Double early handover success for Stanley

Stanley are delighted to see handovers taking place for two new affordable housing schemes, over three months ahead of programme, in Wigan and Stoke resulting in 44 new homes.

Contractor Holmpatrick Developments working with Stanley has handed over 29 homes in Bellerton Lane, Stoke-on-Trent, to registered provider Aspire Housing.

The scheme, which involved the regeneration of a former brownfield site, consists of two and three-bedroom houses and cottage flats, made available by Aspire for shared ownership and affordable rent.

Stanley used it as a pilot scheme towards the implementation of the Future Homes standard, integrating carbon-reducing technologies, such as the use of air source heat pumps and increased U values and thermal efficiency.

The second scheme, Barracks Road in Bickershaw, was developed in partnership with Jigsaw Homes Group and consists of 15 homes available for affordable rent.

The development sits on a small infill site in the greenbelt which the local planning authority considered a sustainable location for new affordable housing scheme that could address local demand.

Neil Hughes, director at Stanley Land and Homes, said: “It’s been a hugely successful year end for Stanley as we continue delivering high-quality affordable housing schemes for our partners across the region, with plenty more in the pipeline.

“Barracks Road in particular, has received outstanding support from Wigan Council who would like to see more affordable housing like this being delivered in and around Bickershaw.

“Working in partnership with Aspire and Jigsaw, we’re proud that both schemes completed well ahead of schedule to deliver upon Homes England funding deadlines.”

Stanley Land and Homes recently received planning permission to create another scheme off Coop Street in Wigan made up of 27 apartments, and another scheme of 168 new homes in St Helens.

Stanley set to develop 27 affordable new homes in Wigan

Stanley has received planning permission to create a scheme of new affordable homes on the site of a former social club in Wigan.

We are the developer behind the project, Great Places Housing Group will manage the homes upon completion, with work set to start later this month.

Featuring 27 one-bedroom apartments and an outdoor communal area, the scheme will be built on land off Coop Street on the site of the former Scholes Social Club, which has been derelict since it was knocked down.

The plans, submitted by PWA Planning, will address a need for affordable housing close to Wigan town centre.

The three-storey apartment building will sit in a prominent location close to Wigan town centre and has been designed to reflect the surrounding area. It will include on-site car parking, cycle storage and electric vehicle charging points.

Neil Hughes, director of Stanley Land and Homes, comments: “We have developed a number of sites in Wigan through our continued partnership with Wigan Borough Council and look forward to working with Great Places Housing Group.

“This latest approval allows us to progress another quality scheme that will be delivered to the highest standards of urban design and is another example of brownfield regeneration done right. We are looking forward to starting on site soon.”

The scheme will be built in full compliance with Homes England quality standards.

The professional team on the project includes Holmpatrick Developments (contractor), Alan Johnston Partnership (engineers), Eden Building Design (architect), and Primas Law (legal advisors).

Stanley up for Small Developer of the Year at annual RESI Awards

Stanley Land and Homes has been shortlisted for the ‘Small Developer of the Year’ award at the 2024 RESI Awards.

Hosted by Property Week, the annual RESI Awards celebrate the innovation, creativity, and achievements of the residential property sector and bring together hundreds of companies and individuals – including developers, landlords and local authorities.

The ‘Small Developer of the Year’ category recognises developers who have achieved significant growth in the last twelve months. This could be through the delivery of a flagship scheme, regenerating an underused area, building a healthy pipeline of projects, or working to improve ESG targets.

Chris Curtis, director of Stanley Land and Homes comments: “These awards are a great way to shine a light on the vital work done by the residential property sector and it’s an honour to be shortlisted alongside these fantastic companies.

“Our Lancots Lane and Baxters Lane schemes in St Helens, Bellerton Lane in Stoke on Trent and Middleton Road in Heysham are examples of our drive for regenerating former brownfield sites, and delivering high quality housing schemes for our communities.”

The winners will be announced on Wednesday May 1, 2024 at a dinner and ceremony taking place at Grosvenor House in London. For more information, visit: www.resiawards.com.

Stanley begins work to deliver over 160 new homes to St Helens

Stanley has started work on 168 new affordable homes that will regenerate a former glass works site off Lancots Lane in St Helens.

The collection of one, two, three and four-bedroom homes and bungalows are being developed in partnership with housing provider Torus.

They will be developed on an 11-acre derelict brownfield site which lies in a sustainable location close to transport links, amenities and parks.

The homes will be built using high quality products to ensure they are well insulated and thermally efficient with low running costs and will be made available for affordable rent and shared ownership helping to address high demand for this type of property in the area.

Neil Hughes, director of Stanley Land and Homes, said: “At Stanley we believe affordable housing should enjoy the highest standards of urban design and quality.

“The construction of 168 new homes will continue to drive a complete transformation of the area and prove to be an exemplary demonstration of brownfield regeneration through highly collaborative partnership working between Torus, the LPA and Stanley. We have exciting plans for the continuing regeneration of Sutton and look forward to delivering these soon.”

The contractor for the project is Holmpatrick Developments and the professional team includes MPSL Planning and Design (Architect), Alan Johnston Partnership (Engineers) and Hive (Planning consultants).

The scheme is one of two affordable housing developments being developed in the area by Stanley Land and Homes. The developer received planning to regenerate a former industrial site by creating 28 new affordable homes on Baxters Lane.

Stanley supports mission to upskill housing professionals

Stanley is proud to have supported an initiative to help housing sector professionals grow their knowledge and skills in developing new homes.

The Bric-by-Bric Development School is run by Saffer Cooper Consultancy and sees experienced property professionals training and passing on their wisdom to those working for registered providers.

Now in its fifth year, the annual programme brings together experts and contributors from across the industry sector to help upskill affordable housing development professionals.

Chris Curtis, director at Stanley Land and Homes, delivered a training session and workshop on development risk and opportunity to a number of ‘students’ from registered providers across the North West and Midlands

Chris said: “We’re delighted to be supporting this fantastic initiative for the fourth year running. It’s absolutely vital that experienced practitioners across the region contribute their knowledge and skills to the next generation of development professionals.

“This unique and very commendable programme enables us to do this in an organised and structured way that can only benefit the affordable housing sector.”

Season’s greetings – Have a great festive season and a well-deserved break!

From all of us here at Stanley Land and Homes, we wish you a peaceful and happy Christmas.

The crisis of affordability and cost of living has worsened this year. The struggle of families within our communities that rely on extra support is more acute than ever.

We are continuing our financial support to Stockport Foodbank this Christmas – an exceptional service that provides food for children over the holidays when there are no free school meals available.

To learn more and to offer your support, please visit the website.

Have a great festive season and a well-deserved break!

Stanley receives planning for over 160 affordable homes in St Helens

Stanley has received planning permission to create 168 new affordable homes that will regenerate a former glass works site off Lancots Lane in St Helens.

Works are expected to commence in January on the collection of one, two, three and four-bedroom homes, being developed in partnership with housing provider Torus.

The homes will be developed on an 11-acre derelict brownfield site which lies in a sustainable location close to transport links, amenities and parks.

The homes will be fully compliant with the new building regulations, ensuring they are well insulated and thermally efficient with low running costs, and will be made available for affordable rent, helping to address high demand for this type of property in the area.

Neil Hughes, director of Stanley Land and Homes, said “We are thrilled to be delivering this scheme to our RP partner Torus. At Stanley we believe affordable housing should enjoy the highest standards of urban design and quality.

“Along with our neighbouring scheme on Baxters Lane, the construction of 196 new homes will drive a complete transformation of the area and prove to be an exemplary demonstration of brownfield regeneration. Recognition and thanks should be given to the LPA at St Helens, which has worked with us in a highly collaborative way.”

The application received unanimous approval form the committee who praised Stanley Land and Homes on the high quality of the scheme.

This is one of two affordable housing developments being developed in the area by Stanley Land and Homes. The developer recently received planning to regenerate a former industrial site by creating 28 new affordable homes on Baxters Lane.

Stanley Land and Homes gets green light to regenerate former industrial site

Stanley has received planning permission to create 28 new affordable homes that will regenerate a former industrial site in St Helens.

Works are expected to commence in November on the collection of one-bedroom cottage apartments, which are being built in partnership with Jigsaw Homes Group.

The homes are being built on a vacant 0.33-hectare site off Baxters Lane that forms part of the wider Fishwicks Industrial Estate.

Situated close to local transport links, amenities, and parks, the homes will be made available for affordable rent, helping to address high demand for this type of property in the area.

Chris Curtis, director of Stanley Land and Homes, said “During our public consultation phase, local residents stated several reasons why they were in support of these homes, which included improving the appearance of the area and preventing it becoming a magnet for anti-social behaviour.

“We’re delighted that our latest partnership with Jigsaw Homes Group will deliver on these aspirations together with our main objective of providing new homes that people will find affordable and sustainable.”

Chris added: “This will be our seventh scheme for Jigsaw comprising a total of 296 high quality, affordable new homes and we’re proud to be continuing this partnership. Stanley will continue to bring forward a strong pipeline of new schemes over the coming months.”

This is one of two affordable housing developments being developed in the area by Stanley Land and Homes. The developer recently submitted a planning application to create 170 new homes on an 11-acre derelict brown field site off Lancots Lane.

Official opening for 75 new affordable homes in Heysham

A development of 75 new affordable homes near Lancaster, developed by Stanley for Jigsaw Homes Group, has had its official opening.

Residents have now moved into Trumacar Gardens on Middleton Road in Heysham. The development includes eight one-bedroom apartments, 67 two, three and four-bedroom homes including 12 bungalows, all for affordable rent.

We worked in partnership with Jigsaw, Lancaster City Council and Homes England to deliver the homes on land which had been vacant for a number of years.

It was officially opened by Jigsaw Homes Group’s chief executive Hilary Roberts, alongside Lancaster City Councillors Cllr Colin Hartley, Cllr Catherine Potter and members of Heysham Neighbourhood Council vice chair Angela Sykes and executive member Sue Morgan.

Neil Hughes, director at Stanley Land and Homes, commented: “We acquired this site and achieved planning approval at the beginning of the Covid pandemic at what were very difficult times for many people.

“To be on site now and see residents happily living in these new affordable homes is a really proud moment for the Stanley team. We’re incredibly thankful to Jigsaw and Lancaster City Council for their support for this scheme, as well as our contractor Casey and our wider team of project consultants.”

Councillor Catherine Potter, who represents the residents of Heysham South, said: “This is an impressive housing development. It’s a beautiful environment and a lovely place for children to grow up and families to live.

“We have insufficient housing stock given our ever-increasing population for both private ownership and the rental market. We desperately need more new housing like this – much more. The Council would very much like to work with Jigsaw to identify further such sites within the district.”

Hilary Roberts said: “We have a great track record of providing a mix of quality, affordable homes that meet the local demand as well as creating real communities. We are really pleased to have worked in partnership with Lancaster City Council, Homes England and Stanley Land and Homes to do just that.”

Resident Brogan Leigh-McDowall, moved in in May with her two children after her previous landlord put her rented house up for sale.

She said: “Without this house I was going to be homeless, so I feel so lucky to have been offered it. I was so shocked by how big it is, the quality and having so much space. The garden is great for the children and they are already settled and making friends. This feels like my forever home.”

The homes benefit from high-quality private gardens and landscaped open space, car parking and electric vehicle charging points. Refuse/recycling storage is also included, as well as a children’s play area.

The development was built by contractors Casey, designed by Eden Building Design and the Employer’s Agent was Wilkinson Cowan Partnership.

Opinion: Modular can still be part of housing solution but better funding needed

The recent news that Legal & General had halted production on its modular housing factory in Leeds and Ilke Homes is now up for sale was a sad, but not entirely surprising, development.

It got me thinking about the reasons why modular housing appears to be struggling to take off. There has been some success, but overall but there hasn’t been anywhere near the levels of adoption that was anticipated.

The theory of modular is compelling, and in the context of a national housing crisis, the case for it should be unequivocal. Modular is unlikely to ever be THE answer; it will never be a panacea.

However, it can be a major component to the solution as part of the wider spectrum of MMC (modern methods of construction) options.

Learning modular lessons from the past

The past has proven this, Britain has a demonstrated history of addressing housing crises over the last 100 years through various forms of MMC. Volumetric and experimental home building, driven by need and innovation, flourished in the post First World War period of Homes for Heroes, and particularly in the decades following Second World War. This was achieved by the huge cross-party spending and major governmental intervention during those periods.

None of the technical solutions during those times proved ideal. Some were an undisputable failure, such as the infamous Hulme Crescents in Manchester built in 1972 and demolished in 1992, or the Southgate estate in Runcorn, built in 1977 and demolished 13 years later in 1990.

Other innovations simply haven’t aged well, but they have delivered mass housing, served a purpose, and delivered a social outcome; they were a social good.

House types such as the cornish, airey, wimpey no fines and prefabs are examples of this. These MMC typologies of the time succeeded in housing generations for decades and contributed to the social mobility that many generations have enjoyed. Each of these experimental and innovative, albeit flawed and obsolete, housing construction solutions had one critical factor in common – massive government financial support on a gigantic scale.

Making modular housing work

Numerous reasons are cited for why modular has not gained the traction that we all hoped it would have – planning, infrastructure, urban design constraints, services. These are all technocratic obstacles that can be addressed. The fact is, modular can work and it can make a valuable contribution here and now.

The fundamental solution will only be found in our collective social and political will to fix the very real housing crisis that exists today. Big government intervention is required to solve a big problem, whatever the construction method.

Otherwise, for the first time in modern history, we will fail spectacularly in our duty to the next generation. This will not only be tragic, but it will also be unforgivable.

Chris Curtis is a director of Stanley Land and Homes