Architectural practice Holmes Miller has opened a new office in Leeds to support growing demand for public sector projects in the region. This marks the firm’s third UK base, alongside its offices in Glasgow and St Albans.

The firm, which has operated for 75 years, specialises in sustainable architecture across education, leisure, and justice sectors. Directors Ryan Holmes and Craig Heap emphasised that the Leeds office will enhance local engagement and deliver cost-effective, user-focused design as budgets tighten across the industry.

Holmes Miller also plans to expand further in Ireland, targeting growth in the sports and education markets.

The UK government has approved the development of the North Lincolnshire Green Energy Park, an energy-from-waste facility planned for Flixborough Industrial Estate near Scunthorpe. The site will include an Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) capable of converting up to 650,000 tonnes of Refuse Derived Fuel annually into electricity.

Developer Solar 21 says the facility could generate enough low-carbon power for 221,000 homes per year and create up to 257 permanent jobs, with an additional 600 jobs during construction. The project aims to reduce landfill use by up to 760,000 tonnes and prevent 150,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

The site will also feature a plastic recycling facility capable of processing 20,000 tonnes of plastic annually. Ash from the energy recovery process will be repurposed into concrete blocks for construction.

Solar 21 highlights the Humber region’s high industrial carbon emissions and landfill waste as key drivers for the project, positioning the facility as part of the UK’s strategy to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Up to 60 homes in Grimsby’s East Marsh area will undergo renovations aimed at improving insulation and energy efficiency. North East Lincolnshire Council will retrofit properties on Rutland Street using £3.1 million in government funding awarded last summer.

The project, approved by the council’s cabinet, will be delivered in partnership with community groups, including East Marsh United. The council selected Rutland Street following a borough-wide assessment and may seek additional funding to enhance surrounding areas with fencing and greenery.

A similar regeneration effort took place in Guildford Street in 2017. The council says the upgrades will enhance safety, reduce anti-social behaviour, and improve public health by addressing housing conditions and energy costs.

Indaver plans to build a £35 million solvent recycling facility at Syngenta UK’s manufacturing site in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. The project, set to begin construction in 2026 and become operational in 2028, will create 16 jobs and support more sustainable manufacturing processes.

The facility will process 15,000 tonnes of industrial waste annually, recovering acetonitrile (ACN), a key solvent in agricultural product manufacturing. A direct pipeline system will connect Indaver’s facility to Syngenta’s production site, reducing transport needs, logistical risks, and carbon emissions.

Indaver, which specialises in waste-to-energy and sustainable waste management, sees this investment as part of a broader £750 million commitment to the UK. The company has already invested in waste transfer and recycling sites across the country, including a £600 million energy-from-waste plant in Essex and a £150 million facility in Scotland.

Syngenta expects the partnership to stabilise ACN supply, mitigate market fluctuations, and support its carbon, water, and waste reduction goals. The facility will be built on previously developed industrial land, aligning with Syngenta’s sustainability strategy while strengthening local industry and job creation in Kirklees.