Year in Review

As 2022 draws to a close. We reflect on what has been another important year for Hollins Homes in our ambitions to grow as a company.

From a sales completion perspective, this has seen us complete on 68 new homes resulting in a turnover of £18 million. We are still growing as a business which means it is a continuous work in progress and we have made great strides in various areas this year, which will set us up well for the future. There are many positives we can look at:

Sales have achieved a positive sales rate across developments where plots have been available to sell and have performed brilliantly in their extras sold, all surpassing their average target on each site. This is again testament not only to the sales team but also the other departments in carefully selecting what we have to offer to our customers. There are three new Show Homes which will be opened in 2023 which will showcase the careful thought and design concept to help promote the brand to our customers and allow them to personalise their homes in a similar way.

Our Marketing team has worked hard which has seen a further strengthening of our online presence. Our followers increasing to 42,000 from 40,000 and importantly our Brand Awareness performing incredibly strong in comparison to our competitors. On average industry profile impressions reach 25,000 and we have achieved 193,000. It has seen a growth rate of 0.73% against industry growth rate of 0.19%. Our online presence has been refined and tidied up becoming more consistent in our content and presentation. There are plans to continue to build on the back of the strong base we have to promote the business further in 2023 and beyond, so keep your eyes out for these initiatives and keep sharing content.

Owing to our Construction team the homes we continue to build continue to impress not just many of our customers but also the public and competitors. We were shortlisted for an award earlier in the year at The Woodlands and we have since received 3 nominations for the Insider North West Awards in January 2023. This reaffirms that at the heart of everything we do is a real passion and care to build beautiful homes which not only we can be proud of but also our homeowners can be proud of. Which is an integral part of our brand. There will be new strategies in the department to enable us to deliver efficiently, effectively and continue to raise the quality we deliver.

Our Commercial team have been terrific in controlling and monitoring costs across the board in a year which has been increasingly difficult with continued rising costs in the industry. Whether through deals secured, partnerships built, new suppliers and sub-contractor management it has been a great effort.

Turning to the future and from a Development perspective, we have enjoyed another positive year in land acquisitions. In 2023 there will be at least 4 new developments commencing in Lower Bartle, Birch, Chester and Macclesfield.

The above projects will add variety to the brand, further enhance the name in new geographical locations and provide longevity to the business. In addition Outline Planning has been submitted for schemes in Galgate & Hartford and an application will be submitted in the New Year for a potential adjoining phase at Loveclough in Rossendale. A Reserved Matters application is being submitted in January on Adlington.

We have also successfully secured new Option Agreements on a number of sites and are actively working on other deals to further strengthen the pipeline of Hollins Homes.

In 2022 we have welcomed more new faces to the business at various stages throughout the year, in different departments. The team has grown again from 22 to 29 full-time employees strengthening our existing teams skillset further and there are plans to strengthen further in 2023 as we continue to optimise efficiency and output within the business.

A big thank you to all of our suppliers, contractors and consultants who have continued to play an important part in the success of Hollins Homes and we look forward to working with you in the New Year and beyond.

As a business we look forward to 2023 and adapting to new market constraints and regulations whilst completing existing schemes and starting the new ones mentioned above.

Lastly, it is for me to wish everyone a well earned break over the festive period and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

Best Wishes,

Stephen

Riverside Walk: Foodie Hotspots in the Market Town of Garstang

Take a short ten minute stroll from Riverside Walk, our development on Kepple Lane, and you will stumble across the popular market town of Garstang.

Found on the banks of the River Wyre, in the heart of Lancashire, Garstang is steeped in local history.

The town holds a traditional market day on Thursdays, with a heritage that dates back to the 1300’s; sellers can be found sprawling the length of the street offering a range of local products across 25 stalls…but we’re here to talk about Garstang’s thriving food scene.

Home to quaint pubs, artisan markets, lively bars and restaurants, Garstang is perfect for a relaxing shopping trip, or a catch-up with friends, and you won’t be left hungry. Read on to feast your eyes on our top 6 foodie hotspots in Garstang.

Our Top 6 Foodie Hot-Spots

  1. The Market House – A grade II listed building and town hall. The Market House is home to a range of independent shops including a butchers, sweet shop and bakery. Head here to pick up tasty takeaway food and ingredients for home cooking.

  2. Bellflower – Just a 9 minute stroll away from Riverside Walk, you’ll find the Bellflower. With 4.5 stars and 2376 reviews on tripadvisor, the pub offers a modern and stylish experience complete with beer garden, patio and play areas. On the food menu, you’ll find a range of pub classics or more adventurous cuisines with a world-wide influence. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options are also available. The Bellflower provides a large selection of craft beers, wines and sharing platters which are perfect for socializing.

  3. Th’Owd Tithe Barn – “A great local pub.” Dating back as early as 1710, this charming pub is found situated adjacent to the River Wyre. Originally a post medieval barn, for storing grain and corn, the pub offers a beautiful experiential setting; “hung from beams and fastened to the walls are farming history artefacts and celebrations of local crafts”. The restaurant serves traditional pub food using the freshest of British produce which is sourced locally within a 20 mile radius. You may also enjoy a selection of cask conditioned ales, world lagers and a range of spirits!

  4. The Roasting Joint – The home of hot meat sandwiches. Roasting Joint is the perfect place to grab a takeaway lunch whilst taking a stroll around Garstang or browsing the markets. They serve a selection of roasted joints, fresh pies and cakes, homemade soups and delicious snacks!

  5. Garstang Chippy – Situated in the centre of Garstang, the Garstang chippy serves delicious hot fish and chips, for both eat in or takeaway. Holding an impressive 4 stars on tripadvisor, this is the place to visit for your beloved British favourite.

  6. Cobblers Bar & Bistro – Holding 4.5 stars on trip advisor is the popular Cobblers. A local café, bar and bistro, the venue serves high quality food and drink. On the food menu, you will find tasty staples, like stake and ale pie. Those with a sweet tooth can tuck into rocky road or Victoria sponge. Tasty lattes can be enjoyed by day and inventive cocktails by evening! Cobblers also offers live entertainment and performances for a lively evening’s entertainment!

Whatever your mood, or agenda for the day, you’ll be well fed in Garstang!

Timber Frame planned for twelve New Build Homes at Thistledowns

An Exclusive Development is coming soon to the Foothills of the Peak District

A small and exclusive Hollins development is coming soon to the market town of Macclesfield.

‘Thistledowns’ will comprise of twelve cool and contemporary 3 bed townhouses, nestled in the foothills of the beautiful Peak District National Park.

The development’s proximity to this expansive green space, which stretches over 555 square miles of untouched English countryside, has made us exceedingly conscious of the impacts we have on the natural world.

Did you know? The UK Green Building Council states that roughly 10% of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions are directly associated with construction?

Therefore, in our efforts to operate more sustainably and to tackle emissions, we have opted for timber frame as the primary structure of our homes on this development.

Benefits of Timber Frame in Construction

  • Using timber as the predominant building material, as opposed to masonry and concrete, significantly reduces the embodied energy of a building (the energy required to initially product a building before it is used).

  • Timber sequesters (captures and stores) carbon for a lifetime! When carbon remains locked up in trees, or as timber used in construction, it cannot be released as a gas into the atmosphere – and we all know what that entails…

  • Timber is a natural insulator, it delivers better thermal performance with the same thickness of wall.

  • Sound Insulation.

  • Highly Durable and strong. A well-made timber structure can last for centuries.

  • It is a renewable building material. We can grow more trees and sustain this resource for future use in future generations!

And an add on extra, timber frame is easy to work with and goes up quicker!

The technology and method of producing timber for construction has massively improved over the years; pre-fabricated panelised, cross-laminated and glulam act as examples of newer, more processed options, with increased strength.

Timber frame has been used in many countries across the world for generations in its raw form, it is now becoming increasingly popular to build with due to increasing confidence in its structural durability and its huge environmental benefits.

We can’t wait to see the results on our timber-frame homes coming soon to Macclesfield.

Tackling the Climate Crisis: Benefits of New Build Homes

As the Climate Crises continues to worsen, we’ve all been wondering how we can play our part to offset carbon emissions and tackle global warming. If you’re in the market for a new home, you’ll be pleased to know that new-build houses, like Hollins’, are not only better for the environment; they’ll save you money!

Recent research conducted by the Savills suggests investing in a new-build home could save you around £4,900 over 5 years and benefits are even more keenly felt with current price hikes in energy and the cost of living crisis. Government statistics reveal that 85% of new build homes in England and Wales achieve an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of A or B, demonstrating the highest energy efficiencies.

News is catching on. New-build reservations were up by 7% in the first quarter of 2022, compared to 2021, demonstrating their increasing popularity as we all become more environmentally aware. So, Why are new builds better for the environment? And how can they save you money?

The Details

1) New builds maximise space efficiency. They often have a more compact form which reduces the surface area for heat loss from a building.

2) Materials are better quality and used more efficiently to prevent heat loss. New builds often utilise double glazed windows and better quality, thicker insulation for example.

3) Airt Tightness: Nowadays, we have to build to much more stringent building regulations and techniques are much improved from those used previously. One main benefit is the potential to improve the air tightness in a home.

Older homes may have tiny holes and punctuations in their membranes, but in a new-build joints are well sealed and membranes are installed more robustly. This prevents excessive levels of air (and therefore heat) leakage, which in turn has an adverse effect on energy efficiency.

A focus on air tightness in turn improves the thermal performance of the home and reduces the need for additional heat inputs, such as radiators! This means your home remains warmer for no extra effort or cash! Therefore tackling fuel poverty.

4) Your property is brand new. There have been no repairs or amendments made which may have perforated membranes and compromised air tightness.

5) New technology can also be easily installed to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. For example:

  • Energy efficient Gas combi-boilers

  • Energy efficient lighting such as high-efficiency LED lights for example which reduce the amount of energy needed to produce the same amount of light output.

  • New eco-friendly features such as solar panels, Electric Vehicle Chargers, smart-meters.

Where there can be a price premium on brand new homes, this is often outweighed in a few years by the cost savings made on energy. You can rest easy knowing bills are cared for and you’re doing your bit for the planet!

Notes:

Membranes: Material within the walls and roof of a building, which is vapour permeable but water resistant.

References:

- Environmentally Friendly Benefits of a New Build Home | Conroy Brook

- New-build: High energy costs mean savings of £5,000 (buyassociation.co.uk)