Planning Update 2021 – From Kent To Cambridge
Planning Update 2021 – From factory-built homes to modular apartments planning permission has been granted for huge numbers of houses across the country. To give you a taste of what’s in the works, here are some updates on Kent, Barnet, and Cambridge developments.
Kent
The council has granted permission for the construction of three and four-storey apartment blocks. The apartments in the block are a mix of one and two-bedroom modular apartments.
TopHat is using precision construction in their factory to create the modules. These factory-made homes are quick to install. This allows the onsite builder to complete the work in roughly half the time it would take with traditional methods.
Once the apartment buildings are complete, the construction plans continue. A further 183 homes are on the plans. This includes renovating an old barracks building into 68 modern apartments as well as a number of houses.
Barnet
Woodside Park in Barnet will soon be seeing a development aimed at first time buyers. The plans are to build 86 one-bedroom homes. These apartments will be spread between two four-storey buildings.
Both of the buildings in the development will feature exciting rooftop gardens. These are spaces not only for the residents to enjoy the fresh air but to also grow their own produce. Allotments are in high demand in London, and there will be space for these residents to access their own, right at the top of their building.
The site has presented technical challenges due to its location. It is directly beside the railway and the Woodside Park Station. However, close work with Transport For London has allowed the project to move forward.
The scheme will sell the properties to first time buyers at a significant discount. The developers will price the homes at 20% below the market value for the local area. Even with the discount, they will own 100% of the property. To be eligible, buyers must not own any other property and must currently live or work in the area.
Cambridge
The local planning office has granted permission for the second phase of the Marleigh scheme in Cambridge. The scheme as a whole is designed to build a new community. The developers expect the first phase to take five years to complete. It includes over 500 homes, a primary school, a nursery, and a market square, among other facilities. In the second phase, they plan to add a further 421 homes.
The whole project is based on designing a community that embraces the landscape. The aim is to develop an area where the city meets the countryside. All of the buildings will have active frontages overlooking open landscaped spaces.
Another exciting feature of this development is that during construction, the builders will install air heat pumps and photovoltaic panels to every home. The whole design is based on creating an aesthetically pleasing but energy-saving community. This ethos extends beyond the homes and into the very fabric of the community. The spaces are designed to prioritise cyclists and pedestrians. Finally, in the centre of the community is ‘The Titch’, a central garden space with naturalistic play areas and landscape corridors designed to preserve the biodiversity of the area.
We can help property developers with SAP, SBEM and Water Calculations, feel free to contact us anytime.
