Decarbonisation of Leeds housing schemes begins
Energy and regeneration specialist Equans has been appointed by social housing provider 54North Homes to make 98 flats in Leeds more energy efficient.
St Mary’s Court and St Mary’s Close in Chapeltown, as well as Wood Lane Court in Headingley, will undergo significant energy improvement work to make the homes warmer and more affordable to heat.
Each building will be fitted with new external wall insulation to trap in heat and keep out cold air in winter. The insulation will also help to keep out hot air as temperatures rise over the summer months, keeping the flats cool. This highly efficient insulation will be topped with a modern rendered finish, giving the buildings a stylish look.
Each of the one-bedroom flats will also have upgraded ventilation systems installed to allow air to circulate and to help reduce the likelihood of damp and mould occurring.
New smart heating systems will be fitted to give residents better control over the temperature in their homes and to help them keep track of how much they are spending on energy.
New doors will be added at both schemes, which will also help to control the temperature inside the homes.
It is estimated that the project will reduce 54North Homes residents’ energy bills by up to £400 per property annually, whilst yearly carbon emissions will be reduced by up to a tonne in each home – enough to fill an Olympic size swimming pool five times over.
As a result of the improvements, Energy Performance Certificate ratings in the flats will increase from as low as E to at least C.
Sean Corcoran, Regional Director at Equans, commented: “Much of the carbon produced nationally comes from our existing homes, so projects like this are vitally important when it comes to meeting the UK’s net zero ambitions. “This improvement work will also bring huge benefits for the residents living in these homes by helping to ease the strain of paying expensive energy bills, whilst also making sure their home is a comfortable environment to live in.”
New business hub offers hope and inspiration for next generation of Leeds entrepreneurs
VIP guests including the city’s Lord Mayor joined project partners and community members at Leeds Media Centre in Chapeltown to celebrate the opening of its new hi-tech business hub.
The building underwent a £1.8 million redevelopment last year to create extra business space and boost opportunities for aspiring local entrepreneurs.
The scheme was delivered by Unity Enterprise – a not-for-profit subsidiary of BME housing association Unity Homes and Enterprise – in partnership with Leeds City Council and the European Regional Development Fund.
Leeds City Council, which owns the building, also provided £80,000 from the Innovation@Leeds capital fund to equip the new business hub with furniture, video conferencing facilities and computer hardware.
Speaking at a special ceremony to mark the completion of the hub kit-out, Unity Enterprise Chair Sharon Jandu OBE paid warm tribute to Unity Homes and Enterprise Chief Executive Cedric Boston, Unity Enterprise Manager Adrian Green and Leeds City Council Head of Business Support Phil Cole and their teams for successfully completing the building refurbishment and business hub.
She said: “This is a real celebration because it has taken a lot of hard work to get here. These projects are instrumental for our community. To have an enterprise hub at the heart of the community with high level people bringing in their resources and social capital will provide a huge lift.”
The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Al Garthwaite, unveiled a wall plaque as a permanent reminder of the hub opening.
She said: “There is something about the structure of this building. It encourages entrepreneurialism, it encourages success, it encourages looking upwards and feeling hope. A new generation of entrepreneurs will really do well here. It is fantastic. It will do wonders, not just for the local community, but for others as well. On behalf of the city of Leeds, I really welcome from the bottom of my heart initiatives like this. They make so much difference to so many people.”
The gathering was also treated to a short address from Hanif Malik OBE, Director of the Parklane Foundation.
Leeds build-to-rent development secures investment
Heim Global Investor has made its first UK investment in the 375-home build-to-rent
development BeckYard in the South Bank regeneration area of Leeds.
The investment is being forward funded by Heim, with McLaren Living acting as developer, and with strong support from West Yorkshire Combined Authority. Construction has begun onsite, with completion expected in early 2027. BeckYard is being built by HG Construction.
The site is in the heart of the South Bank regeneration area, a 10-minute walk from the city centre. Significant public and private sector investment is facilitating the development of the area with 8,000 new homes and over 1 million sq ft of commercial space. The new homes will consist of two buildings up to 26 storeys, with completion expected in January 2027.
The development is being fully funded by Heim, with grant support from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Brownfield Housing Fund.
Head of UK Investments at Heim Global Investor, Christian Birrell says: “We are thrilled to announce our first investment for our UK build-to-core fund in Leeds. This project is
just the first of many projects we plan to deliver, as we develop a 5,000+ unit portfolio targeting mid-market rental homes across the UK’s key cities.
“Leeds is a strong city with an undersupply of affordable rental homes, and we are delighted to be working with such a strong development partner in McLaren Living. BeckYard marks the first investment in our UK fund, and we are currently looking at an interesting pipeline of deals across the UK.”
Matthew Biddle, Managing Director, McLaren Living, said: “This is a pivotal moment for BeckYard, through our trusted partnership with Heim we’ve secured forward-funding for a major build-to-rent development in Leeds City Centre.”
Plans submitted for 185 new homes in Maltby
honey has submitted plans for a £46m, 185 new home development on a 39-acre site on Tickhill Road in Maltby, near Rotherham.
honey acquired the site from land and property development specialist Hargreaves Land for an undisclosed sum.
Hargreaves Land promoted the site, securing a greenbelt release in Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council’s Local Plan in 2018 and subsequently secured outline planning permission earlier this year.
Called Jet, the proposed development will comprise a mix of two-, three-, four-bedroom homes and will include terraces, semi-detached and detached properties.
If given the go ahead by the local authority, work at Jet is anticipated to start in the summer with the first residents expected to move into their new homes early next year.
Of the 185 homes, 25 per cent have been designated to affordable housing. honey will also make a £786,000 contribution to local initiatives that will benefit the community if planning is granted.
honey Chief Executive Officer, Mark Mitchell, said: “Maltby is a great location for us to build our high specification, sustainable homes. Our vision is to further enhance the town by providing the community with a well thought out development with homes that suit today’s lifestyles.
“Our extensive market research has shown there is strong demand in and around the town for the types of properties we build.
“All our house types combine style, substance and sustainability to demonstrably provide people with more than other new build homes do at the same price point. We now look forward to Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council considering our plans for the site.”
Andrew Johnson, head of asset management at Hargreaves Land, added: “Hargreaves Land has a longstanding and proud history working in the Maltby area and we are delighted to have completed the land sale with Honey.
“We are excited to see Honey’s proposals for the development of sustainable new homes for the local community and wish them well with the site.”
Leeds marketing services group makes acquisition
Leeds-based independent marketing services group, Audience Collective has acquired Adgen – a specialist media planning and buying agency.
Adgen, founded in 2006, are a team of 18 and work in partnership with medium to large sized UK higher education institutions, connecting with students through strategic and creative marketing campaigns.
Audience Collective is already home to six specialist agencies, including Unicom – a digital marketing and media agency operating and producing insight-driven results within the higher education space.
Audience Collective’s Group CEO, Rob Wescott, said: “The acquisition and the synergy between Adgen and our existing agency, Unicom deepens and widens our expertise within the higher education sector.
“We’re really looking forward to getting under the skin of the agency and strengthening its service offering through our network of agencies, to support its ambitious growth plans.”
Adgen will have access to the group’s specialist agencies, spanning research, data-driven insights, creative and branding to support its mission to become the go-to marketing partner within the education sector.
Founder of Adgen, Marcel Dalzeil added: “The acquisition came at the right time and opens the door to significant opportunities for Adgen, in terms of skill set and presence within the higher education sector.
“Through Audience Collective, Adgen now has access to a network of marketing experts and world class planning and media tools – all of which will transform the way we work and take our offering to the next level.
“Whilst I will be stepping away from the day-to-day running of the business, I will still be actively involved in a consultive capacity. Adgen’s Managing Director, Tom Dyer will be working closely with the team and Audience Collective to ensure the smooth and successful transition of Adgen into the group.”
Adgen’s client portfolio includes Birmingham City University, University College London and the University of Warwick.
UK introduces ban on exporting of live animals
A new ban on exporting live animals came into law this week as the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Act received Royal Assent.
The Act will ensure that animals are slaughtered domestically in high welfare UK slaughterhouses, reinforcing our position as a nation of animal lovers and a world leader on animal welfare, boosting the value of British meat and helping to grow the economy.
Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said: “We are proud to have some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world.
“Our new Act makes use of post-Brexit freedoms to deliver one of our manifesto commitments and strengthen these standards even further by preventing the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening, which we know causes animals unnecessary stress and injury.”
Chris Sherwood, Chief Executive of the RSPCA, said: “After more than 50 years of campaigning, we are absolutely thrilled to see that live export of animals has been banned from Great Britain. This means British animals will no longer be sent on gruelling journeys abroad for further fattening and slaughter in cramped and poor conditions with little or no access to food or water.
“As one of the first countries in the world to abolish this practice, this vital step for animal welfare sends an important message globally and we hope to see other countries follow suit soon.”
New law means self-driving vehicles could be on UK roads by 2026
Self-driving vehicles could be on British roads by 2026, after the government’s Automated Vehicles Act became law this week
Announced in the King’s Speech, the AV Act enables advanced technology to safely drive vehicles on British roads, unlocking the potential of an industry estimated to be worth up to £42 billion and creating 38,000 more skilled jobs by 2035.
Automated vehicles expected to improve road safety by reducing human error, which contributes to 88% of road collisions.
The law will require self-driving vehicles to achieve a level of safety at least as high as careful and competent human drivers, as well as meeting rigorous safety checks before being allowed onto roads.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “Britain stands at the threshold of an automotive revolution and this new law is a milestone moment for our self-driving industry, which has the potential to change the way we travel forever.
“While this doesn’t take away people’s ability to choose to drive themselves, our landmark legislation means self-driving vehicles can be rolled out on British roads as soon as 2026, in a real boost to both safety and our economy.”
Between 2018 and 2022, the UK self-driving vehicle sector alone generated £475 million of direct investment and created 1,500 new jobs. Self-driving vehicles could support areas previously impacted by driver shortages, such as haulage, and where work can be dangerous, such as mining. The act delivers the most comprehensive legal framework of its kind worldwide, setting out who is liable for AVs meaning that drivers can be assured that, while their vehicle is in self-driving mode, they will not be held responsible for how the vehicle drives. For the first time, corporations such as insurance providers, software developers and automotive manufacturers can assume this responsibility.Planning rule changes mean farmers can be more flexible with new income stream development
From today Lincolnshire farmers will be able to convert unused buildings into homes and shops thanks to new planning laws.
The changes give farmers greater freedoms to diversify and grow their business, without having to spend time and money submitting a planning application.
They will be able to convert agricultural buildings and land into new business opportunities, such as outdoor sports facilities, larger farm shops and farm training centres, as well as housing, thanks to the changes to permitted development rights .
These new powers come in a week after the Farm to Fork Summit, where the Prime Minister reiterated the Government’s commitment to backing farmers who keep this country fed. The changes coming into force will give them new freedoms to diversify if they choose to.
Minister for Housing, Planning and Building Safety Lee Rowley said: “Farmers are the lifeblood of communities, and these changes give them the freedom to grow their businesses, and plan for their futures.
“This is all part of our Long-term Plan for Housing to deliver more homes for rural communities and reform the planning system, removing unnecessary barriers to development.”
Farming Minister Mark Spencer said: “I am extremely pleased to support our farmers and provide them the freedom to decide the best uses for buildings on their land, without needless bureaucracy holding them back.
“We are listening to farmers and putting them at the heart of future development of our rural areas. Helping farmers secure their businesses and get on with the important job of producing food is our top priority.”
Falconer Print swoop for new premises
Falconer Print and Packaging Limited are expanding their operations into Unit H5 Premier Way, a modern 15,000 sq ft detached warehouse unit on the Lowfields Business Park in Elland, near Leeds.
The asset, which is managed by York-based Citivale, and owned by a Nuveen segregated mandate, was formerly occupied by Exertis until December of last year.
The Yorkshire industrial and logistics team at global property consultancy Knight Frank secured a long-term lease deal on behalf of the landlord.
Richard Martin, MD of Falconer Print, said: “We have been looking for a new site since lockdown. With demand outstripping supply, it has been very difficult to find somewhere that meets the needs of the business, especially as the main focus was retaining our highly skilled and loyal workforce. The second site here on Lowfields is the perfect solution.”
Rebecca Farnsworth of Citivale added: “We are delighted to welcome Falconer Print and Packaging to the Estate. The unit was competitively sought after, underlining the current strength of the occupier market and lack of alternative options. The unit was let following a refurbishment with minimal void.”
Iain McPhail, partner in the industrial and logistics team at Knight Frank, Yorkshire, who brokered the letting, said: “This is an ideal solution for Falconer Print and Packaging, as they already have a base at Lowfields Business Park. This deal allows them to grow their operations in the local area.”
Specialist recruitment group transfers to Employee Ownership Trust
The ownership of Sharp Consultancy has been transferred to an Employee Ownership Trust.
The Yorkshire-based firm is a specialist recruitment group focusing on finance, accounting and HR positions.
With offices in Leeds and Sheffield, Sharp Consultancy has enjoyed sustained success for over 32 years.
Mark Wilson, Managing Director, says: “As we serve our valued clients and candidates across Yorkshire, this development is not only central to both our values and growth strategy, but also a source of great pride for me and the directors.
“Staff longevity is a hallmark of our heritage and as we now entrust our ownership to all employees, I am delighted for them. There’s a bright future ahead and a tremendous opportunity for our wonderful team. It’s also great that our directors and shareholders will all enjoy this EOT journey, helping to assure our continued success.
“I’d also like to thank our professional advisers, Andy Ryder at Shorts and Matt Ainsworth at Knights. We provide trusted guidance and support to our clients, and they’ve undoubtedly done the same for us.”
