Albemarle Homes has announced plans to redevelop the former Bawtry Carbon Plant in Austerfield, Doncaster, into a mixed-use scheme featuring residential housing, a care facility and community infrastructure.

The proposal outlines approximately 267 energy-efficient homes, a mix of two—to five-bedroom properties. A 66-bed care home and a new community hub are also planned for the 32-acre brownfield site, which has been inactive for several years.

The development would include public green spaces and a play area, aligning with broader regeneration and sustainability goals. The project forms part of a trend toward repurposing former industrial land to meet housing needs, particularly in regional growth areas like South Yorkshire.

Albemarle Homes has launched a public consultation period running from 7 to 30 May to gather feedback from residents and stakeholders. A community event is scheduled for 15 May at the Austerfield Study Centre, offering attendees the opportunity to review the plans and engage directly with the project team.

This proposed development reflects continued private sector interest in brownfield regeneration as a vehicle for housing delivery, particularly with growing demand for sustainable, mixed-use communities outside major metropolitan centres.

DLG Architects has relocated to Town Centre House in Leeds, taking 1,910 sq ft of workspace following the building’s recent refurbishment by property investment firm Town Centre Securities (TCS).

The move places the architecture and master-planning practice in the heart of Leeds’ emerging Innovation District, an area attracting businesses focused on design, technology, and sustainable growth.

This letting follows a similar agreement with marketing agency Datum Group, which occupies 2,300 sq ft on the building’s fourth floor. Both tenancies support TCS’s strategy to reposition Town Centre House as a destination for forward-looking, collaboration-driven firms. The building now features upgraded amenities and a low-energy design focus.

A major redevelopment plan could transform part of Leeds’ Merrion Centre into a 37-storey student accommodation tower, targeting demand from the city’s growing university population. Town Centre Securities is advancing the project, centred on the existing Wade House structure, and it is currently under public consultation ahead of a planning application to Leeds City Council.

The revised scheme proposes 1,039 student beds, split between 612 cluster rooms and 427 studio apartments. Amenities include study areas, a gym, a karaoke room, and communal social spaces.

The development is within walking distance of the University of Leeds, Leeds Beckett University, and Leeds Arts University. According to a Student Needs Assessment, Leeds experienced a 24% increase in student numbers between 2012 and 2022. The city currently has over 25,000 purpose-built student beds, most of which are en-suite units.

The developers argue the project will bring economic benefits to central Leeds by increasing student spending at local businesses. The proposal is part of a broader trend of integrating large-scale student housing into urban commercial areas to support city centre regeneration and meet sustained accommodation demand from higher education institutions.

York Central’s £2.5bn regeneration project has moved forward with the announcement of a full design team, signalling the next phase of one of the UK’s largest brownfield developments. The 45-hectare site, adjacent to York railway station, is being delivered by Homes England and Network Rail in collaboration with the City of York Council and the National Railway Museum. It aims to boost the city’s economy and infrastructure significantly.

Allies and Morrison, the architectural firm behind the original York Central masterplan, will continue leading the overall design and developing proposals for a new Innovation Hub. International landscape practice Grant Associates has been appointed to oversee the parklands, public spaces, and green infrastructure, including the historic coal drops area.

Sheppard Robson will design a new 195,000 square foot government office hub to house up to 2,600 civil servants. Several architectural firms have been selected to lead the residential elements, including Cartwright Pickard, Corstorphine & Wright’s Leeds studio for build-to-rent properties, and Haworth Tompkins for affordable housing. 3D Reid will design the hotel and western entrance to York Station, while re-form landscape architecture will focus on Museum Square and the public realm in the first phase.

The regeneration will deliver around 2,500 new homes and close to one million square feet of commercial space spanning offices, retail, and hospitality. Improvements to York Railway Station and connections to the adjacent National Railway Museum are also part of the plans. The development is projected to create up to 6,500 jobs and contribute £1.1 billion in GVA to the local economy.