The latest research by Zero Deposit, the tenancy deposit alternative, has revealed that London remains the most competitive region for letting agents, having seen the largest increase in the number of residential letting agents in the last year, while London letting agents also have the highest average number of current
One the most significant and sustainable urban expansions of Edinburgh in a generation is a step closer to reality following the submission of a major planning application to the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC). West Town Edinburgh Limited, the development consortium headed by Drum Property Group which owns more than
Construction work has started on the Livv Homes first affordable housing scheme in Warrington, Cheshire. The £5.2 million Parkside Place development on Wilderspool Causeway is set to support local people onto the property ladder with 29 apartments for Rent to Buy. Located within a predominately residential area along Wilderspool Causeway,
Agreement highlights new model of delivery and partnership to tackle the housing crisis Sustainable housing developer EDAROTH, (a wholly-owned subsidiary of AtkinsRéalis) has signed a development agreement with Bristol City Council to design and deliver 29 affordable homes – based on a new model created under Bristol’s involvement in the
London’s largest lettings and sales estate agent brand*, Foxtons, has listed the 99th Huf Haus to have been built in the UK, with the property commanding £15,000 per month to rent, although for the right price, it could be up for sale. Huf Haus is a premium German housebuilder that
Passivhaus is a low energy building standard which provides a framework for designing and building, comfortable and energy efficient homes. Adoption of the standard has been gathering pace in recent years, with more private and social housing developers recognising the ability of Passivhaus buildings to reduce fuel bills and decarbonise
In response to the Rightmove statistic finding a 273% jump in sellers coming to the market on Boxing Day, Nathan Emerson CEO Propertymark comments: “Positivity is clearly resonating on the property market even though Christmas is normally a quiet period for the property sector. Rightly so, sellers are clearly not
New research from a leading construction professional body shows a large proportion of people would not buy a newly built property due to concerns over quality. The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has published its ‘New Build Housing: How regulation can improve the consumer journey report. It explores public perceptions
Thousands of much needed homes for the West Midlands are being lost and delayed due to late plan-making, according to a new report from planning and development consultancy Lichfields. The ‘Perfect Storm’ Insight report considers what impacts the pace of change in the planning system has had on plan-making in
Energy and technology group Octopus Energy has joined forces with The Hill Group, the award-winning five-star housebuilder and Clarion Housing Group, the largest social landlord in the country, in a landmark strategic partnership to revolutionise sustainable living in the UK. Hill and Octopus Energy are developing the nation’s most extensive
The latest research by Zero Deposit, the tenancy deposit alternative, has revealed that London remains the most competitive region for letting agents, having seen the largest increase in the number of residential letting agents in the last year, while London letting agents also have the highest average number of current rental listings on the books versus every other region of Britain. Zero Deposit analysed the number of residential letting agents across each region of Britain*, before looking at current rental market stock levels in each region* to determine where letting agents are having the busiest start to 2024 when it comes to available rental market stock. The research shows that there are some 24,237 residential letting agents operating across Britain today. This number has increased by 3% year on year, with 601 more letting agents operating across the market versus January last year. With 132,723 rental properties currently listed for rent, that equates to an average of five available properties per letting agent. London, along with Wales, has seen the largest increase in letting agent numbers, up 4% year on year. However, this 4% increase is far greater in the capital, where it equates to an additional 232 letting agents, versus an increase of just 36 in Wales. As a result, London remains the most competitive market for letting agents, with a total of 6,189 in business across the capital, by far the most of any region, with the South East sitting second with 3,967. However, the research by Zero Deposit suggests that the London rental market is most in need of this year on year boost to letting agent numbers. There are currently almost 50,000 homes listed for rent across the capital, with again just the South East coming close to this level of rental market stock with 20,574 current listings. As a result, the figures from Zero Deposit show that each of London’s 6,189 residential letting agents currently hold an average of eight available rental properties in the current market. The East Midlands sits second in this respect, with the average agent currently listing seven rental properties, with the West Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber following with six and the South East completing the top 10 with five. Sam Reynolds, CEO of Zero Deposit commented: “Demand for rental homes remains high and we’ve seen the number of letting agents operating across Britain increase across the board in order to help service this demand. London certainly remains the heart of the lettings market in this respect, with the capital not only home to the largest number of letting agents, but having also seen the largest increase in transaction numbers. London’s letting agents have also had the busiest start to the year, currently listing the highest average number of available rental properties per agent of all regions of Britain. Of course, this doesn’t take into account the resource requirements related to the ongoing management of these rental properties and they remain a vital cog in the machine of the nation’s rental market.” Data tables and sources: – Data tables and sources can be viewed online, here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
One the most significant and sustainable urban expansions of Edinburgh in a generation is a step closer to reality following the submission of a major planning application to the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC). West Town Edinburgh Limited, the development consortium headed by Drum Property Group which owns more than 200-acres of prime development land to the west of Edinburgh, has unveiled ambitious proposals for West Town, a new homes-led ‘twenty-minute’ neighbourhood set to transform Scotland’s capital. The 205-acre West Town site – located between Ingliston Park and Ride and the Gogar Roundabout at the western gateway of Edinburgh – is regarded as one of the most strategically important large development areas in the UK. The £2-billion project is set to become the biggest, single homes-led development in Edinburgh in modern times, significantly addressing the city’s well publicised ‘housing emergency’ whilst providing an outstanding quality of life in a brand-new, sustainable mixed-use community. Development proposals follow guidelines set out by CEC’s City Plan 2030 which identifies the area as having the potential to become a vibrant, high-density city extension with a capacity for 7,000 homes – along with the necessary employment, commercial, leisure and community facilities required for a 20-minute neighbourhood. Proposed facilities include schools, medical provision, civic and community space as well as bars, restaurants, cafes, retail and other commercial spaces. There are plans for 27 acres of accessible green space – including a large 5.5-acre central park, several ‘pocket’ parks and a ‘wildlife’ corridor, criss-crossed by a network of cycle, running and walking tracks. The Edinburgh Tram route runs directly through the site and a new tram stop will be created to ensure the whole development has access to quick and efficient public transport. The proposals for West Town are consistent with the West Edinburgh Placemaking Framework, approved by CEC in December 2023 and align with the ambitions of the Scottish Government’s National Planning Framework 4, which was approved in February 2023. West Town Edinburgh was formed in April 2021 by Drum Property Group to progress development of the site. Drum is currently delivering a variety of transformative mixed-use projects across Scotland, including the award-winning Buchanan Wharf and Candleriggs Square developments in Glasgow. Welcoming the planning application submission, Graeme Bone, Drum’s Group Managing Director said: “We now have the opportunity to make West Town an exemplar, sustainable 20-minute neighbourhood on a par with the best new developments taking place across the UK and Europe. “This planning application is a significant milestone in realising the ambition we share with the council both for the local area and for the city, further strengthening the long-term collaborative process that is set to deliver a major transformation of the west of Edinburgh. The amount of space on the site combined with its superb location allows for a natural extension for the city providing 7000 mixed-tenure homes and new jobs in a new 20-minute neighbourhood. West Town has direct access to some of the best public transport in Scotland – the tram line travels through the site and there are integrated rail, cycle and road connections, creating a strategic gateway to Edinburgh. He added: “Drum has a proven track record of delivering high quality large-scale communities across Scotland and our ambition for the area matches that of the proposed Edinburgh City Plan 2030. We look forward to continuing to work with the Council to advance our shared vision to create a new, sustainable urban quarter for the city.” Subject to the ongoing development of the delivery strategy – as set out by the joint Memorandum of Understanding between West Town Edinburgh Ltd and CEC, the approval of City Plan 2030, and in accordance with all relevant council policies and appropriate planning consents – it is hoped that work will start on site before the end of 2024, with the first phase of homes and community amenity being ready for occupation from early 2026. The West Town planning application has been submitted following a successful 12-month local consultation programme which included two online and one public consultation events, resulting in more than 2000 visits to the West Town website. For more information on West Town, visit www.west-town-edinburgh.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction work has started on the Livv Homes first affordable housing scheme in Warrington, Cheshire. The £5.2 million Parkside Place development on Wilderspool Causeway is set to support local people onto the property ladder with 29 apartments for Rent to Buy. Located within a predominately residential area along Wilderspool Causeway, the five-storey contemporary apartment block will comprise 21 one-bedroom apartments and eight two-bedroom apartments. There will also be 32 parking spaces, associated landscaping, cycle and refuse storage. Livv has secured grant funding from Homes England to support the delivery of the scheme in Warrington. Northwest construction company, PGS Projects, has been appointed principal contractor. Yvonne Westhead-Fyles, Director of Development, Growth and Sales at Livv Housing Group, said: “We’re excited to be bringing Parkside Place to Warrington – our first development in the area. With house prices in Warrington averaging over £250,000 and the town experiencing significant population growth, many first-time buyers are finding it difficult to get onto the property ladder. “Parkside Place will bring high quality and affordable new homes to meet local housing need, enhancing the sustainability of the neighbourhood and community, whilst providing a pathway to home ownership through Rent to Buy. “We’re aiming to provide 1,000 new homes over the next three years across the Liverpool City Region, Warrington and West Lancashire. We’re building in places where we can make the greatest impact and Parkside Place will contribute to creating a thriving community, whilst establishing our presence in Warrington. We’re delighted to be here.” The scheme is utilising Modern Methods of Construction, such as structural insulated panels (SIPS). Graeme Spencer, Managing Director at PGS, commented: “Building new homes is essential to meet the growing demand for affordable housing in the UK and we are thrilled to be working with Livv on Parkside Place. “At the heart of our new construction project is a commitment to sustainability. We are using the latest technology and materials to ensure that our homes are energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. “We are proud to be part of this exciting project and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the community. Working in partnership with Livv, together we are creating a better future for everyone.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Agreement highlights new model of delivery and partnership to tackle the housing crisis Sustainable housing developer EDAROTH, (a wholly-owned subsidiary of AtkinsRéalis) has signed a development agreement with Bristol City Council to design and deliver 29 affordable homes – based on a new model created under Bristol’s involvement in the UN Climate Smart Cities challenge. The new homes will be a mix of 13 houses and 16 apartments and will be constructed using offsite manufacturing methods to create low energy-use, net zero homes – which will provide additional capacity for the housing market and directly tackle the housing crisis. Subject to planning approvals, they will be developed at six sites* across Bristol on under-utilised land owned by the city council, including brownfield which is often overlooked by large-scale housing developers, but can be adapted/repurposed to unlock new space for communities. Central to the development agreement are the sustainable construction methods that are used by EDAROTH including: Councillor Tom Renhard, Cabinet Member for Housing Delivery and Homelessness at Bristol City Council, said: “We are thrilled that our collaboration with the UN Habitat for the Climate Smart Cities Challenge is set to deliver 29 social rent zero carbon council homes. “This development of much needed affordable homes will add to the 12,500 new homes already completed in the city between 2016 and 2023. The new homes will help people in housing need, adding to the 474 new affordable homes built in Bristol in 2021/22. “This wider collaboration is not just about the great homes that will be built, but it is helping us unlock small parcels of underutilised council land that have often been considered too complex or expensive to develop for council housing. “We remain ambitious to see even more affordable housing built in our city and this new approach to unlock these small brownfield sites will help us do that whilst also protecting our vital green spaces.” Mark Powell, Managing Director at EDAROTH (an acronym for Everyone Deserves a Roof Over Their Head), added: “Entering into a development agreement with Bristol City Council underlines their position as a forward-thinking local authority which places value in sustainable housing and infrastructure. “Bristol, in common with the rest of the country, faces a huge demand for affordable homes. This scheme is one part of the solution which not only supports the ambition to meet that demand, but also aims to enhance communities by transforming under-used sites to create thriving places to live. “The agreement is a really important step in this project which demonstrates the city council’s confidence in the proposals we’ve put forward and their determination to deliver low carbon, low-energy-use homes for the community.” The agreement is based on an award-winning approach developed by the city council, and the One City team, with partners including the Housing Festival, AtkinsRéalis and EDAROTH, as one of four winning projects in the UN Habitat Climate Smart Cities Challenge in 2022. Part of the challenge involved the creation of a demonstrator scheme that could prove how aggregating small sites for development, and overcoming systemic barriers, could unlock previously unviable sites to deliver truly affordable social housing. The new approach identifies small parcels of land for development such as brownfield or under-used garage sites, within existing residential areas, which is more effective in creating social value and cohesion as it enables those existing communities to thrive. Zoe Metcalfe, Client Director for Connected Thriving Places, AtkinsRéalis who led on the competition application process for AtkinsRéalis, said: “Winning the UN Smart Cities Challenge as the Bristol Thriving Places team enabled us to explore viable sites for development and devise this approach around them. “The wisdom of the EDAROTH development team has been instrumental in translating theory into reality. The Housing Festival boldly led the systems-led change to disrupt the evaluation model to deliver social value with Bristol City Council facilitating innovation. An exemplar of the power of collective action through trusted partnerships. “It really shows how the principle of aggregating and clustering sites in this way can help to unlock value and achieve the economies of scale that are central to the offsite manufacturing approach which EDAROTH delivers, and we’re thrilled that Bristol City Council has chosen to turn those potential benefits into a reality through this new development agreement.” A public engagement process has been launched, with information packs and questionnaires issued to residents near to the development sites to provide feedback. The development agreement with Bristol City Council follows the recent announcement that EDAROTH has been given the green light to provide state-of-the-art, sustainable homes in Surrey, after Raven Housing Trust was granted planning permission for its latest housing scheme. The scheme in Surrey is the latest in a number of new contracts across southeast England for EDAROTH, which is bringing a fresh approach to the housing crisis by utilising brownfield and former industrial land to release genuine social and economic value from often overlooked assets. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
London’s largest lettings and sales estate agent brand*, Foxtons, has listed the 99th Huf Haus to have been built in the UK, with the property commanding £15,000 per month to rent, although for the right price, it could be up for sale. Huf Haus is a premium German housebuilder that creates modular, contemporary style homes focussed around timber beams and floor to ceiling glass. The homes, that are factory produced before being delivered to site, are highly energy efficient both in design and due to their utilisation of the latest renewable energy technologies. Demand for Huf Haus homes in the UK exploded following an episode of Grand Designs back in 2004 and while it’s thought that there are over 300 now found across the UK, only around 20 to 30 of the 150 homes produced each year make it to UK shores. The Huf Haus listed by Foxtons was the 99th to have been built in the UK back in 2007. The stunning 455 sq m property is set within a secluded one acre plot in South Buckinghamshire and boasts five bedrooms, a cinema room, summer house and fully covered outdoor BBQ area. There’s ample off street parking, as well as a double garage and the signature floor to ceiling windows that are synonymous with the Huf Haus style, providing an abundance of natural light and unhindered views of the stunning countryside surroundings. The property is currently on the market to rent, with an asking rent of £15,000 per month. However, the owners have said that for the right price, they would consider selling the property, providing potential buyers and Huf Haus enthusiasts an opportunity to join a prestigious and exclusive segment of homeowners. You can see the property listing at https://www.foxtons.co.uk/properties-to-rent/sl2/chpk4802732 Foxtons CEO, Guy Gittins, commented: “Despite a boom in popularity, the number of Huf Haus homes found across the UK is still slim and this makes them very sought after amongst a certain segment of homebuyers. Besides the obvious benefits such as being highly energy efficient, they are visually stunning properties and our latest listing is certainly no different. While the property is currently listed to rent, there may be an opportunity for the right buyer to secure their own slice of Huf Haus history and we’re incredibly proud to be the agent trusted with such a unique home entering the market.” Sources *Foxton’s is London’s No.1 estate agency brand based on TwentyCI data, H1 2023 v H1 2022 market share and market share growth of New Instructions at a brand level. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Passivhaus is a low energy building standard which provides a framework for designing and building, comfortable and energy efficient homes. Adoption of the standard has been gathering pace in recent years, with more private and social housing developers recognising the ability of Passivhaus buildings to reduce fuel bills and decarbonise the built environment. With awareness of climate change gaining momentum, and more local authorities declaring climate emergencies and net zero targets, Passivhaus is becoming an increasingly vital tool for architects. Here, Adam Vaughan, Director and Certified Passivhaus Designer at JDDK Architects, explores how Passivhaus buildings work to push the boundaries of design, and make the built environment more sustainable. How does it work? Passivhaus addresses the ‘performance gap’ often seen in traditional builds, through a combination of accurate energy modelling, robust detailing and high-quality construction. Passivhaus Designers use a Passivhaus Planning Package (PHPP) to accurately model the performance of buildings, and to demonstrate that the Passivhaus criteria are met. There are several factors that need to be considered to deliver the Passivhaus standard cost effectively. What are the key principles of Passivhaus design? Orientation: One of the early design considerations is the orientation of the building. Passivhaus principles require architects to think about the path of the sun across a site to maximise solar gain, as well as what shade is needed in the warmer months. Looking through this lens, architects often place living rooms with bigger windows on the south elevation to make the most of any passive solar gain from the low winter sun and provide external shading to prevent overheating in summer. Form factor: The next consideration is form factor which is a measure of how compact a building is. Heat is lost from external walls, roofs, and floors, and more compact buildings have relatively lower heat loss areas. Terraces and apartment blocks can often have a lower ‘form factor’ which means we can reduce how much extra insulation is needed. Optimising a building’s orientation and form factor early in the design process can help to deliver Passivhaus cost effectively. Air tightness and ventilation: The airtight building envelope of a Passivhaus means that heat loss is minimised, and cold draughts are avoided. To further reduce energy use, Passivhaus buildings always have a ventilation unit (MVHR) to provide a constant supply of fresh air and to recover heat from exhaust air. This system ensures excellent indoor air quality, and because the (triple glazed) windows don’t need to be opened for fresh air, Passivhaus homes are typically quieter too Quality assurance: Many people don’t realise that Passivhaus is also a quality standard. Projects are independently certified, and there is a rigorous checking process which continues through the design and construction phases. What are the challenges? One of the main challenges when designing a Passivhaus building is meeting the high standards. Due to the focus on energy efficiency, a lot of consideration goes into minimising the energy lost through the junctions between two parts of the building fabric called thermal bridges. Once the heat loss from these thermal bridges is added together, this can significantly impact the energy efficiency of a building. However, Certified Passivhaus Designers can carry out thermal bridge calculations using thermal bridge modelling software to help mitigate the impacts. This isn’t just useful for Passivhaus projects either – building regulations now require thermal bridges to be modelled, albeit to a lower standard. A Passivhaus project requires more ‘upfront’ design, with key decisions made earlier in the process than many designers are used to. This means that stakeholders in the project team who provide technical input, like Engineers and Architectural Technicians, will likely need to be involved at an early stage. It’s also vital to appoint and liaise with the Passivhaus Certifier as soon as possible. What impact will it have? The adoption of the Passivhaus standard across the built environment will play a key role in reducing carbon emissions from building stock, including from existing buildings where the Passivhaus Retrofit (EnerPhit) standard is applied. Occupants will benefit from excellent levels of thermal comfort and indoor air quality, alongside lower fuel bills. Landlords will also benefit from higher quality buildings with better longevity. Passivhaus, and the principles it promotes, offers a tried and tested solution to some of the challenges our society is currently facing. To learn more about the impact of Passivhaus design, watch this video or read the latest edition of Millmount News. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
In response to the Rightmove statistic finding a 273% jump in sellers coming to the market on Boxing Day, Nathan Emerson CEO Propertymark comments: “Positivity is clearly resonating on the property market even though Christmas is normally a quiet period for the property sector. Rightly so, sellers are clearly not deterred by the latest inflation figures or interest rates as optimistic signs start to emerge and are demonstrating confidence in the market. This is the positive type of news that Propertymark hopes to see more of throughout 2024.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
New research from a leading construction professional body shows a large proportion of people would not buy a newly built property due to concerns over quality. The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has published its ‘New Build Housing: How regulation can improve the consumer journey report. It explores public perceptions of new build homes along with levels of awareness of the standards housebuilders must adhere to and where to turn for help when they’re not met. Its findings highlight how housebuilders need to do more to demonstrate quality to potential buyers when marketing new homes. It also includes results from a consumer survey of 2,000 UK adults* which found that 55% believe older homes are of better quality than newbuilds compared to 21% who think new builds are better. Almost a third of survey respondents (32%) chose to describe new build housing as ‘poor-quality’. The report is accompanied by a guide for anyone considering buying a new build home which informs them of the protections they have as well as what they can do to identify issues in their home. CIOB says in the midst of a housing crisis, where the choice of homes can be limited, its important consumers understand instances of poor-quality new builds are less common and have an awareness of the measures in place to hold housebuilders to account if they do experience problems. They also recommend anyone buying a new build property enlists the services of a professional snagging company to identify defects, many of which aren’t visible to the untrained eye, which can then be flagged to the developer for resolution. David Parry, CIOB’s parliamentary & public affairs officer and author of the report, says although minor snagging with new builds is commonplace, the overall quality of new builds has improved in recent years. “Our research shows the majority view of new build homes is that they’re of low quality and this puts many people off from considering buying one,” said Parry. “However, the reality is that quality has improved, and new builds are for example generally much more energy efficient than older homes as must adhere to more stringent regulations such as the Future Homes Standard, so have lots of positives. “Our report is designed to provide consumers with reassurance that the majority of housebuilders are signed up to a very clearly defined and high set of standards while, for those who do encounter issues, there is an ombudsman to intervene if a housebuilder fails to meet those standards and doesn’t resolve problems adequately.” CIOB’s survey also shows there is a lack of trust in housebuilders to build new homes to a high standard with around 33% of respondents indicating they have a ‘low level of trust’ and 63% saying they are very or somewhat concerned about potential issues with new build housing. CIOB says housebuilders have a leading role to play in rebuilding consumer confidence by better promoting the standards they are committed to and providing buyers with clear information on how they are regulated. The New Homes Quality Board (NHQB) is an independent body formed by Government in 2021 to ensure consistently high standards of quality and service are met by housebuilders. Currently registration with the NHQB is not mandatory, although around 80% are registered and the number is increasing all the time. CIOB is calling on Government to undertake a review of the NHQB to understand whether registration should now become mandatory for all housebuilders. In addition, the New Homes Ombudsman (NHO) can investigate situations where a customer is not satisfied with the resolution set out by their housebuilder on a matter of quality, information or customer service. Parry adds: “According to our survey only 13% of people would go to the New Homes Quality Board if they had a problem with a new build home. For those who have purchased one in the last year, that figure went up a fraction to 18% so clearly awareness of the body is very low despite most buyers being given information about them during the purchase process. A wider consumer awareness campaign would be a sensible way to increase awareness and give prospective buyers the confidence to consider a newly built property.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Thousands of much needed homes for the West Midlands are being lost and delayed due to late plan-making, according to a new report from planning and development consultancy Lichfields. The ‘Perfect Storm’ Insight report considers what impacts the pace of change in the planning system has had on plan-making in the West Midlands, highlighting the impact on the future delivery of homes across one of the biggest and most important urban areas in the country. Lifting the lid on the current situation, the report identifies a ‘perfect storm’ created by fundamental economic challenges and a plan-led system, which has been tampered with too much in the last three years and that now urgently needs certainty. The report finds that while some local planning authorities have met their needs, at least seven LPAs are identified as likely to fail to meet their housing needs in the five-year period 2020-2025. This reflects around 16,500 homes being lost over the same period and equates to the under-delivery of new homes for over 40,000 people in the West Midlands region alone. Lichfields says the impact of all the ‘lost’ housing delivery in the region is having a severe economic impact; they have calculated that in excess of £2.5bn capital investment has been lost over the 2020 to 2025 period, with 7,600 direct FTE and more than 8,000 indirect FTE jobs also lost annually on top of losses of £1.4bn GVA (gross value added) per annum. It also found that some 55,000 houses on draft-allocated housing land, and 730 ha of draft-allocated employment land, are being held up from delivery across the region as a result of delayed Local Plans, with the impact of this being that the delivery of homes for over 130,000 people and as high as 85,000 jobs have been delayed by years. (pictured) Myles Wild-Smith, associate director at Lichfields’ Birmingham office and co-author of the report, believes these figures make for stark reading and highlight the pressing need for much greater stability and confidence in the planning-making process. “Our study into the West Midlands housing sector offers a clear insight into the current market situation and state of plan-making,” he said. “The region is one of the most dynamic, best performing parts of the country with strong economic growth. It’s also an attractive place to live and work but it’s evident it’s also failing to realise its full potential, hampered by a sluggish approach to plan-making and consequently housing and employment land delivery. “It’s clear LPAs want certainty in the plan-making system, with many LPAs officially or unofficially delaying their Local Plan Reviews as a result of anticipated changes to national planning policy. In failing to properly plan through a plan-led system, the housing and employment sectors in certain areas are being detrimentally affected despite the high demand for quality housing and employment land in places where people want to live, build communities and work.” The report highlights missed opportunities for the West Midlands to deliver homes and jobs for local people in the face of delayed plan-making. Had more up-to-date plans been in place, it remains questionable whether the wider impact on housing delivery would have been so acute, added Myles Wild-Smith, given there would have been a greater supply to begin with, and the impact of delays or reduced delivery would have been less pronounced. The report echoes the critical need for certainty within the planning-making process, to enable LPAs to feel confident in investing significant time and resources in preparing local plans. “Certainty comes from investing in a planning system that grapples with long term growth, generating prosperity and meeting local housing and employment needs through a plan-led system,” Alex Davies, who co-authored the report, believes. “Until we have calmer seas, the plan-making world will continue to be choppy – and the West Midlands will be unable to reach its full economic and development potential. Indeed, for a region that prides itself on economic achievement and growth aspirations, a suite of up-to-date plans is now paramount.” The ‘Perfect Storm’ Insight report is based on analysis of 18 LPAs across the West Midlands who are, or at least should be, preparing plans. It found that only six draft plans were sufficiently advanced to contain draft housing and employment land allocations which are now delayed by at least two years and at least seven LPAs are identified as likely to fail to meet their housing needs in the five-year period 2020-2025. The report is available at https://lichfields.uk/content/insights/a-perfect-storm Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Energy and technology group Octopus Energy has joined forces with The Hill Group, the award-winning five-star housebuilder and Clarion Housing Group, the largest social landlord in the country, in a landmark strategic partnership to revolutionise sustainable living in the UK. Hill and Octopus Energy are developing the nation’s most extensive ‘Zero Bills’ housing development, comprising 89 meticulously designed homes at Hollymead Square in Newport, Essex. Residents will pay no energy bills for a minimum of five years, guaranteed. Of the 89 total, 64 will be sold on the open market. The remaining 25 will be made available for affordable rent and shared ownership by Clarion Housing Group, the UK’s largest social housing provider. These will be the first completed ‘Zero Bills’ homes under affordable rent. ‘Zero Bills’ is a world-first smart proposition that allows customers to move into homes which are fully kitted out with green energy technology and with no energy bills. Following the success of a ‘Zero Bills’ pilot in Essex, Octopus Energy has now accredited close to 1,000 homes through contracts with other prominent developers. Accredited plots span affordable, social, and private rent, as well as private and shared ownership. Situated in an idyllic village location, this groundbreaking project at Hollymead Square encompasses an attractive collection of two to five-bedroom houses and two-bedroom bungalows. Each property at Hollymead Square will be equipped with cutting-edge low-carbon technology, including solar panels, high-quality insulation, heat pumps, and home storage batteries. Designed to exceed the energy requirements for each property, this high level of home energy technology is seamlessly integrated and optimised by Octopus’ advanced tech platform, Kraken, to result in zero bills for homeowners. Octopus Energy’s ambitious goal of delivering 50,000 ‘Zero Bills’ homes across the UK and beyond by 2025 aligns with Hill’s strategic goal to deliver net-zero carbon homes by 2030. Hollymead Square is the first opportunity for the partners to work together to develop and provide net-zero housing and pioneer the way forward for a greener, more sustainable future. Construction of the new homes is underway, and the sales launch is due to take place on 20th January, with the first homes expected to complete in Spring 2024. Michael Cottrell, Zero Bills Homes Director at Octopus Energy, comments: “This partnership with The Hill Group is the first giant leap in transforming the way we live in our homes and consume energy. This will also mark both the biggest ‘Zero Bills’ development in the UK and the first with affordable rent options with Clarion. This partnership pioneers a future where sustainable living is the standard for everybody, no matter their situation.” Greg Hill, Deputy Chief Executive at The Hill Group, says, “We are excited to be working in partnership with Octopus Energy to provide our customers with the largest residential ‘Zero Bills’ development in the UK. The new homes at Hollymead Square in Newport will provide a blueprint for future sustainable housing and mark the start of our fruitful strategic partnership to deliver new homes complete with cutting-edge low-carbon technology that enable zero energy bills.” Richard Cook, Group Director of Development at Clarion Housing Group, says, “We are thrilled to be partnering with Octopus Energy and Hill Group on such an innovative project. It’s crucial that we cut emissions and cut bills for homes of all tenures. I am proud that Clarion residents will be among the first to benefit from a Zero Bills home. To find out more information about the ‘Zero Bills’ homes available at Hollymead Square, please contact Hill at 0808 168 7900 or visit www.hill.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
