A natural play area can swing the deal
Achieving a speedy turnaround of housing stock has become more vital to the survival and longevity of housebuilders in the current economic climate than at any other time.
Although new-build starts have slowed, thus decreasing supply, buyers understandably need more motivation to either climb onto the property ladder in the first place – that’s if they can get a mortgage – or jump ship to a new home.
And fast turnarounds are becoming as important as increasing profit margins to many developers.
That’s where investment in kerb appeal is money well spent, according to Simon Cashmore, managing director of landscape services specialist tcl, which works with many of the UK’s leading housebuilders.
tcl specialises in building schemes for show homes, housing developments, public open spaces and play spaces (LEAPs and LAPs – Local Equipped Areas of Play and Local Areas of Play) where aesthetics are really important. tcl has just acquired a play installation company – Admiral Play - to strengthen its already strong portfolio of services to clients which include big names such as Persimmon Group, Barratt Group including David Wilson Homes, Taylor Wimpey, Bovis, Morris Homes and premium regional builders such as rectory Homes.
The newly branded Admiral Play is just one of a number of businesses tcl is busy buying up to enable it to expand the services it offers to housebuilders.
TCL, which operates throughout the UK with regional offices covering the midlands, south east, south west and northern counties, has an established reputation in the property development industry – with a healthy volume of expertise in creating inviting street scenes and show home areas tailored precisely to the audience demographic the developer is aiming to attract.
It is also a past master at creating silk purses from sows' ears – or rather turning ugly or difficult plots into things of beauty to appeal to buyers who would otherwise be turned off making a purchase.
The recent acquisition means tcl can extend the play area side of its business with the aim of helping housebuilders fulfil that portion of their section 106 requirements painlessly and effectively.
Simon Cashmore explained: "Play areas are a bugbear for many developers and the positioning of them can prove a nightmare.
"While for many homeowners proximity to a play area is a blessing it can have an equally off-putting effect on those who don’t want what they regard as the nuisance of other people’s children on their doorsteps.
"With skilled landscaping, strategic positioning of trees and shrubs and use of the natural contours of the land, the obtrusive effect of play areas can be minimised. Current central government directives are asking local authorities to ensure play spaces being built today have a strong ‘natural play’ component and are allowing developers to build play spaces which are both better from an aesthetic perspective - obscuring play spaces from the view of those who have no need of such a facility - and satisfying local authority design principles."
With its emphasis on natural play tcl blends its heritage of landscaping with its desire to provide stimulating educational and enjoyable areas in which children can feel free to express themselves and explore.
"What sets us apart is that we focus our design effort on ensuring the most effective use of the available space to meet our client’s brief. Whether it’s a show area or a play scheme it’s the same principle, " he added.
"For example, when building play spaces we focus on fusing the individual features of the site with a wide range of natural play elements and play equipment options to create a play space that is as individual as the development and try to design facilities that will provide customers with a reason to buy a property on the development rather than a reason not to."
tcl’s service to house builders is a true ‘one stop shop’ for customers who want an integrated design and installation landscape solution, with market leading levels of outstanding customer service, using the best products and equipment. All projects undertaken by tcl are installed by directly employed, fully qualified, RPII certified and CRB checked operational teams.
For more information on the tcl Group/ tcl and Admiral Play visit www.tclgrp.co.uk and www.admiralplay.co.uk or phone Simon Cashmore on 01604 821843.
