Residential : Housing News News
Material Information could prevent agents £357.4m a year

Material Information could prevent agents £357.4m a year

Market insight from Material Information and digital property pack provider, Moverly, suggests that the proper implementation of Material Information across the estate agency sector could reduce the amount of lost or delayed commission due to fall throughs to the tune of £357.4m per year. Moverly looked at the number of fall

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Mayor Brabin tells builders to brace for housebuilding boom

Mayor Brabin tells builders to brace for housebuilding boom

Mayor Tracy Brabin has vowed to deliver a “new dawn” for housebuilding across West Yorkshire, by working in lock-step with local housing providers and the new government in Westminster. The West Yorkshire Housing Strategy 2040, the first of its kind for the region, has been unveiled on a visit to

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England’s most active housing markets over the past five years

England’s most active housing markets over the past five years

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

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Latest Issue
Issue 324 : Jan 2025

Residential : Housing News News

Material Information could prevent agents £357.4m a year

Material Information could prevent agents £357.4m a year

Market insight from Material Information and digital property pack provider, Moverly, suggests that the proper implementation of Material Information across the estate agency sector could reduce the amount of lost or delayed commission due to fall throughs to the tune of £357.4m per year. Moverly looked at the number of fall throughs that take place across the property market on a quarterly basis, as well as the total amount of estate agent fees either lost or delayed as a result of these sellers having to return to square one. According to TwentyCI, 64,865 sales fell through across the UK market during the first quarter of this year alone. With estate agents earning £3,975 on the sale of the average home in the current market*, that’s a total of £257.9m in commission either lost, or at best delayed, until a new buyer is found. The figures from Moverly show that in 2023 alone, almost £1,1bn was lost or delayed in commission due to the number of fall throughs across the UK market. While fall throughs are unfortunately inevitable, there are steps that can be taken to minimise the potential of a sale collapsing. One such step is the proper provision of Material and Upfront Information early in the process. This provides agents, vendors, buyers and conveyancers alike, with better insight to the potential issues posed when purchasing a property and the opportunity to resolve issues earlier. Figures from Moverly show that not only does the provision of Upfront Information allow for transactions to complete up to 70% quicker, but it also reduces the chances of a sale collapsing by a third. If estate agents across the UK were to embrace Material and Upfront Information fully, this could have reduced the fees lost or delayed during the first quarter of 2024 by £85.9m. Over the course of 2023, reducing fall throughs by a third would have also seen agents benefit to the tune of £357.4m in fees that weren’t lost or delayed as a result of transactions collapsing. Gemma Young, Moverly CEO, says: “With the introduction of NTSELAT guidelines, agents now have a concrete framework to work towards with respect to Material Information. This provides them with a firm foundation upon which they can drive sector standards forward, whilst, at the same time, reducing the propensity for transactions to fall through Moverly’s mission is to support agents to deliver Material and Upfront Information with greater ease and without adding to their already substantial workload. In turn, Moverly works to connect the key stakeholders in the property transaction to the vital information which helps other stakeholders to progress towards exchange and completion. In embracing this, agents will not only be able to offer quicker transaction times to their sellers, this in turn will also reduce the amount of commission that is either lost or delayed as a result of fall throughs.” Data tables Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Mayor Brabin tells builders to brace for housebuilding boom

Mayor Brabin tells builders to brace for housebuilding boom

Mayor Tracy Brabin has vowed to deliver a “new dawn” for housebuilding across West Yorkshire, by working in lock-step with local housing providers and the new government in Westminster. The West Yorkshire Housing Strategy 2040, the first of its kind for the region, has been unveiled on a visit to Saxton Lane in Leeds, where 204 affordable apartments are being developed by WDH. The strategy identifies untapped potential for new housing across Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield, where over 38,000 new homes could be built on previously developed land. For the first time, the plans will bring together the five local authorities of West Yorkshire to deliver across four core missions – boosting housing supply, building affordable homes, improving existing homes, and creating vibrant communities. The strategy aims to build on the progress made since the devolution of the £90 million Brownfield Housing Fund to the region, which has helped to deliver more affordable homes than at any other time since the global financial crash, including 1,500 in the year 2022-2023. Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “Our fifteen year housing strategy gives us the long-term, joined-up approach we need to tackle this intolerable housing crisis, ensuring that everyone has a safe and secure place to call home. “Growing up in a good quality council flat we didn’t have to worry about unaffordable rent, mould on our walls or the looming threat of a no-fault eviction, and no one else should have to either. “Housing is a basic human right and the foundation for a good and healthy life. By working in lock-step with the new government and our brilliant local housing partners, we will deliver a new dawn for housebuilding across West Yorkshire.” The launch of the West Yorkshire Housing Strategy follows a speech made earlier in the week from the new Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves MP, who vowed to “get Britain building again”. To help deliver 1.5 million new homes by the end of the parliament, the Chancellor and MP for Leeds West and Pudsey has pledged to work closely with Mayors and local leaders, restore housebuilding targets, and reform planning rules whilst bolstering planning teams. According to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, there are approximately 85,000 people and families on waiting lists for a council home across the region, with house prices reaching six times the average annual wage, as compared to only three times the average annual wage in 2002. Private renters have also been hit hard by the “double-whammy” of high inflation and poor conditions, with rents in Leeds, Kirklees and Wakefield rising by around 20% since 2018, and two in five privately rented homes failing to meet the government’s definition of a “decent home”. To address rising fuel poverty, the Combined Authority and its partners have committed £40 million to modernise social homes with solar panels, heat pumps and better insulated walls and windows. The new housing strategy sets out an ambitious vision to create greener and more secure communities, driving down energy bills across West Yorkshire.   Cllr Denise Jeffery, Leader of Wakefield Council and Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Place, Regeneration and Housing Committee, said: “Thousands more families are living in safe, secure and affordable homes because of the decisions of our West Yorkshire Mayor in partnership with local councils. We’ve really made the most of the powers and funding devolved to our region so far. “But now we need to accelerate this work even more. For too long, strict Government rules over where our brownfield housing fund is spent have blocked our plans. This has limited too much of what we’ve been able to achieve to places where land values are already high. “With the backing of a new Government, and the promise of greater flexibility in how we can make decisions, we can build 38,000 new homes. That is at the heart of delivering a region which everyone can be proud to call home.” Andy Wallhead, Chief Executive Officer of WDH and Chair of the West Yorkshire Housing Partnership, said: “Housing associations are already leading the way on housebuilding in West Yorkshire, with our partnership members collectively providing a fifth of all homes across the region.“ But, by working with the new Government and continuing our close collaboration with the Mayor, we’re determined to do even more and will keep on building to provide the affordable and sustainable homes needed to unlock West Yorkshire’s true potential.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Labour needs to implement the building of a new large scale housing estate every single day before 2029 to meet housing targets

Labour needs to implement the building of a new large scale housing estate every single day before 2029 to meet housing targets

To meet its manifesto pledge of 1.5 million new homes within this parliamentary term, Labour must deliver just over 1,150 new homes consistently every single working day for the next five years without defaulting – this is roughly equivalent to delivering at least five large scale housing estates every single week to achieve the newly set housing target. A more detailed plan is needed as a priority from the UK Government on how their aim will be delivered and when. There must also be full disclosure on infrastructure planning to support homes as they are being built. Developments must have comprehensive design regarding essential services such as education, policing, health, transport, and employment – it cannot ever be a case of weaving thousands of additional new homes into current metropolitan areas and expecting the current structure to absorb the additional pressures. In addition, there must be due consideration for ensuring there is a wide-ranging skillset and workforce in place that can bring this enormous vision to life. There must be cross party cooperation and strong stakeholder engagement to ensure plans are workable, realistic, and can be delivered within the timeframe promised. Each area identified as having potential for new housing must pay full respect to greenbelt status, and there should ideally be a focus on bringing brownfield land back to purposeful use first. However, Chancellor Rachel Reeves stated that the UK Government intends to build on some green belt land, but this should involve a full review to prioritise alternative available land to achieve their housing targets.   Referring to the planning system ‘an obstacle’, Ms Reeves committed to building their targeted package of new homes. However, there must also be a variety of different tenures when it comes to constructing new homes to ensure both buyers and renters are served well. To implement such a bold task, it is right to review the entire system from top to bottom, implement potential improvements and make better use of technology for both insight and delivery. With the UK population expected to surge to around 70m within the next ten years, it is critical that supply keeps up with demand. Currently, the housing sector continues to suffer from a drastic undersupply of sustainable new homes, which in turn is contributing to artificially higher costs for both buyers and renters. Nathan Emerson, CEO at Propertymark, comments:   “There is no doubt that the new UK Government must prioritise building homes the nation desperately needs, and that is why we welcome a commitment to deliver new homes and review green belt boundaries with a view to prioritising brownfield and grey belt land to meet manifesto pledges.   “Local councils need as much support as possible in meeting the new UK Government’s aims. Building 1.5 million new homes by the next general election is an challenging target, but Propertymark would like to see urgent clarity and detail as to how this ambition can be achieved. This goal would require over a thousand new homes to be built every working day before 2029.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Propertymark Response to Matthew Pennycook’s appointment as Housing Minister

Propertymark Response to Matthew Pennycook’s appointment as Housing Minister

Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark comments, “Propertymark welcomes the appointment of Matthew Pennycook as Housing Minister within the newly formed cabinet. Housing must play a pivotal role for the government moving forwards and in real terms, delivering over 1,100 new homes every single working day for the next five years will take immense planning and enormous stakeholder engagement to achieve. “There needs to be a long-term cross-party approach with continuity built in as standard – we should never be looking at a housing plan as an insular five year government term, in case of any change down the line. “The housing sector is crying out for a vastly increased supply to keep pace with demand, there simply can be no room for error moving forwards or we may end up with prices artificially rocketing due to consumer desperation in finding a suitable home for their needs. “There must be a broad mix of sustainably built homes that brings much needed stock to both buyers and renters. The plan must be delivered with precision and in a way that is connected with wider government planning to ensure key infrastructure is provisioned for as the population further grows.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Comments from Claire Petricca-Riding, Head of Planning & Environment at Irwin Mitchell

What can we expect from a new Labour government in the World of Housing, Planning and Environment…

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

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More than a million homes with planning permission left unbuilt since 2015

More than a million homes with planning permission left unbuilt since 2015

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

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Albany Park in Church Crookham to provide more rental and shared ownership homes

Albany Park in Church Crookham to provide more rental and shared ownership homes

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

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England’s most active housing markets over the past five years

England’s most active housing markets over the past five years

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

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Rendall & Rittner Receives Managing Agent of the Year Award at ACE Awards 2024

Rendall & Rittner Receives Managing Agent of the Year Award at ACE Awards 2024

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

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Broadnook Garden Village Promises New Home Buyers a Breath of Fresh Air as Developers Commit to Supporting Better Air Quality

Broadnook Garden Village Promises New Home Buyers a Breath of Fresh Air as Developers Commit to Supporting Better Air Quality

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

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