Six Bellway Northern Home Counties site managers have been recognised for their high standards by being awarded a prestigious industry accolade. Cymon Robinson, Dan St Hilaire, Josh Croxford, Martin Elderton, Michael Crake and Ross Jenkins are among just 444 site managers from across the country to receive a Quality Award
The gap between leaving university and starting out in industry can seem a daunting one for many graduates. But for 23-year-old Josh Steadman, from Faversham in Kent, the process from a construction management degree to graduate trainee with Bellway was plain sailing. Josh, who is currently working on site at
LEADING developer Lovell Partnerships has welcomed two new recruits to support its growth across the North East. Ronnie Wake and Chris Hole have joined the team as buyer and senior quantity surveyor respectively, bringing together 13 years of industry experience. Since launching in December last year, the new appointments mean
Plans have been approved to build over 50 affordable homes and a 68-apartment extra care development, two miles from Bridlington Town Centre. The scheme has been brought forward by Esh Construction in a land led deal worth £25 million in partnership with Housing 21 and Yorkshire Housing. Earmarked for land
Barnet Council has signed an agreement with developer Redrow to acquire 249 new-build homes for affordable rent to the borough’s residents. In June, the council’s Cabinet Members voted unanimously to make the purchase, which forms one-quarter of the council’s commitment to deliver 1,000 new affordable homes by 2026. Most of
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
Six Bellway Northern Home Counties site managers have been recognised for their high standards by being awarded a prestigious industry accolade. Cymon Robinson, Dan St Hilaire, Josh Croxford, Martin Elderton, Michael Crake and Ross Jenkins are among just 444 site managers from across the country to receive a Quality Award this year in the National House Building Council’s (NHBC) annual Pride in the Job competition. The six colleagues work for Bellway’s Northern Home Counties division, whose head office is in Milton Keynes, and are based at developments in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire.They were selected from a pool of more than 8,000 site managers whose sites have been inspected by the NHBC over the past year, placing them among an elite group within the industry. Pride in the Job was launched over 40 years ago and has since become one of the most prestigious competitions in the construction sector. For Michael Crake, senior site manager at Chamberlains Bridge in Leighton Buzzard, this is the first Quality Award he has won in his 22-year career in the industry – and comes during his first year with Bellway. The 40-year-old, who lives in Aylesbury, said: “It’s great to be commended for all our hard work and I am happy the team have got the recognition they deserved. Chamberlains Bridge is a good site to be a part of, with a desirable layout and great team. Everyone does their bit to ensure a smooth and efficient construction process. “This is most definitely a career highlight for me. The team and I have built a lot of homes at quite a pace, so this Quality Award shows that we’re doing things right.” Two of the award-winning site managers work at neighbouring developments on a dual-branded site in New Cardington, Bedford. Dan St Hilaire is based at Bellway’s New Cardington Fields development, while Josh Croxford is in charge at New Cardington Gate, a development being built under Bellway’s Ashberry Homes brand. Dan, 36, who lives in Bedford, joined Bellway in March last year, after moving into the construction industry following a career in the military and stints training as a gas engineer and working in security.He said: “It was amazing to receive the email from the NHBC telling me that I had won the Quality Award. I was on site at the time and went round thanking every member of the team for helping me achieve this incredible accolade, as it is very much a collaborative effort. “I am very grateful to Bellway for taking a chance on me and supporting me as site manager at New Cardington Fields and I am glad I was able to repay that faith. This is my first development as site manager, and to win this award is very gratifying and motivating.” Josh, 31, who lives in Northampton, has now won three Quality Awards, including two in successive years at New Cardington Gate. After serving in the Royal Marines, Josh entered the construction industry as a trainee site manager five-and-a-half years ago, joining Bellway in early 2021 as a senior site manager.He said: “I feel really pleased with this win, a third for me and a second in a row for this development. As Northern Home Counties’ first dual-brand site, to attain this achievement for two years in a row is validation of the graft put in by the whole team. “I would most definitely consider this win a career highlight to date. Winning three consecutive NHBC Quality Awards reaffirms that I am doing a good job and the fact our efforts have been recognised by an external body means a lot.” Cymon, 45, who lives in Northampton, has won his second successive Quality Award for his work at Wavendon View in Milton Keynes. He has been in the industry for over 20 years, including seven-and-a-half years with Bellway. He said: “I feel pleased to win this award on behalf of all those working with me onsite. My approach to work has always been to build every home as if it was my own. As we come towards the end of construction here at Wavendon View, the fact we have won for two years in a row is proof of the consistency that has enabled us to deliver five-star quality houses.” Ross Jenkins, 36, from Northampton, has achieved a long-held career ambition by winning his first Quality Award in recognition of his work at Hawthorn Place in Wellingborough. He said: “Receiving the news was incredible. To receive the acknowledgement for all the hard work my team and I have put in here at Hawthorn Place has really given us all great satisfaction. “I had set myself the target of winning a Quality Award from the start of the job so to achieve it was really rewarding. To receive a Pride in the Job is incredible and to do it on my first site as a site manager really is a huge achievement for me.” Martin Elderton, 39 from Higham Ferrers has been awarded for his work at Chestnut Vale in Wellingborough. Martin said: “Winning this award is a great achievement that all Site Managers strive to win. This is a first PIJ for me so receiving that email congratulating you is amazing. We work hard to produce homes for our customers that we can be proud of, so to receive recognition like this, is great. “This can only be achieved with a strong team around you that have the same goal. Bellway have helped support us in doing so, moving forward, I wish to win many more!” Iain Hunter, Construction Director for Bellway Northern Home Counties, said: “Quality is at the heart of everything we do at Bellway, so as a division it’s a real achievement to have six Pride in the Job award-winning site managers. I’d like to congratulate Cymon, Dan, Josh, Martin, Michael and Ross and all their teams for working together and putting their wholehearted efforts into delivering exceptional homes at our developments in Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire
The gap between leaving university and starting out in industry can seem a daunting one for many graduates. But for 23-year-old Josh Steadman, from Faversham in Kent, the process from a construction management degree to graduate trainee with Bellway was plain sailing. Josh, who is currently working on site at the Bellway at Rosewood development in Maidstone, joined the housebuilder’s Graduate Programme nine months ago straight after graduating from Leeds Beckett University. He had discovered the opportunity online while in his final year of study. He said: “It was a fairly simple transition from leaving university to being a Bellway graduate. I knew Bellway was a major employer in the industry, and after a friend of mine completed summer work experience and had a good experience, it made me want to choose Bellway.” During his degree, Josh learnt about the various aspects of what a career in construction management entails, from managing contracts to recognising the regulatory and economic environment the industry operates in.But it was only after getting his job at Bellway that he could apply his academic knowledge in the real world. He said: “In these nine months I have already learnt so much. My role requires me to manage projects and sub-contractors, order materials and enforce health and safety regulations on site. I really enjoy taking on this responsibility.” Josh has weekly catch-ups with his graduate mentor, Contracts Manager Mark Baldwin, who supports him with guidance about his job and his career progression. Although Josh has so far been based at solely at Rosewood, the scheme will give him the opportunity to rotate departments, gaining experience in commercial, technical, buying and more to get a better understanding on how the business as a whole functions. He said: “I feel like the scheme is well-rounded and I feel supported in my role. The team at Rosewood really appreciate my contribution, which is something that I feel particularly proud of.“One day I aspire to run a site on my own. I feel that the scheme makes this goal attainable and I feel grateful to Bellway for giving me this opportunity. “I would most definitely recommend the graduate scheme to friends and family and will always be thankful for Bellway for helping me start my career in the construction industry.” Bellway is part of the 5% club, a nationwide movement of employers committed to having five per cent of their workforce in ‘earn and learn’ positions, including apprentices and graduates on formal training programmes. Applications for Bellway’s 2023 graduate cohort has now closed, but for more information on other career opportunities with Bellway, visit https://www.bellwaycareers.co.uk/. Bellway is building a range of two, three, four and five-bedroom homes at Bellway at Rosewood, with more information available at https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/thames-gateway/bellway-at-rosewood. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
LEADING developer Lovell Partnerships has welcomed two new recruits to support its growth across the North East. Ronnie Wake and Chris Hole have joined the team as buyer and senior quantity surveyor respectively, bringing together 13 years of industry experience. Since launching in December last year, the new appointments mean that Lovell’s North East team has already grown to a 30-strong unit, with further plans to continue its expansion over the coming months. Ronnie will be responsible for the buying, and sourcing of materials for the region’s sites, which will include researching the market, analysing sales data, and building relationships with both new and existing suppliers. Ronnie said: “Housebuilding and construction have always been a passion. I really enjoy sourcing the best quality products to enable us to build high-quality homes. “I’m so excited about my journey with Lovell and being part of the North East region as I’ve only heard good things about them. It is a team that is growing fast and has some great people in the business; and I’m delighted to be a part of that. I look forward to bringing some added value to help the supply chain increase its options, to ensure Lovell continues to produce the highest possible product that meets our customers’ aspirations for their future home.” Chris will be overseeing the commercial function, ensuring it runs smoothly and efficiently to support the developer’s ambitions for growth. Chris said: “What attracted me to the role was the opportunity to join a business with a new expanding team, with exciting but sustained growth plans. There are so many upcoming sites, which in the competitive market we find ourselves in, is excellent to see. “I hope to add some value to the region and play an important role in helping it achieve its strategy and success, whilst obviously not forgetting the day-to-day task of commercial robustness across the sites. It’s an exciting time to be part of the Lovell team and help deliver a five star product across the region.” Conor O’Hanlon, regional commercial manager at Lovell Partnerships in the North East, said: “It’s great to have Ronnie and Chris on board, and be part of the commercial team. It’s been extremely positive to have so many new recruits that are bringing fresh ideas and knowledge to the North East region. “They both have such vast experience in the sector and have already impressed the team. I’m really looking forward to working with them to support their continued journey in their career whilst realising our business ambitions.” The new appointments follow what has proven to be a strong year for the region, which this spring broke ground on its first development Cornish Park, in Spennymoor, County Durham. Once complete, Cornish Park will offer a selection of two, three, and four-bedroom new homes to suit a range of different buyers – 71 of which will be available on the open market, with the remaining 53 offering affordable housing. To find out more about Lovell Partnerships, please visit: https://corporate.lovell.co.uk/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans have been approved to build over 50 affordable homes and a 68-apartment extra care development, two miles from Bridlington Town Centre. The scheme has been brought forward by Esh Construction in a land led deal worth £25 million in partnership with Housing 21 and Yorkshire Housing. Earmarked for land off Pinfold Lane in the north of Bridlington which is allocated for residential development in the East Riding Local Plan, the inter-generational scheme meets an identified need for affordable housing in the area and homes for older persons aged over 55. A three-storey extra care building containing one and two-bedroom apartments and communal facilities, including a restaurant, hair salon and a resident lounge, will be managed by Housing 21. This will allow people to live independently in their own home, while accessing on-site care and support should they need it. For Yorkshire Housing, Esh will build a mix of two and three-bedroom houses, two-bedroom bungalows and one-bedroom ‘walk up’ apartments for affordable tenures, including affordable rent, shared ownership and rent to buy. Modern methods of construction (MMC) will be used throughout the scheme and 26 homes will be built with a timber frame. Laura Devaney, land and partnerships director at Esh Construction, said: “This land led scheme has been long in the making, therefore we are delighted to receive the go ahead from the planners. “With an ageing population it is important that we are building more new extra care housing to satisfy the needs of later life living options, as well as helping to meet the Government’s affordable housing targets. The development in Bridlington is an exciting project and we look forward to getting work underway next year.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Barnet Council has signed an agreement with developer Redrow to acquire 249 new-build homes for affordable rent to the borough’s residents. In June, the council’s Cabinet Members voted unanimously to make the purchase, which forms one-quarter of the council’s commitment to deliver 1,000 new affordable homes by 2026. Most of the new homes will be made available for rent starting in October 2023 with the remainder following in January 2024. The properties are part of the latest phase of the Colindale Gardens development and will offer 42 three-bed family homes and 40 that are wheelchair adaptable. The stock will also include studios, one and two-bedroom properties. Barnet Council will acquire the 249 homes through its Housing Revenue Account. The properties and communal areas will be managed by Barnet Homes, adding to its social housing portfolio of 13,000 properties across the borough. Cllr Ross Houston, Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Homes & Regeneration, welcomed the announcement: “As a council, we care for our people and that means providing high quality, affordable housing. We have seized this unique opportunity to take a big step forward in our commitment to deliver 1,000 council homes by 2026. “It represents really good value for money and will make considerable savings on temporary accommodation costs the moment new tenants are able to move in this year. “Delivering the right homes to meet diverse needs now and for future generations, that people can afford and are in the right places, is a key priority and challenge for the council. We are London’s second largest borough by population but have the sixth lowest stock of social housing. Many of our residents are deeply affected by the acute housing shortage and sky-high rents, so providing more genuinely affordable housing will help those at the sharp end of the cost-of-living crisis.” Paul Muldowney, Managing Director of Redrow London Division, commented: “At Redrow, our commitment to the local community and creating great places to live serves as the driving force behind our collaboration with Barnet Council. We believe that everyone should have access to secure, comfortable, and affordable housing, with this partnership marking a step towards making this vision into a tangible reality. “We’re proud that Colindale Gardens offers high specification apartments surrounded by open green space yet close to excellent amenities and travel links to enjoy the best of the city. In providing 249 new homes for affordable rent, we look forward to seeing our homes become vibrant spaces which seek to provide not just housing, but the foundation for a thriving community.” In March, the council announced sweeping new plans to improve housing in Barnet including enhancing social housing tenants’ security by moving from fixed-term to lifetime tenancies, and committed to investing £2.2m per annum for the next 10 years to tackle damp and mould in the council’s housing stock. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
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
