Rotherham businesses and high streets to benefit from £3m funding

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More than £3 million from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund is set to support businesses, events, and skills development in Rotherham, pending approval by the council’s cabinet on 17 March.

The funding aims to revitalise high streets by improving shopfronts, boost local events to increase visitor numbers, and provide training opportunities for residents. It will also support businesses through entrepreneurship programmes and help firms transition to low-carbon operations.

Key allocations include £945,000 for business support, £390,000 for shop unit grants and market improvements, and £444,000 for a skills programme focused on young people and basic training. The Children’s Capital of Culture festival will receive £200,000, with £275,000 allocated for event traineeships. The Rotherham Show and Bonfire Night will share £255,000.

Community support initiatives, including cost-of-living advice through the Open Arms project, will receive £359,000, while £86,000 is earmarked for a new multi-use games area. The package also includes investment in Rotherham’s markets and library development.

Battery storage project planned for Rotherham farmland

Harmony Energy has submitted plans for a battery energy storage facility in Kiveton Park, Rotherham, designed to store enough electricity to power 130,000 homes for two hours.

The 40 MW project will be built on low-grade agricultural land near the Kiveton Park substation. It is expected to cut carbon dioxide emissions by over 5,500 tonnes annually and contribute more than £90,000 annually in business rates to Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council. A £400,000 community fund will also be established over the project’s lifetime.

Following public consultation, the plans have been revised to minimise visual impact by incorporating green-coloured battery units and creating new habitats. They aim for a biodiversity net gain of over 35%.

Lincolnshire launches free paint recycling scheme to cut waste

Lincolnshire County Council has launched a new paint recycling initiative at Louth Household Waste Recycling Centre to reduce waste and encourage reuse. The scheme allows residents to donate unused paint, which is then made available for free to the community.

The initiative follows the success of a similar scheme in Grantham, which has prevented 1,000 litres of paint from being discarded since December 2024. According to government data, paint accounts for 71,500 tonnes of waste annually, costing local authorities £20.6 million to manage.

Councillor Daniel McNally, executive member for waste, highlighted that 55 million litres of usable paint are wasted in the UK each year. He encouraged residents to donate leftover paint, which could benefit other households and charities.

Bradford office building listed for sale after relocation plans

A seven-storey office building in Bradford city centre has been put on the market, weeks after plans emerged to convert it into residential flats.

Vanquis Banking Group, which occupies the property on Godwin Street, announced in December that it would relocate to a smaller office space next door by November. At the same time, a US-based developer proposed converting the building into more than 100 flats with two ground-floor business units.

The property is now listed as a “prime city centre office building with approval for residential conversion.” Built in 2010 as part of the £45 million Southgate development, it was initially a key part of Bradford’s regeneration efforts. Vanquis, formerly Provident, has occupied the building since its completion.

The asking price has not been publicly disclosed and is available only to potential buyers.

West Lindsey Council approves budget with expanded leisure investment

West Lindsey District Council has approved its 2025/26 budget, including a 2.98% increase in Council Tax and expanded capital investment in leisure and wellbeing. The budget, part of the Medium-Term Financial Plan, prioritises economic growth, local health services, and community development.

Planned investments include refurbishments at West Lindsey Leisure Centre and Market Rasen Leisure Centre, improved green spaces, upgraded swim and changing facilities, and a new indoor bowls area. The council also aims to enhance GP provision and expand grant funding for businesses in Gainsborough, alongside introducing two hours of free parking in the town to support local trade.

The council’s capital investment programme totals £13.8 million over the medium term, with £8.6 million allocated for 2025/26. Funding will come from grants, contributions, and council resources. The Governance and Audit Committee reviewed the financial plan before final approval. More details on the capital expansion will be released following the June Corporate Policy and Resources Committee meeting.

Scarborough to receive £20m investment under new neighbourhood plan

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Scarborough has been allocated nearly £20 million in government funding as part of the newly announced Plan for Neighbourhoods. This plan aims to support regeneration efforts across 75 selected communities over the next decade.

The initiative will establish neighbourhood boards in each area, bringing together residents and businesses to decide how to allocate funds. Options include high street improvements, pavement repairs, community grocers, and co-operatives.

Nine towns and cities in Yorkshire and Humber, including Barnsley, Doncaster, and Rotherham, will share £180 million from the national £1.5 billion programme. The funding will be available in April, with investment delivery beginning in 2026.

The government said selection criteria included levels of deprivation and healthy life expectancy.

Manchester’s MCR Group acquires Monks Cross office development

Manchester-based MCR Group has acquired the 69,351 sq ft Moorside office development in Monks Cross in York for an undisclosed sum. The Grade A, two-storey site houses tenants including Aviva, Garbutt & Elliott, Rollits Solicitors, Portakabin, and Shepherd Group.

MCR plans to work closely with the existing asset management team to ensure a smooth transition and engage with tenants to shape the site’s future. The company views the acquisition as a strategic move to strengthen its presence in the regional office market, with other projects in Bridlington and surrounding areas.

York is seen as a key commercial hub in Yorkshire, attracting businesses looking to establish headquarters. MCR aims to solidify Moorside’s position as a prime business location while focusing on long-term development plans.

Housing development gets green light at old quarrying and mining site near Huddersfield

Residential development company Vivly Living has received planning permission for a housing development at Grange Moor, an old quarrying and mining site near Huddersfield. Kirklees Council has given the green light for 12 two- to four-bed homes at Denby Lane, Grange Moor, comprising seven bungalows, three family houses and two affordable homes. Oliver Bottomley, Associate Director, Land and Development for Vivly, said: “This is tremendous news. After a very drawn-out planning process, we are very pleased planning has been granted for these 12 homes. The site is very exciting for Vivly, as it will create a real community. “The houses on site will appeal to a wide demographic. The first-time buyer will be attracted to the two-bed affordable first homes, while families will like our three-bed, semi-dormer bungalows and four-bed detached houses and downsizers and design and property savvy individuals will love our contemporary bungalow.” Oliver added: “These highly energy efficient homes will be set in a structured and attractive landscaping, which we feel will add to the character of Grange Moor village. As part of the development, and as part of our commitment to the community, we will be providing a defibrillator. “We expect a good deal of interest in this development. There is a shortage of new-build developments in the Kirklees area, which is not currently achieving national housing supply standards. We trust we will meet this pent-up demand.” There is a good deal of remediation work to be undertaken, with various government departments’ consents required, so Vivly expects to start on site in May. The development also provides access to an adjoining site, with a further 21 homes planned. Meanwhile, planning permission has also just been granted to Vivly Living for a residential development at Shepley, near Huddersfield. Kirklees Council has given the go-ahead for 52 new homes at Knowle Grange, which will form Phase 2 at Vivly’s development in the village.

Rovers return as Latus Group founders join board of Super League club they served as players

Two brothers who harnessed their passion for sport to build an occupational health business have become the latest appointments to the board of the Super League club which first sparked their ambitions. Jack and Sam Latus have joined the line-up at Hull Kingston Rovers with a pledge to drive the further growth of the club they served as players and the community which is at its heart. The pair, both in their 30s, are seen as having a major part to play in taking the club forward as it progresses under the guidance of a board led by chair Paul Sewell, who is also chair of Sewell Group, the investments, consultancy, data mapping and intelligence, construction and facilities management business which dates back to 1876. The presence of David Kilburn, the co-founder of MKM Building Supplies, James McNicol, managing director of London-based Oil Brokerage Ltd, and Becky Oughtibridge, director of professional services at Sewell Group, in supporting the owner, Hull-based solicitor Dr Neil Hudgell, adds up to vast experience. Paul said: “This is a milestone in the drive for the sustainability of our club. Just as the first team needs a pipeline of fresh young talent, so does the board and we have been working towards this from the start of the transformation. “That Jack and Sam are Hull business people who have been fantastically successful at a young age is great, but their former association with the club as players makes it towards perfect.” Jack, Sam and third brother Will launched Latus Health in 2017 with ambitions for the business to be recognised as a challenger brand to traditional providers such as Bupa, Optima and Nuffield. Rapid growth of the business to date and further planned expansion for the year ahead has brought forecasts of more than 50 per cent growth during 2025, and that success in turn has triggered the confidence to take on the new roles. Jack, CEO of Latus Group, said: “It feels like a good time for us because if we are going to put time into something, we want to know that we have the skill set to be able to add value. I think the lessons we have learned on the journey to build the Latus Group healthcare brand put us in a good position to help move the sport and club forward.” The pair credit Hull KR with giving them their introduction to professional sport. Sam played 46 first-team games for the Robins. Jack was only ever on the fringes and wants to make up for lost time. At the modern day Hull Kingston Rovers, that means providing the infrastructure off the pitch to support a team capable of winning trophies on the pitch. Central to that is the development of masterplan which will add community and commercial elements to the existing sports campus and which will be submitted for planning permission in the spring. Jack added: “The ups and the downs of our time at the club and in the sport helped shape us to who we are today. It feels like a full circle moment to now be invited to join the board to help steer the strategic direction of the club to continued success. “I am excited at the opportunity to be able to have the impact that I always hoped I would as a player, but this time from the safer side of the whitewash!” Sam, the company’s chief commercial officer, added: “We were attracted by how far the club has already gone, what the board has already achieved and how we can be a part of driving that forward to make a lasting change. “It’s a privilege to be around them and we want to emulate the type of success that they have enjoyed in business, the impact they have made locally and nationally and the ambition they have instilled into the club. It was a ‘pinch me’ moment when we sat down at our first meeting! “We’ll take a bit of time to learn more about the club and we hope our playing experience will be of benefit and help to maintain the strong connection between the board, the back office staff and the team. “So much has changed since we played here – all for the better – and crucially they have maintained the essence of the club and looked after the heart of it.” Paul Lakin, chief executive of Hull Kingston Rovers, said the appointments were the culmination of a series of chats to get to know each other over the last year. He said: “We got together again earlier this year and things moved forward very quickly. I think having two successful young men who have both played the game and have a keen passion to make a difference will bring a different angle. “Walking around our stadium with them as they engage with the staff, players and management it’s clear they are steeped in the club, the people and the potential.”

Eurocell acquires Dewsbury firm in £29m deal

Eurocell, the manufacturer, distributor and recycler of PVC window, door and roofline products, has acquired Dewsbury-based Alunet for £29m.

The deal comprises an initial payment of £22 million and deferred consideration of approximately £7 million payable in four annual instalments beginning in 2026. In addition, there is the potential for performance related payments of up to £6m over the same period.

The acquisition strengthens Eurocell’s position in residential aluminium systems and composite doors, and adds garage doors to its product portfolio.

Alunet includes a stable of home improvement brands and comprises four businesses: Alunet Systems, Comp Door, JDUK, and UK Doors (Midlands). 

For the year ended 31 December 2024, Alunet delivered unaudited revenue of £43m and EBITDA of £4.5m.

Alunet’s retained team, led by Chief Executive Steve Hudson, will strengthen the group’s management and Steve will join Eurocell’s Executive Committee. Alunet employs approximately 200 people.

Darren Waters, Chief Executive Officer at Derbyshire-based Eurocell, said: “Alunet is a great acquisition for Eurocell. It significantly strengthens our position in aluminium, enhances our composite door offering, and adds a premium range of aluminium garage doors to our portfolio of home improvement products.

“Alunet has grown rapidly since its establishment in 2013, and under Eurocell’s ownership, we will leverage our leading market positions in new build, trade fabrication and distribution, to help the business reach its full potential.

“On behalf of the Board I am delighted to welcome the management and employees of Alunet to the Group.”