Police closed several Harrogate town centre streets last night for several hours when a distressed man climbed on to a roof.

The man was on top of the Linley and Simpson building at the junction of Princes Square and Albert Street fro about 6.30pm until midnight.

Both streets were cordoned off, as were some other nearby routes, including James Street.

Police in Princes Square.

Crowds gathered in Princes Square and elsewhere last night.

North Yorkshire Police eventually published a social media post saying “our officers are currently speaking to a person in distress in Harrogate town centre” and urged people to avoid the area.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident report said it responded at 6.32pm. It added:

“Harrogate crew assisted police with a male who had climbed on the roof of a property and refused to come down.”

Albert Street was among the streets blocked off.

The police cordons prevented people from visiting numerous hospitality businesses on a busy Friday night.

Some people were allowed to cross the cordons at certain point to enter restaurants but others closer to the incident were not.

In a social media post this morning, North Yorkshire Police said:

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This story is sponsored by Linley & Simpson.

A Harrogate estate agency has seen renewed interest in the number of people looking to follow the European trend and build their own home.

The new homes department at Linley & Simpson believes there is a growing appetite in the community to take advantage of this approach amid the cost of living crisis.

As a result, it has launched a new research project to pinpoint how big the interest is.

On the continent, around one-in-three homes are self or custom build – yet in England, the figure is less than 10%.

In Harrogate district, even fewer are following this trend with government statistics showing that just 95 planning permissions for serviced plots have been granted since ministers launched the Right to Build initiative in 2016.

The legislation was designed to address concerns about affordability, and make it easier for people who wanted to build or commission their own home.

David Waddington, director of new homes at Linley & Simpson, said the cost benefits of self-build, coupled with a greater choice of prime plots coming to the market across Harrogate district, has recently increased the appeal of buying and building a personalised home in this way.

He said:

“According to the National Custom and Self Build Association, England has the lowest proportion of self-build homes in the developed world.

“There are big differences in the popularity of self-build across the UK but we believe there is a growing appetite for the concept across the Harrogate district.

“Our aim is to try to identify the size of this hidden demand.

“Much of the interest is location driven – demand for property in Harrogate is high enough for people to choose this route in order to get their dream home in the right place.

“It’s also being spurred on by cost of living pressures and rising inflation as there are significant stamp duty savings with self-build, as you are only buying the value of the land and not a complete house.

“Plots are usually available in rural, semi-rural and suburban areas so there’s no shortage of choice. And roads, sewers and services will already be connected so it’s a real turnkey solution, ready for immediate use.”

Many neighbouring areas have seen far greater numbers of self-build projects – Hambleton, for example, has had 124 in the same timescale while further afield, Cherwell in Oxfordshire reports almost 6,000.

In 2021, more than 12,000 people joined the Right to Build registers, which helps aspiring custom and self-builders find plots – a year-on-year increase of 31%.

If you’re interested in self-build homes and want to find out more, contact Lucy Collinge at Linley and Simpson on lucy.collinge@linleyandsimpson.co.uk or call 01423 540054. 

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

Harrogate’s Raworths Solicitors has announced four new promotions at the firm.

The promotions have been made in the private client and commercial teams.

John Carter, a lawyer in commercial property is promoted to senior associate and Claire Hunter, a solicitor in family children and divorce, Jessica Toller, a solicitor in wills and estates and Jennifer Watson, a solicitor in corporate, have each been promoted to associate.

Deborah Boylan, head of employment and people partner at Raworths, said: 

“It’s always incredibly gratifying to be able to recognise and reward the huge contribution and commitment of our people, particularly when they have been integral to the firm’s success for many years.

“It’s important that we nurture and support our people and encourage them to be the best they can be by investing in their professional development and progression.  Our commitment to developing talent also helps to position us well for the future.”

Harrogate estate agent donates cash to replace charity van

Former Yorkshire TV and Calendar News presenter Christine Talbot receives the keys off Linley & Simpson chairman Will Linley.

A Harrogate estate agent has donated £20,000 to a charity to help replace a stolen van.

Martin House Children’s Hospice fell victim to its van being stolen from its warehouse in Wetherby in January.

Now, Linley and Simpson, which also has an office in Ripon, has donated cash to help replace the vehicle.

And the keys to the new vehicle were picked up from Linley & Simpson chairman, Will Linley, by former Yorkshire TV and Calendar News presenter Christine Talbot, who is also a long-standing Martin House ambassador.

Mr Linley said:

“We shared the whole community’s shock at news of the theft. The fantastic work of the Martin House team touches the lives of so many people across Yorkshire, so we welcomed the opportunity to help.

“Many of our people have volunteered at the hospice, and our branches act as collection points for bric-a-brac that its shops can sell, so the work of the warehouse and the vans is very close to our hearts.”

Stephanie Rimmington, head of retail at Martin House, said:

“Without their donation, we could have been without a van for months while our insurance claim is processed, adding to an already challenging situation amid covid.

“By replacing the stolen van much quicker, our retail team is now able to get back out on the road, collecting donations to keep our retail outlets fully stocked, and generating more income for the hospice.”

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Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

Company accounts show Linley & Simpson recorded a turnover of £15m in the year ending 31 December 2021, up from £11.7m in 2020.

Pre-tax profit was £2.81m, compared to £2.86m the previous year, while operating profit before depreciation and amortisation was £4.67m, up from £3.95m.

The group completed seven acquisitions during the period, with five share purchases and two trade and asset purchases.

The group’s residential portfolio increased from 11,477 to 12,515 during the year, primarily driven by its acquisitions.

The company is planning to expand its land and new homes department to cover the whole of Yorkshire and the Humber from its 23 offices.

David Waddington, the agency’s director of land and new homes, said:

“Having grown into the largest land and new homes agent in the area, we now have a strong launch pad for taking our services to house builders in new territories.”

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Digital marketing graduate scheme announced

Harrogate digital agency group IDHL has welcomed 14 new starters to its biggest ever graduate training programme, which will be run from its Harrogate, Leeds and Manchester offices.

The 12-month specialist digital development programme for graduates has a goal of attracting new talent and investing in the training and development of entry level candidates.

The graduates will undergo training and get first-hand agency experience in other digital marketing service specialisms such as 6technical SEO, copywriting and digital PR as well as web development and design.

Graduate training manager Giacomo Palmieri said:

“I am proud to see this graduate scheme grow, with our successes and learnings in Paid laying solid foundation for the wider teams.

“When we started this programme, we had just one graduate candidate in place at a time, but this year we’ll have four people in Paid Media alone, and a further ten across other areas of the business. It’s so great to see.

“Our six alumni have become key to the day-to-day running of our team, and one has recently been promoted to senior executive.”

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

Demand for new homes has driven a sales rise of more than 50% in the last year for a Harrogate estate agency.

Linley and Simpson is now planning to expand its land and new homes department to cover the whole of Yorkshire and the Humber from its 23 offices.

The company achieved a record-breaking £75m of new home sales in just one year, representing two in three of its overall sales.

David Waddington, the agency’s director of land and new homes, said:

“Having grown into the largest land and new homes agent in the area, we now have a strong launch pad for taking our services to house builders in new territories.

“Developers can draw upon our team’s 130 collective years’ sales and marketing expertise in this sector, as well as take advantage of an aligned and connected branch network, which is set to expand further in 2022 and beyond.

“It will also enable us to consolidate our position as the number one go-to agent on the property portals for land and new home stock.”

The company attributes growth in the sector to high demand following the covid pandemic, especially for family homes in rural areas. Rising energy bills are also prompting people to seek more efficient homes.

Demand continues to be high, with 306 new homes sold in the last year, up from 211 in the previous 12 months. The average price of a new home has also risen from £354,714 to £425,834 in the same period.

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Senior carer rewarded for decade of service

A care home in Boroughbridge has recognised the long service of one of its senior carers.

Leoni Senior started as a carer at Boroughbridge Manor in 2012 before working her way up to a senior role.

Her 10 years’ service with the firm were marked with a gift of flowers and jewellery.

Avril Bowyer, deputy general manager of Boroughbridge Manor, said:

“We’re delighted to be celebrating 10 years of loyal service with Leoni. She has demonstrated her dedication and loyalty to this home and its residents year after year.

“I speak for all of us here at Boroughbridge Manor when I say that I’m looking forward to many more years of working with Leoni.”

Jane McFarlane, employee services director at Barchester, which runs the home, added:

“I’m always pleased to hear stories about the long service of Barchester staff and am delighted Leoni has achieved this milestone.

“It is dedication like this that ensures our residents are provided with a happy place to live.”

This article is sponsored by the Oakapple Group.

Nestled between Ripon and Thirsk lies the quintessentially English village of Rainton, complete with a cricket club, green and pub.

This idyllic rural setting provides the perfect location for Robinson’s Fold, a small development of 15 three, four and five-bedroom family homes.

As village locations remain in huge demand, the majority of the properties have now sold.

However, there is still an opportunity to own your dream house in the country, with three beautiful new spacious homes available to move into late next month.

Lucy Collinge, new homes marketing executive at Linley & Simpson, the agent selling the properties, said:

“The developers – Oakapple Homes – have done some incredible builds around North Yorkshire. They are known for building large, quality family homes.

“Internally the proportions of the houses at Robinson’s Fold are really quite substantial. The specification is high quality with stunning fitted kitchens, tiled bathrooms and ensuites, oak flooring in the hallway and one reception room, underfloor heating to the ground floor and bi-fold doors all coming as standard.”

A showstopper kitchen and dining room space.

The Newburgh – Plot 12

The Newburgh is a stylish four-double bedroom home with an adjoining garage.

Key features

• 4 bedroom detached family home
• Fitted shaker style kitchen with Bosch integrated appliances
• Private rear turfed garden
• Open plan dining kitchen with bifold doors to rear garden
• Master bedroom with ensuite shower room

The Studley – Plot 13

Constructed in artstone, The Studley is a superb executive home with five double bedrooms and an integral garage.

Key features

• 5 bedroom detached family home
• Fitted shaker style kitchen with integrated Bosch appliances
• Private rear turfed garden
• Open plan dining kitchen with bifold doors to rear garden
• Master bedroom with ensuite shower room and dressing room

The Studley is available now.

The Studley – Plot 14

Constructed in brick with artsone cills, this is also a substantial executive home with five double bedrooms and an integral garage.

This home backs onto open countryside and enjoys unspoilt and open views from the rear bedrooms.

Key features

• 5 bedroom detached family home
• Fitted shaker style kitchen with integrated Bosch appliances
• Private rear turfed garden
• Open plan dining kitchen with bifold doors to rear garden
• Master bedroom with ensuite shower room and dressing room

A beautiful entrance and staircase.

When it comes to deciding what type of property to buy, Miss Collinge said the benefits of new homes “are endless”. She said:

“They have 10-year warranties. That’s two years with the builder, where they will come out and address any issues that might arise. For the next eight years it’s covered by an insurance backed warranty picking up anything structural.

“Another benefit is the affordable running costs. I think that’s such an important factor for purchasers at the moment with the cost of living continuing to rise. New build properties also come with all manufacturers guarantees on these appliances and heating systems.

“Self-builds, home improvements and renovations are difficult at the moment due to the cost. So new builds are fantastic in terms of buying something you can go straight into, live in and enjoy.

“All the evidence, as well as our own research, highlight that flexible working patterns are very much here to stay. No longer is working from home a novelty – it’s now very much a growing lifestyle choice. The majority of the properties incorporate a home office and super-fast broadband in response to this.

“In Yorkshire and across the UK, COVID-19 has rebooted the property market. One of the few positives of the pandemic is that it has catapulted the idea of home-working from the edge of employment activity, into the mainstream.”

A living room perfect for those cosy nights in.

Sean Mayes Development Director at Oakapple said:

“Recent events have made us all reflect on what is important in our lives. A sense of community, work/life balance and the need for open space away from the crowd are still very much at the forefront of our minds.

However, as the world starts to open up again, connectivity is also high on the checklist. Rainton offers the best of both worlds thanks to its convenient location.

It is close to the junction of the A1 and A168, providing the commuter with options when travelling by car. Central Harrogate and York are 16 and 25 miles to the south respectively and Leeds is 38 miles away.

For longer journeys, the nearest train station is Thirsk which is just 7 miles away. From here, it is possible to catch direct trains to Leeds, London, Manchester Airport, Sunderland and York”.

In conclusion, Miss Collinge added:

“Rainton has got a lovely village green and a maypole and it certainly looks the part.

“You head over the bridge back to Ripon and you’re also a stone’s throw away from Thirsk. You’re bang in the middle. You’ve also got great transport links on the doorstop giving seclusion without remoteness. Rainton really is a stunning village in a fabulous location – the perfect place to buy a new home.”

The booming housing market in the Harrogate district led to a record number of homes sold above £1million last year.

Land Registry data reveals 84 property deals passed the seven-figure threshold, more than any other previous year.

The number includes all detached and semi-detached homes as well as apartments.

The most expensive part of Harrogate is an area off Leeds Road —Fulwith Mill Lane, Fulwith Grove, Fulwith Drive and Fulwith Road — where five homes sold for over a million in 2021.

The Harrogate district beats large metropolitan areas in the North (Leeds, 55, York, 27, Manchester, 17) when it comes to bumper property deals.

Knaresborough

The two most expensive homes sold last year in the district were in Knaresborough.

Staveley Court in the village of Staveley sold for £3m and a property on Lands Lane went for £2.9m.

Staveley Court. The most expensive property in the Harrogate district last year

In a sign of just how buoyant the property market is currently, the website Move Market suggests Staveley Court’s value has increased by a whopping £449,000 since it was sold in January 2021.

Its price tag has trebled in two decades. It was sold in 2001 in a deal worth £950,000.

Peter Lacey is from Knaresborough Community Land Trust, a not-for-profit organisation that is hoping to develop a site in the town into affordable housing.

He said the record year for million pound houses indicates the market is currently imbalanced:

“The pace in which affordable housing is growing is being outstripped by the rate we are selling million pound houses.

“It’s a product of supply and demand, but an awful lot of people, including my own kids, can’t get on the property ladder.

“We haven’t got the balance right but you can’t criticise anyone for buying or selling house at market value.”

Mr Lacey said he is worried that expensive property deals will inflate the market and make it even more unaffordable for people earning average wages to buy a home here.

He added:

“That’s what id be concerned about. If market is distorted, that becomes an issue.”

Booming market

David Waddington, director at Linley & Simpson, described the current housing market in the district as a “frenzy”.

He said the average value of a property in Harrogate is going up by 1% a month.

He added:

“There has been really strong activity over the last three years. Selling homes for over a million is not uncommon nowadays.”

“Increasingly, buyers are wanting houses with all the bells and whistles, but to be able to afford a million, Harrogate is the jewel in the crown.”

Last week The Sunday Times named Harrogate as one of the best places to live in the UK.

Judges cited the town’s schools, parks, shops, cafes and restaurants as among its attractions, describing it as “all the fun and fresh air of Yorkshire without any of the gritty bits”.

Mr Waddington said around 25% of Linley & Simpson’s sales are from people moving up to the district from down south, which he said could be pushing prices up.

He expects a downturn in the market later this year but for those who can afford a £1m price tag, he said they are less likely to be affected by factors like the cost of living crisis and inflation.

New marketing agency launches in Harrogate

A new marketing agency called Next Chapter has launched in Harrogate.

Charlie Hartley, founder of creative agency Impression, set-up the company. Working alongside marketer Daniel Swepson, the agency will offer market and consumer research, strategy, digital advertising, search engine optimisation, content strategy and social media.

Mr Hartley said:

“We shall be delivering more advanced services within strategy, digital marketing and SEO and Daniel’s experience aligns perfectly with this vision.”

Mr Swepson said:

“We’re both clear in our vision and intend to do things differently from other agencies. From the start we shall enable brands to challenge and disrupt. Our strategies are bespoke and aim to break the mould, pushing our clients to lead the way in their sector.”

Chartered surveyors help Harrogate charity expand

Max Vause, of Carter Towler (left) and Tony Graham of Yorkshire Cancer Research.

Chartered surveyor Carter Towler is to help a Harrogate charity expand its network of shops.

Yorkshire Cancer Research currently has shops in Ripon, Knaresborough, Tadcaster and Northallerton. Carter Towler has been tasked to find five suitable retail units per year for the next three years.

Tony Graham, head of retail at Yorkshire Cancer Research, added:

“By having Carter Towler working with us we will be able us to scale-up our retail operations quickly and efficiently. By 2025 we are aiming to have 20 outlets.”

Leeds-based Carter Towler is one of the largest independent property consultants in the north, with 55 staff.

Linley & Simpson staff fundraise for charity partners

Linley & Simpson’s Aydin Arslan, Kerry Ferguson and Greg Smallwood.

Staff at Harrogate estate agency Linley & Simpson are embarking on the National Three Peaks Challenge to raise funds for a young people’s hospice.

A dozen employees, including property manager Aydin Arslan, branch manager Kerry Ferguson and land and development consultant Greg Smallwood will bid to scale the summits of the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales – all within 24 hours in June.

The challenge forms the centrepiece of the company’s pledge to raise £25,000 for Martin House Children’s Hospice, at Boston Spa, as part of its 25th anniversary year.

Linley & Simpson, which has more than 20 branches across Yorkshire and The Humber, has raised more than £100,000 for the hospice since their partnership began six years ago.

Two businesses in the Harrogate district are challenging themselves to get moving in order to raise money for charity. 

Harrogate firm, High Street TV, is aiming to cover 500km in two hours today. Fifty members of staff will take part- walking and running however far they can to make the total distance. 

Their ‘Keep on Moving’ challenge has raised £2,450 so far for Saint Michael’s Hospice, 163% of their original target. 

Speaking about why the company chose to do this challenge, fundraising coordinator Lisa Dallas said: 

“We haven’t been able to fundraise recently because of the current covid situation, so we needed to do something a little bit different. We had to think outside the box, because we had to do something where we wouldn’t be in a group.” 

Over the years, High Street TV have raised £41,710 for Saint Michael’s Hospice and are a member of their Guild of Patrons. 

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Staff from Yorkshire letting agent Linley & Simpson have already begun their attempt to get “Around the World in 80 Days”, which is raising money for Martin House Hospice. 

To reach their target of covering 40,075km, staff from the Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough branches are running, walking or cycling. A combined daily distance of 505km will have to be recorded via a smartphone tracking app in order for them to make their goal. 

Martin House, based in Boston Spa, supports families North, West and East Yorkshire. They provide palliative care to children and young people with life limiting conditions. 

Will Linley, left and Nick Simpson.

Will Linley, Linley & Simpson chief executive and co-founder, said: 

“Because Covid has denied us the opportunity of taking part in a series of planned fundraising activities for Martin House, we have now devised this challenge as our grand sponsored finale of 2020.

 “Martin house is an incredible charity, and one that we are delighted to be supporting for at least another 12 months. Over the last five years we have raised more than £100,000, and to mark our 24th year in business we have now set ourselves a £24,000 target over the next 12 months.”

To donate to the High Street TV “Keep on Moving” challenge, click here.