Barratt has bought four sites and a third office for conversion as part of a 14-site purchase in the past three months, which will provide 1,200 homes worth around £20m.
The major purchases were in London at the Old Bishop’s Depository close to Eccleston Square, SW1, and Victoria Wharf, Limehouse in Docklands (right). Together they will produce 127 homes worth more than £23m. The developer is also converting offices in Clapham Park Road, SW4, to 38 homes.
Other large purchases include 15ha (37 acres) of vacant land at Ash Vale in Guildford, where 400 homes will be built with a value of £40m. This site will provide all Guildford’s projected new housing requirement into the next century.
Planning permission has been given for 112 homes on the site of the old Cheshunt Grammar School.
Barratt Southern chairman David Pretty said that the debeloper has had “a very busy year. We have acquired 60 sites in excellent locations and are building homes for every sector of the market”.
More than £2.5m was paid for Ottershaw Hospital in Chertsey. Barratt has planning consent for 69 homes and will provide four social housing units. There will also be improved access, public open space and a new school.
Peter Spooner of Lambert Smith Hampton, which represented Bournewood Community & Mental Health NHS Trust in the Chertsey sale, said: “We had agreed terms with Bellway Homes, but they withdrew from the purchase when market confidence fell away in late 1994. The property was re-tendered in 1995 and terms were agreed with Barratt Homes.”
