Fast-growing local builder Helm Construction has applauded B&NES Council after their record-breaking performance, delivering 871 new homes across the district in 2016/17.
Contracts Manager Danni Oliveira said the most encouraging aspect was that the majority of new homes had been built on Brownfield sites.
“We are presently active on two sites in Bath – regenerating redundant commercial sites for a new generation of Bathonians. We believe every Brownfield home helps reduce the burden on the green space around Bath.”
Helm Construction also hailed Chancellor Philip Hammond’s Budget pledge to subsidise expensive pre-development works on Brownfield sites.
“Although they can frequently be acquired more cheaply than green field sites, clearing previous structures or overcoming contamination issues are often make or break issues for developers.
“By subsidising this costly groundwork the Government could improve the viability of many more Brownfield sites.”
Danni Oliveira continued: “With major housing schemes pencilled in on a number of major green field sites around the city’s outskirts it is vital that no stone is left unturned on older industrial or commercial sites within the BANES boundary.”
BANES’ Core Strategy blueprint makes provision for 13,000 new homes, including 3,290 affordable homes, to be completed by March 2029.
Danni Oliveira said many schemes around Bath were on previously built up sites – including the former MoD sites around the city and the former Frys factory at Somerdale.
He said: “Every home built from a converted commercial space or on one of the dozens of Brownfield sites which are still evident across the city reduces, if only by a fraction, the burden on our suburban districts which are coming to terms with the prospect of thousands of new homes.”
“In addition to sites at Walcot Yard and Lower Borough Walls, Helm Construction has tackled commercial to residential schemes at Oriel House in Cheltenham, and at Crown Glass and Clevedon Walk in Nailsea. Taken together these schemes provided more than 30 new homes.”
