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PPF Supports Affordable Housing Development in Cambridgeshire

Procure Partnerships Framework contractor partner Burmor Construction is currently on site delivering a scheme which will allow the client, Cross Keys Homes to provide more quality affordable housing. Cross Keys Homes, a registered provider, based in Peterbrough currently holds housing stock in excess of 11,000 homes. Grove Gardens is the latest development, Procure Partnerships Framework is proud to be supporting Cross Keys Homes and Burmor Construction through the project. This project will provide a total of 27 affordable homes in the community of Elm, near Wisbech. The scheme will consist of 14 Shared ownership and 13 Affordable Rent houses, as a mix of 2 and 3 bedroomed semi-detached homes.

Image representative of completed scheme

The project had detailed planning consent already in place therefore only minor supplementary design work was required to discharge a number of planning conditions, and this was handled by Burmor Construction following appointment.

The dwellings require piling and ground beams due to the prevailing ground conditions. An existing watercourse that crosses the site also requires culverting. The homes will be constructed by using a panellised timber frame system, provided by the not-for-profit manufacturing operation of another local Registered Provider.

A start on site was made within one week of contract award. This was required to ensure grant funding drawdown before the end of the financial year. This presented the first challenge facing the project. Procure Partnerships was suitably placed to support Cross Keys Homes through a procurement process with such a tight time scale.

Cross Keys Homes has employed the expertise of Burmor construction on multiple occasions, Patrick Burke, Director at Burmor Construction commented on the rapid procurement process that Procure Partnerships Framework oversaw “We are very pleased to continue our relationship with Cross Keys Homes, delivering quality affordable homes on time and on budget, facilitated by the Procure Partnerships Framework”

Gary Norman, Assistant Director, Land and Planning at Cross Keys Homes commented on the procurement process: “We are extremely pleased to have been able to procure this project to the point of appointment so rapidly via Procure Partnerships, whilst at all times maintaining the integrity of process that stands up to scrutiny in terms of probity and audit requirements for our business”

Burmor Construction has vast experience in delivering new build housing and has worked with Cross Keys Homes on multiple occasions. The client has trust in their experience and this is reflected in the comments of Gary Norman, Assistant Director, Land and Planning at Cross Keys Homes:

We have worked with Burmor Construction on a number of projects previously and are extremely pleased to be working with them again on this exciting project. Their ability to work closely with the client is important to us, and quality of workmanship is always very good”

The ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic presented another challenge to the progress of Grove Gardens as the first day on site coincided with the Prime Minister’s announcement of the UK lockdown. The contractor continually monitored the government guidance over the following days and weeks, to ensure all operations being carried out on site were in strict accordance with the latest Government and Public Health England guidelines.

John Boyce, Procure Partnerships Framework, Key Account Manager commented on the scheme: “The regional structure of Procure Partnerships Framework allows regional experts like Burmor Construction to deliver quality, necessary schemes, like Grove Gardens, in their local community. Cross Keys Homes has been extremely satisfied with their work on past schemes and we are happy to have helped the client to quickly appoint a contractor they have confidence in”