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Plans for Scunthorpe’s new science and tech centre progress
North Lincolnshire Council has secured listed building consent for alterations to St John’s Church in Scunthorpe, moving forward with plans for a £2.5m children’s science and technology centre. The new facility, called Discover@20-21, will be located next to the 20-21 Visual Arts Centre and is set to open later this year, thanks to funding from the Government’s Towns Fund.
The centre will feature interactive digital displays and exhibits designed to engage young audiences with STEAM subjects (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics). Among the planned installations is a projector system that will create digital artwork based on these themes, which visitors will be able to control with the push of a button.
To accommodate large-scale exhibits and light-sensitive displays, such as Luke Jerram’s “Museum of The Moon,” the church will also undergo modifications including the installation of retractable lighting and blackout blinds. These improvements will reduce the need for costly external hires and high-level access equipment, making it easier to host significant exhibitions.
The project aims to boost local tourism by attracting more visitors to the area and support community regeneration. St John’s Church, a former place of worship, has served as an arts venue since the early 2000s. Renovations are ongoing, with repairs to the building expected to conclude in late 2024.
Church hall set to become supported living apartments for people with learning disabilities
A proposal has been put forward to convert St Saviour’s Church Hall on Gladstone Road in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, into supported living accommodation for individuals with learning disabilities and autism.
The plan, submitted by Squirrel Wood Properties (SWP), includes transforming the church hall into 11 single-bedroom apartments, as well as staff facilities. The development would preserve much of the existing green space, which will be maintained as a communal garden for residents.
The local authority’s health and adult services department has expressed support for the project, with a final decision expected in the coming months. The building is recognised as a “non-designated heritage asset,” and the development will aim to preserve its key architectural features.
In addition to the living spaces, the proposal includes six parking spaces for residents and a designated area for bicycle storage. The application is currently open for public comments, with no set date for a final decision.
HMRC to introduce digital record-keeping for self-employed taxpayers in 2026
HMRC will require sole traders and landlords with income exceeding £50,000 to comply with Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax starting from April 2026. This marks the most significant change to the Self Assessment system since its introduction in 1997.
Under the new rules, affected taxpayers will need to keep digital records, use MTD-compatible software, and submit quarterly updates of their income and expenses to HMRC. This move aims to streamline tax reporting and reduce the administrative burden traditionally associated with the January 31 deadline.
The introduction of quarterly updates is designed to balance the workload throughout the year, moving towards more real-time tax reporting and helping businesses avoid last-minute filing rushes. Self-employed individuals with qualifying income, which includes gross income from self-employment and property before allowances or expenses, must comply with these new digital requirements.
A phased roll-out will follow, starting with the £50,000 income threshold in 2026. The threshold will drop to £30,000 in April 2027 and to £20,000 in 2028. HMRC is encouraging businesses to engage with its testing programme to familiarise themselves with the changes ahead of the mandatory implementation.
The government hopes the transition will help businesses improve efficiency and reduce errors in their record-keeping, offering clearer insights into their tax obligations. These changes are part of HMRC’s broader plan to modernise the tax system, building on the success of MTD for VAT, which over two million businesses have used.
Private capital drives £10bn contribution to Yorkshire and Humber economy
Private capital-backed businesses are generating £10 billion annually for the Yorkshire and Humber economy, according to a new report from the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVCA). This underscores the growing importance of private capital in regional economic growth.
In 2024, investments by private capital firms in the region totalled £1.33 billion. These firms use an active ownership model, directly influencing portfolio companies through strategic and operational changes, which in turn supports broader regional development.
The number of businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber backed by private capital has risen by 15% since 2023, with 533 companies now benefiting from this investment. Venture capital plays an increasingly significant role, supporting 257 businesses, a 25% increase from the previous year. Private equity, on the other hand, backs 276 businesses, maintaining the level seen in 2023. Together, these companies now employ over 162,000 people—up 30% from the year prior.
The findings were presented at the BVCA’s Invest Yorkshire & North East England Forum, where discussions focused on boosting regional investment through reforms in pensions, local leadership, and planning.
Older homeowners control £2.89 trillion in UK housing wealth, says Savills
Homeowners aged over 60 now hold 56% of the UK’s owner-occupier housing wealth, with a total net value estimated at £2.89 trillion, according to new figures from Savills. Despite this substantial equity, the group still has £60 billion in outstanding mortgage debt, representing around 2% of the value of their homes.
Savills’ analysis shows that over-75s alone account for nearly a quarter of the UK’s property wealth, while those under 35 hold just 6%. Older homeowners are more heavily concentrated in regions such as the South West and Wales, with lower representation in London.
The figures highlight the deepening generational divide in property wealth. Older generations, having benefited from decades of equity growth and reduced borrowing, now dominate the housing market, while younger buyers have faced greater barriers to building property wealth.
Savills argues that encouraging downsizing among older homeowners could help ease pressure on the housing market by freeing up family-sized homes and releasing equity to support younger buyers.
Regional estimates from the research show that the South East leads with £603 billion in housing wealth among those over 60, followed by London at £400 billion, the East of England at £354 billion, and the South West at £326 billion. Other regions include the North West with £234 billion, the West Midlands with £212 billion, Scotland with £186 billion, the East Midlands with £178 billion, Yorkshire and the Humber with £169 billion, Wales with £106 billion, the North East with £64 billion, and Northern Ireland with £54 billion.
Savills based its calculations on a combination of HM Revenue & Customs data, the Census, and the English Housing Survey. The findings have important implications for businesses involved in property development, retirement living, and financial services that target later-life planning.
