Premcor Estates, a prominent northeast property developer known for large-scale industrial projects across Nottingham and Rossington, has submitted ambitious plans for a transformative mixed-use development at Woburn and Bedford Court in Croydon. This project aims to revitalise a crucial entry point into the town with 445 new homes, 156 of
Housing developer Story Homes is delighted to announce that it has been recognised by the prestigious UK Property Awards, beating strong competition from national companies to win the five-star award for the ‘Best Developer Website in the UK’ for the third year running. The builder also collected the national award
BIRMINGHAM. The skyline of Birmingham’s Central Business District welcomed a new landmark today as developers celebrated the topping out ceremony of The Townsend, a highly anticipated luxury residential development on Church Street. This event marks a significant milestone in the project’s progress, bringing the city one step closer to a
Solihull Council has struck a development deal with leading homebuilder Vistry Group PLC to build up to 177 affordable new homes for its residents. The sustainable new development will be built on the site of the former Simon Digby School in Chelmsley Wood. This well connected spot, located between the
Vistry Group has acquired a site in Tewkesbury to deliver up to 150 affordable homes in partnership with Platform Housing Group as part of a £38 million project. Outline planning consent is already in place for the homes in Fiddington Lane, near Ashchurch, and a reserved matters application will now
Croudace Homes has revealed ambitious growth plans over the next decade, with a target to more than double the turnover from its current £200m to £500m by 2033. The growth plans are spearheaded by Adrian Watts, who was appointed Chief Executive Officer in June 2023. Founded in 1946 by Jack
PLATFORM_, a leading developer specialising in Build-to-Rent (BTR) projects, has announced a £150 million joint venture with Housing Growth Partnership (HGP), an equity investor supported by Lloyds Bank, to create a landmark residential development in Leeds. This exciting project will see the construction of 451 high-quality apartments, marking the first
James Hammond knew he wanted to pursue a career in construction after developing an interest in architecture at 12-years-old. Now, 21 years later, after working his way up within the housebuilding industry, James has been appointed as regional technical manager for Vistry Thames Valley, which has its headquarters in Reading
Vistry, Britain’s biggest housebuilder, has joined forces with Bromford to build up to 695 sustainable homes in Longbridge, south-west Birmingham, formerly home to the MG works. Vistry has joined forces with Bromford, one of the UK’s largest housing associations, which will own and manage the affordable homes. Bromford is acquiring
Investment in people, encouraging more females into the sector and putting in proactive wellbeing support have all played a role in helping two Tara Group companies make the 2024 UK’s Best Workplaces in Construction, Engineering & Property™ list. Cameron Homes and Keon Homes have both made the prestigious rankings, reaffirming
Premcor Estates, a prominent northeast property developer known for large-scale industrial projects across Nottingham and Rossington, has submitted ambitious plans for a transformative mixed-use development at Woburn and Bedford Court in Croydon. This project aims to revitalise a crucial entry point into the town with 445 new homes, 156 of which will be affordable, alongside flexible commercial and community spaces covering 1,772 sqm on the ground floor. The development has been designed to breathe new life into the Croydon Opportunity Area, with its masterplan laying the groundwork for residential, commercial, and public space growth. It will serve as a key link between Tavistock and Wellesley Road, featuring new pedestrian pathways, enhanced public spaces, and bolstered infrastructure. Premcor’s project is anticipated to become a catalyst for the wider regeneration of Wellesley Road, contributing significantly to the area’s urban landscape and community facilities. The proposed buildings include a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments in four structures ranging from four to 29 storeys, with the tallest block positioned above the commercial spaces, creating a vibrant, vertical neighbourhood. Rob Lane, Director at Premcor, expressed optimism, stating, “We’ve invested immense thought and care over the past four years to develop a masterplan that will bring the best possible residential, commercial, and community benefits to Croydon.” In line with sustainability goals, Premcor aims to create an inclusive, community-focused space that promotes local employment, supports small businesses, and enhances community life, addressing a longstanding need for a central community hub in the area. Planning consultant Rapleys, represented by James Owens, notes the current 1960s buildings on the site are outdated, with limited amenities and an unfavourable layout. The current site’s outdated infrastructure has resulted in poorly maintained communal spaces, contributing to antisocial behaviour. “Placemaking lies at the heart of this proposal,” Owens said, adding that the project would modernise the area and address these longstanding issues. Pending approval, Premcor’s vision for Woburn and Bedford Court represents a major step toward creating a safe, sustainable, and thriving urban neighbourhood in the heart of Croydon. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Housing developer Story Homes is delighted to announce that it has been recognised by the prestigious UK Property Awards, beating strong competition from national companies to win the five-star award for the ‘Best Developer Website in the UK’ for the third year running. The builder also collected the national award for ‘Best Residential Interior for a Show Home’ for its Fulshaw Manor development in Wilmslow, triumphing over show homes from other housebuilders across the country. The Carlisle-headquartered business also collected a further two regional 5-star accolades for its Fulshaw Manor development, with the scheme receiving the awards for the ‘Best Residential Interior for a Show Home’ in Cheshire, as well as the accolade for ‘Best Residential Development’ in Cheshire. Story Homes was presented with the four awards at a ceremony on 25 October at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. As winners of four 5-star awards, the builder will be entered into the European Property Awards, which determine Europe’s finest property companies. Now in its 31st year, the UK Property Awards are the most demanding and rigorous in the property sector. The awards are judged by an independent panel of over 80 industry experts, focussing on design, quality, service, innovation, originality and commitment to sustainability. Colin Wood, CEO at Story Homes, said: “We are so proud to be recognised once again at the UK Property Awards, which is a very prestigious accolade within the housebuilding industry. To walk away with three 5-star awards for our Fulshaw Manor development, plus a further 5-star award for our website for the third year running, was a fantastic achievement and demonstrates our commitment to quality and design. “We are passionate about investing in our website to showcase our unique product offering and provide the most seamless and user-friendly experience for our customers, and we are therefore delighted to be acknowledged by the industry for leading the way in digital innovation.” Fulshaw Manor is a beautiful development of high quality homes located in the aspirational area of Wilmslow in Cheshire. This exclusive development offers Story Homes’ ‘Signature Collection’ of one to five-bedroom homes, carefully designed throughout, with a high specification included. Since its official launch in February this year, the development has been extremely popular with customers and Story Homes continues to receive overwhelmingly positive feedback from buyers who are delighted with the quality of their home and level of service received. For more information, please visit www.storyhomes.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
BIRMINGHAM. The skyline of Birmingham’s Central Business District welcomed a new landmark today as developers celebrated the topping out ceremony of The Townsend, a highly anticipated luxury residential development on Church Street. This event marks a significant milestone in the project’s progress, bringing the city one step closer to a new standard in urban living. The Townsend, developed by the visionary Midleton team, offers an exclusive collection of exquisite one, two, and three-bedroom apartments in one of Birmingham’s most sought-after locations. Situated just off Colmore Row, residents will find themselves at the heart of the city’s vibrant business and cultural scene. The development’s prime location on Church Street places future residents in esteemed company, with neighbouring occupiers including The Grand Hotel, Hotel Du Vin, Gaucho, Fazenda, and Isaac’s. This enviable address promises to deliver an unparalleled city centre living experience. In anticipation of the project’s completion, Midleton is pleased to announce the appointment of Knight Frank as the exclusive selling agent for The Townsend. Sales are expected to launch in the coming weeks, offering buyers a chance to secure their place in this exceptional development. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Solihull Council has struck a development deal with leading homebuilder Vistry Group PLC to build up to 177 affordable new homes for its residents. The sustainable new development will be built on the site of the former Simon Digby School in Chelmsley Wood. This well connected spot, located between the Chester Road (A452) and the M6, was originally earmarked for housing development in the adopted 2013 Solihull Local Plan. Following a thorough tender process Vistry has been chosen to deliver the scheme, which will be up to 100% affordable and includes two-, three-, and four-bedroom family homes as well as one-bedroom maisonettes, reflecting local housing need. The high-quality new homes will be built using modern methods of construction (MMC) reducing the carbon footprint of every property. The homes will be manufactured off site using open panel timber frames from the Vistry Works East Midlands factory in Leicestershire. Each home built using these panels emits 14,460kg CO2e less than a traditional brick-and-block house and provides maximum energy efficiency helping future residents to cut their fuel bills. Each property will also utilise air source heat pumps instead of traditional gas boilers and will be fitted with integrated solar PV panels to provide additional power. Central to the proposed development will be a focus on creating a distinct sense of place, with exciting plans for a new play area, nature trail and attractive new public spaces. The final scheme will benefit from significant infrastructure investment from West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and enjoy cycle lane provision and footpaths connecting residents to local centres and the surrounding Cole Valley landscape. Councillor Ian Courts, Leader of Solihull Council, said: “Appointing Vistry as our development partner for this crucial project is a huge step towards utilising the full potential of the former Simon Digby School site. We’ve undertaken a lot of work to set the stage for this and now we can finally crack on with delivering affordable and sustainable homes critical to meeting the borough’s housing needs. “These 177 homes won’t just be a collection of new houses but a thriving, well integrated new community at the heart of Chelmsley Wood, perfectly positioned to benefit from the economic opportunities associated with the arrival of the HS2 interchange and the rest of the UK Central Hub.” Councillor Mark Parker, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “Here in Solihull, we’re serious about stepping up to the challenge of building the new homes our residents need while also setting the highest quality threshold for energy efficiency and sustainability. “Mirroring the fantastic work already underway just up the road in Kingshurst, this scheme will help deliver on both our housing targets and climate change commitments.” “Once built, the scheme will deliver a biodiversity net gain through key design features such as green landscaping and a dedicated new nature trail.” James Warrington, Divisional Chair for South Midlands and the North at Vistry said: “We are thrilled to be working with Solihull Council on this development which will help meet the housing shortage in the area with family homes built using environmentally responsible methods. “We’re excited to be a part of Solihull’s growth and to be entrusted with the build of these much-needed new homes which will contribute to the character of the area and create a thriving and sustainable community.” Delivery of the scheme is being supported by a £2.97m contribution from WMCA, via its devolved housing and land funds. Richard Parker, West Midlands Mayor, said:“We have to start building more homes that local people can genuinely afford. “Working together, including a £3 million contribution from the WMCA, all 177 houses on this site are planned to be affordable meaning more homes for all communities across the region. “Schemes like this one that use low carbon, factory-built homes are revolutionising the housing landscape. They are quicker to build and easier and cheaper to heat, which means they can make a big difference in addressing the housing crisis.” Initial feasibility work, concept masterplan development and acquisition of land interests has been managed as part of the council’s UK Central Infrastructure Programme and funded by WMCA. It is one of over twenty projects building upon the investment and regeneration planned for the borough, supporting further sustainable and inclusive growth. Vistry will now take the designs to the next stage and carry out a series of consultation activity before submitting their planning application for the scheme later this year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Vistry Group has acquired a site in Tewkesbury to deliver up to 150 affordable homes in partnership with Platform Housing Group as part of a £38 million project. Outline planning consent is already in place for the homes in Fiddington Lane, near Ashchurch, and a reserved matters application will now be submitted. Vistry is the UK’s largest housebuilder and leading provider of affordable homes. House types from its specialists Partnerships range will be plotted for the Tewkesbury development. The properties will be constructed with timber frames made by Vistry Works, the manufacturing arm of Vistry Group. Supriya Ray, managing director for Vistry Cotswolds, said: “Tewkesbury is a growing town which requires new affordable homes to help accommodate its expanding population. Our partnership with Platform Housing Group will make a significant and positive contribution towards addressing local housing need. “This is the first 100 per cent affordable homes project to be delivered in this area under the partnerships model and we are in discussions to bring forward many more. This reflects Vistry Group’s commitment to sustained growth in housing output, while driving social value and delivering strong returns for our investors.” Michael Baggett, director of land and partnerships at Platform Housing Group, said: “We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of land at Fiddington, Tewkesbury, working in partnership with Vistry Group. The purchase of this site makes a significant step forward in our commitment to tackling the housing crisis. “The development of 150 affordable homes is a testament to partnership working. Together Platform and Vistry are working to create sustainable communities, ensuring that people and families have access to a safe, affordable place to call home.” Vistry is working to secure full planning consent before the end of the year, with a view to starting build early in 2025 and completing on the first of the homes by the end of 2025. The homes will form an extension to a new neighbourhood which is taking shape to the south-east of Tewkesbury and is planned to bring new community facilities to the area. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Croudace Homes has revealed ambitious growth plans over the next decade, with a target to more than double the turnover from its current £200m to £500m by 2033. The growth plans are spearheaded by Adrian Watts, who was appointed Chief Executive Officer in June 2023. Founded in 1946 by Jack Brotherton-Ratcliffe, Croudace Homes’ first sites were delivered in Surrey to meet the rising shortage of housing stock during the post-war building boom, before expanding across the entirety of the south-east of England in the 1980s. Today, the housebuilder has three regions in Caterham, Letchworth and the recently opened Theale. As part of the growth plans, a Midlands office is scheduled to open over the next few years, which will see Croudace Homes develop in this area of the country for the first time in its history. With more than 35 years’ experience in the industry, Adrian has held Director positions with housebuilding giants Bellway, Redrow and Persimmon prior to joining Croudace Homes in 2019. Adrian initially joined as Managing Director of Croudace Homes’ North Thames region, before being promoted to Deputy Chief Executive Officer in 2022. Adrian comments: “I’m excited to share our growth strategy, which will increase our development portfolio from 600 homes per year to around 1,200 across all regions. Historically, the business has always looked five years ahead, but as we are targeting ambitious figures, it felt prudent to deliver a longer-term plan. We are pivoting our operations in a number of ways, such as increasing our long-term strategic land, investing in sustainable construction methods, and expanding our development patch across the entire South of England, and eventually beginning to head north to the Midlands. “A change of government has reinvigorated the housing market, particularly for SMEs such as ourselves. The proposed measures to the industry, in particular a reform of planning regulations, will reduce time-intensive and frankly expensive applications and instead incentivise developers to press on and deliver great quality homes.” Caspar Brotherton, the grandson of Croudace Homes’ founder and non-executive Group Chairman, comments: “We are ready to take the next step and set far-reaching targets to deliver growth over the next decade. We are confident that Adrian and the Board of Directors will successfully lead us through this exciting period of expansion whilst retaining our core company values for prioritising the wellbeing of our staff and building high quality sustainable homes backed up with a first-class customer service.” Croudace Homes currently has more than a dozen live developments, ranging from larger sites such as the 830-home Hermitage Park on the edge of ancient woodland in Maidstone, Kent, and 600-home mixed-use scheme Willowbrook Park in Didcot, Oxfordshire, to more boutique developments such as Wisteria Gate in Romsey, Southampton. To find out more about Croudace Homes, visit www.croudacehomes.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
PLATFORM_, a leading developer specialising in Build-to-Rent (BTR) projects, has announced a £150 million joint venture with Housing Growth Partnership (HGP), an equity investor supported by Lloyds Bank, to create a landmark residential development in Leeds. This exciting project will see the construction of 451 high-quality apartments, marking the first phase of a larger 1.3 million square foot mixed-use development on Sweet Street. The Build-to-Rent scheme is part of a rapidly growing trend in the UK housing market, particularly in vibrant urban centres like Leeds, where the demand for well-designed, purpose-built rental accommodation is on the rise. This partnership between PLATFORM_ and HGP underscores the increasing importance of investment in the BTR sector, aimed at providing long-term, sustainable rental housing in prime city locations. The collaboration is set to bring significant benefits to Leeds’ housing market, offering 451 modern, purpose-built apartments. This will not only help meet the city’s growing rental demand but will also contribute to the development of new community living spaces in the heart of Leeds. This £150 million development signals a strong commitment to the city’s future, reflecting the confidence that both PLATFORM_ and HGP have in Leeds’ potential for continued growth within the residential property market. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
James Hammond knew he wanted to pursue a career in construction after developing an interest in architecture at 12-years-old. Now, 21 years later, after working his way up within the housebuilding industry, James has been appointed as regional technical manager for Vistry Thames Valley, which has its headquarters in Reading and is part of Vistry Group, Britain’s biggest housebuilder. ‘The 33-year-old, who lives in Puttenham, near Guildford, said: “I’ve always been inspired by Architecture and buildings and with Salisbury Cathedral adjacent to my school, there was inspiration to be taken from at an early age. This fed through to the subjects I learned in school and ultimately, I knew that I wanted to work in the building industry.’ Following on from his early inspiration, James completed school, gained a degree in construction management from university and then joined the building industry as a graduate trainee in the technical department at a housebuilding company. He worked his way up to senior technical co-ordinator before joining Bovis Homes – now part of Vistry Group – in that role in 2018, then gaining promotion to technical manager and senior technical manager in quick succession. As regional technical manager, the father-of-two now manages a team of seven in the technical department at Vistry Thames Valley, which is building new homes across Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey and Buckinghamshire across its Bovis Homes, Linden Homes and Countryside Homes brands. He said: “My role is to look after the operational side of the technical team. Basically, we aim to keep things going on site by co-ordinating all the information from our architects, civil and structural engineers, landscape architects and other third parties. This ensures a smooth handover of information to other departments which, in turn, enables them to carry out their roles in working towards completing great homes for our customers.” James is also directly overseeing the technical operations at two sites – Buckler’s Park in Crowthorne, in Berkshire, and at Beckley Place in Barton Park, Oxford. He said: “I have to ensure that all the relevant drawings and technical information is provided so that the commercial department can price accurately and the build team can get on and build the properties to meet Vistry’s exacting standards. What I like about this part of the job is that it gives me the opportunity to be in the office and also get out on site to see the projects come to life.” “My personal professional ambition is to become a technical director and head up the whole team. The reason I love this job so much is that it is not only challenging but also that two days are never the same. That variety keeps things fresh and exciting. I feel lucky that I love my job and that Vistry has a positive promotion pathway.” Trevor Wicks, managing director of Vistry Thames Valley, said: “In the six years that James has been with us, his enthusiasm and positive can-do attitude has rightly seen him go from promotion to promotion within the technical department and now sees him occupy a senior role in that team. “James is a great leader within a great team. His proven ability to problem solve and create an environment where operations run incredibly smoothly means that he has very bright future with us here at Vistry.” For more information about careers with Vistry Group, visit vistrygroup.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Vistry, Britain’s biggest housebuilder, has joined forces with Bromford to build up to 695 sustainable homes in Longbridge, south-west Birmingham, formerly home to the MG works. Vistry has joined forces with Bromford, one of the UK’s largest housing associations, which will own and manage the affordable homes. Bromford is acquiring 250 of the proposed homes, ensuring that more than 35% of the homes on this development will be affordable, against a 20% requirement. The housing association will make 132 homes, 19% of the total number being proposed, available for social rent, against a 4% requirement as part of the planning consent. An additional 118 homes will be available to part-buy, part-rent through Bromford’s shared ownership scheme. A further 209 units will be destined for the private rental sector and the remaining 236 properties will be available on the open market for private ownership, ensuring the development will offer something for everyone. The scheme will also stimulate economic growth through on-site employment, as well as providing further benefits for the local community with designated spaces for community uses and public open space. The new homes will be a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments, and larger two-, three- and four-bedroom family houses. With a focus on sustainability, they will include air source heat pumps rather than gas boilers; PV panels will provide renewable electricity; and wastewater recovery will minimise water usage. The houses will be built using modern methods of construction (MMC), reducing the carbon footprint of every property. The homes will be manufactured off site using open panel timber frames from the Vistry Works East Midlands factory in Leicestershire. Each home built using these panels emits 14,460kg CO2e less than a traditional brick-and-block house. Phil McHugh, Managing Director of Vistry North West Midlands, said: “We are thrilled to have acquired this site and to be working with Bromford on this exciting project that will contribute to Birmingham’s economic growth by providing new jobs and high-quality places to live. “Like many major cities, Birmingham has a severe shortage of affordable homes; that’s something we’re aiming to address by going the extra mile to deliver affordable and social rent homes over and above what is required of us, and delivering them at pace. We’re also hugely proud of the sustainability of the homes we’ll be providing, with features and construction methods that reduce their impact on the environment and will lower energy bills for future residents. “We’re excited to be a part of Birmingham’s growth and to be entrusted with the build of these much-needed new homes which will contribute to the character of the area and create a thriving and sustainable community.” Alice Phillips, Regional Development Manager at Bromford, said: “Working with Vistry to bring new affordable homes to Birmingham as part of the Longbridge redevelopment is a perfect opportunity for us. With the work that’s already taken place at Longbridge and everything that’s planned over the years ahead, our future customers will have great prospects to live, work and thrive in these new homes and community. “Providing 132 homes for social rent as part of this partnership will make a real difference to the lives of families who are currently waiting for affordable housing in Birmingham. And they’ll be living in some of the most energy efficient homes we’ve ever built in the West Midlands thanks to all of the sustainability measures that will be installed.” Simon Vick, Head of Development at Bromford, added: “We are absolutely delighted to be working in partnership again with Vistry to deliver this project. It’s one of our largest ever partnerships in the West Midlands and will help meet the acute shortage of high quality, affordable homes in Birmingham.” Professional services group Gateley supported on the purchase from St. Modwen, as well as the development agreement and sale to Bromford. Lauren Jeffrey, Residential Development Senior Associate at Gateley Legal, added: “The Longbridge site was previously brownfield land and holds significant historical importance as the former home to the MG Rover factory, as well as links to war activity. So, it’s brilliant to see the iconic location being given a new lease of life and developed into a community with much-needed housing, shops and offices. “The success of this scheme is the result of the great working partnership between all parties, as well as the collaborative effort from Gateley’s residential development, planning, tax, litigation and built environment consultancy teams, and I look forward to seeing the development continue to take shape.” A reserved matters planning application has been submitted with a decision notice due shortly. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Investment in people, encouraging more females into the sector and putting in proactive wellbeing support have all played a role in helping two Tara Group companies make the 2024 UK’s Best Workplaces in Construction, Engineering & Property™ list. Cameron Homes and Keon Homes have both made the prestigious rankings, reaffirming the group-wide commitment to its industry-leading ‘Tara Academy’ and how it strives to creates a positive working environment for its 300 plus staff. The list is created using anonymous feedback from employees and covers flexible working environments and how company culture aligns with trust, pride and camaraderie. Julie Caudle, People and Performance Director at the Tara Group, commented: “While bricks and mortar tend to be our main tools, people will always remain the heartbeat of what we do and that’s why we invest so much in their development and in creating the right conditions for them to grow and prosper. “That’s why we are pleased to see Cameron and Keon both feature in the Best Workplaces ranking, scoring highly in pretty much every category. This is even more impressive when you consider that we don’t influence the scores – this is completely in the hands of our team to give their honest feedback of how they feel working for us.” She continued: “The last twelve months have been very impressive. In addition to the latest list, we have also seen Keon Homes secure the highest placing for a construction company in the UK’s Best Workplaces for Development list and Cameron Homes highly placed in the Best Workplaces for Women.” Getting more females into construction has been a priority for the Tara Group, with new measures in place to work with all girl schools to help them understand the roles within the sector. Sutton Grammar School and Newport Girls High School are the first two to take part, in order to help their pupils explore potential courses and qualifications that can be used to pursue a career in the industry. Working with Instep, the group has also launched its first ever female leadership programme, a programme designed by women from a female perspective. It combines group workshops, peer learning, personalised coaching and guest speakers to harness strengths and equip rising stars with the essential skills and capability they will need to lead in the future. Benedict Gautrey, Managing Director of Great Place To Work® UK, added his support: “The UK’s Best Workplaces focus on ensuring sufficient opportunities for upskilling and reskilling wherever possible – recognising that employee growth spurs organisational growth. “We’ve seen the companies in our UK’s Best Workplaces for Construction, Engineering & Property list proactively introducing development-based investment for their greatest asset, their employees. It’s great to see Keon Homes and Cameron Homes leading from the front.” For further information, please visit www.keonhomes.co.uk or www.cameronhomes.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
