Persimmon Homes Cornwall and West Devon has secured planning permission for the delivery of a major new development in Newquay, Cornwall. The land south of A392 in Trevemper will see Cornwall and West Devon construct 187 quality new homes for local families, after permission was granted this week by Cornwall
THE East Midlands team at leading housing developer Lovell Partnerships has ramped up its commitment to the region, strengthening its expanding team with several senior appointments and promotions. Longstanding Lovell employee Beth Bundonis has been made regional managing director to oversee the growth of the East Midlands team, stepping up from regional commercial director.
Higgins Partnerships (Higgins) has announced the successful completion of the first phase of 208 mixed tenure housing development at the former iconic Shredded Wheat factory site in Welywn Garden City, Hertfordshire. Higgins has worked in partnership with Metropolitan Thames Valley to provide 52 Shared Ownership properties, 106 for affordable rent
A bricklayer with more than 30 years’ experience has had the chance to take a closer look at his energy-saving new house at Bellway’s Gateford Quarter development in Worksop before building work has finished. Paul Phillips, 54, has had a hand in building hundreds of houses in Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire
National Allotment Week (7th – 13th August 2023) does much to remind us of the value of working the land but gaining access to an allotment – particularly in London – isn’t always easy. The Association for Public Service Excellence reports that nearly 87% of local authorities are experiencing an
THE FIRST of four new residential developments – part of a plan to build 1,000 new homes on Riverside Sunderland – topped out on Friday the 4th of August. Considered one of the UK’s most ambitious residential developments, Vaux’s new neighbourhood, which will comprise 135 new super-sustainable properties built using
Corbally Group, a specialist property developer based in the West Midlands, has announced plans to regenerate the Perry Barr Racetrack. The proposals would deliver up to 427 new homes as part of the wider regeneration of Perry Barr. Forming a vibrant new community, the proposals include a range of public
Housebuilder Barratt Homes Bristol has been granted permission by South Gloucestershire Council to build 145 new homes as part of the popular Ladden Garden Village development in Yate. This strengthens the homebuilder’s longstanding commitment to the area following the approval of some 200 new homes late last year. This next
A first look at the new housing development which is set to transform part of Stevenage has been provided by the developer currently building the homes. Miller Homes has released the first computer-generated images of its Forster Park development, detailing some of the architectural features of the properties which are
Telford Homes, one of London’s leading residential and mixed-use developers, has achieved Building Information Modelling (BIM) Level 2 Kitemark accreditation as the firm seeks to further burnish its credentials as a high-quality, industry-leading developer. Following a three-day audit, Telford Homes successfully obtained the accreditation. The achievement, which can be applied
Persimmon Homes Cornwall and West Devon has secured planning permission for the delivery of a major new development in Newquay, Cornwall. The land south of A392 in Trevemper will see Cornwall and West Devon construct 187 quality new homes for local families, after permission was granted this week by Cornwall Council. In addition, the region will allocate 56 properties to a local housing association provider, which will help address Cornwall’s pressing housing requirements. The proposed development comprises homes of one, two and three storeys, and a wide range of properties from one-bed apartments to five-bed homes will be built. Persimmon’s proposals will also deliver significant public open space, play area, infrastructure improvements and a new 3m wide strategic footpath/cycle way following a request from local people Cornwall Council. The region will also contribute over £565,000 to Cornwall Council through the Community Infrastructure Levy for local improvements. Commenting, Robbie Brown, Technical Director for Persimmon Homes Cornwall and West Devon, said: “We are delighted to have secured planning permission for our new Newquay development. “The application demonstrated our continued commitment to the principles of sustainable, high-quality development, delivering a wide choice of homes to meet local needs. “Through the construction of 187 quality new homes for local people, this site will deliver substantial social and economic benefits, playing an important role in the growth and aspirations of Newquay as one of Cornwall’s key settlements. “As part of our wider commitment to the local community, we will transfer 56 homes to a local housing association partner, which will help tackle Cornwall’s pressing housing demands. We have also listened to the request for a new strategic footpath and cycle way, and we’re delighted to have gone above and beyond on this asset for the local community. “I would like to thank Cornwall Council for their cooperation and diligence during the application process as all parties worked positively to deliver a high-quality scheme, which helps address the local housing need and provides the opportunity for home ownership to more local people.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
THE East Midlands team at leading housing developer Lovell Partnerships has ramped up its commitment to the region, strengthening its expanding team with several senior appointments and promotions. Longstanding Lovell employee Beth Bundonis has been made regional managing director to oversee the growth of the East Midlands team, stepping up from regional commercial director. Continuing the upward trajectory, former regional technical director Lewis Charity has also been promoted to land and technical director helping to spearhead continued growth. To ensure the ongoing market success of the business, the regional office has also secured three senior hires – commercial manager Dan Buller, refurbishment manager James Phillips and sales and marketing manager, Mark Blake. Dan Buller has returned to Lovell having originally started his career with the firm in 2005 as a trainee quantity surveyor. After holding senior commercial roles for the past eight years within another housebuilding association, Dan has taken the opportunity to rejoin Lovell to help drive forward success for the East Midlands. He said: “I have always held Lovell in high regard, so I am very keen to get stuck back in and help Beth and the team achieve our growth plans, while also continuing to develop our commercial team and building key relationships with stakeholders and subcontractors in the region.” With more than 20 years’ industry experience, James Phillips has been appointed as refurbishment manager having spent the past 10 years working in the region and is keen to harness the potential for Lovell. This service arm is designed to help partners to make best use of their existing property portfolios through repurposing spaces and using retrofit services to create more sustainable homes. He said: “The planned refurbishment and maintenance works in the region is a key focus for many social housing and local authorities within the region. With the introduction of the SHDF for installing energy measures to reduce energy consumption, I’m keen to position us as the go-to refurbishment partner in the region to really unlock the potential in the existing building stock, build on the great existing partnerships to see where we can add more value to our clients and its local communities. I will also be developing my own team and am really looking forward to nurturing new talent.” The third senior appointment is Mark Blake, who joins Lovell as sales and marketing manager with extensive experience within the housebuilding sector. His appointment marks significant strides for multiple developments as they go on sale across the region. The team changes reflect the progression of several key developments with housing partners such as EMH, Riverside and Compendium Living. Most notably, the Castleward development – a major regeneration in Derby city centre under the Compendium brand – has announced the launch of 83 homes for phase 3 and planning permission for phase 4. Once completed, the scheme will deliver 800 new homes, as well as schools and commercial space in a once underused area of the city. Mark said: “The reputation at Lovell is well known in the industry, and as it is currently in a phase of huge growth it felt like an exciting time to join. I’m keen to hit the ground running with sites already selling well, as well as helping with bids to acquire and expand on new land. With Derby’s Castleward progressing and St Aidan’s Garden in the pipeline – a new development in Burton-upon-Trent – there is plenty to get stuck into. “It’s certainly a challenging time for developers, however, I am confident in finding innovative ways to overcome and help deliver fantastic communities for the region.” In addition to the senior team, Gareth Bevan and Rory McPheators have been promoted to land and preconstruction manager and procurement manager respectively, both having spent more than 15 years with the business. Beth Bundonis, regional managing director at Lovell in the East Midlands, said: “I’m proud of the progress the East Midlands team has made since opening its dedicated office just last year. We have a diverse mix of projects happening, strong partnerships and a highly experienced and committed group of people to deliver for them. I welcome all the new additions to our team – the combined knowledge of Dan, James and Mark will help to ensure we can reach the goals we have set for this year, and really shine a spotlight on Lovell in the East Midlands.” For more information, please visit https://corporate.lovell.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Higgins Partnerships (Higgins) has announced the successful completion of the first phase of 208 mixed tenure housing development at the former iconic Shredded Wheat factory site in Welywn Garden City, Hertfordshire. Higgins has worked in partnership with Metropolitan Thames Valley to provide 52 Shared Ownership properties, 106 for affordable rent and 50 homes exclusively for the over 55s at Wheat Quarter Phase One. The landmark 24 acre historic site was originally built in the 1920s, after being commissioned by Welwyn Garden City planner Ebenezer Howard to attract Shredded Wheat manufacturers Nabisco to the town and has been an iconic part of the area ever since. The factory finally closed its doors in 2008 after 73 years of use before Welywn and Hatfield Borough Council granted planning consent for the complete transformation and regeneration of the site in February 2019. Steve Leakey, Managing Director of Higgins Partnerships commented: “We are extremely proud to have worked in partnership with Metropolitan Thames Valley on the first phase of what is an iconic site for the local community. What Quarter Phase One has provided a range of affordable homes to meet local needs, including a number of retirement properties, and marks the start of this exciting new residential community. “Throughout our time here, we have also ensured that we have created training and employment opportunities for those living in the local area, through our work with Joe Brenan Training, Women into Construction and JCP Mentoring Circle. “Working in partnership with Skills Builder we have supported children at Stanborough Secondary School, Watford on the Accelerator Programme to improve essential skills learning and making it a core part of education for every child and young person. We have also provided an insight into apprenticeships through Construction Youth Trust and supported and engaged with local young people to reduce anti-social behaviour as part of the Youth Centre YMCA.” Wheat Quarter Phase One also received a Gold Secured by Design Award Certificate from Hertfordshire Constabulary for working closely with the Crime Prevention team from the outset to ensure innovative planning made the development the safest it can be with crime prevention at the very heart, focusing on Hertfordshire’s Prevention First policing approach. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A bricklayer with more than 30 years’ experience has had the chance to take a closer look at his energy-saving new house at Bellway’s Gateford Quarter development in Worksop before building work has finished. Paul Phillips, 54, has had a hand in building hundreds of houses in Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire during his long career in construction, and recently had the opportunity to inspect someone else’s work when he was invited to a ‘pre-plaster’ visit as part of the Bellway homebuying process. It was a chance to walk around the new house before it is finished and take a look at all the elements that make it function, such as the electric, gas and water services and the internal structure, before the rooms are completed and plastered. And Paul, who has bought the property and will be moving in with his wife Debbie, 52, and son Harland, 21, was very pleased with what he saw. Paul was shown around the house by Site Manager Shaun Keown and Sales Manager Adam Champion. Shaun explained the details about how the house was constructed during the walk-through with Paul. “I thought the site manager was fantastic,” said Paul. “He was very informative, and I have to say he has built me an exceptional property. I’m chuffed to bits with it, and I’m not green at this, I know what I’m looking for and I know a good property from a bad property. “A lot of housebuilders don’t let you in before your home has been plastered. This is a novel idea to get your customers to know what their new house is all about. “I know Bellway because I’m a bricklayer and I have worked for them in the past, and I know they build a good property.” The house Paul has bought is a two-bedroom semi-detached Joiner, which features an open-plan kitchen/dining room with French doors leading out into the garden and a front-facing living room. Paul and Debbie are downsizing, having sold their four-bedroom detached house just a mile away from their new home – a move that will leave them mortgage free. They sold their old house for £250,000 and bought their new-build Bellway one for £194,950. That means that once they have used the difference to pay off the remaining £47,000 on their old place, they will have money left to pay for legal fees and to start landscaping the garden – and no mortgage to pay each month. “It’s great,” said Paul. “It will be a good feeling; in fact, I’ve got that feeling now. It’s not just the mortgage either, but other things such as the mortgage protection insurance. Overall, it’s a saving of around £600 a month.” And the couple are looking forward to enjoying the benefits of a smaller and more modern house in terms of energy efficiency and lower fuel bills. They also love the layout of the Joiner house style. Paul said: “They have maximised every inch. I love how the stairs come into the living room. It’s nice and cosy and that’s what my wife and I want – a nice cosy house in a lovely area. “We are used to having a four-bedroom property, but we will get used to having two bedrooms and at certain times in life you’ve got to make decisions for the future. There’s currently a choice of two, three and four-bedroom houses available to reserve at Gateford Quarter, with prices starting from £194,950. To find out more, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/east-midlands/gateford-quarter or call the sales team on 01909 238173. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
National Allotment Week (7th – 13th August 2023) does much to remind us of the value of working the land but gaining access to an allotment – particularly in London – isn’t always easy. The Association for Public Service Excellence reports that nearly 87% of local authorities are experiencing an increase in demand for allotments. Demand in the London Borough of Brent, for example, is so intense that there is an expected waiting time of up to two years for plots, with the waiting list closed to new applicants. In Wembley Park in the heart of Brent though, residents at Quintain Living’s Canada Gardens have found a way to beat the wait. Canada Gardens is a family-focused development of 743 apartments to rent, ranging from studios to four-bedrooms homes. In addition to extensive grounds dotted with BBQ areas, designer work-from-home sheds, a pirate ship playpark and even its own clubhouse, the development features 18 hireable raised growing beds. The Canada Gardens growing beds were conceived during the design phase of the site, way back in 2016. The London National Park City campaign, with which Quintain’s Head of Masterplanning & Design, Julian Tollast, was heavily involved, was influential in the thinking behind the resident amenities. Tollast and the Quintain Living team drew upon the campaign and their own passion for allotments by providing the raised beds and a greenhouse as part of the overall podium garden design for Canada Gardens. Since the development opened its doors in 2021, residents have grown a range of fruits, vegetables, and herbs on-site. In addition to the raised beds, residents have use of a greenhouse and tool shed, while Quintain Living – award-winning management company which oversees the rental of more than 3,650 apartments in Wembley Park including those within Canada Gardens – also provides information on seasonal planting and growing tips. A new composter has recently been added to convert green waste from the 85-acre Wembley Park estate into nutrient-rich compost and liquid fertiliser (leachate). Demand for the raised growing beds at Canada Gardens is strong and sustained. All 18 beds are currently in use, with a variety of salad crops and vegetables enjoying this summer’s signature combination of interspersed sunbursts and rain showers. Younger residents have been racing each other growing sunflowers and delighting in munching on bright, super-sweet strawberries. Fragrant herbs scent the air while cucumber vines are climbing up canes. In the greenhouse, the summer’s first tomatoes are just ripening, poised to provide the residents growing them with a sudden glut – perfect for sharing with fellow gardeners. Indeed, not only do residents enjoy the opportunity to grow their own food – a win in sustainability terms by cutting out both food-to-table miles and packaging – but many are taking advantage of the social connections that growing food on-site provides. Residents Shamir and Reschma Jetha have enjoyed using both the Quintain Living Resident App and resident events such as gardening workshops to connect with their neighbours. Mother-of-two Reschma comments: “Quintain Living arranged for a local community garden manager, Jim (or ‘Jim the Farmer’ as the kids call him) to teach us how plant everything properly. We planted lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, herbs and many more plants that day. It was really nice, we were all doing it together, everyone was so kind, so dedicated. ‘Jim the Farmer’ taught us so much about plants, when to sow them and how to care for them.” Having never gardened before, Reschma was nervous that it would be complicated in an apartment, but the Quintain Living experience has shown her how easy it can be – and what a great social experience. She continues: “It’s so easy and really gives us peace of mind to care about nature. Since we started gardening in the allotments, we’ve joined a Quintain Living residents allotment WhatsApp group. We let other members of the group know when we are coming down to the allotments in case they might like to join, and we can help each other take care of the plants.” National Allotments Week 2023 is focused not just on growing produce but also on the importance of understanding the role of soil health in increasing yields and supporting biodiversity. Tending raised growing beds such as those at Canada Gardens is one way that families can pass this hugely important knowledge down to the next generation. The Royal Horticultural Society provides plentiful advice when it comes to caring for soil. Its three top tips for working allotment plot soil include carrying out a soil pH test to understand whether any nutrients are lacking, adding organic matter by digging and rotovating and using a crop rotation plan. As part of such a plan, there is still plenty of planting to be done in August, from spring onions, radishes, lettuce and rocket to winter salad leaves such as mizuna and mibuna. “Growing your own food is a fantastic way to enjoy fresh produce at its best while reducing your carbon footprint. Little tastes better than food you’ve grown yourself and picked just minutes before eating. There’s also plenty of fun to be had pickling and preserving the fruits of your own labour as well as getting to know your neighbours better by gifting them some of your homegrown produce.” Danielle Bayless, Chief Operating Officer, Quintain Living
THE FIRST of four new residential developments – part of a plan to build 1,000 new homes on Riverside Sunderland – topped out on Friday the 4th of August. Considered one of the UK’s most ambitious residential developments, Vaux’s new neighbourhood, which will comprise 135 new super-sustainable properties built using modern methods of construction, has reached its peak, with the tallest of the buildings – a seven-storey apartment building – now built to full height. The structural frames, floor slabs, and external walls have been assembled by UK leader in light gauge steel framing, Remagin, who are due to complete this element of the works, which is helping to define the new city skyline, in September 2023. The scheme represents the latest development on a fast-changing brownfield development site on the edge of the city centre. Vaux Housing is being delivered by Sunderland City Council and development-managed by igloo Regeneration, with the ambition that Riverside Sunderland will eventually provide city centre housing for up to 2,500 residents. The development will comprise apartments, townhouses, and maisonettes, using modern methods of construction, renewable energy systems and smart technology to reduce the carbon footprint of the development, while producing high quality, energy efficient properties in the beating heart of the city. Patrick Melia, chief executive of Sunderland City Council, said: “Topping out on any scheme is significant, but it really is brilliant to see our first housing scheme on Riverside Sunderland progress. This – and the other new homes that we build in this part of the city – will bring more people into the heart of the city, spending money to support our retailers in the process, and of course, many of them will work in the offices that are currently under construction and those that already play host to a vibrant business community.” Peter Connolly, chief executive of igloo Regeneration, said: “This is a fantastic milestone for Riverside Sunderland – a project which is a best practice example of how new homes across the country should be constructed and delivered in the future. “Working closely with all of the partners involved to create these high-quality homes, I’m proud of our collective unwavering commitment to delivering a people and planet positive scheme that will transform this part of the city.” The majority of the homes will be built to 2025 Future Homes Standard with 21 built to PASSIVHAUS standard, delivering high levels of energy efficiency. Included in the scheme will be a cluster of award-winning homes, that were selected as the best in the national Homes of 2030 Design Competition – which explored how homes will look and function in the future. The competition, managed by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) on behalf of the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities, encouraged the design of environmentally friendly homes that support people in leading independent, fulfilling lives as society ages. +Home, designed by igloo Regeneration with Useful Projects, Expedition Engineers and Mawson Kerr and Connector Housing designed by Openstudio with Hoare Lea, LDA Design and Gardiner & Theobald were the joint winners of the competition, and it is their designs that will stand proudly on the site, shining a spotlight on future living and showcasing the ambitious plans the council has to make Sunderland a world-class place to live, work and play. All homes at Riverside Sunderland will provide a future living offer that will attract new and existing Sunderland residents to live in the vibrant city centre, with the properties sitting alongside the orchards and allotments of Kingsley Gardens and nearby Riverside Park, which is continuing its journey towards becoming an accessible, attractive, and ecologically diverse parkland. The Vaux neighbourhood will be the site of the Expo Sunderland in 2025, an event that will showcase homes of the future and the vibrant, aspirational lifestyle that Sunderland provides. The first tranche of homes will be completed in early 2025. “As a local business with manufacturing operations in Newton Aycliffe, the Vaux development, and Riverside Sunderland, is something which is obviously very close to our hearts at Remagin,” said Scott Bibby, Country Manager for Remagin in the UK and Ireland. “We believe it provides an excellent showcase for what future living could offer, and the role modern methods of construction have to play in that – providing high quality, comfortable accommodation at an affordable cost in a way which can address both the chronic housing shortage in the country, and wider environmental challenges.” Vaux housing is part of an ambitious and exciting new community at Riverside Sunderland that will include residential, commercial and leisure developments. It is part of a programme of development projects in the Riverside Sunderland area that, taken together, aim to double the residential population in the city centre and increase employment by 50 per cent and fits with the city’s housing strategy, which will see 7,000 new homes built by 2030. Vaux housing is being delivered with £6.1m of grant support from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, and £2.1m from the Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities to support the delivery of the Homes of 2030. To stay up to date with Riverside Sunderland developments, visit www.riversidesunderland.com or follow @RiversideSund on social media. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Corbally Group, a specialist property developer based in the West Midlands, has announced plans to regenerate the Perry Barr Racetrack. The proposals would deliver up to 427 new homes as part of the wider regeneration of Perry Barr. Forming a vibrant new community, the proposals include a range of public and private gardens, play areas, and interactive playgrounds to promote positive wellbeing and healthy lifestyles. The plans will also support sustainable long-term growth in Perry Barr by opening the River Tame with a new, biodiverse riverside park which will be open to the public. The Racetrack is currently operated as a greyhound racing track. With a lease due to expire in 2026, the operator has announced plans to move to new premises at Monmore Green in Wolverhampton. The proposals support ambitions of Birmingham City Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority, who have already invested heavily to enable growth within Perry Barr as a legacy from the Commonwealth Games. This includes Perry Barr station, and the Perry Barr Village, which is set to accommodate a new residential neighbourhood of nearly 2,000 new homes. Spokesperson for Corbally Group – Perry Barr, said: “Perry Barr has been identified as a priority area for growth within Birmingham. The City Council has invested heavily to enable regeneration and deliver a legacy from the Commonwealth Games. The regeneration of the Perry Barr Racetrack is part of this vision “The current site offers little in terms of wider community value and we’ve worked closely with the racetrack operator to support its move to new premises within the region. “We have developed an exciting scheme which not only delivers new homes but will create attractive new public spaces and unlock access to the river front. It will vastly improve Perry Barr and deliver real value for the established and emerging community in this location.” A planning application is currently being prepared and is set to be submitted in the coming months. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Housebuilder Barratt Homes Bristol has been granted permission by South Gloucestershire Council to build 145 new homes as part of the popular Ladden Garden Village development in Yate. This strengthens the homebuilder’s longstanding commitment to the area following the approval of some 200 new homes late last year. This next phase will offer buyers a choice of two-, three- and four-bedroom energy efficient homes, 55 of which will be affordable. Construction work on the additional builds is due to start later this autumn with the first homes to go on sale towards the beginning of next year. Andrea Pilgrim, sales director for Barratt Homes Bristol said: “We are delighted to get the green light for this next phase of Ladden Garden Village, which will make an important contribution to the demand for much-needed new housing in Yate. We have already had considerable interest from potential buyers. “We have a range of incentives available for both key workers and second steppers on the property ladder, like our Key Worker Deposit Contribution, Deposit Unlock and Part Exchange Guarantee schemes. Community is at the heart of our developments and it great to see the residents already at Ladden Garden Village thriving and settling into their new homes.” As part of Barratt Homes’ commitment to sustaining and protecting local wildlife on its development, all of the properties will include features such as swift boxes, bat boxes and hedgehog highways. Ladden Garden Village has good public transport connections and is close to local schools and amenities including Yate Shopping Centre, parks and sports pitches. Yate train station is less than a 15-minute providing easy access to both Bristol and Gloucester. For sales enquiries call the Barratt Homes sales team on 0333 355 8487. Alternatively visit www.barratthomes.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A first look at the new housing development which is set to transform part of Stevenage has been provided by the developer currently building the homes. Miller Homes has released the first computer-generated images of its Forster Park development, detailing some of the architectural features of the properties which are set to complement its surroundings. The development, part of a joint scheme with housebuilder Bellway, is set to total almost 800 new homes off North Road in Stevenage, which also includes plans for a local centre, primary school and country park. Work has started on the first phase of new housing and Miller Homes is planning to release its first homes for sale before the end of 2023. The national housebuilder will ultimately deliver 396 homes at Forster Park, named as a tribute to EM Forster whose literature was inspired by his hometown roots in Stevenage, many of which will feature solar panels on roofs and EV charging points to properties, ensuring sustainability and green energy is at the forefront of the scheme. Alastair Parsons, area sales director for Miller Homes Midlands, said: “With work now underway at Forster Park, we are keen to show both Stevenage residents and prospective customers alike what our homes are going to look like at the development, well in advance of releasing them for sale onto the market, which we plan to do in late 2023. “The images we have released to the public demonstrate how our first phase of homes will look, featuring a contemporary style of new build housing, marking a distinct area of the site. Future phases will also have a recognisable design theme running through them, becoming more traditional in style as we near EM Forster’s family home, something we’ve worked hard to achieve as part of our planning consent for the development. “One of our principal design features is to create a sense of arrival for people when entering the development, which we’re implementing by using a contemporary style of home combined with buff brick and rendered elements to some of our housetypes within the first phase. “Forster Park is located in a desirable part of Stevenage, which we hope to elevate even further with an attractive and sustainable scheme of new housing, public open spaces, amenities and facilities for residents new and old. “We hope that when customers and ultimately homeowners arrive at Forster Park, they will appreciate the work that has gone into the site, with solar panels on roofs, as well as electric vehicle charging points, celebrating our green approach to new housing developments, standing side-by-side with our plans to create a country park to be enjoyed by all residents in Stevenage for many years to come.” Stevenage Borough Council is due to vote on the proposed 93-acre country park later this year, which forms part of the plans at Forster Park. Together with Bellway, the developers have already agreed to contribute more than £1.1 million to the Stevenage community through a Section 106 agreement signed as part of the initial planning consent granted to the developers by the council. For more information and to register interest in the Forster Park development, visit https://www.millerhomes.co.uk/new-homes/south-east/forster-park-stevenage.aspx. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Telford Homes, one of London’s leading residential and mixed-use developers, has achieved Building Information Modelling (BIM) Level 2 Kitemark accreditation as the firm seeks to further burnish its credentials as a high-quality, industry-leading developer. Following a three-day audit, Telford Homes successfully obtained the accreditation. The achievement, which can be applied for by contractors and developers, is only the second time a developer has achieved BIM accreditation in the UK and just the fifth in Europe. Telford Homes passed the assessment as both a developer and a contractor. BIM is a groundbreaking approach that manages information throughout the entire life cycle of a built asset, from initial design, through procurement to construction, maintenance, and eventual decommissioning. By utilising digital modelling, BIM facilitates seamless collaboration between various stakeholders such as architects, engineers, funders, owners, contractors and subcontractors within a common data environment. It allows all stakeholders to communicate and coordinate effectively while providing crucial insights into potential impacts. BIM Level 2 Kitemark sets the industry benchmark for best practice, consolidating all project and asset information, documentation and data at the design and construction phases of a project using BIM processes. It is an essential part of the UK BIM Framework, which marks a fundamental step towards the digital transformation of the country’s construction sector. Husam Mostafa, Technical Director at Telford Homes, said: “The BIM Kitemark accreditation stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation in the industry. BIM accreditation – as both a developer and a contractor – places Telford Homes in an excellent position to secure institutional investment for our industry-leading projects, with faster and efficient processes, reduced uncertainty and on-site waste, and improved safety all by-products of an impressive BIM system. This achievement positions us at the forefront of digital transformation in the UK’s built environment industry and will assist in meeting the government’s plans for the building safety act.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
