Bouygues UK and Carmarthenshire County Council have marked 12 months of construction of the landmark Pentre Awel project by completing the steel structure of the first Zone of the development. The significant milestone in the project comes just a year after building work started and marks a pivotal stage of
A STATE-OF-THE-ART leisure, enterprise and education centre being developed by leading multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard is one step closer to realisation, following council approval. The Five Acres site in Berry Hill, Coleford, is set to undergo transformation via Pick Everard and contractor BAM Construction Limited, after unilateral agreement on plans
The plan for new homes, jobs and sustainable growth in Greater Manchester has reached its final stage, following a report by planning inspectors. In their report, published last Thursday, the inspectors have concluded that the Places for Everyone plan, with the modifications recommended as part of their rigorous, extensive and
Critical government action required against backdrop of Local Authority housing emergencies and research showing 693,000 Scottish households in some form of housing need New planning application statistics published today have been described as “woeful” and “unacceptable” by sector body Homes for Scotland (HFS). The figures highlight a 41 per cent
69 low carbon homes for social rent have now been completed and residents have been welcomed to their new homes on Silk Street in north Manchester. The long-term brownfield site overlooking the Rochdale Canal has been developed and brought back into use by the Council delivering 36 one-bedroom apartments, 12
Letchworth-based company, Willmott Dixon, has been appointed to conduct the £55m redevelopment of Hertfordshire Constabulary’s police headquarters in Welwyn Garden City. Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner David Lloyd has approved the proposals, which had already received planning permission. The redevelopment, in Stanborough, will involve demolishing eleven of the 1960s-era buildings
This National Apprenticeship Week, Enfield Council will be highlighting several success stories based at the landmark Meridian Water regeneration project. Local apprentices working with Enfield Council’s project partner, Taylor Woodrow, have been gaining site experience whilst completing their training. Their courses prepare them for the varied roles in the construction
Site of former police station on Chiswick High Road to be redeveloped into 50-unit retirement community Birchgrove, the UK’s leading provider of rented retirement homes, has secured planning permission from Hounslow Council to redevelop the site of a former police station on Chiswick High Street into a fifty-unit retirement living
Boroughs in the capital warn they face a funding shortfall of at least £400m in 2024-25, as MPs prepare to vote on the local government finance settlement on Wednesday [1]. The cross-party London Councils group says that despite a 5.5% real-terms increase in their core spending power in the settlement,
Southwark Council, Ledbury Estate residents and the council’s development partner Higgins Partnerships celebrated the start of the first phase of building works at Ledbury Estate at a ground breaking ceremony on Monday 5 February 2024. The first phase of construction works is taking place on the site of the former
Bouygues UK and Carmarthenshire County Council have marked 12 months of construction of the landmark Pentre Awel project by completing the steel structure of the first Zone of the development. The significant milestone in the project comes just a year after building work started and marks a pivotal stage of the build. The multi-million-pound development is being delivered by Carmarthenshire County Council. It will bring together life science and business innovation, community healthcare and modern leisure facilities at the 83-acre Delta Lakes site on the Llanelli coastline. It is part-funded by the Swansea Bay City Deal (£40million) and is the largest regeneration scheme in south west Wales. Lead contractor on Zone 1, Bouygues UK is dedicated to using local subcontractors as part of its commitment to provide employment, training and skills opportunities to local people and underrepresented groups. Dyfed Steels provided the reinforcement bar for the project’s foundations which has 98% recycled content, and the structural steel for the building which has 80% recycled content, was supplied by Shufflebottom. With a commitment to the heritage of the area, the steel frame also provides the historical link to the previous industrial buildings that were located on the site, namely the South Wales Tinplate Works and the Richard Thomas (Tinplate) Mills. Peter Sharpe, Bouygues UK’s Pentre Awel Project Director, said the completion of the steel structure marks a significant milestone in the project: “In just 12 months the site has been transformed as the development has rapidly taken shape. The completion of the steel frames for all buildings has been a key activity during this period. The hydrotherapy, learner and main pools have been cast and successfully undergone water testing ready for the next stage.” Cllr. Hazel Evans, Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Culture, Leisure and Tourism said, “It is remarkable how far construction has come in just a year. Bouygues UK have shown their dedication to the Pentre Awel masterplan, not only through their outstanding engagement with local schools, but by employing Carmarthenshire businesses to undertake the work on site. The community is truly at the heart of Pentre Awel, I congratulate everyone involved in the construction of Zone 1 and I look forward to opening.” As well as Shufflebottom and Dyfed Steels, other local companies contracted to work on Pentre Awel include: Green4Wales, Redsix Partnership, Gavin Griffiths Group, Davies Crane Hire, Dyfed Recycling Services and Owen Haulage. As part of Bouygues UK’s commitment to provide significant social value and engagement to surrounding schools, colleges and universities, Pentre Awel also has a school ambassadors scheme, where children from local schools visit the site to share their ideas and help shape the project. A broader programme of community benefits is also being delivered during the development of Zone 1 of Pentre Awel to realise social, economic, cultural, and environmental benefits. This includes targeted recruitment and training, community engagement (such as community ambassadors), STEM activities and supply chain engagement. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A STATE-OF-THE-ART leisure, enterprise and education centre being developed by leading multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard is one step closer to realisation, following council approval. The Five Acres site in Berry Hill, Coleford, is set to undergo transformation via Pick Everard and contractor BAM Construction Limited, after unilateral agreement on plans submitted by Forest of Dean District Council. The work, which will commence after the Easter holidays, will be completed in phases. The first of these will focus on repurposing classrooms at an existing educational building – Speedwell House – to create new office and community spaces, alongside a cafe and outreach space for Hartpury University’s Aspiration Centre. The new building will connect Speedwell through a glazed atrium and include the construction of a new multi-purpose four-court sports hall, small performance space, party rooms/dressing rooms and internal changing rooms. Outside there will be a separate external changing block, a secure cycle hub and a new car parking layout, which will introduce 12 electric vehicle charging spaces on the site for the first time. The project, accelerated through the SCAPE Consultancy direct award framework, designed to drive collaboration, efficiency, time and cost savings on construction projects, will be delivered by Pick Everard, operating through Perfect Circle to provide a wide range of services, including project management, cost management, health and safety, and sustainability consultancy. Guy Rossiter, principal project manager at Pick Everard, said: “This is a significant milestone in a journey to bring a host of benefits to the community of Berry Hill and further afield. It is a fully encompassing project, that reflects a shift in the way we view and design our local hubs – bringing, leisure, education and business opportunities all under one roof, helping drive future prosperity from one generation to the next. “With planning approved, we look forward to the next phase of this development, collaborating closely with the project team and the council to bring its vision to fruition.” The planning application for the Five Acres site was submitted in November 2023, following community outreach on the proposed redevelopment plans. It is part of the UK government’s wider Levelling Up Fund, with 52 Levelling Up Together grants awarded across the Gloucestershire region in recent months. Councillor Johnathan Lane, cabinet member for economy at Forest of Dean District Council, said: “It’s fantastic to hear that planning permission has been granted to refurbish the Speedwell building and support the new building designs at Five Acres. “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the hard-working council staff and partners, including demolition experts Armac, architects AHR, project and cost consultants Pick Everard and leading construction and property developer BAM, who have all helped make Five Acres a reality. I’d also like thank all our residents for their comments and suggestions, which have allowed us to shape Five Acres into a project that the whole community can be proud of. “The regeneration of Five Acres is hugely important for the community of Berry Hill and the Forest of Dean as a whole. Once completed it will provide leading sport and education facilities, and I can’t wait to see it starting to take shape once construction has begun.” Full details for the Five Acres site redevelopment, as well as documents including designs and comments and questions from previous public forum events can be found here: https://www.fdean.gov.uk/planning-and-building/regeneration/five-acres-redevelopment-site/ To learn more about Pick Everard and its range of services, visit here: https://www.pickeverard.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The plan for new homes, jobs and sustainable growth in Greater Manchester has reached its final stage, following a report by planning inspectors. In their report, published last Thursday, the inspectors have concluded that the Places for Everyone plan, with the modifications recommended as part of their rigorous, extensive and robust independent examination process, is sound and legally compliant. The publication of the report marks the end of the examination process, which included public hearings and consultations between November 2022 and December 2023. Places for Everyone will now be presented to each of the nine councils to consider the recommendations and whether to adopt the plan in line with Government’s expectations for a plan-led approach to development, which is in line with theNational Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Full details of the council meetings will be published in due course. Places for Everyone is a long-term plan of nine districts in the city-region: Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Tameside, Trafford, and Wigan. It is a comprehensive joint development plan of the districts that will determine the kind of development that takes place in their boroughs, maximising the use of brownfield land and urban spaces while protecting Green Belt land from the risk of unplanned development. It will also ensure all new developments are sustainably integrated into Greater Manchester’s transport network or supported by new infrastructure. For further information please contact the Communications and Engagement team on: news@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk. Find us on social media @greatermcr. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Critical government action required against backdrop of Local Authority housing emergencies and research showing 693,000 Scottish households in some form of housing need New planning application statistics published today have been described as “woeful” and “unacceptable” by sector body Homes for Scotland (HFS). The figures highlight a 41 per cent drop in in the volume of applications for major housing developments (those for 50 or more homes) in the first two quarters of 2023/24 compared to the same period a year prior. This continues the decline in such applications coming forward for the fourth consecutive quarter. Despite a continuing fall in applications, the average processing time for Q1 and Q2 2023/24 was 62.1 weeks (a rise from 36.4 weeks on Q1 and Q2 2022/23) against a statutory timeframe of 16 weeks. The number of local housing development applications has also fallen by 18 per cent across the same period, with average processing times for these being 17.8 weeks (more than double the eight week statutory timeframe). HFS Chief Executive Jane Wood said: “With the National Planning Improvement Champion yesterday concluding that there is no overall agreement on what successful planning looks like, I’m certain that we can all be united in the view that these woeful figures aren’t it and are simply unacceptable. “The Scottish Government must get Scotland’s planning system sorted if we are to ensure this and future generations are able to access warm sustainable homes that meet their needs and they can afford. “These figures highlight the scale of investment in planning services that is required at a time when the Scottish Government has announced a 43% reduction in the Planning budget from £11.7m to £6.6m. “They also show the critical need for immediate short-term solutions. We have already submitted the urgent actions we believe need to be taken by the Scottish Government and want to work with Ministers and officials to implement meaningful change as quickly as possible so that Scotland’s people have the range and choice of homes that they both need and deserve.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
69 low carbon homes for social rent have now been completed and residents have been welcomed to their new homes on Silk Street in north Manchester. The long-term brownfield site overlooking the Rochdale Canal has been developed and brought back into use by the Council delivering 36 one-bedroom apartments, 12 two-bedroom apartments, 17 two storey, three-bedroom houses; and 4 three storey, four-bedroom houses. 16 of the apartments will be made available to people over the age of 55, who are right-sizing from larger council properties in Newton Heath, and across north Manchester. Each of the townhouses feature solar panels, a new kitchen and bathroom, generous gardens and private driveways with electric charging points. Each of the apartments have a balcony alongside shared outdoor space – and the building will be greened through living walls and living green roofs. The properties will make use of Ground Source Heat Pumps and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery to keep utility costs down for residents. The apartments have been built to HAPPI design principles that provide larger internal space as standard, which accommodate someone using a wheelchair, along with extra storage space. This means they can also be adapted to meet the needs of the tenants. Meet the neighbourhood Christine Durber – video case study available below Christine moved into her apartment in Chiffon House in September. She had lived in her four-bedroom home in Clayton for 27 years, and it was perfect for bringing up her three children. Now the kids have moved on, Christine was starting to feel uneasy living in such a big property on her own. This is where the Council’s right-sizing officer was able to help. Christine was shown a new apartment, and she was offered extra help with the move. “I fell in love with it,” Christine said. “The Council arranged the removal company for me, and I was given some money to help with the extra costs. It paid for new blinds and flooring. It was great to get that bit of help, it really took the hassle out of the move.” Christine’s apartment has been built to low carbon specifications, there is no gas supply to the property and her electric comes from a ground source heat pump. “The flat’s lovely and warm and the bills are great,” she said, “I was paying £160 a month in my old house and I’m now paying around £58, and this will come down even more in the summer because I won’t need the heating on.” Christine’s apartment was one of 16 set aside for people aged over 55 who are rightsizing into a more manageable home and the move has brought her so many benefits. “I feel very content here. I sleep better, I love the views and I can’t wait to see how they change when the summer comes. I used to rely on my kids to take me shopping, but now with so many shops on my doorstep I can do my own, I’m getting out most days and feeling more independent.” Donna Smith Donna moved into her ground floor apartment in November 2023. Donna and her husband have five grown-up children but as they moved out, their larger three-bedroom homes in Newton Heath became too much for them. Donna has suffered with arthritis for many years and the condition is worsening as she gets older. The stairs had become a daily challenge, and the large garden was too much for her to manage. The Council was able to step in and offered them a new ground floor two-bedroom apartment in the development. “I was delighted to be offered an apartment on one level. We have so much space and everything is so much easier for me.” Donna said. With everything on one level Donna no longer has stairs to worry about and the bathroom is a fully accessible wet room so that Donna no longer has to struggle to get in and out of the bath. The use of local labour, apprentices, and local suppliers has contributed to the overall impact of the scheme. A close relationship was also built with site neighbours including Bright Futures nursery with help provided towards improving outdoor spaces and equipment together with VIP visits for the nursery children. This investment is part of Manchester City Council’s commitment to build 36,000 new homes through to 2032 – part of the city’s ambitious housing strategy. 10,000 of these homes will be genuinely affordable to Manchester people, supporting our residents to live safe, happy and prosperous lives. Leader of the Council Cllr Bev Craig, said: “We are investing in our communities across the Manchester with a real focus on our district centres and affordable housing investment to meet the needs of our residents in their local areas. “Through our housing strategy we have committed to help build 36,000 new homes across the city in the next decade – and at least 10,000 of these will be genuinely affordable for Manchester people. “At this development, using Council-owned land, we have made sure that every house is available at social rent to help meet demand for high-quality affordable homes in this area – and ensure that as many people as possible can access these properties.” Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and employment, said: “I have followed this development from day one – through planning and I was onsite when the first diggers arrived. This development is a great example of what we want from our affordable housing investment. “Not only are we delivering new social housing for our residents and supporting them to move from larger homes into properties that better suit their needs – we have also brought a long-term brownfield piece of public land back into use. “These low carbon homes are also cheap to run, well insulated and heated through ground source heat pumps – supporting these residents to spend less on their energy during the cost-of-living crisis. “But most importantly, we aren’t just building property
Letchworth-based company, Willmott Dixon, has been appointed to conduct the £55m redevelopment of Hertfordshire Constabulary’s police headquarters in Welwyn Garden City. Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner David Lloyd has approved the proposals, which had already received planning permission. The redevelopment, in Stanborough, will involve demolishing eleven of the 1960s-era buildings at the site to make way for a brand new working environment for over 600 operational staff that will achieve a BREEAM Excellent for ultra-high sustainability standards. Taking up 9,000 square metres, the new headquarters will reduce the current Stanborough estate’s long-term running costs as well as provide a new home for services and departments based at the site including the Major Crime Unit, victim services and the dog unit, along with the senior leadership team and operational support staff. Vincent & Gorbing Associates have designed the building, and the work is expected to conclude in summer 2026. Procured via the SCAPE Construction framework, it is hoped that the building will respond to new police working methods by providing a space that addresses staff wellbeing. It is targeting WELL Platinum Certification, a benchmark for advancing health and wellbeing within a single building. Stewart Brundell, Willmott Dixon’s managing director for North London and the Northern Homes Counties, said: “We are delighted to be working alongside Hertfordshire Constabulary to deliver their new headquarters. “As a proud Hertfordshire-based company, it is fantastic to be starting on site to provide a new facility for our county’s police force. This project follows on from our successful delivery of the Bedfordshire Police’s new custody suite. “The new HQ will provide Hertfordshire Constabulary’s people with a sustainable, flexible working environment which can be utilised for police and community groups as well.” Mark Robinson, group chief executive at the SCAPE group, added: “The redevelopment of the headquarters of Hertfordshire Constabulary will provide a considerable boost to policing services in the area, bringing positive change and benefits to the local community. “Through our close-working relationship with Willmott Dixon, we are dedicated to providing efficiency and cost savings throughout the project, alongside delivering social value for the public.” Willmott Dixon have been contracted to work on a variety of projects for the emergency services, including a forensics centre for Thames Valley Police, and a fire station and training centre for West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
This National Apprenticeship Week, Enfield Council will be highlighting several success stories based at the landmark Meridian Water regeneration project. Local apprentices working with Enfield Council’s project partner, Taylor Woodrow, have been gaining site experience whilst completing their training. Their courses prepare them for the varied roles in the construction industry, such as engineering and quantity surveying. Currently, seven young people, all from Enfield, have benefitted from the opportunities created by Taylor Woodrow. Five of those apprentices have recently been supported to progress onto degree apprenticeships to further develop their learning and careers, with some learning from on-site experience at Meridian Water. Construction and Built Environment apprentice, Cameron Flanagan from Edmonton said, “The beginning of the apprenticeship was a whirlwind, but I quickly found my feet, leading to winning the NCE Apprentice of the Year award. I am now an Assistant Engineer with a lot more experience and responsibility. I’ve enjoyed every minute and I’m excited for what the future holds. I would encourage anyone who is unsure of what they want to do, to take advantage of the opportunities on their doorstep.” Quantity Surveyor Apprentice, Yassir Karram also from Edmonton said, “No two days are the same. Setbacks happen, but they’re part of the journey. Taylor Woodrow has always supported me to keep progressing. I’m pleased to finally be on site on such an impactful project and I’m really looking forward to absorbing as much as I can over the coming years.” The Deputy Leader of Enfield Council, Cllr Ergin Erbil, said, “Improving jobs and skills within the local community is a key objective of the Council. Projects like Meridian Water act as the foundation for us to regenerate the local area which enables the Council with its partners to provide apprenticeships and countless other opportunities.” Taylor Woodrow has two new live apprenticeship opportunities on offer at Meridian Water. Click on these links for the Level 4 Corporate Social Responsibility Apprentice and the Level 3 Health and Safety Apprentice to find out more information: https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeship/1000224840 https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeship/1000224839 Apply now, as these apprenticeships are in high demand. The closing date is 29 February 2024. National Apprenticeship Week takes place from 5 to 11 February and celebrates the achievements of apprentices around England. It aims to highlight the positive aspects of apprenticeships and encourage more people to consider an apprenticeship. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Site of former police station on Chiswick High Road to be redeveloped into 50-unit retirement community Birchgrove, the UK’s leading provider of rented retirement homes, has secured planning permission from Hounslow Council to redevelop the site of a former police station on Chiswick High Street into a fifty-unit retirement living community. Originally opened in 1972, the police station at 209-211 Chiswick High Road closed in 2021 and was sold by the Metropolitan Police to Birchgrove in April 2022. Redevelopment plans were originally submitted later that year, and, following two public consultations, planning permission has now been granted. The new high-quality one and two-bed self-contained rented apartments will be available to rent to those aged 65 and over, with facilities including a 24-hour concierge service, restaurant, licenced bar, courtyard garden and wellness suite. The site has been designed to benefit the wider local community, with a dedicated space on the ground floor available for local groups, charities and individuals to hire, as well as for the police to hold local resident meetings. The police will also be provided with a separate dedicated facilities space which will enable officers to charge their body-worn cameras, iPads and radios, and means a police base will be re-established on the High Road following the station’s closure. The scheme will also provide a £400,000 contribution towards affordable housing in Hounslow, and has been assessed as highly sustainable – achieving a minimum 77% reduction in carbon emissions over the regulatory baseline. The approval of the new Birchgrove community comes as demand for retirement accommodation across Hounslow increases: based on the 2015 city-wide London plan, Hounslow has a target of 135 new specialist homes for elderly people per year, meaning the redevelopment of the police station site will play a vital role in tackling Hounslow’s retirement accommodation shortage. The approval also comes as demand for senior living rented accommodation continues to surge: according to the English Housing Survey, the number of pensioners in rented accommodation is set to double to over 1m in the next decade. Birchgrove currently operates three retirement communities across the South-East, with three further communities under construction and now available for rental off-plan, and three further London sites acquired (Chiswick, Hampton Court and Mill Hill). Honor Barratt, Chief Executive, Birchgrove said: “After almost two years of consultation we are thrilled to have secured planning permission, and I would like to thank everyone – including the council and local residents – for both their support and suggestions to ensure the development is the best it can be and does Chiswick justice.“All too often older people are shoved to the end of a cul-de-sac somewhere, but not here. With our development bang in the middle of Chiswick High Street, our residents will be able to flourish at the heart of the community.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Boroughs in the capital warn they face a funding shortfall of at least £400m in 2024-25, as MPs prepare to vote on the local government finance settlement on Wednesday [1]. The cross-party London Councils group says that despite a 5.5% real-terms increase in their core spending power in the settlement, boroughs will continue to grapple with an “enormous” funding gap due to service pressures and costs. The £400m funding shortfall is roughly the same amount as London boroughs collectively spend on homelessness in a single year. London Councils highlights the following: London Councils says the spate of recent warnings of financial failure across local government is the result of many years of underfunding – with boroughs in the capital badly affected. The increased frequency of Section 114 notices in the last year should not be taken lightly and more are likely if the sector does not receive further funding support [2]. Last week the LUHC committee’s report on financial distress in local authorities urged ministers to address systemic underfunding in local government and tackle the £4bn gap in council finances nationally. Research from the Institute for Fiscal Studies think-tank found an estimated 17% gap between funding need and the actual levels of local government funding in London. This was by far the largest gap of any region in England. Outer London boroughs face a particularly tough outlook as they are amongst the lowest funded per capita in the country, with growing populations who are becoming more deprived. London Councils calculates the 2024-25 finance settlement will leave boroughs’ overall resources 15% lower in real terms than in 2010. Demand for services has risen substantially, as the capital’s population has grown by 800,000 during that period. Boroughs’ spending power per Londoner has decreased by around 30% in real terms since 2010. Cllr Claire Holland, Deputy Chair of London Councils, said: “Boroughs will continue to face a bleak financial outlook for the foreseeable future. “The increase in funding set out in the government’s finance settlement will not be enough to address the enormous funding gap we are grappling with. Massive pressures on local services, skyrocketing costs, and years of inadequate funding have left town hall finances teetering on a cliff edge. “It is in no one’s interests for a council to find itself in a Section 114 situation. Londoners want stability for their local services. We will continue to urge ministers to increase funding support and to work with us in making the local government finance system fairer and more sustainable.” London Councils is calling for the upcoming Spring Budget on 6 March to address the financial pressures facing boroughs. London Councils’ priorities for the government include: More information can be found in London Councils’ consultation response to the local government finance settlement, which is available here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Southwark Council, Ledbury Estate residents and the council’s development partner Higgins Partnerships celebrated the start of the first phase of building works at Ledbury Estate at a ground breaking ceremony on Monday 5 February 2024. The first phase of construction works is taking place on the site of the former Bromyard House and will provide 80 new homes across two blocks, made up of 45 council homes, 15 shared ownership homes and 20 homes for private sale. The new council homes will be prioritised for former residents who had to vacate their previous homes due to safety issues, and the shared ownership homes will be designated for leaseholders of the Ledbury towers. The start of these building works marks a key milestone in the redevelopment of the whole of Ledbury Estate, which the council has been working closely with local residents on for many years. The redevelopment was proposed after four towers on the estate, built in the 1960s, were identified as having serious structural and fire safety issues. Following extensive consultation Ledbury Estate residents voted in favour of demolishing the four blocks and providing modern high-quality new homes and a range of other improvements to the estate. Cllr Helen Dennis, Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development, said, “I’m so thrilled to see works get underway on this estate – it’s a really exciting marker in the long journey we have been on with residents to replace the previous homes in the towers with the fire safe, high-quality new homes our residents deserve. “Today we can celebrate being one step closer to Ledbury residents moving back onto the estate they know and love and bringing this wonderfully tight-knit community back together. “Thank you to all the residents who have worked so closely with us on this and helped to co-design a wonderful redevelopment which will transform the lives of everyone on this estate”. Dominic Higgins, Chief Operating Officer for Higgins Group comments, “We are delighted to be marking this important milestone on site with residents and Southwark Council. “As well as delivering these high quality new homes for local residents, we are committed to delivering community engagement and social value and ensuring we leave a lasting legacy for generations to come. “As work progresses, we will be working with the local community to provide training and employment opportunities as well supporting social value opportunities and providing volunteering hours to community projects.” In total, the Ledbury Estate redevelopment will provide 340 new homes, 224 of which will be council homes to replace those from the old towers. The council will also build an additional 36 new council homes, taking the total to 260 council homes, as well as 15 shared ownership homes and 75 homes for private sale. The wider neighbourhood will also benefit from landscaping and new outdoor communal areas with a large, multi-purpose garden courtyard with space for community growing, a play area and tree-lined paths creating new pedestrian and cycle friendly connections between the Old Kent Road, Pencraig Way and Bird in Bush Park to the south-west. The first phase of building works is expected to complete in spring 2026 and the entire Ledbury Estate redevelopment is expected to be finished by 2030. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
