Stirlin plans new enterprise park in Lincoln
Contractor Stirling has announced details of a new commercial property scheme called Witham Enterprise Park to be created in Lincoln.
The scheme will offer nine brand-new industrial units, designed by Johnathan Roberts Architects and constructed by Stirlin on a 1.22-acre site, off Newark Road, adjacent to the Esso fuel station and the River Witham.
Split across three phases, Witham Enterprise Park will provide over 16,000 sqft of versatile employment space, adaptable for a variety of business uses and suitable for owner occupiers and property investors alike.
The units will be available To Buy or To Let, with sizes starting from circa 956 sq ft, and will each benefit from an electric sectional door, open-plan warehouse space, personnel door, toilet facility and allocated parking.
Tony Lawton, MD of Stirlin, said: “The site will greatly benefit from a complete regeneration and there is a notable lack of sufficient contemporary industrial space within the city centre.”
Site preparation works are underway, with construction due to start soon.
Councils urged to get pubs open earlier for Lionesses World Cup Final
The Government is encouraging councils in England to get pubs open earlier on Sunday ahead of the Lionesses historic World Cup final.
The Secretary of State for Levelling Up has written to leaders of all councils in England asking them to continue doing everything they can to help every pub that wants to host this historic occasion and support the Lionesses.
While many venues will be able to show the game within their usual opening hours, there may be a few who require additional permission where they would like to be able to serve alcohol as well.
In cases where an application is being rapidly considered to allow a short extension to licensing hours, the government is encouraging local authorities to continue to do everything they can to complete the process in time, working closely with local police forces.
Kate Nicholls, CEO of UK Hospitality, said: “The nation will be cheering on the Lionesses on Sunday and the next best thing to being in Australia is enjoying the match in the pub or hospitality venue. Many are taking advantage of the fact that they can open to encourage people to come out for breakfast or brunch to get ready for this historic match.
“Demand from fans has been exceptional, with bookings filling rapidly, and there’s no doubt the day will be a huge boost for the sector, potentially delivering an additional £41 million in sales.
“It’s been really positive to work with the Government to ensure everyone can get a chance to join in the celebrations. I’d echo the Government’s support for local authorities taking a pragmatic view to venues opening early to allow people to make the most of this momentous occasion.”
Businesses assured they’ll be no more than three miles from a source of cash
The vast majority of businesses and individuals are set to be no further than three miles away from withdrawing cash under a new framework set out by the Treasury.
A government statement published today sets the minimum expectations on banks to protect services for people and businesses wanting to withdraw or deposit cash.
They can expect to withdraw cash without any fees – something that has been set out in law.
As part of this move, the Financial Conduct Authority has been provided new powers by the government to protect the provision of cash access services. This includes protecting cash access without any fees for those who hold personal current accounts.
Building on laws granted through the government’s Financial Services and Markets Act 2023, the FCA will use these newfound powers to make sure banks and building societies are keeping up to these standards – and have the power to fine them if they do not.
While the country is moving further away from using coins and notes with the number of online payments rising from 45% to 85% in the past ten years, cash can still be an integral part of many businesses and people’s lives.
Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Andrew Griffith, said: “Whilst the growing choice and convenience of digital payments is great, cash has an important and continuing role to play. That’s why we are taking action to protect access to cash in law and laying out that this means fee-free withdrawals and the availability of cash facilities within a reasonable distance.
“People shouldn’t have to trek for hours to withdraw a tenner to put in someone’s birthday card – nor should businesses have to travel large distances to deposit cash takings. These are measures which benefit everyone who uses cash but particularly those living in rural areas, the elderly and those with disabilities.”
As it stands, the vast majority of people living in urban areas can access cash deposit and withdrawal services within a mile; with rural-dwellers around three miles away. Today’s policy statement makes clear that the FCA should use its powers to maintain this level of coverage, while recognising that needs may differ by location and change over time.
It also makes clear that – if a service is withdrawn and a replacement service is needed – this should be put in place before the closure takes place.
The FCA is also required to ‘have regard’ to local deficiencies in cash access. The policy statement sets out that the regulator should consider factors such as the opening hours and distance to cash access services, as well as the need for in-person assistance.
Laws introduced in the Financial Services Act 2021 have delivered cashback in over 2,500 shops across the UK – without any need to buy something in store – through the LINK network.
One in ten dairy farmers ‘likely’ to stop milk production within two years
The NFU’s Dairy Intentions Survey of almost 600 UK dairy farmers has found that insufficient returns, volatile markets and the scale of on-farm investment required are all reasons why many of Britain’s dairy farmers are thinking hard about their future in the sector.
In addition to those who are looking to stop production all together, a further 23% have said they are ‘unsure’ if they are going to continue production beyond the next two years.
Smaller enterprises producing less than a million litres of milk per year are also more likely to stop production before March 2025, compared to those producing higher volumes.
Based on figures from the ADHB, there are currently an estimated 7,500 dairy producers in Great Britain, a figure down 4.8% since last year.
The survey also revealed:
- Increases in input prices such as feed (84%), energy (83%), and fertiliser (74%) are all particular areas of worry.
- Over one third (36%) of those ceasing production are doing so due to retirement, with almost a fifth (18%) handing over their farm to the next generation.
- Over half (52%) of producers stopping production are unable to keep up with the scale of investment required for their enterprise to stay compliant, such as slurry storage, a factor that is highlighted as a main concern for the majority (91%) when considering whether to increase production in the future.
- NFU Dairy Board chair Michael Oakes said it is obvious these factors are putting the long-term resilience of dairy farming “under threat”, leading to a “crisis of confidence” amongst British dairy farmers. The survey results identified that supply chain fairness was a key factor with almost 90% of dairy producers saying this was important to support future milk production. New industry-wide contract regulation expected to come in later this year must support fairer, more transparent and accountable supply chains, said Michael. “But regulation isn’t a silver bullet,” he added. “With increasing global demand for British dairy, we know that the long-term future is bright for our sector,” said Michael. “To ensure we maximise this potential, it’s imperative that government continues to work with us to ensure we have the right environmental, regulatory and trade framework in place to support the production of high quality, nutritious and sustainable food.”
Yorkshire logistics company expands operations in the Southeast with acquisition
Yorkshire-based logistics company Expect Distribution has acquired Pallet Plus, an established transport company based in the Essex area. It comes as Expect seeks to enhance its national presence.
Expect Distribution purchased the £10m turnover business, based in Colchester, to strengthen the group’s offering, expanding operations in the Southeast and solidifying its capabilities as a UK-wide logistics and warehousing company.
Established since 2005, Pallet Plus is a family-run business providing national final mile distribution of palletised freight to and from the Essex region. Primarily a pallet network operator and a member of TPN, UPN and Palletways, Pallet Plus has a strong customer base in their immediate area which provides Expect with the opportunity to grow volume over the medium term and exploit existing synergies with current volume.
The acquisition of Pallet Plus will see Expect Distribution’s turnover exceed £60m.
Managing Director, Matthew Kilner said: “The fantastic reputation, dedication of the senior management team and drivers, operational capabilities and longstanding membership with three national pallet networks [The Pallet Network, UPN & Palletways], were more than enough for us to consider this acquisition. But beyond this, the cultural fit of the business was key. Pallet Plus are clearly a company punching above its weight and we are certain the two businesses will integrate seamlessly.”
Operations director and co-owner Andy Taylor added: “With the purchase of Pallet Plus, we can not only significantly increase our presence in Southeast with an owned operation but also bolster the proposition, by expanding the transport side of the business and introducing, in the medium term, a new warehousing offering which has been an important growth area for us in Bradford over recent years. I’d personally like to thank the team at Pallet Plus, and we look forward to working with them, to take both businesses forward.”
Gary Rowe, Managing Director at Pallet Plus, said: “The acquisition by Expect Distribution is a significant milestone and marks an exciting new chapter for both companies. Together, we will combine our collective resources, cutting-edge technology, and industry knowledge to provide even greater value to our clients. As we embark on this journey, I want to express my gratitude to our loyal customers, dedicated employees, and valued partners.”
Hepworth’s Arcade project progresses thanks to grant
Detailed surveying as part of Hepworth’s Arcade repair and renovation project will soon take place thanks to Hull City Council being awarded a Project Development Grant worth £96,000 from Historic England.
The surveys will help the council to understand the most suitable repair methods to preserve the heritage of the Grade II listed arcade.
The grant will allow greater focus on areas that need specialist repair works such as the stonework.
The funding will also cover developing designs for the wider repair and renovation of Hepworth’s Arcade and will ultimately lead to a planning application and tendering the construction works.
Current and prospective tenants of the arcade will be consulted on plans as design works get underway in the coming months.
The scheme aims to repair and reinvigorate all the units to achieve full occupancy, as well as bringing unused upper floor space back into use.
Cllr Paul Drake-Davis, portfolio holder for regeneration at Hull City Council, said: “The council welcomes this investment from Historic England.
“Hepworth’s Arcade is a much-loved retail destination in Hull’s Old Town and this support from Historic England will help the council to ensure its regeneration project is a success.”
Craig Broadwith, Historic Places Advisor at Historic England, added: “This beautiful Victorian arcade has been a favourite shopping destination for the residents of Hull for more than a century.
“This grant from Historic England will fund the first step towards repairing and reinvigorating this stunning building for generations of shoppers to come.”
Watkin Jones sells portfolio of PRS assets
Watkin Jones, the developer and manager of residential for rent, has sold a portfolio of three freehold PRS assets to L1 Property, the real estate funds management arm of L1 Capital.
The portfolio comprises over 117,000 sq ft with a total of 174 units, featuring respectively 78 units at Gateway and 43 at Impact, both located in Sheffield and 53 at The Wharf, in Droylsden, Greater Manchester.
This is Watkin Jones first transaction with L1 Property and marks the exit on assets which were constructed by Watkin Jones between 2006-8 and have been operated by the group since.
George Dyer, group investment director at Watkin Jones, said: “We are pleased to undertake our first transaction with L1 Property. The sale of these assets represents the culmination of our business plan and will enable us to recycle the proceeds into further land opportunities as we look to grow our pipeline in the coming months.”
David Lamm, Chief Executive Officer of L1 Property, said: “We are enthusiastic about this transaction with Watkin Jones to acquire three landmark buildings in Sheffield and Greater Manchester, two cities we recognise for their dynamic economies and promising long-term prospects.”
Thomas Collins, Chief Operating Officer of L1 Property, said: “This transaction aligns perfectly with our vision to enhance the living experience, add significant value through asset management, and continue to develop our fully integrated property management platform.”
Watkin Jones was advised in the transaction by Savills and Mishcon de Reya.
Contractor selected for Lincolnshire children’s home
Contractor Willmott Dixon has been selected to complete the design proposals for a new secure children’s home to be built on the edge of Sleaford, Lincolnshire.
Plans for the 28-bed secure facility, which will be located in Bonemill Lane on the outskirts of the town, were approved by members of Lincolnshire County Council’s planning and regulation committee on 31 July.
The scheme, which is being funded by the Department for Education, will provide care for some of Lincolnshire’s most vulnerable children as well as being a national resource for secure accommodation.
Nick Heath, director at Willmott Dixon, said: “This is a hugely significant scheme, not only for Lincolnshire to address an acute need for secure accommodation, but also for the wider country as it will bring together best practice from across the UK and Europe.
“The new building has been designed to support the young people to get their lives ‘back on track’ using a whole host of facilities including on-site education, wellbeing, vocational and sports facilities, as well as delivering against important sustainability credentials to make the building’s legacy especially evident.”
The new accommodation will aim to achieve as close to a net-zero in operation solution as possible, with a design that is majority off-grid supported by solar panels and state-of-the-art power storage.
The development will also feature a new service road, a car park, a surface water attenuation pond, and landscaped areas.
Cllr Mrs Patricia Bradwell OBE, executive member for children’s services at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “The new secure home will provide a much-improved environment for the young people living and educated there and help to meet the increased national demand for spaces. It will make sure these children are offered the required support, training and guidance in modern facilities.”
The scheme has been procured via Pagabo’s Major Works framework. Willmott Dixon has been appointed as contractor and Kier is the architect for the project.
New approach agreed for The Seam – Barnsley’s Digital Campus
A new plan for The Seam digital campus is being drawn up to better suit the funding available and meet the changing needs of town centres.
Initial plans presented to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council’s cabinet in 2022 for the digital campus were for an urban village with a new multistorey car park and a major residential development, right at the heart of the town centre. This new neighbourhood for the town centre would bring forward new space for digital, tech and creative industries businesses.
However due to mounting costs, in part driven by the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, cabinet have approved a new approach. This will remove plans for a multistorey car park, and also the residential development.
Instead, the lower Seam car park will be extensively refurbished to create a more welcoming space for visitors, commuters, and businesses alike.
Plans will include public realm improvements to the high-quality standard seen at the nearby Glass Works, with enhanced lighting, CCTV, street furniture, and significant capacity for electric vehicle charging supported by solar power.
The council are also planning to create a new high-quality urban green space which will further improve the welcome the town centre provides to workers, families and other visitors.
The council will also be looking to improve cycle storage facilities to encourage more people to use active travel routes to and from the town centre.
The council will carry out further consultation with residents and businesses as they progress these plans for this first phase of development work, focusing on the Lower Seam site.
In the meantime, the council will continue to seek funding opportunities for a second phase to further enhance the Upper Seam site as a destination for digital businesses.
This revised scheme will support the council’s ambitions for a Growing Barnsley with a reputation for being a great place to invest, and a Sustainable Barnsley with reduced carbon emissions and increased access to sustainable energy sources.
Cllr Robert Frost, Cabinet Spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture, said: “We see The Seam as the heart of Barnsley’s future economy. All economic growth will be powered by the use of digital and new technologies.
“This will help place Barnsley at the forefront of the digital productivity revolution and create opportunities for our residents to learn new essential digital skills for life and for work. These updated proposals will allow us to get moving on improvements we want to see as soon as possible.
“If we stand still, the borough’s economy will stand still. That’s why we’ve revisited our plans for the Seam and moving ahead with this first phase, while we continue to look at funding opportunities and partnerships for a second phase.
“Our digital campus in the town centre is a key part of our recently announced South Yorkshire Investment Zone. This will bolster the already attractive offer for innovative businesses looking to invest in Barnsley alongside our existing digital and tech companies and strengthen the growing reputation for Barnsley as a destination for digital businesses.”
Leader of Barnsley Council, Cllr Sir Steve Houghton, added: “We’ve taken a sensible look at our plans for The Seam given the huge rise in costs for major schemes. This has given us another chance to reflect on what we want to see in this part of the town centre, and come up with what I think is going to be a better scheme for businesses and local people.
“We’re going to focus our efforts on a really high-quality scheme of improvements on the lower part of the site, which will support the attractiveness of the site to businesses.
“We’ll continue to look for opportunities to fund further enhancements to the wider Seam Campus as we continue to grow our digital business community and commercial opportunities as part of the new South Yorkshire Investment Zone. This will bring even more skills and well-paid jobs to our borough.”
Hull firm on track to complete first phase of £3m sewage and flood defence system
Hull-based PBS Construction expects to complete the first part of a £3m project to install a brand-new sewage and flood defence system in Crowle near Scunthorpe.
Phase One of the works on Godnow Road in the town are set to be completed by early September.
It’s part of new sewage works and flood-defence system on behalf of Severn Trent and the Internal Drainage Board, with North Lincolnshire Council is relaying the road surface.
Cllr Julie Reed, cabinet member for children, families and communities said: “It is fantastic to see further investment in the Isle of Axholme. This is a vital piece of work to better protect the local community for years to come. The £3 million pound investment – from the council and partners – is just one part of our commitment to continue to develop our roads and highways infrastructure across the whole county.”
Cllr Neil Poole, cabinet member for highways operations, said: “Phase one has already seen the need for alternative construction methods to be explored and implemented and there are seven more intensive phases to be undertaken before the project reaches completion.
“Managing and maintaining our road network is a never-ending task but is something we are committed to deliver across the county.”
The new flooding defence system being installed will further compliment the £35m revamp of Keadby Pumping Station that now uses electrical pumps to manage the water levels across the region, making it easier to protect thousands of homes within the Isle of Axholme.
In addition to the new sewage and flood defence system, the full stetch of road will be resurfaced and will include a brand-new junction from Godnow Road leading onto the main high street.
The extensive construction works are expected to be finished next April.
