Category Archives: Property

News, Property

Bedfordshire site manager wins leading industry award

A site manager building new homes for Bellway has been awarded a prestigious industry award for his work at a development in Wixams, Bedfordshire.

Bellway’s Sean Howard, site manager at Brook View, has won a coveted Quality Award in the National House Building Council’s (NHBC) 2021 Pride in the Job awards programme.

Sean, who has been site manager at Brook View since building work began in September 2019, has now won his first NHBC award.

The winners of the 2021 Quality Awards were announced on Friday 18 June, following a year-long judging process by NHBC officials.

Now in its 41st year, Pride in the Job remains one of the most highly regarded competitions in the industry, recognising site managers who demonstrate best practice and excellence on-site to build homes of the highest quality.

Sean’s attention to detail and exceptional customer service at Brook View has meant that all customers who’ve moved into new homes at the development so far this year and completed customer satisfaction surveys with the Home Builders Federation (HBF), would recommend Bellway to a friend.

Sean said: “I was so happy and also quite relieved to have won the award. It just shows that all the work we’ve put in has paid off.

“This award is the biggest thing you can achieve as a site manager and not everyone can win one, so I’m really pleased.

“I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my team. Everyone has done their bit – there are some really good lads on site, and everyone has collectively earned this award.

“You have to keep a good standard throughout the whole build process because the judges could turn up at any time, so you have to treat every day as an inspection – in terms of both build quality and customer service.

“This is only the first site I’ve had with Bellway, and I’ve had great feedback from the directors and everyone who has visited the site, so it’s great to have won an award already.”

Sean will now progress to the next stage of the competition, which will see the winners of the Seal of Excellence and overall Regional Award announced.

Iain Hunter, Head of Construction for Bellway Northern Home Counties, said: “To be recognised by the NHBC is the biggest accolade you could achieve as a site manager, so we are all very proud of Sean and his team on receiving a Quality Award in 2021.

“In a year which has tested everybody in so many ways throughout the construction industry and beyond, Bellway’s commitment to building the highest standard of home remains paramount to our success and Sean has demonstrated that consistently through this most challenging of periods.

“The dedication of all our site managers and their teams is a vital part of Bellway retaining its five-star status with the Home Builders Federation (HBF) for the last five years in succession. Their commitment to delivering homes on time while maintaining the highest level of customer service is a key reason why nine out of 10 Bellway buyers would recommend us as a developer of choice.

“We congratulate Sean and wish him the very best of luck for the Seal of Excellence stage of the awards later this year.”

For more information on homes being built by Bellway, visit bellway.co.uk.

CAPTIONS

  • Sean Howard, Site Manager at Bellway Northern Home Counties Brook View development
Logistics, Logistics Tech, News, Property

Futures Housing Group Turns to GMP Drivercare and CTrack for Advanced Fleet Management

Futures Housing Group, a housing association that provides affordable homes across the East Midlands, has teamed up with GMP Drivercare and Ctrack by Inseego to implement a technology-enabled fleet management solution. GMP Drivercare will provide a virtual fleet department for Futures, while Ctrack will be responsible for rolling-out an advanced fleet and video telematics solution across more than 115 vehicles.

“We have plans to build up to 300 more homes a year over the next three years, it is essential that we have the fleet management processes in place to support our customers in existing properties and those who will be part of our ambitious growth strategy,” explains Wayne Green Head of Repairs at Futures Housing Group. “GMP Drivercare is providing a seamless extension to our internal team, backed by Ctrack’s advanced telematics, to free up resources and help us to operate more efficiently, productively and responsibly.”

Under the agreement, GMP Drivercare will provide a complete fleet management solution, initially handling the procurement of new vans that will increase the size of the fleet. This will be complemented by a range of specialist services, developed for the precise needs of public sector fleets, including servicing and maintenance, accident management and direct driver support.

Meanwhile, Ctrack’s vehicle tracking system, with driver ID functionality, will be combined with fleet dashcams and a driver engagement app. This will support Futures’ duty of care commitment to staff, residents and the communities it operates within. The telematics solution will also be used internally to better coordinate the organisation’s team of mobile tradespeople, while GMP Drivercare will access the system to gather vehicle and driver data for any accident investigation.

Salman Hamid, Director of Development at GMP Drivercare commented: “Our public sector expertise has enabled us to implement an effective end-to-end fleet management solution for Futures Housing Group. This has been further enhanced by our partnership with Ctrack, which allows us to take advantage of tracking technology that delivers powerful fleet and driver insight.”

Jason Laight, Head of Indirect Sales at Ctrack by Inseego said: “We have worked closely with Futures Housing Group and GMP Drivercare to roll-out advanced fleet telematics that underpins driver welfare, road safety and operational performance. Public sector and essential fleets need high levels of fleet visibility and control, so are increasingly turning to us to develop flexible and tailored industry-specific solutions.”

News, Property

New homes development in Haughley to open to the public next month

New homes development in Haughley to open to the public this month

Bellway is preparing to welcome the first visitors to its Eve Meadows development in Haughley this month.

A sales centre is due to open on site on Saturday 24 July, when the Silversmith showhome, a four-bedroom detached house, will also be unveiled. All visits to the development off Fishponds Way must be made via appointment.

The housebuilder launched the development online in March to give prospective buyers the first opportunity to reserve a range of two, three and four-bedroom homes during the lockdown restrictions.

A total of 65 homes will be built at Eve Meadows, with the housebuilder already having sold nine homes so far. In total, 43 homes will be sold privately, and the remaining 22 properties will be allocated as affordable housing for local people through rent or shared ownership.

Jenny Walker, Sales Director for Bellway Essex, said: “We have seen a rise in demand since we released the first homes at Eve Meadows online earlier this year and, with the opportunity to view the Silversmith showhome in person, we expect this demand to increase further.

“The Silversmith, which is from our Artisan Collection, features an open-plan kitchen/family area, a separate dining room, which could be used as a study for home working, and a separate lounge, as well as en-suite shower room to the master bedroom, so it is perfect for families who are seeking more space.

“The showhome will also give interested buyers the opportunity to see first-hand the quality of the interior finish within the houses that are being built at the development.

“The first homes at Eve Meadows should be ready for residents to move into from the end of August and we are looking forward to welcoming more residents over the following months.”

The result of two years of development and decades of customer input, the Artisan Collection is Bellway’s flagship range of house types which combines traditional craftsmanship and attention to detail with the very latest construction techniques.

Two, three and four-bedroom houses are currently available to reserve at Eve Meadows, with prices starting from £252,995 for a two-bedroom semi-detached home. The Silversmith house type is currently priced from £407,995.

For more information about Eve Meadows, visit bellway.co.uk or call the sales team on 01449 424618.

CAPTIONS

  • A computer-generated image of the Silversmith house type

 

Finance and Banking, Property

Five Tips for Securing Development Finance in 2021

Funding products and conditions affecting financing either a refurbishment or new build project are constantly changing – but there are exciting new funding options, tailored to altering market conditions, launching all the time. Henry Manley Cooper, Head of Credit Analysis at SME developer funding business Avamore Capital, a pioneer of many innovative funding products tailored to the property market, explains five top tips for securing development funding in 2021, and highlights key products for renovators and developers in today’s post-Covid challenging times.

 

1. Cover the basics early and be upfront and honest

The key to securing funding successfully is being open, transparent and upfront. A funder is likely to work with you around difficulties if you share them at the outset, if they come up later on (and they often do), it often makes the path to completion far less smooth.

The start of the loan application process can be relatively straightforward if the correct information is provided from the outset. Funders will need to have access to the following to determine whether they are likely to be able to lend against the project:

  • Full address (including postcode): Some lenders have restrictive geographic parameters and so, providing this at the outset is a quick way to tell whether a lender can proceed. A quick no is as good as a yes.
  • Current & gross development value: A funder needs to understand whether the proposed works are reflective of the expected value at the end of the project. Often, they will compare the proposed project to local comparables.
  • Loan amount & term: Another area which could lead to a ‘quick no’. Lenders often have minimum and maximum loan amounts and so, if your request falls outside of these parameters, a funder will be able to confirm straight away whether they can proceed.
  • Confirmation of asset class (current and proposed): Clarifying the asset class of the scheme is important, some lenders will only operate in certain areas, for example, Avamore only does residential development and so, highlighting this point early is again, useful.
  • General deal description: A lender will need to understand what exactly the developer plans to do with the funds to identify whether the request put forward is a reasonable proposition.

 

2. Share all of your information

The process of securing development finance involves a number of different service providers. At a minimum, the developer will be liaising with the lender, valuer, monitoring surveyor, solicitors and, if they choose to use one, a broker. All of the professionals involved in the deal require a huge amount of information, some of which can be repeated in multiple instances.

It is therefore critical for a developer to be extremely organised and it is advisable to set up a file sharing system to store all deal related information in one place and if necessary, provide transparency between service providers.

The provision of information is extremely important and doing this quickly means that the deal can complete in a timely manner. By not sharing what is required, completion timelines are likely to be pushed out and so, if the developer is under pressure to close the deal, being on the front foot is important. The same goes for payment of the service providers, a developer must cover the cost of the valuer, monitoring surveyor and their own solicitor, late payment of these services means that instruction will be delayed.

 

3. Consider everyone involved

Whilst there may be one developer leading the project, it is not uncommon to see multiple shareholders or directors involved in an SPV which a funder is lending to. When a funder conducts their Know Your Client (KYC) checks, they will need to receive the full information around everyone involved in the deal, not just the main point of contact.

The KYC process is important because it highlights whether there are any historic insolvencies relating to the people involved. Note the earlier point about being upfront on the background around the transaction. Uncovering these points at KYC stage can often make it difficult to proceed but addressing them upfront means that a funder can work to a resolution with the developer.

It is also important to know the source of where money that is being put into the deal comes from. This includes whether there are any third-party investors involved and highlighting where their money has come from. Whilst many specialist lenders are unregulated, it remains extremely important to ensure that funds surrounding the transaction are legitimate and could not implicate the borrower or the funder later on in the loan. Therefore, it is important to declare everyone involved in the deal so the funder can decide who they need more information on.

 

4. Think about planning

This may seem like a simplistic point but, it is an important one. All development finance deals will need to have some sort of planning in place. Even if the proposed build is under Permitted Development Rights, there are still high-level sign offs involved to approve the build. At the outset, the developer will provide the scope of works (see above) but, as the deal progresses, the funder will need to know exactly what the proposal covers.

To make this as easy and transparent as possible, we would advise supplying relevant reference numbers for the planning portal so that the lender can cross check the transaction themselves. This provides the funder with the confidence that the funds provided will be appropriate for the expected scope of works.

It is also important to check when the planning permission is set to expire. Particularly in the last year, developers may have delayed starting projects; they might then find that their proposed planning permission is due to expire and therefore will no longer be valid by the time funding is secured. Similarly, the funder will need to understand whether appropriate action has been taken to discharge pre-commencement conditions in order for works to proceed. Again, this is another area where if you are upfront with the funder, it is possible to work to a resolution if there have been delays.

 

5. Be realistic on costs

Costing up a development project accurately is extremely important when working with a development funder. It is key to ensure that the transaction is not underpinned by unreasonable build costs. If developer predictions are too low, it could mean that they run into cash flow issues further down the line and, if build costs are too high it could indicate that the developer will not get sufficient profit out of the project and so should review their cost schedule.

As an average, the following are reasonable build costs for the type of scheme:

  • £125 per sq.ft for new builds
  • £100 per sq.ft for heavy refurbishments
  • If the project is part complete, cost per sq. ft is reflective of the level of works required. If it is at the earlier stage of the build, costs are likely to be align with the above

Having a realistic cash flow schedule is important so that the project does not experience delays later on in the process.

 

News, Property

Construction work gathers pace at Sydenham development

Building work at a new development in Sydenham is progressing well, in preparation for the first residents moving in at the end of this year.

Bellway London is delivering 159 apartments at Maybrey Works, off Worsley Bridge Road, with the first properties soon to be completed.

The development will comprise 108 one, two and three-bedroom private apartments, with many properties benefitting from balconies or terraces that have views of the Pool River and surrounding green space. A further 51 affordable homes will also be provided for local people through rent or shared ownership.

Ground floor commercial space is set to open after the development is completed, with the area currently occupied by Bellway as a sales and marketing suite. An on-site concierge, residents’ gym and a work hub for residents working from home, will also be created as part of the development.

Emma Hamlett, Sales Director of Bellway London, said: “Construction work at Maybrey Works is continuing apace and we are looking forward to welcoming the first residents towards the end of this year.

“The development will have a positive impact on the area as it transforms the disused former Maybrey Foundry site to provide much-needed housing for local people and those moving into the area. It’s ideal for those who want to live close to central London but away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

“We have witnessed a high level of interest from first-time buyers who can take advantage of the Help to Buy scheme at Maybrey Works.

“And with Lower Sydenham railway station in Zone 4 and just a two-minute walk away from the development, it gives buyers the option to commute into central London with ease.”

There’s currently a range of one, two and three-bedroom apartments available to reserve at Maybrey Works, with prices starting from £345,000.

Under Help to Buy, first-time buyers can buy a new-build home in London up the value of £600,000 with a five per cent deposit and 55 per cent mortgage. The remaining 40 per cent is provided in the form of a Government-backed equity loan, which is interest free for the first five years.

Visitors to Maybrey Works can book an appointment to view the two-bedroom show apartment which has been designed by Vesta Interiors, an award-winning interior design team.

For more information, visit bellway.co.uk or call the sales team on 020 3993 8572.

News, Property, Property Buyer News

Downsizing – tops tips to take the headaches out of moving

Written by CEO Nygel Scourfield, My Future Living

Moving can be stressful, especially if you are downsizing and moving to a smaller home. Not only have you got the usual things to contend with, you also need to think about what you can and can’t take with you.

No matter what you think there is no way a three bedroom house is going to fit into a one bedroomed apartment! Putting things in storage could be an option, but this should only be a temporary measure as this can get costly. It’s better to have a good clear out before moving.

To make things easier we’ve put together the following top tips for people planning a move this year to ensure it goes as smoothly as possible:

Advance planning

As with most things having a plan is the best approach. Begin your countdown as soon as you know you are moving and write down a list of everything that needs doing and by when. Allocate tasks if there are two of you or you have someone in the family helping you.

Midweek move

Think about what day of the week is going to be best for you to move. Often people move on a Friday so they have all weekend to get sorted, however, if you are flexible on the day of the week you can move choosing a midweek day could save money on the cost of removal firms.

Book a removal company

It’s essential to book a removal company as soon as you know what date you plan to move. Often firms get booked up months in advance, so do some research early on in the process and get prices, so you can book as soon as you’ve agreed a move date.

Start packing and de-cluttering

Again the earlier you can start this the better. This is the time to de-clutter too. Packing room by room is the best plan. Remember if you are downsizing there is going to quite a lot that you can’t take with you. Whilst a lot of this may be large furniture, it’s surprising how much people have when it comes to personal effects such as clothes, books, magazines, electronic items, hobby items.

Re-cycling / selling or throwing away

As you go from room to room work out what you are keeping and pack it up, remembering to write on the front what is in each box. With the rest decide if it’s something you could sell or re-cycle, or whether it should be thrown away. Using coloured stickers is a great way to mark-up items depending on what you plan to do with them.

Have a garage/door stop sale or sell online

Any items that you think are worth selling could be sold through a garage or door stop sale or through local community groups online. You could also consider a boot sale. There are also quite a few online second hand sale sites or you could try eBay. Doing this sooner rather than later is the best idea to give some time for things to sell.

Plan a few trips to the recycling centre

Most household items including electronics, paint and furniture can be taken to a local recycling centre, as well as bits that are destined for landfill. It can often be quite crowded at these centres though so try and go midweek to save time. You may need to schedule a few trips to get rid of everything, but this will help your home look less cluttered and make it easier in the long run to see where you are at with your packing. For larger items such as furniture you can often find charities that will come and collect it free of charge. Just do a quick internet search in your local area or call up and ask.  Most councils also offer a paid for service for bulky items such as sofas or fridges. These options are handy for those with limited mobility too.

Write to banks and other financial institutions

Get in touch with your bank and other financial providers such as pensions, insurances and investments and let them know your new address. People often forget policies they have taken out, so going through paperwork earlier in the process can make this job easier and ensure you contact all relevant parties.

Utilities, telephone and other subscription services

As above make sure you inform them of your moving date and new address so they can send through final bills. It’s crucial on move day to do gas and electricity readings. Taking a photo can be the best way to have a time/date stamped record. Make sure to contact all the subscription services you use too such as broadband, Netflix etc and inform TV licensing that you are moving.

In the final month

In the last few weeks before your move do things such as redirecting your post, cancelling regular deliveries such as milk and newspapers and paying any local shops where you have accounts. Write to family and friends and let them know your new address too. Go through the house and check you have everything packed that you are taking with you, including curtains, light fittings and rugs.

Finally, go through your check-list that you made at the beginning and ensure everything is ticked off! Now you are ready and can look forward to the big day and starting your life in your new home.

About My Future Living

My Future Living, is the leading UK retirement rentals brand, which is part of ReSI Property Management Ltd.

My Future Living specialises in good quality, age-exclusive, assured tenancy rental properties in safe and friendly later living communities throughout the UK.

We make renting in retirement easy and affordable, so people can really enjoy the next chapter of your life.

With 2,222 apartments designed exclusively for the over 55s in modern purpose-built retirement developments by the coast, in thriving cities or pretty market towns – we have homes to suit everyone. With so many options, people can choose where and how they want to live in retirement.

For more information: www.myfutureliving.co.uk

News, Property

ReSI Property Management launches new retirement rentals brand, My Future Living and employs team from Girlings Retirement Rentals

Today ReSI Property Management Ltd, is pleased to launch its new retirement rentals brand, My Future Living, to offer good quality, affordable, retirement rental properties on assured tenancies in later living communities across the UK.

Also, from today, ReSI Property Management will employ directly the entire Girlings Retirement Rentals’ property management and lettings team based in Taunton. This will allow this team to focus solely on managing the Retirements Rentals Limited portfolio owned by investment trust, Residential Secure Income plc (“ReSI plc”).

With a portfolio of 2,222 one and two bed rental properties in modern, purpose-built retirement communities, My Future Living will be the UK’s market leading retirement rental brand and aims to make renting an easy and mainstream option for everyone.

Under the new brand of My Future Living, ReSI Property Management now plans to invest in the business and scale it.

Nygel Scourfield (above) has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of My Future Living and Executive Director of ReSI Property Management and Jamie Turnbull from Girlings has been appointed as Business Director of My Future Living.

Nygel Scourfield, Chief Executive, My Future Living said, “ReSI Property Management Ltd is delighted to launch My Future Living to the market.  We plan to build the portfolio to meet growing demand for quality rental homes on assured tenancies, in safe and friendly retirement communities in the UK.

My Future Living’s new team are experts in retirement rentals who have specialised in the market since the 1990s and built a reputation for delivering first-class service and customer care. We are looking forward to building on their great work.”

Jamie Turnbull, Business Director, My Future Living said, “My Future Living has exciting growth plans. There is huge demand for good quality, affordable retirement rentals and we’re excited about the opportunities ahead.”

Research from Zoopla[i] showed that rental demand in 2020 was up by 20% compared with 2019 and demand was amongst the greatest for the over 55s. Another survey amongst retirees from residential property service provider FirstPort, found that more than a quarter (27%) were looking for a sense of community. Four in 10 said the recent lockdown restrictions had motivated them to move into a later living property. Almost half (48%) of those considering a move into a later living village hoped it would create new friendships.

My Future Living is deeply committed to the retirement rentals market and will be investing in the market and introducing business improvements such as new technologies and business processes to make it easier for tenants and business partners to work with them.

Nygel concludes, “Our financial investment, leadership, and our team of experts, will put My Future Living in a good position for future growth. Our goal is to make renting an easy, mainstream and hassle-free later living option where people can really enjoy the next chapter of their lives.”

News, Property

Three-bedroom house opens for viewings at Kings Norton development

Visitors to The Oaks development in Kings Norton can now explore another property from Bellway’s Artisan Collection, following the opening of a three-bedroom house at the site.

The Oaks was the first development to feature homes from the Artisan Collection, Bellway’s flagship range of house types which combine traditional craftsmanship with modern construction techniques.

A four-bedroom detached Magnolia showhome is already open at the development off Parsons Hill, where Bellway is building 171 new homes.

Now, buyers in the market for a smaller property will be able to take a look around the Turner, a three-bedroom home with an L-shaped open-plan living/dining room, separate kitchen, en suite shower room, and family bathroom.

The viewhome has been fitted with flooring throughout and kitchen appliances to showcase the high specification of homes in Bellway’s Artisan range, but left unfurnished to enable buyers to appreciate the size and flexible living spaces provided by the Turner.

This property is currently on the market from £285,500.

Marie Richards, Sales Director for Bellway West Midlands, said: “Homes are selling extremely quickly at The Oaks, as demand continues to grow for these stylish Artisan properties in a desirable location within easy reach of Birmingham city centre.

“Kings Norton boasts a wide range of shops, schools and green spaces as well as its own railway station which has direct services to Birmingham New Street in just over 15 minutes.

“The Oaks features a variety of different property sizes and styles, from two-bedroom apartments to two, three and four-bedroom houses. The Turner viewhome will complement our Magnolia showhome, giving visitors at different stages of the property ladder the chance to explore the type of property they may be interested in.”

The Oaks is transforming a former industrial site in Kings Norton which was vacant for many years. Construction work began on the site in July 2018 and the final homes are due to be completed next year.

A selection of three-bedroom houses are currently available at The Oaks, with prices ranging from £285,500 to £301,500.

For more information, call 0121 756 2091 or visit bellway.co.uk.

CAPTIONS –

  • Internal photography of a Turner house type
News, Property, Thought Leadership

Small-scale property development opportunities

By Ritchie Clapson CEng MIStructE, co-founder of propertyCEO

If you are considering property as a potential investment opportunity, career path, or spare-time enterprise, there are a variety options to choose from. Small-scale development is one area that an increasing number of investors and landlords are moving into. It can be lucrative, and a lot less scary than many people imagine.

 

What do we mean by small scale?

Typically, you would be building somewhere between four and 20 flats and planning to make a minimum 20% margin on what you sell them for. As an example, let us assume you started small and converted a small shop, office, or commercial building into four flats which you then sold for £150,000 each, then you would expect to make a profit of £120,000. If your next project saw you convert 12 flats, based on the same numbers, you would make £360,000. In development terms, that is relatively small beer, but compared to the long game that is buy-to-let or a graft-intensive doer-upper, nice numbers.

 

Is there a great deal of work involved?

As there is more money involved compared to a flip (a small project where savvy DIYers and bargain hunters freshen up run-down homes and flip them on for a profit), developers can afford two things that make their lives considerably easier.

The first thing you can do is hire a Project Manager. The Project Manager’s job is to oversee the development for the developer. Worried you might be out of your depth (or get exasperated), turning up on-site to manage architects and contractors? Well, your Project Manager will do this for you. A highly experienced set of eyes and ears managing things on site, looking after your interests, and reporting back to you regularly.

Secondly, developers can also afford to hire a main contractor. Where flippers and doer-uppers make do with a general builder and then employ many of the other trades directly, a small-scale developer uses a contractor who is responsible for all of the trades/subcontractors. This makes life considerably easier since there is only one relationship to manage, and the contractor then coordinates all of the construction team.

Additionally, because you have a main contractor AND a Project Manager, you do not need to oversee everything yourself—you play the role of CEO instead of being a hands-on-newbie-project-manager—leaving you with more time than if you were involved in a smaller project where you frequently need to be on site. In fact, most small-scale developers oversee their projects in their spare time.

 

What skills do you need?

Your critical job as the developer is to create your own development ‘brand’, pull a team together, get the finance sorted, and then find profitable deals. And, of course, you need to be able to make decisions under advisement from your professional team since you are the ultimate boss. It is very much like the role of the CEO, and as such, you need to have solid organisational and management skills, as well as good interpersonal and communication skills. I would never tell anyone that property development is easy, but many people already have the generic core skills to be able to do it successfully. And to correct another popular misconception, you typically need to invest less of your own money in a development than you might think.

 

Remember there is risk

There is a reason why property developers take the lion’s share of the profit, while everyone else gets a fee, and primarily it is all about risk. There is no getting away from it – property development has many moving parts and is inherently risky. But, if you get yourself educated, it is possible to de-risk the development process significantly. It is the people who ‘jump in and go for it’ who tend to come a-cropper. I have certainly trained many developers who had learned the hard way that they did not know what they did not know.

 

Why is it so lucrative?

Converting unloved commercial property into attractive residential units generates a significant premium, particularly in a market where so many owners of commercial properties are financially challenged. And in my 40 years’ experience, relatively few developers know how to convert properties well.

The government recently announced a whole range of Permitted Development Rights in England, making it possible to convert many commercial buildings without needing full planning permission. These rights come into effect from August 2021, so the timing could not be better to take a long, considered look at the opportunities offered by small-scale development.

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ritchie Clapson CEng MIStructE is co-founder of propertyCEO, a nationwide property development and training company that helps people create a successful property development business in their spare time. It makes use of students’ existing life skills while teaching them the property, business, and mindset knowledge they need to undertake small scale developments successfully, with the emphasis on utilising existing permitted development rights to minimize risk and maximize returns.

https://propertyceo.co.uk/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

News, Property, South West

First residents move in at new Churchdown development

The first residents have moved in at a new housing development taking shape on the outskirts of Churchdown.

Bellway and Ashberry Homes are building a total of 465 homes at Pirton Fields, on land off Cheltenham Road East to the north-west of the village.

The site, which features a range of two, three and four-bedroom homes for sale, is part of the wider Churchdown expansion which will deliver new homes and employment space along the A40 corridor between Cheltenham and Gloucester.

Bellway has now completed the first properties at their development, and handed over the keys to buyers.

Bellway’s part of the development will comprise 368 homes, including 131 affordable homes for rent or shared ownership. Ashberry Homes is to deliver the other 97 properties, of which 32 will be provided as affordable housing.

A total of £5.7 million in funding for local services will be provided by the two housebuilders through the planning agreement for the new homes, including £5 million for education.

Daniel Shone, Sales Manager for Bellway, said: “Pirton Fields is an exciting development which will create a brand-new neighbourhood in this attractive and convenient location between Cheltenham and Gloucester.

“We are building a wide range of homes to meet the needs of people at various stages of the property ladder. All properties will be from Bellway’s Artisan Collection, our flagship range of house designs which combine traditional craftsmanship with modern construction techniques.

“It’s been so nice to see our first buyers move into their new homes at Pirton Fields and we look forward to welcoming more residents to this growing community in the coming months.”

Carly Maidment, Sales Manager for Ashberry Homes, said: “As well as delivering much-needed new homes for people in this part of Gloucestershire, Pirton Fields will also bring millions of pounds of investment in local services, which is vital for the continued growth and prosperity of the area.

“The development is in an ideal location for commuters, situated within a 15-minute drive of both Cheltenham and Gloucester, and only five minutes away from Junction 11 of the M5.

“The semi-rural setting means Pirton Fields is proving particularly sought-after by families, who are also being attracted by the wide selection of schools within easy reach of the development.”

Bellway and Ashberry Homes both have two showhomes at Pirton Fields which are open for viewings by appointment.

Bellway currently has a selection of three and four-bedroom homes for sale, with prices starting from £279,995. A range of two, three and four-bedroom houses are available from Ashberry Homes, priced from £242,995.

Both Bellway and Ashberry Homes recently retained their five-star rating from the Home Builders Federation, which means that more than 90 per cent of customers would recommend the housebuilder to a friend or family member.

For more information, visit bellway.co.uk or ashberryhomes.co.uk.