Sep 7 2007
Plans for the next major phase of sustainable homes at Lightmoor Village, Telford, were launched to developers at an event on 6th September, by national regeneration agency English Partnerships and joint venture partner Bournville Village Trust.
The 72 ha (178 acre) Lightmoor Village site, owned by English Partnerships, is being developed in the spirit of Birmingham’s Bournville Village, a world-famous example of an urban community created by George Cadbury, founder of Bournville Village Trust (BVT).
This, the fourth parcel of land to be put to the market, is known as The Croppings and will provide over 200 homes on a seven hectare (17.5 acre) site. With a mix of different designs, sizes and tenures, 25 per cent will be affordable, supporting the Government’s aims to make housing accessible for those wanting to get onto the housing ladder.
Considerable work is already underway at Lightmoor. Persimmon has completed the first phase of 40 homes at Round House Park, all of which are now occupied. George Wimpey is currently constructing a further 108 homes at Oakham Manor and Crest Nicholson has recently been granted consent for the Village Centre, which will include 224 homes, shops and a family pub and restaurant, all built around a new central village square. Work on the infrastructure has already started on site. When complete in 2012, Lightmoor will include 800 homes, of which 25 per cent will be affordable and managed through BVT.
Stuart Dawson, partner at GVA Grimley, is launching the new phase on behalf of the Joint Venture. He says, “Any developer looking at this site will be in excellent company. Some of the biggest names in the business are already here, such is their confidence in the new village. Thanks to English Partnerships’ Quality Standards, the requirements for quality in sustainable design and construction are, rightly, challenging but set the bench mark for housing development in the area.”
To date, all development across the site has been designed to meet BREEAM eco-homes ‘excellent’ and, from now on, developers will be required to adopt the new Code for Sustainable Homes, level four. There is considerable emphasis on eco-friendly infrastructure, with the incorporation of a Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS), to help regulate surface rainwater and minimise flood risk. Diverse living space with the technology to enable working from home, will give residents the flexibility and incentive to remain in Lightmoor as their needs grow and change.