Housebuilder Harron Homes have officially joined Homes England’s Delivery Partner Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS). Homes England is the Government’s housing delivery agency and one of the largest vendors of residential land. Harron Homes will be joining 65 other developers, suppliers and housing associations in the new £20bn DPS. The Delivery
New ‘SETL’ contemporary living canal side development situated in Birmingham’s iconic jewellery quarter will feature 101 apartments together with 2,350 sq. ft. of ground floor commercial space. GMI Construction Group PLC an established and successful UK contractor and construction services company providing specialist design and build capabilities spanning multiple sectors
Dealing with damaged or neglected old metal windows can be a genuinely daunting challenge for property owners or their maintenance teams, but replacement – especially using modern alternatives – is rarely the only answer as specialist contractor Associated Steel Window Services (ASWS) can attest. In work across the South-East and
A multi-million-pound housing development and regeneration scheme that has transformed an historic part of Salford is now complete. The £22million Poets redevelopment project in Swinton is now finished and fully occupied – bringing 160 brand-new homes and breathing new life into the area, which is also known as Beechfarm. Poets
Akela Construction Ltd, part of the Akela Group, has secured its latest in a series of contracts as part of the creation of a new neighbourhood and community in Penicuik. This new contract for Avant Homes will deliver a further 78 new homes at Mauricewood Road and follows the successful
Development Will Deliver First New Homes at 170 Acre Site Templegate Developments Limited, the joint venture partnership of Evans Property Group and Keyland Developments, has agreed terms of sale with Avant Homes and Evans Homes for the acquisition of strategic housing land at the 170 acre Skelton Gate site in
Partner Housing, in association with Flagship Homes, celebrated the start of works on a new housing development in Necton, Norfolk; The £9.7 million development will see 73 new homes built, with a mix of Shared Ownership and Social Rent properties; Work is expected to finish on the site, called Tower
Vonder, the global living and lifestyle brand, has opened its first UK location outside London, with the launch of Vonder Riverside in Leeds. The new site increases Vonder’s total number of operational and contracted units in the UK to over 2,500, with several thousands more globally. The brand’s regional debut
Cruden has started work on a new housing development in East Lothian, its fourth active site in the region. Situated in Wallyford, on the outskirts of the popular coastal town of Musselburgh and its historic racecourse, the much-anticipated £20m new development lies just 8 miles from the Capital and will
Construction work is about to start on a new development in Ely which will deliver more than 250 new homes and a new cricket pitch and pavilion in the city. Linden Homes, part of the Vistry Group, is preparing to build 258 properties at its new Willow Woods development, off
Housebuilder Harron Homes have officially joined Homes England’s Delivery Partner Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS). Homes England is the Government’s housing delivery agency and one of the largest vendors of residential land. Harron Homes will be joining 65 other developers, suppliers and housing associations in the new £20bn DPS. The Delivery Partner DPS is one of Homes England’s main routes for land distribution and it gives house builders such as Harron Homes the ability to bid for these sites. Other public bodies may also use the DPS to procure developers, broadening housebuilders exposure to potential projects. It also allows for potential new members to join at any time – in contrast to the previous framework which renewed every four years. Nick Hague, Land Director at Harron Homes, said “After a rigorous application process, we are delighted that Homes England have accepted us onto its exciting new DPS system. “Being accepted enables us to work dynamically in identifying and procuring residential land. We are already planning on how to take maximum advantage of a framework that unlocks opportunities to be involved with projects which may have previously not come to our attention. “The new framework means benefits are passed onto both landowners and home buyers, new homes can be built quicker”. To find out more about current Harron Homes developments and the homes currently available, visit https://www.harronhomes.com/find-a-home/ or call the sales team on 01777 553390.
New ‘SETL’ contemporary living canal side development situated in Birmingham’s iconic jewellery quarter will feature 101 apartments together with 2,350 sq. ft. of ground floor commercial space. GMI Construction Group PLC an established and successful UK contractor and construction services company providing specialist design and build capabilities spanning multiple sectors has today announced that it has been appointed by leading property developer HBD to construct a new residential-led scheme in Birmingham’s iconic Jewellery Quarter. The development, titled ‘Setl’ is HBD’s first city centre development in Birmingham and has been designed by leading architects BPN, based in the jewellery quarter. 101 apartments will be accompanied by an array of residential amenities and 2,350 sq. ft. of ground floor commercial space. The scheme will feature a courtyard, workspace, a lounge and a gym, along with a rooftop garden on the upper floors of the six-storey building. Speaking about the announcement Andy Bruce, Divisional Marketing Director GMI Construction Group said: “We are very much looking forward to seeing this contemporary new development coming out of the ground, which will transform a redundant site into a modern, attractive development right at the heart of Birmingham’s iconic jewellery quarter. “GMI is proud to be have been trusted by leading developer HBD to deliver its first city centre development in Birmingham in an area with such a strong commercial history.” GMI continues to make good strides in Birmingham and the Midlands with over £100M of projects secured in our order book with new and established customers including HBD, St Modwen, Graftongate and St James Securities and across multiple sectors including residential, industrial/logistics, commercial, hotel and student. Simon Raiye, Director at HBD, said: “Setl is one of the city’s most exciting new developments, creating high-end, design-led apartments in one of Birmingham’s most sought after areas. We look forward to working with GMI to bring our vision to life.”
Dealing with damaged or neglected old metal windows can be a genuinely daunting challenge for property owners or their maintenance teams, but replacement – especially using modern alternatives – is rarely the only answer as specialist contractor Associated Steel Window Services (ASWS) can attest. In work across the South-East and further afield, the London-based company carries out a wide variety of contracts, addressing everything from heritage steel windows in listed buildings, to the maintenance of more modern W40 section and aluminium frame fenestration and curtain walling. Crucially, in almost all circumstances, timely intervention by ASWS can greatly extend the working life of windows; saving building owners from the cost and greater inconvenience of full replacement. Aside from the financial and logistical advantages, there are wider environmental benefits to refurbishing older windows which are becoming more valued, as the properties where we live and work come under scrutiny for their contribution to climate change. Straightforward routine maintenance will help ensure that opening lights close correctly and that weather-stripping is replaced when necessary; both cutting down on unwanted air and heat leakage. It is also possible to replace damaged or corroded sections and straighten or ‘reset’ distorted frames; either on site or in the workshop. Single glazing, which was standard in most steel windows until late last century, can be replaced with varying thicknesses of double-glazed unit, depending on the size of the rebate. Conventional IG starts at a slender 3-4-3mm make up and can benefit from warm edge spacer bars and gas filling, but new generation vacuum glazing offers much better performance, though at considerable cost. There is also a health and environmental benefit to removing all of the original lead paint still covering many older windows along with its responsible disposal. So the question is what to do with windows which really are beyond economic repair? While the price of scrap metal continues to fluctuate, the value of recycling has never been higher, with responsible contractors ensuring that they have separate skips for clean and dirty metal in order to maximise recovery. ASWS, however, goes much further having operated its own salvage operation for decades. Wherever possible, the team saves everything from old ironmongery, beads and even ‘Whitworth’ screws for reuse at a later date. In fact, the recent replacement of an old building at the front of the London premises has created even more room for this library of spare parts to be further expanded. As Laura Mercer, Managing Director of ASWS, observes: “We have got handles and other ironmongery from 40 years ago which we can reuse for current jobs when new replacements simply aren’t available, as well as the skills to make a full range of repairs and improvements. The best recycling you can do is re-using components to extend the useful life of windows and improving their performance at the same time.” Associated Steel Window Services is a member of The Steel Window Association (www.steel-window-association.co.uk). For further information on Associated Steel Window Services, please visit www.asws.co.uk or call 020 8665 5335.
A multi-million-pound housing development and regeneration scheme that has transformed an historic part of Salford is now complete. The £22million Poets redevelopment project in Swinton is now finished and fully occupied – bringing 160 brand-new homes and breathing new life into the area, which is also known as Beechfarm. Poets has been a major redevelopment scheme from housing association Salix Homes and has seen 146 defective properties, that were affected by structural issues, demolished. In their place, Salix Homes has built 120 new social housing properties, plus a further 40 homes for outright sale, available through the Government’s Help to Buy scheme. Sue Sutton, chief executive at Salix Homes, said: “Construction at the Poets began five years ago, but we’ve been developing proposals with the community for many years before that alongside Salford Council, so to see the development finally complete and those ambitions for Poets brought to life is a monumental moment for the area and the community. “This area has always been known for its real strength of community, and we have endeavoured to preserve that community spirit throughout the development, so it’s fantastic to see residents, both new and old, settled and making memories in their new homes. “At a time when social and affordable housing is in such short supply, we’re incredibly proud that Poets has increased housing choice in the area, bringing new, modern homes to both people on the social housing register and aspiring homeowners.” The mixed tenure development of two, three and four-bedroom homes, marks the first new-build scheme for Salix Homes and its first properties available for sale as part of its affordable home-ownership brand – Willo Homes. New homeowner Robin Capon was one of the last residents to get the keys, moving into his new three-bedroom home on Christmas Eve, and the 30-year-old accountant has finally seen his ambition to get on the property ladder become a reality. He said: “I’d been renting for many years, so it was such a relief to finally get the keys and move in. I’d always wanted a new-build as I like the idea that you don’t need to do anything to the property and can just move straight in. “I didn’t really think it would feel much different to renting, but it does. It’s the first house I’ve lived in that’s actually mine and I’ve become really house proud. I love it here.” Poets derives its names due to the surrounding streets being named after famous wordsmiths, which include Shakespeare Road, Wordsworth Road and Tennyson Road. Existing residents have been involved in the redevelopment process from start to finish, and those affected by the demolition proposals were given priority for moving back into the new-build properties. The wider estate has also benefitted from additional investment to make environmental improvements, including new gates, fencing and landscaping. Councillor Tracy Kelly, Statutory Deputy City Mayor and Lead Member for Housing, Property and Regeneration at Salford City Council, said: “It is fantastic news to hear this impressive housing scheme is now finally complete. “In Salford we are desperate for affordable properties for local people to live in and we are living with a national housing crisis. These 120 new social homes will make such a huge different to the lives of people who move into them. “I’d like to thank all involved with this successful project and I look forward to visiting very soon.” Salix Homes is now working on other new-build, affordable housing developments across Salford, which includes Neighbourhood – a 157-home development in Seedley; and Greenhaus – an eco-friendly apartment block on Chapel Street.
Akela Construction Ltd, part of the Akela Group, has secured its latest in a series of contracts as part of the creation of a new neighbourhood and community in Penicuik. This new contract for Avant Homes will deliver a further 78 new homes at Mauricewood Road and follows the successful delivery of phase one of Avant’s Carnethy Heights Development. The Company is currently providing civil engineering services to three major housebuilders – Cala Homes, Avant Homes and Bellway Homes – worth a combined contract value of £28 million, resulting in approximately 500 new homes being built in the area. Nearly a decade and half after plans were initially submitted to Midlothian Council, works commenced onsite in 2018. One of the challenges overcome by the Akela Construction team was to maintain the existing Talla Aqueduct which has been operating since 1905. Critically, the Talla Aqueduct provides the Glencorse Water Treatment Works with raw water and the treatment plant is the primary source of water for the Greater Edinburgh area. The first phases of both Cala and Avant sites are due to complete at the end of 2022, however subsequent phases will be ongoing until 2026. The development will provide 57 affordable homes with provision for electric vehicle charging facilities for future tenants. Other environmentally friendly features on this site include solar panels, air source heat pumps and value engineering methods to reduce surplus soil to landfill. Mark Markey, Akela Group Managing Director, said: “Akela Construction Ltd has a significant role to play in the delivery of the Mauricewood Road development that will provide over 500 new homes to the north Penicuik area, including much needed affordable housing. We are delighted to continue our strong working relationships with Avant Homes, Bellway Homes and CALA Homes to drive the creation of this new neighbourhood and community. “This latest contract win, to deliver an additional 78 new homes as part of the Penicuik masterplan, is a testament to the successful delivery of house building projects we have already delivered for house building clients. This builds on our ambitious plans to continue to grow this area of our business, both in Scotland and in the north of England from our Leeds base.”
Development Will Deliver First New Homes at 170 Acre Site Templegate Developments Limited, the joint venture partnership of Evans Property Group and Keyland Developments, has agreed terms of sale with Avant Homes and Evans Homes for the acquisition of strategic housing land at the 170 acre Skelton Gate site in the Leeds Aire Valley. Both Avant Homes and Evans Homes are each purchasing half of phase one of the development which incorporates a total 27 acres and will enable the delivery of a combined 400 homes. The development has planning consent in place to build 1,800 new homes on the former open cast colliery site, which sits to the east of Junction 45 of the M1. As well as new homes, the Skelton Gate will also provide a primary and secondary school, public open space, a local centre and a convenience store as well as associated infrastructure. Peter Garrett, Managing Director of Keyland Developments, said; “The sale of phase one of what is one of the most significant regeneration schemes to be seen in the Leeds City Region, is a huge milestone in the transformation of Skelton Gate into a new sustainable community.” Richard Bean, Portfolio Director at Evans Property Group, said; “We are pleased to have concluded this transaction to enable the provision of much needed new homes and assist Leeds City Council in meeting its housing targets.” Subject to planning approval by Leeds City Council, Avant Homes look to launch its first homes for sale by the end of summer 2022. Avant Homes Yorkshire managing director, Chris Coley, said: “We have ambitious growth plans for development across the region so we’re very pleased to be moving forward with this acquisition. “With its fantastic location that will cater to a wide range of buyers, and its proximity to the Aire Valley Enterprise Zone, this will become an exciting flagship development for our growing portfolio.” John Carter, Director at Evans Homes, said: “Evans Homes is delighted to be involved in the Skelton Gate development. Following on from the successful launch of our scheme at Tockwith near York, the development at Skelton Gate presents an exciting opportunity to be involved in the creation of a vibrant new community on the edge of Leeds. “The first phase of over 213 homes will commence in mid 2022 and we look forward to welcoming our first homeowners early in 2023.”
Partner Housing, in association with Flagship Homes, celebrated the start of works on a new housing development in Necton, Norfolk; The £9.7 million development will see 73 new homes built, with a mix of Shared Ownership and Social Rent properties; Work is expected to finish on the site, called Tower Mill, in early 2024 United Living New Homes subsidiary Partner Construction and leading housing provider Flagship Homes held a ground-breaking ceremony this week to celebrate the start of works on the brand new £9.7 million Tower Mill housing development in Necton, Norfolk. The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by Frank Lincoln, Regional Managing Director of Partner Construction | United Living New Homes, and Tony Tann, Managing Director of Flagship Homes, to celebrate this milestone. On behalf of Flagship Homes, Partner Construction is creating 73 new homes on North Pickenham Road in Necton, delivering much-needed affordable housing for the local community. The residential development will feature a mix of two-bedroom bungalows, one-bedroom walk-up flats, and two, three-, and four-bedroom houses. Supported by Homes England funding, the properties are 100% affordable, with a mix of Shared Ownership and Social Rent ensuring genuine affordability for residents. The development is in a beautiful rural location and includes green open space, with landscaping plans to ensure the scheme looks attractive and in keeping with the surrounding area. This is one of two projects delivered in close partnership between Partner Construction and Flagship Homes, with a second scheme in Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex. The £8.4 million, 100% affordable development will create 53 new homes to provide much-needed new housing for the local area. Frank Lincoln said: “We are delighted to celebrate the start of construction works at Necton with a turf cutting ceremony. Working collaboratively with Flagship Homes, we look forward to delivering high-quality new homes that will provide a welcome housing boost to the local community. “We pride ourselves on supporting people with our affordable homes and employing a workforce on site that will be made up of local labour and contractors. With our homes, we are determined to ensure that the housing market better serves young first-time buyers and families on low to average incomes.” Tony Tann said: “We are delighted to have commenced construction on this site in Necton with Partner Construction. The development following a competition within our Development Team is named “Tower Mill” to associate it with the local Mill and the Village and we see this as the start of its integration within the community. The development provides essential housing to the area while respecting the beautiful rural landscape. We’re building a mix of 73 Shared Ownership and Social Rent properties to make sure that many local people and families will have access to quality affordable housing. It’s fantastic to see this development underway and are pleased to have Partner Construction working with us to share in that vision and provide a huge housing boost to the area.” The new homes are due to be completed in early 2024. You can find out more by visiting www.flagship-group.co.uk, and @_FlagshipGroup on Twitter and Instagram.
Vonder, the global living and lifestyle brand, has opened its first UK location outside London, with the launch of Vonder Riverside in Leeds. The new site increases Vonder’s total number of operational and contracted units in the UK to over 2,500, with several thousands more globally. The brand’s regional debut also heralds the launch of a new three-tier membership programme designed to give members access to a scaled range of benefits. Vonder Riverside boasts 95 new-build and modern one-to three-bedroom flats, including 14 duplex apartments, each providing the essential furniture needed to feel at home. The complex, which is located in Victoria Riverside, also includes amenities such as car parking and courtyards, with the aim to suit the needs of the large community of young professionals and renters in the city. The announcement follows the news that Leeds was rated the UK’s most vibrant city according to a study by CGA.[1] Vonder Riverside represents the first tier of Vonder’s new membership programme – termed ‘Essentials’. Each apartment in the complex includes high quality furniture such as beds, sofas, dining areas and wardrobes. More features which are offered in the ‘Essentials’ package are digital support via the Vonder App, as well as access to Vonder’s exclusive global community platform and a variety of added-value services and perks. In this tier, bills and utilities are not included in the monthly rental payment. The other two types of memberships available are Vonder Plus and Vonder All-in-One. Vonder Plus locations, such as Vonder’s Dome properties in London, offer all-inclusive bills with utilities and WiFi, alongside beautifully designed fully furnished apartments. Vonder All-in-One, the brand’s signature premium tier which is available in the newly launched Vonder Wembley, is a unique offer coined to cater for the growing demand from renters who want to live, work and socialise in the same location. ‘All-in-one living’ comprises everything from the apartment design and furnishings, on-site amenities, value-added services, inclusive bills and utilities, to a dedicated community team which is available to provide a hassle-free living experience. While each Vonder location sits in a specific tier, Vonder encourages flexibility for its members, with the option to upgrade to different levels and enjoy premium features – no matter your location. Tomer Bercoviz, CEO and Co-Founder of Vonder, commented: “Expanding across the UK is a central part of our UK growth strategy, and Leeds is the city of which we chosen to begin with, due to the significant demand from young renters. As a Vonder Essentials location, Vonder Riverside will provide our target audience with great urban accommodation suited to their needs and budget, enabling them to enjoy life in Leeds whilst managing their costs, without having to compromise on quality. “The launch of Vonder Riverside is also the perfect time to introduce our new membership programme, which is designed to provide renters with the freedom to choose the services and benefits that suit their lifestyles. The flexibility also means members can easily move locations within the Vonder ecosystem, offering them greater choice and ease as their circumstances and needs change. We believe our approach is unique and borne of our fundamental understanding of what renters want in a rapidly evolving market.” The opening of Vonder Riverside in Leeds follows the recent addition of The Dome Apartments to the Vonder portfolio, comprising over 21,000 sq ft of residential space in three locations across London, as well as Vonder Wembley, the all-in-one living concept spread across 160,000 sq ft of space. Vonder has a wide international portfolio of over 30 locations across London, Leeds, Berlin, Munich, Warsaw and Dubai, with plans to expand further in the US, continental Europe and the Middle East.
Cruden has started work on a new housing development in East Lothian, its fourth active site in the region. Situated in Wallyford, on the outskirts of the popular coastal town of Musselburgh and its historic racecourse, the much-anticipated £20m new development lies just 8 miles from the Capital and will see 101 new homes built as part of a wider masterplan development at Wallyford Farm and St Clements Wells Farm. Cruden Homes (East), part of the Cruden Group, is building 41 new homes for private sale and a further 60 much needed affordable homes, including 45 units for social rent and 15 for mid-market rent, on behalf of Dunedin Canmore Housing Association. The 7.39 acre development, which has been exclusively designed by EMA Architects and engineered by Will Rudd Davidson, will comprise a range of affordable homes including one and two bedroom cottage flats and two, three and four bedroom houses in a mix of mid-terraced, terraced and semi-detached house styles. The private homes will feature two and three bedroom terraced, three bedroom semi-detached and four bedroom detached houses. The first affordable homes are expected to be delivered in Summer 2022, with first completions of the private homes programmed for early 2023. A sales launch is anticipated in Autumn this year. Steven Simpson, Managing Director of Cruden Homes (East) said, “We are pleased to start work at this landmark development in Wallyford. Both private and affordable homes are in such high demand across the country, so bringing over 100 new homes to East Lothian is a highly-anticipated and welcome addition to our existing portfolio of new homes across the region. We have a long history of successfully working with Dunedin Canmore Housing Association and we will be supporting the local community by providing new jobs and work placements and working with local businesses.”
Construction work is about to start on a new development in Ely which will deliver more than 250 new homes and a new cricket pitch and pavilion in the city. Linden Homes, part of the Vistry Group, is preparing to build 258 properties at its new Willow Woods development, off Lynn Road. The site forms part of the wider Orchards Green scheme, which is set to bring 1,200 new homes and a range of community facilities to North Ely over the coming years. Linden Homes will deliver 212 private homes and 46 affordable properties available for local people through rent or shared ownership at Willow Woods. The development will comprise a mix of one, two, three, four and five-bedroom houses and apartments. As part of the planning agreement for the development, Linden Homes will also be providing a new ECB-approved cricket pitch and pavilion. Laura Thomas, sales manager at Willow Woods, said: “We are looking forward to the first bricks being laid at our new Willow Woods development as work gets underway on bringing these much-needed new homes to the north of the city. “Our range of one to five-bedroom houses and apartments, which have been thoughtfully designed to reflect the historic nature of Ely, means there is something for housebuyers at all stages of the property ladder. “As the development forms part of the new Orchards Green scheme, residents at Willow Woods will have access to a wealth of new facilities and will benefit from a country park, trim trail facilities and an off-site cycleway.” Willow Woods is named after the timber used to make cricket bats, chosen to link with the cricket pitch and pavilion Linden Homes is also providing at the site. With work set to start imminently, the developer intends to release the first homes for sale at Willow Woods this spring. Linden Homes is currently building new homes near Ely at its Laithwaite Gardens development in Sutton. For more information, visit www.lindenhomes.co.uk/eastmidlands
