Charles Church at the double
Persimmon’s premium housing brand has tied up a deal for a consented 57-home site on the outskirts of Leicester, and completed a deal with land promoter Richborough for a 110-home project in Solihull.
In Leicestershire, Charles Church North Midlands has completed the purchase of land in Cossington, where it will deliver housing of two to five bedrooms.
Conditions attached to the project amount to almost £900,000, including £500,000 towards education, £45,000 towards healthcare and around £87,500 towards community hall facilities..
Dan Endersby, managing director at Persimmon Homes and Charles Church North Midlands said: “Our upcoming new community will bring a wide range of new benefits to the area, including improvements to community facilities, public open spaces, healthcare, and education.
“Of course, what we do is about so much more than building quality homes. This development will not only generate significant job opportunities throughout the lifespan of the project but will also leave a lasting legacy of community benefits for the people of Cossington and the surrounding areas.”
Balsall Common will see 110 homes built. Credit: Richborough
The site in Balsall Common, Solihull saw outline consent granted earlier this year by Richborough, permission being granted under ‘grey belt’ legislation.
A proposals had been made to remove Balsall Common from the Green Belt and allocate it as housing in 2017, only for the Local Plan to fail post-examination and be withdrawn by the council in 2023. Richborough worked with Star Planning to secure planning consent as its first grey belt success.
Richborough said that 50% of the homes will be affordable, with a variety of tenures designed to meet local needs. The existing character of Balsall Common will be complemented by the design, the firm said, in what is a landscaping-led project.
Around 5.1 acres of the site will be provided as public green space, accessible from Balsall Street East to the north, a recreation area to the east and Frog Lane to the south. New green corridors and informal open spaces will form part of a local walking and wheeling network.
Hannah Deverell, disposals director at Richborough, said: “From the outset, our priority has been to unlock this land in a way that delivers both high-quality homes and meaningful community benefits.
“Initially designated as greenbelt but sensibly falling within the new ‘grey belt’ rules, this site is indicative of how the revised NPPF can bring forward smaller sites that expand communities sustainably. We are delighted to be partnering with Persimmon, a respected national housebuilder, to bring this site to life.”
Emily Berville Charlesworth, head of land at Charles Church Central, said: “Situated close to both Coventry and Solihull, the site sits within an established community with schools, shops and green space close by and benefits from excellent transport connections.
“It is a perfect site for Charles Church to establish a new community, delivering a mix of homes that respond to local needs while reflecting the character of Balsall Common.”
Ben Boutwood, director at advisor Pengwern Land, said: “The landowners were keen to see this site brought forward with a developer who could be trusted to deliver both homes and community value. This outcome is a fantastic result for all parties involved.”
