Godwin Developments wins planning approval for suburban BTR scheme in Doncaster

Plans to create the first suburban Build-to-Rent (BTR) scheme of 60 houses in Doncaster were approved yesterday (13th October 2020) at a meeting of the Doncaster Council’s planning committee.

The national multi-sector property developer, Godwin Developments, working with Teakwood Partners Ltd, put forward proposals to transform the c. 3.5-acre site on Watch House Lane in Bentley into a mix of two and three bedroom family homes to match growing demand from both investors and local residents.

The scheme, named Woodland Rise, is designed specifically to cater to the needs of families looking to rent high-quality professionally managed homes in the local area.

The brownfield site, which has been vacant for approximately ten years, is positioned along Watch House Lane and Fairfield Road. It benefits from open playspace within the design as well as access via the Trans Pennine Trail which borders the site to the East, and a range of local amenities that include an infant and junior school, supermarket as well as food and beverage offerings.

It is also within a short six minute walk from Bentley Train Station, offering direct services into Doncaster, as well as an easy commute to the cities of Rotherham, Sheffield and Leeds. It is well connected by road to the North of England via the M62 and M18, and beyond through the M1 motorway, accessible within 30 minutes.

Richard Cornes, Managing Director at Godwin Developments, said: “We are delighted to have been able to secure planning permission for this site, which has a great potential for redevelopment. We have designed a scheme that has been well received and supported by councillors as well as by local residents who recognise the need to regenerate it with a high quality residential scheme. We would like to thank them and members of the planning committee in Doncaster Council for assisting us in bringing forward this regeneration development.

“Suburban Build-To-Rent (BTR) housing is growing in popularity among investors who see a great potential in this asset class. Institutional investors are long-term owners committed to quality living and customer support, providing tenant services such as security, repair and maintenance at a high standard.

“We are therefore confident that Woodland Rise will not only deliver much needed accessible housing for local families, but also attractive opportunities for investors that seek to capitalise on the trend for growing suburban living.”

Godwin Developments acquires prominent roadside site in Wisbech

UK multi-sector property developer Godwin Developments has announced the purchase of a 10-acre roadside site in the famous Georgian market town of Wisbech in North Cambridgeshire.

Set at the south-western entry point of the town, the site is situated between Cromwell Road and the busy A47 – the main arterial route between Peterborough and Norfolk. As a key strategic point in the road network of the region, it benefits from high visibility and excellent road frontage, which has the potential to attract a large percentage of the six million vehicles passing by each year.

Positioned just under two miles away from the town’s centre, the site is also well placed to serve the nearly 39,000 residents of Wisbech and close to 90,000 inhabitants of the surrounding area.

Stuart Pratt, Group Development Director at Godwin Developments, said: “We are delighted to have acquired this significant roadside site in Wisbech. This announcement is a testament to our ability to identify and secure land with great development potential nationwide, even in the current challenging economic conditions. It is also a demonstration of our incredible growth in action and furthers our strategy for expanding our roadside retail portfolio.

“As a part of the Oxford Cambridge Arc, Cambridgeshire presents impressive opportunities for investment and property development. The town of Wisbech also has increasing importance in the Fenland area and we are keen to be a part of its future.

“We aim to work closely with all local stakeholders, particularly Fenland District Council and the wider community, to deliver a scheme that will enhance and support growth within the region. We would like to express our thanks to land agents Maxey Grounds & Co for their support with this acquisition to-date.”

John Maxey, Senior Partner of Maxey Grounds & Co, selling agents for the vendors said: “We are delighted to see further investment in Wisbech, which continues to grow as an important market town serving the Fenland area. This prominent site has a highly visible and accessible location and we are pleased to have worked with the team at Godwin Developments on this acquisition.”

Alfred Bartlett, Head of Retail and Leisure at the property and planning consultancy Rapleys, who will be assisting Godwin Developments in promoting the commercial opportunities of this site added: “We have a long-standing relationship with Godwin Developments and have successfully supported them with a number of similar schemes across the country. We are excited to be able to offer them yet again our expertise in developing this very prominent and strategically significant site to its full potential and for which we anticipate strong demand.”  

The Wisbech Gateway is the latest in a growing number of commercial developments – including retail, convenience and roadside retail schemes – delivered by Godwin across the UK. 

Godwin Developments: Plans submitted for an £85m waterside community development in Worcester

UK property developer Godwin Developments, working in partnership with Lowesmoor Regeneration Ltd., has submitted plans for a brand new £85 million waterside community in Worcester city centre.

Proposals for Lowesmoor Wharf are set to completely transform the 3.2-acre canal-side site, situated off Lowesmoor Terrace. The development will provide 330,000 sq. ft. of home, office and retail space, while also creating a vibrant urban destination in central Worcester.

The site, which currently contains a mix of industrial and warehousing units, is designated as an area for redevelopment within the Worcester City Centre Masterplan and is located within the Canalside Quarter of the city.

Designed by award-winning architects Apt, the proposed scheme will feature seven buildings of varied height containing 271 apartments, 30,000 sq. ft. of office, 9,000 sq. ft. of retail and 8,400 sq. ft. of food and entertainment space. It will also provide a total of 674 bicycle storage spaces – 465 for residents, a further 218 for public use and 10 electric vehicle (EV) charging points, promoting a car free environment and supporting better air quality.

Matt Chandler, Development Director at Godwin Developments, said: “We want to breathe new life into this important part of Worcester – building on its industrial heritage to create an exciting residential and commercial development in the centre of the city.

“Our vision is to deliver a lifestyle-led destination that is similar to other standout schemes – such as Gloucester Docks and Eagles Works in Oxford. We plan to transform the former canals into water features, paying homage to the rich canal history of Worcester and the wider Midlands region. These will provide a focal point of the development and its new waterside apartments, cafes and restaurants, proposed as a part of the scheme.

“By responding to the local street scene, we feel we have designed a development that fits effortlessly into the surrounding landscape, providing a sleek and modern space that will be an asset to Worcester for years to come.”

Jason Geen, Studio Leader at Apt, said: “We have been working with Godwin and the wider team associated with Lowesmoor Wharf for three years, and are thrilled to see the milestone of a formal planning application being reached this summer. The project is a ‘regeneration masterplan’ in the truest sense of the word, bringing to life a long overlooked, but important centrally-located site in Worcester. It is ideally positioned for local transport links to enable placemaking and a pedestrian orientated public realm to be at the very heart of the proposals. Alongside this there are homes, community infrastructure opportunities, workspace, small retail and food and drink offers. It’s a fantastic project and one which the Apt studio are very proud to be associated with.”

As part of Godwin’s commitment to working with the local community, the business recently conducted a virtual consultation on the plans with partners Lowesmoor Regeneration Limited. The consultation invited over 1,000 residents surrounding the site to view the scheme and provide their feedback.

In keeping with its history, Lowesmoor Wharf will refurbish some of the existing buildings and provide canal-inspired features that form part of the site. The retained buildings along with the new archway designs and materials used will give the scheme a sense of character and identity, promoting a distinctive sense of place. The development will also feature new public squares and morning/sunset terraces, creating pedestrianised open spaces that are both appealing and instantly recognisable as a destination in Worcester.

Stephen Pratt, Group Land Director at Godwin Developments, said: “Lowesmoor Wharf is a sizeable regeneration project in an area of high local significance – therefore we took time to develop proposals that are not only sympathetic to the site’s location and history, but also maximise its potential and make it a really exciting place to be.

“We’re encouraged by the response of the community – it is clear that the site requires regeneration and we would like to thank everyone who took time to provide feedback on our scheme. We now look forward to working with Worcester City Council’s planning team and Lowesmoor Regeneration Ltd. in delivering the next stage of this development.”

Speaking about the development, Cathedral ward councillor Jabba Riaz said: “This is a really welcomed, innovative scheme that has gone through comprehensive consultation. The plans for Lowesmoor Wharf will regenerate a tired and old part of the city, making full use of the canal, which is historic to Worcester. The scheme will increase connectivity, improve air quality and go some way to providing much-needed housing.”

Lowesmoor Wharf is located just under a five-minute walk from Worcester city centre, and sits between the key railway stations in the city centre, Worcester Foregate Street and Worcester Shrub Hill, giving residents access to the city’s extensive transport links and the wider West Midlands.