The waterside development is of outstanding design and quality, and key to the ongoing regeneration of Worcester The new proposals are a direct response to planning and consultation feedback The scheme will provide a £362m economic boost to Worcester and the wider West Midlands area The development responds directly to
UK residential and commercial property developer Godwin Developments has submitted proposals for 116 build-to-rent (BTR) homes and flexible commercial space in Ely, Cambridgeshire. The scheme, named Cathedral Green, has been designed to create an ‘urban village’ style community for residents of various ages and will deliver much-needed quality housing for
Godwin Group, the UK property development investment firm, has expanded its network with a new office in London. The company, which has recently announced a number of new high profile appointments, already has existing bases in Nottingham and Birmingham. “As a leading international financial centre, London is a key location
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
The waterside development is of outstanding design and quality, and key to the ongoing regeneration of Worcester The new proposals are a direct response to planning and consultation feedback The scheme will provide a £362m economic boost to Worcester and the wider West Midlands area The development responds directly to the aspirations of the city to create more homes, businesses and jobs while being environmentally sustainable and heritage conscious UK residential and commercial property developer Godwin Developments, working in partnership with Lowesmoor Regeneration Ltd, has submitted updated plans for its waterside mixed-used scheme Lowesmoor Wharf in Worcester, as a direct response to feedback received from local stakeholders and residents. The development is an ambitious regeneration scheme of eight buildings and public spaces, designed by award winning architects Apt. When built, it will completely transform the currently industrialised canalside location in central Worcester into a vibrant, well-considered destination of exceptional quality. Created to meet the city’s aspirations to bring more residents into the city centre, Lowesmoor Wharf will provide 238 modern spacious one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments with balconies. Occupants will have access to private indoor and outdoor spaces – such as rooftop terraces and community areas – across the six residential buildings. The scheme will also help bring more businesses and jobs into Worcester through the provision of office, retail and food and beverage space, all set within generously sized fully landscaped public areas. As a direct response to the feedback received from planners, the community and various organisations, the height of the tallest element of the scheme has now been significantly reduced to match the requirements of the Worcester City Masterplan. The scheme now steps up from three to a maximum of eight storeys at Lowesmoor Terrace, with two of the canal facing buildings having also been reduced by a storey each. In doing so, the development integrates very well into the surrounding landscape of the conservation area and the wider Worcester skyline. An expert assessment on the visual impact of the amended proposals – also submitted as a part of the revised plans – has also been carried out and demonstrates that views of Worcester Cathedral and other significant landmarks in the city are not compromised. Additionally, the proposed hard and soft landscaping throughout the scheme has been improved significantly to include suggestions by Worcester City Council and the Canal & River Trust, the charity with guardianship over the UK’s waterways. The blend of new materials, that are better suited to the conservation area have been supplemented by additional trees and wildflower areas, which will improve the biodiversity of the site. New landscaping features have also been included to better define the towpaths and walkways, balancing accessibility for residents and visitors with security for existing boat users and businesses. Improvements to the servicing of the scheme have also been introduced, protecting the marina and minimising waste vehicle trips across the development. As with the previous proposals, the scheme will continue to prioritise the use of walking and cycling, as well as public transport and therefore will be mostly car free. However, as an additional amenity, it will include 12 car parking spaces and operate a ‘car club’ model for the benefit of residents. This will allow car sharing – including disabled parking spaces and EV charging – while the 606 secure cycle storage spaces on-site will improve walking and cycling opportunities throughout the development and further afield. The retention of heritage assets on-site has also been carefully considered, with the proposed scheme planning to carefully restore, for community use, the Portmaster’s House and the buildings facing Lowesmoor Wharf. The inclusion of water features resembling the historic canal fingers will echo the rich history of the site, while also creating focal points for residents and visitors to enjoy. Development director at Godwin Developments, Matt Chandler, said: “Lowesmoor Wharf is a scheme of exceptional quality and outstanding design but most of all a scheme of ambition – to bring new residents, visitors and businesses to central Worcester and retain them through an exciting destination that caters to living, working, socialising and being closer to nature. “We have always believed in the huge potential of this centrally located site in Worcester and have sought to create a development which will benefit the local community. Therefore, since submitting our original planning application last year, we have listened and responded to a number of comments to our plans. Working closely with stakeholders and our expert consultants, we have not only amended the scheme to reflect the feedback received but also ensure that Lowesmoor Wharf is viable and able to deliver on all the improvements to the public space we were hoping to achieve. “We are grateful to those who have engaged and worked with us constructively over the last few months and helped us shape the plans which we are excited to bring forward today. “I am confident that this development fits well with Worcester’s vision for the future. It is both forward looking in its design and sustainability, seeking to create new spaces for people, attract investment and benefit the local community, while also responding to the city’s rich heritage and supporting it in its post-COVID recovery.” Reflecting Worcester City Council’s declaration of a climate emergency and ambitions for Worcester to be a carbon neutral city, Lowesmoor Wharf includes a range of sustainable features including roof mounted PV panels for on-site energy generation, green sedum roofs for insulation, noise reduction and improved air quality, LED lighting, an efficient building fabric, heat recovery systems, rainwater attenuation and air source heat pumps for the commercial units on site. If approved, the scheme is set to bring a major economic boost to the city of Worcester and the surrounding areas. Analysis by international consultants Rider Levett Bucknall rated the scheme as “outstanding”- contributing almost £4 for every £1 invested. It will provide a whole life value of £362 million and create 175 jobs, apprenticeships and work placements in the construction phase alone. The social
UK residential and commercial property developer Godwin Developments has submitted proposals for 116 build-to-rent (BTR) homes and flexible commercial space in Ely, Cambridgeshire. The scheme, named Cathedral Green, has been designed to create an ‘urban village’ style community for residents of various ages and will deliver much-needed quality housing for the city and surrounding areas. Located in Angel Drove, at the southern entry point into the city, the development proposes the creation of 57 two- and three-bedroom houses with private gardens, 59 one- and two-bedroom low-rise apartments including balconies, as well as 122 resident and guest parking spaces. Devised specifically for the rental market, the scheme will also incorporate a 1,457sq. m. three-storey commercial building, which will provide additional flexible working space in the area. Designed to offer a modern interpretation of the local architectural character, the Cathedral Green scheme will feature extensively landscaped open spaces intended to host community activities and become places for neighbours to meet and socialise. It will include a woodland walk that will seamlessly link the development to the wildlife site at the rear of the scheme, as well as natural play areas for children, a teens’ retreat and exercise space. At the heart of the development will be a reimagined village green, which will be car-free to support the creation of a safe zone for pedestrians and children. Specific emphasis will also be given to enhancing links between the development and the established local communities nearby. The plans will improve the currently overgrown footpaths as well as maintain existing connections with the Kings Ely School located to the north of the site. In doing so, it will form a natural link between the scheme and the existing woodland, while also promoting safety and accessibility for existing and future residents. Gurdeep Gill, associate director at Godwin Developments, said: “We are delighted to have submitted plans for our latest BTR housing development in Ely, created specifically to cater to rising demand for single-family homes in regional towns and cities. Our proposals seek to deliver a scheme that will fit well into the local area and improve its appeal to a wide range of residents, while also bringing new homes and jobs to Ely. “Aligned with East Cambridge District Council’s Development Plan, the scheme combines modern living with green and flexible working spaces, supporting quality of life and well-being for residents while enhancing the biodiversity of the area and the wider city. “We would like to thank the City of Ely Council and the Ely community for engaging with us constructively throughout the development process and helping us to shape the scheme that has been put forward. We would also like to acknowledge the contribution of our extended team of partners including planning consultants Rapleys, architects RG&P, engineering specialists Jackson Purdue Lever and landscape architects Macfarlane + Associates.” The Cathedral Green development will be located within a 10-minute walk from Ely City Centre and a range of local amenities such as food stores, schools, and a doctor’s surgery. The site is a mere 300 meters away from Ely Train Station, which offers regular trains to Cambridge, London Kings Cross, Stanstead Airport and further afield. It is also positioned for convenient access to the A10 – the main arterial route to Cambridge, Peterborough and London, and is well serviced by a local bus route leading to Ely City Centre and Cambridge. A range of local leisure and interest facilities are also nearby, including Ely Cathedral, Ely Marina, Ely Castle Mount and Cherry Hill Park. James Mulcare, head of residential capital markets at Godwin Developments, said: “Residential investment – and particularly BTR – is a key focus for our business. Our aim is to build the next generation of purpose-built rental accommodation for residents seeking quality homes and superior service. At the same time, we are also catering for the growing demand for long term stable income opportunities from investors. “Cathedral Green, which will be the first BTR scheme in Ely, is a new style of development just for rent, designed to attract a mix of residents, including families, single-person households, couples and independent senior residents – creating a truly multigenerational community. It will cater to a growing requirement for homes in suburban destinations, commuter towns and regional cities, that benefit from proximity to key areas of employment, access to nearby transport, private and public green spaces, amenities and local places of interest. “When complete, the development will be under single institutional ownership and it will be professionally operated and maintained to ensure it remains a welcoming home to its occupants and an asset to the city for many years to come.” Godwin Developments is currently progressing a number of other residential schemes across the country, including the recently announced 23-storey development in Sheffield city centre, ‘The Meridian’, which will see the creation of a 336-apartment BTR scheme, alongside recent planning success for its suburban BTR scheme in Doncaster which will deliver 60 BTR properties, as well as approval for two residential schemes in Nottingham which will provide 102 family homes. For further information on Godwin Developments, visit https://www.godwingroup.co.uk/developments/.
Godwin Group, the UK property development investment firm, has expanded its network with a new office in London. The company, which has recently announced a number of new high profile appointments, already has existing bases in Nottingham and Birmingham. “As a leading international financial centre, London is a key location for Godwin Capital to enhance its corporate profile, provide expansion opportunities and access to one of the world’s deepest pools of capital,” said Andrew Mitchell, group investment director of Godwin Group. “The build-to-rent (BTR) sector continues to grow apace; operators are looking to take advantage of improved yields and a wider selection of sites across the UK as infrastructures improve and lower land prices make development lucrative. Many of the key players in this market are based out of head offices in London. Godwin Group’s new London office is strategically located to provide this vital link, local contact and expertise for its regional businesses,” Andrew added. The new London office provides a new base of operations for both arms of the business, Godwin Developments and Godwin Capital. “Godwin Group has seen huge growth over the past months. Our new London office will allow us to accommodate further expansion plans and look to reach new markets in our key sectors. These are exciting times for Godwin Group and we are looking forward to expanding our network even further with the opening of our London office,” commented Stephen Pratt, group land director of Godwin Group. Godwin’s recent successes include a proposed new BTR scheme of 201 apartments at The Landmark development in Derby, Godwin Capital’s launch of innovative new investment products and the launch of the group’s BTR brand called Core Living – which plans to build up to 2,500 new homes over the next four years.
