Agreement safeguards £300m regeneration of RAF Scampton
West Lindsey District Council has reached an agreement with the Home Office to explore temporary dual use of Lincolnshire’s former RAF Scampton site, marking a significant step forward in securing the council’s vision to deliver its regeneration plans for the site through collaboration. Under the agreement, outstanding legal action will be withdrawn.
The Home Office, which has planning permission awarded through a Special Development Order can use the site for a fixed period of time, up to October 2027 and has agreed to house a significantly reduced number of asylum seekers.
The agreement also allows the council to use a portion of the land to pursue the regeneration of the site with preferred development partner Scampton Holdings Limited. The Home Office will retain just 10% of the site to temporarily house up to 800 asylum seekers – compared to the original 2,000.
Leader of West Lindsey District Council, Cllr Trevor Young said the agreement is the culmination of weeks of negotiations with the Home Office and the result provides the community and investors greater certainty for the long-term future of the site. He said:“The specific details of the agreement are still being finalised, but this agreement paves the way forward for the short-term and long-term use of the site.
“The council have always been clear that whilst it is our view that the site is unsuitable for large scale asylum accommodation, protecting the investment and regeneration plans for the site is a priority. This agreement provides the principles by which we can collaborate to unlock our investment and regeneration plan by working with the Home Office through a shared use proposal.”
Cllr Young thanked the community for its continued support and said the council will focus its scrutiny and challenge to ensure the impact of asylum accommodation on the local community is as little as possible.
The Home Office has committed to working with the council and Historic England to protect the heritage of the site, which is the former home of the Dambusters.
Two listed hangars, the listed officers’ mess and Wing Commander Guy Gibson’s dog’s grave will be transferred to West Lindsey District Council once a legal agreement is in place, with the remaining listed hangars being transferred in 2026.
As previously announced, the £300m of investment into the regeneration of the former RAF Scampton will preserve, protect, and enhance the site by providing aviation heritage, business, aerospace, space and education opportunities.
Sally Grindrod-Smith, Director of Planning, Regeneration and Communities at West Lindsey District Council said: “This marks a turning point in the council’s journey to protect the £300 million investment and regeneration plan. Our strategy to challenge every detail and hold the Home Office to account has successfully delivered the conditions in which the opportunity to collaborate and deliver a temporary, shared use of the site now exists.
“This includes a significant reduction in operating capacity of the asylum accommodation centre, a vastly reduced Home Office footprint, and a suite of conditions on the Special Development Order designed to mitigate the impact of the development.
“I am confident that over the coming months we can continue to use our energy and passion to protect this site and to develop an innovative and creative shared use proposal which allows for the kickstarting of plans to bring significant investment into West Lindsey and Lincolnshire.”
BCC sets out wish list for post-election Government
The British Chambers of Commerce has set out a five-point wish list for immediate action to present to the post-July4th government.
It wants to see:
- An Industrial Strategy with green innovation at its heart.
- Better skills planning, bringing businesses and training providers together.
- Business rates reform to encourage growth and investment.
- Improved relations with the European Union to cut the costs for business.
- A Government appointed AI champion for SMEs to spearhead uptake of new technology.
English Touring Opera to quit London and move to Sheffield
English Touring Opera is to move from its long-term base at the Hackney Empire and establish itself in Sheffield, with temporary offices opening in the city by October this year.
The office move, part of the Arts Council England Transfer Programme, will be complete by spring next year with rehearsals and opening in Sheffield from spring 2026. and it’s hoped it will strengthen ties with the city, where it has built a strong following as a result of regular visits.
Robin Norton-Hall, ETO’s General Director, said: “We’re really excited about making Sheffield our new home. We have had such enthusiasm and warmth from so many people and organisations in the city.”
Cllr Martin Smith, Chair of the Economic Development and Skills Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “Sheffield is a city of culture and creativity. We have a vibrant music and arts scene, our grassroots offer is exceptional and we also have nationally acclaimed venues and institutions within our culture sector.
“Outside London, we have the largest regional theatre district and earlier this year we hosted the MOBO Awards. There is so much going on in the city in the way of arts and creativity and we are delighted that English Touring Opera will be part of this going forward.
“I’d like to extend a warm welcome to them on behalf of the Council and the city.”
Leeds eCommerce agency acquired
Velstar Ltd., a Shopify Plus development and marketing agency, has acquired 9xb, a B2B eCommerce agency based in Leeds.
Founded in 2004, 9xb specialises in the development of complex and bespoke eCommerce solutions utilising its proprietary software platform Peracto.
Dan Sheard, the Co-Founder and CEO of Velstar, said: “The acquisition of 9xb is a major step in Velstar’s continued journey of client centric growth.
“While Velstar has traditionally focused on the Shopify Plus website development and marketing services for direct-to-consumer brands, 9xb is truly complementary to Velstar through its main focus on B2B clients. Velstar will ensure a smooth transition for customers and colleagues, with a tireless focus on client satisfaction and exemplary service.”
Rob Burns, the Co-Founder and Managing Director of 9xb, added: “Our partnership with Velstar marks an exciting chapter in our journey of growth, diversification, and innovation.
“It aligns seamlessly with our commitment to delivering exceptional value to our clients. We are thrilled to complement our service offerings with the additional resources, capabilities, and scale of the Velstar.”
After the acquisition of 9xb, Velstar is expected to generate around £9m of annual revenue. After the merger, the combined business will count over 100 employees.
Streets Chartered Accountants covers property finance, charitable support, restaurant cash flow and more in new news roundup
Streets Chartered Accountants covers property finance, charitable support, restaurant cash flow, and more in its latest monthly news roundup.
This month’s office focus
In the first of a series of videos to promote Streets’ growing number of offices and their teams, Nathan Bignell who heads up the Banbury office shares his insight into the local business community, the clients they look after and the services they provide. Watch Now.
Podcast: There is so much more to the Fringe 24…
In this Brighton Fringe 2024 special episode of The Streets Sessions, Streets talk to Duncan Lustig-Prean, Chair of Brighton Fringe, about this year’s festival and the highlights, along with its importance for the entertainment industry and the wider community.
Streets also look at the business side of running the festival and the support provided by Streets through its Brighton based media and entertainment practice Mark Carr & Co. Listen Now.
Property finance – unlocking opportunities with confidence and support
Exploring, navigating and understanding the complex landscape of property finance options can not only be time consuming, but hard to understand with the diverse range of financing options that are available in the market.
It is essential from the outset for business owners to carefully evaluate their financing and find the right finance option for success and making informed decisions within the business. Read More.
Podcast: It’s more than an Open Road when it comes to charitable support…
This episode of The Streets Sessions features Claire Beacham, a regional manager with Open Road – a drug and alcohol recovery charity in Essex and the Medway, which is Streets Whittles, Streets’ Colchester practice’s, nominated charity.
In conversation with Claire, Streets not only find out more about Open Road’s important work, especially around wellbeing in the workplace, but also what it means to them to work with and to have the support of businesses, in particular Streets Whittles. Listen Now.
Boost your restaurant’s cash flow with these top tips!
Maintaining a healthy cash flow is crucial for the success of any restaurant. Here are five key strategies to get you started. Read More.
SmartMoney
SmartMoney is the bi-monthly magazine from Streets Financial Consulting Ltd, Streets’ independent financial planning arm, full of news and helpful information on personal financial planning. Download Now.
Planning permission granted for new school for pupils with additional needs
Plans to build a new special school in Deighton, Huddersfield, have taken a step forward.
The plans – in a partnership between Kirklees Council and Wellspring Academy Trust – will see Joseph Norton Academy rebuilt and relocated, leading to a high-quality learning environment for pupils with Social Emotional and Mental Health difficulties.
Joseph Norton Academy is currently based in Scissett, however the buildings are dated, it offers only 63 places and there is limited scope for expansion.
Planning permission has now been granted for the new-build to go ahead. It will create a total of 132 places in a more central location which better suits the needs of children and young people.
The site is on land that was formerly home to the Deighton Centre. This will reduce the significant distances that some children are currently travelling to school.
The next step will be appointing a contractor to carry out the building works.
David Shepherd, Strategic Director for Growth and Regeneration, said: “We have worked closely with Joseph Norton Academy and the Wellspring Academy Trust in designing high-quality facilities, both indoors and outdoors.
“The new school will help pupils to fulfil their potential in an environment that’s especially tailored to support them.”
A spokesperson for Wellspring Academy Trust said: “We are absolutely delighted with the news that planning permission has been granted. This is a significant step forward for our pupils.
“We look forward to working closely with the local authority to progress the build and ensure a fantastic new learning environment for future generations.”
Acquisition of coach companies expands Go-Ahead’s North & West Yorkshire presence
The Go-Ahead Group has acquired four regional coach companies, marking a significant expansion in North and West Yorkshire, and the North East.
The acquisition includes Procters Coaches in North Yorkshire, Compass Royston serving Stockton, Middlesbrough & Teesside, Esk Valley operating in North and East Riding of Yorkshire, and Fourway Coaches in West Yorkshire.
With 200 new employees and a fleet of 140 vehicles across five depots, this acquisition strengthens Go-Ahead’s foothold in the region and continues to build key relationships with local authorities and commercial partners.
Matt Carney, Chief Executive of Go-Ahead Bus, said: “This acquisition aligns seamlessly with Go-Ahead’s overarching mission to provide reliable, accessible, and sustainable transport solutions. We are committed to upholding our values of caring for our customers, our team, and our communities, while maintaining our position as trusted industry leaders.”
Ben Gilligan, Managing Director for East Yorkshire Buses, said: “We are excited to welcome these reputable companies into the Go-Ahead family, this acquisition represents a milestone in our growth journey, allowing us to expand our operations across a broader geography in Yorkshire.”
Kevin Procter, who founded Procters Coaches in 1990, said: “We’re proud of everything we’ve achieved in the past 30 years. I turned my father’s taxi company into Procters Coaches, starting with one minibus and one large coach.
“We have been on a journey of growth and innovation, and we are excited to hand over to the trusted Go-Ahead Group. We are fully supportive of Go-Ahead’s commitment to our team and their approach to driving positive change in the UK coach market, for local communities, customers, and the region.”
North Yorkshire insolvency practitioner appointed regional chair of R3
A well-known insolvency practitioner who has operated across Yorkshire and Teesside for over 25 years, Dave Broadbent, has been appointed as regional chair of R3, the insolvency and restructuring trade body.
Dave, who lives in Northallerton, began working in the insolvency sector in 1997, becoming one of the UK’s youngest insolvency practitioners when he began taking formal appointments at David Horner & Co in 2005. He assisted in growing the practice which was acquired by Begbies Traynor in 2007, before going on to establish his own firm, Broadbents, in 2010 which became part of Begbies Traynor five years later.
Since then, Dave, a partner at Begbies Traynor, has led the firm’s offices in York and Teesside, specialising in advising small to medium-sized owner-managed businesses as well as the pub sector, hairdressing franchisees and charities, across the full range of insolvency issues.
Dave has been a member of R3 for nearly 20 years and more recently has also served on the Yorkshire Regional Committee.
Dave takes over from Eleanor Temple, barrister at Kings Chambers in Leeds and recently appointed as King’s Counsel, who has been regional chair of Yorkshire and the Humber for the last seven years.
In his new role, Dave will continue Eleanor’s work, supported by new deputy chair Jodie Wildridge, an insolvency barrister at Exchange Chambers in Leeds. Together, they will work to raise the profile of R3 and its hundreds of members in the region, work with R3 to plan and deliver events and conferences for its members in Yorkshire and the Humber, and support the representation work it carries out on the profession’s behalf.
Dave says: “I’m very proud of the work I do as an insolvency practitioner, and, having practiced within the Yorkshire region for over 25 years, I felt it was time to give something back.
“It’s also a great opportunity to promote the positive role played by reputable professionals within the insolvency sector – we’re fortunate that Yorkshire is one of the largest and most dynamic centres for the profession and, together, we’re responsible for supporting hundreds of businesses every year, often in very difficult situations.”
Hessle-based SMS Towage acquired by Boluda
Boluda Towage has signed an agreement to acquire Hessle-based company SMS Towage Ltd.
The acquisition involves taking over the harbour & offshore towage services and marine operations, together with the management, office staff, crew, and fleet, based in the UK.
Operating in the UK since 1992, first as a ship management company and since 2002 as a towage operator, SMS has emerged as a major player in the UK towage market. Currently, the company is operating in the UK ports/regions of Tyne, Tees, Humber, Portsmouth, South Wales, and Belfast with a fleet of 20 tugs.
The addition of SMS will strengthen the position of Boluda Towage, already operating in the ports of Invergordon (Cromarty Firth), London, Liverpool, and Southampton, in towage and sustainable maritime services, with a broader scope in the UK.
After the official closing of the transaction, SMS will be part of Boluda Towage’s organization in the United Kingdom, and the new brand name will be Boluda Towage SMS. The local management team of Boluda Towage SMS will report to Philip Dulson, General Manager of Boluda Towage in the UK.
Commenting on the sale, SMS Towage owner Paul Escreet said: “The decision for us to accept the opportunity to sell SMS Towage to Boluda Towage came at just the right time, as we embark on a new chapter of business growth and development.
“I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the entire team for their unwavering dedication and hard work while working within SMS Towage. You have been the backbone of our success, and I am confident that under Boluda’s ownership, SMS Towage will continue to thrive. My best wishes go out to each one of you as you embrace this exciting transition.”
Vicente Boluda Fos, Chairman at Boluda Corporación Marítima, said that “to continue being leaders in the international maritime towing sector, our company needs to expand its scope of operations and we are proud that a professional company like SMS Towage wants to be part of our Group.”
Vice President executive, Boluda Towage, Mr. Vicente Boluda Ceballos, added: “The strong local team, with highly engaged colleagues, will bring a lot of experience and expertise to our company. Having exciting times ahead of us we certainly intend to deploy SMS Towage’s professional crews and experienced employees on future projects.”
Delegates encouraged to get their teeth into Humber Biz Week
Organisers of one of the Humber’s biggest corporate get-togethers are inviting delegates to eat their way through Biz Week as they count down to this year’s showcase.
A festival of more than 40 business events is guaranteed to test the staying power of even the most determined of networkers but Biz Week chair Pat Coyle promises there will be no shortage of refuelling options.
New to the programme this year is a Street Food Supper Club, a collaboration between one of Hull city centre’s most vibrant dining destinations, a business supper club marking its tenth anniversary, and the Hull Young Professionals group.
Expected to pull a big crowd, the Street Food Supper Club will bring a party atmosphere to Paragon Arcade on Monday June 3, the first day of Humber Business Week.
Food vendors including HullBID Awards winner Milchig and finalist Stretch Pizza plus Oishii Ne Asian street food restaurant will be selling their wares between 4pm and 8pm. Also planning to open are Out of the Attic record store and Artisan Flowers, with Paragon Arcade owners Allenby Commercial providing entertainment.
Charlie Allenby, Business Development Director at Allenby Commercial and a member of Hull Young Professionals, said: “We were approached by the organisers of the Monday Night Supper Club about hosting a joint event in Paragon Arcade and we recognised straight away it would be a great way to kick off Biz Week.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for the businesses in the Arcade to reach new audiences and it also raises awareness of the Arcade itself as a potential destination for corporate events, whether that’s for individual organisations or a partnerships of networking groups.”
Pat, the Director of Marketing and Client Relations at Rollits LLP, said: “Paragon Arcade has become a hub for great food in the city centre and the laid back vibe lends itself perfectly to an event like this, which will bring people together to unwind after a hectic first day of Biz Week.
“People might need to pace themselves because there’s a placebrand breakfast with Future Humber followed by the Biz Week Launch Lunch with guest speaker Pete Waterman and then the Street Food Supper Club – and that’s just on the Monday!
“There are breakfast events galore and a busy programme of lunch events includes Chamber Expo on the Tuesday and a bit of a twist with the Hull Businesswomen’s Breakfast Club presenting a lunch session on the Thursday. HullBID has its Inspiring People dinner at The Deep on the Wednesday and the following evening the University of Hull will host the official Humber Business Week dinner.
“We’re expecting great coffee from Elevenses at Sewell Studio on the Tuesday and that afternoon Rollits will be serving top quality cake for our Embracing Excellence event at the MKM Stadium.
“The Business Day at Bridlington Spa on the Friday is the closing event and starts early with breakfast, continues through lunch and wraps up with a celebratory champagne finale. Hull Speakers, which is a branch of Toastmasters International, will present a session on the Tuesday evening which might be of interest to after-dinner speakers. Our top tip would be if you’re planning to eat your way through Biz Week make sure you have some Gaviscon with you!”
