A family-run, Barnsley-based property and land company, has unveiled the highly anticipated next phase of development for Penistone’s coal drops, signal house, and former railway siding site.
With this next stage of the site’s transformative journey, Fairbank Investments is marking a significant moment in Penistone’s history, with the development promising an inspiring blend of heritage preservation and modern rejuvenation.
The new designs, including business units, office space, retail and restaurant units, demonstrate how Fairbank Investments envisages how the coal drops and the land will look once fully transformed. The plans are subject to final approval.
Steeped in history, the coal drops site stands as a poignant reminder of Penistone’s industrial past. In recognition of its cultural significance, Fairbank Investments has embraced the opportunity to breathe new life into these iconic structures, preserving their heritage while welcoming a new era of prosperity.
Fairbank Investments has a proven track record of sustainable development projects such as the former David Brown factory on Green Road in Penistone. The company revitalised the site after transforming it into a new business park with 15,000 sq ft of offices and a further 66,000 sq ft of warehouse space, creating new jobs and attracting multiple businesses to the area.
Antony Green, Managing Director of Fairbank Investments, said: “Our vision extends beyond bricks and mortar; it’s about creating a lasting legacy that enriches the fabric of Penistone’s identity. We’re honoured to play a role in shaping the future of this historic site.
“Working in tandem with local authorities and community groups, we pride ourselves on delivering positive, proactive development results and have demonstrated this repeatedly over many years of business success.
“We turned the redundant site at the old David Brown site in Penistone into the thriving Fairfield Business Park, generating employment and helping multiple start-up companies and we intend to do the same at the coal drops site.
“Our current development represents a bright new beginning for a site that without our investment and vision would have likely remained a permanent wasteland.”
Image credit: Fairbank Investments
Majority shareholder Karrev and developers Kinrise have completed the lease of 1 Trevelyan Square in Leeds to Leeds Trinity University (LTU).
Leeds Trinity is set to open its brand-new city centre campus in Boar Lane later this year for the 2024-2025 academic year.
LTU’s new 15-year lease covers over 54,000 sq ft of office accommodation across the ground and upper six floors. Property consultancy Knight Frank’s Leeds office advised on the deal.
1 Trevelyan Square forms part of Karrev and Kinrise’s joint venture’s 73,500 sq ft portfolio across Trevelyan Square. Their commitment to creating a new thriving community destination has seen a flurry of deals with tenants such as Pizza Pilgrims and 92 Degrees Coffee joining Leeds’ favourites Do’hut and Things in Bread.
Kinrise co-founder George Aberdeen said: “We are delighted to have signed Leeds Trinity University at 1 Trevelyan Square. It has been a pleasure working with the University to deliver the first phase of their state-of-the-art, sustainable campus in the heart of Leeds. We are confident the new campus will be a catalyst for the final wave of regeneration in this area and the wider city centre.
“We are proud to have successfully curated a community-led site with independent food and drink operators, spaces for local businesses, students and visitors to meet and unwind. On hearing the exciting future plans for the building, we wish the team and students of Leeds Trinity all the success for their next chapter on the Square.”
Jo Hynes, Chief Operating Officer at Leeds Trinity University, added: “We are very much looking forward to opening our new Leeds Trinity University City Campus in the 2024-25 academic year, and are extremely excited about the facilities and opportunities that will be available to our students studying there.
“Our City Campus will provide a range of learning spaces, study spaces and specialist facilities, including a trading room, board room and business engagement centre, law court and custody suite, and specialist labs for our Computer Science and Construction and the Built Environment courses. Students will also have access to study resources and a wide range of study and open learning spaces to support collaborative working.
“1 Trevelyan Square will complement our Main Campus in Horsforth and enable the University to work even more closely with key partners and employers, supporting the demand for skills. It has been a pleasure working with Kinrise, supporting sustainable development and regeneration in the Square, and we can’t wait to complete the works.”
Eamon Fox of property consultancy Knight Frank added: “The renaissance of Boar Lane continues apace. This historic street and this magnificent building are a fitting location for Leeds Trinity, while this inward investment into Leeds proves, once again, this flourishing city is a magnet for talent.”
Leeds-based law firm Gordons has been hired by the UK subsidiary of global sports and outdoor equipment and apparel retailer Decathlon to provide regulatory advice amidst growing sales.
The firm will advise Decathlon UK on product stewardship and consumer law for the company, which operates 50 stores and employs more than 1,500 people. In August, the UK business reported its revenue had reached £300m for the first time in its history.
Decathlon’s UK conformity & quality leader Dorota Wypych, said: “Gordons has been instrumental in our ongoing product compliance efforts.
“Their in-depth knowledge of regulation has been invaluable, helping to navigate the complexities in dealing with product compliance enquiries. Their expertise and clear communication made the whole process smooth and successful.”
Gordons partner and head of regulatory, Simon Tingle, said: “Decathlon has become one of the most prominent names in the global sports retail space.
“We are looking forward to playing our part to help the UK business tackle continually evolving regulatory challenges with our straight-talking advice grounded in retail expertise.”
International House, a three storey office scheme on Trinity Business Park, Wakefield, has been sold in a multi-million-pound deal.
Agreed by commercial real estate specialists Commercial Property Partners (CPP) on behalf of its client M7 Real Estate, the deal was concluded for an undisclosed sum.
International House is a modern purpose-built building with basement car parking for 18 cars in addition to surface car parking.
Trinity Business Park comprises a modern mixed-use scheme that houses seven detached buildings.
As a secure business park with one entrance and egress, it offers manned security personnel and includes a range of modern industrial and office buildings providing a total of 95,710 sq ft and 372 parking spaces on site.
CPP director Robin Bullas said: “This deal reflects a strong office investment opportunity in Wakefield, despite tough market conditions.
“We are delighted to have secured the best possible price and a successful disposal for our client, who is delighted with the outcome.”
Thirty-six city centre apartments will be created as part of a £4m project thanks to support from Levelling Up Funding (LUF).
A grant of £390,000 has been awarded from Hull City Council’s government grant scheme to DAQRI Limited for its conversion of 9-11 Chapel Lane.
The funding is to support Phase 1 and part of Phase 2 of the overall development proposals, which includes 19 apartments, comprising 14 one-bedroomed apartments, four two-bedroomed apartments and one three-bedroomed apartment.
A further 17 apartments will be created as part of later phases, helping to address the demand for city centre living in Hull.
The costs of Phase 1 and part of Phase 2 is £1.653m, with the overall development estimated to cost around £4.12m, meaning over £3.5m of private sector capital is being invested.
The project will see the Grade II listed Standidge Building, 9 Chapel Lane, brought back into use, as well as its two neighbouring properties.
Around 1,626 sq m of unused floorspace will be brought back into use, with two full-time equivalent jobs created.
Cllr Paul Drake-Davis, portfolio holder for regeneration and housing at Hull City Council, said: “This project not only brings back into use a dilapidated heritage building, but will also help address the growing demand for city centre living in Hull.
“It is pleasing that the council is able to support the applicant’s significant private investment through this Levelling Up Fund Grant award.”
Kirklees Council has appointed the contractor for its upcoming renovations to the Dewsbury Arcade – a key part of the Dewsbury Blueprint.
The Dewsbury Arcade is a Grade II Listed building, which has been a focal point in Dewsbury town centre since 1899 but has now stood empty for the best part of a decade. The arcade is a key focus of the Dewsbury Blueprint, which lays out Kirklees Council’s big plans for investment in Dewsbury over the next decade and beyond.
The arcade is set to reopen as the UK’s first ever community-run shopping centre, following the massive success of the Arcade Group – a community business formed specifically to lease and manage the building, in their public fundraising last year.
Kirklees Council has appointed William Birch Construction as the contractor set to undertake the work, which will see the much-loved arcade restored to its former glory and brought back into regular use.
The renovations needed to reopen the arcade are being funded by £4.5 million from the National Heritage Lottery Fund, grants from the Dewsbury Town Deal Board and West Yorkshire Combined Authority, support from the government’s Getting Building Fund, and capital funding from the council.
Once reopened, the Arcade Group will take on management and operation of the business side of the arcade without further financial input from the council.
Construction is planned to begin within the next few months – and the arcade should be reopened by summer 2025.
Councillor Cathy Scott, Leader of Kirklees Council and Ward Councillor for Dewsbury East, says: “The Dewsbury Arcade is a project I’m tremendously excited about, because it’s so steeped in feeling from local people – including myself.
“Those of us who’ve lived in Dewsbury for a long time remember that beautiful building through the years, and I’m absolutely passionate about it remaining a beating heart of our town centre.
“I’m glad we’re working with a company that are Yorkshire-based, and have a history of future-proofing treasured heritage buildings like this one whilst bringing them into the twenty-first century.
“With the passion of local people, the hard work of the Arcade Group, and the support of our other blueprint projects like Dewsbury Market – which should, in perfect timing, be underway just as we’re looking to reopen the arcade – this can once again be a great place for people to enjoy, and for businesses to thrive.”
Gemma Shahjahan, Business Development Director for William Birch Construction, says: “We are delighted to be working with Kirklees Council on this treasured building in Dewsbury, and are looking forward to starting onsite in the coming weeks.
“The plans to bring the arcade back to life are really exciting, and our teams are looking forward to being part of that journey in what is a special year for our business – celebrating 150 years!”
Keith Ramsay, Chair of the Dewsbury Town Deal Board, says: “We’re very pleased to see William Birch come on board. The history and heritage of the Dewsbury Arcade is something the Town Board, and the people of Dewsbury, are incredibly passionate about – we don’t just want to see the arcade brought back to life, we want to see it restored and preserved for the future.
“As with all these plans for the town centre, we want to be carrying our heritage forward in a way that works for the modern-day visitor, and works with all the other Dewsbury Blueprint projects to bring new life to the town centre as a whole.”
Chris Hill, Co-Founder of the Arcade Group, says: “We’ve been close to this project, and it’s been close to our hearts, for a very long time now, so it’s incredibly exciting to be so close to work starting onsite.
“Once the transformation starts, the whole project will become real to people – they’ll start seeing the changes before their eyes. We’re having very exciting conversations with traders potentially looking to take up residence in the arcade once it reopens, and this update will definitely spur on these conversations – it’s an exciting time!”
Harrogate environmental risk reduction services business, Adler and Allan, has acquired quality and engineering management solutions company, QEM Solutions.
QEM has been providing professional services, technical consultancy, inspections and surveys, management and training, and software for safe systems of work to the highly regulated gas and water industries for over 20 years.
Rob Graham, Chief Executive Officer, QEM, said: “We are excited to be joining the Adler and Allan Group. The services Adler and Allan delivers, and their established position in the utilities and environmental markets, allows us to provide our expert quality and engineering management solutions to more companies, providing a full turnkey package of process management and engineering solutions.”
Henrik Pedersen, Chief Executive Officer, Adler and Allan, said: “We help organisations manage, improve, maintain, and upgrade their infrastructure so that they can solve their biggest environmental challenges such as managing energy transition and mitigating the effects of climate change.
“This critical acquisition supports our mission and our ambitious growth plans, by bolstering our specialist quality and engineering management capability and enhancing our range of services to the gas and water sectors, making us partner of choice for utilities companies as they tackle the challenges of energy diversification and distribution through RIIO-3 and RIIO-4.”
This is Adler and Allan’s fifth acquisition in the utilities sector, and eighth overall in the last three years.
Law firm Andrew Jackson Solicitors has appointed of Amy Youngman as associate in the firm’s tax and trusts team .
Amy has over 10 years’ experience advising on wills, trusts, the administration of estates and Lasting Powers of Attorneys (LPAs). As a full member of the global professional body STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners), Amy has particular expertise in helping clients across a whole host of issues concerning inheritance tax and lifetime planning, including advising landowners and business owners in respect of agricultural relief and business relief from inheritance tax.
Richard Hoare, partner, and head of private client services at Andrew Jackson, said: “We warmly welcome Amy to Andrew Jackson, as we strengthen further our existing team to meet continued demand for our services.
“We remain committed to providing excellent legal advice tailored to our clients’ specific needs, and to building trusted relationships for the long term. I know that with Amy’s specialist experience and commitment, we will continue to provide the highest quality legal advice, as reflected in independent client feedback.”
The Mayor of West Yorkshire and leader of Leeds City Council have written to the Prime Minister, urging him to ensure land around Leeds Station continues to be safeguarded.
Leeds Station is at capacity, and land to the south could provide space for expansion – boosting economic growth across West Yorkshire and improving reliability across the rail network in the North.
The Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, said: “Failing to expand the capacity at Leeds Station would hold West Yorkshire and the North’s economy back for decades to come.
“We’re an economic powerhouse desperate to grow further – I’m calling on the Government to sit down and work with us to find a solution.
“Don’t force us to fight with one hand tied behind our back as we seek to create a better-connected North.”
Cllr James Lewis, Leader of Leeds City Council, said: “The value of our city’s station to our economy as well as that of Yorkshire and the North cannot be overstated, and yet we are already approaching capacity.
“We must protect the limited opportunities we have to ensure the station and railway infrastructure in central Leeds can continue to grow in order to meet ever-increasing passenger demand and not become a bottleneck for other significant new schemes such as the welcome new station for Bradford and Northern Powerhouse Rail.
“It is vital that safeguarding restrictions on land around the station are extended until the current study is completed, to help ensure that opportunities to better connect our city with the wider region and the rest of the country are not lost through short-sighted decision making.”
The letter in full:
We are writing to draw your urgent attention to the future of rail connections to and capacity within Leeds City Station – the North of England’s busiest rail station – and the huge strategic risks that any hasty release of HS2 safeguarded land in Leeds would bring to securing the long-term economic potential of our railway for the North as a whole.
Plans to develop the station have been uncertain since the Government’s decision to cancel the eastern leg of HS2 in 2021 and were put further at risk by your statements last autumn to accelerate the release of land safeguarded for HS2 delivery.
Our concerns were further heightened by the Network North document published at that time which, whilst including welcome commitments to the West Yorkshire mass transit and Bradford station schemes, did not include any commitments to Leeds City Station.
Nonetheless, we had been led to believe that the Government shared our ambition to secure the right solution for Leeds and that this would be provided by thorough a robust evidence-led study of rail connectivity between the Midlands, Yorkshire and the North East (“the MYNE study”). This was required by the Transport Select Committee and committed to by the Rail Minister.
However, we now understand that a decision to release HS2 safeguarded land, that could provide new south-facing platforms and onward rail connections, is to be taken imminently, before the MYNE study has even commenced.
Leeds City Station is the busiest and most congested rail station in the North of England. Sitting at the centre of the rail network, which connects Liverpool, Manchester, York, Hull, Sheffield, Newcastle, Birmingham, and Edinburgh. As such, the station provides the same national hub role on the east of the Pennines as Manchester Piccadilly does to the west.
It is also at the most important hub for the West Yorkshire economy. Services into Leeds from Bradford, Kirklees, Wakefield, and Calderdale have shaped our modern economic footprint.
Towns such as Ilkley, Halifax and Hebden Bridge, alongside places such as Harrogate beyond our boundaries, now providing some of the greatest concentration of higher skilled communities due to their rail connections.
Collectively, Leeds City Station and its connections provide perhaps the greatest single example of how transport connectivity to our Northern cities can genuinely unlock economic agglomeration and transformation.
The city of Leeds continues to grow, with an average of 3,000 new homes delivered annually, population growth higher than the national average, and GVA projected to increase by £12.9 billion by 2040. To support this growth, Leeds rail station must expand, with passenger numbers forecast to exceed 43 million users within the next twenty years alone.
Hence, it was a major surprise that commitment to increase the capacity at the station was not part of the Network North plans. The station’s potential to secure further economic benefit is currently constrained. A third of delays on the rail network in the North can be found here, and 50% of passengers travelling through the station have their trains delayed or cancelled.
This situation will worsen if improvements are made elsewhere on the railway without addressing the Leeds hub properly.
However, the land is safeguarded by HS2 Ltd only until this Summer. We understand that a decision is in front of you to not extend this safeguarding, well ahead of the MYNE study work that is required. We are aware of some hasty work within government, with some headlines from which DfT officials only very recently revealed to our officials. That work falls well short of the study commitments that have been made and would bring strategic risks for West Yorkshire and the North for the remainder of this century.
Therefore, we have to implore you in the strongest terms to instruct HS2 Ltd to extend the safeguarding on the corridor between Clayton Junction and Leeds City Station for a period to allow the MYNE study to be completed. We would be grateful if you could confirm this decision at the earliest possible opportunity and would ask that you discuss with us if you are not in agreement with safeguarding the land.
We and our officials remain committed to working with you and your officials, to determine the parcels of land which needs to remain safeguarded, so not to delay disposal of land that is no longer required. We can work co-operatively on this matter to ensure the residents of Leeds, the commuters of West Yorkshire, and passengers across the North have the appropriate transport infrastructure to reach our full potential.
Chemical specialist Airedale Group has strengthened its team by filling three new roles, reflecting the company’s growth and its focus on health and safety as a business priority.
With the addition of a deputy head of regulatory, HR manager and marketing executive, the number of people employed by the business has risen to more than 125.
As the business steps up its commitment to ensuring the highest standards of health and safety on site, Louise Copeman has been appointed as deputy head of regulatory, with more than 20 years of experience in health and safety in the chemical industry.
She says: “I will be focusing on fostering a culture of safety to keep staff and visitors safe and well.”
Jacquie Hodgson has spent over 25 years in human resources, having worked most recently at Craven District Council and joins the company as human resources manager.
She said: “The health and wellbeing of staff will be one of my main priorities as I settle into the role which will form part of a wider people strategy. There will also be plenty of work to do when incorporating new staff from business acquisitions and organic growth.”
The marketing team has expanded with the creation of a new marketing executive role. Harrison Firth joins the company with an apprenticeship in digital marketing which will be used to develop the company’s online presence. Harrison adds: “This is a fantastic start to my career and it’s really rewarding to clearly see the results of our online activity in our bottom line.”
Airedale Group, founded in 1973, is based in Cross Hills and provides chemicals and related services to the UK and Europe.
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