Liverpool Waters has welcomed its newest residential development, Lighthaus, a 31-storey Build-to-Rent (BTR) tower in Princes Dock. Developed by Vermont, alongside Peel Waters, X1 Developments, and Starlight Investments, the 278-home project is set to welcome its first residents later this month. The development offers a mix of studio, one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, complemented by a sky lounge with panoramic views of Liverpool and the River Mersey, a fitness centre, co-working spaces, a residents’ lounge, and a 24-hour concierge service. Lighthaus has been designed with modern renting in mind, providing professionally managed, high-quality accommodation with convenient access to Liverpool’s iconic waterfront and city attractions. In addition to addressing the city’s demand for rental homes, the project has created employment and training opportunities for local residents throughout construction. Positions included permanent roles, apprenticeships, and work experience placements via the City of Liverpool Construction Academy, located within Liverpool Waters. The completion of Lighthaus marks another milestone in the ongoing Liverpool Waters masterplan, the largest urban regeneration initiative in the city’s history. Led by Peel Waters, the scheme is set to deliver thousands of new homes along with significant commercial and leisure space, reinforcing Liverpool’s position as a major northern growth centre. Princes Dock, where Lighthaus is located, now boasts over 1,000 completed homes, along with Liverpool Cruise Port, the Isle of Man Ferry terminal, and attractions such as the Wyld Sauna, the UK’s first public floating sauna. The area has also been selected as the site for the UK’s first floating Padel tennis courts, due to open in spring 2026. Speaking on the project’s completion, Chris Capes, Liverpool Waters Development Director at Peel Waters, said: “This achievement reflects our long-standing partnership between Peel Waters with X1 Developments and Vermont Construction, whose expertise has been instrumental in delivering exceptional results. Beyond creating a stunning new residential tower, this development has generated a fantastic pipeline of opportunities for local people throughout the build; from full-time employment to apprenticeships and placements for students at the onsite City of Liverpool Construction Academy. “Lighthaus demonstrates the strong appeal of Liverpool Waters as a destination for international investors, reinforcing the confidence in our vision and we’re only just getting started. With more residential developments, new public spaces, and vibrant amenities on the horizon, Liverpool Waters is shaping up to be one of the most exciting waterfront communities in the UK.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Habiko, the new affordable housing partnership between Muse, Homes England and Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC), has unveiled its first development sites – marking the start of a £1bn programme to deliver 3,000 high-quality, low-carbon rental homes across the UK. The first two projects, located in Chester and Warrington, will together provide 590 homes designed to set new standards for affordable, energy-efficient living. In Chester, plans are being drawn up for around 350 homes on land at Charterhall Drive, adjacent to the city’s railway station. The scheme, designed by architects shedkm, will be submitted for planning later this year. It forms a key part of Chester’s 15-year regeneration strategy, supporting the city’s economic revival while enhancing connectivity and community life around its historic core. In Warrington, Habiko is partnering with AHR Architects to deliver approximately 240 apartments on a site between Academy Street and Mersey Street, close to the Times Square district. The project aims to create a vibrant, sustainable community in the heart of the town centre, contributing to ongoing regeneration in the area. Both developments will prioritise affordability and sustainability. A minimum of 75 per cent of the homes across the two sites will be offered at affordable rent, with the potential for some schemes to reach 100 per cent. Discounted Market Rents will be set at least 20 per cent below local market levels, ensuring accessibility for a wide range of residents. All homes will be forward funded by PIC, reflecting the partnership’s commitment to long-term investment in socially responsible housing. Lisa Gledhill, managing director of national partnerships at Muse, said: “Chester and Warrington are great places to kickstart Habiko’s build programme. These locations reflect our ambition to deliver high-quality, low-carbon homes that meet local needs and create lasting community value.” Hayley Rees, managing director of PIC Capital, added: “Following a successful launch of Habiko, announcing these first two projects emphasises our focus on purpose – delivering low carbon, low energy affordable homes for rent at pace.” With work now underway on the initial sites, Habiko’s launch signals a major step forward in tackling the UK’s affordable housing shortage while setting a benchmark for sustainable development. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Watkin Jones has secured planning permission for a major mixed-use development in Chesser, to the west of Edinburgh city centre, following approval from Scottish ministers. The project will deliver 779 new homes in total, comprising 100 affordable apartments, 293 build-to-rent (BTR) homes, and 406 purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) bedrooms. Initially approved by the City of Edinburgh Council’s development management sub-committee in December 2022, the application was called in by the Scottish Government in February 2023 for further consideration of noise-related issues. After a detailed review, ministers have now granted consent subject to several planning conditions. The Chesser site includes a series of listed buildings that once formed part of an agricultural market established in the early twentieth century. Many of these structures have fallen into disrepair and now require substantial investment. Working closely with the City of Edinburgh Council and Historic Environment Scotland, Watkin Jones has developed plans that retain and restore key heritage features, creating a publicly accessible ‘Heritage Square’ at the heart of the scheme. Sustainability has been placed at the centre of the project, which is targeting a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating. The development will incorporate air source heat pumps and photovoltaic solar panels to reduce carbon emissions. Discussions are also under way with a local registered provider to manage the affordable housing once the project is complete. Watkin Jones planning director Iain Smith said the approval marks an important milestone for the city. “Securing approval from Scottish ministers for this landmark regeneration project in Chesser is another step in addressing the city’s housing shortage,” he said. “Following the Scottish Government’s declaration of a national housing emergency in 2024, our new development helps to meet Edinburgh’s housing needs across multiple tenures by delivering high-quality homes in a highly accessible location. “We are not only relieving pressure on the city’s housing market but also contributing to a more sustainable city. Importantly, the development will also protect the most important elements of historic buildings for future generations and ensure the public has access to Heritage Square for years to come.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Hundreds of new homes are set to be delivered at one of North East England’s biggest new residential developments after three housebuilders signed up to take the project forward. North East development firm Banks Property, supported by independent North East property consultants and land agent youngsRPS, secured outline planning permission for the Kingston Village site last year, which will see over 800 new family homes being built on a 49-hectare site to the north west of Newcastle, including around 120 affordable homes. Since then, Banks Property and youngsRPS have been working to identify the housebuilders that will deliver Kingston Village – and now, Miller Homes, Stonebridge Homes and Banks Homes have all signed up to the project. The three housebuilders will also build the affordable homes element of the project before a registered social housing provider takes them on. The Kingston Village development, which was allocated for housing in the 2015 Newcastle & Gateshead Core Strategy and Urban Core Plan, will also feature a range of important community assets, including a new primary school, a local shop and cafe, allotments, a village green and substantial amounts of public open space. It will see a £178m investment being made in the North East economy, with hundreds of people being employed both in building the new homes and in the development’s supply chain. A wide range of contract tenders will be made available to regional suppliers through the project’s construction period. A network of public footpaths and cycle ways, including links to the Newcastle Great Park and other nearby communities, will also be put in place, while a ten per cent Biodiversity Net Gain will be delivered through the project and significant improvements will be made to the local road network, public transport links and wildlife habitats. Full details of all aspects of the scheme are now being finalised, with infrastructure work scheduled to start on site early next year.  The first new homes are then expected to be available for sale in 2027. Russ Hall, managing director at Banks Property and Banks Homes, says: “Our vision is for Kingston Village to be an outstanding, vibrant community which will integrate successfully into the west of Newcastle. “Confirming the housebuilders who will help to create Kingston Village is a major milestone in its development, with the new assets that will be delivered alongside their homes being central to the creation of this inclusive, sustainable new community. “The importance of increasing the UK’s supply of high-quality homes, both to ensure people have the housing options they need in the places they want to live and to support the wider UK economy’s future growth, has never been clearer, and we’re proud to be part of a project that will have a significant impact on Newcastle and the wider North East in this respect. “When Graeme Bruce at youngsRPS first identified the site’s potential and introduced it to us, it sparked a collaboration which has since secured planning permission, attracted leading housebuilders and paved the way for one of the region’s most important housing schemes.” Graeme Bruce, managing director at youngsRPS, adds: “This is arguably the biggest single residential land sale in the North East in recent times. The sheer scale of the site, coupled with the intense interest it generated from both local and national developers, underlines its significance. “Bringing this project to completion has been the largest development sale I’ve handled in my career and one of the most professionally rewarding.” Ryan Lincoln, regional managing director at Miller Homes, said: “This represents one of the most significant and sought-after development opportunities in the North East and we’re proud to be part of the select group of developers to deliver it. “Set in a fantastic location, it will offer an exceptional place to call home – combining high-quality housing alongside well designed local facilities, supporting the creation of a vibrant and sustainable new community.” Steve Errington, managing director at Stonebridge Homes, adds: “Kingston Village is the largest project in Stonebridge Homes’ history, and we are proud to be delivering 354 of its new homes. Like in all our work, our focus will be on building premium, sustainable communities that will stand the test of time. “By combining good design and energy-efficient infrastructure, we’re creating homes that are environmentally responsible and part of a place where families can truly belong. We’re excited to bring this landmark development to life for Newcastle and the wider region.” For further information on the Kingston Village development, please visit  https://www.banksgroup.co.uk/projects/kingston-village/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals