Local Plan takes another step closer to unlocking York’s development and growth ambitions
City of York Council is set to consider the adoption of its Local Plan following the findings of the Inspector’s Report on the Examination of City of York’s Local Plan, which will be presented for consideration at Full Council on Thursday 27 February. Once adopted, this Plan will be the city’s first comprehensive development framework…
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….
Opportunity to beat stamp duty increase in North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire housebuilder Barratt and David Wilson Homes is advising buyers looking to move home in 2025 to consider doing it now to avoid the rise of Stamp Duty fees from April. Currently, home buyers don’t have to pay the land tax on properties up to the value of £250,000. However, Stamp Duty will be…
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…
Court charges tenant £7,964 for failed disrepair complaint
Council tenants are being reminded to report repairs to their landlord as ‘no win, no fee’ legal firms target York tenants and a County Court judge orders an unsuccessful disrepair claimant to pay £7,964.75 in legal costs this month. The Council’s reminder follows a campaign advising its tenants to tell City of York Council about…
Last chance to buy for North Yorkshire house hunters at Manor Chase
Leading developer David Wilson Homes is encouraging North Yorkshire house hunters to consider reserving a home at its Manor Chase development in Boroughbridge before the remaining homes have been snapped up. Located on Stump Cross, Manor Chase is selling its final homes with the development being over 85% sold out. The final properties include a…
Fitness, fun and fresh air: North Yorkshire homebuilder’s guide to hometown health
To avoid the slump of Blue Monday (20th January), Barratt and David Wilson Homes is letting customers know the best ways to stay fit and healthy whilst settling into a new neighbourhood in North Yorkshire. According to the NHS, adults aged between 19-64 should partake in at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity, or…
Be inspired by our energy-efficient show home!
Two empty Council houses are being given energy-efficient revamps and will become temporary demonstration homes before being re-let to new tenants. The new tenants will benefit from a warm healthy home with reduced heating bills. The first council house to be renovated is a Victorian mid-terrace in Clementhorpe, and the next one will be a…
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…
Interior design trends for 2025 revealed for North Yorkshire home buyers
Leading housebuilder Barratt and David Wilson Homes has collaborated with design experts, Blocc Interiors, to share some upcoming trends for homeowners in North Yorkshire to consider. Karl Openshaw, Creative Director at Blocc Interiors, said: “When looking ahead to 2025, I’ve highlighted trends that stood out at the Maison and Objet show in Paris, which provide…
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…
West Yorkshire developments at the top of Santa’s list thanks to local housebuilder
The developer creating brand-new communities in West Yorkshire is taking steps to ensure their homes are on Santa’s list to visit this Christmas. Barratt and David Wilson Homes, which is building new developments in the county, have written to Mr Claus to make sure he stops by at the new homes this festive season. The…
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…
Stress-free tips for decorating a home at Christmas
A new survey* from Barratt and David Wilson Homes reveals that 46% of Brits feel stressed when putting up their Christmas decorations. With 66% admitting that fairy lights get them flustered and 19% flapping over colour schemes, Barratt and David Wilson Homes Yorkshire West has teamed up with Bents Garden and Home – famed for…
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…
Incommunities appoints new Director of Financial Operations
Bradford-based housing provider Incommunities has appointed Adam Hutchinson as its new Director of Financial Operations. Adam joins Incommunities after more than 20 years’ experience in the housing sector, having previously been Director of Resources at two other Yorkshire-based housing associations in the last eight years, where he acted as strategic lead for finance, IT, HR,…
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…
West Yorkshire developer works with local scout group to transform open space
Local housebuilder David Wilson Homes has recently worked with a local scout & explorer group in Burley in Wharfedale, near its Centurion Meadows and Imperial Court developments, to transform some disused open space. Burley Scouts & Explorers teamed up with David Wilson Homes to transform the open space at St Mary’s Church to create an…
Local housebuilder supports West Yorkshire family charity
Local housebuilder Barratt and David Wilson Homes Yorkshire West has donated £1,500 to Home-Start Wakefield and District to help the charity continue its vital work. Home-Start Wakefield and District is a community network of volunteers who offer support to families with young children who are facing challenges including emotional support, practical assistance and mental health…
Private tenants protected from unlicensed landlords
City of York Council has used its powers to protect tenants in four properties in York, where landlords were not complying with housing licensing legislations. The vast majority of York’s private landlords ensure their homes meet the required legal standards and most homes which require a house of multiple occupation (HMOs) license have one. Such…
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…
Have your say: Riverside path project takes next steps
City of York Council is inviting residents to have their say on detailed designs to improve the riverside path between Jubilee Terrace and Scarborough Bridge. The designs will see around £1.7m invested on improvements that include creating separate paths for cyclists and pedestrians, raising the path to make it more resilient to flooding as well…
Revitalisation of Bradford City Centre progresses as ECF appointed to deliver new ‘City Village’
Plans to transform Bradford’s former retail heart into a new sustainable ‘City Village’ have taken a major step forward. Bradford Council has appointed ECF, the partnership between Homes England, Legal & General and Muse, as its preferred development partner to deliver the scheme. ECF’s appointment, via Muse, was approved in principle by the Council’s Executive…
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…
Council works with regulator to further housing standards
On 1 April 2024, the Social Housing (Regulations) Act 2023 came into force. Its new regulatory standards require tenant safety and engagement, decent homes and transparency, and landlords to inform the regulator of any non-compliance. The Regulator of Social Housing also requires more frequent surveys of homes and consideration of tenants’ diverse needs and any…
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…
West Yorkshire housebuilder shares top tips for reducing waste this recycle week
In recognition of Recycle Week (14th to 20th October), Barratt and David Wilson Homes is sharing simple but effective tips to help homeowners minimise their waste footprint and recycle smarter. Sam Wood, Sales Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes, said: “We are encouraging homeowners to share our eco-friendly vision by rethinking their recycling habits,…
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…
New energy efficiency grants for homes not heated by mains gas
Eligible households not heated by mains gas in York are being given free energy-efficiency boosts by the Council for greater comfort, lower bills and less carbon output. During this month of environmental action in York (14 September-12 October), residents are being urged to check their eligibility and grab a grant for measures suitable for their…
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…
Developer gives North Yorkshire home buyers top tips for babyproofing their home
Leading housebuilder Barratt and David Wilson Homes is sharing some helpful tips for homeowners in North Yorkshire to babyproof their new home. As noted by the Office for National Statistics, September is one of the most popular months for babies to be born, which extends into early October. Sam Wood, Sales Director at Barratt and…
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…