McLaren Construction Midlands and North has commenced construction on a distribution centre for retailer, TJ Morris Ltd, at the Unity Yorkshire development in Doncaster. The new distribution centre will play a crucial role in the region’s industrial expansion, bringing 1,000 new jobs and opportunities to Doncaster and the region. Unity Yorkshire is a flagship mixed-use regeneration project, transforming the area into a business and employment hub, set within a sustainable mixed use flagship development. The new 1 million sq ft facility, located at Unity Connect, will consist of a fully automated distribution hub, with a 43-metre-high bay and significant low bay and cold storage areas, designed to support TJ Morris’ expansion plans. A groundbreaking ceremony marked the significant milestone in the expansion of T J Morris’ national distribution network. The event was attended by Ros Jones, Mayor of Doncaster, and representatives from City of Doncaster Council and Business Doncaster, Waystone Hargreaves Land, Atkins Realis, some of the logistics and automation team for TJ Morris and McLaren Construction Midlands and North. Construction is set to progress rapidly, with completion scheduled for October 2026. Upon completion, the facility will hand over to Witron for installation of automated picking equipment. The site will be highly automated and will service 300+ Home Bargains stores by mid 2028. Stuart Goss, Operations Director at McLaren Construction Midlands and North, said: “We are thrilled to break ground on this major project for TJ Morris Ltd. This development is a testament to our expertise in delivering high-specification logistics facilities that drive business growth and regional economic development.” Neil Kelson, Head of Logisitics at TJ Morris, added: “The new Distribution Centre represents a key step in our logistics strategy, enabling us to serve our customers more efficiently and support our expansion plans while creating significant employment opportunities for the local community.” Ros Jones, Mayor of Doncaster, added: “Today marks a milestone for the local area and wider City of Doncaster as we break ground on this state-of-the-art Distribution Centre. “This new addition to the Unity Yorkshire development not only strengthens our local community but also creates new, well-paid jobs for our residents. This is just the start of such a transformational development and is testament to our city’s growth and commitment to building a brighter future for all.” Helen McLoughlin, Director at Waystone Hargreaves LLP, said: “This is a tremendously exciting moment for everyone connected with the development of Unity. TJ Morris quickly identified the many benefits that Unity has to offer as a strategic location, so we are thrilled that they are commencing work on-site. “This will be a landmark building which will well and truly put Unity Yorkshire on the map, and we look forward to seeing construction progress in the months ahead.”

Stage One Creative Services, a North Yorkshire-based set manufacturer, has submitted plans to expand its facilities to accommodate growing demand. The company, known for producing large-scale sets for events like the London Olympics, Eurovision, and major music tours, aims to extend its Minster Hag Business Park site near Tockwith.

The firm employs 134 people and has seen significant growth, particularly in the Middle East. It currently operates from both Minster Hag and Marton Business Park, where it utilises three aircraft hangars for manufacturing. However, documents submitted to North Yorkshire Council highlight space limitations and the need for a dust-free environment for electronics and precision engineering.

The proposed expansion includes extending the Minster Hag site and constructing four detached single-storey buildings. The company plans to reorganise operations, consolidating manufacturing, design, and logistics at Marton Business Park while focusing on electronics, automation, R&D, and administration at Minster Hag.

Stage One says the expansion is crucial to maintaining its position as a global leader in set production and will support future business growth and job creation.

York Handmade Brick Company has supplied over 40,000 specially manufactured brick slips and 30,000 paving cobbles for Lo Dze, a brand-new hotel development in the heart of Martigny, one of Switzerland’s most historic towns. Lo Dze is now open, situated 30 metres from the main square in Martigny, and consists of two separate buildings around a central courtyard which is open to the public. Above ground it comprises Borsari, a boutique hotel with 50 rooms and the Kitchen 180 (Lo Dze is exactly 180 km away from the very centre of the Roman cities of Lyon, Milan and Zürich), which services La Saucithèque bar, Le Cercle restaurant and Café Alphonse, the courtyard and terraces. Below ground Lo Dze features a vast Roman bathing experience, Les Bains Publics, in a space that was formerly Les Caves Orsat, a 19^th Century winery. This contract, one of the most prestigious in York Handmade’s 37-year history, is worth £65,000 and is an endorsement of the company’s recent decision to invest £1.5m in brand-new machinery. John Cretton, of QDS Leisure, who hasterminded this project, explained why he chose York Handmade to supply the bricks. “I was looking for a brick that was handmade with the right colours and the right size. The massive nature of the architecture, one side of the street facade is windowless apart from a half-moon opening on the ground floor, meant that the brick had to be visually strong. Overall, it was a winning combination of colour, form, texture and cost. “The result is superb. The exterior at once conveys the mass of the objects and the history of the town as well as the extraordinary material quality of the underground Roman Baths, Les Bains Publics. York Handmade’s products gave us that and a bonus to boot – a building that stands out from the pack; no one just walks by Lo Dze. “We have used York Handmade’s pavers to complete the public areas in the project, denoting areas that are both for circulation and al fresco dining. The brick slips cover the buildings that sit on the main street side of the project, linking the building architecturally with its baths and the town’s Roman heritage. “The hotel is now open and is proving very popular. There’s no doubt that the baths, the hotel and the restaurants are now a catalyst for the town, linking its future to its important Roman and early 20th century pasts. “Martigny was an important Roman town, the last town to the north built by the legionary architects. It had three Roman bath houses. We have built the fourth. Interestingly, pottery and other remains from Roman Britain has been found in Martigny. The concept for the hotel was first developed over 10 years ago. Now that dream is a reality.” Mark Laksevics, Sales & CPD Manager for York Handmade, said: “This is a very prestigious project for us. It has been a tremendous boost for our factory and a great honour to contribute to a pioneering and innovative development in such an historic town. “I have been proud to work closely with John Cretton of QDS Leisure for the past two years to ensure that our bricks are perfect for this development. The result is amazing and is a magnificent showcase for our bricks. “A shout-out should also go to Tiffany Thomas, our hard-working and extremely efficient Sales Office and Logistics manager, who ensured that all our bricks arrived safely and seamlessly in Martigny on time.” David Armitage, the chairman of York Handmade, continued: “These are crucial times for us at York Handmade. We have invested £1.5 million in brand-new machinery which has transformed how we make our bricks. “Over the years, we have undertaken significant technological improvements, culminating in this overhaul and renewal of our manufacturing process, which has speeded up production, facilitated two brand-new products and increased efficiency. “This has proved to be a transformational move, by far the biggest and most significant in our history. Our revolutionary new manufacturing line combine three different types of brick – the Handmade Style, as currently produced, together with Water Struck and Pressed Bricks. “For this very special project, we have supplied 327x102x50mm Hunsingore Blend bricks, which have been cut into brick slips. They have helped to make the new hotel visually stunning and blend in seamlessly with the other historic buildings in the town.”

A new 28MW solar farm near Bourne, Lincolnshire, has received approval from South Kesteven District Council. The project at Home Farm, Dyke Drove, will operate for 40 years and generate enough electricity to power 13,661 homes annually, reducing carbon emissions by 8,200 tonnes per year.

Landowner William Ash stated that the development will cover 6% of his landholding, with the rest remaining in food production. He emphasised the need for diversification due to financial pressures in the farming sector.

Developer Enray Power Ltd assured that construction will be brief, with minimal HGV traffic and no routes through Dyke. Once operational, the site will be unmanned except for maintenance visits.

Councillor Zoe Lane opposed the plan, highlighting that the land is among the most productive for agriculture. She warned that a 40-year energy project could lead to permanent industrial land use.

Lincolnshire County Councillor Sue Woolley noted two formal complaints from residents but acknowledged the landowner’s right to manage his property. She stated that any disruption from construction would be temporary.

A legal challenge has delayed the rollout of North Lincolnshire Council’s selective licensing scheme for private landlords in parts of Scunthorpe.

The scheme, approved in September 2023, was set to take effect on 20 March 2024. It required landlords in Crosby, Park, and Town Wards to obtain a licence, costing £955 for five years, and comply with regulations on safety measures and anti-social behaviour management.

The Crosby Landlords’ Association has filed for a judicial review, questioning whether the council followed proper procedures in approving the scheme. As a result, the council has suspended applications and will provide further updates on its website.

The delay leaves uncertainty for landlords and tenants, as the scheme aimed to improve housing standards. North Lincolnshire Council has yet to comment on the challenge.