Winvic Construction Ltd has been shortlisted in two categories by the Love to Rent Awards 2024. The 375 apartment Corkfield scheme in Edgbaston is in the running for Best Build to Rent Development Midlands and The Bath House in Birmingham, a project comprising 406 Build-to-Rent (BTR) homes, is a finalist in the Social Value Impact in BTR category.
Winvic and client Packaged Living won the Best Build To Rent Development Award South for The Almere in Milton Keynes last year, so the team is excited to learn whether they have achieved back-to-back wins when they attend the ceremony on 25 October at The Londoner in Leicester Square.
The Best Build to Rent Development Award Midlands – Corkfield, Edgbaston: completed for client PATRIZIA in September 2023. Designed by Arcadis (formerly CallisonRTKL), the project was supported by Warwickshire County Cricket Club (WCCC), Homes England and local stakeholder Calthorpe Estates.
Corkfield is Birmingham’s most sought-after address, combining easy access to the city with a community located in a leafy setting. Its near city position, close to multiple parks, Midlands Arts Centre and WCCC’s ground, promotes culture, sport and wellbeing, and meaningful connections and partnerships with local businesses and charities are helping the community to flourish. Collaborative events with local community organisations are regularly organised and partnerships with businesses provide exclusive discounts and services to residents.
Community relationships were formed during construction, creating employment and training opportunities as well as opportunities to support to local groups and charities. The target of 2,880 employment and training weeks was exceeded with 4,773 weeks delivered and Winvic also welcomed Birmingham City University Students on four site tours and Walsall College T-level students on industry placements. The team visited City Academy to give STEM sessions to year 8 students, Martineau Gardens community garden to refurbish their pergola and outdoor events area and SIFA Fireside homeless charity to help serve food and support the charity with general tasks at its drop-in centre.
The scheme has already been awarded a Considerate Constructors Scheme Leading Lights 2023 award for Community Engagement, and Insider Midlands Residential Property Awards 2024 for Apartment Development of the Year and a HomeViews Resident Choice Awards 2024: HereSAY Best Build to Rent Community: Lead to Leasing Journey.
It’s a perfect example of the new class of BTR schemes; Corkfield meets the needs of numerous demographics with a focus on wellbeing, convenience and sustainable living. Customer choice and flexibility informed apartment types, layouts and colour palettes and location in the building. Customer needs were re-evaluated with the pandemic and designs were altered, creating more working areas, outdoor spaces and apartment balconies.
The near-city location means Corkfield boasts larger apartments than most city centre BTR developments. Quality of space was integral to the development’s aims, including the meticulous design of ground floor amenity areas, creating community spaces that residents love to use as part of their home. Customer wellbeing, sustainability and community integration is an ongoing aim; from energy-efficient appliances, recycling programmes and eco-friendly landscaping to organising mental health awareness programmes and workshops.
The Social Value Impact in BTR Award – The Bath House, Birmingham: sections complete with handover in November 2024
The social value activity that Winvic delivered throughout the construction of The Bath House in Birmingham, comprising 406 quality Build-To-Rent homes, is an inspirational example of what can be achieved with a collaborative strategy.
Training and employment were the highest priority for Birmingham City Council (BCC) due to a high youth unemployment rate. The Section 106 agreement specified the creation of an Employment and Skills Plan and the delivery 3,084 employment and training weeks for adult residents in Birmingham who were currently unemployed.
Across the entrant employment categories of Job Starts, Apprentices, Graduates, Work Placements, Winvic exceeded the target and delivered an incredible 6,890 employment and training weeks. This level of success was possible due to collaborative efforts with multiple subcontract partners and BCC’s Employment Access Team (EAT), who advertised and matched vacancies with local unemployed people.
Winvic is deeply committed to leaving a positive legacy in the communities in which it works and is focussed on the delivery of social value through enhancing the economic, social, environmental and cultural wellbeing of local communities. Therefore, in addition to the Employment and Skills Plan, Winvic created a holistic Social Value Strategy for The Bath House, again working collectively with subcontractors.
Over 50-hours and over £30,000 was donated to supporting community projects, approximately 235 young people were engaged through 9 curriculum engagement activities, 490 employees resided in the BCC administration area and 41 apprentices learned through hands-on site placements.
Mark Jones, Managing Director for Multi-room at Winvic, commented: “We’re honoured to be recognised once again by the Love to Rent Awards for our project delivery in the BTR sector. The Edgbaston residents have been enjoying their Corkfield homes for 12 months now and it’s very satisfying to know they are thriving in their community. The meticulous design, quality construction and community driven events and business partnership are really making it a sought-after, near-city location.
“The social value statistics – including doubling the target of employment weeks delivered at The Bath House – really speak for themselves. It’s an outstanding example of our commitment to ESG. I’d like to thank the whole team for their collaborative efforts, which have enhanced the economic, social, environmental and cultural wellbeing of local Birmingham communities.
“The team is looking forward to attending the ceremony with PATRIZIA_ and Edmond de Rothschild in October and to the completion of The Bath House in November.”
For more information on Winvic, the company’s latest project news and job vacancies please visit www.winvic.co.uk. Join Winvic on social media – visit X (formerly Twitter) @WinvicLtd – and LinkedIn.
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