Building work is underway on a new £20m development of affordable housing with low-carbon heating systems in Cheltenham. Housing association Bromford has started construction of 71 new homes on a brownfield site on Village Road in the town. The four-acre site is the former home of the Douglas Equipment factory
The brainchild of forward-thinking housing association, Midland Heart, Project 80’s design and construction has been significantly influenced by the Future Homes Standard, set to be introduced in 2025. From the outset, Midland Heart was keen to meet all the requirements of the new regulations, which will see all new homes
A Midlands housing association has secured the next phase of work at the UK’s largest self and custom-build development. Graven Hill Village Development Company (GHVDC) has re-appointed Bromford for this latest phase, which will include 50 homes; 31 of which will be affordable rent and 19 shared ownership at the
A2Dominion is making changes to its executive management team following the launch of its new Corporate Strategy. The Group’s strategy was launched six months ago and gives the 38,000-home housing association a new, clear direction and an obvious need for change. Key areas for focus include improving its core services,
Peacehaven’s most ambitious housing development to date – Chalk Way – launched on 19 September 2023. The project, spearheaded by modular housing company Boutique Modern in partnership with social housing provider Stonewater, comprises 40 affordable and energy-efficient modern homes, which have now been rented to delighted local families. The launch
Jewson Partnership Solutions (JPS) has launched its second AVAIL Housing Hub, with the aim of helping housing providers in Leeds to navigate the demands and challenges of supplying safe and quality social housing to local residents. Following the successful launch of its first AVAIL Housing Hub in Newcastle earlier this
Later living provider Anchor has recently announced the partners for its Development Consultancy framework helping to meet the not-for-profit provider’s ambitious plans to deliver 5,700 new homes over the next ten years. Anchor, England’s largest provider of specialist housing and care for people in later life, will deliver the schemes
A pair of ageing Salford tower blocks are going ‘green’ as part of a multi-million pound eco-transformation. Housing association Salix Homes has unveiled its ambitious investment plans for neighbouring blocks Greyfriar Court and Whitefriar Court in the Greengate area of Salford. The 14-storey high rise buildings will undergo a £10million
Housing association B3Living has secured a £50 million sustainability-linked loan from Lloyds Bank to build hundreds of new, affordable properties. Its sustainability-linked loan facility will be measured against three KPIs, which will see B3Living receive discounted funding relative to its performance as against agreed targets. The first KPI relates to
Two social landlords joined forces earlier this month to transform the grounds at a supported living scheme in Herefordshire. Platform Housing Group and Stonewater Ltd teamed up with Orphans Press to create a ‘happy to chat’ bench within the communal garden at Newman House in Leominster as well as tidying up the area to
Building work is underway on a new £20m development of affordable housing with low-carbon heating systems in Cheltenham. Housing association Bromford has started construction of 71 new homes on a brownfield site on Village Road in the town. The four-acre site is the former home of the Douglas Equipment factory which had been empty since the site closed in 2020. The former factory buildings were demolished in April in preparation for work getting underway to build the new homes. The development, called The Fairway, will be a mix of 1-bedroom maisonettes and two, three, four and five-bedroom homes. Thirty-two homes will be available to rent, with the other 39 available to part-buy, part-rent through Bromford’s shared ownership scheme. All 71 homes at The Fairway will be heated by air source heat pumps, which are a low-carbon alternative to gas boilers. They are more efficient than a standard boiler, allowing households to use less energy to keep their homes warm. The homes will all have EV charging points, and most of them will also have solar panels. The £20m development is being part-funded by Bromford’s strategic partnership with Homes England. Project manager Stuart Hay said: “I’m delighted that work is underway on our new development to provide new affordable, sustainable homes here in Cheltenham. Installing air source heat pumps in all these homes will reduce our customers’ reliance on fossil fuels and helps us on our journey to becoming a net-zero carbon organisation. “House prices in Cheltenham are ten times average incomes*, which means buying a home in the town is out of reach for many people, so there is a clear need for more affordable housing in the town. With a mix of rented and shared ownership homes, the variation of housing we are providing at The Fairways means there’s something for everyone. I’m looking forward to seeing the site progress over the coming months and welcoming the first customers into their new homes.” The homes are being built by Bromford’s in-house construction team, which last year completed 232 of the 1,265 homes built by the Gloucestershire-based housing association. The entire development is due to be completed in spring 2025. The first shared ownership homes will be available shortly – find out more at www.findahome.bromford.co.uk *According to National Housing Federation data Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The brainchild of forward-thinking housing association, Midland Heart, Project 80’s design and construction has been significantly influenced by the Future Homes Standard, set to be introduced in 2025. From the outset, Midland Heart was keen to meet all the requirements of the new regulations, which will see all new homes expected to produce a 75 to 80% reduction in carbon emissions compared to currently accepted levels. The Future Homes Standard covers a wide range of criteria and the developer had to carefully plan every aspect of the build to ensure the lowest whole-life carbon performance. This ranged from the materials chosen and systems specified, through to the machinery used on-site and the fixtures, fittings and finishes in the property. A low-carbon home also needs to be structurally safe, built to last and comfortable for the occupier. This meant balancing achieving the Future Homes Standards requirements without compromising the essential elements which comprise a quality home. Fabric first housing The Future Homes Standard is set to usher in a new age of energy-efficient, low-emissions housing. Midland Heart was keen to ensure it met the stipulated low u-values on its upcoming developments, leading to the initial concept of Project 80 and the objective of delivering a fully ‘Fabric First’ development. As Tony Hopkin, Head of Construction & Quality at Midland Heart revealed: “Our residents are at the heart of everything we do, yet we’re also conscious of our environmental responsibility, so we wanted to build homes which not only protect people, but the planet too. So Project 80’s overarching aim became the elimination of any unintended consequences which would cause the properties to fall out of compliance with the Future Homes Standard, as this would have massive negative implications for potential occupiers, and Midland Heart. Particularly, we wanted to show that, with the right materials and systems, achieving ultra-low u-values was entirely possible. By trialling different solutions, particularly the latest concrete and aircrete blocks, we were able to achieve u-values of 0.13, putting our properties comfortably within the Standard’s requirements.” The West Midlands has a wealth of local block manufacturers and a rich heritage of block production. For this project, concrete blocks were manufactured by Shropshire-based Besblock and aircrete blocks were manufactured by H+H. This blended approach not only achieved the required thermal efficiency, but the use of high-performance aircrete blocks, which are lightweight and easy to install, supported the air-tight structures and reduced the chance of thermal bridging. It also significantly sped up the construction process. A material success To meet its aims of achieving Part L compliance, Midland Heart needed to specify materials that could deliver maximum efficiency, yet also deliver safe, secure, comfortable and affordable dwellings. Furthermore, they were keen to work with local businesses, ensuring a small supply chain with the minimum amount of energy and fuel consumption possible. Photo by Midland Heart Housing Ltd As the project took shape, in the form of Eco Drive, comprising 12 new homes built using fabric first principles, Midland Heart, an advocate of traditional construction methods, embraced tried and tested cavity wall construction. A traditional method, they understood that this system would deliver the desired thermal efficiency without reinventing the wheel. The 12 homes were delivered in 2022, and a report on resident evaluations of living and occupying the homes is due to publish in late 2023. The ongoing R&D programme will also include a detailed cost analysis, to identify areas for further gains in efficiency on later developments Cementing concrete’s low carbon credentials Project 80 is providing definitive proof that concrete can play a crucial role in contemporary, sustainable housebuilding. It’s also proving there’s more to meeting sustainability requirements than upfront, embodied carbon. That’s not all, the manufacturing process of the blocks used (Besblock’s Universal Star Performer in this case), helped Midland Heart achieve homes that met the design brief’s 80% carbon reduction target providing significant embodied carbon savings. Cured by energy from a nearby waste wood facility, using biomass boilers the products had significantly lower embodied carbon values than equivalent products. Besblock’s use of SustainaCem cement, a pre-blended sustainable binder, and blocks cured using energy from a nearby waste wood facility, kept embodied emissions low, further reinforced by a local supply chain. Tony Hopkin concluded, “Project 80’s vision has been to deliver high-performing but low-impact homes that are heavily tailored to resident needs. Technology and sustainability have been at the heart of this development to improve efficiency, but the fabric of the building was the starting point that needed to be addressed. “Blockwork, whether concrete or aircrete, has very impressive whole-life carbon qualities which are often overlooked, but they are truly circular products that embody the core principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle. In partnering with them (Besblock and H+H), we found sustainable products that could adapt and flex according to the other low-carbon components selected to achieve homes fit for the Future Homes Standard. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A Midlands housing association has secured the next phase of work at the UK’s largest self and custom-build development. Graven Hill Village Development Company (GHVDC) has re-appointed Bromford for this latest phase, which will include 50 homes; 31 of which will be affordable rent and 19 shared ownership at the 462-acre site. As with all new builds at Graven Hill, regardless of construction form, they will meet the Passive Design Standards Revision F which, since adopted by Graven Hill in 2016, have delivered dwellings with energy standards which are higher than the statutory requirements set out in current building regulations. Graven Hill doesn’t just comply with statutory policy requirements, it exceeds them by incorporating sustainable design and construction technology to achieve low carbon development through a combination of fabric energy efficiency and carbon compliance for example. Gemma Davis, customer experience director at GHVDC, said: “Bromford has worked at Graven Hill since 2017, helping to deliver 93 affordable homes to date. “Graven Hill is unique and diverse and aims to offer the widest range of housing, from self and custom-build to apartments and extra care facilities. With 30% of the site providing affordable homes, it has been essential that we find a partner that shares the same vision; to deliver a successful, diverse and pioneering development.” Bromford has 46,000 homes across its operating area in the West Midlands and West of England. Alongside its existing 93 properties at Graven Hill, the housing association will take ownership of the first 26 new homes before the end of the year, comprising of 16 for affordable rent and 10 for shared ownership. The remaining 15 affordable and 9 shared ownership homes will be handed to Bromford next year and are part of the 1,200 new homes the housing association will be delivering during the year. Satty Tiwana, project manager from Bromford said: “We’re delighted to be working with Graven Hill Village Development Company again to provide affordable housing on the latest phase of this project. We’ve just had the first eight homes handed over to us and our latest customers are getting ready to move into their new homes. “They will all benefit from our unique approach to housing management which is focused on creating a close relationship between our customers and their neighbourhood coach. We know that every customer is unique and different customers will benefit from different types of relationship, but we will work with each of them to learn and understand each of their aspirations so we can work together to help them achieve them so they can thrive in their new home.” Graven Hill is a former Ministry of Defence site, which has become a thriving new community with almost 500 homes delivered to date and hundreds more to come. The primary school opened its doors this month, alongside a cocktail bar, wine shop and dentist practice. A nursery school provider is also set to commence development. Further retail units are currently under offer and a site at the frontage intended for a pub restaurant continues to be marketed. Significant amenities planned include a sports pavilion, pitches and allotments and access to the Graven Hill wood. GHVDC is also seeking local contractors to tender for its next phase of new homes and apartments. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A2Dominion is making changes to its executive management team following the launch of its new Corporate Strategy. The Group’s strategy was launched six months ago and gives the 38,000-home housing association a new, clear direction and an obvious need for change. Key areas for focus include improving its core services, investing more in customer and building safety, a shake-up of its operating model, and how it reacts and adapts to the economic and financial challenges it’s facing. The changes follow the appointment of Ian Wardle as CEO just over a year ago, as well a new Chair – Alan Collett. Focusing on customers The Group has already started to implement some service improvements. However to effectively face these challenges head-on, it’s also making changes to its leadership structure. One key area that has been identified as a priority is improving its services to customers. Historically, all operations sat under a single Executive Director, covering every aspect of customer facing services including housing, customer services and property repairs and maintenance. In order for the Group to implement the improvements identified in its new strategy more quickly and effectively, it has split its Executive Director of Operations role into two: Splitting the role will allow the Group to fast-track the delivery of its plans and gives both roles the dedicated time and resource they need to make improvements for customers. Alongside these changes, A2Dominion will also be combining its two central services roles for Treasury and Central & Financial Services into one executive role, Chief Finance Officer. New look team Overall, A2Dominion’s Executive Management Team now comprises: Interviews for the Chief Customer Officer and Chief Finance Officer roles are currently underway, with the appointments expected to be announced in the New Year. The changes follow A2Dominion’s previous announcements that Dean Tufts, Executive Director of Finance & Strategy, and Nick Hutchings, Executive Director of Commercial, will both be retiring in early 2024. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Peacehaven’s most ambitious housing development to date – Chalk Way – launched on 19 September 2023. The project, spearheaded by modular housing company Boutique Modern in partnership with social housing provider Stonewater, comprises 40 affordable and energy-efficient modern homes, which have now been rented to delighted local families. The launch of the terraced and detached houses, all with a garden, open-plan living room and kitchen, bathroom and parking, marks a progressive new era in environmentally advanced affordable housing. Boutique Modern, which is located in neighbouring Newhaven, is on a mission to shake up the housing industry. The government’s ambition to build 300,000 homes annually is not being met – we’re currently delivering just over 200,000 a year[1]. Many consider the 300,000 target woefully inadequate as it is. This deficit in housing supply has driven up property prices, exacerbating problems in the rental market, as well as aggravating homelessness and overcrowding. But it doesn’t need to be this way. By changing mindsets and thinking beyond traditional construction and property development methods, Boutique Modern believes the UK can create sustainable, energy efficient and affordable housing stock for all. On a property mission Boutique Modern is a primary contractor and modular manufacturer deeply committed to addressing the affordable housing crisis in the South of England. Its mission involves collaborating with local authorities and housing associations to provide top-tier, genuinely sustainable, affordable and social housing. With a decade of experience in modular housing production, the company – the UK’s first certified B Corp modular construction firm – is all about embracing innovation and ensuring that all its endeavours have a positive impact on the planet. At the core of Boutique Modern’s ethos lies the belief that everyone deserves access to high-quality, affordable homes. Its greater purpose is to deliver homes that are sustainable, cost-effective, architecturally appealing and, most importantly, bring joy to their inhabitants. And it recognises the significance of crafting homes that cater to local needs and contribute positively to each person, as well as the community and its surroundings. Dick Shone, managing director at Boutique Modern, said: “Modular housing schemes have the potential to unlock land that’s deemed inappropriate for traditional construction methods, and develop it into great places for people to live. “Chalk Way already looks like part of the established urban landscape of Peacehaven and is a great example of how low-impact modular housing can make an architectural statement as well as improving communities and people’s lives without hurting the planet.” Modular versus traditional Modern methods of construction, such as modular housing, are usually sourced hundreds of miles away from development sites. Boutique Modern’s Newhaven location means it can work across the whole of the South of England, buoying the local economy while working to alleviate regional housing shortages with minimal environmental impact. The Chalk Way development in Peacehaven proves it’s possible to run a socially aware business that invests in and looks after its workforce, and that focuses on making environmental advances, including measuring waste and carbon emissions, while creating quality homes that improve tenants’ lives. In an era where traditional construction methods still dominate the building industry, it’s important to consider whether they are genuinely suited to the task of constructing a sustainable, resilient infrastructure. From budget overruns stemming from labour shortages and inefficient material handling to environmental consequences that exceed legal limits, there is a compelling argument against depending on outdated approaches when undertaking new construction projects or renovating existing structures. Modular homes can take as little as a week to construct at the factory and then just three to four weeks to build on site, causing minimal disruption to neighbours. Energy efficient measures including solar panels can be installed with far greater ease than with traditional builds and retro-fits. The electric-powered homes at Chalk Way have already been rated highly for their energy efficiency, with high performing EPC certificates, and appraised for their minimal carbon emissions over the building’s life cycle. A vision of the future Boutique Modern is truly committed to enhancing communities, for example by working with local schools to create sensory gardens for children with additional needs – a project undertaken during the Chalk Way development. Shone added: “There are so many reasons why we need to embrace modular construction. We can outpace sluggish traditional methods. Streamlined production processes slash costs, while minimised material waste and shorter timelines help the bottom line. Modular construction champions sustainability. It’s a greener choice, generating less waste and boasting a smaller carbon footprint than traditional methods. Plus, these homes can be custom-designed with energy-efficient features, supporting sustainability and cutting long-term operating costs. “It’s been fantastic to collaborate with Stonewater on this project, a company which has similar ambitions to us regarding sustainability and social value.” Boutique Modern’s modular system is also a powerhouse of scalability. It’s equally adept at tackling small-scale projects or orchestrating grand housing developments. The modular world is also abuzz with innovation. Continual advancements in construction techniques, materials and technology propel these homes towards efficiency and excellence, setting the bar higher with each stride. For more information, visit: https://boutiquemodern.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Jewson Partnership Solutions (JPS) has launched its second AVAIL Housing Hub, with the aim of helping housing providers in Leeds to navigate the demands and challenges of supplying safe and quality social housing to local residents. Following the successful launch of its first AVAIL Housing Hub in Newcastle earlier this year, the one-stop-shop building and maintenance hub in Leeds will offer social housing providers all the benefits of JPS – including stock management technology, material supply, waste disposal and expert training – to tackle changing legislation, health and safety, rising costs, and decarbonisation regulations. A wealth of products for construction, maintenance and repairs will be made available to customers via the hub’s large external yard and warehouse. JPS will apply its automated replenishment technology to ensure levels of stock – which are specifically selected to support social landlords with their key challenges – are always maintained. A fleet of vehicles are available for delivery of products and materials to different sites and properties, either direct to operative or to AVAIL’s Smart Collection points located at convenient spots around the city. In coming months, the hub will include an on-site ‘drop and go’ waste offer, allowing users to save valuable time in the usual waste separation process, as well as a training academy, available to any AVAIL Housing Hub customer and their tenants, offering training on new product launches and construction processes. Courses will also be available for 16–24-year-olds looking to enter the job market, delivered in conjunction with charity YouthBuild. Social housing plays an important role in Leeds, with 54,000 council-owned dwellings in the city and a commitment in place to build 1,500 more by 2025 through the House Growth Programme. The hub is located in Seacroft, where 70 per cent of households are classed as living in deprivation – the fourth most deprived area in the city. JPS officially opened the doors to the Leeds hub at the end of September, at an event attended by a wealth of building materials suppliers, contractors and local housing associations. Scott Cooper, managing director of JPS, said: “From rising material costs and a shortage of labour, to environmental targets and a need to improve the comfort and energy efficiency of homes, housing associations are feeling more pressure than ever before to provide better housing for less while simultaneously raising the standards of their properties. “The roll-out of our AVAIL Housing Hubs is designed to make our customers’ lives easier in the face of these challenges, which we know are especially prevalent in Leeds. We want to offer social housing providers a way of working that will save them money, while also providing the guidance they need to select the products required to deliver the homes of the future. “The AVAIL Housing Hub model brings all of that under one roof, and enables us to act as a supply partner that can help them deliver on their objectives for the people who need it most.” The hub in Leeds is open now. For more information, visit https://www.jewsonpartnershipsolutions.com/avail. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Later living provider Anchor has recently announced the partners for its Development Consultancy framework helping to meet the not-for-profit provider’s ambitious plans to deliver 5,700 new homes over the next ten years. Anchor, England’s largest provider of specialist housing and care for people in later life, will deliver the schemes across England, providing communities for people aged 55 and over with homes available for sale, shared ownership and to rent. The framework will run for 4 years from August 2023 to August 2027, with the partnerships involving a total of 43 consultants including architects, structural engineers, employer agents, cost consultants, principal designers and planning consultants. Steve Hogben, Director of Technical and Commercial services for Anchor, said: “With such a large framework stemming from our ambitious plans to further our provision for later living across the country, it was important we sourced the correct experience and expertise for our long term partnerships. We were very impressed by the submissions we received and are looking forward to working with our chosen partners to help deliver Anchor’s development strategy.” Oliver Boundy, Executive Director of Development at Anchor, said: “With housing, care and support for our older population needed more than ever, we are passionate about helping people enjoy later life.” “Anchor is proudly not-for-profit, which means every penny we make is reinvested into our properties and services, building more and innovating for the future so that people can have a home where they love living in later life. Our mission is to create communities that bring people together, encourage neighbourliness and reduce isolation while providing support services that give residents peace of mind.” “Anchor manages 54,000 homes for rent, sale and shared ownership to those aged 55 and over, operating across almost 1,700 sites and serving more than 65,000 residents. Our 10-year plan is to build on that success and help address the gap in service provision for older people in England.” To find out more about the company’s growth strategy and vision for the future, or if you are a landowner, developer or site agent with suitable land then visit: www.anchorhanover.org.uk/professionals/land-acquisition. The full list of all appointed suppliers to the framework include: Lots 1& 2 – Architects: Lot 1 – North: Lot 2 – South: Lots 3 & 4 – Structural Engineers Lot 3 – North: Lot 4 – South: Lots 5 & 6 – Employers Agent/Cost Consultant Lot 5 – North: Lot 6 – North: Lots 7 & 8 – M & E Consultants Lot 7 – North: Lot 8 – South Lot 9 – Principal Designers Lot 9 – National Lot 10 – Planning Consultants Lot 10 – National Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A pair of ageing Salford tower blocks are going ‘green’ as part of a multi-million pound eco-transformation. Housing association Salix Homes has unveiled its ambitious investment plans for neighbouring blocks Greyfriar Court and Whitefriar Court in the Greengate area of Salford. The 14-storey high rise buildings will undergo a £10million refurbishment, making them greener and more energy efficient. The planned improvement work includes external wall and roof insulation, new windows and ventilation; while the façade and balconies will be completely rendered and transformed. An eco-friendly ground source heating system will also be installed, which, combined with the external insulation will improve the thermal efficiency of the building and help reduce energy bills for Salix Homes customers. The state-of-the-art heating system works by harnessing the natural heat from the ground, rather than burning fuel to generate heat. Liam Turner, Executive Director of Assets, Growth and Sustainability at Salix Homes, said: “Salix Homes is committed to creating cleaner, greener homes and communities, so we’re pleased to share with residents our ambitious plans for Greyfriar and Whitefriar Court, which aim to enhance residents’ quality of life and reduce carbon emissions. “This significant investment project will give a new lease of life to these ageing 1960s tower blocks, transforming the properties into desirable, modern homes which are more comfortable and economical to run, while helping to meet our carbon neutral ambitions. “This marks another step forwards towards achieving our sustainability goals and improving the energy efficiency of all our housing stock, which will benefit both our residents and the planet.” Salix Homes, which owns 8,000 homes across Salford, has secured £4million from the government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) to help fund the project, following a successful bid from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) on behalf of social housing providers across Greater Manchester. The SHDF scheme provides financial support to social housing providers and local authorities to undertake energy efficiency and decarbonisation measures. The Government has set a target that all social housing should have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of a ‘C’ rating by 2030, as part of the net zero programme to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions, while Salix Homes has committed to becoming a carbon neutral organisation by 2038. Salix Homes’ partner contractor Casey will carry out the improvement work, which is due to start on site later this year, and is expected to be complete by March 2025. Alan Taylor, Operations Director at Casey, said: “We are pleased to be working in partnership with Salix Homes to deliver the transformation of Greyfriar and Whitefriar Court. The work being undertaken supports our purpose of improving lives and will ensure benefits to the residents living within the blocks. Throughout the project we will also deliver social value initiatives to benefit the local community.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Housing association B3Living has secured a £50 million sustainability-linked loan from Lloyds Bank to build hundreds of new, affordable properties. Its sustainability-linked loan facility will be measured against three KPIs, which will see B3Living receive discounted funding relative to its performance as against agreed targets. The first KPI relates to retrofitting existing stock to ensure the housing association is going above and beyond the current minimum regulations to bring all of its properties up to at least EPC C by 2028. T B3Living supports around 12,000 people in 5,000 homes among communities in Broxbourne and the wider south east Hertfordshire area and is currently rated as ‘Silver’ via the SHIFT sustainability framework (which amalgamates 15 separate ESG KPIs into one overarching score). Its aim is to enhance its SHIFT score year-on-year with the ambition of achieving a stretching SHIFT “Gold” status in 2024, and continuing to target a further numerical uplift in following years. Finally, B3Living aims to build at least 50 energy-efficient, affordable new build homes a year by 2028, of which 70% will be in Broxbourne to help tackle the ongoing shortage of affordable housing in the borough. Alex Shelock, B3Living’s executive director for finance, said: “In this current operating environment of high inflation and interest rates coupled with political and economic uncertainty, organisations like ours have a tough balancing act in terms of protecting financial resilience whilst delivering for our customers and communities. “The transition towards net-zero carbon is a key strategic priority for B3Living, and this type of flexible and incentivised loan is an excellent avenue for us to stretch our ESG ambitions and deliver benefits for existing customers as well as those yet to be housed. It also strengthens a nearly decade-long partnership between Lloyds Bank and B3Living.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Two social landlords joined forces earlier this month to transform the grounds at a supported living scheme in Herefordshire. Platform Housing Group and Stonewater Ltd teamed up with Orphans Press to create a ‘happy to chat’ bench within the communal garden at Newman House in Leominster as well as tidying up the area to provide a better environment and peaceful retreat for the residents to enjoy. The initiative came about as part of a 150th birthday celebration; Orphans Press – a print, publishing, design and web agency based in the town – was established in 1873 to support the Leominster Orphan Homes, founded in 1869 and located at Newman House until its closure in 1951. The home housed 18 destitute children from industrialised parts of the country who had been orphaned. Henry Stanley Newman – founder of the Leominster Orphan Homes and Orphans Press – was determined to make sure that the children felt at home there, providing access to education, training and religious teachings. The event also included the planting of a ceremonial apple tree. Helen Bowden, Director at Orphans Press explained: “We discovered that there used to be an orchard in the garden at Newman House where the children used to pick apples. We decided to commemorate Henry Stanley Newman by planting an apple tree where the orchard used to be.” Newman House is run by Stonewater Ltd; since March 2022, Platform Housing Group has been undertaking repairs on Stonewater homes in the Herefordshire area. Matthew Stock, Grounds Maintenance Delivery Manager at Platform Housing Group said : “We were absolutely delighted to be approached by Orphans Press to undertake such a fabulous project on behalf of Stonewater. The history behind the home is fascinating and being involved with it has really brought it all to life. We hope the residents of Newman House will enjoy their new bench amidst the beautiful grounds.” Helen Holland, Connected Communities Peer Leader, Neighbourhoods, at Stonewater, said: “We’re so thrilled that Stonewater can be part of such a positive and essential initiative. We understand how necessary it can be for people to be able to chat to others, especially given the difficulties we’ve all faced over the last few years. We’re glad to be able to help strengthen the sense of community among new and future residents.” Helen Bowden concluded : “Newman House is such an important part of the history of both Orphans Press and Leominster. We felt it was important to do something really special for our 150th birthday and collaborating with Platform and Stonewater to transform the grounds at Newman House was the perfect way to commemorate Henry Newman and give back to the residents.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
