The continued strength of the South West property market and the launch of a new division in Central England made 2021 a successful year for Burrington Estates. This puts the company in a robust position moving into 2022 with a wide range of new homes developments due to launch this
Creative and inspiring British interior design specialists, Brandt Design, modernise the much-loved classic Shaker-style kitchen into a fresh and vibrant family living space for a large countryside home in the affluent village of Radlett, Hertfordshire, as part of its White House project. Beautifully refined and practical by design, this timeless kitchen
Daval Furniture, award-winning British designer and manufacturer of quality fitted furniture predicts furniture trends, with a rise in made-to-measure furniture for the kitchen, living space and bedroom as UK consumers seek interior solutions that optimise space management in 2022. Simon Bodsworth, Managing Director at Daval says: KITCHENS: Painted kitchens will embrace the mellow
Construction work is progressing well at a development in Edenbridge, where over three quarters of the new homes for sale are now reserved. Bellway Kent is building 319 homes at Oakley Park, off St Johns Way, where 159 of the 199 private homes have been purchased – and where new
The market for modular and prefabricated homes continues to boom, but are we storing up problems for the future that may ultimately cost millions of pounds in repairs and heartache for home owners? According to Global, the country’s fastest growing supplier of insurance backed latent defect warranties, it is a
National housebuilder, Keepmoat Homes, has completed on the purchase of Westwood Park, Glenrothes and will shortly embark upon an 8-year building programme to deliver 420 much needed residential homes to this new community. Keepmoat Homes will be bringing the vacant site at the north of Foxton Drive in the south
Businesses who have enlisted the help of Bhangals Construction Consultants managing director Parm Bhangal saw boosted profits during 2021 thanks to his coaching skills. The construction business coach revealed that his clients experienced an average of £500,000 profit increase after just one year of coaching. Parm’s extensive industry experience allows
Internationally renowned master sculptor Casto Solano has revealed designs for the public art gateway marking the entrance to Brighton’s newest neighbourhood Edward Street Quarter. Work by his British-Spanish studio SolArt has appeared in cities around the world, including Paris, Vancouver and Seattle. Now his latest sculpture, inspired by the hull
The first homes were released for sale last month (December) at a new housing development taking shape in Skelton-in-Cleveland. Bellway is building 140 new three and four-bedroom houses at Castlegate, off Bowland Road, alongside public open space. Funding is also being provided to enhance the play area which neighbours the
According to the Government’s UK House Price Index data, buying homes in Hampshire rather than neighbouring and more costly Surrey, could save buyers as much as £135,500, as property prices drop by up to 30% as you move across the county line. Savvy buyers looking to make the most of the more
The continued strength of the South West property market and the launch of a new division in Central England made 2021 a successful year for Burrington Estates. This puts the company in a robust position moving into 2022 with a wide range of new homes developments due to launch this year. The award-winning housebuilder, headquartered in Exeter, completed 179 homes in 2021 and kickstarted its national expansion with the help of £13.5m investment from BGF, the UK and Ireland’s most active investor. Founded in 2013, Burrington Estates is well known in the West Country as a creator of high quality homes carefully designed to suit modern lifestyles. It has delivered over 700 new homes to date, with ambitious targets of reaching 600 homes per annum by 2025. “We are in an optimistic position as 2021 draws to a close thanks to a very buoyant property market throughout the past year. While the initial buyer boost which followed the start of the pandemic stabilised, prospects for 2022 look positive with sustained buyer demand both in the South West and across the country. A typical Burrington Estates development really hits the sweet spot, combining excellent edge-of-village, semi-rural locations with premium quality design and finishes that really appeal. Buyers are well aware that they have to be willing to move quickly and potentially buy off-plan if they want to secure their home of choice,” said Mark Edworthy, Managing Director at Burrington Estates. Central to Burrington Estates’ growth strategy is its expansion into the Midlands and Home Counties with the launch of its new Central division. Its first development outside the South West was Tilehurst Green in Binfield, a community of 60 new homes that recently launched off-plan. The expanding Central division will launch two developments in Oxfordshire in early 2022 – a collection of 21 homes in Deddington will be available off-plan from January and also a new homes scheme in Carterton that will be launched in March. Show homes for both will follow later in the spring / summer. Devon and Cornwall have always been Burrington Estates’ heartland and its recent success in the region was bolstered by the post-pandemic surge in buyers moving to the South West. At Harbour Reach development in Fowey, Burrington Estates sold and completed all 46 private and affordable homes during 2021, creating a popular and attractive new community. Other success stories include Ash Tree Cross at Carnon Downs in Truro where the sale of seven private and seven affordable homes completed earlier in the year; and Stowford Mill in Ivybridge where the first three phases sold out by the summer. In total, Burrington Estates completed 118 private homes and 61 affordable homes in the South West in 2021. Strong demand for high quality homes in the South West looks set to continue into 2022 and Burrington Estates has several exciting new developments coming soon to meet this demand. At its landmark Winslade Park development near Exeter, the housebuilder will unveil a collection of 40 luxury apartments overlooking the Grade II listed manor, and 38 prestigious new build houses in the grounds of the estate. Other exciting new releases include the second phase of the highly successful EXIII development in Topsham, as well as significant new homes developments in Hayle, Bude and Bovey Tracey. Burrington Estates has built its reputation on creating high quality homes and attractive, enduring communities with a strong sense of place. From medium to large scale developments, high-quality mixed-use schemes, luxury individual homes and careful renovations, developments span a wide range of property types. It carefully tailors its homes to the needs of buyers to suit evolving lifestyles and places emphasis on the quality of design, build and specification, as well as ensuring market leading levels of customer satisfaction.
Creative and inspiring British interior design specialists, Brandt Design, modernise the much-loved classic Shaker-style kitchen into a fresh and vibrant family living space for a large countryside home in the affluent village of Radlett, Hertfordshire, as part of its White House project. Beautifully refined and practical by design, this timeless kitchen is the ideal space to cook, dine and entertain the entire family and Julia Steadman, Commercial Director at Brandt Design says: “As a design studio specialising in bespoke kitchens and living areas, we have noticed that demand has been growing over the past two years for rooms which maximise the link between homes and gardens. ‘Bringing the outside in’ has therefore become increasingly important as we are socialising more at home and this has led to a greater appreciation of how being closer to nature can boost our health and wellbeing.” Soothing shades feature upon the company’s made-to-measure in-frame Heritage kitchen furniture, which is finished in a mix of Pavilion Grey, Treron and Down Pipe hand-painted finishes by Farrow & Ball. Walnut interiors are included throughout, and the hero island unit is shown in a dark grey Down Pipe finish, with statement extractor unit, streamlined TV unit with integrated deep-fill drawers and pocket doors in dark green Treron. The Pavilion Grey painted kitchen is both functional and spacious, maximising the scenic views of the beautifully manicured gardens, which enhance the traditional in-frame furniture arranged in a generous l-shape for easy navigation. 20mm Quartz worktops in Frosty Carrena custommade at Brandt Design’s dedicated fabrication centre provide a strong, easy-to-clean, ultra-hygienic work surface to prepare and cook food and to finish, a vintage antique mirrored splashback gives depth and added perspective. For added drama, the Brandt Design team introduced to the White House project a distinct corrugated design technique upon the canopy hood and central island unit. Designed to wrap around existing elements in the room, the vertical lines and ribbed texture of this unique surface solution add new areas of interest and visual texture throughout the space, elevating the look and feel in an intriguing and individual way. Premium appliances include a heritage-style Chalonnais range cooker by LaCanche, seen here in a Graphite finish with brass trim, plus a range of Siemens built-in refrigeration, Miele Active Plus fully integrated dishwasher, and Caple under-counter wine cabinet to further enrich the working triangle. Discreetly concealed by the beautiful dark green Treron finish is a Westin Cache 1100 canopy hood and opposite, Gun Metal grey kitchen sinks and taps finish the look.
Daval Furniture, award-winning British designer and manufacturer of quality fitted furniture predicts furniture trends, with a rise in made-to-measure furniture for the kitchen, living space and bedroom as UK consumers seek interior solutions that optimise space management in 2022. Simon Bodsworth, Managing Director at Daval says: KITCHENS: Painted kitchens will embrace the mellow and gentle hues of nature where land meets the sky so look out for shades of grey, cream, green and blue echoing the colours of the British countryside. When it comes to material, timber will be a go-to solution providing both traditional grounding for modern in-frame kitchens, as well as a tactile and organic contrast to pared back linear schemes with Scandi-style undertones and eco-attributes. Two key looks will dominate the kitchen market next year – Refined Country, inspired by the timeless beauty of painted Shaker-inspired furniture and Natural Renewal, in which recycled materials and tactile surface treatments and finishes take precedence. It’s safe to say the market is enjoying the ability to create whole-house interior design schemes so that the kitchen living space now includes added-value living areas like a home bar or utility/boot room with ease. Broken plan and open plan will continue to evolve with elegant and versatile made-to-measure, made-to-order furniture serving real needs in custom kitchen design. Still the cornerstone of the modern home, optimizing how the kitchen space can adapt with your lifestyle to create a supportive environment with ample storage and worktop space to accommodate family life is going to be vital next year and one of the furniture trends. Post pandemic life will bring a deeper appreciation of the capabilities of custom-made furniture, alongside the introduction of hygienic surfaces and hardworking kitchen storage like walk-in pantries. LIVING: Hybrid home-office lifestyles have brought new options to the meaning of a healthy work/life balance, and this is set to continue next year with flexible interior spaces becoming increasingly important. In fact, we are getting requests to assist customers with personalised garden rooms to work as an outside office or entertaining space. This alone underlines the markets determination to optimise indoor outdoor living all year around and offer a home office which is separate from the main building, for extra privacy and comfort. Beautifully designed media rooms, home offices and space for outside entertaining will all see resurgence next year as one of the furniture trends and built-in furniture is your answer to achieving both style and function affordably. There is real benefit to selecting furniture which is designed around the evolving needs of your growing family or changing lifestyle and so carefully curated personal spaces will become standard fare next year. BEDROOMS: In 2022, the master bedroom is all about quality time with considered space management becoming critical to enhancing wellbeing at home. This will see a rise in tactile surfaces with silky-soft finishes and ergonomic handles topping the charts alongside easy-to-use storage components, which help create a deluxe space built for comfort and relaxation. Added to that, tailor-made dressing tables, walk-in wardrobes and fitted drawer systems will evoke a five-star feel to the home, so regardless of any potential travel restrictions, you can enjoy a boutique look and feel at your leisure. I believe the sustainability theme in interior design and growing responsibility to reduce carbon footprints at home and in business, has already encouraged more people to ‘shop local’ and Buy British. This has led to a greater appreciation for family-run British manufacturers in the creative industries both regionally and nationwide.
Construction work is progressing well at a development in Edenbridge, where over three quarters of the new homes for sale are now reserved. Bellway Kent is building 319 homes at Oakley Park, off St Johns Way, where 159 of the 199 private homes have been purchased – and where new residents have already moved into 130 of those properties. The housebuilder is also providing 120 affordable homes at the Edenbridge development, available for local people – 41 for shared ownership and 79 for affordable rent – which are now all built and handed over. A selection of one and two-bedroom apartments and two, three, four and five-bedroom houses are being constructed at the development with work set to conclude at the end of 2022. “Having now been on site at Oakley Park since 2018, the whole team have been working flat out to continue to meet the demand that we have seen from buyers who are eager to move to a growing community here in Edenbridge,” said Mark Harrop, Sales Director for Bellway Kent. “We have witnessed interest from a diverse range of buyers who have been impressed with the selection of homes available. It has been important to offer something for everyone, with first-time buyers, upsizers and growing families looking to snap up their dream home. “Oakley Park is in a very good location due to its proximity to Edenbridge rail station, where commuters can travel to London Bridge station in less than an hour. The development also benefits from a wide of local amenities on the doorstep, whilst retaining its rural feel as it is situated on the north-west edge of the town. We expect Oakley Park to continue to sell quickly, so we would advise all prospective buyers to contact the sales team and arrange to visit the development.” A selection of properties is currently available, with prices starting from £374,995 for a two-bedroom mid-terrace Romney house type.
The market for modular and prefabricated homes continues to boom, but are we storing up problems for the future that may ultimately cost millions of pounds in repairs and heartache for home owners? According to Global, the country’s fastest growing supplier of insurance backed latent defect warranties, it is a real possibility. Manufacturers from every part of the globe are now producing and developing more components offsite than ever before with industry estimates suggesting that some 15,000 new modular homes are being built every year in the UK alone – a figure that is rising rapidly. Every new home requires a latent defects warranty to cover anything unforeseen that might happen between year two and year three. During the first 24 months the builder is responsible for correcting any issues. It is a system that has traditionally worked well, with more conventional homes seeking a latent defects warranty, being inspected at every stage of the build process. Companies such as Global have a multi stage inspection guide from the moment footings are dug and concrete poured, right up to final delivery, to ensure that each home is fit for purpose. “The problem is,” said Jim Edwards, commercial Director for Global Home Warranties, “how do you inspect modular components for latent defects? This would require sending our surveyors to every factory currently producing such systems, as far away as China in some cases.” “This means that while we can inspect the way they are installed, we equally have to accept that offsite components are fit for purpose and have reached the highest possible standard. In most cases this is very much the case, but there is no way of knowing 100% and this is where the real problem lies – without independent inspection at the factories then it is not possible to determine whether we will have to address latent defects issues in the future.” The market for modular buildings is expected to grow in excess of 6% year on year and there are estimates that the majority of contractors architects and engineers are now designing with or using modules built offsite. The move to offsite construction has been driven by the need to meet Government targets to build up to 300,000 new homes every year which means that modular and prefabricated components are increasingly being used. Companies in the UK specialising in offsite construction have an enviable track record in terms of quality and mostly produce components which have been ISO certified or meet all current building regulations and standards. This means, according to Global, that it will more likely to be imported systems that ultimately fail, possibly because overseas manufacturers are not as familiar with or as aware of building practice within the UK and European construction sector, or simply because standards have been set lower to save money. “As we know, price is very much a factor within all areas of construction and there is likely to be a temptation to import more and more low-cost building systems,” said Jim Edwards. “They may do exactly what it says on the tin but none of us yet know what is likely to happen two, five or even 10 years down the line and now is the time to ask ourselves – should we be more stringent by having independent inspection processes in every factory that produces such materials.” There is growing evidence and other industry experts agree that we could be storing up problems. Recent reports suggest that the lack of detailed data on the durability of modular homes in the UK could be a considerable barrier for construction professionals concerned about the long-term viability of offsite components. Financial service providers, including insurers, mortgage lenders and valuers need to have certainty that modular homes are safe and durable if they are to engage with them, which is why we are now seeing Global and other industry experts calling for the development of a digital database that records the design, processes and materials used in the construction of buildings. Digital technology would make it possible to create a database that would store and track information about the built environment and would record the materials and processes used. It could also track repairs and alterations in larger housing developments and make sure that this information would be available to relevant stakeholders, including insurers and fire services. “This will never be as good as a personal inspection process,” said Jim Edwards, “but it would certainly provide more confidence and peace of mind for the entire industry and ultimately for the insurance companies that have to back latent defects warranties – and the time to act is now.”
National housebuilder, Keepmoat Homes, has completed on the purchase of Westwood Park, Glenrothes and will shortly embark upon an 8-year building programme to deliver 420 much needed residential homes to this new community. Keepmoat Homes will be bringing the vacant site at the north of Foxton Drive in the south of Glenrothes into positive use, providing a range of highly accessible new homes for sale, with 10% allocated for affordable housing. The range of two-, three- and four-bedroom houses will be contemporary in style and designed to cater for a range of needs and lifestyles. Along with access links for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles within the development and to the wider area, the site will feature useable amenity space and children’s play areas, delivering a safe, pleasant and user-friendly public realm, encouraging active lifestyles and a community feel. Planning permission for the Glenrothes development was granted by Fife Council in February 2021, and the council will work in partnership with Keepmoat Homes, Scottish Enterprise and LandTeam to deliver the site and build a thriving new community. “We’re thrilled to have completed the purchase of the site at Westwood Park and be able to contribute to the area with plans for a thriving new community,” said Derek Wilson, Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat Homes. “Westwood Park is designed to respond to the local surroundings while also holding a strong character and sense of place. Using modern construction methods, the new homes will be designed to support a range of prospective homeowners, from first-time buyers to those looking to up-or-downsize in the community and we’re confident that the first phase will help a lot of people achieve their dream of owning a new home.” Work on the Glenrothes development is due to start on site in Q1 2022 and it should be complete in 2030.
Businesses who have enlisted the help of Bhangals Construction Consultants managing director Parm Bhangal saw boosted profits during 2021 thanks to his coaching skills. The construction business coach revealed that his clients experienced an average of £500,000 profit increase after just one year of coaching. Parm’s extensive industry experience allows him to advise his peers with developed proven methods and strategies that help construction professionals systemise their operations, offer a unique experience to their clients, and grow their business – as well as themselves. As an award-winning business coach, Parm’s mission is to inspire, encourage and motivate construction and property professionals to strive for better and achieve more. “Enlisting the help of a business coach can give great insight into your company and your leadership. You can glean invaluable nuggets of advice that can help you push your business and your career to the next level,” he said. “It has been a challenging time for businesses across the board but when it gets hard, you have to put more in. You need a relentless determination to succeed and sometimes some support from a business coach can help you keep that drive and determination.” Parm’s tailored coaching has supported many businesses to share knowledge and work towards sustainable business growth through strategic thinking. He has numerous approaches to sharing best practice and will take your lead on what you need. “Coaching is very specific to a person, it is hugely subjective. You might like to be told how to approach a situation but someone else might prefer to be guided through by someone asking the right questions. Do you want information drawn out of you, or do you want to be given the answers?,” he added. With all the recent challenges in the construction industry, including a worldwide pandemic, skills shortage and supply crisis, it is understandable for business owners to feel unsure in decision making processes and be seeking help. Many need advice on crisis management and how to motivate staff, or tips on how to achieve peak performance in unprecedented circumstances. Parm says, uncertainty and a knock in confidence is common, but can be rectified. Sharing best practice with other industry professionals can really help move a business forward. He said: “Despite the recent challenges in the construction industry, business is booming. Companies are struggling to keep up with the ever-increasing demand. If you are in the industry, you must have the right strategies, processes, and methods in place in order to take advantage of the opportunities currently available and have the best chance of growth and good profit margins. “Business coaching can help you refocus and confidently make changes to help achieve those outstanding results that you covet. The start of a new year is the perfect time for a brand-new approach.”
Internationally renowned master sculptor Casto Solano has revealed designs for the public art gateway marking the entrance to Brighton’s newest neighbourhood Edward Street Quarter. Work by his British-Spanish studio SolArt has appeared in cities around the world, including Paris, Vancouver and Seattle. Now his latest sculpture, inspired by the hull of a ship and whale bones, will connect Edward Street Quarter with its history as a fishing community. Local designer Richard Wolfstrome, who has been helping Edward Street Quarter to find the best talent to deliver stand out public art, said: “SolArt won based on the merits of their idea, their skills and the beauty of their design. We also wanted to celebrate that Brighton is an international city which has great connections with our neighbours in Europe.” “This piece will work in perfect harmony with Cosmo Sarson’s 10m high ceramic mural of the sea god Neptune and Bruce William’s groundwork fishing net. The three pieces together demonstrate a joined-up-thinking approach to create a cohesive place narrative.” SolArt’s public art will feature a reflective ceiling enabling people to see their faces and encouraging them to interact with the piece. The outer layer will be made of weathering steel which ages over time, recalling the rusty hull of a ship. The studio is based in the Basque Country in northern Spain, where leading expert Casto has built his international reputation for producing outdoor artworks for 30 years. “We are looking forward to installing our whale bone sculpture in Edward Street Quarter and adding our piece to the art trail which is taking shape in this vibrant new destination,” said Sculptor Casto Solano. “I am passionate about creating iconic pieces which invite interaction and participation. I believe art can connect us through our shared space and culture, and that good art should attract visitors from the local area and as well as nationally. This piece will create a meeting point where people can feel a connection with the area’s history and we hope it will draw in visitors from miles around.” The competition for Edward Street Quarter’s public art was open to artists locally, nationally and internationally. Edward Street Quarter comprises 125,000 sq ft of flexible space for Brighton’s digital and creative sectors, as well as the wider business community, making it the largest provision of workspace to be delivered in the city since 1993. In total 20,000 sq ft is set aside for retailers, leisure and hospitality and 168 new homes are available, including a mix of private and affordable units to meet local demand. The development features three public green spaces, heavily planted with mature trees and an edible garden full of herbs.
The first homes were released for sale last month (December) at a new housing development taking shape in Skelton-in-Cleveland. Bellway is building 140 new three and four-bedroom houses at Castlegate, off Bowland Road, alongside public open space. Funding is also being provided to enhance the play area which neighbours the development. Castlegate will form the second and final phase of a wider application for 262 new homes in the area, with the first phase already completed. Hayley Teasdale, Sales Manager for Bellway Durham, said: “We’ve received high levels of interest in this development ever since our plans for the site were approved and since releasing the first selection of properties for sale we have already taken multiple reservations. “The mix of three and four-bedroom houses we’re providing here has been carefully designed to meet the local housing need, with a variety of styles and sizes to suit a range of buyers. The first homes launched online on Thursday 2 December, with a sales centre due to open at Castlegate this month (January) and the showhomes opening in April. “The market town location of the development is set to be a real draw, while it’s also close to the coast at Saltburn-by-the-Sea, as well as the picturesque countryside of the Cleveland Hills and the North York Moors.” The new homes at the Skelton development are all from Bellway’s flagship Artisan Collection, with homes designed following decades of customer feedback and combining traditional craftsmanship and attention to detail with the latest construction techniques. Hayley said: “The quality of our Artisan homes is proving popular with customers at other developments, and we are pleased to be able to offer houses from this range at Castlegate. Customers buying a new home here will also have the peace of mind that they’re buying from a five-star rated builder with the Home Builders Federation.” Bellway has been rated a five-star builder by the HBF – which means more than 90 per cent of customers would recommend the housebuilder to a friend or family member – for the past five years running.
According to the Government’s UK House Price Index data, buying homes in Hampshire rather than neighbouring and more costly Surrey, could save buyers as much as £135,500, as property prices drop by up to 30% as you move across the county line. Savvy buyers looking to make the most of the more affordable county should look no further than Bellway’s fabulous development, Sky Plaza, centrally based in Farnborough. Hampshire is also one of the Counties that will soon be enjoying faster internet as the Government rolls out a five billion broadband upgrade plan. This investment known as Project Gigabit is good news for those looking to move and will dramatically improve internet speeds, making working from home even more streamlined. Emma Jones, Sales and Marketing Director at Bellway Thames Valley, comments: “With the community set to benefit from improved internet capability, Bellway is delighted to offer properties in an area that will profit from the government’s investment. Our three-bedroom family homes could provide the perfect work/home balance by being ideally located on the Hampshire and Surrey border. Great connection links to London and the option to explore wonderful local towns and villages present families with endless opportunities to make memories in a beautiful part of the country.” “We now have The Lancaster, a beautiful three bedroom showhome available to view at Sky Plaza and would urge people to get in touch and book an appointment.” The Lancaster showcases impressive interiors and would make the perfect family home, plus the home is available with the Government led Help to Buy scheme where only a 5% deposit is needed for first time buyers. This home boasts an impressive open-plan kitchen and dining area that will be the beating heart of a family home, with elegant French doors to the garden. Upstairs includes a modern family bathroom, plus two double bedrooms and a single, with a contemporary en suite to bedroom one.
