Profit-with-purpose developer, TOWN, has been appointed to deliver a new cohousing community in Northstowe. Located eight miles northwest of Cambridge city, Northstowe is one of Britain’s most significant new towns under development. Following the success of its cohousing community – Marmalade Lane – in Cambridge, TOWN’s vision will bring together
Eric Wright Civil Engineering has been appointed by Salford City Council for the plans that will transform Chapel Street and New Bailey. The decision was made through the Procurement Board. The £3,896,590 works will transform a section of Chapel Street on the Bee Network including the junction of Chapel Street
The John Lewis Partnership (JLP) has submitted plans to transform a former distribution warehouse in Reading into rental housing. The proposals were submitted to Reading Borough Council. JLP’s proposed regeneration of the site will see more than £80 million invested to create 215 high-quality and energy-efficient homes, as well as
Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP) and housebuilder, The Hill Group, has secured plans to redevelop the ATS and Murketts site on Histon Road, Cambridge. The site, formerly home to the Murketts car dealership and an unused workshop area of the ATS commercial unit, will be transformed into a residential development comprising
Castlemere Developments is investing over £1.8 million in a new airspace development that will add five apartments to Wimbledon Chase. The Windsor-based developer has already spent more than £400,000 acquiring Vision House, an Art Deco property on Kingston Road, as part of the project. The scheme at Vision House will
Plymouth City Council is leading a new housing project on the outskirts of the city, where 500 modern, energy-efficient homes will be built on land off Stoggy Lane in Plympton, including 150 affordable units. Also in the plans is new wetland greenspace, up to 2,000 new trees and a financial
Housebuilder Keepmoat plans to transform nearly seven acres of unused land in Milton Keynes, building 115 new homes, with 50 meeting the upcoming Future Homes Standard. With a planned total build budget of £21.5 million, the project is due to be completed in March 2026, and will provide a range
Bouygues UK has been selected as lead contractor to build a new secondary school for the Department of Education in Grove, Oxfordshire. St John’s Academy, a project for Vale Academy Trust, will be built alongside the already completed primary school in Grove on the Wellington Gate Development, and will be
Portsmouth City Council has selected Knights Brown to carry out the fifth and final phase of the North Portsea Coastal Scheme, starting in September. Knights Brown previously constructed the second and third phases, so they have carried out the majority of this valuable scheme. The scheme as a whole, is
Tilia Homes Central has secured approval on plans to develop a 12-hectare derelict brownfield site in Northampton, as part of a multi-million pound programme of regeneration. The housebuilder is collaborating with Homes England on the scheme, which was recommended for approval by the West Northamptonshire Council planning committee recently. The
Profit-with-purpose developer, TOWN, has been appointed to deliver a new cohousing community in Northstowe. Located eight miles northwest of Cambridge city, Northstowe is one of Britain’s most significant new towns under development. Following the success of its cohousing community – Marmalade Lane – in Cambridge, TOWN’s vision will bring together high-quality design, good placemaking principles, and a commitment to creating a close, connected community in Northstowe. The development parcel – plot 2D1 in the Northstowe masterplan – lies directly to the south of Northstowe’s future town centre. Earlier in 2024, TOWN undertook a successful market testing exercise, which highlighted a high level of interest in cohousing within the Greater Cambridge area. TOWN is now in the process of building a group of future residents, who, through a codesign process, will help to shape the new cohousing community. The scheme will include 40% affordable housing, together with a range of communal spaces and facilities. Jonny Anstead, Founding Director at TOWN, said: “At Northstowe, we want to create a place where residents know and support their neighbours, and share spaces and resources to live more sustainably. The benefits of cohousing are clear: it allows people to live happier, less isolated lives, fosters a real sense of community and enables residents to share resources and reduce their environmental impact. And in delivering a new cohousing community here at Northstowe, our aim is to support Homes England in shaping a unique, thriving and diverse community with more sustainable ways of living at its heart.” The project once more sees TOWN collaborating with Mole Architects and builds on the success and learnings from Marmalade Lane, a 42-home cohousing development in Orchard Park, Cambridge, delivered by TOWN and completed in 2019. Celebrated as an exemplar for new housing in the UK, that project currently has a waiting list of over 400 households – enough to fill the development another nine times over. TOWN has recently published Insights from Marmalade Lane, a post-occupancy report that highlights the impact that the development has had on the lives of its residents and the social value it continues to generate for them and the wider community. This aligns with Northstowe’s ethos of being a place centred around wellbeing and sustainability. A key finding of the report is that the environmental, social, and economic benefits of Marmalade Lane collectively generate over a million pounds in social value. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Eric Wright Civil Engineering has been appointed by Salford City Council for the plans that will transform Chapel Street and New Bailey. The decision was made through the Procurement Board. The £3,896,590 works will transform a section of Chapel Street on the Bee Network including the junction of Chapel Street and New Bailey Street, which is the final phase of the New Bailey Gateway project. Eric Wright will also carry out improvements to Chapel Street between New Bailey Street and Blackfriars Street as part of the Salford Chapel Street East Phase 1 project. Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “It is fantastic news that this contract has been awarded so works can begin soon. The works are part of a long-term plan for the city centre which is designed to make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists with better road crossings and cycling provision. “Public realm improvements will also support the wider regeneration of the area to make it a much more attractive area for people. “The approval also means that the contractor will use local suppliers and subcontractors where possible. Staff will use volunteer hours to be spent at local school and college visits with extra support for getting young people aged 16 to 24 into work. There will be work placements as well as staff volunteering hours on community projects. “The artists impressions of what the scheme will look like when finished are very impressive and I can’t wait to see works finished and open for everybody to use.” The scheme will use a ‘complete streets’ approach to rebalance the space in favour of pedestrians and cyclists while also catering for buses, general traffic and loading. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The John Lewis Partnership (JLP) has submitted plans to transform a former distribution warehouse in Reading into rental housing. The proposals were submitted to Reading Borough Council. JLP’s proposed regeneration of the site will see more than £80 million invested to create 215 high-quality and energy-efficient homes, as well as 6,000 sq ft of internal amenity space, including space for community use, two new external garden spaces and improved public realm. Located next to the A329 and opposite the Oracle shopping centre in central Reading, the site benefits from close proximity to Reading Train Station, providing access to Central London in less than an hour. The homes will be purpose built for renters with shared areas for fitness, home-working and socialising, and will include a mix of one, two and three-bedroom homes to accommodate different sized households. Options for long-term tenancies with a recognised and trusted brand will be offered to provide residents with the opportunity to remain living there for as long as they wish. The homes will be highly sustainable, using high performance materials with renewable energy resources. Given its proximity to the town centre and local transport network, the development will be car-free with the exception of accessible spaces. New green spaces for the public, including children’s play, and a new space for local community groups has been included. The proposals have sought to establish new community partnerships that build on the work already being done by the existing local Waitrose and John Lewis shops. The scheme will provide 10% affordable homes at Reading Local Housing Allowance levels. Additionally, it is estimated to generate more than £1.9m million of new household spend per year, supporting local shops and services. JLP aims to prioritise residents already living and working in Reading, with the 2021 Census finding 48% of the population renting compared to an average of almost 38% across England, and population growth of 12% since 2011. Transforming a disused industrial site to create a thriving new rental community will help the town to retain talent and support residents who want to see better quality rented housing. The Reading proposals reinforce JLP’s ambition to create a rental housing brand that will manage homes designed specifically for rent in a bid to ease housing pressures and generate long-term, stable income to support investment back into our Waitrose and John Lewis brands. A core part of the strategy is renewing brownfield sites that have great transport connections, enabling people to travel to work quickly and sustainably. JLP recently received a resolution to grant planning consent to transform a Waitrose site in south London, next to Bromley South rail station, and is progressing another application in West Ealing five minutes from the local Crossrail station. Katherine Russell, Director of Build-To-Rent for the John Lewis Partnership, said: “We have worked closely with Reading Council’s planning officers, local residents and organisations to propose a scheme that will benefit residents and the wider community by transforming a disused industrial site into a thriving rental community. By revitalising brownfield land we have a fantastic opportunity to provide a significant number of homes which can help alleviate some of the growing pressure on Reading’s housing market. These will be homes not only developed by us, but managed by us, meaning we can offer quality service and a guarantee that homes will not be sold off, as so often happens in the rental market.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP) and housebuilder, The Hill Group, has secured plans to redevelop the ATS and Murketts site on Histon Road, Cambridge. The site, formerly home to the Murketts car dealership and an unused workshop area of the ATS commercial unit, will be transformed into a residential development comprising 70 new homes – 28 council homes and 42 market-sale properties. Throughout the planning process, CIP has worked closely with residents and stakeholders, making design changes to the initial planning submission in response to feedback from council officers and the public. Cllr Gerri Bird, Executive Councillor for Housing at Cambridge City Council and CIP board member, commented: “At a time when there is a pressing need nationwide for high-quality, sustainable housing—especially new council homes—we are pleased to see the approval of our development on Histon Road. “This project is a key part of the council’s ongoing efforts across Cambridge to enhance living standards for current council tenants, build additional council homes to meet local demand, and address broader housing challenges, including the need for larger family homes.” Tom Hill, Managing Director at The Hill Group, added: “Throughout the pre-planning process, we engaged with the local community by hosting several consultation events. Following our initial submission, we continued to work closely with planning officers and community members to incorporate their feedback and address any concerns. “As a result, we made several changes to enhance the overall design and functionality of the development. This careful consideration of public feedback underscores our commitment to creating a high-quality, sustainable development that fosters community interaction while meeting the needs and expectations of local residents.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Castlemere Developments is investing over £1.8 million in a new airspace development that will add five apartments to Wimbledon Chase. The Windsor-based developer has already spent more than £400,000 acquiring Vision House, an Art Deco property on Kingston Road, as part of the project. The scheme at Vision House will feature one three-bedroom, two two-bedroom apartments and two one-bedroom apartments. The apartments will cost from £385,000 up to £650,000 once on the market. Having completed the property purchase on August 23rd, work will now commence on constructing the apartments. These will be built offsite using modern methods of construction (MMC). It is expected that the project will be completed by spring 2025. This acquisition and plans for Vision House follow the completion of Castlemere Developments’ first completed airspace project in Tunbridge Wells, which has 11 apartments. Castlemere Developments is in the process of securing a number of locations across the south east, which will see the company provide a mix of airspace developments and ground up properties. The company has purposely committed to off-site MMC to enable it to deliver projects much quicker than onsite developments, reduce the disruption to current residents, and ensure its developments are as environmentally friendly as possible. Kris Collett, managing director of Castlemere Developments, said: “Vision House is the latest addition to our portfolio which will feature five high spec apartments, which will include smart home technology. “Vision House, which was originally an office block, has already undergone conversions to 19 apartments inside the original structure. It also has four commercial units on the ground floor. “I expect to commence work on building the apartments in the autumn and for them to be lifted into place in the first quarter of 2025. The aim is to have the apartments on the market from spring 2025.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plymouth City Council is leading a new housing project on the outskirts of the city, where 500 modern, energy-efficient homes will be built on land off Stoggy Lane in Plympton, including 150 affordable units. Also in the plans is new wetland greenspace, up to 2,000 new trees and a financial contribution towards a new sports hub at Boringdon. Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Housing, Communities and Cooperative Development, will present the plans to his cabinet colleagues when they meet on Monday 9 September. In advance of the meeting, Chris said: “I’m pleased to be able to talk about this venture, which has been long in the planning. “Plymouth, like so many other cities in the UK, is in the midst of a national housing crisis and one of the obvious solutions to this is to build more houses. That’s exactly what we’re doing here. “The Stoggy Lane development is certainly ambitious, but we owe it to the hundreds of households on the housing waiting list to make big decisions like this and provide answers to the problems.” The land at Stoggy Lane, which is designated for housing in the Joint Local Plan, is currently unutilised farmland with no formal public access. It is owned by Plymouth City Council but falls within the boundary of South Hams District Council. Working with South Hams, Plymouth City Council has produced a master plan for the homes ready to apply for planning permission. Before that, though, a thorough public consultation on the scheme is expected to begin in September, featuring information sessions to allow residents to learn more and feedback on the plans. That data will then be fed into a final design before a final planning application is submitted in Spring 2025. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Housebuilder Keepmoat plans to transform nearly seven acres of unused land in Milton Keynes, building 115 new homes, with 50 meeting the upcoming Future Homes Standard. With a planned total build budget of £21.5 million, the project is due to be completed in March 2026, and will provide a range of high-quality, multi-tenure homes to add to the thriving community already in the area. The housebuilder will also create multiple types of housing for residents at the site to be named Haworth Place, including much-needed affordable housing stock through a local housing association. The development is located on the edge of Milton Keynes and is close to a variety of amenities such as shops, parks and transport links. The Future Homes Standard legislation update, which is due in 2025, requires all new homes to reduce 75 percent of the carbon emissions and is set out to replace traditional Building Regulations for new dwellings. Keepmoat has invested in new research and development to create an advanced delivery programme of new builds called ‘Echo’ homes, equipped with air source heat pumps, solar PV panels, increased levels of insulation and EV charging points to reduce carbon emissions from the homes. These new technologies will be rolled out across key selected developments in the house builders’ portfolio to begin the advanced delivery project, including within 50 homes at the development in Milton Keynes. Ian McFaul, Interim Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat, South Midlands, said: “We’re thrilled to be regenerating this underdeveloped piece of land in Milton Keynes to deliver 115 high-quality, multi-tenure homes for the local area, including much-needed affordable housing options. The project is also creating a raft of new local jobs, training and apprenticeship opportunities, further boosting the local economy and the industry’s future workforce. “As the project continues into the next phase, it’s extremely rewarding to see the excitement about the plans to deliver these homes in this fantastic new town. We’re also proud to be delivering homes featuring anticipated Future Homes Standard technology ahead of the Government-enforced delivery model set to come in next year – a further step in our mission to create sustainable communities for the future.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bouygues UK has been selected as lead contractor to build a new secondary school for the Department of Education in Grove, Oxfordshire. St John’s Academy, a project for Vale Academy Trust, will be built alongside the already completed primary school in Grove on the Wellington Gate Development, and will be the first all-through school (Nursery to Year 11) in the local area, teaching around 600 pupils. As part of its commitment to both education and sustainability, Bouygues UK will use sustainable, low carbon materials as part of the build, including a cross-laminated timber frame. It will use an enhanced quality construction approach through consistent off-site manufacturing, to reduce waste and defects. The two-storey building will feature a green roof with photovoltaic panels. The grass playing fields and MUGA will also have extensive SUDs (sustainable draining systems) featuring attenuation, swales and porous parking areas. The buildings will also be clad in brickwork and timber panelling with feature aluminium framed entrances. John Boughton, Bouygues UK’s Managing Director for Wales and the South West, said the project is a significant one for the Bouygues UK team, which is committed to building sustainable, low carbon schools. He said: “Bouygues UK is dedicated to building low carbon, energy-efficient structures with sustainability at the centre and we’re so pleased to be building St John’s Academy CE. Local communities are also at the heart of construction projects like these, and our St John’s Academy CE project will also use locally sourced labour and materials to build a fantastic school for children in Grove.” Rick Holroyd, Executive Headteacher at St John’s academy said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Bouygues UK on the design and build of this amazing school building. Our vision for the new academy is that this wonderful new school will sit at the heart of the emerging Wellington Gate community and, will not only offer outstanding educational provision for local secondary students, but will also offer opportunities and services to meet the needs of all family members within the new community. We are confident that Bouygues UK will deliver a state-of-the-art building which will meet the educational, social and recreational needs of community members of all ages for many years to come.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Portsmouth City Council has selected Knights Brown to carry out the fifth and final phase of the North Portsea Coastal Scheme, starting in September. Knights Brown previously constructed the second and third phases, so they have carried out the majority of this valuable scheme. The scheme as a whole, is one of the largest local authority-led coastal flood defence projects in the UK and is crucial for the protection of Portsmouth residents. The defences will safeguard more than 4,000 homes and almost 500 businesses. It covers 8.4km of coastline from Tipner through to Milton. Most of the area is low-lying and many of the current coastal defences were approaching the end of their effective lives. The final phase of the work carried out by Knights Brown will take place along Ports Creek in North Portsea and will include 1.9 km of flood defences. The design consists of a sloped earth embankment, which provides the required flood defence level, with a rock armour toe. Rock armour dissipates wave energy, therefore preventing further breakup of the shoreline. Divisional Director, Mike Crook, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed as principal contractor to carry out the fifth and final phase of the North Portsea Coastal Scheme. This third award demonstrates our capability and trusted collaborative relationship with Coastal Partners. “Our extensive expertise in coastal civil engineering and our local knowledge will enable us to deliver this essential flood defence scheme, which will safeguard residents and businesses for the next 100 years. All of the improvements will be delivered with the highest standard in order to foster the growth of local marine life and enhance the social space for the local community.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Tilia Homes Central has secured approval on plans to develop a 12-hectare derelict brownfield site in Northampton, as part of a multi-million pound programme of regeneration. The housebuilder is collaborating with Homes England on the scheme, which was recommended for approval by the West Northamptonshire Council planning committee recently. The land off Ransome Road in Far Cotton, Northampton, has been left abandoned since the Northampton to Peterborough Branch Railway closed in the 1970s, with the Grade II listed former Midland Railway Locomotive Shed located on the University site to the north of the proposed development. Approximately half of the site was previously used as a landfill area and there has been an ongoing process to remediate the land for future development. The site has had a long-standing allocation in the Local Plan for residential development. Tilia Homes will build 217 homes in a selection of styles, sizes, and designs, including a provision of affordable homes. The development will feature a high proportion of open space and a new play area. Amerjit Atwal, Regional Managing Director for Tilia Homes Central, commented: “Our vision to regenerate this neglected site off Ransome Road has moved closer to becoming a reality. “Restoring landfill land back into usable living and recreational space is essential if we are to meet housing targets and we look forward to turning this once-neglected space into a thriving new community that people are proud to call home. “Our energy-efficient properties would help to alleviate a general housing shortage in Northampton, as we aim to fulfil our mission of supporting people at every stage of the housing ladder. “As well as providing more green, open space that people can enjoy, our proposed development layout also pays particular attention to the provision of additional public parking and the needs of the local community.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
