Creative building solutions

COLLABORATING WITH OUR PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY INNOVATIVE BUILDING TECHNIQUES AND DELIVER THE HOMES OF THE FUTURE

Working on innovative projects is helping develop my career – assisting Telford Homes’ preparedness for the FHS and creating great homes for our BtR investors and residents.
Sezer Sahan, Technical Co-ordinator, BLL Champion

In preparing for our 2030 commitments through our Balances Resource pillar of our Building a Living Legacy strategy, we review our innovation strategies in response to new policies, building regulations, the FHBS and, increasingly, sectoral indices. Through focused advocacy and collaboration, we believe the necessary transformation of industry practices will create low carbon communities and homes with improved wellbeing.

Our Innovation Forum has been preparing and monitoring the delivery of projects using a range of innovations. We have published a new ‘BtR Design Standards’ that is customer focused and sets out optimised amenity standards, apartment layouts, smart technologies and prefabricated elements. Its purpose is to drive consistency and operational efficiency throughout the project lifecycle to enhance residents’ wellbeing.

Whilst our 13 per cent investment in MMC has dipped compared to 2020, this is due to the detail of the planning consent for each project. We still expect to achieve our 20 per cent target during 2023 as new projects progress through planning and construction starts. For comparability, we measure our innovation in accordance with the Government’s MMC Definition Framework. During 2021, we have integrated Embodied Carbon and Whole Life Carbon statements into all new planning applications, along with Circular Economy plans. In 2022, we aim to enhance and progress our Building Information Modelling (BIM) strategies – our integrated approach will help drive efficiencies and bring consistency to our innovation S-curve.

100 per cent of our new build schemes benefit from low carbon or renewable technologies. During 2021, all new planning applications have pivoted from gas-led infrastructure to fossil fuel free, decarbonised electrified systems – either air or ground source heat pumps. Notwithstanding, in some locations, when connecting to existing gas-led neighbourhood systems, e.g., Stratford City, London E14, we are advocating similarly progressive strategies to support a holistic transition for communities.

Read our 2022 Sustainability Report for further information on Balanced Resources at Telford Homes.

MATERIAL ISSUES ALIGNED TO BALANCED RESOURCES

Managing resources with circular economy principles
Sustainable procurement
Building labels and standards
Homes and operation

In addition to corporate indices disclosure, and achieving BREEAM Excellent ratings for non-residential schemes, we have trialled the BRE HQM retrospectively on existing and new projects – during the bidding process – whereby a 4-star rating is achievable. Whilst the latter is not a partner requirement at present, in the lead-up to the formalisation of the FHBS, we will continue to assess relevant building label tools.
Toby Quirk, Build To Rent Development Manager, BLL Champion

Gallions Phase 2B

This housing-led regeneration scheme is being developed by Telford Homes

Notting Hill Genesis and the Greater London Authority. We collaborated with Feilden Clegg Bradley Studio (architects) and Liz Lake Associates (landscape architects), to create a place-based masterplan, with buildings that respond to and reinforce the public space and green infrastructure through their activity, layout, form and massing. Mews streets and courtyards provide the opportunity for community cohesion and play. Of the 267 new dwellings, 51 per cent are affordable homes, 90 per cent M4(2) Adaptable Dwellings and 10 per cent M4(3) Wheelchair Accessible Dwellings.

Creative building solutions