The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency is to update load security guidance introduced last July after the NFU identified that it was neither reasonable nor practical for many transporting agricultural loads.
The agreements reached during the recent negotiations help to ensure that those transporting agricultural loads are less likely to be unfairly penalised, particularly over sheeting of loads, as is the case with the current guidance, with specific reference to where there is a risk that loads will bounce up and out of the trailer.
NFU Farm Safety and Transport adviser Sarah Batchelor said: “This is a great win for the NFU. Not only should this help both our members and enforcement officers to better understand the requirements for load security, but it should also help to reduce unnecessary risk involved with having to work at height and often alone to apply sheets to trailers where hydraulic or mechanical sheeting systems are not suitable.
“It should also help members to have confidence in how they are managing their load security, and reduce the stress associated with potentially getting a penalty.
“It is in farmers’ best interests to not overload their trailers and, to act safely and within the parameters of the law.”
Inspiring more young people from marginalised and economically-deprived backgrounds in the Midlands about technology, science and engineering is the aim of a new community funding offer.
Registered charities and non-profit companies could get up to £5,000 each from National Grid Electricity Distribution to engage children in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics activities. Unregistered community organisations can apply for up to £2,000.
National Grid’s Community Matters Fund is offering £250,000 worth of grants to boost engagement and take learning beyond what’s covered by the national curriculum.
Successful projects will need to meet at least one of the following themes:
Open the eyes of a new generation to the exciting possibilities of a career in STEM, for example, projects that bring the area to life in a lively and engaging way.
Inspire further confidence and widen the skills of those already interested in STEM, for example via hands-on workshops and interactive experiments.
Break down barriers with access to tools, time, and resources for those for whom STEM’s potential may be unfamiliar, for example, launching after-school coding clubs or giving access to 3D printers.
Ellie Patey, Community Engagement Manager for National Grid Electricity Distribution, said: “Big challenges facing schools around resources, time allocation and funding have proven major barriers to engaging kids with this vital area of learning. National Grid is committed to widening the appeal of these exciting subjects which can lead to fulfilling and rewarding careers.
“We’d particularly welcome Midlands-based projects focussed on supporting young people from disadvantaged or underrepresented backgrounds for whom STEM feels unfamiliar, out of reach or even intimidating.”
“Inspiring the STEM leaders of tomorrow not only supports National Grid’s wider objectives to deliver a clean, fair and affordable energy future, but also plays a part in meeting the anticipated 400,000 roles needed between now and 2050 to reach the UK’s net zero targets.”
Applications open on Wednesday 6 March and close on Wednesday 27 March. Grants for successful applicants will be distributed in April.
A family-run, Barnsley-based property and land company, has unveiled the highly anticipated next phase of development for Penistone’s coal drops, signal house, and former railway siding site.
With this next stage of the site’s transformative journey, Fairbank Investments is marking a significant moment in Penistone’s history, with the development promising an inspiring blend of heritage preservation and modern rejuvenation.
The new designs, including business units, office space, retail and restaurant units, demonstrate how Fairbank Investments envisages how the coal drops and the land will look once fully transformed. The plans are subject to final approval.
Steeped in history, the coal drops site stands as a poignant reminder of Penistone’s industrial past. In recognition of its cultural significance, Fairbank Investments has embraced the opportunity to breathe new life into these iconic structures, preserving their heritage while welcoming a new era of prosperity.
Fairbank Investments has a proven track record of sustainable development projects such as the former David Brown factory on Green Road in Penistone. The company revitalised the site after transforming it into a new business park with 15,000 sq ft of offices and a further 66,000 sq ft of warehouse space, creating new jobs and attracting multiple businesses to the area.
Antony Green, Managing Director of Fairbank Investments, said: “Our vision extends beyond bricks and mortar; it’s about creating a lasting legacy that enriches the fabric of Penistone’s identity. We’re honoured to play a role in shaping the future of this historic site.
“Working in tandem with local authorities and community groups, we pride ourselves on delivering positive, proactive development results and have demonstrated this repeatedly over many years of business success.
“We turned the redundant site at the old David Brown site in Penistone into the thriving Fairfield Business Park, generating employment and helping multiple start-up companies and we intend to do the same at the coal drops site.
“Our current development represents a bright new beginning for a site that without our investment and vision would have likely remained a permanent wasteland.”
Image credit: Fairbank Investments
Majority shareholder Karrev and developers Kinrise have completed the lease of 1 Trevelyan Square in Leeds to Leeds Trinity University (LTU).
Leeds Trinity is set to open its brand-new city centre campus in Boar Lane later this year for the 2024-2025 academic year.
LTU’s new 15-year lease covers over 54,000 sq ft of office accommodation across the ground and upper six floors. Property consultancy Knight Frank’s Leeds office advised on the deal.
1 Trevelyan Square forms part of Karrev and Kinrise’s joint venture’s 73,500 sq ft portfolio across Trevelyan Square. Their commitment to creating a new thriving community destination has seen a flurry of deals with tenants such as Pizza Pilgrims and 92 Degrees Coffee joining Leeds’ favourites Do’hut and Things in Bread.
Kinrise co-founder George Aberdeen said: “We are delighted to have signed Leeds Trinity University at 1 Trevelyan Square. It has been a pleasure working with the University to deliver the first phase of their state-of-the-art, sustainable campus in the heart of Leeds. We are confident the new campus will be a catalyst for the final wave of regeneration in this area and the wider city centre.
“We are proud to have successfully curated a community-led site with independent food and drink operators, spaces for local businesses, students and visitors to meet and unwind. On hearing the exciting future plans for the building, we wish the team and students of Leeds Trinity all the success for their next chapter on the Square.”
Jo Hynes, Chief Operating Officer at Leeds Trinity University, added: “We are very much looking forward to opening our new Leeds Trinity University City Campus in the 2024-25 academic year, and are extremely excited about the facilities and opportunities that will be available to our students studying there.
“Our City Campus will provide a range of learning spaces, study spaces and specialist facilities, including a trading room, board room and business engagement centre, law court and custody suite, and specialist labs for our Computer Science and Construction and the Built Environment courses. Students will also have access to study resources and a wide range of study and open learning spaces to support collaborative working.
“1 Trevelyan Square will complement our Main Campus in Horsforth and enable the University to work even more closely with key partners and employers, supporting the demand for skills. It has been a pleasure working with Kinrise, supporting sustainable development and regeneration in the Square, and we can’t wait to complete the works.”
Eamon Fox of property consultancy Knight Frank added: “The renaissance of Boar Lane continues apace. This historic street and this magnificent building are a fitting location for Leeds Trinity, while this inward investment into Leeds proves, once again, this flourishing city is a magnet for talent.”
Leeds-based law firm Gordons has been hired by the UK subsidiary of global sports and outdoor equipment and apparel retailer Decathlon to provide regulatory advice amidst growing sales.
The firm will advise Decathlon UK on product stewardship and consumer law for the company, which operates 50 stores and employs more than 1,500 people. In August, the UK business reported its revenue had reached £300m for the first time in its history.
Decathlon’s UK conformity & quality leader Dorota Wypych, said: “Gordons has been instrumental in our ongoing product compliance efforts.
“Their in-depth knowledge of regulation has been invaluable, helping to navigate the complexities in dealing with product compliance enquiries. Their expertise and clear communication made the whole process smooth and successful.”
Gordons partner and head of regulatory, Simon Tingle, said: “Decathlon has become one of the most prominent names in the global sports retail space.
“We are looking forward to playing our part to help the UK business tackle continually evolving regulatory challenges with our straight-talking advice grounded in retail expertise.”
International House, a three storey office scheme on Trinity Business Park, Wakefield, has been sold in a multi-million-pound deal.
Agreed by commercial real estate specialists Commercial Property Partners (CPP) on behalf of its client M7 Real Estate, the deal was concluded for an undisclosed sum.
International House is a modern purpose-built building with basement car parking for 18 cars in addition to surface car parking.
Trinity Business Park comprises a modern mixed-use scheme that houses seven detached buildings.
As a secure business park with one entrance and egress, it offers manned security personnel and includes a range of modern industrial and office buildings providing a total of 95,710 sq ft and 372 parking spaces on site.
CPP director Robin Bullas said: “This deal reflects a strong office investment opportunity in Wakefield, despite tough market conditions.
“We are delighted to have secured the best possible price and a successful disposal for our client, who is delighted with the outcome.”
Thirty-six city centre apartments will be created as part of a £4m project thanks to support from Levelling Up Funding (LUF).
A grant of £390,000 has been awarded from Hull City Council’s government grant scheme to DAQRI Limited for its conversion of 9-11 Chapel Lane.
The funding is to support Phase 1 and part of Phase 2 of the overall development proposals, which includes 19 apartments, comprising 14 one-bedroomed apartments, four two-bedroomed apartments and one three-bedroomed apartment.
A further 17 apartments will be created as part of later phases, helping to address the demand for city centre living in Hull.
The costs of Phase 1 and part of Phase 2 is £1.653m, with the overall development estimated to cost around £4.12m, meaning over £3.5m of private sector capital is being invested.
The project will see the Grade II listed Standidge Building, 9 Chapel Lane, brought back into use, as well as its two neighbouring properties.
Around 1,626 sq m of unused floorspace will be brought back into use, with two full-time equivalent jobs created.
Cllr Paul Drake-Davis, portfolio holder for regeneration and housing at Hull City Council, said: “This project not only brings back into use a dilapidated heritage building, but will also help address the growing demand for city centre living in Hull.
“It is pleasing that the council is able to support the applicant’s significant private investment through this Levelling Up Fund Grant award.”
Kirklees Council has appointed the contractor for its upcoming renovations to the Dewsbury Arcade – a key part of the Dewsbury Blueprint.
The Dewsbury Arcade is a Grade II Listed building, which has been a focal point in Dewsbury town centre since 1899 but has now stood empty for the best part of a decade. The arcade is a key focus of the Dewsbury Blueprint, which lays out Kirklees Council’s big plans for investment in Dewsbury over the next decade and beyond.
The arcade is set to reopen as the UK’s first ever community-run shopping centre, following the massive success of the Arcade Group – a community business formed specifically to lease and manage the building, in their public fundraising last year.
Kirklees Council has appointed William Birch Construction as the contractor set to undertake the work, which will see the much-loved arcade restored to its former glory and brought back into regular use.
The renovations needed to reopen the arcade are being funded by £4.5 million from the National Heritage Lottery Fund, grants from the Dewsbury Town Deal Board and West Yorkshire Combined Authority, support from the government’s Getting Building Fund, and capital funding from the council.
Once reopened, the Arcade Group will take on management and operation of the business side of the arcade without further financial input from the council.
Construction is planned to begin within the next few months – and the arcade should be reopened by summer 2025.
Councillor Cathy Scott, Leader of Kirklees Council and Ward Councillor for Dewsbury East, says: “The Dewsbury Arcade is a project I’m tremendously excited about, because it’s so steeped in feeling from local people – including myself.
“Those of us who’ve lived in Dewsbury for a long time remember that beautiful building through the years, and I’m absolutely passionate about it remaining a beating heart of our town centre.
“I’m glad we’re working with a company that are Yorkshire-based, and have a history of future-proofing treasured heritage buildings like this one whilst bringing them into the twenty-first century.
“With the passion of local people, the hard work of the Arcade Group, and the support of our other blueprint projects like Dewsbury Market – which should, in perfect timing, be underway just as we’re looking to reopen the arcade – this can once again be a great place for people to enjoy, and for businesses to thrive.”
Gemma Shahjahan, Business Development Director for William Birch Construction, says: “We are delighted to be working with Kirklees Council on this treasured building in Dewsbury, and are looking forward to starting onsite in the coming weeks.
“The plans to bring the arcade back to life are really exciting, and our teams are looking forward to being part of that journey in what is a special year for our business – celebrating 150 years!”
Keith Ramsay, Chair of the Dewsbury Town Deal Board, says: “We’re very pleased to see William Birch come on board. The history and heritage of the Dewsbury Arcade is something the Town Board, and the people of Dewsbury, are incredibly passionate about – we don’t just want to see the arcade brought back to life, we want to see it restored and preserved for the future.
“As with all these plans for the town centre, we want to be carrying our heritage forward in a way that works for the modern-day visitor, and works with all the other Dewsbury Blueprint projects to bring new life to the town centre as a whole.”
Chris Hill, Co-Founder of the Arcade Group, says: “We’ve been close to this project, and it’s been close to our hearts, for a very long time now, so it’s incredibly exciting to be so close to work starting onsite.
“Once the transformation starts, the whole project will become real to people – they’ll start seeing the changes before their eyes. We’re having very exciting conversations with traders potentially looking to take up residence in the arcade once it reopens, and this update will definitely spur on these conversations – it’s an exciting time!”
Harrogate environmental risk reduction services business, Adler and Allan, has acquired quality and engineering management solutions company, QEM Solutions.
QEM has been providing professional services, technical consultancy, inspections and surveys, management and training, and software for safe systems of work to the highly regulated gas and water industries for over 20 years.
Rob Graham, Chief Executive Officer, QEM, said: “We are excited to be joining the Adler and Allan Group. The services Adler and Allan delivers, and their established position in the utilities and environmental markets, allows us to provide our expert quality and engineering management solutions to more companies, providing a full turnkey package of process management and engineering solutions.”
Henrik Pedersen, Chief Executive Officer, Adler and Allan, said: “We help organisations manage, improve, maintain, and upgrade their infrastructure so that they can solve their biggest environmental challenges such as managing energy transition and mitigating the effects of climate change.
“This critical acquisition supports our mission and our ambitious growth plans, by bolstering our specialist quality and engineering management capability and enhancing our range of services to the gas and water sectors, making us partner of choice for utilities companies as they tackle the challenges of energy diversification and distribution through RIIO-3 and RIIO-4.”
This is Adler and Allan’s fifth acquisition in the utilities sector, and eighth overall in the last three years.
Law firm Andrew Jackson Solicitors has appointed of Amy Youngman as associate in the firm’s tax and trusts team .
Amy has over 10 years’ experience advising on wills, trusts, the administration of estates and Lasting Powers of Attorneys (LPAs). As a full member of the global professional body STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners), Amy has particular expertise in helping clients across a whole host of issues concerning inheritance tax and lifetime planning, including advising landowners and business owners in respect of agricultural relief and business relief from inheritance tax.
Richard Hoare, partner, and head of private client services at Andrew Jackson, said: “We warmly welcome Amy to Andrew Jackson, as we strengthen further our existing team to meet continued demand for our services.
“We remain committed to providing excellent legal advice tailored to our clients’ specific needs, and to building trusted relationships for the long term. I know that with Amy’s specialist experience and commitment, we will continue to provide the highest quality legal advice, as reflected in independent client feedback.”
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