Hotel Victoria in Robin Hood’s Bay has expanded its room count to 30 as part of a wider refurbishment by new owners, the Loxley Collection. Seven new rooms—including dog-friendly and family-oriented options—have been added, along with an accessible suite completing in April.

The property, acquired in late 2023 by entrepreneur Andrew Long, has undergone significant upgrades, including the addition of Osborne’s Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge, a refurbished pub, and expanded event space. The hotel now offers full hire options for weddings and private functions.

This site joins the Loxley Collection’s growing UK portfolio, including Lincoln and Cornwall hotels. The group is targeting higher occupancy and increased event-driven revenue through its investment in location-based hospitality assets.

Esh Construction is expanding its land-led housing strategy with a £65 million pipeline of developments across the North East and Yorkshire, targeting the delivery of around 300 affordable homes.

The expansion includes four newly acquired sites. In Bridlington, the company plans a 68-unit extra care scheme. In Hull, it’s set to build 65 homes, a mix of two—to four-bedroom properties. The Yorkshire schemes account for £36 million of the total investment.

In the North East, Esh will develop a 55-home extra care facility valued at £20 million in Gateshead, replacing a disused library. A further £9 million has been allocated to a residential scheme in Jarrow, where the company will deliver a mix of houses and flats.

These projects are part of Esh’s ongoing strategy, first launched in 2019, to secure and develop land directly. The firm takes ownership of technical, planning, and construction processes to reduce delivery risk and improve project viability. The firm leverages its status as a Homes England Investment Partner to unlock funding for housing association clients, helping bridge financial gaps in affordable housing projects.

Since adopting this approach, Esh has delivered schemes in Leeds, Doncaster, and County Durham, and is preparing additional sites across both regions for planning submission.

North Yorkshire Council aims to secure £6.8 million in funding from Homes England to fast-track essential infrastructure for a major housing and employment scheme in Harrogate. The funding would enable the early delivery of two new schools and transport upgrades tied to the 2,000-home West Harrogate Project.

The funds would be used for highway improvements around the new developments and early-stage design and survey work for the school sites. The grant, sourced from the Brownfield, Infrastructure, and Land Fund, would be recoverable once developers’ contributions—secured through planning agreements—are received.

Council officers noted that the early infrastructure would support creating a sustainable community. Although there is some financial risk if the developer contributions fall short, external consultants have reviewed the cost estimates, and the local housing market remains strong.

Three of the four planning applications submitted for the project have received conditional approval. The latest application, approved in December, involves the construction of 480 homes off Otley Road.

Developers involved in the project are expected to contribute significant funds to local infrastructure, including nearly £1.9 million for a new primary school, £1.6 million for secondary education, over £1 million for sports facilities, and £390,000 towards healthcare services.

North Yorkshire Council’s executive committee will review the grant proposal this week.

Construction is underway on a £12 million industrial development in Barnsley. The development aims to meet the strong demand for business space and support local employment.

Kestrel Park, located near the A6195 Dearne Valley Parkway, will deliver 77,400 sq ft of industrial space across seven units. Completion is expected in early 2026.

Developer Carnell Management Services leads the speculative project, backed by £3 million from South Yorkshire’s Investment Zone Funding. The park is expected to support the creation of up to 185 jobs.

The new units, designed with sustainability in mind, will include features such as solar panels, EV charging stations, cycle parking, and LED lighting. An environmental impact assessment will also be carried out.

The development responds to ongoing interest from expanding local firms and inward investors looking for smaller, high-quality industrial space. Kestrel Park adds to Barnsley’s growing portfolio of business-ready sites aimed at stimulating regional economic growth.

Rotherham Council is progressing its regeneration strategy with further land acquisitions critical to delivering the planned Rotherham Gateway Station at Parkgate. The new integrated station—combining a mainline rail stop and tram-train connection—will be located on Forge Way and is central to the borough’s plans to improve connectivity and stimulate commercial development through a proposed Innovation Campus.

The council has recently agreed terms to acquire multiple properties essential to the scheme, including Calendar House on Mangham Way. This site has been identified as necessary for health and safety compliance, specifically providing emergency access to the northern platform. It also offers a key access point from the north side of town.

Calendar House is occupied by a local SME and will continue to operate under a leaseback arrangement. The council expects the property to generate rental income in the interim, regardless of whether the station opens as scheduled in 2030.

The acquisitions are being funded through a £10 million allocation from the government’s Town Deal, supporting land assembly while the full business case for the transport project is under development.

Network Space Investments (NSI) has acquired a 103,262 sq ft industrial estate on Grange Mill Lane in Sheffield for £9 million. The estate, located near Meadowhall and junction 34 of the M1, includes four vacant warehouse units with substantial yard space and parking.

NSI plans to refurbish the property to create a modern industrial hub. The space will offer flexible unit sizes ranging from 10,000 to 50,000 sq ft, with eight-metre eaves. The refurbished space will be available by late summer 2025, addressing the tight supply in the local market.

This acquisition is part of NSI’s ongoing strategy to reinvest capital after the recent sale of its Europa Way property in Trafford Park. The company has also made recent acquisitions in Oakhill, Manchester, and Cowley Way, Sheffield, expanding its presence in key regional markets.

As part of its growth strategy, NSI is seeking new investment opportunities across the North of England and expanding its asset management team to support future acquisitions.

Planning consultancy Nineteen47 has partnered with housebuilder Honey, providing expertise across 21 of Honey’s development sites. This collaboration includes planning, urban design, and visualisation services to support the builder’s rapid expansion.

The 21 sites, primarily located across Yorkshire and the Midlands, will deliver up to 2,850 new homes with a projected gross development value of £795 million, pending planning approval. Nineteen47, with offices in Sheffield, York, and Nottingham, has been advising clients in various sectors, including residential, commercial, healthcare, and manufacturing, since its founding in 2015.

Honey, established in 2022 with offices in Leeds, is backed by Alchemy Partners’ £937 million Special Opportunities Fund IV. The company employs 80 staff and is involved in five live developments, such as the Iris project in Goldthorpe and Homes by Honey in Edwinstowe. The partnership with Nineteen47 is central to Honey’s ability to secure planning consents and move forward with its growth objectives.

A development plan for 384 flats near the Armley Gyratory in Leeds has been approved after the developer agreed to increase the number of discounted homes. The scheme, proposed by UCR Leeds Ltd for the Wellington Road and Armley Road site, faced delays when the City Plans Panel deferred their decision last month.

Initially, the developer proposed only seven flats at a discounted rate, below 80% of market rent, which fell short of the council’s policy of 20% affordable housing. However, after further negotiations, the number of discounted units was increased to 19, making the project more in line with council expectations.

The revised plans also include added green space and design improvements. Notably, a proposed padel tennis court was removed in favour of more outdoor communal areas. The developer will contribute £530,000 for off-site green space enhancements as part of the development agreement.

The panel unanimously approved the revised plans at a recent meeting. Pending legal agreements, the final consent has now been delegated to the council’s chief planning officer.