The penultimate letting has been secured at Leeds Valley Park by Catella APAM, acting as asset manager on behalf of the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF).
The deal sees Leeds-based DIRICKX Systems Ltd take Unit 3, a 43,836 sq ft speculative warehouse. The occupier specialises in the manufacture of force protection solutions, primarily used in the defence industry.
Adam Robinson, operations director, DIRICKX Systems, said: “As a trusted UK manufacturer, we are proud of our Yorkshire base and this commitment to Leeds secures our long-term future in the region.
“After rapid growth since DIRICKX Systems was established three years ago, our investment in Leeds Valley Park marks a significant milestone – doubling our UK manufacturing capability, supporting our long-term growth ambitions and enabling us to meet the rising global demand for high-performance defence products.
“With over 95% of our products exported and key contracts already secured with organisations including the UK Ministry of Defence and NATO, we are proud to be the UK’s leading manufacturer of this type of force protection, flying the flag for British manufacturing in the global defence sector.”
Adam Handley, asset manager at Catella APAM, said: “Yet another deal at Leeds Valley Park marks another significant milestone for the estate. It reinforces our confidence in the strength of this location and the continued demand for high-quality industrial space in the Leeds market. We’re delighted to welcome DIRICKX Systems Ltd to the growing community of occupiers at the park.”
Carter Towler, Avison Young, and CBRE acted for the landlord with Knight Frank’s Yorkshire industrial and logistics team advising the tenant.
Iain McPhail, partner in Knight Frank’s Yorkshire industrial team, said: “Leeds Valley Park provides the perfect opportunity for DIRICKX Systems, which allows them not only to retain their existing workforce, but to grow the business, in line with their future ambitions. It was a pleasure working closely with the team and facilitating another Yorkshire based manufacturer on the business park.”
Rob Oliver, principal of Avison Young’s industrial and distributions team, added: “Having completed on two other lettings earlier this year, it is fantastic to have completed on this third letting of 2025 already.
“DIRICKX are a great addition to the estate, where we have attracted a combination of production and logistics operations, including occupiers relocating and expanding within the Leeds area, and those seeking a new Yorkshire facility.”
This letting leaves just one unit remaining at Leeds Valley Park.
Staffordshire sausage manufacturer sold to Yorkshire food producer
Blakemans, the manufacturers of sausages for the foodservice industry, has been sold to Yorkshire food producer Cranswick.
Headquartered in Staffordshire, Blakemans is a family business that has been manufacturing specialist raw and cooked sausage and meat products for over 70 years.
The business, which employs a total workforce of approximately 290, has a particularly strong foothold in the UK foodservice market and is a leading supplier of sausages to UK fish and chip shops; and also supplies products to leading manufacturers of prepared meals.
The acquisition is complementary to Cranswick’s existing added-value gourmet business, adding capacity in raw and cooked sausage production whilst enabling efficient supply into the foodservice market.
Founding family members, and current CEO and finance director of Blakemans, Philip Blakeman and Susan Cope, said: “We are excited to have the opportunity to become part of the Cranswick business. The two businesses compliment each other in so many ways and we also look forward to working with the management at Cranswick to continue producing quality products into the foodservice sector.”
Cranswick’s chief executive officer, Adam Couch, said: “I am delighted to announce the acquisition of Blakemans, a well-invested, leading foodservice sausage manufacturer. Blakemans is highly complementary to our existing added-value Gourmet business. We look forward to welcoming the entire Blakemans team to Cranswick and to working with them to develop the business further.”
Mark Lynch, partner at Oghma Partners, which acted as financial advisor to the shareholders of Blakemans, said: “Working with Phil and Sue and all the team at Blakemans was a great pleasure for us; we are thrilled to have found an ideal Partner for the business in Cranswick who will be able to help build on the success of the business to date.”
Council to sign 15-year development agreement with ECF at Hull’s East Bank Urban Village
Hull City Council’s East Bank Urban Village project continues to take steps forward with ECF being confirmed as lead developer partner.
The council will sign a 15-year development agreement with ECF, a partnership between Homes England, L&G and Muse, for the master planning, development and construction of the site, which is expected to see a mix of uses including up to 850 new homes.
Located to the east of the River Hull, opposite the old town, the scheme will comprise new homes and infrastructure in the heart of the city, transforming a forgotten part of Hull into a vibrant contemporary urban village.
The regeneration is backed by £9.875m of secured Levelling Up Partnership funding and will be a long-term investment into the city.
The new homes will be developed alongside ground floor commercial uses and an interconnected network of streets, plazas and green spaces to promote a pedestrian and family friendly atmosphere.
ECF, through the development manager Muse, will now begin to action site enabling works for the scheme including structural repairs to Trinity Buoy Shed and adjacent river walkway.
Alongside this, preparations are underway to design the East Bank Urban Village in more detail, ready for a hybrid planning application to be lodged in 2026.
Cllr Mike Ross, leader of the council, said: “The council is delighted to be finalising our partnership with ECF.
“East Bank Urban Village is one of Hull’s largest ever regeneration projects and will act as a catalyst for further urban renewal and help to increase investor confidence in the city with all the economic benefits that will arise.
“Initial discussions with ECF too place at UKREiiF in 2024, so it’s fitting that we can sign the contract for the project at the event this year.”
Sir Michael Lyons, chair of ECF, added: “East Bank is a new neighbourhood that supports Hull’s wider city centre vision, and is a perfect example of how this resilient city is using its industrial and maritime past to build a bright future for generations to come.
“We look forward to working closely with Hull City Council and local communities, drawing on the combined skills of our partners to realise the potential of this regeneration for the city. This includes creating new homes, boosting local employment, and driving inclusive economic growth.
“We’re delighted to be working with our partners on East Bank Hull and, with the quality of the waterfront site and the impact it will make on the city, it’s an incredibly exciting project to be involved in.”
Leapmotor expands UK presence with Evans Halshaw partnership
Automotive retailer Evans Halshaw has added Leapmotor electric vehicles (EVs) to its offering in Yorkshire through new dealership points in Leeds and Hull. The move is part of a broader strategy to diversify its EV portfolio and support demand for lower-emission vehicles in regional markets.
The Leapmotor range, currently comprising the compact T03 city car and the larger C10 SUV, is now available at two existing multi-brand Evans Halshaw sites: the Citroën dealership in Leeds and the Vauxhall/Peugeot site in Hull.
Both locations have been updated to support Leapmotor’s operational needs, including test drive options, dedicated servicing infrastructure, and trained technicians for aftersales support. Flexible financing options are also in place to appeal to new EV adopters.
This development strengthens Evans Halshaw’s alignment with Stellantis’ broader retail strategy, under which Leapmotor operates as part of a joint venture. The integration gives the dealer group another EV brand to serve the shifting needs of both retail and commercial customers.
The partnership positions Evans Halshaw to capture a greater share of the UK’s growing EV market, while reinforcing its role as a multi-brand operator with a focus on electrification.
Two hundred year old brewing company turns to solar to power its pints
Independent Yorkshire brewery, T&R Theakston has received funding from North Yorkshire Council for the installation of solar panels to provide energy to the near 200-year-old Masham business.
South facing buildings within the Theakston brewery site in Masham have undergone a transformation, with the addition of 205 solar panels, which will produce circa 25% of the brewery’s annual energy requirement.
Theakston’s received funding from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), which was administered by North Yorkshire Council. It follows a number of capital investment projects by Theakston’s over the last 12 months which have sought to ensure the historic brewery is able to continue producing high quality beers and offering tours of its facilities as it prepares to enter its third century in 2027.
Simon Theakston, chairman of T&R Theakston’s, said: “We are grateful to the UKSPF and North Yorkshire Council for their support through this funding which has enabled us to take this valuable step towards a more sustainable operation here at the brewery.
“Being based in the heart of North Yorkshire, we’re passionate about the environment and are proud to be playing our part to protect it. From our use of traditional wooden casks for Old Peculier and all our other casks, which are collected, cleaned and reused every day to now being able to produce our own energy, we are committed to evolving in ways which will make our business and our industry more sustainable.”
North Yorkshire Council’s leader, Cllr Carl Les, former chair of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Local Partnership Group in the county, said: “Looking at renewable energy sources is a key priority for the council so seeing this funding going into solar panels at Masham is a perfect fit. The UKSPF programme set out to boost the local economy and add community value for local people, and this project fits the bill perfectly.”
Pegasus Group opens Leeds city centre office to support Northern expansion
Development consultancy Pegasus Group has opened a new office in Leeds city centre as part of its national growth strategy. The move expands its footprint in the North of England, following recent office launches in Newcastle, Bristol, Cambridge, and Edinburgh.
The new location, based at Capitol in Bond Court, will accommodate the consultancy’s expanding team of over 40 professionals. The Leeds office will continue to serve clients across the North, supporting residential and commercial development, strategic land promotion, and renewable energy projects.
Pegasus has recently bolstered its regional capabilities by enhancing its planning, environment, and heritage teams and is launching a new urban design service line. This builds on its advisory work in major schemes such as the Barnsley West mixed-use development, the Clifton Enterprise Zone near Brighouse, and Huddersfield’s Our Cultural Heart regeneration.
The Leeds office also plays a key role in Pegasus’s work on renewable energy, including solar, wind, and bioenergy projects. A newly appointed Planning Director will lead efforts to support energy developers with land and grid access strategies aligned with the UK government’s evolving energy infrastructure priorities.
North Yorkshire launches countywide development plan consultation
North Yorkshire Council has launched its first consultation for a countywide local plan, marking the start of a strategic review that will shape housing, employment, and infrastructure development through to 2045.
This new plan will consolidate the existing planning frameworks inherited from former district and borough councils, including Craven. It aims to provide a coordinated policy structure for sustainable growth, helping streamline planning decisions and offering developers, investors, and local authorities clearer direction.
The eight-week consultation is focused on broad issues, such as housing provision, economic resilience, town centre vitality, climate change mitigation, and infrastructure demands, rather than specific development sites. Input is also being gathered on topics relevant to business operations, such as transport, digital connectivity, and energy.
The council is moving ahead with its planning process ahead of expected reforms to the national planning system. Any future changes from central government will be integrated into the developing plan.
Feedback collected will guide the drafting of the whole plan, expected by the end of 2025. A second round of consultation will follow before the plan is finalised. Businesses are encouraged to contribute their views to ensure that the region’s economic strategy aligns with community needs and commercial potential.
Northern mayors unite to boost investment across key sectors
A new partnership of metro mayors across northern England has launched to attract investment into the region’s high-growth sectors, aiming to drive job creation, infrastructure upgrades and long-term economic resilience. Known as The Great North, the initiative is being led by North East mayor Kim McGuinness and officially launched at the UKREiiF investment summit in Leeds. It has the backing of central government and all seven of the North’s metro mayors.
The partnership will coordinate international trade missions focused on pan-northern investment propositions and host a Northern Investment Summit to showcase opportunities to global investors. Its focus areas include clean energy, defence, advanced manufacturing and creative industries, vital to the region’s competitiveness in a shifting global economy.
Among the advanced investment narratives is the creation of a clean energy coast along the eastern seaboard, which already generates half of England’s renewable power. There are plans to connect key cities and industrial hubs through the Northern Arc, supported by infrastructure projects such as the Transpennine Route Upgrade and the proposed Liverpool-Manchester Railway. The partnership also aims to capitalise on the region’s strength in national security-related sectors through a Northern Security Corridor linking Cumbria, Lancashire, and the North East, where defence, engineering, and cyber capabilities are concentrated.
In manufacturing, the group is promoting the development of advanced materials corridors between Greater Manchester, Yorkshire, the North East, and Tees Valley. It also supports One Creative North, a programme designed to expand the North’s cultural economy and attract inward investment into film, digital media, and design.
A forthcoming report from the group claims that, with the right level of targeted investment, the North could contribute £118 billion to the UK’s GDP. The partnership argues that the North is uniquely positioned to support national goals around energy security, economic growth, and global competitiveness.
BNPL regulation targets clearer standards and reduced risk for consumers
The UK government has confirmed new buy now, pay later (BNPL) lenders regulations, mandating affordability checks and clearer consumer protections. The move addresses growing concerns around unregulated short-term credit usage, which has surged to 11 million users nationwide.
The updated legislation, set to take effect in 2025, requires BNPL firms to perform upfront affordability assessments, speed up refund processing, and give customers access to complaint resolution through the Financial Ombudsman Service.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) reports a marked increase in BNPL use, particularly among women aged 25–34 and lone parents. Around 40% of the latter demographic now rely on the service. Despite its convenience, industry watchdogs and consumer groups have raised alarms about the ease shoppers can incur unsustainable debt through these platforms.
BNPL providers operating in the UK will be subject to consistent standards aligned with other credit products. This could affect customer onboarding flows, lending algorithms, and risk management protocols.
The rules also allow firms to differentiate on transparency and consumer trust, as regulatory certainty may bolster investor confidence and long-term scalability in the sector.
The announcement comes amid a broader government effort to rein in emerging forms of consumer credit and provide stronger regulatory oversight for fast-growing fintech solutions.
Gold seen as safe haven amid tax hikes and market volatility
A recent survey of UK retail investors indicates that gold is now the most favoured asset class for the next 12 months, with 58% of respondents expecting its value to increase. This marks a notable shift in investor sentiment as geopolitical and economic uncertainties persist.
The findings, published by Charles Schwab UK, show that confidence in gold has overtaken traditional indices such as the FTSE 100, which only 39% of investors expect to rise. Similarly, 40% are optimistic about the Dow Jones and 38% about the Nasdaq.
This movement towards gold comes amid growing concerns about tariff policy and the recent hike in capital gains tax, which exempts physical gold investments. The Royal Mint has reported increased demand for physical gold assets like coins and bars.
Younger investors are particularly active in this trend, with 31% increasing exposure to precious metal stocks in the past quarter. Overall, 73% of investors view mining and precious metals companies as sound investment opportunities. This figure is even higher among millennials at 79%, reflecting a generational leaning towards assets perceived as inflation-resistant and less exposed to political risk.
By comparison, just 70% of investors view AI stocks as strong investments, highlighting a broader pivot toward defensive positions in portfolios.
