Urban&Civic buys huge housing scheme from administrators

Grant Prior 7 years ago
Share

Urban&Civic has bought 907 acres of freehold land at Priors Hall in Northamptonshire for £39.9m from the administrators of the original owners.

The developer has also acquired a further 58 acres of adjoining woodland for an additional £550,000 in a separate deal.

Priors Hall has an existing outline planning consent for 5,095 units, some of which has been sold to seven different housebuilders and is in the process of being built out. 

The development is split into three residential phases with the new homes set within lakes, open parkland and forests.  

Urban&Civic is acquiring 3,656 uncontracted plots, substantively comprising Phases 2 and 3 and the benefit of outstanding sums on Phase 1.

The scheme already has more than 1,000 residents and housebuilders on site include Barratt and David Wilson, Taylor Wimpey, Kier and Francis Jackson Homes. 

There were close to 200 housing completions at Priors Hall in the 12 months to March 2017. 

Priors Hall Primary School for 420 children had its first intake in September 2016, and is adjacent to the Foster Associates designed Corby Business Academy, which opened in 2008. 

The purchase of Priors Hall is being part funded by the Homes and Communities Agency which is also making available additional facilities to cover future forecast infrastructure spend. 

Total committed facilities from the HCA for the transaction are £45.4m.

Nigel Hugill, Chief Executive of Urban&Civic, said: “Priors Hall offers exceptional upside for shareholders and demonstrates the ability of Urban&Civic to work through large site challenges that other developers often find too daunting.

“The acquisition is right in our sweet spot: complicated history, long and supportive funding structure, demonstrable potential for better project organisation and improved planning.

“Plus the fundamentals are strong: 68 minute direct rail service into London and 7 million people living within 50 miles.

“Recent house price growth in the local area is amongst the highest in the country, whilst Priors Hall has been achieving sales of around 200 new homes a year despite being under managed and over leveraged.

“We believe our skills and experience as incoming Master Developer confer competitive advantage for which we expect to be rewarded with superior returns.”

Latest news

Carpenter killed by falling timber frame panels

Court fines specialist contractor £8,000 after site tragedy
19 hours ago

Road sweeper specialist files administration notice

Go Plant lodges court notice
1 day ago

Anglian Homes rides in to finish crashed Everest contracts

Rival doubled glazed window specialist commits to complete orders
1 day ago

Final work starts to connect super sewer to London system

End in sight with 1.5m thick concrete wall to be demolished to link-up to Lee Tunnel sewer system
1 day ago

Legal challenge launched against £1.5bn A66 dualling

Balfour Beatty, Kier and Keltbray must now await outcome of court challenge
1 day ago

John F Hunt wins 24-storey Battersea tower

Specialist to carry-out demolition, enabling works and RC frame construction
2 days ago

William Hare wins steelwork on £500m Broadgate towers

Specialist to work on 2 Finsbury Avenue with McAlpine
2 days ago

McAlpine appoints MD to grow ventures business

Owain Thomas will build on private rental and healthcare development successes
2 days ago

BAM Co-op Live Arena opening delayed yet again

Another gig cancelled last night amid last minute safety concerns
2 days ago

National Grid unveils winners for £9bn network upgrade

New 'enterprise model' to deliver infrastructure schemes quicker and cheaper
3 days ago

Turkish insulation panel maker to build £45m UK factory

Assan Panel to open first UK plant at Freeport East
2 days ago

Expanding consultant Stantec swoops for Hydrock

Stantec UK business expands by a third as 950 staff join from Bristol-based engineer
3 days ago

Contractors wanted for £800m highways deal

Bids invited for Eastern Highways Alliance Framework 4
2 days ago

Galliford Try names group head of infrastructure

David Lowery promoted to Divisional Managing Director – Infrastructure.
2 days ago

Chigwell Group looks at stock market listing

Essex contractor registers as Public Limited Company
3 days ago

A57 Mottram Bypass clears final legal challenge

Balfour Beatty to get go-ahead to start shortly
3 days ago

100 jobs axed as Geoffrey Osborne confirms administration

Chairman Andrew Osborne calls it a 'sad day' as board loses fight for survival
4 days ago

Midgard set for Notting Hill office tower overhaul

Landmark project edges towards final approval after 10-year planning saga
3 days ago

Cumbrian civils firm clinches £40m Sellafield contract

Civils specialist Stobbarts will support McAlpine on groundworks and concrete
3 days ago

Designers named for London 2000-bed student rooms job

Bouygues will build £400m London School of Economics student scheme next to Tate Modern
3 days ago

£117m-turnover contractor files administration notice

ARJ Construction lodges court notice
4 days ago

£1bn London Blackfriars tower blocks approved

Trio of buildings rising to 45, 40 and 22 storeys approved by Southwark Council
4 days ago

Council decides to end Balfour deal after 13 years

Contractor has been maintaining roads across Herefordshire since 2013
4 days ago

Six civils clients to switch to low carbon concrete and steel

National Highways, Northumbrian Water and Sellafield sign fresh decarbonising pledge
5 days ago

Fortem extends homes repair deal across Birmingham

Willmott Dixon owned firm adds another two years to deal worth £170m
4 days ago

Kier wins £118m civil service Darlington hub

Work is expected to start towards the end of this year
5 days ago

Green light for 34-storey Digbeth apartments tower

480 flats will be delivered for Clarion housing association
4 days ago

LHC starts race for major retrofit and decarb framework

Hunt starts for firms to help with 6.1m social homes upgrade target
5 days ago

Windows giant Everest crashes into administration

Around 350 jobs at risk while hunt starts for a buyer to salvage business
5 days ago

Green light for £500m Newcastle health complex

Mixed use scheme will promote healthy living across all stages of life
5 days ago

Contractor services