Jupiter among the best in housing design audit

One of Birmingham’s key apartment ventures has been named one of the best in an industry-wide ‘design quality’ audit.

CABE (the Commission for Architecture and the Building Environment) surveyed and assessed the design quality of new schemes from the largest volume house builders in the Midlands, East Midlands and South West, through its Housing Audit.

This survey was the final part of a national audit by CABE, which is the first analysis of the design quality of new private homes nationwide built over the last five years (a total of 293 mid-market housing schemes).

Although the overall message from the audit paints an unflattering picture of the new homes industry, the report does highlight some inspiring examples of what good design can achieve, and there was one Birmingham development in particular which stood out among the best.

Redrow Homes’ flagship city apartments at Jupiter picked up the second highest ranking in this latest survey with an 80% score – making the substantial regeneration project in the heart of the city centre only one of two out of 100 audited developments in the Midlands, East Midlands and South West to be deemed ‘very good’.

Steve Clarke, regional design director for Redrow, said: “We’re pleased that Jupiter has performed well in the CABE audit.

“We always endeavour to promote urban design excellence and in fact have shown our commitment to improving design quality across all our developments by the delivery of Redrow’s first Urban Design Centre, in Northampton.

“Our executive deputy chairman, Paul Pedley, was named among the first six house building industry design champions in an initiative led by CABE, and his role will be to make sure that design issues play a central role in business strategy and that the commercial and social benefits of good design are clearly communicated to the individual teams delivering new projects at a local level.”

In the Housing Audit, CABE comments: “Developers need to strengthen their teams to be ready to meet the challenge of design quality, both centrally and regionally, since its importance within the planning system is only set to grow.

“We welcome the fact that six of the top ten house builders – including Redrow – have appointed design champions.”

It was Jupiter’s third phase of 267 apartments which gained the impressive ranking.

This sleek city centre development is the result of four years of working closely with city planners to create a new landscape on what was once a collection of redundant buildings, a council car park and commercial units.

An award winner for its regeneration, Jupiter has transformed the skyline, and is the perfect blend of old and new. In the first phase, Sherborne Mill has been renovated into apartments with a striking glass atrium, which contrasts with the ultra modern elevations of later phases.

The scheme is now into its final phase and a brand new show apartment has just opened.

Prices currently start from £99,950 for a studio apartment, from £129,412 for a one-bedroom property and two-bedroom apartments have a £210,950 upwards price tag.

For more information on the apartments in the last major phase at Jupiter, visit jupiter.redrow.co.uk.