North Yorkshire towns to receive strategic investment planning boost

April Lara
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North Yorkshire towns to receive strategic investment planning boost

A £1.2 million funding package has been approved to develop tailored investment plans for 32 towns and service centres across North Yorkshire. The initiative, funded by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and delivered by North Yorkshire Council, aims to guide future regeneration efforts and ensure a consistent, evidence-based approach to development across the region.

The towns selected for the programme represent over 60% of the county’s population. The planning work will focus on key areas such as revitalising high streets, expanding local workspace options, improving transport links, enhancing cultural and heritage assets, and addressing health disparities.

The programme will run over three years starting in May and will include input from local businesses, councils and community groups to shape investment priorities for each location. The intent is to position the towns for future public and private sector investment and ensure economic growth is aligned with the region’s specific challenges and opportunities.

The 32 towns and centres identified are: Bedale, Bentham, Boroughbridge, Catterick Garrison and Colburn, Easingwold, Eastfield and Cayton, Filey, Grassington and Threshfield, Harrogate, Hawes, Helmsley, Ingleton, Kirkbymoorside, Knaresborough, Leyburn, Malton and Norton, Masham, Northallerton, Pateley Bridge, Pickering, Richmond, Ripon, Scarborough, Selby, Settle, Sherburn-in-Elmet, Skipton, South Craven, Stokesley, Tadcaster, Thirsk and Whitby.

The grant will be formally considered by North Yorkshire Council’s executive next week.

Skipton pharmacy sold to local growing group

Tess Egginton
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Skipton pharmacy sold to local growing group
Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has sold Carleton-in-Craven Pharmacy near Skipton, North Yorkshire. Located in a self-contained unit in the village of Carleton-in-Craven, the community pharmacy dispenses almost 15,000 items per month. Alongside two consultation rooms, it boasts a range of modern tech, including deliveries via three self-charging hybrid vehicles which make up over half of the business, and a BD Rowa Vmax dispensing robot. The pharmacy has been owned and operated by its founder, Jonathan Taylor, for the last 12.5 years. He recently decided to sell the business in order to retire. Following a confidential sales process with Jon Booth at Christie & Co, the pharmacy has been purchased by Zakar Hayat and Mubashir Ahmed of Mpharm Holdings Limited which owns two other pharmacies – one in Sheffield and one in Burnley. Jonathan Taylor, former owner of Carleton-in-Craven Pharmacy, said: “After starting my pharmacy from scratch over 12.5 years ago, it was an incredibly tough decision to sell but I believe we have found the right buyer to hand the pharmacy over to. I wish Zakar and Mubashir all the best for the future.” Zakar Hayat, director at Mpharm Holdings Limited, said: “We feel like now is the right time to take on a new challenge – a modern, thriving and busy pharmacy set in the heart of the scenic village of Carleton. “The previous owner, Jonathan, has built this wonderful project and we aim to further expand the reputation and array of services to ensure Carleton-in-Craven remains the hub of North Yorkshire for all healthcare needs.” Jon Booth, director – pharmacy at Christie & Co, said: “Carleton-in-Craven Pharmacy consistently dispenses almost 15,000 items each month, with almost a third of these being MDS patients delivered via a fleet of self-charging hybrid vehicles across the region. “The opportunity for the new owners is to grow the provision of additional services across the patient base, and it is pleasing that the new owners have a vision to move this successful business forward. I look forward to seeing how that progresses and wish them the greatest of success.” Carleton-in-Craven Pharmacy was sold for an undisclosed price.

Clarion grows completions and turnover but warns of £20m building safety hit

April Lara
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Clarion grows completions and turnover but warns of £20m building safety hit

Clarion Housing Group increased its home completions by 12% over the past year, delivering 1,727 homes compared with 1,538 the previous year. However, it fell short of its revised target of 1,828 completions for 2024/25.

The group’s future development pipeline now stands at 20,173 homes, up slightly from 19,694 a year earlier. Clarion, which manages around 125,000 homes, had previously scaled back its ambitions amid cost pressures, lowering its target from 2,161 to 1,828 completions for the year. Despite this moderation, it maintains a longer-term goal of building 3,000 homes annually.

Spending on new homes dropped from £501m to £439m, mainly due to delays starting larger projects. Investment in existing properties also declined slightly, from £129m to £123m.

Turnover rose 9%, reaching £1.1bn, while the operating surplus, excluding one-off items, grew from £171m to £195m. Clarion attributed the revenue increase partly to the return of inflation-linked rent rises, following the lifting of the previous year’s 7% cap.

The group also cited early benefits from its Connect transformation programme, aimed at tightening cost control and enhancing customer service. However, Clarion flagged a forthcoming £20m building safety provision in its final accounts, which will weigh on its overall surplus. It is seeking to recover some of these costs from third parties. Audited financial statements are expected to be published this summer.

Works starts on site at Shepley residential development

Tess Egginton
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Works starts on site at Shepley residential development
Work has now started on site at Vivly Living’s residential development at Shepley, near Huddersfield. 52 new homes are now being built at Knowle Grange, which forms Phase 2 at Vivly’s development in the village. Phase 1, comprising 31 homes, has completely sold out. Oliver Bottomley, associate director – land and development at Vivly Living, said: “We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve now started on site at Shepley Phase 2. This means we are now building fantastic range of new and much-needed homes to the community. These homes will be energy-efficient and offer additional garden space, providing comfortable and sustainable living for our customers. “I’d like to say a personal thank you to Coun John Taylor, the Shepley ward member and deputy leader of the Conservatives on Kirklees Council, who has helped to ensure that we can build much-needed affordable housing for Shepley and allowed us to introduce the First Home Scheme, helping first-time buyers get a foot on the property ladder.” Coun Taylor explained: “I’m really pleased to see this second phase of the development getting underway. The first phase proved popular and in both phases I am pleased to see properties for first-time buyers. It is important that the younger generations get the same opportunities to get their foot on the housing ladder as I did. “Shepley is a wonderful and active village and a great place to start and bring up your family. This plan includes some two-bed houses under the First Homes scheme which will be ideal for young people wanting to buy their first home. Being able to buy a home in the village you grew up in is an aspiration for many young people locally. “As a Shepley resident, I am delighted to see such quality houses, with attractive stone, being built in our village. I have supported this sensitive development, which is perfectly in tune with the character and ambience of the rest of Shepley, since the early planning stages and it is very satisfying to see the original vision become reality and be so successful.”

Lidl ramps up UK expansion with £500m plan targeting 40 new stores

April Lara
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Lidl ramps up UK expansion with £500m plan targeting 40 new stores

Lidl will invest £500 million this financial year to open 40 new stores across the UK, as part of a broader strategy to expand its presence in high streets, retail parks, and mixed-use town centres. The discounter has also identified hundreds of additional potential sites for future development.

This expansion will push Lidl beyond 1,000 stores in Britain, reflecting its rapid growth trajectory. It currently operates more than 980 outlets and 14 distribution centres, employing 35,000 people nationwide.

The company’s announcement follows government planning reforms aimed at reducing barriers to new developments, which Lidl credits for enabling its accelerated rollout. The retailer opened 23 new stores in the previous financial year, making this year’s target a significant step up.

Lidl’s expansion is set against a backdrop of strong sales growth. Recent data from Kantar shows a 9.1% increase in Lidl’s UK sales over the 12 weeks to 24 March, raising its grocery market share to 7.8%, and bringing it closer to overtaking Morrisons for fifth place.

The investment is expected to create new jobs and further opportunities for suppliers, underlining Lidl’s growing influence in the UK retail and logistics sectors.

Leeds expansion for Lichfields

Tess Egginton
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Leeds expansion for Lichfields
Planning and development consultancy Lichfields has relocated its Leeds office to a new, larger space in the heart of the city centre as the team continues to expand. The move marks a significant milestone for the Leeds team, which has grown from just three people when it was established in 2011 to what is soon to be a 20-strong team. Chris Darley, head of Lichfields’ Leeds office, said: “We’re proud of how far the Leeds office has come since we opened our doors with just three members of staff. “The move to larger premises reflects not only our growth in headcount and the expanding range of specialisms and sectors we support, but also the strong and lasting relationships we have built with our clients. “The new space puts us right at the centre of the action, close to many of our clients, partners and key transport links and offers the right environment to take the next step in our development.” The move follows the recent promotion of Emma Gomersal and James Cox to planning directors. James and Emma bring extensive expertise across sectors including strategic land, residential, retail, tourism and infrastructure. Chris added: “We’ve built a fantastic team in Leeds and our success is down to the people we’ve brought on board and developed over time. As we look ahead, the new office gives us the space and setting we need to continue that journey – growing sustainably, delivering for clients and supporting the region’s development priorities.”

Palletower accelerates UK expansion with latest storage sector acquisition

April Lara
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Palletower accelerates UK expansion with latest storage sector acquisition

Warehouse equipment supplier Palletower has acquired Leeds-based Alternative Storage Systems, continuing a rapid expansion strategy that has seen five acquisitions in the racking and shelving sector over the past eight months.

The move follows its recent purchase of Kingstonian Storage and Equipment and strengthens Palletower’s presence across the North and East of England. Alternative Storage Systems designs, installs, and maintains storage solutions for warehouses and commercial units, with a strong foothold in the warehousing and food production sectors.

Palletower, based in Sale, supplies more than 100 lines of logistics and storage equipment and exports to over 35 countries. The company’s recent acquisition drive is pushing annual turnover from more than £40m towards £50m, with staffing levels now exceeding 70.

The firm’s strategy focuses on broadening its industrial racking, shelving, and warehouse fit-out services across the UK, adding to a customer base that includes major players such as Waitrose, Walmart, and DHL.

Leeds-based consulting firm, Q5, welcomes new chief financial officer

Tess Egginton
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Leeds-based consulting firm, Q5, welcomes new chief financial officer
Organisational health consulting firm, Q5, has welcomed Amanda Lewis as its new chief financial officer. This strategic addition to the leadership team marks a significant step forward as Q5 continues its global growth journey. Amanda brings over two decades of experience as a transformative finance leader, and was most recently the chief financial officer at The Chemistry Group. She helped the business through an M&A process, attracting top-tier talent to help move the company into its next phase of growth. She also played a key role in fostering a culture of data transparency, facilitating strategic insights, improving operational efficiency, and aligning cost structures with financial targets. Now, as chief financial officer at Q5, Amanda is responsible for shaping and executing the company’s strategy of doubling in size by 2030 in a sustainable way. Q5 has doubled in size between 2020 and 2025, and has grown from a footprint of four offices to nine. Amanda will work closely with the leadership team to achieve this goal, driving growth in the Middle East, North America, and Australia. Reflecting on her new role, Amanda said: “I am thrilled to join the Q5 team and be part of an award-winning firm that is helping to build better businesses across the world. I’m passionate about driving client and partner success, while also coaching and mentoring a team to create a high-performing environment. I look forward to the growth we can achieve together.” Olly Purnell, managing partner at Q5, added: “It’s wonderful to have Amanda on board. She inherits an excellent Finance team, but will bring experience and commercial finance nous and leadership that will hopefully enable us to be more global in the way we approach things.”

Director promotion for personal tax expert at Saffery

Tess Egginton
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Director promotion for personal tax expert at Saffery
Longstanding Leeds-based personal tax expert, Simon Armitage, has been promoted to director at chartered accounting and business advisory firm, Saffery. Simon has spent the past two decades advising clients on all types of personal tax issues and worked in London before relocating to Leeds in 2007. He joined Saffery’s private client and personal tax team in 2018. From the firm’s Wellington Place office in Leeds city centre, he now specialises in advising entrepreneurs and high net worth individuals, as well as their families, on all types of tax related issues. These can include family investment companies, trusts, share schemes, business structuring, succession planning and tax reliefs. In addition, a large part of Simon’s work now involves advising on inheritance tax after Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered the new Labour government’s first budget last October. Sally Appleton, partner in Saffery’s Yorkshire office, said: “Simon joined our team more than six years ago and he’s extremely popular with both our clients and his colleagues, who both appreciate his first-class advice, expertise and ability to simplify issues that are often complex. “Crucially, he’s adept at winning new clients and identifying areas where we can support existing clients, thanks to his thorough understanding of everything related to personal tax, so there’s no doubt he thoroughly deserves this promotion.”

Wholesale craft bakery Artisan Bakes cooks up expansion at Flanshaw Industrial Estate

Tess Egginton
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Wholesale craft bakery Artisan Bakes cooks up expansion at Flanshaw Industrial Estate
Towngate PLC, the commercial and industrial property specialist, has secured a 12-year tenancy for Artisan Bakes Ltd, a wholesale craft bakery based in Wakefield, to support the company’s ongoing expansion. Previously located at Sovereign House, Trinity Business Park, Artisan Bakes now occupies Unit 1, Flanshaw Industrial Estate, Flanshaw Way. The 6,366 sq ft modern warehouse/industrial property provides close proximity to Wakefield City Centre and junction 40 of the M1 motorway, making it an ideal base for the business’s growing logistics. It also features a shared secure yard, ancillary offices, parking, and an eaves height of 6.18 metres. The relocation enables Artisan Bakes to scale production and better serve its customer base. Tom Lamb, property director at Towngate PLC, said: “It’s been a pleasure to assist Artisan with its expansion plans in the region. Flanshaw Industrial Estate is a highly sought-after business hub, and its proximity to key motorway networks will be an invaluable asset for the bakery as it continues to expand. I look forward to visiting and sampling a cake or two!” Jonathan Jacob, senior surveyor at GV Property Consultants, added: “This unit provides a rare food manufacturing facility in a strategic location, and we are pleased to have acted on behalf of Towngate to accommodate Artisan Bakes’ bespoke requirements.” David Hardwick, managing director of Artisan Bakes, said: “We’re excited to start this new chapter as we celebrate a decade of baking excellence. The relocation represents a significant step in our expansion and will help us truly enhance our production capabilities. Towngate’s support has been invaluable in finding the perfect space, accommodating our needs as we continue to innovate and grow.”
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