Accent scheme in Peterborough is listed as one of the Top 50 UK Affordable Housing Developments by Inside Housing

Social landlords know that good housing is about more than just bricks and mortar.  Accent Nene’s recent development at Townsend Close has been selected as one of the top 50 schemes.  The development is on Lincoln Road, Peterborough and consists of both social rent units and new build home buy units.  Part of the development is converted Victorian villa called Thurston House that now provides 4 apartments.  The property was previously used as offices.

More than 6,000 homes were submitted for consideration so making the Top 50 developments is quite an achievement.

The judging criteria were:

• Completed during 2012
• Development must comprise of more than 10 homes and include an affordable or social housing element
• How the scheme was funded
• How the land was provided/obtained
• The planning process and how local communities were involved and influenced it
• The developments eco-credentials
• What design and space standards were achieved
• How developments utilised local tradespeople in the construction process
• The views of the residents living in the homes 

Please follow this link to Inside Housing see the full list of developments that reached the top 50.

Selection of photographs from the interior of the showhome:-

Completion - 7 September 2012

The new homes at Lincoln Road were handed over to Accent Nene on 7 September 2012 from  Larkfleet.  The new residents moved into the rented properties over the weekend and the first shared owner moved in of 27 September 2012.   There are a few photographs below which I hope you agree show that the development was a success and that Thurston House sits well in its new surroundings.

Progress Report - Week Commencing 25 June 2012

The houses are now almost complete and the external landscaping is well underway.  Once the boilers are commissioned and the units are fully complete an inspection of the units to highlight any remaining issues which need to be dealt with prior to handover of the units.

Thurston House is now fully plastered and has had the first coat of paint.  The bathrooms are now in and the kitchens are in the process of being fitted.  It was originally hoped to keep the original door but unfortunately due to the change in the stairs layout a new door will be required and we are in the process of sourcing a suitable replacement.

The scaffold to the flats has now been dropped similarly to Thurston House these are fully plastered and the first coat of paint has been completed.  The bathrooms are in and the kitchens are in the process of being fitted.

Handover of all units is still expected early September 2012.

If you are interested in either renting (housing team) or buying a part-buy/part-rent property (marketing team) please contact our main reception on 01733 295400 and ask to speak with the relevant team.

If you have any queries regarding the development please contact me on 01733 295465.

Beverly Hill

Development Officer

Progress Report - Week commencing 21 May 2012

Most of the houses to the rear of the site have kitchens and bathrooms fitted and are undergoing final works in order that we can check the units for any faults that we need to be rectified prior to their handover to us.

The external works are now underway and the fencing and hard landscaping to the rear of the site is almost complete.

Thurston House now has its new windows installed which are uPVC sash windows to stay in keeping with the original architecture.  The walls are in the process of being dry-lined and plastered and internal decoration will be underway soon.

The flats are now fully plastered out are currently being decorated internally.  The brickwork is approximately 70% complete and all works to the roof is complete.

Progress Report - Week Commencing 16 April 2012

Progress has been significant since the last blog:
The works to the roof of Thurston House are now complete and the scaffolding has been dropped to second floor level. The majority of the brickwork repairs have been completed and this is due to be checked for any further repairs which are necessary over the next week.

Thurston House has also received its new staircase and the new windows are due to be fitted over the next couple of weeks.

Electrical and heating fittings are currently underway to the rented flats at the front of the site and the brickwork to the exterior of these is approximately 40% complete.

The houses to the rear are now fully plastered and are awaiting the new kitchen installations which are due to take place in the next month.

If you would like any further information regarding the site please contact me on 01733 295465,

Beverly Hill
Development Officer

Progress Report - week commencing 5 March 2012

The brickwork to the houses at the rear of the site has now been completed; internally the plastering is underway and the first coat of paint is being applied.





The PV installation to all the houses is also now complete




There has not been much progress to the apartments in Thurston House recenlty as there were some changes needed to the wiring layout to ensure that the kitchen and room layouts best met the needs of the new residents. As this is now all agreed work will recommence to complete the wiring before plastering is commenced.




External brickwork has now been commenced to the block of flats at the front of the site and internally the electrical installation is now well underway.





You may also notice that there is currently roadworks on Lincoln Road itself and this is the final part of the utility connections needed for the site. These were delayed in order that the disruption on Lincoln Road was kept to a minimum.

The contractor is forecasting that the work is still slightly ahead of programme and that the homes will be ready for the September 2012 programmed completion date.

If you have any queries regarding these new homes please do not hesitate to contact me on 01733 295465.

Progress Report - Week Commencing 13 February 2012

The winter weather has finally arrived, however as the new houses to the rear of the site are fully roofed and the pv panels fitted, this is not causing us major difficulties. The cold weather will delay the brick laying, however work can continue on the interiors and the electric and plumbing work to the houses is complete. The boarding out is almost complete with plastering to commence shortly.

With regard to the newbuild flats to the front of the site - these were slightly delayed due to the change in planning application to in-roof pv panels. This change has now been approved and work is progressing with the installation of the electrics and plumbing to these flats.



The refubishment of Thurston House is continuing, the replacement work to the roof and the repair work to the chimneys is almost complete. The rebuilding of the rear gable wall is now fully completed and work to repair any other exterior brickwork as necessary is underway. Installation is continuing to the interior with electrics and plumbing complete the to the ground floor apartments. We are expecting the window installation to commence shortly.

If you have any questions regarding the work taking place please contact me on 01733 295465.

Beverly Hill
Development Officer
Accent Nene Limited

Progress Report - Week Commencing 16 January 2012

After a quiet time over the Christmas period work work on site is progressing quickly and is ahead of programme. The first electrical and plumbing installation to Thurston House is well underway and the boarding out will commence once this work is complete. The last of the chimney's has been taken down and will be rebuilt shortly.

The houses to the rear of the site are all at roof level and will now be roofed out and the brickwork started. The electrical and plumbing installations will now begin and the windows are due on site shortly.

The newbuild block of flats to the front of the site are currently at roof level and the roof has been loaded ready for tiling.

We have now received full approval to the non-material planning amendments which includes the use of in-roof PV panels to the flat roofs and on-roof PV panels to the house roofs at the rear of the site. The us of PV panels is needed in order to comply with the high level of sustainability required for the new homes.

If you would like any further information regarding this site please contact me on 01733 295465

Beverly Hill

Project Officer

Progress Report - Week Commencing 12 December 2011

The weather has been kind so far and this has meant that the contractor has been able to install the roof trusses to both the block of flats at the front of the site and two of the houses to the rear. The installation to the remaining roof trusses will be installed over the next few weeks as long as we don't get any adverse weather.

Having the roofs in place means that the properties can be made weather tight and as such work reduces the risk of construction delays due to adverse weather.

The rear gable wall to Thurston House is now almost fully completed and the work to the roof is continuing.

Internally first fix has commenced with the plumbing pipework and electrics work underway.

Progress Report - week commencing 21 November 2011

Over the last few days progress has been rapid on-site. The roof works to Thurston House is continuing with the repairing/repointing work to three of the five chimneys now completed. One of the chimneys will need to be taken down and rebuilt as it was shown to be in need of major repair following an engineers report. The rear elevation rebuild in now 70% complete and the use of bricks reclaimed from the demolition has resulted in the newbuild matching the existing building.

The interior of Thurston House has seen the new floating floors being installed and the battening out to the walls in readiness for the plasterboard is almost complete. Final detailing for the windows is still being discussed with planners and we are hopeful for final sign off shortly.

The block of flats to the front of the site are due to have the roof trusses installed over the next week and we are still hopeful that these will be made weather tight ahead of any adverse weather conditions.

Timber frames are now in place to the houses at the very rear of the site and the timber frames on the remaining houses are due to be in place over the next couple of weeks.

If you have any queries regarding the work on site please contact Beverly Hill at Accent Nene who will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Progress Report - Week Commencing 7 November 2011

The studding to the walls in Thurston House is now well underway and the floating floor to the ground floor is complete. The work is continuing to the retiling of the roof and the stonemason has now commenced work to repair/replace and worn or damaged stonework.

The rebuilding of the rear elevation to Thurston

House is now approximately 70% complete.

Ground floor timber frame has been erected to the flats and the scaffolding is currently being errected to be allow the second floor frames to be put in place.

Foundations are complete for 7 of the new homes to the rear of Thurston House are complete and foundations to the final two units are now well underway.

Progress Report - Week Commencing 17 Oct 2011

The foundations to the flats and 7 of the 9 houses are now up to beam level and the below ground drainage work is well underway for these units.

Rebuilding of the rear extension is now well underway with the blockwork complete and the brickwork approximately two-thirds complete.  The bricks which have been used were saved from the demolition of the extension so that they are in keeping with the rest of the building.

The adoptable road is installed up to base course and the section of road beyond Thurston House in now under construction.

Work is continuing to Thurston House roof and internals, however access is limited due to health and safety issues.  A full update will be given once access is granted.

Progress Report - Week Commencing 25 September 2011

Progress on-site has again been signficant.  The works to the roof are ongoing and there have been no major problems uncovered so far.  A stonemason has been employed to repair or replace and of the damaged stone as necessary.

The replacement wall to the rear elevation of Thurston House is now well underway.

The foundations and blockwork has now completed to the new build properties and work has now commenced in laying the services to these properties. 

Progress Report - week commencing 12 September 2011

Progress on site has been good this week involving many various trades working on-site.  The key points are:

Mains drainage is now in place and on the base course for the road to the turning head has now started.

Construction of the rear of Thurston House has commenced and the contractor is due to start the refurbishment of the roof over the next week.  This work will be carried out in sections in order to keep the building as watertight as possible during this process.

Construction of the houses to the rear of Thurston House is now well underway with the contractor working on the blockwork up to damp-proof course.   

Foundations for the flats to the front elevation of Thurston House are now in place. 

Should you have any questions regarding the construction at Lincoln Road please contact me on 01733 295465.

Beverly Hill - Development Officer

Accent Nene Limited

Progress Report - week commencing 29 August 2011

The scaffolding has been erected around Thurston House and work to the roof will commence shortly.  This will also enable our engineer to carry out an assessment of the chimney stacks to determine whether these are structually stable.

The drainage construction is now well underway and once this is all in place work will start on the construction of the access road.

Foundations to the houses to the rear of Thurston House are now almost complete and the foundations to the block of flats to the front of the site are marked out ready for work to commence.