From 1st to 31st August 2009 at Inverness, the Highlands of Scotland is staging a major housing fair to showcase the best of house building design and technology - the first of its kind to be held in Scotland.
The keynote of the event is sustainability and it aims to motivate house builders and buyers to make environmentally friendly decisions when it comes to choosing a home. The event will be a catalyst for positive change in the whole area of urban and rural planning, and features homes designed by the winning architects, builders and suppliers who took part in a prestigious competition held in 2007.
The main focus of the Housing Fair will be the 54 show homes, supported by an exhibition village, street markets and entertainment. The event will be held on a site occupying five hectares at Balvonie Braes, south of Inverness, just off the A9. When the fair ends, the houses will be available to buy and it will become a living community.
The Fair is supported by a consortium of agencies, including: The Highland Council, the Scottish Government, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, The Forestry Commission, Inverness City Partnership, Highland Housing Alliance, SUST The Lighthouse on Sustainability, Inverness Architectural Association/Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, Highland Birchwoods, Highland Opportunity Ltd and UHI Millennium Institute.
For more details visit - www.highlandhousingfair.com.
England
The first residents moved into their new homes at Christian Fields in Gravesend, Kent. The first phase of regeneration within the neighbourhood has taken four years.
In 2002, Gravesham Borough Council identified Christian Fields as an area in need of regeneration. Moat was appointed as the affordable partner on the project and in association with developer Countryside Properties PLC and English Partnerships, embarked on the first phase of regeneration.
Christian Fields is a £60 million mixed tenure development, comprising 425 new homes. Residents have been involved in the designs of the new homes with local exhibitions and representation on planning groups. The new homes are reflecting resident preferences for a traditional style of family home. Work began in March last year.
Croydon Council appointed contractors for a £2.3 million scheme, as part of its initiative to tackle over-crowding within the borough.
The scheme will create 13 family homes. Following the demolition of existing properties, it will deliver five three-bedroom houses, five four-bedroom houses and three five-bedroom houses. The scheme will consist of a terrace of 2 and 3 storey properties and two pairs of semi-detached houses.
The homes are due to achieve an EcoHomes Excellent rating and 15% renewables, boasting a range of sustainable features - including solar panels, rainwater harvesting and potentially several small-scale wind turbines for the production of electricity.
Inspace was given approval by the London Borough of Richmond to redevelop the former site of West Middlesex University Hospital in Twickenham.
Many of the 280 new homes will be aimed at key workers. As part of the Key London Alliance consortium, Inspace has signed a £38 million contract to regenerate the site under English Partnerships' London-Wide Initiative, a government-backed scheme to fast-track the provision of homes for key workers throughout London.
94 of the new homes will be available under shared ownership or affordable rent through joint venture partner, Notting Hill Housing, with a further 80 available to key workers through the London-Wide Initiative. The remaining 106 homes will be marketed for private sale by Inspace Homes.
Inspace aims to complete the entire development by the third quarter for 2010. All 280 homes will meet the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3 standard and a major sustainable feature will see a biomass boiler power heating and hot water to all homes. This, coupled with the enhanced thermal performance specification of the building fabric, will see the homes achieve energy efficiency of 25% more than required by current building regulations.
As part of a potential five-year deal, Bramall Construction will work for City South Manchester Housing Trust and will modernise 900 homes across Fallowfield and Hulme.
The firm will initially carry out internal work by refurbishing new kitchens and bathrooms, but additional improvements such as new windows and doors may be installed if required.
The refurbishments are part of a £92 million improvement programme improving homes beyond the basic Decent Homes Standard. In the next 12 months alone, the Trust plans to spend around £14 million on improving homes across South Manchester, with all work due to be completed by 2013.
Wales
The latest development by Wales & West Housing Association in the Trowbridge area of Cardiff, was officially opened, offering quality homes built to Lifetime Homes standards.
The scheme consists of 28 properties, a mixture of two, three and four bedroom houses, suitable for family accommodation. The Association began building on the site in March 2006 on land formerly owned by Cardiff County Council and a private owner. The scheme was completed in September 2007 and forms part of the ongoing regeneration of the Trowbridge area.
The scheme has been designed to present an overall harmonious and integrated development, providing a variety of home types to help ensure a balanced and sustainable community.
Cardiff Community Housing Association announced that the final and key phase of its redevelopment project in Trowbridge is underway. Work started on the building of the new community centre and 45 new homes for rent made up of 30 family homes and 15 flats.
Construction work will take around 72 weeks and the start will be signalled by the demolition of the current derelict shops and maisonettes, which are on the site.
Originally built in the 1960s, the complex of shops and maisonettes has been in decline for sometime. Crime, vandalism and antisocial behaviour have blighted the area and the lives of the local community.
A new guide was published to enable developers to get hold of public funding for regeneration projects. It aims to help access the millions of pounds of public funding streams for new homes and regeneration projects, which currently goes unused due to bureaucracy and because developers are unaware it exists.
Published by the British Property Federation Numerous financial incentives exist that could suit a range of regeneration projects. There are loans, awards, tax incentives, capital allowances, PFIs, grant and gap funding, and more. The abundance of opportunities and funders can be confusing, hence the need for an easy-to-follow guide that allows developers and consultants to see the scope of available funds.
Ken Dytor, chairman of BPF's Regeneration and Development Committee, said: "It is hard to know what funding is relevant for a proposed development and where to begin looking for this money. This guide takes you through the basic steps of how to apply successfully for the right public sector funding, it lists the main bodies that offer this financial support and provides an extensive list of funding opportunities that exist currently."
