Completion on the land purchase at the exquisite Cotswold Water Park

We are thrilled to announce that our development partner (Acorn Property Group) have completed on the purchase of land for a new 74-acre Cotswold Water Park site which will deliver seventy-five bespoke homes, in addition to the use of 15 acres of private grounds and two newly constructed lakes. Set in and with access to exceptional natural recreation facilities, the rural location will be one of the first full schemes developed under their Acorn Green initiative.

The development, Ashton Fields, is set in the Cotswold Water Park which covers over 40 square miles and is the UK’s largest marl lake system, with over 180 lakes.

Straddling the border of Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, Ashton Fields will offer homeowners a truly unique setting, with unparalleled access to leisure and recreation facilities included hiking, running, sailing, canoeing and wild swimming. The stunning wetlands landscape hosts tens of thousands of breeding watering birds and is an ideal location for watching and living with wildlife all year round.

Located between the villages of Ashton Keynes and South Cerney, Ashton Fields promises to offer a lifestyle opportunity like no other. A total of 34 acres of the site have been given over to the creation of two new private lakes, that will offer wild swimming, with a further 15 acres reserved for private parkland; both lakes and parkland are exclusively for the use of residents. The remaining 25 acres will be used to create 75 homes, focused around existing listed farm buildings that will be converted to provide four homes.

Accessed via a private estate road running through the parkland, Ashton Fields homes range from 2-bedroom bungalows to 3, 4 and 5 bedroom houses, many of which will be situated directly next to the two newly constructed private lakes.

James Groombridge, Regional Managing Director of Acorn Cardiff, who are managing the scheme, said, “Ashton Fields is an exceptional location and one which we feel privileged to have secured. Situated in the Cotswold Water Park it really does offer a rare opportunity to live in an exceptional environment.”

“Acorn has been working on this site for a number of years with the aim of ensuring that the final approved scheme delivers what this unique location deserves, in the most environmentally sustainable and appropriate way. Ashton Fields is one of the first schemes to go live under Acorn Green, our commitment to the implementation of the best possible design and technologies in a holistic approach to further drive down the carbon footprint of our homes.

“We are already seeing an early interest in homes at Ashton Fields. While many lakeside homes currently for sale in the area are restricted to holiday use only, homes at Ashton Fields have no such restrictions.”

The bespoke homes have been carefully designed specifically for the location, by Mike Daubney Architects, with elevations that will seamlessly integrate with the prevailing Cotswold style, offering ample glazing to take advantage of the setting and countryside views, whilst benefiting from contemporary internal design. The rural aspect of the 40-acre development will be further enhanced by a number of wildlife zones, ponds and orchards and will be built directly through Acorn Homes Construction Solutions (AHCS).

Lying at the head of the Thames Valley, the mosaic of habitats in the Cotswold Water Park has created one of ‘the’ biodiversity hotspots of the South-West, and an important wetland corridor. Over the next 50 years this area and its nature conservation value are set to dramatically increase. The Cotswold Lakes Trust works with a range of partners to integrate nature conservation and wildlife into the current and future development of the Cotswold Water Park, creating new reserves whilst maximising the contribution to nature conservation from built development, mineral extraction and the provision of sports and recreation. These objectives made the site a perfect and natural choice for Acorn Green.

Outline planning consent has been obtained and a reserved matters application is expected to be approved by the end of the year. Following this, ecological works and demolition can begin, with construction planned to start in autumn of 2022 and the first homes released for sale off plan in summer of 2022.

Resolution to grant approval for 692-bed Bendigo Building student scheme

PLANS for the redevelopment of the former Royal Mail sorting office into a 692-bed student living development took a step forward today (Wednesday, 18th August) after members of the Nottingham City Council planning committee resolved to grant planning permission for Godwin Development’s proposals for the Bendigo Building. The decision was made subject to clarification of further design details.

The scheme will see the currently disused property – which has been vacant for nearly 20 years – demolished and replaced with purpose build student accommodation (PBSA), which will provide new high-quality, contemporary living spaces for students in the city.

The development – which is situated less than half a mile from Nottingham Trent University – will consist of a mix of modern studio apartments, four, five and six-bedroom clusters and accessible studio rooms.

The scheme will also incorporate a range of indoor amenities such as two receptions, a spacious residents lounge, gym, study and games rooms, as well as a fully landscaped courtyard garden with outdoor seating, recreational and outdoor exercise equipment, 6 car parking and 312 cycle storage spaces.

Two commercial units, located on the ground floor, will also provide an additional amenity for residents and the neighbouring community.

Matt Chandler, development director at Godwin Developments, said: “We are delighted to have received the resolution to grant planning approval from Nottingham City Council for our proposals, which will transform this eye-sore of a building into a thriving student hub.

“With unmet demand of over 7,000 student beds in the city and the number of undergraduates rising as both universities continue their expansion plans, there is a clear requirement for more dedicated student spaces where young people can live, study, and socialise together. Our plans will not only cater to this demand but also support the Council’s ambitions to keep the city centre vibrant, house students better, and protect further traditional family housing from being converted for student occupation.”

“The Bendigo Building will also bring a substantial amount of investment, attracting £234 million of economic activity to Nottingham and the region in the form of construction, employment and discretional spend. Other community benefits will include a large contribution towards open spaces as well as employment and training, improvement of public realm and safety.”

“We would like to thank Nottingham City Council’s planning team for their support of the scheme, as well as our partners – architects RG+P, planning consultants P&DG and engineering business HSP Consulting – for their work to-date.”

The Bendigo Building is conveniently positioned within easy walking distance of Nottingham city centre, Sneinton Market, Nottingham Trent University and the main food and entertainment quarter, with the University of Nottingham and Nottingham train station also readily accessible via public transport.

The scheme has been designed with sustainability in mind and contains features, such as air source heat pumps, photovoltaic (PV) roof panels and an energy efficient building fabric. It promotes greener ways of travel in and around the city, supporting cleaner air and reducing traffic congestion in the area.

Once underway the Bendigo Building will create around 300 jobs during the construction phase – and 40 full-time positions when fully operational.

James Mulcare, Head of Residential Capital Markets at Godwin Developments, said: “In recent years, Nottingham has cemented itself into a major higher education destination. The city attracts nearly 80% of its full-time students from the UK, making it resilient to fluctuations in international student demand.

“As vaccination rates across the country continue to rise and young people seek to return to face-to-face learning and socialising, the need for purpose-built student accommodation will continue to grow – and with it a strong interest from investors across the globe.

“We are confident that the Bendigo Building with its prominent location and high amenities provision will be popular with young people and will deliver attractive long-term returns to investors seeking to capitalise on the strong local PBSA market.”

To find out more about Godwin Developments click here.

Go ahead secured for 336 build-to-rent apartments in Sheffield

A 23-storey build-to-rent (BTR) scheme in Sheffield, lodged with planners earlier this year by Godwin Developments has today (Tuesday, 17th August), received planning permission for the construction of 336-apartments on the edge of the city centre.

The development – named The Meridian and situated in close proximity to Sheffield’s train station, transport routes and all major amenities – will include one, two and three-bedroom modern open-plan apartments and 94 private balconies.

The scheme also incorporates a large amount of flexible ground floor amenity space for a concierge reception, co-working spaces, residents’ only lounge and gym. It features a landscaped roof garden and plaza fronting onto Queens Road, as well as 358 cycle storage and 29 car parking spaces.

The scheme will contribute significantly not only to the housing requirements of the city, but also to the overall regeneration and investment programme under way in Sheffield.

James Mulcare, Head of Residential Capital Markets at Godwin Developments, said: “We are delighted to have received planning consent from Sheffield City Council for this scheme. The development is a major milestone for the BTR market in the city, bringing forward a multifunctional living space that is also perfect for working, relaxing and socialising.

“The Meridian is a well-located scheme of exceptional design quality shaped around the requirements and lifestyles of city centre residents. It emphasises wellbeing, light, natural materials and finishes, as well as access to private and shared outdoor space and community focused amenities.

“ As such we are confident it will be a popular choice among residents of various age groups – and an attractive proposition for investors.”

The scheme will redevelop a prominent 1.1-acre brownfield site, which has been vacant for many years. It is situated just a five-minute walk from Sheffield’s Midland Station and a ten-minute walk from the city centre including Sheffield’s main shopping and entertainment districts, with parks, outdoor spaces, and both Universities also nearby. It is very easily accessible by road and public transport, with proposed walking, cycling and tram routes expected to enhance sustainable mobility to and from the development in the near future.

Ketan Patel, Senior Development Manager at Godwin Developments, added: “We are grateful for the help and support provided to us by the Sheffield City Council planning team, which has led to the successful outcome of our planning application today.

It has resulted in the creation of a landmark building that is simple and effective in design and adds positively to the city’s new skyline. When built, The Meridian will become a welcome focal point for residents and visitors to Sheffield, realising the Council’s ambitions for the city.

“We would like to thank the members of the planning committee, the statutory consultees that have worked alongside us in the last few months, as well as planning experts Urbana Town Planning, architects Bond Bryan, consultants Rider Levett Bucknall and engineers HSP Consulting.”

News on the planning consent for The Meridian follows on from Godwin Development’s recent submission of a planning application for 116 suburban BTR homes in Ely, Cambridgeshire, and a planning approval for 60 family homes for rent in Doncaster. The business is also the developer behind a major student living scheme in Nottingham – called the Bendigo Building – as well as two further housing schemes of 102 properties in the Bulwell area of the city.

To find out more about Godwin Developments click here.