Keon Homes has hailed being named on the £1billion Wolverhampton Housing Development Framework as a transformational moment for its business. The specialist in affordable housing and extra care schemes beat off intense competition to be granted preferred contractor status on all sites over 20 plots in the city and surrounding areas. It is about to start construction work on the £40m New Park Village remodelling project in the summer and is shortly getting underway with the first phase of 99 new bungalows at Lincoln Green in Bushbury. Five new jobs have been created at the Burntwood-based developer with tens more expected to follow indirectly in the supply chain. Importantly, the Housing Development Framework also included a Direct Award for Keon Homes, providing authorised users with a streamlined process to procure works for the next four years. This is open to any local authority or registered provider across Cheshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire, and the West Midlands. Matt Beckley, Partnerships Director, commented: “This is arguably the biggest deal in our history, with the opportunity to support the redevelopment of some key housing sites in Wolverhampton and, then potentially, further afield. “Our track record for bringing challenging schemes to market and then completing them on time and to budget played a key role in the award, that and our passion for creating communities where individuals and families can thrive. It’s more than bricks and mortar to us.” He continued: “New Park Village and Lincoln Green are two sites that drastically needed remodelling, especially the latter where old, prefabricated accommodation was coming to the end of its lifecycle in terms of structural integrity and energy efficiency. We’re replacing these with highly energy efficient properties that will be built using the latest construction techniques and with green spaces at their heart, meeting the needs of local residents.” Councillor Steve Evans, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Housing at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “Our new Housing Development Framework is helping speed up the delivery of good homes in well-connected neighbourhoods across Wolverhampton, while providing affordable housing to residents. “It will also allow our housing team to plan estate regeneration and gain advice from contractors and developers, like Keon Homes, on buildability and viability as we work in partnership to ensure value for money. “This will prove to be an effective way to deliver new homes and, crucially, increases the city’s housing stock when it needs it most.” The Wolverhampton Housing Development Framework is in place for four years initially with the opportunity for it to be extended if the agreement is going well. It marks another significant year of growth for Keon Homes, who recently announced it is bringing the £35m Phase 3 of Port Loop in Birmingham back to life and successfully completed its first extra care scheme in Newport nine months ahead of schedule. “We have slowly, but surely been building a reputation in the East and West Midlands as a developer that organisations can trust and this means we are now working with eleven housing associations and the City of Wolverhampton Council on this landmark Framework,” added Richard Williams, Managing Director of Keon Homes. “The Direct Award is also very important. In essence, it means other local authorities can come to us direct with a site award, without having to go through the time-consuming and costly procurement process.” For further information, please visit www.keonhomes.co.uk or follow the company across its social media channels. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

A major build-to-rent (BTR) scheme is set to transform the Kirkstall Road area of Leeds, delivering 618 new homes as part of a multi-million-pound investment backed by an unnamed US insurance company. The five-acre site, located next to the River Aire and just a mile from the city centre, will feature a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments spread across five buildings. Residents will have access to over 10,000 sq ft of shared amenities, including a lounge, co-working space, gym, two private roof terraces, and 3,800 sq ft of commercial space. Designed with sustainability in mind, the development will incorporate air source heat pumps and solar panels, targeting HQM 4* and EPC ‘B’ certifications. Glenbrook co-founder Ian Sherry said: “We are thrilled to be partnering again with Barings Real Estate on this impactful project. This development not only addresses the urgent need for housing in Leeds but also contributes to the revitalisation of the Kirkstall Road area. We believe creating high-quality living spaces is essential for fostering thriving communities.” Ben Pile, head of European residential investment and asset management at Barings Real Estate, highlighted Leeds as a key market for institutional residential investment. He said: “Given the stabilising economic and political environments in the UK, and as we enter a new real estate cycle in Europe, we expect the picture for residential property—and our other preferred sector of logistics—to become even more positive. We are seeking further opportunities to deploy capital on behalf of our partners.” This latest funding deal marks the fourth collaboration between Glenbrook and Barings. Allsop Letting and Management will oversee operations at the Leeds site upon completion. CBRE advised Glenbrook on the transaction. Construction is now underway, with the scheme expected to be completed by the end of 2027. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals