Cala Homes has completed its first net-zero-carbon enabled home at its Hampton Lakes development in Peterborough. The project demonstrates Cala’s commitment to sustainable construction and will test the housebuilder’s net zero principles, providing essential learning to help inform Cala’s approach in the future. Residents will soon move into the four-bedroom
Bloor Homes has celebrated the start of its new ‘Treledan’ development at Saltash, the developer’s first in Cornwall. Bloor Homes will complete phases 2 and 3 of this key 300-acre site for the county, which already has outline planning consent for 1000 new homes, a brand-new primary school, allocation for
A significant milestone in the delivery of 81 affordable, low-energy homes at Greenhill Centre in Newham has been marked with an official topping-out ceremony. Higgins Partnerships was joined by the Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiza OBE and its partners Newham Council to celebrate the progress being made in delivering these
Far East Consortium (FEC), the developer working in a joint venture-partnership with Manchester City Council (MCC) to deliver Manchester’s transformative £4 billion Victoria North regeneration project, has appointed CR Construction to deliver the next phase of 895 homes at the vibrant Red Bank neighbourhood. Representatives from FEC and CR Construction
Higgins has clinched a deal with London’s Lambeth Council to build more than 360 new homes in the heart of Brixton. The council is set to work with Higgins Group on the second phase of development in Somerleyton Road under proposals for a net-zero development of 363 new homes, of
Construction work is progressing well at Balfour Beatty’s brand-new site off Old Road in Chesterfield, where the first showhome is set to officially open its doors to visitors later this year. The development is being built on the site of the former DXC Technology Manor Offices, with demolition work on
Award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group today revealed its financial accounts for 2023, representing another period of record-breaking performance during which the company surpassed revenues of £1bn for the first time. Hill posted record profits before tax of £70.1m from revenues of £1,145.9m for a 15-month period ended 31 March 2024. The
Celebrations have taken place at Wirral Waters yesterday to celebrate the practical completion of the first 150 highly sustainable waterside apartments at Peel Waters’ Millers Quay development. With extensive views across the water, the £130m cornerstone residential scheme of 500 new homes across six buildings is transforming the Left Bank of
Construction work at a site in Ketton is progressing well, with the four-bedroom detached Boughton showhome now ready and waiting for visitors to explore. Balfour Beatty Homes is building a collection of 50 two, three and four-bedroom homes called The Crescent in the beautiful rural location near Stamford. Figures from
Cityheart has revealed the new name for its 442-apartment scheme on Greek Street and Wellington Road in Stockport. The development, formally known as Royal George Village, has been rebranded Stopford Park in line with Cityheart’s vision to create a new neighbourhood community and landscaped public realm in the heart of
Cala Homes has completed its first net-zero-carbon enabled home at its Hampton Lakes development in Peterborough. The project demonstrates Cala’s commitment to sustainable construction and will test the housebuilder’s net zero principles, providing essential learning to help inform Cala’s approach in the future. Residents will soon move into the four-bedroom property, offering the opportunity for the business to learn about the technical viability and user experience of sustainable technology in a ‘lived in’ home. Through monitoring data, including qualitative feedback from the residents gathered throughout the summer and winter months, Cala will gain valuable insights into the practicalities of implementing these technologies and, importantly, the user experience of sustainability features in an occupied home. Cala has worked with its subcontractor partners to bring together various technologies already trialled and implemented on its sites across the UK. The sustainable features within the home have also been informed by desktop studies and initial comparative testing with the same Cala house type built to current regulations. The learnings from the Hampton Lakes home around installation, implementation and performance will support another positive step towards Cala’s ambitious goal of delivering operationally net-zero-carbon enabled homes by 2030. Steve Rule, Group Technical Director at Cala, said: “We have calculated that this home has the potential to use 95% less primary energy* compared to the same Cala house type built to current regulations. Early comparative in-situ testing has seen a 40% better thermal performance than our current homes built to the latest regulations, even with all the advances and efficiencies of new homes today. This means it achieves a Heat Loss Parameter (HLP) which ranks it in the ‘excellent’ category of the heat loss scale. “This is obviously significant for our customers, but it’s important that the customer experience is enhanced. Living in a net-zero-carbon enabled home should be seamless and that’s something we’ve strived to achieve here.” The home has been built using modern methods of construction including timber frame and low-carbon bricks, and features triple glazing and enhanced insultation. Other features include: Outside, biodiversity enhancing measures include bird and bat boxes, bug hotels, rain gardens, bat bricks, hedgehog highways, a dedicated vegetable patch, and home composting facilities, bringing Cala’s Urban Wildlife Strategy to life. Kathryn Dapré, Head of Sustainability at Cala Group, said: “Our net-zero-carbon enabled home is a positive step forward in our sustainability journey, but what’s important to us is that we take customers on that journey with us. Our Hampton Lakes property therefore aims to integrate sustainable measures into a ‘real’, lived in home – to design the home around the customer, not the technology. “Gathering real-life, real-time feedback from the people living in this home will help us to understand how the net-zero-carbon enabled home performs both in terms of reducing carbon emissions and for Cala customers.” Cala’s Sustainability Strategy will see the business achieve net-zero operational greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. It has also set a wider target of net-zero total greenhouse gas emissions across the business by 2045. So far, Cala has achieved a 28.5% reduction in operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its 2021 baseline. Operational emissions per square meter of developed floor space have fallen by over 25% since 2021. *(heating, hot water, lighting and electricity) Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bloor Homes has celebrated the start of its new ‘Treledan’ development at Saltash, the developer’s first in Cornwall. Bloor Homes will complete phases 2 and 3 of this key 300-acre site for the county, which already has outline planning consent for 1000 new homes, a brand-new primary school, allocation for commercial development and infrastructure improvements. As well as delivering much needed two, three, four and five bedroom new housing for people in the local area, including 90 affordable homes across phase two, the new development will retain large areas of public open spaces including parkland, children’s play areas, allotments, community orchards, forest gardens and sports pitches as part of its Section 106 (S106) commitments. There will also be a new cycleway across the whole site, a new footbridge over the A38 and a new access roundabout from the A38. Bloor Homes will also make S106 contributions towards local infrastructure, primary and secondary education, health care, public transport and a new neighbourhood centre, bringing the total in excess of £2 million. Bradley Davison, Managing Director for Bloor Homes’ Exeter region, said: “Since Treledan is our first development in Cornwall we have worked very closely with Cornwall Council and other key stakeholders in the local area to ensure we are providing quality new homes for Saltash which are sympathetic to the local area and meet Cornwall Council’s sustainability and affordability requirements. “We have been building new homes and communities across England since 1969, but we are really looking forward to sharing our vision for phases 2 and 3 here and opening our showhomes to the public in Cornwall for the first time next year so they can experience the high quality and style we are bringing to this important location.” The land was allocated for development in Cornwall Council’s Local Plan as part of the ‘gateway to Cornwall’ and is a helping to address the issue of affordable housing as part of its economic growth strategy. The new development is in line with Saltash Town Council’s Neighbourhood Plan whose vision for a ‘prosperous and diverse economy’ is linked to excellent provision of new homes. Bradley adds: “Although we are in the very early stages of building our first new homes at Treledan, people can already find out more about them and register to receive priority information by visiting our website – bloorhomes.com and we look forward to welcoming people to the sales cabin this Autumn.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A significant milestone in the delivery of 81 affordable, low-energy homes at Greenhill Centre in Newham has been marked with an official topping-out ceremony. Higgins Partnerships was joined by the Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiza OBE and its partners Newham Council to celebrate the progress being made in delivering these new homes, which will achieve Passivhaus Classic certification. This ensures the homes will have reduced energy costs and improved comfort and air quality for residents. Located in Manor Park, the development features three blocks: an eight storey building, a five storey building and a multi-level building with heights varying from two to seven storeys. Of of the 81 homes, 56 will be available at London Affordable Rent and 25 will be offered for low-cost shared ownership, with partial funding from the Greater London Authority. Designed by architects Haworth Tomkins, the scheme will also include a new gym space and landscape improvements, with a focus on preserving existing mature trees on the site and creating a new community garden. Colin Ricketts, Regional Director of Higgins Partnerships commented, “We are proud to welcome the Mayor of Newham here to Greenhill Centre to mark this significant point in the delivery of these affordable homes, which have been designed to ensure residents benefit from increased thermal comfort, improved indoor air quality and lower energy bills. “As part of our commitment as a socially responsible developer, we are also working closely with the local community to provide a wide range of social value initiatives, including Eat Clubs, volunteering opportunities, community garden and environmental initiatives, working with schools and colleges to provide career and work of work sessions, and community sport sessions.” Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE said: “This development forms part of our ambition to deliver homes that our people can afford. In the face of this country’s crushing housing crisis, we are making the case to the new government that they need to support councils like Newham to deliver more and more homes. “I am working with the Cabinet and council officers to make that ambition a reality, along with Higgins Partnerships, who are supporting us on this particular scheme which will deliver 56 new homes at London affordable rent and 25 homes at low-cost shared ownership. “This is an example of our commitment to deliver more affordable housing and I look forward seeing the completed scheme next Autumn.” Higgins is also providing a range of apprenticeship and work placement opportunities, throughout the construction of Greenhill Centre. One such apprentice is Mikael Mustafa, a local Newham resident who is now a Business Admin Apprentice in Higgins’ head office and part of the Social Value team. Mikael shared his experience, saying: “Doing an apprenticeship means I am able to put what I learn in college into practice working in the Social Value team. I really enjoyed maths at school and so use my skills to support the rest of the team by recording all the social value data as well as taking part in a variety of employability volunteering events in the local community. “Every day brings different challenges which keep me motivated to become better. If I am unsure of anything I can ask my team and Manager for help, and they take their time to explain everything to me. I really enjoy the flexibility and the range of tasks in my role. I am grateful for the support Higgins and Ixion have given me and am hoping to move onto a Level 4 apprenticeship once I have completed my Level 3.” For further information about Higgins Partnerships please visit www.higginspartnerships.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Far East Consortium (FEC), the developer working in a joint venture-partnership with Manchester City Council (MCC) to deliver Manchester’s transformative £4 billion Victoria North regeneration project, has appointed CR Construction to deliver the next phase of 895 homes at the vibrant Red Bank neighbourhood. Representatives from FEC and CR Construction were in attendance at a signing ceremony on site on Wednesday 17th July to celebrate this significant milestone in the development process. FEC secured planning permission in August 2023 for 1,551 new homes, across plots known as NT02, NT03 and NT04, along Dantzic Street, together with a separate outline planning permission for a further 3,250 new homes within Red Bank under its transformative ‘Wild Urbanism’ concept which seeks to prioritise green space, biodiversity and active travel. CR Construction is currently working on FEC’s neighbouring 634-home Victoria Riverside development which is due to complete in early 2025. Building on the success of this partnership, CR Construction will now deliver the next phase of Red Bank Riverside on plots NT02 & NT03 on Dantzic Street, which will include a collection of three towers reaching 20, 31 and 34 storeys-high, and another mid-rise, nine-storey block set within extensive public realm. The scheme was designed by Hawkins\Brown Architects and Schulze+Grassov in collaboration with Optimised Environments landscape architects. Works are due to start on site early next year, following the completion of the enabling works by Manchester City Council and its appointed contractor BAM, which is funded under the Housing Infrastructure Funding secured by the joint venture in 2019. Nick Whitehouse, Delivery Director at FEC, said: “The execution of this contract to deliver the next phase of Red Bank Riverside is another significant milestone for one of the country’s largest regeneration projects. We’re pleased to engage the market leading skills of CR Construction on this exciting project.” Calum Kidd, Managing Director said: “CR Construction are delighted to expand upon our existing working relationship with FEC in the UK. Securing this project is another significant milestone for us as we further establish our business and presence in the UK market as we continue to deliver on our promise to be one of the best, providing added value to our clients, partners and stakeholders.” Shane Kelly, Projects Director at CR Construction said: “We look forward to delivering another prestigious, high quality residential project with FEC in Manchester. Our market presence in the North West is now well established and our reputation is growing as we continue to demonstrate our ability to deliver’’ Apartments are now available for reservation at the 189-home Falcon, with the next tower due to launch to the market later this year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Higgins has clinched a deal with London’s Lambeth Council to build more than 360 new homes in the heart of Brixton. The council is set to work with Higgins Group on the second phase of development in Somerleyton Road under proposals for a net-zero development of 363 new homes, of which 54 per cent, 195 homes, would be affordable and 138 of these would be for social rent. The development partner was chosen through a procurement process for the scheme and will build on the first phase of the Somerleyton Road project which saw significant local projects completed. Those included the opening of the new Brixton House theatre and the refurbishment of the locally listed Carlton Mansions. Carlton Mansions now runs as an affordable workspace for local businesses, and Brixton House theatre has a mission to empower the undervalued, unheard, and excluded communities through creative and cultural spaces. The second phase of development, which is still subject to planning permission being granted, also includes plans for 63 extra care homes, a two-story standalone community gym and improvements and upgrades to Somerleyton Road itself. Councillor Danny Adilypour, Deputy Leader of the Council and Member for Sustainable Growth and New Homes said: “Appointing a delivery partner is an important step towards building desperately needed high quality and energy efficient new affordable homes while maintaining our focus on maximising delivery of new homes at Social Rent. There are also important improvements to the local area and community benefits proposed. “This proposal also exceeded our affordable and extra care homes targets, which is a real achievement at a time when the spike in inflation has made building so much more expensive, and when every single new affordable home matters in Lambeth. “We have set a target to deliver more than 500 much-needed new affordable homes by 2030, to maximise the number of new homes at Social Rent within this and to get these new homes built at pace. To achieve this we need to work with like-minded partners who have the experience to support us in delivering these homes, which we simply would not be able to do by ourselves following over a decade of deep cuts to local government funding and underinvestment in social housing. “Through their commitment to excellent community engagement, I am looking forward to seeing the many opportunities that Higgins will provide to our residents throughout this project. From co-design sessions on the development plans to job and skills opportunities through the construction phase of the project, we will work together to bring positive social and economic impacts to Brixton and wider Lambeth.” Following formal agreement of this partnership this month, the pre-planning and resident engagement work for Somerleyton phase two are due to begin in Autumn 2024. Declan Higgins, Chief Executive Officer at Higgins Group added: “We are delighted to be appointed as Lambeth’s development partners to deliver the second phase of Somerleyton Road. We understand the Council’s objectives for the accelerated delivery of affordable homes and are committed to working with residents and stakeholders to create affordable, sustainable communities addressing local housing needs. “We are committed to engaging with the community throughout the design process and will deliver meaningful social value initiatives focussed on the needs of residents including training and employment, volunteering and community support. We look forward to collaborating with residents and stakeholders as well as the team at Lambeth and the community to bring these exciting plans to fruition.” The Somerleyton Road phase two procurement process was carried out under a competitive procedure which began in August 2023 after a Cabinet approval in July 2023. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction work is progressing well at Balfour Beatty’s brand-new site off Old Road in Chesterfield, where the first showhome is set to officially open its doors to visitors later this year. The development is being built on the site of the former DXC Technology Manor Offices, with demolition work on the old buildings taking place in late 2023. Balfour Beatty Homes is set to build up to 60 new homes at the site, with enhanced biodiversity and public green open space for the whole community to enjoy, as well as homebuyers. Gill Sabin, Sales and Marketing Director for Balfour Beatty Homes, said: “It’s always wonderful to see building work begin to take shape, particularly as this site had become rather run-down and dilapidated – we’re set to bring it back to life with our collection of new homes. “There are so many reasons why someone would want to move to the pretty town of Chesterfield or buy a new home there if they’re already a local, including its 800-year-old open air market and unique ‘Crooked Spire’ church. “It’s a wonderful gateway town to all the rugged majesty of the Peak District, with fantastic hikes and scenic views that the whole family can enjoy. Not only that but it’s perfectly located for great access to Sheffield, Derby and Nottingham – meaning that city workers can benefit from a rural lifestyle with great connections. “We urge people to register their interest on our website, to be among the first to find out more about the new homes coming to Chesterfield as soon as it’s released.” To find out more information on the new homes and register your interest, go to balfourbeattyhomes.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group today revealed its financial accounts for 2023, representing another period of record-breaking performance during which the company surpassed revenues of £1bn for the first time. Hill posted record profits before tax of £70.1m from revenues of £1,145.9m for a 15-month period ended 31 March 2024. The Hill Group chose to extend its reporting period to March 31, 2024, to align its financial year-end with that of its many joint venture partners. This strategic move will strengthen collaboration and enable better coordination on shared goals with partners, both for current and future projects. Joint ventures have become a significant pillar of Hill’s recent success, and this alignment will further enhance the Group’s continued growth. A total of 2,886 new homes were delivered in the period, with considerable expansion to the company’s development pipeline, which now stands at 12,900 homes with detailed or outline planning permission, from an overall development pipeline of some 27,000 units. Hill’s controlled pipeline now represents £10bn of potential future revenues, up from £6.7bn in 2022. A further £155m was invested in new land over the reporting period. As a consequence of the Group’s substantial growth in the period, net assets are up 14% to £368.9m with net cash at bank closing at £86.4m on 31st March 2024, net of borrowings. Andy Hill OBE, founder and Group Chief Executive of The Hill Group, comments: “These outstanding results, recorded during a challenging political and economic market, are testament to the resilience of our business, the high quality of our developments, and most importantly the dedication of all our staff and supply chain partners. Achieving revenues in excess of £1.1bn and record profits is an important milestone for The Hill Group, which together with our strong balance sheet and impressive development pipeline positions us for further sustained growth in the years to come.” Andy Hill said: “This year, we celebrate our 25th year in business and I am delighted we can mark this occasion as a dynamic, forward-thinking business achieving high standards in all that we do. With these excellent results, we are on course to surpass the targets we set ourselves for this current business cycle, and as we begin plotting new heights to reach for over the next five years, we are well positioned to continue delivering exceptional value to our stakeholders. Our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and excellence remains steadfast, and I am confident that the future holds even greater success for The Hill Group.” Hill was recognised by the industry as Housebuilder of the Year at the 2023 WhatHouse? Awards, marking the third time the company has won this prestigious accolade. Hill was also awarded Best Large Housebuilder at the awards, the first time the company has entered the category. FINANCIAL RESULTS SUMMARY FOR 2023: Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Celebrations have taken place at Wirral Waters yesterday to celebrate the practical completion of the first 150 highly sustainable waterside apartments at Peel Waters’ Millers Quay development. With extensive views across the water, the £130m cornerstone residential scheme of 500 new homes across six buildings is transforming the Left Bank of the River Mersey and seen as an exemplar in brownfield regeneration. Millers Quay is the single biggest development to date at Wirral Waters, the largest regeneration project of its kind in the UK. The transformational Millers Quay development will also include 100 affordable new homes and has been commended for the social impact delivered within the local community. Following completion, residents will shortly move into the one- and two-bedroom apartments within phase one, which includes blocks ‘Copper Mill’ and ‘Steam Yard’. Phase two, the final 350 new homes, within blocks Soda Factory, Salt House, Glaze Works and Lime Studio, are expected to complete early in 2025. Millers Quay is part of the emerging Northbank neighbourhood at Wirral Waters, where contemporary and sustainable urban living is surrounded by green spaces and dockside walkways. Representatives gathered yesterday from Peel Waters, its funding partner, Pension Insurance Corporation plc (“PIC”), construction firm GRAHAM, Homes England, Wirral Council, and staff and students from Wirral Met College, who have all been instrumental in the delivery of Millers Quay, to celebrate the practical completion of Millers Quay phase one. Designed in collaboration with award-winning architects Howells, Millers Quay offers striking architecture, drawing inspiration from the vibrant colours, metalwork, and warehouses that defined the area’s 19th Century industrial heritage. These waterfront apartments also offer expansive views, south-facing shared spaces, dockside walkways, and access to new green spaces and micro parks, inviting residents to immerse themselves in nature while enjoying urban comforts. With 100 affordable new homes included, this transformational residential scheme is delivering high levels of sustainability and social impact. Throughout its construction, a wide range of unique learning and employment opportunities have engaged the local community and students at neighbouring Wirral Met College. Wirral Waters is part of Peel Waters, a UK wide portfolio of vibrant and innovative, waterfront developments, delivering large-scale, sustainable regeneration projects, creating jobs, economic growth, new homes and new public realm across the country. Richard Mawdsley, Development Director at Wirral Waters, said: “We are very proud to mark this special moment in Wirral Waters’ history with the practical completion of the first phase of this mammoth project. Millers Quay is the result of incredible partnership working between Peel Waters, PIC, GRAHAM, Homes England, Wirral Council and Wirral Met College, each bringing something very important to the project. “The impact that this development has had on local construction students and the local community over the last couple of years is truly inspiring and the innovation and skills learnt around green methods of construction will benefit many future generations too. This great work continues as we look forward to completing phase two early next year.” James Agar, Head of Long Income at PIC, said: “Millers Quay exemplifies the ideal partnership of a long-term investor, a highly experienced developer, and a forward-thinking local authority working together to generate a development of considerable social value. “As an example, over the course of construction the average monthly spend on local labour has exceeded £1 million per month with 41% of the costs of construction placed with businesses located within a 50-mile radius of Wirral Waters. The benefits of cutting the distance goods and contractors need to travel has helped to reducing energy consumption, particularly of fossil fuels. “This Build-to Rent development has been funded through a long-term, regeneration lease structure, which operates like a fully amortising loan, providing funding for Wirral Council, which would not have been available from traditional sources. Wirral Council will now lease the buildings for 50 years, with annual rent increases linked to inflation, after which ownership of the building will pass to Wirral Council.” Peter Reavey, Regional Director at GRAHAM, said: “Millers Quay exemplifies our commitment to delivering high-quality, sustainable homes that positively impact the local community. We are particularly proud of the unique learning and employment opportunities this project has provided to local construction students, fostering the next generation of skilled professionals. Additionally, the development has supported local businesses and created jobs, demonstrating the positive social impact we aim to achieve through our projects.” Leader of Wirral Council, Cllr Paul Stuart, said: “As well as being a colourful and prominent new landmark on Wirral’s skyline, Millers Quay is an important and successful example of the council’s commitment to working with partners in providing new homes while demonstrating our commitment to a pro-growth, brownfield-only local plan. Including many affordable homes in this development, working with students at Wirral Met College throughout the construction, engaging with the local community, and showing how we attract vital inward investment demonstrate how regeneration can and will deliver for everyone across our borough.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction work at a site in Ketton is progressing well, with the four-bedroom detached Boughton showhome now ready and waiting for visitors to explore. Balfour Beatty Homes is building a collection of 50 two, three and four-bedroom homes called The Crescent in the beautiful rural location near Stamford. Figures from Rightmove pay testament to the growing popularity of the location, with data showing that sold prices in Ketton were up a huge 36 per cent from last year – so house hunters are being urged to buy now to avoid missing out. Gill Sabin, Sales and Marketing Director for Balfour Beatty Homes, said: “We always knew that homes at The Crescent would be popular with buyers, but the reaction has really blown us away. Over the launch weekend we received nearly 150 enquiries from buyers, which really does show how successful the development is proving to be. “It’s no wonder though – with a picturesque location in Rutland and high-quality homes, this home is ideal for all sorts of people, from families through to downsizers. There are great links to Peterborough, Grantham and Leicester too, making the homes ideal for commuters. “While these employment hubs are easily reachable, the historic town of Stamford is also only three miles away. We’ve found that our buyers are keen to live near this town and it’s no wonder – with lovely streets, tasty food and independent shops, it’s the perfect place to while away an afternoon. “Our showhome is now open, so we’re encouraging people to visit as soon as they are able to and see The Cresent for themselves.” With a spacious, airy kitchen/dining area, separate living room, study and utility room, as well as four bedrooms upstairs – two complete with ensuites – the Boughton showhome is now open and has been designed to showcase the very best that Balfour Beatty Homes has to offer. There are three and four-bedroom homes currently available at The Crescent, with prices starting from £445,000. As part of the development’s S106 contributions, money is being invested into increasing the biodiversity of the location and supplying a number of affordable homes for local people just down the road in Chater. To find out more information on the new homes and to make an appointment to visit, go to balfourbeattyhomes.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Cityheart has revealed the new name for its 442-apartment scheme on Greek Street and Wellington Road in Stockport. The development, formally known as Royal George Village, has been rebranded Stopford Park in line with Cityheart’s vision to create a new neighbourhood community and landscaped public realm in the heart of the town. The three-acre site was acquired last year by Cityheart, the development team behind Stockport’s award-winning Interchange and is being supported with a £9m GMCA brownfield development grant. The new branding and placemaking campaign was unveiled last night at Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery in partnership with Sheila Bird Studio who will also be designing the interior spaces. Jon Humphreys, Creative Partner at Sheila Bird Studio said: “Stopford Park is a place for all Stopfordians to live work and socialise. It’s a place for a community to put down some roots as the town looks to the future with optimism and pride. Cityheart are building homes, not ‘investment units’ and the new landscaped gardens at the centre of the neighbourhood will be there for all to enjoy. “Culture is major catalyst for urban regeneration and Stockport is thriving with creative talent. Stopford Park will feature a selection of art installations, a creative thread that celebrates culture and connects our neighbours with The War Memorial Art Museum and the Stockport Art College.” The new homes at Stopford Park will span three principle residential buildings. The 115,000 sq ft Torkington will be converted into 122 apartments, while the 60,000 sq ft Lyme Centre will be demolished and replaced with a 16-storey apartment block called Lyme which comprises 258 units. A third building, Bosden, will provide 62 homes for sale and will be the first building to be delivered on the site. The grade-two listed Greek Street Building, the former Metropolitan Girls’ School, will be converted into a collaborative co-working space for local businesses called Cheers & Smith, named after the architects responsible for its design. The buildings are connected by a new landscaped south-facing ‘Art Park’ creating additional public open space and private gardens for residents. The placemaking project features work by local photographer Madeline Penfold, celebrating the people of Stockport across the site hoardings. Many of the subjects who took part in the project were at the event to see Cityheart’s plans for Stopford Park. Commenting on the launch Jonny Wrigley, Group Chief Executive for Cityheart said: “The campaign celebrates the hard-working people of Stockport who are playing their part in delivering the incredible changes the town has seen in recent years and who have help us shape our vision for Stopford Park. These are the local people at the heart of Stockport’s renaissance, and we are delighted that so many of them joined us last night to celebrate the launch.” “Stopford Park will be a new neighbourhood, firmly rooted in Stockport and connected to its rich history and heritage. It is in a superb location for commuting and accessing the town centre and is right next door to Stockport’s historic War Memorial Art Gallery. Its design has been informed following lengthy consultation with Stopfordians including local businesses, residents, creatives and artists and it will deliver a thriving new neighbourhood with homes for people to live, spaces to work and places to socialise.” Construction commenced late 2023 and the buildings will be completed in phases throughout 2026. For more information on Stopford Park visit www.stopfordpark.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
