£8m Levelling Up boost for Grimsby to repair vital bridges and boost local industry
Vital bridges connecting Grimsby and Immingham will be repaired to boost the local key industries and tourism, prevent road closures and secure future jobs for the region, Levelling Up Secretary Greg Clark has announced.
In the latest step to level up Grimsby, £8 million of funding has been confirmed to help fix damaged bridges along the A180 – a vital route that connects the region’s key ports, serves residents and tourists and provides an estimated £2.5 billion to the local economy’s Seafood Cluster each year.
The funding will prevent months of disruption and closures for residents, as well as making sure local industries can continue to grow and helping to create more skilled jobs in the area.
Grimsby was the pilot Town Deal area, and the Government has awarded over £45m through the Pilot and its flagship Towns Fund and Future High Streets programmes to support plans to renew and reshape the town centre. This includes plans to build 129 new high quality, low carbon homes in the town.
Secretary of State for Levelling Up Greg Clark said: “The work to level up vital towns like Grimsby requires acting on what local people say is important and acting on what local people want – including local infrastructure.
“The funding we are announcing today will provide a vital lifeline for Grimsby’s industry now and in the future and I am looking forward to seeing how our investment is helping local communities to flourish and further unlock the area’s potential.”
DLUHC arm’s length body, Homes England, will assist North East Lincolnshire council to develop plans to revitalise the town centre, including for the 129 homes on Garth Lane.
Cllr Philip Jackson, the leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “I am delighted that our collaboration with Government on the levelling up agenda is bearing fruit. The key infrastructure investment announced today, as well as our work with Homes England, focused on Garth Lane and wider town centre regeneration, are essential elements of our drive to deliver sustainable local economic growth for our residents, our communities and our businesses. I look forward to our collaboration with Government continuing.”
Western School site housing development moves a step closer for Grimsby
An opportunity to create the housing development on the former Western School site has been released to tender this week.
The 22.9 acre brownfield site will eventually see a community of up to 297 properties including potentially one to four bedroom houses, including affordable housing and retirement dwellings. In a separate arrangement, the Council will also provide an extra care facility on the site.
The major ‘spine roads’ into the site and work to bring utilities to the site were completed last year and the Council is now looking for a developer to come forward for the project.
The site received outline planning permission in 2021.
One of the main features of the site is the planned sustainable drainage system. With the weather now being more unpredictable and extreme weather and rainfall more common, it is right that the site should have a sustainable drainage network.
The Former Western School and Playing Field site received funding from Homes England and the Accelerated Construction Fund, to provide enabling works including planning permission, spine roads and services up to the site.
Councillor Philip Jackson, leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “I’m really pleased to see this brownfield housing development progressing now. We know we need more housing, particularly starter houses and ones pre-adapted for our older population, in the borough. We have to get the balance right to meet the needs of our residents.”
The procurement process is a two-stage one, where interested developers can submit a selection questionnaire initially (with a deadline of Tuesday 13 September). Selected developers will then take part in a competitive dialogue, followed by an invitation to submit formal tenders to develop out the site.
It is expected that work could begin on the site as early as 2023.
Rising costs push SMEs towards collapse, says new report
Rising fuel and energy prices is putting over half of UK small businesses at risk of collapse, a new report by Simply Business, one of the UK’s largest providers of small business insurance reveals.
Over half (54%) of SME owners say rising fuel and energy costs are one of their greatest threats to survival. As a result, three in five (59%) small business owners are calling on the government to review or reduce the energy price cap.
While the energy price caps do not apply to businesses directly, millions of small business owners are still experiencing increased energy bills at a time when costs are rising in most operational areas. At the same time, with a substantial number of households affected by rising energy bills, consumer purchasing power is going down as people cut back on non-essential spending. SMEs in food and drink, hospitality and retail are most at risk, decreasing revenue and income for small business owners still in the vital post-pandemic recovery period.
Alan Thomas, UK CEO at Simply Business, said: “Many small business owners are at breaking point – feeling the crippling pressure of rising costs, energy and fuel prices, alongside their ongoing recovery from the economic impact of the pandemic. Our SME Insights Report is a clear indication that small business owners want and need government support, with three in five calling for a review or reduction of the energy price cap.
“In the meantime, whilst the energy price caps do not apply to businesses, owners are seeing their energy bills increase overall. The surging cost of fuel and energy, alongside the overall rising cost of living, will understandably see households cut back on non-essential spending. There is a domino effect in place. The impact to consumer purchasing behaviour will trickle through to the books of small business owners, at a time when SMEs need our support the most.
“The latest rate rise also came with a clear recession warning, and poses a serious risk to many small businesses. Sole traders and microbusinesses will feel the pressure more than most. This all comes at a time when many are still in recovery mode. One in six believe they will never financially recover from the pandemic. As a result, two in five owners are calling for long-lasting financial support from the government to help them get back on their feet after Covid-19.
“Accounting for over 99% of all UK businesses and contributing trillions of pounds in turnover every year, small businesses sit at the heart of our communities and are vital to our economy. And while it’s encouraging that the majority remain optimistic about their businesses chances, it’s clear that owners need support to weather the pressure of rising costs.”
Planning consent won for 710,000 sq ft speculative logistics development in Rotherham
Panattoni, the logistics real estate developer, has secured planning consent for a 710,000 sq ft speculative logistics development in Rotherham.
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council has approved Panattoni’s reserved matters planning application for two facilities adjacent to junction 1 of the M18 at Rotherham, one of 630,000 sq ft, which will be one of the largest-ever speculative logistics buildings in the north of England, and a smaller 80,000 sq ft facility.
Panattoni will commence speculative development of the two units in August, with completion expected in July 2023.
Dan Burn, development director at Panattoni, said: “This nationally significant development reaffirms our commitment to a significant speculative development programme in the UK this year and we are very pleased to now be able to progress with the delivery of the scheme.
“We would like to thank Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council for the proactive way in which they have helped to facilitate the development and we look forward to working with them over the coming months as construction progresses.”
Letting agents are M1 Agency, Legat Owen and Knight Frank. Lichfields advised Panattoni on the planning application.
Work starts on site for Phase 2 of Barnsley industrial scheme
Caddick Construction has started work on Phase 2A of the Gateway 36 industrial scheme near Barnsley after being appointed by Eos Inc Ltd, part of the Harworth Group Plc.
The £9.3 million contract initially covers Plots 1-3, as well as external yards, car parking, associated highways and off-site drainage work. Unit 1 consists of two 10,000 sq ft units, Unit 2 is 49,500 sq ft and Unit 3 is 38,500 sq ft.
Overall, Phase 2 will be developed over 51 acres to either side of the A6195 Dearne Valley Parkway at Rockingham and provides a range of industrial and logistics units with easy access to Junction 36 of the M1.
Building on the success of Phase 1, the overall development comprises of a broad mix of medium to large industrial options together with a number of roadside units including the Greene King Public House. The scheme will accommodate a range of units from 5,000 sq ft up to 462,000 sq ft with a minimum BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’.
Gateway 36, located within the heart of the Sheffield City Region, was established following the long-term remediation of the former Rockingham Colliery. It was developed by Harworth Group from 2014 onwards with the first three speculative industrial units, totaling 65,000 sq ft, completing in 2016.
The latest Units 1-3 of Phase 2A are being constructed by Caddick on a speculative basis and are due to complete towards the end of this year. The following Units 5-8 will be offered on a design and build basis.
Richard Gaukrodger, Caddick Construction construction director, said: “We are delighted to be appointed to deliver this key logistics scheme at Phase 2 Gateway 36. Our construction and design teams are making excellent progress with the structural steelwork and cladding now in progress to all three units and we look forward to continuing the support of our local supply chain partners and local businesses to deliver a successful scheme.”
Cameron Sanderson, development manager from the Harworth Group, added: “Phase 2 continues Harworth’s strategy of increasing our direct development of industrial & logistics space over the next five to seven years. Gateway 36 is extremely well-connected adjacent to Junction 36 of the M1 and our trusted delivery partner Caddick Construction are doing an excellent job in facilitating our ambitions to provide high-specification industrial and logistics space.
“The development will support continued economic growth and jobs for South Yorkshire with the first three units nearing completion.”
Timber and forestry business acquires stake in Yorkshire’s Power Sheds
The largest integrated timber and forestry business in the UK, and a member of Binderholz, BSW Group has entered a joint venture with Power Sheds.
BSW has acquired a stake in the Yorkshire business, which has become a major disruptor in the sector since launching in 2019, now with a turnover in excess of £15m.
Power Sheds manufactures wooden garden buildings such as sheds and summerhouses.
CEO Jack Sutcliffe and director Simon Hobson will remain in control of the business and continue to drive it forward, with BSW Group CFO Alan Milne also joining the board.
Alan explained: “We are really impressed with the rapid growth and success that Power Sheds has achieved in only three years, so the team is very excited to develop a relationship and help it expand to its potential. We are very much looking forward to working together.”
Tony Hackney, CEO of BSW Group, added: “This is a great win for us and gives us the opportunity to supply a range of value-added products to global markets. We’re excited to support Power Sheds as they continue to grow as a leading garden building supplier.”
Global sawmiller Binderholz acquired BSW Group in January 2022, meaning it is now the largest timber processing group in Europe, with access to markets on a global scale. They aim to diversify and widen the success of Power Sheds, who already have 75 employees.
CEO Jack Sutcliffe said: “Our new partnership with BSW Group is really exciting for the company, giving us a great opportunity to build Power Sheds into a world-wide brand and break into new markets such as the US and Europe. I’m looking forward to building the business even further and seeing where it takes us over the next few years.
“The new partnership means there are going to be more opportunities for the existing team at Power Sheds, who have been integral in helping us achieve everything we’ve done on the journey so far. We can’t wait to see what this means for our development and growth.”
Power Sheds were advised by Schofield Sweeney (Legal) and BPR Heaton Chartered Accountants (Corporate Finance). BSW were advised by Burges Salmon (Legal) and PWC (Financial and Tax).
Business leaders set to launch South Yorkshire’s Skill City
Details of South Yorkshire’s new innovative and immersive experience to inspire and inform children, young people and adults about the world of work and careers is set to be unveiled to businesses at a special event next month (September 16).
Based on the site of the UK’s newest theme park, Gulliver’s Valley, Skill City will transform the way the region delivers work related experiences and training for young people, schools, families, and educators. Skill City is a new hands-on approach to developing, growing, and honing skills.
This interactive centre will be delivered by a partnership between Gulliver’s Valley Theme Park, The Work-wise Foundation and The Source Academy, creating a Centre of Excellence to learn about the world of work across all sectors and industries.
Businesses and educators from across the region have been invited to a breakfast event on Friday September 16th to find out more about Skill City and learn how they can get involved and play a part in inspiring the future of the region.
Julie Dalton, Managing Director of Gulliver’s Valley, said: “Skill City will be a game changer for the pipeline of employment in the region, switching young people on to careers across all sectors with its immersive street filled with businesses enabling learning by experiencing for all ages.
“South Yorkshire is a home to some amazing organisations, and we are looking forward to working with them as we showcase this new engaging, innovative experience developed to inspire and inform children, young people, and adults from across the region.”
John Barber, CEO of the Work-wise Foundation, added: “Skill City will inspire our young people as they are shown the amazing world of work and career opportunities available in the South Yorkshire area. These will be delivered by a team of edutainers who will bring the opportunities to life and showcase the opportunities on offer and skills needed to succeed.
“It will be a hands on experience for children from primary age upwards as they experience the wonderful world of work in a fun and interactive way through business-driven role play attractions and activities.
“This is one of the most exciting projects to happen in the field of skills and careers for young people in our region for a long time.”
Construction is expected to begin in 2022 with the aim of opening Skill City in 2023.
Skill City will feature an immersive street filled with businesses across a range of sectors enabling learning through experiencing for all ages.
On Skill Street children and young people will be able to walk into a bank and learn about the different roles and skills needed to work in the financial sector, or step into an engineering environment and have a go at designing or making a product. Retail shops will enable customer service and money taking skills to be practiced and leisure and hospitality outlets will demonstrate the skills needed to succeed in these careers – all through hands on play, practice and performance.
Trish Smith, CEO of The Source Academy, said: “We are extremely proud to be bringing Skill City to the region. This will be a space where individuals and families will be able to explore the great opportunities for careers and training in the region in a relaxed and informal careers community café.
“It will be a creative environment allowing careers training to flourish at all levels from school leavers to business leaders in the leadership academy through to returners to work.”
Farmers and landowners urged to seek grants for woodland creation
Farmers and landowners are being urged to apply for a share of £25 million in funding to support woodland creation and tree planting.
The money is available in the year ahead after it was announced the England Woodland Creation Offer will become part of the Local Nature Recovery scheme – one of the new environmental land management schemes – from 2025.
Landowners and farmers could get a one-off payment of £8,500 per hectare followed by annual maintenance payments of £300 per hectare for 10 years. Higher payment rates are also available which offers thousands more for schemes that provide additional public benefits.
The future design of Local Nature Recovery and the approach to payment rates for planting trees will largely mirror those within the England Woodland Creation Offer – meaning there is no reason to delay tree planting.
Well-designed and managed woodlands can support the foundations of food production. Woodlands on farms can boost productivity through healthy soil and water by reducing erosion and nutrient loss from surface run-off whilst improving drought and flood resilience. Woodlands also support biodiverse ecosystems through habitat creation and can benefit animal welfare by providing shelter in adverse weather and provide additional fodder for livestock, as well as diversification opportunities through firewood and timber.
Richard Stanford, the Forestry Commission’s Chief Executive, said: “Farmers and land managers can now have the confidence to grow trees under EWCO, safe in the knowledge that they will be able to easily transition into the Local Nature Recovery scheme in the future, and without the worry that future schemes will be significantly different.
“Trees play an important role in providing shade and shelter for livestock, and reducing soil and nutrient loss. Given the recent hot dry weather it’s vital our farmers and land managers plan for the future to build in resilience to climate change and take advantage of the woodland creation incentives available today.”
Management buyout for The Harris Partnership
James Richmond and Gary Humphreys have been appointed as joint Managing Directors of The Harris Partnership (THP) as the architectural practice welcomes a management buyout.
The company has grown considerably as a result of long-standing client relationships across the UK, and the new appointments will see James Richmond based in Wakefield, Yorkshire, to oversee the northern developments, with Gary Humphreys leading the southern expansion from the Milton Keynes office.
THP had a £10.25m turnover for its latest financial year – an increase of 25 per cent on 2020/21.
The management buyout will also see Michael Schorah step down as Managing Director, which he has held since 2007, and continue his role within the practice as non-executive director. Paul Mitchell will continue as chairman.
James Richmond joined THP in 1995, becoming a director in 2011. He was made group director two years later.
He said: “Since joining THP I have seen the practice go from strength to strength, now operating from five offices – Wakefield, Manchester, Reading, Milton Keynes and London.
“These have provided the perfect locations for us to build on our long-term relationships with our clients such as, Aldi, British land, Haworth Group together with new relationships with the Associated British Ports (ABP), Frasers Property (UK) Ltd, Premcor Estates Limited and Patrizia Real Estate Development.
“I’m proud to be leading the business into this next chapter of growth in an exciting marketplace with our experienced team on board.”
Gary Humphreys joined THP in 1996 and became a director in 1999. In 2007, the company re-structured and Gary became one of the founding THP Group board members alongside Paul Mitchell and Michael Schorah.
He said: “I have worked closely with chairman Paul Mitchell and Michael Schorah over the last 25 years and am delighted that we will be continuing to work together for the foreseeable future to continue the growth and strength of the company. I am also pleased we have been able to allow Michael to realise the value of what he has been very much a part of for over 30 years, as well as securing an independent future for The Harris Group.”
The Harris Partnership employs more than 140 staff across five offices with a portfolio of mixed-use retail parks and residential schemes throughout the country, along with managing the largest portfolio of ALDI projects in the North and South East.
National retailers prepare to open trade counters at Lincoln development
Howdens, Screwfix and Brewers will be opening trade counters at Lincoln’s new Discovery Park off Whisby Road in August and September, completing six years of development at the site.
The final four units were finished this summer and the new occupants are now in the process of completing their internal fit outs.
Previous work at Discovery Park has included a new home for Lincoln Precision Engineering and 15 small industrial units for North Kesteven District Council.
Screwfix, which sells trade tools, accessories, and hardware products, is due to open on August 23rd.
Howdens, which is a supplier of kitchens and joinery products for the building trade, and high-end decorator’s merchant Brewers will be opening in September.
Paul Dennington, Brewers’ Head of Property & Store Development, said: “We are delighted to be opening in Lincoln. The brand-new Brewers Decorator Centre will be the ultimate destination for the finest brands in paint, wallpaper, fabrics, woodcare and sundries.”
Meanwhile a spokesperson for Howdens added: “We have been looking for the right premises in this part of Lincoln for some time and this new depot will enable us to grow our local business. We are very pleased to be opening at Discovery Park as part of our on-going expansion programme.”
The seven-acre Discovery Park site has created 60,000 sq ft of employment space and generated opportunities for around 100 jobs. The development was brought forward by local company Lindum Group, which owns the land, in conjunction with property agents Banks Long and Co.
Harry Collins of Banks Long & Co said: “Howdens and Screwfix already have successful branches elsewhere in Lincoln.
“These new outlets will complement and serve the southwest of the city. Brewers were keen to sit alongside them and there is space for one final tenant to benefit from such a prime trading opportunity.”
Lindum development manager Mitul Shah said it was great to see the development coming to completion. “I’m delighted that all but one of the units are taken and it’s good that established national retailers have confidence in the value of this site.
“Not long ago, Discovery Park was a disused brownfield site and now it’s a bustling hub of business activity, creativity and job creation, which is a fantastic sign for the wider economy, too.”
The final unit of 3,500 sq ft is available to lease following completion of the works. Contact Banks Long and Co or Lindum directly.
