Site Sold For Proposed New Major Employment Scheme Keyland Developments Ltd, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister-company to Yorkshire Water, has completed the sale of its Wakefield East site in West Yorkshire to Opus North and Bridges Fund Management for an undisclosed sum. A planning application for
Planning Consent For Leeds Urban Extension White Laithe Developments Ltd, as part of a consortium of landowners, has secured planning consent from Leeds City Council to transform land at Whinmoor into a residential-led sustainable urban extension with 2000 homes, which could facilitate significant job creation. Approval has been granted for
Development Will Deliver First New Homes at 170 Acre Site Templegate Developments Limited, the joint venture partnership of Evans Property Group and Keyland Developments, has agreed terms of sale with Avant Homes and Evans Homes for the acquisition of strategic housing land at the 170 acre Skelton Gate site in
Harmony Energy Signs 40 Year Lease Keyland Developments, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister company to Yorkshire Water, has agreed a 40 year lease to Harmony Energy for the construction of a battery storage facility at a five acre site adjacent to Creyke Beck substation in Cottingham
Chris Johns And Gaynor Carpenter Appointed As Directors Keyland Developments Ltd, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister-company to Yorkshire Water, has announced the expansion of its Board with the appointment of two new directors, Chris Johns and Gaynor Carpenter. The new appointments come as Keyland prepares for
Initiative Set To Maximise Value and Kick Start Development Of Unused Land Keyland Developments Ltd, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister-company to Yorkshire Water, has been appointed as the sole Land Broker on a new land brokerage and advisory framework designed to maximise the value and support
Former Service Reservoir With Planning Consent For Exceptional Home. Keyland Developments Ltd, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister company to Yorkshire Water, has appointed Harvey Burns & Co to bring to market a former service reservoir with planning consent in place for the creation of a high
First Company In UK To Launch Valuation Tool to Enable Sustainable Development Keyland Developments Ltd, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister company to Yorkshire Water, has unveiled its ambitious plans to help solve Yorkshire’s housing crisis and ensure fast delivery of sustainable communities by introducing a pioneering
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
Site Sold For Proposed New Major Employment Scheme Keyland Developments Ltd, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister-company to Yorkshire Water, has completed the sale of its Wakefield East site in West Yorkshire to Opus North and Bridges Fund Management for an undisclosed sum. A planning application for the 31-acre employment scheme, now branded ‘City Fields’, was recently submitted by Keyland. The indicative layout proposes employment space totalling up to 500,000 sq ft, which could generate around 800 new jobs for the local area. The majority of the commercial site will benefit from Class B2, B8 and E(g) consent for urban logistics, as well as industrial accommodation in a varied range of unit sizes, whilst also offering scope for the development of a trade counter scheme and associated pub/restaurant/drive-thru options. Previously part of the redundant Yorkshire Water Calder Vale treatment works, the site will now form a key strategic element of the overall City Fields development which, at 375-acres, will play a significant role in creating a new, important, and sustainable primary employment hub to the east of Wakefield. The site runs adjacent to the £33m Wakefield Eastern Relief Road (WERR) which opened in 2017. Regeneration of the broader City Fields community also includes the construction or (re)development of around 2,500 houses, a primary school, health facilities, district and neighbourhood centres. Appointed agents Avison Young and Knight Frank facilitated the sale of the land on behalf of Keyland with Square One Law acting as legal team. Carter Towler and Walker Morris advised the purchaser. Peter Garrett, Managing Director of Keyland Developments, said; “We are delighted that the sale has now completed and look forward to the planned development forming the main commercial element of this significant regional regeneration scheme.” Ryan Unsworth, Development Director of Opus North, said; “The acquisition of this strategic site continues our strategy of sustained growth in the northern commercial sector. The surrounding area has witnessed a considerable surge in investment and regeneration and the development of this pivotal site will make a further significant economic contribution. We are looking to commence works on site in early 2023 with a targeted completion of the first units later that year. In addition to bringing about new jobs, the development will help ease the well documented shortages of high quality industrial/commercial accommodation in the region.” Guy Bowden, Partner at Bridges Fund Management partner, added: “The City Fields development will allow us to revitalise a previously redundant site and create over 800 new jobs for the surrounding area. Aiming to incorporate important sustainable features into the design, this development will both benefit occupiers and provide the wider Wakefield community with a high-quality commercial and industrial hub, contributing to the catalysing of local economic growth. We are looking forward to working with Opus North on delivering another successful project.” Iain McPhail, Partner at Knight Frank, said; “City Fields is an exciting new commercial opportunity which benefits from not only access to the region’s motorway network via the M1 and M62, but also to Wakefield town centre itself. The site is ideally positioned to capitalise on the significant demand in the current market for urban logistics and distribution as well as manufacturing and trade.” Rob Oliver, Principal at Avison Young, added; “‘Due to the range of plots across the development, we have considerable flexibility and are able to accommodate a wide range of unit sizes. We are already talking to a number of businesses, some already local and looking to relocate or expand, others would be new to the area. There is a severe lack of units available in the West Yorkshire area, particularly on the M62 corridor, and with continued occupational demand we are confident that the scheme will prove very successful. Occupiers are increasingly keen to occupy new premises which will meet their ESG agenda’s as well as staff wellness and retention in addition to presenting their brand positively, having lower operating costs and greater efficiency.”
Planning Consent For Leeds Urban Extension White Laithe Developments Ltd, as part of a consortium of landowners, has secured planning consent from Leeds City Council to transform land at Whinmoor into a residential-led sustainable urban extension with 2000 homes, which could facilitate significant job creation. Approval has been granted for the creation of a new community including 2000 homes, a local centre, a primary school, public open space and part of the East Leeds Orbital Road. The circa 250 acre site comprises three adjacent parcels of land, off Coal Road and Skelton Lane, between the A58 Wetherby Road and the A64 York Road. The residential development, which will be the primary land use within the site, will incorporate a mix of market and affordable homes from two bedroom apartments to five bedroom townhouses. Leeds City Council is required to deliver 51,952 new dwellings between 2017 and 2033, with a target that 3,247 dwellings per year should be delivered. The land at Whinmoor will significantly assist in contributing to housing delivery as it will accommodate 2,000 units of the wider East Leeds Extension site, which has an allocated capacity of 3,771 homes. The new primary school will be a two-form entry school and the mixed-use local centre will provide a variety of retail, community and health uses as a focal point for the new community. The development will also provide the first phase of the East Leeds Orbital Road between the A58 Wetherby Road and the A64 York Road, connecting surrounding communities. Peter Garrett, Managing Director of Keyland Developments – one of the JV partners, said; “The planning consent has facilitated an entirely new extension of Leeds to bring about much-needed housing and associated community facilities as well as a vital new road connection. The development has the potential to deliver a multitude of economic and social benefits, including significant job creation, and we are pleased to have played a role in unlocking its potential.” John Carter, Director at Evans Property Group – a JV partner, commented; “Developments of this scale have the ability to ensure the long-term success of cities and we are delighted that this strategic site at Whinmoor will be brought to life as a vibrant mixed-use development with a community at its heart. Development of sites like this is crucial and we are looking forward to seeing the scheme progress.”
Development Will Deliver First New Homes at 170 Acre Site Templegate Developments Limited, the joint venture partnership of Evans Property Group and Keyland Developments, has agreed terms of sale with Avant Homes and Evans Homes for the acquisition of strategic housing land at the 170 acre Skelton Gate site in the Leeds Aire Valley. Both Avant Homes and Evans Homes are each purchasing half of phase one of the development which incorporates a total 27 acres and will enable the delivery of a combined 400 homes. The development has planning consent in place to build 1,800 new homes on the former open cast colliery site, which sits to the east of Junction 45 of the M1. As well as new homes, the Skelton Gate will also provide a primary and secondary school, public open space, a local centre and a convenience store as well as associated infrastructure. Peter Garrett, Managing Director of Keyland Developments, said; “The sale of phase one of what is one of the most significant regeneration schemes to be seen in the Leeds City Region, is a huge milestone in the transformation of Skelton Gate into a new sustainable community.” Richard Bean, Portfolio Director at Evans Property Group, said; “We are pleased to have concluded this transaction to enable the provision of much needed new homes and assist Leeds City Council in meeting its housing targets.” Subject to planning approval by Leeds City Council, Avant Homes look to launch its first homes for sale by the end of summer 2022. Avant Homes Yorkshire managing director, Chris Coley, said: “We have ambitious growth plans for development across the region so we’re very pleased to be moving forward with this acquisition. “With its fantastic location that will cater to a wide range of buyers, and its proximity to the Aire Valley Enterprise Zone, this will become an exciting flagship development for our growing portfolio.” John Carter, Director at Evans Homes, said: “Evans Homes is delighted to be involved in the Skelton Gate development. Following on from the successful launch of our scheme at Tockwith near York, the development at Skelton Gate presents an exciting opportunity to be involved in the creation of a vibrant new community on the edge of Leeds. “The first phase of over 213 homes will commence in mid 2022 and we look forward to welcoming our first homeowners early in 2023.”
Harmony Energy Signs 40 Year Lease Keyland Developments, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister company to Yorkshire Water, has agreed a 40 year lease to Harmony Energy for the construction of a battery storage facility at a five acre site adjacent to Creyke Beck substation in Cottingham near Hull. When constructed it will be one of the largest battery storage facilities in Europe. Harmony Energy has secured planning consent from East Riding of Yorkshire Council for a total of 100MW of battery storage. The development will enable energy from renewables, like solar and wind, to be stored and then released when customers need power most, helping the UK transition to net zero. Yorkshire-based Harmony Energy develops, builds, owns, and operates utility-scale renewable energy assets across the UK. The new facility will have the capacity to store up to 200MWh of power to feed directly back onto the network via the adjacent Creyke Beck substation, making the site’s location ideal for this development. Peter Garrett, Managing Director at Keyland Developments, said: “We’re very pleased to get this deal across the line; the energy sector represents an exciting new business area for us to explore and we look forward to sourcing further opportunities from within Kelda Group’s extensive landholding.” Keyland Developments was advised by Carter Jonas’ Infrastructure and Energy team. Carter Jonas’ energy specialist Simon Currie said: ”We are delighted to have advised Keyland on the development and promotion of this significant energy development site. The project is a prime example of the opportunity that presents itself to landowners and developers with sites adjacent to major grid substations, given the increasing demand for energy storage and frequency management on the grid.” Keyland Developments Ltd is the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister company to Yorkshire Water. Keyland has been operating across Yorkshire for over 20 years, regenerating Yorkshire Water’s redundant sites. In addition to its work transforming former Yorkshire Water land, the team also works alongside independent landowners, corporates or regulated bodies to overcome obstacles to development on strategic sites in order to facilitate regeneration by securing planning consent for future use.
Chris Johns And Gaynor Carpenter Appointed As Directors Keyland Developments Ltd, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister-company to Yorkshire Water, has announced the expansion of its Board with the appointment of two new directors, Chris Johns and Gaynor Carpenter. The new appointments come as Keyland prepares for a busy year ahead following the launch of its UK-first Valuation Tool and its innovative Six Capitals approach to development, which aims to change the way that developments are delivered across the Yorkshire region with sustainability at its core. Chris Johns joins the Board alongside his current role as Chief Financial Officer at Yorkshire Water. Chris joined Yorkshire Water in 2021 from his former role as Finance Director of Northumbrian Water Limited. Also strengthening the Board is Gaynor Carpenter who joins alongside her current role as Head of Land & Property at Yorkshire Water. Chris and Gaynor will sit alongside existing members Liz Barber, who is Chair and Chief Executive of Kelda Group, Peter Garrett, Managing Director of Keyland and Luke Axe, who took his place on the Board last year following his promotion to Land and Planning Director for Keyland. Liz Barber said; “We are delighted to welcome Chris and Gaynor to the Board, who both bring a wide amount of experience with them in their roles providing strategic and practical leadership to a number of businesses. These latest appointments are designed to strengthen the Keyland Board as we look to expand the business beyond our traditional residential and industrial sectors and build on our Six Capitals approach to development, which now sees us promoting more than 9,000 residential units and 4.5 million square feet of commercial development.”
Initiative Set To Maximise Value and Kick Start Development Of Unused Land Keyland Developments Ltd, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister-company to Yorkshire Water, has been appointed as the sole Land Broker on a new land brokerage and advisory framework designed to maximise the value and support development of surplus land across the country. The Landsolve 2.0 Framework has been launched by EN:Procure, the specialist procurement arm of social housing consortium Efficiency North Holdings, to provide high-quality Land Brokerage and Advisory services to assist in generating capital and maximising the value of land for the benefit of the public and charitable sector and/or supporting the development of surplus land assets with the aim of delivering social infrastructure or other public policy objectives on a UK wide basis. Keyland has secured the coveted Land Brokerage position on the framework and was appointed alongside Land Advisors; Arcadis Consulting (UK) Limited, Aspinall Verdi Limited, BNP Paribas Real Estate Advisory & Property Management UK Limited, Edward Architectural Services Limited and GenR8 Developments LLP. Keyland proved to be a natural fit for the framework, clearly able to demonstrate the required socially responsible approach to land brokerage, having recently launched its own blueprint for sustainable development. Keyland is the first company in the UK to use a valuation tool to calculate direct, indirect and enabled value delivered from its developments. The tool is based on the ‘Six Capitals’ model and covers natural, social, human, intellectual, manufactured and financial value. Utilising this pioneering tool – created by leading sustainability consultants 3ADAPT, with support from Yorkshire Water and other world leading institutions – Keyland can measure its ‘Total Value’ as a company, addressing its ambitions to deliver exceptional places and enable sustainable living. This aligns well with Landsolve’s aspirations to shape and deliver exceptional places that provide a measurable long-term impact in a range of ways beyond the maximisation of the financial metrics of a scheme. The framework has an initial duration of four years with the option to extend for a further four years. Peter Garrett, Managing Director at Keyland Developments, said; “We are delighted to be appointed on this unique framework and look forward to utilising our extensive land brokerage expertise to add value to developments across the country. The framework’s approach to development is well matched with our Six Capitals method and the many synergies we have identified will prove advantageous as we progress our shared goal of creating exceptional places.” Lee Parkinson, Chief Executive, Efficiency North Holdings Limited, commented, “The Landsolve 2.0 framework is the first of a number of innovative procurement solutions in development that will expand the service offer and operating footprint of the company and we are excited by its potential. We very much look forward to working closely with the appointed Framework Members and implementing the framework across our Membership to deliver value adding developments.”
Former Service Reservoir With Planning Consent For Exceptional Home. Keyland Developments Ltd, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister company to Yorkshire Water, has appointed Harvey Burns & Co to bring to market a former service reservoir with planning consent in place for the creation of a high design home in Bardsey, West Yorkshire. Keyland has secured planning approval for the retention and conversion of the existing former service reservoir, which sits on 1 acre of brownfield land on Wike Ridge between the villages of Bardsey and East Keswick, into a single home. The proposed stunning residential property has been designed to sit discreetly within the existing footprint of the reservoir but to also offer panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. This ‘hidden home’ will be sold with planning permission in place. The former Yorkshire Water site is anticipated to attract high levels of interest due to its unique positioning and the scope for the creation of a unique design-led home. Sites such as these from Keyland’s residential portfolio offer buyers the chance to create a home unlike any other, with other exemplar projects including the conversion of the former water tower in Pannal. Beth McQue, Development Planner at Keyland Developments Ltd, said; “This site is an exciting opportunity to create a ‘Grand Designs’ style home which is truly unique in its construction and location. Blending into its surroundings, whilst also preserving the location through the repurposing of this former service reservoir, this property will provide its residents with breath-taking views alongside a contemporary style and finish. “Land such as this offers rare opportunities to create one-off homes in sought-after areas throughout Yorkshire. Acquiring sites from Yorkshire Water enables us to not only revitalise redundant land but to also create homes which are sensitive to the surrounding landscape with a minimal visual impact as well as offering a rare chance to own homes that are one-of-a-kind.” Lyndsay Burns, Managing Director at Harvey Burns & Co, said; “Opportunities of this nature in locations such as this are few and far between. With the right vision and creativity, this beautiful high design home offers the opportunity to create a truly bespoke property to suit the lifestyle and needs of prospective buyers. Accompanying planning permission is already in place making this an exciting redevelopment project and we expect a substantial amount of market interest.” Harvey Burns & Co is marketing this property for sale by informal tender. 0113 243 2400 / info@harveyburns.com /www.harveyburns.com
First Company In UK To Launch Valuation Tool to Enable Sustainable Development Keyland Developments Ltd, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister company to Yorkshire Water, has unveiled its ambitious plans to help solve Yorkshire’s housing crisis and ensure fast delivery of sustainable communities by introducing a pioneering new housing delivery model. In a first for the UK, the model will be underpinned by a set of environmental, social and financial measures which will be tracked by a unique valuation tool. After more than twenty years regenerating redundant land for Yorkshire Water, Keyland has spent the last five years extending its services to other landowners through its Planning Promotional Agreement (PPA) initiative, resulting in eight residential developments which will bring forward over 4,000 homes around Yorkshire. With the PPAs now forming half of Keyland’s residential business, the team is focussing its next five-year business plan on growing this side of the business by working with major landowners, including local authorities and other public landowners, to bring forward land to help unlock the housing crisis. Keyland claims that the current UK model of volume housing delivery doesn’t support sustainable housing delivery or the requirements of individual councils to meet demand for different types of homes. Therefore, the Company set about devising a way to ensure new homes are procured in a way that creates truly sustainable communities, with a key focus on improving energy efficiency and water resilience. To create a blueprint for sustainable development, Keyland will be the first company in the UK to use a valuation tool to calculate direct, indirect and enabled value delivered from its developments. The tool will be based on the organisation’s ‘Six Capitals’ model and cover natural, social, human, intellectual, manufactured and financial value. Utilising this pioneering tool – created by leading sustainability consultants 3ADAPT, with support from Yorkshire Water and other world leading institutions – Keyland will be able to measure its ‘Total Value’ as a company, addressing its ambitions to deliver exceptional places and enable sustainable living. To overcome the challenges it sees in the current UK housing delivery model, Keyland will take on a master developer role to work with housebuilders and organisations such as housing associations and later-living housing providers to create a more organic mix of houses, incorporating where appropriate self/custom-build homes. Keyland will pursue more prescriptive planning permissions and incorporate the ‘zoning’ of its sites to ensure that these innovative new communities will be realised. Peter Garrett, Managing Director of Keyland Developments, said; “This is an incredibly exciting time for Keyland. Having successfully built our PPA business over the last five years, we now have bold ambitions to be the development enabler of choice for both private and public sector landowners both across the County. It’s our view that the existing model of housing delivery simply will not solve the housing crisis in Yorkshire as it does not support council policy, nor will it easily deliver truly sustainable development. By implementing our ‘Six Capitals’ model and evaluating the non-financial values alongside the financial, we can take a more holistic approach and ensure that the total value of a development is explicitly considered. Crucially, our master developer role will address the mix of uses being delivered and incorporate the self/custom-build model which we see as being increasingly important to the future of residential development. In short, we’re looking to change how houses are built and how they are bought. “The expert team at 3ADAPT have devised the valuation tool, which we understand is the only one in the UK to take into account indirect and enabled as well as direct impacts, making it a truly pioneering and unique resource and one new to the property industry. We are incredibly proud to be at the forefront of residential development innovation and, whilst they may be ambitious, our aspirations to help solve the housing crisis for Yorkshire while facilitating sustainable developments of excellence are wholly deliverable. We are in a privileged position in that we have a strong reputation based on trust and we want to build on that to change the face of housing delivery for the better.” From now on, Keyland intends to apply the ‘Six Capitals’ approach across the land that it owns, as well as helping inform its work with partners and local councils to fully realise its ambitions of creating truly sustainable neighbourhoods. Keyland owns 1,300 acres of land across the Yorkshire region and is currently involved in promoting over 8,500 homes and 4.5million sq ft of commercial space – the most in its history. This aligns with Yorkshire Water’s emerging Land Strategy which considers how it can collectively give back and enhance its land in the face of the challenges it faces. Gaynor Craigie, manager of land and property at Yorkshire Water said: “We are delighted that Keyland Developments Ltd has adopted the Six Capitals approach across the land it owns and promotes. The Six Capitals provides a strong model of sustainability which places an emphasis on living within the limits of the natural environment and developing strategies that grow all capitals. These support Yorkshire Water’s overarching ‘total impact’ philosophy. The aim is to improve natural, social, human, intellectual, manufactured and financial capital and deliver benefits to its customers and stakeholders across Yorkshire.” Yorkshire Water is one of the largest landowners in the region, through its soon-to-be launched Land Strategy it is a holistic and long-term approach to land management. Gaynor said; “Our new Land Strategy aligns closely with national and regional policies: clean growth; education, skills & work; housing; innovation; transport and trade & investment and support the region to address the climate emergency and improve health & wellbeing. By aligning our respective strategies, Yorkshire Water and Keyland can work together to achieve their goals within Yorkshire, ensuring unified vision for how we can support the North’s potential to be unleashed.” Keyland is also one of only three Land Brokers, and represents Yorkshire as the only northern partner, on the public sector land delivery framework, Land Solve,
