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Plans to build 20 new homes on site of former pub and shops in Top Valley

A former pub site and a row of shops with flats could be turned into 20 new homes, plans have revealed.

The former Harvester site off Old Farm Road and a row of shops and flats in Knights Close, Top Valley, could make way for a mixture of houses and houses.

A document submitted to the council by Pelham Architects on behalf of Nottingham City Homes states the site will be turned into 12 two-bedroom houses, two two-bedroom flats, one two-bedroom split-level house and five four-bedroom split-level homes.

It also says there will be a four-bedroom ‘parsonage’ with a garage and three parking spaces.

The area has previously been described as an “area of blight” and residents speaking to the Post earlier this year were relaxed about the planned demolition.

The site also includes a former Harvester pub, which has been empty for some time.

A shop will be retained on the site but moved to a more suitable area.

The document states: “The shop is now at the pivot point on the site, facing the subway, existing footpath route and the extended Knights Close. It will be useful in increasing natural surveillance in the location proposed and with windows from the flats above on three sides there will be surveillance to all the public areas.

“We ensured that homes have habitable rooms facing the route to help with natural surveillance. This route will also work well in replacing the path that is proposed to be close which runs north-south adjacent to the western boundary.

“Closing this path will help make the routes children take to school feel safer as the new route is in front of homes rather than being isolated and not over-looked.

“The existing homes are simply detailed and we wanted to reflect that in the house designs, but add more features such as the various porches, black brick header details and contrasting brick colours.

“Brick garden walling will also be used, which will add interest and longevity. We tried to tie together the varied colours of brick from the surroundings by using red, buff and black brick.”

Speaking to the Post in May when it was revealed the area had been earmarked for demolition, Carl Brant, 28, who also lives over the shops, said: “I think it was March I found out. I was kind of happy because I’ve wanted to move, to be honest – I’ve got a young daughter in Aspley, so I would like to move nearer.

“I wouldn’t say it’s quiet. It’s a bit noisy outside sometimes, although there’s never really any trouble – but most of the shops have been empty now for about two years.”

Source: Nottingham Post

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Plan to build 970 homes in £100m ‘extended village’ for York

Developers have revealed plan to build 970 new houses and a primary school on the edge of York.

National housebuilder Redrow has drawn up proposals for the north east of the city, near Huntington, on a site bounded by Monks Cross Link Road to the east and North Lane to the north.

The development would cost £100 million to build and take ten years to complete, at a rate of around 100 homes a year.

As well as the houses and school, there would be sports pitches, a play area and public open areas.

Redrow says the school and commercial, transport and sports facilities would be at the heart of the development, to form a vibrant village centre.

The site is within the Outer Ring Road has been deemed suitable for housing in various draft versions of York’s proposed Local Plan, so will likely prove less controversial in principle than a separate, larger plan north of the bypass, reported earlier this month in the York Press.

Redrow revealed its ideas for the site at two local consultation events earlier this month, and intends to submit a formal planning application to City of York Council early in the New Year.

Redrow revealed its ideas for the site at two local consultation events earlier this month, and intends to submit a formal planning application to City of York Council early in the New Year.

Plan to build 970 homes in £100m ‘extended village’ for York Commercial Finance Network

Redrow’s site plan

Redrow said it was keen to “create a community that is not just another new development”. They say they will include affordable housing.

It says:

The extended village will have new community facilities to meet the needs of the future and existing residents, including a small local shop, primary school and public open space and playing fields.

It is expected that the primary school will be designed to a standard that facilitates wider public uses, to act as a community hub.

‘Respecting the landscape’

Elsewhere in the information they sent to YorkMix, Redrow says: “Monks Cross North will be a leading example of a high-quality sustainable community, through the creation of a place that is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable.

“The development will draw on the features of the site while respecting the landscape setting of the surrounding green belt.”

Huntington and New Earswick councillor Keith Orrell said: “Local councillors know this has long been in the Local Plan.

“When the Local Plan process finishes, we look forward to local people being consulted about the details.”

City of York Council has struggled for many years to complete an acceptable Local Plan, a landmark document meant to help determine the future development of the city.

The plan identifies which parts of the city are suitable for what sorts of development, and aims to project how many houses will be needed to accommodate the city’s growth.

Disputes between parties have seen repeated disagreements and rewrites, but the current administration now hopes to submit a plan to the Government by May 2018.

Source: York Mix

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39-home estate in Telford gets the go-ahead

Plans for an estate of almost 40 houses which will transform a site in Telford will go ahead.

The latest scheme by Telford & Wrekin Council’s housing company Nuplace will see 39 properties on land in Snedshill.

A range of two, three and four-bedroom homes will be built after councillors accepted the proposals at the council’s planning committee on Wednesday evening.

As part of the plans along Holyhead Road and Snedshill Way, a total of 15 per cent of the homes will be affordable properties.

Councillors – who voted unanimously to accept the project subject to conditions including a section 106 agreement – raised concerns over the original reduction in affordable homes from 25 per cent.

Councillor Ian Fletcher: “The designs of the houses and layout is appropriate for the type of housing they are. I’m concerned about the affordable housing proportion being reduced down to 15 per cent.”

The houses will be built by Nuplace’s development partner Lovell and made available for rent.

The report, submitted to Telford & Wrekin Council, said: “The application site will provide much needed accommodation on allocated residential land within the village of Snedshill.

“The site is in a sustainable location, where future residents will enjoy close proximity to schools, services, employment, and community facilities.

“The development of the application site will form a natural extension to the existing village boundary, terminating at Holyhead Road, the development will provide a feature to intersection of Holyhead Road and Snedshill Way.

“The site will provide quality new build homes for market rent with a small number of affordable homes, creating an inclusive development for different needs.”

Council officers said the site was not viable to produce the full 25 per cent in affordable homes.

Members of the planning committee also raised the need for appropriate crossing along Holyhead Road.

Councillor Fletcher added: “I think we should have an appropriate crossing along the road.”

Source: Shropshire Star

 

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Schemes aim to bring 1,700 new homes to Birmingham’s Southside

Ambitious new plans could see 1,700 new homes brought to Birmingham’s Southside district.

Manchester property group MCR has submitted a £275 million urban village scheme to council planners that would see more than 1,000 new homes on the vacant Monaco House site on Bristol Street.

Meanwhile housebuilder Barratt Homes is proposing 778 new apartments and houses on a nearby plot further down Bristol Street, on the former site of Matthew Boulton College and the old St Luke’s housing estate.

MCR’s £275 million urban village, named New Monaco, is intended to completely transform a seven acre site on Bristol Street into a unique village community on the fringe of the city centre.

Two towers, 26 and 29 storeys high, will stand alongside apartment blocks and townhouses at the heart of the build-to-rent scheme, providing more than a 1,000 one, two and three-bedroom homes for rent.

Plans for the new city centre community include 1,500 sq m of space for ground-floor shops, cafes and bars; landscaped public and private open areas and pedestrian walkways.

Residents will also benefit from facilities including two levels of basement car parking, a concierge, an on-site gym and cycle club.

The development will provide a new street to link nearby Vere Street with Wrentham Street to connect surrounding city centre locations.

MCR Property Group is working with partners including planning consultant, Pegasus Group, and architects, Leach Rhodes Walker, to bring the ambitious project to life.

Demolition of Monaco House is currently underway with building work set to start at the end of next year. It is estimated the project will take around five years, completing in 2023. Once finished, the homes will be sold via Regency Residential, MCR Property Group’s residential arm.

Chris Taylor, fund manager at MCR Property Group, said: “We’re incredibly proud of the final plans for New Monaco. Everything has been designed to enhance the vacant land and deliver well-designed, high-quality, affordable housing for Birmingham residents and enrich the city centre for generations to come.”

David Onions, director at Pegasus Group, said: ‘‘Monaco House has been an unattractive part of Bristol Street for many years and this major new development will result in a dramatic improvement to this part of the city centre, aiding significant revitalisation of Birmingham’s Southside area and meeting the city’s growing housing needs.”

Christian Gilham, director at Leach Rhodes Walker architects, said: “This purpose-designed urban village will set a fresh benchmark for the quality of city centre living in Birmingham. The scheme embraces high quality, durable designs and revitalises this prominent Bristol Street site to create a new community focused around two new, landmark residential towers.”

Meanwhile plans have also been filed with Birmingham Council for the demolition of the former St Luke’s Church and The Highgate Centre off Bristol Street to redevelop the site to provide 778 one, two and three bedroom houses and apartments.

It adds to the dramatic transformation of the area; the site across Bristol Street forms Park Central, a Crest Nicholson housing scheme on the site of the former former Lee Bank estate, which is being undertaken by Crest Nicholson.

An application for the St Luke’s site was originally filed in February but withdrawn last month for changes following feedback from the council. It now comprises 233 houses and 545 apartments across 16 apartment buildings as well as a small shop unit.

There will also be 544 parking spaces as well as landscaping and areas of parkland, including children’s play areas and a football pitch.

Express and Star

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Anger over plan to demolish Telford house to make way for 85 new homes

Plans have been put forward to demolish a house in Telford to make way for more than 80 new homes.

Shropshire Homes want to knock down the home in Wellington Road, Muxton, to build the estate of 85 homes, which will include affordable housing.

It would form part of a huge development of 665 homes plus industrial units on the site, which were put forward by Tesni Properties – close to the site on land north of Breton Park Residential Caravan Park, off New Trench Road.

Now, those living nearby have criticised the plans – with 24 objections made to Telford & Wrekin Council.

Residents claim the village is being “continually harassed” by developers and called for it to be stopped.

Richard Green, spokesman for Wellington Road Action Group, said: “Yet again we have another pot shot being fired at the residents of Muxton and in particularity those living on Wellington Road.

“This time Shropshire Homes is planning to build 85 houses on prime agricultural land. However, once again, they initially must demolish a house of outstanding character on Wellington Road to which to gain access.

“When are we, the residents, going to see the 2011 to 2031 local plan approved – only then, will this continual harassment be stopped once and for all.”

The property, called Green Gables, will be demolished to form the access to the new site.

Thirty-five per cent of the properties would be affordable. The application was submitted towards the end of November.

Council officers have said that a contribution of £600 per dwelling would be sought in order to upgrade nearby play facilities.

Howard Thorne, managing director of Shropshire Homes said: “The Tesni application is for a large area and has a number of complications – mainly concerning access and landscape impact.

“Our application is for just a small part of the Tesni site. Access will be from a modest junction on Wellington Road which meets council requirements and the site is surrounded by mature trees so there are no landscape concerns.

“The great benefit of our proposal is that, because there are no technical issues, it can be delivered very quickly. If our application is approved we expect to be building much needed houses, including over 20 affordable homes, by autumn 2018.”

Donnington and Muxton Parish Council will meet at 6.30pm today at Turreff Hall in Donnington to discuss the matter.

Mr Green has urged residents to attend the meeting.

Angry resident, Roger France, who is part of the action group, added: “The key first phase of the Tesni scheme is this access and an initial build of about 85 houses. The project is on hold awaiting conclusion of the TWC Local Plan.

“We now have another application – this time from Shropshire Homes – identical to that of Tesni’s first phase and amazingly also for 85 houses.

“By a stroke of luck, this application has a ‘village green’ in precisely the right position to allow the site’s main access road to be extended if Tesni subsequently submitted a new application for the balance of the 665 properties.”

“Shropshire Homes’ seemingly innocuous application is a cynical attempt to secure a main construction site access from Wellington Road for a major development of 665 houses and industrial units.

“If residents do not want years of heavy construction traffic polluting Wellington Road, they must write to TWC Planning Department and object to this proposal.”

Source: Shropshire Star

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Theresa May hints at new government policies to build “more houses, more quickly”

The Prime Minister has committed to building “more houses, more quickly” as the government comes under further pressure on the growing housing crisis.

The government will announce measures to “fix the broken housing market” in “the coming weeks and months”, Theresa May said.

The Prime Minister was speaking ahead of new housing supply figures, which are due out tomorrow morning.

Most recent figures, for 2015-16, showed an 11 per cent year-on-year increase in the total number of net additional dwellings to 189,650 – but the total was still down 15 per cent on the 2007-2008 peak.

May said: “For decades we simply have not been building enough homes, nor have we been building them quickly enough, and we have seen prices rise. The number of new homes being delivered each year has been increasing since 2010, but there is more we can do.

“We must get back into the business of building the good quality new homes for people who need them most.”

May was speaking ahead of an announcement given today in Bristol by communities secretary Sajid Javid to wipe housing associations’ debt off the balance sheet.

Javid will say: “There are many, many faults in our housing market, dating back many, many years. If you only fix one you’ll make some progress, but not enough. This is a big problem and we have to think big.”

Last month the minister called on his cabinet colleague Philip Hammond to consider borrowing billions at current low interest rates to boost house building. However City A.M. understands the chancellor is cool on the measure – or indeed anything particularly radical – being included in next week’s Budget.

Source: City A.M.