New manager takes over at Ripon estate agency
An experienced estate agent has been appointed as Dacre Son & Hartley’s new branch manager in Ripon.
Richard Gorvin has worked in the property industry for almost a decade at well-known national estate agencies and also at one of the country’s biggest housebuilders
Richard, who grew up in Collingham, said: “I’m really pleased to be working with Yorkshire’s biggest independent estate agency. The team in Ripon is well-known and respected for its customer service and considered marketing advice, and I’m also looking forward to working with the whole team across Dacre Son & Hartley’s large network of 20 other offices in North and West Yorkshire.
“Despite the current rhetoric surrounding the property market and concern over house prices and mortgage rates, there is still plenty of demand from buyers keen to buy in the area. Homes with a price point of between £350,000 and £500,000 do incredibly well here and are in significant demand, with terraced properties in Ripon proving particularly popular.”
Dacre, Son & Hartley’s area manager Paul Baxter said: “Richard is joining a successful and hardworking team. His experience and tenacity will help our Ripon branch grow its market share and continue to deliver the fantastic service levels we are renowned for.”
Work starts on Skelton Gate Phase 2 to deliver up to 500 new homes in Leeds Aire Valley
Templegate Developments Limited, the joint venture partnership of Evans Property Group and Keyland Developments, has started work on site preparing the way for the next phase of its new sustainable community, to accommodate circa 500 new homes, at Skelton Gate in Leeds Aire Valley.
Appointed contractor Hall Construction Services Limited is now on-site delivering Phase 2 of the scheme, which is funded by a £20m Home Building Fund loan from Homes England. Phase 2 will deliver over 27 net acres of fully serviced development plots by Spring 2024.
The 170-acre former open cast colliery site, to the east of Junction 45 of the M1, has planning permission for 1,800 new homes, a primary and secondary school, public open space, a local centre and a convenience store, as well as associated infrastructure.
Earlier this year it was announced that the joint venture partnership had agreed terms of sale with Avant Homes and Evans Homes for the acquisition of 27 acres forming Phase 1 of Skelton Gate which will enable the delivery of a combined 415 homes. Both housebuilders plan to start on site in the New Year, subject to planning.
The Homes England loan will fund the delivery of infrastructure and ground preparation works for all phases. These crucial works will facilitate the development of the entire scheme, which is set to make a significant contribution to the region’s housing targets, in addition to enabling the creation of more than 500 new construction and operational jobs.
Peter Garrett, Managing Director of Keyland Developments, said: “It is exciting to be back on-site delivering one of Leeds City Region’s most significant regeneration schemes. Skelton Gate has received great support from the City Council and with the continued support of Homes England we have commenced the works that will pave the way for much needed new homes.”
Richard Bean, portfolio director at Evans Property Group, said: “We are delighted to have re-appointed Hall Construction to deliver the ground works and infrastructure on the second phase to create serviced development platforms on 27 acres. The close collaboration between public and private sector has enabled the delivery of this game-changing development and we are proud to be involved in the significant housing delivery.”
Tim Armitage, senior portfolio manager at Homes England, added: “Following the successful completion of the phase 1 works it is fantastic to see phase 2 now start, which will ultimately deliver more new homes at this strategic site.”
Plans submitted for new concept homes in Leeds
Plans to deliver 230 sustainable new coliving homes in the city centre have been submitted to Leeds City Council. The proposed redevelopment of a landmark building to create innovative new homes on The Headrow will support the local economy, make it easier for people to find a place to rent, as well as revitalise a key part of the city centre.
The proposals for 42 The Headrow, the former Direct Line HQ building, are being brought forward by Watkin Jones Group, a developer, builder and third-party manager specialising in new homes for rent across the UK and Ireland.
230 self-contained studio apartments are proposed, each with their own living, cooking and en-suite facilities. The building will be designed with generous shared space for residents to meet, relax and socialise, reflecting the changes in people’s lifestyles.
The design will repurpose the existing building, maintaining its striking façade, with new carbon reduction technology that tackles the climate emergency, reduces energy bills and achieves BREEAM Excellent status for energy efficiency.
Emer Green, senior planner at Watkin Jones Group, said: “We received positive and constructive feedback on our proposals when we met with the public and local stakeholders in the summer. Coliving is a successful concept in a growing number of major UK cities but is new to Leeds and we are grateful to everyone that took part in the consultation and welcome the comments made.
“As a result of the feedback we received, a number of positive changes have been made to our plans, including an increase in space for residents to use, a covered atrium area to allow year-round relaxation, an on-site gym and an increase in studio sizes.
“We recognise the importance of getting this right, as a new element of the housing mix, and in respecting the prominence of the building and its siting on the Headrow. We are pleased to have submitted our proposals which we believe will meet the needs of an increasing number of people left behind by the traditional housing and rental markets.”
Watkin Jones Group is a specialist developer, builder and third-party operator of new rental homes with strong experience of adding long-term value to communities. The building would have professional management with on-site staff providing a concierge service. Communal activities will promote inclusivity and diversity whilst encouraging social interaction and resident wellbeing.
Landscaped roof terraces will provide views of the Leeds skyline for residents to relax in whilst providing additional space to work, meet, and exercise.
Specialist consultants including Turley, SWAP architects and Social Communications have collaborated to support Watkin Jones with the plans. A decision is expected on the proposals in early 2023.
“No geek speak” team in confident mood
Forward-thinking IT specialists are celebrating a great start to their 21st year in business, after chalking-up a 10 per cent lift in turnover over the past year.
Lincoln-based LCS IT Solutions’ team is in positive mood, having just welcomed new account manager Sam Hunt and announced a new strategy aimed at benefiting its current and new clients.
News comes as many firms continue to work hard on making a comeback after the disruption caused by the protracted Coronavirus pandemic. Naturally, they are keen to know their IT suppliers are right there behind them as they rebuild in the coming months.
LCS IT Solutions is a family-run business headed by directors Anthony and Claire Bryant and serves a wide-range of businesses, mainly within a 20 to 30 miles radius of Lincoln, along with secondary and special schools and community organisations.
Mr Bryant said: “We are delighted to be starting our milestone year on a high note. We are well-known for our responsive service when our clients are having glitches with their systems and need help fast.
“Now we resolve 99 per cent of clients’ problems remotely which, of course, is essential in a world where hybrid working has become ‘the norm’ and computer users have to be ever alert to viruses and cyber-crime.
“Today we are proud to unveil our own strategy for the future. It will see us taking a pro-active approach to offering clients added value by ensuring they have the best solutions in place to support their growth in the years ahead.
“As a firm, LCS IT has always been about building strong relationships with its customers and we want to take this a step further, by keeping clients up-to-date about changes in the tech field which might have implications for their own business.”
Mrs Bryant added: “We are delighted to have recruited Sam Hunt as our new account manager. Over the coming weeks, part of his role will see him introducing himself to clients and talking about how we want to support them to ensure they have the competitive edge going forwards.”
Sam’s arrival at LCS IT means the business now has a 10-strong team.
Social Change raises over £1,350 for Alzheimer’s Society
Lincoln-based behaviour change agency Social Change has raised a total of £1,351 for the Alzheimer’s Society during their recent Memory Walk at Boultham Park in Lincoln.
The fundraising event saw over 150 people, of all ages and abilities, walk the 1.6km route across Boultham Park, with participants contributing to a whopping 209,900 total step-count!
Sponsored by Lincoln City Council, Johnson and Smith Ltd, Boultham Park, and Glenholme Healthcare, all donations raised from the fundraiser will go directly to the Alzheimer’s Society, supporting people living with dementia across Lincolnshire and beyond.
The team at Social Change recently invited Alice Grewcock, community fundraiser at Alzheimer’s Society, to their Lincoln office, to collect the giant £1,351 cheque raised from the event.
Kate Lee, CEO of Alzheimer’s Society, said: “We are so pleased to have Social Change bring such energy and enthusiasm to Alzheimer’s Society and immensely proud of what they have achieved with their brilliant Memory Walk. Their fantastic sum of £1,351 will make a significant difference to the lives of those affected by dementia, providing both immediate help and hope for the future.”
Penny Howard, from Glenholme Healthcare, echoes the value of the charity’s work. She said: “We gain so much advice from the Alzheimer’s Society in support of the delivery of our activities within our communities. The Memory Walk has been a great opportunity to give something back to help their work continue. The day was so well attended and we’re really pleased to hear how much has been raised.”
Alison Howard, director of Growth and Innovation at Social Change, said: “We recently welcomed Kate Lee, CEO of Alzheimer’s Society, on our podcast, Tea with the Changemakers, and this got the team talking.
“We discovered that the majority of us have a relative with Alzheimer’s, and we wanted to do something to support people who are living with it, and their families. After discovering that our closest Alzheimer’s Society organised Memory Walk was in Nottingham, we decided to host our own, and the rest is history.”
Kirklees Council sets out delivery plan for game-changing Cultural Heart
Kirklees Council has set out its delivery plan for its flagship Cultural Heart project. First in line for delivery are the new food hall, outdoor events space and library. Construction works on these key elements of the scheme will begin in Spring 2024. Some surveys and preparation works will be completed in 2023, with projected completion in Spring 2026.
The Cultural Heart is the centrepiece of the wider Huddersfield Blueprint. The blueprint is Kirklees Council’s ambitious ten-year vision to create a thriving, modern-day town centre.
The plans detail the transformation of the historic Queensgate Market into a vibrant new food hall. As well as a home for the new community-focussed library.
These will sit alongside a modern art gallery, multi-purpose live entertainment venue and a 350-space car park – all of which will be connected by a series of world-class public spaces and green parks.
The project has been planned using a series of checkpoints or ‘gateways’. This has allowed for careful review of the scheme and the associated costs at regular intervals. This system has allowed Kirklees Council to set out a delivery plan that accounts for the current financial climate and constraints being faced by Local Authorities up and down the country.
Creating a cultural experience that is family friendly and welcoming to all has always been a priority. That is why phase one of the delivery plan will focus on the food hall, outdoor event space and the library.
Delivering these vital elements first means that Kirklees Council will be able to restore the library, an essential community hub, in a new, fit for purpose space. There will be an injection of vibrancy with events being held in the outdoor space, which also doubles as a space to gather and relax on quieter days. The food hall adds to the destination feel of the Cultural Heart, providing somewhere to socialise and have food and drinks around the events being held on the campus.
Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “The Cultural Heart and wider Huddersfield Blueprint plans are transformational for the town centre. I am pleased to able to set out a delivery plan for the Cultural Heart that is ambitious, sensible and, most importantly, has the people of Kirklees at its centre.
“It is no secret that the current financial situation is putting pressure on us as a council and that we are having to make some tough decisions but investment in our towns and villages cannot be allowed to simply stall.
“Developments like this one are vital if our towns are to, not just survive but, thrive once again. The gateway system we have used for moving the Cultural Heart forward means that we have looked carefully at every penny, every step of the way – that will continue for the life of the project to ensure we get value for money for our residents.
“This first phase of delivery means some of the key elements will become a reality and start benefitting residents, businesses and visitors a lot sooner than if we were to try to deliver such a mammoth project in one.
“We will be working on the delivery of phase one and finalising the rest of the delivery plan in the coming weeks and months.
“Times are tough, but they will get better and we need to be ready to benefit from the economic recovery that will come. These much-needed improvements to the town centre will put in the best possible position to take full advantage of that recovery for the good of the people of Kirklees.”
There have been two phases of public consultation on the Cultural Heart proposals, in May and September of this year. In total, around 8,000 people engaged online. Nearly 600 people attended the various in-person exhibitions to learn about the plans.
The overall public and stakeholder response to the plans has been positive. The individual elements that make up the scheme received between 62% and 75% support.
University of Huddersfield receives green light to start work on first new building on National Health Innovation Campus
The University of Huddersfield has received the green light to start work on the first new building of its National Health Innovation Campus.
At a time when the NHS desperately needs to recruit staff to meet with the demands of patient care and health inequalities, the campus will be instrumental in training the next generation of health professionals. This transformative project will enable the rapid expansion of courses in nursing, midwifery, allied health and human sciences and contribute to the economic prosperity of the region.
This first building on the Southgate site marks an exciting stage in the development, which will improve health outcomes and lead innovation in healthcare for the North of England.
The building will be named after Daphne Steele, an inspirational nurse and midwife who became the first black matron in Britain. Daphne trained at St James’ Hospital in Balham, South London, after emigrating to the UK from Guyana in 1951.
She worked in the US but returned to the UK and served as a nurse at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire before moving to Manchester as deputy matron at a nursing home. When that home closed, she was encouraged to apply for the position of matron at St Winifred’s Hospital in Ilkley, West Yorkshire. She became the first black matron in Britain and her appointment made news around the world.
University Vice-Chancellor Professor Bob Cryan said: “I am delighted with this latest development, and it is another significant step towards our goal of improving health outcomes and leading innovation in healthcare for the North of England. It is an honour to have this first building named after Daphne Steele and I would like to thank her family for this. Such a ground-breaking figure is sure to inspire our students in their future careers.”
The National Health Innovation Campus will work with partners across the region to address some of the health and wellbeing issues facing Yorkshire and the Humber, including high levels of obesity, the third lowest life expectancy for men and women, and the second highest rate of deaths in infancy.
The campus will feature specialist clinical teaching facilities, world leading research facilities, public facing clinics and co-located public and private sector partners. It will directly impact on the health outcomes of the people and communities across the North of England.
Health and wellbeing of individuals, medical technologies and associated services provide a key focus for economic development and business productivity, and the campus will deliver a major boost to regeneration and jobs.
Growth in the School of Human and Health Sciences has already delivered over 200 additional skilled jobs in the past four years, and planned development will deliver at least 100 more in the next five. Further, a growing international profile will see a huge expansion in training and education work, quadrupling activity on the levels of 2018-19 by 2026 with major implications for inward investment.
Working with a range of stakeholders across the public, private and voluntary sectors will open up a diversity of income streams as well as opportunities for product and service development and design.
£5m grant awarded for cold storage facility to support Grimsby seafood industry
HSH Coldstores has been awarded a £5m government grant as part of the Seafood Infrastructure Fund. The grant is to support the construction of a new £30m state-of-the-art coldstore and distribution hub to support the seafood industry in Grimsby.
Local cold store capacity in Grimsby is near fully utilised, and this has created a bottleneck for the local seafood processing industry’s growth.
The new coldstore will store around 30,000 pallets, opening up opportunity for growth and increasing competitiveness for the local seafood processing sector. The facility will also provide cost-effective single pallet distribution anywhere in the UK, supporting small businesses.
Sustainability will be at the heart of the construction: the building will have 30% lower energy consumption compared to other coldstores in Grimsby, achieve BREEAM Very Good standard and make use of local suppliers during construction where possible. The new facility will also create over 60 full-time high-quality jobs in the local community.
Barnsley welcomes recruitment specialist
A recruitment specialist is expanding its business operations, launching a brand-new office in Barnsley.
Winner started out in 2001, and today they work with major employers across a range of sectors, including driving, warehouse and industrial, commercial and education.
Already working in the area, Winner has played a key role in successful recruitment drives for major local employees, including Evri, supporting people in securing new roles and boosting employment figures within the borough.
Working closely with Enterprising Barnsley, the council’s business support team, Winner has been supported in finding the ideal location for their new branch at May Day Green, Barnsley.
Cllr Robert Frost, Cabinet Spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture, said: “We are delighted to welcome Winner to their new premises here in Barnsley.
“As a council, we have challenging and ambitious targets to create more and better jobs in Barnsley and support more people into employment.
“As a nationwide recruitment specialist, it is great news that Winner has chosen Barnsley, where we have many expanding local businesses. Through their recent work with Evri, we have seen many successful applications from people across the borough and from candidates with a broad range of skill sets.”
Vish Jain, Managing Director of Winner, said: “May Day Green Barnsley will provide an operating location to support with client growth within the area.
“Winner – A recruitment agency specialising in the Transport and Warehousing industry which was formed in 2001, has grown from strength to strength, introducing Permanent, Commercial and Education divisions whilst adding to its operating locations with coverage across the UK.
“Our success is recognised across the Recruitment industry including being named within the recruiter fast 50, one of 1000 companies to inspire Britain over the last 5 years, to being recognised as a Driver Agency of Excellence by Logistics UK and our service behind the recognition has led to several Major UK companies partnering with us to solve their recruitment needs as a preferred supplier.
“We hope that our introduction to the town will be well received and as a business hope that we can dedicate our efforts to supporting with employment in the area for all, focussing on some of our company promises and bringing them to life – we find jobs for people and people for jobs.”
James joins Dacres Commercial as graduate surveyor
Dacres Commercial has appointed James Witty to its healthcare team as a graduate surveyor.
James joins Dacres Commercial from Leicestershire County Council and he has also worked at Christie & Co in Leeds.
James said: “Having completed a Real Estate MSc at the University of Reading, I joined the commercial property industry in 2018 and started studying for the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, which I will complete in 2023, giving me Chartered Surveyor status.”
“Having worked in Leeds on medical and hospitality valuations, I moved into a more general practice role at Leicestershire County Council, working across agency, property management and valuation.
“When the opportunity came up at Dacres, I was keen to move back to Leeds. Dacres Commercial is a thriving commercial agency, with a wide breadth of property and asset management services, specialist healthcare department and investment agency. There will be plenty of variety within the role and I’m looking forward to working with such an experienced team.”
