David Cross
@CrossDavidB
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CEO of Sky-House Co. Purveyor of gentle density, sustainable and award-winning places. Parliamentary Liaison Group for Housing and SYMCA BAB Board Member.
The Sheffield City Region
Joined December 2009
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Why don’t we build better places to live in the UK? A bit of thread so bear with me. 9 years ago I started trying to develop innovate styles of housing to create more sustainable places to live in not only urban and suburban areas but rural areas without the need to build apts
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Here’s a new scheme we have submitted to a local authority. Gently dense, utilising brownfield land, close to amenities, pocket parks, play areas and lots of open space nearby. Enough parking per home but not over generous. Home Zones, Shared surfaces, and traffic calmed areas.
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Not enough parking, not enough visitor parking, not easy for refuse vehicles to get around, gardens too small, overlooking distances too small. Yet all the places we love, and visit are compact, dense, car free and have tree lined streets and verges. Check out
@createstreets
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We will keep trying our best but don't blame the Architect or the housebuilder...
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@PennyMordaunt
, We don’t need a smaller state or lower taxes. We need MORE planners, MORE exerts in LA’s to help us deliver better places. We all need to pay more taxes and stop surcharging developers as an easy win to fund the LA’s instead of UK grant.
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Why are our new build houses so boring? Why don’t we do more for the environment or do more with the designs? A long thread on the mechanics of viability, planning and development: (Part 1)
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The UK market is so narrow in its delivery that all we have is the option of an old house, a new 'noddy' house or a city centre home to rent off a BTL LL or PRS LL. We don't cater for the missing-middle. The downsizer to the city, the urban up-sizer who doesn't want a garden.
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How do we create new typologies to compliment the existing pre and post war housing stock and add variety to the new build delivery which is dominated by the National House builders or the city centre market which was BTL and is now PRS? We are
@SkyHouseCo
btw..
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Gardens, roof terraces and flexible living space (but not 10m gardens). Eco, beautiful and certainly not ‘noddy’. Tree lined streets, cars hidden away. LA responses:
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Space standards. Building Reg's. Safe by Design. Highways Standards etc. This is the formula that everyone knows and uses to get planning permission easier.
This leads to 'nominally' detached noddy box national houses on cul-de-sacs in mock ‘whatever’ style.
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Fast forward 9 years and we have built close to 300 homes across 8 developments and won many awards but still we face the same battles for every planning application:
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Cul-de-sacs designed for refuse vehicles. No verges as the council doesn’t want to maintain them. No managed private space as bank valuers don’t like service charges as mortgage companies have told them they don’t. Trees? No chance. What about subsistence? Pruning?
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Why can’t we replicate that with new build housing areas? Planning applications are public. Neighbours comment, councillors comment and statutory consultees comment. There are push and pull factors that drag the development one way and then the other.
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Too dense for a suburb. The suburb doesn’t have enough public transport. Verges don’t have enough visitor parking? Visibility splays aren’t good enough. Gardens not long enough, overlooking too tight. How do we get bins out? Don’t like gated car parks. Etc. How do we move on?
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If we want to make better places lets spend MORE on buildings and less on paperwork. Let’s tax the greenbelt release properly and stop the land promoter taking the profit out of our land. Let’s lower the tax barriers further to build on brownfield land.
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We have raised the barrier to building homes so high that all we are left with are the national housebulders and the ardent niche developer. We love Urban Splash and Capital and Centric but why aren’t there more like that? Name another? I dare you.
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The job of the Architect or housebuilder is to find the middle ground.
That middle ground is easy if you stick hard and fast to the rules. 12m or 21m overlooking. 2 parking spaces. 1 visitor space for every four homes. 50m sq gardens or 10m long.
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Lets lower the taxes for developers to build back better and more beautiful. People complain new builds are ugly but less than 50% of the budget is spent on the building!
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If you try to innovate you will meet some great people who will fight your corner, but the path of least resistance is to follow the rules and just build noddy boxes. If you break the rules, you will have delays. Delays cost money. Planning is hard enough as it is!
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Then there are the planning taxes…
CIL, Affordable Housing, Section 106s. These are taxes BEFORE profit. How many small builders and developers have gone bust recently due to inflation? How many SMEs remain in the UK compared to pre-1990s?
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Always a different view as the scaffold drops. Sheffields Heart of the City 2 is exceptional. Well done to all involved.
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If this chart doesn’t alarm you then nothing will. In essence we are a poor country with one rich city. Abject failure of government policy by all colours for decades. Indeed even Manchester flying the flag of the Norths revival is behind. Over to you
@Keir_Starmer
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We are closing in on planning consent for Avice. In the next few months we will start our searches ground floor uses- what is Kelham Island missing?
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Sneaky peek… our next Crossbow project in Sheffield. More to follow.
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Our planning application is now live for Waverley Central for
@SkyHouseCo
. Our largest development to date consisting of apartments and houses with treelined streets, pocket parks and our usual eco standards. More to follow! A big thanks to
@CODA_architect
as always!
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HOW HAS THIS HAPPENED!? This is arguably one of Sheffields best postcodes and streets.
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PLANNING GRANTED! DQ has now secured planning after a complex app that has certainly thrown up its fair share of curve balls! A huge festive thanks to our teams at CODA, Eastwoods and DPP, and a special thanks to SCCs Planning Team for their amazing assistance. A team effort!
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@NickFletcherMP
Happy to invite you to our offices to discuss theses concepts born out of solid urban design principles, low carbon, safe, walkable, diverse and interesting places that are predicated on humans not cars. That’s not socialism it’s called common sense.
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We have secured planning consent for our next Crossbow project at Kelham.
43no 1 and 2 bed homes centred around an open atria style courtyard with 3no commercial units coming soon.
A big thanks to
@CODA_architect
and
@planning_paul
and
@SheffCouncil
for their support.
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Avice, is now live! Our planning app is in. Looking forward to seeing this one built. A big thanks to
@CODA_architect
and
@PABedwell
and Sheffield City Council for their support so far.
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Ever wonder why we don't build more Start-up / Indy business space to REALLY assist placemaking? Sick of seeing Costas and Tescos? Here's a short thread on our experience of why... and perhaps what we could so to reverse this to allow us to really make places sing. Part 1.
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Delighted to unveil the first CGIs of our new commercial space and apartments at Olive Lane. Our
@SkyHouseCo
HQ will sit above a new venture by
@JoroRestaurant
and a new salon concept we can’t talk about just yet. We have two units left to let. Funky business only!
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8,000 jobs predicted to be made in Sheffield's £300M West Bar development | This is largest ever private investment in Sheffield City Centre. We should salute Bolsterstone for their perseverance.
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Planning applications in England fall to record low in housing blow | Its extremely expensive, extremely complex and extremely slow with no guarantee of success. Creating pipeline for SMEs is so hard. Funding risk is also v difficult and v cash intensive
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A little wander round Sheffield City Centre yesterday. The scaffold is down and the new stuff looks brill. City scale, not too shouty, great details and much more to come. Can’t wait to see the final panoply.
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This month we celebrate 16 years of CODA. We started life as a one man band from a cellar in Barnsley. Then a two man band above a hairdressers in Birdwell. Now a 30 strong business with five divisions and offices in Sheffield and Manchester.
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This image was shared with me for Copenhagen. A ‘Green Fingers’ plan to create linear urban development side by side with green linear fingers giving quicker access to open space. It reminds me of Sheffields hills and valleys to the West except we don’t have the public transit!
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Our
@SkyHouseCo
dev in SHF has finally been submitted for planning. This 50 home scheme will see family housing delivered to the city centre S1 postcode for the first time in decades. Thanks to our friends
@ArchitectsCoda
and
@CODAPlanning
alongside our partners
@StokesTiles
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Incredible. If you aren’t interested in politics you should be.
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How good does this look!? Simple restraint and great detailing. Can’t wait to see it complete.
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Quite excited to finally get hold of this fabulous Peter Watson painting.. if you haven’t seen his work Google him!!
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Trad v Modern? Here is a project we have been working hard on with
@CODA_architect
that we are quite excited about. Architects are often accused of designing buildings for us and not for the ordinary everyday folk who see them. Here’s a quick thread:
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Sky-House Co Sheffield city centre project set to launch | A big thanks to
@SouthYorksMCA
and
@olivercoppard
for supporting us
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It’s been a while coming but we are very excited to see ‘Waverley Central’ by
@SkyHouseCo
now on site. 96 new homes, a linear, tree lined, pedestrian friendly masterplan with pocket parks, ‘backs’ and of course a smattering of roof gardens.
#gentledensity
#skyhouseco
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@iammattdoran
I suggested the entire city centre should become an eco-bank for the bio-diversity net gain credit /policies. Imagine what a city wide roll-out could look like!
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Part 1. Reading lots of criticism about the ULEZ’s in the UK and in particular Sheffield. As a self-confessed Motorhead that loves cars I support it but wish it had gone even further and included some of the worst roads like Fulwood Rd, Ecclesall Rd and Abbeydale Rd for example.
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Happy birthday to CODA. 14 years old today but still my baby! Well done team... very proud as always!
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A little Saturday morning thread; say hello to
@SkyHouseCo
Copper St. This was the first site we reinvented the back-to-back model for while at
@CODA_architect
many many years ago for a private client. (Part 1)
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Me and the wife. Out for a drive... love the peaks. Love sheffield. Love Pizza!!
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Love these new images of Sky-House, Fox Valley. Gentle /
sensitive density creating a simple repetitive rhythm along the road. Natural, robust materials with quality materials. Coming soon!!
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Just in case you think it’s not real! Here’s another one. He’s not asleep!
#JaredOMara
#jaredvotes
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I recently had an online LinkedIn debate re the next wave of Sheffield grey-to-green. I was surprised to hear so many people were against them but also surprised at the support. So many things divide us at the moment but I can’t help but think it’s should be one that unites.
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We are delighted to announce our fourth deal with
@HarworthGroup
at Waverley.
@SkyHouseCo
will deliver a mixed-use neighbourhood of 46No new homes, 4no apartments alongside 5No commercial units to complement the remaining commercial scheme being delivered by Harworth. Part 1
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Mirador, Hoyle St, SHEFFIELD has now secured planning permission. The 500 unit PRS development will become one of the tallest buildings in the city and a new focal point welcoming visitors to the city from the North. Great work from the CODA team.
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Breaking news! Doncaster Sheffield Airport is brill. No queues and great staff. Sorry it’s taken me so long to fly from here
@jomillerdonny
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This is phenomenal news for the region. We are delighted to have played our part in the creation of this new High St and district centre for a Waverley. Coming soon!
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The joys of social media. First, these twats are from Sheffield not London, second Waverley is Rotherham not Sheffield and finally ALL these homes have gardens, roof gardens and loads of green space! We also have Swift bricks, hedgehog highways and much, much more.
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He is First Class too. I didn’t want to mention that. An MP on £75k pa should be allowed first class travel. He’s worked hard for his salary and pension.
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CODA Studios celebrates 17th anniversary | CODA Architecture
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@helenpidd
@VirginTrains
£320 for me and the wife to go to London next week. Bargain. Four of us are going and chartering a chopper was an option price wise.
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A massive thanks to
@olivercoppard
and the
@SouthYorksMCA
for their brownfield grant. Our
@SkyHouseCo
DQ scheme is now on site…. Coming soon!
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It appears nipple modesty is the reason we have our planning rules..! Granted LAs do grant concessions new to new but given we’d design around refuse trucks, bins and car storage I thought throw nipples into the mix.
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Pondering over the downsizers dream this morning. In SW Sheffield you could sell up, by in Oughtibridge and Spain with change for a little day boat.
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@thomasforth
@NeilMurphy1978
It also runs beautifully through the old town on batteries so the cables don’t ruin the aesthetics of the city. Parts are grassed over too making it far softer.
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A sneaky peek at one on the drawing board…
We have successfully concluded pre-app for this new mixed use neighbourhood in Sheffield.
46 new low energy homes and work space in one of the newest emerging districts.
Thanks to
@CODA_architect
as always.
Planning app imminent.
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Five mile queues for IKEA tells you everything that’s wrong with the UK.
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Coda Studios have been shortlisted in the Best Residential Consultancy/Advisory Practice and
@SkyHouseCo
Best Innovation Project at the Variety Yorkshire Residential Property Awards on Thursday 10th October 2019 at Bowcliffe Hall. Well done tema!
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UK housing crisis: planning targets scrapped in ‘win for nimbys’ - A national disgrace.
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Turns out today is a special day!
@CodaMCR
has been with us for 15 years. Man and boy at CODA with orange blood in his veins. Congratulations fella!xx
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A little plug for Grazie in Sheffield. A great Indy doing marvellous pasta and wine. Two things very close to my heart! Located on Leopold St. Go!
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Love this shot from our site manager at Oughtibridge today. Shows how the urban form, open space and woodland valley setting are coming together.
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Birtin works looking glorious in the summer sun. Loving the OCD electrical work too…
@Whitshawbuilder
@ArchitectsCoda
@EandP_Engineers
@KnightKnox
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Still in love with our self-build 14 years on. The installation of the 1 ton curved window still gives me sleepless nights.
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Breaking news- we are finalists for 4 awards at the Northern Design Awards...
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There is nothing wrong with Tesco's btw but we need to balance out the places we make with more variety and opportunity for start-ups and commerce. We will keep trying to make interesting places and development despite this... ENDS!!
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Oh my word! So very happy to see our T1 show home at Oughtibridge ready for this weeks sneaky peek opening. The amount of work that goes into each project is incalculable. Well done team! I want one..!
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Four years ago we launched our first ever show home on our first ever development! Since then we have sold over 100 homes and completed over 70 on 4 developments with a pipeline of over 500 for the next few years! Thanks to all our friends and stakeholders!
@SkyHouseCo
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The planning system ‘allows’ you certain budgets for fees, for build costs, for sales incentives etc etc. I don’t know any other UK industry that ‘allows’ you budgets to run your business. PS The system also allows you to make 15-20% profit on the development
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Planning ‘almost’ granted subject to Section 106. Our Avice Building at Kelham Island has had a bit shaved off in terms of height. We hope to start on site very, very soon! Thanks to all involved getting us this far.
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Works start on £300m Sheffield scheme with potential to create 8,000 jobs - Massive news for the city! Another piece of the jigsaw in place.
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Nine years ago we started Dunfields. Little did we know that this would lead to over £40m of completed projects, almost 300 homes and 13,000ftsq of commercial space… this would ultimately create
@SkyHouseCo
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Sheffield: Plans for Yorkshire's new tallest building - BBC News.. with comment from me! Let’s hope we can get some of these off the drawing board and up in the air.
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Turns out we've won another award..! Best Multi-disciplinary Architecture Practice in the North of England!!
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Always amazing to see which projects / images get most engagements. This is LinkedIn for one of our new
@SkyHouseCo
types.
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Award-winning restaurant Jöro set to launch boutique hotel in Sheffield - Exposed Magazine
@JoroRestaurant
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Proud to have our little star up helping all the little stars inside. What an amazing place the Children’s Hospital really is!
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