Kirklees Council is advancing its asset disposal programme with a new round of auctions that includes three sites in the Dewsbury area. The move is part of ongoing efforts to address financial pressures following a £47 million budget deficit in 2023.

The upcoming auctions feature land and buildings formerly used for community and commercial purposes in Ravensthorpe and Dewsbury town centre. These are among six properties across Kirklees set to go under the hammer in April and May. Guide prices suggest the council expects to raise at least £25,000 to £100,000 per site, depending on size and location.

This latest phase continues a wider sell-off that has already included more than 50 assets, ranging from museums and libraries to car parks and business centres. Sales so far have brought in substantial returns, with former council-owned sites such as the Red House Museum and Fartown Village Hall achieving six-figure sums.

All revenue from the sales is being reinvested into the council’s capital plan, which funds local infrastructure and economic development. The programme reflects a shift by local authorities toward asset realisation as a means of maintaining fiscal stability in the face of ongoing budget constraints.

The architect leading on the project to restore, refurbish and secure the long-term sustainability of Sheffield Town Hall has been appointed. Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios was chosen following a competitive selection process and will lead the work to breathe new life into the building that first opened its doors in 1897. Since then, the Town Hall has hosted some of the most important events in the city’s history, from council meetings and civic events, to sporting celebrations and marriages. Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios are known for their work in sustainable design and social design with their projects including the transformation of the Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings, Brighton Dome Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre along with Bath Abbey. The team has also worked on Sheffield’s Heart of the City 2 project, including the Grade II* Listed Leah’s Yard. Cllr Tom Hunt, leader of Sheffield City Council and chair of strategy and resources policy committee, said: “Our iconic and historic Town Hall is at the heart of Sheffield’s democracy and public life. From weddings to citizenship ceremonies, council meetings and elections, this special building has a unique place in the lives of Sheffield residents. “I’m delighted that our work to restore and refurbish the Town Hall is moving forward with the appointment of Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios as project architects. Through this work we will breathe new life into the Town Hall so that the building can continue to serve everyone in our city and be a modern, accessible workplace.” Geoff Rich, partner and director of heritage and creative reuse at Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, said: “We are thrilled to be selected to lead the design team for the renewal and refurbishment of Sheffield Town Hall. “The project represents an exciting opportunity to complement the building’s unique heritage with inclusive and sustainable design, and to ensure the Town Hall meets the future needs of Sheffield’s communities. “Our practice and project team have many strong links with Sheffield, and we feel hugely honoured to be invited to collaborate with the City Council and RLB on this transformative project.”

A £3.3 million expansion of a long-established business park close to York’s Outer Ring Road has completed with the construction of three new industrial units. The development at Northminster Business Park has seen three former agricultural buildings transformed into new and detached industrial and warehouse units, which range in size from 6,032 sq ft to 8,093 sq ft, in a self-contained area of the site known as Cropton Court. The buildings are available to buy or let and are being jointly marketed by property consultancy practices GV&Co and PPH Commercial. One unit has been sold, with another unit currently under offer. They have been built by local contractor, Elvington Park Building Services with York’s LHL Group project managing construction. Northminster Business Park is already home to more than 50 businesses, with approximately 1,000 employees. George Burgess, managing director at Northminster Properties, which owns the site, said: “We’ve specifically designed these buildings to appeal to ambitious businesses that require high specification and quality space, along with exceptional sustainability credentials, in a secure environment. “This all makes Cropton Court another exciting development at Northminster Business Park and we’re looking forward to welcoming more businesses into our thriving community.”

Henry Boot Construction has been appointed to build a new sustainable Maintenance Delivery Unit (MDU) for Network Rail in Barnetby, North Lincolnshire. Located adjacent to Barnetby Station, the new MDU will comprise a two-storey 9,500 sq ft main building – featuring welfare facilities, an office, and a stores – alongside associated services infrastructure, a service yard, staff and visitor car park, additional storage facilities, and reconfigured roads. The main building will have a timber aesthetic and greatly enhance facilities for workers with modern offices, meeting rooms, a canteen and changing facilities. As part of the upgrade, the new space will benefit from reduced embodied carbon and improved thermal performance. An optimised building layout will maximise natural daylight and remove the need for uneconomic storage heaters. Additional sustainability measures such as EV chargers, air-source heat pumps, triple-glazed windows, and rooftop solar PV panels will also be installed on the site, supporting Network Rail’s long-term environmental commitments. The sustainability enhancements have been funded through Network Rail’s Green Bank. Lee Powell, managing director at Henry Boot Construction, said: “We’re proud to be working with Network Rail on this forward-thinking development – creating a space that not only meets their long-term vision but enhances the experience for its users. “From the outset, we identified and delivered several sustainability measures designed to go beyond baseline requirements. These initiatives will significantly improve energy efficiency and reduce the project’s overall carbon footprint – positioning the site as a leading example of sustainable construction and human-centred design within their MDU portfolio. “For Henry Boot Construction, it also aligns with our plans to expand our footprint beyond Yorkshire, delivering quality construction projects across Lincolnshire, the Humber, East Midlands, Teesside and the surrounding areas.” Chris Round, senior portfolio manager MDU upgrade portfolio, NR Eastern routes capital programmes, added: “We are delighted to be working with Henry Boot Construction on the new Barnetby Maintenance Delivery Unit. Their expertise, commitment to sustainability, and collaborative approach perfectly aligns with our goals. “We’re confident that together, we will deliver outstanding results, and we look forward to a successful partnership.” Henry Boot Construction is the main contractor on the project, whilst built environment consultant Ridge is leading on the structural and architectural design. The project, which was procured through the Crown Commercial Service Construction Works and Associated Services (CWAS) framework, is now underway and expected to complete by early 2026.