In Brief: SCP Transport Consultants; Pinsent Masons; The Moor

SCP Transport Consultants is preparing for a move into Yorkshire in the next few weeks and has hired Geoff Bowman as regional director. 

Bowman has worked in the highways and transport planning sector in Yorkshire for the past 30 years, the majority of which he has spent in the private sector providing valuable transport planning advice to his clients.

He is a chartered engineer and is a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers and Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation.

He said: “I previously worked for WYG but the opportunity to work for a market leading highways consultant with such a good reputation was too good to miss. The prospect of opening a new office in Leeds and building a team is one which excites me. I am looking forward to working with the SCP team, fellow professionals and a few old friends to help deliver some successful outcomes for my clients.”

Director of SCP David Roberts added, “We are confident that Geoff will further strengthen the team at SCP. His excellent experience and sound knowledge of the Leeds and Yorkshire marketplace will undoubtedly be a great asset. His appointment will allow us to further develop our presence in the north whilst expanding our range of services including the planning, design and delivery of transport schemes.”

SCP was founded in 1990 and has offices in Manchester and London.

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LAW firm Pinsent Masons is sponsoring the elite women’s race at the Otley Cycle Races in July 2014, just days before Yorkshire hosts the Grand Depart of the Tour de France.

With equal billing to the well-established men’s race, The Pinsent Masons’ Otley Women’s Grand Prix will see some of the UK’s best women racers compete around the legendary Otley circuit.

The Otley event has been running annually for nearly 30 years, and past competitors include reigning Tour de France Champion Sir Bradley Wiggins and sprint king Mark Cavendish.

Pinsent Masons’ partner Jon Riley said: “We’ve been taking clients to watch Otley Cycle Races for the best part of a decade so knew it was a class act. We’re sponsoring the Elite Women’s race in 2014 because we believe it has an important part to play in the legacy of the Yorkshire Grand Depart of the Tour de France by inspiring young women to ride.”

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PRIMARK is to become one of the new anchor stores on The Moor.

The fashion retailer has signed for a new store which provides 45,000 sq ft of retail space over two levels forming part of the new 200,000 sq ft retail and leisure scheme that is due to be built next to the existing Debenhams store.

Demolition of the current building is well under way and the new development is programmed to complete during the summer of 2015. It is planned to include shops, restaurants and a cinema, and provide a walk way between the Moor and Charter Row.

The Moor’s redevelopment is gradually taking shape and the commitment by a major fashion retailer to Sheffield’s city centre supports Scottish Widows Investment Property Partnership Trust’s (SWIPPT) intention to restore the street in to one of the city’s major retailing locations.

Kerri Hunter of SWIPPT said: “Securing Primark as part of this new leisure block in the middle of The Moor is a significant step forward. I’m delighted that, on the back of our investment to date, prime retailers share our confidence in The Moor as a primary retail location. With the completion of the retail units, which are part of the new markets building, and the public realm, the physical environment has significantly improved and our plans for the street continue apace.”