Public Sector : Local Authority News
Bouygues UK partners with local suppliers to help transform former Debenhams store into Carmarthen's health and wellbeing HWB

Bouygues UK partners with local suppliers to help transform former Debenhams store into Carmarthen’s health and wellbeing HWB

Bouygues UK and Carmarthenshire County Council have committed to working with a team of local suppliers and subcontractors to transform an old retail store into a state-of-the-art health, wellbeing, education and leisure hwb. The major contractor and Carmarthenshire County Council, in collaboration with Hywel Dda University Health Board and the

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£56M Treasury Greenlight for Major Brownfield Regeneration at Liverpool Waters

£56M Treasury Greenlight for Major Brownfield Regeneration at Liverpool Waters

HM Treasury has approved a £56 million investment from Homes England to jumpstart the regeneration of a vast brownfield site in Liverpool Waters, bringing new life to the city’s historic northern docklands. The funding will support extensive infrastructure developments in the Central Docks neighbourhood, preparing the area to accommodate approximately

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Affordable housing and Right to Buy reform: LGA statement

Affordable housing and Right to Buy reform: LGA statement

Responding to the Government’s housing announcements, Cllr Louise Gittins, Chair of the Local Government Association, said: “We are pleased the Government has acted on our call to increase Affordable Homes Programme funding. We have made the case for councils to be empowered to build more affordable, good quality homes quickly

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Construction works to commence at Wigan’s former Galleries shopping centre site following agreement signing

Construction works to commence at Wigan’s former Galleries shopping centre site following agreement signing

Developer, Cityheart and Wigan Council have signed agreements allowing Principal Contractor Galliford Try to deliver the first phases of construction work at the former Galleries site in Wigan Town Centre. Galliford Try will start work in mid-October 2024, following directly on from the large-scale demolition and site investigation works already

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Milestone moment as search for Festival Gardens developer to begin

Milestone moment as search for Festival Gardens developer to begin

Liverpool City Council is set to seek a development partner to help transform a prime waterfront spot into Liverpool’s newest residential community. A report to Cabinet on Tuesday, 10 September, is recommending the Council embarks on a competitive procurement exercise to appoint a high calibre development partner to lead on

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Plans approved for redevelopment of former Royal Mail site at Maidstone East

Plans approved for redevelopment of former Royal Mail site at Maidstone East

Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) Planning Committee last night approved plans for the redevelopment of the Former Royal Mail Sorting Office site, at Maidstone East, for mixed-use development which is predominantly residential. The development will include 180 apartments, 1,863 square metres of commercial and/or community space and around one acre of

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Greater Manchester launches pioneering Housing First Unit as new data shows true cost of not tackling the housing crisis

Greater Manchester launches pioneering Housing First Unit as new data shows true cost of not tackling the housing crisis

A UNIQUE piece of research commissioned by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) reveals the huge financial strain temporary accommodation costs are placing on local authorities. Each year, an estimated £74.6 million is spent on renting temporary accommodation across Greater Manchester. The number of people living in temporary accommodation in

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Latest Issue
Issue 328 : May 2025

Public Sector : Local Authority News

Bouygues UK partners with local suppliers to help transform former Debenhams store into Carmarthen's health and wellbeing HWB

Bouygues UK partners with local suppliers to help transform former Debenhams store into Carmarthen’s health and wellbeing HWB

Bouygues UK and Carmarthenshire County Council have committed to working with a team of local suppliers and subcontractors to transform an old retail store into a state-of-the-art health, wellbeing, education and leisure hwb. The major contractor and Carmarthenshire County Council, in collaboration with Hywel Dda University Health Board and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, is transforming the former Debenhams at St Catherine’s Walk into the Health and Wellbeing Hwb, which will provide a variety of facilities all under one roof. Lead contractor Bouygues UK is committed to using local subcontractors as part of its commitment to provide employment, training and skills opportunities to local people and underrepresented groups. It has already been working closely with sub-contractors from the area on its other prestigious project at Pentre Awel in Llanelli and continues to do so at the Health and Wellbeing Hwb – with a further commitment to upskill all those working in its supply chain on the importance of embedding sustainability into their work. The groundwork was carried out by Cambrensis Civil Engineering, with Shufflebottom Ltd providing the secondary steelwork. Both companies are based in Cross Hands. Castle Scaffolding, from Ammanford, supplied the required scaffolding, and Davies Cranes, located in Carmarthen, handled the steelwork and mechanical & electrical crane lifts. FP Hurley, also from Cross Hands, is managing the MEP (Mechanical, Engineering, and Plumbing) services. Security and cleaning services are being provided by the CSA Service Group, based at Llanelli Gate Business Park. The Gavin Griffiths Group from Swansea is overseeing commercial waste management, and Cwmgwili Recycling Facility in Carmarthen is also working with Bouygues UK. Project Lead Dylan Jones said: “It’s fantastic to see so many local firms working alongside us to help transform the former retail store into an exciting health, wellbeing and leisure hwb for Carmarthenshire. Working with local business is a key part of our commitment to using a local supply chain on projects as well as creating employment opportunities for the neighbouring community.  It’s a truly collaborative approach that is proven to work.” Once complete, Carmarthenshire residents will be able to access community health services at the Health and Wellbeing Hwb that are being provided by Hywel Dda University Health Board. Alongside health and wellbeing services, the remodelled building will partner with Actif Sport and Leisure to facilitate a new 24-hour gym, which will include top of the range equipment, and flexible fitness suites for group and individual workouts. There will also be a high-spec family entertainment centre that will include a range of activities for families, including indoor adventure golf, toy town soft play, E-Go Karting and TAG Active. The entertainment centre will also house party rooms and offer food and beverages. It is expected that once open to the public it will increase footfall for the town centre and drive further economic resilience for local traders and retailers. When the department store closed in May 2021 the knock-on effect on trade in the town centre was significant. It is hoped that the new all-encompassing Hwb – the first of its kind in Carmarthenshire – will encourage more people from the region into the town centre to take advantage of the public and leisure services that will be available under one roof. Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure, Culture and Tourism, Cllr Hazel Evans commented: “I am delighted to see that so many Carmarthenshire sub contractors are being utilised to work on this development. The Health and Wellbeing Hwb will serve as a place that local people can more easily access community health care and County Council Customer Services, as well as having a place to bring their children to the family entertainment zone or even to get healthier by using our gym.  The development will significantly increase footfall in the town centre and encourage people to visit for the day, which will positively impact our other local businesses in and around the town. Thank you to Bouygues UK for their ongoing work within our community.” This project is funded in partnership with £7million from Welsh Government via the Health and Social Care Integration and Rebalancing Capital Fund Programme, as part of the wider West Wales Regional Partnership Board Capital Programme and also funding of £18m from the UK Government. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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£56M Treasury Greenlight for Major Brownfield Regeneration at Liverpool Waters

£56M Treasury Greenlight for Major Brownfield Regeneration at Liverpool Waters

HM Treasury has approved a £56 million investment from Homes England to jumpstart the regeneration of a vast brownfield site in Liverpool Waters, bringing new life to the city’s historic northern docklands. The funding will support extensive infrastructure developments in the Central Docks neighbourhood, preparing the area to accommodate approximately 2,350 new homes and a public park in line with the government’s plan to build 1.5 million homes across the UK over the next five years. Owned by Peel Waters, the Liverpool Waters project spans over 60 hectares along the River Mersey, with Central Docks set to attract over £550 million in private investment. Already under way across the Liverpool Waters district are major projects, including the new Everton Stadium, the Mersey Heat energy network, and the Isle of Man’s £70 million ferry terminal, which was completed in June. The newly approved scheme, covering 10.5 hectares, is expected to be a landmark development for Liverpool’s waterfront. It will introduce essential utilities, new roads, cycle lanes, and pedestrian pathways, creating seamless connections between the city centre, Princes Dock, Central Docks, and the Everton stadium at Bramley Moore Dock. Central to this transformation will be a 2.1-hectare public green space, ‘Central Park’, which will blend coastal and woodland landscapes with play spaces and recreational amenities. Liverpool City Council Leader, Councillor Liam Robinson, expressed his enthusiasm, noting the scheme’s potential to transform disused dockland into a vibrant neighbourhood that will set a high standard for modern, sustainable development across the country. Development Director of Liverpool Waters, Chris Capes, commended the collaborative effort behind the project, emphasising that the infrastructure investment from Homes England will leverage further private funding, paving the way for a new, inclusive community that balances residential, commercial, and public spaces. Scheduled to commence in the spring, initial site preparation and design work will begin immediately, with the broader vision of turning Liverpool’s docklands into a thriving, community-oriented destination for years to come. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Revitalising York’s Heart: Coney Street Riverside Masterplan Gets Council’s Go-Ahead

Revitalising York’s Heart: Coney Street Riverside Masterplan Gets Council’s Go-Ahead

York’s historic riverside is set for a stunning transformation as Helmsley Group’s ambitious Coney Street Riverside masterplan receives approval from the City of York Council’s planning committee. The masterplan, which will bring new life to a long-overlooked area, was praised by council members, who lauded Helmsley’s commitment to community engagement and revitalisation of York’s iconic waterfront. “This scheme is long overdue and will be a real positive for York,” noted Councillor Jonny Crawshaw, Chair of the planning committee, who highlighted the importance of restoring listed buildings with sensitivity. With nearly unanimous support, the council approved both the masterplan and a separate listed building application. The Coney Street Riverside project will introduce 250,000 square feet of diverse retail, leisure, commercial, and residential spaces, reimagining York’s historic core with a strong focus on community accessibility and sustainable design. The project includes creating a riverside walkway, which will enhance public access to the River Ouse, along with revitalising the historic lanes connecting Coney Street to the river. Notably, the site encompasses a cluster of listed buildings and structures of local significance within York’s Central Conservation Area, offering a unique opportunity to blend heritage with modern development. Among those in support was prominent disability campaigner Flick Williams, who called Helmsley’s inclusive design approach “a breath of fresh air,” and Andrew Lowson, Executive Director of York BID, who emphasised the project’s potential to rejuvenate one of York’s most valuable areas. Max Reeves, Development Director at Helmsley Group, expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support, stating, “This project offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to restore historic Coney Street as the social heart of York, reconnecting it with the riverfront.” With over 40 years of local development experience, Helmsley Group has committed to long-term investment in the project and anticipates beginning on-site work by 2026, barring any planning conditions. Pending the Secretary of State’s review on certain listed building elements, the plan is set to proceed with a dedicated team from Helmsley Group, brown + company, O’Neill Associates, and others. This transformative project aims to forge a dynamic and inclusive riverside destination, breathing new life into York’s cherished urban landscape. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Affordable housing and Right to Buy reform: LGA statement

Affordable housing and Right to Buy reform: LGA statement

Responding to the Government’s housing announcements, Cllr Louise Gittins, Chair of the Local Government Association, said: “We are pleased the Government has acted on our call to increase Affordable Homes Programme funding. We have made the case for councils to be empowered to build more affordable, good quality homes quickly and at scale and this will boost councils’ ability to build desperately-needed affordable housing for local communities. “It has become increasingly impossible for councils to replace homes as quickly as they’re being sold through the Right to Buy (RTB) scheme. The LGA has long-called for reform to RTB and these positive measures will support the replacement of sold homes and to stem the continued loss of existing stock. “A 5-year rent settlement is a step in the right direction in providing certainty for councils on rental income, but to really strengthen and provide stability to Housing Revenue Accounts, a minimum 10-year rent settlement is needed, alongside restoration of lost revenue due to the rent cap and a review of the self-financing settlement of 2012. This would better support long-term business planning to ensure councils can deliver high quality homes and associated support for their tenants. “Councils stand ready to work with the Government to increase affordable housing and help people on council housing waiting lists and record numbers stuck in temporary accommodation.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Exciting New Chapter for Sutton: Council Selects Partner for Town Centre Regeneration

Exciting New Chapter for Sutton: Council Selects Partner for Town Centre Regeneration

Sutton Council has appointed Genr8 Kajima Regeneration as its preferred partner to drive the next phase of the town centre’s transformation, focusing on key sites such as the St Nicholas Shopping Centre, civic offices, Gibson Road car park, and the Secombe Theatre. At the heart of the project is the creation of a brand-new civic hub, providing a ‘front door’ for residents to easily access council services. The hub will also include a modern library and flexible community spaces. Scheduled for completion by mid-2029, this development will breathe new life into Sutton’s town centre. Alongside the civic hub, the plans outline the introduction of new retail and leisure spaces to enhance the local experience. These improvements are designed to boost the economy, offering residents and visitors more options while encouraging footfall in the area. A significant highlight of the regeneration is the development of 740 new homes, with 50% set aside as affordable housing, including nearly 300 homes for social rent—a vital contribution to addressing the housing crisis. Councillor Barry Lewis, Leader of Sutton Council, expressed enthusiasm for the project:“This is a key element of our vision for a vibrant and sustainable town centre. Our residents will benefit from a new hub offering improved access to council services, as well as exciting new retail and leisure facilities. Importantly, we are also delivering much-needed social housing for local families.” Councillor Sunita Gordon, lead member for resources, highlighted the council’s forward-thinking approach:“By purchasing the St Nicholas Centre in 2021, we took control of this key site’s future. This project represents a chance to create a smaller, more environmentally efficient civic centre, reducing costs and addressing climate change. Genr8 Kajima Regeneration has the expertise to bring this vision to life.” Mike Smith, partner at Genr8 Kajima Regeneration, shared his excitement:“We are thrilled to collaborate with Sutton Council on this transformative project. Our focus will be on creating a vibrant, sustainable town centre that meets the needs of the community and secures a prosperous future for Sutton.” This ambitious project promises to revitalise Sutton, bringing together new homes, businesses, and community spaces in a development that aims to serve residents for years to come. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Vistry partners with Solihull Council to deliver 177 sustainable new homes

Vistry partners with Solihull Council to deliver 177 sustainable new homes

Solihull Council has struck a development deal with leading homebuilder Vistry Group PLC to build up to 177 affordable new homes for its residents.  The sustainable new development will be built on the site of the former Simon Digby School in Chelmsley Wood. This well connected  spot, located between the Chester Road (A452) and the M6, was originally earmarked for housing development in the adopted 2013  Solihull Local Plan.  Following a thorough tender process Vistry has been chosen to deliver the scheme, which will be up to 100% affordable and includes two-, three-, and four-bedroom family homes as well as one-bedroom maisonettes, reflecting local housing need.  The high-quality new homes will be built using modern methods of construction (MMC) reducing the carbon footprint of every property. The homes will be manufactured off site using open panel timber frames from the Vistry Works East Midlands factory in Leicestershire. Each home built using these panels emits 14,460kg CO2e less than a traditional brick-and-block house and provides maximum energy efficiency helping future residents to cut their fuel bills. Each property will also utilise air source heat pumps instead of traditional gas boilers and will be fitted with integrated solar PV panels to provide additional power. Central to the proposed development will be a focus on creating a distinct sense of place, with exciting plans for a new play area, nature trail and attractive new public spaces. The final scheme will benefit from significant infrastructure investment from West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and enjoy cycle lane provision and footpaths connecting residents to local centres and the surrounding Cole Valley landscape. Councillor Ian Courts, Leader of Solihull Council, said: “Appointing Vistry as our development partner for this crucial project is a huge step towards utilising the full potential of the former Simon Digby School site. We’ve undertaken a lot of work to set the stage for this and now we can finally crack on with delivering affordable and sustainable homes critical to meeting the borough’s housing needs. “These 177 homes won’t just be a collection of new houses but a thriving, well integrated new community at the heart of Chelmsley Wood, perfectly positioned to benefit from the economic opportunities associated with the arrival of the HS2 interchange and the rest of the UK Central Hub.” Councillor Mark Parker, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “Here in Solihull, we’re serious about stepping up to the challenge of building the new homes our residents need while also setting the highest quality threshold for energy efficiency and sustainability. “Mirroring the fantastic work already underway just up the road in Kingshurst, this scheme will help deliver on both our housing targets and climate change commitments.” “Once built, the scheme will deliver a biodiversity net gain through key design features such as green landscaping and a dedicated new nature trail.” James Warrington, Divisional Chair for South Midlands and the North at Vistry said: “We are thrilled to be working with Solihull Council on this development which will help meet the housing shortage in the area with family homes built using environmentally responsible methods.   “We’re excited to be a part of Solihull’s growth and to be entrusted with the build of these much-needed new homes which will contribute to the character of the area and create a thriving and sustainable community.”   Delivery of the scheme is being supported by a £2.97m contribution from WMCA, via its devolved housing and land funds. Richard Parker, West Midlands Mayor, said:“We have to start building more homes that local people can genuinely afford. “Working together, including a £3 million contribution from the WMCA, all 177 houses on this site are planned to be affordable meaning more homes for all communities across the region.  “Schemes like this one that use low carbon, factory-built homes are revolutionising the housing landscape. They are quicker to build and easier and cheaper to heat, which means they can make a big difference in addressing the housing crisis.” Initial feasibility work, concept masterplan development and acquisition of land interests has been managed as part of the council’s UK Central Infrastructure Programme and funded by WMCA. It is one of over twenty projects building upon the investment and regeneration planned for the borough, supporting further sustainable and inclusive growth. Vistry will now take the designs to the next stage and carry out a series of consultation activity before submitting their planning application for the scheme later this year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Construction works to commence at Wigan’s former Galleries shopping centre site following agreement signing

Construction works to commence at Wigan’s former Galleries shopping centre site following agreement signing

Developer, Cityheart and Wigan Council have signed agreements allowing Principal Contractor Galliford Try to deliver the first phases of construction work at the former Galleries site in Wigan Town Centre. Galliford Try will start work in mid-October 2024, following directly on from the large-scale demolition and site investigation works already completed by BCEGI and PP O’Connor. The agreement means construction can start immediately for the new 90,000sqft market hall, located in the heart of the town centre. Alongside commencing delivery of the new market hall, Galliford Try will also undertake ground and enabling works across the wider site to progress the next phases of the new mixed-use neighbourhood.  Earlier this year Hampton by Hilton were announced as one of the first occupiers at the development, signing up for a 144-bed hotel. A series of Meet the Buyer events have also been held for local businesses to find out how they can get involved with the project and to ensure that Wigan borough businesses benefit from the contracts and investments that are being made. Councillor David Molyneux MBE, Leader of Wigan Council, said “The new market hall is at the heart of the project and set to be the first new building to open. Wigan is a traditional market town, receiving its Royal Charter in the 13th century. This development will bring our market into the 21st century, creating a vibrant, modern and thriving space for our traders and visitors to the town, ensuring it has a strong and exciting future with a lot of job opportunities for people both during and after construction.” Darren Jones, Development Director for Cityheart added: “We are delighted to be working with Galliford Try to bring forward the next stage of redevelopment at this transformational  Wigan Galleries site. We are progressing the delivery of the site in various phases in accordance with the planning consents we have secured. Throughout the phased development and once the scheme is complete the focus will be on  community wealth building with job opportunities for local businesses and residents. We’re proud to be part of delivering a destination which will enhance the offer in Wigan town centre and bolster the economy in the borough for many years to come.” The complete scheme is set to create circa 660 full-time jobs generating Gross Value Add (GVA) impacts of £26.5m per year. During the first phase of demolition, jobs apprenticeships and training placements were provided for local people through projects with Wigan Youth Zone and Wigan and Leigh College. Darren Parker, Managing Director for Galliford Try Building North West, commented: “We are pleased to be getting under way with this initial construction phase of the Wigan Galleries project and look forward to working with all the stakeholders involved to deliver social value back into the local community and support Wigan’s investment.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Milestone moment as search for Festival Gardens developer to begin

Milestone moment as search for Festival Gardens developer to begin

Liverpool City Council is set to seek a development partner to help transform a prime waterfront spot into Liverpool’s newest residential community. A report to Cabinet on Tuesday, 10 September, is recommending the Council embarks on a competitive procurement exercise to appoint a high calibre development partner to lead on creating a new neighbourhood as part of the city’s famous International Festival Gardens site, which was originally opened in May 1984. The ambition is to significantly boost the city’s housing supply with a diverse range and mix of housing types, including affordable properties, together with local amenities, creating a thriving new community in this prime south Liverpool location, which is well connected and within 10-minutes of the city centre. The scheme, which is a flagship project outlined in the city’s draft housing strategy, will connect with and enhance its natural surroundings and biodiversity and provide a high standard of desirable and multi-generational living for all. Significant remediation and enabling works were recently completed in January 2024 to enable development, and since that time a team of experts have been curating an ambitious, and deliverable development brief which will provide an essential framework to market the site. Clear objectives are outlined which state the council’s intentions to make the 28-acre site a sustainable, healthy and inclusive neighbourhood which has a strong identity and high design quality. If the report is given the green light, the initial phase of the procurement process will begin in October, with a view to securing a partner towards the middle of next year. The development brief will form the central part of a procurement process, seeking viable expressions of interest from developers with a proven, successful track record in delivering transformative schemes at pace, which are built on strong community engagement. Montagu Evans will be running the procurement process on behalf of the Council. It is expected that the contract with the successful development partner will be finalised in Autumn 2025 once thorough due diligence has been undertaken. • You can read the full Cabinet report here. THE REMEDIATION : Remediating the Festival Gardens site has been a three-year project, which began in 2021. It was a mammoth excavation programme, moving almost 450,000 cubic metres of soil and waste of which more than 95 per cent was recycled, including 100,000 cubic metres of earth being used to create the city’s newest park – the Southern Grasslands which opened in August 2023. The remediation won a national brownfield award in recognition of the complex and sustainable nature of activity which was carried out to ensure the viability of the next phase in the transformation of Festival Gardens. Additional works have also been carried out which include laying drainage and constructing a substation to provide a power supply for the future development. This 28-acre site includes a unique 8-acre area of landscaped amenity space, with the other 20 acres now primed and ready for development. The remediation was led by the Council’s principal contractor VINCI Building. The improvement works to the site that are integral to enabling this exciting development to progress were made possible through a combination of Liverpool City Council, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Homes England grant funding. Leader of Liverpool City Council, Councillor Liam Robinson, said: “This is a major milestone moment in the evolution of the Festival Gardens site. “The appointment of a development partner will see the completion of the International Garden Festival initiative and marks the final chapter in a 40-year story of a site which originally covered 250 acres. It will also ensure that the UK’s only remaining Festival Gardens are preserved and enhanced for future generations to enjoy. “We know how well-loved this area is and want to make sure that we are doing as much as we can to ensure this prime waterfront land has the potential to be a flagship development that sets the standard for sustainable housing in the UK. “The extensive remediation work is another piece in the puzzle, and we’re now in a position to go out to the market and invite developers to share with us their viable vision which will be transformative for the area and the city as a whole. “It’s an incredibly exciting time and is the next step in making this in-demand, thriving community a reality.” Liverpool City Region Mayor, Steve Rotheram, said: “This is another milestone on the journey to transforming Festival Gardens into a vibrant, inclusive community that will be cherished by generations to come. This isn’t just about building units; it’s about building desirable homes, where families can put down roots, where nature and urban living coexist in harmony, and where the community spirit that defines our region can thrive. “Working with the city council we have done much of the hard graft on remediating the contaminated land, and we’re now ready to work with a partner who shares our vision to turn this prime waterfront site into a beacon of sustainable living. Together, we’ll make sure that this development is something we can all be proud of.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Plans approved for redevelopment of former Royal Mail site at Maidstone East

Plans approved for redevelopment of former Royal Mail site at Maidstone East

Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) Planning Committee last night approved plans for the redevelopment of the Former Royal Mail Sorting Office site, at Maidstone East, for mixed-use development which is predominantly residential. The development will include 180 apartments, 1,863 square metres of commercial and/or community space and around one acre of open green space town centre park which will be owned and managed by the Council. Cllr Stuart Jeffery, Leader of MBC said: “This redevelopment will form part of the Council’s ambitious housebuilding programme. These are very exciting times for the Council, and the town itself. We believe the project will be transformational to that area of Maidstone, bringing genuinely excellent new homes to the town centre. I am also pleased to see a large new open green space included in the design, it will play an important role in the wellbeing of the new residents and businesses.” MBC has been working on the makeup of the site for the past few years, the demolition of the various buildings is almost complete making way for the new development. Cllr Simon Wales, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness at MBC added: “MBC will be acting as lead developer on the site and has already secured £2.1m of Brownfield Land Release Fund monies from the Department for Local Government Homes & Communities, which has helped fund some of the remedial works to prepare it for redevelopment. “Now that the planning permission is in place, the Council can approach Homes England as to the availability of Social Housing Grant monies to help fund much needed affordable housing on the site. We are also discussing the inclusion of a health facility with the local NHS” Simon continued: “The next steps are to procure a contractor for the works, and to refine and finalise the tenure mix for the project, with a view to the build getting under way in around twelve months.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Greater Manchester launches pioneering Housing First Unit as new data shows true cost of not tackling the housing crisis

Greater Manchester launches pioneering Housing First Unit as new data shows true cost of not tackling the housing crisis

A UNIQUE piece of research commissioned by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) reveals the huge financial strain temporary accommodation costs are placing on local authorities. Each year, an estimated £74.6 million is spent on renting temporary accommodation across Greater Manchester. The number of people living in temporary accommodation in Greater Manchester is now at an all-time high, with 5,649 households living in hostels, Bed and Breakfast and other temporary accommodation. These households include 7,679 children. Over the past four years the number of households in temporary accommodation in Greater Manchester has increased by 71% compared with 26% across England.  Today the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and the leaders of the city-region’s ten local authorities confirmed the launch of a new Housing First Unit to tackle the roots of the housing crisis by:   Housing First is part of the GMCA’s pioneering approach to delivering public services and tackling the problems that are hampering wellbeing and economic growth. It is based on the philosophy that good health, good education, and good jobs cannot come without a good, permanent home. The Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “The £75m our councils are spending on these rents is just the tip of the iceberg. It doesn’t include the cost of finding that housing, let alone the human toll of living in such an insecure situation. “Our reliance on temporary accommodation has left thousands of families in a limbo that is blighting their life chances and damaging their health and wellbeing. Living in a hostel or B&B makes it harder to cook healthy meals, do homework, hold down a job, see friends and family or visit a doctor when you need to. “Our Housing First Unit will work to make sure that everyone in Greater Manchester has a home that is safe, secure and sustainable. Giving everyone a good, safe home would be one of the best investments the country could make and would take pressure off other public services and public finances.”   Demand for social housing in Greater Manchester outstrips supply by 260 per cent. In 2022/23, there were 13,551 social lettings in Greater Manchester – half as many as ten years ago. There were 86,595 households vying for these properties, of which 35,177 were in a priority group for social housing The Mayor and Greater Manchester’s ten council leaders also approved a plan to work together to deliver better quality and better value temporary accommodation. The cost and demand for temporary accommodation has spiralled in recent years due to a lack of social and affordable housing and the high cost of private rentals. Local authorities must abide by strict rules around how they cover these rental costs and can only recover a fraction of what they spend from central government. In Greater Manchester, councils were only able to recover 42% of the £74.6 million they spent on temporary accommodation, creating an annual net loss of £43million.   The GMCA will explore new ways of coordinating, delivering and preventing the need for temporary accommodation. It will also draw lessons from current best practice across the city-region, such as Manchester City Council, which has been able to buck the national trend, reducing the number of households in temporary accommodation and all but eradicating the use of Bed and Breakfasts. Portfolio Lead for Housing First, City Mayor of Salford Paul Dennett, said: “The spiralling cost of temporary accommodation represents an existential threat to local government. Following 14 years of previous Government-driven austerity, we’ve seen councils up and down the country going bankrupt, with temporary accommodation placing an ever-bigger burden on their budgets.     “In recent years, the lack of social and council housing has massively increased landlords’ bargaining power, leaving our residents struggling to secure a place to call home. That market pressure has also made it harder for councils to negotiate rates and secure temporary accommodation. Without urgent and radical action, annual financial losses for local authorities will just keep growing, putting further pressure on overstretched budgets, continuing to push councils into bankruptcy. “There is no quick fix for this housing crisis which has been 40 years in the making. The Right to Buy has led to chronic under-supply of social and council housing. We’ve lost 24,000 homes to Right to Buy in the past two decades and not enough new homes are being built to replace them. Rising land values, an inability currently to capture land-value uplift in the National Planning Policy Framework, ongoing land assembly challenges, and skills and experiences shortages are also making it harder to build truly affordable housing.   “We welcome the progress the new Government is making, including the introduction of the Renters’ Rights Bill, which will end no fault eviction and recent changes to the Compulsory Purchase Regulations to tackle issues with ‘hope value’ and the implications for the viability of developments. “Through regional collaboration and with the support of central Government, we can work to deliver Greater Manchester’s vision of Housing First and collectively work to mitigate the worst effects of the housing crisis. “By taking a collaborative, co-ordinated and evidence-based approach, we hope to realise economies of scale and deliver temporary accommodation that is better value for money, while reducing the need for temporary accommodation by significantly increasing & accelerating the supply of Truly Affordable Net Zero homes. “A good home is the cornerstone of a healthy, happy life for our residents. By working together, we can improve the standard of temporary accommodation and make sure they are consistent across Greater Manchester.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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