Places | LEP Annual Report 2021

York and North Yorkshire has thrived, and will continue to thrive in the future, because of the high quality of our distinctive places: towns and cities, vast rural hinterland, and northern coastline. Working together with all of our partners, we will continue to capitalise on the unique opportunities to reshape and revitalise our great places for a Greener, Fairer, and Stronger future.

Our Investment Highlights

Tap the points on the map for more information

Selby

Region-wide

East Riding

York

Craven

Scarborough

Harrogate

Ryedale

Richmondshire

Hambleton

A19 Chapel Haddlesey

Storm Dennis wreaked havoc in early 2020, including significant damage to a major North Yorkshire road.

A section of the A19 between Chapel Haddlesey and Eggborough had to close as a result, causing huge disruption for residents and businesses.

York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership allocated £6m from the Getting Building Fund to support repairs. Work, led by North Yorkshire County Council, was completed in June 2021.

The finished scheme provides resilience from future flooding; ensuring an important route in our region remains open.

Our Investments in Selby

Tadcaster Flood Protection Scheme
Selby College - Equipment
Selby College - Trailblazers
Newlands Bridge, Drax M62
Tadcaster Bridge

Our Investments in the Region

Humber & North Yorkshire Innovation Voucher Scheme
Humber & North Yorkshire Grants for R&D Scheme
Stimulating Innovation in the Agri-Food Sector (SIAFS) in York, North Yorkshire & East
Riding & Leeds City Region
Superfast North Yorkshire
Digital Advantage
Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund
Manufacturing Growth Programme (MGP)
Northern Powerhouse Internationalisation Fund
Manufacturing Growth Programme II
Humber & North Yorkshire Low Carbon Grants for R&D Scheme
The Anaerobic Digestion and Circular Economy Yorkshire (ADCEY) project
Resource Efficient Business (REBiz)
Lets Grow Business Grants

Our Investments in East Riding

Social Care Innovation Programme
Sustainable Supply Chain
ENTERPRISE
Housing and Public Building Carbon Reduction Programme
Beverley Energy Network
Hessle Foreshore Tidal Defence Scheme
Gypsey Race Park and Avenue – Phase 2
Yorkshire Coast Communities
Pocklington Flood Alleviation
Bridlington Town Centre Improvements
Bridlington Harbour & Marina Surveys
Bridlington Housing - Roundabout
Bishop Burton College - Digital Upgrade
East Riding College - Mechatronics at Bridlington
East Riding College - Digital Workplace
Beverley Grovehill Road Widening

York Central

York Central is one of the largest city centre brownfield regeneration sites in England, and will drive significant growth in York and the wider region.

Located adjacent to York Station, the site can leverage opportunity from York’s unique position on the rail network, which provides direct connectivity to one third of the UK population.

This 45-hectare mixed-use site has secured both Housing Zone and Enterprise Zone status, making it one of the most commercially attractive sites in England. The site will deliver 1.2m sq. ft. of commercial development, including 80% Grade A offices alongside a £55m expansion of the National Railway Museum. In total, York Central will create 6,500 jobs.

The York Central Partnership is overseeing delivery of the site. The partnership includes Network Rail, Homes England, National Railway Museum, and City of York Council. Homes England and Network Rail have supported development of the site through land acquisition and master planning and will now oversee the infrastructure projects. This infrastructure work is part of a wider £155m funding pot secured by the York Central Partnership, which will help open up the site for development.

This £155m funding pot includes:

£77.1m funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

£23.5m from the West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund

On top of a £6m Local Growth Fund contribution from the York & North Yorkshire LEP, and a further £35m secured from the York Central Enterprise Zone in lieu of retained business rates.

Our Investments in York

Project and Process Innovation (PAPI)
The Biovale Project
Bioeconomy Growth Programme
HYPER Hubs – Creating a network of ultra-low carbon transport refuelling hubs across York
Bio-Business Park
Scarborough Bridge Project
Askham Bryan College - Agricultural Skills Centre
Askham Bryan College - Engineering
Askham Bryan - future farm Skills
York College - Internet of Things
A1079 Junction Improvements Shiptonthorpe Roundabout
A1079 Junction Improvements Killingwoldgraves Roundabout
York Cycleway
York EV Charging Project

Skipton Flood Alleviation Scheme

The £17.8m Skipton Flood Alleviation Scheme helps to protect 378 homes and 165 businesses in the town centre from flooding from Eller Beck and Waller Hill Beck, which rise very quickly after heavy rain.

The project is designed to provide the town with protection over the course of the next 100 years. This improved flood resilience has enhanced economic growth in the area and has enabled the development of the South Skipton Employment Zone, a major industrial development on the edge of Skipton.

Led by the Environment Agency, the scheme was backed with £1.2m from the LEP’s Local Growth Fund allocation.

Our Investments in Craven

Langcliffe Quarry Enterprise Centre
Decarbonising Skipton: Green Future for Public Buildings and the Greatwood Estate
Skipton Employment and Housing Growth
Craven College - Animal Management Centre
Craven College - Electronic and Computing Lab

Scarborough and Whitby Town Deals

In March, £37.3m was awarded to Scarborough and Whitby. It was described as a "spectacular opportunity" and “a massive shot in the arm” to boost the towns’ economic and cultural growth.

As part of the government’s Towns Fund announcement, Scarborough was awarded £20.2m and Whitby secured £17.1m.

Nine projects for each town, which aim to improve and bring new opportunities for skills and enterprise, cultural activities, the environment, connectivity, wellbeing, and sustainability, were proposed as part of the funding bids. Since then, stakeholder and public consultation has taken place to decide which projects to progress to the delivery stage.

The original bids were developed by Scarborough and Whitby Town Deal boards and Scarborough Borough Council, working with Whitby Town Council and other local partners. Feedback from public consultation also helped to shape the bids.

Find out more about the Town Deals here on Scarborough Borough Council’s website.

Our Investments in Scarborough

Whitby Piers Coast Protection Scheme
Whitby Church Street Flood Protection
Housing Growth at Middledeepdale, Scarborough
Scarborough housing and employment - Plaxton Park
Scarborough Construction Skills Village
Grimsby Institute Scarborough - ELITE skills
Scarborough housing and employment - junction improvements

Harrogate to York Railway

A £9.8m rail project will allow more trains to run between York and Harrogate.

The project, completed in December, has effectively removed a bottleneck on the route by changing the track layout and modernising the signalling system. Work was carried out by Network Rail and funded by North Yorkshire County Council and York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, supported by Government funding from the Local Growth Fund.

New safety measures have also been introduced at some level crossings on the route, while the alterations to tracks at Cattal railway station will allow two trains to enter the station at the same time.

Our investments in Harrogate

The Skell Valley Flood Resilience Project
Harrogate College - refurb and new build
A1/A59 Jct 47 improvements

Circular Malton & Norton

With increasing pressure on local highstreets, the circular economy is a vehicle that towns and businesses' communities within them can use to drive collaboration, increase operational efficiencies, and become future-proof.

This is what has been happening in Circular Malton & Norton (CMN).

In a recent study, over 75% of residents who responded were in favour of a community anaerobic digester (AD) to help power the town and provide green energy. Using funding from the Rural Community Energy Fund, a plan is now ready for approval in order to install an AD in 2022. This will be ready to operate from 2023 - at the same time as law changes to require collection of food waste from every household.
As well as community initiatives, CMN hosted a business webinar, supported by the York & North Yorkshire LEP, BDC, and the University of York, with local businesses sharing their stories on how they have created a thriving business and reduced carbon through circular ways of working.
With almost 9 in 10 residents supporting the goal to become the UK’s first circular market town, the group has now formed the Community Interest Company (CIC) – opening up opportunities to progress faster and with greater support.

Looking ahead, the CIC wants to collaborate and activate projects that capture people’s hearts and minds with ideas such as a social enterprise business start-up, to a zero-waste major food festival. The members give their time to share their approach so other community groups, counties, and towns across the UK can benefit from lived experiences.

CMN have produced the following film, featuring inspiring businesses who have either saved money, made money, or both using circular economy principles.

To see how your business could benefit from the circular economy, explore the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub’s circular economy support and guides.

Our Investments in Ryedale

Malton and Norton Flood Protection Scheme
Malton Agri Business Park
Yorkshire Arboretum Tree Health Centre

Catterick Feasibility Studies

Catterick could get a new ‘town centre’ to link the expanding garrison with the existing community.

Feasibility studies are concluding with potential options identified which would look to provide a mix of community, recreation and leisure facilities as well as retail, medical, and residential accommodation. All brought together with sustainable transport links.

York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership allocated Local Growth Fund money towards the feasibility studies. Richmondshire District Council and the MOD also provided funding.

Our Investments in Richmondshire

Growth at Catterick Garrison

C4DI Northallerton

Hambleton’s innovative £2.3m digital technology centre, C4DI Northallerton, has opened.

Part of the £17m Treadmills development, C4DI Northallerton is a digital hub for tech companies and traditional businesses working primarily within the agriculture and food processing sectors. Working alongside its sister C4DI facility in Hull, it will bring together businesses through custom-designed innovation programmes and startup incubation. It will also give traditional business access to skills and expertise, and tech companies unrivalled supply chain and mentor access.

The Treadmills scheme is being developed by Central Northallerton Development Company Ltd, a joint venture between Hambleton District Council and Wykeland Group, and is supported with £1.8m from the York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, allocated from the Government’s Local Growth Fund.

For more on C4DI in Northallerton, visit https://www.c4di.co.uk/northallerton

Our Investments in Hambleton

Sowerby Environmental Space Project
The North York Moors National Park Blue Corridor Project
Northallerton Environmental Enhancements
Dalton Bridge near Thirsk
Housing and employment at Northallerton
Central Northallerton - road improvements
The Skell Valley Flood Resilience Project
Harrogate College - refurb and new build
A1/A59 Jct 47 improvements

Places

21st Century Towns

Places

Historic Environments

Places

NP11 Placemaking

Places

21st Century Towns

The 21st Century Towns report provides an ambitious but realistic package of recommendations for towns in York, North Yorkshire, and East Riding.

It looks at opportunities and challenges facing towns over the long term (up to 2040) and considers how these towns can respond to major trends to achieve the economic transformation envisaged by our Local Industrial Strategy.

It can be used as a blueprint to help towns grasp the opportunities of a 21st century economy, and reshape themselves following the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure they remain successful and attractive places to live, work, and visit.

This short film presents the findings and recommendations of the report, which was commissioned by the Y&NY LEP, and first shown at our 2020 annual conference.

Since publication, the report has been referenced in funding bids for town centre regeneration plans, and used as a resource to help shape projects.

Schemes which have built on the report include Acomb Front Street in York, the Driffield Town Centre Vision and Action Plan and Selby’s Place and Movement Study.

Places

Historic Environments

Our latest report is the first of its kind in the North of England.

It can be a used as a blueprint – both locally and beyond – for levelling-up heritage, creating a better understanding and appreciation of the region’s historic environment, attracting investment, and ensuring that heritage priorities are reflected in stakeholders’ plans and delivery actions.

Commissioned with Historic England, the report will be live in the coming weeks and added to these pages.

Places

NP11 Placemaking

NP11 is the business-led voice for the North that brings together the 11 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) from across the North of England, including our York & North Yorkshire LEP.

Its aim is to play a leading role in realising the vision for an economically thriving Northern Powerhouse that drives economic prosperity, international competitiveness, and inclusive growth for the benefit of everyone across our great towns, cities, and rural communities.

One of its six priorities is Placemaking - ensuring that people recognise and value the great places that exist in the North of England and how they offer outstanding quality of life which attracts investors, businesses, and visitors from around the world.

In July 2020 and February 2021, NP11 ran two social media campaigns as the country re-opened: #NorthMeansBusiness demonstrated the strong business resilience in the North, and #PoweredByPlaces highlighted how Northern culture & heritage are key to supporting the ‘levelling-up’ agenda.

We took huge pride in showcasing our region throughout both these campaigns. Our former Chair, David Kerfoot MBE DL, joined the campaign with his video on the importance of place.

David said: “In the York & North Yorkshire area, we are building on the shared values and collective efforts that have brought us together during the pandemic. Out of the challenges we recognise the opportunity we have before us, and are working with the grain of our place to grow our economy as greener, fairer and stronger – one that includes everyone in opportunities for innovation and change – and transforms how we live, learn, work and play. I fully support the #PoweredByPlaces campaign, which quite rightly shines a light on the North as an area rich in culture, heritage and opportunity.”

NP11 on twitter - David Kerfoot MBE DL.