< Previous10 Business Link www.blmforum.net COMMERCIAL PROPERTY Y orkshire and Lincolnshire continue to strengthen their reputation as industrial & logistics property powerhouses as new developments get underway, deals are made, and businesses expand their footprint in the counties. Just last month it was announced that one of West Yorkshire’s largest logistics leasing deals of 2025 had been completed by Crossbay, the urban logistics strategy of pan-European real estate investment manager MARK Capital Management. The deal saw Crossbay let Shawcross 115, a 115,000 sq ft prime refurbished last-mile was jointly advised by Knight Frank and Carter Towler. The letting followed Barnsley timber engineering firm Constructional Timber UK Limited purchasing a 70,000 sq ft industrial unit as part of ambitious relocation and business expansion plans. The business acquired the former Truswell Haulage site at Fall Bank Industrial Estate in Dodworth from Breck Holdings. The warehouse, maintenance bay and office accommodation will become the firm’s new South Yorkshire base after a £200,000 refurbishment programme to adapt the site for Constructional Timber’s use. It is expected to be ready for February 2026. In demand Key counties for industrial & logistics property, with their strategic location, extensive multi-modal transport links, and skilled workforce, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire continue to welcome new developments, deals, and expanding businesses. warehouse in Shawcross Business Park, to NG Bailey, the independent engineering and services business. Located just off J40 of the M1, close to south Leeds, the warehouse will support NG Bailey’s production capacity for Tata Group’s £4bn Gigafactory project, where it is delivering manufacturing, engineering and production services for the UK’s largest battery manufacturing facility. Devan du Plooy, head of UK, Crossbay, said: “This agreement represents the strength of demand for high-quality last mile assets that are strategically located, sustainable, and designed to meet the requirements of a very wide range of occupiers.” Crossbay www.blmforum.net Business Link 11 COMMERCIAL PROPERTY The premises sit on a 10-acre site, with the company hoping to develop further accommodation, subject to planning. Owner Martin Daws said: “What attracted us to the site was its size, location, and proximity to the M1 motorway for distribution and connectivity purposes, as well as the potential on the site for further development. The 10-acre site gives us the ability to relocate our business to a bespoke factory designed for our ongoing needs in one location, but also the site offers potential for us to develop further accommodation.” The premises 12 Á Fall Bank Industrial Estate12 Business Link www.blmforum.net COMMERCIAL PROPERTY were marketed on behalf of Breck Holdings by Knight Frank and Christopher Dee. Meanwhile, work recently started on the next phase of Pickering Park, the growing business hub in North Yorkshire which is transforming a former gas processing plant into a centre for enterprise. Lindum Group has now begun construction of 11 new industrial ‘starter’ units ranging from 1,200 sq ft to 2,100 sq ft in size, continuing the redevelopment of the 18.3-acre site off Enterprise Way, within Thornton Road Business Park. This latest phase builds on the success of the first stage of the development, which saw nine industrial units constructed and fully sold before completion. Seven of those were purchased by North Yorkshire Council for leasing purposes, with the remaining two sold to private investors. The second phase will deliver 18,410 sq ft of commercial space to meet demand from small and medium-sized enterprises. The single-storey units will be arranged across three blocks. Lindum development manager Andy Gardner said: “It’s fantastic to see the next phase of Pickering Park taking shape. The first phase proved that there’s strong demand for well- designed, flexible industrial space in this part of North Yorkshire. This next stage will build on that success and provide even more opportunities for local businesses to grow and thrive.” Work is also progressing on the second phase of a bespoke business development in west Hull after the first three units were snapped up by expanding companies. The Point at Priory Park East in Henry Boot Way is a 6.5-acre development from property developer Allenby Commercial, offering trade counter and industrial units ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 sq ft. The three units in phase one are now fully occupied and work on phase two is expected to be completed by March 2026, with a further three bespoke units ranging from 2,500 to 5,000 sq ft available to rent or buy. Paint protection and detailing business Attention to Detail (ATD) Automotive and The Vault Collection, wholesale fruit and vegetable company Associated Growers, and interior and exterior fit-out business Michael James Property Developments have moved into the first three units at The Point. Andrew Allenby, managing director of Allenby Commercial, said: “It’s really exciting to see phase one completed and occupied, with the spaces creating new jobs and opportunities in the local area. We can’t wait to build on that success in phase two.” Plans are also underway for work on phase three of The Point to begin in 2026, as well as a sister development of The Point in Scunthorpe. Andrew Allenby, managing director of Allenby Commercial, is pictured at The Point with Zaid Bhamji, director at Associated Growers, Harry Hall, founder and director of ATD Automotive and The Vault Collection, David and Adam Batch, directors at Michael James Property Developments, and Georgia Allenby, design and marketing director at Allenby Commercial www.blmforum.net Business Link 13 COMMERCIAL PROPERTY Furthermore, earlier in the development process, Greenbox has secured full reserved planning consent from North Yorkshire Council for a 181,742 sq ft logistics and industrial unit at Greenbox Thirsk. The scheme forms part of a three-unit masterplan totalling 820,000 sq ft on a 52-acre site adjacent to the A1(M). Designed to meet high environmental and operational standards, the project targets BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and EPC ‘A’ ratings, with a focus on achieving Net Zero Construction and Operation, setting a new benchmark for modern logistics design. The location is a proven home for manufacturing and distribution with nearby occupiers including Cleveland Steel & Tubes, Inspired Pet Nutrition, National Tube Stockholders, Severfield PLC, GRIEFF, Cargill, Wetherby Group and I’Anson. With industrial & logistics property deals and developments abound across Yorkshire, the region’s longstanding reputation as a prime location for these schemes is only building.14 Business Link www.blmforum.net END OF YEAR SUCCESS STORIES Y orkshire and Lincolnshire reach the end of 2025 with an economic landscape that looks markedly different from the one they entered in January. Over twelve months, the region has confronted a series of uneven developments: some difficult enough to unsettle long- standing industries, others promising enough to shift assumptions about what the next decade might hold. It has not been a year of sweeping transformation or dramatic turnaround. Instead, it has been shaped by gradual shifts, measured decisions and a renewed focus on resilience: a pattern of change that has left the region not simply reacting to events but beginning to re- imagine the foundations of its own economic future. Nothing captured the weight of this transition more sharply than the job losses at Lindsey Oil Refinery in North Lincolnshire. For many people in the area, the refinery is not just an employer but a defining symbol of the industrial backbone that has supported communities for generations. The announcement that around 125 roles would go, triggered by financial difficulties at the parent group, brought a sense of disruption that resonated far beyond the site itself. It was a reminder of how quickly global pressures can ripple through even the most established regional assets. While this was not the first time the region had faced industrial contraction, the response revealed a changing mindset. Local authorities and business organisations shifted quickly towards questions of long-term transition rather than short-term containment. The conversation centred on how the region could re-deploy its engineering talent, how skills could be mapped onto emerging industries, and how future employment could be built around sectors capable of offering stability in a low-carbon economy. In a sense, the refinery’s challenges became part of a wider acknowledgement that the A year of disruption and renewal From refinery redundancies and retail withdrawals to record-breaking clean-energy investment and fresh momentum behind Doncaster Sheffield Airport, 2025 reshaped the region’s economic story in unexpected ways, revealing both the pressures facing local industries and the foundations of a more resilient future. 16 Áwww.blmforum.net Business Link 15 16 Business Link www.blmforum.net END OF YEAR SUCCESS STORIES region’s industrial identity is evolving, and that its future will depend on how effectively it navigates that shift. That reality was underscored by one of the most significant national energy announcements of the year: Government approval for the UK’s largest solar farm, located near Gainsborough in Lincolnshire. The project’s sheer scale of 700 megawatts of capacity positions it as a landmark development in the country’s renewable-energy transition. Its approval also highlights how Lincolnshire’s geography, infrastructure and industry base make it central to national clean-energy planning. For a region often associated with traditional sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing and logistics, the decision signalled a move into a different tier of strategic importance. It opens doors to supply-chain investment, specialist construction work and long-term maintenance contracts that could have a transformative effect on local employment and business growth. The project stands in sharp contrast with the uncertainty facing older energy assets, yet it illustrates the direction in which national policy is moving. Where one sector contracts, another expands; the challenge lies in ensuring that local skills and businesses are able to participate fully in the new opportunities arising. Across Lincolnshire’s towns, change has taken a quieter, more grounded form. Regeneration has continued to play a steady role in the region’s economic narrative, with improvements in Grantham standing out as the clearest example this year. These projects rarely attract national attention, yet they carry enormous importance for the local business environment. Investments in public spaces, walkways, lighting, crossings and market infrastructure do not deliver instant economic transformation, but they shape the conditions in which small businesses operate. They influence whether people choose to spend time in town centres, whether independent shops can sustain footfall, and whether areas feel inviting rather than overlooked. Throughout the year, councils emphasised the need to create resilience at a community level, acknowledging that strong high streets and well-maintained centres underpin broader regional growth. In Grantham, as in other Lincolnshire towns, these improvements form part of a longer- term strategy to modernise places that have struggled with the same pressures felt across the country: rising costs, uneven footfall and the gradual withdrawal of national retailers. Those pressures were visible throughout the year, as several high- street chains announced closures across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. The decisions formed part of national restructuring plans, but their effects were immediate locally. Each closure left a physical and economic void, affecting staff, neighbouring shops and the overall experience of the high street. Yet the region did not respond passively. In various towns, independent businesses and community-led ventures stepped into spaces previously occupied by larger retailers. It was not a complete counterbalance but it provided a degree of renewal that demonstrated the adaptability of local enterprise. This quiet reshaping of the high street has become one of the region’s ongoing stories: towns rebuilding from the inside out, led increasingly by smaller operators rather than national brands. Amid these changes, South Yorkshire produced one of the most symbolic developments of the year: genuine progress towards the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport. When the airport closed in 2022, the loss felt definitive, marking a blow to the region’s connectivity and undermining confidence in its ability to retain critical infrastructure. Throughout 2023 and 2024, discussions about its future remained uncertain. But 2025 marked a shift in momentum. After extensive negotiations and detailed business-case work, the City of Doncaster Council approved key decisions needed to move the airport towards operational status once again. These approvals do not eliminate the project’s challenges (early financial forecasts indicate significant operating deficits in the first years of reopening) but they represent the most meaningful progress the region has seen since the airport closed. For the business community, the prospect of restoring international air links has taken on more than practical significance. It has become a question of identity and ambition. The region has long argued that it deserves infrastructure capable of supporting modern industry, attracting investment and connecting local firms to global markets. DSA’s potential return aligns directly with those aims. It also feeds into a wider conversation about rebalancing national transport systems, with northern regions increasingly vocal about the need for consistent investment rather than sporadic commitments. Should the airport reopen, it would not only www.blmforum.net Business Link 17 END OF YEAR SUCCESS STORIES reconnect Doncaster. It would reshape how the region is perceived by investors considering where to base operations, how logistics chains are routed, and how talent flows into fast-growing sectors. The year’s developments reveal a region working through a period of adjustment rather than experiencing uniform progress or decline. The loss of jobs at Lindsey Oil Refinery, the ongoing pressures on the high street and the economic uncertainty facing many households all point to the difficulties that remain. But the approval of the country’s largest solar farm, the steady roll-out of regeneration funding and the renewed momentum behind the airport show a different side of the story: one in which local ambition is matched by national investment decisions that recognise the strategic value of the region. What stands out most is how these developments intersect. The refinery’s workforce embodies skills that will be essential to the new clean-energy infrastructure emerging across Lincolnshire. Town-centre improvements create more stable environments for small businesses at a time when retail is undergoing structural change. The airport’s progress complements the region’s role as a growing logistics and advanced manufacturing hub. Instead of operating as isolated stories, the events of 2025 form a loosely connected ecosystem of transition, one that reflects the complexity of today’s economy, but also the potential for long-term renewal. As Yorkshire and Lincolnshire step into 2026, the question is not whether challenges persist, but how effectively the region can continue to bridge its industrial past with its emerging economic future. If the past year has shown anything, it is that progress often comes gradually: through approvals, consultations, regeneration works and steady shifts in business confidence. These are not the kinds of changes that dominate national headlines, but they are the building blocks from which stronger regional economies are created. The region ends the year with a clearer view of where the next phase of growth may come from and a growing determination to ensure it arrives.18 Business Link www.blmforum.net KINGSTON ENGINEERING K ingston Engineering has earned an enviable global reputation as pioneers in precision manufacturing. The company continues to push the boundaries of what can be achieved in producing custom-built power screws, components, and assemblies manufactured to the highest levels of accuracy and performance. Founded in 1919 and based in Hull, East Yorkshire, Kingston Engineering’s success is the result of a focus on moving forward and embracing new technologies, whilst preserving a rich engineering heritage. Renowned for meeting some of the most complex and challenging precision requirements across a broad range of industry sectors and end-use applications, Kingston Engineering consistently achieves exceptional levels of precision quality. The company is a trusted partner for delivering innovative precision solutions, where reliability and performance are of paramount importance. Kingston Engineering manufactures to the highest quality and adheres to universal British, European, and American standards, ensuring reliability and consistency for customers worldwide. A New Era of Precision Manufacturing Precision engineering is currently undergoing a rapid transformation, and what customers require now are precision components that deliver exceptional results. Kingston Engineering has the capabilities to meet and exceed these demands by manufacturing high-precision components that deliver exceptional reliability, durability, and performance. Today, Kingston Engineering proudly supplies next-generation, precision components to customers in sectors, including medicine, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, utilities, aerospace, automotive, space exploration, and advanced manufacturing. Paul Bielby, managing director of Kingston Engineering, commented: “Advancements in precision manufacturing are the game changers today. The demand for complex shapes, intricate features, and higher accuracy levels is increasing, and here at Kingston Engineering, we’re proud of our capabilities for this evolution. Understanding and embracing our customers’ changing needs has always defined Kingston Engineering as a company. Our goal remains the same, which is to deliver the highest level of precision expertise and outstanding customer service to our customers.” A Strong Engineering Heritage Kingston Engineering has built an admirable reputation as a leading precision engineering company, based on technical expertise and a commitment to continuous investment in advanced technology. As the new year approaches, Kingston Engineering will celebrate an impressive milestone of 107 Years of engineering excellence. Kingston Engineering’s enduring strength has always been its ability to adapt, innovate, and move forward in an ever-changing industry landscape. Kingston Engineering pioneers the way ahead for precision manufacturing www.blmforum.net Business Link 19 KINGSTON ENGINEERING This is coupled with a strong heritage of skill and precision experience. Significant Machine Investment Throughout 2025 There has been significant investment in cutting-edge machines and in-house facilities at the Kingston Engineering site, based on Hull’s Pennington Street. A strategy of continued investment in precision innovation has strengthened Kingston Engineering’s ability to deliver custom- built power screws, components, and assemblies manufactured to the highest levels of accuracy and performance based on customers’ needs. This year, Kingston Engineering invested in two high-performance machines from the renowned manufacturer Hwacheon. A new Hwacheon Hi-Tech 200B, a horizontal turning centre, arrived on the machine shop floor at Kingston Engineering in the first part of the year. This was followed by another machine, installed in early September, the Hwacheon Vesta-1300B+, a 4-axis vertical machining centre. The new Hwacheon Hi-Tech 200B ensures the superior production and performance of ultra-precision complex components with intricate features. This machine, with advanced capabilities, is capable of handling the most demanding and complex machining requirements. It is a proven, multifunctional, highly customisable machine, equipped with advanced features. Providing exceptional machining quality and process reliability, its durable design and air pressure assisted construction enable smooth vibration-free movement. Investment in multi-axis CNC machining centres and automated inspection technologies ensures that Kingston Engineering is laying the foundations for future growth. The long- term growth plan is to continue investing in both facilities and skills capabilities. This focus has strengthened the company’s ability to continue to provide exceptional levels of precision manufacturing excellence. Kingston Engineering will continue to lead the way in innovation and state-of- the-art machinery, as part of a long- term growth plan. Engineering the Future As Kingston Engineering moves forward, the focus will be on embracing innovation and investing in on-site facilities, combined with ongoing training and skills development. Sustainability will remain a priority for Kingston Engineering. The company is committed to working in the most sustainable way possible, and sustainable work practices are already integrated into day-to-day operations on their site. Kingston Engineering will continue to place sustainability at the core of its manufacturing processes. Kingston Engineering’s vision for the future is to move forward, driven by a focus on innovation and sustainability, together with a dedication to delivering value and excellence to customers. As Kingston Engineering embraces the years ahead, it will continue to lead the way in shaping precision engineering of the future. Kingston Engineering Co. (Hull) Ltd. Pennington Street, Hull, East Yorkshire, HU8 7LD Telephone +44 (0)1482 325676 • sales@kingston-engineering.co.uk www.kingston-engineering.co.uk Next >