Leading South West housebuilder Cavanna Homes has marked 100 years in business with a special party for staff and shareholders at its Torquay headquarters. Founded in 1923 by Philip ‘PD’ Cavanna and his brother Ray, the company has been at the forefront of house-building projects across the Westcountry for the
Housebuilder The Hill Group has announced the acquisition of a 17-acre site for residential development in the picturesque village of Fulbourn, Cambridgeshire, to deliver 110 high-quality new homes for the local area. With a strong reputation for sustainable redevelopment across Cambridgeshire, Hill will provide a wide range of attractive, energy-efficient
Far East Consortium (FEC) has secured planning permission for the next phase of their Red Bank Scheme, a joint venture project with Manchester City Council’s Victoria North. Passed by Manchester City Council’s planning committee on August 31st, the approval helps to unlock FEC’s ambitions to deliver up to 4,800 new
Willmott Dixon has announced the start of construction work on two new state-of-the-art specialist healthcare facilities, developed by Prime plc in partnership with University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS). Situated on plot 2 of the Adanac Health and Innovation Campus in Southampton, the new multi-use facility, which is being
Following a £500,000 investment to redevelop the 18th-century Brookfield House in Leeds, tailored office providers, WorkWell, has celebrated 50% occupancy pre-let. Purchased by the Corrigan family in 2002, Brookfield House has been the home to Leeds-based businesses for the last 21 years. Currently undergoing an extensive renovation, the office space
Lendlease has been selected by Gateshead Council’s development partner Ask:PATRIZIA to deliver The Sage International Conference Centre at Gateshead Quays. The announcement follows swiftly after Gateshead Council’s planning committee approved revised plans for the 61,440 sqm riverside scheme. Design amendments included re-location of the 344-room dual branded hotel to an
Plans have been approved to build over 50 affordable homes and a 68-apartment extra care development, two miles from Bridlington Town Centre. The scheme has been brought forward by Esh Construction in a land led deal worth £25 million in partnership with Housing 21 and Yorkshire Housing. Earmarked for land
GRAHAM has been awarded the contract for the redevelopment of Birmingham’s Children’s Hospital. The redevelopment plans include the creation of a new three storey elective care hub on the site, funded by the national COVID-10 recovery programme, that will be the home for a new state-of-the art intraoperative MRI (iMRI)
Persimmon Homes Cornwall and West Devon has secured planning permission for the delivery of a major new development in Newquay, Cornwall. The land south of A392 in Trevemper will see Cornwall and West Devon construct 187 quality new homes for local families, after permission was granted this week by Cornwall
The government has approved two SSE green hydrogen projects proposed to progress to the final stage of its Net Zero Hydrogen Fund. The fund aims to back the development and deployment of new low-carbon hydrogen production to de-risk investment and reduce lifetime costs. Following a period of due diligence, the
Leading South West housebuilder Cavanna Homes has marked 100 years in business with a special party for staff and shareholders at its Torquay headquarters. Founded in 1923 by Philip ‘PD’ Cavanna and his brother Ray, the company has been at the forefront of house-building projects across the Westcountry for the past century, retaining a commitment to quality set by its founders. The expansion of the business has seen Cavanna Homes, now one of the South West’s largest independent housebuilders, appoint non-family members in senior roles. However, Jeremy Cavanna, the grandson of co-founder PD Cavanna, remains as a non-executive director, after handing over the chairmanship of the business this year to Keith Miller, formerly group managing director and then deputy chairman. Grayham Tucker was appointed to the role of group managing director in January 2023 to oversee the day-to-day operation of the company. Keith Miller told guests at the celebration event: “There have been huge changes in the housebuilding industry over the past century and Cavanna Homes has moved with the times. But the business has always stuck to the principles of its family founders – delivering excellent homes safely and to the highest standard for our customers.” The company has come a long way from its foundation, embracing the latest sustainable technology in many of the homes it builds, designing property to meet the needs of 21st century living and providing help and support for hard-pressed homebuyers. Cavanna Homes has never lost sight of its strong Torbay presence and continues to concentrate on building beautiful and sustainable new homes in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset. When the company was founded, Britain was still emerging from the economic difficulties caused by the aftermath of the First World War. In 1923 the Cavanna brothers set out from their home in Watford to seek work as plasterers in Torquay. They had been advised by their parents, who had been in service on the English Riviera, to head West. The thinking was that because Torquay homes were often finished with render there would be plenty of work for qualified plasterers and the brothers soon branched out into house building. In 1924 sufficient progress had been made for P.D and Ray’s families to join them in the homes they had built in Laura Grove, Paignton. Not long after, the partnership dissolved and P.D moved into general contracting and house building while Ray continued the plastering business. As the need for new housing increased, especially following the Second World War, Cavanna Homes began to grow into Torbay’s foremost building company and in 1949 the company was incorporated. The business grew through the 1960s and 1970s, selling in excess of 100 homes a year for the first time. PD Cavanna was involved in the business with his sons and son-in-law at the helm, right up until his death in 1983 at the age of 93. In the past year Cavanna Homes has been shortlisted for an award in the Michelmores Property Awards for its development at Wolborough Hill, Newton Abbot and is also in the running for a national Housebuilder Award for its scheme Broadleigh Park in Tavistock. The finals will be held in November. A team of cyclists from Cavanna Homes raised more than £12,000 in July for its Charity of the Year, Children’s Hospice South West, completing the gruelling St Austell to Bristol “Ride for Precious Lives” sponsored cycle ride. And, in recognition of the challenges facing first-time buyers as mortgage rates rise, Cavanna Homes has been offering a helping hand to buyers with a contribution to their deposit, cutting borrowing and reducing monthly mortgage payments on selected homes. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Housebuilder The Hill Group has announced the acquisition of a 17-acre site for residential development in the picturesque village of Fulbourn, Cambridgeshire, to deliver 110 high-quality new homes for the local area. With a strong reputation for sustainable redevelopment across Cambridgeshire, Hill will provide a wide range of attractive, energy-efficient homes surrounded by landscaped open green space. Nestled among mature trees, the development will incorporate linear and meadow parks, further enhancing the natural beauty of the area. Hill is working with an independent ecologist to ensure the sensitive management of the site to preserve its biodiversity. The development will include a children’s play area and a network of footpaths and cycle lanes to connect residents with local amenities. Andy Hill OBE, Group Chief Executive at The Hill Group, commented: “This remarkable site represents an excellent opportunity to protect and enhance the scenic natural environment. Having successfully delivered similar developments across Cambridge and throughout the South East of England, we look forward to applying our experience to deliver sustainable new homes in this highly sought-after location.” Situated north of Cow Lane and close to a variety of essential amenities, such as high-performing schools, shops, and Addenbrooke’s Hospital, the development will be designed to reflect the existing architectural vernacular of this popular village. This collection of new homes will include two-bedroom apartments and two to five-bedroom terraced, semi-detached, and detached houses for private sale. Affordable housing will include one, two, and three-bedroom apartments and two-bedroom houses available through shared ownership and affordable rent. Residents will have access to cycle storage, and each of the houses will benefit from a private garden. In keeping with Hill’s impressive track record for sustainable development, each of the properties will utilise a range of energy-efficient features, including air source heat pumps and underfloor heating. The Fulbourn site will continue Hill’s expertise in delivering high-quality, community-focused new homes within the Cambridge area. Other developments in the area include Marleigh, a flagship development proudly delivered in partnership with Marshall LLP on the eastern edge of Cambridge, and the award-winning, highly sustainable Knights Park development in Eddington. Hill also has a successful investment partnership with Cambridge City Council to deliver a programme of housing developments across the city, with over 1,000 homes either delivered or currently underway. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Far East Consortium (FEC) has secured planning permission for the next phase of their Red Bank Scheme, a joint venture project with Manchester City Council’s Victoria North. Passed by Manchester City Council’s planning committee on August 31st, the approval helps to unlock FEC’s ambitions to deliver up to 4,800 new homes in the emerging Red Bank neighbourhood across a range of tenure types and sizes, including affordable homes. The first, an outline planning application, is for the delivery of up to 3,250 homes and more than 160,000 sq ft of non-residential floor space to be earmarked for commercial uses, a health centre, primary school, residential amenities and community spaces. This will be accompanied by the creation of new public realm with extensive areas of landscaping, greenspace and wetlands, supporting a minimum 10% biodiversity net gain across the neighbourhood. The second approval is for a full planning application for FEC’s next phase of delivery on the three plots adjacent to the 634-home Victoria Riverside scheme, which is currently under construction. This will see the delivery of seven buildings varying in height between six and 34 storeys and comprising 1,550 homes, as well as a new high street that will include 20,000 sq ft of commercial and retail space earmarked for local independent businesses. The homes will comprise a mix of one, two and three-bed apartments and townhouses catering for a diverse mix of homes including build to rent (BTR), affordable and open market sale. Both planning submissions were centred on the Wild Urbanism concept, which prioritises green space, biodiversity, active travel and public realm as part of the city centre living experience, placing sustainable living at the forefront of the project. The buildings within the masterplan will be delivered to a high sustainability standard which will include the installation of solar panels, heat pumps and green and brown roofs. The masterplan and outline application proposals were developed in partnership with masterplanner Maccreanor Lavington and Copenhagen-based public realm specialist, Schulze+Grassov with support from local practice OP-EN and sustainability experts Useful Projects. The full application was created by Maccreanor Lavington in collaboration with Manchester-based practice Hawkins/Brown. Red Bank is one of the first of seven neighbourhoods being regenerated as part of the £4bn Victoria North project, which is one the largest in the UK and will create 15,000 new homes over the next decade. Hilary Brett, project director at FEC, said: “Red Bank is one of the most under-used areas in Manchester, but its proximity to the city centre and the existing natural assets of the River Irk and St Catherine’s Wood make it the ideal location for a thriving new neighbourhood. “We are delighted to have received approval and want to thank everyone who has been involved and supported the project to get us to this point. We’re excited to move forward with our next phases of delivery.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Willmott Dixon has announced the start of construction work on two new state-of-the-art specialist healthcare facilities, developed by Prime plc in partnership with University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS). Situated on plot 2 of the Adanac Health and Innovation Campus in Southampton, the new multi-use facility, which is being funded by Macquarie Asset Management on behalf of the retirement specialist, Just Group plc, will comprise an Aseptic Pharmacy and Sterile Services Department (SSD), with further flexible expansion space. The Aseptic Pharmacy will act as an MHRA-licensed pharmacy, with sterile medicines manufactured for UHS and other NHS providers in the region. Meanwhile, the SSD will sterilise surgical tools and equipment for use by UHS; these services will be delivered at the new location by strategic provider IHSS. UHS is one of the largest acute teaching trusts in England and experiences a very high demand on its geographically constrained site. By working with Prime, through the Southampton Commercial Estates Development Partnership (CEDP), the Trust has been able to unlock a number of complex estate challenges. These new facilities will be the latest in a series of developments designed to create more space for the Trust to expand. Previous development on the hospital site has produced a new entrance, retail space and staff car park. The partners then worked together to create Adanac Health and Innovation Campus, providing additional expansion space with good proximity to the hospital and easy access to the motorway network. To date, a multi-storey park and ride car park serving the hospital and Costa Coffee have been delivered at the new campus, and a remaining 3 plots are still to be developed. This is the latest scheme between Willmott Dixon and Prime. In 2022, the two delivered a 600+ space multi-storey car park at Dorset County Hospital, creating valuable parking provision for the Trust’s staff, patients and visitors, while also freeing up space so the Trust can extend its Emergency Department and Critical Care unit. It also further underlines Willmott Dixon’s role as one of the UK’s largest constructors of healthcare space. Notable projects include Bolton College of Medical Sciences, a ‘first of its kind’ facility that’s a blueprint for training NHS staff across the country, plus the Pears Building – Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, a world-leading research centre at the Royal Free Hospital. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Following a £500,000 investment to redevelop the 18th-century Brookfield House in Leeds, tailored office providers, WorkWell, has celebrated 50% occupancy pre-let. Purchased by the Corrigan family in 2002, Brookfield House has been the home to Leeds-based businesses for the last 21 years. Currently undergoing an extensive renovation, the office space is set to open in September 2023 and is already signing up new customers ahead of its launch. Located next to Brookfield Court on Selby Road, the renovation of Brookfield House will create access between the two impressive red-brick office buildings, and will feature new office space, an open plan kitchen, a new reception and additional meeting space including two new meeting rooms and a 16-person boardroom available to the public for corporate bookings. Oliver Corrigan, Managing Director at WorkWell, said: “Brookfield House has proudly been a part of the WorkWell portfolio for many years, and my family has personally farmed the area for 50 plus years, so we’re thrilled to be able to create a greater future for the building while respecting its incredible past. “At WorkWell we’re proud to offer a different way of working with Leeds businesses. Our approach is not just about offering an office space with four walls. Each office park within our portfolio perfectly balances aesthetics with functionality, to create a purpose-designed office space which aligns with our member’s company values and purpose.” Designed by northern-based creatives, Ekho Studio, the former manor house will combine impressive aesthetics with performance-enhancing technology and will feature 9,000 square feet of workable space set amongst 100 acres of accessible countryside. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Lendlease has been selected by Gateshead Council’s development partner Ask:PATRIZIA to deliver The Sage International Conference Centre at Gateshead Quays. The announcement follows swiftly after Gateshead Council’s planning committee approved revised plans for the 61,440 sqm riverside scheme. Design amendments included re-location of the 344-room dual branded hotel to an adjacent site and the subsequent creation of an urban park utilising the remaining space which will create a pedestrian link from the Millennium Bridge up to Hawks Road. Enabling works have been taking place over the last two years and Lendlease plan to make a start on site later this year. With a GDV of £150 million, The Sage International Conference Centre will be delivered in the first phase of the scheme and will include 5,720 sqm state of the art exhibition space, 2,520 sqm adaptable meeting space, 17 conference rooms and a banqueting suite. The first phase will also include the hotel and urban park. On completion The Sage International Conference Centre will be operated by ASM Global. Lendlease is an international real estate group that has delivered convention, event and entertainment facilities both in the UK and globally. The company brings global expertise and learnings from similar projects including the SSE Hydro (now the OVO Hydro) in Glasgow, Scotland, and the International Convention Centre in Sydney, Australia. The business is committed to creating lasting legacies and delivering new jobs, skills and sustainability initiatives on every project. David Cadiot, Executive General Manager of UK Regions for Lendlease, said: “Lendlease has a track record of building, designing and project managing some of the world’s greatest sporting and entertainment venues. We’ll bring the know how to create an exceptional venue, one which local people will be hugely proud to have on their doorstep.” The revised plans for the relocated hotel were granted planning permission in March 2023. Russell WBHO has been appointed as contractor on the £48m building, which will be operated by Accor under its Novotel and ibis brands. The delivery of The Sage ICC will be followed by The Sage Arena which will also be operated by ASM Global and which will be completed under a separate construction contract. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans have been approved to build over 50 affordable homes and a 68-apartment extra care development, two miles from Bridlington Town Centre. The scheme has been brought forward by Esh Construction in a land led deal worth £25 million in partnership with Housing 21 and Yorkshire Housing. Earmarked for land off Pinfold Lane in the north of Bridlington which is allocated for residential development in the East Riding Local Plan, the inter-generational scheme meets an identified need for affordable housing in the area and homes for older persons aged over 55. A three-storey extra care building containing one and two-bedroom apartments and communal facilities, including a restaurant, hair salon and a resident lounge, will be managed by Housing 21. This will allow people to live independently in their own home, while accessing on-site care and support should they need it. For Yorkshire Housing, Esh will build a mix of two and three-bedroom houses, two-bedroom bungalows and one-bedroom ‘walk up’ apartments for affordable tenures, including affordable rent, shared ownership and rent to buy. Modern methods of construction (MMC) will be used throughout the scheme and 26 homes will be built with a timber frame. Laura Devaney, land and partnerships director at Esh Construction, said: “This land led scheme has been long in the making, therefore we are delighted to receive the go ahead from the planners. “With an ageing population it is important that we are building more new extra care housing to satisfy the needs of later life living options, as well as helping to meet the Government’s affordable housing targets. The development in Bridlington is an exciting project and we look forward to getting work underway next year.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
GRAHAM has been awarded the contract for the redevelopment of Birmingham’s Children’s Hospital. The redevelopment plans include the creation of a new three storey elective care hub on the site, funded by the national COVID-10 recovery programme, that will be the home for a new state-of-the art intraoperative MRI (iMRI) machine, providing seamless patient care during surgery and reduce the need for some children to travel to other parts of the UK for treatment. It will also provide additional clinical space for services. Ronan Hughes, Regional Director at GRAHAM commented: “Building on our expertise in providing state-of-the-art health facilities, we’re immensely proud to be delivering this project for the Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust. It will undoubtedly leave a lasting legacy in the Birmingham area and hugely benefit children and families, clinical staff and the wider community.” The proposals will see a radical transformation of the front of the hospital with the current entrance being demolished and replaced with a new striking glass façade creating more space to welcome patients and visitors. A key benefit of the scheme is improved thermal performance and energy efficiency by expanding the use of ground source heat pump technology. Windows at the front of the hospital will be replaced with modern glass and frames in keeping with the site’s Victorian architecture. Matt Boazman, Chief Executive for Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are grateful to Council colleagues for their support of these plans. This is excellent news, not just for the Children’s Hospital but the thousands of children and young people across Birmingham and the West Midlands who access our services every year and those across the UK who rely on the skills and expertise of our highly specialised services. “The developments will not only improve existing services but create opportunity for us to do more for the young people who rely on us for their care.” The plans are also being supported by the hospital’s Charity which is currently fundraising for the new iMRI machine and in discussions to support the dramatic transformation of the front of the hospital. Vicky Casey, Architect Director at BDP said: “Through a combination of redevelopment and refurbishment our project at Birmingham Children’s Hospital will create a modern healthcare facility that can sustain the world class provision of paediatric services in the heart of Birmingham city centre. The ambitious decarbonisation credentials alongside the theatre expansion and iMRI provide critically important facilities for the children of Birmingham and the wider region. “The sympathetic reimagining of the historic Victorian courtyard will provide the trust with a modern main entrance re-creating a sense of arrival that celebrates the building’s origins while meeting the needs of patients and families. We are incredibly proud to be designing these projects for such an important anchor institution in Birmingham, helping it shape the future of healthcare provision for its staff and children in the West Midlands.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Persimmon Homes Cornwall and West Devon has secured planning permission for the delivery of a major new development in Newquay, Cornwall. The land south of A392 in Trevemper will see Cornwall and West Devon construct 187 quality new homes for local families, after permission was granted this week by Cornwall Council. In addition, the region will allocate 56 properties to a local housing association provider, which will help address Cornwall’s pressing housing requirements. The proposed development comprises homes of one, two and three storeys, and a wide range of properties from one-bed apartments to five-bed homes will be built. Persimmon’s proposals will also deliver significant public open space, play area, infrastructure improvements and a new 3m wide strategic footpath/cycle way following a request from local people Cornwall Council. The region will also contribute over £565,000 to Cornwall Council through the Community Infrastructure Levy for local improvements. Commenting, Robbie Brown, Technical Director for Persimmon Homes Cornwall and West Devon, said: “We are delighted to have secured planning permission for our new Newquay development. “The application demonstrated our continued commitment to the principles of sustainable, high-quality development, delivering a wide choice of homes to meet local needs. “Through the construction of 187 quality new homes for local people, this site will deliver substantial social and economic benefits, playing an important role in the growth and aspirations of Newquay as one of Cornwall’s key settlements. “As part of our wider commitment to the local community, we will transfer 56 homes to a local housing association partner, which will help tackle Cornwall’s pressing housing demands. We have also listened to the request for a new strategic footpath and cycle way, and we’re delighted to have gone above and beyond on this asset for the local community. “I would like to thank Cornwall Council for their cooperation and diligence during the application process as all parties worked positively to deliver a high-quality scheme, which helps address the local housing need and provides the opportunity for home ownership to more local people.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The government has approved two SSE green hydrogen projects proposed to progress to the final stage of its Net Zero Hydrogen Fund. The fund aims to back the development and deployment of new low-carbon hydrogen production to de-risk investment and reduce lifetime costs. Following a period of due diligence, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has confirmed it will enter negotiations with SSE to provide support for its Aldbrough Hydrogen Pathfinder and Gordonbush Hydrogen projects. Aldbrough Hydrogen Pathfinder, which is being developed at SSE Thermal’s existing gas storage site in East Yorkshire (pictured above) aims to demonstrate the interactions between renewable hydrogen production, storage and power generation. Pathfinder could be operational by the middle of the decade and serve an important role in proving the role flexible hydrogen power can play in the UK’s net zero journey. Gordonbush Hydrogen plans to produce and deliver green hydrogen through electrolysis using renewable energy from SSE Renewables’ 100MW-plus Gordonbush onshore wind farm in Sutherland (pictured below). The project would demonstrate the value in co-locating green hydrogen production at existing renewables sites, with the potential to maximise renewables output unlocking further growth as well as enabling decarbonisation of other sectors. Catherine Raw, Managing Director of SSE Thermal and Group Executive Committee lead for hydrogen, said: “Hydrogen will be crucial in getting the UK to net zero, as well as significantly boosting our energy security by maximising our ability to harness homegrown renewables. At SSE, we are developing projects across the hydrogen value chain, from production to storage to power generation. “For a thriving hydrogen economy to be developed, we need to see projects brought forward at pace and the Net Zero Hydrogen Fund aims to achieve exactly that. “We welcome the recognition from UK Government on the potential of both Aldbrough Hydrogen Pathfinder and Gordonbush Hydrogen and look forward to the continued development of these important low-carbon projects.” SSE’s Aldbrough Hydrogen Pathfinder would utilise green power sourced from grid through Renewable PPAs when supply is plentiful, in compliance with the Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard. Hydrogen would then be produced via a 35MW electrolyser and stored in a converted salt cavern before being used in a 100% hydrogen-fired open-cycle gas turbine, exporting flexible green power back to grid at times of system need. SSE aims to produce hydrogen and start filling the cavern by 2025, subject to planning consents and reaching a final investment decision later this year. Gordonbush Hydrogen is currently undergoing refinements prior to the submission of a planning application to the Highland Council. If developed, the Gordonbush Hydrogen facility could produce up to 1,300 tonnes of green hydrogen annually in an electrolyser unit. The green hydrogen could then be used as a clean alternative to petrol, diesel or natural gas to help decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors such as industry, transport and manufacturing. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
