NHBC Awards North East & Yorkshire

Under development: The Banks

Named after former England international goalkeeper, Gordon Banks, The Banks is an impressive mixed-use development currently being constructed in Sheffield.

Comprising a mix of retail units, restaurants and bars, as well as a staggering 4,000 houses, The Banks is a twenty-year project, being overseen by principle contractor Taylor Wimpey, and joined by housing developers Barratts and Aaron Homes.

Work began on Phase One of The Banks in April 2012. Taylor Wimpey is currently completing the first phase of the project, with work getting underway on Phase Two in December 2013.

Discussing the new development, Taylor Wimpey Site Manager, Simon Longley, said:

“The Banks was formerly an old open cask mine in Sheffield, which has a lot of history. Over the course of a ten year period the site has been open filled, making it the perfect site for this new development.”

Simon added:

“Show homes were built in July 2012 and completed in just seven weeks. We then opened the homes alongside the Mayor of Sheffield and Gordon Banks.”

The houses on The Banks are being built using traditional methods of construction and will meet Building Regulations 2010 and Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4.

Although challenging at times, work on the first phase of the project has progressed well, with site teams encountering no major problems. Commenting on the team approach to the development, Simon said:

“Meetings between each of the developers take place every week, to ensure that all deliveries are scheduled and that all health and safety standards are being met.”

Simon added:

“The focus of The Banks at present is housing and as soon as we finish one phase we move on to the next. However a new building for Rolls Royce, including a Rolls Royce College, is being constructed adjacent to us and eventually bars, restaurants and shops will form the remainder of the development.”

Phase One of The Banks is proving to be a success, with 20 homeowners having already moved into the development, with more set to take up residence before the end of the year. In addition, Simon has recently received an NHBC Pride in the Job Award 2013 for his work on The Banks.

Simon commented:

“This is the fifth Pride in the Job Award that I have received over a consecutive five-year period – it gets harder every year but I enjoy the challenge.”

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