Willmott Dixon is strengthening its track-record as a UK-leader for the construction of residential accommodation with a £12.5 million scheme to deliver a collection of homes in Ashby de la Zouch.

The 65 one and two bed homes alongside communal areas, such as a hairdressers and bistro, for emh care & support to create an inclusive environment that brings together people of all ages as there is no age restriction on the facility. Upon completion, 50 of the apartments will be rented while 15 will be for sale.

Designed by architects BRP, the homes are scheduled to complete in early 2021 and there are also plans to build an adjacent new school.

The project was procured through Procurement Hub with a large focus on creating a positive impact for local people. This will see 10% of the budget - just over £1.2m - invested into local social return projects concentrating on NEETS (people Not in Education Employment or Training), with Willmott Dixon collaborating with a local secondary school as part of its enrichment programme. This includes a ten-week traineeship where people aged 16 to 18 will learn employability skills, gain a CSCS card and on-site work experience.

Similarly, Willmott Dixon will deliver health and safety assemblies to local primary schools that will be affected by the build.

Michelle Cotterill, director at Willmott Dixon:

“We have been working closely with emh care & support to make sure we are creating a scheme that is going to make the local community proud. Every step of the way we have been working collaboratively with all project partners through workshops, ensuring we plan effectively. The customer previously had challenges with overheating on similar schemes, so we have worked with them to ensure the same issues won’t occur when working with us. We are also embracing technology during this project, for example we are using offsite manufacturing to reduce programme time and maintain high levels of quality, while also minimising waste and costs.

“During all of our projects we aim to engage our customers and project partners. We recently invited emh care & support into our digital design room to review the design and gain a real feel for the building. Further into the build process this technology can be used to show prospective buyers what their potential home will be like too. Alongside our enrichment programme, we will also be working with Stephenson College on a work experience scheme, accommodating apprentices currently working for emh care & support, to give them experience in working on a new build project.”

Joanna Grainger, Executive Director at emh care & support, said: “A development like this requires strong and trusted relationships, and we are delighted to be working with Willmott Dixon, North West Leicestershire DC, and our other partners to deliver our most ambitious project to date. With Springfields we are creating a modern community in the heart of the national forest, a vibrant place supporting and promoting health and wellbeing. That is something we can all be proud of.”

Sophie Quenby, operations manager at the Procurement Hub:

“The appointment of Willmott Dixon was via Procurement Hub through the Major Projects Framework. Procurement Hub is an innovative, forward thinking and fast growing procurement consortium. We pride ourselves on simplicity, integrity and expertise which is why partnering with an organisation, such as Willmott Dixon, on this framework has proven so successful. When two organisations share the same values and vision it creates the perfect working relationship.”

Each year, Willmott Dixon delivers £250 million-worth of homes across the UK, working in collaboration with the public sector and private sector partners. One example is Willmott Dixon’s work across Yorkshire to build over 300 homes in Rotherham and Doncaster. The company has also just delivered an extra care facility in Nottinghamshire to create 44 new-build units and renovate 180 existing flats.