Capital & Centric announces housebuilding plan
Capital & Centric has launched housebuilding arm Nowhaus, and is seeking to acquire and develop sites in partnership with Greater Manchester and Merseyside local authorities to bring forward several hundred homes each year.
The Nowhaus concept has been designed by architect shedkm, and aims to create affordable housing which maximises the living space within the property as well as allowing for high-density development.
The mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom houses would be built back-to-back in terraces for space efficiency, with low-maintenance roof gardens and car parking spaces.
Capital & Centric is aiming to build twice as many homes on a site than the traditional housebuilders, and is targeting plots of three acres or more which could deliver around 100 homes per project.
The company, which was co-founded by Tim Heatley and Adam Higgins in 2011, used the MIPIM UK conference in London last week to present the concept to Housing Minister Brandon Lewis.
According to Heatley, Nowhaus is based on economies of scale, which allow for cost savings to be passed on to the end user. “We want to build communities up,” he said. “We’re aiming for pioneering sites where there have been challenges around development, and that are big enough to change how people look at the entire area. The bigger the site the better.”
An interesting concept. Would all these units not be single aspect though?
By Ready Salted
Cram them in like sardines and call it a ”concept” I wouldn’t like to live where they try and fit even more houses on such sites, it’s unfair to lower income families.
By Anonymous
what he said
By salt and vinegar
Too much of the same in one area is boring and ultimately deteriorates unless it is really high quality. Mixed housing types are best for successful and sustainable communities. We need to remember the lessons from the failures of 60s planning when it comes to housing, especially in the north.
By Paul Blackburn (Chester)
Looks clever, how much will they cost though?
By Peter Thompson
Urban Splash mark II. Funders approach with caution!!!
By Matthew
Back to backs? Good grief. They saw that these were a bad idea 90 years ago. A lack of respect for tenants and an eye purely on profit. Why not bring back rickets and have done with it
By midway
Lets see how much the “cost savings to be passed on to the end user” as Heatley promises. The (very similar) Urban Splash HoUSe units at New Islington were up at over £300k a pop, and that was for an empty box without any interior walls.
By James
Finally, an alternative to the mass market junk that all the other house builders thow up. Nice to see a North West company taking the lead.
By Paul Thistlewood
i dont like the colours but its an innovative idea, it reads as though they’re focusing on regeneration sites too, judging by their other stuff I wouldn’t bet against them….
By miklehurst
Back to backs could be ok if they manage to squeeze enough private open space on the roofs and they are built well but they will need to make sure the mid terraces are not too dark and dingy being only single aspect.
By Ready Salted
Great idea. Love it, I saw this at mipim they said less than £90k, I could stretch to that as single on a grad salary. Can’t afford a parking space or a roof terrace in the city centre so this is a good option.
By Howard
I think there a great idea if they are truely affordable. Are they getting built yet?
By 6of1
I think houses are a great idea. Far better then the boring rubbish most house builders build. Have any been built yet?
By 6of1