Work has got underway to create a new regional headquarters for Yorkshire & Humber Drainage Boards (YHDB) to aid the restructure of the organisation.
YHDB is a public sector management group that administers eight partner Internal Drainage Boards (IDB) which work together to manage inland rivers and watercourses across the region for the benefit of local communities.
The bespoke, 5,124sqft office and workshop facility is being built at Green Park Business Park, Newport, and will also function as the depot for the local Ouse and Humber Drainage Board – an IDB that covers a large part of East Yorkshire.
The restructure has led to the organisation rapidly outgrowing its former premises in Howden, and the need to upgrade its facilities to comfortably house all staff and equipment.
Andrew Mclachlan, CEO of the YHDB, said Green Park Business Park offered a range of benefits when it came to choosing a new home.
He said: “We looked at a number of sites, but for our needs Green Park best matched our preferred solution.
“Our Internal Drainage Boards look after more than 800 miles of watercourses, rivers, and flood defences and over 80 pumping stations. The Ouse and Humber Drainage Board is the largest of our IDBs, managing water from around 20 per cent of East Yorkshire.
“Green Park is central to the area we cover and provides the quickest connection to our watercourse and river network via the B1230 for our local operational teams, and convenient access to the M62 for our technical staff, enabling them to access large parts of the region as quickly as possible.
“The site offers improved security and has afforded us the space to create a bespoke facility from where we will be able to deliver a much more efficient service, ultimately reducing the risk of flooding to our communities.”
The scheme, including all ground preparation works, is being carried out by Lindum Construction, which has an office at Elvington, near York. It is expected to be completed by spring, 2022, with the YHDB forecasting to relocate in May.
James Nellist, Director of Lindum Construction, said the business had acted as the YHDB’s construction partner throughout the process, negotiating the land purchase and providing a design and build solution.
Mr Nellist said: “We have a good relationship with YHDB and with our business being established on an existing public sector contract framework, they came to speak to us about their needs.
“We immediately thought Green Park would be perfect for their purposes. It is within their patch, has fantastic road access and there are other businesses on site with similar plant and equipment, meaning the infrastructure was perfect for this development.
“We’re very pleased to be working alongside the YHDB to provide their new home.”
Green Park Business Park is being brought forward by leading East Yorkshire commercial developer the Horncastle Group PLC, which is also located on site.
Director Ian Hodges said he was delighted to see another important local organisation take space on the rapidly evolving business park.
Mr Hodges said: “YHDB, and in East Yorkshire, the Ouse and Humber Drainage Board, carry out incredibly important work helping to reduce the risk of flooding.
“We’re delighted they have chosen Green Park Business Park for their new regional headquarters. It’s located within their operational area and near to the road network making it the ideal site for their needs.”
