Latest news with #BellwayHomes
BBC News
02-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Lindow: Concerns raised over housebuilding plans for peatland
Campaigners seeking to prevent housebuilding on peatland in Cheshire have urged councillors to protect the land from property Homes wants to build 133 houses on an 11-acre (4.5 hectare) site at Lindow in Wilmslow, close to where Lindow Man - a 2,000-year-old bog body - was found in Drake, from the Protect Lindow campaign, asked Cheshire East Council - which declined to comment during a live planning process - not to "lose really valuable natural resources and reserves in the scramble to build more houses quickly".Bellway Homes said its plans adhered to both national and regional planning policy and stressed that 30% of the houses would be "affordable homes". The Lindow Man's discovery is widely seen as one of the most significant archaeological finds in the Northwest of well-preserved remains are now held by the British Museum. The proposed development site off Upcast Lane and Cumber Lane was allocated as safeguarded land and removed from the green belt under Cheshire East Council's 2017 local no development plans were proposed at the time, it was listed as an area where building could potentially take place in authority's carbon neutral action plan - approved in 2020 - said Cheshire East Council wanted to develop restoration or management plans for all of its peatland a council-commissioned review, published in 2021, recommended the extraction and development of peatlands across the borough "should be stopped immediately".Last month, the local authority withdrew plans for peatland near Macclesfield to be officers said proposals to build on Danes Moss "cannot be fully reconciled" with its peat and carbon policies. Ms Drake said she wanted to see the council change its policies and review the whole local plan."I don't think anyone would disagree that more houses are required, she said. "We know there's a housing crisis in the UK."What is important is that those houses are built in the right place, that we don't lose really valuable natural resources and reserves in the scramble to build more houses quickly."The Friends of Lindow Moss group, which wants to see the restoration of peatbogs in the area, is backing the Protect Lindow campaign."This is part of a much wider landscape, the Lindow Moss landscape," said its president John Handley."It was first zoned for safeguarded land in 2013 and an awful lot has happened since then, it is obviously not the appropriate thing to do."We'd like to see a systematic review by Cheshire East Council of potential housing sites across the borough to allocate land in an appropriate and a rational way."That would allow this site to be reclassified and put back into the green belt." 'Environmentally sensitive' Some local councillors have also raised their well as being Cheshire East Council's deputy leader, independent Michael Gorman is a ward councillor for the area."It might sound absurd [but] you wouldn't build a housing estate next to Stonehenge."I'm not saying Lindow Moss is Stonehenge in any stretch of the imagination but it's an incredibly important site - we need to take care of it for our children and grandchildren."Another independent councillor in the area, Mark Goldsmith, chairs the local authority's highways and transport said the Lindow plans were "the wrong development in the wrong place"."It's not nimbyism - there are great brownfield sites in the centre of town that should have the housing. This just isn't appropriate," said Goldsmith."It's historic, it's environmentally sensitive, it just should never have been earmarked for development."In a statement, Bellway Homes said it plans included "contributions towards education, health and the local environment, which will benefit the whole community, not just our home buyers."As part of these plans, Bellway has undertaken extensive assessments and ground investigations which have informed our planning application."The Lindow application is open for consultation until Thursday. See more Cheshire stories from the BBC and follow BBC North West on X. For more local politics coverage, BBC Politics North West is on BBC One on Sunday at 10:00am and on BBC iPlayer.
Daily Mail
21-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Man at war with 1,000 locals after winning £75-a-week council compensation over noise as loud as a LAWNMOWER caused by kids playing basketball
A homeowner has been branded a 'Victor Meldrew' killjoy after he complained about noise 'as loud as a lawnmower' coming from children playing on a basketball court. The man, 53, is being paid £75-a-week compensation because an Ombudsman ruled he was wrongly treated by his local council. But residents living close to historic Hailey Park in Cardiff say it is a 'staggering' waste of public money, with more than 1,000 people signing a petition to keep the basketball court where it is. The Friends of Hailey Park organisation say the court has been there for more than 30 years. When a small housing estate was built 50 yards away, developers Bellway Homes used the area as a storage compound for their diggers and machinery. It was turned back into a basketball court when the houses were finished and that's when the noise problems started. The family whose home overlooks the multi-use games area say they have been driven crazy by bouncing balls for the last 10 years. The father-of-one called in noise experts who recorded the sound of at 70 decibels, slightly above the level of a car door being shut. He said: 'Can you imagine a basketball being bounced 50 times a minute outside your house? That's what we have to put up with. 'This house is my dream home, I bought it to be near the park and there was never a basketball court there. More than 1,000 people have signed a petition for the court to remain where it is 'When they are playing out there we can't have the windows open, we can't have conversations, it's so loud.' Professional readings taken from his home showed a ball hitting the wire mesh in the play area reached 90 decibels - as noisy as a powered lawnmower. The hoops were removed from the court six years ago but that hasn't stopped the noise from youngsters bouncing basketballs and using it for football kickabouts. When his complaints to Cardiff Council fell on deaf ears the homeowner turned to the Public Services Ombudsman saying it was having a 'substantial impact' on his life. The Ombudsman ruled Cardiff Council had not taken appropriate action and was told to offer him £300 compensation and then £75-a-week until the situation was resolved. The homeowner, a local businessman who has so far been paid £1,200, says he doesn't want the money, he just wants the court to be moved to a better location in the 60-acre park. His life has become more unbearable since the compensation deal was made public, as he claims people are using the court at 2am 'out of spite'. He's also been accused of nibmyism, suffered online abuse and been publicly shunned by locals who mistakenly believe he also wants to get rid of the children's playground next to the basketball court. More than 1,000 locals have now signed a petition for the court to be kept in the same spot. Clearly distressed he told Mail Online: 'That is utter nonsense. Children laughing and playing is the most wonderful sound in the world. 'It's the incessant noise from the basketball court that nobody should have to put up with. I feel as if I'm being 100 per cent victimised for just wanting a quiet life. 'I'm a nice guy, I'm not a complainer. I'm the innocent party in all this. 'There are safeguarding issues now, people are that irate they're threatening online to damage my property. What next? Are they going to attack my wife? It's intimidating and we've done nothing wrong.' Feelings are running high among people who have used the park since they were children. One grandmother, who didn't want to be named, said: 'This fella is a bit of a Victor Meldrew, none of the other people living there have complained about the noise. 'If he wins this one then the next thing is he'll be complaining about the noise from the children's playground.' Others are concerned that the complainant is getting more than £10-a day after he chose to buy a house next to a play area. Mum-of-one Laura Kalirai, said: 'I find it a bit worrying, how far can this go? Does this mean we're going to start having to pay for everybody to be compensated for things they don't like about where they live.' (THIS FROM THE BBC WALES REPORT) Paul Rock, 58, a Friends of Hailey Park committee member and the group's treasurer, said: 'I find it staggering that public money is being spent in this way. I don't know if that's normal. 'I'm sure Cardiff Council can ill afford to hand over £300-a-month to a private individual.' 'The basketball court has been there for many years, it's a useful outdoor space for children to play and where parents teach their kids to ride a bike. 'When Cardiff Council put sound recording equipment in the man's garden they said it was just marginally above the threshold at times.' Mr Rock said there had been no face-to-face meeting with the homeowner adding that the committee thought it would be unproductive because of the wording in his letter of complaint. He said it was a 'joke' to have a basketball court with no hoops and hopes they will be reinstated by the time for the park's centenary celebrations next year. A public meeting was told the council has the funding to develop plans for a new play area. But for now, the homeowner will continue to get £75-a-week. A Cardiff Council spokesman said: 'Initial engagement with local school children and information sharing with the wider community will begin shortly, with a view to resolving the noise issue and delivering improved facilities for the community as quickly as possible. 'In the meantime, the council has agreed to comply with the recommendations set out by the Ombudsman.'
Glasgow Times
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Uddingston dancer to represent Scotland at 'Olympics of dance'
Twelve-year-old Ewa Garsztka qualified in the prestigious event, thanks to a donation from Bellway Homes. The property developer's West Division, based at Hamilton Business Park, donated £500 to cover Ewa's solo costumes. Bellway Homes donated £500 to cover Ewa's solo costumes (Image: Supplied) Ewa, who trains at CMDA Studio, succeeded with three solos, three duos with her partner Lily Watson, and eight group dances with her team. Bogusia, Ewa's mum, said: 'Ewa has been training hard and is looking forward to representing Scotland at this prestigious event. Read more: Ryanair seat hack backfires as holidaymaker kicked off flight FSA warns parents of popular summer drink 'not suitable' for young children Do you get a free car because you are disabled? The Motability Scheme explained "We're grateful to Bellway for their generous support.' Described as the 'Olympics of dance', the event will take place in Burgos from July 3 to 12 and brings together young performers from 72 countries. Pauline Coates, sales director at Bellway Homes Ltd (Scotland West), said: "Ewa is very talented and determined. "It's fantastic she is going to represent Scotland in Spain. "We wish her all the best and can't wait to hear how she gets on."
The Guardian
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Brick by brick: UK builders gear up for post-pandemic boom despite global gloom
Plasterboard should be in plentiful supply when Labour's building boom gets under way later this year, says John Sinfield. His new £170m factory near Bristol will dramatically cut the need for imports of the essential building product, he argues. Sinfield, the UK boss of plasterboard maker Etex, is not alone in the UK construction sector in taking a bet that the industry could soon prove a bright spot despite gloom over the impact of Donald Trump's tariffs on the global economy. 'You've got to invest ahead of the curve,' Sinfield says. Domestic brick factories are gearing up for a building bonanza that is expected to increase residential housing starts next year by more than 5%, according to the construction industry consultancy and data provider Glenigan. Shareholders in major housebuilders also appear to be picking up on the good vibes. On Tuesday, Bellway Homes, one of the UK's largest home builders, reported 'robust' spring trading and a strong outlook for the year ahead. It was enough to drive up builders' shares, putting those including Persimmon, Barratt Developments, Redrow and Taylor Wimpey at the top of the FTSE 100 risers' list. The arm of the construction industry that makes the walls, stairs and plumbing for every new home may not be as visible as the large housing developers, but will play a key part in the hoped-for building boom essential for the Labour government reaching its target of 1.5m new homes by the end of the parliament. Ministers see addressing the failure to build new homes quickly – by an industry tarnished by huge bonuses for executives – as a significant driver of economic growth. The housing minister, Angela Rayner, has spent the last few months locked in a battle with the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, over funding for her housebuilding plan in the run-up to Wednesday's spending review. There is deep scepticism about Labour's ability to reach the wished-for 300,000-a-year level of construction – up from 184,390 completions in 2024 – after a spate of negative figures that appeared to show a contraction within the industry in 2023 and 2024 was going to scar 2025 as well. Meanwhile, there are signs that economic uncertainty is affecting demand: house prices fell in May by 0.4%, dragging down the annual growth rate from to 2.5% from 3.2% in April, according to figures from Halifax. Construction firms are recovering from an inflationary rise during the pandemic that sent the cost of everything from timber to concrete blocks soaring. The price of building a home has since levelled off, but the cost of raw materials prices and skilled labour remains high. Surveys of the sector show a period of contraction that started in 2023 has continued this year, forcing many employers to lay off staff. An S&P Global survey of company purchasing managers in May showed the pace of layoffs was the worst since the post-banking crash period in 2010, excluding the pandemic. However, separate studies from industry bodies and Bellway's update contradict this gloomy message. They indicate a turnaround, and with the added twist of lessons learned from Covid. Namely, that a reliance on foreign suppliers can lead to shortages very quickly when the global shipping industry is upended. Unlike during the pandemic, homegrown manufacturing is protecting the housebuilding industry against Trump's see-sawing tariff war with domestic supplies available allaying concerns over products being held up at ports across the world. In fact, says Allan Wilen, chief economist at Glenigan, UK companies could benefit from importing cheap construction materials previously destined for the US, but redirected to avoid high import tariffs. 'It's possible that is one result of US tariffs,' he says. For Sinfield, the anticipated step up in demand should keep workers busy at his new 57,000 sq metre facility, located next to the Port of Bristol. Opened last year, the site will recycle about 35% of the material it uses from UK waste sources, further cutting the need for foreign supplies. Etex, the Belgian owner of the site, is selling boards that would previously have travelled from plants in Spain. Sinfield says the project pipeline is strong. 'The only question is how long it takes for contractors to go from the drawing board to being on site,' he says. Richard Burbidge, a family run business based in an eco-factory in north Wales, is also at the sharp end of the cyclical industry. The timber business makes stairs for new-build homes and is managed by Josh Burbidge, who is in the fifth generation to lead the 158-year-old enterprise. He says the firm responded to the energy price spike propelled by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 with a huge investment in solar panels, which cover the factory roof, and is just about coping with the extra costs from April's rise in national insurance and the higher minimum wage. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion At the moment their wood comes from the US, but his suppliers are ready to switch to Europe. In the longer term, he says: 'The actions of the US to place tariffs on traded goods will only encourage companies like ours to seek out and engage more reliable sources of product to place on the UK market.' Noble Francis, chief economist at the Construction Products Association, says brick deliveries are a useful proxy for housebuilding starts, where he anticipates a 5% expansion this year and 7% in 2026. Brick production was up by 31.4% in February, before slipping back to an 8% annual rise March, possibly because there is still a surplus of 459 million bricks in stock, according to the Department for Business and Trade. Francis is forecasting 2.1% growth in construction output volume this year, mostly skewed towards the second half of the year, and 4% growth in 2026. 'This year's private housing forecast is in line with the major housebuilders, which are broadly anticipating 3% to 8% growth a year over the next few years after a double-digit falls in activity between 2021-22 and 2023-24,' he says. Glenigan also offers a buoyant outlook, saying there are 'signs of renewed confidence', adding that housebuilding 'led the charge', with residential starts rising 24% in the three months to the end of April from the previous quarter. Private companies account for 87% of total housebuilding, so growth in 2025 will mainly be determined by demand in that sector, over social housing, he adds. As a sector, construction accounts for about 6% of national output, or gross domestic product (GDP), which is the equivalent of £170bn from an economy that generated £2.8tn in 2024. Labour has said it expects changes to planning laws, freeing up land for building, will generate an extra £6.8bn in activity by 2030. If larger housebuilders have one fear, it is the potential for shortages of skilled staff, especially in the midst of a clampdown on immigration. To prevent new border controls from derailing the building boom, the government said last month it will spend an extra £3bn to train 120,000 skilled workers, including builders, by 2030. Rayner is more concerned that private housebuilders will prove reluctant to complete large-scale projects to prevent over-supply denting house prices and profit margins. Yet even in that scenario it would take many months before supply would outstrip demand. In the meantime, the pillars underpinning growth appear to be in place, including a more secure domestic supply chain. The only question is how quickly it will gather pace.
BBC News
31-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Bid to build 95 new homes in Croft given go ahead
Eleven acres (110, 000sq m) of fields south of the village of Croft in Leicestershire have been earmarked for 95 new homes, despite objections from residents. Estate agent Savills applied to Blaby District Council on behalf of developer Bellway Homes for outline planning permission to construct the new homes. The council received 18 objections to the plan, with concerns raised about the impact the extra homes would have on traffic in the small village, local services, wildlife and the environment. The authority has granted permission for the homes to built in principle, but the developer will need to submit more detailed plans to the council before any construction work can start. Agricultural land which will be lost to make way for the new homes is not considered high enough quality to block the application, the council said. The developer will be asked to make payments of more than £260,000 to support local services which will be put under extra pressure by the new homes. The contributions include £167,122 towards a new sports pitch, £73,568 to support GP services, £9,456 towards secondary schools, £2,267 towards refuse collection and £5,064 for the police.
