The South West’s largest independent homebuilder, Torquay-based Cavanna Homes, has appointed Andy Addison to its senior team as Head of Operations. “My priority is to drive-forward the business without compromising on the all-important Cavanna family ethos, which has made this firm such an enduring success over the past 95 years,”
Cavanna Homes, a homebuilders from the South West, has announced another year of steady growth and a record number of sites in development across its region. The Torquay-based firm, which currently has new homes for sale in seven locations in Devon, Cornwall and Dorset, will be bringing forward an additional
The plans to replace 70 social homes in Kensington and Chelsea with private housing options have been rejected by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. Clarion Housing’s project aimed to demolish the William Sutton Estate build to make room for private units for sale. After initially submitting an objection
A new 46.7-acre development in the village of Sudbrooke has taken its design inspiration from the surrounding historic woodland and the traditional village setting. Developed by Jackson & Jackson Developments and designed by Stem Architects, The Parklands will be a new residential community of 155 individually designed homes incorporating luxury
Real Estate Management (UK) Limited (“REM”) and Sellar, the joint development manager, celebrated Shard Place, the third phase of development at Shard Quarter, reaching its highest point with a traditional construction topping out event. The 26-storey residential building stands between The Shard, Western Europe’s tallest building, and The News Building
Hundreds of new homes are coming to Waltham Forest in London as residential development receives planning approval. For this project Transport for London has teamed up with Barratt London as part of its Property Partnership Framework. Built on a 1.8 acre site, the Blackhorse Point development will deliver 350 new
Several high-value London properties are part of a major new national contract won by Principle Estate Management. Principle will be looking after a development of apartments each worth more than £1.5 million on America Street, just off Southwark Bridge Road – near the famous Borough Market, Tate Modern art gallery
The Rt Hon Damian Green MP visited one of Kent’s best builders last week in the market town of Tenterden. Mr Green visited the Three Fields development in the town to personally congratulate Taylor Wimpey site manager Neil Johnson for his achievement in winning a prestigious NHBC Pride in the
Viridian Solar is celebrating the announcement of the RIBA Grand Designs House of the Year 2018. The stunning Lochside House in the Scottish Highlands that won the accolade features roof integrated solar panels from the UK manufacturer. The house was designed by Cambridge Architects, Haysom Ward Miller and with its
Leading rapid-build home manufacturer FastHouse has today announced the completion of its contract to provide and erect the timber frames for 466 lodges at the highly anticipated Center Parcs in Longford in under nine months. This comes as FastHouse confirms significant investment to bring its full range of services to
The South West’s largest independent homebuilder, Torquay-based Cavanna Homes, has appointed Andy Addison to its senior team as Head of Operations. “My priority is to drive-forward the business without compromising on the all-important Cavanna family ethos, which has made this firm such an enduring success over the past 95 years,” said Andy. “By continuing to focus on the delivery of high quality new homes in great Westcountry locations, we will build the Cavanna brand and strengthen the company’s reputation right across the region. It’s a really exciting time to join this thriving regional company – and to be working with Keith once again.” Andy will support Managing Director Keith Miller in a strategic role with operational and commercial responsibilities to ensure that the third generation family firm achieves its ambitious centenary year goals for 2023. Andy’s core focus will be on the firm’s Technical, Commercial and Design expertise. “We strive to attract, retain and promote the best people in homebuilding and Andy’s enthusiasm for the sector is what makes him really stand out. Andy’s appointment coincides with the launch of our new ‘Westcountry Collection’ portfolio of new homes and the launch of our new Cavanna Homes brand,” commented Managing Director Keith Miller about the appointment. With over 16 years’ board level experience in the housebuilding sector, Andy has most recently worked as the Regional Director of Churchill Retirement Living. He has also previously worked with Keith Miller for national homebuilder Redrow.
Cavanna Homes, a homebuilders from the South West, has announced another year of steady growth and a record number of sites in development across its region. The Torquay-based firm, which currently has new homes for sale in seven locations in Devon, Cornwall and Dorset, will be bringing forward an additional five sites this year, including Wincanton in Somerset, making it the busiest construction year in the company’s 95 year history. Pre-audited figures show a £64.7 million turnover in 2018 which represents a 6.4% increase on the previous year. Moreover, a total of 290 new homes were sold; 201 open market and 89 affordable homes for rent or shared ownership through a housing association. Last year’s results have been welcomed by the company, especially in light of the decline in the property market. “It’s been well publicised that nationally the housing market has taken a bit of a downturn, and the South West is no exception. The uncertainty over a Brexit ‘deal or no deal’ is causing people to wait and see what this will mean for the country and their own personal circumstances. Whilst there has been a dip in numbers of visitors to our showhomes over the last few months, the prospective buyers we’ve seen have been extremely positive of both the quality and specification of our new homes as well as the overall developments,” explained Cavanna Homes’ Managing Director Keith Miller. For 2019 the company has a range of new homes for sale at seven Westcountry locations: Bodmin in Cornwall and Holsworthy, Barnstaple, Stoke Gabriel, Paignton, Torquay and Newton Poppleford in Devon. Cavanna is also bringing-forward a further five new developments; Barley Meadow at Dawlish, Cavanna@Wolborough Hill, Newton Abbot, Broadleigh Park at Tavistock, Bellevue at Bude and Cales Reach at Wincanton. “Our business plan for 2019 has been adjusted to reflect the current market conditions, especially in the first quarter,2 said Looking forward, Keith Miller. “Whilst we anticipate a slowdown, we are proceeding with cautious optimism during this unprecedented and unpredictable period.” Cavanna Homes’ 95th anniversary was market by the launch of a new brand and a new portfolio of house styles – The Westcountry Collection – which can be viewed at new showhomes opening in the New Year at Kings Orchard – Stoke Gabriel, Alfred’s Gate – Newton Poppleford and Moorland Vale – Bodmin.
The plans to replace 70 social homes in Kensington and Chelsea with private housing options have been rejected by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. Clarion Housing’s project aimed to demolish the William Sutton Estate build to make room for private units for sale. After initially submitting an objection to planning application submitted by the Sutton Trust to redevelop the Sutton Estate, GMB has welcomed the planning decision. Warren Kenny, GMB Regional Secretary, said: “GMB is very pleased with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government’s decision to reject the Clarion Group’s appeal for planning permission for proposals that would have led to the loss of nearly one third of the social housing units on the William Sutton Estate in Chelsea. GMB had branded this development a blatant case of asset stripping. “Clarion must not forget the primary reason of a housing association is to provide low cost housing to those on low incomes or those who need extra support. Nor must it forget that the Sutton Dwellings Trust was founded to provide ‘model low-rented dwellings for occupation by the poor of London and other towns and populous places’. “GMB has consistently supported residents fighting for their voices to be heard on proposals for demolition of their estates. We salute the residents of the Sutton Estate in their fight to retain social housing in Chelsea. We are supporters of Demolition Watch London in its campaign for all residents on estates facing demolition to be balloted on redevelopment plans with no loopholes or exceptions. This is the only way to stop asset stripping and the loss of social housing.” Cllr Ian Henderson, Chair of the Chelsea Association of Tenants and Save The Sutton also commented on the news: “I think this is a great day for the residents of Kensington and Chelsea and for all the other housing battles that are taking place across the country. “London needs homes for Londoners, not investment vehicles for international hedge funds. Social housing tenants across the UK can take heart from this decision. Just because your landlord says it needs to be knocked down, it isn’t necessarily so. We call for a halt to the 10 year managed decline of the estate and for Clarion to meaningfully engage with residents and the council, so we can get people out of temporary accommodation and into a home,” he concluded.
A new 46.7-acre development in the village of Sudbrooke has taken its design inspiration from the surrounding historic woodland and the traditional village setting. Developed by Jackson & Jackson Developments and designed by Stem Architects, The Parklands will be a new residential community of 155 individually designed homes incorporating luxury modern living within a village setting. Works started on The Parklands in March of this year and the £30m development is on track for completion in 2020. Once complete, the development will feature an abundance of outdoor open spaces, woodland footpaths, a gastro pub/restaurant, communal gardens, allotments and an outdoor gym. Respect for the woodland site was a driving force in the crafting of the design and it was imperative that the aesthetic of the development reflected a countryside community that was integrated into its surroundings. Nigel Stevenson, director at Stem Architects, said: “The Parklands site is a scenic location and therefore this had to be the main driving force behind the design of the development. “Jackson & Jackson are leaders in creating premium homes in highly desirable locations but further to that, they give the time and investment needed to make the developments sympathetic to the surroundings, adding further features to create a desirable setting. “The inspiration for the look of the development came from the site itself. Preserving the woodland was at the heart of the design and therefore we worked to enhance the rural setting to create a community destination by adding walking trails and allotments, as well as a social place the community can meet in, the gastro pub. “A unique aspect of The Parklands is that we designed every house to be different, which is rare on a residential development of this size. It was essential that the design respected the surrounding woodlands by utilising a broad palette of materials to give individual identity to each property inspired by the eclectic mix which Lincolnshire’s rural vernacular offers.” The Lincoln-based developer and architect carefully considered the site, working hard to create an authentic village that respected and complemented the setting. Housing options will include quaint thatched cottages and spacious family homes and in keeping with tradition, original British red telephone boxes will be positioned throughout the Parklands and used to accommodate defibrillators. To ensure that wildlife is considered and the development remains respectful of the landscape assets, character, condition and ecological significance, 200 new trees and over two hectares of compensation woodland will be planted. The landscape design will also feature 2km of native and ornamental hedgerow planting and a biodiversity area of one hectare. Dominik Jackson, director at Jackson & Jackson Developments, said: “As with all of our developments, we have a clear vision for The Parklands. It’s one thing to create a great home, but it’s key to create a desirable environment where people really want to live. We’ve worked hard for a very long time with Stem Architects to create a vibrant yet peaceful community in Sudbrooke that is in touch with its surroundings. “The design of The Parklands aims to bring people together with spacious grassy areas for families to enjoy and a gastro pub/restaurant for social dining. The scenic woodland paths in the area are perfect for strolls and the smooth lakeside circuit path is ideal for running and cycling. “We are proud of what we are bringing to life just a few miles outside of Lincoln city centre.” Homes are now available at The Parklands through local agent Pygott & Crone.
Real Estate Management (UK) Limited (“REM”) and Sellar, the joint development manager, celebrated Shard Place, the third phase of development at Shard Quarter, reaching its highest point with a traditional construction topping out event. The 26-storey residential building stands between The Shard, Western Europe’s tallest building, and The News Building in London Bridge and will comprise of 176 apartments. The topping out event was led by Michael Baker, CEO of REM, and James Sellar, CEO of Sellar. They welcomed representatives from the project team, which includes architect Renzo Piano Building Workshop, construction managers Mace and project engineer WSP, and local dignitaries. To mark the event, a delegation travelled to the very top of the building to fill one final section with concrete using a ceremonial spade. Shard Place is the third phase of the £3.5 billion redevelopment of the estate next to London Bridge station, now known as Shard Quarter. The project team will now turn its attention to completing the cladding, which is in keeping with the aesthetics of The Shard and The News Building. The interior fit out has already commenced with the installation of high-quality fixtures and fittings. When completed in late 2020, Shard Place will provide a choice of studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments alongside amenities for the exclusive use of residents including a cinema, spa, and private roof garden. The building will appear to ‘float’ nine metres above ground level providing 13,000 sq ft of public realm and circa 12,000 sq ft of retail space, further reinforcing Shard Quarter as one of London’s most vibrant communities. Residents will benefit from Shard Quarter’s exceptional transport links given its proximity to London Bridge Station. Alongside the onsite amenities, Shard Quarter is next door to world-famous cultural hotspots and historical locations, such as Borough Market, Bermondsey Street and Tower Bridge, making the area an attractive place to live, as well as work and visit. James Sellar, CEO, Sellar said: “In keeping with the now well-established Shard Quarter, this latest phase brings a residential building designed by a world class architectural team. Our joint venture with the State of Qatar is creating a beautiful building with apartments of the highest design standards. As well as creating an integrated lifestyle building with outstanding amenities and spectacular views across London, Shard Place completes our vision for a truly mixed-use development at London Bridge which we commenced development of in 2008. This latest phase reflects Qatar’s commitment to both The Shard Quarter and its confidence in London and the UK, as well as the continuing strength of the relationship between the two countries” Michael Baker, CEO, Real Estate Management (UK) Limited, said: “The vision for Shard Quarter was to create a mixed-use quarter where people could live, work and relax. Shard Place will make this a reality when the first residents move in towards the end of 2020. With London’s population projected to grow rapidly over the next 15 years, we know that there will be strong demand for well-located homes and we have chosen to satisfy the need for high quality apartments. Shard Place will offer its residents an enviable lifestyle with exclusive amenities within the building and one of London’s most vibrant neighbourhoods on their doorstep all a stone’s throw from a major transportation hub.” Gareth Lewis, Mace’s Chief Operating Officer for Construction, said: “Shard Place will be an iconic addition to the London skyline and a fitting conclusion to delivery of the Shard Quarter. It’s a project that Mace is very proud to be working on, having been involved in the delivery of the Shard Quarter from the very beginning. This topping out reflects a significant milestone on the journey to delivering this complex and challenging construction project.” Joost Moolhuijzen, Architect, Renzo Piano Building Workshop, said: “Topping out is always a great moment, you finally start to see what the building will become. Some of its secrets get unveiled. It tells us also that the name “Shard Place” is right: “Shard” as it really feels like an integral part of The Shard. “Place” as it shows that once the hoardings will disappear a great Public Realm will appear connecting the Shard Quarter Piazza with St Thomas Street, opening up a whole new pedestrian route.” REM AND SELLAR CELEBRATE SHARD PLACE “TOPPING OUT” AS 26-STOREY RESIDENTIAL BUILDING REACHES ITS HIGHEST POINT Shard Place is a 26-storey residential building owned by the State of Qatar and developed in joint venture with Sellar Comprising 176 well specified apartments, following practical completion in 2020 Shard Place marks the latest phase in a £3.5 billion redevelopment of the Shard Quarter and in conjunction with the team from Renzo Piano Building Workshop adds an iconic residential landmark next to the Shard
Hundreds of new homes are coming to Waltham Forest in London as residential development receives planning approval. For this project Transport for London has teamed up with Barratt London as part of its Property Partnership Framework. Built on a 1.8 acre site, the Blackhorse Point development will deliver 350 new homes across six new buildings. The new homes will provide a mixture of studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom properties. The development is situated opposite Blackhorse Road station, which is serviced by both the Victoria line and London Overground. The site will also make it easier for residents to cycle with 650 cycle parking spaces. “Blackhorse Point is a really exciting development and we are thrilled to be taking it forward with Barratt London. It will have a huge, positive impact on Waltham Forest, supporting the regeneration already taking place. It will be providing the housing that the borough and London desperately need, while generating vital revenue to reinvest back into the transport network,” said Graeme Craig, Director of Commercial Development at Transport for London. Blackhorse Point was designed by RMA Architects and it is a key element of the wider masterplan of the Blackhorse Lane regeneration area, which falls under part of the Greater London Authority’s Blackhorse Road and Northern Olympic Park Housing zone as well as the London Borough of Waltham Forest’s Blackhorse Lane Area Action Plan. It will ensure that those living and working in the area continue to benefit from the changes taking place by improving public amenities – including new public pedestrian links, new trees and new children’s play areas. “The development will enable the local economy to continue to flourish with even better public amenities and new job and local apprenticeship opportunities. The additional retail and work spaces will provide a fantastic offering for those looking to start or expand their businesses in a brilliant location,” added Graeme Craig. Blackhorse Point will deliver 17,000 square feet of retail and commercial space, which will include opportunities for small and independent businesses. This includes a new co-working hub and creative workspaces, which will further support the Blackhorse Lane Creative Enterprise Zone. The construction of the site will create up to 300 jobs and local apprenticeships.
Several high-value London properties are part of a major new national contract won by Principle Estate Management. Principle will be looking after a development of apartments each worth more than £1.5 million on America Street, just off Southwark Bridge Road – near the famous Borough Market, Tate Modern art gallery and Shakespeare’s Globe theatre. Other properties in the portfolio is a mixed use development comprising a restaurant and with apartments above on Poland Street, off Oxford Street in trendy Soho; and another mixed use development with including offices and apartments in Hamond Square, near Hackney’s renowned Hoxton Street market. Principle will also look after a further mixed use building including retail and apartments on the Old Brompton Road, in the prestigious Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea. Outside of Central London, the contract includes another developments in South Croydon, Crawley, Portsmouth, Slough, Wickford and Godalming. Principle’s appointment comes after the Wallace Group purchased Gray’s Inn Holdings Limited which owns 20,000 leasehold properties. The management arm of the Wallace Group, Simarc Property Management Limited, then moved to change some of the managing agents in order to ensure standards complied with their internal code for agents’ conduct. Brett Williams, managing director of Principle, said: “Mixed use buildings require a specialist management approach to ensure the needs of all users are catered for and properly balanced, and it’s this expertise that Simarc was impressed with. “I’ve known senior people at Simarc for many years and they were aware that I’d recently set Principle up. They’d also seen me attending high-level meetings following the government’s various consultations into leasehold reform.” Natalie Chambers, director of Simarc, said: “Principle has a reputation for managing properties on behalf of freeholders who need to be comfortable that their agent is on top of health & safety compliance, finance and maintenance. “We also want an agent that provides outstanding service to our customers, and we know Principle has been built to deliver that.” Principle was launched earlier this year by Mr Williams, the former head of residential property management at CPBigwood in Birmingham and an experienced chartered surveyor. Although based in Birmingham, Principle offers a national property management service and has already won a series of contracts across the UK. Mr Williams said: “This contract includes our first instructions in the capital, although we have plenty of experience of managing a national portfolio and are in London every week. We have another South East portfolio going live next year. “As for the other areas, the Surrey and Sussex properties are very close to where I grew up, while Slough is near other properties we have and Portsmouth has previously been one of our core areas. “We are experienced in managing portfolios at distance, treating them all as if they are five minutes-walk from our office and ensuring we have regular site inspections and are very contactable. “We’ve already been working on a few maintenance matters at a couple of properties ahead of our commencement as we’d rather get things moving than wait until we take over, and residents have appreciated this.” Mr Williams added: “It’s fantastic to have clients instructing us on new properties on a weekly basis. We are well set up to deal with handovers from other agents and to proactively manage properties from the outset.”
The Rt Hon Damian Green MP visited one of Kent’s best builders last week in the market town of Tenterden. Mr Green visited the Three Fields development in the town to personally congratulate Taylor Wimpey site manager Neil Johnson for his achievement in winning a prestigious NHBC Pride in the Job Regional Award in the Large Builder category. Pride in the Job is the most highly regarded competition in the house-building industry, dedicated to recognising site managers who achieve the highest standards in house-building. The visit, organised by NHBC, the UK’s leading warranty provider for new homes, and hosted by Taylor Wimpey, showcased the high quality new homes which have recently been built to fit in with the aesthetics of the local area. Mr Green congratulated Neil, on his win and dedication to his role and spoke about the importance of increasing skills in construction, inspiring the next generation of builders and how developers can make contributions to the local area. Damian Green MP said “I am always pleased to see building developments striving for the highest standards, to help future residents enjoy their new homes.” Site manager Neil said: “It’s fantastic to have received a Pride in the Job Quality award; it’s an honour not just for me, but for the whole team at Three Fields who work so hard to build high-quality homes for our customers. We were delighted to welcome Damian Green MP to Three Fields and hope that he enjoyed the visit.” Steve Catt, NHBC Senior Regional Director, added: “We were very pleased to be able to show Mr Green around this outstanding development. The site, which has already received one of the highest industry accolades as well as benefiting from NHBC’s market-leading 10 year warranty, will be a fantastic addition to the region. “As the UK’s leading warranty provider of new homes, NHBC works closely with house builders to support the delivery of high quality homes for homebuyers.” For further information please visit www.nhbc.co.uk
Viridian Solar is celebrating the announcement of the RIBA Grand Designs House of the Year 2018. The stunning Lochside House in the Scottish Highlands that won the accolade features roof integrated solar panels from the UK manufacturer. The house was designed by Cambridge Architects, Haysom Ward Miller and with its remote rural setting, sustainability and energy efficiency were extremely important. The house has its own water supply, sewage treatment and an off-grid solar energy system installed by AES Solar. The external cladding is of burnt Scottish larch and is used as a roof covering as well as for the walls. Dry stone walling surrounds the house and the low-profile roof integrated solar panels complement the other high-quality materials and form a prominent part of the overall design. The RIBA judges were impressed by the sustainability and energy efficiency of the building, the choice of materials, and its integration into its wild setting. Ben Derbyshire, RIBA president, described it as ‘truly breath-taking’. “With a highly sustainable, off-grid approach to energy and water, it leaves the surrounding environment as undisturbed as possible. Every detail has been fine-tuned to create an exceptional home and studio that meets the needs and wishes of its artist owner. Lochside House is the perfect addition to this dream landscape.” Kevin McCloud, presenter of Grand Designs was also impressed: “This building has been tailored to its site. It’s been stitched and woven…seamed into the tapestry of this place and it is so much the better for it,” he said. “It’s the kind of architecture that we can all easily love, the kind of architecture we can all easily learn from; and it’s a way of building that we, in Britain, are getting really very good at.” Stuart Elmes, CEO of Viridian Solar said: “The Lochside House is a deserved winner and a great example of how solar can be brought into the heart of building design. “
Leading rapid-build home manufacturer FastHouse has today announced the completion of its contract to provide and erect the timber frames for 466 lodges at the highly anticipated Center Parcs in Longford in under nine months. This comes as FastHouse confirms significant investment to bring its full range of services to the Irish housebuilding market. In 2019 FastHouse will be in position to deliver 1,500 units annually with significantly lower costs and reduced construction time. The Limavady-based business, owned by Kevin Lagan, has invested heavily with the aim of becoming the largest producer of offsite panelised wall systems in Ireland and the UK. It began work at the €233m leisure attraction in January in what was the company’s first venture into the Irish market. It included the delivery of ten different types of homes, ranging in size from 865 sq ft to 2,045 sq ft – the equivalent of two to four-bedroom homes. The contract was awarded by John Sisk & Son – the main contractor of the 400-acre Longford Forest site – and saw FastHouse’s Installation Team install the lodges at a rate of three per day to the highest global standards. Typically, FastHouse homes take two days from factory production to watertight and weatherproof installation on-site. Center Parcs Longford Forest is set to open in the Summer of 2019 with capacity for 2,500 guests. It will feature 30 apartments, more than 100 indoor and outdoor family activities, state-of-the-art restaurants, shops, an award-winning Aqua Sana Spa and Center Parcs’ iconic Subtropical Swimming Paradise. Speaking after the completion of the contract Sean Fox, FastHouse Sales and Installations Director, said: “It shows the progression we have made in a short time that we are showcasing the quality of our rapid-build homes at a high-profile location like Center Parcs. It’s an attraction renowned for its high standards and thousands of holidaymakers will be able to see first-hand the first-class quality of our homes. Rapid-build, which involves bespoke precision work in the factory and less time and cost on-site, can make a huge contribution to the needs of the Irish residential market. We’re delighted to be involved in such an exciting new venture for the country.” FastHouse’s expert team was able to install 466 homes in as little as 34 weeks with the company’s factory producing an average of five houses per day. In total 14,000 wall panels were crafted for the contract with lodges taking just two weeks to produce from inception. Cormac Fitzpatrick, Sisk Senior Contracts Manager, added: “To deliver a resort of this size required strong partnerships and we’re very pleased with the completion of this phase of what will be one of Ireland’s premier destinations. With FastHouse manufacturing the lodges offsite it was a case of the panels and trusses being delivered to location and installing them in a kit format. This allowed the construction process to be lean, resulting in the productive and efficient development of the Center Parcs project.” Paul Kent, Center Parcs Construction and Development Director, said: “Our lodges are a key component of the Center Parcs experience and it is essential they are of the highest quality. FastHouse has provided top-class craftmanship that will allow thousands of families to enjoy a short break at Center Parcs Longford Forest each year.” Center Parcs is FastHouse’s largest project to date with previous work including a range of residential developments across Northern Ireland and the UK and a number of holiday lodges at the award-winning Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel & Spa in Enniskillen. The demand has seen the company install a third production line leading it to double the size of its workforce to 100 this year.
