Work has been completed on a new 66-home affordable development in Doncaster. The work was undertaken by a partnership between ESH Construction, Together Housing Group and Housing 21. The site, located in Askern, includes a mix of general housing and retirement living housing. Residents are now moving into 56 two,
Bowmer + Kirkland has been selected to develop a 500-home build to rent (BTR) residential scheme in Leeds city centre. The £140 million project at Whitehall Riverside is being delivered by Glenbrook and backed by Legal & General following last month’s announcement of what is Leeds’ largest BTR funding deal
Capital&Centric has submitted plans to Bolton Council for Neighbourhood Bolton, a new concept community. The plans include 160 sustainable homes split across four nearby brownfield plots on the town’s Bradshawgate and Breightmet Street. The community will have 1-4 bed homes with bold designs and high energy performance. They will be
Housebuilder SevenHomes received the go-ahead from Redditch Borough Council for its plans to develop new homes next to the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch. The former NHS site off Woodrow Drive, which was previously earmarked as surplus land, will be transformed and 92 high quality one bedroom apartments and two, three
Spitfire Homes has been granted planning permission to develop 48 new homes in Wolston, Warwickshire. Spitfire Homes acquired the 5.44 acre site to develop 34 two- to four-bedroom homes, and an additional 14 properties which will be part of the Government’s First Homes scheme. Named Rosedale, the homes will feature
Trafford Council has approved plans to build a care home as part of the first wave of residential developments at Peel L&P’s Trafford Waters. The homes which will have on-site specialist facilities and amenities for people in need of dementia care. Specialist healthcare provider Montpelier Estates successfully applied for planning
Plans submitted by Compendium Living for the next phase of the Castleward development in Derby have been approved. Phase four of the long-term regeneration scheme will provide a further 112 new homes in Derby city centre. Castleward is a £100 million development and one of the city’s largest housing projects.
Amethyst Homes has been granted planning permission for an additional 48 new houses in South East Northumberland, following the success of the developer’s Sleekburn View development. The Pastures, located in close proximity to Sleekburn View, will offer a mix of seven different house styles including two, three and four bedroomed
Mark Burley, Regional Social Value and Partnerships Manager at top 10 homebuilder Keepmoat, has been recognised for his work to help build a brighter future for prisoners at HMP Hull with the High Sheriff Award. The High Sheriff Award, officially presented by the High Sheriff for the East Riding of
Construction works are now underway at Taylor’s Bellfoundry in Loughborough to protect and enhance the Grade II* Listed Bellfoundry buildings and onsite museum, the last of their kind in Britain. Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Loughborough Town Deal alongside many others, the project is being led by
Work has been completed on a new 66-home affordable development in Doncaster. The work was undertaken by a partnership between ESH Construction, Together Housing Group and Housing 21. The site, located in Askern, includes a mix of general housing and retirement living housing. Residents are now moving into 56 two, three and four-bedroom homes and 10 two-bedroom bungalows which have been delivered for Together Housing. All properties include front and rear gardens as well as parking facilities. Commenting on the completed works, Simon Woodward, Operations Director at ESH Construction, said: “Askern is a land led scheme which has been long in the making. It was jointly developed by ESH alongside two clients to meet identified housing needs in the area and create a community which fosters inter-generational living. “As a local contractor, we have maximised the benefits of our local supply chain by re-investing more than £7.4 million into the Yorkshire region throughout the overall scheme. We are delighted to reach completion and handover these new homes to Together Housing.” Reflecting on the project, Kevin Ruth, Together Housing Group Chief Executive, said: “I’m delighted to see these new homes in Askern, which will help to meet the need for affordable housing in the area. From the bungalows to the four-bedroom houses, these high-quality homes offer attractive housing options for a wide-variety of residents. “I’d like to thank everyone involved from the early stages who have helped to bring this project to fruition. As a Group, we’re committed to working with partners to invest in homes and communities.” The development in Doncaster has been positively received by the local council. Praising the work, Deputy Mayor and Portfolio holder for Housing and Business at City of Doncaster Council, Cllr Glyn Jones said: “A further 66 new affordable homes is another welcome boost to Doncaster. Being able to afford a home in an area with close proximity to essential facilities will be an attractive proposition to many of our residents and I am delighted that so many will now be able to make this a realistic possibility.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bowmer + Kirkland has been selected to develop a 500-home build to rent (BTR) residential scheme in Leeds city centre. The £140 million project at Whitehall Riverside is being delivered by Glenbrook and backed by Legal & General following last month’s announcement of what is Leeds’ largest BTR funding deal and the pair’s first venture together. Over the last decade, Glenbrook has established itself as one of the UK’s most active BTR developers, delivering over 1,500 homes to date. Whitehall Riverside represents the company’s first residential scheme in Leeds with a further 618-home development to come forward at Kirkstall Road later this year. In February 2023, Bowmer + Kirkland announced the practical completion of High Definition, a 280-apartment build for sale scheme at MediaCityUK, which the contractor delivered for Glenbrook on behalf of Latimer, Clarion Housing Group’s development arm. Danny Roberts, development director at Glenbrook, said: “With planning permission secured and the funding agreement with L&G now in place, we’ve immediately moved forward with the delivery of Whitehall Riverside and are working towards a completion date of April 2026. “Given the scheme’s extensive sustainable credentials, it was vital that we had a best-in-class contractor in place with similar values. We have a well-established relationship with Bowmer + Kirkland and this appointment provides certainty to the market that we will be delivering a high-quality product and provide an even broader range of choice for people in the city.” The project team includes Sheppard Robson, Curtins, Abacus, Re-form, Crookes Walker Consulting. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Capital&Centric has submitted plans to Bolton Council for Neighbourhood Bolton, a new concept community. The plans include 160 sustainable homes split across four nearby brownfield plots on the town’s Bradshawgate and Breightmet Street. The community will have 1-4 bed homes with bold designs and high energy performance. They will be set alongside safe streets fit for kids to play out, community amenity spaces where residents can get together, shared green areas and new workspaces for creative small and start-up businesses. Neighbourhood Bolton will kickstart reinvigoration of the key interchange area surrounding Bolton’s bus and train stations. It will be made up of Neighbourhood Trinity Gateway – the site on Bradshawgate – and Neighbourhood Trinity Village – a cluster of sites around Breightmet Street. Richard Spackman, Development Director at Capital&Centric, said: “It was just weeks ago we announced these plans and we’re already on with a planning application. We wanted to get the Neighbourhood concept spot on, with bold, contemporary homes, community amenities and workspaces set to totally change the feel of the area around Bolton’s train and bus stations. For us, this is all about taking the design-led approach you see in some of the exemplary city centre developments and bringing it to life in the suburbs. “A big part of Neighbourhood Bolton is to bring something totally different to what’s already on offer locally. We’ve worked at real pace to bring forward plans that will ultimately help meet Bolton’s growing housing need. “There’s places up and down the country that have these challenging brownfield sites in prime, town centre locations, crying out for a creative approach to regeneration. We’re rising to that challenge here and delivering a neighbourhood with a sense of community, excellent sustainability credentials and a distinct design edge.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Housebuilder SevenHomes received the go-ahead from Redditch Borough Council for its plans to develop new homes next to the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch. The former NHS site off Woodrow Drive, which was previously earmarked as surplus land, will be transformed and 92 high quality one bedroom apartments and two, three and four bedroom homes, will be developed. Wire Croft will also provide around £700,000 in financial contributions towards education, sporting pitch improvements, highways, and public transport, as well as £50,000 towards further town centre enhancements. The SevenHomes development of the 5.85 acre site in Redditch will enable the capital raised to be injected back into the NHS to help fund much needed services. Abdul Ali, Executive Director and head of office for SevenHomes, said: “The existing buildings have remained unoccupied for over a decade, so we are delighted to have received the green light from committee to breathe new life into this currently vacant site. “With its proximity to the hospital and connectivity to the main town centre and Birmingham city centre, the site offers a fantastic location for good quality, modern family homes for local residents. Crucially, the development will not only enhance the local area and support housing demand but will also positively contribute towards improving facilities at Alexandra Hospital through the capital raised.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Spitfire Homes has been granted planning permission to develop 48 new homes in Wolston, Warwickshire. Spitfire Homes acquired the 5.44 acre site to develop 34 two- to four-bedroom homes, and an additional 14 properties which will be part of the Government’s First Homes scheme. Named Rosedale, the homes will feature a varied palette of external materials comprising a mixture of red brick and chalky white render, paired with a combination of red and grey roof tiles. Within each property, layouts will be carefully considered and appointed with a stylish internal specification. Rosedale will feature Spitfire Homes’ signature design-led properties, bringing modern, quality features to suit a variety of lifestyles aimed at first-time buyers, individuals, couples, families and downsizers alike. The 14 properties due to be delivered as part of the First Homes scheme will be available exclusively for first-time buyers at a reduced rate of the market value. The homes will be the first of their kind delivered by Spitfire marking part of an ongoing commitment to enable a range of buyers to get on the property ladder. The energy-efficient new homes will all have heating and hot water supplied courtesy of air-source heat pumps and will feature electric car charging points as standard. This aligns with the priorities of buyers and Spitfire’s commitment to its Sustainable Futures strategy, which outlines a number of sustainability targets to be achieved by the homebuilder by 2030. Ben Leather, Managing Director at Spitfire Homes, said: “Wolston is a desirable village location with a growing requirement for new homes – the commuter links and countryside setting make it the ideal location for these homes to meet this rising demand for high-quality, future-proofed homes designed to suit modern lifestyles. “The homes at Rosedale are a further example of Spitfire’s investment into the Midlands region alongside following recent collections in Royal Leamington Spa, Northampton, and Daventry. “We look forward to working with the Parish to deliver both the new homes and the allotments for the local community, ensuring these properties support our ongoing commitment to providing energy-efficient and sustainable homes.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Trafford Council has approved plans to build a care home as part of the first wave of residential developments at Peel L&P’s Trafford Waters. The homes which will have on-site specialist facilities and amenities for people in need of dementia care. Specialist healthcare provider Montpelier Estates successfully applied for planning permission to build an 85-bed care home at the Trafford Waters site which sits within TraffordCity, near to the Manchester Ship Canal and The Trafford Centre. Montpelier’s scheme will offer tailored dementia care and elderly living with a range of on-site facilities to encourage socialising in a comfortable, safe and supportive space. An on-site bistro café, hair salon, cinema and rooftop garden will all be created as part of the scheme in Trafford Waters. There will also be space for community events, relaxation and exercise for future residents to enjoy. Several parts of the facility will also be open to the wider public to encourage further interaction and community building. The homes will be some of the first 350 to be built at Trafford Waters. Montpelier’s plans are part of the first phase of Trafford Waters where Peel L&P has secured outline planning permission for 3,000 new homes to suit a range of needs, a primary school, hotels, offices and a new 20-acre public park to improve people’s health, wellbeing and access to nature. The project is estimated to create over 5,000 new jobs. Anna Ciesielska, Director of Montpelier Estates said: “We are very pleased with the planning decision to approve our bespoke residential and nursing care scheme at Trafford Waters. We are proud be working in partnership with Peel L&P to deliver this high-quality, much-needed, specialist home for the local community. “We understand that a decision to move to a care home is difficult for residents and their families. That’s why our developments are highly focused on creating spaces where people really want to spend their time and live, where they feel reassured, empowered, cared for, while allowing them to remain independent with good links to the community and local facilities.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans submitted by Compendium Living for the next phase of the Castleward development in Derby have been approved. Phase four of the long-term regeneration scheme will provide a further 112 new homes in Derby city centre. Castleward is a £100 million development and one of the city’s largest housing projects. We are redeveloping the area, which sits between Derbion shopping centre and Derby Midland Station, over 15-20 years. The project also includes green space and 35,000 square feet of commercial retail space. The fourth phase of Castleward, split over two sites, will consist of a further 112 high quality new homes. It will include two, three and four-bedroom houses and one and two-bedroom apartments. There will be 34 affordable homes for housing association Riverside, and 78 properties will be available through open market sale. On the other phases, Lovell Partnerships will carry out the building works. Work is expected to start in 2024, after completion of Phase 3 which is currently under construction. Bruce Lister, Managing Director at Compendium Living, said: “We are very proud to have received planning permission to bring another 112 brand-new homes to Derby. This continues our successful regeneration of Castleward with Derby City Council, furthering our investment in the city. “The fourth phase will meet the needs of local people by providing employment opportunities, economic benefits and high-quality homes. We put placemaking at the heart of our what we do. We are committed to transforming Castleward into a vibrant, sustainable new community that residents can feel proud to call home.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Amethyst Homes has been granted planning permission for an additional 48 new houses in South East Northumberland, following the success of the developer’s Sleekburn View development. The Pastures, located in close proximity to Sleekburn View, will offer a mix of seven different house styles including two, three and four bedroomed attached and detached properties, with five available for affordable sale. All homes will be built to high specification and design standards, meeting – and where possible exceeding – the regulatory requirements around sustainability and energy efficiency. Work is anticipated to start on site in the Summer of 2023, with the first residents moving in during the Spring of 2024. Completion of the project is expected to be towards the end of 2025. Richard Bass, Development Director at Amethyst Homes, said: “It is rewarding for our team to secure approval for The Pastures, which we are confident will prove as popular and successful as Sleekburn View. South East Northumberland – and in particular Blyth – has benefitted from significant investment in recent years and buyers are keen to be part of the area’s transformation. “The introduction of the new rail network in 2024 between Ashington and Newcastle Central Station, which will stop at Blyth, and the sites access to the A189 (Spine Road) and coastal routes make it a popular choice for house hunters. “With this project coming on stream and a number of other potential developments in the pipeline, we are confident we can achieve our ambition of becoming a 200 home a year developer by 2025.” As part of the development, Amethyst Homes will be installing new footpaths linking to the bus stops on Brock Lane. Established in 2013, Amethyst Homes has built its business around its customers, with a strong emphasis on providing quality, sustainable homes in the communities in which people choose to live and work. To date it has delivered over 450 properties in the North East. Currently operating across four live sites including at South East Northumberland, Consett and Stillington, to the North West of Stockton-on-Tees, Amethyst specialises in a wide range of housing from starter homes to family properties and affordable bungalows. In addition to its home building successes, since the beginning of the year, Amethyst has recruited eight new members of staff, trained two apprentices, and invested over £3m into local jobs, training, and the supply chain. Both Regents Park (Consett) and The Meadows (Stillington) won Premier Guarantee, Quality Recognition Awards in 2021-2022, for the high standard of homes delivered. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Mark Burley, Regional Social Value and Partnerships Manager at top 10 homebuilder Keepmoat, has been recognised for his work to help build a brighter future for prisoners at HMP Hull with the High Sheriff Award. The High Sheriff Award, officially presented by the High Sheriff for the East Riding of Yorkshire, Jacky Bowes, was bestowed after community champion Mark set up a scheme to support prisoners at HMP Hull, offering them opportunities to engage in activities which benefit communities, enhance their employability and work skills, and in turn have a positive impact on their self esteem. The scheme, coordinated by Keepmoat, in partnership with Hull City Council and Hull Citywide Consortium, aims to reduce site waste by providing old pallets to be upcycled into planters so prisoners can grow food for the local community. Mark was the driving force behind the scheme, the first of its kind in the area, and his innovative approach was noted by the High Sheriff. On receipt of the award, Mark said: “It’s an honour that my community work has been recognised with such a prestigious accolade. Supporting local communities and people’s employability skills is a key part of my role at Keepmoat and with the Citywide Partnership. “The project is life changing for prisoners and aims to boost their confidence and employability when they’re looking to re-enter the jobs market, especially in the construction industry. It also provides them with a sense of achievement when they see local people receiving the planters they make.” Following involvement from the prisoners, the planters are donated to EMS, a local charity in Hull that works with residents, community groups and local businesses to alleviate food and fuel poverty. The charity sets up community vegetable gardens that aim to promote a healthy lifestyle, allowing residents and families without a garden or allotment to grow their own produce. Thomas Leech, Industries Manager at HMP Hull, added: “At HMP Hull, we’re committed to providing prisoners with meaningful employment opportunities whilst in custody, along with relevant skills and training that they will be able to use on release. “Prisoners are learning new skills and working hard to produce planters from items that would have essentially gone to landfill. These planters are then given to people in the local community that have earned them through community credits doing things such as litter picking in the local area. The fact that prisoners are giving something back to the community creates a sense of pride and a real sense of purpose.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Construction works are now underway at Taylor’s Bellfoundry in Loughborough to protect and enhance the Grade II* Listed Bellfoundry buildings and onsite museum, the last of their kind in Britain. Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Loughborough Town Deal alongside many others, the project is being led by the Loughborough Bellfoundry Trust working in partnership with the ancient bellfounding firm of John Taylor and Company. The Trust was set up in 2016 to begin the work of restoring the bellfoundry’s buildings and redeveloping the site’s museum to protect the ancient craft of bellmaking for generations to come. Taylor’s Bellfoundry – which was built in 1859 just a stone’s throw from Loughborough town centre – has cast more than 25,000 bells located in more than 100 countries. Bells from the foundry hang in famous landmarks including London’s St Paul’s Cathedral, the Washington National Cathedral in the US capital, Australia’s National Carillon in Canberra, and South Africa’s Cape Town City Hall. In spring 2022 contractors were invited to tender to deliver the programme of works, with specialist heritage conservation firm Messenger BCR winning out. The Messenger team will work alongside internationally renowned architects Caroe, who drew up comprehensive plans to restore the Victorian site. Other specialist practices involved include exhibition designers Redman Design and museum retail experts cre8. Phase one of the programme of works is now underway. This includes the stripping out of the existing museum, removing internal walls – which were added to the bellfoundry in the 80s – and replacing the leaking roof. A new lift is currently under construction as are new disabled and baby changing toilets. Major repairs to the roof over the bellfoundry’s main covered yard are also underway. The museum will be improved and enhanced by increasing its footprint to incorporate a multi-function activity room in the old Victorian laboratory and by reimagining the museum displays to provide an interactive and inclusive experience. There will be two primary spaces for visitors to explore within the museum. Firstly, a ground floor timeline detailing the history of both the bellfoundry and the art of bellfounding. Secondly, the Patternmaker’s Gallery, which will display a series of objects that have been recovered from existing foundry spaces, located in the original patternmaking workshop. Throughout the museum visitors will have the opportunity to touch and handle objects, making it an immersive and authentic experience for families, schools, bell enthusiasts and history lovers. Phase two of the project, which will start in 2024, will see the reconfiguration and improvement of the company archive room, offices, and board room, the last of which will be available to hire as a meeting space for outside organisations and community groups. Further ongoing and exciting developments include the restoration of the original historic entrance to the site, used by generations of the Taylor family, and the relandscaping of the Carillon Courtyard for visitors to explore and enjoy the grounds upon arrival. Bellfoundry museum director Dr Chrissie Van Mierlo said: “We are thrilled to see work getting underway. This project has been years in the making and will help preserve and protect our historic buildings for generations to come. “Our vision has always been to create a place where people of all ages can visit and learn about the craftmanship and art of bell making, as well as the history of the Loughborough site. Thanks to generous funders, and National Lottery players, we can now address the most urgent repair and conservation works to bring our vision to life. “Not only will the project allow us to welcome more visitors into the site, but it will also create additional volunteering opportunities for local residents. Our volunteers are the life and soul of the bellfoundry and we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without them.” Robyn Llewellyn, director for England, Midlands and East at The National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “We are delighted to support The Loughborough Bellfoundry Trust in saving the last, purpose-built bellfoundry in Britain. The funding, which has been made possible thanks to National Lottery players, will secure the future of this industry, unique skills, and rich history in a way that everyone can enjoy and be proud of.” Loughborough Town Deal comprises a number of organisations and people who have come together to deliver over £40 million of investment for the Leicestershire town. The Town Deal secured £16.9 million from the Government’s Towns Fund to boost skills and support the visitor economy and town centre of Loughborough. It is backing 11 projects, including the bellfoundry which it awarded £835,000. John Taylor’s Bellfoundry, also known as Taylor’s Bellfoundry or simply Taylor’s, is the last major bellfoundry in the UK and Commonwealth. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
