Sustainable building suppliers

Larkfleet Group companies put their money where their mouths were when it came to investing in sustainable energy solutions – and are now making and saving hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels installed by Larkfleet on their own roofs at Larkfleet House in Bourne and Spitfire Park in Market Deeping are significantly exceeding projected returns in terms of electricity generated, energy savings and income generation.

The installations, which include a mix of thin-film and standard PV panels, are generating 12 per cent more electricity than predicted. This means that the companies will save more than £140,000 in electricity bills over the next 25 years while also producing an income of more than £1.25 million from the sale of electricity.

PV panels produce electricity from daylight, generating useable power even on cloudy days.

There are 240 crystalline panels fitted on the roof of builders’ merchant Deepings Building & Plumbing Supplies. Installed by sister company Lark Energy in May 2012, the whole scheme was predicted to generate around 43,600 kWh of electricity annually but has actually produced over 49,000 kWh in its first full year of operation.

The roof at adjacent Kestrel Timber Frameis fitted with 108 thin film PV panels that have generated over 10,300 kWh in their first twelve months of operation.

Jonathan Selwyn, managing director of Lark Energy which is also part of the Larkfleet Group based at Spitfire Park, said:

“The solar installations on our own buildings, and the hundreds we have installed for our commercial customers, are providing firm evidence that renewable energy solutions continue to make great commercial and environmental sense for businesses.

“Although the government has reduced feed in tariffs over the last three years, this has been more than offset by reductions in installation costs and rising energy bills.

“As a result, our commercial customers are achieving a significant return on investment from their installations and we have seen significant growth in our commercial business over the first quarter of this year.”

Lark Energy offers a complete service for large-scale roof-top PV installations on industrial and commercial buildings while Deepings Building & Plumbing Supplies provides a similar service for domestic installations.

In addition to solar PV there are a number of other sustainable energy solutions installed at Spitfire Park including a wind turbine, a ground source heat pump and a rainwater harvesting system.

Deepings Building & Plumbing Supplies director Ian Greenfield said: “We like to gain real operating experience of our products ourselves before offering them to customers. We have been delighted with the performance of the PV installations on our roof which are making a real contribution to cutting our energy costs and CO2 emissions.”

'New Homes better than old'

Karl Hick, managing director of Larkfleet Homes, says home buyers should look beyond the price when thinking about buying a new home – because a newly-built house will be cheaper to run than a previously occupied home. Writing on theEasternNewHomeBuyer blog he says:

“When you are buying a car you have two options – a brand new vehicle or a used one.

“When you are buying a home you have a similar choice – and in many ways, the reasons why you would opt for one rather than the other are similar. A new house comes with a range of benefits. “

However, unlike a car, a new house will cost pretty much the same as a used one. There is no great financial benefit in buying second-hand.”

Among the benefits of buying new, says Karl, are a guarantee, the fact that you won’t need to make repairs to cover ‘wear and tear’ for several years, and a range of schemes to help meet the costs of purchase – including money from the government – which are not available on anything except new-build homes.

In addition, he points out, the running costs are likely to be much lower with a new house than an old one. For example, houses are now built with much higher standards of insulation than they were only a few years ago. Your ‘running costs’ in gas and electricity bills could be £600 per year less with a new home than a used one built in the 1970s.

And with gas and electricity prices rising every year, that £600 saving will go on rising year on year as well.

Then there is the cost of decoration. Karl says: “You may be lucky and move into a second hand home which has been decorated throughout in ways that match your taste. It is much more likely that you will move in and want to start redecorating straight away.

“With a new home you have a ‘blank canvas’ and, with many builders, if you start your discussions early enough – before the house is completed – you can specify everything from paint colours to the choice of kitchen units. Carpets, cookers, kitchen appliances and other fittings (all brand new, of course!) can usually be included in the purchase price.”

Get 'Help to Buy' a new Larkfleet property

With the new scheme, after homebuyers have provided a five per cent deposit and obtained a conventional mortgage for just 75 per cent of the purchase price, they will receive an equity loan from the government for the remaining 20 per cent (subject to approval). The equity loan is interest free for five years and can be repaid at any time or on the sale of the home.

The Help to Buy scheme is different to other government schemes as it is not just available to first-time buyers. Current homeowners selling to buy a new home can also benefit from the scheme and there is no cap on household income in order to be eligible. Furthermore, there is no restriction on the number of bedrooms a property may have, so in theory a single person could purchase a four-bedroom property with the Help to Buy scheme.

Larkfleet managing director Karl Hick commented: “We are delighted to offer the government’s Help to Buy scheme on many of our properties. This furthers our commitment to help first-time buyers, or existing owners simply wanting a new property, to purchase the home of their dreams.

“With Help to Buy, homebuyers can effectively own 100 per cent of a property with just a 75 per cent mortgage and 5 per cent deposit. This will be a great help to many people struggling in the current housing market.”

The government’s Help to Buy scheme is available on properties at Larkfleet’s Abbeyfields development in Bourne (Lincolnshire), its Leighfield Park development in Oakham (Rutland) and The Coppice development in Deeping St James (Lincolnshire).

Larkfleet’s Abbeyfields development is located on the old Co-op site on Spalding Road in Bourne, Lincolnshire, and comprises two and three-bedroom properties with prices starting at just £124,995.

Leighfield Park is the first phase of Oakham Heights, Larkfleet’s major urban expansion of Oakham, located on land between the Oakham bypass and Barleythorpe Road. The development currently offers traditionally-styled three, four and five-bedroom properties starting from £184,995.

Larkfleet is providing allotment gardens for residents at Leighfield Park to encourage a sustainable lifestyle and community. An electric car charging unit is also available on site for residents to use.

The Coppice development – located on the Orchard Field site in Deeping St James – offers 12 two and three-bedroom properties for sale.

Solar photovoltatic (PV) panels will be fitted as standard to every property constructed at The Coppice and Leighfield Park, and to selected properties at Abbeyfields, so homebuyers can benefit from reduced energy bills. The PV panels will produce electricity from daylight, generating useable power even on cloudy days.

Larkfleet also currently offers the government’s NewBuy scheme on some of its developments.

NewBuy is a government-backed ‘mortgage indemnity’ scheme that aims to help people with smaller deposits buy a new-build home. NewBuy allows homebuyers to get a mortgage with a deposit of as little as five per cent of the purchase price. The lenders participating in the scheme will then provide a mortgage of up to 95 per cent of the purchase price if homebuyers meet their qualifying criteria.

Terms and conditions apply to the Help to Buy scheme. Please contact a sales advisor on 01778 391550 for more information on how the Help to Buy scheme could help you.

Uk's largest Solar Farm

The UK’s largest solar farm has been built and successfully connected and commissioned at the site of a former World War II airfield in Leicestershire.
The 34MWp solar project at Wymeswold Airfield was developed by Lark Energy and the landowner Prestwold Estates and was funded and is owned by Hazel Capital.

Consisting of some 130,000 solar panels positioned on land between the old runways, and covering an area of c.150 acres, the project was built in less than 8 weeks and was connected and commissioned before changes in ROCs took place at the end of March 2013.

The airfield is currently being used for a mixture of agricultural, leisure and sporting uses. These include a driving experience operator, which uses a race track running directly through the solar farm development, an HGV training centre, a kite club, and various athletics and equestrian events. None of the current users are affected by the operational solar farm, demonstrating how a solar farm can co-exist successfully with other land uses.

Lark Energy developed the site and worked closely with the Prestwold Estate, Charnwood Borough Council, the local parish councils and the local community in developing its plans and received planning permission at a council planning committee on 8 November 2012.

Hazel Capital financed the construction of the £35 million project and S.A.G. Solarstrom led the construction with the assistance of Lark Energy, Modus Utilities and Prestwold Farm and its local contractors. Western Power Distribution, the distribution network operator, was instrumental in enabling the project to be connected to the electricity network.

The solar farm builds on Lark Energy’s track record of developing and constructing some 60MWp of solar projects over the past two years. The company will shortly start construction on a further 65MWp of consented projects.

Hazel Capital and the funds it manages have financed over 110MW of ground-mounted solar PV projects since 2011.

Jonathan Selwyn, managing director of Lark Energy, commented: “Lark Energy has been delighted to work with the Prestwold Estate and Hazel Capital in developing this unique project. As the largest solar farm in the UK, the project has not been without its challenges, both technical and weather related. It is a testament to the teamwork of the various parties involved in its development and delivery that it was completed and connected on time.

“We are committed to developing a large portfolio of solar projects in the UK over the coming years and see a bright future for this growing industry”.

Edward Packe-Drury-Lowe, estate manager said: “It has been a pleasure working with the team at Lark Energy to develop the site. Prestwold Farms and other local contractors were pleased to work closely with Hazel Capital and SAG Solarstrom to enable the delivery of the project on time and were assisted ably by our land agents Mather Jamie. The solar park will add another diversification to the Prestwold Estate with energy joining food production and leisure”.

Ben Guest, managing partner of Hazel Capital, stated “We are delighted to be involved in this large, first-of-its-kind project in the UK. We believe that larger industrial sites make great locations for solar projects going forward in the UK. I want to thank Edward Packe-Drury-Lowe, Lark Energy, SAG Solarstrom, Western Power Distribution and the Hazel Capital team for their huge effort in getting this project finished on time.”

Housebuilder behind application for Grantham homes

The housebuilder behind plans to build a 1,300-home estate at Manthorpe (just north of Grantham) held an opening ceremony of a renovated manor house at The Croft, a lifestyle living development for the over 55s in Bourne, Lincolnshire. The existing manor house has been restored to its former glory by Larkfleet Homes, part of the Larkfleet Group, as part of The Croft development. Now that refurbishment work is complete, senior members of staff from Larkfleet Homes, development partner Keystone Developments, residents and special guests were invited to the official opening of the historic building.

David Palmer - a regular face on daytime antique shows such as 'Flog It!' and 'Antiques Roadshow' - cut a ribbon to signal the manor house 'officially' open. Karl Hick, managing director of Larkfleet Homes and Bob Walder, CEO of Keystone's parent company Longhurst Group, each delivered a short speech.

Karl Hick said: 'This opening ceremony marks the culmination of months of hard work by Keystone Developments and Larkfleet Homes and I am delighted that the manor house is now officially complete and open for residents to enjoy t
o the full.'

Bob Walder commented: 'Building homes is only part of the equation - building communities is much more important in the long term. The restoration of The Croft will help create a strong community spirit in providing a focal point for residents to meet and get to know each other.'

The manor house has already hosted a variety of free-of-charge activities for residents and local people including craft afternoons, wine and cheese tasting sessions and flower arranging classes. There is a full schedule of community events planned at the manor house throughout 2013 and homeowners are already organising their own community groups and clubs.

The Croft consists of 69 one and two-bedroom bungalows and two and three-bedroom chalets arranged around attractively landscaped courtyards.

Larkfleet has developed a range of finance schemes and options which it can tailor to suit individual buyers.

For example, if purchasers need help to sell their existing property, Larkfleet, as part of its 'assisted move scheme' will provide valuations for their home from two local estate agents. When the current market value is agreed, Larkfleet then manages the process of selling the existing home, right through to exchange of contracts - including liaising with the agents, advertising and negotiating with prospective purchasers. On completion of the sale of the existing home and the purchase of a new home at The Croft, Larkfleet will also pay the estate agents' fees.

In addition, on selected plots at The Croft, homebuyers can agree to pay only a percentage of the purchase price and the remaining amount is then provided as an interest-free equity loan by Larkfleet, only repayable when the property is sold.

The proposed Larkfleet development between Manthorpe estate and Belton Woods golf course was first rejected in January 2011 by South Kesteven District Council's development control committee. The refusal was most recently upheld by Secretary of State Eric Pickles and then the High Court - decisions with which Larkfleet was incredibly disappointed.

The plan for the development itself included a care retirement community and a neighbourhood centre including a primary school and a health care facility as well as shops and a pub or hotel - improving the level and variety of services currently available in the area and for local communities.

Furthermore, Larkfleet recently introduced a new Community Fund scheme which directly benefits the communities where it has developments.

For every house built as a part of a new development, Larkfleet now donates a set sum to the Fund. If Larkfleet was to develop in Manthorpe, this sum would total tens of thousands of pounds.

In instances where the Fund is utilised, Larkfleet is adamant that local people should decide how the money is spent, whether that be on enhancing public open spaces, improving village amenities or providing some other community benefit - the opportunities are endless.

For more information on Larkfleet's developments, call 01778 391550

Antiques celebrity officially opens community 'hub'

Larkfleet Homes and Keystone Developments, held an opening ceremony of a renovated manor house at The Croft, a lifestyle living development for the over 55s in Bourne, Lincolnshire.

The existing manor house has been restored to its former glory as part of The Croft development. Now that refurbishment work is complete, senior members of staff from Keystone Developments and Larkfleet Homes, residents and special guests were invited to the official opening of the historic building.

David Palmer of Batemans Auctioneers in Stamford – and a regular face on daytime antique shows such as ‘Flog It!’ and ‘Antiques Roadshow’ – cut a ribbon to signal the manor house ‘officially’ open.

Karl Hick, managing director of Larkfleet Homes and Bob Walder, CEO of Keystone’s parent company Longhurst Group, each delivered a short speech. Karl Hick said: “This opening ceremony marks the culmination of months of hard work by Keystone Developments and Larkfleet Homes and I am delighted that the manor house is now officially complete and open for residents to enjoy to the full.”

Bob Walder commented: “Building homes is only part of the equation – building communities is much more important in the long term. The restoration of The Croft will help create a strong community spirit in providing a focal point for residents to meet and get to know each other.”

The manor house has already hosted a variety of activities for residents and local people including craft afternoons, wine and cheese tasting sessions and flower arranging classes. There is a full schedule of community events planned at the manor house throughout 2013 and homeowners are already organising their own community groups and clubs.

The Croft development consists of 69 one and two-bedroom bungalows and two and three-bedroom chalets arranged around attractively landscaped courtyards.

As The Croft is right in the centre of Bourne, many local amenities including a local supermarket, a doctor’s surgery and a bus stop are only a short walk away, as are many shops and restaurants.

The sales team at The Croft understands that different homebuyers’ financial circumstances are varied so it has developed a range of finance schemes and options which it can tailor to suit individual buyers.

For example, if purchasers need help to sell their existing property, Larkfleet, as part of its ‘assisted move scheme’ will provide valuations for their home from two local estate agents. When the current market value is agreed, Larkfleet then manages the process of selling the existing home, right through to exchange of contracts – including liaising with the agents, advertising and negotiating with prospective purchasers. On completion of the sale of the existing home and the purchase of a new home at The Croft, Larkfleet will also pay the estate agents’ fees.

In addition, on selected plots, homebuyers can agree to pay only a percentage of the purchase price and the remaining amount is then provided as an interest-free equity loan by Larkfleet, only repayable when the property is sold.

Bourne is located only 11 miles from the historic town of Stamford, which was recently voted ‘the best place to live in Britain’ by The Sunday Times newspaper. Excellent public transport in the area means that residents in Bourne can easily enjoy Stamford’s mix of ancient and modern architecture, various cultural offerings, independent boutiques and fantastic restaurants and bars – without the top-end property costs that Stamford demands.

Call the sales team on 01778 426995, pop in to the sales office located on North Road in Bourne or visit www.thecroftbourne.co.uk for more information.

Larkfleet show home hosts Easter egg competition

Larkfleet Homes has joined forces with Bourne Abbey Church of England Primary Academy to help raise funds for a school in Kenya.

Larkfleet has organised a special ‘Easter egg hunt’ around its Abbeyfields showhome, located on Spalding Road in Bourne, over the full school Easter holiday for all pupils at the local school.

Rather than having real hidden Easter eggs, the hunt is question-based and leads participants around the showhome to answer a series of questions. Correctly completed question sheets can be exchanged for a free small chocolate egg by the Abbeyfields sales team. One lucky participant’s name will also be selected to win a large chocolate egg.

For every pupil that takes part in the Easter egg treasure hunt, Larkfleet Homes will make a £2.50 donation to local group,Friends of Nyansakia, which raises money for an impoverished community in Nyansakia, Kenya.

One part of the community that the Friends of Nyansakia raise money for is the local primary school which has approximately 1,000 pupils. Each £2.50 donation by Larkfleet will go directly to the Kenyan school and will buy a lunchtime meal for one pupil every day for one month.

Karl Hick, managing director of Larkfleet Homes, commented: “It is a pleasure to work with Bourne Abbey Church of England Primary Academy to raise money for the school in Nyansakia. Pupils have the opportunity to help children their own age living over 4,000 miles away, many of whom do not have the luxuries we all take for granted on a daily basis.”

Larkfleet’s Abbeyfields development comprises two and three-bedroom properties with prices starting at just £124,995. The development is ideal for first-time buyers and young growing families looking to invest in a larger home.

Selected properties at Abbeyfields have solar PV (photovoltaic) panels fitted as standard so homebuyers can benefit from reduced energy bills. The PV panels produce electricity from daylight, generating useable power even on cloudy days.

At Abbeyfields, homebuyers can bridge the deposit gap by taking advantage of the government-backed NewBuy scheme to secure a mortgage with a deposit of as little as five per cent of the purchase price. 

Larkfleet has several developments across the East Midlands and East of England including Bourne, Pinchbeck and Deeping (Lincolnshire), Peterborough (Cambridgeshire) and Oakham (Rutland) which offer plenty of choice for those looking to purchase a home.

For more details on Larkfleet developments, please contact a sales advisor on 01778 391550. Terms and conditions apply to any promotions.