Springfield Properties has secured outline planning consent to create a sustainable new neighbourhood in Midlothian. The Lingerwood development, which was recommended for approval by planning officers, will see up to 1,000 new homes delivered within a thoughtfully integrated and well-connected community. Detailed proposals will now be progressed for the first 200 homes. Designs will promote low and zero carbon technologies and use sustainable building techniques to minimise environmental impact. The energy efficient homes will include a variety of attractive house types and will be mixed tenure, delivering a range of quality housing options for first time buyers, young professionals, growing families and those setting into retirement. The masterplans show how Lingerwood will embrace the 20-minute neighbourhood model which promotes local living and ensures local people can access services and amenities, such as shops and play parks, easily. Reflecting the local landscape, Springfield’s designs include open, green spaces, woodland planting, meadows and grasslands. Encouraging a sense of community is also a key part of the vision for Lingerwood. Designs include a standalone ‘an clachan’ at the development’s heart, drawing inspiration from the area’s proud mining history to create a vibrant village centre. The proposals demonstrate how residents could come together through the provision of play spaces, allotments, landscaped gardens and seating areas. Martin Egan, Chief Operating Officer for Springfield, commented: “This planning consent marks a major milestone for a significant development that will bring forward excellent quality, energy efficient homes for people in Midlothian. “However, more than this, Lingerwood will see the creation of a thriving village that can sustain the needs of local people for years to come. It will be a best-in-class example of placemaking and we are confident that it will complement nearby established residential areas that already have distinct identities. “We have spent a great deal of time consulting with Midlothian Council and local stakeholders and their feedback has been invaluable so far. We are keen to build on these relationships as we refine our plans and look ahead to the first phase of development.” Springfield is an experienced housebuilder, having already taken forward village communities which prioritise green space, community facilities and supporting infrastructure. The team is currently developing Dykes of Gray in Dundee, Bertha Park in Perth, and Elgin South in Elgin. Planning is also secured for Durieshill in Stirling. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

The bridge connects new residential development Soho Wharf to the existing Eyre Street Basin bridge and provides pedestrians with a crossing point for direct access to the city centre along the canal.  Heimstaden Bostad, owner of Soho Wharf, and development partner The Galliard Apsley Partnership, commissioned Shrewsbury-based bridge design company Beaver Bridges to complete the £1 million project. Jonathan Wilson, design manager at Galliard Homes, said: “This is a significant milestone for Soho Wharf. The bridge will provide an important link from the site to the city centre via the waterways. This will not only benefit residents of Soho Wharf but also the wider public, especially those working at or visiting the nearby City Hospital.” Beaver Bridges worked closely with the Canal & River Trust to develop the concept for the steel cantilever truss footbridge, which weighs 28 tonnes and measures 26 metres long.  Richard Hinckley, sales director at Beaver Bridges, said: “We are delighted to have supported The Galliard Apsley Partnership with the design and installation of the new bridge, which will leave a lasting legacy on the Birmingham canal network. “There were several challenges with the project, including designing a bridge that could span the canal without bearing onto the existing canal wall. Working with the client and the Canal & River Trust, our solution was a lightweight yet stiff cantilever truss design. “We also had to transport the bridge as a single piece to site and negotiate it through an active construction site, which posed a number of challenges in itself.” Shomsur Khan, from Canal & River Trust, said: “Research shows that spending time amongst nature alongside our historic canals is good for physical and mental health. This new bridge will provide local communities easy access to our canals which they can use for leisurely walks, bike rides or as part of their daily commute into work or school.” Soho Wharf comprises 752 build-to-rent homes, including 650 apartments and 102 townhouses, providing affordable homes at discounted rents 20 per cent below market value. There will also be 10,000 sq ft of commercial space and 300 parking spaces.  Almost 40 per cent of the site will be green space, including public realm, private communal areas for residents and private gardens to the townhouses.  Amit Kumar, Heimstaden UK head of operations, said: “Soho Wharf has regenerated this area of the city, delivering a mix of houses and apartments, designed with our ‘Friendly Homes’ ethos in mind, and green spaces for our customers. “The bridge installation will be an important link to connect the two parts of the city, giving our 2,000 residents, the first of which are expected to move in early this year, a beautiful canal route commute.” The new bridge will be open to the public in September 2023. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

Final planning permission has been given to Dandara to build 103 new homes at its new Braeburn Fields development located in Crowborough, East Sussex, just seven miles from Royal Tunbridge Wells. The independent housebuilder will start work later this year on the properties in the hamlet of Steel Cross, in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Of the total number of homes being built on the 7.87-hectare site, 36 will be affordable and 67 private.   Located in a secluded countryside setting just over a mile from the centre of Crowborough, the first phase of Braeburn Fields will feature a selection of three, four and five bedroom homes, along with a children’s play park. David Garrett, Managing Director of Dandara South East, commented: “We have a long association with Crowborough and are looking forward to starting construction work on Braeburn Fields, which will be a sister development to Pearmain Place where we are currently building 100 homes.   “This development will provide much needed new homes for local people, from those taking their first step on the property ladder to downsizers looking for low maintenance, energy efficient, easy to heat homes.  “We also expect that they will appeal to buyers from North Kent, Tunbridge Wells, London and the Homes Counties, attracted by the location and high standard of living in this beautiful part of the world. Crowborough also seems to have a strong pull for people who have moved away from the area for work and want to come back when they are retiring or looking for a change of pace.” Dandara will be making a significant contribution to Wealden Council’s Community Infrastructure levy to help deliver improvements to local infrastructure and services including traffic regulation, travel plan auditing and community bus services. Rebecca Taylor, Head of Land at Dandara South East, added: “Braeburn Fields is a very special place surrounded by trees and hedgerows and we have worked closely with Wealden District Council to ensure the unique character of the area is preserved. “We are introducing carefully considered landscaping to the site including woodland and tree planting to provide nesting opportunities for birds and an enhancement to wildlife habitats. We will also be making improvements to the pavement along Green Lane and working hard to ensure this development enhances the natural beauty of the area.” Construction of the new Dandara development will start later this year with a sales launch scheduled for early 2024. Each of the homes will feature energy efficient heating, hot water and lighting designs.  Ideally located for commuters, Braeburn Fields is close to the A26, 7 miles from Royal Tunbridge Wells and 33 miles south of London. It’s just a mile and a half from Crowborough train station with regular services to Uckfield and London Bridge. Crowborough has a wide range of local independent shops, restaurants, supermarkets and schools. Ashdown Forest is close to the development, with more than 6,500 acres of ancient heathland to explore. Home to rare species of wildlife and plants, it inspired A.A. Milne’s classic adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh. Walshes Park is also close-by. For more information on the homes being built at Braeburn Fields visit www.dandara.com or call 01892 346 518. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

Cruden Homes, part of the Cruden Group, has received planning permission to build 122 new homes for sale in the heart of west Edinburgh. The development forms part of the West Craigs Masterplan – a growing new community between Barnton and The Gyle.  Once completed, West Craigs will include at least 1,700 new homes, a new primary school, nursery, health centre, cafe, extensive parkland and woodland and a network of cycle routes that feed into Edinburgh’s Green Corridor. West Craigs is positioned in the suburb of Maybury, on the edge of rolling countryside with excellent transport links to Edinburgh’s city centre, making it a highly sought-after location.  Cruden Homes’ 4.25 acre site is ideally placed within this new community, overlooking the green open space of the newly formed Lennie Park and within walking distance of the popular Cammo Estate.  Designed by ISA Architecture & Design, the range of energy-efficient new homes features one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, many with balconies, along with three- and four-bedroom terraced and semi-detached houses and townhouses, all with private gardens.  The development will also provide communal electric vehicle charging points and break out garden spaces with BBQ and seating areas for the apartments. Fraser Lynes, Managing Director of Cruden Homes said,  “The availability of quality new housing remains scarce, so we are delighted to bring these desirable new homes to the market and be part of this fantastic, growing new community, right on the fringes of the Capital. “West Craigs offers home buyers the best of both worlds, with a wealth of amenities on the doorstep surrounded by an abundance of green space and only fifteen minutes from the city centre. Our plans include a variety of homes to meet differing customer needs and we expect this development to be extremely popular amongst home buyers.”  Work is due to start on site this spring and the first phase of homes is anticipated to be completed by early 2024.       Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

Story Homes has recently launched two brand new developments in the North East, and both have received an overwhelming response from customers hoping to be the first to secure their dream Story home. Robinson Fields, located in the desirable area of North Tyneside, near Whitley Bay and Tynemouth, launched on Saturday 4 February. Demand for the development was so strong that some customers camped outside the marketing suite the night before the launch so they could be the first in line to secure a high specification home. Initially, Story Homes planned to release just five homes for its sales launch. However, due to high demand, additional homes were released to avoid disappointment for its customers. Riverbrook Gardens, which is in a prestigious position within walking distance of both Alnwick town centre and Castle Gardens, launched on 14 January. The development also received a fantastic response from customers wanting to secure a high quality home designed for modern living. Sales Director for Story Homes North East, Kye Bradley, said “We’re delighted that our two new developments have been so well received by our customers, and the success of these recent launches demonstrates a continued high demand for quality new homes in the North East. “We are very much looking forward to opening our new show homes at Riverbrook Gardens, and our ‘show village’ at Robinson Fields, in late summer.” The first phase of Robinson Fields offers 50 new homes ranging from two to five-bedrooms, which are now under construction. Furthermore, Story Homes was recently delighted to successfully secure planning consent for the remaining 250 homes at the development. Story Homes previously worked with Northumberland Estates to deliver the former Chancel Place development in Longhoughton. The success of that collaboration gave Northumberland Estates the confidence in Story Homes to successfully deliver these two new high quality developments, on their land in Alnwick and North Tyneside. When speaking about the recent launches, Colin Barnes at Northumberland Estates, said: “It’s been a pleasure to work with Story Homes on these developments, which are delivering high-quality new homes with excellent access to open space and local amenities that are so important for wellbeing and creating a lasting community.” Story Homes’ proposals for both developments include a range of two to five-bedroom homes from the Story Collection, designed to suit the flexible living that people are looking for in a new home. More information about Robinson Fields and Riverbrook Gardens can be found here: https://www.storyhomes.co.uk/developments/robinson-fields/  https://www.storyhomes.co.uk/developments/riverbrook-gardens/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals