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

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

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

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

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.” 

Summerfield Homes purchases land for 9 family homes in Horton, Somerset

Summerfield Homes has purchased the land of a former garage in the village of Horton where it has permission to build nine detached family homes.

The Somerset based housebuilder is delivering a mix of three, four and five bedroom detached homes on the outskirts of the Horton located off Shave Lane.

Before construction can begin, the former garage and outbuildings will be demolished making way for a new access road and the nine homes, which have been individually designed, adopting a contemporary specification inside and out.

Enjoying views of open countryside, the site will retain East and South hedgerows and trees with additional planting, bird and bat boxes to encourage nature to thrive in the rural setting.

Each new home will benefit from the latest energy-efficient features incorporating a renewable energy source, shower saves and further thermally efficient external elements. The development has been carefully planned to ensure each property takes advantage of the maximum amount of natural sunlight and ventilation.

The popular village of Horton benefits from a rural setting but is coupled with excellent travel routes, being accessible to major A roads including the A303 and A358 as well as being approximately 11 miles from Junction 25 of the M5 motorway.

Commenting on the completion of this new site purchase, Jamie Johnson, Development Manager at Summerfield Homes, said: “We are pleased to have successfully completed the purchase of the land at Horton, off Shave Lane. This development presents the opportunity for Summerfield Homes to deliver nine contemporary new homes all built to an excellent specification.

“We understand the importance of providing highly energy efficient properties, that are not only kind to the environment but also benefit from being constructed with quality materials ensuring we provide an excellent place for customers to live for years to come.”

Development underway at Carrots Farm, North Petherton

Summerfield Homes have officially started works on 20 new homes at Carrots Farm, North Petherton.

This development will have a collection of 2, 3 & 4 bedroom homes positioned in a prime location just under 1 mile from Junction 24 of the M5 Motorway.

Since acquiring the land earlier in the year Summerfield Homes have received high levels of interest in the properties and expect this to be a highly sought after development.

Carrots Farm will also deliver areas of open space, a local area of play and affordable housing.

Ed Khodabandehloo, Managing Director at Summerfield Homes commented; “We are delighted to have started at Carrots Farm in North Petherton, delivering 20 homes to this popular Somerset village. Our sales team look forward to welcoming customers to the development in early 2023.”

Next Phase of Killams Park Underway in Taunton, Somerset

Summerfield Homes are pleased to announce the start of works to the third phase of their award winning new homes development in Taunton; Killams Park.

With work originally starting in 2016, the development has won five awards for the quality of the homes which include 2, 3 and 4 bed homes. The third phase, now well underway, will also see the construction of affordable homes under Summerfield’s My Homes initiative, amongst the first 26 of the final 101 properties left to build in the third phase.

As part of the phase three plans, Summerfield Homes have included a new play area for the benefit of the local community as well as considerable levels of open space and allotments.

The development located in southern part of Taunton has excellent travel routes and Junction 25 of the M5 is jst a 4-mile drive from the site.

Josh Cooper has been recently promoted to Site Manager at Killams Park from his previous role as Assistant Site Manager.  Mark Woodland has now taken the role as the companies Project Manager overseeing the construction of multiple housing projects

Ed Khodabandehloo, Managing Director at Summerfield Homes said: “Killams Park has become one of the most sought after places to live in the Taunton area and I’m pleased to be progressing with Phase Three. Our sales team look forward to welcoming prospective purchasers to the development later this year.”

30 New Jobs at new Removals and Storage Facility at Westpark 26

SUMMERFIELD Commercial are pleased to announce the creation of up to 30 new employment opportunities following the start of works on a 15,200 sq ft (1,412 sq m) warehouse and storage facility for the Fox Group.

Work commenced on Block 5Z at the growing Westpark 26 development last month (February 2022) and will see Fox Self Storage taking occupation alongside Chudley International Removals, relocating from Illminster, by the end of the year.

The bespoke build is part of the Fox Group’s expansion plans and is due to create and retain up to 30 new skilled and semi-skilled jobs, whilst also providing a self storage facility to meet local and regional demand.

Ben Trickey, Commercial Director at Summerfield said: “The creation of jobs is always a welcome part of any new commercial development we undertake as a business; enhancing the local economy further.

I’m delighted to be able to have commenced work on this latest development at Block 5Z for the Fox Group, enabling their continued growth and expansion here in Somerset.”

Fox Group was founded in 1971 and the latest development, it’s eighth site in the UK was confirmed during the company’s 50th year of trading as a family business.

Paul Fox, Managing Director of Fox Group said: “I’m delighted to be able to confirm Summerfield Commercial have started work on site at Westpark 26 recently and I will be undertaking recruitment for staff within the coming months.

The high bay warehousing and storage facility will continue to serve the business, offering national and international home and business relocation services, alongside our ever-popular range of self storage options for homes and businesses, here in Somerset.”

Westpark 26 has established itself as a prime modern business park, with a range of amenities, serving both the Wellington/Taunton area and the wider M5 corridor. The 200,000 sq ft (18,500 sq m) site features industrial warehouses, distribution depots, workshops, trade counters, offices and small employment units with planning consent in place for further uses including logistics, manufacturing and health, as well as frontage and road side options.

The business park boasts a range of existing amenities including a 60-bed Travelodge hotel, the Skylark pub, Shell service station with a Budgens convenience store and Subway, in addition to Costa and McDonald’s restaurants, both with drive-thru facilities.

Summerfield secures two national trade counters at Westpark 26

SUMMERFIELD Commercial announce Toolstation & Screwfix have both leased new units on the latest phase of development at the established business park, situated just off junction 26 of the M5.

Blocks C and D comprise of two terraces of industrial units that suit trade counter or light manufacturing occupiers. Screwfix and Toolstation have leased units in Block C of 4,100 sq ft and 2,800 sq ft respectively and will be in occupation during February 2022.

The remaing two units in Block C, comprising a total of approx. 5,437 sq ft are also under offer with completion anticipated in March of this year.

A further 4 units in the adjacent Block D are available for lease offering 2,572 sq ft each, or up to a combined total of approx. 10,288 sq. ft, subject to the requirements of any occupier’s needs, with dedicated and communal parking onsite.  

Ben Trickey, Commercial Director at Summerfield said: “Having two such well-regarded national trade counter operators both taking leases at Westpark 26 is indicative of the business park’s success. It’s a very welcome move from Screwfix and Toolstation who both have their heritage here in Somerset, and we’re looking forward to welcoming all of our new occupiers this spring.”

Colliers acted for Screwfix and Adept Consultancy acted for Toolstation.

Philip MacLachlan, Managing Director at Adept Consultancy, commented on Toolstation’s latest development: “With over 500 branches across the UK, Westpark 26 was a prime location for the growth of our branches both in the South West and the UK.”

Westpark 26 has established itself as a prime modern business park, with a range of amenities, serving both the Wellington/Taunton area and the wider M5 corridor. The 200,000 sq ft (18,500 sq m) site features industrial warehouses, distribution depots, workshops, trade counters, offices and small employment units with planning consent in place for further uses including logistics, manufacturing and health, as well as frontage and road side options.

The business park boasts a range of existing amenities including a 60-bed Travelodge hotel, the Skylark pub, Shell service station with a Budgens convenience store and Subway, in addition to Costa and McDonald’s restaurants, both with drive-thru facilities.

 Tim Western of JLL and Andrew Maynard of Alder King, joint marketing agents, commented ‘Summerfield’s strategy to speculatively construct modern business space has again paid dividends with these latest signings by well-known trade counter operators. Wellington is growing significantly as a town with large housing developments and Westpark 26 provides valuable employment opportunities’.

For further information on the latest availability at Westpark 26, please contact the joints agents; Tim Western of JLL or Andrew Maynard at Alder King.

New Land Purchased in North Petherton, Somerset

Summerfield Homes are pleased to announce the purchase of Carrots Farm Shop in North Petherton, Somerset. The land has outline planning for 20 new 2, 3 & 4 bedroom homes.

Construction is due to start Summer 2022, with the first properties being occupied approximately late Spring 2023.

This development will be a wonderful haven for new home owners and offers excellent local facilities with easy access to Junction 24 of the M5 motorway.

To register your interest in this development please email enquiries@summerfield.co.uk