• Planning permission granted for new homes in Lovedean

    Bargate Homes are pleased to announce planning permission has been granted for 43 new homes in Lovedean. The land is immediately adjacent to our successful Norton Heights scheme where we built and sold 40 stunning new homes in 2018. This low-density scheme has worked with the contours and topography of the land to weave a mix of 2, 3 and 4 bed properties in a style matching that of Norton Heights which has already been integrated into the local vernacular of the area. The development boasts a large area of open space with rural views, the field and trees behind create an inviting place to live and we are excited to start work on the construction of this development later this year.

  • AVOID LARGER ENERGY BILLS BY BUYING A BARGATE HOME

    Household energy prices are becoming a big headache.

    Prices have already increased and are due to rise again by 50% in April, with the CEO of Centrica predicting they will then continue to rise further over the next 2 years.

    Fortunately, by buying a Bargate Home we offer a means to saving considerably on energy consumption (a far more constructive solution than SSE’s suggestion of eating ginger or having hula hoop contests!).

    In adopting the latest building techniques and specifications- which exceed Government standards, we can cut your energy costs by up to £1410, compared with older properties*.

    By using high-quality insulation and thermal bridging, we avoid heat loss from our homes.

    Whilst using high-efficiency combi boilers installed with TRVs and a NEST system, you can moderate heat room by room and control temperatures remotely, thus conserving energy.

    In addition, solar panels are installed on the roof, generating ‘free’ energy and minimising energy costs.

    So, as energy costs escalate, it’s important to focus on how you can save substantially by buying a new, energy-efficient Bargate home.

     

    *Compared with a 4 bedroom Victorian home with modern improvements

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • New Year brings new ventures

    With a New Year comes new ventures, Rosie Hawes has earned a well-deserved promotion to the position of Design Coordinator. Rosie has been supporting our Design and Development Director, Rachel with the planning for our upcoming developments. An important task that must be undertaken before we can begin creating our lovely new homes.

    Rosie has been working hard as Assistant Design Coordinator for Bargate over the last 3 years after graduating in Interior Architecture and Design from University of Portsmouth in 2017. We are delighted to offer Rosie this position in the next stage of her career.

  • A reflection on The Brick Station, Bishop’s Waltham

    Launching in a Pandemic never sounds like an easy task, however for The Brick Station this was to be its fate. Starting in mid-2020, just after our first lockdown the development launched with not just one show home but two stunningly furnished show homes in partnership with The Garden Society. Going from strength to strength in uncertain times the development sold extremely well and continued its success into 2021 where we secured further reservations exchanges and completions. As the market strengthened we saw demand increase tenfold with a number of buyers fighting to secure the last remaining homes.

    Reflecting on this development which is now fully occupied is a wonderful moment, the quaint meandering roads link together with real character and charm making it unbelievable to think 59 families all call this beautiful development home. With a true vision on how to improve Bishop’s Waltham and with a focus on keeping the character that is so important to Bargate Homes and the local area.

  • A brief history of Bishop’s Waltham written by Trish Simpson-Davies for the John Bosworth Estate

    Our recent development, The Brick Stattion was once a rural part of town. Medieval Bishops of Winchester, such as William of Wykeham, lived in private rooms at the top of the Palace’s West Tower. The Bishop over-looked the winding road round the Palace and the Little and Great Ponds where his fish were bred, and over to the entrance to his exclusive hunting park, where your house now sits.

    When the Bishop lost his land assets after the Civil War, the field was sold to adjoining Lodge Farm.

    In the 1860s, Sir Arthur Helps, who owned the field at the time, planned a model ‘Newtown’ for Bishop’s Waltham. Soon steam trains carried bricks from Claylands and passengers arrived at the station where the roundabout is today. Close by, Helps built the Albert Infirmary from public subscriptions. But Helps lost his money, and the hospital never opened because the running costs could not be afforded. Instead, the Priory was rented out as a large private house.

    The field was sold to the West family of farmers and butchers. They pastured cattle and cropping helped it to develop as a wildflower meadow.

    Around 1910, the Priory became a seminary for boys training as missionaries to Africa. To teach farming practices, the White Fathers started a Home Farm with a milking herd. In the 1930s, George West gifted the meadow back to them. It was a generous gift: before antibiotics were discovered, farmers used their best wildflower meadows as hospital fields to treat sick animals.

    During the 1970s, the field was used for sport by Hampshire Police Cadets training at the Priory. Butser Turf Company cut grass turves from the field in the 1990s, before leaving it fallow. The wildflower seeds left in the soil germinated, so that by the 21st century, the field was a mass of Common Spotted Orchids in the early summer.

    Today, we know wild flowers are precious in the fight to reduce carbon emissions. At Bargate we understand the importance of minimising the loss of these once-common plants, and in 2019 worked with the community to save 140 spotted orchids before building work started.

     

    This autumn we replant the first orchids back to the damp area round the balancing pond. Please don’t pick these precious survivors or allow anyone to walk on them. If you are a keen gardener who would like to nurture them, please contact trish.simpson-davis@outlook.com.

    Seeds may take years to germinate—so look out for thin spotted leaves growing naturally in your garden and don’t dig any orchids out as weeds!

  • A development of 99 homes for VIVID in Fareham

    Outline planning permission has been granted by appeal to deliver 99 new homes off Newgate Lane in Fareham. Working with our parent company VIVID, we are committed to deliver this development as a wholly affordable housing scheme which will be a great boost to the local people currently in need of housing. The reserved matters application is now being prepared with a view to submit this application in towards the end of this year. Further updates to follow.

  • A successful month for our land department

    Our land department are pleased to announce the approval of not one but two new sites.

    Our appeal has been upheld by the Planning Inspector in respect to our application at Newgate Lane East in Fareham. The outline planning consent is for up to 99 new homes. Our planning team will now start work on a reserved matters application, hopefully for submission later in the year.

    The second development now with a reserved matters approval is for phase two of our Norton Heights development in Lovedean. Phase one of this fantastic development completed in January 2019 and sold out in under a year.

    Our reserved matters consent confirms all the finer detail of the development meaning we should soon be able to get on site to start building these 43 new homes later this year.

    Both results are further testaments to the skill and hard work of our planning team and we’re sure they’ll deliver us further planning successes in the near future.

  • SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING POLICY STATEMENT

    SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING POLICY STATEMENT

    In-line with the Modern Slavery Act 2015

    Opening statement from senior management

    Bargate Homes is dedicated to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking from taking place within its business and supply chain and we place the same expectation on our suppliers.

    Structure and supply chains

    Bargate Homes is a local company which works within the construction sector and employs around 70 people in the UK. The following web link provides more information regarding the nature of our business

    www.bargatehomes.co.uk

    The nature of our business requires that we work in conjunction with a range of suppliers, sub- contractors, agencies and professionals.

    Bargate Homes operates in the highly regulated construction sector within the UK. All work is carried out in accordance with UK Government tax regulations and the UK’s health and safety regime. The directors believe that this significantly reduces the risk of contravention of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

    There are a number of circumstances that reduce the risk of slavery and human trafficking within our supply chains. These include:

    • Our work is not seasonal and does not rely on large numbers of unskilled labour at specific times of the year.
    • Our work is generally skilled and requires competent, capable skilled operatives who carry validated trade or professional qualifications.
    • As a local operator our sub-contractor supply chains are generally relatively short and use established and regular contractors, who also work exclusively within the regulated UK economy.
    • Work on our sites is always monitored by our own employees allowing a high degree of control and visibility of our own work.
    • The majority of our material supplies that are used on our sites are generally sourced through UK distributors or UK companies within our supply chain, allowing strong commercial controls to be applied to encourage compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015. Material sourced from outside the EU is rare and the isolated nature of this procurement allows bespoke controls in each instance.

    As an established, owner managed business, our relationship with our employees allows a high degree of engagement between directors and all employees. These regular and open relationships allow the best environment to raise concerns of slavery and human trafficking should they occur.

    Policies relating to slavery and human trafficking

    The following policies exist within our organisation which demonstrate our opposition to modern slavery:

    • Equal Opportunities and Dignity at Work
    • Managing Diversity
    • Foreign Nationals Policy

    We ensure our suppliers are aware of our policies and encourage them to adopt the same high standards.

    Our company

    Bargate Homes will work to promote awareness amongst its employees of modern slavery and human trafficking within the UK construction industry. The company will ensure that their employee’s pay and conditions remain at a high standard, above those dictated by the Act. Any potential contravention will be dealt with seriously and investigated appropriately by the directors, as will any recommendations for improvement within the business. Any whistleblowing or complaint by an employee will be supported and investigated through our formal grievance procedure.

    The directors believe that the risk of failing to comply with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 is low, because of the following measures:

    • All employees are on full written conditions of employment that are standardised and checked for compliance with the Act.
    • All employees are paid at or above the “Living Wage”.
    • No casual labour is employed.
    • Appropriate training of relevant staff will be carried out prior to the financial year end.

    Within our sub-contractor supply chain

    Bargate Homes will work to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking within our sub-contractor supply chains through reducing the risks and working to influence behaviours within our directly contracted sub- contractor organisations. Any failure to address these issues that results in a contravention of the Act, a possible contravention, or a perceived contravention of the Act that could impact the reputation of Bargate Homes may be investigated and result in a variety of actions, up to and including removal from our supply chain.

    Within the current financial year Bargate Homes will undertake the following activities:

    • A review and amendment of standard terms of engagement to incorporate the requirements of the Act and requirements of Bargate Homes.
    • Each order will remind subcontractors of their responsibilities to their supply chains and the implications to working with Bargate Homes. It will also provide for a reporting structure for any infringement or potential infringement.
    • Large companies caught by the Act will be expected to provide their slavery and human trafficking statements for our records and review.

    The Construction Director at Bargate Homes is responsible for compliance with these requirements.

    Within our material supplier supply chain

    Bargate Homes will work to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking within our material supply chains by reducing the risks and working to influence behaviours within our directly contracted supplier organisations. Any failure to address these issues that results in a contravention of the Act, a possible contravention, or a perceived contravention of the Act that could impact the reputation of Bargate Homes may be investigated and result in a variety of actions, up to and including removal from our supply chain.

    Within the current financial year Bargate Homes will undertake the following activities:

    • A review and amendment of standard terms of supply to incorporate the requirements of the Act and requirements of Bargate Homes
    • Each order will remind them of their responsibilities to their supply chains and the implications to working with Bargate Homes. It will also provide for a reporting structure for any infringement or potential infringement.
    • Seeking copies of our suppliers’ statements on slavery and human trafficking, which will be taken as evidence that the organisation is starting to address this important issue and that in the current year we can assume compliance with the Act.

    The Operations Director is responsible for compliance with these requirements.

    Due diligence processes relating to slavery and human trafficking

    As part of our efforts to monitor, manage and reduce the risk of slavery and human trafficking occurring within our business or supply chains, we adopt the following due diligence procedures:

    Our processes aim to:

    • Identify, monitor and manage areas of potential risk in our business and supply chains
    • Scrutinise any identified areas of risk within our business and supply chains
    • Adopt a zero-tolerance approach to slavery and human trafficking throughout the organisation and our supply chains
    • Provide support and protection from detriment or disadvantage to any person who, in the public interest, raises genuine concerns amounting to a protected disclosure.

    Risk and compliance

    Within the current financial year, we will carry out a risk assessment of key risks to contravention of the Act within our own businesses, our sub-contractor and material supply chain. This will identify the areas of concern and the mitigating acts that we will carry out this year and next to manage this risk as effectively as possible.

    These risk assessments will be put together in conjunction with the senior employees as part of the training within our companies and will include those individuals who are responsible for procurement, management and control of our supply chains.

    Within the risk assessments we will review the most appropriate form of whistleblowing to ensure that this is condoned and could be a useful way of ensuring compliance.

    Success and effectiveness of our policies and processes

    Within the current financial year directors will determine an appropriate set of benchmarks to ensure that slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in their businesses or supply chains and that, where there is an indication that there is a risk, it is investigated and managed. It is anticipated that this will require key performance indicators and we will investigate appropriately.

    Training

    Training on the Act, its requirements and the support available, will be provided at employee’s request or if the Directors deem it necessary

    Further actions, approval and endorsement

    Following our review of our actions this financial year to prevent slavery or human trafficking from occurring in our business or supply chains, we intend to take the following further steps to tackle slavery and human trafficking:

    • Introduction or review of new policies or procedures
    • Consider appointing an independent body to carry out an annual audit of our business and supply chains to monitor how successful we have been in keeping slavery and human trafficking at bay.
    • Modern Slavery Briefing notices to be displayed on our construction sites including the signs to spot potential victims.

    This statement is made in accordance with section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes Bargate Homes’ slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year ending 31 March 2021.

     

    Jeremy Trezise (Director) 31 March 2021

    Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy June 2020 Rev –

  • Calling All First Time Buyers

    Help to Buy has been a resounding success since 2013 helping countless buyers move into their dream Bargate homes. Over 45% of Bargate purchases were assisted by the government backed scheme last year. On the 31st of March 2021 the current help to buy will come to an end and we will benefit from the start of the new help to buy scheme available from April 1st, 2021. This brand-new scheme concentrates on only first time buyers, for purchases up to £437,500 in the South East region. The new help to buy scheme will be available until late 2023.

    With a range of homes fitting the criteria for first time buyers, Bargate will be offering Help to Buy across all our developments assisting more buyers with their first move.

    “With Help to Buy, we were lucky enough to find an affordable two-bedroom semi-detached new build which really is everything we could hope for and more for our first home together.” Bargate Purchaser.

    If you are a first-time buyer or for more information about Help to buy or how Bargate can assist you with moving, please call 02380 601489.

     

  • BISHOP’S WALTHAM SELECTED AS THE ‘BEST PLACE TO LIVE’ BY SUNDAY TIMES

    Home to our sold-out Deer Walk and current and upcoming developments, The Brick Station and Bishop’s Meadow – Bishop’s Waltham has been described as a “well-kept secret” (until now) – The quintessential English village has been selected as one of the best places to live in the southeast 2020/21, by The Sunday Times. Based on its criteria of places offering ‘much more than great real estate – giving people a sense of belonging, somewhere people can live their life to the full’.

    Bishop’s Waltham is praised for its historic village ambiance; immediate countryside access and superior schooling (also featuring in The Sunday Times, Parent Power Guide).

    Whilst a secret to The Sunday Times, Bishop’s Waltham has been a firm favourite for Bargate and our customers, having built 5 developments there – all selling quickly.

    Moreover, this accolade for the village highlights our highly selective approach to site selection. Only building in the best locations. Nowhere else.

    With our current The Brick Station development already over 90% reserved and Bishop’s Meadow now taking off-plan reservations, we strongly advise you contact our sales team on, 02380 601489 to find out more about current new build homes available in this much-feted village.