Plans for a 5,000-seat indoor arena on the former Coatham Bowl site in Redcar have been abandoned following insufficient financial backing. Developers Coatham Arena Ltd had proposed the venue for music and sports events, seeking support from Redcar and Cleveland Council and the Tees Valley Combined Authority. Private investors were not prepared to shoulder the full financial risk during the planning phase without local funding.

The council retains control of the land and may relaunch a tendering process in the future as part of ongoing coastal regeneration efforts. The site previously hosted the Coatham Bowl, later Redcar Bowl, which welcomed major music acts and international darts tournaments before being demolished in 2014 due to declining attendance and structural decline.

A planning application has been submitted to build 39 residential units on the site of the former Ye Old Harrow pub in Sheffield, near Park Square. The proposal includes 37 one-bedroom flats and two two-bedroom apartments. 

The pub closed in 2008 and suffered fire damage in 2019. The existing structure is considered derelict and will be demolished to allow construction.

The site previously received approval for a seven-storey block with 57 apartments, but the new application reduces the scale to comply with fire safety and building regulations. Sheffield Council planning officers aim to reach a decision by 9 December.

The contractor who will deliver the UK Government-funded Towns Fund transformation of Brighouse town centre has been appointed. Esh Construction will now develop the plan for construction work to begin, and will work with shops and businesses to ensure they are supported as the work to improve streets and public spaces in the town gets underway. The £19.1m Brighouse Town Deal plans aim to create a place that is welcoming and pleasant to spend time, putting the focus on people not cars while continuing to give vital access to the town centre, with an overarching ambition to encourage more people to be able to safely shop, spend time and spend money in Brighouse. Delivery of manufacturing and digital skills support is already happening at the Industry 4.0 Hub from Calderdale College, while the rebuilding of Brighouse’s Market is also nearing completion. The layout changes in the heart of the town centre is the final stage in the transformation. Co-Chair of the Brighouse Town Deal Board, Cllr Howard Blagbrough, said: “The appointment of Esh Construction as our partner to deliver the public realm elements of the Brighouse Town Deal project is an important moment. These changes in the heart of the town centre will be the most visible and, for many, the most significant changes so we need to get them right. “There will, inevitably, be disruption while the construction work takes places but the contractor has committed to working with town centre shops, businesses and the Business Improvement District to make sure the town centre is open and accessible to all throughout. We will be holding them to that as we work together to deliver the transformation that will unlock Brighouse’s potential long into the future.” Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, Cllr Sarah Courtney, said: “The appointment of Esh Construction to deliver the improvements in the centre of Brighouse is a major step forward, allowing work to begin in the heart of the town. “The improvements have been developed using feedback from local people, balancing people’s differing views and priorities, whilst highlighting some of the things that make the town so special. This includes creating more places to support the programme of strong community events and providing opportunities to spend more time in town, both during the day and into the evening. “With the Industry 4.0 Hub boosting skills and the new market really starting to take shape, we’re seeing how the significant town deal investment in Brighouse is creating opportunities and supporting a thriving future for the town.” Michael Sherrard, Construction Manager for Esh Construction, said: “We’re proud to be appointed as the delivery partner for the Brighouse Town Deal public realm improvements. This is a significant project for the town and collaboration will be at the heart of our approach. “We’re committed to working closely with the Town Deal Board, Calderdale Council, local businesses and the wider community to ensure the transformation is delivered with care, consideration and lasting impact. Supporting regeneration and creating places where people want to live, work and visit is central to what we do.” The aim of the Town Deal improvement work in the town centre is to develop public areas so they are more welcoming, encourage more people into the town centre for longer, with more to do at all times of the day and night, and provide a quality event and community space at the historic Thornton Square.

Planning approval has been secured for two major developments within the Humber Freeport’s Goole tax site. East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Planning Committee has granted full planning permission to Finnish manufacturer Metsä Tissue and commercial property developer Wykeland Group to create the UK’s largest tissue paper mill, together with office space and associated infrastructure. The facility, which will extend to around three million sq ft of space once complete, will be built in phases, supporting up to 400 direct jobs and creating a breadth of supply chain opportunities. It aims to increase the UK’s self-sufficiency in the manufacture of essential tissue products by more than 30 per cent. At the same Planning Committee meeting, Henry Boot Developments (HBD) and landowner St John’s College Cambridge received outline planning consent for an industrial and manufacturing park. That development sits on the south side of the Goole tax site, separated from the Metsä plot by the M62 motorway, and will create more than five million sq ft of industrial space. The site could accommodate buildings from 40,000 sq ft to one million sq ft. Both planning approvals are subject to conditions and the signing of legal agreements. Professor Neal Juster, Interim Chair of Humber Freeport, said: “This is another very significant step forward for Humber Freeport, and for the two large-scale developments within our Goole tax site. It adds to the powerful momentum behind the Freeport. “For Goole, it is further recognition of the strength of the investment proposition in the town. Its strategic location, connectivity and infrastructure make it an ideal location to invest, creating high-quality direct employment and supply chain opportunities. “We’re delighted to see Metsä Tissue and Wykeland Group secure planning permission for the tissue paper mill. It is an important investment not just for Goole, but for the wider region, boosting the Humber’s credentials as a hotbed for advanced, sustainable manufacturing. “A further economic uplift will be created by HBD and St John’s College Cambridge’s industrial and manufacturing park. Outline permission for this industrial cluster will enable the developers to market specific opportunities and take forward the strong pipeline of enquiries for the site.” Goole is one of three Humber Freeport tax sites, alongside Hull East and Able Humber Port, near Immingham.

In a major milestone for Halifax’s new leisure centre, work is now underway on site at North Bridge to prepare for construction. At the same time, the detailed design stage – the final step before the building phase starts – is progressing well, ensuring every detail for the new centre is construction-ready. As part of investment in regeneration across Halifax and Calderdale, the Council is working with contractor Tilbury Douglas to deliver the new leisure centre. It will include a main six-lane swimming pool with spectator seating, a learner pool, a refurbished eight-court sports hall, a 120-station fitness suite, three multi-functional studios, a dedicated cycling studio, a children’s soft play and adventure area, a café and community area, wellbeing spaces where health and community organisations can locate their services, a wet changing village and a Changing Places facility for disabled people and separate dry change facilities for sports hall and gym use. Cllr Sarah Courtney, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, said: “Delivering a brand new leisure centre for everyone is a significant investment in the future of Halifax, the wider borough and people’s health and wellbeing. It’s brilliant to be moving forward with this key aspiration for the town, which is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver high-quality sports, leisure, wellbeing and social facilities. “The designs are looking fantastic and we’re getting closer to the modern, accessible and sustainable leisure destination taking shape.” Paul Ellenor, Regional Director for Yorkshire and the North East at Tilbury Douglas, said: “We are delighted to be working with Calderdale Council on this landmark leisure scheme, which will bring first class facilities to the heart of Halifax. “The new centre will not only promote healthier lifestyles and wellbeing for local people, but will also deliver sustainable, modern spaces that meet the needs of the whole community for generations to come. It’s exciting to see work now underway on site, marking an important step towards realising this transformational project.” The work taking place on site to prepare for construction includes installing safety fencing around the site, demolishing the buildings around the sports hall, site investigations, essential groundworks, tree protection and updating condition surveys for the culvert and drainage systems. Construction of the new leisure centre is estimated to be complete in 2027.