BRM Solicitors recruit property management specialist
Property management specialist Jennifer Knibbs has joined the regional law firm BRM Solicitors.
Jennifer will be joining the well-established team, led by Rob Cooke, based in Sheffield.
Jennifer specialises in resolving complex property disputes, recovering service charges arrears, enfranchisement, tribunal proceedings and all other landlord and tenant disputes.
Rob Cooke said: “The recruitment of Jennifer to the team is a continuation of continued growth, the expertise that she brings to the team sits perfectly alongside the already strong property litigation team and enables us to provide an even higher level of service to new clients and current client base.”
Jennifer Knibbs said: “I am thrilled to be joining BRM at such an exciting time. Working alongside Rob and the team was a big part of my decision to move and I am looking forward to working with the current and new clients.”
Wake Smith helps gives new £350k lease of life to former Dore restaurant
Sheffield solicitors Wake Smith has helped the owner of a popular contemporary restaurant and cocktail bar secure a third venture in South West Sheffield.Sam Bell, Managing Director of the well regarded Bank House Hathersage venue, has taken on the former family-run Dore Grill Restaurant in Dore, with a £350k refurbishment underway to transform it into The Dore Bar and Grill.Wake Smith advised on the commercial property work for Sam for the 100-seater open plan restaurant on Church Lane, which will employ 30 new staff.The Dore Bar and Grill, which hopes to open this summer, will offer Italian-influenced cuisine with vegetarian friendly and gluten free options for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner using fresh, locally sourced seasonal produce accompanied by a selection of wines, spirits, beers and cocktails in the heart of Dore village. Sam Bell said: “The Dore will be a quality all day offering with an Italian-influenced menu of steaks, pizza, pasta and salads. The restaurant is in an ideal location in Dore and will include an on-site coffee shop and bakery, open from 8am every day.“Through the substantial refurbishment we are looking at a nod to history using natural finishes and a green and gold colour palette like the original Dore Grill.“We are also looking at employing 30 new staff.” Ben Spencer, a director in Wake Smith’s commercial property team, previously dealt with the purchase for the Bank House Hathersage building, formerly a NatWest Bank, back in 2016, and completed the legal work on an extension to Sam’s other initiative, Castleton Coffee Co. on How Lane in Castleton last year. Ben added: “We’re pleased to have worked with Sam for a few years now. Bank House Hathersage and Castleton Coffee Co. have proved to be very successful venues in the Hope Valley and we wish Sam all the best in his new venture in Dore.”The former Dore Grill Restaurant closed last November after 36 years in business.
Work begins on second phase of Aire Park in Leeds
Works have begun on the next stage of Aire Park. The latest phase will see the construction of a new seven-storey commercial building, offering 75,000 sq ft of Grade A office space, and almost 7,000 sq ft of flexible ground floor retail and leisure space.
Located on the corner of Waterloo Street and Hunslet Road, the new landmark building, designed by architects Cartwright Pickard, will act as a gateway to Aire Park on the approach from Leeds train station and the city centre.
Simon Schofield, head of development north at Vastint UK, said: “With works beginning on our third commercial building, Aire Park is truly becoming a reality. Leeds’ reputation as a fantastic place to live and work has been widely documented, and we’re pleased to be playing our part in this by not only driving further inward investment, but creating a brand-new urban district specifically designed to prioritise healthy lifestyles and active participation in nature.
“As a long-term developer, we’re looking forward to seeing the development thrive over the coming years, and to working with a number of key stakeholders including Leeds City Council to improve connectivity, develop sustainable transport links, and overall help an unrealised area of the city centre to reach its full potential.”
Alongside a target BREEAM ‘Excellent’ certification, the building, which is due for completion in early 2025, has been pre-certified for a WiredScore Gold accreditation and a WELL Building Gold certificate.
Peter Cartwright, director at Cartwright Pickard, added: “This is a new generation of office building for Leeds, designed to enhance wellbeing and productivity, as well as to strengthen a sense of place. Providing sweeping views across the city and a strong visual connection to the greenery of Aire Park, it seamlessly combines modern methods of construction with details which reflect the heritage and craft found historically in Leeds.
“Once complete, the latest phase of the development will make a valuable contribution to the townscape by shaping a key entrance into Aire Park from the city centre, while bringing the public realm at Tetley Triangle to life.”
Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, said: “It’s really exciting to see the progress being made at Aire Park, with the plans for its latest building being a great example of the bold thinking that is driving both Vastint’s work on this new urban district and the regeneration of the wider South Bank.
“The ongoing development of Aire Park complements wider transformative work spearheaded by the council near the site, including the installation of the new David Oluwale Bridge, improvements to Crown Point Road and the creation of additional green space at Meadow Lane.
“We want Leeds to be the best possible place to live, work and visit, and projects like Aire Park will help us achieve that aim by supporting inclusive growth through the provision of new homes, jobs and opportunities for all.
“It’s also heartening to see the importance that has been attached to the use of sustainable construction methods in a building that promises to be another fine addition to the Leeds skyline.”
Plot of land earmarked for residential development sold
A 10-acre, disused plot of land in Askern, Doncaster has been sold by Westmill Limited.
The family-owned developer Yorkshire Choice Homes, which specialises in affordable family homes, has acquired the brownfield site for an undisclosed figure.
Planning permission was previously granted for mixed use redevelopment of the land which houses an old sawmill which closed in 2013, including up to 220 dwellings.
Yorkshire Choice Homes will now work to submit a new planning application for residential housing.
Aura Residential – Land and Property, a Yorkshire-based land and property business, worked with Yorkshire Choice Homes to advise on the acquisition of the land.
Westmill Limited are now progressing with the sale of a further 2 x 10-acre plots of land on the same site.
Ben Couch, from Banner Jones’ commercial property team who advised on the deal, added: “This deal brings with it the opportunity to transform a currently disused, derelict site with a view to delivering much needed housing in the local area.
“We wish Yorkshire Choice Homes well with their plans for the future which will also create further job opportunities as the remainder of the site is developed, and will undoubtedly be a boost to the local economy.”
Beacon lights the way for Hull charity
A Hull charity has relocated to facilitate hybrid working and help its employees enjoy a better work life balance.
Pickering & Ferens Homes, an almshouse charity that manages 1,400 homes across Hull and East Yorkshire, has taken a lease on the top floor of 7 Beacon Way, a modern office building just off the A63 and close to Hull city centre.
The 3,570 sq ft suite is part of The Beacon, a Grade A office development built by East Yorkshire commercial developer the Horncastle Group PLC.
The move leaves just two suites available; the ground floor and first floor office suites of 7 Beacon Way, which are 3,300 sq ft and 3,570 sq ft respectively.
Claire Warren, Chief Executive of Pickering & Ferens Homes, said the move enabled the charity’s 42 employees to work in a much more flexible manner, while still maintaining a strong internal culture.
She said: “We wanted to retain a central base because our identity as a local charity is based on the strength of our relationships with our customers.
“The cornerstone of that is the strength of the relationships between ourselves. You can’t keep a strong company culture built on working together for 30 years if don’t see each other.
“But we are also big advocates of hybrid working and were considering it even before the pandemic hit. It is flexible, works well with our customer-first principals and it means our employees can enjoy a better work-life balance.
“This, along with the effective collaborative working opportunities that The Beacon allows, means our new headquarters will enable us to provide an even better service to our customers.”
Pickering & Ferens Homes has relocated from its former base of the Maltings in Hull city centre, which is currently undergoing conversion into residential apartments.
The charity dates back to 1910 when founding director and prominent businessman Christopher Pickering funded the construction of 12 almhouses in west Hull.
It now manages a portfolio of 1,400 bungalows, flats and retirement living schemes for couples and single people beyond the age of 60, and builds around 25 new homes each year.
Ian Hodges, director of the Horncastle Group PLC, welcomed Pickering & Ferens Homes to The Beacon, where it joins a range of big-named tenants including innovative law firm rradar, the City Health Care Partnership (CHCP), and Netherlands-based logistics business Den Hartogh.
Mr Hodges said: “Pickering & Ferens Homes has been providing accommodation for older people in the city for more than 100 years, ensuring their residents benefit from the best quality of life they can provide.
“As a charity, it is part of the fabric of the city and does a tremendous amount of good work. It is a real privilege to have them relocate to The Beacon.
“Their move leaves very little space available on the site, which is one of a very small number of Grade A office developments in Hull.
“Any companies looking to move into the city would struggle to find more modern and convenient office accommodation with a good ratio of on-site car parking.”
WANdisco plans $30m equity fundraise
Sheffield-based WANdisco, the data activation platform, is planning to launch an equity fundraise of $30 million.
In a statement to the London Stock Exchange, the company said that it is considering a range of funding options as it works towards the resumption of trading in the company’s shares on AIM.
It added: “Having reviewed the various options, the Board believes the most appropriate strategy is to launch an equity fundraise towards the end of June of $30 million to build balance sheet strength in order for the company to take advantage of the significant opportunities ahead.”
The company will commence a consultative process with investors to assess the potential for the proposed fundraise, balancing all the different priorities and risks.
WANdisco noted that the resumption of trading in the company’s shares on AIM will occur as soon as practicable, following careful consideration by the Board and in discussion with AIM Regulation, but that this will be after the completion of the proposed fundraise.
Ken Lever, chairman of WANdisco plc, said: “We have been working at pace to deal with the issues the company has faced and create a positive path forward. A lot has been achieved and I am particularly pleased to now have a world class CEO and CFO in place, who are both energised to see the company through this difficult period.
“Having now been in the business for some six weeks, there is no doubt in my mind that the company should have a very bright future given its differentiated technology. However, improvements across sales and marketing need to be made to properly take advantage of the opportunity.
“To do this, the business needs to be urgently properly capitalised and so today we are announcing our desire to raise $30 million towards the end of June. Unfortunately, much of this capital requirement is a direct result of the issues that led to our announcement on 9 March. On completion of the fund raise I believe that the company can have a bright future.”
In March, “significant, sophisticated and potentially fraudulent irregularities with regard to received purchase orders and related revenue and bookings, as represented by one senior sales employee, [were] discovered.” Earlier this month WANdisco revealed that it is undertaking a reorganisation and review process that will reduce the company’s global headcount by approximately 30%.£12m awarded to fund new green energy scheme at Goole
A grant of £12m has been awarded to East Riding of Yorkshire Council to help fund a new green energy centre at Goole.
The project could see the construction of the Goole Green Heat Network which will allow homes and businesses to ditch their oil and gas boilers in favour of cleaner, cheaper energy.
The council’s scheme is one of seven low carbon projects across the country to be given a share of £91m in the Government’s biggest ever drive to fund greener ways to heat and power buildings.
The Goole Green Heat Network is designed to extract waste heat from a nearby manufacturing plant and pump it to residents and businesses in the area.
The network will provide heat to homes and businesses, including local council buildings, from 2024, cutting the town’s carbon emissions by 322,000 tonnes over 40 years and creating new skilled jobs during the construction stage.
If approved by the council, construction could begin as early as next year.
Alan Menzies, executive director of planning and economic regeneration at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “We declared a climate emergency back in 2021 which has placed a significant focus on sustainability and climate change across the organisation.
“The supply of cleaner, lower cost heat will not only reduce the council’s carbon emissions through the supply to a number of our buildings but also allow for residents and businesses to receive a financial saving, which at such a difficult time in the energy market, is vital.
“The Green Heat Network Fund award is warmly received by the council and will ensure that our taxpayers’ money goes further.”
Yorkshire & Humber business activity growth quickens in April
The headline NatWest Yorkshire & Humber PMI® Business Activity Index – a seasonally adjusted index that measures the month-on-month change in the combined output of the region’s manufacturing and service sectors – rose to 52.5 in April, from 50.7 in March, signalling a stronger expansion in private sector business activity across Yorkshire & Humber.
That said, the region was one of the weakest performers across the UK in April, lagging behind the national average once again. In fact, compared to the 11 other monitored parts of the UK, only the East Midlands and Wales registered weaker expansions.
April survey data signalled a third successive monthly increase in new business received by private sector companies in Yorkshire & Humber. The improvement strengthened slightly and was the quickest since last August, but only marginal overall.
The rise in new orders seen across the region continued to lag behind the UK as a whole. Compared to the other 11 parts of the UK monitored by the survey, only the East Midlands and Northern Ireland saw slower upturns.
Private sector companies across Yorkshire & Humber remained firmly upbeat towards growth prospects over the coming 12 months, latest survey data showed. Furthermore, the level of positive sentiment strengthened slightly to an 11-month high. New product launches, investment plans and expectations of a gain in market share supported firms’ growth projections, according to anecdotal evidence.
The seasonally adjusted Employment Index posted above the 50.0 no-change mark in April, signalling an expansion in staffing levels across Yorkshire & Humber. The rate of job creation quickened markedly since March to a solid pace that was the fastest since last September. Surveyed companies commented on the replacement of leavers and efforts to boost capacity.
Private sector companies in Yorkshire & Humber registered a second straight monthly decline in the volume of outstanding business at the beginning of the second quarter. According to surveyed firms, subdued demand and increased capacity supported the catch-up on unfilled orders.
Private sector businesses in Yorkshire & Humber were faced with another steep monthly rise in their operating costs during April. Salary expenses were noted as a key source of inflation by survey respondents. That said, the rate at which overall input prices increased was the slowest in just over two years, with downward pressures reportedly coming from raw material costs.
Prices charged for goods and services by private sector firms in Yorkshire & Humber continued to increase at the start of the second quarter. Output prices were reportedly lifted to offset the impact of rising costs. The rate of inflation was steep and accelerated slightly from March’s 25-month low. Wales was the only monitored part of the UK to record a faster increase in charges than Yorkshire & Humber.
Malcolm Buchanan, chair of the NatWest North Regional Board, said: “There were positive developments for Yorkshire & Humber businesses in April, with activity growth quickening and confidence improving. There was even a modest strengthening in demand conditions, and firms responded by boosting their staffing capacities.
“That said, compared to other parts of the UK, the region’s performance is not so impressive. Growth was notably weaker than seen for the UK as a whole in April, with only the East Midlands and Wales recording weaker rates of expansion in business activity.
“Meanwhile, although cost pressures eased further, they remained substantial, reportedly due to higher wage demands in response to the cost-of-living crisis.”
Keyland secures planning permission to transform North Bierley former water treatment works into industrial space
Keyland Developments Ltd, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister company to Yorkshire Water, has secured planning permission from Kirklees Council for a circa 130,000 sq ft industrial development at its North Bierley Water Treatment works site in West Yorkshire.
This second phase of work will see the southern end of former Water Treatment Works site transformed into a new commercial development. When combined with the Phase One development, which secured permission in 2016, the site will deliver just over 500,000 sq ft of new industrial and employment space. The scheme has the potential to deliver some 700 new jobs for the region, helping to address job shortages across West Yorkshire.
After securing planning consent for Phase One, Keyland’s regeneration ambitions for the site resulted in a successful land sale to Opus North, who are currently on site delivering the ‘Interchange 26’.
Located in a strategic position at the Chain Bar junction of the M62 and M606, the site is a significant element of the Kirklees economic strategy. This latest permission continues to reflect Keyland’s commitment to the regeneration of brownfield land.
Matthew Turnbull, planning & development manager at Keyland Developments Ltd, said: “Securing planning permission for phase two at the North Bierley site is a major achievement.
“This site will make a significant contribution to addressing the major shortfall in employment land across West Yorkshire, which is particularly acute in the western districts where a lack of land allocations and challenging levels make it harder for local businesses to find the space we need.
“We are committed to making best use of the region’s brownfield resource to address local needs and this development will bring a number of economic advantages to the North Kirklees and South Bradford area.”
Men in Sheds gets £5,000 from John Good Group
The John Good Group’s Grants for Good Fund has given £5,000 to Men in Sheds Hull, a charity working to reduce social isolation for older men, thanks to an employee vote.
The growing charity beat over 400 entries to be shortlisted in the top five, before capturing the hearts of John Good Group employees to attract the most votes.
Men in Sheds Hull aims to avoid detrimental health impacts of social isolation on older men by providing a safe and inclusive space for members to come together to undertake woodworking projects, offering social interaction and a sense of purpose in the community. As well as selling the products they create, the group regularly help other community organisations in the city, a recent project seeing them build garden furniture for a local community garden. The charity was started in 2014 by Barry Cooper, a retired chef from Hull who had suffered from multiple strokes, after he saw a documentary on TV about a project called Men in Sheds in Australia. After struggling through the pandemic, they recovered well, increasing their services, updating their board of trustees, and employing a new manager – Nick Todd. As result of their success, they have recently secured a grant from the National Lottery Community Fund that will help keep their doors open for the next three years. However, the services of the shed are in extremely high demand. Currently they are open four days a week with 46 active members, and 30 people on their waiting list. Equipment also regularly becomes worn and needs to be replaced or serviced, and there are ongoing costs for supplies such as wood, glue, screws and other equipment. Looking for help with these costs, they applied to Grants for Good. Donna Jackson, a Trustee of the charity, said: “We are so honoured to receive this funding and it’s really touching that so many of the John Good Group employees voted for us and made us this round’s winners. It will make such a difference to our members and volunteers. Our members are made up of people from all walks of life but with one thing in common, the shed. Some members are recently bereaved, others retired, many with physical and mental health issues. After the pandemic and its affects, there is now huge demand in the city of people who have and still do feel isolated and vulnerable.” Grants for Good is a charitable fund from the John Good Group that grants £60,000 annually to small community groups, charities or social enterprises that have a positive impact on people or planet. It is just one of the many CSR initiatives managed for the Group by the Matthew Good Foundation, whose mission is to amplify small charitable causes doing high-impact work that is often unseen and underfunded. Every quarter, the fund receives around 400 applications to receive a share of £15,000, with just five making the shortlist. John Good Group employees then vote on the final five to decide which organisations get the biggest share, with the winner of the employee’s vote receiving £5,000.