Latest news with #PersimmonHomes
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Developer donates £1,500 to charity
A charity has received £1,500 from a developer. Persimmon Homes Severn Valley donated the amount to the Nelson Trust, a Stroud-based charity, as part of its Community Champions programme. The programme donates £700,000 each year to various organisations across Britain. The Nelson Trust supports thousands of people each year in the South West of England and Wales, with services ranging from community support, women's centres, residential rehabilitation, and social enterprises. The charity takes a holistic, trauma-informed approach, aiming for lasting recovery for those affected by drug use and other issues like domestic violence, interaction with the justice system, and trauma. The trust will use the donation to help people it works with travel for education, training, and volunteering as part of its rehabilitation strategy. Recently, Persimmon Homes began work on a new site in Kingswood, Wooton-under-Edge. The development comprises 54 homes, including two, three, and four-bed properties. These homes, which will be up for sale later this summer, will come with solar panels and electric vehicle charging points. The development will also contribute £218,000 towards secondary education and £10,600 to local libraries as part of Persimmon's community financial contributions. The firm has also made donations to other local services, including the Stroud District Food Bank. Persimmon Homes Severn Valley sales director Carly Spear said: "The Nelson Trust does some excellent work across the Severn Valley and beyond, so make for ideal recipients of our Community Champions funding. "As a proud, responsible developer, Persimmon always seeks to leave a positive and lasting legacy in the areas in which we build, and lending a hand to a charity like the Nelson Trust is an essential part of our commitment to those communities." Christina Line, CEO Designate of the Nelson Trust, said: "We are extremely thankful to Persimmon Homes Community Champions for their generous donation of £1,500. "This support strengthens our commitment to uplifting our community."
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Decision expected on 4,115-home development
A decision on plans for a controversial development of 4,115 homes is due to be made this week. The proposed £2.5bn Elms Park development in north Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, has prompted a backlash from locals and parish councillors who fear it will have a "disastrous effect" on the area. They are concerned about the appearance of the housing development, as well as road safety, parking, pollution and flood risks. Borough council planners are due to approve or reject the proposals, submitted by two developers, on 29 May. Consultants working on the scheme say Elms Park would be a new sustainable neighbourhood that would deliver a "thriving community". The development, proposed by Bloor Homes and Persimmon Homes, would stretch from Swindon Village to Uckington, at the north suburb of Cheltenham, and from the Tewkesbury Road to Brockhampton. It includes plans for a 25-acre business park, a GP surgery, a hotel, shops, cafes, restaurants, pubs and takeaways. The parish councils of Uckington, Swindon, Elmstone Hardwicke, Stoke Orchard and Tredington, Bishop's Cleeve, Leigh, and Leckhampton with Warden Hill have all objected. Objectors believe the scheme conflicts with planning policies, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. A total of 111 people have written to both Tewkesbury and Cheltenham's borough councils in opposition of the scheme while only four letters of support have been submitted. One objector called the scheme "short-sighted", writing: "I run on those fields regularly and the degree of water retention on those fields particularly is immense. "And local amenities will be overwhelmed, especially healthcare and hospitals." Locals argue developments of this scale should be carried out as "new towns". Concerns have been raised ever since the first outline submission for the project was put forward in 2016. The whole of the development site falls within an area of land allocated for development in Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury's joint planning strategy. The Elms Park Consortium said the scheme includes more than 1,000 affordable homes, a modern business park, three schools and improvements to offsite cycling routes, extensive green infrastructure and a new transport hub with buses into Cheltenham and Tewkesbury. It said a new sports hub including tennis courts and an all-weather pitch, a new community centre and a new doctor's surgery would be built. The consortium said there would also be about 250 acres of publicly available open space, including a large new park and multiple play areas for younger and older children. "The proposed development will deliver much-needed housing, and particularly affordable housing, to the region and we hope that the planning committees considers the application favourably," a spokesperson said. Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Public land set to be sold to build 4,000 homes 'Fiesta Land' owner battles plan for 4,000 homes Temporary access road proposed for 266 homes Local Democracy Reporting Service Elms Park
BBC News
25-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Decision expected on Elms Park 4,115-home development
A decision on plans for a controversial development of 4,115 homes is due to be made this proposed £2.5bn Elms Park development in north Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, has prompted a backlash from locals and parish councillors who fear it will have a "disastrous effect" on the are concerned about the appearance of the housing development, as well as road safety, parking, pollution and flood council planners are due to approve or reject the proposals, submitted by two developers, on 29 May. Consultants working on the scheme say Elms Park would be a new sustainable neighbourhood that would deliver a "thriving community". The development, proposed by Bloor Homes and Persimmon Homes, would stretch from Swindon Village to Uckington, at the north suburb of Cheltenham, and from the Tewkesbury Road to includes plans for a 25-acre business park, a GP surgery, a hotel, shops, cafes, restaurants, pubs and parish councils of Uckington, Swindon, Elmstone Hardwicke, Stoke Orchard and Tredington, Bishop's Cleeve, Leigh, and Leckhampton with Warden Hill have all believe the scheme conflicts with planning policies, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. 'Overwhelmed' A total of 111 people have written to both Tewkesbury and Cheltenham's borough councils in opposition of the scheme while only four letters of support have been objector called the scheme "short-sighted", writing: "I run on those fields regularly and the degree of water retention on those fields particularly is immense."And local amenities will be overwhelmed, especially healthcare and hospitals."Locals argue developments of this scale should be carried out as "new towns".Concerns have been raised ever since the first outline submission for the project was put forward in whole of the development site falls within an area of land allocated for development in Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury's joint planning Elms Park Consortium said the scheme includes more than 1,000 affordable homes, a modern business park, three schools and improvements to offsite cycling routes, extensive green infrastructure and a new transport hub with buses into Cheltenham and said a new sports hub including tennis courts and an all-weather pitch, a new community centre and a new doctor's surgery would be consortium said there would also be about 250 acres of publicly available open space, including a large new park and multiple play areas for younger and older children."The proposed development will deliver much-needed housing, and particularly affordable housing, to the region and we hope that the planning committees considers the application favourably," a spokesperson said.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Plans for 216-home estate and why this man is doing everything to stop it
A Gowerton resident who is taking part in a planning appeal about a controversial housing estate claimed people in the area felt the decision to turn it down was a "no-brainer". Carl Jones addressed Swansea Council's planning committee last September when it met to consider outline plans for a 216-home estate on land close to Gowerton railway station. He is now teaming up with a small number of councillors to defend the refusal decision after the applicants, Persimmon Homes West Wales and Urban Style Homes, appealed. A big bone of contention among objectors was the proposed access to the new homes off Fairwood Terrace. That's because Fairwood Terrace joins busy Victoria Road at a T-junction opposite Gowerton rugby club, with a low railway bridge a few metres to one side and beyond that a busy traffic light junction with Gorwydd Road. READ MORE: 'I forgot my daughter's birthday – it led to the worst news I could have imagined' READ MORE: Hope, pride and then despair in a seaside town rocked by trauma and tragedy Like any community Gowerton generates its own traffic but it's also used by many people heading from the north and west of Swansea to North Gower. Victoria Road also siphons a lot of commuter traffic from the main A484 to the north. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here Asked what the general feeling was among Gowerton residents about the planned 216-home estate, Mr Jones said: "They say the traffic is terrible at the moment and that it would make it much worse." The refusal decision was, he felt, a "no-brainer". Mr Jones added that the local GP practice had opposed the planning application because it was having difficulty recruiting staff and would need to extend its premises which it didn't have the money to do. There were other concerns raised by people who sent more than 880 objection letters to the council's planning department. Mr Jones said: "Our objection is purely on the basis of the increase in traffic and the problems it's going to cause." He said highways consultants commissioned by Gowerton Community Council had reviewed traffic impact assessments carried out on behalf of the applicants and had concluded in July 2023 that, in their view, the proposed development was significantly too large to be accommodated on the local highway network and should be refused. Mr Jones referred to this when he addressed the planning committee last September. He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that he felt this report ought to have been added to the council's planning website along with the various other documents relating to the application. The 67-year-old said a different access - from the east - would be a much better option. Access and transport matters featured significantly in the 151-page planning report which went before the committee. The report said an assessment of the Fairwood Terrace-Victoria Road junction and the Gorwydd Road junction a couple of hundred metres away predicted an impact in delay and in queuing. But what this impact could be, said the report, wasn't something that could be accurately predicted. It added that consideration had to be given to a number of factors. The report cited proposed measures such as new traffic lights at the Fairwood Terrace junction, improved visibility splays and pedestrian crossings and concluded that the traffic impact could be adequately accommodated. The planning officer report recommended approval of the application subject to conditions and a legal agreement between the applicants and council to mitigate the development's impacts. A planning agent on behalf of the applicants addressed the committee to say discussions with highway officers had been "extensive and exhaustive" resulting in "safe, efficient and realistically achievable" proposals. He added that 22 of the 67 flats and 149 houses would be affordable, and that the development included a new and a 50-space park and ride by the train station. A majority of the committee voted against the approval recommendation, and received guidance from the council in March in this year after the appeal was submitted. The appellants are also seeking costs as they felt the council's committee had acted unreasonably. A Persimmon Homes West Wales spokesman said: "We were disappointed by the planning committee's decision last year to refuse our proposal for 216 'zero-carbon ready' homes in Gowerton, particularly as the site is allocated in the local development plan and had full backing for approval from the council's planning officers. "Given this, we submitted an appeal to the planning inspector, with the intention to bring much-needed, high-quality homes for local people to the town, and we are confident that our proposal is a compelling and policy-compliant one." He said prospective local buyers would be prioritised and that improvements to pedestrian and cycle routes, along with the park and ride by the train station, would incentivise residents to reduce car use. Mr Jones said most people drove and that despite best intentions most would continue to do so. He said he was not against new housing - a point he made to the planning committee - but said the Fairwood Terrace access was, in his view, just not sustainable. "The volume of traffic on Victoria Road is the same as on four lanes of Mumbles Road," he said. "This would tip it over the edge." The planning appeal was started on May 1 by Planning Environment and Decisions Wales (PEDW), formerly Planning Inspectorate Wales, and comments by interested parties need to be submitted by May 29. There will then be a further opportunity until 12 June for people to submit final comments in relation to earlier submitted comments by others. A Welsh Government spokesman said there were no current plans for a hearing or inquiry but that the process would be reviewed by the inspector when he or she was appointed to the case. He added that the inspector would consider the merits and impacts of the proposed development, including highway and transport matters, when compiling their report and recommendations. A council spokesman said: "Prior to the decision to refuse the application, council planning officers recommended approval, and in this case, it would be inappropriate for officers to defend the appeal against the refusal. We are continuing to support members of the committee on procedural matters as part of the ongoing appeal." Mr Jones, who is originally from Killay, said he'd successfully fought a planning battle while living in London and that he understood the appeal process. He described Gowerton as a lovely place. Asked if he would like to give evidence at a hearing, if one was to take place, he said: "I would relish it."
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
'Deliberate' barn blaze that sent smoke billowing across town sparks probe
A probe has been launched following a "deliberate" barn blaze in Hartlepool. Emergency services were called to Claxton Farm, just off the A689, on Sunday (May 11) after a barn set alight around 8.50pm. Pictures show black smoke billowing from the scene, which is located near the new Persimmon Homes Greatham Meadow development. Firefighters in three fire engines attended the incident, using two jets and two hose reels to put out the flames. Roughly 30% of the barn was damaged by the fire - with Cleveland Fire Brigade crews remaining at the scene until 10.12pm. The cause is believed to be deliberate. Read More: Rescue mission launched after mountain biker injured at popular walking trail Footfall woes after town's free hour parking axed - leaving visitors 'put off' Darlington great-grandma to celebrate birthday by skydiving for first time A fire service spokesperson said: 'Cleveland Fire Brigade were called on 11/05/2025 at 8.50pm to an incident on Claxton Farm. "Three fire engines were in attendance from Billingham and Hartlepool. Barn well alight. Two jets and two hose reels used. "Approximately 30% of barn damaged by fire. We got the stop at 10.12pm. The cause is believed to be deliberate.'
