The next major phase of development at Middlewood Locks, our multi-award-winning £1 billion mixed-use regeneration neighbourhood in Salford, is set to begin following approved funding from The National Housing Bank.
Alongside out joint venture partners, Metro Holdings, we have a well-established partnership with Homes England, the parent organisation of the National Housing Bank, which has previously provided funding for earlier phases of development, all since fully repaid. Including the latest provision of funding, a total of £84.2m has now been loaned in support of the various phases of Middlewood Locks contributing to the delivery of more than 1,300 completed new homes and accelerating delivery of up to 909 further new homes.
This funding package will facilitate further development on 10 acres of land adjacent to Manchester City Centre, strengthening the link between the prospering neighbourhood near Salford Central station, St. John's, and Manchester’s Spinningfields business district.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary and a decade of ongoing development, Middlewood Locks has transformed a formerly disused brownfield site encompassing the three large basins of the Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canals, significantly enhancing the waterways and rejuvenating the Ordsall Chord railway infrastructure.
Middlewood Locks is now home to over 2,600 residents across 1,306 homes, complemented by retail and leisure amenities and an expansive public realm. The development has received both national and regional recognition for its positive social impact and for facilitating connectivity between Salford and Manchester, offering secure and pleasant walking and cycling routes between the two cities.
The new funding will be utilised for site preparation and enabling works intended to expedite the delivery of up to 909 additional homes at Middlewood Locks. This includes comprehensive design work to support the planning application for 'Gateway 2,' which proposes 909 new homes across two further phases of residential 'Brick Fields Yard' and 'Lockgate Wharf,' with ground floor commercial and amenity space.
Brick Fields Yard is set to comprise 659 apartments in one, two, and three-bedroom configurations, including duplex homes, all positioned around a private raised podium garden exclusively accessible to residents. The development features two separate buildings of 27 and 32 stories, offering high-quality accommodation with access to fantastic resident amenity spaces and offering world class accommodation.
Lockgate Wharf will feature an additional 250 luxurious canalside residential homes, comprising a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, centred around a private residents’ raised podium garden and situated beside a ½ acre public park. Lockgate Wharf is adjacent to the lock connecting the Manchester, Bolton& Bury Canal with the River Irwell.
Paul Kelly, Managing Director at Scarborough Group International, said,
“We are delighted to extend our long-standing and very successful collaboration with Homes England as one of the first pilot schemes since the launch of the National Housing Bank in March. This funding arrangement marks a significant milestone in realising the full potential for Middlewood Locks as an important driver in creating sustainable new communities and much-needed new homes.
“We have already delivered a thriving new neighbourhood that we are extremely proud of, and look forward to the next ten years of investment that delivers on the National Housing Bank, Homes England housing agenda with measurable sustainable value. We hope to be able to start on site by early next year, with the first phase of homes available for occupation in 2030.
The National Housing Bank is a new public finance institution to speed up the creation of housing and communities, as well as support the revitalisation of towns and cities throughout England. Established by the UK government, it collaborates with house builders, developers, investors, and registered providers to provide up to £16 billion in debt, equity, and guarantees. The bank also works with [Regional] Mayors through Homes England’s regional framework to enhance partnership efforts. As a subsidiary of Homes England, the bank draws on the Agency’s expertise to help deliver over 500,000 homes and numerous major regeneration and mixed-use projects, expected to unlock more than £53 billion in private investment over the coming decade.
Nigel Barclay, Director – Loans, National Housing Bank, said:
“The initial three phases of Middlewood Locks have been highly effective in delivering essential new homes, revitalising previously unused land and strengthening the connection between Salford and Manchester city centre.
“The significant positive impact on the local area is clear, and this latest funding accelerates further housing delivery within this vibrant neighbourhood.
“Urban regeneration projects such as Middlewood Locks play avital role in supporting new development in towns and cities, fostering communities where individuals are eager to live and engage socially. We continually seek collaboration with partners who share these goals and ambitions.”
The tenth anniversary of Middlewood Locks coincides with Scarborough Group International's own 50th anniversary, marking significant milestones for both the development and the company behind it. Over the past five decades, SGI has established itself as one of the UK’s leading regeneration and placemaking specialists, delivering transformative projects that unlock the potential of underused urban land and create long-term economic and social value.
Our acquisition of Leeds' Old Medical School has been shortlisted for Property Deal of the Year at the Insider Yorkshire Property Awards 2026.
The category recognises transactions that have the potential to make a lasting impact on Yorkshire's property sector, and we're pleased to see the Old Medical School recognised alongside some of the region's most significant deals.
The acquisition marks the first phase of the Leeds I nnovation Village and reflects a shared ambition to establish Leeds as one of the UK's leading destinations for healthtech innovation.
Rather than seeking a conventional purchaser, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust was looking for a partner capable of taking forward its long-term ambitions for the Old Medical School. We're proud to have been selected and look forward to continuing our work with the Trust, alongside Leeds City Council, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Nexus and Leeds Beckett University, alongside our design team partners, as plans for the building progress.
Through HiVE Places, we'll bring forward proposals to repurpose the Grade II* listed building as a dedicated home for healthtech businesses, creating space for collaboration between entrepreneurs, researchers, clinicians and industry at the heart of one of the UK's strongest healthcare and academic ecosystems.
The winners of the Insider Yorkshire Property Awards will be announced in September.
The third annual canal-side festival at Middlewood Locks inSalford returns next month with an action-packed schedule for all ages.
The free community event is part of a programme to celebratethe 10th anniversary of Middlewood Locks along with Salford’s centenary. Takingplace on Saturday 4th July from 3pm to 10pm, Middlewood Locks Fest offers alively, family-friendly free event including live music, colourful parades,children’s workshops, a makers market, water activities street food vendors anda fabulous light and fire display as night falls bringing the event to a close.
Attendees can expect activities throughout the day and intothe evening, providing entertainment and community spirit for residents andvisitors alike. A key highlight thisyear is the Wagon Train – a pop-up mobile festival commissioned by Salford CityCouncil as part of the Salford centenary celebrations and produced by Walk thePlank, featuring free, family-friendly entertainment including music, poetry,play space, karaoke, and talent competitions.
Live entertainment is set to include a high energy paradefrom Batala Afro-Brazilian percussion act playing samba-reggae rhythms. The internationallyacclaimed recording artist Oojami will also take centre stage with a DJ setblending traditional Turkish and Eastern melodies with modern urban beats, drumand base, dub, and English vocals.
Indie-folk duo, Honest Michael will perform music with amixture of humour and heart drawing inspiration from love and nature, whilst Salford’svery own Barton Belles community choir will deliver a cappella and choralrepertoire of pop, Motown, jazz and folk.
The makers market will be back bringing together localmakers, artisans, performers and creators selling a range of beautiful productssuch as jewellery, plants, artwork, clothes and produce.
The event will offer plentiful food and drink options fromlocal vendors alongside fun activities such as facepainting, hook-a-duck andarts and crafts.
On-the-water fun includes rafted canoe trips and aspectacular sunset light and fire installation with the ‘Spark Drummers’ bringingproceedings to a lively end at 10pm.
The festival is being made possible through sponsorship fromScarborough Group International, the developer and custodian of MiddlewoodLocks, Joint venture partners Metro Holdings PLC, and Get Living, thebuild-to-rent operator. Produced in collaboration with the outdoor eventsproduction team at Walk the Plank, the event is also supported by Manchester,Bolton & Bury Canal Society and Canal & River Trust, with funding fromGMCA.
Nicola Wallis, Group Sales & Marketing Director atScarborough Group International (SGI), said,
“We are delighted to be hosting our third annual MiddlewoodLocks Fest next month, which also coincides with our 10th anniversary. We are also thrilled to play a key part in thewider Salford centenary celebrations, which have been taking place across thecity.
“Middlewood Locks Fest has become a very popular event forthe local community, with an inclusive programme of events which caters foreveryone. It is great to see peoplecoming together and enjoying the neighbourhood that we have carefully curatedas a thriving destination as well as a place to live.
“With over 2,600 people now living at Middlewood Locks thereis a wonderful sense of community and place where outdoor activities are reallysupported by the beautiful waterside setting, curated green spaces and engagingnew public realm.”
Bethany Skeels at Get Living, said,
“Middlewood Locks Fest is a brilliant example of the energyand community spirit that make this neighbourhood so special. We’re pleased tobe supporting the festival once again and helping to create a day that bringsresidents, visitors and local businesses together to enjoy the canal-sidesetting, celebrate Salford’s creativity and make the most of everythingMiddlewood Locks has to offer.”
Paul Hindle of Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal Society,said,
“The canal has always been part of Salford’s story, and itis exciting to see it becoming a place people can enjoy in new ways today. Byopening up the waterside for leisure, activity and shared experiences,Middlewood Locks Fest helps reconnect the community with this important pieceof local heritage.”
Ben Turner at Walk the Plank, said,
“This year, we’re bringing even more life to the canal with abigger event programme which invites people of all ages to get involved. Aftersuch a fantastic response last year, we wanted to build on that momentum andcreate another joyful, creative celebration for the whole community.”
Railings show apartment virtual tour:
https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=d9JDQgVRvHg
Middlewood Locks Instagram: Middlewood Locks @middlewoodlocks
Middlewood Locks website: www.middlewood-locks.co.uk
Plans for Integral, our major new logistics and advanced manufacturing development at Thorpe Park Leeds, have taken a significant step forward after Leeds City Council's East Plans Panel resolved to approve the scheme, subject to the completion of a Section 106 legal agreement.
The decision marks an important milestone in the continued evolution of Thorpe Park Leeds and brings us closer to delivering 60 acres of high-quality employment space that will strengthen the region's position as a hub for logistics, advanced manufacturing and innovation.
The outline planning application will now progress to completion of the Section 106 legal agreement, after which the formal planning decision notice will be issued.
Integral will be capable of providing up to 596,500 sq ft of high-specification industrial, logistics and advanced manufacturing space capable of accommodating a range of different business from regional to national occupiers. Designed to meet increasing demand for high-quality employment space, the development has the potential to support around 1,700 new jobs, driving economic growth and attracting forward-thinking businesses to the region.
Situated on Brown Moor, adjacent to the award-winning Thorpe Park Leeds and The Springs retail and leisure destination, Integral boasts excellent transport links. With direct access to the M1 motorway and eventually the TransPennine railway line, as well as benefiting from key infrastructure such as the East Leeds Orbital Route(ELOR) and Manston Lane Link Road (MLLR), the scheme offers seamless connectivity for businesses looking for well-connected, high-quality industrial facilities.
Integral has been designed with both sustainability and employee wellbeing at its core. 42% of the site will be retained as green space, preserving existing woodland and hedgerows and introducing new landscaped areas to enhance biodiversity. These natural features will create a healthier environment for businesses while reinforcing SGI’s commitment to long-term environmental stewardship. The development will also provide pedestrian and cycle-friendly routes, improving connectivity and encouraging active, low-carbon commuting.
From an energy efficiency perspective, Integral has been designed to deliver highly sustainable industrial and manufacturing space. The scheme’s high-performance design will help occupiers reduce operational costs, lower carbon footprints and enhance long-term environmental performance.
By seamlessly integrating with the existing amenities at Thorpe Park Leeds and The Springs, Integral also aims to cultivate a connected and thriving business environment, enhancing employee wellbeing and productivity through easy access to retail, leisure and wellness facilities.
Adam Varley, Development Director at SGI, said:
“We are delighted that Leeds City Council's East Plans Panel has resolved to approve plans for Integral, subject to the completion of the Section 106 legal agreement. This is a truly game-changing development that will further strengthen Thorpe Park Leeds as the leading business hub in the region. This project is a key milestone in our long-term vision for the wider estate, bringing new employment opportunities and reinforcing the area's economic significance.
“With the logistics and advanced manufacturing sectors rapidly expanding, Integral provides the perfect environment for businesses seeking high-quality, sustainable space with outstanding connectivity. The scheme has been designed with sustainability at its core to set a new benchmark for modern industrial development.”
For more information, visit www.integralleeds.co.uk.
HiVE Places, the innovation platform launched by Scarborough Group International to create and operate next-generation innovation environments across the UK, has signed three landmark Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT), Nexus at the University of Leeds and Leeds Beckett University, marking one of the most significant collaborations for health innovation ever established in Yorkshire.
The agreements formalise a shared commitment to transform the Grade II* listed Old Medical School at Leeds General Infirmary into a world-class healthtech innovation hub. Bringing together the NHS, academia and industry, the partnership reflects the internationally recognised Triple Helix approach to innovation, creating a collaborative environment designed to accelerate research, investment and real-world impact across healthcare.
The Old Medical School is one of HiVE Places' founding projects and will serve as a flagship example of how the platform brings together places, partnerships and innovation ecosystems to accelerate healthtech innovation and economic growth. The aim is to create an active, open community where clinicians, researchers, entrepreneurs and businesses can work side-by-side to develop, test and scale new health technologies.
Each organisation will play a key role in delivering that vision. LTHT will anchor the project from the clinical side, embedding its Innovation Pop Up and providing companies with direct access to NHS expertise, patient insight and live testing environments. Nexus, part of the University of Leeds, will connect occupiers with the University's research base, specialist facilities and entrepreneurial programmes, helping innovators move from early-stage ideas to market-ready solutions. Leeds Beckett University will bring its strengths in applied research, health, wellbeing and digital innovation, helping create a pipeline of talent and collaboration opportunities. HiVE Places will lead the redevelopment and long-term stewardship of the building, curating an ecosystem that connects occupiers with the networks, mentorship and investment required to scale.
The result will be a connected environment where clinicians, researchers, entrepreneurs and investors can develop, test and commercialise new technologies that improve patient care while driving economic growth. The recently launched Health Innovation Leeds Incubator will provide businesses with access to integrated support, research expertise, clinical validation and real-world testing opportunities within one of the UK's most dynamic health innovation communities.
Located at the heart of Leeds city centre, the development benefits from a uniquely connected innovation infrastructure where world-class universities, one of the UK's largest teaching hospitals and cutting-edge research facilities sit side by side. The healthtech innovation hub will form the centrepiece of the Leeds Innovation Village, one of four neighbourhoods within the £2 billion Leeds Innovation Arc. Backed by the £160 million West Yorkshire Investment Zone, the Arc is the city's most ambitious regeneration and innovation programme in a generation, linking universities, hospitals and businesses through new infrastructure and shared purpose.
The Old Medical School is the first major project within the Village to move forward, marking a tangible step from vision to delivery and setting the pace for the wider Arc.
Deb Hetherington, COO at HiVE Places, said:
“Our vision for the Old Medical School has always been about more than restoring a historic building, it's about creating a genuine engine for innovation. These partnerships turn that ambition into something tangible, connecting academia, the NHS and industry in a way that gives real structure and momentum to the region's health innovation ecosystem.
“I'm incredibly grateful to our partners at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, Nexus at the University of Leeds and Leeds Beckett University for their openness, energy and shared belief in what we're building together. Following completion of the acquisition of the Old Medical School, we're now focused on working closely with our partners and stakeholders to keep things moving at pace as we progress through the next stages of planning, funding and delivery.”
The redevelopment of the Old Medical School will not only safeguard an important heritage building but also create the physical and cultural heart of a fast-growing regional ecosystem. West Yorkshire's healthtech sector already contributes more than £3 billion a year to the regional economy and supports over 16,000 jobs. With the healthtech innovation hub as its focal point, Leeds is set to strengthen its position as the UK's most connected health innovation ecosystem, drawing national and international investment and building on its reputation as a location where start-ups, scale-ups and global firms thrive side by side.
The signing of the MoUs marks a decisive step towards delivery. With these partnerships now formalised, HiVE Places and its partners are focused on maintaining momentum and progressing the project through planning and funding milestones later this year, ensuring progress continues at pace as Leeds' Innovation Village takes shape.
Dr Chris Herbert, Director of Operations – Research andInnovation, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, commented:
“This is an exciting step forwards and further demonstrates thepowerful partnerships we have here in Leeds. This MOU builds on the recentlylaunched Health Innovation Leeds Incubator which is aimed at acceleratinggrowth of businesses across West Yorkshire so that our patients and populationcan benefit from world-class health innovations developed in the region. Italso builds upon HiVE Places' acquisition of the Old Medical School as theTrust's Innovation Pop Up will become the first anchor tenant. This will enablethe Trust to extend the Innovation Pop Up and create additional capacity at itsspace at Leeds General Infirmary.”
Professor Silke Machold, Pro-Vice Chancellor Research andInnovation at Leeds Beckett University, said:
“We pride ourselves on being a trusted partner within our city andregion. As an Anchor institution, our research and innovation are deliveredthrough co-creation driving impact for the people, communities, andorganisations we serve. This collaboration highlights this in action. We lookforward to working together to drive innovation, grow our regional economy,develop our workforce of today and tomorrow and importantly try to make apositive difference to people's lives.”
Gareth Scargill, Director of Nexus at the University of Leeds,added:
“We're incredibly excited to be partnering on this landmarkproject. By bringing our communities together under one shared vision, evenmore businesses will be able to access the world-class health innovationexpertise at Nexus and across the University of Leeds. This collaborationstrengthens the support available to innovators at every stage of theirjourney, helping them scale faster, make real-world impact, and contribute to athriving healthtech ecosystem for the region.”
Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council said:
“Leeds is one of the top three global locations for healthtech companies, so bringing together these core Leeds anchor institutions with HiVE Places is a fantastic step forward. This partnership further reinforces our leading role in national and global health innovation. We're proud to besetting the pace and shaping the future as a city where breakthroughs are born, ideas are tested at speed, and where bold partnerships turn research into reality.”
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:
“West Yorkshire is a global leader in health technology, and thispartnership is a shining example of how we're driving innovation throughcollaboration.
“By uniting world-leading clinicians with our outstandinguniversities and pioneering businesses, we're creating a powerhouse of newideas that will transform patient care.
“This collaboration will be a catalyst in our mission to combathealth inequalities and improve lives, as we work to create a brighter,healthier future for everyone across our region.”
Image caption (L-R): Dr Chris Herbert, Director of Operations - Research and Innovation, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Mark Jackson, CEO HiVE Places; Deb Hetherington, COO HiVE Places; Natalie Allen, Head of Business Partnerships, Leeds Beckett University; Gareth Scargill, Director of Nexus at the University of Leeds.
.jpg)
Episode 03 of our podcast series is now live.
Created to mark 50 years of Scarborough Group International, the series explores the people, partnerships and defining moments that have shaped the business over the past five decades.
Hosted by three-time World Squash Champion Nick Matthew OBE, this episode sees Kevin McCabe, Simon McCabe and former Sheffield United manager Dave Bassett reflect on the role sport has played in shaping their approach to leadership.
They discuss resilience, standards, teamwork and performing under pressure, drawing on experiences from both the football pitch and the boardroom.
Explore the series and watch Episode 03.
🎧 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/4nT5tfaLzD8Gomb64gJRMj?si=56337a1bd6ff4739
🎬 YouTube https://youtu.be/ueUJMZx1m6A
We have launched HiVE Places, a new independently operated platform focused on developing next-generation innovation environments and accelerating the growth of high value-add economies across the UK.
We strongly believe the UK needs specialist operators that can deliver both the physical environments and the ecosystem support required to turn research, technology and talent into commercial and societal impact. HiVE Places has been established to meet that need by combining the Group’s development and asset management expertise with dedicated ecosystem leadership. The intention is to create hands-on environments and support structures that enable organisations to collaborate more easily, access funding and turn innovation into commercial and societal impact.
Under the maxim of ‘Place-based, Ecosystem-led’, HiVE Places blends an operating business that builds the environments, partnerships and pathways that deliver for businesses and organisations in the science, innovation and technology sectors.
Leadership will be shared by Deb Hetherington as COO and Mark Jackson as CEO, whose combined experience brings together real estate expertise alongside ecosystem development and curation with a focus that is rarely found within a single organisation.
The platform launches with two significant seed assets, both focusing upon the important area of health technology, and working closely with public sector, university, institutional and industry partners. The Old Medical School in Leeds and Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park give HiVE Places immediate scale and national relevance, and form the foundations for a wider pipeline as the platform expands.
Mark Jackson has spent more than three decades delivering complex regeneration and development projects with SGI. Reflecting on what the UK’s innovation districts need to succeed, he said:
“Science, innovation and technology clusters can achieve their true potential when someone takes responsibility for making all of the moving parts work together. Too often in the UK developers provide the buildings but do not go all-in with the commitment to the operating ecosystem that can really unlock the potential in the nation’s many great cities. HiVE Places has been created to close that gap. We are bringing forward the kind of specialist capability that can turn ideas into commercial and economic momentum and we believe the market is ready for a platform like this to scale nationally.”
Deb Hetherington is a recognised leader in the innovation ecosystem sphere with strong networks across the NHS, universities, industry and funding communities. Speaking about the challenges organisations continue to face when trying to innovate, she commented:
“The UK is rich in talent, research and ambition, but organisations still tell me the same thing. Navigating the system is harder than innovating itself. HiVE Places is designed to remove that friction. By combining high-quality environments with curated partnerships and clear pathways to adoption we can help organisations move faster and with far more confidence. This is about building economies, not just providing space.”
Highlighting the broader opportunity behind HiVE Places’ formation, SGI Chairman, Kevin McCabe, concluded:
“We believe that the science, innovation and technology economy will be one of the UK’s strongest engines of growth in the coming decades and regions like West and South Yorkshire are exceptionally well placed to benefit. HiVE Places has been created to capture that opportunity. It brings together the real estate, ecosystem expertise and commercial structure needed to deliver genuine economic impact. This platform will allow these assets and future ones to reach their full potential.”
For more information, you can get in touch with mark.jackson@hive-places.co.uk or deb.hetherington@hive-places.co.uk.
Alternatively, visit www.hive-places.co.uk to register for further updates.
The milestone marks a major step forward in our plans to transform one of Leeds’ most historically significant medical and scientific buildings into a globally connected healthtech innovation hub at the heart of the Leeds Innovation Village.
The 130 year old building, steeped in medical history, was home to one of the first provincial medical schools in England and up until recently housed the pathology services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals. The acquisition completion comes with the Trust having concluded its decommissioning works.
The handover of the building cements its future as a hub for healthtech innovation and is the first phase in the development of the Innovation Village, a go-to destination for science, research, technology and innovation which is expected to create 4,000 jobs and bring £13 billion in economic benefits and development potential of 1.5 million square foot of Leeds city-centre land. The Leeds Innovation Village is a key neighbourhood within the £2bn Leeds Innovation Arc, which will further strengthen collaboration and innovation across the city
The formal acquisition of the 75,000 sq ft building, means that we can now progress our plans to create a new chapter for the Old Medical School by transforming it into a healthtech innovation hub within the Leeds Innovation Village, combining high-quality workspace with a deliberately designed innovation environment that helps clinicians, researchers and businesses connect, test ideas and accelerate solutions into patient care.
Deb Hetherington, our Director of Innovation Ecosystems, is leading the development of the hub’s ecosystem, including the partnerships, pipeline and programmes that will support innovation from concept through to real-world application.
Mark Jackson, spokesperson for SGI, said:
“Completing the acquisition of the Old Medical School is a pivotal moment for the project and an important step forward for the region’s fast-growing health-tech ecosystem. This building has played a defining role in medical education and discovery for more than a century. Now, with vacant possession secured and a clear path ahead, we have the opportunity to bring that legacy into a new era.
“Our goal is to create a place where clinicians and innovators can work shoulder to shoulder; where ideas can be tested quickly, challenged, refined and brought to life; and where businesses of all sizes can access the networks, facilities and expertise they need to make real advances in patient care. This acquisition gives us the platform to move forward with purpose and pace.”
Antony Kildare, Chair at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said:
“We’re delighted to see the Old Medical School take on a new chapter and become a centre piece in the future of healthtech innovation and commercialisation in the city. This is possible thanks to the strategic vision across the city and our close collaboration with partners across Leeds. With SGI’s stewardship, the new healthtech innovation hub will fuel ideas and harness innovation to make a lasting impact on healthcare for patients in Leeds and the region.”
The acquisition also supports the Trust’s long-term estates strategy to release land and estate at Leeds General Infirmary for sympathetic development in the heart of the city, following the relocation of pathology services to the state-of-the-art Centre for Laboratory Medicine at St James’ University Hospital.
Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, said:
“As a top-three global location for health tech companies, Leeds is a major force in powering Yorkshire’s Health Tech Revolution.
“This latest development moves the Old Medical School one step closer to becoming a cutting-edge health tech innovation hub, and strengthening the city's unique offer as the perfect location to build, test and scale as part of one of the most interconnected ecosystems in the UK.”
We have submitted an Outline Business Case to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) as part of the West Yorkshire Investment Zone programme. This sets out the strategic, economic and financial rationale for investment to secure public funding for the project and is currently progressing through WYCA’s assurance process.
Alongside this, we and our specialist design team will continue refining proposals for the building, advancing the architectural, heritage, engineering and operational design required to sensitively transform the historic structure for modern innovation-led use while preserving its character and significance.
We are also beginning the formal heritage and planning processes associated with a Grade II* listed building of this scale, including preparing the information and assessments required for Listed Building Consent and Planning Consent, while continuing engagement with statutory bodies and the local planning authority.
Together, these workstreams will establish the technical, commercial and statutory foundations needed to bring forward the redevelopment of the Old Medical School at pace once approvals and funding are secured.
Pictured from left to right: Brendan Brown, Chief Executive, Leeds Teaching Hospitals; Cllr James Lewis, Leader of Leeds City Council; Jenny Erhardt, Director of Finance, Leeds Teaching Hospitals; Mark Jackson, Group Development Director, SGI; Craige Richardson, Director of Estates and Facilities, Leeds Teaching Hospitals; Deb Hetherington, Director of Innovation Ecosystems, SGI; and Antony Kildare, Chair, Leeds Teaching Hospitals.
Episode 02 of our podcast series is now live. Created to mark 50 years of Scarborough Group International, the series explores the people, principles and decisions that have shaped the business over five decades.
Hosted by three-time World Squash Champion, Nick Matthew, this latest episode features Kevin McCabe alongside long-standing friend and business associate John Burnley, Founding Partner of Burnley Wilson Fish, discussing the power of partnerships. Together, they reflect on how trust is built, how it is tested, and why lasting relationships matter more than rapid growth.
Explore the series and watch Episode 02.
🎧 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Z0A4qpu4kmEpNDJG1W8JY?si=RN2_feSEQW2y3a2PpAMf3Q
🎬YouTube https://youtu.be/tPrgNkHOIx4
