Monthly Archives: March 2020

Wednesday, February 5, 2020 – Cheltenham announces today two sponsorship changes on day one of The Festival™ presented by Magners, Tuesday, 10 March.

The G1 Mares’ Hurdle will now be supported by Close Brothers, the leading UK merchant banking group. Close Brothers’ involvement with The Festival began in 2016, when it took on the sponsorship of the novices’ handicap chase on day one. Close Brothers’ are also a Group wide partner of The Jockey Club and Sir A P McCoy is the company’s brand ambassador.

The £120,000 G1 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (4.10pm) was introduced to The Festival in 2008 and has been dominated by trainer Willie Mullins, who has landed nine of the 12 runnings to date. Six of Mullins’ victories were provided by the extraordinary Quevega, who created history by winning the contest every year between 2009 and 2014.

With Close Brothers transferring its support to the Mares’ Hurdle, the novices handicap chase will now be sponsored by land and property company Northern Trust Co Ltd.

Introduced to the race programme when The Festival extended to four days in 2005, the £70,000 Northern Trust Company Novices’ Handicap Chase takes place over two and a half miles and is the penultimate contest on day one (4.50pm). Always a very competitive contest that often attracts a maximum field (20 runners), the Northern Trust Company Novices’ Handicap Chase went to subsequent G1 winner A Plus Tard in 2019 for owner Cheveley Park Stud, trainer Henry de Bromhead and jockey Rachael Blackmore.

Carey Weeks, regional head of partnerships for Jockey Club Racecourses South West, said: “Cheltenham is extremely grateful for the ongoing support from Close Brothers, which is now in its fifth year of partnership at The Festival.

“It seems very appropriate that the name of such a dedicated Group Partner is now associated with one of the G1 highlights at the Home of Jump Racing.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome Northern Trust as the new sponsor of the novices’ handicap chase on day one of The Festival.

“Northern Trust will have its name attached to what is always one of the most hotly contested contests of the four days and one that gets a lot of people talking in the countdown to The Festival.”

Northern Trust Company Ltd is pleased to confirm that Miller Homes has completed the acquisition of 31 acres at their West Chirton (South) Industrial Estate in North Shields.

The site which forms part of the West Chirton (South) Industrial Estate sits on the southern part, and was characterised by large areas of vacant land. Northern Trust has retained the northern part for commercial use.

North Tyneside Council granted outline planning permission to Northern Trust back in 2017 to build up to 400 new homes, and subsequently appointed Knight Frank to facilitate the sale of the site. Miller Homes was selected as the preferred developer and a reserved matters application was approved last year for the building of 399 new homes in a mix of two, three and four bedroom houses, along with a proportion of affordable.

Stephen Glenn, Land Executive at Northern Trust commented: “We have worked closely with Miller Homes, Knight Frank and other key stakeholders in realising the future of this brownfield site which will bring further investment into the area for the benefit of the local community. The plans have already enabled us to reinvest into the commercial section of the site through refurbishment works to the existing units.”

Philip James, Associate Land Director at Miller Homes, said:  “We are delighted to have completed the acquisition of this parcel of land at West Chirton Industrial Estate.  Miller Homes has a strong track record in the North East and we look forward to bringing a range of much needed high quality new homes to the area.  Work is due to start on site imminently with a sales launch anticipated in the summer.”

James Platts, Partner at Knight Frank Newcastle, added: “Miller Homes have acquired a number of sites across the North East, from Knight Frank. I’m confident West Chirton will prove to be a very successful residential development. We were happy to act on behalf of Northern Trust.”

To read the full press release please click here. 

Northern Trust Company Ltd is pleased to confirm that they have recently completed the sale of 1.14 acres of land at Kirkham Road, Treales to Prospect Development (NW) Ltd.

Northern Trust secured outline planning permission for 3 substantial building plots on the site in 2019 and Prospect will now prepare details plans for the proposed development.

This is the second site sold by Northern Trust in Treales, and also had planning for 3 plots.

Northern Trust are seeking further sites across the region and are ideally looking for strategic brownfield or greenfield sites from 3 acres up to 100 acres plus, for purchase or via a promotional agreement.

To read the full press release please click here. 

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