Former Leeds police station set for transformation into new residential scheme
Pickard Properties, the family-owned property developer and landlord, has submitted plans to transform a former police station into a new community within North West Leeds.
The developer is proposing to regenerate the site of the former Weetwood Police station into a purpose-built residential scheme.
Comprising 127 built-to-rent apartments, the scheme will create much-needed new homes in this popular area of the city.
With a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, the scheme will be highly-energy efficient and benefit from solar power, EV charging points along with a ‘green roof’ on accessible roofs, which will be covered in moss to increase biodiversity and act as a natural air purifier.
The scheme will also enhance the local environment with green communal areas and landscaping to complement the established tree line, which separates the site from Otley Road, and will be expanded with the planting of new trees.
The communal landscaped areas will also be publicly accessible with new pathways proposed that will allow local people to walk through and enjoy the green spaces.
If planning permission is granted by Leeds City Council, considerate demolition of the existing buildings is expected to begin in early 2024 with construction expected to begin later that year.
The site was acquired by Pickard Properties, advised by Fox Lloyd Jones, after West Yorkshire Police closed the station and put the building up for sale in 2020.
The company has formed an experienced development team to take its proposals forward including Leeds-based planning consultants, Quod, architects Halliday Clark, based in Ilkley, and Project Management & Quantity Surveyors Fox Lloyd Jones, also based in Leeds.
Miles Pickard, director of Pickard Properties, said: “The site presents an ideal opportunity to transform previously developed land into a vibrant new community, complementing neighbouring green spaces with high quality apartments that are designed to be sympathetic to their surroundings. It will also make an important contribution to the growing demand for new modern homes in Leeds.
“We are committed to create high quality, sustainable homes that bring added economic and social value to areas across Leeds and West Yorkshire. The former Weetwood Police Station site is an exciting opportunity for Pickard Properties to enhance our long-term relationship with this part of Leeds.”
ABP names new man as Head of Property for The Humber
Greg Lacey has joined ABP in The Humber as Head of Property, moving from more than three years as Senior Asset Manager for Tilstone Partners.
With his previous employers he was responsible for the management of its three million sq. ft. North West and Yorkshire portfolio. He brings to the role a wealth of experience in acquisitions, disposals, asset, and property management having previously held roles at Asda and CEG in Leeds. At ABP Greg will be responsible for property activity across the four Humber ports.
Simon Bird, Regional Director of ABP Humber said: “Greg will play a critical role in delivering our ambitious property strategy, which includes the historic Kasbah on the Port of Grimsby and our many ambitious development sites which all contribute to local and national economic growth.”
Mr Lacey added: “I’m hugely excited to join ABP, the UK’s leading ports group and to lead on unlocking asset management opportunities in a port environment, playing on the strengths of both Freeports and the more recently announced Investment Zones.”
“There are strong opportunities for wider strategic land development focused on port centric logistics and manufacturing, in turn, unlocking significant economic growth and job creation. At Humber International Enterprise Park (HIEP) one of the UK’s largest allocated industrial employment sites – we have an exclusive proposition to attract multinational occupiers across a range of business sectors who want to achieve supply chain resilience and quick access to global markets. The Humber ports are an exciting place for new and existing customers to invest, and ABP are strongly placed in what continues to be a supply constrained industrial and logistics sector.”
Time’s running out for Keighley firms to apply for grants
Bradford Council is calling on new businesses in Keighley to apply for a grant before applications close next month.
The local authority is offering Community Led Local Development small scale grants to accelerate local business growth and create new jobs.
Grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 are available to new business start-ups, the self-employed and existing micro and Small Medium Enterprise businesses that are not supported by existing local programmes.
If applicants can demonstrate that their project is exceptional then the council will consider a grant of up to £7,500.
Applicants are required to provide 20 per cent towards total grant project costs. To be eligible, businesses must operate within a defined area in Keighley.
The deadline for the Community Led Local Development small scale grants scheme is midnight, Sunday 13 November.
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “This is a great opportunity for local businesses to receive a boost so they can grow and take on more staff.
“We are urging all SMEs in Keighley to take a look at the grant and if they are eligible, apply as soon as possible.
“The CLLD programme joins a raft of business support services and wider economic development programmes the council runs to boost jobs and investment across the Bradford district.”
The Keighley CLLD small grants scheme is part funded by Bradford Council and the England European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.
Applications must be submitted by contacting Jon Davis at Participate Projects on 07915 231300, jon@participateprojects.org.uk or by emailing businessgrantsenquiries@bradford.gov.uk.
Waterline Summit establishes three key objectives
The Humber’s climate change Waterline Summit 2022 has concluded with businesses, public sector organisations, academic institutions and community groups agreeing to work towards three specific goals.
Those goals, which were highlighted on the third and final day of this year’s summit, are:
- Highly-skilled, green jobs.
- Private investment to drive economic growth.
- A decarbonised future for our country.
Leeds-based CDS strengthens strategic future of data division with key senior hire
CDS has appointed Geoff Barraclough as its data services director to drive intelligent decision-making for private and public-sector clients by harnessing the power of data.
The hire comes in response to the exponential rise in digitisation across the private and public sectors – as organisations struggle to visualise, understand, and harness the wealth of insight available to them.
Geoff brings over 20 years of experience to CDS – a Leeds-headquartered agency which enables strategic change for large and complex organisations, including the NHS, Insight Investments, the Metropolitan Police Service and Yorkshire Water.
“Technology, data, and process ecosystems are increasingly entwined in the drive towards digitalisation across both private and public sectors,” explained Clare Gledhill, operations director at CDS. “Central to this is how organisations both interact with and utilise data.
“The difficulty with having access to increasing amounts of intelligence is the inability to make the best use of it. The appointment of Geoff will ensure CDS is best positioned to respond to this challenge.”
Aiming to maximise the value of customers’ data assets, Geoff’s role will be to refine clients’ tech stacks – building solutions that drive value through streamlined decision-making.
Geoff elaborated on his decision to join CDS: “I want to build and embed a culture within CDS that seeks to define success by measuring real-world data outcomes.
“The goal is to take our customers on a journey to understanding how to implement processes and bolster capabilities – ultimately, making the cultural changes required to ensure data is both secure and being used to its full potential.”
Clare concluded: “I’m delighted to have Geoff on board. His appointment supports CDS’ ambition to demystify and embed data-informed thinking into everything we do.
“Data is an integral part of our strategy. We see it as a crucial enabler to understanding and implementing change across organisations – particularly those that rely on such insight to make business-critical decisions in today’s turbulent environment.”
Liz Truss resigns as Prime Minister
Liz Truss has resigned from her post as Prime Minister, making her the shortest-serving PM in history. The markets have thus far been quiet, but the value of the pound did rise immediately after the announcement, signaling the lack of faith in Truss’ leadership.
There is no news yet on who will take over, or who will throw their hats into the ring, but Jeremy Hunt has claimed that he will not be running for leadership.
Labour leader Keir Starmer has demanded an election.
Public control of South Yorkshire tram system given go ahead
South Yorkshire will have a publicly owned, publicly operated tram network from 2024, as regional leaders approve plans for the system’s future.
The move means the running of Supertram services, infrastructure and finances will be controlled by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) when Stagecoach’s current contract for operation of the network ends.
The plan forms part of the region’s wider ambitions to upgrade Supertram, as part of a fully integrated public transport network.
South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “Our transport ambitions – for how our communities get to jobs or education, and how they visit family and friends – must work for the whole of our region and for a generation to come.
“Supertram has been part of South Yorkshire’s fabric for nearly thirty years. In the next thirty years, it will play a critical role in helping us reach our net zero goal. Now, I am pleased to be able to say that it will do so as a publicly owned, publicly operated venture.
“Full public control of Supertram is an exciting new chapter for our tram network. It will help us to develop a long-term, integrated approach that fits with our wider plans for buses, rail, walking and cycling across South Yorkshire.”
Opened in 1994, South Yorkshire’s Supertram system cost £240m and now serves major residential and employment sites in Sheffield. A Tram Train project extended the network to Rotherham in 2018.
SYMCA recently secured a £100 million Government grant to modernise parts of the system, including track and infrastructure improvements and better facilities for passengers.
A 2018 consultation on the Future of Supertram found strong public support for proposed investment running at nearly ninety-percent (88%) of local residents, businesses, visitors and community groups. The majority of respondents (68.3%) stated they would travel by car if the tram was no longer available.
South Yorkshire leaders approved proposals to create an ‘arm’s length’ publicly owned company to run the region’s tram system at the Mayoral Combined Authority Board meeting on 18 October. Stagecoach’s operating contract for Supertram ends in March 2024.
Deloitte appoints new office senior partner for Leeds
Deloitte has appointed Anil Gupta as office senior partner for Leeds and the Yorkshire market, supporting Stuart Cottee, practice senior partner for Yorkshire and the North East region.
Anil joined the firm in 2005 as a graduate, focusing on Corporate Finance in Yorkshire. For the last five years he has led the regional Debt & Capital Advisory business and now leads the wider Performance Improvement business across the regions.
As part of this new role, Anil aims to grow Deloitte’s impact in Yorkshire along with the 27-strong partner group in Leeds.
Anil Gupta, office senior partner for Leeds and the Yorkshire market at Deloitte, said: “I’m immensely proud to take on this new role. I’ve worked in the Yorkshire market since leaving university and I’m passionate about the region.
“As we further embed our hybrid ways of working, we need to ensure our focus, impact and presence in the local market is louder than ever. Given the scale and reach of the firm, we have an amazing depth and breadth of experience and expertise, capable of addressing our clients’ highest priorities. I’m committed to making an impact that matters in our local communities and with local businesses.”
Stuart Cottee, practice senior partner for the Yorkshire and North East region at Deloitte, said: “I am sure Anil will hit the ground running given his expertise and presence in the Yorkshire market and having built a strong debt advisory business over a number of years.
“The firm is investing in its regional business and its leaders of the future. Over the last three years, whilst I have been practice senior partner, we have delivered double digit growth year on year across the region. But now is the time for us to have a laser sharp focus on the local market and deliver the next phase of our growth ambitions.”
The Leeds office employs 626 people and this year Deloitte in Yorkshire has promoted two people to partner, one associate partner (a senior signing director) and nine people to director. A total of 138 people were promoted in the last cohort. The office has also welcomed 59 graduates and 16 BrightStarts to its apprenticeship scheme.
Survey reveals sharp upturn in number of firms in financial distress
The number of companies in ‘critical financial distress’ have jumped by 25% compared to the same period in 2021 to 2,090, and up 7% on this year’s Q2, reveals the latest Begbies Traynor Red Flag alert report .
With inflation over 9%, and inflation in the ‘real economy’ likely exceeding this, businesses now face the very real prospect of interest rates climbing above 5%, a move that could force distressed businesses to enter insolvency as debt built up over the last decade and rapidly added to during the pandemic becomes unserviceable.
Many of these ‘zombie’ businesses, which benefitted from Government-backed Covid support loans, now face a series of risks ranging from soaring interest rates, to rising costs and declining demand, meaning that in many cases the growing challenges may prove too much.
The most recent company CCJ data reveals further evidence of the level distress in the economy today. Often an early indicator of financial distress, the data shows the number of CCJs for the first nine months of 2022 was 63,831 – more than the entirety of either 2021 or 2020 and nearly the second highest total since 2010.
Similarly, Winding Up Petitions, a much more serious action lodged by creditors, were 237% higher than the same period 2021, showing that companies are utilising aggressive legal enforcement measures to recoup debts.
Begbies Traynor partner Julie Palmer said the growing number of companies in a critical financial distress was of particular concern:
“We are now in an environment that we have not seen for many years, with a dangerous mix of rapidly rising inflation, escalating interest rates and crumbling consumer confidence.
“The economy, which had already been weakened by two years of pandemic disruption, now faces the very real possibility of a recession at a time when businesses were in desperate need of a sustained period of stability so they could get back on their feet.
“What we have instead is a situation where input costs are soaring and businesses that
borrowed to survive for years and are stuck with levels debt that they may be unable repay – especially with interest rates expected to rise to circa 6% in 2023.
“The economic turmoil is also having a stark effect on consumer confidence, and I remain
particularly concerned about sectors most exposed to discretionary consumer spending,
namely Bars & Restaurants, Leisure, and General Retailers. These businesses were some of the worst affected by pandemic chaos and now their customers are reining in discretionary spending, something we can clearly see in this Red Flag data.”
She said that after several years of volatility, the directors of businesses up and down
the country were now facing very difficult decisions. They had to decide whether to soldier on or give in, as they realised their businesses may not be viable if interest rates continued to rise as many economists expect.
“For the time being, many will continue to resist but interest rates will continue to rise, energy costs will remain stubbornly high, despite the Government’s intervention, and consumers are reining in spending, so the future is far from bright when we look into 2023.
“I fear that many directors who fought through Covid will soon conclude that getting through 2023 and 2024 is a bridge too far after the troublesome period they have just battled through.”
Beal Homes Chief Exec wins Personality of the Year Award
Beal Homes Chief Executive Richard Beal has been named Property Personality of the Year at a prestigious awards event.
Richard received the accolade before an audience of industry peers at The Yorkshires Residential Real Estate Awards 2022. The awards judges said: “For the business he has built and his work in the community, Richard is a worthy recipient of this award. Beal work hard to put their customers first and are genuinely committed to supporting both the communities they are building in and their region more widely.” Accepting the award, Richard said it was “a tribute to all that has been achieved by everyone at Beal Homes”. Richard said: “As a family business, we’re proud to have remained independent as we’ve grown over the years and to play our small part in the Yorkshire housebuilding industry, represented by many of you here tonight. “Housebuilding is a cornerstone of the UK economy. It is an industry that creates great new places for people to live and provides much-needed new homes. I hope this new government fully understands just what our industry contributes to the economy and provides whatever support is required in the challenging months ahead.” East Yorkshire-based Beal Homes was founded in 1968 by Richard’s father John and late uncle Raymond and Richard joined the business straight from school in 1988. Richard worked in all aspects of the business before ultimately taking over the ownership and leadership of Beal Homes from his father in 2010. Today, Beal Homes is a multi-award-winning housebuilder delivering high-quality developments in Hull, East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. The Yorkshires Residential Real Estate Awards celebrate excellence across Yorkshire’s residential property sector. The awards are organised by the Yorkshire Children’s Charity and were held at New Dock Hall in Leeds. Beal Homes will soon move into its own new home – a 20,000 sq ft head office which is a stone’s throw from its existing base in Hessle. A quarter of the building will be dedicated to Beal’s Design Lounge – a space where buyers work with the housebuilder’s team of designers to completely customise their home to suit their lifestyle and tastes. Richard said the new facility would be industry-leading in the service it will enable Beal Homes to provide to its customers and a platform to build on the successful Beal culture. He added: “Not only will it be a building where our customers will design their new homes, it will also be a place for us to build on the great team of people we have and help further develop the Beal family culture. “It will be somewhere we can invest in the people of tomorrow and provide excellent training for our growing team of apprentices.”