Comments from Claire Petricca-Riding, Head of Planning & Environment at Irwin Mitchell Planning: We expect there to be immediate changes to the planning system which will allow for some flexibility at an early stage in the first year. This includes changes to the NPPF and NPPG. We expect to see
The inaugural Planning Portal Market Index has found that more than a million homes granted planning permission since 2015 have not yet been built, equating to around a third of the total given the green light over the period. The figures cast doubt on the near-exclusive focus of the major
Vistry Group is to provide an extra 71 properties for shared ownership or rent at its Albany Park location in Church Crookham, where construction is nearing the halfway point and a new phase of homes has been released for sale. The housebuilder is delivering an additional five shared ownership homes
New data analysis from Yopa, the full-service estate agents, has revealed that while the East of England has been the most active region of the housing market over the last five years, four of the five most active local authorities are found within London. Yopa analysed the total number of completed
Leading managing agent Rendall & Rittner is thrilled to have received two prestigious awards at this year’s ACE Awards: ‘Managing Agent of the Year (15,001+ units)’ and ‘Resident Engagement Initiative’. This marks the fifth occasion that Rendall & Rittner has received the renowned Managing Agent of the Year award in
Broadnook Garden Village – Leicestershire’s newest purpose-built community – is looking forward to new residents being able to take a deep breath and enjoy the range of initiatives that will be in place to improve the air quality for its new home owners, including: Green space and tree planting for cleaner
MATRIX Housing Partnership is working effectively alongside turnkey solutions provider Sustainable Building Services (UK) Ltd (SBS) to deliver a 905-property social housing retrofit programme that is demonstrating how to achieve economies of scale and best practice. The seven-member consortium of social housing providers is unique due their geographical spread across the
The Pride in the Job 2024 Quality Award winners have been announced today by NHBC. The awards celebrate the best UK site managers and their dedication to raising standards in house building. Now in its 44th year and widely considered the ‘Oscars’ of the house-building industry, Pride in the Job
A report by Public First, commissioned by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), revealed that planning reform and increased housing development could miss out on over £70 billion in additional value by not investing in planning. Leaders of the UK’s political parties have outlined ambitious housing targets. The RTPI has
Colchester City Council has approved outline planning permission for Weston Homes new £220 million (GDV) residential development for Viridis in Stanway. The new scheme will feature a mix of 420 private units and 180 affordable units, complete with large areas of high-quality public realm and landscaping, including ponds, play areas
Comments from Claire Petricca-Riding, Head of Planning & Environment at Irwin Mitchell Planning: We expect there to be immediate changes to the planning system which will allow for some flexibility at an early stage in the first year. This includes changes to the NPPF and NPPG. We expect to see the re-introduction to mandatory housing targets which will enable confidence in the market and contribute to the 1.5 million homes which are said to be developed in the next parliament. There will be amendments to the green belt policy which could see the easing of VSC and exceptional circumstances requirements for those areas which were previous developed and considered the “grey belt.” It is hoped there will be additional funding for local planning authorities to bring forward local plans and developments – funding more planning officers to unlock the current constraints in the planning system. Long term there could be a reintroduction of regional spatial planning – whether this be at a broad regional level (North West, North East, Midlands etc as before) or the introduction of combined authorities where plans will incorporate development on a county wide level. In the immediate term there are a significant number of infrastructure and renewable energy schemes which are awaiting approval from the secretary of state – these would be easy wins for the SoS for DNEZ (assuming this will still be Ed Miliband) given his ambition for the England and the whole of the UK to be a global leader in achieving net zero and mitigating the effects of climate change. Environment: There will be a lot of focus on environmental issues with the introduction of GB Energy – providing clean renewable energy as a way of providing energy security for all for decades to come. There should be the removal of the current moratorium for onshore wind in England – paving the way for this sector to realise its potential once again. There too will be a relaxed approach to nuclear energy but a hardening of old and gas with no new oil and gas licences in the medium to long term. There will be a fresh look at the Environment Act 2021 and how the UK and business can meet the desired targets – especially on air quality and waste management – focusing on the circular economy to prevent and re-use waste materials. There will be more focus on habitat protection and making ELM’s work for both the agricultural sector and the environment. It is also clear that there will be a review of the water industry and whilst many would like to see this sector once again nationalised, in the short-term holding water companies to account and reducing pollution incidents are stated goals. Conclusion “What I want to see is properly funded local planning authorities and the Environment Agency so they can function correctly. Planning fees should be ring fenced for the planning department with any surplus going back to the funds of that council (currently they are not so they go directly to the central funds). I also want some pace over perfection – we could have some easy wins which help the sector, but we should have continuous improvements instead of delayed perfection – this is what is required to get Britain building again. All improvements should have climate change and sustainability at the heart of those decisions.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The inaugural Planning Portal Market Index has found that more than a million homes granted planning permission since 2015 have not yet been built, equating to around a third of the total given the green light over the period. The figures cast doubt on the near-exclusive focus of the major parties on boosting housebuilding numbers by tweaking the planning system. At the same time, planning applications over the first five months of 2024 are at the lowest level since 2020, calling into question the scope for housebuilding numbers to recover in the coming years to meet ambitious manifesto targets. The Planning Portal Market Index report offers the most up to date statistics on planning applications in England and Wales, with data reflecting the state of play as recently as 31 May – two months later than the period covered by the most recent official statistics. The statistics are drawn from planning applications submitted to local authorities in England and Wales – more than 90% of which are made through the Planning Portal. Had all homes granted planning permission ultimately been built, the government’s target of building 300,000 new homes a year would have been achieved in eight of the last 10 years. Geoff Keal, CEO at TerraQuest, the operator of Planning Portal, said: “These figures suggest that the near-exclusive focus on the planning system in the political debate around housing is misplaced. Until recently, planning permission was being granted for enough new homes to meet the government’s targets. “While the planning system is by no means perfect, and those homes granted permission could be in the wrong places, this data strongly suggests that policymakers need to look more widely at the factors stifling the completion of homes for which planning permission has been granted.” The Planning Portal Market Index report highlighted the impact of high interest rates, skills shortages in the construction industry and materials shortages as possible culprits. Geoff added: “High interest rates have a double impact on the completion of new homes. By dampening the housing market in the short term, they limit the potential commercial rewards available to housebuilders for proceeding with projects. At the same time, the high cost of borrowing to finance projects in the first place pushes up costs and eats into developer profits. “This is compounded by the well-publicised challenges facing the construction sector in overcoming skills shortages that have left its headcount more than a quarter of million short of the number needed to meet projected demand. Meanwhile, the supply of fundamental construction supplies of bricks and blocks are down by 4.3% and 9.8% over the year to April, according to official statistics. “Our analysis shows just how profound the challenges are for policymakers in ensuring enough new homes are built to meet the needs of a growing population. Rosalind Andrews, Partner, Head of Planning, Highways and Environment at HCR Law, added: “The findings from the Planning Portal Application Index June 2024 report highlight the multifaceted challenges faced by the housebuilding sector. Increasing the delivery of much-needed homes across the UK is incredibly complex, with the number of residential planning permissions granted being only one aspect of the issue. “Project viability is also a concern, given the increases in material costs and lending rates, as well as the new expenses associated with BNG requirements. Housebuilders are eager to commence construction and break ground. “To meet the ambitious target of delivering 300,000 homes a year, it is crucial to address the industry’s capacity in terms of skilled labour. With the right support and training initiatives, the housebuilding sector can rise to this challenge and achieve these goals.” The first Planning Portal Market Index report is available to download here: https://blog.planningportal.co.uk/2024/06/26/gain-early-market-insight-direct-from-the-application-source/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Vistry Group is to provide an extra 71 properties for shared ownership or rent at its Albany Park location in Church Crookham, where construction is nearing the halfway point and a new phase of homes has been released for sale. The housebuilder is delivering an additional five shared ownership homes and 66 homes for private rent – over and above the 120 affordable properties for low-cost rent or shared ownership originally planned at Albany Park – as part of the company’s focus on partnership working. Vistry is building a total of 300 homes at the development off Watery Lane, under its Bovis Homes and Linden Homes brands. Work has now been completed on 140 homes and on Saturday (25 May), Vistry officially launched the fourth phase of the development, which is being built under the Bovis Homes brand. A selection of properties were released onto the market and two have already been reserved. Melanie Richards, sales and marketing director for Vistry Southern, said: “Our focus on delivering a mix of properties and tenures at Albany Park is having a positive effect on the availability of high-quality homes for people in this part of Hampshire. “Providing more homes for shared ownership or rent gives more local people the opportunity to stay where they’ve grown up in and keep families close together in an area where the market might normally price them out. It also allows key workers and new people to move to this lovely village and enjoy living in a well-designed and energy-efficient new-built home. “Our fourth phase of homes, which launched at the weekend, also offers a real mix of private homes to meet the needs of local people looking to buy, from one-bedroom maisonettes to three, four and five-bedroom houses.” The 125 affordable homes at Albany Park include 78 homes for low-cost rent and 47 for shared ownership, with another 66 homes sold to high-quality private rental home provider Leaf Living. Vistry Group is investing £5 million in local infrastructure and services as part of its planning agreement for the development. This includes a new 40-acre country park to the west of Albany Park, with Vistry investing £1.3 million in the upkeep of this natural green open space. This will help to encourage local biodiversity to the area as it will include new planting, wildlife habitats, boardwalks and footpaths. Vistry will also contribute £2.7 million towards education, £600,000 for transport and more than £500,000 towards leisure and open spaces. With many of the new homes now occupied, a new Co-op Food convenience store has opened within the development, off Redfields Lane, to serve the new community. To find out more, visit bovishomes.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
New data analysis from Yopa, the full-service estate agents, has revealed that while the East of England has been the most active region of the housing market over the last five years, four of the five most active local authorities are found within London. Yopa analysed the total number of completed residential transactions over the last five years* compared to the percentage of owner occupied housing stock in each area of the nation*, to reveal where England’s most active housing markets are. The research shows that just under 3.9m homes have sold across England over the last five years, equating to 23.9% of total owner occupied housing stock. The most active region has been the East of England where total sales over the last five years equate to 24.5% of all owner occupied homes, whilst the West Midlands has seen the lowest level of activity at 23.1%. However, at local authority level, six of the top 10 most active markets are found in London. Across the London Borough of Tower Hamlets some 16,483 property transactions have taken place over the last five years, equating to 43.1% of all owner occupied properties within the borough – the highest level of market activity across the nation. Hackney ranks second at 34.8%, followed by Lambeth (34.8%) and Wandsworth (33.3%), whilst Southwark (31%) sits at number six, with Hammersmith and Fulham (29.9%) in eighth spot. Outside of the capital, Norwich has seen the highest level of market activity and the fifth highest in the nation, with 9,739 homes sold over the last five years equating to 31.2% of all owner occupied homes. Hastings (30.9%), South Derbyshire (29.7%) and Milton Keynes (29.5%) also rank within the top 10. In contrast, the London Boroughs of Brent, Harrow, and Redbridge have seen the least active markets with homes sold in the last five years equating to just 16.5% of all owner occupied homes in each of the three districts. Yopa’s National Franchise Director, Steve Anderson, commented: “England’s housing market is very much a local affair. Looking at the top level regional data, we see a fairly uniform turnover of stock in the past five years, varying by little more than one percent between the most and least active areas. But the local authority analysis shows us just how different the situation really is on a more granular level. In some areas we’re seeing a churn of 43%, and others as low as 16%. Home sellers are wise to learn as much as they can about their hyper local market to best understand what kind of value their home has based on what kind of buyer demand there is. Because while Tower Hamlets and Redbridge, for example, are only a few miles apart in the same city, there’s a world of difference in just how active their respective housing markets are.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading managing agent Rendall & Rittner is thrilled to have received two prestigious awards at this year’s ACE Awards: ‘Managing Agent of the Year (15,001+ units)’ and ‘Resident Engagement Initiative’. This marks the fifth occasion that Rendall & Rittner has received the renowned Managing Agent of the Year award in the 6 years the awards have taken place. This achievement also follows the company’s recent ‘Property Manager of the Year’ award win at the RESI awards, meaning Rendall & Rittner currently holds the sector’s two most coveted awards. The ACE Awards were presented at an awards dinner in London’s Old Billingsgate market on Friday 21st June. Hosted by The Property Institute (formerly ARMA and IRPM), the awards unite industry-leading managing agents, developers, and suppliers to celebrate the ‘leading lights among UK managing agents’. The Managing Agent of the Year Award reflects Rendall & Rittner’s commitment to being a respected, responsible and trusted partner. With a portfolio of over 80,000 homes across the UK, Rendall & Rittner’s people led, technology enabled, service driven approach drives the company forward for the benefit of its customers, clients and residents. With each award entry vigorously scrutinised by an independent judging panel of senior property professionals, Rendall & Rittner’s success amongst such tough competition highlights a clear commitment to innovation and delivering exceptional service levels. Rendall & Rittner was also presented with the inaugural Resident Engagement Initiative award, acknowledging the careful consideration placed on enhancing the experience of residents and developing a greater sense of community at developments across the portfolio. Supported by its Operations Team, Rendall & Rittner organises and runs a wide ranging calendar of activities and events, including festive gatherings, open mic nights, Recycle Week, wildlife photography competitions and F1 simulator events in partnership with Sky. Resident communication is also a priority for the managing agent, ensuring residents are regularly engaged on key topics such as building safety, façade remediation, and the cost of living. Richard Daver, Group CEO at Rendall & Rittner comments: “At Rendall & Rittner, our strategic focus on driving change and innovation for our clients, customers and residents is at the forefront of everything we do. We are therefore thrilled that the ACE Awards judges have recognised the enthusiasm and dedication of our people once again this year as we continue to seek opportunities to enhance our service offering. Receiving both the prestigious Managing Agent of the Year and Resident Engagement Initiative awards is testament to the contribution and effort of all our people, especially so soon after being named Property Manager of the Year at the RESI awards.” For further information please visit: www.rendallandrittner.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Broadnook Garden Village – Leicestershire’s newest purpose-built community – is looking forward to new residents being able to take a deep breath and enjoy the range of initiatives that will be in place to improve the air quality for its new home owners, including: Green space and tree planting for cleaner air Broadnook Garden Village is designed with nature in mind. More than 50 per cent of the total development will be open green spaces, providing residents with ample opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. More than 500 trees have already been planted throughout the village with thousands more to come on 11.982 hectares of land that has been designated for woodland planting, actively increasing the tree population in the local area. These trees play a crucial role in pollutant and carbon capture, helping new residents to breathe easier as they pull pollution out of the air. While the air quality for Charnwood and Broadnook’s local area is traditionally good, Broadnook Garden Village is committed to helping ensure it remains at healthy levels. Air quality data recorded in 2022 by Defra suggests that Charnwood meets recommended levels, but there is still room for improvement with some Charnwood areas exceeding healthy WHO guidelines for pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide.* By planting trees and creating open green spaces, Broadnook and its developers aim to maintain and even improve this air quality, which is essential for health and well-being. Lower pollutant levels can reduce the risk of respiratory diseases and enhance overall quality of life. Iain Pickering, Design Director for Davidsons Homes said: “Our commitment to creating a sustainable and healthy living environment is at the core of Broadnook Garden Village. By dedicating half of our space to greenery, establishing car-free zones, investing in bus services and planting a substantial number of trees, we are making strides towards a cleaner and healthier future for our residents. “New homes at Broadnook will meet higher modern standards for emissions and sustainability too, helping to make the village a beautiful place to live inside and out.” Steve Kelly, Director of Growth Marketing at Cora Homes said: “Healthy living is at the heart – or should that be lungs – of Broadnook Garden Village. We’re committed to providing access to five times more than the national average of green, healthy spaces where residents of Broadnook – and the surrounding Charnwood villages – can relax and take a breather in nature. When complete, Broadnook will be the greenest of all the Charnwood villages. As well as wild-flower meadows, Broadnook will benefit from purpose-built sports playing fields, and even allotments, as part of our commitment to the Garden Village way of life.” Investment into bus services and car-free zones Broadnook Garden Village will encourage residents to ditch the car in favour of the bicycle or bus, promoting a healthier lifestyle and reducing pollutants entering the air locally. To reinforce this, Broadnook’s developers are investing £750,000 into local bus services that will help to make local transport hubs easier and more accessible without the need of a car. Broadnook will also feature a car-free central walk that will offer residents a break from traffic, contributing to better air quality and a more peaceful living environment. Cycle and walking routes lined with trees and Broadnook Park are also integrated into the community layout, making getting around easier by foot or bicycle. Residents of Broadnook will have easy access to local walks and cycle trails in Charnwood, allowing them to immerse themselves in nature and enjoy the countryside air. Reduced carbon emissions from new homes Broadnook Garden Village is also committed to reducing carbon emissions in its homes. Developers at Broadnook are dedicated to supporting the air quality for its residents and promoting lung health through its innovative design and better building practices with properties being designed to meet – and exceed – higher modern standards for emissions and sustainability with discreet solar panels and electric vehicle charging points fitted as standard. Each new build home at Broadnook will, on average, reduce carbon emissions by 2.2 tonnes compared to non-new build house. This significant reduction demonstrates Broadnook and its developers’ dedication to sustainable living and environmental responsibility in all aspects of village construction. The vision of Broadnook Garden Village is being brought to life by Davidsons Homes, Cora and Bovis Homes, with the first residents expected to move in this autumn who can look forward to experiencing the benefits of cleaner air, serene surroundings and a community designed with health and reduced emissions in mind. To find out more about Broadnook Garden Village’s new houses, visit broadnook.co.uk and follow @BroadnookGardenVillage on social media. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
MATRIX Housing Partnership is working effectively alongside turnkey solutions provider Sustainable Building Services (UK) Ltd (SBS) to deliver a 905-property social housing retrofit programme that is demonstrating how to achieve economies of scale and best practice. The seven-member consortium of social housing providers is unique due their geographical spread across the South West, Midlands and Southern England, managed by multiple SBS regional teams, with parallel workstreams in each region. Once complete, more than 1,750 people will benefit from the works and 1.6 million kilogrammes of C02 emissions will be saved each year. After being awarded more than £12 million through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) Wave 2.1 and appointing SBS as the sole delivery partner to deliver the full £26m PAS2035-standard project, the Matrix Housing Partnership is on track to complete its planned programme by Spring 2025. Gary Lawson, managing director at SBS, said: “The work that we are delivering on behalf of Matrix Housing Partnership is a perfect example of retrofit collaboration and why the consortium model will be favoured by social housing providers in the future. There are substantial benefits for everyone involved when scaling projects with this method. Cost savings, strong partnerships, and sharing vital supply chains all converge to create efficient and productive processes that all project partners can reap the rewards from. “Social housing providers are able to more easily access funding, get projects off the ground more quickly and deal with less contract administration. Delivery partners can ensure continuous improvement with shared supply chains, explore new systems and technologies, and create new roles to grow the industry. Partners have been given the confidence to invest and undertake upskilling that will increase resilience and tenants are provided with warmer, more energy efficient homes that have lower bills and a better impact on the environment. “The feedback we have received so far from the consortium members and their tenants across various housing types has been tremendous. We all acknowledge the importance of the programme being delivered and are conscious that awareness must be raised on the advantages of working at scale. “During the SHDF Demonstrator we completed schemes for both Trident Housing Association and Trent & Dove Housing, so our existing relationships have also supported us in this scheme. Further learnings will not doubt be gained as we progress with the project and we look forward to sharing them with the housing industry as it continues its retrofit decarbonisation mission.” Matrix Housing Partnership includes GreenSquareAccord, Black Country Housing Group, Citizen Housing Group, Pioneer Housing and Community Group, Rooftop Housing Association, Trent & Dove Housing and Trident Housing Association. In addition to SBS, Savills and GJK Consultants are supporting the consortium with the project. The variety of retrofit measures being installed include external wall insulation, cavity wall insulation, internal wall insulation, new windows and doors, loft insulation, ventilation upgrades, air source heat pumps, battery storage, low energy lighting and solar PV. The aim is for each property to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of at least C after the completion of works. Jason Holder, director of property at GSA, said: “We are proud to be leading the Matrix Housing Partnership’s decarbonisation project, which has already seen hundreds of homes benefit from energy efficiency upgrades. We are sharing best practice and maximising economies of scale through the consortium model. From the quality of measures installed through to the resident liaison approach, we know we’re receiving a good service and so too are our consortium partners.” For more information on SBS, visit: www.sustainablebuildinguk.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Pride in the Job 2024 Quality Award winners have been announced today by NHBC. The awards celebrate the best UK site managers and their dedication to raising standards in house building. Now in its 44th year and widely considered the ‘Oscars’ of the house-building industry, Pride in the Job has become the benchmark for exceptional site managers. Judging is rigorous, with assessment across six key areas: consistency, attention to detail, leadership, interpretation of drawings and specifications, technical expertise and health and safety. Thousands of inspections, with meticulous scoring and detailed verifications, have taken place to determine the 449 winners from a field of more than 8,000 sites, representing the top 5% of UK site managers. Commenting on the awards, Steve Wood, CEO at NHBC said: “For more than four decades, Pride in the Job has underpinned NHBC’s purpose of raising standards in house building. The competition recognises the UK’s top site managers, showcasing best practice and rewarding excellence. “Winning site managers demonstrate dedication, passion and leadership to ensure new homes are delivered to exacting construction quality standards. While house building is a team effort, we believe the greatest influence on the quality of a finished home is the calibre of the site manager and the way they inspire their team. Congratulations to all the winners.” Pride in the Job has five categories: small, medium and large builders, plus multi-storey for projects up to seven storeys and high-rise for projects more than seven storeys. The Quality Award winners will now go on to compete for Seal of Excellence and Regional Awards in the autumn, with the national Supreme Award winners unveiled in January 2025. For a full list of the Pride in the Job 2024 Quality Award winners, please click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A report by Public First, commissioned by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), revealed that planning reform and increased housing development could miss out on over £70 billion in additional value by not investing in planning. Leaders of the UK’s political parties have outlined ambitious housing targets. The RTPI has stated that well-resourced planning can help achieve these targets while positively impacting the economic, social, and environmental needs of the UK’s towns, cities and countryside. But previous research by the RTPI shows that public sector planning is in a dire state, with a 16% reduction in public spending on planning since 2009. Planners are overworked and understaffed as a result. Last year, the Institute reported that from 2013 to 2020, a quarter of planners left the public sector. The report indicates that, if the profession continues to be underinvested, there could be missed opportunities for a “planning premium.” This premium refers to the characteristics that contribute to the development of vibrant and safe communities, and it could provide an additional value of just under £50 billion over a ten-year period. The report states that utilising the power of planning to deliver new housing could lead to productivity growth worth £23 billion over ten years. This could bring the total potential loss to over £70 billion if not utilised and invested in responsibly. Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the RTPI, said: “This report comes at a time when home-building needs to accelerate rapidly to address the housing affordability crisis. It shows us the true value of planning when done well, and how it can deliver not just the housing the UK desperately needs, but provide value for money and quality of life to communities.” Ed Dorrell, Partner at Public First said: “This report demonstrates that there is nothing wrong with planning. Far from it. Used strategically, planning and planners can help the country build new places – and new homes – at a volume and at a quality that people need and want. “Planners, when they are emboldened and enabled, can support the delivery of the kind of dense, mixed use, well-connected communities that people will want to live in, and, in-so-doing, also drive up productivity in the way that the country so desperately needs. “Our work demonstrates that far from being part of the problem, planners can be part of the solution.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Colchester City Council has approved outline planning permission for Weston Homes new £220 million (GDV) residential development for Viridis in Stanway. The new scheme will feature a mix of 420 private units and 180 affordable units, complete with large areas of high-quality public realm and landscaping, including ponds, play areas and extensive pedestrian and cycle routes throughout. Viridis will offer a variety of housing options: two, three and four-bedroom houses for private ownership, and one and two-bedroom apartments and two, three and four-bedroom houses as affordable housing. The project, designed by PRP Architects, will create a vibrant community with beautifully designed homes surrounded by nature and will fulfil part of a government requirement for Colchester City Council to build 920 homes annually. All the homes will feature Weston Homes’ premium, fully inclusive specification, high ceilings, large windows, and open-plan layouts to maximise natural light. The development will also offer fibreoptic superfast broadband, ensuring residents stay connected. Additionally, there will be a wide choice of on-trend finishes for personalising the interiors, which are all included within the price. The scheme is also designed to provide an abundance of green open space, with an emphasis on sustainability and providing homes with numerous eco-friendly features. Viridis is ideally located just a four minute drive from Marks Tey Station, which provides direct train links to London Liverpool Street in under an hour. This prime location makes it perfect for commuters. Bob Weston, Chairman and Managing Director of Weston Homes said: “Weston Homes is delighted by the resolution to grant outline planning consent for Viridis, which underlines our dedication to developing affordable, well-connected homes perfect for modern living. This new development in Stanway, Colchester is part of our ongoing major growth and expansion. We are looking forward to beginning the delivery of this fantastic new community for the people of Essex.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
