£5m scheme improves the energy efficiency of West Yorkshire homes
A £5.8million project to reduce the energy usage and carbon emissions of over 440 homes in Leeds and Harrogate has led to warmer living and lower bills for residents across the region, thanks to energy and regeneration specialist Equans and Leeds Federated Housing Association. Retrofit work carried out to the homes – a mix of…
Sycamore Square Group celebrates five years of strategic growth and social impact
Established in 2020, Sycamore Square Group (SSG) is celebrating five years of delivering strategic estates management and building consultancy across Yorkshire and the UK. Founded by Debbie Lewis FRICS, MCIOB, MAPM, AaPS and Will Roberts MAPM, AaPS, the business was born from a shared vision and a long-standing professional partnership formed over 7 years working…
Iconic Meltham café business goes up for sale
A unique café and events business in Meltham, near Holmfirth, has been put up for sale with a guide price of £175,000 with commercial property estate agent Ernest Wilson, which is part of Eddisons. Launched in 2020, Lu’s Place, on the edge of Meltham and adjacent to open countryside and woodland, has built a reputation…
Bradford’s historic Little Germany sets its sights on a new chapter
Following the completion of a successful round of funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, a team led by Impact Hub Bradford has revealed plans to regenerate the city’s historic mercantile quarter, Little Germany. Home to 55 Grade 2 Listed buildings, the area is home to one of the most remarkable heritage destinations in the…
Schofield Sweeney supports ‘home city’ again with Bradford Showcase partnership
Leading commercial law firm Schofield Sweeney will play a key role in showcasing the Bradford district’s planning and investment potential at an event alongside the UK Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF), in Leeds from May 20th-22nd. Working in partnership with Bradford Council, Schofield Sweeney, which has one of the region’s largest and most…
Manningham Housing Association achieves Northern Housing Awards double
Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has triumphed in two categories at the Northern Housing Awards 2025. The BME organisation – which manages more than 1,400 homes for over 6,000 residents in Bradford and Keighley – won the blue riband Landlord of the Year award at a prizegiving ceremony at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester, with MHA…
Manningham Housing Association retains world-leading position on diversity and inclusion
Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has again met the global Standard for Diversity and Inclusion in HR Management – building on its unique status as the first housing association in the world to achieve it. ISO 30415 is an internationally recognised certification that endorses exemplary practices in diversity and inclusion within organisations. The accolade is awarded…
Aysgarth Falls Hotel to launch stunning individual luxury garden suites in late Summer 2025
Aysgarth Falls Hotel is delighted to announce the upcoming launch of its new individual luxury Suites under the stars, a collection of 14 exquisitely designed stand-alone retreats nestled within the national park’s charming landscape. Each Suite off ers a perfect blend of contemporary luxury and natural beauty in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. The…
Leeds confirmed as UKREiiF 2026 host city
Following on from many successful years, The UK’s Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) has announced it will remain in Leeds for a fifth consecutive year, for 2026. Formed in 2022 UKREiiF has quickly become the UK’s leading platform in the regeneration, development and property sectors – bringing together investors, developers, housebuilders and end-users…
Leeds flats enter a low carbon future
Residents in three blocks of flats in Leeds now have warmer, cheaper to heat homes as a result of a project to drive down costly energy use and reduce carbon emissions. Through the project, carried out by energy and regeneration specialist Equans and social housing provider 54North Homes, 98 homes have been improved, making them…
Manningham Housing Association shortlisted for four Northern Housing Awards
Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has been shortlisted in four categories for the Northern Housing Awards 2025, including Landlord of the Year. Other prizes the Bradford-based BME association is in the running for include its Neighbourhood Services team making the cut for Northern Housing Team of the Year, and MHA Customer Panel member Tausif Mohammed being…
Andrew Jackson advises the Kexgill Group on £58.5 million refinance facility for student accommodation expansion
Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP is delighted to have advised the Kexgill Group, a leading provider of student accommodation across the north of England, on a £58.5 million refinance facility provided by Aldermore Bank. The transaction will support Kexgill’s growth plans for newly developed student accommodation, including a further 170 new bedrooms in prime city locations…
Housing association CEO concerned over Spring Statement welfare cuts
The Chief Executive of Bradford-based Manningham Housing Association has spoken of his concern following the Chancellor’s decision to cut welfare spending in her Spring Statement. Lee Bloomfield commented: “I was delighted to hear the Government’s announcement earlier in the week to provide £2 billion of new funding to build 18,000 much needed affordable homes. “Manningham…
Major Bradford affordable housing scheme reaches completion
Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has announced the completion of a £3.9 million affordable homes development in Eccleshill, Bradford. The One Meadow Victoria Road scheme comprises 19 properties – a mix of two, three and four-bed detached and semi-detached houses for social rent. The newly constructed homes have been delivered through a partnership with Zentra Group…
Senior promotions at Lichfields’ Leeds office drive continued growth
UK planning and development consultancy Lichfields has announced the promotion of Emma Gomersal and James Cox to Planning Directors in its Leeds office as its Yorkshire team continues to grow. Emma has a strong background in strategic land, specialising in the promotion of residential and employment sites. She has worked extensively with landowner and developer…
YBS Commercial grows balance sheet to more than £2bn in 2024, lending close to £500 million to commercial investors and landlords
YBS Commercial Mortgages, the commercial lending arm of Yorkshire Building Society, has revealed it had another strong year in 2024, as commitment to broker relationships and personalised service catalysed the growth of its balance sheet to £2.2bn. The commercial lender completed £0.453bn of commercial mortgage loans during the year; £377m of which went into servicing…
Yorkshire & Humber Construction Market poised for growth, driven by private housing boom
The latest Construction Market Intelligence (CMI Q1 2025) report from Yorkshire & Humber-based construction and property management consultant, Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB UK) forecasts a positive outlook for the region’s construction sector, with private housing emerging as the fastest-growing sector. Key Regional Developments Regional market sentiment remains generally optimistic, with significant development activity across the region’s larger…
‘Iconic’ tenant thanks Unity Enterprise team for special business adventure
A longstanding tenant of a prominent Leeds enterprise hub has expressed her gratitude to the not-for-profit organisation that helped her business thrive. Corinne Lapierre has been making high-quality craft kits and textile accessories at Unity Business Centre (UBC) in Chapeltown for over 12 years. UBC is one of three centres managed by Unity Enterprise (UE),…
Topps Tiles partners with colleges to tackle national skills shortage
A new education partnership designed to boost the number of qualified tilers in the UK has been launched by Topps Tiles. The UK’s number one tile specialist is teaming up with Leeds College of Building and South & City College Birmingham to inspire the next generation of skilled tradespeople. The partnership comes in response to…
Property regeneration and development consultancy AspinallVerdi almost doubles the size of head office in Leeds by relocating to 31 The Calls
Independent property regeneration and development consultancy AspinallVerdi has relocated to almost double the size of its head office in Leeds following growth in staff numbers and rising demand for its services from an increasing number of clients. The market-leading consultancy has moved from its 975 sq ft location at Studio 7 46 The Calls in…
Leeds Beckett and ARC creating ‘digital golden thread’ for building safety
Digital construction experts at Leeds Beckett University (LBU) are teaming up with Leeds-based ARC Building Solutions to create an innovative new ‘digital golden thread’ to proactively address key recommendations for the construction sector – following the Grenfell tragedy – to ensure that fire prevention products are correctly installed by sub-contractors and developers on building sites….
Purcell tops World Architecture 100 List for Heritage for fourth year running
Purcell has once again secured the top spot for heritage architecture in the prestigious World Architecture 100 (WA100) rankings. This marks the fourth consecutive year that we’ve been recognised as a global leader in heritage and conservation. The annual survey by Building Design magazine ranks the world’s largest architecture firms across various categories, based on…
Unity Enterprise to make key appointment in anniversary year
Unity Enterprise (UE) is recruiting an Assistant Manager to play a leading role in its continued growth as it celebrates 25 years in business. Set up in 2000 as a not for profit subsidiary of Leeds-based BME housing association Unity Homes and Enterprise, UE provides 142 affordable business units for over 80 diverse businesses. Collectively,…
Yorkshire housing provider loaned £20m through the Affordable Homes Guarantee Scheme
54North Homes has received a £20m loan under the Affordable Homes Guarantee Scheme (AHGS) to support its delivery of new affordable homes across Yorkshire. Managed by ESR Group’s specialist investment manager Venn Partners on behalf of the UK Government, half of the loan will help 54North Homes deliver about 100 new homes, with the majority…
Wilton Developments agree a three-site partnership with SSE Energy Solutions
Wilton Developments is pleased to confirm that it has appointed SSE Energy Solutions to deliver energy infrastructure for three of its forthcoming strategic Industrial & Logistics developments in the North of England; LEEDS500 adjacent the M1 east of Leeds, Doncaster North at J6 of the M18 and Dynamo Park at Stockton on Tees. The partnership…
2025 must herald new dawn for new homes – housing association CEO
The chief executive of Bradford-based Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has said 2025 must be the year for the government to “inject real momentum” into its housebuilding plans if Ministers are to meet their pledge to deliver 1.5 million new homes by the end of this Parliament. In a New Year message, Lee Bloomfield reflected on…
Groundbreaking ceremony marks start of construction on £17m Future Technologies Centre
A symbolic groundbreaking ceremony marked a major step forward in the construction of Bradford College’s purpose-built £17m Future Technologies Centre. Members of the Bradford College management team were joined by representatives from Morgan Sindall Construction and the Department for Education to celebrate construction commencing on site. The project received £15 million from the Department for…
MHA’s Christmas MELA brings community spirit to life in Keighley
More than 200 local residents came together in Victoria Hall in Keighley to enjoy a celebration of culture, unity and festive joy at Christmas MELA 2024 hosted by Manningham Housing Association (MHA). There was something for everyone including a visit from Santa Claus, a festive photo booth, DJ, henna art and facepainting, calligraphy, a charity…
MHA welcomes Government representatives to Keighley and Bradford
Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has hosted senior strategy and policy staff from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on a two day factfinding trip. The visit was part of MHCLG’s Social Housing Immersion Programme which provides a bridge for policy and strategy staff to engage with housing associations and tenants across the…
Unity prepares to celebrate 25 years of enterprise with launch of anniversary logo
Unity Enterprise (UE) has unveiled a specially commissioned logo which will be a familiar sight in 2025 when it celebrates a quarter of century of delivering affordable workspace, professional advice and an abundance of other business support services to aspiring entrepreneurs in Leeds. Established in 2000 as a not-for-profit subsidiary company of BME housing association…
Town Centre Securities PLC announces first phase of town centre house refurbishment
Modern Design, Prime Location, Fresh Vision: Town Centre House Unveiled Leading property development and investment company Town Centre Securities PLC (TCS) announces the completion of the first phase of its refurbishment of Town Centre House, located in the heart of Leeds’ Arena Quarter. TCS has undertaken a full refurbishment of the ground and first floors,…
New Director of Operations appointed at Manningham Housing Association
Saqib Saleem is joining Manningham Housing Association (MHA) as Director of Operations. Amongst a broad range of responsibilities, he will lead on the delivery of customer facing services and drive MHA’s asset management strategy, including overseeing its property portfolio. Mr Saleem is currently Director of Strategy and Regulation at Altair where he leads a team…
Bradford College officially opens STEM building after £6.9m refurb
Guests from education, construction, and regional employers joined staff and students for the official opening of Bradford College’s Garden Mills building. A multimillion-pound renovation project has transformed the derelict mill on Thornton Road into a flexible digital, science, and allied health training facility for higher-level students. The 1900s five-storey building opened after months of construction…
Morgan Sindall appointed to phase two of Bradford’s Future Technologies Centre
Morgan Sindall Construction will continue its work with Bradford College following its appointment as contractor for the purpose-built Future Technologies Centre. Having previously undertaken phase one of the project, which saw the demolition of a derelict mill on Thornton Road in the city, Morgan Sindall will now undertake phase two. This phase will see…
Leeds College of Building students triumph at national SkillBuild competition
Leeds College of Building is celebrating after four students took podium positions at the national final of SkillBuild 2024 – the largest multi-trade skills competition in the UK for construction trainees and apprentices. Delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), SkillBuild showcases some of the brightest talent in construction. The prestigious competition brings together highly…
Yorkshire property business celebrates 20 successful years and looks forward to the next 20
Leeds based developer, Wilton Developments, is celebrating 20 years of property development and investment which has delivered hundreds of millions of pounds of value into the north of England. Owned by the George A. Moore family, Wilton Developments has, and continues, to bring forward many major regional projects and buildings, having already created the potential…
Final phase of construction project brings rooftop reading space to the Leeds Library
The final phase of capital works project The Next Chapter is underway at The Leeds Library. In the biggest expansion in its 255-year-history, completion of the project will make the library accessible for the first time, unite its collection and archive, and create a new event space and a rooftop reading terrace. The library acquired…
National Insurance rise could endanger government’s housebuilding plans
The chief executive of Bradford-based Manningham Housing Association has welcomed confirmation of additional funding for affordable homes in today’s Budget but expressed concerns at the additional costs imposed on the housing sector through the increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions. In a statement, Lee Bloomfield said: “The Chancellor’s confirmation of £500 million of new funding…
Andrew Jackson advises on Northallerton residential development scheme
Regional law firm Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP is delighted to have advised North Yorkshire-based James Partnership, which specialises in residential property development and ‘change of use’ schemes, on the purchase of a development site consisting of agricultural barns for conversion into residential dwellings located near Northallerton, North Yorkshire. The land currently comprises an attractive set…
Renovated campus facilities officially open after major refurb
An impressive £750k refurbishment project has transformed Leeds College of Building’s North Street Campus following an eight-week renovation programme. Award-winning fit-out specialists Lodestone Projects managed the extensive summer works that rejuvenated the site and created contemporary and accessible facilities for construction students. Building work took place over four floors, incorporating the transformation of the former…
Housing champion Carolina tops the charts
Carolina Padovezi de Oliveira, Manningham Housing Association’s high-flying Corporate Project Manager, has been named as one of Housing Today’s Top 30 Housing Champions. Originally from Brazil, Carolina joined the BME organisation – which manages more than 1,400 homes for over 6,000 residents in Bradford and Keighley – as an Administrative Assistant in 2019, before rising…
West Yorkshire Combined Authority announced as UKREiiF official destination partner
The UK’s Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) has announced that West Yorkshire Combined Authority is the official Destination Partner for the annual event taking place between 20th-22nd May 2025, in Leeds. As the Destination Partner, West Yorkshire Combined Authority will take a prominent role at UKREiiF, with a strategically positioned pavilion at the…
Bradford College completes £6.9m mill transformation project
A multimillion-pound renovation project at Bradford College has transformed a derelict mill into a flexible digital, science, and allied health training facility for higher-level students. Garden Mills on Thornton Road opened its doors to staff and students this week after months of construction work on the 1900s five-storey building. The development results from £5.8 million…
Specialist CITB-IOC carpentry event welcomes Leeds Construction Craft students
Leeds College of Building is the latest ‘CITB -IOC Timber Industry College Hub’ to organise a bespoke trade event with the Institute of Carpentry (IOC). The showcase day promoted the wealth of global career opportunities and experiences available to carpentry and joinery students as new IOC members. As well as exploring IOC benefits, students also…
UKREiiF wins Raising the Bar Award
The UK’s Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) has picked up an award at the Raising the Bar Awards 2024, hosted by the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce. The Raising the Bar Awards honours the most ethical and socially responsible businesses across West and North Yorkshire, recognising their dedication to supporting their…
Leeds Beckett experts and Aggregate Industries reducing injury risk in the construction materials industry
A groundbreaking project completed by Leeds Beckett University and Aggregate Industries UK (AIUK) is reducing the risk of injuries and increasing productivity and profitability for AIUK – as well as informing best practice around safety in the UK construction materials industry. The Safety Voice project was a two-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project, part-funded by…
Inspectas recruits six new compliance specialists
Compliance specialist Inspectas has made six new appointments from trainee to board level, bolstering its team’s property expertise. The West Yorkshire-based business, which moved into larger premises and marked its 10th anniversary last year, has brought in fire, equipment, lab, asbestos and business development professionals taking its multi-disciplinary team to 56. Management Board Director Andy…
Construction students cement success at annual BIG Awards
Incredible student winners from across construction specialisms took centre stage at the annual Leeds College of Building BIG (Building Industry Greats) Awards. Host and TV and radio broadcaster Rich Williams announced 49 award-winners at the poignant ceremony held at Leeds United FC Centenary Pavilion, Elland Road, showcasing students and apprentices from the 2023/2024 academic year. CEO & Principal Nikki…