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Wednesday 5 November 2025, 8:00 - 12:00

The Guildhall York, The Courtyard, Coney St, York YO1 9QN

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SOLD OUT | North Yorkshire Development Update 2025

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Harrogate, Scarborough, York, Selby…

Place Yorkshire’s series of unmissable sub-regional briefings offers the chance to get under the skin of the local market and mix with the movers and shakers who are shaping the latest major projects.

Speakers confirmed include

Andy Kerr, York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, p York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority (800×600) copy

Andy Kerr

director of economy, York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority

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Andy Kerr

director of economy, York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority

Andy is responsible for strategy, housing, transport, economic growth, and delivery of the devolution deal. He also has a key role in supporting James Farrar, chief executive, in shaping the future direction of devolution for the region. Prior to joining the Combined Authority in January 2025, Andy was the head of economic development at Durham County Council, and before that he spent 16 years at City of York Council in a variety of roles across housing, regeneration and economy.
Andy Kerr, York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, p York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority (800×600) copy
Alexia Swift-Cookson, Helmsley Group, p Aberfield PR (800×600)

Alexia Swift Cookson

director, head of asset management, The Helmsley Group

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Alexia Swift Cookson

director, head of asset management, The Helmsley Group

Alexia is Helmsley Group’s as head of asset management. She brings 16 years of experience to the role, having previously worked in commercial property in the capital. Alexia’s role includes managing the performance of Helmsley’s syndicated investment portfolio and ensuring that its properties continue to deliver strong returns for its network of client investors
Alexia Swift-Cookson, Helmsley Group, p Aberfield PR (800×600)
Karen Stafeckis, McLaren Regeneration, p McLaren Regeneration (800×600)

Karen Stafeckis

development director, McLaren Regeneration

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Karen Stafeckis

development director, McLaren Regeneration

Karen has 20 years experience in delivering sustainable mixed-use places on complex brownfield sites. She specialises in regeneration and has experience working alongside the public sector and major cultural institutions. A founding Commissioner with the Leeds Climate Commission, Karen seeks to bring innovation and vibrancy to places with a net zero carbon focus.
Karen Stafeckis, McLaren Regeneration, p McLaren Regeneration (800×600)
Nick Baker, Corstorphine & Wright Architects, p Corstorphine & Wright Architects (800×600)

Nick Baker

director, Corstorphine & Wright

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Nick Baker

director, Corstorphine & Wright

Nick leads Corstorphine & Wright Architects, 40-strong Leeds Studio. He was born and raised in York and, upon qualifying as an architect, set up a small practice in the city before working in London and, more latterly, in Leeds. Throughout his career, Nick has worked on a diverse range of developments throughout the UK, including large scale urban regeneration projects, masterplans and the design and delivery of bespoke architectural solutions. Nick has a passion for his home city and is proud to be currently working on significant development sites at York Central, Coney Street and Foss Bank.
Nick Baker, Corstorphine & Wright Architects, p Corstorphine & Wright Architects (800×600)
Helen Marriage, York Central, p York Central (800×600)

Helen Marriage

director, Artichoke | non-executive director, York Central

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Helen Marriage

director, Artichoke | non-executive director, York Central

Helen's interests centre on art, civic disruption, public engagement and the transformation of daily life. She is known for her work through the creative company Artichoke which she co-founded in 2005. In 1990 Helen initiated the first Arts & Events programme at Canary Wharf. In 2012 she was awarded a Fellowship from Harvard and awarded an MBE for Services to the Arts in 2016. She is a Fellow of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Since 2018 she has been working as a consultant on the redesign of Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC for the National Capital Planning Commission. She chairs the board of IOU Creation Centre in Halifax.
Helen Marriage, York Central, p York Central (800×600)
Adam Varley, Scarborough Group, p Scarborough Group (800×600)

Adam Varley

development director, Scarborough Group International

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Adam Varley

development director, Scarborough Group International

Adam is an MRICS qualified chartered surveyor with over 20 years’ experience in the UK commercial property sector. Based in Leeds, he’s development director at Scarborough Group International, where he leads on some of the group’s most significant regeneration schemes across the North. He’s currently driving forward major projects including Thorpe Park Leeds, Flaxby Park near Harrogate, and Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, all focused on creating sustainable, well-connected places where people and businesses can thrive.
Adam Varley, Scarborough Group, p Scarborough Group (800×600)
Damien Woolliscroft, Buttress, p Buttress (800×600)

Damien Woolliscroft

associate, Buttress

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Damien Woolliscroft

associate, Buttress

Damien has an in-depth knowledge of traditional repair methods to highly significant historic buildings and sites, including adaptive re-use and upgrading historic buildings as part of client decarbonisation strategies. The Buttress team are currently involved in several high-profile historic building projects within the Yorkshire region, including a programme of conservation repair works to the Grade I listed Mansion House in York, for the City of York Council and has recently completed a multi-million-pound phase of roofing works to the Grade II listed Station Hall for the National Railway Museum.
Damien Woolliscroft, Buttress, p Buttress (800×600)
Jason Syrett, p Allies Morrison, p Allies Morrison (800×600) copy

Jason Syrett

partner, Allies & Morrison

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Jason Syrett

partner, Allies & Morrison

Jason leads some of Allies and Morrison's most complex projects with a focus on urban regeneration. At York Central he has been leading the masterplan that is now transforming the former railway lands into a compact mixed-use neighbourhood that builds on the character of the site’s existing heritage. He is also overseeing the design for one of the first new office buildings to come forward in York Central fronting the Coal Drops.
Jason Syrett, p Allies Morrison, p Allies Morrison (800×600) copy
Allan Cook, Arlington Real Estate, p Arlington Real Estate (800×600)

Allan Cook

founder, Arlington Real Estate

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Allan Cook

founder, Arlington Real Estate

Allan is passionate about urban regeneration, placemaking, and partnership, having been responsible for numerous large-scale mixed-use projects including Durhamgate, Milburngate, and Freeman's Reach. An entrepreneur since 1990, Allan has established and grown two successful businesses in the North of England and continues to promote the area through his work in the commercial property sector.
Allan Cook, Arlington Real Estate, p Arlington Real Estate (800×600)
Leon Guyett, Homes England, p Homes England (800×600)

Leon Guyett

director of regeneration partnerships, Homes England

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Leon Guyett

director of regeneration partnerships, Homes England

Leon has 30 years of experience in the real estate sector having started his career in 1995 at general practice surveying company, Matthews & Goodman followed by 3 years at Whitbread and 13 years at Manchester based developer Ask Real Estate. Prior to joining Homes England in 2022, he spent over 4 years with national placemakers, Muse Developments. Leon specialises in large scale mixed-use regeneration projects adopting a positive attitude focussing on delivery and satisfactory outcomes for all stakeholders.
Leon Guyett, Homes England, p Homes England (800×600)
Richard Lawrence, 800×600

Richard Lawrence

architect and head of design, PJ Livesey Group

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Richard Lawrence

architect and head of design, PJ Livesey Group

Richard is an architect and head of design at Manchester-based P J Livesey Group, a specialist property developer focused on converting heritage assets into distinctive new homes. With over 45 years of history, the company has built a national reputation for the sensitive transformation of listed buildings. Originally from near York, Richard is proud to be leading the design of The Retreat’s conversion and brings experience across hospital redevelopments, residential masterplans, and bespoke housing within Grade II and II* Listed Buildings.
Richard Lawrence, 800×600
Helen Jackson (800×600)

Helen Jackson

head of regeneration, North Yorkshire Council

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Helen Jackson

head of regeneration, North Yorkshire Council

Helen is currently the head of regeneration for North Yorkshire Council with a Capital Programme of over £100m covering major regeneration schemes along the beautiful Yorkshire coast and towns. Tackling challenges such as social isolation, in work poverty and health inequalities, the Regeneration team aims to promote growth in the region that changes people's lives for the better. Helen has worked in regeneration for over 20 years with previous experience with East Yorkshire Riding Council and environmental organisations.
Helen Jackson (800×600)
Adam Sellers, Transpennine Route Upgrade

Adam Sellers

senior sponsor, Transpennine Route Upgrade

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Adam Sellers

senior sponsor, Transpennine Route Upgrade

Adam has worked on Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) as a Senior Sponsor for the last seven years, seeing the programme through from early development to the current phase of delivery. Accountable for the enhancements on the Leeds to York corridor of TRU, Adam works regularly with local authorities like Leeds City Council & North Yorkshire Council to ensure that the upgrades being delivered maximise their value through alignment with local initiatives.
Adam Sellers, Transpennine Route Upgrade

Agenda

8:00 am

Arrival, networking & breakfast

9:00 am

Welcome from Adam Branson, contributing editor, Place Yorkshire

9:05 am

Case study: York Central

Karen Stafeckis, development director, McLaren Regeneration

9:15 am

Panel discussion: York Central

Helen Marriage, director, Artichoke | non-executive director, York Central
Andy Kerr, director of economy, York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority
Jason Syrett, partner, Allies & Morrison
Leon Guyett, director of regeneration partnerships, Homes England
Allan Cook, founder, Arlington Real Estate

9:50 am

Comfort break

10:00 am

Panel discussion: Conserving Historic York

Nick Baker, director, Corstorphine & Wright Architects
Damien Woolliscroft, associate architect, Buttress
Alexia Swift-Cookson, director, head of asset management, The Helmsley Group
Richard Lawrence, head of design, P J Livesey
Ben Murphy, head of city development, City of York Council

 

10:35 am

Networking & refreshment break

11:10 am

Presentation: Helen Jackson, head of regeneration, North Yorkshire Council

11:25 am

Panel discussion: Beyond York

Adam Varley, development director, Scarborough Group International
Helen Jackson, head of regeneration, North Yorkshire Council
Adam Sellers, senior sponsor, Transpennine Route Upgrade

12:00 pm

Closing remarks, Lunch & further networking

Tickets cost £88+VAT. Local authorities and registered providers can purchase tickets at a 50% discount below.

There will be a mix of presentations and panels. Breakfast and lunch are included, providing plenty of opportunity for business development.

Book using the form below – if you can’t see the form, please contact [email protected]

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This event is now sold out. Please contact [email protected] to be placed on the waitlist.

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