8 INDUSTRY NEWS
SME fi rm Spitfi re
Homes gets planning for 300+ units in Midlands clutch of schemes
process which took over a year.” “These are just some recent examples of how the current system prevents housebuilders from delivering homes that are needed in strategic locations within acceptable timeframes.”
Housing Secretary Michael Gove recently set out new measures that he hopes will unblock the planning system and enable the building of more homes in the right places where there is local consent.
Developers will be asked to contribute more through fees, to help support a higher-quality, more effi cient planning service, but Ben Leather said the changes “don’t go far enough to provide a deliverable mix of homes, of all tenures, to solve England’s housing crisis.”
The Hill Group signs deal for 111 aff ordable homes
Midlands-based homebuilder pitfi re Homes has secured planning permission for 371 homes across the Midlands. Leading the plans is a 280-home scheme in Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, along with a further 61 properties located at a former Sandvik HQ in Halesowen, Dudley, and a collection of 30 new homes in the Worcestershire village of Crowle. Ben Leather, managing director at
pitfi re omes, says the process of securing planning permission was an extremely diffi cult and drawn-out process: “Despite our recent planning success, as an SME housebuilder we experience signifi cant struggles with the current planning system on a daily basis – something that is felt throughout the industry.” “Reserved Matters permission for one of these developments took almost 12 months to secure, despite being an allocated site in the Local Plan with Outline Permission already in place, and no objections from any statutory consultees. Another development on a brownfi eld site was challenged by unustifi ed design and highways requests, whilst staffi ng changes within the planning department further slowed the
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the new homes in January 2023, with the fi rst homes due to complete in the spring of 2024.
Homes at Canalside will have a strong emphasis on sustainability, going above and beyond Oxford City Council’s progressive environmental targets thanks to a range of low-carbon features, including air-source heat pumps, photovoltaic panels, and green roofs. The development will also feature a range of water consumption reduction measures, electric car charging points, and “ample” cycle storage.
As part of the wider Oxford North development, Canalside will help deliver a minimum 5% biodiversity net gain, “ensuring residents and nature can thrive in harmony.” Homes are designed around a large landscaped communal park with play areas, meadow grassland, and an activity lawn. Extensive tree planting is planned across the site, including the introduction of a new orchard. Additionally, an intricate network of pedestrian and cycle paths will be integrated into the development, promoting active lifestyles and sustainable modes of transportation.
Andy Hill OBE, group chief executive
Oxford City Council has announced the acquisition of much-needed affordable homes from award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group at Oxford North’s Canalside development. he new homes, part of the fi rst energy-effi cient new homes that ill is delivering at Canalside, will bring vital affordable housing to Oxford, which currently ranks among the most unaffordable places to live in the UK. Of the 111 homes, 89 will be made available for social rent and 22 on a shared ownership basis. Hill secured detailed planning permission at Canalside in September 2022 and commenced work on
ffi cer of he ill roup, commented “Canalside at Oxford North represents a landmark residential development for the City, and we are delighted to agree on the delivery of the project’s affordable housing to Oxford City Council. This agreement ensures local people will have access to sustainable, well-designed homes on an affordable basis, built to the high standards for which The Hill Group is renowned.”
Councillor Linda Smith, cabinet member for Housing at Oxford City Council, said: “Providing sustainable and affordable homes is one of our key priorities as a council. This agreement is a major boost, enabling us to provide 89 homes at genuinely affordable social rent and helping another 22 households to home ownership.”
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