Across Europe, demand for housing is rising, thanks to population growth and shifting demographics. But supply is failing to keep pace: in the UK, the average number of new homes built annually over the last decade has been barely half the amount required, while the steady rise in house prices has pushed more people into the already overstretched rental market.

We need to build more high-quality housing, particularly now more people see their home as a place to work as well as sleep and socialise. But at the same time, we need to be conscious of how expanding our built environment contributes to our overall carbon footprint.

Co-living, an emerging residential concept that combines private living space with communal amenities, helps us tackle both these challenges. It is a low-carbon, higher-density model that allows us to repurpose under-used urban buildings, in a way that combats social isolation and broadens access to quality housing.

Bridges and our partner HUB have acquired Sandringham Mews, a 318-home consented co-living scheme in West London.

With this development, we are transforming an under-used car park fronted by commercial units into attractive high-quality new homes. The consented scheme will give the site – which is located in the Ealing Town Centre Conservation Area – a renewed purpose and bring it back into use.

In line with HUB and Bridges’ commitment to creating homes that foster community cohesion, residents will benefit from shared amenities such as a communal kitchen, gym, cinema, co-working space, and sunken courtyards with biodiverse planting. The scheme also dedicates a generous portion of the site to public spaces and retail, encouraging movement through the development.

Sustainability is at the core of the Sandringham Mews development.. The scheme is targeting a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating, with the potential to achieve ‘Outstanding’, exceeding current environmental planning requirements set by The London Plan and Ealing Council. In addition to being within walking distance of Ealing Broadway station, active travel will be supported with ample secure cycle storage.

Research indicates that England needs 340,000 new homes a year until 2031 to tackle the housing shortage, including 90,000 for social rent. High demand means there is a pressing need for more lower-cost and affordable housing, while investing in high quality housing provision will help towards community regeneration.

Latitude is a 2.3-acre site in a major regeneration area close to the centre of Leeds, which we acquired in December 2020. The local authority is one of the 18% most underserved in England; with our long-standing joint venture partner HUB, we’re addressing the strong demand for lower-cost and affordable family units in this area.

The Latitude development is expected to deliver over 850 high-quality lower cost housing units – a significant contribution (over 25%) towards the annual housing needs of Leeds – and will play a crucial role in the positive regeneration of the area. Preliminary estimates have indicated that the build will achieve a c.50% reduction in CO2 emissions vs a standard new-build.

https://hubresidential.com/projects/latitude-blue

There is a pressing need for more lower-cost and affordable housing, with research indicating that England needs 340,000 new homes a year until 2031 to tackle the housing shortage, including 90,000 for social rent. This need is particularly acute in urban areas, where 68% of the world population will be living by 2050.

By investing in housing, Bridges is helping to tackle this fundamental shortage of supply, while also enabling local employment and positive regeneration of these areas. At the same time, we look to incorporate leading environmental and sustainable features into the construction and building design, to support the decarbonisation of the built environment.

Bridges and our partner HUB have acquired a prominent and vacant 4.5 acre brownfield site adjacent to Bath city centre, with plans to transform it into a high quality housing-led scheme.

The comprehensive redevelopment of the Bath site – part of the wider regeneration of the Bath Western Riverside enterprise area – will deliver a significant number of BTR and affordable homes, alongside commercial spaces and improved public realm. The development will respond to the growing unmet need for high-quality rental homes in Bath, a desirable and high-growth city.

The scheme will offer waterside living, adjacent to the River Avon and several other new developments. The site enjoys a prime location: it has two bridge connections to the city centre and is just an 8-minute walk from central Bath.

A major focus for the scheme will be minimising environmental impact with a highly efficient energy strategy targeting EPC A, onsite renewables, and full whole life-cycle carbon assessment throughout the development process.

Across Europe, demand for housing is rising, thanks to population growth and the increase in single-person households. But supply is failing to keep pace: in the UK, the average number of new homes built annually over the last decade has been barely half the amount required, while the steady rise in house prices has pushed more people into the already overstretched rental market.

We need to build more high-quality housing, particularly now more people see their home as a place to work as well as sleep and socialise. But at the same time, we need to be conscious of how the built environment contributes to our overall carbon footprint.

Co-living, an emerging residential concept that combines private living space with communal amenities, helps us tackle both these challenges. It is a low-carbon, higher-density model that allows us to repurpose under-used urban buildings, in a way that combats social isolation and broadens access to quality housing.

Bridges and our partner HUB have submitted plans for a co-living-led development at 45 Beech Street in the City of London, next to the Barbican. The scheme would deliver 174 co-living homes as well as new public realm, ground-floor commercial space and on-site resident amenities.

Designed by Stirling Prize-winning practice AHMM, the proposal would transform a 1950s office building into a community-focused residential scheme that responds sensitively and imaginatively to the context of the iconic Barbican Estate.

In line with HUB and Bridges’ shared focus on minimising carbon emissions, the proposed scheme would take a retrofit-first approach, reusing the existing structure to achieve an embodied carbon saving. The scheme would also target market-leading sustainability credentials: BREEAM Excellent, EPC A, Fitwell 3* and Net Zero operational carbon.

The scheme has been developed in close collaboration with the local community and key neighbourhood stakeholders. The consultation process involved a series of stakeholder workshops, consultation events and outreach to Barbican residents as well as the local business community. The goal is to deliver benefits both to residents and to people who live and work nearby, thanks to public realm improvements and a range of shared amenities that connect the scheme to its community.

Across Europe, demand for housing is rising, thanks to population growth and the increase in single-person households. But supply is failing to keep pace: in the UK, the average number of new homes built annually over the last decade has been barely half the amount required, while the steady rise in house prices has pushed more people into the already overstretched rental market.

We need to build more high-quality housing, particularly now more people see their home as a place to work as well as sleep and socialise. But at the same time, we need to be conscious of how the built environment contributes to our overall carbon footprint.

Co-living, an emerging residential concept that combines private living space with communal amenities, helps us tackle both these challenges. It is a low-carbon, higher-density model that allows us to repurpose under-used urban buildings, in a way that combats social isolation and broadens access to quality housing.

Bridges and our partner HUB have acquired 150 Minories, an under-used commercial building in Aldgate. Our goal is to repurpose and refurbish the existing building to create a highly sustainable co-living residential scheme.

The conversion will involve retaining the frame of the building and reinforcing its foundations, an approach which saves 30% embodied carbon compared to an equivalent new build.

There is a pressing need for more lower-cost and affordable housing, with research indicating that England needs 340,000 new homes a year until 2031 to tackle the housing shortage, including 90,000 for social rent. This need is particularly acute in urban areas, where 68% of the world population will be living by 2050.

By investing in housing, Bridges is helping to tackle this fundamental shortage of supply, while also enabling local employment and positive regeneration of these areas. At the same time, we look to incorporate leading environmental and sustainable features into the construction and building design, to support the decarbonisation of the built environment.

Redevelopment of a 41,081 sq.ft. vacant office, originally built in in the 1990s, minutes away from Reading Rail Station. The site enjpoys a prominent location along the Thames Path, with scenic views of the river to the north. The plan is to redevelop the site and deliver a significant number of BTR and affordable homes, alongside commercial spaces and improved public realm facing the river.

Great effort has gone into designing a scheme that minimises the environmental impact of the development. The proposals include a highly efficient building envelope and systems and on-site renewable energy generation. The scheme is targeting EPC A and Home Quality Mark Level 4, while wellbeing will be assessed via Fitwel (with an aspiration to achieve 3 stars). There is a strong focus on reducing the embodied and whole life-cycle carbon emissions of the building to a level well below industry benchmarks. A whole life carbon assessment has been commissioned to facilitate this.

Across Europe, demand for housing is rising, thanks to population growth and the increase in single-person households. But supply is failing to keep pace: in the UK, the average number of new homes built annually over the last decade has been barely half the amount required, while the steady rise in house prices has pushed more people into the already overstretched rental market.

We need to build more high-quality housing, particularly now more people see their home as a place to work as well as sleep and socialise. But at the same time, we need to be conscious of how the built environment contributes to our overall carbon footprint.

Co-living, an emerging residential concept that combines private living space with communal amenities, helps us tackle both these challenges. It is a low-carbon, higher-density model that allows us to repurpose under-used urban buildings, in a way that combats social isolation and broadens access to quality housing.

Following a complex planning application process, Bridges and our partner HUB received planning consent to construct 209 co-living units alongside 50 social units for Women’s Pioneer Housing on Wood Lane in Hammersmith.

The ‘Yardhouse’ development will be a major component of the regeneration of the White City area, delivering much-needed social housing for WPH while also making a significant contribution towards the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham’s unmet housing needs.

The development is targeting BREEAM Excellent, with c.60% less CO2 emissions than a standard new-build development. Sustainability features are likely to include solar photovoltaic cells, heat pumps, sustainably-procured materials, low-energy lighting, water-efficient fittings, good levels of sound insulation and daylighting, cycle parking spaces, secondary fire escape and amenity spaces such as roof terraces.

In addition to the benefits for residents, Yardhouse will provide WPH with new offices and over twice as many affordable housing units as it had previously. It will benefit the local community through its high-quality landscaping and shared amneities. And it will aim to make a positive contribution to local employment and apprenticeships during construction, while also engaging with schools and local charities.

There is a pressing need for more lower-cost and affordable housing, with research indicating that England needs 340,000 new homes a year until 2031 to tackle the housing shortage, including 90,000 for social rent. This need is particularly acute in urban areas, where 68% of the world population will be living by 2050.

By investing in housing, Bridges is helping to tackle this fundamental shortage of supply, while also enabling local employment and positive regeneration of these areas. At the same time, we look to incorporate leading environmental and sustainable features into the construction and building design, to support the decarbonisation of the built environment.

In January 2023, Brigdes and HUB completed the acquisition of a largely vacant office building, which is no longer fit for the needs of modern occupiers.
The business plan is to carry out a sustainable refurbishment and conversion of the existing office building to a 35-bedroom apart-hotel scheme.

The biggest challenge of the built environment is retrofitting existing building stock. By refurbishing the existing structure and facade of this largely vacant office building to leading environmental standards, we are targeting Net Zero carbon in operation as well as BREEAM “Excellent” and WELL Gold.

There is a pressing need for more lower-cost and affordable housing, with research indicating that England needs 340,000 new homes a year until 2031 to tackle the housing shortage, including 90,000 for social rent. This need is particularly acute in urban areas, where 68% of the world population will be living by 2050.

By investing in housing, Bridges is helping to tackle this fundamental shortage of supply, while also enabling local employment and positive regeneration of these areas. At the same time, we look to incorporate leading environmental and sustainable features into the construction and building design, to support the decarbonisation of the built environment.

Planning consent was obtained in January 2022 for a residential scheme comprising 151 family housing units, including 17 affordable units for low- and medium-income families, alongside a 20,000 sq.ft retail store.

Demolition and ground works followed best-practice environmental guidelines, while sustainable measures were included in the planning application such as appropriate materials and energy- and water-efficient technologies, which were expected to save over 80% of CO2 emissions per
year over the baseline. By refurbishing this dated property, we were able to provide much-needed housing while also contributing to the positive regeneration of that area of Hastings.

Employment opportunities are not evenly distributed across the UK, and the poorest communities have become the most disadvantaged in terms of access to affordable accommodation, office space, services and economic opportunities. Pockets for growth exist in these places where there is underutilised property, unmet demand and underutilised local talent.

Bridges acquired Chesterfield House in Wembley in a joint venture with HUB. Formerly Brent Council’s education department, the partly vacant property occupies a highly prominent site close to the town centre and Wembley stadium. After extensive consultations with the local community, the development received planning permission and will consist of two 21 and 26 storey towers containing 239 homes. Almost half of the homes for rent will be let at affordable prices. These will sit above a new community centre, public space, retail space and cycle storage.

The Brent Local Authority is ranked in the 10% most deprived areas of the UK. This investment presents an opportunity to create a landmark building and help stimulate the local area. The development will provide homes at discount market rent, and will also provide space for a community centre.

https://hubresidential.com/projects/wembley-link-phase1

There is a pressing need for more lower-cost and affordable housing, with research indicating that England needs 340,000 new homes a year until 2031 to tackle the housing shortage. London, in particular, needs over 65,000 new homes annually for its growing population, with only 20,000 having been built per year in the last decade.

By developing more lower-cost and affordable housing, we can broaden access to quality accommodation, while also enabling local employment and positive regeneration of these areas. There is also an opportunity to build housing to higher sustainability standards, benefitting the environment and the well-being of those occupying in the property.

In the quest to find more and lower-cost accommodation for London’s ever-expanding population, there has been a significant effort to regenerate Croydon, one of London’s most populous boroughs. In 2016, Bridges – alongside regular joint venture partner HUB – acquired, off-market, an important 3-acre brownfield site in the centre of Croydon. The location benefits from excellent transfer links and is only five minutes’ walk from the new Westfield/Hammerson shopping centre and leisure scheme. Bridges and HUB have since delivered a high-quality scheme comprising 513 residential units across four blocks, plus a new public park (Queen’s Gardens), community café and play area, following an extensive consultation process with over 1,500 local residents.

The development is targeting a 48% emission reduction over a standard new-build development; it incorporates a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) unit, the thermal storage has been optimised to reduce emissions further, and c.3,800 sq. ft. of solar photovoltaics have been installed. The commercial areas of the scheme have achieved a BREEAM “Excellent” rating. Local training and employment was also prioritised during construction, with a target of 20% of the construction workforce to come from the Borough, and 25% of maintenance contracts to be procured locally.

https://hubliving.com/projects/queens-quarter

Employment opportunities are not evenly distributed across the UK, and the poorest communities are often more disadvantaged in terms of access to affordable accommodation, office space and economic opportunities. The problems these create – underutilised property and underutilised local talent – also present opportunities for growth.

Hayes, located on the outskirts of west London, has been suffering from a decline in employment opportunities since the 1970s and 1980s, when the general decline of local manufacturing industries caught up with the region. The famous EMI factory, which produced pop records for the UK and became a hub of British engineering and innovation, employed over 22,000 people at its peak.

In a joint venture with HUB, Bridges acquired part of The Old Vinyl Factory site. The site is located within 400 metres of the connecting station of the Crossrail route linking central London to Heathrow. Planning is underway for over 200 new homes in two buildings, The Material Store and The Boiler House. This development forms part of a larger project to regenerate a 17-acre site that was once the EMI factory, but which has been derelict for 40 years. The full development will invigorate the surrounding community through local employment opportunities and the creation of new communal areas and leisure opportunities.

The Material Store and The Boiler House will regenerate a brownfield site to provide relatively low-cost housing in an improving part on London within two minutes from the new Crossrail station. The development will look to create jobs and economic dynamism by becoming a hub for SMEs, contributing to the establishment of Hillingdon as a centre of innovation and employment during construction.

The buildings will also be constructed to a BREAM Very Good level and Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4. The superstructure will be constructed from cross-laminated timber, which has zero emissions if disposed of appropriately.

www.theoldvinylfactory.com