Redrow rides on wave of success

Tue, Jul 10th 2007, 11:00

Developer Redrow is celebrating after walking away with two accolades in the North Wales Built in Quality Awards, as well as a top ‘eco’ award for its Debut homes in Flintshire.

The company has earned all three nods for its 97 flagship starter homes at St David’s Park, in Ewloe, where the innovative Debut homes were priced from just £59,995* for a one-bedroom property.

At the North Wales Built in Quality Awards, now in its fifth year, Redrow triumphed in the Sustainability category for North Wales, as well as being named Flintshire County Council’s Volume Housebuilder of the year.

The annual awards recognise quality in construction, as well as health and safety awareness and customer satisfaction, and are voted for by the six local authorities in the North Wales region.

And to make the hat trick, Debut @ St David’s Park has been certified by BRE (Building Research Establishment) as scoring ‘EXCELLENT’ on the EcoHomes rating – making this development one of the most eco-friendly and energy efficient in the country.

It follows the success of several other Debut developments in England and Wales to join the exclusive group of just around 100 schemes across the UK to achieve this top rating.
 

Launched in April 2000 by the BRE Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) centre, with support from the National House Building Council, EcoHomes is an independent labelling scheme for housing, which assesses the environmental quality of a development by considering the broad concerns of climate change, use of resources, pollution and impacts on bio-diversity. Homes are ranked on a four point scale of ‘PASS’, ‘GOOD’, ‘VERY GOOD’ and ‘EXCELLENT’.

Deborah Brownhill, commercial director at BREEAM, says: “Debut @ St. David’s Park yet again highlights Redrow’s commitment to providing sustainable and affordable housing throughout the UK. Awarded an EXCELLENT rating, Debut @ St. David’s Park has achieved consistent high scores across all the EcoHomes categories and we are glad to hear that there are more Debut housing schemes in the pipeline.”

The housebuilder is delighted with the trio of accolades, with Ian Wilkins, managing director of Redrow Homes (North West), adding: “To get an award is always great, but to be given the nod three times at once is really amazing. By achieving the ‘EXCELLENT’ rating, as well as coming top in the Sustainability and Volume Builder categories for Debut, we’re further demonstrating our commitment to creating both affordable and eco-friendly communities.

“Although our Debut development at St David’s Park is sold out we do hope to bring this innovative product to other parts of North Wales and the North West.”

Much of the cost saving in Debut homes comes from the way in which the properties are built, using Surebuild 3 galvanised lightweight steel frame manufactured in Swadlincote by Framing Solutions – a joint venture between Redrow and steel giant Corus. Together with other elements of off-site manufacture and modern methods of construction, this speeds up the build programme without compromising on quality.

Communal heating and hot water systems also provide cost efficiencies, while replacing private gardens with carefully planned, shared outdoor space, maintained by Redrow’s own management company, means Debut properties take up less land than conventional new homes – all resulting in a lower priced home.
 

Everything is geared to making home ownership accessible, affordable and easy to manage. Customers can also take advantage of Easibuy – the option to defer 10% of the property price for up to 10 years interest-free. The customer has total flexibility how they pay it back – via occasional lump sums, monthly repayments or in whole at any time.

A single monthly service charge covers all external maintenance, as well as water, gas and electricity use and buildings insurance. And special measures are in place to prevent buy-to-let investors from snapping up the homes – ensuring they go to those that need them most.

Elsewhere in the UK, Debut developments are currently available or coming soon in: Chorley, Selby, Lincoln, Birmingham, Derby, Burton-upon-Trent,  Stoke-on-Trent, Bridgend and Merthyr Tydfil.  There are also schemes planned in Bristol and Ebbw Vale. 

Apart from Debut, Redrow continues to build an extensive range of sought-after family homes in desirable town and village locations in North East Wales, including the Pentre Bach and Ty Newydd developments in Wrexham.

To find out how to leap onto the ladder with Redrow, visit www.debutbyredrow.co.uk.