Vico Homes is regenerating a disused building in Havercroft into new affordable homes as part of a £3.3m development. The new development, off Madeley Road, will bring 19 bungalows to the area and will see independent living scheme, Whin View Court, which has been empty since 2023, demolished to make way for new homes. Built by Saul Construction, these new homes will all be available for affordable rent and managed by Vico Homes. Vico Homes secured grant funding from Wakefield Council and Homes England to make the project happen. The new bungalows are expected to be finished next summer with residents moving in shortly after. Sue Spencer, development manager at Vico Homes, said: “There is an urgent demand for more affordable housing options and we’re committed to meeting that need. With this opportunity, we hope people feel supported to downsize if they want, freeing up larger affordable homes for families. This development in Havercroft is only the beginning. We’re investing £300 million in new homes as we create more vibrant communities.” Cllr Jack Hemingway, deputy leader of Wakefield Council and cabinet member for regeneration and economic growth, said: “I want all our residents to have access to high quality, affordable accommodation. Everyone should live somewhere they are proud to call home. “The demand for affordable housing continues to grow and we’re committed to helping meet this demand, creating vibrant, thriving communities across the district. “This is one of four sites being developed by Vico Homes after a £2.29m funding contribution from the Council. Once complete this series of projects will deliver 161 new affordable homes across the district including at Whin View Court and the former Chantry House site in Wakefield city centre.” Chris Hall, quantity surveyor for Saul Homes, said: “We are delighted to be collaborating with Vico Homes and their partners on this project. We look forward to delivering a scheme that brings lasting benefits to the local community and reflects our shared commitment to quality, sustainability, and positive impact.”

Construction has commenced on a new £890,000 healthcare facility at Lincoln’s Birchwood Centre, marking a significant shift in healthcare delivery. The project will transform the existing space into a multi-purpose destination, integrating traditional pharmacy services with a broader range of health and wellness offerings.

Scheduled for completion later this year, the facility will occupy two adjacent units next to the Lincolnshire Co-op food store. It will feature five consultation rooms designed for privacy and comfort, offering services such as health checks, travel vaccinations, and private consultations. The revamped space will also accommodate podiatry services and provide room for healthcare providers to rent space and expand their services in the local area.

The new hub will integrate services from the existing Birchwood Pharmacy, ensuring a seamless transition for patients who will continue to collect prescriptions and access services without disruption. Additionally, the team from the Birchwood Medical Centre Pharmacy, formerly operated by Boots, is set to relocate to the new centre in 2026.

North Yorkshire Council has approved five-year tenancy agreements for businesses at Whitby’s £10m Maritime Hub, overriding the option for three-year leases. The decision aims to foster long-term stability for businesses in the area and attract maritime-focused enterprises to the region.

The facility, supported by £17.1m from the government’s Towns Fund, will offer a mix of workshop spaces, training facilities, and marine tanks. Designed to serve as a centre for maritime innovation, the second floor will provide office space for marine start-ups and related industries.

Though some local opposition was raised, the Council’s approval underscores the potential for significant employment opportunities in the region. A maritime business has already expressed interest, meeting the facility’s water-compatible use criteria, although details remain undisclosed.

Work on the hub is scheduled for completion by spring 2026, with construction progressing steadily. The approved tenancy agreements are expected to help establish the hub as a key economic driver in the area.

Town Centre Securities PLC (TCS) has unveiled plans for Z – a future-focused 111,000 sq ft office development at Whitehall Riverside in Leeds. The 11-storey building will deliver workspace that blends intelligent building systems, high sustainability credentials, and distinctive architecture. Craig Burrow, group property director at TCS, said: “As workspace continues to evolve, Z has been designed to be more than just a building. Set within an unrivalled riverside location, it provides best-in-class, smart, energy-efficient office spaces, with the highest level of amenity. We are excited to be setting new standards with a new breed of workspace.” Z will be equipped with cutting-edge technologies that monitor air quality, occupancy, and energy usage in real time – empowering occupiers to make data-driven decisions. Flexible floorplates and a variety of workspace formats are supported by a communal rooftop terrace, lounge areas, multipurpose spaces, and meeting and event facilities. TCS is currently in advanced discussions with potential occupiers and plans to bring forward Z as a key component of the wider Whitehall Riverside masterplan. This includes a new flagship CitiPark multi-storey car park and travel hub, offering 478 EV-enabled spaces to support sustainable commuting and future mobility. Set within a reimagined public realm, Z will connect directly to the River Aire via landscaped walkways, rain gardens, and biodiverse planting. The ground floor will act as a hub of activity, featuring a riverside terrace, on-site café, and social spaces designed to support both work and leisure.

Sunny Bank Mills in Farsley, near Leeds, has welcomed a range of independent retailers. One of the oldest family-owned mills in Yorkshire, Sunny Bank now sustains nearly 500 jobs and is home to over 100 businesses, half of which are public facing. The new businesses include The Spinning Room Hi-Fi, Cargo Wines and Hoop Knit. Paul Knipe, the owner of The Spinning Room Hi-Fi, which is based in the Festoon Rooms, said: “The Festoon Rooms is such a perfect location to be the home of The Spinning Room Hi-Fi that I believe the room chose us. “Of all the amazing spaces within the extensive Mills there is literally nowhere which could be more suited to our business. Our location shares a corridor with the thriving Record Plant record shop and Sunny Bank Mills’ very own art gallery and shop, which is the centre of the Mills. “We are also very close to the Old Woollen live venue space which forms the beating heart of the music area of the Mills. The collaboration between Record Plant and The Spinning Room Hi-Fi is the key to ensuring that our vision of helping more people enjoy music at home is fulfilled. “Collaborative events are already in the pipeline to further establish Sunny Bank Mills as the ‘go to’ destination for all things music in Leeds and the wider area.” Independent wine merchants Cargo Wines has moved into the Twisting at Sunny Bank Mills. Director Richard Kilian said: “The size of the unit and the availability of outside space are perfect for Cargo, allowing both a retail area as well as comfortably seating up to 50 guests inside, around 40 on the terrace and now over 60 on Weavers’ Lawn. We’re ready for every type of weather! “Although we were aware of the artistic community that has built up in Farsley over the years, it was only when the Old Woollen music venue opened that we could see the potential for a hospitality business. “As the Mills has progressed with the likes of CAHM luxury fragrances and Record Plant, the opportunity to expand the wine retail business as a hybrid with the bar hospitality aspect of Cargo made perfect sense.” Hoop Knit is a third independent retailer that has chosen Sunny Bank Mills as its new home. Director William Lingwood explained: “Sunny Bank Mills is a vibrant, creative hub that draws craft and design enthusiasts from a wide area, making it an ideal location for a premium yarn shop. “My wife Vanessa opened Hoop Haberdashery in 2011, as a small high street store in Tenterden, Kent, full of gorgeous supplies and natural fibres for knitters and crocheters. Now, 15 years later, we have relocated to Yorkshire, where we have opened our new online store and a large, welcoming yarn shop at Red Mill Lane.” Other new retail and leisure occupiers at Sunny Bank Mills include: Candy Spa For Kids, the Welly Club Forest School, Right Nice Stuff, Duo Pilates, a physio-led reformer and mat Pilates studio with Louise Samuels, Metz Cheesemonger, Swimsport, Silly Loaf and Record Plant (expansion). John Gaunt, joint managing director of Edwin Woodhouse and Co Ltd, the family company which owns Sunny Bank Mills, said: “It’s so exciting to welcome these new retail businesses to Sunny Bank Mills. It was always our vision to create a place that people both love to visit and to work in. The new retail businesses fit that vision perfectly. “50 per cent of the businesses at the Mills are now public facing, ranging from destination retail, cafes, a pizzeria, bars, our art gallery and shop, workshops, a music venue, and lots more. 10 years ago, it was only 15 per cent so it’s very satisfying to see that vision become reality.” William Gaunt added: “These are very exciting new lettings for us – and we are absolutely delighted at the range of businesses which are now joining us at Sunny Bank Mills. They broaden our appeal and provide wonderful new retail facilities for everyone who works here and for those who visit us from further afield.”