Construction firm hired for recreation and leisure projects

Yorkshire construction business Hobson & Porter has spent the summer holidays supporting facilities to help support the region’s “staycation” holiday industry

The Hull-headquartered firm is undertaking multiple projects at recreation and leisure facilities across Yorkshire.

It is currently performing works at Skidby Mill, the home of the Museum of East Riding Rural Life, performing repairs to the Grade II listed building’s roof, windows and tower.

And it is building the UK’s first Tree Health Centre, the Yorkshire Arboretum, located near Castle Howard in North Yorkshire.

When complete, the Yorkshire Arboretum will be the UK’s first purpose-built facility created to expand public awareness about the threats posed to trees by pests and diseases, and ways to keep them as healthy.

The new visitor centre has now been constructed and is now being fitted out.

A refurbishment of Hull’s Beverley Road Baths and a redevelopment and extension of East Riding Leisure Hornsea are also ongoing, which will provide refurbished swimming baths, squash courts and fitness studios.

Beverley Road Baths is scheduled for completion next spring.

Also at Hornsea, a new boat compound has been delivered, with visitors benefiting from the creation of a pay and display car park and picnic area, with improved access to the boathouse and the rest of the promenade.

Following the reopening of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and its heritage train services, Hobson & Porter reached a milestone in the construction of a new stabling and maintenance facility that will house trains close to Pickering Station.

The construction company is also due to hand over a refurbished Driffield Methodist Church in the coming weeks, with building works complete and new fencing being erected.

Earlier this year, the firm completed a roofing upgrade at Beningbrough Hall, a historic country house with evolving gardens and art exhibitions.

The project team performed a careful removal and replacement of the original Westmorland slate roof on a number of Grade II listed outbuildings at the National Trust’s estate based near York.

Hobson & Porter’s director, Jon Craven, says the company’s works are taking place at a time when demand for recreation and leisure facilities in the region is increasing and the importance of tourism for the region’s economy is growing.

He added: “With foreign travel currently facing uncertain restrictions due to the impact of COVID-19, many people are abandoning plans to holiday overseas and are choosing a staycation in the UK instead.

“The recreation and leisure projects we are currently involved in show the variety of excellent facilities we have here in Yorkshire and we’re really proud to be delivering work at sites that will provide great fun and interesting activities for tourists and residents in the region and hopefully kickstart our economy after a challenging period.

“It’s important for our region to see a continued investment in leisure and recreation facilities at this difficult time, as we look to stimulate the UK economy through attracting tourism.

“It’s great for the construction sector to play our part in this.”