Energy efficiency has improved, but much more could have been done 69% of homes could be upgraded to band C for under £10k per dwelling The scale of new heat pump incentive is “yet another missed opportunity” Back in 2012, the English Housing Survey took an in-depth look at the
M9 interchange provides access to Winchburgh development Approval unlocks delivery of 20-year masterplan Winchburgh is one of UK’s biggest place-making projects A new junction for the M9 has been given the green light, paving the way for new access to the major development at Winchburgh in West Lothian. The development
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) has launched a new Energy technologies for net zero guide which gives a detailed look at the technologies available that can decarbonise the UK energy system and shift energy demand from fossil fuels to a low-carbon supply – vital to reach the Government’s
B&Q opens its new Colchester store at Stane Park Colchester is B&Q’s first purpose-built digital store as the brand commits to e-commerce growth The Mayor declares the store officially open with ribbon cutting ceremony B&Q’s new Colchester store was declared officially open today with a formal cutting of the ribbon
The importance of responsible and sustainable growth took centre stage as the 2021 Hertfordshire Building Futures Awards were held at Knebworth Barns on 21 October. The Flint House development in Watton-at-Stone won Project of the Year – one of four main awards handed out on the night – at an
TODAY the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), the UK’s largest membership organisation for private landlords, announces that it has agreed a new commercial partnership with leading online electricals retailer, AO. This new partnership means that AO is now a supplier of a range of Major Domestic Appliances (MDA), including fridge-freezers,
Having been forced to withdraw from staging its annual awards dinner and presentation ceremony last year, due to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commissioning Specialists Association is looking forward to its return on the evening of Thursday 11th November 2021. Originally scheduled for its regular slot in
While most of us can only aspire to live in a million-pound property, that doesn’t mean that we can’t make our homes feel like a modern mansion. Design inspiration is drawn regularly from the rich and famous, but which luxury home features are more accessible than we may think? Windows
Affordable housing provider St Arthur Homes has acquired its largest number of private units on one site to date, for Shared Ownership between Southampton and Portsmouth in a deal in excess of £25M with The Vistry Group. The purchase of 95 affordable homes at the Whiteley Meadows development in Winchester,
Blackwood House is the final home to be released in the exclusive Tibbs Court Farm development, located just outside the beautiful village of Brenchley, Kent. A substantial farmstead that combines spacious living with sleek design, this five-bedroom property is the perfect option for larger families who desire luxury and space
Energy efficiency has improved, but much more could have been done 69% of homes could be upgraded to band C for under £10k per dwelling The scale of new heat pump incentive is “yet another missed opportunity” Back in 2012, the English Housing Survey took an in-depth look at the energy efficiency of the country’s housing stock. It found that social housing was leading the field, with an average Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) rating of 65, compared to just 57 for the private rented sector. The report also observed that while energy efficiency for all tenure groups had improved between 2001 and 2012, increasing from an average SAP of 47 to 59, a full ¾ of homes could have benefitted from energy improvement measures during that time: “The energy improvement measures that could benefit most dwellings were the installation of a condensing boiler (9.7 million), installing cavity wall insulation (5.6 million) and installing or upgrading loft insulation (5.6 million).” English Housing Survey: Energy Efficiency of English Housing, 2012 Fast-forward nearly a decade and what’s now front of mind in terms of improving energy efficiency? Boilers. Still. The most recent English Housing Survey to provide a snapshot of energy efficiency is the 2019-20 report. It found that energy efficiency had improved over the preceding decade, with the proportion of dwellings in the highest EER bands (A to C), rising from 12% to 40% between 2009 and 2019. Social rented homes continued to be the best performers, with 61% in bands A to C in 2019, compared to just 38% of homes in the private rented sector. “It’s good to see that some improvements have been made in terms of energy efficiency in English homes over the past decade, but it feels like so much more could have been done. The 2019-20 English Housing Survey found that it would have cost less than £10,000 per home to bring 69% of dwellings up to a band C rating and around £15,000 to get a further 11% to band C. There simply hasn’t been enough emphasis on the importance of doing so.”Saurabh Saxena, Founder, houzen The average cost to move a property from EER bands D to G up to a band C rating was estimated to be £8,110. The cost varied across tenure, from the cheapest being housing association dwellings (with an average of £5,910) to the most expensive being owner occupied homes (£8,579). Just 2% of properties were found to be unable to reach band C at all. With an average annual energy cost saving of £298 because of upgrading a home to band C, it would take the average property over 27 years to start benefitting financially from doing so. Hence the need for government incentives to speed up the upgrading of English homes’ energy performance. Heat pumps are an interesting example of this. In 2019, just 103,000 homes in England had a heat pump – well below 1% of total housing stock. The government has now announced a £5,000-per-household grant to encourage the installation of heat pumps. However, that will cover the installation of just 30,000 heat pumps per year. How the government target of installing 600,000 heat pumps per year by 2028 is to be met remains unclear. “This feels like yet another missed opportunity, even with all the knowledge we have now about the importance of improving the energy efficiency of the country’s homes. Funding shortfalls like this show, in many respects, how little has actually changed over the past few years in terms of measures to enhance energy efficiency.”Saurabh Saxena, Founder, houzen Some of those likely to be near the front of the queue for the new heat pump grants are England’s landlords, as all new tenancies will require an EPC rating of band C or higher by 2025. Proptech investment platform houzen is supporting landlords and owner-occupiers alike to reach band C or higher with its in-depth sustainability reports. The tech-driven reports provide owners with the means to see quickly and easily how their properties measure up in terms of their environmental impact, as well as how they can enhance their sustainability. They blend expert knowledge with AI and Computer Vision to consider how homes perform in respect of 27 measures that impact the climate. “We have not an opportunity but a responsibility to act faster when it comes to improving the energy efficiency of our homes. We have the knowledge and the tools to make huge leaps now, so that’s exactly what we need to do, today.” Saurabh Saxena, Founder, houzen To find out more, please visit www.houzen.co.uk.
M9 interchange provides access to Winchburgh development Approval unlocks delivery of 20-year masterplan Winchburgh is one of UK’s biggest place-making projects A new junction for the M9 has been given the green light, paving the way for new access to the major development at Winchburgh in West Lothian. The development has already delivered over 650 new homes, shops and business space, extensive parks and recreation space and a canal-side marina. Three new state-of-the art schools are also well advanced in a large school campus next to extensive parkland. The new junction will unlock the final delivery of the Winchburgh masterplan which, when complete, will see at least 3,800 new homes, improved transport links, and a minimum of 40-acres of employment land created. Now the government is processing the ‘Made Road Orders’ which is the final administrative step in allowing the motorway junction work to proceed. It marks a major milestone in the evolution of Winchburgh, with work to develop the historic mining village first taking off in 2012. The news comes as Winchburgh also announced a sixth homebuilder has begun work on site. Taylor Wimpey has joined Bellway, CALA, Barratt, Robertson and J Smart & Co to deliver a wide range of quality new homes. From one-bedroom canal-side apartments to six-bedroom family houses, the new properties in Winchburgh have already seen exceptional demand, appealing to a variety of different homebuyers. Construction on the M9 is expected to begin in February 2022 with the junction due to open at the end of 2022. The junction will be formed by constructing four new slip roads centred around the existing underpass below the motorway. Served by a fully upgraded core road, it will connect the town centre with the southern roundabout at the new M9 junction. John Hamilton, Chief Executive, Winchburgh Developments Ltd commented: “The new junction has been a core element of the Winchburgh masterplan since its inception. Historically, transport connectivity has been heavily constrained by a motorway network that completely bypassed the village. This development will be transformational in improving journey times to and from Edinburgh and the Lothians for residents, businesses and visitors.” As part of the planning conditions, no more than 1,000 residential units could be occupied in Winchburgh until the new M9 junction was complete. Now that the junction has been given the go-ahead, the final phases of the masterplan can progress. Kirsty McGill, Sales and Marketing Director for Taylor Wimpey East Scotland said: “With the new M9 junction, the properties built in Winchburgh will be extremely well connected across the central belt. The demand we have already seen for new homes in Winchburgh is only expected to rise now that the junction has been approved.” Winchburgh residents, Keith and Andrea Fraser said: “In moving south from Aberdeenshire, we visited many housing developments across the Lothians in our search for a new home. We wanted to move to a growing community and the vision for the growth of Winchburgh really appealed to us, especially the range of community services and public spaces such as the marina and Auldcathie park which we look forward to exercising in and enjoying with family and friends. Although, we no longer have to face a daily commute, for those who do the new M9 junction will really improve Scottish transport links, and access to and from the village.” Spanning 352 hectares, Winchburgh is one of the largest and most exciting placemaking projects currently underway in the UK delivering new homes, improved transport links, employment opportunities, state-of-the-art schools and stunning new outdoor spaces to the historic village. Any enquires should be directed to John Hamilton, CEO, Winchburgh Developments Ltd on 07534 500238 or john@winchburghdevelopments.com.
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) has launched a new Energy technologies for net zero guide which gives a detailed look at the technologies available that can decarbonise the UK energy system and shift energy demand from fossil fuels to a low-carbon supply – vital to reach the Government’s Net Zero targets. The easy-to-follow guide, produced by energy system researchers at the University of Strathclyde on behalf of the IET, is intended to help the public, policy makers and anyone invested in transitioning to a low-carbon future, understand the options and technologies available. Simon Edwards, Director of Governance and External Engagement at the IET, said: “The transition to Net Zero will rely on people and technology. It is vital that everyone has a good understanding of how technology can make that happen, what the options are and how they work. “Technology enables us to dramatically reduce our dependence on fossil fuels by changing where our energy comes from and how we use it. However, there is a wide range of technologies that might be used and big decisions on the energy transition from policy makers still to come. This guide is intended to give the key facts, so everyone can become more informed about the decisions they make, as well as the pathways the UK Government and industry may take, to reach a low carbon future.” The guide also gives a unique comparative analysis of a set of seven net zero pathways to uncover what our decarbonised energy system – both supply and demand – in 2050 is likely to look like. Dr James Dixon, a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Strathclyde and lead author of the guide, said: “All paths to Net Zero rely on substantial changes in technology and the way we use energy. More optimism in what technology can achieve and how cheaply it can do it reduces – but never eliminates – the need to change how we do things. On the other hand, the more we can bring down our energy demand, the less we are dependent on technological innovation. In other words, it de-risks the transition.” The A-Z guide covers every main Net Zero energy technology from how energy can be produced from sustainable and renewable sources, how it can be used via low-carbon travel choices and how homes are heated. Keith Bell, Professor of energy systems at University of Strathclyde and co-author, added: “The fantastic reductions in the cost of energy from electricity produced from wind and solar and the efficiencies of things like electric vehicles and heat pumps mean that much greater reliance on renewables in future makes a huge amount of sense. However, it also raises challenges around the variability of wind and solar and the need for energy storage and flexibility of demand. “The Government’s Net Zero Strategy, launched this week, shows there is still a lot of work to do across many sectors. However, it’s a welcome statement of intent and it’s good to see acknowledgements of the importance of things like long-term energy storage and action on heating in buildings. “Whilst it is clear these technologies are fundamental, there is still an active part society at large needs to play in making low-carbon choices in our everyday lives. If people, policy makers and businesses understand the various options and why they’re needed, we will get greater support for a fast and fair transition to Net Zero.” The IET’s Energy technologies for net zero guide is available for download here.
B&Q opens its new Colchester store at Stane Park Colchester is B&Q’s first purpose-built digital store as the brand commits to e-commerce growth The Mayor declares the store officially open with ribbon cutting ceremony B&Q’s new Colchester store was declared officially open today with a formal cutting of the ribbon by the Mayor of Colchester, Councillor Robert Davidson. Relocated from B&Q Lightship Way to Stane Park’s brand-new retail park, B&Q is the first to open at the new development. This latest opening is one of the largest B&Q stores to open in the last decade. It combines instore shopping missions with digital fulfilment, fully representing B&Q’s commitment to grow e-commerce with stores at the centre. Caroline Voutsinas, B&Q Stane Park, Store Manager, said: “DIY has really captured the imagination of the nation over the past 18-months, so our new and improved B&Q in Colchester is very timely, giving Colchester DIY-ers and tradespeople a much improved store experience with plenty of exciting new features to make home improvement easier than ever. I cannot wait to welcome the local community into the store.” The new store offers a huge range of products for all home improvement needs, as well as: A purpose-built garden centre with a dedicated garden showroom A convenient and expert led tool hire option from Speedy Services, the UK’s leading tool & equipment hire company A brand-new showroom featuring the latest kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms in interactive, inspirational displays A dedicated load and go area for TradePoint customers to support bulk orders and easy access A brand new ‘shop in a shop’ for workwear, a first for B&Q A digital hub to support store to home delivery Services including paint mixing and Click + Collect via diy.com The new store is open 7 days a week: Monday-Saturday 7am-8pm, and on Sunday 11am-4pm. B&Q Lightship Way closed its doors on 21 October. B&Q is continuing to encourage customers to wear face coverings and has maintained social distancing measures to help customers shop safely. For more information, including inspirational ideas and practical advice on home improvement, visit DIY.com
The importance of responsible and sustainable growth took centre stage as the 2021 Hertfordshire Building Futures Awards were held at Knebworth Barns on 21 October. The Flint House development in Watton-at-Stone won Project of the Year – one of four main awards handed out on the night – at an event which celebrates sustainability, innovation and design excellence. An additional prize, the Special Landscape Design Award, was won by Oxhey Activity Park also in the Project of the Year category – this development being for Watford Borough Council. Flint House, which was also rated as Highly Commended in the Most Sustainable Construction category, was in the line-up of 10 nominees at the ceremony across all of the awards, for which Hertfordshire Growth Board was the headline sponsor. These developments included individual houses, public buildings and housing schemes. Led by Hertfordshire County Council, Building Futures is a partnership of nine of the county’s local authorities. There were also awards for Design Excellence and Design Excellence – Housing Development, with all of the finalists making the shortlist as they were considered exceptional buildings and sustainable projects. The awards ceremony was preceded by the inaugural Building Futures Conference, at which Richard Roberts – Leader of Hertfordshire County Council and Chair of Hertfordshire Growth Board – was among the speakers, and he said: “I would like to congratulate all of the winners and finalists on their achievements. These schemes strongly symbolise and represent our ethos of delivering the high quality and sustainable developments needed for our growing population over the coming years. “In Hertfordshire, we’re showing how important and beneficial a close working relationship with the development and construction industry can be – the creation of the Hertfordshire Infrastructure and Development Board is testament to that – as we also make sure we put the right infrastructure in place to achieve the cleaner, greener and healthier county that we are striving for.” Full list of awards winners and finalists: Most Sustainable Construction (award sponsored by Green Building Design Consultants) Bayford Grange, Bayford – Winner Flint House, Watton-at-Stone – Highly Commended Osborne Park, Little Heath Design Excellence (award sponsored by BCM B2B Cognitive Marketing agency) Osborne Park, Little Heath – Winner The Drive, Rickmansworth – Highly Commended Flint House, Watton-at-Stone Oxhey Activity Park, Watford The Grove, Chandler’s Cross Design Excellence – Housing Development (award sponsored by BCM B2B Cognitive Marketing agency) Hall Grove, Welwyn Garden City – Winner Hemming Way, Watford – Highly Commended for Urban Design Landbeach, Welwyn Garden City Oak Tree Gardens, St Albans Project of the Year (award sponsored by Willmott Dixon) Flint House, Watton-at-Stone – Winner Oxhey Activity Park, Watford – Special Landscape Design Award Osborne Park, Little Heath The Drive, Rickmansworth
TODAY the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), the UK’s largest membership organisation for private landlords, announces that it has agreed a new commercial partnership with leading online electricals retailer, AO. This new partnership means that AO is now a supplier of a range of Major Domestic Appliances (MDA), including fridge-freezers, dishwashers, ovens, hobs and washing machines, to the NRLA’s membership. Following the launch, NRLA members will be able to access this service using a dedicated telephone line which is open during AO’s office opening hours. This service will be offered to NRLA members through a dedicated Account Manager at AO, who will ensure they can access selected appliances for their rental properties at highly competitive, trade member rates. With over 1.5 million square feet of warehousing and completing premier installations across the UK every week, AO can minimise supply chain disruption, by holding over three months’ worth of stock at any time, meaning the products are always available for next day delivery and installation, offering a fantastic service for members. Anthony Sant, MD of AO Business, said: “We’re delighted to welcome the NRLA to our growing B2B partnerships. Our aim with this national partnership is to bring AO’s exceptional customer service to the NRLA’s network, which will also include guaranteed market-leading appliance supply and installation. With over 20 years’ experience as an electricals retailer and strong relationships with global manufacturers, AO Business is able to offer NRLA members a unique, competitive proposition.” Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said: “We are delighted to partner with AO, which will provide our members with a great range of modern domestic appliances at fantastic rates. “NRLA members will benefit from AO’s brilliant customer service as well as their market leading supply and installation – meaning appliances can be sourced and installed quickly, easily and cheaply.
Having been forced to withdraw from staging its annual awards dinner and presentation ceremony last year, due to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commissioning Specialists Association is looking forward to its return on the evening of Thursday 11th November 2021. Originally scheduled for its regular slot in June 2020, following hugely successful events having been staged every year since 2015, the Gala Awards Ceremony will return to the Guoman Tower Hotel, nestled between Tower Bridge and St Katherine’s Dock on the banks of the River Thames in London. The event will once again bring together the entire commissioning sector in a celebration of business and professional excellence. Recognising and rewarding the achievements of both individuals and companies operating within this crucial area of the construction and refurbishment industry, personal endeavour, product innovation, skills training, engineering advancement and commercial acumen will be acknowledged and celebrated. Operated by the Commissioning Specialists Association and produced by Touchwave Media, the awards will again acknowledge the skill, effort and sheer dedication of the people and businesses serving today’s complex built environment business sector. With sponsorship provided by a host of leading industry names, well deserved industry-wide recognition will be given to those businesses and individuals that are excelling in their commissioning endeavours. Finalists Following a comprehensive judging process, which this year combined the remote assessment and scoring of each entry with a virtual gathering of the judging panel, the CSA is delighted to announce the following 23 Finalists across the seven award categories: Project of the Year – Sponsored by BSRIA Instrument Solutions Expo Village – Dubai United Arab Emirates, AESG Battersea Power Station Phase 2, Ashford Environmental Services T Zone, 11 – 21 Canal Reach, Kings Cross London, BAM Construction/Argent Sir William Henry Bragg Building – Integrated Campus for Engineering and Physical Sciences (ICEPS), Banyards The NOW Building – Outernet London – St Giles Circus, Banyards Manchester Engineering Campus Development, NG Bailey Product Innovation of the Year – Sponsored by Media Control Management Banyards Insite BASgatewayLX – Modbus to BACnet Gateway, Contemporary Controls Nucleus – Project Management Software, HDR Commissioning Provider of the Year – Sponsored by Modern Building Services AESG Airtech Premier Ashford Environmental Services Banyards Engineering Commissioning Services Global Commissioning Media Control Commissioning Management Award – Sponsored by HDR Thomas Townley, AESG Mark Pritchard, Airtech Premier Liam O’Donnell, Ashford Environmental Services Tony Craig, Banyards Investment in Training Award – Sponsored by VEXO Airtech Premier Academy Ashford Environmental Services Global Commissioning Management & Software Student of the Year – Sponsored by RED Engineering George Dickinson, Airtech Premier Neil Allen, AIS George Nelson, Cleartech Group Adam Murray, HDR Stephen Mancell, NG Bailey Ant Byron, Pureflow Commissioning Kalimulla Palekar, RED Engineering Engineer of the Year – Sponsored by Ashford Environmental Services Frederick Alconcel, AESG James Vigurs, Airtech Premier Joe McCulloch, EnviroCom Mahir Ilter Bilge, MECON Our sincere congratulations go to all those who have been selected as a Finalist, and we look forward to announcing the seven award winners during the charged atmosphere of the presentation ceremony on the evening of Thursday 11th November. Mark Todd, CSA Chairman, commented: “The 2019 CSA Awards proved to be a huge success and once again provided an excellent forum through which to celebrate business and professional excellence. I very much look forward to building on that success with the delayed 2021 awards programme which I feel sure will provide another superb platform for promoting the excellent work being undertaken by commissioning engineers across the sector. As the saying goes, ‘you need to be in it to win it’, and the submissions this year were again of an extremely high calibre. Just being selected as a finalist is a tremendous achievement and I would applaud all those you have made it this far. We now very much look forward to seeing you will be announced as the eventual Winners.” If you have not yet booked your place at this highly respected event, please visit the website, and complete the online booking form. Individual places or tables of ten can be secured, with the package including reception drinks, a superb 3-course meal with wine, the awards ceremony itself and excellent post awards entertainment. It really is a night not to be missed, and after the difficulties we have all endured over the past eighteen months, it is most definitely time to re-engage, re-unite, and celebrate the wonderful achievements of this important of industry sector. Further details For more information, visit the website www.csa-awards.co.uk or contact the awards programme producers, Touchwave Media, by phone on 07785 290034 or by email at andrew@touchwavemedia.co.uk. Issued on behalf of the CSA by Touchwave Media Ltd Tel: 07785 290034 Email: andrew@touchwavemedia.co.uk
While most of us can only aspire to live in a million-pound property, that doesn’t mean that we can’t make our homes feel like a modern mansion. Design inspiration is drawn regularly from the rich and famous, but which luxury home features are more accessible than we may think? Windows and doors specialists, Genesis Collection have analysed property data to reveal the features that the UK’s million-pound properties have in common. The investigation, which involved deep-diving into hundreds of properties across the UK that are currently available on the market, found a total of seven unique features that were a recurring theme throughout. The good news? Lots of these home features are readily available to the wider public, which means everyone can draw inspiration and add a little luxury to their own spaces. Floor to Ceiling Glass Doors This feature was by far the most repeated design element encountered throughout the UK’s high-end properties. Whether sliding patio doors or aluminium bifold doors, the designs and colours varied by interior theme but the core design concept remained very much the same – floor to ceiling glass. As most of these properties also have large and beautifully landscaped gardens, it’s understandable why such a feature may be in high demand. However, the light inducing benefits of floor to ceiling glass are also popular, making this a highly sought-after element for any home. Freestanding Bathtub Though the style of many of the million-pound bathrooms varied, one common feature remained throughout – freestanding bathtubs. Whether the powder room was traditional in design, with Victorian-themed tiling and clean white features, or modern, with floor to ceiling marble, the inclusion of a freestanding bath is a clear indicator of a luxury home. Fireplace Another stunning piece encountered in almost all million-pound homes currently on the market was a statement fireplace. Coming in a vast array of designs, a fireplace can easily compliment any interior theme, whether that’s farmhouse décor or minimalist chic. Similarly, to the kitchen island, a fireplace creates a focal point in any room and creates a highly sought-after cosy ambience. Open Plan Space Perhaps an interesting observation, each of the properties analysed all had a very similar approach when it came layout, with big open plan living spaces a theme throughout. Large kitchens continuing into dining rooms and dining rooms continuing into living rooms were all popular designs. Often, this open space is also extended seamlessly through glass doors into an outdoor the patio, creating the illusion of an even larger space, thus achieving a luxury look.
Affordable housing provider St Arthur Homes has acquired its largest number of private units on one site to date, for Shared Ownership between Southampton and Portsmouth in a deal in excess of £25M with The Vistry Group. The purchase of 95 affordable homes at the Whiteley Meadows development in Winchester, comes as part of St Arthur Homes’ focused expansion programme, as it aims to deliver at least 2,000 new homes over five years. The first phase of 45 Shared Ownership homes at Whiteley Meadows will be launched for sale soon, including a range of two and three-bedroom houses and two-bedroom apartments, providing affordable opportunities for buyers to get onto the property ladder for as little as a 5% deposit on the share they buy. Buyers will initially be able to purchase a share of the property, with the opportunity to buy further shares up to outright ownership in the future. “We are delighted to have acquired the site at Whiteley Meadows, which is our largest Shared Ownership development to date. Working alongside Vistry, we are pleased to play our part in delivering this fantastic new community in an outstanding countryside location while helping make homes more affordable for our buyers. The increasing awareness and demand for Shared Ownership homes puts us in a strong position to continue to grow our business,” said Chief Executive Officer for St Arthur Homes. St Arthur Homes specialises in delivering premium shared ownership housing, without compromise on specification and is taking its place in the market as the aspirational RP. St Arthur works with a range of partners to acquire affordable housing across London and the South of England through S106 and grant-led schemes, with plans to expand into The Midlands. The deal with Vistry Group is the latest in a series of partnership deals with leading housebuilders as St Arthur increases its portfolio. Whiteley Meadows is a multi-phase development where the overall masterplan will deliver more than 3,000 new homes from a group of leading developers led by The Vistry Group. The plans also include new schools, a care home, community centre, green spaces and shops, along with associated infrastructure. The new neighbourhood is well situated between Southampton, Portsmouth and Winchester, and surrounded by countryside, making it an attractive and sustainable place to live.
Blackwood House is the final home to be released in the exclusive Tibbs Court Farm development, located just outside the beautiful village of Brenchley, Kent. A substantial farmstead that combines spacious living with sleek design, this five-bedroom property is the perfect option for larger families who desire luxury and space with a touch of traditional elegance. Aligning with the specifications showcased in the dream home survey, Blackwood House is set amongst a small community, and enjoys the balance of being a detached property without being isolated. The property also benefits from the opportunity to have a home office, utility room, two dining areas and the feature that took the top spot – a garage. “Blackwood House is the ultimate property for homebuyers looking for their perfect new home, enjoying a variety of features for all to make the most of. Located in the heart of the stunning Kent countryside, and with a beautiful private garden, the desired ample space and additional finishing touches including a cloakroom and utility room, Blackwood House offers the opportunity to entertain both indoors and outdoors with ease. Hopeful buyers will have the opportunity to see all that Blackwood House and the wider development has to offer for the first time at our upcoming Muddy Boot event on Saturday 6th November,” commented Philip Brown, Sales and Marketing Director at Millwood Designer Homes. Upon entry to Blackwood House, residents are welcomed with a generous hallway and a wide staircase. The open plan kitchen/breakfast/family room includes a utility room and bi fold doors that lead out to the impressive rear garden. To the right, there is a drawing room with an Inglenook fireplace and wood burning stove. The quality finishes include American white oak five vertical panel internal doors with chrome fittings, with full glazed doors to the kitchen/breakfast room, drawing room and dining room. Upstairs there are five sizeable bedrooms, three of them with en suites plus a family bathroom. The main bedroom features a large en-suite bathroom with double basins, shower and bath, as well as fitted wardrobes. Above the double garage with its own external access, lies another bedroom that would make the perfect space for a home office or gym if required, as it is also offers en-suite facilities. The stunning rural village of Brenchley has everyday amenities readily available. A selection of independent cafes and shops including pubs and a butchers provide a sense of community in wonderfully aesthetic surroundings. A 17-minute drive takes you to the vibrant town of Tunbridge Wells, which offers a wide variety of bars, restaurants and coffee shops as well as a selection of popular high street brands and boutique shops. Tesco was voted highest in the most sought-after supermarket section of the dream home survey, and with this large supermarket only a nine-minute drive away, another box from the dream home checklist is ticked. Alternatively, there is a Sainsburys, Asda and Waitrose all also nearby. Set within the rural idyll of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Blackwood House has plenty to offer keen cyclists and outdoor opportunists. Brenchley Castle Hill is only a short bicycle journey away and is surrounded by generous greenspace and sumptuous scenery. Residents can reap the benefits of being outside as well as experiencing the historical highlight of the nearby Scotney Castle. Part of The National Trust, this 14th century moated castle has a woodland estate and acres of lusciously green gardens to explore. Just four miles away in Lamberhurst – this spectacular setting can be enjoyed time and time again. Blackwood House is conveniently situated for commuters, with Paddock Wood station close by offering direct services to London Cannon Street and Charing Cross in just under an hour (52 minutes). From home, the A21 dual carriage way is easily accessible providing routes to Tunbridge Wells as well as the M25 in just 41 minutes, which easily connects residents to Gatwick Airport.
