Housing
Keepmoat donation to NHS charity’s playground project

Keepmoat donation to NHS charity’s playground project

The Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity is one step closer to fulfilling the dreams of children cared for at Rotherham Hospital thanks to a £5,000 donation from Keepmoat. The generous donation is a major boost for the charity’s Christmas fundraising appeal, which this year aimed to fund the redevelopment of the

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Catalyst and Hill to build new homes in Tottenham

Catalyst and Hill to build new homes in Tottenham

Catalyst, part of the Peabody Group, and development partners The Hill Group have been given the go-ahead by Haringey Council for the redevelopment of a site adjacent to St Ann’s Hospital, South Tottenham into new homes. The redevelopment will provide up to 995 new homes, 60% of which will be

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Doing The Groundwork For A Self-Build

Doing The Groundwork For A Self-Build

Whether you’re aiming to complete a self-build or you simply want to understand what happens at the beginning of a construction project, it’s always essential to start at the foundational level. Here are the steps that lay the foundations for a new property. With the tips below, you can get

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Landmark Glasgow BTR development tops out

Landmark Glasgow BTR development tops out

PLATFORM_ Glasgow will deliver much-needed homes for the city The project team behind the flagship PLATFORM_ Glasgow build-to-rent (BTR) development celebrated a significant project milestone at this week’s topping out ceremony. Contractor, GRAHAM, is delivering the impressive scheme on behalf of PLATFORM_, an investor, developer, and operator of build-to-rent communities

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Platform Housing Group expands into Oxfordshire

Work has begun on a substantial housing development in Carterton in Oxfordshire that will see 200 homes provided for people to live in the area. Platform Housing Group have begun work at the site at Milestone Road which has been provided by West Oxfordshire District Council and will be developed

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Progress Housing Group celebrates the positive impact it’s helping to make on the lives of people and communities across the country

A Lancashire not-for-profit housing association has invested £24.8m to provide affordable homes as part of its ongoing work to tackle the current social housing crisis. With a commitment to support the local community, Progress Housing Group has pledged to provide 1,000 affordable new homes by 2024, with 226 homes built

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Cora – the new name in excellent homes

Expert housebuilder Barwood Homes has announced its new name and brand – Cora. The company, based in Northamptonshire, has been delivering homes across the Midlands since it formed in 2010. However, as the company looks to the future, it wanted a new name and brand that better reflects its values.

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Stonewater celebrates 5000th home opening

A new development located in Newhaven, East Sussex, on the former Parker Pen factory site, has marked leading social housing provider, Stonewater’s 5000th new home completed since the association’s formation in 2015. Representatives from Stonewater, including Chairman Sheila Collins, CEO Nicholas Harris, as well as members of the development team

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Latest Issue
Issue 324 : Jan 2025

Housing

Keepmoat donation to NHS charity’s playground project

Keepmoat donation to NHS charity’s playground project

The Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity is one step closer to fulfilling the dreams of children cared for at Rotherham Hospital thanks to a £5,000 donation from Keepmoat. The generous donation is a major boost for the charity’s Christmas fundraising appeal, which this year aimed to fund the redevelopment of the Children’s Ward outdoor play area.  The donation was celebrated at the launch of Keepmoat’s latest housing development at Moorgate Boulevard, off Moorgate Road, Rotherham, where representatives from Keepmoat were joined by the Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr Tajamal Khan, and Dr Ted to explore its new showhomes which are now open to the public. Alongside the charity donation, Keepmoat is offering an exclusive £1,000 referral bonus*, for The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust staff when they successfully refer friends and family who go on to purchase a new home at the development. “We are so grateful and proud to receive such a significant donation from the team at Keepmoat. Their new showhomes at Moorgate Boulevard are a short walk from Rotherham Hospital so it showcases their commitment to enhancing the environment around them,” said Rachael Dawes, Head of Fundraising. “We have ambitious plans to revamp the rooftop space and hope to make it a special place for children and young people for generations to come. We’re one step closer to making that happen thanks to Keepmoat. I hope they have inspired other businesses, community groups and individuals to support us too.” Last year, colleagues at The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, schools, community groups and individuals pooled their festive cheer to kick-start fundraising for the play area, raising a magnificent £6,500 by taking part in our Virtual Santa Jog, Santa’s Grotto and Christmas Jumper Day. More than £30,000 is needed to revamp the play area, so every penny raised will count. Our previous young patients, their families and Children’s Ward staff have already told us what their dream play area would look and feel like – now we need your support to make their dreams a reality. “We are absolutely delighted to be supporting another important institution in the community next to our new Moorgate Boulevard development. As homebuilders, we strive to build communities and transform lives, and I’m proud that we are able to support the Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity through our donation. The donation is designed to enable children of all ages who may find themselves at Rotherham Hospital, to enjoy an improved children’s ward play area on its rooftop,” added Antony Rowe, Sales Manager for Keepmoat. “We were honoured that our three fabulous showhomes have been officially opened by the Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr Tajamal Khan, and the charity’s mascot Dr Ted. Our new 170-home development is located opposite Rotherham Hospital, which is in ideal proximity for commuting staff – and our referral scheme is designed to support NHS employees get their foot onto the property ladder. We look forward to welcoming future visitors to our Moorgate Boulevard showhomes and we’re excited to create a thriving community that is dedicated to improving lives,” Antony concluded. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Catalyst and Hill to build new homes in Tottenham

Catalyst and Hill to build new homes in Tottenham

Catalyst, part of the Peabody Group, and development partners The Hill Group have been given the go-ahead by Haringey Council for the redevelopment of a site adjacent to St Ann’s Hospital, South Tottenham into new homes. The redevelopment will provide up to 995 new homes, 60% of which will be affordable, delivering much-needed housing in the area. The approved application comprises a mix of different tenures including private sale, London Affordable Rent, London Living Rent, and Shared Ownership homes. The scheme will bring significant benefits to the area including new and enhanced green spaces. The central Peace Garden will be retained and extended to three times its current size. The plans also include new safe and accessible cycle routes through the site towards Harringay Green Lanes station, as well as shops, amenities, community-led housing, and affordable workspaces. Catalyst and Hill’s plans also retain seven historical hospital buildings, including the iconic water tower, which will be repurposed for a variety of non-residential uses. “Haringey Council’s decision to approve the plans for St Ann’s New Neighbourhood is fantastic news for Catalyst, Hill, and local people. The new neighbourhood will not only provide new homes for hundreds of people, the majority of those homes affordable, but will ensure those living and working there have access to outstanding outdoor facilities. Creating great places and sustainable neighbourhoods is at the heart of what we do, and we look forward to welcoming new residents in in the coming years,” said Philip Jenkins, Executive Director of Development at the Peabody Group, of which Catalyst is a subsidiary. The Catalyst development will provide 239 homes within the first phase, with outline plans for an additional 756 homes over future phases. Catalyst was selected by the Mayor of London to develop the former St Ann’s Hospital site in late 2020, with a shared goal of delivering more affordable homes for Londoners. A hybrid planning application was submitted in July this year following extensive community involvement. Several pop-up events and workshops were held with the local community and a Peace and Wellness Festival that was attended by more than 300 local people. “The approval of the planning application by Haringey Council is a significant step forward in the provision of much-needed affordable housing for the borough. We look forward to working with Catalyst to create this landmark project that will bring long-term benefits to the area, whilst working closely with the local community to ensure the delivery of their vision,” concluded Andy Hill, Chief Executive at Hill. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Doing The Groundwork For A Self-Build

Doing The Groundwork For A Self-Build

Whether you’re aiming to complete a self-build or you simply want to understand what happens at the beginning of a construction project, it’s always essential to start at the foundational level. Here are the steps that lay the foundations for a new property. With the tips below, you can get a good idea of what, precisely, has to be done before the real construction can begin. In most cases, these steps are going to be necessary before any other work is done. Do you need to demolish any buildings in the way? If you’re beginning construction on a bare patch of land, then you’re not going to need to think about demolition too much. However, if you do need to demolish any structures in the way, then you should do it with the help of demolition experts. Not only do you want to make sure that you’re able to complete demolitions as safely and efficiently as possible, but you also want to make sure that any demolitions that have to be carried out do not affect the stability and usability of the land beneath the buildings too much, given that you have to build on it again. An investigation of the area In some cases, you may need to work with a team to demolish any structures that are currently standing on the ground where you are aiming to work. Otherwise, regardless of whether there has been a structure there or not, you’re going to need to invest in the ground investigation. This can help you get an idea of where the ground itself has any issues that need to be addressed, such as stability levels, contamination of the ground from industrial or agricultural use, as well as the presence of any obstructions there might be in the ground, such as buried well infrastructure. You may also need to invest in some site clearance to make sure that the obstructions are moved out of the way. Putting down the foundations Once you know that the ground is clear, you need to go through the process of laying the foundations of the property. The extent of your foundations will depend primarily on the scale and weight of the building. A base for a garden shed or outhouse is not going to be anywhere near as extensive as the foundation for a house, for instance. There are two types of foundations, shallow and deep. For smaller buildings, including most homes, shallow foundations tend to be enough. However, you still need to make sure that the foundations you choose are effective at spreading out the weight of the new building while providing a stable and solid root for the building. Mind the groundwork Depending on the extent of the groundwork that you need to do in order to complete a project, this part may well come before the foundation is laid. For instance, groundwork includes any of the landscaping that has to be done to prepare a level and reliable worksite. It can also include any of the basement buildings and excavation that has to be done, not to mention identifying the sewage options for the building and drainage, so working with a team like drainage supplies from Kpipe is essential for ensuring that you’re able to connect the home’s drainage to whatever sewer lines are available. It’s best to leave the work of figuring out the drainage and utilities to contractors with skills and knowledge specific to those areas. Make sure that you’re ready to deal with any waste From all of the waste generated from clearing and excavating the land to the resources that are left over after you have completed the groundwork and the foundations, you need to be prepared for the sheer amount of waste that site demolition and clearance may require. There are a lot of cases where waste can be re-used down the line, whether on the same project or on a future project. However, if that’s not the case, then you may need to look at the possibility of working with teams like construction waste removal services from SafeGroup to make sure that you’re taking care of your waste responsibly and in keeping with any regulations. Every successful construction project demands effective planning and forward thinking. Without the groundwork and the foundational steps taken above, there can’t be any safety or reliability in a construction job. Ensure you have the tools, skills, and contractors necessary to do all of the above if you’re aiming to build a property from scratch. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Landmark Glasgow BTR development tops out

Landmark Glasgow BTR development tops out

PLATFORM_ Glasgow will deliver much-needed homes for the city The project team behind the flagship PLATFORM_ Glasgow build-to-rent (BTR) development celebrated a significant project milestone at this week’s topping out ceremony. Contractor, GRAHAM, is delivering the impressive scheme on behalf of PLATFORM_, an investor, developer, and operator of build-to-rent communities across the UK. The development will be one of the city’s tallest buildings at 20 storeys high (circa 60m). With a stellar project team including firms Thomas & Adamson, Axiom Project Services Limited and Keppie Design, the topping out ceremony involved guests climbing to the 20th floor of the building to enjoy unrivalled views across the city and signing the core of the structure. A welcome addition to the city centre skyline, PLATFORM_ Glasgow will create 498 much-needed homes for the Glasgow community, strategically located between the International Financial Services District and Finnieston. The development will help to revitalise the iconic waterfront, creating a vibrant new neighbourhood set across four blocks, ranging from six to 20 storeys in height with a mix of studios, one, two and three-bedroom apartments available. As the housing crisis and demand for homes continues to creatBTRe a perfect storm for renters across the city, PLATFORM_’s development will deliver a significant boost to availability of high quality housing stock. Creating a destination for people to live and socialise alike, PLATFORM_ Glasgow will feature a range of amenities including a state-of-the-art gym, landscaped courtyard, two roof terraces, cinema room and remote working facilities, all considered in monthly rental rates.  Residents will also enjoy a private games room,  bar area, guest lounges and group dining rooms, all exclusive to PLATFORM_ Glasgow, which is set to be one of the most desirable BTR options in the city as the new rental model increases in popularity with young professionals, families and downsizers. The scheme will achieve the Silver Active Energy standard with plans submitted for sustainable energy generation by rooftop photovoltaics and the use of air source heat pumps in place of traditional heating systems. These initiatives will enable 100% of apartments to achieve an EPC B rating. GRAHAM and PLATFORM_ are targeting completion of the development in October 2023 with apartments available for new residents to view from Q3 next ydevelopmentear. Matt Willcock, Development Director at PLATFORM_, said: “We’re really proud to see PLATFORM_ Glasgow achieve another milestone and it was great to get everyone involved together to mark it. “The Clyde Waterfront has been earmarked as an area for urban regeneration by Glasgow City Council and we are helping to accelerate this by delivering a ready-made neighbourhood that will deliver much-needed homes and have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of residents.” Gary Holmes, Regional Managing Director for GRAHAM Building North, said: “As demand continues to outstrip the supply of new homes available for rent across the city, it is fantastic to see PLATFORM_ Glasgow quickly taking shape. “GRAHAM is proud to be collaborating with PLATFORM_ and their team to deliver this iconic development. The unique offering will not only boost housing supply, but also create a thriving community along the River Clyde.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Platform Housing Group expands into Oxfordshire

Work has begun on a substantial housing development in Carterton in Oxfordshire that will see 200 homes provided for people to live in the area. Platform Housing Group have begun work at the site at Milestone Road which has been provided by West Oxfordshire District Council and will be developed by United Living. It represents the group’s largest site in the area to date and the continuation of their strong start of their strategic partnership with Homes England. Over the next four years, the new homes will be made available through Platform’s different affordable options. 105 of the homes will be available to rent, 12 as rent to buy and 83 through the increasingly popular shared ownership scheme. This allows people to purchase a share of their home and then pay a rent on the rest with the option to increase that share up to 100%. Amongst those visiting the site was MP for Witney and West Oxford Robert Courts who said, “It was a pleasure to visit the site in Carterton which will provide much needed affordable homes for local people. It was encouraging to see work getting underway and useful to learn more about how this development will benefit local people and the wider area in Carterton. I look forward to following progress closely.” Group Chief Executive of Platform Elizabeth Froude said, “It’s been fantastic to see the site today where we’ll be able to provide much needed affordable housing for the area. We look forward to offering people real opportunities to live in the area and even buy a home that is quality and affordable. With 200 different homes, we are delighted to be offering such a large site for our partners at West Oxfordshire District Council who have been fully committed to these options to help with the growth of the area. I’d also like to thank our developers United Living and Homes England for their help in delivering this development.” Carl Rylett Cabinet Member for Planning and Sustainable Development at West Oxfordshire District Council said, “It’s good to see this site come forward for development; affordable housing is greatly needed in West Oxfordshire. We identified the site through the Council’s Local Plan, and granted planning permission in 2020. We are fully committed as a council to bringing forward sites for affordable housing development, and this development will make a real difference to the community.” Neil Farmery, Construction Director, United Living New Homes, said: “We are delighted to have started building work at Milestone Road. Working collaboratively with Platform Housing Group, we look forward to delivering high-quality, affordable new homes that will provide a welcome housing boost to the local community.” The diginitaries took in a site tour as part of the visit today and got to find out how much the development will benefit people in the area from members of Platform’s communities department, who spoke about the services and support they give their customers. Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Progress Housing Group celebrates the positive impact it’s helping to make on the lives of people and communities across the country

A Lancashire not-for-profit housing association has invested £24.8m to provide affordable homes as part of its ongoing work to tackle the current social housing crisis. With a commitment to support the local community, Progress Housing Group has pledged to provide 1,000 affordable new homes by 2024, with 226 homes built last financial year. Recognising the necessity for a variety of affordable housing to reflect the needs of its tenants, 122 of these homes were for affordable rent, 69 for shared ownership, and 35 were supported living properties for people living with learning disabilities and mental health needs. Jacqui De-Rose, Chief Executive of Progress Housing Group, said: “We are on course and hope to meet our target. This financial year we invested £24.8 million into the development of new homes, with £4.4 million coming from government grants. “We have been working in partnership with Onward Homes to secure Strategic Partnership Grant funding from Homes England to support the delivery of 600 affordable homes by March 2026″.” Building homes is not the Group’s only focus, as it pledges to create a positive impact on its residents and the neighbourhoods where they live. Through this work, the Group has been named Corporate Fundraiser of the Year at the North West Employee Experience Group Awards. Mrs De-Rose added: “We believe housing associations have a wider role in society. We are committed to creating opportunities for people through access to personal and career development, and we have supported 304 people into training or employment through our Project Futures scheme. “We have also continued to work closely with communities across the country. “We invested £73,197 in supporting local groups and projects and activities at a number of our RWP supported living schemes. Projects have included a sensory garden, a pop-up Caribbean Carnival, digital engagement, youth activities, support for young carers, and activities for older people”. The Group has also carried out social value work, enabling its contractors and other suppliers to make a real difference. This has included community clean-up days, supporting a food bank, and sponsoring the Typhoon’s inclusive rugby club. With the cost of living crisis unfolding, Progress Housing Group remains steadfast in providing help for tenants who are struggling to manage their money or pay their rent. During the last financial year, the Group’s Financial Inclusion Team has helped 136 people increase their income by a total of £282,705. The Group has also created opportunities for 2,892 people to become more independent through its charity Key Unlocking Futures. Mrs De-Rose added: “We recognise that to make our communities great places to live, we need to help people achieve their aspirations and improve their prospects. Our Key Unlocking Futures team has been an integral force in achieving this. As well as securing accommodation, they have also been providing people at risk of losing their homes with vital advice on finding employment; and have provided family mediation sessions and budgeting support.” Progress Housing Group’s full annual report can be found on its website: https://www.progressgroup.org.uk/about-us/how-we-are-performing/annual-reports/corporate-annual-reports/

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Leader & Deputy Leader of Barnet celebrate major milestone in the delivery of Pocket Living’s 100% affordable housing scheme

The Leader & Deputy Leader of Barnet, Cllr Barry Rawlings & Cllr Ross Houston, and Cllr Claire Farrier joined Pocket Living’s Chief Commercial Officer, Nick Cuff, to lay the first ceremonial brick at the innovative housing developer’s first scheme in the borough. The visit represents a significant milestone in the delivery of this 100% affordable housing scheme, which is expected to complete by summer 2023. All 86 one-bedroom homes at Woodside Park will be sold to Barnet’s first-time buyers at a 20% discount to the local market, pricing those who either live or work in the area into home ownership. The forward-thinking scheme will be car-free, contributing to the Council’s wider sustainability ambitions to be Carbon Net Zero by 2030, with everyone living at Woodside Park also benefitting from access to two rooftop gardens with lush planting, allotment beds and dedicated wellness space. Pocket Living’s database already has registered approximately 1,000 local people who live or work in the Borough who are interested in buying a home at Woodside Park, with a third of those registered working in the public sector. This includes roles within the Metropolitan Police, Barnet General Hospital, local primary schools, Middlesex University Business School and Barnet Council. With building starts in London expected to be at a 10-year low and in light of the growing challenge of rising build costs, with cost inflation, according to the Office for National Statistics, increasing by 22% since 2021, Pocket still remains committed to delivering affordable homes. This year will represent the most productive year in Pocket’s history, with 480 homes starting on site across four London boroughs: Barnet, Waltham Forest, Harrow and Greenwich. Pocket Living is also expected to go to planning committee in late October for their Dolman Close application in West Finchley, which could deliver a further 60 homes to local people in the Borough. Nick Cuff, Chief Commercial Officer at Pocket Living, comments: “As the cost of living continues to rise, the need to deliver affordable homes in the capital has never been greater. It is clear from the significant number of people who have already registered their interest for this scheme that there is significant demand for high-quality but affordable homes in this area of Barnet and we are delighted that Barnet Council is proactively working with us to deliver schemes such as Woodside Park”. Cllr Barry Rawlings, Leader of Barnet Council, added: “This is an exciting and innovative new development which will help us deliver on our commitment to build more genuinely affordable homes in Barnet and contribute to our sustainability goals. We’re delighted to welcome Pocket Living to the borough and look forward to working with them on other schemes in the future.”

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Cora – the new name in excellent homes

Expert housebuilder Barwood Homes has announced its new name and brand – Cora. The company, based in Northamptonshire, has been delivering homes across the Midlands since it formed in 2010. However, as the company looks to the future, it wanted a new name and brand that better reflects its values. Luke Simmons, Managing Director at Cora, said: “We are thrilled to announce our new name and branding and are looking forward to a successful future as Cora. “Our new name comes from the word Chorus, echoing who we are as a company – a group of people working in harmony. “We feel our new brand better reflects our values, a people-centric company focused on delivering high-quality homes while providing great customer service.” Among Cora’s current live sites are Eagles Edge, Redhill, in Nottinghamshire, Romney Meadows, in Quainton, Buckinghamshire and the Old Sawmill in Great Bowden in Leicestershire. Cora is launching a new website to coincide with the rebranding, giving its customers access to an easy-to-use platform packed with information and updates on Cora’s projects. As Cora, the team and management remains the same while the company also looks to extend its strategy on sustainability and the environment. Luke said “Although the company’s name has changed, its dedication to delivering excellent homes and customer service has not. Although we have been building excellent homes since we were formed, the company has grown and evolved since we were first established.” “As Cora, our work will be complimented by our new Sustainable Building Framework, and our focus will also be on protecting the environment and working within our communities. “We will continue to deliver on our promises of excellent quality of product and service, but will build upon these values as the company moves forward.” For more information on Cora and its projects visit Cora.uk

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Stonewater celebrates 5000th home opening

A new development located in Newhaven, East Sussex, on the former Parker Pen factory site, has marked leading social housing provider, Stonewater’s 5000th new home completed since the association’s formation in 2015. Representatives from Stonewater, including Chairman Sheila Collins, CEO Nicholas Harris, as well as members of the development team that have been involved in the project, welcomed the Mayor of Newhaven, Councillor Paul Boswell to the site opening, which took place recently. The scheme, called Safford Park, incorporates 145 new homes being built on the former Parker Pen factory site and close to the River Ouse, which will provide a range of affordable housing options for residents. Developed by Hill Partnerships, an award-winning house builder that operates across London and the Southeast, the Safford Park scheme is the first collaboration between Stonewater and the construction firm. Each of the homes have been built to EPC B energy rating standards and offer electric vehicle charging points. The development will also incorporate a community garden and allotment space to encourage environmentally friendly living. Stonewater, which is renowned for its inclusion of public art at its developments has paid homage to the history of the site with the artistic display for Safford Park. The entranceway to the development will be home to two oversized fountain pen nibs, while further nods to the Parker Pen history will be seen in pen lid shaped bollards and nib shaped railings that will be installed across the site. Nicholas Harris, CEO at Stonewater said: “We’re hugely proud to have reached our 5000th home achievement and at such a fantastic development at Safford Park, which really showcases the quality of sustainable homes we have built over the last seven years. Achieving this significant milestone is a testament to the team and our partners that have worked with us across every project that Stonewater has delivered to get us to this point.” Jonathan Layzell, Executive Director – Development at Stonewater “The site in Newhaven is incredibly important, not only to the local area where affordable housing is needed, but also to our overall mission to delivering good quality homes to people who need them most. “While we take a moment to celebrate the work that has got us to this point, we also look forward, as a team, to the next milestone, and beyond.” Paul Boswell, Mayor of Newhaven said: “I was delighted to be asked to attend the ceremony to mark the construction of the Stonewater’s 5000th home. The development in Newhaven is an attractive mix of houses and apartments of various sizes. New homes in our town are in high demand and I’m sure it won’t be long before all these quality properties are fully occupied. Harvey Dhami, Deputy Regional Director at The Hill Group comments: “We would like to congratulate Stonewater for achieving this impressive milestone and are delighted that homes at our Safford Park development have contributed to the 5,000 new homes provided. These energy efficient homes will deliver much needed affordable housing for the local community at Newhaven and ensure current and future generations can enjoy living in a high-quality sustainable home.” The development also provided opportunities for engagement with the local community. Strong links were established with students studying construction at Sussex College, who were invited to attend regular site visits and meet staff working on site, while children at the local primary school were involved in a poster competition showcasing what they like about their local area, with the winning posters displayed on site. The Hill Group also employed a number of local students at the site and plumbing apprentice, Kai Sol was presented with a new tool bag as a sign of appreciation for his involvement in the project at the opening event.

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CKH AGREES CONTRACT WITH WILLMOTT DIXON TO BUILD NORTHMINSTER DEVELOPMENT 

CROSS KEYS HOMES (CKH) has signed contracts with Willmott Dixon to build their flagship Northminster development.  Willmott Dixon was invited on to the development team by Peterborough Investment Partnership (PIP) earlier this year before the site was sold on to CKH, and since then have led on the demolition of the existing buildings and groundworks on the site.  Now it has signed a main works development contract which will see Willmott Dixon leading on all aspects of the build of this exciting £70 million development project.  CKH’s Chief Executive, Claire Higgins, said: “We are delighted to have signed contracts with Willmott Dixon to deliver this flagship scheme for the city, which will provide 315 new affordable homes.  “Willmott Dixon’s purpose is to deliver brilliant buildings, transform lives, strengthen communities and enhance the environment, which goes hand-in-hand with our core objectives and makes them the ideal partner for this exciting development.”  David McCallion, director at Willmott Dixon, said: “We’re pleased to have now signed contracts with Cross Keys Homes for this fantastic ten-storey flagship development.   “This is a hugely significant regeneration project, and we will be using innovative construction methods to build better, greener and smarter. Offsite elements will include a lightgauge steel frame, brick slips and the use of bathroom pods, which will help to ensure quality, programme certainty and come with environmental benefits.”  Due to be finished in October 2024, the Northminster development, which is in part, being funded by a £12.5 million grant from Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, will provide much needed high-quality affordable housing in the city centre.  CKH are being advised on this project by construction consultants AA Projects, and working alongside Willmott Dixon are a project team which consists of architects Corstorphine & Wright, planning consultants ELG, structural engineers SBK, and mechanical and electrical engineers Briggs & Forrester.  Willmott Dixon will be prioritising locally sourced labour, providing training opportunities and investing in local businesses throughout the build period, which is anticipated to take around two years with the first completed homes expected by summer 2024. The bespoke social value commitment planned will generate a social return on investment in the region of £3.2 million. 

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