News stories from 2008.

Larkfleet staff member becomes Licensed Assessor 29th October 2008

A member of staff at Larkfleet Group has become a licensed assessor for the Code for Sustainable Homes.

Lorna Stockdale, project co-ordinator at FE Peacock – a member of the Larkfleet Group – took the assessors course in March and has recently passed the exam which will bring huge benefits to the whole of the Larkfleet Group.

The Code for Sustainable Homes – a new national standard for sustainable design and construction of new homes – aims to reduce the ‘carbon footprint’ of new homes by setting maximum levels for things such as the amount of energy and water a home will use. The code uses a 1 to 6 star rating system to communicate the overall ‘sustainability performance’ of a new home.

To achieve high Code levels builders have to include high levels of insulation, water-saving devices and perhaps renewable power generation systems such as solar panels or wind turbines when constructing homes.

Over the next few years the government will gradually tighten planning rules to ensure that homes will be built to higher Code levels. By 2016 all new homes will have to be built to the top level Code 6.

All housing associations and local authorities have to state what Code level they aim to hit when applying for government finance to help build new homes. The developments are then assessed to check that they meet that level at both the design and build stages. As project co-ordinator for the Larkfleet Group, Lorna will be making sure that the company’s developments meet the requirements for each level.

She said: “I am so excited that I passed the exam and am now able to use these new skills in my job.”

Phil Kennedy, construction managing director for FE Peacock, said: “Lorna’s new skills will help us to assess our requirements for each level and make sure our properties are built to the appropriate standards.”

Lorna has been working for FE Peacock since January 2007.

Larkfleet hands over Key Worker homes 20th December 2008

Larkfleet Homes has handed over key worker homes at Oakridge Park, Bourne, to Leicester-based Eastern Shires Housing Association.

Larkfleet has designed and built the 21 homes which comprise a range of two bedroom apartments.

Anthony Riley, business development director of Eastern Shires Housing Association, said: “Eastern Shires is delighted with the work undertaken by Larkfleet which will provide much needed affordable homes for local key workers.

“The Key Worker Living programme allows core public sector workers - such as teachers, police officers and NHS staff - to purchase a home that is below open market value and where they would otherwise be priced out of the housing market.”

Karl Hick, managing director of Larkfleet Group, said: "This development will meet the need for key worker housing in the area. The homes are built to demanding environmental standards which will, for example, reduce residents’ fuel bills because of the high levels of insulation. The whole development is designed to ensure residents live in a safe and friendly environment.”

This is one of a number of developments where Larkfleet is working closely with South Kesteven District Council to provide affordable housing.

Karl Hick said: “The council has been extremely helpful in its approach which has allowed us to develop much-needed homes for local people who simply cannot afford to buy houses at current prices.”

Oakridge Park is next to Southfield Business Park a six hectare (15 acre) development which will include offices and a medical centre.

Larkfleet Group MD in final for top Property Award 15th October 2008

Karl Hick, MD of Larkfleet Group has been shortlisted, after many months of interviewing and report submissions, into the regional final of a national competition to win £10 million interest-free funding for his company.

Karl Hick, is in one of three regional finals for the Bank of Scotland’s £30 Million Search for a Property Entrepreneur.

The three regional winners will each win a £10 million interest free loan and will all go forward to a national final in December where the bank's overall Property Entrepreneur of the Year will be named.

To be shortlisted for the award Karl had to prove that he had strong entrepreneurial skills and discuss how he would utilise the funding.

In his bid for the cash Karl told judges: “We would be flexible in our use of the money depending on the market conditions at the time of it being available.”

As well as the £10 million loan the overall winner of the competition will also receive four days of mentoring from one of Britain’s most successful property entrepreneurs, Nick Leslau.

Nick is chairman and chief executive of the Prestbury Group, which owns real estate across the country, including Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Warwick Castle and Madame Tussauds.

The awards dinner takes place on 22 October 2008.

Larkfleet Homes wins prestigious award in the run up to the 'Property Olympics' 2nd October 2008

Larkfleet Homes has won the Daily Mail UK Property Award for Best Development in Lincolnshire for its Friar Mews development in Lincoln.

The award will be presented at a glittering gala dinner to be held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on 31 October.

Having been given this high recommendation Larkfleet is now entitled to display the Daily Mail UK Property Awards’ logo. Larkfleet managing director Karl Hick said: “This symbol of excellence will be recognised and appreciated by the public who are becoming increasingly well informed and discerning about the properties they seek to buy.”

The Friars Mews development is made up of 40 two and three bedroom apartments in the heart of Lincoln.

Entries were judged by a panel of independent professionals, chaired by Eric Pickles MP, British Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

All in all, there are 21 different categories and up to two of the most outstanding entries in each category are given a four-star award, while the best overall entry will be given a five-star award. But the success story doesn’t end there - every five-star winner’s entry will then be re-examined to determine who is to go forward for the ultimate World’s Best Award. These outstanding international accolades will be announced at a grand presentation dinner in America on 10 November.

Karl Hick said: “We are thrilled to win this award which emphasises the hard work put in by all that worked on this project.”

Larkfleet to build demonstration sustainable home 1st September 2008

The Larkfleet Group has applied for planning permission to build just part of a house on land adjacent to its headquarters in Bourne, Lincolnshire, near Peterborough.

The timber-framed building will be a three-bedroom house built to the requirements of Level 3 and Level 4 of the government’s Code for Sustainable Homes. Key parts of the structure will be left unfinished to show how it is possible to combine different building techniques and technologies to meet demanding environmental standards without excessive cost.

Parts of the internal walls, some of the floors and ceilings and other parts of the building will be omitted so that visitors can see how a timber frame house is put together and the way insulation is installed. The house will also be fitted with water-saving and energy-saving technologies such as rain water harvesting ground, source heat pumps and solar panels.

Government regulations mean that all new houses being built for local councils and housing associations must now meet Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes – standards which make the homes cheaper to run and reduce their impact on the environment.

Larkfleet intends to use the part-built home as a working demonstration unit to which it will invite housing association operatives, architects, local authority personnel and other professionals.

Larkfleet managing director Karl Hick said: “Housing associations and developers are being set increasingly tough challenges to meet new environmental standards. They will soon have to build to Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes but many have not yet even built homes to Level 3.

“We aim to use this unique building to show them how they can meet these present and future challenges.”

Two companies in the Larkfleet Group will have a major role in building the demonstration house – building contractor FE Peacock will have overall responsibility for construction and the timber frames will be supplied by Kestrel Timber Frames. Construction materials, including timber from sustainable sources, will be supplied by associated company Deepings Trading Company.

FE Peacock specialises in building homes for housing associations and Kestrel Timber Frames has recently been set up by Larkfleet Group specifically to produce timber house frames. Building with timber frames is key to economically meeting the demands of the Code for Sustainable Homes – Larkfleet believes it is impossible to meet even Level 3 requirements at an economical price with traditional building methods and materials.

If planning permission is granted by South Kesteven District Council the demonstration house could be ready for use later this year.

Karl Hick added: “Another advantage of timber frame houses is the speed with which they can be built. We shall spend more time in planning the demonstration house than in building it – once we start on site it can be finished in a matter of days.”

Materials and labour for the project are being supplied free of charge from many local companies including C & G Mortar and Chris Morse Brickwork. Larkfleet Group would like to thank them and any other organisations for their help in this project.

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