Cala expands footprint in Gloucestershire and pushes timber frame roll out

28 new homes will be Cala's first in England to be wholly built using timber frame methods

We are delighted to have acquired land in Alderton, Gloucestershire, with consent to deliver 28 new homes, all of which will be constructed using timber frames – a first for the housebuilder in England. Use of timber frames in construction enables a carbon footprint reduction of up to 20-25% per home compared to block-build methods, and is already being used on around 40 per cent of the homes we build each year.

The site on Willowbank Road, in Alderton, marks an important step forward for Cala on our journey towards building homes that are operationally net zero carbon from 2030. Each home will also be installed with electric vehicle charging provisions.

Within a mix of 28 two- to four-bedroom bungalows, maisonettes, and larger family homes, 11 will be provided as affordable housing, comprising both rented and shared ownership tenure. The scheme extends Alder Green, our first phase of development site completed in 2017, and has been designed to respect the rural setting of Alderton thanks to generous landscaping, enabling views to the surrounding countryside. We will also contribute funds for off-site play facilities, as well as affordable housing, libraries, and recycling – to be delivered by Tewkesbury Borough and Gloucestershire County councils. 

Bernie Vent, Regional Land Director, Cala Homes (Midlands), said: 

“We’re thrilled to have completed on our option to purchase this land in Alderton, after successfully partnering with Greystoke Land and working through a planning appeal where we were able to demonstrate the development’s importance in contributing towards local housing need. Gloucestershire is an area with significant demand, where we have many years of experience, and we hope to expand on our work here over coming years. The path to net zero is not an easy one, but with considered examination of each and every aspect of how we build, and the materials with which we do so, we’re confident we will meet our ambitious targets.”

Construction is due to begin in spring 2022, with sales to launch later this year. Our team continues to actively seek land opportunities across the Midlands, with a particular focus on Solihull, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. Get in touch via cala.group@cala.co.uk.