Building firm J.G. Hale Construction has officially handed over the keys to a £4.3 million innovative housing development on De Clare Drive (Cwrt Idris) in Radyr, Cardiff, to its partner on the project, Taff Housing Association. The innovative development, built by J.G. Hale Construction in partnership with Taff Housing Association, comprises of 36 units: 18 one-bedroom apartments, 10 two-bedroom apartments and eight three-bedroom homes. Aspects of the development have been designed specifically to cater for the needs of individuals with physical disabilities, with four of the homes suitable for wheelchair users. As there is a shortage of affordable housing in South Wales, the Welsh government aims to deliver 20,000 affordable homes in its current term, which ends in 2021. As well as helping to address this problem, the development will create local jobs, as well as several apprenticeships. J.G. Hale Construction is a Wales-based firm recognised for its commitment to innovative, eco-friendly design, quality materials and finishes and sustainable building practices. The company is committed to using local sub-contractors and suppliers. Taff Housing Association is responsible for over 1,500 homes across Cardiff and provide specialist support services to people across four local authorities in South East Wales. As well as delivering reliable services and building and maintaining quality homes, Taff work with local communities to create great places to live. Helen White, Chief Executive of Taff Housing Association, said: “We are thrilled this development is now complete. It will make a much-needed contribution towards addressing the serious shortage of affordable housing in Cardiff”  John Taphouse, Interim Director of Property Services at Taff Housing said: “We are delighted to be able to provide these high-quality affordable homes in Radyr. Thanks to J.G. Hale Construction and others involved in delivering this project.” J.G. Hale Construction’s Contracts Manager, Tom Bevan, said: “We’re delighted to have completed this project working in collaboration with Taff Housing Association, to improve the lives of those needing housing support in our communities…. “As a company, we constantly strive to deliver projects that will successfully accommodate each specific individual, whilst also engaging and supporting the local community. By including aspects which explicitly address the needs of people with physical disabilities, as well as homes for people who need them in the Radyr area, we believe this scheme has certainly achieved those aims.”

MCI Developments, part of national homebuilder Keepmoat Homes, has completed the purchase of the former industrial site on Lancots Lane in St Helens, with leading regeneration group, Torus. The land, which was previously used by a skip hire business, will create 63 brand new homes in the area, comprising of a mix of modern one- and two-bedroom apartments along with two-, three-, and four- bedroom homes. All the properties will be available for affordable rent and residents will also benefit from designated parking bays and landscaped communal open spaces on site. Alex Wood, Regional Managing Director at MCI Developments, said: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Torus to bring forward this residential scheme at Lancots Lane which is conveniently located within easy reach of St Helens town centre. “Our aim is to transform the vacant site into a thriving inclusive community, providing affordable housing to local families and breathe new life into this part of the town. We’re starting to put preparations in place to commence construction at the development which will take place this week.” Chris Bowen, Managing Director at Torus Developments, said: “This £8 million investment will open the door to new, modern and genuinely affordable homes in the area. But it also opens the door to so much more. In fact, our charitable arm, Torus Foundation, will ensure that every single tenant has access to tailored support, should they need it, to manage their home and improve their careeer prospects. In this way our investment is much longer term with a focus on health, happiness and wellbeing.” The first residents are expected to be able to move in from February 2022 and the development will take around 2 years to complete.

Catalyst is now working on all four phases of the development that will deliver a total of 270 new affordable homes on the former NHS site of Littlemore Park in Oxford. Catalyst will deliver 102 homes in late 2021 through phase one of the development, and a further 168 homes over the subsequent three phases. The project is due to complete in summer 2023 and is being delivered in partnership with Oxford City Council. Onsite delivery of Littlemore Park will be by contractor, Hill Partnerships. The development, which is 100% affordable, brings much-needed homes for social rent and shared ownership to the city. The area will include landscaped open space, natural play equipment and public art. Catalyst purchased the site in 2016 from the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, and to reflect the site’s history and to support our healthcare workers, Catalyst will be giving NHS workers priority options to purchase a shared ownership home. The virtual launch event for the shared ownership homes is planned for January next year.   Located on Armstrong Road, the development has been named Newman Place, after Saint John Henry Newman, with the name of each block of new homes also reflecting a notable person with connection to Littlemore, including Atwater House, Underwood House and Allin House. Philip Jenkins, Group Development Director at Catalyst, said: ‘I’m delighted with what our team have achieved so far at Littlemore Park. We have made considerable progress on phase one of the project, despite the challenges that the pandemic has presented this year. Starting work on the remaining three phases marks a key milestone in delivering this significant number of new homes to Oxford, and we’re proud to reflect the area’s rich history in the building names. Once complete, the development will bring much-needed new homes to the city and for our dedicated and highly-valued NHS workers.’ Visit Catalyst New Homes for more information on the shared ownership homes available.

Housing association Network Homes has transformed part of a Lambeth estate into 177 new homes with landscaped communal spaces as well as a community room and resource centre facilities for the benefit of local residents. There are 41 homes for affordable rent and 40 rented apartments for Active Elderly residents being moved from Wynter House, an old sheltered block on the estate. Of the remaining homes, twenty are for shared ownership and 76 apartments for private sale. At up to 20 stories high, the £70million development provides a new landmark for Stockwell Park and includes three large commercial units. It has been built on the site of Thrayle House, an unmodernised former council owned block built in the 1970s. The old deck access building was in a poor state of repair with empty shops and a dark disused undercroft car park. The scheme, which received over £4.2 million of funding from the Greater London Authority (GLA), marks the final stages of the wider £200 million regeneration of the Stockwell Park Estate. This investment has gone towards building new homes, refurbishing and improving existing homes and upgrading community spaces on the estate. Active Elderly resident, Washington Hylton, moved over to the new development from Wynter House. He said: “I’m so grateful as my new home is a 100% improvement on my old place which didn’t suit my needs. My flat has more space and the presentation of the accommodation is nice and clean with better facilities.” David Gooch, Network Homes Executive Director for Development, commented: “I am very proud of our new development at Thrayle House which provides much needed high-quality modern homes. The positive feedback from the residents who have transferred from Wynter House, and some of the original tenants of the original Thrayle House who have moved back, has been great to hear and I wish them all well in their new homes.” Delroy Rankin, Executive Director at SW9 Community Housing, said: “The new development on Stockwell Road, Thrayle House, was transferred into the management of SW9 in July. Those residents that have lived on Stockwell Park for many years know that the estate has had its difficult and challenging times, and on occasion people did not want to live here. It is now a place of choice. The regeneration of the estate is an example of how to merge the new with the old whilst retaining the heart of the community. We are proud to be welcoming new people to the area as well as supplying wonderful new homes to our existing residents.”

Recently announced is a national framework agreement with Countryside & PFP to accelerate live and future projects through the delivery of mixed-tenure developments. Under the agreement, PFP will work together to combine expertise in creating high quality homes and places that give opportunities for communities to thrive. It is envisaged that up to 10,000 mixed tenure homes will be developed through the framework over a ten-year period across the UK. Opportunities for growth Countryside continues to see attractive opportunities for growth to deliver a mix of private for sale, PRS and affordable homes and this framework agreement will allow the homebuilder to develop large sites more quickly. The PFP strategy is to deliver more homes and more choice has seen us work with a number of partners including Homes England, and develop new delivery models. Working with Countryside will continue to boost capacity and aid strategic aim for increasing the delivery of affordable housing and mixed-tenure communities. Meeting people’s needs and aspirations Iain McPherson, Group Chief Executive, Countryside, said: “We are delighted to have formed a strategic relationship with Places for People, to deliver much-needed mixed-tenure housing. Our business has a proven track record and, together with our clear strategy for growth, we look forward to continuing to work with our partners as we focus on the delivery of high quality and sustainable mixed-tenure communities.” David Cowans, Group Chief Executive, Places for People, said: “For our future housing market to be successful, we need to provide more housing choice, improve quality and increase efficiency. Working with Countryside, a business that shares our commitment to creating well designed, sustainable communities, will help us deliver quality homes that provide choice and meet people’s needs and aspirations.”