How green is your property? Conveyancers told of duty to advise on climate legal risks
Conveyancing solicitors have been warned by the Law Society of England and Wales that they have an overall duty to advise on climate legal risks when acting in transactions.
They must now consider whether climate searches are required for every property transaction they oversee, with the caveat that they ‘should not advise on climate change physical risks where it is outside their knowledge or qualification’.
The new guidance reflects the 2008 Climate Change Act, which commits the UK to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 68% by 2030 and 78% by 2035.
Chris Watson of X-Press Legal Services Lincolnshire said: “The Climate Change Act is already having a significant impact on the construction and housing sectors so to see it now filtering into property transactions is of little surprise.
“For the home buyer this guidance means many solicitors will now feel duty bound to recommend a climate change report as part of the suite of property related searches undertaken during the conveyancing process.
“Climate risks can be physical, transition, or liability related, and can negatively impact the value of land and buildings. In view of that, these searches will provide home buyers with an extra level of insight into their purchase and any climate related risks.”
Leeds-based civil engineering consultancy opens premises in the north west
Leeds structural and civil engineering consultancy Dudleys has opened a new office in Prestwich in the wake of a ten percent increase in turnover to £1.82m for 2022 and a further projected 10% year-on-year growth for the next three years to achieve £2.66m by the end of 2025.
A more permanent presence in the north west has been spearheaded by client activity, including Voyage Care with new-build projects in Burnley, Ellesmere Port, and Liverpool, and Home Bargains with developments in Leigh and Great Harwood.
Dudleys is also appointed to assist in the delivery of the latest phase of development at Logistics North, a strategic employment site near Bolton, with further projects including Runcorn Services and new trade units on Carl Fogarty Way in Blackburn.
Dudleys, which counts Leeds United, Leeds/Bradford Airport and Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate as long-standing clients, has doubled the size of its Leeds office space in the last twelve months with board director Paul Brownlow now heading up the new office in Prestwich.
MD Andy Walker said: “Whilst we have served clients in the region for some years, our expanding portfolio now requires a more locally-based team. We are optimistic about future business growth in the region and look forward to making our presence more widely known across the industry.”
Dudleys provides structural and civil engineering advice across the UK. Established more than 12 years ago, the privately-owned consultancy employs a team of 25 highly skilled engineers. It operates in all key real estate sectors including residential, industrial, commercial, retail and education.
Outdoor advertising operator expands into Scotland
Outdoor advertising operator 75Media has moved into Scotland with the acquisition of 122 new billboard sites, including Scotland’s largest roadside advertising structure, the M8 Tower in Glasgow.
The Leeds-based company’s expansion into Scottish territory comes as part of its long-term partnership with Wildstone, the provider of outdoor media infrastructure. As well as Glasgow’s iconic M8 Tower, 75Media will now operate the Edinburgh Airport Tower which, combined with the M8 Tower, will offer brands almost 2.5 million impacts a fortnight in Scotland’s busiest roadside locations. A further 70 classic 48 sheets, 43 digital 48 sheets and six digital 96 sheets will also launch 75Media’s Scotland billboard portfolio across Glasgow and Edinburgh conurbations. The acquisitions are expected to generate revenue of approximately £5 million for the operator. Speaking about the Scottish expansion, 75Media’s Managing Director, Paul Inman, said: “This is a pivotal milestone in our growth strategy and will be instrumental in us realising our goal of becoming the number one billboard advertising network for brands in the UK. “This new Scottish network will enable us to become a dominant player in the Scottish out-of-home (OOH) market, with more sites still to come.” Founder and CEO of Wildstone, Damian Cox, added: “We are delighted to have extended our framework agreement with Paul and his team through this Scottish expansion. 75Media represents a platform of exceptional media assets which we are excited to help grow rapidly. Their sales strategy is extremely interesting and shows how driven businesses can exceed revenue expectations without always relying on the mainstream agency model. “We believe that DOOH is still very much in its infancy in the UK. Both broadcast and the premium side of the market will see significant growth and innovation within the next five years and we at Wildstone are excited to be spearheading that with our tenant base.” Paul continued: “It is an incredibly exciting time for us as a company and also a great honour to be taking on these prestigious sites, and we look forward to working with agencies and brands of all sizes across Scotland to help tell their stories, out-of-home.”Trio of fine knitwear companies sold out of administration
Interpath Advisory has secured the future of three fine knitwear businesses based in Yeadon, near Leeds.
Jack Brodie Limited is a retailer of cashmere clothing and accessories primarily to high-end retail customers based in the UK and USA, but also sells directly to consumers via its website. The Edinburgh Knitwear Company Limited is a retailer of pima cotton and cashmere products, while Pennine (London) Limited is a retailer of cashmere clothing and accessories. The three companies are connected by virtue of common directors and shareholders.
The companies had seen significant revenue growth in recent years, prompting management to invest in stock to meet demand, as well as investing in their direct-to-consumer channels including their websites.
However, more recently, the companies began to experience significant pressure on working capital and, after assessing all their options, Rick Harrison and Howard Smith were appointed joint administrators to the entities on 19 April 2023.
Immediately following their appointment, Interpath Advisory concluded a sale of the business and certain assets of Jack Brodie Limited and The Edinburgh Knitwear Company Ltd to Jamm Logistics Limited.
In a separate transaction, Interpath Advisory concluded a sale of the business and certain assets of Pennine (London) Ltd. to Belgium-based Amitex NV.
As part of the two transactions, all of the companies’ 38 employees will transfer to Jamm Logistics Limited and Amitex NV.
Rick Harrison, Managing Director at Interpath Advisory, said: “We’re pleased to have concluded these two transactions which will enable these long-established fine knitwear businesses to trade.”
Howard Smith, Managing Director at Interpath Advisory, added: “We’re particularly pleased to have been able to safeguard the jobs of all employees and wish them, and the respective management teams, all the best for the future.”
Colenso marks business growth with new shareholder appointment
Colenso Property, the York-based commercial property and asset management specialist, has welcomed Lucy Glasby as a shareholder and partner in the business following a period of significant growth for the company.
Lucy first joined Colenso in 2018, and is now the business’s head of Facilities Management, overseeing its health and safety compliance, and the management of a range of hard and soft services, including mechanical and electrical maintenance, fire safety systems, cleaning, and security, throughout its extensive portfolio.
Colenso, which manages a wide range of commercial properties across the UK for a variety of private clients, is expecting a 30% growth in net profit this year, following the business having expanded its service offering, recruited additional team members, invested in cloud-based software and streamlined business processes.
In recent years, Colenso has also invested heavily into its sustainability offering, having project managed the installation of a number of Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points, along with solar panel installations for a range of private landlords, ahead of the upcoming changes to Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) up to 2030.
Lucy Glasby, head of Facilities Management at Colenso Property, said: “Having been part of the Colenso team for a number of years, the decision to invest within the business was an easy one, particularly given the exciting period of growth we are experiencing and expecting.
“I’m particularly excited to be working to expand our sustainability offering, working with our clients to improve their green credentials and significantly reduce energy bills in the long-term.”
Charles Harrison, head of Estates at Colenso Property, said: “Having taken the time to invest within the business during the pandemic, we have now been rewarded with a significant boost to our profitability. In light of this, we’re delighted to welcome Lucy to the board.
“She has been an integral part of Colenso’s success to date, particularly in allowing us to expand our offering during recent years to provide service charge consultancy and management across our multi-tenanted commercial properties.
“As a dedicated and talented member of the team, we couldn’t think of a better person to join the board, and we’re sure that she will play a crucial role during this next stage of our business journey.”Alexia Swift-Cookson, head of Asset Management at The Helmsley Group, whose portfolio of over 90 properties is managed by Colenso, added: “Having worked closely with Colenso for many years, we want to congratulate them on this latest appointment to the board.
“As a business, Colenso shares our enthusiasm for York and its property sector, and has always provided a fantastic service across our £200m portfolio. We want to congratulate the whole team on its recent, well-deserved success.”
The Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology reveals calendar of courses for 2023
The Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology, University of Greenwich offers a wide range of short courses designed specifically for engineers involved in the handling and/or designing of equipment for bulk solid materials.
Course content, offered as a mixture of online learning and face to face training, is continually developed to reflect the changes occurring in industry and the needs of the engineer.
Many now offer a practical workshop in the on-site laboratories to complement the theoretical presentations and real-life case studies used.
The calendar of courses for 2023 includes:
9 – 10 May: Caking and Lump Formation of Powders and Bulk Solids; Concentration on issues relating to keeping powders and granules in a free-flowing, lump-free condition 16 – 18 May: Pneumatic Conveying of Bulk Materials; Identification of components of pneumatic conveying systems, system selection and design techniques 14 June: Dust Control for Processes; Identification and risk assessment within processing systems; studying dust prevention, capture and extraction methods 28 – 29 June: Pneumatic Conveying System Design; An in-depth exploration of detailed calculations for design of pneumatic pipelines and specifying plant (Advanced course) 11 – 15 September: Powder Handling and Flow for Additive Manufacturing; A guide through the critical aspects of powder management for powder-based AM processing 19 – 20 September: Commissioning and Troubleshooting ‘Hands-on’ Pneumatic Conveying Systems; A look at the practical challenges of starting up systems on site and making sure they work as the designer intended 17 – 19 October: Overview of Particulate Handling Technology; An introduction to the storing and handling of bulk materials, equipment selection and design methodologies for safe and reliable plant 7 – 9 November: Pneumatic Conveying of Bulk Materials; Identification of components of pneumatic conveying systems, system selection and design techniques 29 – 30 November: Pneumatic Conveying System Design; An in-depth exploration of detailed calculations for design of pneumatic pipelines and specifying plant (Advanced course) 5 & 6 December: Electrostatics in Powder Handling; the cause and effect of electrostatic charging in bulk solids handlingIf the course you are interested in is not shown, an In-Company course is possible.
For more information call 020 8331 8646, or contact wolfson-enquiries@gre.ac.ukCard Factory acquires South African firm for £2.5m
Card Factory, the Wakefield-headquartered retailer of greeting cards, gifts and celebration essentials, has acquired SA Greetings Corporation (Pty) Ltd and its subsidiaries, which trade as SA Greetings, for £2.5m.
SA Greetings is a wholesaler of greeting cards and gift packaging in South Africa. It also operates 24 ‘Cardies’ retail stores, with four further stores operated by franchisees, and owns and operates a roll-wrap production facility. Its head office and main warehouse are located in Johannesburg, with sales offices in Durban and Cape Town.
South Africa is one of the target territories for Card Factory’s partnership expansion. The acquisition of SA Greetings, supports this strategic growth pillar by providing access to key wholesale accounts through the company’s printing, merchandising and warehousing capacity.
Darcy Willson-Rymer, Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted to have completed the acquisition of SA Greetings and look forward to working with our new colleagues. Under the continued leadership of SA Greetings MD, Willie Engelbrecht, we will closely collaborate to further enhance and develop opportunities for the Card Factory and SA Greetings businesses.
“SA Greetings brings with it significant experience operating a wholesale business, which can inform and support development of our retail partnership business, and is entirely aligned with Card Factory’s strategic plan for international expansion.
“As well as giving us a foothold into our target South African market, we will also be using their mature printing, merchandising and warehousing facilities to understand how we can deliver similar local capability in other target markets.”
North Yorkshire businesses boosted by broadband investment
A £29m scheme to dramatically enhance broadband speeds for North Yorkshire homes and businesses is in its fourth phase, connecting premises in some of the most technologically-isolated areas of the county.
The next stage of the Superfast North Yorkshire programme is targeting the most challenging areas of the county where it has previously not been viable to provide the improved internet connections. But with advancements in technology and the use of a new ultrafast ‘full fibre’ network with speeds of up to one gigabit, premises in deeply rural parts of North Yorkshire are being given faster and more reliable internet links.
North Yorkshire Council leader Carl Les said: “The need to provide decent broadband connectivity to rural parts of the county has long been an aspiration of ours.
“The fact that it is now becoming a reality will be of a huge benefit to those communities that have been technologically disadvantaged for so long. We all know how reliable internet connections are so important for everyday life in the 21st century, and we are committed to ensuring that everyone has access to broadband wherever they are based.”
The fourth phase of the Superfast Broadband programme is due for completion next March, with almost 16,000 premises benefitting from vastly improved internet connections.
Executive member for open to business, Cllr Derek Bastiman, whose portfolio includes broadband, said: “The roll-out of superfast broadband is having a profoundly positive impact for tens of thousands of North Yorkshire homes and businesses.
“The latest phase of the project is helping put in place some of the last remaining pieces of the jigsaw to help provide improved connectivity throughout the whole county, including some of the most rural parts of North Yorkshire.”
The first deeply rural area to benefit is centred on Buckden in the Yorkshire Dales. Among those villagers who have been given improved broadband connections is Gill Huck, who lives at Church Farm in Stubbing Lane in Hubberholme. Mrs Huck runs the 1,800-acre farm, which has 1,000 sheep and 100 cattle, with her husband, John, and their son, James, and his wife, Lucy.
Mrs Huck said: “To have the improved connection to the internet has really changed our lives. Before the connections were a lot slower and had a habit of dropping out, but now we have the peace of mind that we can actually access the internet when we want.
“It has helped so much with the running of the farm when we need to order supplies or fill out forms online – the internet is not something that is simply the preserve of towns and cities, and it is part of modern life wherever you live.”
The latest phase of the project is being managed by NYnet, a company owned by North Yorkshire Council, and run by Quickline Communications, a rural broadband provider based in Willerby near Hull.
NYnet CEO Alastair Taylor said: “So much work has been undertaken to address poor internet connections across the whole county. The fourth phase of the project will be a gamechanger for thousands of rural businesses and residents and highlights our commitment to delivering superfast internet speeds to all of North Yorkshire.”
Research has shown that connecting everyone in the UK to full fibre broadband by 2025 could remove 300 million commuter trips, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 360,000 tonnes each year. A fibre optic cable can send a signal over 120 miles without any significant loss of quality, while traditional copper cables can lose signal at just a mile.
Firms urged to guard against cyber attacks
Cyber crime is on the rise, with perpetrators becoming increasingly devious about the ways in which they infiltrate and disrupt company systems.
UK Global Cyber Crime figures reveal that the UK had the highest number of victims per million internet users with 4,783 last year – a rise of 20 per cent on 2020 figures. Thirty- nine per cent of businesses have reported a cyber threat.
Rising concerns have encouraged Lincolnshire IT specialist LCS IT Solutions (LCSIT) to team-up with website design and digital marketing firm DBS Digital and experienced cyber engagement officers – working under the banner of the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (which covers the region’s five police forces) – to help county firms by sharing their expertise.
Together they are staging a high-profile event at The Lawn in Union Road, Lincoln on May 4, to ensure businesses are left in no doubt that cyber crime has the power to disrupt businesses of all sizes. They say it is vital that businesses remain alert to potential problems.
Lincolnshire-based LCSIT Managing Director Anthony Bryant said: “Some businesses simply think that cybercrime won’t happen to them. Others admit they are fearful of the unknown and businesses and organisations with compliance concerns, such as those working in the finance and health sectors, have their own particular worries.
“It is clear that criminals are exploiting gaps within businesses where cyber security managers, who may be burnt-out by always having to be on their guard, may have inadvertently left a business open to attack.”
Lincolnshire Police’s former Community Support Officer Justin Mekkaoui joined its Cyber Protection team a year ago. He is joining the East Midlands Special Ops Unit’s Cyber Engagement lead Sergeant Nick Stenner to speak at the Lawn event, which runs from 8am to 11.30am.
Sgt Stenner said: “We are determined to raise awareness during our presentation, which will explain how participants can protect their online accounts. We will also focus on data breaches, the value of personal data, phishing attacks, ransomware, antivirus and firewalls, the use of public wi-fi and more.”
Justin Mekkaoui said: “This event will also feature a Question-and-Answer session and we will be encouraging participants to speak-up if they have any points they feel unsure about.”
Lincoln-based website and digital marketing firm DBS Digital’s diverse client base includes business owners who often ask questions about cyber space matters.
DBS Digital Managing Director Julie Priestley said: “Cyber crime is one of the biggest threats to our business, at DBS our goal is to guide and support businesses in website design and digital marketing, supporting cyber security awareness goes hand in hand with that goal.”
Business owners and managers can book their FREE place at this event by visiting https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cyber-threats-what-you-need-to-know-tickets- 597651731417
Construction starts on 400,000 sq ft smart logistics development in Doncaster
Construction of a state-of-the-art 405,411 sq ft distribution and logistics facility in South Yorkshire has started at Eclipse, Doncaster.
Building contractor Bowmer & Kirkland has been appointed to deliver the smart scheme. CBRE’s Industrial team in Leeds, alongside Colliers, are joint agents for the Grade A industrial space, acting for Blackbrook and Rula Developments.
Doncaster Council granted planning consent in December 2022 for the speculative development unit, a scheme by Blackbrook Capital and Rula Developments, which is scheduled for completion in January 2024 and is expected to achieve a BREEAM Excellent certification and EPC A Rating.
Blackbrook is a specialist investment firm focused on future-proof supply chain infrastructure across Europe. Rula Developments is a commercial developer focused on identifying and developing sites across the UK for immediate development or for medium to longer-term strategic development, delivering high quality buildings and schemes.
Blackbrook has invested in the carbon neutral building which will deliver 381,150 sq ft of much needed high quality, modern warehouse/industrial space to meet demand in the region. The development has capacity for up to 100% coverage of roof solar PV panels and will deliver more than 24,000 sq ft of Grade A office accommodation with 256 car parking spaces and 26 EV charging points on site.
Mike Baugh, executive director, CBRE Leeds Industrial team, said: “We are delighted to see works starting on site at the brand new Eclipse logistics development which will deliver much needed high quality industrial space to the regional pipeline. Eclipse offers market-leading sustainability credentials, designed specifically to reduce energy use, mitigate climate risk and boost biodiversity. It fulfils a number of ESG criteria sought after by occupiers.”
Alice Vacani, vice president at Blackbrook, said: “We are excited to see ground breaking on this excellent new addition to our portfolio. We prioritise sustainability at the design, construction and operations of our assets which perfectly align with the growing needs and demands of customers. The development is strategically located with prime highway connections, providing a gateway to the region and wider UK logistics network.”
Ben Ward, Managing Director at Rula Developments, said: “With limited speculative development taking place within the industrial and logistics sector, at a time of severe supply shortages, we are proud to be driving forwards with this extensive unit.”
