Dandara Living is pleased to welcome Sam Smith back to its senior leadership team, as Operations Director, with responsibility for the company’s current portfolio of almost 3,000 units under management. Sam joins following an extremely busy last 12 months for the business. This included the completion and launch of Dandara
Casa by Moda, the single-family homes (SFH) division of developer and operator Moda Group, has completed the acquisition of 100 units which form part of a wider mixed-residential masterplan in Doncaster. To deliver what will be their third operational neighbourhood across the UK, Casa have acquired 100 high-quality family homes
Primary school pupils from Bilsthorpe Flying High Academy (BFHA) in Newark have recently helped plant three trees at Harron Homes’ nearby development, Bilsthorpe Chase. These trees are the first to be planted at the development, which is set to become home to over 1,200 native trees in the next 2-3
Bellway has been given the go ahead to build a new 220-home development in Hailsham, which will feature seven acres of public open space. The housebuilder is to deliver the new properties on a 24-acre site off Mill Road after receiving planning permission from Wealden District Council. The development, which
Local housebuilder Redrow is continuing its support of nearby Ashford Rugby Football Club (ARFC) with brand new kits for the new year. Redrow South East, currently building a community at Crown Hill View in Ashford, Kent, is supporting the academy. Redrow’s sponsorship means each player within the academy, aged between
Notting Hill Genesis has appointed Higgins Partnerships as its development partner for ‘Saxon Wharf’, a mixed-use development on the edge of Deptford Creek in Royal Borough of Greenwich. The scheme will feature 145 one, two and three-bedroom homes, with a tenure mix of 25% London Affordable Rent, 25% Shared Ownership
Shared ownership provider St Arthur Homes has unveiled its vibrant new branding, designed by creative specialists AF OLIVER. Featuring soft, muted shades of teal, yellow, salmon, charcoal and white, the branding has been created to position St Arthur Homes as the industry leader it is – posited around the central
BLOCWORK, the partnership between Network Rail and property developer bloc Group has completed its first build-to-rent scheme for Grainger plc in Nottingham. The Barnum – a 348-home scheme situated adjacent to the city’s railway station – was delivered in partnership between blocwork and Grainger, the UK’s largest listed residential landlord, and marks the regeneration of a significant area of
Contractor Clegg Construction has held a topping out ceremony at an 11-storey apartment complex being built for property developer Rise Homes in Leeds. Spinners Yard is a 185-apartment, U-shaped, build-to-rent scheme in Regent Street in the Mabgate area of Leeds City Centre. It is the second build-to-rent project Clegg Construction
Last week, housebuilding SMEs were invited to a Future Homes Hub (FHH) event, hosted by leading housebuilder Redrow, at its Stone Hill Meadow development. Leaders from across the industry gathered at the site, which was the first to launch since Redrow committed to install Air Source Heat Pumps across all
Dandara Living is pleased to welcome Sam Smith back to its senior leadership team, as Operations Director, with responsibility for the company’s current portfolio of almost 3,000 units under management. Sam joins following an extremely busy last 12 months for the business. This included the completion and launch of Dandara Living’s second Build to Rent development in Birmingham, and the forward sale and funding of the 391-unit Renshaw’s Yard development in Staines, to Greystar Real Estate Partners. The company, which has a growing portfolio of almost 8,000 home and student beds across the UK, also recently secured a five-year renewal instruction from ECE Real Estate Partners to continue to manage their BtR portfolio in the UK. Speaking about his appointment, Sam Smith said: “In spite of the challenging economic and regulatory environment, Dandara Living has ambitious plans for the future. “Having successfully launched a further development in Birmingham and secured the forward sale of Renshaw’s Yard to Greystar at a time when year-on-year transaction volumes were significantly lower, is further recognition of Dandara Living’s ability to attract major industry players and the confidence in our brand, quality and offering. This a very exciting time to be part of the team.” In addition to heading up Dandara Living Management, Sam will also work with Dandara Living’s business development unit to explore opportunities to expand the management arm of the company through offering services to other development partners. Jim Davies, CEO of Dandara Living, comments: “This is a pivotal time for the business as we continue to develop our pipeline and opportunities to further evolve our operational management platform and offering. Sam has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the sector, and I am very pleased to have him on board.” Dandara Living currently operates six BTR developments in the UK and has a further 17 sites in the pipeline. Its next development of 342 BTR units plus 5,597sqft of resident amenity at Granary Quay on the Clyde waterfront in Glasgow is now nearing completion. In addition, Stafford Yard, the company’s first development in Bristol comprising 295 apartments and 5,164sqft resident amenity, is set to complete later this year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Casa by Moda, the single-family homes (SFH) division of developer and operator Moda Group, has completed the acquisition of 100 units which form part of a wider mixed-residential masterplan in Doncaster. To deliver what will be their third operational neighbourhood across the UK, Casa have acquired 100 high-quality family homes for rent from Albemarle Homes, with houses ranging in size from two to four-bedrooms. The neighbourhood, which will be called ‘Casa at Westmoor Grange’, is located on the outskirts of one of the most desirable suburbs in the city, Armthorpe, which provides excellent commuter links to the M18 and is just a 10-minute drive to central Doncaster. The neighbourhood is also close to local facilities including Armthorpe Leisure Centre, Doncaster Racecourse and Doncaster Golf Range. The acquisition follows in the wake of Casa’s first Yorkshire neighbourhood in Leeds – Casa, Abbey Court – and is a further step in Casa’s ambition to secure 5,000 new homes within the next three years. The first phase of Casa’s maiden neighbourhood in Glasgow, Casa, Vista Park, is already fully let. The 19-hectare Westmoor Grange neighbourhood marks the first time that Casa has formed part of a wider housing masterplan, with their rental homes expected to welcome its residents in Summer 2024. The entire masterplan comprises just over 400 homes, including affordable housing and OMS. Single family housing provides quality rental homes, purpose built to high environmental standards for a sustainable long-term rental model and managed by a professional landlord, as opposed to the traditional private landlord model. Casa residents at Westmoor Grange will receive a deposit-free, pet friendly living as part of Casa’s industry-leading inclusive offer which places service, technology, wellbeing and sustainability at the fore of its next generation communities. They will also benefit from the exclusive MyCasa app, which provides residents with 24/7 access to customer service and maintenance reporting, as well as inclusive resident events, services and offers. Following the deal, Casa will continue to work with AlbemarleHomes to complete the delivery of the new homes to the high standard expected by the Casa brand and its residents. This includes embedding Moda’s technology partner Utopi’s smart environmental sensors into the homes, which enable residents to monitor everything from room temperature to air quality and light pollution. Homes will also benefit from additional sustainable elements from solar PV panels to EV chargers, as Moda remain on their journey to Net Zero by 2030. The rise of the SFH sector will see residents in family rental homes gain access to the same high levels of service and quality associated with BTR city centre living. Matthew Townson, Director of Development and Projects at Casa by Moda, said: “With Casa at Westmoor Grange, we’re raising the bar when it comes to rental accommodation in Doncaster. The site’s acquisition also marks two significant milestones for us, as it’s our second development in our home region of Yorkshire and our first inclusion within a wider housing masterplan. “Looking ahead we have ambitious plans for the future and are looking forward to collaborating with leading housebuilders like Albemarle Homes, as well as local authorities and landowners to deliver more new homes across the UK, as we progress towards our target of securing 5,000 new homes in the next 3 years.” Casa by Moda are working with Albemarle Homes, a leading family run housing developer to deliver the homes. Darryl Barker, Managing Director at Albemarle Homes, said: “Our ethos, and the reason Albemarle Homes was established, is to provide quality built properties that become a home from the very start. Our Albemarle Standard is what sets us apart and we’re pleased that Casa by Moda has identified this and made the decision to incorporate a number of our Westmoor Grange homes into its unique private rented portfolio. “We feel it is important that consumers are given a range of options to meet their own individual circumstances and support this alternative choice. “Our ongoing commitment to quality construction aligns with Casa by Moda’s vision, in delivering outstanding homes that go beyond mere residences and, we are confident that our properties will contribute to the flourishing communities they strive to create.” Ahead of welcoming its first residents this summer, pre-registrations of interest for homes in Casa at Westmoor Grange can be made via the Casa website. For more information on acquisition or collaboration opportunities please contact Rob Gill: rob.gill@modaliving.com To find out more visit: www.casa.moda Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Primary school pupils from Bilsthorpe Flying High Academy (BFHA) in Newark have recently helped plant three trees at Harron Homes’ nearby development, Bilsthorpe Chase. These trees are the first to be planted at the development, which is set to become home to over 1,200 native trees in the next 2-3 years. The official planting ceremony saw three BFHA pupils assist both Carrier Landscapers and Harron Home’s Bilsthorpe Chase Site Team in planting three native oaks on the development’s village green. Perhaps the most familiar of British species, the oaks, once grown, will complement Bilsthorpe Chase’s peaceful rural feel while adding touches of greenery to the picturesque development. The pupils of Bilsthorpe Flying High Academy were ready with spades and hi-vis to help plant the trees. Despite the poor weather conditions on the day, they proved themselves intrepid and handy gardeners, patiently waiting out the winter rain before venturing outdoors during a spot of sunshine to get the job done. The Bilsthorpe Chase site team, led by Site Manager Kevin Adlington, was on hand to guide the pupils and help them plant the trees. Assisting them were Carrier Landscapers’ David Hazeldine, Ben Grabham, and Joe Carnell, who provided their own expertise to ensure the pupils planted the trees safely and securely. Once all the trees have been planted, they will contribute a great deal towards reducing the levels of air pollution and making the local environment more biodiverse. Developments like Bilsthorpe Chase take these well-known benefits of rural living and combine them with the convenience and comforts of a more modern lifestyle. Built to the highest specification and designed to be both stylish and comfortable, the variety of two, three, four and five bedroom homes are perfect for couples, families, and individuals alike. With Sherwood Pines only a few miles away, and myriad scenic walks and cycling routes surrounding the development, Bilsthorpe Chase provides its residents with the best of both worlds. Claire Gibbins, Sales Manager for Harron Homes North Midlands, said: “At Harron Homes we know that even small touches of greenery can transform the look and feel of a development. But woodland areas and forests are also vital in improving the biodiversity of the areas we build in. This planting marks the first step in what is set to be a really great change for the development. “It was great to see the next generation get involved with nature in this way. The kids were a real help on the day, and we hope they will be proud to see the oaks grow and blossom in the coming years.” Samantha Leek, Headteacher at BFHA, said: “It was wonderful to give the pupils an opportunity to get some hands-on experience planting trees. Through our curriculum we aim to provide our pupils with a wealth of knowledge on the science and history of the planet and its environment. Being able to couple their learning with practical experience such as this provides a brilliant opportunity for enhancing their education, and it’s a key part of what we aim to do at BFHA. Of course, more importantly, it was a lot of fun too!” Homes at Bilsthorpe Chase start at £318,995 and the development can be found at Kirklington Road, Bilsthorpe, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG22 8SH. For more information on Bilsthorpe Chase please visit: https://www.harronhomes.com/find-a-home/nottinghamshire/bilsthorpe-chase/. For more information on Bilsthorpe Flying High Academy please visit: https://www.bilsthorpeflyinghighacademy.co.uk/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bellway has been given the go ahead to build a new 220-home development in Hailsham, which will feature seven acres of public open space. The housebuilder is to deliver the new properties on a 24-acre site off Mill Road after receiving planning permission from Wealden District Council. The development, which will be known as Woodbury Manor, will consist of 143 three and four-bedroom houses for private sale and 77 affordable homes, including one and two-bedroom apartments and two and three-bedroom houses for rent or shared ownership. The plans also include a convenience store located at the site entrance off Mill Road. The public open space will include an exercise trail and play areas with a range of recreational equipment for all ages, including toddlers, older children and adults. The development will also feature wildflower grassland and wetland features to enhance biodiversity, while bat boxes, hedgehog domes, habitat piles and bee bricks will help protect and encourage local wildlife. Bellway will also pay a community infrastructure levy of £3.3 million as part of over £4 million investment in local facilities and services. Chris Moore, Managing Director for Bellway Kent, said: “We have worked closely with the local authority and have taken on board its advice and comments to present a project which will create the optimum design and layout for this site. “This will be a sustainable development where every home will be fitted with an electric vehicle charging point and benefit from the energy savings and green credentials associated with all of Bellway’s new-build energy-efficient homes. “A key feature of Woodbury Manor will be the seven acres of public open space which will provide children’s play areas and an exercise trail. These facilities will be open for public use so will benefit not only residents living on the site but the wider community as a whole. There will also be a network of footpaths and cycleways to encourage residents to use greener forms of transport. “This development will feature a sustainable drainage system, while the landscaping plan for site includes planting new species and retaining the existing trees and hedgerows. “Alongside the community infrastructure levy, we will be providing a further £975,000 to fund upgrades and improvements in local infrastructure. Within this £500,000 will help go toward improving the local bus services to allow people to leave their cars at home and £10,000 for the extension of a 30mph zone near the development and parking management measures on Mill Road.” Work is due to start on construction in late summer, with the first homes due to be released for sale in autumn/winter 2024. For more information about Woodbury Manor call 01323 315389 or visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/kent/woodbury-manor. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Local housebuilder Redrow is continuing its support of nearby Ashford Rugby Football Club (ARFC) with brand new kits for the new year. Redrow South East, currently building a community at Crown Hill View in Ashford, Kent, is supporting the academy. Redrow’s sponsorship means each player within the academy, aged between 15 to 18, plus coaches, will have a brand-new, high-quality kit to wear during their training sessions and weekly matches. In addition to brand new training shirts, the donation includes a soft shell jacket, water bottle and other accessories within the ‘goodie bags’. Founded in 1885, ARFC has been at the heart of the community for 138 years. Based at Kinneys Field, just a stone’s throw from Crown Hill View, ARFC comprises four adult teams, a ladies’ team, and multiple youth teams. Run by volunteers, ARFC relies on local businesses to help it support residents to have fun and be active. Ben Fewsdale, Managing Director at Redrow South East, comments: “As part of our commitment to create thriving communities, we’re proud to support Ashford Rugby Football Club and its players. “Local sports teams play a crucial role in enabling communities to lead active lifestyles and get to know one another. They create a fun, safe environment for both adults and children to learn new skills, that they can transfer to either school or work, and help people make friends for life. “Ashford is home to a variety of community groups which make the area a great place to live. We know that behind these organisations are volunteers and that many of the organisations rely on the support of local businesses like us to be able to continue. We are delighted to support ARFC and wish them luck for the year ahead!” Tim Scrivens, Coach at Ashford Rugby Football Club Academy, adds: “Redrow has been a long-time supporter of Ashford Rugby club, primarily supporting one team of players as they transition through the club. Redrow’s initial involvement, with the team, started in 2019 funding training tops to keep players warm and dry throughout the cold winters, umbrellas for parents, and new, much-needed, equipment to ensure the team was coached safely. Earlier this year, we took the whole squad to The Rugby Youth Festival, Portugal; Redrow’s support provided a ‘tour kit’ for all lads with the funding to ensure that no player, who wanted to go, was left behind, providing some players with a once in a lifetime experience. “This season, Redrow has been even more generous, extending their support to encompass all age groups that make up the Ashford RFC Academy. I’d like to take this opportunity to say a very sincere thank you to Redrow for their continued support, it has really made a huge difference, over the years, to our community. I hope that the collaboration continues for years to come.” With first completions expected in Spring 2024, Crown Hill View comprises a collection of three and four bedroom semi-detached and detached homes that are ready to reserve now. Each home is heated by an air source heat pump and comes with underfloor heating as standard on the ground floor, helping customers to lower their energy use. As well as being a desirable feature for customers, the lack of ground-floor radiators gives customers even more living space. Crown Hill View is set within the charming county of Kent, lying on the Southern edge of the North Downs, making it ideal for those looking for a balance between town and countryside living. The development is approximately one mile away from Ashford town centre, providing access to plenty of amenities in and around the historic market town. Interested buyers can find out more about the award-winning homes on offer by visiting the brand new Customer Experience Suite, opening on Saturday 13th January 2024, and the new four bedroom Oxford show home, styled by Redrow’s award winning interior design team. Alternatively, visit https://www.redrow.co.uk/developments/crown-hill-view-conningbrook-212680. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Notting Hill Genesis has appointed Higgins Partnerships as its development partner for ‘Saxon Wharf’, a mixed-use development on the edge of Deptford Creek in Royal Borough of Greenwich. The scheme will feature 145 one, two and three-bedroom homes, with a tenure mix of 25% London Affordable Rent, 25% Shared Ownership and 50% private sale homes. Ground floor commercial space will create employment and business opportunities and provide significant benefit to Greenwich’s local economy. Designed by architects, BPTW, the part 13, part 17 storey building uses a simple material palette of light and dark brick, concrete soffits, and a plinth of textured metalwork to celebrate the industrial legacy of the area. Each home will have a private balcony with many benefiting from dual aspect views across London. Steve Leakey, Managing Director of Higgins Partnerships comments, “We are delighted to once again be working in partnership with Notting Hill Genesis at Saxon Wharf, having successfully delivered a number of award-winning developments together. “Saxon Wharf will help address local housing need by providing 50% quality affordable homes and will enhance the character of the local area with the creation of a new public plaza and pedestrian routes providing access to the Creek. We look forward to starting work shortly.” As well as the new public plaza and children’s play spaces, a new tree lined boulevard will lead to the Creek walkways and a private podium for residents to enjoy. The local ecology will also be revived by promoting native plants to increase the wildlife within and along the Creek’s edge. John Hughes, Deputy Chief Executive and Group Director of Development of Notting Hill Genesis, said: “Saxon Wharf is in a fantastic location offering fantastic views across London as well as high-quality public spaces for families and individuals to enjoy. “It means a lot to us to be able to provide 50% affordable housing in such a sough-after area, and even more so when it is supported by state-of-the-art heating systems that will help residents keep their bills low. We look forward to working with Higgins on this exciting project.” The new homes will be built in accordance with the London Plan, providing high quality, energy efficient and sustainable homes. A communal heat network powered by a combined heat and power unit will be included along with photovoltaic panels and air source heat pumps to minimise the impact of fuel poverty on residents. The building will also feature a sedum roof. To promote sustainable travel, the development will be car free with parking for disabled badge holders and cycle storage provided for a minimum of 240 bicycles. Excellent transport links to Central London and the South East are just a five-minute walk away via Greenwich DLR and rail station. For further information about Higgins Partnerships please visit www.higginspartnerships.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Shared ownership provider St Arthur Homes has unveiled its vibrant new branding, designed by creative specialists AF OLIVER. Featuring soft, muted shades of teal, yellow, salmon, charcoal and white, the branding has been created to position St Arthur Homes as the industry leader it is – posited around the central message: ‘What would St Arthur do?’. Adverts have been created to support the launch which seek to dispel any stigma around shared ownership, or ‘the elephant in the room’, telling would-be buyers that although St Arthur is not the biggest shared ownership provider around, it is the biggest thinker. It’s a name people can trust, one which has been cementing its place as a thought leader in the industry for some time now. Louise Mills, Sales Director for St Arthur Homes, said: “Our new branding reflects who we are – forward-thinking experts that buyers can trust. We want people to know that they can rely on us, that they can turn to us and that they can ask us anything. “There can be some stigma around shared ownership but we are on a mission to change that, and to show how fantastic it can be as an option – not just for first-time buyers but those who have already owned a home too. “When people discover shared ownership as an option and explore it further, we really do want them to ask themselves: ‘What would St Arthur do?’. We are confident that we have the answers that can help many onto or up the housing ladder, in a home they truly love.” For more information on the energy-efficient new homes provided by St Arthur Homes, visit starthurhomes.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
BLOCWORK, the partnership between Network Rail and property developer bloc Group has completed its first build-to-rent scheme for Grainger plc in Nottingham. The Barnum – a 348-home scheme situated adjacent to the city’s railway station – was delivered in partnership between blocwork and Grainger, the UK’s largest listed residential landlord, and marks the regeneration of a significant area of brownfield land. The scheme is the first delivered in partnership between blocwork and Grainger, and follows the recent announcement that they will partner again with the potential to deliver some 2,000 new purpose-built BTR homes across sites in major cities across the UK. Richard Thomas, development director at bloc Group, said: “blocwork was created with the aim of repurposing railway land and buildings into sustainable long-term assets, and The Barnum has been a great project to kick the partnership off. “As well as the partnership with Network Rail, we’ve worked very closely with Grainger and the contractor Graham to create a development that not only brings much-needed new homes to Nottingham, but also brings life to an area of the city that had previously been restricted to railway infrastructure.” blocwork specialises in bringing forward sites owned by Network Rail, making use of under-used land and buildings adjacent to railway infrastructure. Robin Dobson, group property director at Network Rail said: “Combining Network Rail’s infrastructure experience with the private sector development expertise of bloc Group has proved to be a fruitful partnership, which is clear by the successful launch of The Barnum. “Delivering developments through Partnerships like blocwork are important for Network Rail Property as we look to build housing and mixed-use regeneration across our brownfield estate in a way that can be accelerated and scaled across our portfolio.” blocwork is one of several partnerships bloc Group is undertaking, with the aim of sustainably and sensitively regenerating challenging sites for residential development. Alongside the work it is doing with Network Rail, bloc Group has a long-term partnership with the Canal & River Trust, which has delivered hundreds of new homes while providing funds for the upkeep of the nation’s historic rivers and canals. Richard said: “Our success has been down to our partnership approach with occupiers, property and infrastructure owners. By working closely with the right partners, we can deliver impactful developments that maximise economic and social value from sites that were previously underperforming or underutilised. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Contractor Clegg Construction has held a topping out ceremony at an 11-storey apartment complex being built for property developer Rise Homes in Leeds. Spinners Yard is a 185-apartment, U-shaped, build-to-rent scheme in Regent Street in the Mabgate area of Leeds City Centre. It is the second build-to-rent project Clegg Construction has undertaken in partnership with Rise Homes and follows the recent completion of The Ironworks – a £28.7m, 11-storey apartment development in Sheffield. Featuring a mix of studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments, Spinners Yard is due to be completed in 2025. Clegg Construction operations director, Darren Chapman, said: “We are very pleased to have reached the key topping out stage for this development. This will allow us to continue adding the external walls and glazing up the building, followed by the internal fit-out. “Spinners Yard is regenerating brownfield land and will breathe new life into the area, providing a desirable residential development with a range of properties to rent.” The ground floor of Spinners Yard will incorporate a plant room, enclosed parking for cars, motor bikes and cycles to one half with the other containing the entrance lobby and reception, the centre management office, a lounge, break out and work spaces, and a gym. Two staircases/lift areas provide access to upper residential floors. The first floor will incorporate a residents’ garden space with another spacious roof garden on the tenth floor. Once completed, the development will feed into the Leeds PIPES District Heat Network. Nigel Rawlings, CEO of Rise Homes, added: “We are delighted with Clegg’s progress at Spinner’s Yard and we are very much looking forward to the completion of this sustainable development linked to the Leeds City energy from waste plant offering high-quality, spacious apartments at both affordable and market rents featuring many other environmental benefits.” During construction work on the Spinners Yard site, Clegg Construction has been hosting groups of Leeds College of Building Trade and Management students, aged 16 to 19, to provide them with valuable insight into the sector. The students have also been visiting the site next door, where Clegg Construction is building The Fabric Works, a 402-bed student accommodation scheme. In addition, Clegg Construction is sponsoring a local Army Reserve (formerly the Territorial Army) squadron in Leeds by providing T-shirts worn as part of the uniform and during physical training, and is currently collecting food, toiletries and other items for the Blessed of the Father Food Bank, part of Leeds Food Aid Network, at its Spinners Yard and The Fabric Works sites. The company is very familiar with Leeds, having delivered the external recladding of the Premier Inn Leeds City Centre Arena hotel in 2021, the replacement of flammable cladding on the high-rise Waterside Apartments development during the same year, and the design and build of the Premier Inn Leeds Headingly Hotel (constructed on top of the Arndale shopping centre) in 2017. More recently, Clegg Construction started working on a multi-million-pound refurbishment of the Cosmopolitan Hotel in the city. Clegg Construction is a Midlands, East Anglia, and Yorkshire-based construction firm specialising in the delivery of public and private sector projects. The company works with organisations of all sizes and specialties across a range of different sectors. For more information visit www.cleggconstruction.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Last week, housebuilding SMEs were invited to a Future Homes Hub (FHH) event, hosted by leading housebuilder Redrow, at its Stone Hill Meadow development. Leaders from across the industry gathered at the site, which was the first to launch since Redrow committed to install Air Source Heat Pumps across all its new, upcoming developments. Stone Hill Meadow is a prime example of Redrow’s eco-electric homes with underfloor heating and other energy efficient features fitted as standard. The Future Homes Hub has been focusing on driving greater collaboration to support successful delivery of the Future Homes Standard alongside other priorities in meeting the sector’s climate and environmental goals such as water efficiency improvements, biodiversity net gain and improving sustainability metrics. The event was organised by the FHH Implementation Board, which is Co-Chaired by Redrow CEO Matthew Pratt, as part of the collaboration efforts and to promote knowledge sharing within the industry ahead of the Future Homes Standard being implemented in 2025. Matthew Pratt, CEO of Redrow and Co-Chair of the FHS Implementation Board, said: “SMEs are a vital part of the industry transition to new, low carbon forms of energy. Having started out as a small business ourselves, nurturing new SME’s and offering a helping hand will always be at the heart of our culture. As housebuilders, we must work together to offer customers the best homes possible, that are fit for the future and for the planet. Redrow will continue collaborating and sharing knowledge to achieve these goals, through more events as well as online tools and webinars.” MD of Carr & Carr (Builders) Ltd and National President of the Federation of Master Builders commented: “These events are so important for SMEs like us who don’t have the technical departments, facilities and expertise of volume housebuilders. Redrow’s willingness to open their doors, collaborate and share learnings within the industry, when it comes to sustainability, energy efficiency and the implementation of the Future Homes Standard, will be pivotal in facilitating a level playing field for SMEs like us, as we move towards the 2025 goals.” Ed Lockhart, CEO of the Future Homes Hub, said: “Visiting Redrow’s Stone Hill Meadow development provided a very engaging way, particularly for SMEs who attended, to understand some of their learnings since launching heat pumps as standard across their business. By launching at scale, well ahead of the Future Homes Standard implementation deadline, they’ve been able to collate an enormous amount of learnings across the technical, design, supply chain and commercial aspects of the net zero transition. We know that sharing these learnings with SMEs is absolutely vital, and we’ll be encouraging other housebuilders to do the same, as well as implementing more tools to make these learnings accessible to everyone within the industry.” The Future Homes Standard 2025 (FHS) represents a significant and early milestone in England’s pathway to net zero, with substantial implications for how new homes are built. Successful implementation is therefore critical both for the homebuilding sector and more widely government and society. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
