Customers are set to move into brand new apartments in Burnt Oak Broadway, Edgware as Sovereign Network Group (SNG) complete the construction of 100 affordable homes. The spacious one, two and three-bedroom apartments boast several green credentials. All properties will use air-source heat pumps instead of gas boilers for heating, the first in SNG’s London and East region, and there will be solar panels on the development’s roof. The scheme also features rooftop gardens and a play area for new residents to enjoy. The scheme is 100% affordable with funding partly secured from the Greater London Authority’s (GLA’s) Affordable Homes Programme. There are 75 homes for Shared Ownership, 19 for London Affordable Rent, and six for London Living Rent, a GLA scheme that supports customers in saving for a deposit to buy their own home. A new supermarket and a gym are due to take up the commercial units on the ground floor. David Gooch, SNG Executive Director of Development (London and Herts), commented: “It’s great to see this affordable scheme at Burnt Oak Broadway reach completion providing fantastic and sustainable homes for our customers. These apartments are one of over 700 homes handed over across our London and East region in 2023/24, 3.5 times as many homes as in the previous financial year. Over the next 10 years we plan to develop 25,000 new homes in the South of England, more than half which will be for affordable or social rent.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Ford’s iconic stamping plant factory in Dagenham, East London, which gained fame through the historic equal pay strikes depicted in the film “Made in Dagenham,” is undergoing a remarkable transformation.   The 45-acre site, once a key part of the powerhouse of East End industry where nearly 11 million Ford cars were manufactured, will soon be home to a dynamic new neighbourhood with thousands of much-needed homes and amenities, including a new urban park.  Ford’s stamping plant, which closed in 2013, was the site of the pivotal 1968 strike led by female sewing machinists, who were advocating for equal pay for comparable work. Their courageous stand ultimately paved the way for the Equal Pay Act in 1970.  Dagenham, with a heritage dating back 4,000 years, has witnessed a remarkable transformation from a historic barrier along the Thames to the site of Europe’s largest car plant. Notable for its history as a hub of industry and commerce, it once hosted a timber dock and shipping company.   In 2021, the Mayor of London provided a £80m grant from the Mayor’s Affordable Housing Programme to enable Peabody to acquire the site. The Hill Group then entered a joint venture with Peabody to deliver the development of the first phase, with construction getting underway in March 2023. The shared vision is to redefine the landscape of East London once again and bring new life to the area over the next decade.   Spanning multiple phases, the ambitious project aims to deliver more than 3,500 homes, with 1,640 set to be affordable for local residents. Once complete, Dagenham Green will also boast 10 acres of expansive parks and play spaces.  Phase one, which constitutes just over a quarter of the total homes, will see the construction of 935 homes, 35 percent of which will be affordable. Situated in the south-west corner of the site, adjacent to Dagenham Dock railway station, it will serve as the gateway to the broader masterplan area, which received outline planning approval in March 2022 following extensive consultation with the community.   Drawing inspiration from the marshland, a key feature of phase one will be the first section of a new five-acre urban park complete with a large pond, children’s play areas, and a heritage trail commemorating the legacy of the Dagenham women who championed equal pay rights in the 1960s.   There will also be a market square linking Dagenham Green to the nearby railway station, fostering connectivity and a strong sense of community.  Phase one will also incorporate more than 1,600 square metres of non-residential space, for commercial, social, and leisure activities. The first residents are expected to move in from the summer of 2025.  The project also prioritises sustainability, with plans for biodiverse green spaces and an air-source heat pump energy centre for the production of low-carbon energy.  During construction, the partners are committed to providing 48 apprenticeship opportunities and employing 25 percent of the workforce from the local area, with extensive training programmes offered to participants.  Peabody and its partners, including Hill, the Greater London Authority (GLA), Barking and Dagenham Council, and Be First Regeneration Ltd came together on Thursday 22 February to see how the redevelopment is progressing.    Philip Jenkins, Executive Director of Development at Peabody, said: “At a time when all development is challenging, it’s always exciting to see tower cranes at work and construction progressing so rapidly. With thousands of much-needed new homes and facilities on their way for Dagenham, the development promises to be a landmark project, blending modern amenities with features that celebrate the area’s rich heritage. From its industrial heyday to becoming a symbol of progress in the fight for equal pay, Dagenham Green will create a vibrant new neighbourhood, and we look forward to welcoming new residents from 2025.”   Andy Fancy, Managing Director at The Hill Group, said: “It is truly inspiring to gather here alongside Peabody, esteemed council members, and representatives from the GLA, to celebrate the remarkable strides achieved here in Dagenham. The realisation of a project of this magnitude takes years of meticulous planning and collaboration with partners and stakeholders. This collective effort is instrumental in the continual growth and success of this exciting new community.”    Cllr Darren Rodwell, Leader of the Council, said: “We’re proud of our history in Barking and Dagenham and I’m pleased that this nationally important site, where women fought for equal rights in 1968 and 1984, will once again play a key part in our community – providing new, safe homes for residents.  “I’m glad to be working with Peabody on this project and I think it’s fantastic that they’re not just focusing on homes but also on creating green spaces and a market for the community to come together and enjoy.   “And not only that, with a large proportion of the workforce coming from B&D and dozens of apprenticeships being created for local people this project will be a huge boost to the borough as a whole.”  The Deputy Mayor of London for Housing and Residential Development, Tom Copley, said: “I’m delighted that Dagenham’s famous Ford factory is being revamped to deliver over 3,500 high-quality new homes, with nearly half of these set to be genuinely affordable for local residents. “This promises to be a truly impressive development utilising the very best in modern architecture and design, whilst maintaining the unique heritage and character of the local area. The green spaces and parks, fantastic new amenities and community spaces, job and apprenticeship opportunities, and excellent transport links on offer will have huge benefits for the local community – helping to build a fairer, greener, more prosperous London for all.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

One Vision Housing celebrates success as Conway Point development in Birkenhead receives high commendation at the YM Liverpool Property & Business Awards. Located just a two-minute walk from Birkenhead town centre, the development is home to 46 Rent to Buy apartments that have created opportunities for local people to get onto the property ladder. The YM Liverpool Property & Business Awards’ judging panel said: “We are pleased to recognise Conway Point as highly commended in the Best Affordable Housing Scheme category.” “One Vision Housing’s commitment to a fabric-first approach with this development displays a progressive strategy which prioritises sustainability and energy efficiency. The scheme also helps to address a very pressing need for affordable housing solutions in the local area, offering residents an opportunity to secure a place in the community they call home.” they added. One Vision Housing provides over 13.6k homes across the North West and as part of The Sovini Group, is delivering over 1,000 high quality affordable homes across the next five years through its integrated supply chain. Built on brownfield land by Sovini Construction, Conway Point was designed with modern living in mind by Condy Lofthouse Architects and was constructed using a ‘fabric first’ approach that focuses on the reduction of energy consumption, through thermal efficiency and running costs. Apartments all feature environmentally efficient specifications, supplied by local independent building merchant, Sovini Trade Supplies, including toilets, taps, showers, and light fittings, contributing towards the Group’s net-zero carbon commitment. Ian Mitchell, Managing Director of Housing at The Sovini Group said: “Our Conway Point development has delivered our [The Sovini] Group’s vision of a better future, as we created opportunities and changed lives by helping local people take their first step into home ownership. We are grateful to the judges for recognising this impact and look forward to seeing our customers thrive in their homes for years to come.” In addition to delivering 46 new affordable homes, The Conway Point development generated £2.3m in social value, £1.2m in economic value and £70k in environmental value. James Flannery, Director of Construction and Land said: “We are thrilled that our Conway Point development has been highly commended at the YM Liverpool Property and Business Awards for its energy efficient design, as we continue to embrace renewable technologies with an environmentally friendly approach to construction.” “Building a better future for One Vision Housing’s customers by creating sustainable social impact and transforming local communities has and will continue to be central to all our operations.” he added. To learn more about The Sovini Group’s integrated supply chain, please visit sovini.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Affordable housing specialist, Living Space has received full planning approval and completed on the land sale for its largest scheme to date. In partnership with social housing provider, Stonewater, the approved vision will see 6.7 acres of complex brownfield land transformed into a mixed-tenure, 79-home community just outside of Worcester. Located within the Worcester South Urban Extension area, the approved mixed-tenure development is designed to meet the growing need for affordable housing within the burgeoning cathedral city. The scheme will deliver a mix of property types catering to single occupiers, couples and families – with homes ranging between two-storey terraces and two- three- and four-bedroom semi-detached houses. One and two-bedroom apartments will also be introduced within three-storey units. Access to green space has been a key consideration in the design of the development. Each house will have a secure rear garden and all residents will benefit from the site being enclosed to the east and south by established trees and vegetation. Living Space’s plans also include provision for over 30% of the former brownfield plot to be transformed into Public Open Space – creating biodiversity net gains in excess of 20%. Sustainable urban drainage and new attractive landscape features will support invertebrates, insects, amphibians, birds and small mammals. Further enhancing the sustainability credentials of the development is a bus stop located opposite the site on Bath Road, with three routes to Upton-upon-Severn and Hanley Castle. A second bus stop is just a five-minute walk away – with regular services running to Worcester city centre.  Paul Breen, Managing Director for Living Space Housing said: “This scheme marks our fourth project with Stonewater and follows on from our mutual successful developments in Malvern, Bromsgrove and Kidderminster. And, with 79 affordable homes, this project will become Living Space’s largest development to date.  “As can be the case with brownfield sites, there are a number of technical complexities to overcome with this redevelopment, but these plans will ensure that we give this land a new lease of life. There is also a public right of way across the land that has been safeguarded, and the scenic riverside setting will be significantly enhanced for the benefit of the new neighbourhood, as well as the wider community.” Matt Crucefix, Director of Development (West and South) for Stonewater said: “There is a shortage of affordable homes in Worcester and the surrounding districts, so I’m delighted we are working once again with Living Space to provide high quality homes that will help to address the needs of local people in an area where the gap between incomes and house prices is considerable. “Upon completion, the homes at Bath Road will provide a sustainable and affordable option for families and individuals looking to rent, or take their first step on the property ladder, helping to meet the areas housing demands.” Works are expected to commence at the end of February 2024 with the first residents moving in by December 2024. Enabling works for the site will include the removal of abandoned buildings previous occupied by site’s former owner. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Construction of the largest Passivhaus affordable housing scheme in the north west is nearing completion. The finishing touches are now being made at Greenhaus – a highly sustainable development of 96 homes, which is being built on Chapel Street in Salford, opposite Salford Cathedral. The first residents are expected to start moving into Greenhaus this spring. The ground-breaking development is being delivered by The English Cities Fund (ECF) – a joint venture between nationwide placemaker, Muse, Legal & General and Homes England – alongside Salford housing association Salix Homes, and supported by Salford City Council. This week, delegates from the Northern Housing Consortium (NHC) paid a visit to Greenhaus, including leaders from housing associations across the north, to find out more about how sustainable and affordable homes can be delivered on a large scale. NHC Chief Executive Tracy Harrison said: “This is a fantastic example of green homes delivering real change in the north. Projects like this cut carbon, deliver lower bills and warmer, healthier homes, as well as creating good green jobs. This benefits residents, the economy, and the environment. We need an ambitious programme of investment from the government to build on this progress.”  The nine-storey development has been built to Passivhaus Classic certified standard, which is the leading low-energy design standard. Passivhaus homes offer high thermal comfort and improved air quality, providing a healthier living environment and homes that are cheaper to heat and run. The sustainable features at Greenhaus include triple glazed windows, the latest insulation technology, improved ventilation and airtightness, air source heat pumps and publicly accessible electric vehicle charging points. The one and two-bedroom homes will be available in a mix of tenures including social rent, affordable rent and rent-to-buy. Sue Sutton, Chief Executive at Salix Homes, said: “Greenhaus is the first and largest development of its kind in the region, setting the benchmark for new-build, affordable and sustainable homes that are fit-for-the-future and support our carbon neutral ambitions. “We were pleased to welcome NHC members to see the development as it nears completion and share with them our experience of how truly sustainable and affordable homes can be built at scale to help tackle the housing crisis – delivering high quality, healthier homes that are better for residents and the environment.” Passivhaus homes offer a range of health benefits for residents. The airtightness, thermal comfort and improved ventilation help protect against airborne pollutants, reduce the risk of illness associated with living in cold homes, and minimise the risk of damp, mould and condensation. Simon Hourihan, Project Director at Muse, said: “Greenhaus is a true partnership project, setting the standard for affordable, sustainable housing in the region. “We’re extremely proud of the whole team, who have been learning together and overcoming challenges to deliver high quality, Passivhaus-certified homes on a large scale. We’re looking forward to completing and residents moving in later this year, and learning more about the positive impact that low-energy homes can have on people’s lives.” Greenhaus is part of ECF’s £1bn, 50-acre Salford Central transformation being delivered in partnership with Salford City Council, and will take the overall percentage of affordable homes delivered by ECF to 25% across the Chapel Street area of the masterplan. The homes are being built by lead contractor Eric Wright Construction and were designed by architect Buttress. Andy Avery, Director at Buttress added: “This milestone is a testament to the team’s vision and skill in designing and delivering innovative and sustainable housing solutions. Buttress’ commitment to Passivhaus design illustrates our dedication to environmental responsibility, creating aesthetically pleasing yet, healthier and affordable places to live for the people of Salford.” Salix Homes secured funding from NatWest, along with grants from Homes England and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to help fund the multi-million-pound scheme. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals