Harrogate-based law firm Raworths has appointed a new legal director to its commercial property team.
Heather Roberts is a commercial property specialist with more than 20 years’ experience acting for investors, developers, landlords, tenants and banks.
Her experience ranges from investment, development and asset management work to advising SME clients on their portfolio purchases and management.
Roberts has joined from her previous role at McCormicks in Harrogate, bringing knowledge of the local and wider regional market.
Matthew Hill, head of commercial client services at Raworths, said: “We welcome Heather, whose specialist commercial property expertise will be a huge asset to our growing team which has benefitted from a raft of new client wins over the past few months.
“There are major opportunities for us to grow our business in this sector, driven by a stronger than anticipated market post-pandemic and growth more broadly across the region where the demand for space continues to surge.
“Heather’s appointment is part of a strategic recruitment drive for our commercial team as we look to grow our client portfolio across the region and nationwide.”
Heather Roberts added: “I have been aware of Raworths’ reputation as a legal firm which builds lasting relationships with its clients, and at the heart of that is the unique way the team can draw upon the skills and expertise of their colleagues across disciplines. This approach really appeals to me, and I’m excited to add to the incredible pool of talent here to help grow the commercial property business.
“The firm proactively supports and nurtures the ongoing development of its team at all levels, and I also hope to play a key role in cultivating the skills of our expanding team going forwards.”
A new solar farm with the capacity to supply about 19,000 homes could be built on a site in Neath Port Talbot under new plans.
Dulas Ltd has prepared a scoping report to Neath Port Talbot Council on behalf of Welsh renewable energy company Octo Partners for the scheme.
The project is proposed for land to the south of Moel Ton-mawr and west of Mnyndd Margam, with the site located to the south-east of Port Talbot and sitting approximately 3km from the M4.
The 79MW solar farm, called Eirlys, will comprise a battery energy storage system and sub-station for a period of 40 years.
It is estimated that the proposed development will contribute a clean electricity generation equivalent to the domestic requirements of 18,910 homes annually.
The application site extends to 245 acres and consists of several parcels of land, irregular in size and comprising of agricultural fields.
According to the scoping report, the scheme will contribute to renewable energy and decarbonisation targets for Wales.
Cardiff-based Octo Partners has significant expertise in the renewable sector, having brought forward more than 400MW of clean energy projects within the UK.
Schemes include the 34MW Mynydd y Bettws Wind farm in Carmarthenshire and the 40MW Raventhorpe Solar Project in North Lincolnshire.
Octo has appointed renewable energy specialist consultancy Dulas to advise them on the scope of environmental impact assessment work and environmental issues, and to provide sufficient environmental information. This will enable the formulation of an environmental statement which will accompany an application for development consent for the proposed scheme.
New trade counter, industrial and warehouse units are ready for occupation at a commercial property development site near Bournemouth, Dorset.
Practical completion of the 26-unit scheme – four of which already have occupiers lined up – has taken place at Bedrock Park, Vulcan Way, Ferndown Industrial Estate.
Bryony Solan, a surveyor and associate at property consultancy Vail Williams in Dorset, joint marketing agents with DTRE on behalf of developer Northwood Urban Logistics, said: “We are excited to see this significant milestone achieved as it provides the area with much-needed industrial stock and we have tenants lined up ready to take occupation.
“This includes two of the 12 trade counter units which have been let to well-known brands.
“Unit 5 is to be leased by Careco, a nationwide mobility aids supplier. Unit 4 will become a Ducati Bournemouth store for the iconic motorcycle brand Ducati UK in collaboration with Breeze Motor Group.”
She added: “We are confident that this superb, 26-unit speculative scheme by Northwood Urban Logistics, with three distinct areas constructed in tandem, will swiftly fill due to market demand and the flight from some commercial premises which do not meet the occupiers’ business ESG requirements.”
Property developer Cordia Blackswan has reached a major milestone in its Great Hampton Street urban regeneration project in Birmingham.
The company has marked the practical completion of heritage commercial building refurbishment The Bank.
Located in the Jewellery Quarter, the grade II-listed former Lloyds TSB Bank building has been restored, offering seven spaces for mixes uses, including office and retail.
Cordia Blackswan has retained and repaired a large portion of the building’s original and lost features to the standing and quality of design prior to its 80s reconfiguration works, including the buff terracotta façade and large span sash windows, which contain Gothic, Renaissance and Dutch gable motifs.
András Kárpáti, deputy chief executive at Cordia Blackswan, said: “Reaching completion on The Bank signifies the start of Cordia Blackswan’s commercial offering and reinforces our overall vision for Great Hampton Street, by welcoming organisations with shared values.
“From the banking hall to the Cordia Blackswan office (HQ), each space within The Bank has been finished to the highest standard, with authentic features restored throughout – that’s what makes the building such a unique place to work.”
The developer has welcomed two new tenants to The Bank, with contractor Garvey Demolition taking residence on the mezzanine floor, and multi-disciplinary building design consultancy ONE Creative Environments setting up on the ground floor.
There are two spaces remaining to let – the banking hall and the second floor.
Wizu Workspace, a Yorkshire provider of flexible offices and coworking spaces, has appointed a new commercial director.
Chris Mapp will support the company’s plans to expand its footprint across the North of England and Scotland.
Mapp has more than 15 years of experience, having held multiple senior leadership positions. In his new role, he will be responsible for driving Wizu Workspace’s commercial strategy, building relationships with key partners, and leading the company’s business development efforts.
Wizu chief executive Tom Almas said: “Chris’ hire represents a significant step forward for the next chapter of Wizu. As we continue with our growth plans, bringing on board the right senior leadership is crucial to the future success of the business.
“Chris’ wealth of experience and commercial expertise in flex space sector will be invaluable to us as we look to expand our footprint and offer even more innovative solutions to our members.”
Mapp added: “As a seasoned ‘flex-pert’ with experience in commercial, operational, HR, and marketing functions, I’m excited to join Wizu at such a pivotal time in their growth journey. In Wizu I feel I’ve found a home, with our shared values and the dynamic and passionate team who have a huge focus on delivering ‘best in class’ excellence.”
Wiizu was established in 2017 and has nine locations in Leeds, Sheffield, Harrogate, Bradford and Glasgow.
UK Land Estates has appointed its principal designer for the refurbishment of the Axis Building at Team Valley Business Park.
Carney CDM will be involved with the redesign and refurbishment of the six-storey office space at Maingate, which was built in 2004.
The company’s sister company, Carney Consultancy, has an established relationship with UK Land Estates, providing health and safety advice and ensuring health and environmental management systems are in place.
The Axis Building will be revamped through a collaborative approach with all duty holders including Castle Building Services, which was unveiled as principal contractor earlier this month.
Caroline Morton, director at Carney CDM, said: “We are pleased to once again work alongside UK Land Estates to refurbish four floors within the Axis building and replace central plant to ensure efficiency within the new development. The project will remain live throughout the works and health and safety is crucial throughout this process to protect the public.
“During the construction phase Carney CDM will attend meetings to ensure health and safety is at the forefront of any design changes and design risk management is undertaken.
“Carney CDM also undertake site visits during the construction period to ensure the principal contractor and contractors on site are compliant with the CDM Regulations 2015. Prior to the construction phase starting, Carney CDM ensured a design risk review was undertaken and managed throughout the design, working collaboratively with the duty holders on the scheme. This process ensures the health and safety both within the construction works and for the end users of the building.”
Adrian Bartle, construction director, UK Land Estates, added: “We have worked with Carney Consultancy for a number of years, so it was an obvious step to migrate our principal designer requirements over to Carney CDM. The combination now provides us with a managed health and safety thread through our projects from inception to completion and beyond.”
Global digital consultancy Monstarlab is looking to advance its smart spaces offering, and drive forward Net Zero initiatives, according to its UK managing director.
The business was established in Toyko in 2006 and has since expanded to employ more than 1,200 people across the world, including in Newcastle.
James Hall said that Smart Spaces are one of the company’s “key offerings”, adding: “We are committed to helping clients better understand how to create truly connected spaces that better the lives of everyone who use them.
“We’re keen to advance this proposition and learn what others are doing in this space.”
Monstarlab presented its initiatives for smart spaces and sustainability at the MIPIM 2023 festival, as part of the Newcastle delegation.
Hall explained that “helping to create exceptional user experiences” was one of the businesses biggest aims at the Cannes showcase, alongside “leveraging data in useful, meaningful ways and driving forward initiatives which support organisations in reaching Net Zero”.
In order to do this, the company is looking to connect with a “fantastic array of thought leaders” to build the foundations for new partnerships.
“A successful MIPIM would mean being able to both share our knowledge as well as learn from the brilliant minds that will be attending this year”, said Hall, adding: “We’re excited to connect and get inspired by the real estate community, and discuss the latest trends and developments in this space.”
A North Yorkshire food and drink consultancy has more than doubled turnover despite the headwinds presented by the current economic challenges.
Subrosa Ltd has grown from £522,000 to £1.2m turnover in the space of two years and now employs 17 people from its office in Beamsley, near Bolton Abbey, an increase from eight employees in 2021.
The company said growth was down to increasing turnover with existing clients as well as expanding its client base.
Established in 2010 by Amanda Peberdy and Rachel O’Brien, Subrosa provides support across marketing, commercial, and supply and operations in the retail sector. The business has recently restructured the business, and the team has expanded with several senior hires.
Clients include Zizzi, Zur Mühlen International, Rokit Health, JellySqueeze and Binghams.
Amanda Peberdy said: “Subrosa is uniquely positioned to deliver growth for our clients in the UK grocery retail sector. We recognise that every client has their own specific needs so we offer a tailored approach, which provides the right level of experienced resource and advice at the right time to businesses which might not otherwise be able to commit to taking on salaried employees to do this.
“We’re proud to be based on the edge of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales with clients across the UK and internationally.”
Midlands-based developer and investor BPG has appointed global property consultancy Knight Frank to find a funding partner for a build-to-rent project featuring hundreds of homes.
Knight Frank is seeking to dispose of the opportunity, known as Oasis and located on Gooch Street North, via a forward fund for £112.5m.
The 456-unit, 11-storey scheme comprises 178 one-bedroom apartments, 268 two-bedroom apartments and ten duplex apartments. It also offers two commercial units on the upper ground floor, spanning 5,207 sq ft.
Hannah Badger, a partner in the residential investments team at Knight Frank, said: “Birmingham Southside is currently undergoing a huge amount of exciting regeneration and redevelopment, which is totally transforming this part of the city centre.
“Oasis will deliver an additional 456 purpose-built and professionally managed rental homes for Birmingham, which are highly sought-after yet significantly undersupplied, especially in the city centre.
“The scheme’s attractive location provides prospective tenants with extremely convenient access to Birmingham’s major employment, transport and amenity hubs, which will no doubt contribute towards very strong occupancy levels once built and complete.”
The site is currently being demolished and cleared to pave the way for development work to commence.
Interior design consultancy Office Principles North has been appointed to design and complete Co-op’s new 32,000 sq ft support centre in Lichfield.
Office Principles North will create a workplace destination over three floors of Alexandra House on Queen Street, which is situated in the city centre.
The open plan office will feature a blend of functional and creative spaces that promote hybrid and collaborative ways of working.
They include adaptable work settings such as event spaces, themed meeting rooms and areas for focused activities, as well as a terrace for outdoor meetings and events. The third floor of the building will house a breakfast bar and dining area and will be transformed into a social environment.
As part of its refurbishment of Alexandra House, Office Principles North will carry out CAT A works to a 12,460 sq ft space that will be sublet by Central Co-op.
Tina Batham, joint managing director of Office Principles North, said: “This project is all about creating a community in the workplace. We’ve worked in close collaboration with Central Co-op to define what its colleagues want and need from an office, which takes account of people’s shifting priorities post-pandemic.
“Alexandra House offers Central Co-op a more suitable space for bringing people together. It will strike a balance between an activity-based workspace and a comfortable and adaptable environment, ensuring that people are able to perform whatever task they need to in a setting of their choosing. It will deliver a workplace that people will be excited to visit.”
Kate Hunter, chief of staff at Central Co-op, added: “During a thorough tender process, Office Principles North showcased creativity, innovation, adaptability and significant expertise, making them the perfect partner for us on this project.”
The full project is expected to be completed later this year.