A NORTH East housing development has taken canine comfort to the extreme – by creating a special pet friendly feature in one of its newest show houses. And the hope is that animal lovers will find the designated doggy space just one of the many reasons to buy on the
Graven Hill is welcoming dozens more residents to the award-winning village development following the successful completion of the 26-apartment Palmer House. Situated near the entrance of the Graven Hill site, the studio, one and two-bedroom apartments have been built to an exacting standard and offer spectacular views over the Oxfordshire
Plans have been approved for housing-led regeneration project in Ham, South-West London by leading housebuilder The Hill Group and London housing provider Richmond Housing Partnership (RHP). Richmond Council’s planning committee approved the proposals for Ham Close, which include 452 new homes, alongside new community facilities and a range of public
LEADING developer Lovell Partnerships has opened the doors to its new North East base, following its recent expansion into the North East region. Located at Alexandra House on Mandarin Road at Rainton Bridge Business Park in Houghton-le-Spring, the new premises spans 5,133 square foot. Following the move from the team’s
A planning application for 61 EPC A-rated new homes in the Bedfordshire village of Toddington has been submitted to Central Bedfordshire Council. The Reserved Matters application, by award winning housebuilder Hayfield, is for a £30m development of much needed new homes on a 7-acre (2.84 Ha) site off Russell Road,
Housebuiler Crest Nicholson has sponsored a selection of upgraded outdoor seating at St Pancras Catholic Primary School in Ipswich. The brightly coloured new benches are made of hard-wearing recycled plastic, replacing the old wooden benches that were in need of an upgrade. Not only will their durable material mean they
Building work is well underway at a pioneering housing development in Milton Keynes where Bellway is adopting Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). The developer was selected by Homes England to deliver phase four of Tattenhoe Park, a major extension to the south-west of the city. The site is part of
National housebuilder Keepmoat has completed a Santa signposting initiative to ensure that families who have moved home since last Christmas will receive presents at their new address. The national homebuilder, founded in Doncaster, has created a list and, after checking it twice, has updated the Santa Sat Nav database with
Taylor Wimpey London will open the doors to a brand new show apartment at its Coronation Square development in Leyton this month. Coronation Square is a modern development of 750 new homes in the heart of Leyton, with a range of apartments and houses surrounding a vibrant market square that
Plans to create an affordable housing community in Cheddar are officially underway, following a confirmed partnership between Keepmoat Homes and Alliance Homes. Looking to bring much-needed homes into the area, partnership housebuilder Keepmoat, along with community based social housing provider, Alliance Homes, will transform the 5.8-acre site into a high-quality
A NORTH East housing development has taken canine comfort to the extreme – by creating a special pet friendly feature in one of its newest show houses. And the hope is that animal lovers will find the designated doggy space just one of the many reasons to buy on the Miller Homes Longshore Village site at Blyth, Northumberland. The company recently opened the four bedroom, detached Sherwood show home which has interiors inspired by its coastal location – an added bonus for walking pets. Miller Homes worked alongside Newcastle-based Q Interiors to come up with the perfect place for the family pooch – in the open space beneath the stairs which not only has been created with easy clean tiles but also has space for a dog bed and toys. The team used research which showed that dogs find being in the vicinity of their owner rewarding and so the close proximity to the main family areas of the house results in a happy pet. Karen Randles, senior interior designer at Q Interiors said it was an important factor to design a place which the pet could call their own. “Gone are the days when dogs were relegated to the utility room or a kennel outside, so we wanted to give them a dedicated space where they felt included and part of the family, but also safe and secure,” she said. “It was important that the space was near the front door of the home, where a dog can relax but still feel like they are protecting the property.” Karen believes utilising this area in this way is a great use of the space. “Under the stairs can often become a dumping ground for all sorts of clutter,” she said. Designing this area allowed us to be playful, while still making strategic choices to make the most of the space at hand. “The shape of the area, with its sloping ceiling and three enclosed sides, is very comforting for a dog as smaller spaces help them relaxed and feel safe, especially if there is a lot going in the home with children or other pets. Having their own space to retreat to gives them some peace and can stop anxious behaviours like barking. The room includes a wicker bed with washable pillow and an aesthetically pleasing basket for toys, as well as practicalities such as food bowls and hooks for leads and harnesses.” Miller Homes has also created a number of incentives available in January to help people secure their new homes on the estate. Details are available at https://www.millerhomes.co.uk/new-homes/north-east/south-newsham-blythe.aspx Aisling Ramshaw, sales director at Miller Homes North East, added that the inclusion of the dog “home” also highlighted the versatility of the new properties. “This new development is a fantastic location, right by the sea but with easy access to Newcastle and the wider Northumberland area,” she said. “We create homes for every member of the family – and that includes much loved pets. We hope visitors to the show house will be inspired how this could work for them.” Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Graven Hill is welcoming dozens more residents to the award-winning village development following the successful completion of the 26-apartment Palmer House. Situated near the entrance of the Graven Hill site, the studio, one and two-bedroom apartments have been built to an exacting standard and offer spectacular views over the Oxfordshire countryside, just outside Bicester. Graven Hill’s popularity continues to grow with more than 400 households already living on the growing development that will accommodate 1,900 homes once completed. Its reputation as THE place to live in Oxfordshire has been enhanced by regular appearances on Channel 4’s Grand Designs, as well as being recently named as one of the “Top Ten Places to Live” in the UK by The Sunday Times. All Palmer House studios and apartments enjoy a high specification finish with extensive interior fittings, along with allocated car parking. Palmer House has proven to be extremely popular with many of the 26 apartments snapped up within weeks of coming on to the market. And some purchasers were among the last to take advantage of the Government’s Help to Buy scheme, according to Graven Hill’s marketing agents IMS Property Group. Michelle Niziol, CEO of IMS said: “It has been such a pleasure to be involved in the marketing and selling of Palmer House. The site has been so incredibly popular that we built a waiting list of people who sadly missed out on this development, but are ready for new homes to become available at Graven Hill. “The apartments are absolutely stunning and each purchaser has been overjoyed at the quality of the build, I am excited to continue working with Graven Hill and assist them on future sales.” Eve Penney and Will Mceachran were among the first Palmer House residents to pick up their keys after completing on their two-bed apartment. Eve said: “I saw Graven Hill on Grand Designs some time ago and, living locally, we could see the development taking shape. We liked that our apartment has two bathrooms and a shower and its location is great, being so near to town and the train station.” Graven Hill village is a unique development, designed to disrupt the UK property market and offer a wide range of housing options including self-build and custom build – tailored to individual needs – right through to apartments and affordable homes. All offer chic, hassle-free, modern-living options located just 15 minutes from Oxford via train and within walking distance from Bicester Outlet Village and train station. Gemma Davis, Graven Hill’s Customer Experience Director, attributes the village’s overall popularity to the large variety of high-quality build and design options available across the village, appealing to a wide range of buyers. Great transport links to Oxford and into London are also being cited as a key USP. She said: “Those coming to the site are seeking a different way of life, it’s more than just about buying a traditional new build. Palmer House has been phenomenally successful and the amount of interest we have seen has been far beyond our expectations. She added: “It shows how Graven Hill has far-reaching appeal, from first time buyers, right through to families or those looking to downsize. The sense of community is also really growing across the village which is lovely to see.” Other community amenities are also taking shape with the new Graven Hill primary school now under construction and ready for autumn 2023. Construction of commercial units are also well underway, with a dental practice currently being fitted out. A health and wellbeing hub and community centre are set to provide further facilities for residents. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans have been approved for housing-led regeneration project in Ham, South-West London by leading housebuilder The Hill Group and London housing provider Richmond Housing Partnership (RHP). Richmond Council’s planning committee approved the proposals for Ham Close, which include 452 new homes, alongside new community facilities and a range of public green spaces. The final approval is expected in the new year once it has been assessed by the GLA. The redevelopment of Ham Close is a landmark project for the area and will replace several outdated blocks of flats built in the 1960s with a range of high-quality new homes. All current tenants of the existing affordable homes will be moving directly into their new home, except for a small number of tenants who’ve been provided alternative housing whilst the development happens before having the opportunity to return to their new homes. There will also be a range of additional affordable and private sale homes, all carefully designed to high standards of energy efficiency. Approximately 49% of the homes will be affordable, for rent, London Living Rent and Shared Ownership, and 10% will be wheelchair accessible. The new neighbourhood will also include a community centre, a new building for community workshop Richmond MakerLabs, and a park with play spaces. “We are delighted to receive planning consent for the landmark regeneration project at Ham Close and we are looking forward to gaining final approval from the GLA in due course. We will be working with our partner RHP to finalise matters and move forward immediately to the construction stage. The vision for Ham Close is to create a vibrant and inclusive community for existing and future residents that incorporates sustainable, high-quality homes together with a range of new community facilities and impressive green spaces. We are looking forward to making that vision a reality,” said Andy Hill, Group Chief Executive at The Hill Group. This outcome is the result of several years’ work between Richmond Council and RHP, the largest provider of affordable housing in the borough, to secure the regeneration of the estate. Working closely with the local community, the focus has been on creating a sustainable new development that meets current and future local housing needs. The raft of benefits generated by the regeneration of Ham Close also includes a £2m social impact fund, opportunities for apprenticeships and construction jobs for local residents, and a 23% net biodiversity gain for the site. The designs for Ham Close were developed by architect practice BPTW. They worked closely with local architecture practice WR-AP, which designed the community centre, Makers Lab, and landscape consultant LUC. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
LEADING developer Lovell Partnerships has opened the doors to its new North East base, following its recent expansion into the North East region. Located at Alexandra House on Mandarin Road at Rainton Bridge Business Park in Houghton-le-Spring, the new premises spans 5,133 square foot. Following the move from the team’s previous office in Gateshead, the new space will provide a much larger, modern working environment for Lovell’s North East team. Bringing Lovell Partnerships’ total offices to 12, the new location forms an integral part of the North East region’s ambitious expansion plans. Since the region’s launch, the team has made a number of new appointments, with further recruits due over the coming months. Situated on the A690, with easy access to main roads such as the A1 and A19, the new location offers a central base for Lovell Partnership sites across the region. Paul Devaney, area director of Lovell Partnerships’ North East team, said: “It’s great to open the doors to our new office. The new site really establishes the North East region for Lovell Partnerships and I couldn’t be more thrilled to get the team together under one roof. “The North East team is growing fast, with five recent additions. We have already set the foundations with multiple developments across the region too, with more still to come.” The new office launch follows hot on the heels of a number of successes for the new region. Works have already begun at its first two sites, Sandcastles in Scarborough which has been developed in partnership with sister company, Lovell Later Living, and Northshore, a brownfield regeneration site located in Stockton-on-Tees, set to deliver 113 affordable homes to the area. The region has also recently completed on a Homes England brownfield site in Spennymoor. The site will deliver 124 homes, offering a selection of two, three and four-bedroom properties, 71 of which will be available on the open market and the remaining 53 as affordable housing. Work commenced in December 2022, with an estimated construction completion date of February 2025. The fit-out was completed by fellow Morgan Sindall sister company, Overbury, which offers design and build services to businesses across the UK. The leading commercial renovation designers supported the Lovell Partnerships team in creating a robust office environment to support its ongoing expansion. Paul added: “We’d like to thank the Overbury team for all their support throughout the process. They did a great job in transforming the space and helping us create an inviting environment for all our staff to enjoy.” Richard Walker, design and build manager at Overbury said: “It was a pleasure to support the Lovell Partnerships team on the fit-out of their new North East office. We were able to provide a quick turnaround, completing the project in just over nine weeks from start to finish. “Over the years, we’ve supported a wide range of businesses across the UK, but this project was particularly special for us as it allowed us to support our sister company Lovell Partnerships. We wish the new North East team the very best as they embark on this exciting new chapter in their brand new office.” To find out more about Lovell Partnerships, please visit: https://corporate.lovell.co.uk/. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A planning application for 61 EPC A-rated new homes in the Bedfordshire village of Toddington has been submitted to Central Bedfordshire Council. The Reserved Matters application, by award winning housebuilder Hayfield, is for a £30m development of much needed new homes on a 7-acre (2.84 Ha) site off Russell Road, all of which will be zero carbon ready. Only 2% of the UK’s new homes are currently being built to EPC-A standards. Hayfield’s Toddington scheme will deliver homes that offer a greener way of living, with solar PV panels, air source heat pumps, energy-efficient underfloor heating, EV fast-charging points, 100% renewable energy, and fibre optic broadband. Andy Morris, Managing Director of Hayfield, said: “This will be our fifth development in Bedfordshire, and subject to planning, will deliver a high-quality range of two, three, four and five-bedroom homes in a variety of designs to suit the needs of the local community. All of the homes will be fossil-fuel free, and 18 of them will be affordable.” The site is allocated for residential development in the Central Bedfordshire Local Plan and previously received outline planning permission. To generate enhancements to biodiversity, the Toddington scheme will incorporate Public Open Space, new habitats for wildlife, native tree planting, an attenuation pond to be planted with wetland wildflowers, and the vast majority of existing trees and hedgerows will also be retained and enhanced. A new access road and a network of footpaths to adoptable standards will be created from Russell Road. The proposed new homes will be tenure blind, and all properties will have designated parking, with many benefiting from garages. Visitor parking spaces will also be widely available. All new Hayfield homes are zero carbon ready and exceed the government’s Future Homes Standard – which will be mandatory from 2025 – and include innovative solutions installed as standard, such as air-source heat pumps, increased insulation, water efficiency measures and electric vehicle charge points. The company is committed to being a sustainable developer and has pledged to be net zero by 2030. Hayfield builds beautiful homes in prime semi-rural locations in Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Northamptonshire, Worcestershire and Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire. For more information visit: https://www.hayfieldhomes.co.uk/ Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Housebuiler Crest Nicholson has sponsored a selection of upgraded outdoor seating at St Pancras Catholic Primary School in Ipswich. The brightly coloured new benches are made of hard-wearing recycled plastic, replacing the old wooden benches that were in need of an upgrade. Not only will their durable material mean they will stand the test of time and will be well suited for the British weather, but they will be a perfect addition for children to use during the school day and for the range of events held at the school, including ice cream sales, cake sales, summer fayres, sports days and more. “We’re thrilled with the generous donation from Crest Nicholson, which arrived in time for many of our outdoor school activities and events this year and has been used by students and their families alike. Since the start of the academic year, the children have loved using them for lunchtime, eating snacks outside, socialising, and making friends. Crest Nicholson have been instrumental in our fundraising plans to install benches for our students,” said Kerry Marsh, from St Pancras Catholic Primary School PTA group. To support the surrounding community, the benches sponsored by Crest Nicholson were sourced from a local supplier, Realise Futures Disability and Support Service, in Ipswich, making the contribution a real community effort. “At Crest Nicholson, we’re not only committed to building homes but supporting the wider community and so we were really pleased to be able to support the St Pancras Catholic Primary School with upgrading their outdoor seating areas and are delighted to hear these have already been enjoyed by students and their families,” commented Karen Coulson, Sales and Marketing Director at Crest Nicholson Eastern. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Building work is well underway at a pioneering housing development in Milton Keynes where Bellway is adopting Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). The developer was selected by Homes England to deliver phase four of Tattenhoe Park, a major extension to the south-west of the city. The site is part of a project designed to try to speed up the delivery process for new homes. The development will include 160 homes, with 40 of these being modular homes built off site in a factory environment, before being assembled on site and connected to mains services. Construction is continuing apace on the remaining 120 homes which are being built on site using timber frame panels in place of traditional block and brickwork. This system makes the build process quicker and more sustainable. Iain Hunter, Construction Director at Bellway Northern Home Counties, said: “We commenced construction work at Tattenhoe Park in May, and progress has been so good that a handful of the timber-frame houses are now water tight, and there are others that are nearly ready to have the roofs installed. “The modular installation has already commenced, with a few of those units already being reserved off-plan. In fact, the high level of interest in these modular homes and the timber-frame properties saw us accelerate the release for sale of a selection of homes onto the market through Elevation Estate Agents in Milton Keynes.” Luke Southgate, Sales Director of Bellway Northern Home Counties, said: “The interest in these properties has been phenomenal. We have experienced a huge number of enquiries and are pleased that the house-buying public have responded so positively to this innovative project, which is very important for not only Bellway and Milton Keynes but for the house-building industry in general. “As things go, we are hoping to welcome the first residents onto Tattenhoe Park in early 2023. Looking further ahead, we aim to deliver all of the new homes on the site within two years.” The Bellway scheme will include one and two-bedroom apartments, and two, three and four-bedroom houses. There will be 112 homes for private sale and 48 affordable homes, which will be made available to local people through shared ownership or low-cost rent. Tattenhoe Park will eventually become a neighbourhood of more than 1,300 homes. Bellway’s development, being built on land which the company bought in February 2022, is located just a short walk from Priory Rise School for primary-age children. Bellway has teamed up with specialist suppliers for the scheme, with timber frame panels provided by Donaldson Timber Systems and the modular units built by ilke Homes at its Yorkshire factory. Ryan Burgess, Project Manager at Tattenhoe Park, said: “It’s great to be given the opportunity to be involved with this scheme, backed by Homes England, which champions Modern Methods of Construction. “Pilot schemes such as this one, help ease the pressures of material and labour shortages, whilst also providing much needed affordable new build homes.” There is currently a selection of one and two-bedroom apartments and two, three and four-bedroom houses available to reserve at Tattenhoe Park, with prices starting at £215,000. For more information, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/northern-home-counties/tattenhoe-park. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
National housebuilder Keepmoat has completed a Santa signposting initiative to ensure that families who have moved home since last Christmas will receive presents at their new address. The national homebuilder, founded in Doncaster, has created a list and, after checking it twice, has updated the Santa Sat Nav database with details of families at 91 of its developments across the UK that have seen new homeowners move in since last Christmas. To ensure that Santa doesn’t deliver presents to the wrong home this year, as well as the digital data upload, Keepmoat is doubling down on directions by installing Santa signposts for homes with the latest occupiers. And – as most modern homes are built without real fires – the company, which employs more than 1,100 people across the UK, has also created a downloadable fireplace that families can print out and colour in. “We know that families who have moved into one of our homes since last Christmas are keen to ensure their new house is on Santa’s delivery schedule. Whilst we’re confident Santa knows what he’s doing, to absolutely ensure there’s no mix-ups we’ve designed a digital map showing the location of every Keepmoat development in the UK that has had a new occupant since last Christmas,” said Amanda Bishop, Group Head of Sales at Keepmoat. “And, as well as updating the details of 91 of our developments on the master Santa Sat Nav database, we have installed ‘Santa this home is now occupied’ signs in the front garden of our newest homeowners. Finally, to make sure we’ve got Christmas fully covered, we have created a downloadable fireplace for families to print out, decorate for Christmas and use in their home in time for the big day,” she added. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Taylor Wimpey London will open the doors to a brand new show apartment at its Coronation Square development in Leyton this month. Coronation Square is a modern development of 750 new homes in the heart of Leyton, with a range of apartments and houses surrounding a vibrant market square that will become the heart of the new community. A new show apartment opened its doors on 12th of November giving buyers the chance to see themselves living at Coronation Square. Clayton & Company, the design team behind the show apartment, carried out extensive research on the local area and the house layouts. They wanted to reflect the aspirations of local buyers in the apartment and have ensured that the space is calming, inviting and fitting to the local area, creating a stunning design to show off the homes to their full potential. Sarah Coward, Interior designer at Clayton & Company, said: “This is a modern home so we took an artistic direction to create a stylish, fun-loving balanced family environment. “Using a soft muted colour palette with an introduction of cool blue tones throughout evokes feelings of tranquillity and relaxation. We’ve incorporated sustainable and eco-friendly materials using wooden panelling and natural finishes, which not only adds texture throughout the apartment but also ensures that the space feels warm and inviting. This was further enhanced with earthy notes of burnt orange in the soft furnishings.” Sarah wanted the bedrooms to exude luxury, so she added stand-out features to give them a sense of depth with a modern twist. She said: “For the bedrooms you would want to come home and sink into them. We picked a tall velvet headboard with statement surround in the main bedroom, which introduces gorgeous fabrics and allows the buyer to create their very own boutique hotel interior at home. “The main feature of the second bedroom is the geometric wall panelling for a striking depth feature. We also took inspiration from potential buyers in the area and the need for a working from home environment, whilst ensuring the natural tones used throughout the home were still evident.” One of the benefits of buying a new build property is the blank canvas that it provides, allowing buyers to immediately put their own stamp on their home. Sarah said: “All the looks we have created throughout the apartment can easily be replicated by any new buyer moving in for the first time. “In the main living room, we chose to use paint to design the room as opposed to wallpaper, which only requires a roll of masking tape and the decision over what colour to make a statement with. “You can also shop for affordable lighting, window treatments and bespoke furniture from high street stores such as John Lewis, and one of the easiest styles to create in any room is the use of plants which give the instant natural and cosy feeling.” Sarah and her team also designed a creative work space and marketing suite for the Coronation Square sales team. They focused on breaking the large space down into more intimate areas, continuing the same eco-friendly design of the show apartment. Sarah said: “Our aim was to design a space that allowed the Taylor Wimpey team to carry out their day-to-day work whilst being as welcoming as possible to any prospective buyers, without being too imposing. “We added wall panelling and finishing touches with lots of planting to create a real sense of bringing the outside influences of the local area inside. “The most striking feature in the suite is the wooden ‘gazebo’ surrounding the soft seating. Whilst emphasising the tall ceilings of the room, it also leans to the thriving, creative surroundings of the Coronation Square area, with its leafy gardens, relaxed cafés and modern living.” A range of one, two and three-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom duplexes are currently available at Coronation Square, with prices ranging from £400,000 to £675,000. The development will be much more than just housing, designed around a market square that will become a focal point for the lives of those who live there. New shops, sports facilities, cafes and workspaces will give new and existing residents plenty of opportunities to enjoy their lifestyle and make new connections. Seamless links to the wider area will enable people to make the most of Leyton’s character and community. Alex Greaves, Sales and Marketing Director for Taylor Wimpey London, said: “We wanted our show apartment and marketing suite to reflect everything that people love about Leyton, and we’re so proud of the work that Sarah and the team have put into the project. “They have created a home that is truly inspiring and we’re really excited to welcome customers for the first time this month. We’re also delighted with the work done on the marketing suite, which brings all of Leyton’s creativity and character into our work space.” The show apartment at Coronation Square, at 116 Oliver Road, Leyton, London, E10 5LF is now open for viewingFor more information and to book an appointment, buyers can contact the sales team on coronation.square@taylorwimpey.co.uk / 01277 889551 or visit www.taylorwimpey.co.uk/coronation-square to find out more. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans to create an affordable housing community in Cheddar are officially underway, following a confirmed partnership between Keepmoat Homes and Alliance Homes. Looking to bring much-needed homes into the area, partnership housebuilder Keepmoat, along with community based social housing provider, Alliance Homes, will transform the 5.8-acre site into a high-quality sustainable housing community. “We’re incredibly pleased to be working with Alliance Homes to help bring affordable housing to the village of Cheddar, which offers excellent transport links and open green spaces. In keeping with our positive environmental practices, the Steart Farm community will be created with sustainability in mind and will be a gas-free development which uses air source heat pumps throughout. Over the coming months we look forward to working with the local community and welcoming new residents to the area,” commented Charlotte Goode, Divisional Chairman at Keepmoat. Bringing affordable housing to the Somerset area, Steart Farm will offer 29 homes under shared ownership, and 29 as affordable rent. Well positioned to local transport links, the development lies 10 miles south-east of J21 off the M5 motorway and 11 miles south of Bristol Airport via the A371 and A38, and the new community will feature a local play area, wildlife zone and public open space. “We’re really pleased to be involved with Keepmoat on this development in Cheddar. Not only will these 58 homes be a big step on our way to developing 2,000 homes over 10 years, but the environmental credentials of the homes meet our plans to be a green and ethical business. This site will be 100% affordable and that has been made possible thanks to a grant from Homes England,” said Iain Lock, Director of Investment at Alliance Homes. The Reserved Matters planning application was approved in September 2022, and first completions are expected mid-2024. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
