Leading housebuilder Redrow has developed and launched its innovative new mobile app, helping homeowners find their dream new home in just a few taps. Building on its reputation for digital innovation and customer experience, the app is the first and only one of its type on iOS and Android. Built
Dorset-headquartered housebuilder and developer AJC Group has completed its £10m Sonnet development, located on the iconic West Cliff in Bournemouth. Boasting uninterrupted views of the sea, the five-storey scheme comprises 14 two and three-bedroom luxury apartments, with over half already sold. Construction started on the site in December 2021 and
SevenHomes, the regional housebuilder by SevenCapital Group, has submitted a detailed planning application to build 147 new homes on surplus land at North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College, Nuneaton, alongside an application for the college to build a new 3G Sports Pitch. The housing proposed within the application will be
Risby Homes, the East Yorkshire family-owned housing developer, is this week proud to mark its 30th anniversary, celebrating three decades of building award-winning homes in the region. This significant milestone commemorates the journey that began when Mark Barrett, Founder of Risby Homes, first broke ground on his inaugural development on
Award winning housebuilder Cruden Homes is bringing 56 high quality homes to North Toryglen after receiving planning approval from Glasgow City Council. Supporting Glasgow’s large-scale regeneration initiative – Clyde Gateway – the growing development is situated next to one of the city’s eight Transformational Regeneration Areas and champions wider plans
Dandara has donated £4,050 to Breast Cancer Now to help in the fight against the disease which claims more than 11,500 lives in the UK every year. The independent housebuilder took part in ‘wear it pink’ day on 20 October, organising a host of activities and donating £50 from the
Local housebuilder Crest Nicholson has announced it has acquired new land in the market town of Faversham. The 13-acre site will deliver 88 much needed, high quality new homes to the area, 35% of which will be affordable. The development, which will be called Crown Meadows, follows the sell out
Harron Homes has recently appointed Lee Kirkland as Construction Director for its Yorkshire region. With over 20 years in the construction industry, Lee brings a wealth of experience to his new role overseeing the development and delivery of luxury homes across Yorkshire. Starting out as an apprentice bricklayer at age
Bellway has submitted detailed plans to build 153 homes as part of the first phase of the regeneration of a former unlicensed tip site in Redbridge. The development, to be known as Kingsgate Park, would deliver a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments and three and four-bedroom houses, including
Ashley Ridgway from Dandara Northern Home Counties has scooped the title of National Site Manager of the Year from independent housebuilder Dandara. Ashley won top honours in the annual award scheme in recognition of his work at Saxon Park in Biddenham, Beds. He was picked from over 30 site managers across
Leading housebuilder Redrow has developed and launched its innovative new mobile app, helping homeowners find their dream new home in just a few taps. Building on its reputation for digital innovation and customer experience, the app is the first and only one of its type on iOS and Android. Built to support market demand and customer needs, the latest research from Redrow shows that almost 40% of prospective homebuyers will use a property app to search for their new home. Redrow’s new app caters to homebuyers’ behaviour while offering the quickest and easiest way to find their new home. The research shows the top five ‘must have’ home features when searching online, which includes: having a garden (52%), a high energy efficiency rating (34%), natural light (32%), off road parking (31%), and space to work from home (26%)*. The Redrow app builds on this with customers able to create personalised searches of their own ‘must have’ features, offering a quick and convenient way to find a home that suits their needs and preferences. Key benefits and features include: Matt Grayson, Group Customer & Marketing Director at Redrow, said: “We are excited to launch our first-ever app, thanks to the dedicated hard work and expertise of our in-house IT & digital marketing teams, to help homebuyers looking for a beautiful new energy-efficient Redrow home. The app is the next step in Redrow’s ongoing investment to help customers find eco-friendly homes and builds on our industry-first online technology experience. Using the personalised search, customers can get instant notifications whenever new homes that meet their criteria become available and book and manage appointments all within the app – making it the quickest and easiest way to find your new home.”Making further strides in digital innovation, Redrow offers a unique digital customer journey. The launch of the app follows the premium homebuilder’s recent award win for the Best Application of Technology at the UK Customer Satisfaction Awards 2023, and Best Customer Satisfaction Initiative at Housebuilder awards, highlighting how the business has successfully deployed technology to improve its customer service and satisfaction offering. Download the Redrow app today on Apple and Android here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Dorset-headquartered housebuilder and developer AJC Group has completed its £10m Sonnet development, located on the iconic West Cliff in Bournemouth. Boasting uninterrupted views of the sea, the five-storey scheme comprises 14 two and three-bedroom luxury apartments, with over half already sold. Construction started on the site in December 2021 and was finished this November. The completion event for the development was marked by a ribbon cutting and a speech from managing director of AJC Group, Sebastian Janes. The event was attended by residents, estate agents Winkworth Westbourne and Frost & Co. Bournemouth, and solicitors Trethowans. The £10m development is in one of the town’s most sought-after locations, with expansive coastal views and easy access to Bournemouth’s award-winning beaches. 50% of the apartments have now been sold, with only seven apartments still available. Prices for the remaining apartments range from £555,000 to £825,000, with the largest apartment being over 1000 sq ft. Seb Janes, managing director of AJC Group, said: “It was a fantastic event to celebrate the completion of this scheme and an opportunity to recognise all the teams that were involved in the construction and delivery of this development. This luxury apartment building has been sensitively designed to be in keeping with the historic local surroundings, and is one of the first new developments on the West Cliff, with easy access to seven miles of white sandy beaches as well as the newly refurbished The Nici Hotel. “In a year that has proved extremely challenging for many housebuilders and developers, we’re proud to have delivered this outstanding beachfront development on time and within budget. As a business, we are committed to supporting the local economy and this project enabled us to work with 26 contractors and created 150 jobs.” All the apartments have been constructed to a high EPC-C or B rated specification, including air source heat pumps for each dwelling, enabling purchasers and residents to lower their carbon footprint and ultimately reduce their energy bills. Designed by ARC Architects, the striking traditional building with contemporary interiors has professionally landscaped communal gardens, secure underground parking and bike storage, as well as private outdoor space in the form of either a terrace or balcony. Each apartment is fitted with herringbone LVT flooring, quartz worktops, shaker style matt kitchen units, with premium appliances throughout. The hotel style bathrooms feature luxury sanitaryware. All homes have access to a communal lift from the basement parking level to the top floor. AJC Group will provide all new purchasers with a £1,500 voucher for custom-fitted wardrobes by Haroys. Several popular bars and restaurants are walkable from the development, while many popular south coast landmarks are also within easy reach including Durdle Door and The New Forest National Park. The Nici Hotel, which is just along from the Sonnet apartments, recently had a £27m refurbishment and offers an array of leisure facilities to local residents via a membership. Poole-headquartered AJC Group was crowned Fast Rising Property Business of the Year and Housebuilder of the Year at the 2022 South Coast Property Awards, and was shortlisted in 2023 for a record five categories. The developer also recently scooped Affordable Housing Development of the Year for its Herbert Avenue scheme in Bournemouth at the 2023 Insider South West Property Awards. AJC Group currently has three sites under construction including Lindsay Road and The Sloop, which are located in Poole. In Dorchester a partnership project with Aster to deliver 57 affordable homes is well underway. AJC Group is on track to deliver over 200 mixed-tenure homes by Spring 2024, reflecting a total construction value in excess of £100m. The firm has become one of the most active residential development specialists across the Wessex region and has made a commitment to build 500 affordable homes by 2028. To make an appointment to view the Sonnet apartments, or for further details, contact: Winkworth Westbourne, tel: 01202 76763, or visit: https://www.winkworth.co.uk/properties/sales/west-cliff-gardens-bournemouth-dorset-bh2/WBN220250 Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
SevenHomes, the regional housebuilder by SevenCapital Group, has submitted a detailed planning application to build 147 new homes on surplus land at North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College, Nuneaton, alongside an application for the college to build a new 3G Sports Pitch. The housing proposed within the application will be well designed, in fitting with the existing college buildings and local surroundings, to be delivered in two phases. The homes will be a mix of tenure, including one-bedroom apartments and maisonettes, two- and three-bedroom houses through to 2.5-storey four-bedroom houses, to appeal to all family sizes and budgets. Of the 147 homes, 38 (over 25%) will also be affordable housing. The submission follows outline planning permission which was granted in 2020 and, alongside introducing new homes to help meet local need, it proposes to bring significant and direct benefits to the college. The proceeds of the land sale will enable the introduction of the new state-of-the art pitch, and crucially will allow the college to invest in new and improved facilities for students. Marion Plant, OBE FCGI, Principal and Chief Executive of NWSLC said, “This marks an important milestone in our plans to invest in improving our college, ensuring that students at our Nuneaton Campus have access to the contemporary learning environments that they deserve and benefit from the same high standard facilities already available at our other campus locations. “The funds raised from the sale of this surplus land on campus will create exciting modern facilities that will help to unlock the full potential of technical skills, across all industries, based on an enhanced digital capability. Our aim is to ensure that all students, now and in the future, as well as the local community, and local and regional businesses, benefit from our vision.” Richard Hodson, Head of planning at SevenHomes said: “We’re really pleased to be able to bring forward this detailed application for a development that will be of huge, direct benefit to both the college and surrounding communities through enhanced amenity provision, as well as the introduction of sensitively planned and much needed new homes for the area.” Subject to full planning approval, work on site is expected to commence in early 2025. For more information on SevenHomes, please visit: www.sevenhomes.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Risby Homes, the East Yorkshire family-owned housing developer, is this week proud to mark its 30th anniversary, celebrating three decades of building award-winning homes in the region. This significant milestone commemorates the journey that began when Mark Barrett, Founder of Risby Homes, first broke ground on his inaugural development on Old Beck Court in Beverley. Over the years, the company has thrived in the fiercely competitive housing industry, creating 20 vibrant communities across Beverley and East Yorkshire. Their latest development takes them back to the market town where it all began, as the firm announces it’s extending its Figham Gate development to the south-east of Beverley. Reflecting on their journey over the past three decades, Mark Barrett, Managing Director explained: “Our first development, Old Beck Court, a development of eight, 2-bedroom homes in Beverley was a huge step and a massive learning curve for us as we transformed an old car park and storage area into our first community of high quality contemporary homes.” As demand for homes in Beverley grew, Risby Homes embarked on the development of five consecutive projects in the area including Waterside Court, a development of 15 two storey townhouses which kick started the regeneration of the Beverley Beck area. “A dis-used, ex-industrial brownfield site in a state of disrepair, this development required extensive archaeology investigations, complex groundwork and piling – we had to adapt swiftly, learning quickly how to solve unforeseen challenges,” continued Mark. Since 1993, Risby Homes has built communities in Hessle, Cherry Burton, South Cave, Cottingham, Welton, Walkington and Little Weighton, swiftly garnering a reputation for crafting homes of exceptional quality, from large family homes on the site of a former railway goods yard in Cherry Burton to custom-designed residences in Welton and Hessle. Reflecting on the changing landscape of the homebuying industry over the past three decades, Mark explained: “Adapting to the changing needs of modern families is vital, it’s important to listen to buyers and adapt and respond to how they live. “At the time we were building our Hessle and Welton communities, Hull City were in the Premier League. This massively impacted the market and led to a focus on more spacious, customised homes with additional design features and bespoke options including built in TVs at the end of the baths, which was a novelty in 2012.” Risby Homes’ latest venture, The Vines in Cottingham, a community of 57 homes, gives buyers the opportunity to transform the space above their garage into an additional room. A new feature which has been introduced following the pandemic. Remaining true to its roots as a family firm, Risby Homes has always been guided by family values. The next generation of family members, Mark’s children Olly and Amy, are now actively involved in the family business. Mark Barrett said: “Looking back, if I could offer advice to my younger self, it would be to always factor in a contingency because everything takes longer than expected. Even after thirty years, unforeseen challenges continue to crop up.” He added, “I’m incredibly proud of every one of our developments, but the one that stands out is our Keldgate Bar development in Beverley which has received multiple awards. Maintaining good relationships with employees and suppliers has been key to our success, and we look forward to celebrating this occasion with them.” In an industry as competitive as housing development, thriving three decades later is a remarkable achievement. Happy 30th Birthday, Risby Homes. For more information about Risby’s latest developments in Cottingham and Beverley visit www.risbyhomes.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Award winning housebuilder Cruden Homes is bringing 56 high quality homes to North Toryglen after receiving planning approval from Glasgow City Council. Supporting Glasgow’s large-scale regeneration initiative – Clyde Gateway – the growing development is situated next to one of the city’s eight Transformational Regeneration Areas and champions wider plans to enhance local communities. The new homes at Prospecthill Road follow several highly successful phases of Cruden’s award-winning King’s View development in the area, and will feature a range of high quality two- and three-bed terraced houses and three-bed semi detached properties, all with private gardens. The sustainable homes will be built to Glasgow Gold Standard, with solar PV panels and air source heat pumps to improve energy efficiency levels and reduce day-to-day running costs for homeowners. The latest phase of development encourages biodiversity and pays tribute to the natural surroundings in close proximity to the site, which feature extensive greenery and landscaping with attractive woodland, footpaths and cycle paths. Bird and bat boxes and bug hotels are also being incorporated into the new homes for local wildlife. As part of Clyde Gateway’s major urban regeneration plans, the wider area offers outstanding green spaces and high quality facilities to enhance lives for local residents. This includes the stunning nature reserve at Malls Mire Community Woodland, which enjoys direct links from the development. Homeowners will also benefit from an array of local amenities, including a public park and play areas, shops, a supermarket, schools and nurseries, a health centre and fantastic transport links to the city centre. Cruden has already built 273 private and affordable homes at King’s View, creating a vibrant community for families, downsizers and people of all age groups. This next phase of 56 new homes strengthens Cruden’s commitment to bring more quality, sustainable homes to the area. Work is due to begin on the new homes next year. Fraser Lynes, Managing Director of Cruden Homes, said: “Toryglen is a dynamic location with a wealth of amenities on the doorstep for new homeowners. Our next phase of homes will present the perfect option for those who are looking to join a growing and inclusive community with plenty of surrounding amenities and abundance of green space. “This area has been a key focus for Clyde Gateway’s urban regeneration in recent years, bringing major social and economic benefits to local people. Cruden has a strong track record of delivering multi-tenure new homes here and we’re thrilled to be once again contributing to this transformation by bringing even more sustainable properties to the locale.” Martin McKay, Chief Executive of Clyde Gateway said: “One of the biggest and most noticeable changes across Clyde Gateway over the past few years has been in housing. So, we are delighted that Cruden is delivering a further 56 new, energy efficient homes in this very popular area, situated in a thriving local community. “This development has a strong focus on biodiversity and sustainability, which is in keeping with our neighbouring nature reserve, Malls Mire Community Woodland. This all contributes to Clyde Gateway’s wider aim to continually improve the lives of residents and to be an attractive area for people to live, work and play.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Dandara has donated £4,050 to Breast Cancer Now to help in the fight against the disease which claims more than 11,500 lives in the UK every year. The independent housebuilder took part in ‘wear it pink’ day on 20 October, organising a host of activities and donating £50 from the sale of each home reserved in October to the charity. The annual fundraising event is organised by Breast Cancer Now, whose mission is to make sure that by 2050 everyone diagnosed with breast cancer lives and is supported to live well. The event has raised over £39m since it began in 2001 and helps fund Breast Cancer Now’s world-class research and life-changing support. Kinie Kaur, wear it pink manager from Breast Cancer Now, commented: “We want to say a huge heartfelt thank you to Dandara and their customers for supporting wear it pink and raising such an incredible amount. Every 10 minutes someone in the UK hears the words ‘you have breast cancer.’ Breast Cancer Now’s world-class research and life-changing support simply wouldn’t be possible without the support of fundraisers like Dandara.” Trevor Dempsey, Dandara CEO, said: “I would like to thank everyone who supported wear it pink, whether by hosting a coffee morning, donating some home baking or just going along and putting their hands in their pockets to help support the charity. We are also very grateful to our amazing buyers who reserved new Dandara homes in October and helped us to make this donation possible.” Dandara is currently building new homes in Scotland, England, Wales and the Channel Islands. Dandara is one of the UK’s largest independent property development companies, with over 10,000 happy customers and more than 100 industry awards for design and quality. Breast Cancer Now’s wear it pink day is one of the biggest and brightest fundraising events in the UK. To find out more go to: www.wearitpink.org Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Local housebuilder Crest Nicholson has announced it has acquired new land in the market town of Faversham. The 13-acre site will deliver 88 much needed, high quality new homes to the area, 35% of which will be affordable. The development, which will be called Crown Meadows, follows the sell out success of Crest Nicholson’s nearby Kingsmead development. The new community will offer a range of two to five bedroom new homes to suit a range of purchasers, as well as plenty of open space and recreational areas. More than £1m has been committed to fund vital local infrastructure and services, such as an NHS Healthcare centre and youth services. Work is anticipated to start in December, with first residents expected in summer 2024. Karen Coulson, Sales and Marketing Director at Crest Nicholson Eastern, comments: “We’re pleased to announce this acquisition in Kent, enabling us to respond to local demand for high quality new homes in the area. Crown Meadows joins an already thriving community and popular area thanks to the range of amenities that are easily accessible within the wider Kingsmead development, including a number of Ofsted-rated “outstanding” schools nearby.” “There are a range of schemes available to support prospective buyers to secure their dream home. Interest at Crown Meadows has been high from both locals and those from further afield. We’d therefore recommend anyone interested to get in touch with our friendly sales team as soon as possible, to be the first to secure your dream home.” Faversham, the oldest market town in the country, is also home to regular markets, selling local produce and artisan products, as well as a variety of pubs, restaurants and cafes. For those who travel by rail, Faversham train station is reachable in just 10 minutes by car or by bus from Crown Meadows, where there are at least three trains an hour to London with journey times of just over one hour. To find out more about Crest Nicholson and homes available at Crown Meadows, please visit https://www.crestnicholson.com/crown-meadows. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Harron Homes has recently appointed Lee Kirkland as Construction Director for its Yorkshire region. With over 20 years in the construction industry, Lee brings a wealth of experience to his new role overseeing the development and delivery of luxury homes across Yorkshire. Starting out as an apprentice bricklayer at age 17, Mexborough-born Lee quickly rose through the ranks at his first job, becoming a site manager by the age of 23. “I had worked for Harron Homes earlier on in my career as a site manager, for a period of about two and a half years, and I really enjoyed my time there,” says Lee. Lee’s vast experience working for several different housebuilders across Yorkshire has seen him work in many different environments, but what stands out about Harron Homes is the family feel. An all-round people person, Lee approaches his role with a team-based mindset: “It’s important to lead, but it’s equally important to empower others to lead as well. “I’ve been in this role for only a few months, yet I’ve already seen tremendous success stories of employees delivering spectacular results.” Having been in the industry for over 20 years, Lee is the first to acknowledge that the support of colleagues and family is vital to success. Lee met his wife, Jemma, when he was 17, and the two married 6 years later. Lee says, “Jemma has been beside me through thick and thin, and we’ve supported one another for over two decades. She’s an advanced nurse practitioner, so between us we work very hard. When we do get time off, we tend to our farm, rearing the animals and racing around on quadbikes with our two children, Lincoln and Bodhi.” When asked about his aims for the future, Lee said, “I want to keep building the team up and improving its confidence. This goes hand in hand with ensuring we continue to hit our KPIs on a consistent basis. “Ultimately, it’s important that when we say we do something, we do it – I want to cement that reputation so that all our employees can continue to have the utmost pride in Harron Homes.” Tony Lee, Managing Director for Harron Homes Yorkshire, said: “Harron Homes is a place where anyone with the ambition and compassion to deliver the best homes around can make an excellent career for themselves. Lee’s trajectory is testament to his dedication to the industry and to housebuilding. That he has shown himself to be invested in the evolution of each employee under his wing, as well as in the evolution of the business as a whole, is proof of his unflagging commitment to his career. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have him on board.” Harron Homes is a housebuilder with developments located across Yorkshire and the North Midlands. With a range of two, three, four and five bedroom homes suitable for couples, professionals and families alike, there truly is something for everyone. For more information on Harron’s Yorkshire properties please visit: https://www.harronhomes.com/find-a-home/. For more information on Harron Homes careers, please visit https://www.harronhomes.com/careers/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bellway has submitted detailed plans to build 153 homes as part of the first phase of the regeneration of a former unlicensed tip site in Redbridge. The development, to be known as Kingsgate Park, would deliver a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments and three and four-bedroom houses, including affordable homes, on Site A of the former Hainault House site off Billet Road in Chadwell Heath. The submission of the detailed planning application follows extensive consultation with the London Borough of Redbridge, with the masterplan for the wider site – which anticipates delivering approximately 1,300 much-needed new homes – endorsed by Redbridge council earlier this year. Tom Sherriff, Managing Director of Bellway Thames Gateway, said: “Our plans for this site will have a hugely positive impact on the local environment by transforming a former unlicensed tip site into a vibrant new neighbourhood. “We have liaised very closely with the local authority on our masterplan for the new community to ensure that it complies with the council’s vision for the site, delivering more than 1,000 new homes designed to meet the requirements of the local area. “Our plans for Site A provide a variety of homes which would create a strong mixed community, including London Affordable Rented and London Shared Ownership homes, and with a good proportion of family-sized homes to respond to local housing needs.” The proposed development includes eight four and five-storey apartment buildings and 20 cottage-style houses, alongside landscaped public open space. Tom said: “All homes will have their own outdoor space, either balconies, terraces or gardens, while there will be a linear park providing communal play space, open lawns and planting. “The remediation of the site will improve the water quality of the local watercourse, and there will be a net gain in biodiversity, with new trees and shrubs, bat and bird boxes and wildlife habitats. “There will also be economic benefits, with the development creating new jobs in the local area during the construction of the new homes.” Bellway Thames Gateway is building new homes across London, Essex, Kent and Surrey. For more information, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/thames-gateway. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Ashley Ridgway from Dandara Northern Home Counties has scooped the title of National Site Manager of the Year from independent housebuilder Dandara. Ashley won top honours in the annual award scheme in recognition of his work at Saxon Park in Biddenham, Beds. He was picked from over 30 site managers across the business, which has new build developments across the UK and Channel Islands and builds around 2000 homes annually. Dandara CEO Trevor Dempsey said: “Ashley is an exceptionally hard worker and is setting the benchmark for quality housebuilding and customer service not just within Dandara but in the industry at large. Ashley has maintained a 100% customer satisfaction score at Saxon Park and leads by example every day. Ashley, who joined Dandara from Bloor Homes in 2021 said: “It is wonderful to be given an award for a job that I love doing. I know I am biased, but I genuinely do think I work with the best team in the country. Everyone in the Northern Home Counties division gives 100% every day and I am very proud to accept the award not just for myself, but on their behalf.” The awards recognise Dandara Site Managers who are customer focused, demonstrate exceptional leadership skills and go above and beyond to deliver high quality homes safely. Trevor added: “I would also like to say a massive congratulations to our regional winners who are all incredible site managers. It was a very difficult decision to make as every single one of them is a great ambassador for the business and does a tremendous job.” The regional winners were Jim Nicol from the Eastern division; Ashley Ridgway from Northern Home Counties; Steven Shiells from Scotland; Robert Reardon from South East and Alessandro Annunziata from Southern. To find out more about Dandara, please visit www.dandara.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
