Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP) and housebuilder, The Hill Group, has secured plans to redevelop the ATS and Murketts site on Histon Road, Cambridge. The site, formerly home to the Murketts car dealership and an unused workshop area of the ATS commercial unit, will be transformed into a residential development comprising
Castlemere Developments is investing over £1.8 million in a new airspace development that will add five apartments to Wimbledon Chase. The Windsor-based developer has already spent more than £400,000 acquiring Vision House, an Art Deco property on Kingston Road, as part of the project. The scheme at Vision House will
Civils & Lintels, part of the Huws Gray group of companies, has secured a ‘preferred supplier’ contract with Gleeson Homes, the high-quality affordable housebuilder, to supply either IG or Catnic Lintels to its new home developments across the Midlands and North of England. The deal is part of Gleeson’s efforts
City & Country has further strengthened its expert technical team with the appointment of Adam Towers as Technical Director. Adam joins with more than 17 years’ experience, having started as a trainee technical co-ordinator at Telford Homes, before moving to CALA Homes, based out of its Northern Homes Counties. Adam
Proposals for a new environmentally-focused community bringing up to 555 new homes to Bristol have taken a step forward as a planning application has been submitted. Proposals for a new environmentally-focused community bringing up to 555 new homes to Bristol have taken a step forward as a planning application has
Housebuilder Keepmoat plans to transform nearly seven acres of unused land in Milton Keynes, building 115 new homes, with 50 meeting the upcoming Future Homes Standard. With a planned total build budget of £21.5 million, the project is due to be completed in March 2026, and will provide a range
LOVELL Partnerships has announced the appointment of a new refurbishment partnerships director, helping to progress social housing and retrofit projects across the West Midlands. With more than 20 years of experience in the housing and construction industry, Matt Hickman has worked in a number of senior management roles and brings
Top 10 UK housebuilder, Keepmoat, has committed to investing £83 million into revitalising a former RAF base in Weston-super-Mare as part of a wider regeneration scheme across the seaside town. The Winterstoke Gate development, part of Parklands Village, will provide 425 high-quality new homes, with 135 set to be carbon
A Bellway development in Halstead has been shortlisted in the Essex Housing Awards 2024. Willow Park has been chosen as a finalist in the Large Housing Scheme category of the prestigious awards, with the winners to be announced at a ceremony at the Greenwoods Hotel and Spa in the Essex
Tilia Homes Central has secured approval on plans to develop a 12-hectare derelict brownfield site in Northampton, as part of a multi-million pound programme of regeneration. The housebuilder is collaborating with Homes England on the scheme, which was recommended for approval by the West Northamptonshire Council planning committee recently. The
Cambridge Investment Partnership (CIP) and housebuilder, The Hill Group, has secured plans to redevelop the ATS and Murketts site on Histon Road, Cambridge. The site, formerly home to the Murketts car dealership and an unused workshop area of the ATS commercial unit, will be transformed into a residential development comprising 70 new homes – 28 council homes and 42 market-sale properties. Throughout the planning process, CIP has worked closely with residents and stakeholders, making design changes to the initial planning submission in response to feedback from council officers and the public. Cllr Gerri Bird, Executive Councillor for Housing at Cambridge City Council and CIP board member, commented: “At a time when there is a pressing need nationwide for high-quality, sustainable housing—especially new council homes—we are pleased to see the approval of our development on Histon Road. “This project is a key part of the council’s ongoing efforts across Cambridge to enhance living standards for current council tenants, build additional council homes to meet local demand, and address broader housing challenges, including the need for larger family homes.” Tom Hill, Managing Director at The Hill Group, added: “Throughout the pre-planning process, we engaged with the local community by hosting several consultation events. Following our initial submission, we continued to work closely with planning officers and community members to incorporate their feedback and address any concerns. “As a result, we made several changes to enhance the overall design and functionality of the development. This careful consideration of public feedback underscores our commitment to creating a high-quality, sustainable development that fosters community interaction while meeting the needs and expectations of local residents.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Castlemere Developments is investing over £1.8 million in a new airspace development that will add five apartments to Wimbledon Chase. The Windsor-based developer has already spent more than £400,000 acquiring Vision House, an Art Deco property on Kingston Road, as part of the project. The scheme at Vision House will feature one three-bedroom, two two-bedroom apartments and two one-bedroom apartments. The apartments will cost from £385,000 up to £650,000 once on the market. Having completed the property purchase on August 23rd, work will now commence on constructing the apartments. These will be built offsite using modern methods of construction (MMC). It is expected that the project will be completed by spring 2025. This acquisition and plans for Vision House follow the completion of Castlemere Developments’ first completed airspace project in Tunbridge Wells, which has 11 apartments. Castlemere Developments is in the process of securing a number of locations across the south east, which will see the company provide a mix of airspace developments and ground up properties. The company has purposely committed to off-site MMC to enable it to deliver projects much quicker than onsite developments, reduce the disruption to current residents, and ensure its developments are as environmentally friendly as possible. Kris Collett, managing director of Castlemere Developments, said: “Vision House is the latest addition to our portfolio which will feature five high spec apartments, which will include smart home technology. “Vision House, which was originally an office block, has already undergone conversions to 19 apartments inside the original structure. It also has four commercial units on the ground floor. “I expect to commence work on building the apartments in the autumn and for them to be lifted into place in the first quarter of 2025. The aim is to have the apartments on the market from spring 2025.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Civils & Lintels, part of the Huws Gray group of companies, has secured a ‘preferred supplier’ contract with Gleeson Homes, the high-quality affordable housebuilder, to supply either IG or Catnic Lintels to its new home developments across the Midlands and North of England. The deal is part of Gleeson’s efforts to streamline its roster of preferred lintel suppliers from seven merchants to two as it seeks to consolidate its supply chain to drive greater efficiencies. Jon Walker, group procurement director at Gleeson Homes, commented: “When deciding to consolidate our lintels supply chain, it was imperative that we were assured of access to the products we need, when we need them, and in the right locations. “Civils & Lintels, with its strategically placed nationwide locations, proved to be an ideal preferred supplier in this respect and when coupled with our experience of working with their knowledgeable team, I’m delighted to have reached this agreement with them. “We see appointing Civils & Lintels to our supply chain as the start of a long and mutually beneficial partnership.” With a vision to deliver high-quality, affordable new homes in the areas where they are needed most, Gleeson has set an objective of delivering 3,000 new homes per annum in the medium-term. Commenting on this latest win with a major housebuilder, Tim Slesser, national lintels director at Civils & Lintels, said: “As the number one distributor of lintels in the UK, it is fitting that we’ve been named as a preferred supplier to Gleeson Homes – a highly respected UK housebuilder with whom we’ve built a strong working relationship over several years. “Our £5m investment last year into our four strategically located lintels hubs was driven by the vision to further enhance our service offering to the UK’s housebuilding sector, and this latest win, vindicates that investment.” This announcement comes shortly after Civils & Lintels announced a preferred supplier agreement focused on hard landscaping products for another leading housebuilder, Vistry Group. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
City & Country has further strengthened its expert technical team with the appointment of Adam Towers as Technical Director. Adam joins with more than 17 years’ experience, having started as a trainee technical co-ordinator at Telford Homes, before moving to CALA Homes, based out of its Northern Homes Counties. Adam has since worked for Berkeley, working on its Clarendon Road scheme in Alexandra Palace, and Durkan as head of the Technical Department. At City & Country, Adam will be responsible for heading up the technical team within the business, working on flagship schemes, including The 1840 St Georges Gardens in London. He will ensure its new development schemes are viable and technically possible, including delivery of planning permissions and development programme, and managing any obstacles along the way. His role also includes support for adjacent departments, including Land and Design, enabling them to operate smoothly and efficiently. Adam Towers, Technical Director at City & Country, comments: “It’s a great time to join the business, with several new schemes and an ambitious five-year growth plan, it feels like the perfect time to work with a highly motivated team. Not only this, but the product they build is superior quality. The level of detail and design that goes into each development is beyond anything I have seen before, and it excites me how passionate City & Country are about their product.” Wayne Douglas, Managing Director at City & Country, added: “Adam’s appointment is a further investment into our plans to deliver more high-quality homes. Adam brings a wealth of technical experience to the business, as our project pipeline continues to expand across the UK.” City & Country specialises in the restoration and conversion of historic and listed buildings as well as new build, with sites across Essex, West Sussex, Wiltshire, London, Edinburgh, Bristol, and Dorset. The company is on track to deliver its five-year plan doubling turnover to £200m and tripling the number of properties complete each year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Proposals for a new environmentally-focused community bringing up to 555 new homes to Bristol have taken a step forward as a planning application has been submitted. Proposals for a new environmentally-focused community bringing up to 555 new homes to Bristol have taken a step forward as a planning application has been submitted. Bellway Strategic Land, working closely with Bellway’s South West division, has unveiled its vision for a sustainable and eco-friendly neighbourhood on a 40-acre site next to Brislington Park and Ride in its outline application to Bristol City Council. The land has a draft allocation for housing in the emerging Bristol Local Plan and has featured in previous plans for development in the city. The planning application follows extensive consultation with the local community. This prompted some revisions to the initial proposals, with the designs evolving to lower the height of homes that are close to existing residential areas. New visuals have been released, showing how the development south of the A4 Bath Road could look. The plans feature a mix of apartments and houses, a local centre with shops and community space, ecological habitats, children’s play areas and public open spaces. The new neighbourhood would feature one and two-bedroom apartments and three and four-bedroom houses, with 35 per cent of the properties allocated as affordable housing and a further five per cent set aside for custom and self-build housing. Fergus Thomas, Bellway Strategic Land Director for the Central region, said: “This submission marks a significant step forward in our plans to create a sustainable new community in Bath Road. This is a major project for the area and we have liaised with the city council and the local community to seek people’s views on how we should approach the scheme. “More than 40 per cent of the site area would be green open space, providing new habitats and wetlands for wildlife. There would be recreational routes and play areas for new and existing residents, including the wider community at Hungerford.” The design for the site would see the creation of a new community hub and mixed-use square at the heart of the development. Details of the homes to be built would be determined at a later stage. Fergus said: “Bristol’s housing crisis needs to be addressed, with the waiting list for affordable homes continuing to grow. “Bristol City Council has identified this land as being suitable for housing in its draft Local Plan and we feel this is an ideal scheme to play a part in helping address the huge demand for private and affordable homes in the city.” The purpose of the outline planning application is to establish whether the development can progress and to determine how many homes could be accommodated. The next step would be to apply for reserved matters planning consent to agree detailed matters, such as home designs and layout. Bellway Strategic Land oversees early-stage developments for Bellway. To find out more visit https://www.bellwaystrategicland.co.uk/. For more information about the new homes Bellway is currently building in the South West, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/south-west. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Housebuilder Keepmoat plans to transform nearly seven acres of unused land in Milton Keynes, building 115 new homes, with 50 meeting the upcoming Future Homes Standard. With a planned total build budget of £21.5 million, the project is due to be completed in March 2026, and will provide a range of high-quality, multi-tenure homes to add to the thriving community already in the area. The housebuilder will also create multiple types of housing for residents at the site to be named Haworth Place, including much-needed affordable housing stock through a local housing association. The development is located on the edge of Milton Keynes and is close to a variety of amenities such as shops, parks and transport links. The Future Homes Standard legislation update, which is due in 2025, requires all new homes to reduce 75 percent of the carbon emissions and is set out to replace traditional Building Regulations for new dwellings. Keepmoat has invested in new research and development to create an advanced delivery programme of new builds called ‘Echo’ homes, equipped with air source heat pumps, solar PV panels, increased levels of insulation and EV charging points to reduce carbon emissions from the homes. These new technologies will be rolled out across key selected developments in the house builders’ portfolio to begin the advanced delivery project, including within 50 homes at the development in Milton Keynes. Ian McFaul, Interim Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat, South Midlands, said: “We’re thrilled to be regenerating this underdeveloped piece of land in Milton Keynes to deliver 115 high-quality, multi-tenure homes for the local area, including much-needed affordable housing options. The project is also creating a raft of new local jobs, training and apprenticeship opportunities, further boosting the local economy and the industry’s future workforce. “As the project continues into the next phase, it’s extremely rewarding to see the excitement about the plans to deliver these homes in this fantastic new town. We’re also proud to be delivering homes featuring anticipated Future Homes Standard technology ahead of the Government-enforced delivery model set to come in next year – a further step in our mission to create sustainable communities for the future.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
LOVELL Partnerships has announced the appointment of a new refurbishment partnerships director, helping to progress social housing and retrofit projects across the West Midlands. With more than 20 years of experience in the housing and construction industry, Matt Hickman has worked in a number of senior management roles and brings a wealth of knowledge to Lovell. Committed to boosting social value in communities, Matt is keen to not only help provide safe, warm and energy-efficienct homes, but to also offer training, development and job opportunities for young people or those in long-term unemployment. Matt said: “Joining Lovell is a very exciting career move for me, and I’m looking forward to getting stuck into building relationships with key housing providers and delivering retrofit projects at scale, as well as helping to raise the profile of the fantastic refurbishment side of the business. With more funding coming through from the government this is an opportune time to deliver social housing decarbonisation fund (SHDF) projects throughout the region. “The company culture at Lovell is strong and is something that stood out to me. Inclusion, respect and treating people well are just as important as doing a good job, and providing a positive environment for the team to work in is essential. If our people feel supported then they will deliver the very best for our partners and clients, and that is something Lovell does very well so it’s a pleasure to be part of the team.” Carl Yale, regional refurbishment director at Lovell, said: “Matt is a fantastic addition to our team and has a thorough understanding of and excellent experience in the industry. “Continuing to push forward with our refurbishment and retrofit goals in order to meet the government’s net zero target is extremely important, and we know Matt’s expertise will be invaluable in helping us do this.” Matt’s appointment comes at an exciting time for the team, as Lovell continues to invest in local communities. Working in partnership with Citizen Housing, Coventry College and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), Lovell recently delivered the first Multi-Skills Bootcamp, designed to educate adult learners in the Coventry area on a range of employable construction disciplines. The scheme supports the housebuilder’s aim to refurbish over 10,000 homes over a 10-year period, having recently secured a large contract with Citizen Housing to deliver replacement kitchens and bathrooms across Coventry and the wider Midlands. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Top 10 UK housebuilder, Keepmoat, has committed to investing £83 million into revitalising a former RAF base in Weston-super-Mare as part of a wider regeneration scheme across the seaside town. The Winterstoke Gate development, part of Parklands Village, will provide 425 high-quality new homes, with 135 set to be carbon neutral, while the remaining 290 will meet the anticipated Future Homes Standard – featuring a smart design and constructed using the latest eco-friendly materials to offer low-cost living to residents. As part of its commitment to its partnership model, the housebuilder will also support North Somerset Council in creating 125 affordable homes at the development, which makes up part of the wider Parklands Village development being delivered alongside multiple partners. The regeneration and expansion of the seaside town from Keepmoat will total £78 million, with an additional £5.6 million being invested in the local authority across multiple services including healthcare, education and local transportation. Located between Mendip Hills and Golden Sands on the edge of Weston-super-Mare, Winterstoke Gate is a picturesque development with easy access to schools, supermarkets, restaurants and shops, ready to create a thriving new community. John Owen, Land and Partnerships Director at Keepmoat, commented: “It’s extremely rewarding to hear positive feedback from residents and provide much needed housing to the area. “At Keepmoat, we are committed to transforming communities and improving the lives of local people. Our Winterstoke Gate development is adding value to the area, providing much needed regeneration to Weston-super-Mare. We’re delighted to be able to offer 20 apprenticeships during the development of this project to upskill the industry’s future workforce.” Councillor Mark Canniford, Executive Member for Placemaking and Economy, added: “Winterstoke Gate is the first major residential project to be taken forward as part of North Somerset’s Development Programme, so it’s great to see the progress made in creating this new community. The homes we’re building will meet top standards of sustainability and energy efficiency, cutting residents’ fuel bills and reducing their carbon footprints through modern, high quality design. “We’re proud to be working with Keepmoat to provide a mix of affordable and accessible homes, so that vibrant and diverse communities can grow at Winterstoke Gate. Building on council-owned land has enabled us to prioritise this strong and community-focussed approach to housing development with an understanding of resident’s needs, fitting the development alongside other new community facilities including primary and secondary schools and a GP surgery.” The site has also benefited from £10m from the Government’s Local Authority Accelerated Construction Fund administered by Homes England. To find out more about the Winterstoke Gate development please visit: www.keepmoat.com/winterstoke-gate-weston-super-mare Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A Bellway development in Halstead has been shortlisted in the Essex Housing Awards 2024. Willow Park has been chosen as a finalist in the Large Housing Scheme category of the prestigious awards, with the winners to be announced at a ceremony at the Greenwoods Hotel and Spa in the Essex village of Stock on Thursday 7 November. The Large Housing Scheme award recognises the development of homes (new or refurbished) which make a significant contribution to meeting housing needs and placemaking and improving the image and perception of housing in the county. Bellway Essex has delivered 153 houses for private sale and 65 affordable homes for local people through rent or shared ownership at Willow Park, off Winston Way, alongside more than 30 acres of parkland, footpaths and a children’s play area. Although this project is now complete, Bellway is building on this legacy in Halstead at its Oakfields Park development in the town, where construction is currently in progress. Jenny Walker, Sales Director at Bellway Essex, said: “We are thrilled to have been selected in the finals of the Essex Housing Awards 2024. To be on a shortlist of three in the Large Housing Scheme category is testament to the hard work and effort put in by the whole team in Halstead. “We are very proud of the brand-new neighbourhood which has been established at Willow Park, where there is a distinct community feel. The development design promotes and encourages health and exercise with a large country park and footpaths and cycleways. “This attractive new development not only delivered 218 new homes to meet the specific needs of the local housing market but also brought new jobs in sales and construction during the build life of the site. In addition, Bellway contributed almost £1.7 million to local education, outdoor sports, community buildings and healthcare as part of the planning agreement. “We are now continuing our commitment to delivering high-quality new homes in Halstead at our Oakfields Park development off Tidings Hill. Like Willow Park, the new properties at Oakfields Park are from Bellway’s flagship Artisan Collection, with a wide mix of designs to suit different lifestyles and budgets and the same focus on exceptional quality and customer service.” Bellway Essex is building 80 homes at Oakfields Park, with 52 homes for private sale and 28 affordable homes available for local people through low-cost rent or shared ownership. The team at Oakfields Park won the Showhome of the Year category at the Showhome Awards earlier this year, for the inclusive design of its Thespian showhome and has also been shortlisted in the EG Awards which will be announced in November. Joe Gracey, who has been site manager at both Willow Park and Oakfields Park, won a Quality Award in the National House Building Council’s Pride in the Job competition this year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Tilia Homes Central has secured approval on plans to develop a 12-hectare derelict brownfield site in Northampton, as part of a multi-million pound programme of regeneration. The housebuilder is collaborating with Homes England on the scheme, which was recommended for approval by the West Northamptonshire Council planning committee recently. The land off Ransome Road in Far Cotton, Northampton, has been left abandoned since the Northampton to Peterborough Branch Railway closed in the 1970s, with the Grade II listed former Midland Railway Locomotive Shed located on the University site to the north of the proposed development. Approximately half of the site was previously used as a landfill area and there has been an ongoing process to remediate the land for future development. The site has had a long-standing allocation in the Local Plan for residential development. Tilia Homes will build 217 homes in a selection of styles, sizes, and designs, including a provision of affordable homes. The development will feature a high proportion of open space and a new play area. Amerjit Atwal, Regional Managing Director for Tilia Homes Central, commented: “Our vision to regenerate this neglected site off Ransome Road has moved closer to becoming a reality. “Restoring landfill land back into usable living and recreational space is essential if we are to meet housing targets and we look forward to turning this once-neglected space into a thriving new community that people are proud to call home. “Our energy-efficient properties would help to alleviate a general housing shortage in Northampton, as we aim to fulfil our mission of supporting people at every stage of the housing ladder. “As well as providing more green, open space that people can enjoy, our proposed development layout also pays particular attention to the provision of additional public parking and the needs of the local community.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
