Jul 19 2005
The first steps towards building a new version of Birmingham’s Bournville Estate were taken on 18 July when work started at The Laurels in Lightmoor Village, Telford.
Lightmoor is a joint venture between English Partnerships and Bournville Village Trust who have appointed Persimmon Homes to develop this, one of the first truly sustainable communities, to be built in Telford. The Laurels will feature forty houses, with a mixture of two, three and four bed homes. Thirty will be sold by Persimmon Homes and the remaining ten will be available to rent from Bournville Village Trust, who will manage Lightmoor Village. The development is an example of the greater focus being put on design and construction by English Partnerships to raise standards.
This was emphasised by its Chief Executive, David Higgins, at the launch of the national regeneration agency’s annual report today (18 July). Mr Higgins said, “In the forthcoming year we will concentrate on the delivery of our projects coupled with a commitment to rising design and construction standards.”
All the homes at Lightmoor will be constructed with an Eco Homes rating of ‘excellent’. Lightmoor Village itself will set new standards of design quality, sustainability and innovation, providing local services, facilities and job opportunities. The Laurels is the starting point for this development. Lightmoor is one of four key sites in Telford being brought to market by English Partnerships, the others being the country’s largest sustainable urban extension at Lawley, the Millennium Community at East Ketley and an urban village at Woodside.
Together they will create over 5,000 new homes in the area.
David Rhead, senior regeneration manager for English Partnerships said, “This is an important moment for Lightmoor and for Telford. We are undertaking some very significant projects with our partners in Telford but The Laurels at Lightmoor is the first to start construction. We will be using state of the art construction techniques to build a community that people will want to live in now and for generations to come. “And being a truly sustainable community by today’s exacting standards, it is a first for Telford.”
John McNulty, Director of Housing and Development for Bournville Village Trust added, “Lightmoor is a visionary housing development, probably one of the most forward thinking in the West Midlands. It will reflect the ethos of close community that, since its inception, has made Bournville in Birmingham such a desirable place to live.”
Tim Brickley, Technical Director for Persimmon’s West Midlands division concluded, “We are proud to be working alongside Bournville Village Trust and English Partnerships on The Laurels and are confident this development will become one of the most sought after housing schemes in the area.”