Keepmoat to regenerate part of Milton Keynes in £21.5m project

Stuart Pearcey
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Keepmoat to regenerate part of Milton Keynes in £21.5m project
Doncaster-based housebuilder Keepmoat is to build 115 new homes on seven acres of land in Milton Keynes – 50 of which will be built to the anticipated Future Homes Standard. The £21.5m project is due to be completed in March 2026, and will include multiple types of housing for residents at the site to be named Haworth Place, including much-needed affordable housing stock through a local housing association. The Future Homes Standard legislation update, due in 2025, requires all new homes to reduce 75 percent of the carbon emissions, and is set out to replace traditional Building Regulations for new dwellings. Ian McFaul, Interim Regional MD at Keepmoat, South Midlands, said: “We’re thrilled to be regenerating this underdeveloped piece of land in Milton Keynes to deliver 115 high-quality, multi-tenure homes for the local area, including much-needed affordable housing options. The project is also creating a raft of new local jobs, training and apprenticeship opportunities, further boosting the local economy and the industry’s future workforce. “As the project continues into the next phase, it’s extremely rewarding to see the excitement about the plans to deliver these homes in this fantastic new town. We’re also proud to be delivering homes featuring anticipated Future Homes Standard technology ahead of the Government-enforced delivery model set to come in next year – a further step in our mission to create sustainable communities for the future.”

Spencer Bridge wins industry award for work on Scottish bridge

Stuart Pearcey
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Spencer Bridge wins industry award for work on Scottish bridge
Heritage bridge works specialist Spencer Bridge Engineering has won an industry award for work to install a temporary walkway on a historic Scottish bridge. The company, part of Spencer Group, received the 2024 Galvanizing in Engineering Award from the Galvanisers Association for showing what galvanized steel can offer to the built environment. The project involved more than 1,000 pieces of metal, each hot-dip galvanised to blend eight the existing structure. The structure, over 120 years old, spans Loch Etive linking the villages of Connel and North Connel, near Oban in Scotland. The company was contracted by BEAR Scotland, a service provider to the Scottish roads maintenance sector, on behalf of Transport Scotland, to develop a new walkway to allow pedestrian access throughout planned works to replace the entire bridge deck over the coming years. The project involved the design, construction and installation of a 240-metre-long walkway along the full length of the bridge. Principal Engineer Chris Kirkby, who attended the award presentation, said:
“The whole team are delighted to have been recognised with this award and it gives us great pride to have worked on this project. “A key element of the project was ensuring that the works were completely non-invasive to ensure no damage was caused to the original structure. “Having both design and construction teams in house enables us to work collaboratively to design the most practical and effective solutions to complex projects, which is demonstrated by the success of our work on Connel Bridge.”

Investment increases the speed of web site creation by South Yorkshire agency

Stuart Pearcey
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Investment increases the speed of web site creation by South Yorkshire agency
South Yorkshire digital agency Genius Division has expanded its team and invested in tech in a bid to improve productivity by half. The company, based at the Business Village Barnsley, has won a grant to back an investment package designed to slash the average time it takes them to complete website projects. The aim is to tackle the stop-start nature of the process by reducing unproductive downtime, often caused by waiting for missing pieces of content from clients or others. Pilot projects bringing more control in-house and enabling the team to take the lead on more content creation have already shown they can reduce average start-to-finish delivery times on larger website projects from 151 days to 75 days. The business is now set to spread this efficiency saving across all output after investing in new photography, videography and drone equipment, skills development and the recruitment of two additional staff members. The trainee web development and digital marketing executives take their team from seven to nine. Genius Division’s investment has been backed by a Business Productivity Grant delivered by Barnsley Council through the Enterprising Barnsley programme and supported by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, part-funded by the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Genius Division creative director Craig Burgess said: “We had an honest look at what we do and realised that, whilst we’re always busy, we had to change the way we work to improve our productivity and profitability as a business. “Although we meet our own internal project deadlines, the sticking point has always been waiting for the creation of website content by others within a similar timescale. “We realised we could help clients to do this much more efficiently by making this part of our delivery package. By bringing this work in-house, we have more control and eliminate a certain amount of drag involved in chasing clients and outsourcing work.” Business support advisor at Enterprising Barnsley Judy Sidebottom helped Genius Division apply for a Business Productivity Grant to support its investment. She said: “Genius Division has grown as a successful digital agency over 14 years and this bold move to invest in improved productivity in-house demonstrates the business’ growing maturity. We are very pleased to support their ambition and look forward to seeing the company’s larger, better equipped team go from strength to strength.”  

Barnsley haulier secures £1.2m grant to increase storage and create jobs

Stuart Pearcey
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Barnsley haulier secures £1.2m grant to increase storage and create jobs
Barnsley haulage and logistics company Mallinson Properties for KMS Transport has secured the £1.2 million investment from the Goldthorpe Towns Commercial Investment Fund. The project will increase the company’s pallet storage capacity and create new job opportunities. It will also create social value by supporting local supply chains and environmental sustainability. Stephen Mallinson, MD of Mallinson Properties, said: “We are delighted with this grant from the Goldthorpe Towns Commercial Investment Fund. It is enabling us to expand our business and meet the growing demand for our products and services. “This project will not only benefit our company, but also the local economy and community. We are proud to be part of the Dearne Valley area and eager to enhance its potential and ambition.” Matthew Stephens, chair of the Goldthorpe Town Deal Board, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to support Mallinson Properties on this project. “We are focused on supporting the local economy and social value, so I am also pleased that they are using the local supply chain to deliver the project. “I hope this is a catalyst for their business and facilitates the growth we need.” The GTCIF is part of a programme of projects funded by the government as part of a £23.1 million investment in Goldthorpe, Thurnscoe and Bolton upon Dearne. The Goldthorpe Town Deal Board is overseeing the distribution of the Towns Fund investment. Its aims include supporting businesses in the Dearne to create more well-paid jobs and attract new investment. Mallinson Properties is using the grant contribution to build two extensions to its existing premises. Councillor Robin Franklin, Cabinet spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture, said: “We are pleased that Enterprising Barnsley, the council’s award-winning business support team, has been able to support Mallinson Properties to secure this funding. “They are a long-standing Barnsley company, and this expansion shows their ambition to continue growing their business. “We want to help businesses and developers overcome viability gaps to support the delivery of new projects. This will ultimately lead to the creation of new and additional employment opportunities. “I’m sure this project will encourage interest from others in similar schemes should they become available in the future. “We remain committed to helping Barnsley’s economy grow. This will provide new opportunities for residents and may also raise interest outside the area in living and working in Barnsley, the place of possibilities.”

Firms invited to site meeting about Pier Gardens development

Stuart Pearcey
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Firms invited to site meeting about Pier Gardens development
Interested businesses are being invited to look at the proposals for the transformation of Cleethorpes’ Pier Gardens both online and at a site meeting to look at the details of the project and offer comments. With online forms and a meeting at The Knoll on Thursday 12 September from 1pm, it’s a ‘Preliminary Market Consultation’, normal practice for public sector organisations and is part of the process ahead of full tenders being released for large contracts. Officers will look at the responses, opinions and views before finalising details and releasing the main tender for the work of principal contractor, which is expected to be done later this year. The scheme for Pier Gardens is supported by £18.4m awarded to Cleethorpes from the former Government’s Levelling Up Fund. The designs were finalised after the views of hundreds of people were gathered during public events, meetings and consultations. This feedback supported more modern and wildlife friendly planting schemes, along with areas for children’s and adults’ social activities, and an area that could enable pop up events, performances and group exercise. Additionally, people wanted to make sure that the gardens had improved lighting, sympathetic to the surroundings. North East Lincolnshire Councillor Hayden Dawkins, said: “Cleethorpes has been evolving and improving over the years and this a further step in growing our resort, which is fast becoming a jewel in the crown of our country’s East coast. “This transformation of Pier Gardens is going to create wonderful spaces for both visitors and local people to visit and enjoy – spending time together as families and we all look forward to this work starting, and more importantly completing.”

Developer secures £31.3m loan for Build to Rent housing schemes

Tess Egginton
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Developer secures £31.3m loan for Build to Rent housing schemes
Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF) has provided a loan of £31.3m to developer Placefirst to support the delivery of much-needed housing in the North West. CBRE’s Lending team advised the Fund.

The loan will be split between two Build to Rent (BTR) schemes in Bolton and Halifax town centres.

The Bolton project has received £22.6m for the delivery of 167 one and two-bedroom units. Previously a brownfield site, the 1.1-hectare site will also offer around 5,000 sq ft of commercial space on the ground floor, communal green areas and a new public square within the scheme.

The transformation of a former multi-storey car park in Halifax into 122 one and two-bedroom units, has received £8.75m to enable the development of high-quality sustainable homes, alongside a communal recreation space for residents.

Both developments will provide new high-quality affordable rental housing in priority regeneration areas, catalysing investment in their respective town centres.

Each development is all-electric, partly supported by PV panels and air source heat pumps and will offer cycle and EV parking spaces. Furthermore, all units will have a minimum of EPC B.

Cllr Gerald Cooney, Chair of GMPF said: “As a leader of a Council as well as a chair of a pension fund I know the depth of the housing crisis in which we find ourselves as a nation. We see it as we place record numbers of homeless children in temporary accommodation; as we grapple with waiting lists for social housing getting longer and longer; and younger residents are priced out of home ownership.

“That’s why we are proud to make this investment with Placefirst and support the Government’s plan to provide much needed affordable homes for hardworking families whilst delivering strong low risk returns to pay the pensions of our hardworking members.”

Will Church, Executive Director, CBRE, said: “We deploy significant amounts of debt from our pool of capital into the North West, as recently demonstrated by these two whole loans to Placefirst. This is the second loan we have made on behalf of GMPF since securing our mandate and the first housing-led loan.

“This loan will contribute to the essential housing needed in the region, while adding real socio-economic benefits to Bolton and Halifax town centres. We remain interested in supporting further development across all main asset classes with loans that have appropriate risk adjusted characteristics and, crucially, which bring regeneration to the region.”

David Mawson, chief executive for Placefirst, said: “We’ve long been committed to addressing housing shortages by delivering much-needed high-quality rental homes in prime locations. Through these brownfield developments, Placefirst will revitalise neighbourhoods that have been bursting with potential, leaving behind well-connected homes that offer communities a new standard for rental living.

“As developers and operators, we are long-term partners with our residents and the communities we build in which is why we’re people-focused from design to operation. This GMPF loan is a testament to the social and economic benefits our developments have been proven to deliver for local communities. From encouraging wider investment into the area to helping communities connect, our developments offer long-standing value.”

Both schemes are under construction, with each expected to reach practical completion in 2025. Once complete Placefirst will remain on site and be responsible for managing every aspect of the neighbourhood through the appointment of dedicated resident services managers.

JMG Group grows in North Yorkshire with insurance broker acquisition

Tess Egginton
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JMG Group grows in North Yorkshire with insurance broker acquisition
JM Glendinning North Yorkshire, part of the JMG Group, has acquired established commercial and personal lines insurance broker C P Bennet Ltd.
Scarborough-based JM Glendinning North Yorkshire, led by MD Alison Piercy, has made its second acquisition just months after its move to larger premises to accommodate future growth. C P Bennet Ltd MD, Simon Benson, will move to JM Glendinning’s office in Wykeham, Scarborough. C P Bennet Ltd is an established Bridlington-based insurance broker which was founded by Charles Percy Bennet in 1929. Simon Benson joined the business in 1986 to work for his father, Albert Benson, who joined C P Bennet Ltd in 1970 and was a director until 2013. Simon has been instrumental in shaping and growing the business for over 38 years. Alison Piercy, JM Glendinning North Yorkshire’s MD, says: “We’ve been looking for that perfect addition to our business; one which shares our own operational and cultural values, and one we feel delivers quality customer support. I believe C P Bennet is a great fit and matches who we are and what we do and I’m excited to bring them onboard.” Simon Benson says: “This sale is part of our succession plan, to allow for a seamless transition in the future and continuity for employees and clients. It will also enable us to continue the growth of what my dad and our team have built over the years. “While growing rapidly, both organically and through acquisitions, the JMG Group still retains its family-run feel and its client-first ethos. I’m looking forward to being part of the group and seizing the opportunities that are ahead of us.”

Employers and training providers promote STEM opportunities in Scarborough

Stuart Pearcey
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Employers and training providers promote STEM opportunities in Scarborough

More than 30 employers and training and education organisations are to exhibit at Scarborough Science and Engineering Week from October 8th to 10th

Sponsored by mining company Anglo American, the even t is intended to engage in a wide variety of interactive activities to encourage them into further STEM learning and careers.

Since the inaugural event, it has attracted more than 39,750 students, inspiring a future workforce into skill-based careers covering science, design, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The 15th anniversary event will attract more than 3,000 young people aged from seven to 19, from schools across the coast and beyond.

Sam Alexander, who chairs the LEP’s Skills and Employability Board said: “This is a hugely exciting annual event, helping to build aspiration and opportunity for young people across the coast and beyond.”

Gareth Edmunds, Corporate Relations Director for Anglo American’s Crop Nutrients business, said: “Events such as this are critical in trying to ensure we equip our young people with the skills they need. We are incredibly proud to support it.”

Popularity of Leeds pop-up artisan market means it’s to be a regular feature

Stuart Pearcey
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Popularity of Leeds pop-up artisan market means it’s to be a regular feature
A pop-up Artisan market at The Springs in Leeds has proved so popular that organisers have committed to make it a regular feature throughout the year. The ‘Leeds Local Market’ debuted at The Springs earlier this month to celebrate Yorkshire Day, and hosted by Yorkshire Urban Markets, the event is said to have exceeded all expectations, prompting plans to make The Springs a regular market destination alongside established markets in Meanwood and Rothwell. Rachel Vickers, Senior Commercial Manager at Scarborough Group International, developer and asset manager of The Springs and Thorpe Park Leeds, said: “As demonstrated through our seasonal events programme, we are committed to bringing in new and exciting attractions to The Springs on a regular basis. “We are thrilled that the Leeds Local Market proved so popular for our visitors and that we were also able to support independent traders where some sold out of their wares in just a few hours.  The event also boosted footfall for our existing stores where many reported increased trading.” New dates are yet to be arranged.  

Yorkshire business confidence rises in August

Tess Egginton
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Yorkshire business confidence rises in August
Business confidence in Yorkshire and the Humber rose five points during August to 41%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking. While companies in Yorkshire and the Humber reported lower confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, down six points to 39%, their confidence in the economy climbed 15 points to 42%. Taken together, this gives a headline confidence reading of 41% (vs. 36% in July). Looking ahead to the next six months, Yorkshire and the Humber businesses identified their top target areas for growth as investing in their team, for example through training (45%), evolving their offering, for example by introducing new products or services (38%), and introducing new technology (25%). The Business Barometer, which surveys 1,200 businesses monthly, provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide. National picture Overall UK business confidence in August remained unchanged from July at 50%. Firms’ confidence in the overall economy increased two points to 47%, offsetting marginally weaker confidence in their own trading prospects, which fell two points month-on-month to 54%, although remained above the long-term average. The North East was the most confident UK nation or region in August (65%), followed closely by Scotland (64%). Sector insights Output expectations for the various sectors remained at or near their three-year highs. Construction had a steep increase to 58%, up by 14 points, whereas other sectors experienced slight declines. Trading prospects for manufacturing dropped by 2 points to 58%, at the same level as construction, while Retail and Services fell to 53% down 7 and 3 points respectively. Martyn Kendrick, regional director for Yorkshire and the Humber at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “It’s hugely positive to see business confidence growth this month after a dip in July. “Businesses will now be looking to capitalise on their brighter outlook, and we’ll be by their side every step of the way – whether that’s supporting plans to upskill their teams, or diversifying their range of products and services.”
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