The latest industry research by property development appraisal software, APRAO, has revealed that developers across the South East have been hardest at work making way for future new homes, with the region seeing the largest number of demolitions over the last year, as well as the second largest annual increase.
Quote from Ben Bannatyne, president, Prologis Europe “In the first quarter of 2024, demand for our high-quality logistics real estate remained steady across the 12 European markets where we operate. Germany and the Netherlands continue to be the strongest markets, given their high barriers to supply and strong demand. We
Architecture and interior design practice Palladian has won planning approval for the renovation and extension of a four-storey, stock-brick, mid-terrace townhouse with a rear garden, located in London’s Chelsea. The property, which is not listed, dates from circa 1850 and is situated within ‘The Boltons Conservation Area’ in the London
New research by signage specialists, FASTSIGNS UK, has revealed fire and rescue services in England have, on average, received just 30 percent of high-rise building plans and 21 percent of external wall plans, required under the UK Government’s updated fire safety regulations. The updated regulation, Fire Safety (England) Regulation 2022,
Leading building and civil engineering contractor, Farrans Construction, has completed and handed over a luxury 20-storey student residential scheme in Leeds city centre for client Infinity Construction Enterprise Limited, part of the YPP Group. A total of 212 studio apartments have been provided in the Live Oasis St Albans Place
Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of private and public construction and civil engineering projects has been awarded a contract to construct Greenbox’s latest development in Darlington. Greenbox is a joint venture between Partners Group, a leading global private markets firm, acting
Johnson Controls, the global leader for smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings, today released its 2024 Sustainability Report, marking significant progress and unwavering focus on decarbonising the built environment. Notably, the company reduced absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 43.8% since 2017, putting it ahead of schedule in achieving its 2030
Environmental Services & Solutions Expo (ESS), the world-leading event for the environmental services industry, has announced the launch of a webinar aimed LONDON at addressing critical skills shortages in the environmental sector. With demand currently outstripping supply, the online event entitled ‘ESS 2050: Green Skills’ will focus on how employers
Miller Homes and Citra Living, which is part of Lloyds Banking Group, have joined forces to deliver 100 Private Rented Sector homes at Miller Homes’ Roman Croft development in Priorslee, Telford. Working together they will provide much needed additional new homes for open market rent which will help to meet
Broadnook Garden Village, Leicestershire’s newest and most exciting community building project, has marked the start of construction with the erection of a landmark sign that’s guaranteed to put Leicestershire’s first Garden Village on the map! Broadnook developers have proudly announced the launch of construction, unveiling a new roadside billboard as
The latest industry research by property development appraisal software, APRAO, has revealed that developers across the South East have been hardest at work making way for future new homes, with the region seeing the largest number of demolitions over the last year, as well as the second largest annual increase. APRAO analysed Gov data looking at the number of demolitions to have taken place over the last year* across England and which areas of the property market have seen the largest increase in demolitions as developers look to make way for the construction of new-build housing. The analysis by APRAO shows that some 5,474 demolitions took place over the last year, a drop of -4.5% versus the previous year and the lowest annual total seen over the last 15 years. This suggests an air of hesitation amongst the big housebuilders to clear ground in order to deliver new homes, having faced a landscape of higher interest rates, cooling house prices and subdued buyer appetites due to higher borrowing costs. However, this decline in demolitions isn’t a trend that has engulfed the entire property market and, in fact, some areas have seen a sharp increase. With 1,729 demolitions taking place over the last year, the South East ranks as the nation’s demolition hotspot. The region has also seen this number climb by 39% year on year, the second highest annual increase of all regions. However, it’s Yorkshire and the Humber that has seen the largest annual increase, with the number of demolitions seen across the region climbing by 53% year on year. The North West (+32%) and East Midlands are the only other two regions to have seen an uplift in developer demolitions. Of those to have seen a decline, London has seen the largest reduction, with -58% fewer demolitions taking place over the last year versus the year before. CEO of APRAO, Daniel Norman, commented: “The demolition of existing structures is often the first step in the development journey and, as a result, demolition data can give us key insight into just where housebuilders are moving forward with their plans to deliver new homes. This can be done to make way for new homes specifically, as well as the required infrastructure required for a development, or even for a commercial venture. What the data does highlight is that the volume of demolitions has fallen considerably over the last 15 years, although the decline seen over the last year has certainly been intensified by wider economic headwinds such as higher interest rates and a decline in buyer activity. However, this trend hasn’t been seen at a national scale and based purely on demolition levels alone, Yorkshire and the South East certainly look poised to see an influx of new homes over the coming years.” Sources and data tables View the full data tables and sources online here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Quote from Ben Bannatyne, president, Prologis Europe “In the first quarter of 2024, demand for our high-quality logistics real estate remained steady across the 12 European markets where we operate. Germany and the Netherlands continue to be the strongest markets, given their high barriers to supply and strong demand. We anticipate our customers’ need for space when and where they need it most, whether that is meeting the demand of e-commerce or building data centres. We leverage our extensive ready-to-build land bank, robust financial position and super integrated logistics platform to provide a complete solution tailored to their needs.” Operating Performance – First Quarter 2024: Total portfolio: 22.5 million square metres* First quarter total leasing activity: 1,078,262 square metres: Q1 2024 rent change: 20.5%** Occupancy: 97% * includes operating, development, held for sale, other and VAA/VAC** rent change is based on lease start date GROUNDBREAKERS 2024 will be held in London GROUNDBREAKERS, Prologis’ signature thought leadership event, will take place in Europe for the first time! Last year’s event explored the electrification of everything, a rapidly changing workforce and how AI is influencing the supply chain — among other themes (view panels). This October, we’re gearing up for even more innovation, engagement and knowledge sharing in a one-of-a-kind event. Mark your calendars for October 2nd, and stay tuned for more information! Resources/Insights Prologis receives HRH The Prince of Wales’ Terra Carta Seal Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Architecture and interior design practice Palladian has won planning approval for the renovation and extension of a four-storey, stock-brick, mid-terrace townhouse with a rear garden, located in London’s Chelsea. The property, which is not listed, dates from circa 1850 and is situated within ‘The Boltons Conservation Area’ in the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The new plans will see the property transformed, including a new basement level, a newly-raised ground floor, a reconfigured top floor and the removal of a dated rear conservatory in order to extend the new owners’ ground floor living space and create a better indoor/outdoor flow. The client requested that the remodel should allow for flexible future use, from family living to the provision of seamless entertainment spaces. ‘The vision for the property is to retain and conserve its traditional street frontage’, Palladian Founding Partner & Commercial Director Hugo Lindsay-Fynn commented, ‘but to create an entirely new interior layout that maximises space and light and makes use of highly contemporary forms, with the property’s rear façade revealing the full extent of the transformation.’ Currently, the interior of the property consists of a lower ground floor kitchen, dining room and conservatory; a ground floor double reception room and study; a master bedroom with ensuite on the first floor and a further bedroom with ensuite and study on the top floor. The renovation will involve removal of an existing dated conservatory to the rear of the house in order to create a large-scale open-plan kitchen and dining space leading directly to the terraced garden and patio outside. A new glazed roof and glazed doors will be added to bring additional light from the Northeast-facing rear garden. The plan also includes the creation of an enlarged patio area in the new rear upper garden space, accessed via existing external stairs from the rear ground floor. A new basement directly beneath the existing footprint of the lower ground floor will also be created to accommodate a new guest bedroom with ensuite as well as a utility room and a wine cellar, accessed through a new basement hall. Work will also involve increasing the height of the existing ground floor as well as the reconfiguration of the top floor, featuring a butterfly roof, to create more living space including a snug, an additional bedroom and a new powder room. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
New research by signage specialists, FASTSIGNS UK, has revealed fire and rescue services in England have, on average, received just 30 percent of high-rise building plans and 21 percent of external wall plans, required under the UK Government’s updated fire safety regulations. The updated regulation, Fire Safety (England) Regulation 2022, which came into play on 23 January 2023, made it a legal requirement for responsible persons of high-rise residential buildings of 7 storeys or more to provide local fire and rescue services with appropriate safety information, including up-to-date building and external wall plans. The research sheds light on the percentage of building plans and external wall plans submitted by qualifying high-rises across England since the introduction of the regulation, using data from a series of Freedom of Information Requests (FOI) made to 18 fire services – compared against data for the number of high-rises each service serves. Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service has the highest percentage of submissions for both criteria received, with 88 percent of up-to-date building plans submitted and 88 percent of up-to-date wall plans submitted. Only Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service has received more for building plans, comparably though, no external wall plans were received. Nottingham Fire & Rescue Service received only 6 percent of building plans and just 4 percent of external wall plans for high-rises in its area. The regulation was introduced in response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy in July 2017, where on-site emergency response teams reported that navigating such a complex residential building, without clear directional signage, prevented them from carrying out their duties safely. Consequently, a recommendation was made that signage, building and external wall plans in multi-occupied high-rise residential buildings should now be a legal requirement. Using the information, fire services would be able to plan an effective response in case of an emergency in the future, while also enabling residents to exit following clear, signposted instructions. The breakdown of county-specific findings includes: Fire and Safety Service % of those who have submitted external wall plans % of those who have submitted building plans Essex County Fire & Rescue Service 0% 27% Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service 0% 13% Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service 0% 100% Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Service 0% 9% Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service 4% 6% Surrey Fire & Rescue Service 10% 0% Kent Fire & Rescue Service 12% 18% Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service 13% 11% Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service 14% 6% Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service 15% 8% Norfolk Fire Service 17% 55% Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service 17% 25% Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service 20% 9% Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue Service 24% 18% Tyne & Wear Metropolitan Fire Brigade 40% 59% Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service 53% 47% Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service 56% 52% Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service 88% 88% National Average 21% 31% John Davies, managing director of FASTSIGNS UK, added: “No matter what the industry, health and safety signage is fundamental in minimising risks and supporting people’s wellbeing as well as being crucial in the event of an emergency. “With certified safety and directional signage, both residents and response teams will be able to clearly navigate high-rise buildings when an incident occurs. We work closely with our customers around England so that any buildings that fall under this criteria meet these new requirements.” For more information on FASTSIGNS UK, visit: www.fastsigns.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading building and civil engineering contractor, Farrans Construction, has completed and handed over a luxury 20-storey student residential scheme in Leeds city centre for client Infinity Construction Enterprise Limited, part of the YPP Group. A total of 212 studio apartments have been provided in the Live Oasis St Albans Place development, featuring kitchens, bedrooms, en-suites, storage and living facilities. The range of communal spaces includes a gym, communal lounge, kitchen, study spaces, wellbeing lounge and eighth floor roof terrace. The property is aligned to the existing Live Oasis brand and maintains the client’s reputation for high-quality studio-based student accommodation, with a luxurious interior design and enhanced amenity space. Farrans continues to build on its presence in the region having recently been appointed as the main contractor for the Phase 1 terminal extension as part of a £100m regeneration project at Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA). The company has also secured a spot on a major works framework covering highways and transportation projects in Yorkshire. Alongside the alliance partners, Farrans will deliver projects valued over £7m. The framework firms will be used by Leeds Council and the wider Yorkshire Highways Alliance, which also includes the councils of Bradford, Wakefield, Kirklees Council, York and Calderdale. It will also be available to any local authorities or contracting authorities who are a wholly owned subsidiary of the local authorities within the Yorkshire and Humber region. Cathal Montague, regional director for Farrans Construction, said: “Live Oasis St Albans Place has been an exciting and challenging project in the heart of a busy city centre location and we are proud to have delivered an unrivalled luxury student experience which matched our client’s expectations. We had an excellent project team on the ground who worked collaboratively with our client, architects, the management company YPP and our supply chain to minimise disruption while remaining on target and on programme. “Our experience of constructing student accommodation and high-rise properties using sustainable approaches means that we were well placed to deliver a cutting-edge design which relied exclusively on precast construction from the first floor upwards with a façade design and high-quality material palette. We have been able to optimise the speed of construction using innovative technology without compromising on the luxury finish. The precast panels offer a more sustainable approach to construction delivery as well as working well in a tight site footprint. We are looking forward to continuing our construction and civil engineering work in this region while also building on the relationships we have made so far.” The development is managed by YPP Student and Professional Lettings, which currently manages over 2,000 beds and 50 properties across seven cities with plans to expand further. Harry Granger, Head of Marketing & Business Change at YPP, said: “When we were planning St Albans Place in Leeds we wanted to achieve a new level of luxury for the student accommodation market. Our completed building provides the ultimate all-inclusive experience in the heart of Leeds city centre, an easy walk from cafes, restaurants, shops and a thriving student community. The bespoke apartments are spaces made for high-quality living while studying. We selected Farrans based on their experience in the student accommodation sector and also because they have delivered multi-room, tall buildings. We are pleased to have partnered with them on this project and we are delighted with the top quality finishes that have been achieved.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Winvic Construction Ltd, a leading main contractor that specialises in the design and delivery of private and public construction and civil engineering projects has been awarded a contract to construct Greenbox’s latest development in Darlington. Greenbox is a joint venture between Partners Group, a leading global private markets firm, acting on behalf of its clients, and Citivale, a specialist logistics developer and operator, to provide Grade A industrial units with market-leading environmental credentials. Winvic will be delivering the 36-week project as Net Zero Carbon in Construction and the companies have celebrated with a groundbreaking ceremony. Works on the 24-acre Greenbox Darlington site – comprising three speculative industrial facilities totalling 402,000 sq ft and including all associated earthworks, drainage and service installations and hard and soft landscaping – will be complete by the end of the year. The three units will utilise air source heat pumps, will be rooftop PV-ready and will achieve leading sustainability credentials including BREEAM Excellent and EPC A. 10 per cent of the car parking will be constructed for electric vehicles (EV). The location on the A66, close to three junctions on the A1(M), is a proven manufacturing hub and ‘last mile’ location to the major urban areas of the North East. Danny Nelson, Winvic’s Head of Industrial, Distribution and Logistics, commented: “It seems that as we hand over one project with sustainability at its heart, we’re contracted for the next and we’re delighted to be working in partnership with Greenbox for the first time. Thank you to Partners Group and Citivale for putting their trust in our forward-thinking ESG expertise, making Greenbox Darlington Winvic’s twenty-seventh Net Zero Carbon project. Our team is looking forward to a fast start and will deliver the three industrial units before the end of 2024.” Alex Reynolds, Development Director at Citivale, said: “We are delighted to be working with Winvic on our Greenbox Darlington development. Their ESG commitments and expertise are perfectly aligned with our goal for the Greenbox platform, to create a lasting, positive impact on a local, national and global level and to lead wherever possible in this regard. Having acquired this planning-ready site at the end of 2023, in a thriving industrial and manufacturing area of the North East, it’s great to have been able to move so quickly to this first milestone in the development and we look forward to working closely with the team to make Greenbox Darlington available for occupation at the very start of next year.” For more information on Citvale and Greenbox Darlington, the company’s latest project news and job vacancies please visit: www.citivale.com and www.greenbox-darlington.co.uk – and LinkedIn. For more information on Winvic, the company’s latest project news and job vacancies please visit www.winvic.co.uk. Join Winvic on social media – visit X (formerly Twitter) @WinvicLtd – and LinkedIn Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Johnson Controls, the global leader for smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings, today released its 2024 Sustainability Report, marking significant progress and unwavering focus on decarbonising the built environment. Notably, the company reduced absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 43.8% since 2017, putting it ahead of schedule in achieving its 2030 science-based target of a 55% reduction. The company also reported a 27.1% reduction in Scope 3 emissions derived from the use of its products, exceeding its 2030 science-based target of achieving 16% reduction in use of sold products by 2030. “At Johnson Controls, our focus on sustainability is a force multiplier accelerating our strategy, cutting our operating costs, and helping us attract and retain the best and brightest talent in the industry,” said George Oliver, chairman and CEO. “Putting our operating technology and OpenBlue digital platform to work achieving our own ambitious decarbonisation goals enables us to be a trusted partner to our customers, accelerating their climate progress and success. I am proud of the progress we have made and am excited by the many initiatives we have underway that make the promise of sustainable buildings a reality.” Buildings are responsible for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions and buildings represent some of the fastest—if not the fastest—paths to meeting global climate targets. Throughout the report, Johnson Controls highlights key innovations and initiatives that deliver energy efficiency and decarbonisation in buildings. This includes the solutions and services that form the smart building trifecta: energy-efficient equipment, clean electrification and digitalisation. These solutions are making a difference in buildings like Children’s of Alabama medical centre, where OpenBlue and heat pump technologies are delivering $450,000 in annual savings and reducing the use of natural gas by 69%. In Norway, OpenBlue is helping create the largest net energy-positive building in the northern hemisphere. In Dubai Silicon Oasis, Johnson Controls chillers and AI-driven solutions are reducing carbon by 30% and delivering guaranteed energy savings of 4.2 million kWh per year. In 2023, OpenBlue Enterprise Manager and OpenBlue Central Utility Plant helped our customers avoid an estimated 70,000 metric tons CO2e, more than four times the avoided emissions of 2020. “We have very purposefully created a company that is uniquely qualified to meet the needs of customers at every level—creating the products, installing and servicing them, investing in advanced technologies like AI, and creating the financing structure to support net zero journeys end-to-end,” said Katie McGinty, vice president and chief sustainability and external relations officer at Johnson Controls. “The numbers show we are having tremendous impact in cutting energy, emissions, and cost in our own operations and for our customers. We are moving the needle on net zero buildings fast and we realise every day that decarbonising buildings is a winner for the climate and for smart, cutting-edge organisations that are determined to be best in class.” Against the backdrop of the hottest year on record, Johnson Controls remains committed to innovation, investing 90% of new product R&D into climate-related technologies. The company is also addressing hard-to-abate steel production and embodied carbon with more than 80% of steel purchases in the United States and 50% globally produced from recycled scrap materials using low-carbon, electric arc furnace steel-making technology. Johnson Controls is also helping customers overcome financing challenges with innovative structures like “Net Zero Buildings as a Service,” which establishes outcome-based, net zero financing. It redefines risk by guaranteeing energy savings and paying project costs out of the savings. The company also offers performance-contracting projects, with guaranteed energy and operational savings realised over time. Since January 2000, Johnson Controls performance-contracting projects have helped partners and customers avoid over 39 million metric tons of emissions and they are set to save partners over $8.4 billion in energy and operational costs over their project terms. At NRG Park in Harris County, Texas, a 20-year energy savings performance contract is expected to generate more than $54 million in savings that will fund the entire cost of the complex-wide upgrades, while also providing surplus savings that will be reinvested back into the Harris County community. The project spans much of the complex, including upgrades to HVAC equipment, building automation systems, water conservation, life safety systems and lighting, as well as high-efficiency chiller upgrades and the integration of Johnson Controls OpenBlue Central Utility Plant. Johnson Controls attributes its global sustainability leadership to its global workforce. In 2023, Johnson Controls employees volunteered over 61,000 hours, the most volunteer hours recorded in one year since 2017, with more than 82% of the volunteer hours supporting one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The company is also investing in the rising generation of diverse, sustainable leaders through a wide range of scholarship, training, and community engagement programs. Recent Johnson Controls Recognition: To read the full 2024 Sustainability Report, please visit: johnsoncontrols.com/2024Sustainability. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Environmental Services & Solutions Expo (ESS), the world-leading event for the environmental services industry, has announced the launch of a webinar aimed LONDON at addressing critical skills shortages in the environmental sector. With demand currently outstripping supply, the online event entitled ‘ESS 2050: Green Skills’ will focus on how employers can bridge the gap in green jobs across the nation. Taking place on Friday 26 April from 12:00-14:00, the webinar will feature presentations and discussions on government initiatives, apprenticeship schemes, regional differences, and collaborations between UK universities and the industry. It will also offer businesses practical steps to train the next generation, strategies to make the sector more attractive to the younger generations, and collaborative solutions to address green skills shortages. The webinar will be co-hosted by Groundwork, the official charity partner of ESS Expo, and chaired by Adam Read, Chief Sustainability & External Affairs Officer of SUEZ and member of the Green Jobs Delivery Group. Joining the session will be leading industry voices Melissa Vogeley, Team Leader – Green Jobs & Skills for Net Zero at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Aashya Zina, Department for Education, providing an update on the Green Jobs Delivery Group. Sally Hayns, CEO of The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) will address Barriers to Nature-based Green Jobs, while Beth Whittaker, Chief Human Resources Officer of Veolia Northern Europe Zone, will deliver a case study on Future Talent to Deliver GreenUp. The former will look at overcoming certain challenges to support the expansion of a committed, engaged workforce, while the latter will explore future talent including graduates, apprentices, and internships, as well as green skills planning for future roles and over 50s talent. Venetia Knight, Head of Employment and Enterprise at charity, Groundwork, will present on Increasing the Attractiveness of Sector to young people, followed by a joint session from Dr. Aris Alexoulis, Senior Lecturer in Mechatronics at Manchester Metropolitan University, and Dr Steve Jones, Connected Curriculum Lead at Siemens, on the Connected Curriculum: How Academia and Industry can Collaborate on Education. The Siemens Connected Curriculum is a collaborative partnership that equips member universities with an extensive portfolio of technology learning materials and real-world industrial case studies covering all aspects of the product lifecycle. Commenting on the webinar, Rob Mowat, Managing Director of ESS Expo, said: “We are excited to be launching the first in our new series of webinars. ESS 2050: Green Skills is a unique opportunity for operators, local authorities, agriculture, energy, manufacturing, and stakeholders from education and development to engage in a conversation crucial for shaping the future of the environmental workforce. We have already received a remarkable amount of interest in this opportunity and are looking forward to sharing the debate with all those involved in the sector on 26 April.” To sign up to join the ESS 2050: Green Skills webinar on Friday 26th April, visit the website here.To register your interest to attend ESS Expo 2024 from 11-12 September at the NEC Birmingham, visit the website here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Miller Homes and Citra Living, which is part of Lloyds Banking Group, have joined forces to deliver 100 Private Rented Sector homes at Miller Homes’ Roman Croft development in Priorslee, Telford. Working together they will provide much needed additional new homes for open market rent which will help to meet the significant demand for high-quality rental properties. The 100 homes for Citra at Roman Croft are being developed with environmental sustainability in mind. Every house is entirely gas-free, using an air source heat pump for heating, and is equipped with an electric vehicle charger. They will be delivered in two phases, with 46 in the first phase and 54 in the second, and handover of the homes is expected to be completed by July 2026. Danny O’Connor, Divisional Managing Director at Miller Homes, said: “We are pleased to have agreed a deal with Citra Living to deliver 100 homes for the private rented sector in Priorslee, and hope this forms the foundation for many more in the future. “Miller Homes’ Roman Croft development offers residents a blend of thriving town life and picturesque countryside living, with easy access to both Wolverhampton and Birmingham, and the Shropshire Hills on the doorstep.” Matthew Bench, Group Managing Director – Partnerships at Miller Homes, said: “Building Private Rented Sector homes as part of our business model, like these for Citra Living, allows us to continue diversifying our portfolio, while creating new opportunities for land acquisition and supporting our overall growth ambitions to 6,500 homes per year.” Andy Hutchinson, CEO of Citra Living, said: “Working with Miller Homes to deliver these more energy efficient new homes supports the delivery our goal to help more people live in the place they want and in the kind of modern home they want to live. “By teaming up with experienced, forward-thinking housebuilders, like Miller, we can bring more, better quality homes in great locations to the market more quickly.” Roman Croft, and the neighbouring Earl’s Grange development, both at Priorslee, offer easy access to the A5 and M54 motorway and are just 5 minutes from Telford town centre. Fantastic local amenities including Telford Central Rail Station and Priorslee Lake are on the doorstep. The wider Priorslee site covers over 75 acres which will provide 1,100 homes. The community will benefit from new amenities including a new community building, a primary school, a local retail centre, a retirement village and land made available for a new GP surgery, as well as football pitches and a skate park. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Broadnook Garden Village, Leicestershire’s newest and most exciting community building project, has marked the start of construction with the erection of a landmark sign that’s guaranteed to put Leicestershire’s first Garden Village on the map! Broadnook developers have proudly announced the launch of construction, unveiling a new roadside billboard as well as the installation of Hollywood-style 9ft lettering made from corten steel. The lettering will turn a beautiful burnt orange with age and is a symbol of a grand beginning for this new village location at the heart of Charnwood. In recognition of Broadnook Garden Village’s commitment to the local community and businesses, bottles of locally grown Rothley sparkling wine were uncorked in celebration of construction launching in earnest. Raising a glass from the neighbouring Rothley Vineyard was the Mayor of Charnwood, Councillor Margaret Smidowicz, alongside James Wilson, Managing Director of Davidsons Homes, and Steve Keenan, Construction Director at Cora Homes. The creation of this new Garden Village represents a fresh era in community building, with plans that include car-free zones, cycle paths, village square, community nursery and primary school, enterprise zones, allotments and open green spaces that will connect residents to the local landscape. The project is backed by an investment of £32.6 million – of which over £17 million is being invested into local schools – creating more than 1900 homes. The village will offer beautiful homes ranging from one to five bedrooms, all part of the developers’ vision for a bespoke modern community that encapsulates the best of town and countryside. Mayor of Charnwood, Councillor Margaret Smidowicz said: “The launch of Broadnook Garden Village is a defining moment for the Borough of Charnwood as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. This thoughtful, innovative design offers a sense of ‘place’, encapsulating the heritage of the surrounding area but considers the long-term future for the new community as it develops. “I recall the many consultation meetings and I am genuinely delighted and privileged to be part of this special occasion, which will prove to be an investment that provides more than simply houses.” James Wilson, Managing Director of Davidsons Homes said: “It is a privilege to be here, today, to officially launch the construction of Broadnook Garden Village – Leicestershire’s first Garden Village. Broadnook aims to bring the very best elements from all your favourite Charnwood villages into one purpose-built community.” Luke Simmons, Managing Director of Cora Homes added: “We’re proud to be co-creating Broadnook Garden Village and in doing so establishing a modern, connected community that will offer residents exceptional homes set among landscaped green areas with open walkways to exercise and immerse in nature. Broadnook will create local infrastructure, enterprise zones, community hubs and flexible working spaces – designed to meet the long-term needs of homeowners from today into the future. At Cora, we call it Creating Amazing Places.” Broadnook’s chief architects have carefully designed the Garden Village to enhance this beautiful and highly desirable part of Charnwood. Residents will be able to enjoy being part of a modern community that subscribes to the ethos of connecting neighbourhoods with their natural surroundings. Taking its name from a local ancient spinney that runs through the site, Broadnook promises leafy tree lined walks – akin to Leicester’s New Walk – parks, allotments, wildflower meadows, play areas, beautiful, landscaped garden spaces and sports pitches. More than 50 per cent of Broadnook Garden Village will be devoted to green spaces, with future residents also able to enjoy car-free zones to allow them to move freely and safely – another nod to the Garden Village ethos. Iain Pickering, Design Director at Davidsons Homes – and mastermind behind the reinvention of the Broadnook Garden Village concept – said: “We are creating Broadnook Garden Village without losing sight of how we all want to live: as part of a thriving community that feels modern and connected, yet firmly rooted in the beautiful nature that we are lucky enough to enjoy in Charnwood. As a local resident myself, it was important that we not only took inspiration from the history of Charnwood’s villages, but also looked to the future.” He adds: “We have taken many of our design cues from the local Leicestershire landscape: our street signs take inspiration from our neighbours at Great Central Railway; our architecture takes careful reference from the beautiful, period house styles seen in Rothley, Quorn and Barrow upon Soar. Our tree lined walk, which is an integral element of our design, passes a nod to Leicester’s historic New Walk. Broadnook is firmly – and proudly – Leicestershire born and bred.” The Broadnook lettering is made of corten steel that will rust to a beautiful burnt orange with time and exposure to the elements Broadnook Garden Village will be far from being style over substance; it will offer outstanding modern amenities that any thriving village community needs, including plans for a community primary school, retail shops, care facilities and a new GP surgery making every day living at Broadnook easy and enjoyable. The village centre and amenities will, it is hoped, minimise the need for unnecessary use of a car within the Broadnook village. For longer journeys, Broadnook Garden Village is exceptionally situated for transport links, with fast, easy access to nearby towns and cities. Leicester, Loughborough and Nottingham are reached swiftly by road and bus, and excellent train links bring London to your doorstep in around 70 minutes. East Midlands Airport is also just a short ride away by car, or the speedy 24-hour, skylink shuttle bus service. Broadnook is, of course, on the cusp of the historic National Forest of Charnwood offering gorgeous woodland and breathtaking landscapes that can be enjoyed on foot or bicycle. While landscaping has been in process for a while, today is a celebration of the new homes and sales office now underway at Broadnook. It is expected that the Garden Village’s first residents will be welcomed in autumn 2024. For more information, visit Broadnook.co.uk and follow @BroadnookGardenVillage on socials for more information, updates and
