‘Focus must be on boosting delivery of affordable homes’ – London Councils responds to government’s housing announcements
London Councils has responded to the government’s announcement on building new homes and the Secretary of State’s speech on reforming the planning system and regenerating urban areas. Cllr Darren Rodwell, London Councils’ Executive Member for Regeneration, Housing & Planning, said: “Boroughs are ready and willing to help deliver the homes our communities need, but this requires more local powers and resources for housebuilding. “Despite massive challenges, boroughs are working hard to accelerate housebuilding and have made solid progress in recent years. London saw more council-built homes started in 2022 than any year since the 1970s. “There are at least 143,000 potential new homes we could begin building immediately in London if the funding was in place, and we would welcome the prospect of enhanced government support for housing development and regeneration. We are calling for reform of Right to Buy receipts, increased grant allocations, and investment in new infrastructure so that we can truly turbocharge affordable housebuilding. “The chronic shortage of affordable housing is the critical factor behind London’s skyrocketing homelessness figures. The situation is utterly unsustainable. There are 166,000 homeless Londoners living in temporary accommodation, including on average at least one homeless child in every London classroom. “The focus must be on boosting delivery of affordable, high-quality homes. The government’s pledge to expand permitted development rights does not guarantee this will happen – in fact it brings serious risks. Boroughs must retain the ability to ensure housing is built to the right standards, in suitable locations, and with the necessary local infrastructure such as GP surgeries and transport connections.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Sussex village increases affordable housing by 9%
The completion of 15 brand new affordable rural homes was officially marked by the community of Icklesham in East Sussex on Friday 14 July 2023. Prior to the houses being built, there were a total of 167 affordable homes in the area of Icklesham. The 15 new homes represent a 9% increase in social housing provision, making a significant difference to the lives of local people in the Parish. The land, which was originally owned by local residents Eric and Wendy Hysted, was purchased by Icklesham Parish Community Land Trust (IPCLT) and then leased to Hastoe Housing Association to develop and manage the homes on their behalf. Fifteen homes have been developed at Orchard Close on the former agricultural land: 12 for social rent and 3 for shared ownership. All homes have been prioritised for people with a local connection to the Civil Parish of Icklesham, such as those working in the village, those with close family in the area, or those who have previously lived there but have been forced to move out because of a lack of affordable housing. Works began on site in June 2021 and were completed in August 2022 with all homes built to a high standard of energy efficiency. Before construction started, an archaeological survey was carried out and small pieces of broken Roman pottery were found along with the remains of a Roman Cremation Vessel. There was also an unusual find with evidence of a cremation burial inside a square-ditched enclosure – possibly that of a child. It is not known if the excavated deposits were self-contained or are part of a larger settled area. The Icklesham Parish Community Land Trust played a pivotal role in the development of the site working in partnership with Icklesham Parish Council, Sussex Community Housing Hub, Rother District Council, Hastoe Housing Association, ECE Architecture, Westridge Construction Limited and employer’s agent McCreith Construction Consultants. Hastoe invested £2,130,260 into the development, with a further £1,068,000 from Homes England and a grant of £297,000 from Rother District Council. All partners, as well as local councillors, attended the official completion of works including residents who had moved in this year. The occasion was commemorated with the cutting of a ribbon. Speaking at the event, Geoff Foot, Chairman of Icklesham Parish Community Land Trust, said: “For many years Icklesham Parish Council has been concerned at the dearth of local affordable housing due to rising local house prices and the lack of affordable housing options. Younger families were having to leave the villages, or were having to live in unsuitable accommodation. We received over 500 bids for the houses and a number of deserving applicants had to be turned down. Certainly for me it brought home the scale of the problem with the lack of local affordable housing, both here and across the district.” Local land owner, Eric Hysted, said: “Wendy and I are very pleased to have been able to play a part in bringing this project to life. Having brought up two daughters in the village ourselves, who eventually needed homes of their own, we could really see the benefit of supporting a very locally-focused housing scheme. It would provide young families in particular with the opportunity to live locally and, over time, the younger element would greatly benefit our village attending the village school and supporting local clubs, pubs, etc.” Cllr Ruairí McCourt, Cabinet Member for Housing at Rother District Council, said: “I was delighted to attend the event to mark the completion of this scheme at Icklesham, and I would like to thank all the partners involved for their work on this fantastic project. We are really keen to see more social and affordable housing across the district which will help tackle homelessness and insecure housing. Decent, secure housing – like these wonderful homes at Icklesham – not only boosts the health and wellbeing of their residents, but they also help to create sustainable communities for local people well into the future.” Hastoe Board Member, Robert Rutledge, said: “On behalf of Hastoe, I would like to congratulate everyone on the completion of these fantastic homes. I know that 15 homes doesn’t sound like a lot, but they represent a 9% increase in social housing provision in the Parish and they have certainly make a huge difference to the lives of the people who live in them. What’s more, homes built by CLTs cannot be sold off, so these homes will be kept for the benefit of the community in perpetuity.” A spokesperson for Homes England said: “Despite the current challenges affecting the country, accelerating housebuilding remains our number one priority. We are committed to supporting Hastoe Housing Association that has ambitions to build new homes, and our investment through an affordable housing grant allows us to do that. We’re delighted that our funding has enabled Hastoe Housing Association to deliver much needed new homes in the Civil Parish of Icklesham.” Orchard Close tenant, Libby Gibbons, said: “Where I lived before there were 7 of us in a small 3-bedroom house and we were living on top of each other. Then me and my partner moved here and our son was born a few weeks later. It’s made a massive difference to our lives, having our own home, having lots of space and a garden. I love it.” Orchard Close tenant, Rowland Gardner, said: “I’ve lived in Icklesham previously for around 20 years. Sheila and me lived in a park home prior to our move here. We’re delighted with our new home.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Work begins on 800-home Forster Park development in Stevenage
A ground-breaking ceremony has been held at a new housing development which will deliver up to 800 homes and a new country park to Stevenage. Bellway North London and Miller Homes will build up to 800 homes at the development, which will also feature a local centre, a primary school, country park and public open space. Work has now started on the first phase of new homes, for which detailed planning consent was granted by Stevenage Borough Council earlier this year. Bellway is to build 400 homes overall – with 105 homes on the first phase, featuring 75 two, three and four-bedroom properties for private sale and 30 affordable homes available for local people through low-cost rent or shared ownership. Miller Homes is delivering 396 new homes at Forster Park, including 43 for private sale and 41 affordable homes on the first phase. The North Road development will feature a range of energy efficient two to five-bedroom homes and is anticipated to launch later this year. Ali Maruf, Managing Director of Bellway North London, said: “A significant milestone for Bellway, the ground-breaking at Forster Park celebrates our joint project with Miller Homes which has local community, heritage and sustainability at its core. “To mark the start of construction, we gathered together on the land near Rooks Nest House, where the renowned English writer EM Forster grew up, and which inspired his novel Howard’s End. This is truly a beautiful part of the world, and we have named our development Forster Park in his honour. “We are committed to an overarching focus on sustainability, which complements the site’s natural surroundings, as well as Bellway’s ethos. Existing trees and shrubs will be retained wherever possible, alongside the addition of generous new planting. Green open spaces and ponds will be thoughtfully designed and implemented to help support local wildlife, as well as bird and bat boxes being installed.“This first phase will see us not only deliver new homes – which will all have electric vehicle charging points – but also a new local centre with commercial space which could be used to house a convenience store.” Detailed applications for a further 115 homes within phase one and the 93-acre country park are to be considered by the council at a later date. Ali added: “With regard to the wider scheme, we are proud to be teaming up with Miller Homes to create a brand-new neighbourhood that will bring huge investment to improve local infrastructure and services.”Gavin Jones, regional operations director at Miller Homes South Midlands, commented: “We are excited to announce that our work has now begun on Miller Homes’ new Stevenage development, Forster Park.“Energy efficiency and environmental considerations are at the forefront of these designs; EV charging points will ensure homes are futureproofed for the new community we are creating at Forster Park, while boxes for birds and bats will encourage wildlife to thrive in green open spaces. “Together, we will also be making contributions of over £1.1 million to the local community, including support for healthcare, schools, transport and infrastructure, and sports facilities. “The development is conveniently situated in an excellent location for commuters, with easy access to the A1M and Stevenage town centre for the train station for easy connections to London.” Both Bellway and Miller Homes expect to officially launch later on this year, with show homes to follow in spring 2024. For more information about the Bellway Forster Park development, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/north-london/forster-park. For more information on Miller Homes’ Forster Park development visit https://www.millerhomes.co.uk/new-homes/south-east/forster-park-stevenage.aspx. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Keepmoat to deliver 4,000 new homes as latest strategic partner of West Midlands Combined Authority
Top 10 homebuilder Keepmoat has today announced it has become the latest strategic partner of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), with a commitment to build 4,000 additional new homes in the West Midlands. Keepmoat has also committed to aim to achieve net zero carbon emissions when building on brownfield sites and to increase their housebuilding by 50% across the West Midlands. As a strategic partner, Keepmoat will build a range of homes across different tenure types in the West Midlands, creating hundreds of new jobs for local people and generating at least 250 new apprenticeships. At least 70% of the workforce needed to deliver the homes will be employed from within a 30-mile radius, while building supplies and materials will be purchased from West Midlands-based businesses wherever possible. The memorandum of understanding between Keepmoat and WMCA also supports the Combined Authority’s wider aim of creating a fairer, greener and more prosperous West Midlands. In March, a ground-breaking Deeper Devolution Deal was secured between WMCA and Central Government, giving WMCA wide-ranging new powers and additional funding in excess of £1.5bn to level up the West Midlands. Charlotte Goode, Divisional Chair for Keepmoat West Midlands & East Midlands, commented: “We are delighted that we have been named as a strategic partner of the WMCA and that our work in the region continues to go from strength to strength. As part of our development work with WMCA, we’re already building a minimum of 1,000 new homes at price points that are accessible to people including first-time buyers. “Building sustainable communities is also a core value at Keepmoat. Working as a strategic partner of WMCA, we are actively pursuing net zero carbon developments, with schemes incorporating climate adaptation measures that respond to the short and long-term impact of climate change. These zero carbon standards go above and beyond the 2025 Future Homes Standards and help contribute to WM2041.” Keepmoat’s £360m Spirit Quarters development has so far delivered 979 new homes, with 275 of these allocated for first-time buyers. Supported by WMCA’s £1 million investment of devolved funding, this scheme continues to transform the former Wood End estate in Coventry, putting regeneration and place-making at the heart of a local community. The homebuilder’s investment into the West Midlands will support the West Midlands target of delivering 215,000 new homes by 2031. In December last year, WMCA announced that the number of new homes being built in the region had surpassed pre-Covid levels, with 16,730 new additional homes delivered in the 12 months to March 2022 – 203 more than in the year up to March 2020. The latest Strategic Partner MoU also bolsters the West Midlands’ Plan for Growth – a roadmap to develop eight specific industrial clusters where the region already has a competitive advantage. Manufacturing of future housing is one of the West Midlands clusters, reflecting the expertise arising from millions of pounds of public investment in brownfield regeneration across the region, which is also home to the National Brownfield Institute in Wolverhampton. Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority, said: “The West Midlands has been incredibly successful in recent years at regenerating old brownfield sites to build new, affordable homes – so much so that we are currently on track to meet our ambitious 2031 housing target. “However now is the time to double down on our success – not ease off – and so I am delighted we have been able to sign this deal with Keepmoat that will see even more homes, jobs, and investment come to the region. “Working together with Keepmoat we will breathe life into derelict brownfield sites, helping to protect our precious greenbelt while providing affordable, energy efficient, good quality homes and jobs for local people.” Cllr Ian Courts, WMCA portfolio lead for housing and land and leader of Solihull Council, added: “Keepmoat is the latest Strategic Partner who we have signed an MoU with – progressive developers and investors who share our vision of a more sustainable West Midlands where people have the opportunity of a decent job and a good quality, affordable home. “The commitment to use derelict industrial sites for eco-friendly, energy efficient housing is exactly the sort of future-looking approach our region needs. Not only does this help protect our precious greenbelt while creating high quality and sustainable communities, it also boosts the local economy and supports the wellbeing of residents.” WMCA was founded in 2016 and is made up of 17 local councils to deliver an ambitious plan to drive inclusive economic growth across the West Midlands. Keepmoat is a top 10 UK partnership homebuilder with a track record of delivering quality new homes across the UK at prices people can afford. To date, almost 70% of its current developments are on brownfield sites and over 70% of its customers are first-time buyers. In the last survey year, Keepmoat achieved HBF five star builder status, receiving a rating of at least 90% in the National New Homes Customer Satisfaction Survey. For more information, please visit www.keepmoat.com. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Work underway on £250m garden village at Seaham
The creation of a new landscape-led garden village on the Durham Coast is underway as three housing developers lay the foundations for the development of a new thriving community. Existing infrastructure works are underway on the new Seaham Garden Village development, which will see 1,500 new homes built over the next ten years. There will be a range of homes available, with 750 of the homes being developed for private sale by Taylor Wimpey and Miller Homes and the remaining 750 homes, being developed by Karbon Homes, will be available for a mix of both affordable rent and affordable home ownership options through shared ownership and rent to buy. Sarah Robson, Director of Development and Regeneration at Karbon Homes said: “It’s great to see work getting underway at Seaham Garden Village. There’s been lots of work to get to this point and starting on site is testament to the hard work of multiple parties, including the developers, Durham County Council and Homes England. “Working with Taylor Wimpey and Miller Homes is a great opportunity and between us we are focused on delivering a great place to live with different tenure options and various types of homes. This partnership will ensure Seaham Garden Village offers something for everyone and with the large scale of the site, we hope it will provide a great home for many people.” The 78-hectare garden village, located on the A182 going into Seaham town centre, has sustainability and community spirit at its heart. In addition to the planned housing, to take advantage of the beautiful location and views out to sea, around 50% of the garden village will be dedicated to managed green space and a range of landscapes and spaces for residents to use. Residents will also benefit from over 3 miles of landscaped paths and cycle routes. Steve McCann, Technical Director at Miller Homes, said: “Seaham Garden Village is an outstanding opportunity to create an attractive and sustainable new community in a highly accessible location. The commencement of work on site is the culmination of several years of design development and we are delighted to be working alongside Karbon Homes and Taylor Wimpey to deliver this high-quality scheme.” To help build a thriving community, the village will also include associated community facilities including a primary school, a local shopping facility, an innovation centre and a health and wellbeing hub. All homes will also be built to the very latest energy standards. David Abercrombie, Technical Director at Taylor Wimpey North East said: “This is an exciting development and is a great example of collaboratively working with our consortium partner Miller Homes, and also Karbon Homes, a fundamental partner to the development. This Garden Village project will deliver all the aspects of a thriving community set in a high-quality landscape.” Both Taylor Wimpey and Miller Homes have begun work on their private sale properties, with first homes expected to become available from Autumn 2023. Karbon Homes is currently in the process of appointing a new contractor and hope to be on site with homes being built later in the year. The delivery of the 750 affordable homes by Karbon is supported by funding from Homes England, through Karbon’s Strategic Partnership with the government’s housing delivery agency. The strategic partnership has provided Karbon with funding to deliver 2,200 new affordable homes across the North East and Yorkshire over the next few years. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction gets underway on Passivhaus council housing in Midlothian
Work has started on-site to build 20 new affordable housing apartments in Midlothian. Situated on the High Street of Bonnyrigg’s popular town centre, Cruden Building is delivering the project on behalf of Midlothian Council. The new homes will support the Council’s wider ambition to reach net zero by 2030. Achieving status as the largest Passivhaus development programme in Scotland, Midlothian Council is committed to building 182 green homes across the local community. Designed by award-winning architecture firm, AHR, eight of the new apartments will offer assisted living, with the remaining twelve apartments providing age-exclusive homes for those aged 55 and over. Achieving Passivhaus certification, the homes will offer tenants bright and spacious living spaces paired with more affordable running costs. A series of measures are being incorporated to help reduce energy consumption levels, including the new homes being fitted with Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) units to provide a constant flow of fresh air, whilst also helping to retain energy that has already been used in heating the apartments. The development will feature an attractive brick exterior to compliment its neighbouring buildings and keep with the original character of the surrounding community. With an array of local amenities available in Bonnyrigg town centre, Midlothian Council tenants will be able to embrace independent living with easy access to nearby shops, healthcare centres and transport links. Work is due to complete in July 2024. Richard Crowther, Commercial Director at Cruden Building Scotland, said: “The Cruden Group is committed to delivering more energy-efficient homes across Scotland, so we’re delighted to support Midlothian Council in reaching their wider net zero goals through building these new apartments. “Passivhaus homes can allow up to 90% of energy savings in comparison to other types of builds, which will bring life-changing benefits to local tenants, particularly at a time where living costs are at an all-time high.” Midlothian Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Stuart McKenzie, said: “We’re extremely proud to be delivering the most ambitious Passivhaus building programme in Scotland. The people who will call these flats home will enjoy living in a comfortable, warm, energy-efficient and affordable home. These flats help us towards our goal of achieving net zero status by 2030.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals