Morrisons is set to close 52 cafés, 18 market kitchens, 17 convenience stores, 13 florists, 35 meat counters, 35 fish counters, and four pharmacies due to rising operational costs. The supermarket chain stated that the affected services were no longer financially viable.

While most impacted employees will be offered redeployment within the company, 365 jobs remain at risk of redundancy. CEO Rami Baitieh described the closures as necessary to refocus investment on areas that customers prioritise.

Avant Homes has received planning approval for a £45 million residential development in Yaddlethorpe, North Lincolnshire. The 20.1-acre site, named Moorwell Meadows, will feature 200 energy-efficient homes with two to five bedrooms.

Construction is set to begin in May, and the first homes will be available for sale in October. A show home is expected to open in November, and initial residents are scheduled to move in by December. The project includes a £170,000 community contribution towards improvements to Riddings Community Centre.

Delivered by Avant Homes North Yorkshire, the development aligns with the company’s expansion strategy in Lincolnshire. Avant Homes operates across the Midlands, northern England, and Scotland, focusing on multi-tenure housing for private, rental, and affordable sectors.

Portland Halls, a student accommodation block on Portland Street in Lincoln, will be converted into a house of multiple occupation (HMO) and flats following approval from the City of Lincoln Council.

C Student Services Ltd submitted the application to split the building into four units, including a seven-bedroom HMO on the ground floor, two four-bedroom flats on the first floor, and another four-bedroom flat on the second floor. The property, located near High Street, has housed students for over 20 years.

The council approved the plans with the condition that development must begin within three years. The application did not provide a reason for the change of use.

Since 2016, Lincoln has required special planning permission for HMO conversions to regulate unregistered and unlicensed properties.

McLaren Construction Midlands and North has commenced construction on a distribution centre for retailer, TJ Morris Ltd, at the Unity Yorkshire development in Doncaster. The new distribution centre will play a crucial role in the region’s industrial expansion, bringing 1,000 new jobs and opportunities to Doncaster and the region. Unity Yorkshire is a flagship mixed-use regeneration project, transforming the area into a business and employment hub, set within a sustainable mixed use flagship development. The new 1 million sq ft facility, located at Unity Connect, will consist of a fully automated distribution hub, with a 43-metre-high bay and significant low bay and cold storage areas, designed to support TJ Morris’ expansion plans. A groundbreaking ceremony marked the significant milestone in the expansion of T J Morris’ national distribution network. The event was attended by Ros Jones, Mayor of Doncaster, and representatives from City of Doncaster Council and Business Doncaster, Waystone Hargreaves Land, Atkins Realis, some of the logistics and automation team for TJ Morris and McLaren Construction Midlands and North. Construction is set to progress rapidly, with completion scheduled for October 2026. Upon completion, the facility will hand over to Witron for installation of automated picking equipment. The site will be highly automated and will service 300+ Home Bargains stores by mid 2028. Stuart Goss, Operations Director at McLaren Construction Midlands and North, said: “We are thrilled to break ground on this major project for TJ Morris Ltd. This development is a testament to our expertise in delivering high-specification logistics facilities that drive business growth and regional economic development.” Neil Kelson, Head of Logisitics at TJ Morris, added: “The new Distribution Centre represents a key step in our logistics strategy, enabling us to serve our customers more efficiently and support our expansion plans while creating significant employment opportunities for the local community.” Ros Jones, Mayor of Doncaster, added: “Today marks a milestone for the local area and wider City of Doncaster as we break ground on this state-of-the-art Distribution Centre. “This new addition to the Unity Yorkshire development not only strengthens our local community but also creates new, well-paid jobs for our residents. This is just the start of such a transformational development and is testament to our city’s growth and commitment to building a brighter future for all.” Helen McLoughlin, Director at Waystone Hargreaves LLP, said: “This is a tremendously exciting moment for everyone connected with the development of Unity. TJ Morris quickly identified the many benefits that Unity has to offer as a strategic location, so we are thrilled that they are commencing work on-site. “This will be a landmark building which will well and truly put Unity Yorkshire on the map, and we look forward to seeing construction progress in the months ahead.”

Stage One Creative Services, a North Yorkshire-based set manufacturer, has submitted plans to expand its facilities to accommodate growing demand. The company, known for producing large-scale sets for events like the London Olympics, Eurovision, and major music tours, aims to extend its Minster Hag Business Park site near Tockwith.

The firm employs 134 people and has seen significant growth, particularly in the Middle East. It currently operates from both Minster Hag and Marton Business Park, where it utilises three aircraft hangars for manufacturing. However, documents submitted to North Yorkshire Council highlight space limitations and the need for a dust-free environment for electronics and precision engineering.

The proposed expansion includes extending the Minster Hag site and constructing four detached single-storey buildings. The company plans to reorganise operations, consolidating manufacturing, design, and logistics at Marton Business Park while focusing on electronics, automation, R&D, and administration at Minster Hag.

Stage One says the expansion is crucial to maintaining its position as a global leader in set production and will support future business growth and job creation.