- Lockington Village Hall, Chapel Street, Lockington, Driffield YO25 9SN on Monday 10thFebruary from 3pm to 8pm
- Hutton Cranswick WI Hall, Main Street, Hutton Cranswick, Driffield YO25 9QR on Wednesday 12th February from 3pm to 8pm
- Cottingham Civic Hall, Market Green, Cottingham HU16 5QG on Friday 28th February from 3pm to 8pm
- Beverley Memorial Hall, 73-75 Lairgate, Beverley HU17 8HN on Saturday 1st March from noon until 5pm.
Ørsted launches plans for solar farm north of Beverley
Ørsted is asking residents for their views about a proposal to build the 320MW Kingfisher Solar Farm three miles north of Beverley.
An initial, non-statutory consultation will run from Monday 3rd February to Sunday 9th March 2025. Local residents, businesses and community groups can learn about Kingfisher and share their feedback online on the project website. They are also invited to attend any of Kingfisher’s four public events taking place throughout the consultation period, where they can discuss their questions with the Project team, which will help inform and develop the proposal for Kingfisher.
The events will be held at:
Labour market challenges lie ahead, says British Chambers of Commerce
The already-challenging labour market is going to get worse with the arrival of April’s significant rise in employment costs, says Jane Gratton, Deputy Director of Public Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce.
Responding to the latest information from the Office for National Statistics she said: “However, there are also signs of further loosening as unemployment ticks up, vacancies continue to fall and economic inactivity dips.
“The full impact of the changes to national insurance and the minimum wage, announced at the Budget, won’t be fully seen until later in the year. However, the warning lights on recruitment, employment and training are already flashing.
“Our latest survey paints a worrying picture of weak workforce growth, persistent hiring difficulties and cuts in workplace training. It also revealed that 55% of firms are planning to put up prices, with labour cost the main driver.
“To grow the economy, we need businesses and the workforce to thrive. Government must ease the cost-pressures on firms so they can invest in people. Working proactively with employers to tackle the long running skills crisis is likely to become even more important in the months to come.”
Cranswick acquires East Yorkshire pig genetics company
Food producer Cranswick has acquired fellow East Yorkshire firm JSR Genetics from JSR Farms. The transaction includes the pig genetics and pig farming operations of JSR Farms.
JSR Genetics is a pig genetics company known for its innovative genetic solutions for cost effective pig production. Genetic improvement is centred around sustainability and efficiency. Extensive research and innovation deliver pig genetics with a continuous improvement in production efficiency, meat quality, animal health and robustness.
JSR Genetics is an existing, long-standing supplier to Cranswick.
Adam Couch, CEO of Cranswick, said: “I am delighted to announce the acquisition of JSR Genetics, a leading pig genetics supplier and commercial pig producer based in East Yorkshire.
“This acquisition increases the scale of our indoor pig production, further securing supply for our customers’ pork requirements.
“The addition of an integrated pig genetics supply chain will allow us to drive ongoing improvements in production efficiency, meat quality, animal health and robustness, for the long-term benefit of our customers and the UK consumer.”
Duo of speculative warehouse units reach practical completion in south Leeds
Two speculative warehouse units developed by Baytree Logistics Properties Ltd have reached practical completion.
The scheme totals 552,000 sq ft and is situated in Stourton, south Leeds.
Units 1 and 3, which comprise 76,231 sq ft and 145,454 sq ft, have now reached practical completion, while Unit 2 is available on a build-to-suit basis and benefits from detailed planning consent for a single 329,000 sq ft warehouse.
This development, which is the only speculative scheme in the Yorkshire region built to BREEAM Outstanding standards, showcases a host of wellbeing, sustainability and energy saving measures.
Efficient management and monitoring of the building systems is controlled by sensor suite technologies which are linked to highly efficient lighting and air handling systems in the offices.
There is, additionally, biophilia in the reception areas and a “City Tree” at the entrance to the development which removes harmful particulates from the air.
The scheme has been built to EPC “A” rated and WELL Ready standards.
Tom Goode, partner and specialist in industrial and logistics at the Leeds office of Knight Frank, said: “These measures mean that Baytree Leeds is setting a new benchmark for the logistics sector in Yorkshire which, combined with its prime West Yorkshire location and best-in-class specification, will ensure that this exciting new development will prove extremely popular. We are already experiencing strong interest.”
Casey Ferguson, development manager at Baytree, said: “We are proud to announce the practical completion of phase 1 at Baytree Leeds, our latest best-in-class logistics scheme. This development marks a significant milestone as the first BREEAM Outstanding speculative development in the north of England, setting a new benchmark in ESG for the region.
“The scheme also provides some much-needed speculative development in a prime Leeds location just 1 mile from both the M1 and M621 junctions. Given the location and leading-edge specification, we are confident this will attract a lot of interest from our customers.”
Knight Frank is marketing Baytree Leeds alongside JLL & DTRE.
Harmony Works secures further £3.5m for Canada House restoration
Harmony Works Trust has secured £3.5 million in funding from Arts Council England to transform the historic Canada House in Sheffield city centre into a vibrant new home for music education.
This latest pledge follows the successful award of £4.7 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, announced last week, and adds to the project’s growing support base, which also includes funding from the Architectural Heritage Fund, Sheffield City Council, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, the UK Government’s Levelling Up Funding, and multiple local trusts and foundations.
Harmony Works Trust, awarded official charitable status in August 2023, purchased the Grade II* Listed Canada House from Panache retail brand last year. The combined £8.2 million investment from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England will help fund the building’s transformation into a new regional home for music education – creating a high-quality practice, rehearsal and performance destination.
“We are absolutely thrilled to receive such strong backing from Arts Council England,” said Emily Pieters, Project Director at Harmony Works.
“Alongside the funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we are now in a very strong position to fully refurbish Canada House and deliver on our long-term vision of creating a new home to inspire and nurture the creative potential of young people and their communities.”
Cllr Martin Smith, Chair of Economic Development and Skills Committee at Sheffield City Council, joined Emily Pieters in welcoming this announcement, adding: “Culture runs through every community in Sheffield, and we are committed to putting it at the heart of everything we do.
“Harmony Works will be a home for inspirational music education and opportunity in our city. Not only will this benefit young people across South Yorkshire, but this further funding will also allow us to protect an important heritage asset.”
South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: “From the Arctic Monkeys to Pulp, Yungblud to Kate Rusby, South Yorkshire has given music to the world for years. I couldn’t be prouder to build on our arts heritage by investing in projects such as the restoration of Harmony Works, giving exciting opportunities to young, aspiring musicians in our communities and a chance for them to stay near and go far.
“Not only do cultural institutions drive growth in our city centres, they also lead to happier, healthier lives for local people. That’s why I’ll continue to bang the drum for South Yorkshire and attract further investment into our culture sector, to create a happier, healthier, and wealthier region for all.”
Pete Massey, Yorkshire Director, Arts Council England, said: “Sheffield is a city with a rich history of musical excellence, so it’s great to see Harmony Works secure this vital investment from Government to create a fantastic new hub for music education.
“Yorkshire continues to produce musicians and bands that have received national and international acclaim, and we can’t wait to see the next generation of artists come through the Harmony Works doors to build on that success.”
With a history dating back to 1875, when it was originally constructed as offices for the Sheffield United Gas Light Company, Canada House is a cherished local landmark. In the 1980s, the building gained local popularity as TurnUps nightclub and was a hub for young music lovers.
“It’s amazing to think that in just three years, these walls will once again be filled with the sound of music – this time created by the young people themselves,” Pieters concluded.
The refurbishment of Canada House is expected to start later this year, with a view to opening the doors to Harmony Works late in 2027.
Once complete, it will become home to many organisations, including the Sheffield Music Academy, Sheffield Music Hub, Brass Bands England, Music in the Round, Choir with No Name, Orchestras for All, and Concerteenies, while also working closely with The University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University and The Sheffield College.
2025 Business Predictions: Jonathan Morgan, partner at Zenko City Living
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.
It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.
Here we speak to Jonathan Morgan, a partner at Zenko City Living.
It’s fair to say that 2024 was an interesting year for the city centre property market in Leeds. The total number of rental enquiries we received was significantly down on the previous year, but the number of new rental contracts we agreed increased.
This drop off in enquiries was due to the decline in demand for premium city centre rentals from overseas students, following changes to immigration rules introduced in January 2024, combined with lingering concerns about the cost of living in the UK.
Overseas students have typically arrived in the city centre rentals market late in the season and many would choose to rent higher end apartments in locations such as Park Row and Wellington Street.
In addition, several of the larger build to rent (BTR) schemes in Leeds city centre have got used to seeing their overseas student occupancy rate at between 20 and 30%, so this decline has caused some consternation.
Looking ahead, we are focussed on targeting the tens of thousands of young professionals working in well paid jobs in Leeds, who crave the convenience of living in the city centre. To a certain extent, this group has been squeezed out of the market since before Covid and is now returning in significant numbers. As a result, we are confident that 2025 will be a good year for rentals.
In terms of sales, demand in the second half of 2024 was strong and we think 2025 could be the best year since before Covid for owner occupier activity. Inflation is much more manageable, the shock of political change is waning, interest rates are stable and five-year forecasts for house price growth are strong.
Most significantly in the city centre context, more and more buildings are being released from the cladding issues which previously made them unsellable. At the same time, significant infrastructure change is coming to fruition, making for a much more attractive environment.
In addition, we remain the only city outside London to have resident opera, theatre and ballet companies; our diverse and resilient economy is widely understood, our universities attract over 60,000 young people a year, our retail and leisure space is nicely balanced, we have a railway station which will deliver you to London in around two hours, a regional airport connecting directly to most European cities and, an hour’s train ride away, an airport which connects with the rest of the world.
The city’s skyline is currently peppered with cranes delivering new developments and we are excited and confident about the future of city living in Leeds and look forward to unlocking the next generation of city centre homes for sale and to rent in 2025.
Siemens Mobility partners with Samaritans
Siemens Mobility is to give £23,000 to Samaritans, the charity dedicated to providing emotional support to anyone in distress or at risk of suicide.
Rob Morris, Joint UK&I CEO and Managing Director for Rail Infrastructure said: “We are proud to partner with Samaritans, a charity that plays such a vital role in supporting mental health. Mental well-being has always been a priority for us, yet we know it is not always easy to talk about. By encouraging dialogue and challenging stigmas, we aim to create a culture where mental health is understood and supported.”
Gwen Grant, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Samaritans said: “We are thrilled that Siemens Mobility employees selected us as their charity partner this year, which recognises their commitment to promote better mental health and well-being. Support from partners like Siemens Mobility is invaluable to helping Samaritans continue to be there for anyone who is struggling to cope, and we look forward to seeing what we can achieve together over the course of our partnership.”
The new charity partner was chosen by Siemens employees, reflecting their drive to making a meaningful difference. As part of this partnership, employees will engage in fundraising and volunteering through the company’s volunteering policy, which offers two days a year for each employee to support charitable causes. Last financial year, employees completed over 4,300 hours of community volunteering.
Dales’ five-year plan puts ‘nature-friendly’ farming businesses at its heart
The main thrust of a new five-year plan is to see that ‘nature-friendly’ farming businesses are supported across the Yorkshire Dales National Park, with the claim that hill farmers are now more important than ever.
That’s revealed in the newly-published draft set of objectives for the Yorkshire Dales National Park Management Plan 2025-2030.
People and organisations are invited to have their say on it during a seven-week period of public consultation; there is a survey for members of the public and a separate survey for organisations.
The management plan is said to be the most important policy document for the National Park. It is being put together by a partnership made up of 15 local organisations, including representatives of business interests. The draft has been sent to more than 200 organisations that operate in the National Park.
The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority is named as the potential lead organisation responsible for achieving 13 of the 40 objectives in the plan, with organisations such as Westmorland & Furness and North Yorkshire Councils, Natural England, the Environment Agency and the Forestry Commission leading on other objectives.
David Sharrod of Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, who is the Chair of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Management Plan Partnership, said: “Supporting hill farming has been a long-standing priority for us but it’s more important now than ever. We need nature-friendly farming businesses to thrive in the National Park. That is critical for maximising the benefits that the National Park can provide for the nation, whether that is helping nature to recover, storing more carbon in our landscapes, reducing flooding downstream or producing fantastic quality food. Such farming will need support to be viable, and that’s what the partnership is planning to provide.
“People familiar with previous Yorkshire Dales National Park Management Plans will recognise that some objectives have been updated and carried over, such as on broadening access to the National Park by the public and retaining dark skies at night. And yet some objectives are strikingly new and ambitious. For example, creating over 5,000 hectares of new wildlife-rich habitats; creating or restoring 60km of hedgerows, and supporting farmers to adapt to the challenges of climate change. Another new objective seeks to help tackle health inequalities in society and make the National Park a place of healing for more people.
“The proposed objectives have been shaped by national government policy, local organisations and public opinion – as well as by evidence on the state of nature and the local economy. The seven-week consultation is an opportunity to influence the final detail. I would warmly invite anyone with an interest in the future of this special place to examine the proposals, and have their say.”
VOA suspends business rates agents and urges firms to be cautious
The Valuation Office Agency has temporarily suspended business rates agents Rateable Value Experts and Re-Rates UK pending an investigation of a potential serious breach of agent standards.
The suspension means we will not work with, or accept any information from, these agents while we investigate the potential breach.
A spokesman for the VOA said: “We have written to affected customers, and cannot comment further while investigations are ongoing.
“Our VOA agent standards set out clear expectations for agents regarding their behaviour, their professional practice, and the service they provide to their customers.
“We take breaches of our agent standards very seriously and will always take action if we substantiate a breach of the standards.”
The VOA urges caution about any agent who:
- tries to pressure you to make a decision or sign a contract
- says they are acting on behalf of the VOA or forwards emails they claim are from the VOA
- demands large sums of money up front
- makes claims about ‘unclaimed credits’ or similar
Asbestos removal complete in Albion Square regeneration
Scaffolding is being removed from the former BHS building as Hull City Council’s Albion Square regeneration project prepares to move onto its next phase.
Asbestos removal from the derelict building is now complete, with more than 600,000 tonnes of contaminated waste, including concrete blocks containing asbestos, being taken away over almost two years.
The primary objective of Albion Square’s redevelopment is to transform a derelict, but strategically-positioned city centre site into a high-quality mixed-use scheme with a focus on residential and a mix of active uses on the ground floor.
This site is said to have a wider significance for the future economy of the city as a visitor destination.
Cllr Paul Drake-Davis, portfolio holder for regeneration at the council, said: “I am pleased to see that the scaffolding on the former BHS building is now being removed, with preparations taking place for the next stage of the project.”
