National Allotment Week (7th – 13th August 2023) does much to remind us of the value of working the land but gaining access to an allotment – particularly in London – isn’t always easy. The Association for Public Service Excellence reports that nearly 87% of local authorities are experiencing an
The outlet, located in Wembley Park and now in its tenth year, has also recorded its sixth consecutive month of record-breaking trading as May figures topple over the £8m mark London Designer Outlet (LDO) today announces a bumper crop of upsizings at the capital’s leading fashion and lifestyle destination. Guess,
Quintain and FORE Partnership among the first to trial new Healthy Homes tool in residential development Ekkist, specialist wellbeing consultancy for the built environment, has today launched the Healthy Homes Checklist, a comprehensive tool which supports developers and designers in examining every aspect of home design. The Checklist compiles science-backed
Nearly 90% of local authorities experienced increase in demand for allotments (APSE) 38% of local authorities now have waiting lists of 1,000 people or more (APSE) National Allotments Week (9-14 August) to highlight benefits of growing your own produce As National Allotments Week 2022 approaches, the value of the 18
Once complete the North East Lands neighbourhood will provide over 2,000 homes in addition to the 4,780 already complete across Wembley Park. Planning permission has been secured for the first phase of this district, which will provide 769 new homes, 201 of which will be affordable within a range of
Multi-award-winning developer and asset owner/manager Quintain has played a central role in the urban regeneration of Wembley, North West London, undertaking construction and management of the UK’s largest build-to-rent development, the Wembley Park Estate. Requiring a quality digital partner for the 8,500 home estate, which includes 6,044 Build-to-Rent homes to
The past year has seen us all spend a lot more time in the kitchen, but how does the design of our kitchens reflect who we are?Quintain Living – the award-winning rental management company with thousands of homes at Wembley Park – has plenty of experience when it comes to
Metropolitan announces today the award of a 25-year contract to adopt and operate a large-scale district heating network for Quintain’s Wembley Park development: the major regeneration project that is transforming the area around the National Stadium. The heat network will serve 5,200 new homes, developed by Quintain at the site,
Quintain launches Masterplan for most connected village in Ireland Extensive public parks, transport links and community amenities Located on 65-acre site with views over the Dublin Mountains and the Irish Sea Quintain, one of the largest residential developers in Ireland, today launches its Masterplan for Cherrywood Village, which will deliver
Will oversee 460 acres of prime development land in Ireland Led by experienced Irish management team, Eddie Byrne and Michael Hynes Assets will make Quintain the third largest residential developer in Ireland Quintain Limited has established a subsidiary in Ireland with plans to develop more than 9,000 new homes and
National Allotment Week (7th – 13th August 2023) does much to remind us of the value of working the land but gaining access to an allotment – particularly in London – isn’t always easy. The Association for Public Service Excellence reports that nearly 87% of local authorities are experiencing an increase in demand for allotments. Demand in the London Borough of Brent, for example, is so intense that there is an expected waiting time of up to two years for plots, with the waiting list closed to new applicants. In Wembley Park in the heart of Brent though, residents at Quintain Living’s Canada Gardens have found a way to beat the wait. Canada Gardens is a family-focused development of 743 apartments to rent, ranging from studios to four-bedrooms homes. In addition to extensive grounds dotted with BBQ areas, designer work-from-home sheds, a pirate ship playpark and even its own clubhouse, the development features 18 hireable raised growing beds. The Canada Gardens growing beds were conceived during the design phase of the site, way back in 2016. The London National Park City campaign, with which Quintain’s Head of Masterplanning & Design, Julian Tollast, was heavily involved, was influential in the thinking behind the resident amenities. Tollast and the Quintain Living team drew upon the campaign and their own passion for allotments by providing the raised beds and a greenhouse as part of the overall podium garden design for Canada Gardens. Since the development opened its doors in 2021, residents have grown a range of fruits, vegetables, and herbs on-site. In addition to the raised beds, residents have use of a greenhouse and tool shed, while Quintain Living – award-winning management company which oversees the rental of more than 3,650 apartments in Wembley Park including those within Canada Gardens – also provides information on seasonal planting and growing tips. A new composter has recently been added to convert green waste from the 85-acre Wembley Park estate into nutrient-rich compost and liquid fertiliser (leachate). Demand for the raised growing beds at Canada Gardens is strong and sustained. All 18 beds are currently in use, with a variety of salad crops and vegetables enjoying this summer’s signature combination of interspersed sunbursts and rain showers. Younger residents have been racing each other growing sunflowers and delighting in munching on bright, super-sweet strawberries. Fragrant herbs scent the air while cucumber vines are climbing up canes. In the greenhouse, the summer’s first tomatoes are just ripening, poised to provide the residents growing them with a sudden glut – perfect for sharing with fellow gardeners. Indeed, not only do residents enjoy the opportunity to grow their own food – a win in sustainability terms by cutting out both food-to-table miles and packaging – but many are taking advantage of the social connections that growing food on-site provides. Residents Shamir and Reschma Jetha have enjoyed using both the Quintain Living Resident App and resident events such as gardening workshops to connect with their neighbours. Mother-of-two Reschma comments: “Quintain Living arranged for a local community garden manager, Jim (or ‘Jim the Farmer’ as the kids call him) to teach us how plant everything properly. We planted lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, herbs and many more plants that day. It was really nice, we were all doing it together, everyone was so kind, so dedicated. ‘Jim the Farmer’ taught us so much about plants, when to sow them and how to care for them.” Having never gardened before, Reschma was nervous that it would be complicated in an apartment, but the Quintain Living experience has shown her how easy it can be – and what a great social experience. She continues: “It’s so easy and really gives us peace of mind to care about nature. Since we started gardening in the allotments, we’ve joined a Quintain Living residents allotment WhatsApp group. We let other members of the group know when we are coming down to the allotments in case they might like to join, and we can help each other take care of the plants.” National Allotments Week 2023 is focused not just on growing produce but also on the importance of understanding the role of soil health in increasing yields and supporting biodiversity. Tending raised growing beds such as those at Canada Gardens is one way that families can pass this hugely important knowledge down to the next generation. The Royal Horticultural Society provides plentiful advice when it comes to caring for soil. Its three top tips for working allotment plot soil include carrying out a soil pH test to understand whether any nutrients are lacking, adding organic matter by digging and rotovating and using a crop rotation plan. As part of such a plan, there is still plenty of planting to be done in August, from spring onions, radishes, lettuce and rocket to winter salad leaves such as mizuna and mibuna. “Growing your own food is a fantastic way to enjoy fresh produce at its best while reducing your carbon footprint. Little tastes better than food you’ve grown yourself and picked just minutes before eating. There’s also plenty of fun to be had pickling and preserving the fruits of your own labour as well as getting to know your neighbours better by gifting them some of your homegrown produce.” Danielle Bayless, Chief Operating Officer, Quintain Living
The outlet, located in Wembley Park and now in its tenth year, has also recorded its sixth consecutive month of record-breaking trading as May figures topple over the £8m mark London Designer Outlet (LDO) today announces a bumper crop of upsizings at the capital’s leading fashion and lifestyle destination. Guess, Levi’s, The North Face and Lindt have all invested further into their commitment to the LDO following successful trading, with Timberland joining the centre. This latest swathe of store upsizes comes as the centre announces its sixth consecutive record-breaking month of trading. Now in its tenth year, the outlet destination has smashed all previous records set for the months of December through to May, exceeding performance expectations. Trading figures recorded in May have surpassed £8m and beat the previous May record (2019) by 5%. Guess, which has been at the centre for over nine years, will increase its store size by 40% from 3,576 sq ft to 5,016 sq ft in order to introduce a new flagship concept and expand its offer to include menswear and childrenswear. After over seven years of successful trading at the centre, Levi’s will also increase its brand offering by 51% as it upsizes from 2,476 sq ft to 3,744 sq ft. The North Face has committed to a 30% upsizing, increasing its footprint at the centre from 2,770 sq ft to 3,606 sq ft. Timberland will also be joining the LDO having signed a lease to occupy The North Face’s previous unit. Following Lindt’s stellar success at the LDO – the store is the brand’s best performing in the UK without an onsite café – the Swiss chocolatier and confectionary company is investing over half a million pounds in a new fitout, to introduce a leisure offer with a café, incorporating both gelato and hot chocolate counters. Matt Slade, Retail Director at Quintain, said: “These brands’ commitment to further investment in the LDO demonstrates how compelling the centre is as a retail destination to some of the world’s best brands, as well as its longstanding excellent centre performance. “Brands are aware that consumers today expect more from their physical shopping experience, and outlets are no different. The LDO is a testbed for brands launching experimental stores and upsizes following the reassurance of years of successful trading and proven track record of brand performance at the centre. “These upsizings and store upgrades demonstrate the strength of the outlet proposition, which provides customers with greater perceived value through a premium shopping experience that ultimately boost sales.” These latest deals follow a number of new flagship roll-outs by existing brands at the centre, with 20,612 sq ft of additional space being taken by long-standing stores at the LDO since 2020, including global sportswear giants Nike and adidas, as well as fashion behemoths Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein. The LDO, managed by Realm, the UK’s specialist outlet operator, is one of only a few outlets that blends retail, F&B, leisure and events in an easy-to-reach urban setting. It features 265,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space, including 70 outlet stores, and offers guests year-round discounts of up to 70%. Daniel Tomkinson, General Manager, London Designer Outlet said: “It is with great pride that we welcome these new store upgrades from Guess, Levi’s, North Face, Timberland and Lindt, as it demonstrates unyielding confidence in the centre. “Whilst footfall at the centre is boosted by a varied programme of global sporting and music events, it is the LDO’s appeal amongst an extensive local catchment that are choosing to visit often and spend more, which has enabled the centre and its brands to go from strength to strength. “This is evidenced the by the consecutive record-breaking trading months that the centre has recorded over the past six months. These upsizing decisions are a clear indication of how compelling the business case for destinations like London Designer Outlet is.” London Designer Outlet is at the heart of Wembley Park, which features plentiful transport links. Minutes from central London, Wembley Park is easily reached by three tube lines, two train lines, eight bus routes plus ample car parking. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Quintain and FORE Partnership among the first to trial new Healthy Homes tool in residential development Ekkist, specialist wellbeing consultancy for the built environment, has today launched the Healthy Homes Checklist, a comprehensive tool which supports developers and designers in examining every aspect of home design. The Checklist compiles science-backed best practice to measure the health credentials of new homes and identify areas for improvement in design and construction. Leading developers Quintain and FORE Partnership are among the industry’s first to commit to using the newly launched tool, which will be adopted with Ekkist’s guidance to measure and improve the health and well-being potential of their new residential projects. The Healthy Homes Checklist comprises more than 130 practical steps across 12 categories that architects, developers and housebuilders can integrate from design stage to construction and through to post-occupancy, to ensure that homes genuinely support the physical and mental health of those living in them. Improving the quality of homes in the UK has never been more important. Latest figures show that 6.5 million people are living in damp, draughty and cramped homes that are harming their physical and mental health. Studies have also shown that indoor air quality is often a great deal poorer than outdoor air quality, which poses a particular risk to those with respiratory conditions (5.4 million people in the UK live with asthma, one in five will have a lung condition in their lifetime) but is a driver of health issues in all individuals. Air quality is just one of many indoor environmental factors that are contributing to chronic health conditions. Tackling the quality of our homes is a crucial aspect of a preventative approach to health that will reduce the burden on the National Health Service in the years to come. The comprehensive category list ranges from external and internal layouts, to design details (architecture and landscaping), through to toxicity of materials, furnishings and air quality; and feelings of community, comfort and happiness. In creating the checklist, the Ekkist team reviewed major health-focussed building standards, frameworks, guidance documents and scientific research papers relating to health and housing design. After pooling this research, it was reviewed with key industry experts and stakeholders, including Michael Chang from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, Spire Building Services, Chapman BDSP, GIA and Sandy Brown. This is believed to be the first time such a breadth of categorisation has been brought together in a readily applicable format, that enables developers to assess the cumulative impact that housing design will have on long-term physical and mental health. Current British minimum standards fall far short of ensuring optimal healthy homes, while most voluntary commercial accreditations have broader remits. The Healthy Homes Checklist may be used as a precursor to building certifications such as WELL or the HQM, or to form the basis of design briefs and ESG strategies, or to identify health-focused USPs for new developments. Ekkist co-founder Olga Turner Baker believes that the Checklist will be popular among developers looking to add value: “Not only do healthier homes have the potential to improve the lives of the public and reduce burdens on the NHS, but we are also seeing them be more popular with buyers. We see healthy homes as a ‘triple win’ – a win for consumers, a win for housing providers, and ultimately a win for society as a whole.” Ekkist Director Ben Channon – an experienced architect of residential buildings and specialist in healthy design – co-created the Checklist, and believes that it could have a huge impact on the quality of both existing and future British housing stock: “The sad truth is that lots of homes across the UK still negatively affect the physical and mental health of the people who live in them. This Checklist will make it easier to design new healthy homes and retrofit existing houses to improve health outcomes for all – so that we can provide new homes in both the quantity and quality at which they are required.” Aurélien Collignon of B-Corp FORE Partnership, who will be adopting the Healthy Homes Checklist, feels that there is a strong alignment with their company ethos and business aims. “A number of intersecting societal shifts are dramatically transforming what the buildings of tomorrow will look like: an increasing focus on well-being, the blurring of personal and professional lives, an aging population and an epidemic of loneliness – all combined with the urgency to move to a low carbon economy. We are committed to creating places that produce positive outcomes for residents in terms of health, well-being, and quality of life, while also being good for their local community and the planet. We share Ekkist’s passion for health in the built environment, and we firmly believe that buildings that prioritise the well-being of people and the environment will also be assets that generate healthy returns too.” Clare Masters, Head of Sustainability at Quintain, who will be trialling the checklist across more than 1,000 homes at Wembley Park, adds: “It’s really important to us to ensure we continue building positive, healthy homes for our residents. We believe that the Healthy Homes Checklist will be a useful tool in helping us achieve this, which is why we’re trialling it across more than 1,000 apartments for rent at Wembley Park, using it to assess the health and well-being credentials of the newly launched Repton Gardens building as well as two further plots that are currently under construction. We believe that building healthy homes is vital to creating places to live that are fit for the future and we are pleased to be partnering with Ekkist to do so.” If you are interested in applying the Ekkist Healthy Homes Checklist in your development, or simply finding out more, get it touch at ask@ekkist.co. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Nearly 90% of local authorities experienced increase in demand for allotments (APSE) 38% of local authorities now have waiting lists of 1,000 people or more (APSE) National Allotments Week (9-14 August) to highlight benefits of growing your own produce As National Allotments Week 2022 approaches, the value of the 18 allotment planters at Quintain Living’s Canada Gardens in London’s Wembley Park during their first full growing season is becoming truly apparent. The allotment garden has become a hub for residents of all ages to get together and connect with nature, to socialise over shared growing tips and to enjoy producing fresh, seasonal food for the whole family. Taking place from 9 to 14 August, National Allotments Week 2022 is all about gardening with nature in mind, as well as raising awareness of the role of allotments in nurturing communities and supporting people to grow their own food, live healthier and more active lifestyles and connect with one another. Demand for allotments has soared since the pandemic. According to the State of the Market Report (Allotments) 2021 from the Association of Public Service Excellence (APSE), nearly 90% of local authorities experienced increased demand for allotments as a result of Covid-19. “Gardening and growing your own food can do so much to boost health and wellbeing – both physical and mental. This is why Quintain Living provides allotment beds at Canada Gardens. Our residents can get outside, connect with nature and enjoy the benefits of gardening – it’s particularly rewarding for those growing their own produce to eat. It’s a great way for residents to enjoy home-grown fruit and vegetables, whilst reducing their carbon footprint as well as to teach children where their food comes from.”Danielle Bayless, Chief Operating Officer, Quintain Living Sadly, the availability of allotments lags far behind demand for them. According to APSE’s data, 51% of local authorities have between 100 and 400 people on their waiting list; 38% have waiting lists of over 1,000 people (up from 20% in 2020). Over 34% of local authorities report that people are waiting an average of over 18 months for an allotment plot to become available. In the London Borough of Brent, the Council reports that, “There are more than 20 sites run by us but due to high demand they currently all have a 1-2 year waiting list. Applications for new people to join a waiting list for an allotment site are currently closed.” The figures throw into stark relief just what a privilege it is for Canada Gardens residents to have allotments beds available to use at their leisure. “We are delighted that the allotments at Canada Gardens have proven to be such a valuable community feature. The entire development, with its acre of gardens, large roof terrace and on-site clubhouse is all about family and nature. The allotments are a core part of that.”Danielle Bayless, Chief Operating Officer, Quintain Living In addition to the 18 planters, Canada Gardens, which is managed by Quintain Living – the award-winning management company overseeing the rental of more than 3,250 apartments in Wembley Park – has a storage shed for residents’ tools, pots and seeds as well as a greenhouse for use. The shed also contains useful planting and growing information, while residents have recently set up a WhatsApp group to do the same. The green-fingered community members also come together in person, with the most recent event organised by Quintain Living generating an excellent turnout. Residents enjoyed sharing their growing tips and hearing from the professionals about how to care for their crops. As the weather warms up, the Canada Gardens allotment beds are flourishing. Residents are growing a wide range of fruit and vegetables, including beans, tomatoes, carrots, cabbages, strawberries and blackberries, while a small herb garden is also coming along nicely.For more information on Quintain Living or to book a viewing, visit www.quintainliving.com, @quintainliving on Instagram or call 020 3151 1927.
Once complete the North East Lands neighbourhood will provide over 2,000 homes in addition to the 4,780 already complete across Wembley Park. Planning permission has been secured for the first phase of this district, which will provide 769 new homes, 201 of which will be affordable within a range of tenures including Shared Ownership, Affordable Rent and Discount Market Rent. Union Park, Wembley’s first new park in 150 years, will be a major part of this new development, providing seven acres of new green space for the community 3.5 of which are already complete. The construction contract for the first two plots will be the largest ever awarded in Quintain’s 30-year history – approximately £220 million. Quintain has recently announced it has broken ground on the next major phase of the 85-acre neighbourhood being created at Wembley Park. Named North East Lands, this 12-acre site will deliver over 2,000 new homes with 769 to be built in its first phase. The first two developments at North East Lands comprise of two buildings with blocks ranging from 10 to 27 storeys, centred around communal gardens, a public park and each block includes a roof terrace. North East Lands will provide almost a quarter of the 8,500 homes within Quintain’s Wembley Park overall masterplan and has been designed with high levels of sustainability in both construction and operation, in line with Quintain’s sustainability priorities. The majority of the new Haworth Tompkins’ designed homes in this first phase will be for rent and managed by the award-winning Quintain Living team that already operates over 3,250 homes across Wembley Park within nine diverse Build-to-Rent communities. North East Lands will feature furnished apartments with best-in-class interior design and the lifestyle amenities that Quintain Living is famous for. The buildings will be designed and operated to recognised industry sustainability standards such as the WELL Building Standard. James Saunders, Chief Executive of Quintain said: “As we celebrate our 30th anniversary, it is fantastic to start work on this new significant phase of Wembley Park, a neighbourhood that we are extraordinarily proud to say is one of the most exciting new districts in London. Over the last 20 years, Quintain has built Wembley Park from the ground up and North East Lands will not only add to our flourishing Build-to-Rent portfolio, it will also bring a new seven-acre park and a home for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, who are relocating to this area. Union Park will open up new green space for all the residents of Brent and we are very proud to be able to deliver what will be the first new park in the area for 150 years.” All the buildings in North Eastern Lands have been designed around the new seven-acre Union Park, with local retail in mind, including new space for a community hall, corner shop and café on the park creating a relaxed place to live, work and visit. The first three acres are complete and open for the community to enjoy. Demolition and enabling works started in January 2022 and are being undertaken by John Sisk & Son, they mark the closure of the last of the surface carparks that historically surrounded the National Stadium. These historic car parks have been replaced by state-of-the -art car and coach facilities, delivered in 2020 and 2021. In addition, the development will embrace Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) helping to dramatically reduce vehicle and labour movements as well as improving the on site environment. To deliver North Eastern Lands, Quintain are in advanced discussions with John Sisk & Son over the largest construction contract ever to be awarded at Wembley Park at approximately £220m. Sisk have been a key delivery partner for Quintain for 17 years working on residential developments, the Hilton hotel and the refurbishment of the Grade 2 listed, OVO Arena Wembley.
Multi-award-winning developer and asset owner/manager Quintain has played a central role in the urban regeneration of Wembley, North West London, undertaking construction and management of the UK’s largest build-to-rent development, the Wembley Park Estate. Requiring a quality digital partner for the 8,500 home estate, which includes 6,044 Build-to-Rent homes to be managed by Quintain Living, it chose Zutec. A leading asset lifecycle information and construction management software provider, Zutec has been involved in a number of key revitalisation projects in the area, including Wembley Stadium. Zutec’s powerful technology was originally used by Quintain to review all Wembley Park’s BIM models and building information across site, to improve its knowledge of the development and be able to run it more effectively. However, the scope of work quickly evolved… An ambitious project to realise responsibly-built homes Commencing in 2005, Quintain’s highly-anticipated, and widely publicised, Wembley Park Estate is UK’s largest build-to-rent development, and a central part of the redevelopment of the Northwest London Suburb where it’s located. This new housing project, set to provide over 6,000 build-to-rent homes managed by Quintain Living, is the latest phase in a transformation project which is set to revitalise the central Wembley area. Zutec had already been involved as the construction management technology partner for the neighbouring Wembley Stadium project. Knowing the site well,it made them a natural partner for Quintain. Further, Quintain’s Irish team had successfully worked with Zutec on other projects so a relationship was already there on which to build. Zutec delivers data accuracy according to an evolving brief Originally brought on in 2018, Zutec was commissioned by Quintain to review Wembley Park’s BIM models and building information across site. The Quintain team were impressed with the platform’s seamless functionality in its ability to collate massive amounts of data, align information to standards and regulations and categorise it according to audience. As a result, Zutec’s role would soon evolve to cover the full-lifecycle Asset Information Management (AIM) of the development. Protecting assets through information gathering Zutec was also asked to support Quintain’s objective to provide a comprehensive system for ongoing facilities management of the development. As the ongoing owner and asset manager, it was crucial Quintain delivered complete, accurate records of the construction journey to the estates team at handover. With mountains of paperwork, drawings and certifications to log, it’s a big job, but essential, to trace back every single component within the building and how it’s been installed, tested and inspected ahead of handover. The estates team would need an exact digital twin of the whole complex, codifying what materials and construction methods were used across the interior and exterior, from the apartments themselves, to the landscaping around it. Without this vital information the facilities management would immediately be compromised, exposing the asset owner and end-user to multiple-risks. Building relationships Quintain is the ongoing owner and asset manager of the majority of Wembley Park’s residential developments, so a highest-quality, seamless and meticulous O&M handover is crucial. Zutec’s proprietary document control and asset information management (AIM) platform has been central to delivering this ambition. Specifically, working closely with Quintain, the Zutec team has created bespoke rules with the AIM platform of how building information is recorded, how it’s stored, presented and archived for ease of use. This makes it easy to digest for the estates team, so they can operate according to exact requirements, giving essential peace of mind. Improving working practices and de-risking the built environment Zutec’s digital AIM tools not only improve working practices across construction, handover and future RMI, it will also drive an improvement in the quality of building inspections. This makes the 24/7 facilities inspection protocol a pain-free experience, and reporting can be logged instantaneously through a smart device synched to the platform with a dedicated app. It will also be essential to the smooth and seamless management and delivery of the scheduled renovation cycles, as well as undertaking refurbishment and refinishing between tenant leases. At a human level, Wembley Park is a perfect example of a development designed, built and handed over according to a new, more responsible and accountable way of doing business. A Holistic Solution Commenting on the project, and Zutec’s role Quintain’s Information Manager Craig Stevens, says: “Asset owners and managers, and residents for that matter, rightly want to know what’s gone into the building of their property, how it was built, how it will work and how it will be maintained. It’s crucial for compliance and de-risking the asset. This requires forensic and comprehensive information gathering, and management, throughout the planning, design, and journey to create a fit-for-purpose handover to be used for correct ongoing O&M.” To find out more about Zutec’s advanced digital systems and its work within the residential sector click here.
The past year has seen us all spend a lot more time in the kitchen, but how does the design of our kitchens reflect who we are?Quintain Living – the award-winning rental management company with thousands of homes at Wembley Park – has plenty of experience when it comes to designing kitchens to suit all sorts of chefs. From the design and layout to the individual appliances that are included, the kitchen design in each building tells the story of that particular property. “The kitchen is the heart of the home and the right kitchen design can be a powerful contributor to that. We are delighted that each of our buildings at Wembley Park provides its own individual kitchen style, which is a key element of each apartment’s appeal for many of our residents.” Danielle Bayless, Chief Operating Officer, Quintain Living Take Canada Gardens, designed and managed by Quintain Living, for example. A building designed around family living, with lush green gardens, a children’s playpark and playroom, a clubhouse and allotments, its kitchens have been designed with family cooks firmly in mind. The British country vibe is given an urban twist, with modern composite stone tops offset by shaker door fronts and antique brass ‘D’ handles. Some apartments feature open wall units, so that kitchen items can be displayed for visual interest, while the exclusive penthouses feature copper finish extractor hoods, pendant lights, marble style countertops, and large, American-style fridge freezers. Without question, these are kitchens for producing hearty family meals aplenty, with wine fridges to raid when the kids have gone to bed. The design of the kitchens in Ferrum, by way of contrast, speak to the more experimental chefs – those who take a more eclectic approach to the dishes they serve. Ferrum is the ideal home for those looking for a Brooklyn-style loft with a London lifestyle, from its state-of-the-art gym to its superb rooftop social spaces. Its kitchens mirror the building’s warehouse-feel, with industrial details in the wall shelves provided for microwaves, solid wood worktops for warmth and black finish handles and white tiles keeping the design contemporary. The shaker style door fronts are a nod to vintage design, while the mix of integrated and non-integrated appliances gives a loose, relaxed feel. Over in Quintain’s Landsby building, on the other hand, the modern Scandi design feels far more precise and orderly. One of the earlier designs of Quintain Living’s apartments, Landsby’s kitchens are all about sleek lines and clean, contemporary finishes. From the fully integrated appliances to the composite stone worktops, these are kitchens that provide a calming space for chefs to work with meticulous attention to detail – no recipe is too tricky to be tackled in a Landsby kitchen! Flat colour doors and drawer fronts in soft tones with a matte finish complete the look. Quintain Living’s latest launch, The Robinson, takes things in another direction. The homes are pitched to appeal to younger professionals, with kitchens designed accordingly – these are the ideal places for those just starting out on their culinary adventures and with the enthusiasm to match. There are six different kitchen colour palettes throughout the building, all of which feature bright, playful hues. “We had great fun with the design of the kitchens in The Robinson. These are kitchens made for trial and error – for simple pasta dishes, late-night nachos and the gradual refinement of blossoming culinary skills. The Robinson’s apartments feature exposed concrete in the ceiling and columns, so we used the bright kitchen colours and wood laminate worktops to warm up the look and feel. The resulting kitchens exude welcome and encouragement for budding young chefs.” Fossey Arora And then there are the kitchens at Beton. The entire building is awash with cool, confident design, from furniture co-designed with the likes of Ercol, Muuto and Hay to its ‘broken plan’ social spaces, cinema room and pool table. Situated at the heart of the action in Wembley Park, with shopping, dining and experiences all around, it is perhaps unsurprising that Beton’s kitchens are so well suited to stylish entertaining. Their design has a two-tone finish, with dark lower cabinets and wood finish wall units to bring warmth. They add to the vibrant apartment interiors, which are alive with bright pops of colour. The composite stone used for the worktops and splash backs has a graphic texture, which fits the building design beautifully, while the copper finish handles deliver the kitchen’s own burst of colour. Thanks to Quintain Living’s partnership with Samsung, all homes available since late 2017 have featured Samsung kitchen appliances. Other features, meanwhile, are decided on a property-by-property basis. In The Robinson, for example, the cookers are web-enabled, along with the washing machines and dryers, while the penthouses in Canada Gardens feature smart fridges.For more information on Quintain Living or to book a viewing, visit www.quintainliving.com, @quintainliving on Instagram or call 020 3151 1927.
Metropolitan announces today the award of a 25-year contract to adopt and operate a large-scale district heating network for Quintain’s Wembley Park development: the major regeneration project that is transforming the area around the National Stadium. The heat network will serve 5,200 new homes, developed by Quintain at the site, alongside a capability to serve 90,000 sq. ft of retail and Grade-A commercial buildings. The flexibility of Metropolitan’s approach has enabled a new service framework for Quintain’s innovative heating solution to serve the majority of Wembley Park. Wembley Park is a landmark urban transformation, occupying an 85-acre site, which is a residential led, mixed-use development and when complete will consist of 8,500 homes, shops, leisure facilities, a seven-acre park, nursery, ‘super-gym’ and 0.7m sq. ft. of Grade-A offices. Wembley Park will be the largest Build to Rent (BtR) development on a single site in the UK with over 6,000 of the apartments managed by award-winning rental management platform, Quintain Living. The remaining homes are, and will be, a mixture of tenures including discount market rent, affordable rent and key worker homes from the London Borough of Brent, and for sale properties. The BtR model required a fresh solution. Metropolitan will be on site seven days a week to deliver exceptional levels of customer service. Metropolitan has a direct relationship with homeowners alongside a wholesale agreement with the landlord for the BtR customers. This includes high service standards for individual residents and commercial tenants with enhanced response times. The large plant room at Wembley Park contains two 1.5MWe CHP engines and three 10MW gas boilers, which will be brought into use as the development grows. The heating design has no individual Heat Interface Units (HIUs) in any of the apartments, releasing much valued space for the occupier. Andrew White, Managing Director of Metropolitan, commented: “We are delighted to be involved in such a prestigious, ground-breaking project. Developing the framework to serve Quintain’s mixed-use development at Wembley Park has required a very flexible approach and considerable attention to detail to ensure that the district heat service lives up to the high expectations of Quintain’s team. We are looking forward to a long-term relationship with Quintain and delivering the highest possible quality of service for all the residents at Wembley Park.” James Saunders, Chief Executive of Quintain commented: “The exceptional level of service offered by Metropolitan to all working and living in Wembley Park, mirrors that of our in-house Quintain Living team. After a competitive tender process, we chose Metropolitan because their team listened and understood what we needed and worked tirelessly to deliver to our brief.” www.metropolitan-uk.co.uk www.quintain.co.uk
Quintain launches Masterplan for most connected village in Ireland Extensive public parks, transport links and community amenities Located on 65-acre site with views over the Dublin Mountains and the Irish Sea Quintain, one of the largest residential developers in Ireland, today launches its Masterplan for Cherrywood Village, which will deliver 1,300 new homes in Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, Co Dublin by 2025. Cherrywood Village is located on a 65-acre site within the Cherrywood Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) and will comprise a mix of new houses, duplexes and apartments with two public parks, 27 acres of green space, and over 4,300m² of retail and civic amenities in the village centre. The plans for what will be the most connected village in Ireland and have been made available today at www.cherrywoodvillage.ie, where prospective homeowners can register for a tour of the site. The project has been designed to create a diverse new community that will be easily accessible by public transport, with a strong emphasis on sustainable development that protects existing heritage sites. The Laughanstown Luas Station is located at the heart of the project, and there will also be extensive cycle paths and walking routes, including The Cherrywood Way, which will connect the village to Loughlinstown to the south, and Foxrock to the north through a network of greenways. Quintain plans to start construction before the end of the year, with the first homes completed by mid-2021. There is an ambitious timeline for the project that will see all 1,300 homes built and the Village fully occupied by 2025. Cherrywood Village is situated close to major employers like Vodafone and Microsoft in Sandyford, and Dell and Elavon in Cherrywood Science and Technology Park. Quintain is also factoring the increase in working from home into its plans and looking at innovative options to incorporate office space into its new houses, and to build more shared workspace in its apartment developments. The Masterplan will build on a large network of infrastructure that is already in place, including a road network, the Green Luas line, and public parks. The fully completed Beckett Park has an abundance of amenities include all weather sports pitches, tennis courts, jogging tracks, a boules court, an outdoor gym, playground, and a sport pavilion with changing facilities and café. Tully Park has been completed on the western side of the site and is built around early Christian monuments and Tully Church dating from ninth century. Cherrywood Educate Together National School, adjacent to Tully Park, opened in September, and a secondary school is expected to open in September 2021. Eddie Byrne Joint Managing Director Quintain (Ireland) said: “We are excited to be launching this Masterplan for what will be the most connected village in Ireland, putting community, accessibility and sustainability at the centre of its plans. Cherrywood Village will deliver much needed new housing supply to an area that is well-connected to existing infrastructure and amenities. The 1,300 homes we are planning will cater to a range of different housing needs with a particular focus on young families and first-time buyers.” Michael Hynes, Joint Managing Partner of Quintain (Ireland) said: “Cherrywood Village is in a stunning location with views of both the Irish Sea and the Dublin Mountains. Cycleways and pedestrian routes will link to the LUAS and Dublin Bus stops, and a vibrant village centre will provide shops, restaurants and cafés, and crèche facilities. Our design approach will incorporate features to facilitate working from home, and deliver a high standard of energy efficiency.” Cherrywood Village represents around half of Quintain’s 118-acre land holding in the area that was acquired last year from Hines and King Street Capital. When fully developed, Quintain will deliver over 3,000 new homes in an area with extensive transport links and high-quality local amenities. In addition to its land holdings at Cherrywood, Quintain will be responsible for the residential development of a further 340 acres of prime assets in Ireland at Adamstown, Clonburris, and Portmarnock. Overall Quintain plans to develop 600,000 sq. ft. of commercial space and more than 9,000 new homes making it one of the largest residential developer in the country. For more information visit www.cherrywoodvillage.ie
Will oversee 460 acres of prime development land in Ireland Led by experienced Irish management team, Eddie Byrne and Michael Hynes Assets will make Quintain the third largest residential developer in Ireland Quintain Limited has established a subsidiary in Ireland with plans to develop more than 9,000 new homes and 600,000 sq. ft of commercial space. The newly incorporated business, known as Quintain Ireland, will be responsible for the residential development of over 460 acres of prime assets in Ireland at Adamstown, Clonburris, Portmarnock, and Cherrywood. All these sites are owned by affiliates of Lone Star Funds and will be managed directly by Quintain. The business will launch with an experienced 12-person team focused solely on Ireland, jointly led by Eddie Byrne and Michael Hynes. The Quintain team in Ireland is expected to grow to over 25 next year and will manage a range of local construction partners. The Irish team will be fully integrated with the wider London-based team. Quintain will be resourced to replicate in Ireland the parent company’s strong record of delivery in London. The existing Irish portfolio, covering over 460 acres, will make Quintain the third largest residential developer in the country. Adamstown can accommodate approximately 5,000 homes across 220 acres of land, with further land at the neighbouring Clonburris site, to build approximately 350 houses; the recently acquired Cherrywood site is 120 acres and has an expected capacity of 3,000 homes; and the 87 acres in Portmarnock has the potential for 1,000 homes. The company intends to utilise its extensive experience to deliver market leading developments on its existing portfolio with a strong appetite to expand its portfolio of future development projects. The decision to expand into Ireland follows the increase in demand for housing, especially in the Greater Dublin area, as more people move to take advantage of the strong economy and job opportunities. James Saunders, Chief Executive of Quintain Limited, said: “Quintain has been actively looking at new opportunities to expand its business for some time and I am therefore extremely proud to announce our expansion into Ireland, with a huge commitment to take on the delivery of more than 9,000 homes across four sites spanning 460 acres in Greater Dublin. We have an established team on the ground in Ireland led by Eddie Byrne and Michael Hynes, who have over 40 years’ experience in the Irish and international property market. When you mix this local expertise with Quintain’s track record in taking forward major mixed-use development schemes, I am confident we will turn these sites into exemplary new places. Alongside our Irish business, we remain focussed on continuing to invest and build out our flagship Wembley Park development in London and have further appetite to secure more development opportunities in the UK and Ireland.” Eddie Byrne, Joint Managing Partner of Quintain Ireland, said: “We are excited to launch this new venture, with the potential to deliver more than 9,000 new homes in the Greater Dublin area, where there is a pressing need for increased housing supply. Quintain Ireland will combine the knowledge of our team on the ground with the wealth of expertise of our parent company in delivering major residential projects. In 2020 we expect to more than double the size of our team in Ireland and expand our development pipeline.” Quintain is a vertically integrated developer, operator and owner of residential and mixed-use assets; best known for the ongoing transformation of Wembley Park in north London. The 85-acre site surrounding Wembley Stadium has become one of the largest urban regeneration projects in Europe with over £2bn invested to date and another £1bn expected by 2022. Quintain first acquired a stake at Wembley Park in 2002. The development is already home to 3,500 residents with another 3,100 homes currently under construction and the project is expected to be fully built out by 2027. Previously Quintain owned the Greenwich Peninsula redevelopment around the 02 Arena in South-East London obtaining planning permission to deliver 10,000 new homes.
