Allison Homes East promotes staff wellbeing for World Mental Health Day

In honour of World Mental Health Day (Thursday 10th October), our East region has teamed up with specialist charity The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity, to provide our site team in Wittering with top tips on how to promote good mental health.

The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity is the only charity providing emotional, physical and financial wellbeing support to those who work in the sector. It offers a range of easily accessible services, including a 24/7 Helpline, live web and text chat services, a self-support app and support groups called Lighthouse Beacons.

As part of its work to raise awareness of mental health issues, the charity runs a campaign called #MakeItVisible, where its team visits construction sites across the UK to deliver powerful talks on how employees can improve their wellbeing and find free support.

Our East team arranged for the #MakeItVisible team to meet with the workforce at our Harriers Rest development in Wittering and deliver a ‘Toolbox Talk’ to everyone on-site. As part of the talk, the charity representatives shared their first-hand experiences and discussed the importance of positive wellbeing.

Our employees and subcontractors were then given the chance to have one-to-one chats with the #MakeItVisible professionals and find out more about the services on offer.

At Allison Homes, we are a company supporter of The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity and have been offering financial support since 2023, helping the charity to provide its vital services and reach more site teams across the country.

Andy Richards, Construction Director at Allison Homes East, said: “The company, as a supporter of The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity, is incredibly proud to be helping its site teams learn how they can prioritise and improve their mental health.

“Our industry is suffering from a serious mental health crisis, as every working day in the UK two construction workers take their own lives. We are very passionate about doing all we can at Allison Homes to raise awareness of the issue and inspire change across the housebuilding sector.

“We care deeply about the wellbeing of everyone who works on our developments, and we hope that the team at Harriers Rest now feel more equipped to help both themselves and each other.”

The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity said: “At The Lighthouse Charity, our #MakeItVisible campaign is about breaking the stigma around mental health in construction and creating a culture where speaking up is encouraged. By visiting construction sites, builder’s merchants, and hire centres across the UK and Ireland, our team is directly reaching out to frontline trades, letting them know about the free and crucial support services we offer. We believe that no one should face their mental health struggles alone, and through these site visits, we’re spreading the message that help is always available, and it’s okay to reach out for support.”

Located on Lawrence Road, Harriers Rest is a charming development comprised of three, four and five bedroom homes. To find out more, visit our development or call the sales team on 01780 243170.

To find out more about The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity. Find out more on the #MakeItVisible campaign.

Allison Homes East apprentice wins Peterborough Telegraph Apprenticeship Award

Jacob Kelk, an apprentice for our East region who recently graduated, has been awarded Construction Apprentice of The Year at the prestigious Peterborough Telegraph Apprenticeship Awards.

This year marks the fifth year of the awards, which are held annually to recognise the incredible apprenticeship network across the region.

Jacob received the award in recognition of his excellent performance in his apprenticeship, impressive final grades and positive attitude throughout his time with us.

Jacob spent the first year of his apprenticeship at our Whittlesey Green development before moving on to Abbey Park in Thorney for his second, where he worked with Senior Site Manager Mark Furzeland. Mark said: “Jacob is probably the best apprentice I’ve ever had.”

During the course of his studies he entered the SkillBuild competition, the largest multi-trade skills competition in the UK for construction trainees and apprentices. The first stage of the competition was the Regional Qualifiers for which over 1,000 apprentices registered across 10 construction trades and 19 regional heats.

Jacob was one of the highest scoring competitors in the bricklaying trade across the SkillBuild Regional Qualifier Competition, meaning he will now compete in the SkillBuild Final 2024 in November.

Jacob finished his apprenticeship with an impressive 12 distinctions and went on to be hired as a full-time employee by BRC Brickwork, who worked with him at Abbey Park as a contractor.

Andy Richards, Construction Director at Allison Homes East, said: “Everyone at Allison Homes is incredibly proud of what Jacob has achieved throughout his apprenticeship with us. Apprenticeships are excellent opportunities for young people to make their way into the construction industry, and with the sector facing a critical skills shortage it is incredibly important to us to do our part to foster young talent. We look forward to hearing more about everything Jacob, and all the other apprentices we employ achieve going forward”.

To find out more about the Peterborough Telegraph Apprenticeship Awards.

Allison Homes East has a range of homes for sale across Peterborough, visit our development pages.

For more information on starting a career with the housebuilder, visit our careers page.

Allison Partnerships senior site manager wins regional awards for high quality housebuilding

Michael Ramsay, our Senior Site Manager delivering 121 new homes in Bourne, has been recognised as one of the region’s best, after winning two prestigious awards at the NHBC (National House Building Council) Pride in the Job Awards.

Michael, who works for our Partnerships branch, has won the Regional Award in the Medium Builder category for the East region and a Seal of Excellence Award.

Michael’s wins come after he was awarded his second Quality Award in June 2024, where he was selected from a field of more than 8,000 site managers. Michael was one of 449 to be awarded the accolade for their work, putting him in the top five percent of UK site mangers.

Chosen from the 449 Quality Award winners, the Regional Awards and Seal of Excellence Awards are presented to the best site managers across each region in the UK, with the East winners being announced at a ceremony on Friday 27th September.

The Pride in the Job Awards are widely considered as the ‘Oscars’ of the housebuilding industry and, now in its 44th year, have become the benchmark for site managers across the country, celebrating those who deliver new homes to the highest standards.

Michael’s two awards have been given in recognition of his work on the Mays Place development in Manning Road, which is being built by Allison Partnerships for Longhurst Group. The development will consist of a total of 121 homes, available via Shared Ownership and Rent to Buy.

Michael said: “I’m extremely proud of my whole team that has helped me achieve this accolade, because without them it isn’t possible.”

Andy Richards, Construction Director at Allison Homes East, said: “The Pride in the Job Awards are for the best of the best, and for Michael to win both the Regional Award and Seal of Excellence Award is truly outstanding. Michael’s hard work, dedication and impressive leadership skills never go unnoticed, and we are all very proud that he has been officially honoured as one of the East region’s top site mangers.

“At Allison Homes, we pride ourselves on building homes to the highest quality and forming long-lasting partnerships, and thanks to Michael and his team we are succeeding with that mission at the Manning Road development.”

Steve Wood, CEO at NHBC congratulated the winners: “For more than four decades, Pride in the Job has underpinned NHBC’s purpose of raising standards in house building. The competition recognises the UK’s top site managers, showcasing best practice and rewarding excellence.

“Allison Homes’ winning site manager, Michael Ramsay demonstrated their dedication, passion and leadership to ensure new homes are delivered to exacting construction quality standards. While house building is a team effort, we believe the greatest influence on the quality of a finished home is the calibre of the site manager and the way they inspire their team. Congratulations to all the winners.”

The Seal of Excellence Award and Regional Award winners will now go on to compete for the national Supreme Awards, which will be announced in January 2025.

Find out more about Allison Partnerships and Longhurst Group’s Mays Place development.

Find more information on the Pride in the Job Awards.

Allison Homes East sponsors Stamford AFC Women for the third season

We are excited to announce our sponsorship of Stamford AFC Women for the third consecutive season.

Stamford AFC Women formed in April 2022 and consists of 19 dedicated players, including our very own Lauren Bartle, Assistant Site Manager at Allison Homes.

The team has achieved remarkable success since its inception in the 2022/23 season, having won the Lincolnshire League title the very first year of its existence. Their winning momentum continued into the 2023/24 season, which earned them a prestigious promotion to the East Midlands Regional Football League Premier Division.

Our support has allowed the team to purchase all their training and playing kits for the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons, which proudly feature the Allison Homes logo.

This is our third sponsorship of the club. The first covered new kit bags and outdoor jackets, and the second covered new training tops for the 2023/24 season.

Robin Chaudhuri, Manager of Stamford AFC’s Women, said: “All the players and coaches at Stamford AFC Women’s would like to thank Allison Homes for their continued support in sponsoring the home kit for the forthcoming season.  Allison Homes, who already sponsor the majority of the women’s training wear and kit bags have been generous in their support of the women’s football at Stamford for which we are extremely grateful”

Kelly Toms, Sales and Marketing Director at Allison Homes East, said: “We are thrilled to continue our long-standing relationship with Stamford AFC Women and support them for a third season. We were ecstatic to hear the news that they have been promoted once again and are very proud to be raising the profile of women’s football with this sponsorship. We wish them even more success in their upcoming season and can’t wait to cheer them on.”

Find out more about Stamford AFC’s Ladies and keep up to date on their progress here.

Allison Homes East is building a range of developments across our East region. To find out more, visit our developments page.

Allison Homes East granted planning permission to bring 265 new homes to Peterborough village

In our East region, we have been given the green light to build 265 new homes in the village of Eye, Peterborough, after receiving unanimous support from Peterborough City Council Planning Committee on our reserved matters application.

Located off Eyebury Road, the development will be located seven miles from our new head office and be our fourth active site in Peterborough, adding to our commitment to the area with schemes already well underway in Thorney, Wittering and Whittlesey.

The site will consist of 265 sustainable homes, including 185 properties that will be available via open market sale and 80 affordable homes. A mix of two, three, four and five bedroom homes will be on offer from our brand-new housing range, which has been designed in line with homebuyers’ key wants and needs.

As well as new homes, our East team will be providing over three hectares of public open space, new play areas and allotments on the site, as well as land for an extension to Eye CofE Primary School and over £1.3 million worth of contributions to community infrastructure. Works will also be carried out to improve pedestrian and cycle paths on Thorney Road and Eyebury Road.

Construction work is due to commence in early 2025, with the first homes also expected to be available in 2025.

Georgina McCrae, Planning Director at Allison Homes East, said: “We are incredibly proud to have received unanimous planning approval in Eye. This is a great testament to the hard work of our team and the care we put into our developments. We cannot wait to provide the people of Peterborough with these much needed, quality new homes.

“Having moved to a new head office in Peterborough at the beginning of this year, we are deeply committed to investing in and benefiting the city. We are excited to begin construction work and create a sustainable, new community in Eye that people can feel proud to be a part of.”

Our East region is currently providing a range of homes in Peterborough, at our Abbey Park development in Thorney, Harriers Rest in Wittering and Whittlesey Green in Whittlesey.

For more information, visit our development page.

Allison Homes East Midlands acquires land for 50 new homes in Stanton-under-Bardon

Our East Midlands region is set to bring 50 new homes to the Leicestershire village of Stanton-under-Bardon.

Allison Homes East Midlands is a newly established region, based in Castle Donington and operating across the East Midlands patch.

Situated off Main Street, the five-acre site will become home to 50 two, three and four bedroom mixed tenure properties, including 15 affordable homes and five homes that will be available through the First Homes scheme.

The homes will be designed and developed using materials that reflect the local vernacular within Stanton-under-Bardon, and all homes will also include a high-quality specification as standard.

A range of biodiversity initiatives will also be implemented on site to encourage nature to grow and thrive. New trees will be planted and the open space on the development will include an attenuation basin seeded with wildflowers.

Our East Midlands team will also be retaining the existing public footpath within the site and supporting the Stanton-under-Bardon community, with financial contributions to the area’s NHS, education services, library and public transport in Coalville.

Construction work on the site is scheduled to commence in early 2025 and complete in summer 2026. The Stanton-under-Bardon development will be built alongside schemes in Shepshed and Anstey.

Karl Edwards, Operations Director at Allison Homes East Midlands, said: “We are going from strength to strength at Allison Homes East Midlands, and I am incredibly proud of the team for securing our third parcel of land, following the acquisition of sites in Shepshed and Anstey earlier this summer.

“We have worked incredibly hard with Mather Jamie and Caddick Land on this acquisition, and we are now looking forward to getting started on site and providing the people of Stanton-under-Bardon with a sustainable, new community.”

For any future land opportunities across the East Midlands region, or for any enquiries, please contact the team on eastmidsland@allison-homes.com.

Allison Homes adds three news appointments to growing East Midlands region

We are delighted to welcome three new members of our East Midlands team to help drive forward our ambitious growth plans across the region.

Allison Homes East Midlands is a new region for us, covering Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire with land recently acquired in Shepshed and Anstey.

Victoria Pointon, Carter Newbury and Tim Pyne have been appointed as Quantity Surveyor, Senior Engineer and Senior Land and Partnerships Manager respectively. Carter and Tim will be based out of the East Midlands Head Office, whereas Victoria’s role will see her working across the East Midlands region.

Victoria achieved an undergraduate degree in geography before joining Crest Nicholson in 2019 where she carried out further training and completed her master’s degree in quantity surveying.

Victoria said: “I joined Allison Homes to further my career and to be a part of the extremely driven East Midlands team. The role is an amazing opportunity to be a part of a small team setting up a new region and I’m excited to watch the division grow and achieve its goals.”

Carter commented: “It’s a rare opportunity to be involved early on in a new region. The role comes with the responsibility of setting up our first sites and being involved in new processes and procedures. I am looking forward to being a part of the team and contributing to its success in these early stages.”

Tim added: “After learning more about the company’s vision and growth plans, I knew it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. The chance to be part of a new region and contribute to its success is something that excites me.”

Carter’s role as Senior Engineer is highly varied and consists of appraisal of all technical information for the purpose of informing land bids, instructing all relevant designs at the site won stage, progressing section agreements and ensuring all technical information is available and correct for site start and ongoing support to site for technical matters during build and management of adoptions and estate completions throughout and after the build has completed.

Carter said: “I am working with a great team of friendly and knowledgeable people who have fully involved me in the current projects from day one and have found Allison Homes to be very organised and well managed.”

As Senior Land and Partnerships Manager, Tim oversees all aspects of identifying new development opportunities, advancing land deals, and maximizing the value for each new site. He works closely with a multidisciplinary team to ensure successful completion of projects.

Tim said: “I love diving into the technical details of new sites. I have always been fascinated by how things work and the process of bringing a concept to life. Seeing a project go from an idea on paper to a fully realised development is incredibly satisfying.”

Victoria added: “The region has been extremely welcoming. It is positive to see how the team all work together so closely to achieve the best result for the sites they are looking to buy. It is a very team focused ethos and everyone is there to help achieve the regions goals.”

Karl Edwards, Operations Director for Allison Homes East Midlands, said: “Victoria, Carter and Tim are excellent additions to the East Midlands Team. Their skills and commitment will play a crucial role in our expansion across the region, and I look forward to seeing all they achieve in their time with us.”

To find out more about Allison Homes. For more information on starting a career with the housebuilder, visit our careers page.

Allison Homes East shares top places to take your four-legged friends

To celebrate International Dog Day (Monday 26th August), we are sharing some of the best places that you and your pooch can spend the day together near our developments across the East region.

Kelly Toms, Sales and Marketing Director at Allison Homes East, said: “At Allison Homes we chose the areas we build in with great care, and we understand that anywhere our residents live also has to be perfect for their pooches, so we hope that sharing this list can help people find some great places to spend time with their furry friends.”

Secure dog parks

Secure dog parks are an excellent way to let your dog run wild without the worry of them running too far away or encountering other dogs or humans that may interrupt their fun.

High-energy dogs residing at our Frampton Gate development in Lincolnshire only have to contain their excitement for a few short minutes before getting to Sutterton Dog Park, which is comprised of two acres of secure paddocks and an orchard where dogs can run safely off lead until their hearts content. The park can be booked for individual use or for a fun day out with fellow trusted dog owners.

Four-legged residents of Abbey Park in Cambridgeshire on the other hand can make use of Thorney Dog Park. The private, enclosed dog park features an agility course, selfie stand for pictures and picnic tables for the human guests.

Dog-friendly pubs

A nice meal and a drink in a local pub is hard to beat, and being able to bring your furry friend along makes it all the better.

Residents of our Venus Fields development over in Suffolk can visit the aptly named The Dog pub, which describes itself as “extremely dog friendly” and welcomes your beloved pet in both the bar and restaurant. There is even a nearby 4km dog walk that patrons can take once their drink and food are finished.

The Plough is a quintessential English pub in Oakham, Rutland near our Farriers Reach development. The popular establishment is dog friendly and even has an onsite ice cream parlour offering Waggy Doggy ice cream.

Scenic walking routes

Walking your dog is important for their wellbeing and good for your health, and with the excellent locations we build in it can also be a great opportunity to take in stunning scenery.

Dog owners living in our Kings Meadow development in Newark are in luck, as they can plan their walking routes to pass through any of the non-roofed areas of the iconic Newark Castle and take in the breathtaking view whilst their four-legged companion enjoys the exercise.

Norfolk is well known for The Broads National Park which is within easy reach of The Oaks. Dogs are more than welcome and can enjoy exploring riverside paths, marshes, woodlands and even the waterways. The iconic historical suites Burgh Castle and St Benet’s Abbey welcome dogs, in addition to several pubs and eating venues.

Dog-friendly beaches

A day at the beach is hard to beat and dogs love the sand and sea almost as much as humans do. Our Wootton Grange development in South Wootton is just over half an hour away from one of the best dog-friendly beaches in Norfolk, Brancaster Beach. This coast is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is also popular for windsurfing and kite surfing.

Find out more about our developments and the locations we build in.

Allison Homes joins the Deposit Unlock scheme – is it the new Help to Buy?

We are excited to announce that we have signed up for the new Deposit Unlock scheme, which aims to help property seekers secure their perfect home by reducing the burden of the initial deposit. The appeal of the scheme is similar to that of the popular Government-backed Help to Buy scheme, which ended in March 2023. But how similar are they?

Who is eligible for the scheme?

The first major difference is who the scheme is available to. Help to Buy was exclusively available to first time buyers, whereas Deposit Unlock was launched by The Home Builders Federation (HBF) in partnership with lenders and housebuilders, and is available to both first time buyers and existing homeowners. This means that buyers can use the scheme to upsize out of a home that they have grown out of if desired.

How much can buyers borrow?

In both schemes, the buyer is/was able to purchase a home with just a five per cent deposit*, which is a great help for buyers who are in a good financial position to make mortgage payments on a home but are having trouble saving up for the large deposit payment.

Help to Buy was an equity loan from the Government that meant first time buyers could pay a five per cent deposit and then borrow 20 per cent (40 per cent in London) interest free for five years, and the rest could be borrowed from a standard mortgage lender.

For Deposit Unlock, buyers pay the five per cent deposit and are then able to secure a 95 per cent mortgage, which is made possible because members of the HBF joined forces to create a nationwide insurance scheme that offers protection on participating mortgages.

With Deposit Unlock, the buyers are able to get the mortgage on homes up to the value of £833,250*, whereas with Help to Buy there were regional price caps which tended to be lower. For example, the cap in London was £600,000 and in the North East it was £186,100.

This means that buyers who use Deposit Unlock can borrow more and use it on higher value properties, without the regional restrictions that came with Help to Buy.

What are the restrictions?

Both schemes are/were only available to use on new build homes, and only those from builders who have registered with the scheme. As Help to Buy was a Government-backed loan, buyers did not have to think about which lenders would offer the loan, whereas Deposit Unlock is only available through participating lenders.

Jason Blunden, Managing Director at Evolve Financial Solutions, said: “This scheme is a great new opportunity for customers to buy a new build property with a five per cent deposit. The scheme is supported by some great lenders, including Nationwide, Accord and Newcastle. 

“The lenders’ standard affordability is used, so homebuyers are not adversely affected by restricted lending limits just because they are looking at buying at 95 per cent. There is a competitive range of two and five years fixed mortgage products available, and these can be used up to a maximum loan of £750,000 with Nationwide. The scheme is also available to any buyers, not just first time buyers, so home movers can use this as well.”

Find out more about the Deposit Unlock scheme.

*T&Cs apply.

Top five must-do activities on the first day in your new home

At Allison Homes, we get it—moving can be a whirlwind of stress and excitement. But once you’ve crossed the finish line and stepped through the front door of your brand-new home, it’s time to savour that moment. With all the hard work behind you, you deserve to start this new chapter on a high note. So, in celebration of National Moving Day on 19th August, we’ve put together our top five must-dos for making your first day in your new home truly unforgettable.

Find your new favourite takeaway

Pizza and moving boxes

After a long day of unpacking its unlikely that you’ll be up for cooking dinner, especially if some of the pots and pans have yet to be found. This is a great opportunity to discover your new favourite takeaway, so remember to change your address on your delivery apps and try the highly rated options near you.

 

Meet your neighbours

Couple at the front door

It’s important to get off on the right foot with the people you’ll be living next to, so make the effort to introduce yourself to your neighbours early. It could be the start of a great friendship, and they may even be able to help you with a recommendation for your takeaway.

 

Break in the bathroom

white toilet and bathroom accessories

After a day of moving boxes, nothing says “home sweet home” like taking a moment to yourself on your new throne. It’s the perfect way to unwind and officially claim your space. Just make sure you’ve unpacked the toilet paper first—because that’s one box you definitely don’t want to be searching for at the last minute.

 

Find the best place for a selfie

Man and girl taking a selfie

You’ll want to remember this day and share your updates with friends and family. Make sure you locate the best lighting and backdrop in your new home and get the perfect snaps for your moving day posts and stories!

 

Toast your success

Gay couple toast wine glasses in kitchen

Finally moving into your new home is something to celebrate, so take the time to enjoy your achievement and share it with the people close to you. This can be at your new local pub, or simply with some bubbly or nice cuppa in your new home. You’ve earnt it!

 

If you’re looking for a brand new home, discover an Allison Homes development near you and find out more about our available homes. Start your search here