Local housebuilder Crest Nicholson’s Chiltern division recently hosted a charity ball in aid of Young Lives vs Cancer, raising an amazing £16,000 over the evening to help those fighting cancer, and their families. Hundreds of people from across the housebuilding industry gathered at The Crowne Plaza Hotel in Marlow on
Local Bedfordshire housebuilder Crest Nicholson has launched its new development, Lewin Park, in the popular village of Langford. Lewin Park has been designed to reflect the surrounding natural environment, including a range of initiatives to protect and encourage wildlife in and around the development. Hedgehog highways enable wildlife to roam
Award-winning housebuilder Crest Nicholson has announced that the science-based targets set by the business in 2022 have now been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). It is the first UK housebuilder to have its science-based net-zero target approved by the SBTi, reflecting its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas
Housebuilder Crest Nicholson has launched a brand-new play area within its sought-after Arborfield Green in Wokingham, for children and families to enjoy. Located off Princess Marina Drive, the play area includes a climbing frame, slide and swings, and is perfect for children aged three to twelve. Helping to promote active
Housebuiler Crest Nicholson has sponsored a selection of upgraded outdoor seating at St Pancras Catholic Primary School in Ipswich. The brightly coloured new benches are made of hard-wearing recycled plastic, replacing the old wooden benches that were in need of an upgrade. Not only will their durable material mean they
Crest Nicholson has announced that its pre-tax profits for the year ending October 31 2018 slipped 15% to £176.4 million, with the London sales and higher priced homes being the main challenges in the year. Revenue was up 9% to £1,136.1 million and unit sales up 3% to 3,020. “The
Developer Crest Nicholson has launched a new dedicated training scheme for former members of the Armed Forces, agreeing to offer army veterans the opportunity to build a career in the housebuilding sector with its new scheme. “As a nation, we owe a great deal to our Armed Forces and it
On site work on the £117 million Campbell Wharf development in Milton Keynes has commenced. The residential-led mixed use scheme includes 383 new homes, a narrowboat marina, public house, nursery and a mix of retail units and is set to transform and revitalise a much-underutilised part of Central Milton Keynes.
A Reserved Matters Application has been submitted by developer Crest Nicholson for 192 homes and landscaped public open space at Alconbury Weald, Cambridgeshire. Located on the former airfield to the north west of Huntingdon, Crest Nicholson will become the fifth housebuilder to join the growing development of over 5,000 homes.
Scheme consists of 239 residential units and nearly 10,000sq.m of retail and leisure space set in a new Town square in Farnham Award-winning developer Crest Nicholson and Waverley Borough Council have announced that work on the £115m Brightwells regeneration of Farnham Town Centre will commence in summer 2018. Comprising a
Local housebuilder Crest Nicholson’s Chiltern division recently hosted a charity ball in aid of Young Lives vs Cancer, raising an amazing £16,000 over the evening to help those fighting cancer, and their families. Hundreds of people from across the housebuilding industry gathered at The Crowne Plaza Hotel in Marlow on the 26th January for a gorgeous black tie event in aid of Young Lives vs Cancer. The event was hosted by comedian Paul Sinha. Throughout the night, money was donated through raffles and a guest speaker, Patience, took to the stage to share her story about her son Jeremy, his cancer journey, and how Young Lives vs Cancer supported them throughout his treatment, so he could battle through. As a business, Crest Nicholson has now raised over £100,000 for its charity partner, in addition to volunteering its time and expertise to support with hands-on projects, such as repair work to Young Lives’ Homes away from Home. Charlie Joseph, Sales and Marketing Director at Crest Nicholson Chiltern, comments: “Thank you to everyone who attended our charity ball and who contributed to the money raised via purchasing entry tickets, raffle tickets or making additional donations. The event was a huge success not only in the money raised but was a great way to raise awareness and for everyone to find out more about the impact the charity has on young people and their families. “Looking ahead, we hope to build on our partnership with Young Lives through more sponsorships, events, challenges, and hands-on projects, in the hope that the charity can support even more young people and their families at what is an incredibly difficult time in their lives.” Young Lives Vs Cancer helps children and young people, and their families, find the strength to face whatever cancer throws at them. The charity has Homes from Home, located close to hospitals and principal treatment centres where children have treatment, so at a time when families should only have to focus on their child or young person’s treatment, they can stay close to them, keeping families together at a difficult time. The charity has 11 Homes across the UK including Paul’s House and Ciaran’s house, helping families to avoid the extra financial burden of travel, accommodation, and food whilst their child is completing their treatment. The Homes, and the charity more broadly, works to ensure families are as comfortable as possible and can experience at least a bit of normalcy whilst they are away for cancer treatment. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Local Bedfordshire housebuilder Crest Nicholson has launched its new development, Lewin Park, in the popular village of Langford. Lewin Park has been designed to reflect the surrounding natural environment, including a range of initiatives to protect and encourage wildlife in and around the development. Hedgehog highways enable wildlife to roam safely and freely, whilst bug hotels provide a safe haven for insects. The hedgehog highways and bee hotels are supported by other initiatives, including hedgerow and tree planting and the provision of insect-loving plants such as lavender to encourage bugs and bees to the development. The new development will offer a range of three to five bedroom homes and a range of house types to respond to local need, meaning there is something for a wide range of prospective buyers, from first time buyers to growing families looking to upsize. Ready to reserve now, residents are expected to be welcomed from the end of May and can visit the brand new show home, the four bedroom Keswick house type, which has just launched. Charlie Joseph, Sales and Marketing Director for Chiltern, comments: “We’re excited to launch our new development Lewin Park, which makes the most of the surrounding Bedfordshire countryside and its village location. As part of Crest Nicholson’s sustainability strategy, we have created bug hotels and hedgehog highways as well as wildlife-friendly plants, all of which can play a huge part in helping us to make a positive impact on the local biodiversity. “Interest in Lewin Park has been high ahead of the launch, so we’d recommend anyone interested get in touch with our friendly sales team as soon as possible to visit the brand new show home, so you can be one of the first to secure your plot here.” Lewin Park is perfect for those who enjoy countryside living within a quaint village whilst having easy access to amenities and transport links on their doorstep. The development is located less than three miles from Biggleswade train station, which runs regular direct trains to London St. Pancras Station in 30 minutes. The development also has great access to the A1 and M1 making this an ideal location for those who need access to surrounding towns and cities such as Bedford, Cambridge and Luton. For families, there are a selection of schools rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted within walking distance of the development including Langford Village Academy and St Andrew’s C OF E VC Lower School, which are 0.9 and 1.2 miles away from Lewin Park. There are a range of local amenities within and around the village of Langford that residents can enjoy, including several restaurants and bars, plus Stortford Watermill and Nature Reserve. Prices for three, four and five bedroom homes start at £380,000, £520,000 and £650,000 respectively, with select plots available to purchase SmoothMove, Part Exchange and Deposit Unlock. For more information about the development, or to book an appointment, please call 01234 481 376 or visit www.crestnicholson.com/lewin-park. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Award-winning housebuilder Crest Nicholson has announced that the science-based targets set by the business in 2022 have now been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). It is the first UK housebuilder to have its science-based net-zero target approved by the SBTi, reflecting its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the value chain. The SBTi validation confirms that the targets set by Crest Nicholson are based on the latest climate science, supporting the ambition to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C in line with the Paris Agreement. Crest Nicholson’s target to reach net-zero GHG emissions across the value chain by 2045 is supported by a series of commitments across its scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. Net-zero target Near term targets Long term targets Achieving net-zero emissions across the value chain will be a significant challenge, requiring effective collaboration and coordinated action across the supply chain and wider industry. Crest Nicholson is already making progress in reducing GHG emissions. Steps taken to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions include driving the efficient use of plant and equipment on site, trialling lower carbon technologies including hybrid generators and an electric telehandler, using alternative low carbon fuels and increasing the procurement of renewable electricity. To reduce emissions relating to scope 3, Crest Nicholson continuously reviews the design, technologies and materials used within its homes. It is also a member of the Future Homes Hub’s Embodied and Whole Life Carbon Workgroup, which is developing guidance, tools and an implementation plan to support an industry-wide reduction in whole life carbon. Mark Kershaw, Group Head of Sustainability at Crest Nicholson: “The validation of our targets by the Science Based Targets initiative ensures that our ambitions are aligned with the latest climate science and will contribute towards tackling the climate crisis. At Crest Nicholson, we continue to challenge ourselves to reduce emissions across our operations. We look forward to collaborating with our suppliers, partners and the wider industry to accelerate the adoption of more sustainable practices and take the required steps together towards achieving net-zero.” Peter Truscott, Chief Executive at Crest Nicholson: “We are proud to be the first UK housebuilder to have our science-based net-zero target approved by the Science Based Targets initiative. Our industry has a pivotal role to play in responding to climate change and we look forward to continuing to drive the decarbonisation of our operations and wider value chain.” *The target boundary includes biogenic land-related emissions and removals from bioenergy feedstocks. About the Science Based Targets initiative The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a global body enabling businesses to set ambitious emissions reductions targets in line with the latest climate science. It is focused on accelerating companies across the world to halve emissions before 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions before 2050. The initiative is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and one of the We Mean Business Coalition commitments. The SBTi defines and promotes best practice in science-based target setting, offers resources and guidance to reduce barriers to adoption, and independently assesses and approves companies’ targets. www.sciencebasedtargets.org @sciencetargets Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Housebuilder Crest Nicholson has launched a brand-new play area within its sought-after Arborfield Green in Wokingham, for children and families to enjoy. Located off Princess Marina Drive, the play area includes a climbing frame, slide and swings, and is perfect for children aged three to twelve. Helping to promote active lifestyles and healthy communities, the play area will be a prominent hub for families within the development. Charlie Joseph, Sales and Marketing Director at Crest Nicholson Chiltern, said: “As part of our commitment to build thriving communities with a range of amenities on the doorstep, we’re pleased to announce the launch of another much-anticipated play area at Arborfield Green. We know this play area will be popular with parents and children, and we’re looking forward to seeing both residents and local people coming together to enjoy it.” Crest Nicholson currently has a range of two bedroom apartments and three to five bedroom homes at its Nightingale Fields and Waterman’s Gate developments at Arborfield Green, and is launching a new phase at Waterman’s Gate in March 2023. Situated beside Waterman’s Lake and Hazebrouck Meadow, Arborfield Green provides the perfect balance between town and countryside living. Residents can already benefit from being close by to the brand new Bohunt School, which opened on site in September 2016, and will be able to make full use of the new Sainsbury’s store coming soon to the district centre. Prices for two bedroom apartments start from £305,000, whilst prices for three, four, and five bedroom homes start from £475,000, £640,000 and £699,000 respectively. To help homebuyers secure their dream property, there are a number of schemes available on select plots, including Part Exchange, Home Reach and Deposit Unlock. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Housebuiler Crest Nicholson has sponsored a selection of upgraded outdoor seating at St Pancras Catholic Primary School in Ipswich. The brightly coloured new benches are made of hard-wearing recycled plastic, replacing the old wooden benches that were in need of an upgrade. Not only will their durable material mean they will stand the test of time and will be well suited for the British weather, but they will be a perfect addition for children to use during the school day and for the range of events held at the school, including ice cream sales, cake sales, summer fayres, sports days and more. “We’re thrilled with the generous donation from Crest Nicholson, which arrived in time for many of our outdoor school activities and events this year and has been used by students and their families alike. Since the start of the academic year, the children have loved using them for lunchtime, eating snacks outside, socialising, and making friends. Crest Nicholson have been instrumental in our fundraising plans to install benches for our students,” said Kerry Marsh, from St Pancras Catholic Primary School PTA group. To support the surrounding community, the benches sponsored by Crest Nicholson were sourced from a local supplier, Realise Futures Disability and Support Service, in Ipswich, making the contribution a real community effort. “At Crest Nicholson, we’re not only committed to building homes but supporting the wider community and so we were really pleased to be able to support the St Pancras Catholic Primary School with upgrading their outdoor seating areas and are delighted to hear these have already been enjoyed by students and their families,” commented Karen Coulson, Sales and Marketing Director at Crest Nicholson Eastern. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Crest Nicholson has announced that its pre-tax profits for the year ending October 31 2018 slipped 15% to £176.4 million, with the London sales and higher priced homes being the main challenges in the year. Revenue was up 9% to £1,136.1 million and unit sales up 3% to 3,020. “The business has had a good year operationally, with an increase in the number of new homes delivered. However, we have faced some challenges in London and with sales at higher price points where political and economic uncertainty has adversely impacted customer demand and this is likely to continue pending Brexit resolution,” said Crest Nicholson CEO Patrick Bergin. “Our forward sales are strong, boosted by our strategic partnerships and our new channels to market. Pricing is stable, build cost inflation has moderated and we have implemented plans to mitigate margin pressure, which will take effect progressively over the next few years. Our revised business strategy and focus on cash generation underpins our confidence in generating sustainable shareholder returns,” he added. In order to offset build cost pressures, Crest has taken a number of actions in its supply chain, as well as making improvements to build quality management and performance and investing to improve operational efficiency. The firm has developed a new range of designs for both houses and apartments which offer cost efficiencies through “some standardisation” making procurement and construction easier. The firm is also expanding its use of offsite manufacture (OSM), where house components, typically pre-insulated cold-rolled steel frames, are built in a factory and then erected on site. Looking ahead Bergin said that in the context of an unresolved Brexit, he expects the first half of 2019 to be difficult but that Crest is equipped to deal with any challenges it faces. “We are optimistic about the longer term prospects of the sector, we continue to remain vigilant and responsive. Our focus on the south of England housing markets remains a long-term strength, land remains in good supply and we have strong plans in place to meet the demand for affordable housing,” concluded Mr Bergin.
Developer Crest Nicholson has launched a new dedicated training scheme for former members of the Armed Forces, agreeing to offer army veterans the opportunity to build a career in the housebuilding sector with its new scheme. “As a nation, we owe a great deal to our Armed Forces and it is particularly pertinent at this time of year to reaffirm our commitment to them,” said Patrick Bergin, CEO of Crest Nicholson. “Currently, we have a number of employees across our business who have been involved with, or touched by, the Armed Forces. They bring a wealth of transferable skills, experience and values to their roles thanks to the world-class training they have received during their time with the military and we recognise the valuable contribution they can make to our business. It gives me great pride to sign the Armed Forces Covenant today and to formalise our ongoing commitment to supporting these men and women.” The agreement was signed by Patrick Bergin and Lt Col Paddy Baines MBE, who signed it on behalf of the Ministry of Defence. Crest Nicholson hosted the signing event at its Arborfield Green development, which is being delivered in partnership with the Ministry of Defence on the site of the former Arborfield Garrison. “The Armed Forces Covenant relies on the people, communities, and businesses of the UK to actively support it and make a difference. Clearly Crest Nicholson PLC already recognise the benefits of engaging with defence particularly in the employment of skilled service leavers and we look forward to furthering our mutually beneficial relationship,” added Lieutenant Colonel Baines. Crest Nicholson has been building new homes for over 50 years and is firmly established as a leading developer with a passion for not just building homes, but creating vibrant sustainable communities. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals and communities, both now and in the future, by providing better homes, workplaces, retail and leisure spaces.
On site work on the £117 million Campbell Wharf development in Milton Keynes has commenced. The residential-led mixed use scheme includes 383 new homes, a narrowboat marina, public house, nursery and a mix of retail units and is set to transform and revitalise a much-underutilised part of Central Milton Keynes. Once it approaches completion, the development will deliver 332 one and two-bedroom apartments and 51 three, four and five-bedroom houses. Moreover, 30% of the properties on site have been reserved for shared ownership and affordable housing, in order to meet local housing needs in the community. “We are pleased to have cemented our agreement with the Milton Keynes Development Partnership and look forward to working together on this significant development. Once complete the scheme will provide a new gateway from the Canal to Central Milton Keynes and deliver much needed new homes to the area,” said Scott Black, Managing Director at Crest Nicholson. Located on the eastern edge of Central Milton Keynes with easy access to both Milton Keynes Central Station and the M1, the site is divided into two distinct areas by the Grand Union Canal. The 8.15 ha site will also include a new marina on the Grand Union Canal, providing 111 berths, a canal-side pub, café, restaurant and a new footbridge linking the two sides of the canal. “As our city continues to grow, MKDP is committed to playing its part in helping to create well-designed, vibrant & affordable new communities in partnership with a range of local developers. As part of the Campbell Wharf development, MKDP and the developer Crest Nicholson will be creating 115 affordable new homes, a new 111 berth marina alongside the city’s renowned Grand Union Canal, and importantly, will be contributing towards the cost of upgrading the infrastructure of our city centre,” commented Councillor Rob Middleton, Cabinet Member responsible for Resources and Innovation. The new marina is expected to open in April 2019, while the first residential dwellings on site will be occupied in October 2019. The development is expected to be fully completed by 2023.
A Reserved Matters Application has been submitted by developer Crest Nicholson for 192 homes and landscaped public open space at Alconbury Weald, Cambridgeshire. Located on the former airfield to the north west of Huntingdon, Crest Nicholson will become the fifth housebuilder to join the growing development of over 5,000 homes. The new homes benefit from a prominent location on the central hub of the first phase, having been carefully designed to reflect the character of the local area. The green spaces around the homes will be connected by safe cycle and walking routes and a number of public amenities along the Linear Park, including orchards, outdoor table tennis and other games will also be delivered. The houses at Alconbury Weald will be a mixture of one & two-bedroom apartments and four-bedroom townhouses along the green Boulevard. The cricket pitch will be surrounded by townhouses with balconies, while semi-detached and mews properties frame the Linear Park, which follows the line of one of the former airfield’s taxi-ways, creating a safe walk and scoot to school route. Crest Nicholson chose to design the homes with contemporary buff-coloured brick and red brick in order to denote distinct character areas within the development, while being complemented by blue brick and render detailing. Internally, the homes will be light and spacious, and finished to a high specification. “We are excited to have secured the opportunity to become the latest housebuilder to join the growing Alconbury Weald community. With over 5,000 homes, an enterprise zone and a variety of public amenities – including new schools, sports pitches and a health centre – this is truly a visionary project for the wider Cambridgeshire area. Our plans are to deliver a mix of 192 high-quality homes and we look forward to working with Urban&Civic bringing this vision to fruition,” said Toby Lambert, Development Director at Crest Nicholson Chiltern. The application comes forward under the Planning Framework and Design Code set in place by the Outline application for Alconbury Weald. The Crest Nicholson team is working closely with the master developer behind Alconbury Weald, Urban&Civic.
Scheme consists of 239 residential units and nearly 10,000sq.m of retail and leisure space set in a new Town square in Farnham Award-winning developer Crest Nicholson and Waverley Borough Council have announced that work on the £115m Brightwells regeneration of Farnham Town Centre will commence in summer 2018. Comprising a new £40m retail and leisure hub, anchored by Marks and Spencer and Reel Cinemas, together with 239 new apartments clustered around a new town square, the development is set to transform and revitalise a much-underutilised part of the historic town of Farnham. The development includes 72 shared ownership affordable homes which will help meet a broader housing need and support first-time buyers in the local community. Once completed the commercial estate, which has been pre-sold to Surrey County Council, will include a six-screen cinema, eight restaurants and a combination of twenty-four retail units including a new Marks and Spencer Simply Food. The development will also refurbish part of the adjoining Sainsbury’s store and carpark. Detailed planning permission for the scheme has been secured, enabling work to commence in earnest in the summer. The centre, which includes new basement and deck parking for shoppers and residents, is expected to open in late 2021. The first residential dwellings will be occupied in early 2020 and the development will be completed in total by the spring of 2022. The regeneration scheme secures more than £2 million of external investment into the Farnham community and includes an additional £2 million for highway improvements in central Farnham. Crest Nicholson estimates that once finalised the Brightwells site will provide Waverley Borough Council with a potential income of £700,000 to £900,000 per annum from a combination of rental income, business rates and car parking. Up to 400 jobs in the construction sector will be created during the development of the Brightwells scheme, with a further 400 permanent jobs in the leisure, retail and hospitality sectors once fully complete. Chris Tinker, Board Director at Crest Nicholson, explained: “We are pleased to have cemented our agreement with Waverley Borough Council and look forward to breaking ground on this significant development. Once complete the scheme will regenerate an important location in the centre of Farnham and deliver much needed new homes to the area. “We will continue to work closely with Waverley Borough Council and other stakeholders throughout the building phase.” Councillor Julia Potts, Leader of Waverley Borough Council, said: “The agreement means that our vision to deliver a scheme that will reinvigorate Farnham for residents, shoppers and visitors can finally now get underway. “This partnership with Crest Nicholson will transform Farnham town centre for future generations.”
