Riverstone’s Post

New buildings are crucial in addressing the current housing crises. It's great to see the completion of the new apartments on McLeod Street next to Cairns Central. This development provides much-needed accommodation, with more private and publicly funded options in planning or under construction. #HousingCrisis #NewDevelopments.

My latest blog: Unveiling the Blueprint: NPPF’s Quest for Beauty in Building Better and Beautiful Places Given the current consultation on making it easier to build houses on brownfield, we need to keep in mind that HOW we build and WHAT we build is as important as WHERE we build. #tldr The NPPF expects beautiful buildings, places and settings that are attractive, healthy, worth communities owning and caring for. The Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission challenged planners to refuse ugliness and seek beauty to turn anywhere into somewhere, and nowhere into home. https://lnkd.in/eZUGrkUu

Birchgrove response to NPPF Honor Barratt, CEO, Birchgrove said: "Angela Rayner’s plans for how Labour intends to increase housebuilding are laudable. However, we believe part of the solution to the housing crisis is making better use of the homes we already have. “There has been a lot of focus on the need for affordable homes in Labour’s announcements so far. But this country has a similarly pressing issue with the lack of housing suitable for seniors. “We note that today’s announcement mentions support for mixed use sites that comprise a variety of ownership and rental tenures. We hope senior living will be a significant part of this mix. “Senior housing needs to be moved up the political agenda as it’s a key part of the solution to this country’s housing crisis. Two thirds of over-65s have at least two empty spare bedrooms in their home, which equates to nine million empty bedrooms every night. “A significant number of these people would move to smaller properties if more suitable senior living was widely available. This would free up many larger properties and have a knock-on effect on the entire housing market.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals https://lnkd.in/eNzx4_nf

Whether you call it housebuilding, placemaking, legacy development, construction or another label, Labour's stated aim to 'get Britain building', repeated in the King's Speech, means those of us involved in construction, planning and development will be watching closely in the coming months and years. If our new government delivers holistically, the convergence of new provisions relating to planning, funding, energy provision and skills could give rise to some exciting opportunities. My colleagues Henry Stevens and Christina Tennant share their initial thoughts. Katy Lock of the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) described in a recent talk the three elements to effective housing delivery in relation to planning for new homes, from the contribution of the normal local plan process (sidebar alert: my own local authority is yet to finalise their local plan), through local strategic growth of between 1,500 and 10,000 new homes, through to the national strategic growth of new settlements of at least 35,000 homes. Farrer & Co's long experience in delivering large urban extension projects will be useful in unpicking the detail to come as Labour look to deliver on their commitments to deliver new homes. Our residential, commercial and rural property experts work seamlessly with specialists in planning, environmental and construction law, and of course our banking and corporate colleagues in securing funding and setting up delivery vehicles. If you would like an introduction to any of my colleagues, are keen to talk construction, or simply want to receive our updates as further detail emerges, do get in touch. https://lnkd.in/eXuPmrqA

It is encouraging to see committed spending progressing in the North West region; the £24 million regeneration of the Wirral Waterfront Woodside programme is advancing, providing 1,700 homes, hotels and tourist attractions. Elsewhere, a consultation has opened for 900 homes in Wrexham. A 113-acre site is looking to be developed by the Harworth Group, including 20% affordable housing. The project is part of the Wrexham Local Development plan and will also include the construction of local amenities such as a primary school, sports pitches and infrastructure upgrades. The concerns surrounding the economy are evidenced by the administration of house builder Stewart Milne Homes, caused by rising costs and a challenging supply chain. Read my North Western region update in our Gleeds Market Report for the latest on trends in the local market: https://lnkd.in/dmCPx4fd #UKconstruction #construction #digitalconstruction #gleedsdigital 

Thanks Kronen Limited for your valuable highways assistance on this.

It is encouraging to see committed spending progressing in the North West region; the £24 million regeneration of the Wirral Waterfront Woodside programme is advancing, providing 1,700 homes, hotels and tourist attractions. Elsewhere, a consultation has opened for 900 homes in Wrexham. A 113-acre site is looking to be developed by the Harworth Group, including 20% affordable housing. The project is part of the Wrexham Local Development plan and will also include the construction of local amenities such as a primary school, sports pitches and infrastructure upgrades. The concerns surrounding the economy are evidenced by the administration of house builder Stewart Milne Homes, caused by rising costs and a challenging supply chain. Read my North Western region update in our @Gleeds Market Report for the latest on trends in the local market: https://lnkd.in/e53UamG7 #UKconstruction #construction #digitalconstruction #gleedsdigital 

Mass hysteria is building up across Metropolitan Sydney over Premier Minns's plans to rezone midrise apartments across Sydney railway stations. The proposed demolition of Phil Burfurd's historic home with a beautiful slate roof on Ragalan Street is just one example of the need to understand historical overlays and social responsibility among most of Sydney's developers. Despite the worst housing shortfall in NSW state history, six critical suburbs have yet to see new major projects over the last six years. However, Metropolitan Sydney needs to be considered, especially concerning historical overlays, and more reference sites are required to demonstrate that this can be done responsibly. As a "Placemaker", I have proved that new can blend with heritage, as shown by my past major urban projects in Adelaide and North Adelaide. Let's consider "BROUGHAM", the largest Terrace City Housing project on a vacant site in over 100 years, "MONTEFIORE", and "VICTORIA GROVE" as examples. These projects were designed to match the scale of the historic mansions, cottages, and churches in the respective areas, with 30% set aside for affordability. Sydney needs to learn from these examples and ensure that historical preservation and social responsibility are prioritized in new developments. #sydney #masshysteria #historicaloverlays

The NSW Government, in collaboration with the Government Architect NSW, NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, has launched an innovative interactive map that showcases exemplary designs of low and mid-rise homes. These include terraces, manor houses, townhouses, and smaller apartment buildings. These housing types are not just buildings; they are integral to the fabric of our communities, blending historical charm with modern needs. Imagine a future where every neighbourhood boasts a mix of housing options that cater to diverse lifestyles and family structures. Picture streets lined with beautiful terraces, vibrant townhouses, and elegant manor houses, all within reach of essential amenities and transport. This is not a distant dream but a tangible reality we can create together. However, it's not just about the buildings; we must also focus on infrastructure development and community needs. By integrating diverse housing with robust infrastructure and essential services, we can enhance the vibrancy of our communities without adding pressure. Together, we can build neighbourhoods that are inclusive, sustainable, and thriving.

Great to see #Belfast #BTR finally emerging with The Loft Lines by Watkin Jones Group. Of all key UK cities, Belfast benefits from having the fastest rate of headcount growth, and most vacancies (by size) in key #financialservices roles at firms like EY, KPMG, etc. If you want to look behind the historic/dry mainstream data and really understand what drives the future of high-growth cities like Belfast, get in touch with me. George Dyer, Tristram Ford, Alex Pease, Paddy Allen