The latest research by Unlatch, the new homes sales progression and aftercare platform for developers and housebuilders, has revealed which local authorities have seen the highest level of house building when it comes to residential development as a percentage of total space available. Unlatch analysed each area of England based
A retirement development on Cooke Street in Bentley, Doncaster that is using a modern method of construction, where the homes are produced off-site, has marked a major milestone. The development of 20 affordable retirement bungalows and apartments is being constructed on the site of former council offices and a depot. Designed by
A leading housing association has signed a £100m+ contract to accelerate the number of low-carbon, factory-built homes it builds every year. Bromford has sealed a four-year contract with MMC developers ilke Homes Ltd and Hadley Group to provide hundreds of new homes across the West Midlands and West of England.
Buying a property is a significant milestone, and most people who are buying a home for the first time don’t know what to anticipate. The process is sometimes as scary as it is thrilling. High asking prices and increasing interest rates make buying a new house more of a gamble
The Mayor of Havant, Cllr Diana Patrick, was the guest of honour at a new development on Hayling Island earlier this month. Cllr Patrick was invited to the Barratt Homes Pebble Walk on 4th August to lay a ceremonial brick on the foundations of the first plot being built at
Celebrating the handover of its first modular housing scheme in Wallasey, leading affordable housing provider, Torus, is marking the handover of its new 8-unit scheme at Oakdale Road. Expanding its use of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), Oakdale Road signifies a further £1.5 million investment in the use of greener,
Devonshire Homes has increased its existing revolving credit facility (RCF) from Lloyds Bank to £20 million to facilitate the housebuilder’s future growth plans. The privately-owned housebuilder is currently active on five West Country sites, with a further four additional sites in the region acquired within the last three months.
National housebuilder Keepmoat Homes has purchased land at Parkview Campus, Bristol from MCR Property Group for an undisclosed sum. MCR Property Group won permission from Bristol City Council for the wider scheme in 2019 and then obtained detailed consent for the first phase on the plot last November, before selling
Bellway has been given the go-ahead to build 175 new homes in the Whitehouse area of Milton Keynes. The housebuilder has secured planning permission to deliver the new homes at a development to be known as Bellway at Whitehouse Park, with approval for its detailed plans given by Milton Keynes
The latest research by Unlatch, new homes progression and aftercare platform for developers and housebuilders, reveals that the annual price growth of British new-build homes has outperformed existing homes by almost 20% in the past year. Homebuyers and professional property investors alike are keen to buy homes that can promise
The latest research by Unlatch, the new homes sales progression and aftercare platform for developers and housebuilders, has revealed which local authorities have seen the highest level of house building when it comes to residential development as a percentage of total space available. Unlatch analysed each area of England based on the total land area in hectares and what percentage of this land area has been attributed to developed use for residential properties. The research shows that the nation’s grand total land area is estimated to cover almost 13.3m hectares. Just 152,380 hectares of this land is also estimated to have been utilised for developed residential use, equating to just 1.1% of total land area. In the majority of regions this land usage for residential development remains fairly consistent with the national average, with the South West home to the lowest level at 0.7%. Outside of London, the North West and South East are home to the highest levels at 1.4%, but in the capital itself, this climbs to 10.1%. No surprise then, that the capital’s boroughs account for the most built up property markets in the nation. In Kensington and Chelsea, 22.3% of the borough’s total land area has been utilised for residential development. Islington isn’t far behind, where a fifth of the borough has been developed for residential homes, with Lambeth (18.2%), Hackney (17.6%) and Hammersmith and Fulham (17.4%) also ranking amongst the highest. Outside of London, Luton is the most developed local authority with respect to residential properties, accounting for 10.1% of total land area, followed by Leicester (10%), Blackpool (9.8%), Watford (9.8%) and Worthing (9.6%). The least developed area? Eden, where land developed for residential use sits at just 268 hectares, 0.1% of the area’s total land area. At 0.2%, Ryedale, Richmondshire, Craven, West Devon and Northumberland are also some of the least developed areas where residential property is concerned. Lee Martin, Head of UK for Unlatch says: “There seems to be a common misconception amongst the public that the nation is bursting at the seams when it comes to the number of homes already built and that we simply have no available land left to address the current housing crisis. This simply isn’t the case and, in fact, land utilised for residential development currently accounts for just over one per cent of the nation’s total land area. Of course, in major urban areas, this percentage is far higher, particularly in London, where the demand for housing is greater due to a larger population. However, in some areas, residential development accounts for a tiny fraction of total land available and it’s ironically in these areas where current homeowners are often most passionately against the construction of new homes.” Data tables Data tables and sources can be viewed online, here.
A retirement development on Cooke Street in Bentley, Doncaster that is using a modern method of construction, where the homes are produced off-site, has marked a major milestone. The development of 20 affordable retirement bungalows and apartments is being constructed on the site of former council offices and a depot. Designed by Brewster Bye Architects for Housing 21, all the modular units, which were built in Hull by specialist contractor, M-AR, have now been delivered and installed. The brickwork is already up to damp proof course level and the external cladding and landscaping work on the development is due to complete soon. Mark Henderson, from Brewster Bye, said: “This modern method of construction is proving very popular because the units are constructed off-site and delivered completely finished, including electrics, plumbing and interior paintwork, so it’s fast and efficient. “The three-storey apartment building will offer 12, one and two bedroom, apartments, and there will be eight, two bedroom bungalows, which will all be finished with traditional materials including a palette of red brick with light render features, stone effect head and cills, slate effect roof tiles and anthracite grey windows and doors. “The high-quality houses all enjoy spacious plots, generous gardens and parking spaces. The layout of the properties has been carefully designed to create a characterful development with its own attractive identity.” The development sits next to an existing, popular retirement living development also owned and managed by Housing 21 – Minden Court. A spokesperson for Housing 21, said: “There is plenty of demand for quality retirement accommodation in the area, so this was an ideal site for these much-needed homes, and it will appeal to the over 55s market throughout Doncaster. Close to a variety of local shops and an attractive park, where residents can enjoy pleasant walks – it’s a great place to live.” Housing 21 is a leading provider of retirement and extra care living for older people. It is a not-for-profit organisation that operates in over 240 local authority areas. Brewster Bye is one of the UK’s leading architecture practices in the retirement housing sector. Visit: www.housing21.org.uk for more details.
A leading housing association has signed a £100m+ contract to accelerate the number of low-carbon, factory-built homes it builds every year. Bromford has sealed a four-year contract with MMC developers ilke Homes Ltd and Hadley Group to provide hundreds of new homes across the West Midlands and West of England. The first homes to be delivered as part of the partnerships will be a 28-home zero carbon development in Moreton-in-Marsh in Gloucestershire delivered through Bromford’s in-house construction team and ilke Homes. The units are due to be installed in the spring of 2023 over an 8-week period. They will come equipped with air source heat pumps and solar panels that, when combined, will reduce operational emissions – such as those generated from utilities such as heating and electricity – by 100 percent. Plans for the scheme were approved by Cotswold District Council in February. High levels of energy-efficiency – achieved by increased air tightness and the use of low-carbon technologies – will translate into huge cost savings for Bromford’s customers, at a time when the annual energy price cap is predicted to be raised to more than £3,000 in October. Development and asset management innovation lead Mike Craggs said: “Providing affordable homes that are cheaper to run and heat is going to be increasingly important for our customers and these partnerships will allow us to make sure the homes that are provided of the highest, EPC-A standard. We’re thrilled to have signed these contracts with ilke Homes and Hadley Group to become our main providers of MMC homes for the years ahead, and are looking forward to work starting on our first development in Gloucestershire. “Utilising modern methods of construction is key to us delivering the number of affordable, energy efficient homes we are aiming to build during the next five years. Starting with 50 homes in the first year of the contract, we will increase this to up to 200 homes a year by 2025 and are looking forward to getting started on our first site later this year.” Tom Heathcote, executive director of development at ilke Homes, said: “ilke Homes are increasingly becoming a partner of choice for housing associations looking to scale up the delivery of energy-efficient, affordable housing. Much like many councils and housing associations across the country, Bromford and Cotswold District Council understand the role MMC have to play in enhancing the build quality of homes and their ability to speed up construction programmes. We look forward to working closely with all delivery partners to bring this scheme forward.” Ben Towe, group managing director at Hadley Group said: “Hadley Group is delighted to be a Bromford Homes delivery partner for new modular home where better efficiency delivers greater affordability for everyone. The housing crisis is not only about more homes, but also about better performance of those homes so they cost less to heat, light, helping people out of fuel poverty.” Paul Nicoll, director of advanced methods of construction (AMC) added: “Bromford have taken the initiative by selecting Hadley HOME as a delivery partner and we are excited that together we can develop more homes faster than before by embracing modular. Bromford will achieve the highest EPC rating, benefiting both the environment through efficiency and reducing the cost of living for those living and working from home.” In 2021 Bromford was named one of Homes England’s strategic partners, securing £240m to develop new homes, 25% of which have to utilise modern methods of construction. Bromford is one of the biggest builders of affordable housing in the country, completing 1,224 homes in the past financial year. For the past two years it has been the biggest builder of social rent homes* and aims to develop more than 7,000 homes over the next five years.
Buying a property is a significant milestone, and most people who are buying a home for the first time don’t know what to anticipate. The process is sometimes as scary as it is thrilling. High asking prices and increasing interest rates make buying a new house more of a gamble than ever, but here is your help guide. As per the reports of the first half of 2022, the median home price in the United States was $428,700. From 2020 to 2022, home prices in the United States rose by 30 percent. 1. Check Your Credit Report Examining your credit record is the first step to buying your new home. Your credit score determines how likely you are to be approved for a loan, the sort of loan you may be offered, and the interest rate you may be charged on that loan. It’s natural to question what sort of credit score is required to close on a house purchase. It’s crucial to check your credit report to see which sorts of mortgage loans you might be eligible for (Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, and Jumbo). 2. See How Much You Can Afford After you’ve reviewed your credit report, the next stage in the buying process is to set your budget. Online mortgage calculators are the quickest method to get a feel of your budget. A mortgage calculator will help estimate your mortgage payment, including the principal and interest, taxes, insurance, HOA, and PMI. A home affordability calculator can help you determine your maximum mortgage payment. Another essential item to include in your budget is closing charges, typically 2%-5% of the purchase price. 3. Get Approved in Advance You will want to secure a mortgage pre-approval when investigating how to buy a house. Getting pre-approved commences the mortgage process with a lender and helps you understand how much you can borrow. It also allows you to make a quick decision when you’re ready to make an offer. Instead of going with the first mortgage lender you find or even your present bank, it’s in your best interest to compare rates from several different lenders. Finding the best mortgage rate depends on researching the various mortgage alternatives and rates offered by various lenders. 4. Look For a Real Estate Professional Choosing the appropriate real estate agent can be the key to locating the ideal new house and receiving the best deal. Before deciding on a real estate agent to help you buy a home, it’s wise to do some background reading and formulate a list of questions for potential candidates. 5. Check Out Available Real Estate Listings The next step when buying a new homeis to start browsing properties for sale in your region. Make sure your desired list guides your property search. As a result, when looking for houses on the MLS, you can zero in on those that meet your exact criteria regarding cost, architectural style, geographic area, and the like. There is no need for a first-time home buyer to feel overwhelmed by the process if they are prepared with the correct information and tools. By adhering to the guidelines in this article and teaming up with a reliable real estate agent, you may gain insight into the home-buying process and control the situation. By following the suggestions given above, you’ll have more time to do what’s most important: relax in your new abode. With thoughtful planning and execution of the “A place called home” phenomenon, help you find the abode of your choice.
The Mayor of Havant, Cllr Diana Patrick, was the guest of honour at a new development on Hayling Island earlier this month. Cllr Patrick was invited to the Barratt Homes Pebble Walk on 4th August to lay a ceremonial brick on the foundations of the first plot being built at the new site, which is bringing 195 new homes to the Island. Donning her hard had and high vis jacket, the mayor was introduced to the new development by Barratt Homes Finance Director, Glen O’Nion, and was delighted to have the privilege of marking the start of construction in the popular coastal location. Cllr Patrick said: “It’s great to see this brand-new community coming to Hayling Island. This is a wonderful location, and the development will be delivering a mix of high-quality homes that the region desperately needs. “I’m delighted to have been given the responsibility of laying the first brick of the very first home being built here, and I’m looking forward to seeing things progress in the coming weeks and months.” Tammy Bishop, Sales Director for Barratt Homes, Southampton Division, said: “It has been wonderful to welcome the Mayor of Havant to our new community here on Hayling Island. The construction team were especially impressed with her bricklaying skills. “Pebble Walk will be officially launching this Autumn and with buyers already eager to secure a new home here, we are selling off-plan from our neighbouring Saxon Corner site in Emsworth.” Pebble Walk will be a collection of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes located just a mile from the beach. There is a great choice of local schools, shops and restaurants close by, and the development is just a short drive to the nearby cities of Portsmouth and Chichester. To find out more about Pebble Walk, visit www.barratthomes.co.uk.
Celebrating the handover of its first modular housing scheme in Wallasey, leading affordable housing provider, Torus, is marking the handover of its new 8-unit scheme at Oakdale Road. Expanding its use of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), Oakdale Road signifies a further £1.5 million investment in the use of greener, more sustainable technologies and Torus’ commitment to become a more eco-friendly developer. All eight bungalows at Oakdale Road were built off site and are available via Affordable Rent and are built to meet net zero carbon standards, featuring PV Solar Roof Panels, an Air Source Heat Pump with an EPC rating of ‘A’ – the first of its kind built by Torus with contractor Starship. Completed in less than a year, Oakdale Road highlights the importance of utilising less traditional methods of construction to regenerate disused sites to create high quality, modern homes quickly. Embedding this technology will also benefit future residents by lowering their energy consumption and ultimately bills – something that has never been so important for many in Torus communities. Discussing the completion of Oakdale Road, Director of Development & Sales Steve Alcock, said: “As a social investor, we’re committed to ensuring all homes we build are not only affordable, but actively contribute to addressing key issues impacting our local communities, region and the country as a whole. Oakdale Road is the first Torus scheme that is completely carbon neutral but is certainly not the last. “As we progress on our journey to net zero emissions, this development will form the blueprint for how we continue to use MMC intelligently to not only fix the national housing crisis but reduce our impact on the environment to create more sustainable developments and we’re thrilled to have worked with Starship to create such an innovative scheme.” Chris Moores, Development Director at Starship, commented: “It’s been great working with the team at Torus to deliver what is a truly innovative, next generation development for their residents. We are always working to push the boundaries in creating the lowest carbon living standards possible for our customers and we are looking forward to working with Torus in the future on more game changing homes.” After visiting the development, Councillor Tony Jones, Chair of Wirral Council’s Economy, Regeneration & Housing Committee, said, “It’s fantastic to see such a ground-breaking development in Wirral, which not only provides much-needed bungalows for affordable rent, but also incorporates sustainable technologies to minimise carbon emissions and help residents keep their fuel bills as low as possible.”
Devonshire Homes has increased its existing revolving credit facility (RCF) from Lloyds Bank to £20 million to facilitate the housebuilder’s future growth plans. The privately-owned housebuilder is currently active on five West Country sites, with a further four additional sites in the region acquired within the last three months. Devonshire Homes has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Lloyds Bank since 2016 and this newly extended finance facility supersedes its previous arrangement with Lloyds Bank that was announced in February 2022. Devonshire Homes has been building homes across the West Country since 1992 and the new RCF will accelerate the housebuilder’s expansion plans to double turnover and deliver 400 homes per annum by 2026. Angus Cook, Managing Director at Devonshire Homes, commented: “This marks another important milestone for Devonshire Homes and we are delighted to have agreed this new £20million facility with our long-term and supportive banking partners at Lloyds Bank. “Devonshire Homes is on a significant growth trajectory and this new RCF helps cement our position as an established and ambitious developer in the South West. It provides us with the flexibility to continue to acquire and establish new sites to deliver high-quality homes to people who need them. “This new agreement comes at the perfect time. As a privately-owned housebuilder, our ability to make swift decisions with landowners has been the cornerstone of a string of recent land acquisitions in this last quarter. And now with this extended financing secured to support our business growth objectives, we are keen to build on the momentum; to build our land bank, further strengthen all areas of the business and are very much looking forward to the future.” Paul Collings, Relationship Director at Lloyds Banking Group, commented: “Sustainability has become more of a priority than ever for homeowners, so it’s great to see Devonshire Homes bring forward greener homes, provide energy solutions to help reduce household costs and ultimately help futureproof properties for generations to come. “We’re proud to back Devonshire Homes and its long-term commitment to providing sustainable housing for the West Country. We will continue to be by the side of local businesses as they accelerate their environmental ambitions and help the South West to reach its net zero goals.” Independent housebuilder Devonshire Homes has been creating new homes and communities in towns and rural areas across the South West for 30 years. The housebuilder specialises in providing homes which reflect the traditional characteristics and building styles of the region combined with high specification, contemporary interiors. Current developments include: Tarka View, Crediton; Applegate Park, Kingsbridge; Longston Cross, Bovey Tracey and Gwallon Keas, St. Austell with The Grange, Bideford, launching this autumn. For more information, visit www.devonshirehomes.co.uk.
National housebuilder Keepmoat Homes has purchased land at Parkview Campus, Bristol from MCR Property Group for an undisclosed sum. MCR Property Group won permission from Bristol City Council for the wider scheme in 2019 and then obtained detailed consent for the first phase on the plot last November, before selling the plot to Keepmoat Homes to build a housing community consisting of 91 new build homes. The new Parkview development based on Whitchurch Lane will transform the brownfield site, previously used as a car park for the old Somerfield head quarters, into much-needed housing for the area. Comprising 17 one and two-bedroom flats and 74 two-, three- and four-bedroom houses, the new homes will be made 100% affordable in partnership with housing association Bromford. Residents will enjoy brilliant transport links, open green spaces, great shopping amenities and a purpose-built play area. Charlotte Goode, Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat Homes, said: ‘’We’re thrilled to have purchased brownfield land in Bristol which will be transformed into 91 quality homes, set amongst picturesque surroundings to be enjoyed by residents and the local public alike. “This desirable hotspot will provide more choice for residents in Bristol and is set in an ideal location for commuters, families and couples. “The land acquisition of Parkview is another positive step towards our further growth in the region. We look forward to making positive relationships within the community, with the aim of completing our first set of homes in the summer of 2023.” Wyn Bevan, Head of Development at Bromford said: “Developments like this one at Parkview help meet the growing demand for new affordable homes in Bristol, as house prices are 12 times average incomes*. These homes will provide local people with the chance to move into a modern, quality home, where they can become part of their community. We’re always looking for new opportunities to provide affordable homes and so are delighted to be working in partnership with Keepmoat Homes at Parkview. “We’re looking forward to seeing these homes take shape and to start welcoming customers into their new homes.” Harry Ladds, Asset Manager at MCR Property Group, said: “The sale of the Parkview site ensures our vision for Parkview Campus is fulfilled, having worked closely with Bristol City Council and a number of local stakeholders on the masterplan of Parkview Campus. The sale allows us to focus on delivering our current development pipeline and continuing our primary focus on industrial acquisitions across the UK.” “We would like to thank all those involved in the transaction and we’re very much looking forward to seeing the local community benefit under Keepmoat Homes. Construction is due to commence in early 2023, with the first homes being completed in the summer of 2023. The development will take approximately two years to complete. Keepmoat was unrepresented on the transaction and JLL advised MCR Property Group. Nicholas Rumble, Director at JLL commented: “With demand for affordable, first-class housing across the South West on the rise, it’s crucial that prospective developments are in the hands of ambitious and experienced housebuilders. We’re confident Keepmoat Homes’ purchase of the Park View scheme will create a portfolio of affordable properties future-proofed for years to come and look forward to seeing the progression on site.”
Bellway has been given the go-ahead to build 175 new homes in the Whitehouse area of Milton Keynes. The housebuilder has secured planning permission to deliver the new homes at a development to be known as Bellway at Whitehouse Park, with approval for its detailed plans given by Milton Keynes Council on Tuesday 19 July. The development, which will be on two parcels of land off Watling Street, will consist of 122 new homes for private sale and 53 affordable properties for local people through rent or shared ownership. Luke Southgate, Sales Director of Bellway Northern Home Counties, said: “We have worked closely with Milton Keynes Council to ensure that our detailed plans for these 175 new homes meet the needs of local people. “We are very keen to get on with this exciting project and aim to begin groundworks at the end of the month, with a view to releasing the first homes for sale in the autumn. At the development, we will be building two-bedroom apartments and two, three and four-bedroom houses to suit a wide range of purchasers, including first-time buyers, growing families and people downsizing. “As well as providing new homes for private sale, the development will also deliver a selection of 53 affordable properties to allow local people to live in new homes in the area and stay close to their family, friends and places of work.” Bellway has plans to build a total of 452 new homes at Bellway at Whitehouse Park across five plots of land acquired from L&Q last year. Whitehouse Park is part of the Western Expansion Area in Milton Keynes, which is scheduled to deliver a total of 6,500 new homes. Outline planning consent was given for this project in 2007. Luke said: “At Bellway Northern Home Counties we have our divisional headquarters in Milton Keynes and feel a real connection to the town. We are proud to be playing a key role in the ambitious scheme to deliver thousands of much-needed new homes to Milton Keynes. “These 175 new homes represent the first phase of Bellway’s plans to deliver a total of 452 new homes at Whitehouse Park. This is evidence of our ongoing commitment to try to meet the growing demand for new housing in this increasingly popular location.” More information about the new homes coming soon at Bellway at Whitehouse Park is available at https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/northern-home-counties/bellway-at-whitehouse-park.
The latest research by Unlatch, new homes progression and aftercare platform for developers and housebuilders, reveals that the annual price growth of British new-build homes has outperformed existing homes by almost 20% in the past year. Homebuyers and professional property investors alike are keen to buy homes that can promise good investment returns. So what is their best, most reliable option? Should they be buying new-build homes or investing instead in existing properties? The current average price of an existing home in Britain is £272,851 having increased by 8% in the last year. At the same time, the average price of a new-build has risen from £330,662 to £422,414, marking annual growth of 28%. New-builds in Britain have, therefore, outperformed existing homes by 19% when it comes to house price performance. But where in Britain do new-builds offer the very best returns when compared to the performance of existing homes? On a regional level, new-builds have performed most strongly against existing homes in Wales. The average new-build home in Wales has seen its value increase by 34% in the past year, rising from £246,740 to £331,159. This growth is 23% higher than that of existing homes which, in the same time period, saw their value increase by 11% from £181,199 to £201,633. In Scotland, new-build growth of 29% compared to existing property growth of 7% – a difference of 22% – while in the East Midlands, South West, and North East respectively, new-build growth outperformed existing homes by 21%. In the East of England, South East, Yorkshire & Humber, and West Midlands, new-build price performance is 20% better than existing homes, in the North West the difference is 19%, and in London, it’s 15%. On a local authority level, new-builds are outperforming older properties by the largest margin in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, up by 38% in the past year, 18% higher than existing homes which have seen their value increase by 20%. This is followed by Scotland’s Western Isles where new-build growth of 35% matches against 17% growth for older homes – a difference of 18%. In East Ayrshire, East Lothian, and Glasgow new-build performance is 17% higher than existing properties. Richmond ranks top in London, where new-build house prices have outperformed existing by 14%, while Bexley (12%), Camden (12%), Hackney (12%) and Tower Hamlets (12%) also rank amongst the highest in the capital. Lee Martin, Head of UK for Unlatch says: “New-build homes are increasingly desirable. Their overall finish and quality has improved dramatically over the past decade and they are vastly better than older properties when it comes to energy efficiency and fuel consumption. In today’s world, this looms large in homebuyers’ minds, even more so since the cost of living crisis kicked in. This is not only true for end users, but also for investors alike. Investors on the whole do prefer to go for a new build property for many reasons, one more being that by the time said investor completes on their purchase, the agent usually already has a tenant lined up to move in; meaning no void periods. In a fast, frantic, and highly competitive housing market, new-builds also offer more reliability in terms of the actual purchase itself. Fewer sales are subject to falling through as a result of unwanted discoveries during the surveying process, as well as the fact there is no dreaded chain to contend with. Of course, this heightened attraction does mean that new-builds have seen a far greater level of house price growth when compared to the existing market, but the flip side to this is the fact they also make a far sounder investment.” Data tables Data tables and sources can be viewed online, here.
