News stories from 2009.

Larkfleet Group launches LarkPoint 18th June 2009

The Larkfleet Group has launched LarkPoint, a joint venture with Charterpoint Development Ltd, which will provide turn key development of health care and retirement living facilities.

LarkPoint is currently planning a number of projects, including nursing homes, extra care facilities and medical centres.

Karl Hick, managing director of Larkfleet Group, will be one of the directors of the company along with Giles Nursey from Charterpoint.

Giles Nursey said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for both Larkfleet and Charterpoint. By combining our respective development expertise, land bank and contacts we have a strong base from which to build a successful company within a specialist sector. ”

Karl Hick said: “I’m pleased to introduce this new company to the Larkfleet Group. It will address, amongst other things, the needs of an ageing population that has increasing healthcare demands.

“The Group is well positioned to provide high quality well-built premises purpose designed for this type of use

Official opening of Larkfleet's Demonstration Sustainable Home 9th June 2009

Margaret Allen, regional director of the Homes and Communities Agency, has officially opened our unique demonstration of sustainable building techniques adjacent to our headquarters in Bourne, Lincolnshire.

A cherry tree was planted by Margaret Allen in front of the house to mark the event. The timber-framed three-bedroom house will remain only part-built so that it demonstrates how a home can be constructed to meet the requirements of Level 3 and Level 4 of the government’s Code for Sustainable Homes. Key parts of the structure have been 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 have been omitted so that visitors can see how a timber frame house is put together and the way insulation is installed. The house is also fitted with water-saving and energy-saving technologies such as rain water harvesting, an air source heat pump and solar panels.

Government regulations mean that most 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 will use the part-built home as a working demonstration unit. The company plans to invite housing association operatives, architects, local authority personnel and other professionals to take a look at the way the house is built and see how the latest building and energy technologies can be combined to provide low-energy housing, many of them attended the official opening.

Larkfleet Group 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 have played a major role in building the demonstration house – building contractor FE Peacock has had overall responsibility for construction and the timber frames have been supplied by Kestrel Timber Frames. Construction materials, including timber from sustainable sources, have been supplied by local builders’ merchant 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. Larkfleet believes that using timber frame construction along with the renewable energy technologies demonstrated is the most economical way to achieve compliance with the Code for Sustainable Homes.

Materials and labour for the project have been supplied free of charge by a number of local companies.

Duncan to lead affordable housing drive 8th June 2009

Duncan Smith has joined the Larkfleet Group to help increase the delivery of ‘affordable’ housing in the East Midlands and East of England.

Through its subsidiaries Larkfleet Homes and FE Peacock the group builds homes for registered housing providers such as housing associations throughout the region. These ‘affordable’ properties are then available either for renting or for purchase through a variety of schemes which help people who could otherwise not afford to buy a house to ‘get a foot on the property ladder’.

In the newly-created role of strategic investment manager, Duncan Smith will work with the group’s housing association clients and the government’s Homes and Communities Agency to help increase the building of affordable housing. He will also have a particular focus on supporting the building of care homes for people with a need for nursing or other support.

Duncan has more than ten years experience in the affordable housing sector having previously worked for local authorities, registered housing providers and most recently for consultancy firm EC Harris. At EC Harris he advised the Larkfleet Group on a number of projects, including securing Larkfleet’s status as a preferred investment partner with the Homes and Communities Agency and assisting with the group’s bid and grant administration.

Larkfleet Group managing director Karl Hick said: “Duncan’s appointment is a further demonstration of the group’s commitment to delivery of affordable homes in our region of operation. Duncan will not only continue to promote and enhance our existing partnership arrangements but also develop new ones.

“We are delighted to have Duncan’s expertise available within the organisation.”

Duncan Smith said: “Delivering affordable housing in the existing market conditions is challenging but Larkfleet has considerable expertise to offer its partners and I am looking forward to being a bridge between the group and housing providers.”

Building work underway for affordable Housing Scheme 17th April 2009

Building work on a new affordable housing development in Northorpe near Bourne, Lincolnshire is now underway – helping to provide good quality housing for local people, who cannot afford to buy their own homes.

Larkfleet Homes is building the 13 property scheme at Beck Way, Northorpe, for Axiom Housing Association. The development comprises a range of two to three-bedroom houses for affordable rent and will be complete by the end of the year. The development meets environmental building standards which highlight Larkfleet’s and Axiom's commitment to creating affordable, well-built and energy-efficient homes.

The timber frame construction being used for the homes is an economical and efficient method of building which allows for a quicker construction time. The timber is sourced from sustainable forests. Kestrel Timber Frames, which is based in Market Deeping and is a member of the Larkfleet Group, supplies the timber frames.

Larkfleet has also handed over 11 three and four-bedroom affordable houses at its Oakridge Park development in Bourne.

Karl Hick, managing director of Larkfleet Group, said: "These developments will meet the need for affordable 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 new homes will also help to secure the economic future of the village and town, helping to provide customers for local services and homes for children who will use local schools.”

Alan Lewin, chief executive for Axiom Housing, said: “Axiom provides a wide range of high quality affordable housing through the counties of Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire. We currently own over 2000 homes and are delighted to be working with Larkfleet. As part of our ongoing commitment to building inclusive communities, these new homes in Becks Way, Northorpe will help to provide local homes and support the local economy.”

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

Mandy Gee, partnership project officer at South Kesteven District Council, said: “During this troubled time affordable housing will be required in villages and towns as well as cities. Larkfleet appreciates the need for affordable housing which makes it a beneficial partner for us.”

Larkfleet Group Managing Director speaks at Housing Conference. 5th February 2009

Karl Hick, the managing director of the Larkfleet Group was one of the main speakers at the Chartered Institute of Housing’s East Midlands regional conference.

Karl Hick told delegates at the event – called to consider the effects of the credit crunch on housing in the region – that developers, housing associations, councils and government must work together to tackle problems.

The event dealt both with ‘social housing’ – homes provided by housing associations and similar organisations for low-cost rent or purchase – and houses provided for sale on the open market.

Karl pointed out that the government has set a target of three million new homes being built by 2020, which means more homes will need to be built each year than ever before, but that house building in 2008 actually slumped to its lowest level for 84 years.

He suggested that urgent action needs to be taken to prevent a further fall in the number of houses being built.

Karl said: “Housing associations must look creatively at the ‘tenure mix’ – the balance between residents paying affordable rents and those who are buying their homes through low cost joint purchase arrangements. If people cannot get loans even for these mortgages, housing associations must expand their provision of rented housing, perhaps looking to change the balance in future years when tenants move on and the financial situation is easier.

“They must also apply more pressure on councils to secure planning permission, particularly on small sites that might not ordinarily get consent. Such sites in villages and other places can provide homes for local people who are being forced to move away because they cannot afford to buy homes, even at today’s market prices, perhaps because they simply cannot get a mortgage.”

Local councils could assist by responding to those requests from housing associations, Karl said, by releasing council-owned land for development and by being more flexible with their planning policies. In particular, said Karl, it is unrealistic in the present economic climate for councils to expect developers to make huge contributions to paying for local infrastructure such as schools and roads.

Government can play a role – both directly and through its new Homes and Communities Agency – by helping to stimulate lending, ensuring that banks use the money they have been given by government, and by supporting housing associations with higher levels of grant.

Called ‘Homelessness and the Credit Crunch’ the conference was held at the National Space Centre in Leicester on 3 February.

It was designed to encourage a debate about the emerging responses from government and financial institutions and from within the housing sector. It is hoped that the ideas discussed at the conference will help organisations maintain the overall supply of housing.

Other speakers at the event included Martin Lord, manager of Northampton Citizens Advice Bureau, and Nick Sedgewick, specialist advisor (homelessness) at the Tenant Services Authority.

Demonstration Sustainable Home nears completion. 2nd February 2009

A unique demonstration of sustainable building techniques by the Larkfleet Group is nearing completion on land adjacent to the headquarters in Bourne.

The timber-framed building will never be fully completed but will show how a three-bedroom house can be 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.

Work on the demonstration house is now nearly complete and, once the finishing touches have been added over the next few days, Larkfleet will use the part-built home as a working demonstration unit. The company plans to invite housing association operatives, architects, local authority personnel and other professionals to take a look at the way the house is built and see how the latest building and energy technologies can be combined to provide low-energy housing.

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 have played a major role in building the demonstration house – building contractor FE Peacock has had overall responsibility for construction and the timber frames have been supplied by Kestrel Timber Frames. Construction materials, including timber from sustainable sources, have been 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. Larkfleet believes that using timber frame construction along with the renewable energy technologies demonstrated is the most economical way to achieve compliance with the Code for Sustainable Homes.

Materials and labour for the project are being supplied free of charge by a number of local companies.

Businessman to speak at Housing Conference. 2nd February 2009

Karl Hick, the managing director of the Larkfleet Group will be one of the main speakers at the Chartered Institute of Housing’s East Midlands regional conference.

Karl Hick will be speaking at the event which is considering the effects of the credit crunch in the East Midlands. He will discuss the immediate effect that it has had on the housing market and the medium term impacts it may also have.

The conference is designed to encourage a debate about the emerging responses from government and financial institutions and from within the housing sector. It will help organisations to maintain the overall supply of housing and the type of housing – and housing-related products and services – which are provided.

The event will therefore deal both with ‘social housing’ – homes provided for low-cost rent or purchase by housing associations and similar organisations – and houses provided for sale on the open market.

Called ‘Homelessness and the Credit Crunch’ the conference will be held at the National Space Centre in Leicester on 3rd February.

Karl said: “The credit crunch has had a huge impact on the building and construction industry and this is also likely to affect the social housing sector. I hope that this conference will allow everyone involved in the housing market, from builders to housing associations, to discuss all factors and come up with a few ideas to minimise the impact.”

Other speakers at the event will be Martin Lord, manager of Northampton Citizens Advice Bureau, and Nick Sedgewick, specialist advisor (homelessness) at the Tenant Services Authority.

The conference will be relevant to all those with an interest in the housing sector, both public and private. .

Larkfleet Group hands over bespoke parsonage. 28th January 2009

The Larkfleet Group has handed over the keys for a new parsonage for the priest in charge of the Peterborough parishes of Eye, Thorney and Newborough.

The parsonage, which is on Thorney Road in Eye, is a four-bedroom house which was specifically designed and built for the Peterborough diocese in accordance with the Church Commissioners’ document ‘Parsonages: A Design Guide’ (known as the ‘Green Guide’). The guide sets out specific design and construction requirements to suit the use of the home as a parsonage.

A spokesman for the Peterborough diocese said: “We are committed to the principle of assisting in the creation of true communities. The provision of a purpose-built parsonage on a strategic new development will help to provide pastoral and spiritual support to people in the area.

“We are grateful to Larkfleet Homes for building this new parsonage which will replace our old vicarage which was below current standards.”

Karl Hick, managing director at Larkfleet Homes, said: “This was an unusual project for us to work on. We hope to have more bespoke projects such as this in the future.“

'Green' heating system being put to winter test. 5th January 2009

Residents in Harlaxton, near Grantham, are putting their ‘green’ heating system to the test over the winter months.

Larkfleet Group has designed and built 29 new homes at The Drift, Harlaxton for Muir Group, with some of the funding for the homes being provided by the government’s Housing Corporation.

The homes are all fitted with air source heat pumps – a heating system which operates like a refrigerator running in reverse, taking heat from the surrounding air to heat the home. It is designed to provide low cost and environmentally-friendly heating and hot water in this way even on cold winter days when the outside air temperature is low.

The homes are also built with high standards of insulation and other features to reduce their ‘carbon footprint’.

The development comprises a range of two and three bedroom houses and bungalows which are being reserved exclusively for local people with a direct connection to the village.

Some of the homes are being made available for low-cost renting and some are being offered for ‘shared ownership’, allowing a family to buy part of the home and rent the rest from the housing association as a way of ‘getting a foot on the housing ladder’.

David Robinson, development director at Muir Group Housing Association, said: “Muir Group is delighted to be working in partnership with Larkfleet to develop homes that meet the highest environmental standards.

“Muir is committed to apply ‘green’ technology where possible and we hope that future schemes will have similar technology for heating.”

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