Platform Housing Group and Stonewater Ltd teamed up with Orphans Press to create a ‘happy to chat’ bench within the communal garden at Newman House in Leominster as well as tidying up the area to provide a better environment and peaceful retreat for the residents to enjoy. 

The initiative came about as part of a 150^th birthday celebration; Orphans Press – a print, publishing, design and web agency based in the town – was established in 1873 to support the Leominster Orphan Homes, founded in 1869 and located at Newman House until its closure in 1951.  The home housed 18 destitute children from industrialised parts of the country who had been orphaned.  Henry Stanley Newman – founder of the Leominster Orphan Homes and Orphans Press – was determined to make sure that the children felt at home there, providing access to education, training and religious teachings. 

The event also included the planting of a ceremonial apple tree. 

Helen Bowden, Director at Orphans Press explained: “We discovered that there used to be an orchard in the garden at Newman House where the children used to pick apples.  We decided to commemorate Henry Stanley Newman by planting an apple tree where the orchard used to be.” 

Newman House is run by Stonewater Ltd; since March 2022, Platform Housing Group has been undertaking repairs on Stonewater homes in the Herefordshire area. 

Matthew Stock, Grounds Maintenance Delivery Manager at Platform Housing Group said : “We were absolutely delighted to be approached by Orphans Press to undertake such a fabulous project on behalf of Stonewater.  The history behind the home is fascinating and being involved with it has really brought it all to life.  We hope the residents of Newman House will enjoy their new bench amidst the beautiful grounds.” 

Helen Holland, Connected Communities Peer Leader, Neighbourhoods, at Stonewater, said: “We’re so thrilled that Stonewater can be part of such a positive and essential initiative.  We understand how necessary it can be for people to be able to chat to others, especially given the difficulties we’ve all faced over the last few years.  We’re glad to be able to help strengthen the sense of community among new and future residents.” 

Helen Bowden concluded : “Newman House is such an important part of the history of both Orphans Press and Leominster.  We felt it was important to do something really special for our 150^th birthday and collaborating with Platform and Stonewater to transform the grounds at Newman House was the perfect way to commemorate Henry Newman and give back to the residents.” 

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As part of the enterprise’s long-term growth programme to deliver over 18,000 homes in the next five years the new site will see a range of two to four-bedroom homes available to move in from 2024 including options to buy through the Government backed Shared Ownership scheme, and affordable rent.

The site had existing outline planning consent and Godwin Developments obtained reserved matters approval from the council in Autumn 22. The development will help the local authority to meet its need for new high-quality affordable housing in the area.

Ideally located just 0.5miles away from the Shepshed centre and only 0.8miles away from Junction 23 of the M1 Merchants Way not only does the site have great transport links for those commuting across the Midlands, but it sits within the heart of the local market town and offers close access to a range of amenities, giving residents the options to support local small businesses, as well as having easy access to a medical centre, post office and church. With four primary schools and three secondary schools the site is also ideal for families.   

Each home will offer plenty of space and is thoughtfully designed to give homeowners flexibility to make their home their own. All properties are built to high energy efficient standards, offering lower energy bills than second-hand homes. 

Nilam Buchanan, Regional Director for Developments in Central and North of Places for People commented: “At Places for People, we know that thriving communities can change lives, which is why we’re committed to creating more new homes across the UK that are affordable for people to live and address the UK’s housing needs.

“Shepshed is a vibrant market town with a growing need for more new homes. We’re excited to be delivering a variety of properties with a range of purchase and rental options available, creating a great place to live for first-time buyers, growing families or even downsizers.”

Stuart Pratt, Founder and Board Director at Godwin Developments, said: “We are really thrilled that Places for People will now be the custodian of this scheme, taking it forward through to the delivery and operation of new affordable and environmentally efficient homes for local people. Godwin has deep expertise in identifying the right sites and getting them through planning and Shepshed is a great example of this skill in action. The transaction will enable us to focus our efforts on other development projects across the country where we continue to seek residential, commercial and industrial opportunities that match our strategy.” 

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These homes have been built for Aster Group, a housing association dedicated to providing affordable homes for communities across the South of England and London.

Situated in the heart of Wimborne, Rivers Edge will offer 79 homes for both affordable rent and shared ownership across five phases upon completion. Aster customers moved into the first phase in March 2021.

Shared ownership provides an affordable way onto – or back onto – the housing ladder. Buyers purchase a share of a property and pay rent on the remaining share. This reduces the size of the initial deposit required and if they want to, purchasers can buy more shares in their property (known as staircasing), eventually leading to outright home ownership.

The newly handed-over apartments mark a significant milestone in this project.

Shaun Pettitt, Managing Director of Wyatt Homes, commented on the achievement, stating, “We are delighted to have successfully completed and handed over these exceptional apartments to Aster Group. Rivers Edge represents our commitment to excellence and innovation in housebuilding.

“We have worked tirelessly to create homes that not only offer exceptional quality and craftsmanship but also contribute to the overall well-being and prosperity of the local community. We are confident that the residents will enjoy a fantastic living experience at Rivers Edge.”

Nick Ridd, Site Manager at Rivers Edge, expressed his pride in the completion of the apartments, saying, “Handing over these apartments to Aster Group is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our team at Wyatt Homes.

“It has been a pleasure overseeing the construction process, ensuring attention to detail and high quality at every stage. We are thrilled to have contributed to the creation of outstanding homes.”

Jane Gallifent, Development and Sales Director at Aster Group said: “The team at Wyatt Homes have done a fantastic job at delivering these beautiful new affordable homes which we’ll be proudly handing over to our customers who are either choosing them as a great option for affordable rent or buying through shared ownership.

“Being handed the keys to a new home provides our customers with long-term security. For many it means they are able to remain living in an area they often grew up in, close to family and friends but otherwise would’ve been priced out of due to an acute shortage of affordable homes, an issue that is a particular problem in the South West.”

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Prior to the houses being built, there were a total of 167 affordable homes in the area of Icklesham. The 15 new homes represent a 9% increase in social housing provision, making a significant difference to the lives of local people in the Parish.

The land, which was originally owned by local residents Eric and Wendy Hysted, was purchased by Icklesham Parish Community Land Trust (IPCLT) and then leased to Hastoe Housing Association to develop and manage the homes on their behalf.

Fifteen homes have been developed at Orchard Close on the former agricultural land: 12 for social rent and 3 for shared ownership. All homes have been prioritised for people with a local connection to the Civil Parish of Icklesham, such as those working in the village, those with close family in the area, or those who have previously lived there but have been forced to move out because of a lack of affordable housing.

Works began on site in June 2021 and were completed in August 2022 with all homes built to a high standard of energy efficiency.

Before construction started, an archaeological survey was carried out and small pieces of broken Roman pottery were found along with the remains of a Roman Cremation Vessel. There was also an unusual find with evidence of a cremation burial inside a square-ditched enclosure – possibly that of a child. It is not known if the excavated deposits were self-contained or are part of a larger settled area.

The Icklesham Parish Community Land Trust played a pivotal role in the development of the site working in partnership with Icklesham Parish Council, Sussex Community Housing Hub, Rother District Council, Hastoe Housing Association, ECE Architecture, Westridge Construction Limited and employer’s agent McCreith Construction Consultants.

Hastoe invested £2,130,260 into the development, with a further £1,068,000 from Homes England and a grant of £297,000 from Rother District Council.

All partners, as well as local councillors, attended the official completion of works including residents who had moved in this year. The occasion was commemorated with the cutting of a ribbon.

Speaking at the event, Geoff Foot, Chairman of Icklesham Parish Community Land Trust, said: “For many years Icklesham Parish Council has been concerned at the dearth of local affordable housing due to rising local house prices and the lack of affordable housing options. Younger families were having to leave the villages, or were having to live in unsuitable accommodation. We received over 500 bids for the houses and a number of deserving applicants had to be turned down. Certainly for me it brought home the scale of the problem with the lack of local affordable housing, both here and across the district.”

Local land owner, Eric Hysted, said: “Wendy and I are very pleased to have been able to play a part in bringing this project to life. Having brought up two daughters in the village ourselves, who eventually needed homes of their own, we could really see the benefit of supporting a very locally-focused housing scheme. It would provide young families in particular with the opportunity to live locally and, over time, the younger element would greatly benefit our village attending the village school and supporting local clubs, pubs, etc.”

Cllr Ruairí McCourt, Cabinet Member for Housing at Rother District Council, said: “I was delighted to attend the event to mark the completion of this scheme at Icklesham, and I would like to thank all the partners involved for their work on this fantastic project. We are really keen to see more social and affordable housing across the district which will help tackle homelessness and insecure housing. Decent, secure housing – like these wonderful homes at Icklesham – not only boosts the health and wellbeing of their residents, but they also help to create sustainable communities for local people well into the future.”

Hastoe Board Member, Robert Rutledge, said: “On behalf of Hastoe, I would like to congratulate everyone on the completion of these fantastic homes. I know that 15 homes doesn’t sound like a lot, but they represent a 9% increase in social housing provision in the Parish and they have certainly make a huge difference to the lives of the people who live in them. What’s more, homes built by CLTs cannot be sold off, so these homes will be kept for the benefit of the community in perpetuity.”

A spokesperson for Homes England said: “Despite the current challenges affecting the country, accelerating housebuilding remains our number one priority. We are committed to supporting Hastoe Housing Association that has ambitions to build new homes, and our investment through an affordable housing grant allows us to do that. We’re delighted that our funding has enabled Hastoe Housing Association to deliver much needed new homes in the Civil Parish of Icklesham.”

Orchard Close tenant, Libby Gibbons, said: “Where I lived before there were 7 of us in a small 3-bedroom house and we were living on top of each other. Then me and my partner moved here and our son was born a few weeks later. It’s made a massive difference to our lives, having our own home, having lots of space and a garden. I love it.”

Orchard Close tenant, Rowland Gardner, said: “I’ve lived in Icklesham previously for around 20 years. Sheila and me lived in a park home prior to our move here. We’re delighted with our new home.”

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Martin Cox, owner of West Dorset Leisure Holidays, previously owned the land on which the homes are built along with his sister and cousin. Having grown up on Rope Walks with a strong memory of the community that once lived there, Martin and his family were keen to support the opportunity to bring more local people back into the centre of the market town.

The 8, two and three-bedroom houses, were built on the site of a former coal yard. This influenced the design, which is a traditional style of architecture found locally, taking into account correct scale and proportioning with appropriate detailing.

Hastoe Housing and C G Fry & Son Ltd both have a long-standing reputation for building high-quality homes, respecting not just local building style and traditions but environmental standards. The homes, completed in March 2023, incorporate many features of Hastoe’s New-Build Standard, ensuring the homes are highly energy-efficient and exceptionally well insulated in order to help reduce fuel bills for residents.

Martin Cox, co-landowner, said: “My sister, cousin and I are all very proud to be involved in this project. Our family lived just across the road from here until I was 14 years old. The family coal business was on this land and we were very much part of the community that existed in the centre of town.

“It’s extremely rewarding to see the old coal yard now being used for residential purposes. I’m sure that my father and uncle who worked for over 50 years in their coal business, and passed away a few years ago, are looking down and very pleased to see this development.

“It also highlights what can be done to help overcome the current shortage of social and affordable housing, if land is made available and given the appropriate consents.

“I hope the eight families who live in The Old Coal Yard will enjoy their new homes, the central location, and of course being part of the community in the town centre.”

Cllr Graham Carr-Jones, Lead Member for Housing at Dorset Council, said: “Housing delivery is a priority for Dorset Council. Our aim is that everyone in Dorset should have somewhere affordable to settle, live and call home.

“Bridport is one of the areas in Dorset with the highest demand for affordable homes. There were over 70 bids for each of the rented properties and over 400 households have Bridport listed as one of their preferred areas to live. In total there are over 4,800 households on the housing register.

“These new homes make a valuable contribution towards that goal and, I know, will make an invaluable difference to those residents who live in them. It is fitting that we celebrate the completion of these homes in Bridport’s historic market town during Rural Housing Week.”

Philip Fry, Managing Director of C G Fry and Son Ltd, said: “CG Fry are a long-established local contractor and developer based just 7 miles from Bridport. We very much see it as our home time, so to be able to work with Martin Cox, his family and Hastoe to deliver much needed affordable housing on this brownfield site in the centre of Bridport was really rewarding.

“Bridport has some wonderful architecture, and we wanted these houses to feel like they belonged to the town and hopefully our design and construction team have achieved this. It is good to show that good quality design does not need to be complicated.

“It is important that all forms of new housing are built across the town to keep it such a vibrant place.”

Lindy Morgan, Chair of Hastoe’s Board, said: “Hastoe has a long track record of partnering with local authorities, local communities and local contractors to build beautiful homes that fit with the local environment and historic vernacular. I think Martin Cox has vouched for the fact these homes are representative of those that used to be there.”

“We are really pleased we have been able to provide residents with gardens – not an easy task in a town centre location – and ensured these homes are future proofed in terms of their environmental impact and cost to the occupier. By concentrating on the fabric of the building to reduce energy consumption, the homes are low in carbon emissions and energy cost.”

Mandy Knott, one of Hastoe’s new residents living in the development at The Old Coal Yard, said: “They’re amazing. The houses are just amazing. Until recently, my whole family used to live in one room in an old flat. Now we have plenty of room and light and my grandchildren can play in the garden. We love our new home, thank you.”

A Homes England spokesperson said: “Despite the current challenges affecting the country, accelerating housebuilding remains our number one priority. We are committed to supporting Hastoe Housing Association that has ambitions to build new homes, and our investment through an affordable housing grant allows us to do that. We’re delighted that this funding will enable Hastoe Housing Association to deliver much needed new homes in Bridport, Dorset.”

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As a town with a distinct military history as a garrison town, Bordon and the neighbouring Whitehill are currently undergoing a complex £1billion regeneration programme to transform the area into a green, healthy and well-connected place for local residents to live.  Offering the perfect opportunity to live in this exciting new community, the collection of traditional two to five bedroom homes at Whistle Wood will be available through private sale and Shared Ownership, offering homebuyers a variety of options to step onto, or move up the property ladder.

All properties include a garage or parking, cycle storage and a range of energy saving features including A rated boilers, low energy lighting and electric car charging points.

Greg Hilton, Regional Managing Director for the South West at Places for People comments: “We are proud to launch our new collection of homes at Bordon and are thrilled to be playing a part in the town’s incredible transformation. With a rich military history dating back to the 1800s, Bordon is a truly unique place to live, and the extensive regeneration programme brings with it even more positive elements to the area, such as new leisure and retail facilities and improvements to local green space. With new homes available through private sale and Shared Ownership, buyers can select the buying option that best suits their needs, to purchase an energy efficient home within this well connected, healthy new town.”

Every home at Whistle Wood will be built to a high standard, with elegant interiors throughout. Sleek  kitchens will be designed by Symphony Group and will include Amtico flooring and stylish under cupboard lighting, alongside a variety of integrated appliances such as a washing machine, fridge/freezer and dishwasher to selected plots. Living spaces are designed to be light and spacious, with an ample number of double-glazed windows, and selected homes also feature French doors opening onto a private garden from the kitchen or dining room – perfect for bringing the outside in come rain or shine.

The highly-anticipated transformation of the former Ministry of Defence land in Whitehill & Bordon is a collaborative multi-partner regeneration programme with a 15-year masterplan. Aiming to create a vibrant new community in the heart of Hampshire, the evolution of the former garrison town will bring over 3,350 new homes, 3000 new jobs and nearly 100,000sqm of new commercial, retail and leisure space. New community facilities will be built as part of the scheme, including a new and improved town centre, schools, a cinema, a public service hub and a new leisure centre with sports pitches.

In addition to reaping the rewards of the fantastic new community facilities, residents at Whistle Wood will be able to take advantage of the plethora of local countryside. The development is located within close proximity to the Royal Woolmer Forest, a woodland area that is a designated site of special scientific interest and an outstanding wildlife sanctuary – home to at least twelve known species of reptiles and amphibians. With a selection of paths to enjoy by bicycle or on foot, residents can enjoy the perks of a countryside lifestyle.

Those who choose to settle down at Whistle Wood will have a variety of cafes, local pubs and retail stores including Bordon Stores, Tesco, Lidl and Wilko just a few moments from home.  Fitness enthusiasts can make the most of the local Anytime Fitness gym, whilst the drive-in Ticket Cinema and Phoenix Arts theatre are ideal places to spend some evening down-time. For families, there are a selection of local schools to choose from for all ages including Bordon Garrison Pre School, Bordon Infant School, Bordon Junior School and Oakmoor Secondary School.

Commuting residents will be well-placed in Bordon. Alton rail station is a 17-minute drive away, offering direct services into London Waterloo in just over an hour (66 minutes). By road, the neighbouring cathedral towns of Winchester and Guildford are just 20 miles away, whilst the South Coast towns of Portsmouth, Southampton and Chichester are all within easy reach. The inclusion of a brand new relief road in the town’s regeneration plans will make travelling to and from the area even smoother.

Prices at Whistle Wood start from £365,000. For further information, please visit https://homestobuy.placesforpeople.co.uk/find-a-home/whistle-wood-bordon/. 

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 Platform Housing Group – one of the UK’s largest social landlords – has been highly commended in the Green Homes Upgrade award at the first ever Unlock Net Zero Awards. 

The awards ceremony took place on 27 June in Manchester; members of the Sustainability team along with key partners attended the ceremony which was held alongside The Chartered Institute of Housing  2023. 

The entry focused on the work Platform has carried out under the Green Home Grant and the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund in retrofitting 384 homes as well as securing funding and commencing work on a further 1095 homes. 

Stephen Edwards, Head of Sustainability at Platform Housing Group said: “We are absolutely delighted to have received this acknowledgement in what was a very competitive category.  The awards showcased around 150 projects and initiatives across 21 categories demonstrating and championing the positive work going on across the country to decarbonise the UK housing sector.  It is a great honour for Platform to be part of all these inspirational projects and this represents a great step towards our target to achieve EPC C by 2030 and Net Zero Carbon by 2050.” 

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This new partnership will enable Platform to offer Chatbot and Live Chat services on their website so that customers can access services 24/7, at a time that suits them.

“Platform’s new Chatbot and Live Chat technology, along with further proposed innovations, will fit in seamlessly alongside our traditional contact methods, helping us to deliver against our promise to make it simpler for customers to use our services and offer them more choice.” explains Michael Bruce, Director of Platform Hub and Income Management.

“We have chosen to partner with AI Ltd as they provided excellent support during the trial period to integrate the technology into our systems and ultimately, we share the same mission – to simplify access to services.”

In the successful trial, Platform used Chatbot technology, alongside new Live Chat software, to enable them to explore and gather data on both their customers’ preferences and their customer advisors’ user experiences.

During the four-week trial period, the automated Chatbot answered 5,028 customer interactions, with only 338 of these customers requesting to speak to an advisor, via Live Chat. This meant that 4,690 potential calls to Platform’s busy customer services centre were averted, enabling their advisors to deal with customers who choose to call us and deal with more urgent enquiries.

Andy Wilkins, CEO from Futr AI Ltd said, “I am thrilled to announce our partnership with Platform Housing. At Futr AI, we’re committed to powering transformative customer experiences through advanced AI, and this collaboration marks an exciting continuation of our long track record in the social housing sector.

“Platform Housing’s commitment to digital innovation and customer service aligns perfectly with our mission and we’re excited to be working to set new standards for personalised, accessible service.”

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Committing to delivering 83 brand new homes – all of which will be available via Shared Ownership – Torus will work with Countryside Partnerships to bring forward the 164-unit scheme and completely transform the disused land in Thatto Heath and create a modern housing development which will give future residents access to numerous local amenities and public transport networks. 

Investing over £18 million into the scheme, Elephant Lane is the first New Build scheme Torus has undertaken in Thatto Heath and highlights its ongoing commitment to build high quality, modern homes that actively support people onto the housing ladder. 

Discussing Elephant Lane, Director of Development & Sales at Torus Developments, Steve Alcock, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with Countryside Partnerships on this project to galvanise long-term investment in the site and surrounding area. For Torus, it’s critical to enter into partnerships that help us actively invest in a community and that is what we feel we have at Elephant Lane – a relationship that will help us create sustainable, deep-rooted change through building great homes. 

“Elephant Lane itself signifies a monumental moment for Torus as a Group and represents years of ongoing investment in St Helens. It is the single largest Shared Ownership scheme we have developed in St Helens – and the first in Thatto Heath – so we are excited to be able to bring forward 83 homes that will help regenerate a piece of land and encourage the growth of a new community.” 

Delivering the other 81 homes at Elephant Lane through its Linden Homes arm, Countryside Partnerships will provide these properties via Outright Sale and offer another route to homeownership to local people. 

Ian Hilliker, Managing Director of Countryside Partnerships Merseyside & Cheshire West, said: “As the UK’s leading mixed tenure developer, we’re always looking to work with quality partners like Torus to deliver more affordable homes in the areas they’re needed most. By working in partnership, we’ve been able to unlock the potential of this site, which had remained undeveloped for many years. We’re now looking forward to seeing the homes progress and welcoming new residents.” 

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Platform Housing Group has been shortlisted in the inaugural Unlock Net Zero Awards under the Green Homes Upgrade of the Year category for landlords. 

The awards aim to recognise and champion progress on the journey to decarbonisation for the UK housing sector and the supply chain that supports it. 

The winners will be unveiled at a ceremony on Tuesday 27 June at Manchester Central, alongside Europe’s largest housing festival, the 8500 colleague strong Housing 2023.  Kunle Barker, property expert, broadcaster and founder of Barker Walsh, will host this year’s awards; he is also this year’s Unlock Net Zero ambassador. 

Stephen Edwards, Head of Sustainability at Platform Housing Group said : “It is an honour to be recognised in this category among some ground breaking initiatives that are working hard to overcome many challenges.  It’s an enormous privilege to work in housing and to play a small part in driving the agenda for sustainable and energy efficient homes that our communities and planet so desperately need.  I’m really looking forward to hearing about the amazing accomplishments of the nominees at the event in June and meeting with fellow colleagues pushing for change.” 

Platform Housing Group’s award entry focussed on the 341 homes retrofitted under the Green Home Grant – or GHG – Local Authority Scheme, which ran between April 2021 and September 2022, and the ongoing development of its retrofit programme through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.  Platform also reduced the carbon emissions of these homes by 60 per cent, saving almost 3 tonnes CO2 per home per year.  Measures installed include loft insulation, air source heat pumps and solar photovoltaic panels. 

The UK housing sector continues to build new low carbon homes whilst ensuring existing homes are retrofitted to reach the UK government’s target of net zero emissions by 2050. 

Under the government funded GHG scheme, Platform was able to achieve an average increase of 2 EPC points ratings – measure of energy performance – taking the average property from an Energy Performance Certificate – or EPC – rating of E to a rating of C; this represents an estimated energy bill saving for each customer of £500 per year. 

Stephen concluded: “These awards are an important opportunity to take a step back and review how far we’ve come and share inspiration for where we go next in this transition.  This shortlisting acknowledges Platform’s strong commitment to sustainability and delivering on our energy and decarbonisation targets.” 

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