Contractor appointed for makeover of former church in Scunthorpe
North Lincolnshire Council has appointed Burnley-based UK Restoration Services to undertake a dramatic makeover of St John’s Church – one of Scunthorpe’s most historic landmarks.
Using Government cash from the Towns Fund, UK Restoration Services will carry out extensive repairs to the Grade II listed building, paving the way for the development of Discover, a science and technology centre containing hands-on experiences that complement the venue’s arts and heritage exhibitions.
With the contractor now appointed, specialist repairs will take place at St. John’s Church in the coming weeks – including the rebuilding of roofs as well as the descaling, cleaning and repointing of stonework – with many of the church’s original features restored or renewed.
UK Restoration Services Director Phil Braithwaite said: “The project has an excellent team with a wealth of knowledge to deliver this project to the highest standard. There will also be opportunities for local employment.”
Cllr Rob Waltham, leader, North Lincolnshire Council and Towns Fund Board Member, said: “I am delighted that the Board has been able to appoint UK Restoration Services to kickstart this transformation. It is great news that the makeover will create jobs too.
“High streets up and down the country need to adapt, and Scunthorpe is no exception. Retail will always form an important part of any town centre and this will not change, but we also need to drive footfall by bringing in exciting new experiences people cannot find anywhere else.
“That is where Discover comes in – its hands-on activities will spark the curiosity of our young people, attracting more families into the heart of the town.”
The transformation of St. John’s Church comes on top of the construction of Scunthorpe’s Enterprise and Innovation Hub, which continues at pace.
Last month Towns Fund Board members visited the landmark build to see the last brick being laid to the 46-unit accommodation block.
When completed, the ambitious build will provide more than 27,000 sq feet of premium office and collaborative space up to 200 workers, and a licensed café bar, as well as the accommodation.
Cllr John Davison, cabinet member for safer, stronger communities, Scunthorpe, Ashby and Bottesford, said: “St. John’s Church has been at the heart of the community for more than 130 years – many residents celebrated their marriage here – so it is only right we protect this historic asset for many more years.
“We are not just preserving the building though; we want to go further and bring it a new lease of life. We hope the new Discover centre will inspire many more families to enjoy this amazing place.”
The makeover is part of more than £80m of Government funding which has backed the council’s plans for creating a new future in North Lincolnshire. This includes cash for roads, new motorway junctions, enabling people to develop their skills and supporting communities.
Finances for almost 40,000 firms reach critical levels, report reveals
Almost 40,000 UK companies are in a critical financial situation as the pressure of higher interest rates, resilient inflation and weaker consumer confidence take their toll, according to the latest Begbies Traynor “Red Flag Alert” report.
The report, now in its fifteenth year, says these pressures are now clearly being seen beyond consumer facing sectors and are becoming widespread, particularly within the construction and property sectors.
Julie Palmer, Partner at Begbies Traynor, said: “Tens of thousands of British companies are now in financial dire straits now that the era of cheap money is firmly behind us.
“Businesses that had loaded up on debt at rock-bottom rates, and were only able to cling on during the pandemic thanks to Government support, must now deal with a financial reality check as higher interest rates hit working capital for the foreseeable future.
“Taken together with stubbornly high inflation and weak consumer confidence, many of these businesses will inevitably head towards failure.
“The construction industry, which has long been a bellwether for the health of the economy, looks particularly vulnerable with over 70,000 firms now in significant financial distress and circa 6,000 in much more serious critical financial distress – often a precursor to formal insolvency.
“These businesses must now struggle through a period of inflation-eroded margins, weak demand and a looming recession. It is likely to be an insurmountable task for many.
“This latest data highlights how the debt storm, which has been brewing for years, but had been held off by several measures to provide breathing space for companies, may very well break. Something that will send shockwaves through the whole economy.”
With many UK companies accustomed to years of near zero interest rates and access to Government-backed Covid support loans, the new world of elevated interest rates will continue to push many businesses the very edge of failure.
Evidence of the stress in the UK economy can be seen in the rapid quarter-on-quarter growth in the number of companies in critical financial distress, up 24.9% to 37,722. The sectors driving this increase were the Construction, Real Estate & Property Services and Support Services, up 46%, 38% and 28% respectively.
The Construction and Real Estate companies now account for almost 30% of all companies in critical financial distress as the slowdown in the residential housing market continues to bite. Rises in the retail sector, with Food & Drug Retailers up 33% and General Retailers up 14% quarter on quarter also contributed to the overall uplift in critical financial distress.
Additionally, it says, there has also been a marked acceleration in the number of companies experiencing significant financial distress with 478,176 businesses now affected, up 8.7% on the prior quarter (Q2 2023: 439,815). The Construction and Support Services sectors accounted for nearly 50% of the quarter-on-quarter rise, as they were up by 17.4% or 10,741 companies, and 11.1% or 7,584 companies, respectively.
Farmers and landowners to get more help with tree planting schemes
Updates to the England Woodland Creation Offer and Countryside Stewardship schemes will give land managers more flexibility and financial security.
Significant funding improvements to the biggest land management schemes for forestry – the England Woodland Creation Offer and Countryside Stewardship – have been announced by Defra and the Forestry Commission. The changes are designed help drive tree planting rates across the country and to support farmers and landowners to grow more trees.
The key changes will see an increase in funding for land managers and farmers, helping to support the creation of more resilient and better managed woodland; maintenance payments increased to 15 years; and an increase in the timeframe for capital works from two to three years.
Forestry Commission Chairman Sir William Worsley said: “As woodland creation increases across the country we want to make sure the trees we do plant are well managed and resilient against future threats such as climate change or tree pests and diseases. It’s vital that once planted, new woodlands are well looked after.
“We’ve listened to sector feedback on payment rates and timescales. The changes brought in today will give land managers two seasons to complete the planting and give longer term financial support to manage woodlands in the important early years of establishment. This will play an essential part in creating resilient forests and woodlands which improve our natural environment, help meet net zero carbon emissions, provide a sustainable source of home-grown timber and boost people’s health and wellbeing.”
The government has set stretching targets to increase tree canopy and woodland cover in England to 16.5% by 2050. Today’s changes will help get more trees in the ground at speed and will play an important role in halting nature’s decline by 2030 and meeting net zero emissions by 2050. Tree planting will also play a vital role in achieving wider priorities including improving water quality, reducing flooding, creating green jobs and better connecting people with nature.
Asda completes £2bn acquisition of EG Group’s UK business
Asda has completed its £2.07bn acquisition of EG Group’s UK business, accelerating its growth in convenience and foodservice.
Buying the EG UK business is key to Asda’s strategic plan to create a value-led convenience offer by rolling out Asda Express across EG UK’s 356 predominantly freehold sites – which include modern convenience stores on petrol filling stations (PFS), and benefit from high footfall and traffic flow.
This transaction builds on Asda’s acquisition of 119 convenience sites with attached PFS from the Co-op Group, which started to convert to the Asda Express fascia earlier this month, and the successful launch of three stand-alone Asda Express convenience sites since October 2022.
The EG and Co-op acquisitions, plus the three Asda Express stores currently open, give Asda 478 convenience stores today, with a commitment to opening a further 300 stand-alone convenience stores by the end of 2026. This is in addition to its existing estate of 580 supermarkets and 31 Asda Living stores, as well as 321 PFS sites.
Mohsin Issa, co-owner of Asda, said: “This is a great day for Asda and for millions of UK consumers. Asda is a much-loved brand that is instantly recognised for great value. I could not be more proud or excited that the iconic Asda sign is now coming to hundreds more communities.”
Asda’s growth strategy in the convenience sector is a key part of its long-term ambition to become the UK’s second largest supermarket. The acquisition also accelerates Asda’s move into the £62bn foodservice market, with the transfer of 462 Greggs, Burger King and Subway outlets as franchise agreements. Asda now wholly owns Leon, which it will also look to introduce to its stores.
The acquisition of EG Group’s UK business will create a group with expected combined revenues of nearly £28bn, serving some 21m customers every week. It will also bring together convenience, fuel, GM, grocery, foodservice and omni-channel retailing – under Asda’s heritage in value and ‘customer first’ retail.
Mohsin Issa, co-owner of Asda, added: “We have worked at pace over the last 12 months to deliver a compelling convenience proposition from a standing start – as well as investing more than £120m in lowering the price and further improving the quality of our food. With the deal complete, we can focus on delivering the growth opportunities.
“That means lowering the price of fuel for more motorists, bringing Asda’s great value and quality to more communities, offering greater opportunities to our supplier partners and creating sustainable job opportunities for colleagues in our stores and depots. I’d like to thank the teams at Asda for their efforts to bring this transaction to completion and welcome our new colleagues from EG UK who have joined the Asda family.”
Gary Lindsay, Managing Partner at TDR Capital LLP, said: “This transaction is all about growth – and bringing together the complementary strengths of Asda and EG UK. We are creating an enhanced and more diverse Asda business that delivers even greater value for its customers on a daily basis in stores and online.
“Becoming the number two UK supermarket again and delivering a stronger and more compelling proposition for UK consumers are the metrics we will judge the success of this transaction by.”
Lord Stuart Rose will continue in his role as Chairman of the new, combined business alongside Dame Alison Carnwath as Non-Executive Director as well as Mohsin Issa and Gary Lindsay as Directors of the combined business. The Board continues its recruitment process for a permanent Chief Executive.
It is the intention of the Asda Board to add new independent non-executive directors to the Board to ensure continued strong corporate governance.
Unity Enterprise makes three new board appointments
Mohammed Hussain, Amina Shann and John Jagger have joined the board of Unity Enterprise.
Mohammed Hussain is the founder and Managing Director of Pink Elephant Sales and Lettings Ltd. He also holds board-level positions with the Federation of Small Businesses, the Institute of Directors, the Northern Asian Power Think Tank Group and Shipley College.
Amina Shann is Wholesale Account Manager Bulk Purchase & Export at Morrisons Head Office. She has over eight years of experience with the Bradford-based supermarket chain, including two years as BAME Adviser alongside her day to day role.
John Jagger has accrued decades of private and public sector experience in the UK and abroad. He has particular expertise in finance, strategic development and business growth, and has overseen the turnaround of a range of small and medium sized enterprises.
Unity Enterprise – the not-for-profit subsidiary of BME housing association Unity Homes and Enterprise – provides more than 140 affordable units for over 80 diverse businesses in three locations close to Leeds city centre.
They include Leeds Media Centre, which recently completed a £1.8 million refurbishment scheme in partnership with Leeds City Council and the European Regional Development Fund.
Sharon Jandu OBE, Chair of Unity Enterprise, said: “It is exciting to have Mohammed, Amina and John join the Unity Enterprise board. “They bring a fantastic blend of differing experiences which will greatly benefit our work and complement the wide range of existing skills and perspectives offered by current board colleagues. “The new facilities at the revamped and revitalised Leeds Media Centre have opened the door to a whole host of additional opportunities for local entrepreneurs to step forward and achieve their business dreams. “Our new board members will each play a proactive part in enabling them to make that journey.”Cedric Boston, Unity Homes and Enterprise Chief Executive, said: “I pay warm tribute to Abdul Ravat and Will Jennings for their years of service on the Unity Enterprise board, and welcome Mohammed, Amina and John to their new roles.
“Unity stands out amongst housing associations in our commitment to providing employment, training and entrepreneurial services to directly transform the life chances of local people.
“Empowering individuals to set up their own sustainable business is central to this work with the guidance and support of Unity Enterprise.
“Our new board members will add real entrepreneurial weight to this crusade.”
Work starts to turn historic water tower into visitor centre
Work has started to turn an historic water tower on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway (KWVR) into a contemporary visitor centre.
Scaffolding has now been built around the tower on platform four at Keighley Station as part of the £100,000 project funded by the Government-funded Keighley Towns Fund, with £42,000 additional funding from The Railway Heritage Trust.
A 30,000-gallon water tank sits on the roof of the historic industrial building, which still provides the water for the railway’s steam locomotives.
The development of the building will see its interior restored to create an accessible visitor centre providing information about the engines and the history of the line, without compromising the operational function of the water tower itself.
Bradford Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Transport and Planning Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw said: “This historic water tower is believed to be the last functioning one of its kind left nationally. It is a really important structure, and we are delighted it will have a new lease of life for the future while maintaining the crucial purpose for which it was built.”
Chairman of the Keighley Towns Fund Ian Hayfield said: “The KWVR is one of the leading educational, heritage and tourist attractions across the district. This project is part of a whole list of projects considered and planned by the KWVR which will see it modernise and transform its offer, so it can continue to delight passengers and visitors for many years to come.”
Remedial work has recently started on the tower, with vegetation being cleared and an access pathway being built at the back of the building. Minor repairs are currently being carried out on the tank and to fix the level indicator whilst fitting a new float valve. Work has also started on the interior, with the walls being fully cleaned, ready for a full white-wash repaint. Work on the new raised floor will start soon.
Aztec Construction to open new Northern headquarters at Pennine Five in Sheffield
Aztec Construction, a recently launched design and building specialist, is set to open its new Northern headquarters at Pennine Five in Sheffield City Centre.
Set up by Russell Sumner earlier this year, the team of construction professionals at Aztec have over 30 years of sector expertise behind them.
With one office already in London, the firm’s new 4,000+ sq ft space at Pennine Five will be home to around 30 construction professionals and support their construction projects in the North. This includes delivering True Sheffield, the major 27-storey student-residential tower bounded by Hollis Croft and Broad Lane – just a stone’s throw from Pennine Five.
Aztec Construction will take the ground floor of Pennine Five’s eight-storey block off Tenter Street, directly underneath Spaces – the recently opened coworking hub from IWG Group.
Jeremy Hughes, director at RBH Properties, said: “We are delighted to welcome Aztec Construction to Pennine Five. They are an extremely exciting and quickly growing contractor. The fact they are basing themselves in the same district as one of their flagship construction contracts shows a real confidence in the evolution and future of this area of town.”
Since taking ownership of the five office blocks that made up the former HSBC headquarters in 2019, RBH Properties has been injecting a new lease of life into Pennine Five.
Russell Sumner, Managing Director at Aztec Construction, said: “We’re very excited to be moving into the Pennine Five development and plan to be in by November. It is perfectly located for our projects and allows us to continue building our presence in the city and the wider region.
“We understand the importance of refurbishing the existing built environment. Sustainable and commercially viable regeneration cannot be delivered through new builds alone, and we were really keen to be part of Pennine Five’s ‘renewal’ story.”
Countryside Partnerships gets new MD for North-East Midlands
Lee Parry has joined Countryside Partnerships as MD for the North-East Midlands, bringing with him an ambitious vision for the region.
He’s come from Keepmoat Homes, where he worked as Construction Operations Director, before becoming Interim MD. In his new role he aims to unlock sites in Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and North Derbyshire, working in partnership with local authorities, housing associations and private rented institutional investors to bring multi-tenure new housing to the region.
The North-East Midlands business has ambitious site acquisition targets for 2024, with a minimum target of at least six new sites with or without detailed planning permission in place. These sites will be located within bolstering our strong position in these areas.
Following its merger with Vistry, Countryside Partnerships business is now uniquely placed to secure and deliver sustainable developments, using its Timber Frame factories based in the East Midlands, on sites from 100 dwellings up to 1,500 dwellings in size. As well as delivering multi-tenure schemes, the business can also leverage the strengths of its three private for sale housing brands, Linden, Bovis and Countryside.
Adam Daniels, Divisional MD for the Midlands, said: “I am delighted to welcome Lee Parry to head up our North East Midlands team. He brings a wealth of experience and a clear vision to tackle the region’s need for high quality homes across a range of tenures. I look forward to working with him to further develop our partnership building division across the North East Midlands.”
Lee said: “I’m extremely proud to be taking the reins for North East Midlands. It’s a privilege to be working with such a great team and I look forward to continuing to grow the business. My focus is firmly on addressing the region’s chronic shortage of affordable mixed-tenure housing.”
The Harris Partnership strengthens management team
Wakefield-headquartered The Harris Partnership has made a series of senior promotions as the architectural practice continues its growth.
In recognition of their ongoing valuable contribution to the business, Iain Church, Ian Perrell, Russell O’Donoghue and Sarah Charlesworth are now Directors of parent company The Harris Group.
Other key figures across the group have also been recognised with Mark Hendy promoted to Director of the Harris Project Management business.
In the Manchester office, Sarah Rhodes is now Design Director at The Harris Partnership and Marisa Rigby has been promoted to Associate in Harris Project Management, further strengthening the group’s presence in the North West market.
Jonathan Wrynne has been made Associate in The Harris Partnership’s London office following a sustained period of expansion in the capital.
James Richmond, Joint Managing Group Director, says: “These promotions are thoroughly deserved, and we thank all those recognised for their ongoing hard work and dedication.
“We are committed to not only developing our people but fostering a positive culture across the business, which is reflected in the long service of many members of our team.
“These promotions also signify our ongoing confidence as a group as we invest for the future and look forward to the next phase of our growth.”
Humber Freeport approves £25m of investment for projects stimulating green economic growth
Humber Freeport has signed off a total of almost £25m of investment for projects to stimulate growth and create hundreds of jobs across the region.
The projects include major new facilities that will accelerate the decarbonisation of the Humber, which is critical for the Government to meet its net zero ambitions.
Each Freeport is granted up to £25m of seed capital funding by the Government and the Humber Freeport Board has now approved seven seed capital-funded projects, highlighting the game-changing role it has to play driving significant inward investment.
The projects have all been deemed by the Board to meet the Freeport’s key objectives, which include maximising the opportunities from the net zero transition to create skilled jobs and unlock the region’s economic potential.
They will reinforce the Humber’s status as the pre-eminent energy cluster in north west Europe and make a tangible contribution to levelling up the economy.
The seven projects that have been granted funding are:
· CATCH’s Humber Industrial Decarbonisation Centre (HIDC) in Stallingborough, North East Lincolnshire. The centre will be a regional decarbonisation hub, hosting research, events, conferences and networking to drive further inward investment.
· Humbergate Infrastructure, led by North East Lincolnshire Council, which will provide the necessary infrastructure to develop a brownfield site between the Ports of Immingham and Grimsby.
· Ideal Heating’s UK Technology Centre and wider developments at its headquarters on National Avenue in Hull. The research and development facility will support low carbon technologies, including heat pumps.
· Development of a derelict site in east Hull into an advanced manufacturing plant.
· RE:Group’s development of a facility for the treatment of waste oil on a currently derelict site in Air Street, close to the River Hull.
· South Humber Industrial Investment Programme (SHIIP). Funding has been granted for new industrial units for the ongoing programme by North East Lincolnshire Council to improve infrastructure at the Ports of Immingham and Grimsby.
· Development of a site in Hull for the production of low-cost, zero emission hydrogen.
The seven projects combined will lever in three times as much investment from the private sector and are expected to create hundreds of jobs across the north and south banks of the Humber.
Humber Freeport Chair Simon Bird said: “The Board is delighted to have approved a total of close to £25m of funding for these crucial projects across the region.
“This clearly demonstrates the vital role Humber Freeport has in securing and distributing significant funding to meet the region’s decarbonisation and economic growth ambitions.
“This funding will allow these projects to progress, creating and protecting jobs, and helping the region on its journey to a prosperous, net zero economy.
“However, this is just the start. Humber Freeport is working hard to attract hundreds of millions of pounds of inward investment and create thousands of skilled jobs.”
Humber Freeport comprises of three defined tax sites – Hull East; Able Marine Energy Park and Immingham, on the south bank of the Humber; and Goole – each of which offers incentives for businesses operating within the zones.
Benefits include land tax relief, business rate relief, enhanced capital allowances and National Insurance contribution relief for employers.
As the largest energy-related cluster in north west Europe, the Humber is often referred to as the UK’s Energy Estuary.
Decarbonisation is one of three key workstreams established by Humber Freeport, alongside skills and innovation, and will be a key focus for the freeport’s work.
Companies that have already announced plans to invest on freeport sites within the Humber region include rare earth exploration company Pensana and green hydrogen specialist Meld Energy.
