Keyland sells 500,000 sq ft Wakefield East site
Keyland Developments Ltd, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister-company to Yorkshire Water, has completed the sale of its Wakefield East site in West Yorkshire to Opus North and Bridges Fund Management for an undisclosed sum.
A planning application for the 31-acre employment scheme, now branded ‘City Fields’, was recently submitted by Keyland. The indicative layout proposes employment space totalling up to 500,000 sq ft, which could generate around 800 new jobs for the local area.
The majority of the commercial site will benefit from Class B2, B8 and E(g) consent for urban logistics, as well as industrial accommodation in a varied range of unit sizes, whilst also offering scope for the development of a trade counter scheme and associated pub/restaurant/drive-thru options.
Previously part of the redundant Yorkshire Water Calder Vale treatment works, the site will now form a key strategic element of the overall City Fields development which, at 375-acres, will play a significant role in creating a new, important, and sustainable primary employment hub to the east of Wakefield.
The site runs adjacent to the £33m Wakefield Eastern Relief Road (WERR) which opened in 2017. Regeneration of the broader City Fields community also includes the construction or (re)development of around 2,500 houses, a primary school, health facilities, district and neighbourhood centres.
Appointed agents Avison Young and Knight Frank facilitated the sale of the land on behalf of Keyland with Square One Law acting as legal team. Carter Towler and Walker Morris advised the purchaser.
Peter Garrett, Managing Director of Keyland Developments, said: “We are delighted that the sale has now completed and look forward to the planned development forming the main commercial element of this significant regional regeneration scheme.”
Ryan Unsworth, development director of Opus North, said: “The acquisition of this strategic site continues our strategy of sustained growth in the northern commercial sector. The surrounding area has witnessed a considerable surge in investment and regeneration and the development of this pivotal site will make a further significant economic contribution.
“We are looking to commence works on site in early 2023 with a targeted completion of the first units later that year. In addition to bringing about new jobs, the development will help ease the well documented shortages of high quality industrial/commercial accommodation in the region.”
Guy Bowden, partner at Bridges Fund Management, added: “The City Fields development will allow us to revitalise a previously redundant site and create over 800 new jobs for the surrounding area.
“Aiming to incorporate important sustainable features into the design, this development will both benefit occupiers and provide the wider Wakefield community with a high-quality commercial and industrial hub, contributing to the catalysing of local economic growth. We are looking forward to working with Opus North on delivering another successful project.”
Iain McPhail, partner at Knight Frank, said: “City Fields is an exciting new commercial opportunity which benefits from not only access to the region’s motorway network via the M1 and M62, but also to Wakefield town centre itself. The site is ideally positioned to capitalise on the significant demand in the current market for urban logistics and distribution as well as manufacturing and trade.”
Rob Oliver, principal at Avison Young, added: “‘Due to the range of plots across the development, we have considerable flexibility and are able to accommodate a wide range of unit sizes. We are already talking to a number of businesses, some already local and looking to relocate or expand, others would be new to the area.
“There is a severe lack of units available in the West Yorkshire area, particularly on the M62 corridor, and with continued occupational demand we are confident that the scheme will prove very successful. Occupiers are increasingly keen to occupy new premises which will meet their ESG agendas as well as staff wellness and retention in addition to presenting their brand positively, having lower operating costs and greater efficiency.”
Flood-fearing business owners offered free survey by University of Hull
Business owners in Hull and East Yorkshire fearing the effect of flooding on their premises, employees and other assets are being offered free flood risk surveys by the University of Hull’s Flood Innovation Centre.
Once a survey has been carried out, the Flood Innovation Centre team can then work with business owners to help them understand their findings and how to make changes aimed at making their businesses more resilient to flooding.
The team is able to provide support to eligible SMEs using funding from the European Regional Development Fund, which will be available only to the end of the year.
Pip Betts, Project Manager at the Flood Innovation Centre, said: “We have a wealth of knowledge and expertise in flood resilience and flood innovation here at the Flood Innovation Centre but, because we’re funded by the European Union’s European Regional Development Fund, the support that we can offer to businesses won’t be available forever.
“That’s why it’s so important that business owners who want to ensure that their premises, employees, stock and other assets are protected against the risk of flooding make contact with our team as soon as possible to have a chat about getting their free flood risk survey booked in, and learn more about the additional support we can provide to help them act on the findings of their survey. The climate crisis means that the need to take action to mitigate and adapt to flood events has never been so vital.”
Communities across our region face a variety of different types of flood risk, and climate change, coupled with increasing urbanisation, means that flood events are happening more frequently. Fifteen years ago, during the 2007 floods, more than 1300 business premises were damaged in Hull alone. The Environment Agency estimates that the average cost of damage suffered by businesses during a flood event is around £82,000. As many as 40 per cent of businesses never reopen after being flooded, and a further 25 per cent of businesses that do reopen go on to fail within a year.
Businesses concerned about flooding and its potential impact on their activities are encouraged to contact the Flood Innovation Centre on 01482 462275, emailing flic@hull.ac.uk or completing an online registration form at www.floodinnovation.co.uk/register.
South Yorkshire developer invests in 36,000 sq ft Barnsley industrial and trade scheme
South Yorkshire-based developer EV Waddington is building a new 36,000 sq ft industrial and trade scheme in Barnsley to address a severe shortage of accommodation.
The Oval, fronting the Dearne Valley Parkway, is being funded by the progressive developer and features seven units, two of which are already under offer with agents Knight Frank in Sheffield.
The much needed speculative development is aimed at industrial, warehouse and trade occupiers and the units provide 6.5m eaves height, full height loading doors, lighting and potential for fitted office accommodation.
The site enjoys 360 degree visibility to the highway following new road infrastructure and expected to be completed in August this year, creating 138 full time jobs.
Developer Tony Waddington, who has already developed 31 East in Dinnington, Northfield Business Park in Rotherham, Vantage Park in Sheffield, Shortwood Business Park in Barnsley, and Aldwarke Business Park and Chesterton Court in Rotherham, said: “This project is supplying much needed industrial and trade accommodation for the South Yorkshire region.
“Supporting continued economic growth in South Yorkshire is key and we expect completion later this summer.”
There are five available units of 4,850 sq ft which offer flexibility and can be combined to offer up to 9,690 sq ft.
It is expected that The Oval will generate £46m GVA over the next 10-year period.
Rebecca Schofield, partner at the Sheffield office of Knight Frank, which is marketing The Oval, said: “EV Waddington has managed to deliver a much needed speculative development of sub 10,000 sq ft addressing the lack of commercial property offer of this size across the region.”
Cllr Robert Frost, Cabinet Spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture, said: “We are delighted that EV Waddington continue to have great confidence in Barnsley as an excellent location to develop speculatively.
“This will be the third time they have invested in the borough, and their previous developments at Shortwood Business Park proved a great success, attracting expanding local and new businesses to the area, creating many new jobs.
“Our award-winning Enterprising Barnsley investment team will continue to provide a range of comprehensive support to future occupiers.”
Wanted: Postmasters who made have been made bankrupt by the Horizon scandal
The Insolvency Service is seeking information from postmasters who believe they may have been made bankrupt due to the Horizon IT scandal.
The Court of Appeal and Crown Court have quashed the convictions of a number of former postmasters prosecuted using unreliable evidence, and now the Post Office has contacted postmasters it has previously prosecuted to assist them in potentially appealing their convictions if they want to.
The Post Office says that in some instances, postmasters were made bankrupt by the Post Office Ltd, which have may have been as a result of the financial discrepancies reported, incorrectly, by the Horizon IT system.
Furthermore, due to the financial impact of the situation, some postmasters may have petitioned for their own bankruptcy or made a bankruptcy application to Office of the Adjudicator.
The Official Receiver, acting as the Trustee/Trustee ex-officio in bankruptcy, is now undertaking enquiries to identify these cases, in order to investigate whether these bankruptcy orders should be reviewed.
Postmasters who believe they were impacted by the Horizon discrepancies, should contact the Insolvency Service via Horizoncases@insolvency.gov.uk, and provide the following information:
- full name;
- date of birth;
- contact details;
- court / bankruptcy reference number relating to your bankruptcy (if available);
- where your bankruptcy / adjudicator or sequestration order was made, i.e. England/Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland; and
- a brief overview of how you were affected.
Progeny expands Scottish presence with new acquisition
Progeny has revealed plans to acquire Edinburgh-based Chartered financial planners, Balmoral Asset Management.
This represents the next step in the Leeds firm’s concerted expansion into Scotland and will take their total assets under management to more than £6.5bn.
Launched in 1999, Edinburgh-based Balmoral Asset Management were established to provide a comprehensive wealth management service to a select number of private clients.
Stuart MacDonald, Managing Director, Balmoral Asset Management, said: “We’re immensely proud of what we have created at Balmoral Asset Management: a prestigious advice firm that’s built a reputation on getting results for our clients.
“Joining Progeny will allow us to continue to grow, and to increase the range of services we offer our clients, many of whom have complex requirements which will benefit greatly from the multi-disciplinary professional services expertise we will now be able to provide.
“We’re diligent in maintaining the high standards we have set. There are not many firms out there who we could join with and see an improvement in our client offering, but Progeny is one such firm and we can’t wait to get started on this next phase of our journey.”
Neil Moles, CEO of Progeny, said: “We have been steadily expanding our presence in Scotland in the last few years and our acquisition of Balmoral Asset Management will allow us to take a significant step forward in this aim.
“Balmoral Asset Management are a highly respected firm who have become a byword for impeccable standards and exceptional client service.
“There are so many areas of overlap and common ground between us, in our services, our business ethos and in wanting to make a meaningful commitment to the next generation of our industry.
“I look forward to working with Stuart and his excellent team, and to everything we can achieve together.”
Progeny first entered the Scottish market with the acquisition of Innovate Financial Services in Edinburgh in February 2019. This was followed in April 2021 with the acquisition of Ayrshire-based Affinity Financial Planning.
Hull-based IoT specialist acquires internet service provider
Hull-based IoT and digital infrastructure specialist, Connexin, has acquired Wisper Broadband as it continues to grow its fibre offering in the region.
With the acquisition of Wisper Broadband, an internet service provider in Hull, Connexin will welcome thousands of new customers to its network.
The coming together of these two local companies is part of Connexin’s plans for significant regional growth to challenge the lack of broadband choice in the Hull area.
Through this acquisition, Connexin aims to give the people and businesses of East Yorkshire better value, greater choice and higher quality broadband. Wisper Broadband customers will see no immediate changes to their current service, billing or support.
The move comes as Connexin continues the roll-out of its own hyperfast, full-fibre network across Hull and East Riding.
Furqan Alamgir, co-founder and CEO of Connexin, said: “I would like to thank Mike and Paul from Wisper and we are thrilled to welcome Wisper Broadband and its customers to the Connexin family as we continue to grow our presence in Hull and East Riding.
“As a local company, we are passionate about providing the best online experience to the people of Hull and the surrounding area. Through the acquisition and the roll-out of our own full-fibre network, it brings us another step closer to doing just that and creating the fairer, more diverse and best-in-class broadband offering that the region has long deserved.”
Michael Foley, Managing Director at Wisper Broadband, said: “Wisper Broadband and Connexin have worked very closely together over the last 10 years and always had a similar objective – to give the city an increased choice in broadband providers.
“As technology has progressed, we have seen a significant increase in the requirement for full fibre and a fairer marketplace within Hull, as such we are extremely excited to join forces with Connexin at such a key time in their Fibre rollout and I’m confident that over the coming months Connexin will bring the next generation of full fibre to the people of Hull, watch this space.”
Council launches search for delivery partners for RAF Scampton development
Developers and investors have until August 8th to throw their hats into the ring and become delivery partners for RAF Scampton.
West Lindsey District Council is looking to procure a suitably-qualified partner organisation to regenerate and redevelop RAF Scampton.
The council formally submitted an expression of interest in acquiring the site, which could contribute significantly to the Levelling Up of economic and social outcomes across West Lindsey, Lincolnshire and beyond.
Should the council be successful in acquiring the site, the successful partner will be required to work with the council and take a lead in managing, master planning and regenerating the site.
Leader of West Lindsey District Council, Councillor Owen Bierley said: “The Council is currently progressing plans for RAF Scampton. Using our experience of disposals of the past, the process to transition Scampton from RAF use to economic driver for Lincolnshire will be one that is held as an exemplar of best practice in years to come.
“We have officially started our search for a delivery partner through a stage 2 procurement process. It is an exciting time for West Lindsey and I look forward to seeing our plans progress.”
The expression of interest remains subject to a number of conditions. Work continues with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation on behalf of the Ministry of Defence and the council hopes to make a final decision in relation to the acquisition and appointment of partner by the end of the year.
The invitation to bid was published on Wednesday, 6 July 2022 on the Pro Contract website.
The successful delivery partner will need to consider the following regeneration and redevelopment objectives:
- comprehensive redevelopment based upon a sympathetic master plan to manage and regenerate the entirety of the site
- a viable and deliverable redevelopment
- placing community engagement at the heart of the redevelopment plan
- protecting and enhancing the site’s heritage and historic importance using the past as a blue print for the future
- maximising economic benefit to West Lindsey, Lincolnshire and the UK
- understanding the potential for ongoing use of the protected airspace
- meeting needs of current and future communities
- securing investment in the site and working with key stakeholders to deliver added value
- delivering integrated sustainable travel opportunities through, to and from the site
- contributing positively to the Net Zero Carbon agenda
- contributing positively to improvements in Biodiversity Net Gain across the site
- establishing a sustainable commercial structure that provides long-term benefit to West Lindsey and its residents
Easy Bathrooms plans to open 60 more stores and hit £130m turnover by the end of 2023
Easy Bathrooms has set out its growth plans, announcing it is stepping up its store roll-out, with ambitions to open 60 more showrooms by the end of 2023, adding to the 117 it already operates, as it plans to reach £130m in turnover.
The retailer was founded in 2012, and has grown rapidly during the last two years, having opened 69 stores since the start of the pandemic, averaging 2.5 new stores per month.
17 showrooms have been opened in 2022 so far, and the retailer is on track to hit £93m in turnover this year, with a 47% increase on 2021 (£63.3m).
The announcement comes as Easy Bathrooms builds a new, £10m, 330,000 sq ft state-of-the-art distribution and logistics hub in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, which will open in autumn. Further investment is being made into technology initiatives.
Craig Waddington, founder, and majority shareholder said it had ramped up its showroom footprint during COVID, to strengthen its post-pandemic position.
“We have made a better-than-expected start to 2022. Our sales in the last 12 months have hit £54m and in this financial year we expect that to increase to £93m. We are well placed to keep growing, and we are proud that our growth trajectory means we will keep creating much needed jobs, each and every week.”
Easy Bathrooms employs 680 staff and announced earlier this year that its new HQ and showroom roll-out would increase its headcount by 250 by the end of 2023, which is expected to make it the largest employer in the bathroom market.
“The high street is changing,” continued Craig. “And I’m often asked why we keep rolling stores out when others are closing theirs, and the honest answer is, what other bathroom brands do you know where the price is right, the quality is good, the range of choice is wide, you can browse the products before choosing them, and, whether you’re in Leeds or London, there’s likely to be a store near you? We are creating what the customer wants – we put them at the heart of our strategy, and it’s paying off.
“By opening new showrooms, we’re creating the opportunity for more customers to shop with us, whilst investing into our online store too, for those without a showroom close to them yet. We’re excited to provide new customers with access to our award-winning products and unbeatable value.”
Simultaneously, Easy Bathrooms’ current HQ in Birstall – a 110,000 sq ft site – will be repurposed into the largest bathroom and tile destination in the UK.
1,500 new product lines will also be introduced by the end of the year, with its next catalogue due out next month.
Plans submitted for new lifestyle-focused neighbourhood in York
Detailed plans have been submitted for a new build-to-rent community on the former Heworth gasworks site in York, that will bring a new type of lifestyle living to the city.
Developer and operator Moda Living has submitted a Reserved Matters planning application, following the granting of outline approval for the whole site in 2020.
The plans include 392 new homes in a mix of studio, one- two- and three-bed homes, along with extensive state-of-the-art amenity spaces including private dining rooms, 24/7 gym and fitness centre, a cinema room and a 24-hour concierge, to create a health and wellbeing-focused community and address the shortage of quality homes for rent in York. With a community green at its heart, the neighbourhood would also deliver new landscaped green space open to the public.
Leeds-based architect, Fuse Studios, has designed the four to six storey buildings.
Moda Living Chief Executive Johnny Caddick said: “As a Yorkshire-based family business, we are very excited to bring this new generation of rental living to York.
“We will have a long-term involvement in the neighbourhood and so it is crucial we develop and operate it to the highest standards. Our ethos is to put the needs of residents in everything we do and so we offer deposit- and fee—free living, encourage wellness in both physical and mental health and run a regular programme of events for residents, designed around their interests and demands, to build a community they love being a part of.
“Submitting the plans is a real landmark on our journey to bring this new lifestyle offering to York.”
If approved, works could start early next year.
The 10-acre former Heworth gasworks site will be remediated later this year and, as well as the new Moda Living community, also includes a masterplan with 215 other homes by North Star and Heworth Green developments, a new neighbourhood park and extensive landscaping throughout the development.
Triton Power purchase on track for September completion
Equinor and SSE Thermal are to form a JV to acquire Triton Power for a total consideration of £341m, with the deal expected to be complete by September subject to approval from the UK National Security Filing and EU Merger Control.
The key plant included in the purchase of Triton Power is the Saltend Power Station with an installed capacity of 1.2 GW. This is a conventional combined cycle gas turbine using natural gas. The main role of this power plant today is to provide electricity during periods of low output from solar and wind. Equinor and SSE Thermal are now starting work on preparing the power plant to use up to 30 percent hydrogen from 2027, with an ambition to eventually increase to 100 percent hydrogen operation.
The hydrogen could come from Equinor’s H2H Saltend hydrogen project, which would reform natural gas into hydrogen by carbon capture and storage, capturing more than 95 per cent of its CO2 content. Saltend Power Station would then become an anchor customer for the hydrogen project. With the purchase, Equinor and SSE Thermal could thus begin to decarbonise flexible power generation and at the same time contribute to triggering production of low carbon hydrogen for industrial purposes as well.
Irene Rummelhoff, Equinor’s executive vice president for Marketing, Midstream and Processing, said: “This acquisition together with SSE Thermal demonstrates our commitment to building a broad energy partnership with the UK. We will continue to work to supply the UK market with reliable energy and to reduce emissions by offering a transition to hydrogen through our hydrogen project H2H Saltend. Contributing to flexible power supplies with low CO2 emissions to support weather-dependent renewable energy is essential to ensure energy security through the energy transition.
“Flexible energy will be crucial as renewable energy scales up further over the coming years, providing important back-up and improving security of supply. But the real gain will be how we contribute to decarbonisation in the longer term, and we are particularly excited about the possibilities for hydrogen and carbon capture in Saltend. Together with Equinor, we will explore all avenues to decarbonise Saltend and create new opportunities for other businesses so that they can operate in a future with net zero emissions,” says Catherine Raw, CEO of SSE Thermal.
The Humber is the UK’s largest industrial region with annual emissions of over 12 million tonnes of CO2, half as much again as the second largest region. Decarbonisation is essential for these industries to continue to operate as society move towards net zero emissions. In addition to providing flexible power to support variable generation from renewables, the H2H Saltend hydrogen project will also support industries to switch from coal to hydrogen. This includes factories that are part of the Saltend Chemicals Park, which already is supplied with electricity and steam from the Saltend Power Station.
Mick Farr, Chief Executive, Triton Power, said: “This agreement will allow the Triton Power assets to continue to provide critical grid services and flexible power generation while building on the progress already made on decarbonisation. I have been particularly impressed by the vision and commitment shown by SSE Thermal and Equinor in our discussions and believe they have the capabilities and knowledge required to allow our pipeline of clean energy projects to proceed at pace.”
