Property round-up: Vistry Group; IDHL; HMP Styal; Capital&Centric; Torus; Jones Homes; Irwell Valley Homes; MGD; Virtu Homes
Work is under way on a new development of 184 homes in Ottershaw that will bring with it 25 acres of green open space and more than £2m of investment in highways.
Vistry Group is building the properties under its Bovis Homes brand at the new Broxborough Park location on Brox Road, where the first homes are due to go on sale this autumn.
The scheme will include an extensive area of public open space to the east of the site with a range of features to boost wildlife and provide opportunities for people to enjoy the outdoors.
Ginny James, sales and marketing director for Vistry South East, said: “We are getting ready to launch Broxborough Park in a few weeks’ time when we will be opening new show homes for visitors to look around and get a feel for the place and the quality of the properties.”
The green space will feature an equipped children’s play area, a community orchard, a natural play area with timber play equipment, a woodland play area set in a natural glade, and a biodiverse pond. There will be areas of meadow grass and wetland and planting of native hedgerow, tree and shrub specimens along the eastern boundary.
The homes at Broxborough Park will include a range of one- and two-bedroom apartments and two- to five-bedroom houses. There will be at least 65 affordable homes at the development.
Electric vehicle charging points will be provided on all plots.
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Digital marketing agency, IDHL, has moved into a newly fitted-out Manchester city centre office as it continues to enhance its workplace environments.
The agency has worked alongside landlord and developer, Bruntwood SciTech and fit-out contractor TSK, to complete a transformation of its space on the second floor of Blackfriars House, located in the Parsonage Gardens Conservation Zone. Following a two-month refurbishment project, IDHL’s Manchester team moved into the new space last month.
Commercial property agents, Fox Lloyd Jones, launched the search in early 2024, with a brief of enhancing the quality of the working environment.
IDHL’s custom designed office in Manchester has been designed with collaboration for team members at its heart. Features include communal space for breakouts, refreshments, social connections and celebrations, four meeting rooms and a business lounge. There is added capacity for extra co-working space, plus all staff can access onsite facilities including podcast room, auditorium, cycle centre and roof top terrace.
The fit-out has taken into account the building’s 1920’s character, enhancing features such as sash windows, architectural integrity and decorative ceilings while adding a modern twist.
Ben Wood, IDHL CEO, said: “This latest office enhancement is part of our focus to continually offer the very best space and facilities for our people.
“This site is now fully tech-enabled and supports our hybrid working approach. Manchester is such an important part of IDHL’s network and feedback about the new space has been really positive.”
Josh Whiteley, Commercial Director for Bruntwood SciTech, said: “Our city centre innovation hubs provide the perfect home for forward thinking, technology-led businesses like IDHL. Already part of our Bruntwood SciTech ecosystem, IDHL’s new space will further allow the team to benefit from greater opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing.”
Harry Finney, Associate Director at FLJ, said: “The building’s impressive amenity offer, and programme of community activities is unrivalled across the city centre and played a significant role in the decision making process”
Hannah Snell, Account Director at TSK, said: “By building on the design principles we established for their Leeds location and infusing Manchester’s unique personality, we’ve created a distinct destination that truly reflects IDHL’s brand and culture.”
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HMP Styal training course
A pioneering training programme is set to launch at HMP Styal, marking the first ever construction workshop within the women’s prison estate.
Having built a strong partnership with HMP Styal over the past two years while running shorter “introduction to construction” courses, Procure Plus has supported the prison to be able to include construction on their curriculum.
The procurement company will offer a 10-week property maintenance bootcamp. The training will begin with a one-week Health and Safety course and Construction Skills Certification Scheme training, which started on November 25.
Participants will gain hands-on experience in real construction tasks. The focus is on actively working with tools and materials, allowing trainees to apply what they learn in a real world setting, rather than just covering theory.
Lauren Nolan, Prison Employment Lead at HMP Styal, said: “This will be the first ever construction workshop within the female estate, which is a huge accomplishment for us as a prison and we are very grateful to Procure Plus for supporting us in implementing this.
“Female prisons typically deliver qualifications such as hair and beauty, and catering and hospitality, so, to have the opportunity to deliver qualifications and avenues into employment that move away from the more gender stereotypical opportunities and diversify our offer for the women in our custody is incredibly exciting, both for the prison and for the women themselves.”
Faiza Khan, Executive Director, Corporate Affairs and Foundation, City and Guilds, said: “As we move into new training sectors, we aim to increase the range and availability of job-relevant skills for female learners within prisons, helping them to secure sustainable work after release.”
Mike Brogan, Procure Plus CEO, said: “This initiative is about reaching those furthest from the labour market and offering a real chance for change.”
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CGI of Civic interior space
With construction at Civic moving at pace, social impact developer Capital and Centric has released a new image showcasing inside Wigan’s newest workspace.
The former 1970s Civic Centre on Millgate is being transformed by the developer, working in partnership with Wigan Council, into a hub for innovation and collaboration. The new image reveals the modern, industrial vibe with exposed concrete, contemporary furniture and feature windows flooding the spaces with light.
Alongside the high-spec workspaces, Civic will be packed with communal facilities from a gym and mini cinema, to chill-out lounges and a relaxing roof terrace. There will also be spaces for the public to enjoy, including a new café bar complete with a spill-out terrace for when the sun’s shining, as well as outdoor seating spots along Millgate.
Civic is set to feature a raft of sustainability features, such as smart, high efficiency lighting to reduce energy consumption and tripled glazed windows, with a targeted EPC A rating. Electric vehicle charging points and cycle storage will be provided to encourage active travel and improve air quality in Wigan’s centre.
John Moffat, joint managing director at Capital and Centric, said: “Long gone are the days of demolishing buildings like the Civic Centre and starting again. Instead, we’re celebrating its history with the exposed concrete inside echoing the brutalist architecture. As well as saving tons of embodied carbon the smart tech used inside will also reduce operating emissions.”
Planning approval for the building’s revamp was granted earlier this year and Capital and Centric is going all out to get the works done within just a few months. The first spaces will be ready for use from summer 2025.
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Spinnaker House
An extra care facility for older people built on the grounds of a derelict century-old school has been unveiled in a 178-home regeneration scheme.
Having bought the land in 2020, housing association Torus has built 102 independent living apartments with care support on the former Rock Ferry High School site in Birkenhead, Wirral.
Christened Spinnaker House in a nod to the area’s nautical heritage and the former owner of the site being a maritime trader, it is part of Torus’s £25m investment that has seen it build 76 houses and bungalows on the plot.
Each apartment has its own front door, kitchen, living area, bathroom with an en suite level access wet room and new technologies to support people living independently.
To help create a community feel, a bistro with a dining area and a hair and beauty salon run by nearby businesses will give the local economy a boost with both open to residents and the general public.
As part of Torus’ regeneration, a new access road was built and named Walter Smith Way in memory of Walter Smith, the Rock Ferry councillor and former Wirral Mayor who served the area for more than 40 years, including being Chair of Governors at Rock Ferry High School.
Torus Group Chief Executive, Steve Coffey, said: “Spinnaker House is the key part of this large scale brownfield regeneration project supported by over £5m Homes England grant that has rejuvenated a disused site into what will be a thriving community that meets the needs of local people.”
Cllr Paul Stuart, leader of Wirral Council, said: “In Wirral, we’re doing things differently. We’re much further ahead than a lot of areas in terms of the number of extra care schemes we have and the way we commission that care.”
Torus and Wirral Council are working together to let the Spinnaker House apartments at Affordable Rent which is 80% of market rent levels.
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The Grange and Sanctuary @ Last Drop Village
Construction is complete at Jones Homes’ The Grange and Sanctuary@ Last Drop Village development in Bolton.
The homebuilder has completed 98 homes over two schemes, off Hospital Road in Bromley Cross, where work began in 2022.
The development is part of the company’s Last Drop Village project, which also includes Sanctuary – a 41-home gated development for the over-55s.
Carol Barlow, Sales and Marketing Director for Jones Homes North West, said: “We have created something exceptional here and new neighbours are moving in and enjoying the location and the quality of their new homes. We are looking forward to welcoming the last of the buyers to their new properties and seeing this new neighbourhood flourish.”
The development is open to visitors from Thursday to Monday.
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Sasha Deepwell
The second phase of an award-winning regeneration of the Sale West estate in Trafford – the biggest project of its kind in Greater Manchester in more than a decade – is now complete with 22 new affordable homes built.
The work, carried out by the not-for-profit housing association, Irwell Valley Homes, and Bolton-based Seddon, includes adaptable-ready homes with wider doorways and corridors, level access and wet rooms which are suitable for local people living with disabilities.
Most have now been let to local people in housing need at affordable rent, which is 80% of the market rate for the area.
Among them is Toby Ashton, who suffered life-changing injuries in an accident at work seven years ago and now lives with osteoarthritis which affects his mobility.
He said: “When I saw the apartments listed, I couldn’t quite believe it – it seemed too good to be true. The space is fantastic. For so long I had nowhere to call my own, but this is my own place.”
This regeneration completes the second phase of a huge investment in the Sale West estate. Phase one saw 79 timber-frame homes built, as well as environmental improvements, including play areas, a sensory garden, tree planting, car park and road resurfacing and a nature trail.
Sasha Deepwell, Irwell Valley Homes CEO, said: “Accessible-ready apartments like those delivered in phase 2 are in high demand in the area so we’re very pleased to be able to help meet this need through the regeneration programme.”
Peter Jackson, Managing Director of Seddon Housing Partnerships and Engineering Services, said: “It was important to Seddon to continue our pre-existing partnership with Irwell Valley Homes and move forward with this pivotal masterplan.”
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“Days after the practical completion of the construction phase of Preston City Council’s Animate leisure scheme, Maple Grove Developments (MGD) has announced the final restaurant letting to Taco Bell franchisee, Soul Foods Group.
The restauranteur has taken unit four (2,800 sq ft) which occupies a prominent position in the middle of the restaurant terrace on a 15-year lease. The deal means that just one final unit (10,270 sq ft) offering social space on the upper level is now available.
Once open in spring 2025, Animate will offer an eight-screen cinema, 16-lane bowling alley with gaming zone, five family restaurant units, a food hall, public realm, a socialising unit and 164-space basement car park, with national leisure brands including Hollywood Bowl, ARC Cinemas, Ask Italian, Cosmo, Las Iguanas, Mad Giant Food Hall and Loungers signed up as tenants.
Soul Foods Group is a family-owned multi-brand franchise operator, working with household names like Starbucks, KFC, and Taco Bell.
Bruce Layzell, UK General Manager, said: “Our goal is to deliver a great customer experience with bold flavours but also to create jobs and contribute positively to the local communities we serve.”
John Brady, at letting agent Bradys, joint agents for the scheme with Smith Young, said: “To have only one unit remaining at this stage demonstrates the strength of the offer at Animate and why the council was right to back this development.”
Cllr Martyn Rawlinson, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources at Preston City Council, said: “We set out a vision to create a place where the people of Preston and beyond could come and enjoy. As a council, it’s extremely rewarding to see that vision being realised and have the endorsement of brands such as Blue Bell Foods, as well as a long list of high quality occupiers, all deciding to operate here.”
Built by Preston-based Eric Wright Construction on the former indoor market and car park site, Animate is one of six major projects planned under Preston’s Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme. Work started on site in January 2023, and the construction phase was completed on time and within budget.
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CGI of Birchwood Gardens
Cheshire housebuilder, Virtu Homes, has commenced work on a £3.5m development of new homes off Delenty Drive in Birchwood, Warrington.
The bespoke developer has planning permission to deliver an exclusive new residential development of 10 individually designed high quality homes, each with a luxurious specification, in a desirable location close to Birchwood centre.
Known as Birchwood Gardens, the development will comprise an attractive mix of three-bedroom semi-detached, four-bedroom semi-detached and three-bedroom detached homes, including some set over three storeys.
Each property benefits from a fully fitted kitchen complete with oven/hob, fridge freezer, dishwasher and washer/dryer plus herringbone flooring or carpeting and fully tiled contemporary bathroom suites. Each home also has a fully turfed and landscaped garden and private parking.
Managing director at Virtu Homes, Adam Harrison, said: “Desirably located close to the Cheshire countryside yet within easy reach of both Manchester and Liverpool city centres, Birchwood Gardens is the perfect place to live for those looking for an elegant and highly specified new home in a peaceful area that is well connected for daily life.
“Following the initial release of the first few properties, interest in the development has built steadily, and with only 10 plots for sale, we don’t expect them to remain on the market for too long.”
The latest in a number of new developments by Virtu Homes, the first properties at Birchwood Gardens will be available in January with the site completed in spring.
The architect for the scheme was ADS Structural with Aticus Law advising on legals. Properties start from £315,000.
