A development of 103 new homes in Cheshire overcame obstacles from the site’s industrial history as a salt mine – which did not deter developers Russell Homes. Roseanne Field reports
One of Russell Homes’ latest developments, Brook View, has not only overcome some planning obstacles, but gone on to win an award for its sustainability credentials.
The land in rural Cheshire was found by Russell LDP – the north west-based independent housebuilder’s land, development and property arm – who identified it as a potential site to build homes for the local area.
The site, located on the border of Wincham and Northwich, halfway between Manchester and Chester, is part of a wider area known for its Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The Witton Lime Beds and Neumann’s Flashes are locally-known nature reserves on the doorstep of the site, the former of which is a SSSI due to its offering habitats supported by chalky soils.
This particular site had been used previously for industrial warehousing, and part of it was a historic salt mine. This didn’t deter Russell LDP, who thought the site offered an ideal opportunity to convert what had become a derelict parcel of brownfield land into something that the local area was in need of – namely family homes.
The team felt the location would offer potential residents the best of both worlds, living within a large parkland surrounded by fields while having easy access to modern amenities. The site is close to rambling routes and country pubs, as well as supermarkets, restaurants, entertainment venues and both primary and secondary schools. It is close to the main regional road and rail links while still boasting views over the nearby Wincham Brook – earning the development its name Brook View.
Russell LDP began the process of securing the land, and more importantly, working through planning items with the local council. “Due to the historic industrial uses of the site, there were a number of items to consider,” explains Thomas Relph, associate land and planning director at Russell Homes and LDP. “This included the use of the land, loss of employment, dealing with the previous salt mine, and managing the surrounding health and safety issues from the nearby industrial development.”
Collectively, these factors meant a “strong strategy” was needed, and a series of discussions took place between the developers and council officers. The salt mine proved to be the biggest obstacle, and after detailed investigations into the ground were undertaken it was decided to create a ‘standoff zone’ – a designated area of green open space where no activity takes place.
Despite the complicated nature of the site, discussions with council officers were “positive,” says Relph, resulting in a “positive outcome and a strong development.”
Moving forward
As well as negotiating the properties of the site itself, the meetings between council officers and Russell LDP allowed for discussions around the overall site layout, number and size of units, and the various tenures. “Detailed discussions were held with the council housing officers to determine what the best mix was to meet local housing needs,” says Relph. “It was important to have key stakeholder involvement from the council to deliver a strong community feel that caters for all walks of life.”
In the end, they agreed on a total number of units for the site at 103 homes – ranging from one to four bedrooms. This was in order that the development would have something to offer everyone, from young families buying their first homes to downsizers looking for a smaller property. Brook View comprises detached, semi-detached and mews-style properties in a mix of tenures – open market, shared ownership and social rent.
Benefitting the local community meant more than simply building the homes. More than £400,000 was invested locally by Russell Homes as part of the development – just over £156,500 was allocated to local education provision by Cheshire West and Chester, £179,352 went towards funding local sports pitches and play facilities, and £102,744 provided support for local primary care surgeries.
It was also important to both parties to ensure that the development wouldn’t just comprise a cluster of houses. “We always make sure our developments have plenty of usable and public open green space, so that there will be a real community feel,” Relph explains. “We also make sure the homes we design and build are in keeping with the local area, using materials to go alongside.” More than half of the total development area has been intentionally left as open space.
The planning application was submitted in August 2020, with permission granted at the end of July 2021. Once the team had secured planning permission, the project was handed over to Russell Homes for construction to begin. Commencement on site took place in the first quarter of 2022, with remediation works taking longer than anticipated due to inclement weather – which included snow and ice as well as rain.
Building & design details
Russell Homes wanted to ensure the development was in keeping with the local area, so specifically selected house types were used on the development. At Brook View, this meant the design team opted to finish the homes with Cheshire brick and slate effect roofs and feature stone lintels – details chosen to “echo the character of traditional Cheshire homes, in keeping with the local vernacular,” explains design manager Neil Walker.
Aside from the finishing touches being influenced by the locality, the other key driver behind the overall design and construction of the homes was sustainability. The company sets out to achieve high sustainability and energy efficiency standards at all of its developments, and Brook View was no exception.
Explaining the chosen construction method, Walker says: “Timber frames were used on the development to align with our sustainability and energy efficiency goals. We used responsibly-sourced materials that are approved by the correct frameworks and benefit from having a chain of custody, meaning we can track the timber from source.”
As well as allowing the housebuilder to trace right back to its source, the timber frame also acts as an “excellent insulator’, allowing us to insulate between the frame which increases the energy efficiency of our homes before other features are even added, and reduces the reliance on energy sources – renewable or otherwise,” Walker adds.
The timber was brought to site as pre-manufactured units, factory-controlled and craned onsite. “This modern method of construction cuts down on construction waste,” explains Walker. “It reduces the carbon footprint and cuts down on construction time.”
With the delays faced during remediation works, the development’s show home finally launched in the first quarter of 2023. The housebuilder hopes to complete the development by the third quarter of 2025, and only three homes remain available for sale.
The homes are all internally finished to a high standard, including fully fitted kitchens with soft close doors and drawers, glass splashbacks and an integrated fridge freezer, gas hob, electric oven and extractor hood as standard.
A variety of tiles are available to choose from in the bathrooms, ensuites and cloakrooms, and chrome heated towel rails are fitted in the family bathrooms and ensuites. The staircases are finished with a polished natural wood handrail and all doors have satin stainless steel handles.
Energy efficiency & biodiversity
Achieving a high level of sustainability was a target from the outset, with Walker explaining that the site is the company’s “most sustainable development to date.”
A range of features were included, ranging from large-scale, such as the timber frame, right down to the finer details. Every home has an EV charger fitted as standard, along with A-rated condensing boilers and low heat-loss water cylinders. The timber frame is responsibly sourced to minimise deforestation, with either FSC-approved or PEFC-approved certification.
All of the homes also include 500 mm of loft insulation, energy efficient light bulbs and kitchen appliances that are both energy and water efficient with either A or A+ energy ratings. Wherever possible, environmentally-friendly materials are utilised rated either A or A+ by the BRE Green Guide. Bathrooms also all include “industry-leading” water saving fixtures and fittings.
The development utilises argon-filled double glazing with a low-emission coatings and incorporating Planitherm Total+ Low E glass, achieving a maximum permissible U-value of 1.4W/m2K. External doors are also insulated, and over 50 of the houses include PV panels, which will enable them to generate up to 30% of their energy requirements. Combined, these factors mean the houses all have an EPC rating of B or higher.
Acoustic dampening and sound insulating materials, along with the construction methods help minimise sound transfer. During construction, the team ensured that 95% of the building waste was either recycled or reused.
Landscaping also formed an important part of the development’s overall sustainability. A sustainable urban drainage system was designed and developed, which has created an ecological habitat and aided the water management of the neighbouring Wincham Brook. An attenuation pond is located near the entrance to the development which, explains Walker, “takes all surface water from the development and releases it into the existing brook via a hydro brake, at an agreed fixed rate to prevent flooding.”
The attenuation pond is situated within a large open space that welcomes residents and visitors to the development on either side of the road. In total, more than 50% of the development comprises green open space. Existing trees have been supplemented by extensive planting, including bee-friendly plants and flowers, as part of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements. “Native species and wildflowers have been included in the landscaping designs, and this combined with the large number of bird and bat boxes – which have been distributed throughout the development – encourages a safe space for natural wildlife,” Walker says. The ecological value of the site is assessed by independent ecologists.
There is a well-equipped play area and a pitch for ball games. Once the development is fully complete, a management company will take over from Russell Homes to “maintain the green corridor and ensure the upkeep of all of the public space,” explains Walker.
A sustainable success
The hard work undertaken by the housebuilder to ensure Brook View was as sustainable as possible paid off, with the development being awarded a NextGeneration Project Silver Status eco award for “exceeding mandatory sustainability standards.”
NextGeneration is a sustainability benchmarking system, designed to evaluate UK housebuilders on whether they are going beyond the minimum standards and mandatory requirements. Its aim is to drive change and boost understanding of the sustainability of benchmarked housebuilders, with the criteria for each benchmark publicly available. The initiative is backed by Homes England, the UK Green Building Council and Lloyds Bank and comprises three services: NextGeneration Project, which assesses sustainability on individual projects; NextGeneration Core, which benchmarks corporate sustainability practices for SME housebuilders; and NextGeneration Benchmark, which is an annual sustainability benchmark for the UK’s 25 largest housebuilders.
To achieve NextGeneration Project Silver Status, a scheme must exceed expectations in four areas: the use of sustainable building methods, increased biodiversity to be delivered by the end of the programme, responsible employment practices, and the provision of affordable homes. As well as being commended for its achievements and rewarded with Silver Status, Russell Homes also received guidance on how to improve in other areas, which it plans to implement on future developments.
Since the early stages of the project it’s been well received, says Russell Homes’ sales manager Jackie Matheson: “The reaction to the development has been nothing but positive,” she explains. “From when planning was submitted to the homes being built, locals have always mentioned the attractiveness of the development and the need for housing in the local area.”
Although not yet completed, many of the homes now have residents living in them who “love their new homes and the quality is always complimented,” says Matheson. “The amount of green space is always a welcome surprise to our visitors, especially the green gateway on the way to the development,” he concludes, asserting: There is a real community feel at the heart of this development.”