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Author: Chloe Denning

Summerfield Homes hands over its 2,000th Home

Posted on by Chloe Denning

Summerfield Homes has reached a significant landmark with the handover of its 2000th home since inception.

The business began new home construction in 1987 and over the last 37 years has evolved into an established housebuilder, gaining the reputation for building quality new homes in excellent locations across the South West.

When stepping into the housebuilding industry Summerfield Homes delivered smaller projects of three to five units whilst actively building strong relationships with local subcontractors and suppliers. In 2024 the business is actively working on multiple schemes across the South West including 320 units at Killams Park in Taunton, 250 units at Liddymore Park, Watchet and 20 units at Carrots Farm, North Petherton.

The housebuilder is also preparing for two new schemes starting imminently in the popular Somerset villages of Ashill and Horton, and has projects in various planning stages for Axminster, Kenton Mandeville, Exeter, Chard, Middlezoy, Bishops Lydeard and Plymouth.

Celebrating the milestone of the 2000th home is a proud moment for the team and has provided the opportunity to reflect on what the business has achieved since 1987.

Ed Khodabandehloo, Managing Director at Summerfield Homes, said: “A huge thank you must go to our management team and staff past and present, suppliers, subcontractors and consultants as we achieve this impressive milestone.

“On the way to handing over our 2000th home we have managed to secure several accolades for our build quality including multiple NHBC Pride in the Job Awards.

“We have plans for continued sustainable growth as a business but still very much with a focus on delivering a high standard of home to all our customers. Our reputation across the Southwest as a long-standing conscientious housebuilder with good relationships with our customers and supply chain is very important to us.”

The 2000th home is located at Carrots Farm, North Petherton and has been handed over to the new homeowners Paul Rochford and Lesley Norbury. Accepting the keys to their new home they said: “We spent several days looking at various new build properties around the Bridgwater area & Taunton.

“Our conclusion from viewing many properties is that the build quality of the Summerfield houses is exceptional. The layout of the house fits our needs perfectly, and the energy-efficient solar panels coupled with the EV charging point are a great plus.

“The location is perfect for Paul’s work in Bridgwater and North Petherton is an ideal community for us; it’s not too big and not too small.

“Overall, our experience with Summerfield Homes has been very good. They gave us time to overcome a stressful delay in our house-purchase chain. They have also given us an unprecedented level of one-to-one service in the house-buying process.”

Image: Left to Right, Ed Khodabandehloo, Managing Director at Summerfield Homes; Paul Rochford; Lesley Norbury; Philip Morgan, Divisional Director – Sales & Marketing at Summerfield Homes and Clive Linham, Site Manager at Summerfield Homes.

Helping Danesfield Pupils Make the Most of Their Outdoor Gym Equipment

Posted on by Chloe Denning

South West housebuilder Summerfield Homes have handed over a cheque to Danesfield School in Williton to help pupils make the most of their outdoor gym, even in wet weather.

Summerfield Homes donated £500 towards the new matting to go around the outdoor equipment and is pleased to invest back into the local community, where they are currently active on their Liddymore Park development in the neighbouring town of Watchet.

The outdoor equipment was opened in the summer of 2022 by the then captain of Somerset County Cricket Club, Tom Abell however, the gym is less popular with the school’s 350 pupils aged 9 to 13 when the ground is wet.

Headteacher, David McGrath, said: “The school is grateful for the money towards the matting which will be installed by caretaker Ray Griffiths and make the use of the gym more appealing in periods of bad weather. I am pleased that Summerfield Homes are keen to support the communities in which they are building new homes.”

Summerfield’s Divisional Director, Sales & Marketing, Philip Morgan said: “It was a pleasure to visit the school which has been part of the Williton, Watchet and Washford communities for generations. The business is pleased to provide a donation towards something that would benefit the pupils and encourage outdoor activities.”

The Watchet development Liddymore Park, is a collection of traditionally built 1, 2, 3 & 4 bedroom homes nestled at the foothills of the Quantock Hills National Landscape. The show homes are open Friday – Wednesday, 10am – 5pm.

Image: Pictured with the outdoor gym equipment are (left to right): Summerfield sales advisor, Rene Kilner; School Caretaker, Ray Griffiths: Head Teacher, David McGrath; Divisional Director, Sales & Marketing for Summerfield, Philip Morgan and pupils Freddie, Isabelle, Tammy and Freddie.

Summerfield a Finalist for Family Business of the Year Award

Posted on by Chloe Denning

Summerfield, the south-west-based property developer, attended the 19th annual Somerset Business Awards Dinner held in the Winter Gardens Pavilion, Weston-super-Mare as a finalist in the Family Business Category.

One of three finalists for the Albert Goodman sponsored award, Summerfield entered at the end of last year when it was celebrating 200 years of business in the County as well as the employment of the company’s eighth generation in the family.

The company has its roots in a business founded in 1823 when William Stansell came to Taunton with the idea of offering heraldic painting, plumbing and glazing services in Somerset. Since then it has grown and evolved now specialising in commercial development and housing. To date it has delivered almost 2,000 new homes and created more than 5,000 jobs at business parks along the M5 motorway. 

Congratulating the award winner Container Team, James Holyday, managing director of Summerfield and fourth times great grandson of William Stansell, said: “We take our hats off to Container Team as deserving winner this year.

“It is the first time we have entered these awards and it has been a valuable and enjoyable experience. It was an honour to be in the company of the two other respected finalists and we would like to thank the sponsors and organisers, the Somerset Chamber of Commerce, for a great competition.

“Reaching the finals is recognition of our efforts to create a thriving family business that has made a huge difference to so many people over many years. It brings pride and motivation to the whole Summerfield team, inspiring us to continue innovating, growing and serving our community to the best of our abilities”.

Image: James Holyday, managing Director of Summerfield (left) with award sponsor, Mike Cahill of Albert Goodman and Chloe Denning, marketing and events executive at Summerfield (right).

Developing ‘Skills for Life’ at Summerfield Homes

Posted on by Chloe Denning

Summerfield Homes is pleased to celebrate National Apprentice Week with Miles Broughton at Carrots Farm, North Petherton.

Miles, 20, who is studying at Bridgwater & Taunton College, joined Summerfield Homes in September 2022 as an apprentice assistant site manager. During his time with the business so far, Miles has been given the opportunity to work across all live residential projects, allowing him to develop his skills alongside a variety of different site managers.

Miles is currently based at Carrots Farm, North Petherton working alongside award winning site manager Clive Linham, Site Manager for Summerfield Homes. Clive has worked within the construction for over 40 years and his industry knowledge provides a solid foundation for Miles. 

The theme of this year’s National Apprentice Week is ‘Skills for Life’ and Miles says working for Summerfield Homes has made him more confident as a person and feels that the business is invested in his future career. He added that he looks forward to coming to work every day in a supportive environment.

Simon Gamlin, Divisional Director Construction / Health and Safety said “It is important to understand the positive impact that apprenticeships create for individuals and businesses. Miles is bright, driven and keen to succeed, he has been an excellent addition to the team, and we look forward to further developing his career over time.”

Ed Khodabandehloo, Managing Director at Summerfield Homes added “Having Miles working within the business under the mentorship of Simon and his team will give him a great platform to have a successful career within the housebuilding industry for many years.”

Pictured at Carrots Farm, North Petherton. Left to Right: Simon Gamlin, Divisional Director Construction/Health & Safety, Miles Broughton, Apprentice Assistant Site Manager and Clive Linham, Site Manager.

Discover Your New Workspace at Blackbrook Business Park, Taunton

Posted on by Chloe Denning

Summerfield Commercial has recently refurbished a first-floor office suite at Aintree House, located on the established Blackbrook Business Park, adjacent to Junction 25 of the M5.  This newly available space presents an excellent opportunity to move your company to Taunton’s most prominent Business Park.

The suite offers 1,486 sq ft of self-contained flexible space.  The office has been refurbished to include a brand new suspended ceiling with LED lighting throughout, plus a modern new kitchenette.  The suite has been fully redecorated and benefits from air conditioning with heat recovery and incoming fresh air, plus openable windows.  Outside you have access to 7 allocated onsite parking spaces, plus a bike store.  The above computer generated image has been provided for illustrative purposes, to demonstrate how the suite could look once furnished. 

The strategic location of Blackbrook Business Park provides excellent travel routes via Junction 25 of the M5 motorway and the A358 linking to the A303.  This well established location is already a thriving hub for many businesses across the South West, and the recent availability of the space within Aintree House offers the chance for your business to join them.

For more information on the available space please visit the online listing HERE! 

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Summerfield Commercial Welcomes KFC Drive-Thru to Westpark 26, Wellington

Posted on by Chloe Denning

Summerfield Commercial is celebrating the practical completion ahead of schedule of the KFC drive-thru at Westpark 26, Wellington.

The building will now be handed over to KFC for fit-out ahead of opening. The drive-thru will create approximately 30 new jobs in the area. As well as the restaurant, the site has 31 parking spaces of which 12 are dedicated EV charging spaces operated by Gridserve.

Situated at the front of Westpark 26 the new drive-thru fronts the A38 and is located on a plot between the Costa drive-thru, Skylark Pub and Travelodge. The completion of the KFC building marks the development of the last of the frontage plots on the business park.

The practical completion highlights the achievement of approximately 275,000 sq. ft developed at the 40-acre mixed use business park since 2009, which has created in the region of 1,100 jobs. The strategic location of Westpark 26, coupled with the accessible travel routes, makes the business park a desirable location that has already been chosen by a wide range of organisations as a base for their businesses.

Following the completion of the KFC drive-thru, Summerfield will focus attention on Plot 19, near the centre of the business park. Plans are to build two new terrace blocks of mixed-use commercial units which are already receiving a good level of interest.

James Holyday, Managing Director at Summerfield, commented: “The completion of the KFC building is a milestone for the business. We are pleased to have concluded all frontage plots at Westpark 26 and celebrate the development of more than 275,000 sq. ft of property over the last 15 years. The business park is a thriving hub for many companies across the South West and we look forward to turning our attention to further development on the site.”

Ben Trickey, Commercial Director at Summerfield Commercial, said: “We are pleased to have completed the drive-thru ahead of schedule and welcome the addition of new jobs to the area. This adds to the line-up of amenities on Westpark and we thank Devon Contractors for working with us seamlessly on another successful project.”

Contracts Manager, Nick England from Devon Contractors, said: “We have been delighted to carry out a further design and build development at Westpark 26 for Summerfield. The fact the new drive-thru with electric charge provision has been completed ahead of schedule is a testimony to the great teamwork between client, designers, contractor and sub-contractors.”

Planning Application submitted for new build “best in class” offices in Exeter

Posted on by Chloe Denning

A planning application has been submitted for approx. 24,000 sq ft of new build “best in class” offices in Exeter.

The application is for View Point, a new build 3 storey office building on the last remaining undeveloped plot within Pynes Hill Business Park, Exeter.  The offices are aimed at addressing modern occupiers’ awareness of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria and will assist a business in reducing their carbon footprint.

Designed to be suitable as a headquarter building, but with the flexibility to be occupied on a floor by floor basis, the offices are targeted to achieve an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of an A grade, and a BREEAM Excellent standard.  If feasible, both an EPC A+ and a BREEAM Outstanding certificate will be achieved.

The striking design will provide an office of the highest standards of thermal efficiency, low carbon output, (offset by a significant photovoltaic solar panel installation), along with excellent occupier wellbeing and comfort. 

Wesleyan Assurance Society, a financial services mutual,  is the landowner and hassubmitted the planning application in response to interest for the whole building. 

Tom Holland of Wesleyan commented, “As an institutional Landlord, Wesleyan is  acutely aware of the ever-increasing demand for innovative workplaces where ESG credentials are placed at the forefront of the design process.  View Point will be one of the first in the Exeter region to meet the new Biodiversity Net Gain national standards, and we are extremely proud to submit an application for a new development which has all the characteristics of a ‘best in class’ office building.

Summerfield Developments (SW) Ltd have worked with Wesleyan to Development Manage the process and have worked in conjunction with Wesleyan’s marketing agents Hugo Tillotson of Maze and Andrew Pearce of Pearce Property Consultants, along with architects LHC.

“This is a superb opportunity for an occupier to move into new offices that will reduce their carbon footprint and operational running costs, whilst providing staff and clients with exceptional surroundings”, remarked Ben Trickey, Director of Summerfield.  “We know from past experience that a building of this nature will significantly help on many tangible scales, but will also help with the more intangible areas of staff retention, staff well being and staff recruitment.”

For further information on the proposed offices, please contact Maze, Pearce Property Consultants or Summerfield.

New Senior Appointment at Summerfield Homes

Posted on by Chloe Denning

Summerfield Homes, has continued to grow its team with the appointment of a new Divisional Director to head up strategic land and planning. 

Neal Jillings joins the housebuilder as Divisional Director for Strategic Land & Planning in his new role based at the firm’s Taunton office bringing with him over two decades of experience within residential development across the region.

Neal is a chartered member of the Royal Town Planning Institute and brings with him a wealth of specialist knowledge and experience.  This includes working for a local planning authority, the Planning Inspectorate, Savills and, more recently, running his own practice where he has recently been working with the team at Summerfield Homes in a consultancy capacity.

In his new role, Neal will be responsible for identifying and progressing future opportunities for housing schemes in the South West in line with Summerfield Homes’ growth plans. Neal will also be working on progressing the planning strategy for some of the company’s existing strategic land assets from Plymouth to North Somerset.

Ed Khodabandehloo, Managing Director at Summerfield Homes, said: “I am pleased to continue our growth plans with the appointment of a highly qualified and well-respected professional in Neal. We have some exciting strategic land holdings across Devon and Somerset and with Neal on board we can really focus on bringing these to fruition as well as adding to the company’s already expanding land portfolio.”

Commenting on his new appointment, Neal Jillings said: “I have enjoyed working with Summerfield Homes as one of my key clients and taking up Ed’s offer is a fantastic opportunity for me.  I have worked in planning and development throughout the South West for almost 30 years.  I hope to bring some of that experience to bear in helping Summerfield Homes maintain its position as a respected and successful regional housebuilder”

Summerfield Homes hand over 11 new affordable homes in Watchet

Posted on by Chloe Denning

Summerfield Homes has handed over eleven brand new properties on its development at Liddymore Park, Watchet to Somerset community- based affordable housing provider, SHAL Housing.

The houses are in the first of three phases of Summerfield’s development and range from one to three-bedroom properties. All but one has a garden and they each benefit from air source heat pumps and dedicated parking.

Liddymore Park is a short distance from the Knights Templar First School and within easy reach of Watchet town centre. The houses have been carefully designed to fit well with their surroundings and have a contemporary feel.

Handing over the completed homes to Lee Martin-Skull from SHAL, Mark Woodland, projects manager at Summerfield Homes, said: “We are delighted to be able to handover these much-needed homes to an association that works to provide safe, warm and affordable housing across the County.

“We are proud to deliver schemes with a mix of provision that create new communities for local people in sought after locations and that have our hallmark of a quality finish.”

Taking on the homes, Lee said: “It is such a privilege when we see people moving into the homes we help provide and we are grateful to Summerfield for the great job the team has done in planning and turning into a reality this attractive development.”

Image: (L- R) Alistair Lee, Site Manager, Summerfield Homes; Lee Martin-Skull, SHAL Housing; Stephanie Tonkyn from surveyors Taylor Lewis and Mark Woodland, Projects Manager, Summerfield Homes.

Summerfield Homes announces it’s first Net Zero development in Middlezoy

Posted on by Chloe Denning

Summerfield Homes has secured permission to build 26 new homes, including affordable properties, in Middlezoy.

The Somerset based housebuilder has been given consent for the development on land off Back Lane, which will be Summerfield Homes first Net Zero Carbon project.

With new access and highways improvements as part of the scheme, the development will have a mix of one, two, three and four bedroom homes, of which a number will be handed over to a local housing association. This comes after a 2021 housing needs survey highlighted the requirement for more affordable homes in the area.

Not only will the development benefit from being a Net Zero scheme but also, each property will be constructed with the latest energy efficient features such as a renewable energy source, PV solar panels and shower saves. Summerfield Homes is also installing a variety of bird and bat boxes, bee bricks and hedgehog friendly fencing within the development for local wildlife to thrive in the area.

Planning permission was granted to Summerfield Homes on appeal after the planning committee turned it down. The application went to committee with the planning offices recommendation and no technical objection from highways or other consultees.

The village is accessible to travel routes including the A372 that goes to Bridgwater in approximately seven miles; Junction 24 of the M5 motorway in approximately nine miles and the A361 that goes to the County Town, Taunton in approximately 14 miles.

Commenting on the appeal decision, Ed Khodabandehloo, Managing Director at Summerfield Homes, said: ‘I’m very pleased that the Planning Inspectorate has made the decision in favour of our appeal. We submitted a policy compliant application that had no technical objections, full policy support and included ten affordable homes to meet part of a long-standing need for affordable housing identified within the village.

“We are delighted with the outcome and look forward to returning to Middlezoy to build these properties in what is a very desirable Somerset village.” 

Tauntfield, South Road, Taunton, Somerset TA1 3ND Tel: 01823 257961 • Email: reception@summerfield.co.uk

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