Rotherham Council’s Rother Valley Country Park is set to benefit from improvements on site following planning permission being approved.

Plans have been approved to turn a former NHS mental health unit into student accommodation at York St John University. The redevelopment of the Peppermill Court site will provide purpose-built accommodation for York St John students, managed and owned by the University. The Peppermill Court development will offer 210 new rooms and allow York St John to improve and consolidate its student accommodation to meet its commitment to providing guaranteed accommodation for all UK and international first year students at affordable rates. Nick Coakley, director of Estates Management, York St John University, said: “We are delighted that planning has been approved for much-needed additional student accommodation adjacent to our existing land. “Current private provision of purpose-built student accommodation is expensive and in short supply. As one of the country’s fastest growing universities, sourcing affordable student housing is a priority for York St John University, and this new accommodation will be available at a discounted rate to help students from lower income backgrounds to attend university. “We’re also one of York’s largest and growing employers, generating many millions of pounds annually to the local economy. Our students are the paramedics, nurses, teachers, scientists, lawyers, artists, designers and business professionals of the future, and will go on to benefit hundreds of organisations and businesses moving forward.” Peppermill Court is adjacent to existing student accommodation, The Grange, on Huntington Road in York. The Grange comprises a range of 2- and 3-storey blocks and includes St Mary’s House, a significant Grade II listed 19th century workhouse converted to student accommodation in the 1990’s. The design of the new development will enhance the setting of St Mary’s House and neighbouring conservation area, whilst adhering to the University’s sustainability targets. Six accommodation blocks with a mixture of single, double and accessible rooms will be arranged around linked landscaped courtyards, providing accessible external communal space. Peppermill Court student accommodation is expected to be completed in early 2025.

Bradford-based health care cash plan provider, Sovereign Health Care, has completed its purchase of The Waterfront, a modern four storey purpose-built office building, located adjacent to Salts Mill and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The purchase marks the latest chapter of Sovereign’s 150-year history in the Bradford area. It follows Sovereign Health Care’s late 2022 relocation of its headquarters from Royal Standard House, Manningham Lane, to the historic market town of Shipley, to better support its business needs and employees’ health and wellbeing. Chief Executive, Russ Piper, said: “The pandemic and the changes to how we work highlighted our need for a modern, open plan environment with improved technology, offering space and facilities for increased collaboration and new ways of working. The Waterfront building offered all this and more. “Following our relocation, the opportunity to purchase The Waterfront has also allowed us to diversify into other business areas whilst utilising our capital reserves effectively. We are in the process of selling Royal Standard House, so the net cost of moving has been quite small. “We are now proud owners of The Waterfront, providing first class office accommodation in a thriving Bradford business community, which has the potential to generate healthy capital growth whilst increasing our investment income.” Sovereign Health Care’s purchase of The Waterfront been supported by local business partners including Gordons LLP, Eddisons Chartered Surveyors, Naylor Wintersgill and the Ultimate Group. Nick Chamberlain, commercial property partner at law firm Gordons, who advised on the purchase, adds: “It was great to work in partnership with the Sovereign Health Care team and the other professionals involved to secure the acquisition. “Gordons and Sovereign Health Care are both advocates of taking a collaborative approach to deliver the best outcomes. The purchase of The Waterfront ably demonstrated the effectiveness of this way of working together.” John Padgett of Eddisons said: “We are delighted we were able to conclude negotiations swiftly with the vendors to facilitate a smooth relocation to the Waterfront, which provides the undoubted quality of environment our client demands for their people and offers great opportunities moving forward. “We have also successfully arranged a sale of Royal Standard House and this will ensure jobs and investment both for Bradford and Shipley. Working with Sovereign Health Care and their other professional providers has been a joy and very rewarding.”