Just days after being named as the best in the UK, a housing scheme in Rother has announced the contractor who will build the housing development.
Blackfriars in Battle, an initiative led by Rother District Council’s (RDC) housing company, Alliance Homes, to provide 200 new homes, has named Wates Residential, part of the Wates Group, as the partner contractor to build the development.
This announcement was the second boost to the project after the announcement earlier this month when Blackfriars was named best housing development in the UK (suburban and rural category) at the Inside Housing Development awards.
The Inside Housing award judges applauded the scheme’s dedication to a sustainable and innovative design whilst ensuring people’s wellbeing is at its heart.
Reducing carbon emissions
All the new homes have been designed to significantly reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, whilst minimising energy costs for residents. Aligned with sustainable objectives, the development is designed to discourage the use of vehicles and will focus on the wellbeing of residents.
Green paths will create connections through the site alongside communal allotment spaces that hope to promote community spirit. Each garden will have vegetable boxes boosting healthy food options, cutting down food bills, and promoting fresh produce.
Councillor Doug Oliver, leader of RDC said; “We are delighted to name Wates as the contractor for this ground-breaking, sustainable housing project in Battle. The fact that this news comes hot on the heels of the project being named as best housing development in the UK by Inside Housing, is absolutely fantastic. I’d like to thank everyone involved for their hard work and dedication in gaining this accolade.”
Helen Bunch, executive managing director, Wates Residential, said; “Wates works collaboratively with its customers to find better and more innovative ways to reduce waste, reduce energy consumption, and enhance the natural environment, and on this exciting new project with RDC we will be using the latest technologies to push boundaries and achieve a more sustainable future.”
One of the major factors to have stalled delivery of this site was the need for a new spine road to facilitate development. In 2018, RDC successfully applied to Homes England, and were allocated grant funding under the governments Housing Infrastructure Fund to deliver the road infrastructure. Planning permission for the whole development was gained in April 2021.
Image Credits: RDC , Wates Group .