Lindum Group applies for permission to develop Overfield Park near Newark
Lincoln-based Lindum Group has submitted an Outline Planning Application to Newark and Sherwood Council to create an additional 450,000 sq ft floorspace of employment land at Overfield Park, Newark.
Subject to planning approval Lindum will buy 12 acres of the land to be included in the development from Newark and Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society, providing an economic boost for the Showground and expanding the current Overfield Park development to provide future employment opportunities for the district.
Dean Bower, Senior Development Manager at Lindum Group, said: “This is a very exciting opportunity to continue expanding our Overfield Park development. This application shows the confidence in Overfield Park and its location within Newark and Sherwood District Council against an uncertain economic backdrop. This application is outline in nature to be flexible to suit occupier requirements. Across the development we can provide units from 10,000 sq ft up to large, strategic industrial and warehouse units.
“We are pleased to help generate further investment and employment opportunities in the region, whilst providing a revenue for our neighbour and local charity, Newark and Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society. Subject to planning approval we can react quickly to deliver opportunities within 12 months.
“We have already seen the success of current occupiers of the site, with John Deere, Wirtgen, and Starbucks. Not only are these successes testament to the opportunities available from this next phase, but the location of the Starbucks providing food and refreshments on site will also be of appeal to future occupiers.”
A spokesperson for the Agricultural Society said: “The Newark and Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society has agreed to release an area of under-used land in the South-West corner of the Showground, which has largely been surplus to operational requirements for some time. The Society is pleased to have agreed the sale of the land to Lindum Group as an extension to the existing Overfield Business Park for the development of business and commercial units. This development will generate much needed employment and enhance economic prospects for the district in this strategic location.
“The impact on our operational activities and customers will be limited and will be readily offset using alternative arrangements. Part of the agreement will also facilitate an additional multi-mode, all-purpose entrance/exit for the Showground via Godfrey Drive (and the A17), which we are sure will be welcomed by everyone and will help with access and egress to some of the existing events held on the site and in particular assist with mitigating the occasional weekend congestion on the A46 Winthorpe roundabout.”
The application follows on from another recent application at Overfield Park for 129,000 sq ft of employment land which was submitted in July 2023 and is nearing planning determination. The combined plans highlight further significant investment in the Newark development, creating additional jobs and economic growth in the district.
Road closures planned as contractors start work on A180 bridges
Vital structural repairs are being planned to ensure the main road into Grimsby and Cleethorpes can safely carry traffic in the decades ahead.
The project, one of the most important of its kind along the A180, is being supported by £8m of funding from the Department of Transport, secured by North East Lincolnshire Council due to the importance of the road for the borough’s economic and visitor growth in the future.
Contractors VSL have been awarded the first contract for doing the works to two of the bridges that was released last year. The third structure is subject to a separate contract which will be tendered shortly, informed by the survey works that were undertaken in November.
Next week, another set of high-tech surveys on the bridges need to be undertaken to help map out in greater detail the structural defects which will enable the works programme to be finalised.
The surveys will be undertaken from today for six nights, and will involve overnight closures to reduce disruption to businesses and residents as much as possible. The closures on the bridges will only be on the bridges, and localised diversions will be in place for each closure.
Each night, from 8pm to 6am, individual closures will be put in place overnight as follows (please note, the bridges will be opened as soon as works are completed each night):
- Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 January – full closure of Gilbey Road flyover
- Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 January – full closure of Alexandra Dock flyover
- Friday 12 and Saturday 13 January – full closure of Cleethorpe Road flyover.
NFU fights back in ‘Big British Beef Battle’ with letter to Ofcom
The letter to the broadcasting regulator backs up a seperate letter of complaint sent by the NFU to Channel 4 and the producers of the show after it was first aired.
The programme called on the audience to “cancel” the British countryside and British beef, due to its climate impact.
Aside from containing a number of factual inaccuracies, says the NFU, a number of the claims made during the show were based on research on livestock farming that takes place outside of the UK, where farming practices are often much less sustainable than those carried out domestically.
The NFU considers that the ‘The Big British Beef Battle’ has breached three sections of Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code. The letter of complaint has carefully scrutinised the broadcasting code and identified specific areas of the programme that we consider have breached it.
In summary, it focuses on how the programme:
- relied on and presented global statistics in a misleading way;
- failed to accurately represent the British beef industry, such that its representation was unfair;
- failed to adequately represent alternative viewpoints;
- provided only an extremely limited opportunity for the industry to respond to the allegations made in it.
Since its first airing at the start of December, the programme has already attracted more than 220 complaints to Ofcom, including from other industry organisations such as AHDB.
In a previous letter sent to Channel 4 and the producers of the show, the NFU urged them to portray British farming and food production in an “accurate and informed” manner.
The organisation also called for the industry to be included in any future productions that focus on farming and food production in the UK.
Since the programme’s airing, the NFU says it has has been working hard to show the public how red meat consumption is a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals, and that British beef is farmed with a high standard of animal welfare and in a sustainable manner.
2p reduction in National Insurance could be worth £450 to workers earning the average £35,400
The main rate of National Insurance has been cut by 2p from Saturday, saving £450 this year for the average salaried worker on £35,400.
Millions of people working different jobs across hundreds of industries will now be better off. An average full-time nurse will save £520, a typical junior doctor £750 and an average teacher £630.
In the past year, inflation has halved; the economy has recovered more quickly from the pandemic than first thought; and debt is on track to fall. With a renewed focus on the long-term decisions to strengthen the economy, the government is changing gear and cutting taxes for hard working people, giving them the opportunity to build a wealthier, more secure life for themselves and their families.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said: “With inflation halved, we’ve turned a corner and are cutting taxes – starting with today’s record cut to National Insurance worth nearly £1,000 for a household.
“From nurses and brickies, to cleaners and butchers, 27 million hard-working Brits will have a little more cash in their pockets.”
Refractory company launches growth plan on the back of £14k grant
Scunthorpe-based Trent Refractories has launched an ambitious business growth plan to win to new clients and expand further into international markets.
The plan, backed with a grant of £14,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, included upgrades to internal systems and a new digital marketing campaign.
The project, with a total value of £32,150, relaunched the company as refractory ambassadors, with the help of a website restructure, case studies and a new promotional video.
The company also upgraded its internal systems, transitioning away from an outdated, inefficient work path to one that improved the customer management journey throughout the whole manufacturing process.
Trent’s MD Katy Moss said: “The UKSPF funding has meant we are able to really go for a fresh new look on our marketing front in a way that we would not have been able to without it, the timing worked well following an assessment of where we were as a company and how we wanted to take things forward.
“We are hoping to see some different types of sales and diversity of products rather than being so heavily invested in iron and steel making and position ourselves slightly differently in the market in such a way that we become more custodians or ambassadors for our niche industry.
“It should attract people to want to work with us on all fronts and enable a UK company to demonstrate its commitment to a sustainable future for the foundations industries
“I hope we can continue to work together with North Lincolnshire Council and other local business as partners, try and hone in on where funding is needed the most and what would make the biggest impacts to really help Scunthorpe and the surrounding areas truly ‘level up’ and make it an area that companies want to do business.”
Cllr Rob Waltham, leader, North Lincolnshire Council, added: “This is exactly what the UKSPF should be doing for businesses – enabling our core industries to level up and modernise in order to compete on a global scale.I have no doubt Trent will go from strength to strength with this forward-thinking attitude and the support from Government. This will create new jobs and new opportunities in traditional industries.”
New sponsorship deal and new name for home of Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United has secured a new stadium naming rights deal for the club’s home which has been called Glanford Park since 1988, after the local authority on whose land it was built
Joe Henderson at Attis Insurance Brokers has backed the club with significant funds, said to be vital for the sustainability of the football club.
Attis signage will be introduced at the stadium over the coming weeks, while the venue will now be referred to as the Attis Arena with immediate effect.
As one of the matchday sponsors against Boston United, the Iron unveiled the group to the crowd ahead of kick-off of the Lincolnshire derby.
Construction completes on new business park in Lincolnshire
Construction has been successfully completed on a new business park in Lincolnshire: Wharton Place.
Delivered by established local contractor, Stirlin, Wharton Place provides ten brand-new light industrial units split across three terraces. The units range in size from 1,300 sq ft to 2,583 sq ft and provide flexible space for a variety of business uses.
All ten units on the development benefit from allocated parking, an electric sectional door, a personnel door and DDA compliant toilet facility, as well as an eaves height of 5 metres to accommodate a mezzanine floor upon request, to meet the evolving needs of businesses.
Situated in a strategic location on Foxby Lane, adjacent Lincolnshire County Council’s Mercury House Business Centre, Wharton Place offers convenient access to key transport links in Gainsborough.
Wharton Place is the third commercial park delivered by Stirlin in the area, following the success of Stirlin Place and Willoughton Place.
Tony Lawton, Managing Director of Stirlin, says: “We’re thrilled to announce the completion of Wharton Place Business Park. It’s fantastic to add this to our growing portfolio of successful projects, and deliver further modern, cost-effective industrial spaces to meet the demand in the local area. Our investment in Gainsborough is a testament to the town’s appeal as a thriving business community.”
2024 Business Predictions: Eamon Fox, Knight Frank partner and head of offices and development in Yorkshire
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.
It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.
Here we speak to Eamon Fox, Knight Frank partner and head of offices and development in Yorkshire.
It is vitally important to remain positive in these difficult economic times and to remind ourselves that demand for space in Leeds remains strong, despite all the challenges we faced in 2023. Two key facts stand out in the Leeds office market: Occupier take-up is 20 per cent higher compared with 10 years ago and eight per cent higher than 2022. The continued resilience of the Leeds office market is fuelling development within the city, with rents set to reach a record high of £40 per sq ft by the end of 2024.
This is confirmation of the growing belief that the demise of the office, like the death of Mark Twain, has been greatly exaggerated. The anecdotal evidence over the past couple of months suggests it has. Employers are beginning to realise that their control over the working hours and practices of their staff is being steadily eroded and whilst dedicated staff will continue to give their all, less committed and scrupulous employees will use working from home as a free pass to do the bare minimum, if that. I believe this trend will continue during the next 12 months.
It is very significant that Amazon has issued a warning to staff who are not spending at least three days a week in the office. Meta, formerly Facebook, has told its workers to do the same. And if further proof were needed that working from home has officially been replaced by return to office, it was provided by Zoom. The firm, whose revenues jumped 300% during the first year of the pandemic, has asked employees to come in for at least two days a week. The city centre retail market is consequently picking up.
In Leeds, a couple of strong trends are worth noting. The first is the role that successful schools and universities are playing play in the social and economic growth of the city. Leeds is now set to benefit from the first-class education establishments in its midst, with the new Mathematics School of Excellence already open in Albion Street and Leeds Trinity University moving its city campus to Trevelyan Square in Boar Lane in September. Meanwhile the city continues to attract significant new financial occupiers like the National Infrastructure Bank, the Bank of England and the Financial Conduct Authority.
In more good news, the Channel 4 knock-on effect continues to be significant, building on the city’s reputation of being a magnet for bright young tech, media and creative companies, as well as tech-savvy law firms, with state-of-the-art buildings such as 12 King Street, Tailors Corner, 34 Boar Lane, Globe Point and City Square House welcoming some of the best in class.
Finally, I believe deals will get smaller by up to 30 per cent. There will be a flight to quality, with occupiers willing to pay more to secure shiny new state-of-the-art workplaces that promote strong mental health and employee wellbeing. This should help to further improve the quality of space on offer in the city and, as I have suggested, push rents in Leeds to new heights. 2024 promises to be an exciting year.
Yorkshire Water agrees purchase of energy from Scottish wind farm
Yorkshire Water has agreed to buy electricity generated by a new wind farm in the Scottish Highlands.
Currently being built, the new wind farm will have seven turbines capable of generating about 100,000 MWh a year from the end of next year
The power purchase agreement is the latest effort by Yorkshire Water to meet its 2030 Carbon net zero pledge and the electricity from Strathrory will provide approximately 17% of the annual power used by Yorkshire Water across its operations.
Daniel Oxley, Yorkshire Water commercial programme manager, said: “This project is a significant step in reaching our aims of carbon net zero by 2030 and supports our strategy of generating more of our own electricity and buying UK-generated renewable energy.
“Once completed, the Strathrory Wind Farm will provide approximately 17% of our annual power needs, increasing our renewable energy use, reducing our exposure to energy price volatility and reducing the operational costs of our sites, which will provide better value for money for our customers.”
The project was developed by Energiekontor AG and is being funded by Capital Dynamics. Once operational, it will benefit from Capital Dynamics’ and Energiekontor’s long-standing operations management experience.
Barney Coles, MD and co-head of clean energy at Capital Dynamics, said: “By supporting a national utility company with its goal of reaching net zero by 2030, we are emphasising Capital Dynamics’ commitment to responsible investing.”
Siemens creates 35 jobs in Goole and promises more to come
Siemens Mobility has recruited 35 new employees in the first major wave of recruitment for its state-of-the-art trains manufacturing facility in Goole as it prepares for a start to production in spring.
The first major wave of recruitment will be followed by scores of further roles that will be available over coming months across multiple functions, including Mechanical and electrical technicians for train assembly, Warehouse and logistics operatives, and Quality assurance
Mark Speed, Site Director and General Manager of Siemens Mobility in Goole, said: “It’s an incredibly exciting time for the project with the recruitment programme moving forward strongly ahead of production starting in 2024.
“We’re absolutely delighted with the calibre of recruits and they’ve already hit the ground running. They will all have an important part to play in the success of this pioneering project.
“This is just the first in a series of waves of recruitment, with many more exciting opportunities opening up over coming months. Those positions will all be posted on the careers section of the Siemens website as they become available, so we’re urging people to register on the Careers site and save alerts for Goole to ensure they are aware of the jobs as soon as they come out.”
The global rail technology leader is investing up to £200m in developing the facility in the East Yorkshire town, where it is creating up to 700 skilled jobs, as well as generating around 1,700 new employment opportunities in the supply chain.
Rolling stock for the UK train market will be manufactured at the factory, starting with new Piccadilly line Tube trains for Transport for London. The factory is the centrepiece of a wider rail village, featuring a train components servicing facility, a materials and logistics warehouse, and a research, development and innovation cluster, establishing Goole as a centre of excellence for rail technology in the UK.
The recruits have already enjoyed a “meet and greet” visit to Siemens Mobility’s metros centre of excellence in Vienna, as the first stage of an extensive knowledge exchange programme involving periods of training at the Austrian site.
The latest team members have a broad range of backgrounds, with Siemens Mobility keen to hire people with relevant, transferable skills, rather than just those specifically with experience in the rail industry.
They include individuals with backgrounds in modular construction and the armed forces, among others, reflecting this focus on skills and expertise that can be applied successfully to the new roles.
As a responsible employer, Siemens Mobility is committed to equality and diversity, including gender balance across all its operations. It offers flexible employment to help its staff manage their work-life balance, along with training and development programmes to support career progression.
Niraj Sondhi, Commercial Director for Siemens Mobility in Goole, said:
“Here at Siemens Mobility, we offer careers, not just jobs. We look after our people and support them in their professional development.
“We’re also strongly committed to playing our full part in supporting the local community, above and beyond the investment we’re making in our new facilities and the jobs we’re creating.
“Siemens Mobility is a global company operating in the heart of East Yorkshire and we’re proud to be a part of the Goole community.”
