail infrastructure specialist Spencer Group is underway with construction work to deliver a new £26.5 million station in south Leeds. The new White Rose Railway Station will be a two-platform station providing improved access to the adjacent White Rose office park, shopping centre and bus interchange. Situated between Morley and Cottingley, the new station will be located on the main trans-Pennine route to Manchester via Huddersfield. Alongside a fully accessible station with cycle storage next to the White Rose Park, the scheme also includes improved walking and cycling routes between Cottingley, Churwell and Millshaw, as well as the White Rose Shopping Centre and the bus interchange. Hull-based Spencer Group is delivering the project for Munroe K in conjunction with Network Rail, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Leeds City Council and the Department for Transport. The scheme has received funding from the Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund, the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme and £5 million from the Department for Transport’s New Stations Fund, alongside contributions from Munroe K. Spencer Group have worked with Munroe K, Network Rail and all stakeholders on the project through an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) period, providing maximum efficiency through the design stage and best value for the client. Discussing the project, Joe Bennett, Operations Director at Spencer Group, said: “The White Rose Station project is another example where we successfully developed proposals working with Network Rail on a critical part of the UK’s rail infrastructure to meet our client’s expectations. “Our in-house design capability enables us to work closely with our client – Munroe K, Network Rail and other stakeholders to ensure consideration is given at an early stage to all critical aspects that may impede performance. This ensures we deliver on time and to budget.” Simon Bethell, Pre-Construction Director (Rail) at Spencer Group, said: “White Rose is a great example of project SPEED, where we are all aligned to deliver optimum value in the fastest possible manner, whilst ensuring engineering assurance and operational safety standards are strictly adhered to. “We are involved in the continuous development of the proposals through ECI engagement, allowing us to apply the principles of SPEED in order to ensure the final design is deliverable and represents the most economical solution to meet our client’s requirements.” Charlie Spencer OBE, Executive Chairman at Spencer Group, said: “It’s brilliant to see the positive engagement we’ve had on the project so far between ourselves, Munroe K, Network Rail and all stakeholders involved in the project. “We’re really looking forward to seeing the hard work our team has made over the last year become a reality, as construction begins on such a prestigious local project.” David Aspin, CEO of Munroe K, added: “The team at Spencer Group, through their experience and know-how, have played a key part in ensuring this catalytic piece of key infrastructure for south Leeds will be delivered in time for opening in Spring 2023.” “Throughout the entire team there is a dedication to ensuring every detail is considered to ensure the safe and rapid delivery of the project.”  

Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has sold Northstead Pharmacy and Barrowcliff Pharmacy in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. Northstead Pharmacy is a standard-hour pharmacy which dispenses an average of 10,000 items per month. It is located in a residential area north west of Scarborough town centre and sits next to a large convenience store just off a main road. Barrowcliff Pharmacy is also a standard-hour pharmacy, which dispenses an average of 9,500 items per month, and is located north west of Scarborough town centre in a residential area, just 1.3 miles from Northstead Pharmacy. Northstead and Barrowcliff have been owned by Darren and Lisa Kellett for 19 and 21 years respectively, and were part of a group of three pharmacies, the first of which, Swillington Pharmacy, was sold in 2021 to first-time buyers, Jeet and Yamini Vadodaria. The sale of these two remaining pharmacies has allowed the pair to pursue a well-earned retirement. Northstead Pharmacy and Barrowcliff Pharmacy have been sold to a local independent operator. Darren and Lisa Kellett said: “We always dreamed of owning our own pharmacy business and luckily shops became available within our reach, firstly Swillington then the year later Barrowcliff and finally, two years later, Northstead. All three dispensed around 3,000 items each at the time which gave us a great opportunity to grow. Slowly we added more services as they became available to offer, and quickly increased the dispensing and OTC sales. “The shops are now the busiest they have ever been, and the time felt right to take a back seat and allow someone else the opportunity to expand their own business. At no time ever have pharmacy services been in such demand and, with the digital age upon us, the sky’s the limit.” The new owners, who wish to remain unnamed, said: “We are delighted to be able to take over the baton from Lisa and Darren. They have earned a well-deserved retirement. Our best wishes are with them while we look forward to the challenges and joys that comes with the new territory.” Jon Booth, associate director – medical at Christie & Co, who handled the sale, said: “It’s great to have sold the two remaining pharmacies owned and operated by Darren and Lisa Kellett in Scarborough on the back of having sold Swillington Pharmacy near Leeds for them in summer 2021. “Northstead and Barrowcliff are well-established community pharmacies which offer the new owners a fantastic market share in the area, but which also have further scope for future improvements and development.” Northstead Pharmacy and Barrowcliff Pharmacy were sold for an undisclosed price.