Property round-up: Anwyl Homes; DV8 Designs; BusinessComparison; Ascend Properties; Old Library
All 120 new Anwyl homes being built in Heywood will feature air source heat pumps.
Whittle Brook Park is the first Anwyl scheme to feature the technology development-wide.
As part of a drive to create energy efficient new homes within sustainable communities, the homes will also include solar panels and electric vehicle charging points.
John Grime, managing director for Anwyl Homes Lancashire, said: “Whittle Brook Park is a landmark scheme for Anwyl – it was our first development in Greater Manchester and the first to feature air source heat pumps with every home.
“It’s a prime example of how, as a forward-thinking business, we’re embracing new green technology into our designs to deliver energy efficient homes. Air source heat pumps are sustainable alternative to gas when it comes to providing heat and hot water in homes and will help future proof our properties for homeowners.
“An air source heat pump is more efficient than a gas boiler and, according to the latest data from Which?, potentially cheaper when it comes to providing heating and hot water in the home. Plus, if gas prices continue to rise quicker than electricity prices, the saving could increase.”
Homes at Whittle Brook Park will also boast wider cavities to external walls and improved air tightness, which provides increased levels of insulation and reduces heat loss, along with increased levels of ground floor and roof/loft insulation.
Located on Manchester Road, Whittle Brook Park will eventually feature 120 homes across almost 15 acres of land. Work is under way, with the first residents due to move in this autumn.
::
CGI of the DV8 Designs work
Concept design specialists, DV8 Designs, has been appointed by Wigan-based property development and investment company the Heaton Group to consult on and deliver a concept design of a new food hall at the iconic Eckersley Mills £200m regeneration and transformative project.
Working alongside their master planning architectural practice, Manchester-based Horizon | fletcher – rae, the brief to DV8 was to design an economically sustainable food and beverage concept that would be at the heart of the Pier Quarter development project with a multi-operational food hall and micro-brewery operation to be housed within the ground floor of the mill.
Located in the Eckersley Mills site, spanning 17 acres, the project centres around a group of Grade II-listed mills constructed between 1883 and 1920. Situated near the heart of Wigan, the site falls between the Wigan Pier Conservation Area designated in 1987 to acknowledge the historical importance of a significant concentration of specialised industrial architecture from the 18th to the early 20th centuries.
Visually the finished concept has been sympathetic to the building’s heritage and industrial past, while also incorporating modern and relevant elements. DV8 worked within strict planning, M&E and operational constraints to develop the 15,000 sq ft food hall into a uniquely exciting 350-cover operation encompassing at least six operator kitchens as well two bar operations, spacious external terrace, and a self-contained micro-brewery.
John Heaton said: “The Eckersley Mill project represents a remarkable invention of our industrial heritage. Working in partnership with DV8 has been instrumental with our decision-making in bringing this vision to life.”
DV8 Designs owner, Lee Birchall said: “We have worked closely with the Heaton Group team to not only deliver a financially robust solution but also help deliver the Heaton Group vision in fostering the creation of a sustainable community where people can live, work, socialise and thrive.”
::
Steam Mill Business Centre interior
Comparison site, BusinessComparison, has seen rapid growth, prompting a move to a new office space inside Steam Mill Business Centre in Chester.
Founded in 2014, BusinessComparison has seen steady growth over the years – accumulating a team of comparison professionals from a variety of specialisms.
Now, the company has recently made the move to a stylish new address at Steam Mill Street, providing more than four times the amount of space, alongside modern amenities and a chic loft design.
Philip Brennan, founder and MD at BusinessComparison, said: “We are really excited to be returning to Chester city centre. This larger office space has allowed us to bring on multiple new hires, and has, overall, provided the team with a much more comfortable, productive and inspiring environment to get things done.
“We’re absolutely no stranger to Chester, having been based here for years. Our new office is four-times the size of our previous space – meaning there is plenty of room for further expansion. We’re thrilled to have made this move, and to have welcomed several new additions to the team within the past few weeks.”
Located inside an old mill house, the new office provides scenic views of the canal, along with a rustic, yet-modern interior, complete with open plan workspace, private meeting rooms, virtual meeting, quiet zones and a relaxed fully renovated break out space.
Mr Brennan added: “We collaborated with Chester-based interior design experts, Hunters North, who helped create our trendy new workspace. It was a terrific team effort and resulted in a great space to work and welcome clients and colleagues alike.”
::
SFBTR properties under Ascend management
Ascend Properties has further strengthened its position as a single-family build-to-rent (SFBTR) lettings and management specialist with its appointment by global investment firm, Carlyle, to manage a new national portfolio.
Under the new mandate, Ascend will oversee all leasing and property management activity across the growing portfolio, which recently completed its first acquisition of 288 homes.
The instruction follows the recent appointment to the same role by the Start Living platform, joining similar mandates from a number of industry-leading SFBTR portfolios. With responsibility for more than 7,000 homes, Ascend says it is the UK’s largest manager of SFBTR, overseeing more than two thirds of the entire asset class.
The firm’s multifamily and buy-to-let capabilities bring the number of homes under its management to 11,000.
SFBTR specialist Gatehouse Investment Management acquired the first homes for the new portfolio on behalf of Carlyle. Of the 288 homes bought in the deal, the first 66 have already been completed with the remainder due to be delivered over the next year.
Ged McPartlin, managing director of Manchester-based Ascend Properties, said: “Single-family BTR is an increasingly vital part of the UK’s housing mix.
“Our unrivalled experience, alongside our investments in proprietary technology, is defining what good management looks like, and we are hugely excited to be working on this new major mandate.”
::
Old Library tour
The revamp of Oldham’s Old Library continues to take shape, with the main scaffolding structure now removed to reveal the beautiful stonework and restored roof.
Once complete, the Old Library will house facilities for the community to use – a new Council Chamber, council offices and spaces for public meetings, as well as a new home for Oldham Theatre Workshop.
Careful restoration of the Old Library, in the heart of Oldham’s cultural quarter, has been ongoing since January last year, and includes replacing the roof – using the original tiles wherever possible – and cleaning the stone to bring it back to its former glory.
Oldham Council and contractors Tilbury Douglas came together to mark the significant milestone on August 1, the 140th anniversary, to the day, of when the building was officially opened to the public in 1883.
During the event, council leader, Cllr Arooj Shah, and Oldham Council chief executive, Harry Catherall, toured the building and also signed a steel beam within the structure.
Cllr Shah said: “It’s great to see how far the restoration of the Old Library has come, and I look forward to this fantastic heritage building being brought back into use for all the community.”
The first phase of the restoration of the Old Library is set to be complete next month, while the second phase, involving the internal fit out, will be starting soon.
Phil Shaw, divisional director at Tilbury Douglas, said: “Being able to transform such a historic site into a cultural hub, which will add so much to the community, has been a real honour for the Tilbury Douglas team.”
