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KEVIN McCLOUD’S COMPANY – HAB
BUILDING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
PROPERTY AND DEVELOPMENT JANUARY10
ALSO INSIDE: GAME GROUP Playing is a serious business
TELEREAL TRILLIUM Integrating health and safety operations
BABCOCK INTERNATIONAL GROUP Safety breeds quality
OCEAN HOUSING GROUP LTD Affordable homes for Cornwall
ADVANTAGE SOUTH WEST Procurement award winners
JANUARY10
PROPERTYAND DEVELOPMENT THE MAGAZINE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
ISSUE 2-X
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10 PROPERTY AND DEVELOPMENT Industry Focus: HAB
industry focus... BUILDING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
Picture Credit: Studio Engleback
With sustainability, community and design high on its agenda, Hab, the residential development company started by TV presenter Kevin McCloud, has just won planning permission for its first project, writes Peter Brown.
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11 PROPERTY AND DEVELOPMENT
B
est known as the presenter of Channel 4’s Grand
guiding principles of promoting strong communities,
Designs, the broadcaster, columnist and designer
belief in the importance of public space and respect
Kevin McCloud has also invested a considerable
for cyclists and pedestrians, as well as displaying a
amount of his time over the last few years into estab-
commitment to sustainable lifestyles and outstanding
lishing a residential development company, Hab.
contextual design.
The recent news, then, that the company, operat-
“We have been bowled over by the level of sup-
ing as Hab Oakus in partnership with housing group
port from local people,” said Kevin. “It’s clear there’s
GreenSquare and Glenn Howells Architects, has won
a real hunger for a fresh approach to housing, and a
planning permission for its first project is clearly a vin-
very real interest in living more sustainable lives. The
dication of “three years of hard work, blood, sweat
decision to grant the Triangle planning permission
and tears, and a great deal of money”.
demonstrates Swindon’s very real commitment to
The Triangle, a 42 home sustainable development
becoming known for beautifully designed housing,
to be built just off Northern Road in Swindon, fulfils
thriving communities and a forward-looking approach
Hab’s aim to build affordable housing in provincial
to the environment.”
and suburban locations. Furthermore the design of the
In addition to the Triangle development the Hab
development is very much informed by the company’s
team is working on a portfolio of projects which
Picture credit: Glenn Howells Architects
Industry Focus: HAB
“IT’S CLEAR THERE’S A REAL HUNGER FOR A FRESH APPROACH TO HOUSING, AND A VERY REAL INTEREST IN LIVING MORE SUSTAINABLE LIVES” KEVIN MCCLOUD
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12 PROPERTY AND DEVELOPMENT Industry Focus: HAB
include further housing developments through to master planning projects that all seek to promote principles of community, sustainability and exceptional design. A key element of this is in partnerships with a number of world renowned architects that have been enabled by the high profile of the company. ORIGINS The origins of Hab were in part informed by a particular type of development witnessed in the recent boom years of British house building as Design Director, Isabel Allen, explains: “Hab came into being during a very different economic climate. We were conscious that there were a few volume house builders churning out a very generic product; a lot of money was around and bottomless demand so there was little incentive for developers to improve or offer choice.” With the slowdown in demand for homes as a result of the recession, many of Hab’s principles, prePicture Credit: Swindon Link magazine
viously rather marginalised, gained in popularity as the big developers increasingly needed to consider new approaches to house building. “In the last couple of years all house builders have tried to do what we’re doing – have a social conscience, an environmental agenda and a USP – because they’re all on the back foot now and, crucially, chasing public sector funding, so we’ve become more mainstream as a result.”
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13 PROPERTY AND DEVELOPMENT Industry Focus: HAB
Picture credit: Glenn Howells Architects
HAB:feature 2
PARTNERS
as particular attention given to the landscaping of
Central to the Hab approach is in forming close work-
the grounds in order to encourage residents to spend
ing relationships with housing associations whose con-
time there and so minimise car use. Further initiatives
sultative methods are very much in line with their own
aimed at reducing dependency on cars include plans
as Isabel confirms: “We’ve put a massive amount of
for a car sharing scheme, discounted bicycle purchas-
energy into engaging people and asking them how
ing and home information portals relaying live bus
they might want to live.”
information.
Furthermore, by their nature housing associations
With the scheme to be built to code level 4 of the
have a culture of long term investment in communities
Code for Sustainable Homes, it’s in this holistic, com-
where commercial developers are often all too quick to
munity oriented approach to house building that Isabel
move on after completion of a scheme.
believes Hab’s real strength lies, rather than in zero
“All our projects are joint ventures with housing
carbon development.
associations because they have a culture of staying put
“The leap to code 5 takes you beyond the bounds
rather than the hit and run mentality,” says Isabel. “And
of what you could justify spending public sector money
consultation is fundamental to how they work, provid-
on,” she says.
ing good links to the local community and working in a certain geographical area.”
“We take the view that the holistic approach is more important: that if it’s code 4 but people are enjoying
This lends itself to a joined up approach to home
their spaces, spending time there, not using cars and
building that emphasises the importance of transport
the community is functioning then the impact on the
links, access to local schools and community facilities all
environment will be much improved than if people have
working in conjunction with the housing development
zero carbon homes.
itself, in what Hab refers to as ‘the social and physical
“Fundamental to our ethos is that we build within
relationships between our projects and the wider com-
standard house building budgets which are low, so
munity to bring tangible improvements to both.’
these are houses without fancy additions because we want them to be affordable.”
HOLISTIC APPROACH In the case of the Triangle a number of design innova-
Tel: 01243 816611
tions are planned as part of the development including
Email: sahra@haboakus.co.uk
three kitchen gardens for growing vegetables, as well
Web: www.haboakus.co.uk