Uncategorized Archives - Woolbro Group

We are delighted to have exchanged on Hobbs Cross Farm, Theydon Garnon, in Epping Forest.

The 2.2-hectare site comprises commercial land with existing buildings, and the proposal intends to work with the tenants to update the yards and services available to them.

The site is easily accessible with both the M25 and M11 close by.

Practical Completion of Beresford Avenue
We are delighted to announce that we have taken practical completion on our mixed use development on Beresford Avenue in Alperton. The development provides 100 much need affordable homes for the borough and 12,000 sq ft of new, modern Class E commercial on the ground floor. The development was built in partnership with Guinness Partnerships and the contractor was Howarth Homes. We would like to say a big thank you to both for all their hard work.
We have let 4,800 sq ft of ground floor commercial to Tesco. If you are interested in the remaining units, please contact us.

Watch the timelapse here

We are delighted to report that Reigate and Banstead Borough Council have unanimously granted planning consent for our proposed mixed-use redevelopment at Station Road, Horley.

The proposed redevelopment consists of 10 new homes and 36,000sqft of employment generating uses, including a mix of light industrial space, offices, and retail.

The scheme will make more efficient use of the currently vacant Mitchells of Horley site. The redevelopment also seeks to protect and enhance the adjacent former brewery building and bring it back to life.

Energy use and building performance have been a key factor within the proposal, which is based on a ‘fabric first’ approach. Passive design measures involve maximising the insulation and air tightness that make up the building fabric. Further considerations to reduce the total carbon emission of the building include, space and water heating, provided by highly efficient air source heat pumps.

Woolbro Homes is very pleased to announce that we have completed our purchase of Venn House in Great Dunmow. The site will now be built out for 12 much-needed new private homes comprising three, four and five bed houses with associated parking and amenity space.

Planning was granted at appeal earlier this year, when the Planning Inspectorate overturned Uttlesford District Council’s decision to reject Venn House.

The site is located within the historic market town of Great Dunmow within close walking distance to high street shops, services and facilities.

Ben Woolman, spoke with BBC News’ Home Editor Mark Easton about the sheer enormity of the challenge the new prime minister faces when it comes to sorting Britain’s housing crisis.

Watch the clip here

With interest rates at their highest point in 15 years, the pressure is on for homeowners, potential buyers and developers alike.

Ben Woolman, Director at Woolbro Group, spoke with several publications last week, including Property Notify, Showhouse and Mortgage Solutions, regarding the effects of interest rate rises on the UK housing market.

He said: “The naive idea that homeowners would simply ‘adjust’ to higher interest rates is now dead in the water.

Mortgagers are instead having to come to terms with the life-changing consequences of this latest rate rise which, for many, will be devastating.
But make no mistake, today’s turmoil has been in the making for many years.
In lieu of building the new homes Britain so desperately needs, the government has instead pandered to ‘Nimbys’ and those who are all but completely opposed to any form of new development.

It is only now, in the run-up to a general election, that it has dawned on the Tories that the housing crisis they themselves have presided over could be their undoing.

If there was ever a time for the Prime Minister to publicly commit to reform of Britain’s outdated and ineffective planning system, it is now.

While this wouldn’t help struggling mortgagers in the short term, it would prevent local politicians from blocking new housing developments where they are needed most.

Planning reform is the only long-term solution to Britain’s housing crisis.
By bringing the supply of new homes in line with demand, we can eventually make homeownership a reality for those who today are completely priced out of the market.”