A development of new affordable homes in Pelton, North Durham, has been commended by local MP, for providing much-needed housing for local people. Luke Akehurst MP visited the new Roseberry Meadows development with affordable housing developer Karbon Homes to see progress being made on the 104 homes, a project he
Insulation specialist Actis has welcomed the £39 billion affordable housing investment announced in this week’s government spending review – but reiterates that offsite construction and training more builders will be key to the delivery of such homes over the coming decade. Actis is a long-time champion of tackling the housing
NFRC (The National Federation of Roofing Contractors) welcomes the government’s announcements in its Spending Review, particularly the commitment to significantly increase funding for the Affordable Homes Programme. The intention to unlock greater private investment in housebuilding through Homes England is also a positive step, provided it is implemented effectively. The
By Tim Foreman, Managing Director of Land and New Homes, LRG: The additional funding for affordable housing is very welcome especially as the demand for affordable housing, and cost of building it, continues to increase. However, delivery of affordable housing would benefit from addressing a wider range of types and
Plans to deliver 127 new homes at Castleton Grange in Eye have been given the green light, as Mid Suffolk District Council’s planning committee approved Phase 2 of the development this week. The homes will be delivered by Persimmon Homes Suffolk and are designed to be zero carbon-ready, aligning with
PfP Thrive, part of Places for People, has announced partnerships with the UK’s leading housing associations to deliver bespoke training programmes designed to address the critical skills shortage in the housing and construction sectors. With demand for skilled workers at an all-time high, PfP Thrive is delivering tailored and comprehensive
Construction company Hobson & Porter has won a major decarbonisation and stock condition works contract with East Riding of Yorkshire Council, which will see the firm install the latest sustainable technology and refurbish hundreds of homes and buildings each year. The work will be worth approximately £15million over a four-year
Manchester City Council is set to enter into a landmark partnership with the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF) to deliver hundreds of genuinely affordable homes as part of plans to build 1,600 more homes in the coming years. GMPF has been selected, through a competitive process, as the investment partner
Developer working with Bristol City Council to tackle the housing crisis as part of UN Smart Cities Challenge Work on a pioneering scheme to deliver affordable and sustainable housing across five sites in Bristol has started after receiving planning permission from Bristol City Council. Social and affordable housing developer EDAROTH
John Lewis Partnership (JLP) has received the official go-ahead to redevelop its Waitrose site in West Ealing, paving the way for hundreds of new homes and a modernised retail space as part of a major investment in the capital’s housing landscape. The scheme, which proposes the transformation of an existing
A development of new affordable homes in Pelton, North Durham, has been commended by local MP, for providing much-needed housing for local people. Luke Akehurst MP visited the new Roseberry Meadows development with affordable housing developer Karbon Homes to see progress being made on the 104 homes, a project he described as a vital boost for the area. Accompanied by colleagues from Karbon and its main contractor, Esh Construction, the North Durham MP had a first look at a number of the new homes still under construction, being built on the site of the former Roseberry Sports Community College in the village. Luke Akehurst MP for North Durham said: “I’m delighted to see the delivery of new affordable homes that not only provide much-needed housing for local residents, but also help lower energy bills by meeting the highest energy efficiency standards. “Developments like this one are vital for improving our area and giving families a better quality of life.” The £25million development will include 20 two and three bed family homes for affordable rent, as well as 31 apartments and bungalows for residents over 50. For people looking to take their first steps on the property ladder, the remaining 53 family homes will be available for Rent to Buy, a scheme that allows residents to rent before they buy and, as rents are set at 20% less than local market rent, offers the opportunity to save towards a deposit. Paul Fiddaman, Chief Executive of Karbon Homes who joined Luke for the visit, said: “We’re really pleased with how the Roseberry Meadows site is progressing, a site that stood empty for a number of years which we’re now turning into new homes to support the local community. “It was great to see the new timber frame homes well underway, a method of construction we’re using more and more to deliver our development programme. In a time where new affordable homes are in high demand, the ability to be able to deliver the same high quality homes but quicker, is a real plus for the region.” Luke also applauded Karbon’s commitment to building new homes that meet the highest energy efficiency standards. All 104 new homes are aiming to achieve the highest energy performance certificate (EPC) rating and will be powered by air source heat pumps, a technology three times more efficient than gas boilers. Electric car charging points will also be fitted across the site. All of the houses are being built using timber frame construction, a method that reduces waste, energy use and time taken to deliver a new home compared to using traditional construction methods. Esh Construction’s Operations Director, Mark Binns, added: “It was a pleasure to welcome Luke Akehurst MP to site and showcase the energy efficient homes that are under construction. The Roseberry Meadows development marks another successful collaboration between Esh and Karbon Homes to provide high quality affordable housing in County Durham.” The development is part-funded through Karbon’s £181 million strategic partnership with Homes England, to develop 2,324 much-needed affordable homes across the North East and Yorkshire by 2028. The scheme is expected for completion in Autumn 2026. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Insulation specialist Actis has welcomed the £39 billion affordable housing investment announced in this week’s government spending review – but reiterates that offsite construction and training more builders will be key to the delivery of such homes over the coming decade. Actis is a long-time champion of tackling the housing crisis while at the same time ensuring that quality and thermal efficiency are of the highest possible standard. This involves embracing technologies and products which speed up the build process while investing in training the next generation of construction professionals says Mark Cooper, UK and Ireland sales director of Actis, whose Hybrid insulation system and two-in-one Eolis HC are popular choices for timber framers and housing developers. “This is described as the biggest cash injection into social housing in 50 years, which is excellent news,” he said. “But with an inadequately-sized construction workforce it’s important that homes which are quicker to build but don’t compromise on quality or thermal efficiency are part of the housing mix. This needs to be in tandem with encouraging more young people to enter the construction industry. “The government’s spring promise of £625 million to train 60,000 construction workers goes a considerable way towards helping with this, but with Checkatrade telling us that the UK needs another 1.3 million skilled workers and 350,000 apprentices to meet housing and net zero targets we must do more to increase the pool of building professionals at all levels.” Offsite-constructed homes can be built up to 30% more quickly than those of traditional brick and block, enabling developers to deliver homes at a faster rate and using fewer man hours per unit. “Many elements, including insulation, take place offsite, in the factory. Our insulation systems take between 25 and 50% less time to install than traditional alternatives, which all helps to speed up the process,” said Mark. “The site crew ‘just’ has to erect everything in the right order with a typical build time of between seven and 12 days, depending on the size of house. “Additionally, quality is far better controlled, and these timber frame homes can be thermally superb, cutting carbon emissions and saving money and resources.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
NFRC (The National Federation of Roofing Contractors) welcomes the government’s announcements in its Spending Review, particularly the commitment to significantly increase funding for the Affordable Homes Programme. The intention to unlock greater private investment in housebuilding through Homes England is also a positive step, provided it is implemented effectively. The allocation of nearly £2.3bn a year to fix crumbling classrooms and a further £2.4bn to rebuild 500 schools presents a significant opportunity for NFRC members to contribute high-quality work to vital public infrastructure. In addition, the pledge of up to £1.2 billion per year in skills training for young people by the end of the Parliament is a critical investment. It will help ensure a pipeline of trained professionals is in place to deliver these ambitious projects. “Many roofing businesses are already under pressure from rising employment costs,” Miller added. “In our most recent Spring survey, cost of employment was the most cited challenge facing roofing businesses, with 76% of responding Members highlighting the issue. Construction insolvencies remain high, and any further financial strain could put the Government’s housing ambitions at risk, regardless of how much funding is committed.” NFRC Director of Membership, Richard Miller, said: “It’s encouraging to see the Government making a strong commitment to social and affordable housing at a time when difficult decisions are being made across the board. “A safe, well-built home is the foundation for a stable life, and this investment will play a key role in making more of these homes available to those who need them. “To ensure this funding delivers real value, it is essential that homes are constructed to a high standard, using quality products and contractors whose workforce is demonstrably skilled. “This is particularly important for roofing, especially now that solar panels will be the default on all new homes under the Future Homes Standard. That policy will only work if solar systems are properly designed and installed by professionals with the right expertise in both PV technology and roofing.” NFRC urges the Government to avoid undermining the impact of these investments through further tax increases on construction businesses in the upcoming Autumn Budget. NFRC eagerly anticipates the forthcoming publication of the government’s ten-year infrastructure strategy. A clear and reliable pipeline of work will be essential to ensure that the promised funding can be delivered effectively and translated into tangible outcomes on the ground. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
By Tim Foreman, Managing Director of Land and New Homes, LRG: The additional funding for affordable housing is very welcome especially as the demand for affordable housing, and cost of building it, continues to increase. However, delivery of affordable housing would benefit from addressing a wider range of types and tenures than the government is currently providing for. Specifically, shared ownership plays a very important role in getting people on to the housing ladder and yet seems to have been largely ignored by this government. The popularity of shared ownership is increasing, partly because today’s first-time buyers are paying almost a third more to get on the property ladder than they were five years ago. Furthermore, in the last decade the number of private renters moving into home ownership fell by 23%. The government’s current stance on housing affordability – not least the increases in Stamp Duty and the freezing of Lifetime ISAs – has resulted in policies that are making it even harder for first time buyers to enter the market. Shared ownership deserves the same level of government-assisted marketing as benefited the now defunct Help to Buy scheme and it seems detrimental to the whole ‘growth agenda’ that the government is ignoring this important tenure. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans to deliver 127 new homes at Castleton Grange in Eye have been given the green light, as Mid Suffolk District Council’s planning committee approved Phase 2 of the development this week. The homes will be delivered by Persimmon Homes Suffolk and are designed to be zero carbon-ready, aligning with the developer’s commitment to sustainability and future-proofed living. The new phase will include 25 affordable homes for residents whose housing needs are not met by the open market. Ranging from two to five bedrooms, more than half of the properties will be built as adaptable homes, allowing them to accommodate the evolving needs of families over time. Each home will feature an air source heat pump and be equipped with an electric vehicle charging point as standard. Persimmon will also contribute £2.5 million toward local public services and infrastructure as part of its developer obligations, supporting the wider community as the development expands. Ian Hamilton, Managing Director of Persimmon Homes Suffolk, said: “We have included large areas of open space within the layout design for this phase to create a low-density scheme that provides opportunities for residents to enjoy the green space. “We are delighted that members were able to approve the scheme and allow us to continue building at Castleton Grange in order to meet local demand for new homes.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
PfP Thrive, part of Places for People, has announced partnerships with the UK’s leading housing associations to deliver bespoke training programmes designed to address the critical skills shortage in the housing and construction sectors. With demand for skilled workers at an all-time high, PfP Thrive is delivering tailored and comprehensive training modules for the UK housing and construction sectors and now, it has announced a new collaboration with 26 major industry names, including Havebury Housing, Amulius Housing, Futures Housing Group, Thrive Homes, Saffron Housing, Wates Group, Peabody Housing, East Midlands Homes (EMH), Alpha Living, Platform HG, Plymouth Community Homes, Novus Property Solutions, Gilmartin’s Group, Breck Group, Flagship Group, Notting Hill Genesis, The Guinness Partnership, Alpha Living, Derventio Housing Trust, Anchor , Riverside, Nottingham Community Housing, Warrington Housing Association, and West Kent Housing. Learning partners have also come on board, with the Retrofit Academy, City and Guilds, Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and Study Academy supporting training and accreditation moving forward. By working together, the partnership will rapidly train new and existing colleagues within the housing sector, ensuring the sector has the expertise needed to maintain homes, meet retrofit targets, and deliver ambitious housebuilding programmes. The initiative will focus on traditional trades, emerging skills and Housing specific learning ensuring the workforce is futureproofed to meet the evolving needs of the industry. In addition to technical training, PfP Thrive will also offer compliance courses, apprenticeships, and leadership development programmes, helping to create a pipeline of skilled professionals at all levels. Tom Arey, Director of PfP Thrive, said: “The skills shortage is one of the greatest challenges facing the housing and construction sectors today. The only way to solve it is through genuine cross-industry collaboration, and that’s exactly what we’ve built with these partnerships and look forward to supporting more organisations across our sector. “By working together, we can equip both the existing and new housing workforce with the skills, knowledge and behaviours the sector needs to thrive. This is about securing the future of our sector, our workforce, and ultimately, the homes we build and maintain.” Operating from 20 sites nationwide, PfP Thrive aims to train over 100 apprentices in its first year, with a new academy and central hub in Derby welcoming its first intake this autumn. For more information about the organisation and its training programmes, visit: https://www.placesforpeople.co.uk/pfp-thrive/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction company Hobson & Porter has won a major decarbonisation and stock condition works contract with East Riding of Yorkshire Council, which will see the firm install the latest sustainable technology and refurbish hundreds of homes and buildings each year. The work will be worth approximately £15million over a four-year period and will see Hobson & Porter refurbishing around 200 council owned homes each year, and significantly improving their energy performance certificate (EPC) ratings to either B or C. The company will also work on homes that the council is currently buying to supplement its existing housing stock. Hobson & Porter has already been tasked with installing 1.5kWp‘in-roof’ solar panels on more than 20 residential streets as well as making efficiency upgrades to the loft spaces. Structural repairs will also be carried out alongside the full refurbishment of a mix of council owned buildings including offices, industrial units and storage depots. This will include replacing reinforced concrete floor slabs for insulated ones, rewiring, installing new heating systems, underpinning, drainage repairs and internal structural work. In addition, Hobson & Porter will be improving communal areas in assisted living schemes and apartment buildings, as well as refurbishing and demolishing a series of garage blocks. Sam Robertson, from Hobson & Porter, said: “East Riding of Yorkshire Council is a longstanding client so we’re very pleased to win this new contract. Having worked on East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s previous frameworks for the last seven years, I am happy we have been recognised as a key partner in delivering this latest scheme, which is testament to our team’s hard work and high standards of workmanship. “It’s particularly rewarding because it involves a wide variety of work, from refurbishing all types of homes, which will make a genuine difference to local people, through to installing the latest sustainable technology. All this will significantly improve the council’s property portfolio across a large swathe of East Yorkshire, as well as future-proofing buildings and homes for future generations of residents, staff and visitors.” Councillor Gary McMaster, East Riding of Yorkshire Council cabinet member for planning, housing and infrastructure, said: “This contract has been designed to ensure that as many of the homes and buildings that we own and run as possible can benefit from modern and sustainable technology. This will ensure that they are fit for purpose for many years to come and guarantees the most efficient and cost-effective use of resources.” Hobson & Porter has a longstanding relationship with East Riding of Yorkshire Council. The company recently started rebuilding two sheltered housing developments in Anlaby and Driffield, which will both offer a mix of one-and-two-bedroom flats with generous open-plan layouts. The homes will be adaptable to meet residents’ needs as they age, thereby helping them to live independently for longer. Hobson & Porter is also working on the energy efficiency-led refurbishment of two supported living developments in Hornsea. Once complete, Meregarth will offer 14, one bedroom apartments and Pybus Court, will provide 13, one and two bedroom apartments that all meet East Riding’s need for suitable supported housing. At the end of last year, Hobson & Porter completed work on a £3.3 million renovation programme at Champney Treasure House in Beverley, which included significant improvements to the much-loved museum, archives, café area, tower viewing point, gardens and art gallery. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Manchester City Council is set to enter into a landmark partnership with the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF) to deliver hundreds of genuinely affordable homes as part of plans to build 1,600 more homes in the coming years. GMPF has been selected, through a competitive process, as the investment partner for the next phase of development by This City, the Council’s housing company. The Council’s Executive is being asked to endorse the creation of a new joint venture with GMPF to deliver the second phase of This City development when it meets on 4 June. This City’s first flagship project, No.1 Ancoats Green, is nearing completion – with 129 low carbon homes created next to the brilliant new green space and park at Ancoats Green. 30% of these will be available at the Manchester Living Rent, capped at the rent level which can be covered by housing benefit to make sure they are affordable to as many people as possible. The initial pipeline for phase two consists of 1,583 homes on Council-owned brownfield sites across the city. At least 20% of these new homes will be affordable homes to rent. This City also has a strong emphasis on sustainability through low carbon homes, and on community. Postal Street in the Northen Quarter, Piccadilly is the most advanced of the phase two sites with a planning application expected to be submitted in the coming weeks for 126 new homes – 20% of them affordable and to be let at the Manchester Living Rent. Engagement with local communities in Monsall and Longsight started earlier this year, beginning a conversation with local people about proposals for sites in their areas. While formal consultation will be undertaken later this year with local people in the Grey Mare Lane estate in east Manchester around proposals for new housing as part of the major estate regeneration that will deliver 100s of new affordable homes in this part of Beswick Future This City sites include: Council Leader Cllr Bev Craig said: “This City is about accelerating home building on Council-owned land so that we can build the homes that Manchester needs on our own terms. These homes will contribute to our housing strategy target to deliver at least 36,000 new homes up to 2032 – and at least 10,000 of these homes will be social, Council or genuinely affordable. “These are ambitious numbers and we are on track to meet them. For example, last year we built more council and social homes than any year for more than a decade, but we want to go even further. We plan to build new council and social housing in every part of the city and being creative, using our land and building the homes ourselves, we will do just that. And having the Greater Manchester Pension Fund on board gives us the financial boost to go further and build much needed low cost, low carbon homes for Manchester residents.” Cllr Gavin White, Executive Member for Housing and Development, said: “Having Greater Manchester Pension Fund on board with This City as an institutional investor will help us deliver at scale the new housing, including significant amounts of affordable housing, which Manchester needs. “We’re seeing a step change and acceleration in the delivery of affordable housing, with more being built now than at any point in the last 12 years and with even more in the pipeline.” Cllr Eleanor Wills, Chair of GMPF, said:“We are acutely aware of the severe housing crisis both nationally and in the North-West region. This is why we are proud to continue our longstanding partnership with Manchester City Council investing in the “This City” vehicle that supports the Government’s plan to provide much-needed affordable homes for hardworking families while ensuring strong, low-risk returns to secure the pensions of our members. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Developer working with Bristol City Council to tackle the housing crisis as part of UN Smart Cities Challenge Work on a pioneering scheme to deliver affordable and sustainable housing across five sites in Bristol has started after receiving planning permission from Bristol City Council. Social and affordable housing developer EDAROTH (an acronym for Everyone Deserves a Roof Over Their Head) is leading the design, production and delivery of 25 net zero homes as the pilot for a new model for providing council housing in Bristol – as part of its involvement in the UN Habitat Climate Smart Cities challenge. The new homes will be a mix of 13 houses and 12 apartments and will be developed by EDAROTH using offsite manufacturing methods to create low energy-use homes which are net zero in use and will provide much needed social housing for the city. These homes are being delivered as part of the council’s New Home programme being led by the council’s Housing Delivery team. Work is now starting on five sites on land owned by the council, using the innovative approach from EDAORTH (part of AtkinsRéalis) which involves manufacturing the majority of parts offsite in a UK factory and delivering them to the site reducing the carbon impact of the development process. This approach also ensures the homes will be delivered up to 50% more quickly compared with traditional methods of construction – with minimal disruption to residents living near the development sites. Councillor Barry Parsons, Chair of the Homes and Housing Delivery Committee, said: “The delivery of new council homes is really important for the city, and I am delighted to see our Housing Delivery Team exploring new and innovative means of building homes with partners such as EDAROTH. “The learning from this and other projects will help drive delivery across small sites in the city, allowing us to make best use of our land to meet our priority housing need. “The Climate Smart Cities Challenge has allowed us to look at delivering new homes on small sites which are integrated into existing communities, and with the highest levels of sustainability and energy performance for the people who live there. This is something to be really celebrated.” The homes will be produced to the highest quality to ensure they are built to last, and they are expected to meet and exceed the Future Homes Standard coming into force this year, as well as meeting EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) A+. Mark Powell, Managing Director at EDAROTH, added: “Like cities around the country, Bristol faces a huge demand for affordable homes. This scheme is really an exemplar of how local authorities can work in partnership to address the national housing crisis effectively, while at the same time reduce the level of local authority spend on temporary accommodation. “We’re looking forward to starting work on this scheme which not only supports the city council’s ambition to meet demand for housing but also aims to provide homes where people need them, to enhance communities and create thriving places to live.” The agreement between EDAROTH and Bristol City Council is based on an award-winning approach developed by the 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. Part of the challenge includes the delivery of new housing projects to illustrate how aggregating small sites for development, and overcoming systemic barriers, could unlock sites to deliver truly affordable social housing. Work is due to be completed by Spring 2026. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
John Lewis Partnership (JLP) has received the official go-ahead to redevelop its Waitrose site in West Ealing, paving the way for hundreds of new homes and a modernised retail space as part of a major investment in the capital’s housing landscape. The scheme, which proposes the transformation of an existing Waitrose store and adjacent car park, will deliver 428 new homes, along with a public square, community facility and commercial space. Initially submitted in mid-2023, the application was stalled by delays in the local planning process, prompting JLP to appeal on grounds of ‘non-determination’ in summer 2024. That appeal has now been upheld by a government planning inspector, clearing the path for development to proceed. The approval comes amid renewed national efforts to meet housing targets, with the government recently reaffirming its goal of delivering 1.5 million new homes within five years. Under the latest update to the National Planning Policy Framework, greater weight is being given to brownfield development within established urban areas—an approach that has benefited the West Ealing proposal. JLP views the project as part of a long-term strategy to make better use of its property assets while contributing to the delivery of much-needed rental housing. The new homes will be brought forward under the build-to-rent model, with the aim of fostering long-term community engagement alongside reliable returns. Katherine Russell, director of build-to-rent at JLP, welcomed the decision, describing it as a multi-million-pound opportunity to reinvigorate a site that has served the local community for decades. “The inspector’s decision reinforces national policy support for well-located brownfield regeneration,” she said. “We look forward to working with local stakeholders to ensure the development is delivered responsibly and reflects the needs of the community.” The project is being developed in partnership with investment firm Aberdeen Group through a £500 million joint venture. Svitlana Gubriy, head of indirect real assets at Aberdeen, said the initiative reflects wider momentum in the build-to-rent sector, where long-term social value and community cohesion are becoming central to investor priorities. Construction is expected to begin following further engagement with the community and the completion of detailed designs. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
