Curo News

Housing Summit 2025

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 11:19:55 Z

Bath & North East Somerset councillors pledge to work across party lines in UK first

The region’s housing crisis was under the spotlight, as more than 150 policymakers, activists and industry figures came together at the second annual Bath and North East Somerset Housing Summit.

The summit saw leaders from across the political spectrum commit to improve the supply of affordable homes in the area. Their signing of a first-of-its-kind housing accord establishes a commitment to work together, across party lines and beyond individual council terms, to create long-term change.

The commitment was signed against the backdrop of unprecedented housing costs and levels of homelessness in our region. Attendees heard that in some parts of Bath, average house prices stand at 18 times average salary. Renters on the open market can expect to spend about 40% of gross average earnings on housing.

The human cost of the housing crisis was a central theme of the event. Wayne Hemingway MBE, a passionate campaigner for affordable housing and founder of advocacy group, Housing Assembly, led a panel discussion of local young people priced out of housing in Bath.

He also read entries from the new Housing Assembly website, which was officially launched at the summit. The site, thehousingassembly.co.uk, offers a platform for people locked out of the housing system and collects evidence of its dysfunction to build the case for urgent change.

He shared Bethany’s story who, though she works, is forced to sleep in her car. She describes herself as a mentally vulnerable woman and says, despite her dire situation, has no hope of accessing social housing.

On signing the landmark housing accord, Councillor Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, said:

“Only by working together and putting politics aside can we truly start to address a broken housing system. This accord is a turning point. It shows that no matter our political differences, the signatories are united in our commitment to deliver the right homes in the right places, for our communities across Bath & North East Somerset.

“We believe that through co-operation and innovation we can do our bit to urgently address the broken market and deliver more, truly affordable homes in our area. The housing crisis demands bold, long-term thinking—and today we’ve taken a major step forward together.”

The West of England Mayor, Helen Godwin, who also addressed the conference said:

“Tackling the housing crisis is not something any single organisation or political leader can achieve alone. By working together across authorities, and with government, we will build the right homes in the right places, with the services and infrastructure that local people need and deserve.

“We are already working with Homes England and Bath & North East Somerset Council to support work to deliver new homes at Bath Quays and along the Bristol to Bath strategic growth corridor. This new Housing Accord commits us all to further strengthen those partnerships, working together to solve this housing crisis.”

Reflecting on the success of the event, Victor da Cunha, CEO of Curo and Chair of the local Housing Mission Delivery Board, said:

"Bath & North East Somerset has become the first council in the country to sign a cross-party housing accord - we shouldn't underestimate the significance of that. The shared vision of eradicating the housing crisis and providing people with quality homes they can afford will also help to release the economic potential of our region."

Curo to spread Christmas cheer with sweet treat donation

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 10:33:22 Z

170 chocolate oranges were donated by Curo to Bath Open Christmas, to help put a smile on their guests’ faces at this year’s event.

Bath Open Christmas usually takes place every year on 25 December and welcomes 160 guests for a hot festive meal, entertainment and good cheer in the Dining Hall at Kingswood School, in Lansdown.

Caroline Holcombe from Bath Open Christmas says: “Christmas can be a difficult time for many people who find themselves on their own over this festive period. Not everyone is lucky enough to have lots of family to spend Christmas with and some feel particularly lonely at this time of the year.

“At Bath Open Christmas we welcome anyone who would otherwise be alone at this time. There will be a delicious festive lunch, an opportunity to chat with other people and even gifts from Father Christmas – and we’d like to thank Curo for their donation which I’m sure will help us spread some much-needed joy this year!”

Alongside chocolate oranges, Curo also donated prizes for the raffle which will take place on the day, including a tea service set, a variety of sweets and more chocolate!

Curo Sales Manager, Jodie Winter, says: “We’re delighted to support Bath Open Christmas this year and help them bring a little happiness to so many people.

“Supporting the communities we work in and partnering with organisations whose work benefits local residents is really important for us at Curo. We hope everyone has a fantastic time at this year’s Christmas lunch!”

This year’s Bath Open Christmas will be a little different, with measures in place to protect the safety of all guests and volunteers. The venue will be regularly ventilated and everyone attending will need to wear a face covering and take a lateral flow test in the 24 hours prior to the event.

There are still some places available for this year’s event. Call Bath Open Christmas on 01225 312271 or 07392 974405 to book your free ticket.

Curo site managers in Bath and Keynsham scoop double win at building awards

Mon, 28 Jun 2021 10:59:32 Z

Two site managers from housing association and house-builder Curo have received the National House Building Council’s 2021 Pride in the Job Quality Award.

Alan Mapston, senior site manager at Mulberry Park in Bath and Lee Watts, senior site manager at Woodland View at Hygge Park in Keynsham were recognised for their dedication, leadership and the high standards achieved at their respective developments.

Often referred to as the ‘Oscars of the house-building industry’, the Pride in the Job Awards celebrate the vital role that site managers play in ensuring new homes are constructed on time, on safe sites and to the highest quality standards.

The competition endorses the best site managers from across the country, following a rigorous and lengthy judging process that looks at key areas such as leadership, technical expertise, health and safety and attention to detail.

Alan Mapston, Curo Senior Site Manager at Mulberry Park, Bath

Married father-of-two, Alan, who in his spare time enjoys a spot of fishing and tinkering in the garage with his classic motorcycles, says:

“I’m very pleased to have won this award for our Mulberry Park site. Building homes of such high quality in a safe, timely and cost-effective way is certainly a team effort and I work alongside some fantastic people here at Mulberry Park, from my two assistant site managers, Grant Wells and Lee Clarke, to our trusted contractors.

“Our focus is always on building beautiful, high quality homes for our customers and I think the award recognises this.”

Lee Watts, Curo Senior Site Manager at Woodland View at Hygge Park, Keynsham

Bristol Rovers and Bristol Bears supporter Lee likes snowboarding and weekends away when possible. This is Lee’s second Pride in the Job Award, having won his first in 2013. He says:

“I’m proud of our Woodland View development where our customer satisfaction rate is 100%. This is a true reflection of how we build our homes, our focus on quality and attention to detail.

“I’m delighted with this recognition, not just for myself but for the entire team here at Woodland View who are working hard to make our customers happy – our contractors, labourers and my assistant site manager Steve Weymouth.”

Mulberry Park is a contemporary development of almost 700 homes, open spaces and community facilities in Combe Down, Bath. This thriving new neighbourhood has already delivered more than 380 homes and is due to complete in 2026.

Woodland View is creating 56 high-quality new homes within the larger Hygge Park scheme and is anticipated to complete in Spring 2022.

Bath housing development rated an “unqualified success” by Building for a Healthy Life author

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 10:35:06 Z

Image above: drone shot of Mulberry Park, Bath

Curo’s Mulberry Park development of 700 homes, open spaces and community facilities in Bath was found to be an ”unqualified success” after being assessed against the Building for a Healthy Life principles, the country’s standard for creating neighbourhoods that are better for people and nature.

Design for Homes Chief Executive, David Birkbeck, is the author of the Building for a Healthy Life design code. David says: “It’s been tough to get round everything built this year but Mulberry Park was a joy to visit and the scheme we’d rank highest in England currently. It’s the perfect model of place-making, rather than just housebuilding, a neighbourhood that puts healthier lifestyles first, with streets and public spaces so well landscaped that people will want to use them for a leisurely walk either to its excellent facilities or the rest of Bath beyond.”

“It’s going to have everything, plenty of great quality open space like the future park and woodland walk, as well as pedestrian connections to the city centre and super-wide pavements with proper, mature street trees like you used to see. It also has so many services on site that residents need - the school, nursery, café and even work and employment space.”

The Building for a Healthy Life design code was developed in partnership with NHS England to encourage the planning of healthier lifestyles into new housing developments. The guidance promotes improved connections for walking, cycling and public transport, helping to cut pollution and enhance air quality.

Street scene at Mulberry Park, Bath

David says: “The street layout is so rational and beautifully landscaped, it’s got to be one of the best we’ve seen in decades for encouraging people to walk. If that helps people walk sometimes instead of taking the car every time, it’ll cut the number of pointless short car journeys that are driving up traffic and air pollution.

“There are also other design features to the homes that will make a real difference, such as recessed balconies for apartments. These offer more privacy, encouraging residents to use them more often and to sit outdoors when at home. The benefit of all that extra daylight in a decade or so of occupancy cannot be stressed enough.

“We consider the scheme to be an unqualified success, an extremely high-quality example of Building for a Healthy Life principles.”

Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, says: “More than 370 families now live at Mulberry Park and this growing community is going from strength to strength. We’re proud to be building a new neighbourhood that is futureproof, sustainable and that encourages and enables better health for its residents.”

Mulberry Way at Mulberry Park, Bath

New show home launches at Mulberry Park

Mon, 04 Jan 2021 16:54:36 Z

A new three-storey show home designed for city living has just been launched at the popular Mulberry Park development in Bath. The Bathwick show home is one of 12 townhouses which will look over the development’s highly anticipated park due to be fully open in 2023.

Homebuyers now have the opportunity to experience for themselves city living at Mulberry Park, by visiting the brand new Bathwick show home which is available to see by appointment only 10am – 5:30pm/7 days a week.

The Bathwick townhouses span 1,536sqft over three storeys, featuring an open plan living and kitchen/dining area with a balcony overlooking the future park on the first floor, and a master bedroom with en suite, two further bedrooms and a family bathroom on the top floor. The ground floor is occupied by the integrated garage, entrance lobby, a utility room, WC and plenty of storage space.

Jodie Winter, Curo Sales Manager, says: “These unique homes certainly have the ‘wow factor’. We’ve used Bath stone, complementary cream brick and wood panelling to create gorgeous frontages, while the large windows at the front of the properties will maximise the beautiful views over the future park and allow lots of natural light in.

“Our Bathwick homes are perfect for modern city living; both stylish and practical, they offer plenty of storage space and highly desirable open plan living. The townhouses start at £499,995 and we have just released new plots available for reservation now.

“If you’re in the market for a new home, have been dreaming about upsizing/downsizing or moving to a new area, there’s no time like the present to make it happen,” says Jodie. “Our friendly team at Mulberry Park can help you find your perfect home, whatever your requirements.

The stylish Bathwick show home can be visited by appointment only – to book a viewing go to www.curo-sales.co.uk, or contact the Curo sales team on 0345 140 5050.

Meet the families helping to design the energy-efficient homes of the future

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 10:19:40 Z

Image above: Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, with new residents Jade Hamzelou and her daughters (left) and Nick Harvey and his sons (right).

Four local families in Bath and North East Somerset will be moving in to the region’s first Passivhaus homes at the end of the month. The ultra energy efficient homes were built by Curo at their 700-home development in Bath, Mulberry Park, and have been let at social rent to local families in housing need.

The residents were shown around the new homes by Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha. Victor says: “A truly sustainable place to live needs to be energy efficient, spacious and have access to good quality open spaces as well as being close to public transport, shops, schools and other important community services.”

“That’s precisely what we’ve been trying to do at Mulberry Park over recent years and these new, more energy efficient homes will help us continue to shape our designs, so the homes of the future are even more affordable for residents and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

“We know that these first four pilot homes for rent will help us set the standards for that home of the future, and these new residents will play a critical role in helping us learn and improve our designs, so we can roll out more and more of them. I want to thank the families for agreeing to provide us with the ongoing feedback we need and wish them well in their new home.”

“This home is like a shining glimmer of hope,” says Nick Harvey, one of the new residents. For the last 12 months, Nick has been living at his mother’s house where he shared a bedroom with his three sons aged six, four and two.

Nick says: “There was a series of circumstances that pushed us into this situation. This past year has been quite difficult for us but now I feel like I’m finally able to provide the home my boys deserve; they deserve to grow up in a safe, secure home where they can thrive. They are so excited about moving to a home of our own – my eldest who is 6 and has just started year 2 is absolutely over the moon. I really think that the boys and I will be very happy here.

Image above: Nick Harvey and his sons at their new home at Mulberry Park.

“It’s fantastic that our new home is better for the environment and cheaper to run too, that will help a lot. I’m also very much looking forward to being part of the community. Mulberry Park is looking amazing – I’ve been watching the development take shape over the past few years; gorgeous looking houses, a school and nursery – where I hope to move my boys to - and a community café right on our doorstep. This will be perfect for us.”

Nick’s next-door neighbour, Jade Hamzelou, is an experienced music teacher, a harpist and singer. In normal times, she would play the harp at weddings and work with charities to bring music into hospitals. Since the pandemic, she has been focusing on providing harp lessons online and, with restrictions easing off, in person as well.

Image above: Jade Hamzelou with two of her daughters, aged six and four.

Jade and her three daughters aged 12, six and four, currently live in a 1950s maisonette in a block of flats.

She says: “I feel very excited about the opportunity to live in a low-carbon home that also costs less to run. This is a huge improvement from our current living situation, where we have mainly concrete and timber construction with minimal insulation and only electric heating and hot water.

“Presently, my heating bills are very high in the winter. With three children to look after, this is very difficult for me to afford. It’s also fantastic that within our new home we will be able to do more for the environment.”

Jade and her daughters are also looking forward to having a garden and enjoying their own bit of outdoor space, as well as being part of the vibrant community at Mulberry Park. Jade says: “Having the community Hub on our doorstep is just fantastic and it’s great that I can use the spaces there for my business. My youngest two daughters are in Reception and year 2 and they will be joining the fantastic new school at Mulberry Park – they’re very excited.”

Mike, who is a landscape gardener and has a background in building, is very interested in seeing how the new home will be performing. He is moving in one of the new Passivhaus homes with his partner Sarah and their two daughters.

Mike says: “I think these homes are a brilliant idea and will provide a much healthier way of living for our family.

“We know our new home comes with some slight differences in the way it needs to be operated in order to get the best energy efficiency and we look forward to making these changes not only for lower bills but also to do our bit for the environment.

“The house is much larger than our current home, so we are looking forward to more space. We’re also very excited about the community itself and the future park that Curo will be building. For the first time, we’ll be able to walk both our daughters to school as they go to local schools in Combe Down.

“It would be a totally different lifestyle to the way we’re living now – much better, positive and full of hope for the future. It’s a dream come true.”

Bath-resident Lana Murphy and her daughter, 11, and son, 4, are moving over to Mulberry Park from a two-bed flat.

Lana says: “I’m so excited to move into this new home with my children, and to have a garden! My daughter is thrilled because she’ll have her own big bedroom. She’s really looking forward to it and has already picked out all her furniture, she couldn’t be happier.”

Just over 30% of the new homes at Mulberry Park are being delivered as affordable housing for rent and Shared Ownership. The development is already home to more than 300 families and benefits from a state-of-the-art community Hub and Café, primary school and nursery, as well as great transport links to the city centre. Over the next couple of years Curo will build eight more Passivhaus-certified homes at Mulberry Park, which will be sold on the open market.

Curo launch new show home in Keynsham

Mon, 17 Aug 2020 10:06:48 Z

Curo has unveiled a brand-new show home at its Woodland View @ Hygge Park development in Keynsham.

The four-bedroom detached Avon show home is ideal for family life, with a large open plan kitchen-diner on the ground floor, opening up to a well-sized garden through French patio doors. The stylish kitchen features a central island/breakfast bar with integrated ovens and a utility room with direct access to the garden.

Double doors connect the kitchen-diner to a spacious living area. In addition, there is a WC as well as a study/second reception room to the ground floor.

Upstairs, there are four double bedrooms, two of which have en-suites, and a family bathroom; the master bedroom also features a walk-in wardrobe. Avon house types at Woodland View come with a double garage and two off-street parking spaces.

Across the development, Curo are building three- and four-bedroom semi-detached and detached houses for sale on the open market, with prices starting at £475,000. Two-bedroom Shared Ownership properties at Woodland View and across the entire Hygge Park development will be available exclusively from Curo, with prices starting at £114,000 for a 40% share.

Help to Buy available

Keynsham born and bred Curo Senior Sales Negotiator, Andrew Davidson, says: “With our open market and Shared Ownership homes we can help families of any size find their ideal ‘forever home’ in Keynsham, close to fantastic amenities, popular schools and within easy reach of Bristol and Bath city centres.

“Homes for sale at Woodland View are also available through the ‘Help to Buy’ equity loan scheme, with the government lending buyers 20% of the purchase price interest-free for the first five years – meaning customers only need a 5% deposit to secure a mortgage.”

5% deposit boost, free flooring and legal fees paid

In addition, thanks to the recently announced ‘stamp duty holiday’, buyers could save as much as £15,000 when purchasing a home worth £500,000 or more until 31st March 2021.

There’s even more on offer for customers purchasing an off-plan property at Woodland View, as Andrew explains: “We’ll cover your home-buying legal fees and offer a 5% deposit ‘boost’* as well. Together with the stamp duty holiday, these initiatives add up to significant savings for our customers. What’s more, we’re including free flooring from our wide selection of luxury vinyl and carpets.”

Great location for family lifestyle

Woodland View at Hygge Park is conveniently situated close to Keynsham’s great amenities and within the catchment area of some of its top schools. There is a popular nursery just across the road from the new development, while the nearest primary and secondary schools - Wellsway School and Sixth Form, Saltford C of E Primary School and Chandag Junior School - are only a couple of minutes’ drive away.

Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park is situated only a few minutes’ walk from the new homes, offering fun-filled family activities and learning experiences. There are also plenty of scenic walks and cycle tracks nearby, including the traffic-free and picturesque Bristol and Bath Railway Path, connecting the two cities via Keynsham.

To visit the Avon show home at Woodland View @ Hygge Park go to our sales website and register your interest or call 0345 140 5050 to book a one to one appointment. You can also see a video tour of the show home here.

*5% of the property price, selected plots only, subject to status and availability.

Curo to deliver first Passivhaus homes in B&NES

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 15:20:53 Z

Housing association and housebuilder Curo are on track to delivering the first ultra energy efficient homes in Bath & North East Somerset this autumn.

Curo are building four Passivhaus-certified houses at their 700-home Mulberry Park development in Combe Down, Bath. The three-bedroom homes will be let at social rent to local families on B&NES Council’s waiting list.

Featuring Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems, high levels of insulation and triple glazed windows, Passivhaus homes provide excellent comfort in both winter and summer, while consuming very little energy compared to standard housing. With minimal changes to day-to-day life, occupiers can significantly reduce their carbon footprint and lower energy costs by up to 90%.

Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, says: “We’re excited to be nearing completion of our first ever Passivhaus homes - the first of their kind in the area. These homes will deliver huge benefits for our residents who will enjoy much lower heating bills, better year-round comfort and indoor air quality.

“We’re keen to learn from our customers about the day-to-day operation and real-life performance of the homes so we can further improve and finesse our future Passivhaus buildings.

“As we look to a more sustainable future, we want to play our role in building ‘greener’, high quality homes that can help to achieve climate targets, as well as put an end to issues such as fuel poverty. This small pilot scheme underlines our commitment to sustainable development; large scale change doesn’t happen overnight and I am proud that, as a housing association, Curo is the first in B&NES to achieve Passivhaus certification for energy efficient homes.”

Residents are expected to move in to the new homes this September. Over the next couple of years, Curo will build eight more Passivhaus-certified homes at Mulberry Park, which will be sold on the open market.

The Hub celebrates birthday with day of free activities

Thu, 31 Oct 2019 12:22:35 Z

The Hub, our £10m community building at our Mulberry Park development in Bath, is celebrating its first birthday with a day of free activities on Saturday 9 November.

The Hub is at the heart of the Foxhill, Mulberry Park and Combe Down community. It was delivered as part of our 700 homes development at Mulberry Park.

Curo's mission is to provide great homes, support communities and improve lives and The Hub is part of our ongoing investment in the local area.

Manager of The Hub, Lizzie Irvine said: “We’re having a special birthday party with a day of free activities. It’s a big thank you to the community for their fantastic support during our first year.”

“The Hub is a community space where people come together to have fun and try new things. We’ve really gone from strength to strength in one year and it’s the community who’ve helped us make The Hub a real success.”

The first birthday party has been organised by The Hub and local arts organisation Made in Foxhill, who’re responsible for bringing arts activities for all ages to the area.

There will be a special performance from Dragon Bird theatre company. The renowned theatre group performed at The Hub’s opening last year and are bringing back their props, puppets, songs, dances, bubbles, costumes and parachutes.

A professional animator will be holding free animation workshops throughout the day. There will also be craft activities, stalls, an exhibition of photography by Foxhill’s Happy Snappers and a birthday cake!

Lizzie added: “We’ve got so much happening at The Hub, with activities and classes for all residents, young and old. If you haven’t visited us before, our birthday celebration is the perfect time to come along and see what we have for you.”

Programme of free activities

10am-3pm (drop-in) | The Animation Workshop

Work with a professional animator and discover the magical world of stop motion animation. Ages 5+

10.30am & 1.30pm | DragonBird Theatre - The Elephant’s Child

An interactive theatre performance and play session. These shows are created for 0-5 years but can be enjoyed by the whole family. Apply in advance for your FREE TICKETS online (10.30am or 1.30pm) or at The Hub’s reception.

10am-3pm (drop-in) | Cartooning with the SillyScribbler

Join in with some silly scribbling! Learn how to use simple shapes to create your very own cartoon characters. So, whether it’s a funny face or a weird creature - come along and make your own artwork. Ages 5+

10am-3pm (drop-in) | Organic Bread Monster Making

Make your own monsters using organic dough. Take home, bake and impress your family. Ages 5+

10am-3pm (drop-in) | Felty Happy Creatures

Make your own Felty ‘madeinfoxhill’ Fox and other creepy crawly creatures to take home and keep. Ages 5+

10am-3pm | Foxhill Happy Snappers Exhibition
Come and meet our resident photography group, the Foxhill Happy Snappers and see their fascinating new exhibition that’s inspired by Foxhill and the surrounding areas.

10am-3pm | Artisan Fair
Local artists selling jam, Christmas presents and decorations, cards, toys, baby clothes, artwork and jewellery.

11.30am - 12.30pm | Pop-up Choir

Come and enjoy some singing with the “pop-up choir”. Everyone is welcome to join in regardless of singing experience or age.

12.45pm | Mulberry Park Educate Together performance

Come along and watch a special performance by the children of The Hub’s neighbouring school, Mulberry Park Educate Together.

Curo’s housebuilding team wear it pink for Breast Cancer Now

Fri, 18 Oct 2019 14:40:32 Z

Curo’s housebuilding team have joined the ‘Wear it Pink’ campaign on Friday 18 October, to support Breast Cancer Now’s annual fundraising event.

Wear it Pink happens every year in October, the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and is one of the biggest fundraising events in the UK aimed at facilitating continued vital research into the disease.

Curo staff have today sported their best pink outfits, with colleagues working on site swapping their usual green high visibility jackets for pink ones, raising £352 for the cause.

Curo Sales Director, Lisa Howells, says: “Curo colleagues take part in many charity fundraising events throughout the year for causes that are close to our hearts. It’s great to see that everyone has made an effort on ‘Wear it Pink’ day and joined the national campaign to help raise money for further life-saving breast cancer research.

“We’ve all had fun choosing our outfits for today, baking pink treats and, most importantly, donating. Colleagues looked fabulous in pink both in the office and on our construction sites and we’re already looking forward to making next year’s event even bigger and better.”

To mark the occasion, Curo have also installed planters with pink cyclamens at Mulberry Park, their 700 homes development in South Bath.

Since launching in 2002, Breast Cancer Now’s Wear it Pink day has raised more than £33 million to fund research and provide emotional and practical support to people affected by breast cancer. If you’d like to support this fantastic cause, donate directly to Breast Cancer Now at www.justgiving.com/campaign/wearitpink2019.

More affordable homes for West of England

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 10:48:51 Z

Image above: West of England Mayor, Tim Bowles (left) and Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha (right) at Curo's Mulberry Park development in Bath

340 new affordable homes will be built in the West of England thanks to a commitment from local housing association Curo to invest £25m of government funding in the region.

A Strategic Partnership agreement between Homes England and Bath-based Curo has been agreed, with support from the West of England Combined Authority, which is working with partners to build more much-needed affordable homes, more quickly.

Curo and the West of England Combined Authority have been working together to enable a commitment that the funding will deliver homes in the West of England.

As part of this Strategic Partnership, secured in collaboration with Essex-based Swan Housing, Curo has agreed to earmark £25m to deliver more than 340 new affordable homes within the region over the next five years. The scheme has been made possible by a government grant from Homes England, the government body sponsored by The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), whose purpose is to accelerate the delivery of new homes.

This will begin with proposals to build up to 47 new affordable homes at Broadbury Road in Filwood, Bristol, and a planning application is currently being prepared.

Victor da Cunha, CEO of Curo, said: “We’re very pleased to be working with the West of England Combined Authority, Homes England and councils in our region to deliver these new homes. We work in an area which experiences acute housing affordability issues; building new housing will provide hundreds of local families with secure, long term homes.

“We very much welcome the government’s provision of grant funding through the Strategic Partnership scheme; it recognises Housing Associations’ key role in addressing the country’s housing crisis and allows us to accelerate our investment and build programme.”

Tim Bowles, West of England Mayor, said: “This partnership is responding to our need for more affordable homes, by committing to major development in our region.

“We need more homes for our residents to buy and rent. We need homes in the right places and at prices people can afford. The West of England Combined Authority is proud to support this partnership, and I am confident that it will deliver successful places where people will aspire to be.”

New show home opens at Mulberry Park

Mon, 07 Oct 2019 10:50:28 Z

Image above: Mulberry Park show home living room

Last month Curo opened the doors to a much-anticipated brand new show home at Mulberry Park, the award-winning residential development in South Bath.

The three-bedroom, semi-detached ‘Portland’ show home is ideal for family life, featuring a contemporary kitchen/dining area with separate living room, WC and utility room to the ground floor, with a master bedroom with en-suite, two further bedrooms, a family bathroom and plenty of storage space occupying the upper floor.

Boasting a modern, stylish, yet homely interior décor, the new show home can give visitors a glimpse into the type of lifestyle that properties at Mulberry Park can offer. One of the rooms, imagined as a child’s bedroom, was furnished in a tropical rainforest theme and features a very special art piece – an orangutan painting by one of the 5-year old pupils at Mulberry Park Educate Together primary school.

Lisa Howells, Curo Sales Director, explains: “Mulberry Park is a strong, growing community, with the new nursery, school and Hub sitting right at its heart and bringing everyone together. We wanted to celebrate this by giving the younger members of the community an opportunity to put their stamp on the new show home.

“Children from the new local school painted their favourite rainforest animal to complement the design of one of the rooms – we chose the orangutan to be displayed in the show home but all of the art pieces are fabulous and can be seen on our website.”

Image above: Curo Sales Director, Lisa Howells (left) and Mulberry Park Educate Together primary school Headteacher, Emma Garnett (right) with the winning artwork

Mulberry Park Educate Together Headteacher, Emma Garnett, says: “It’s fantastic to be part of the thriving community at Mulberry Park and the children love getting involved in these activities. We had fun painting and drawing while learning some interesting facts about the rainforest; thanks to Curo for the wonderful rainforest books gifted to our Bumble Bee class pupils.”

The newly released properties at Mulberry Park are 2, 3 and 4-bedroom homes, with prices starting at £295,000. Mulberry Park properties are also available with Help to Buy, the government’s Equity Loan scheme that lends home buyers up to 20% of the value of a new build home.

Image above: Mulberry Park show home master bedroom

Lisa says: “With such a wide choice of properties now available for reservation, we’re able to help families of any size find their ideal home in this vibrant, new community. Whether you’re on the market for a new home right now or just waiting to be inspired – we invite all home buyers to pop along to our new show home and discover what’s on offer at Mulberry Park.”

To see the new show home at Mulberry Park, visit Curo’s Marketing Suite on Bradford Road (BA2 5BZ). For more information, go to www.curo-sales.co.uk or call 0345 140 5050.

Here are all the drawings and paintings produced by children in Bumble Bee class, aged 5, Mulberry Park Educate Together primary school:

The orangutan (winning artwork)

A tree frog

The tiger

A panther

Gorilla and baby

Parrots

Another panther

Brand new show home to launch at Mulberry Park

Fri, 20 Sep 2019 11:29:18 Z

Image above: Mulberry Park show home living room

Curo will be opening the doors to a much-anticipated brand new show home at Mulberry Park, the award-winning residential development in South Bath.

The launch will take place over the last weekend of the month, with home buyers invited to attend the special celebrations on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th September from 11am until 5.30pm at Curo’s Marketing Suite on Bradford Road (BA2 5BZ).

Boasting a modern, stylish, yet homely interior décor, the new show home will give visitors a glimpse into the type of lifestyle that properties at Mulberry Park can offer. One of the rooms, imagined as a child’s bedroom, was furnished in a tropical rainforest theme and features a very special art piece – an orangutan painting by one of the 5-year old pupils at Mulberry Park Educate Together primary school.

Image above: Curo Sales Director, Lisa Howells (left) and Mulberry Park Educate Together primary school Headteacher, Emma Garnett (right) with the winning artwork

The newly released properties at Mulberry Park are 2, 3 and 4-bedroom homes, with prices starting at £295,000.

Mulberry Park properties are also available with Help to Buy, the government’s Equity Loan scheme that lends home buyers up to 20% of the value of a new build home.

Image above: Mulberry Park show home master bedroom

Lisa says: “With such a wide choice of properties now available for reservation, we’re able to help families of any size find their ideal home in this vibrant, new community. Whether you’re on the market for a new home right now or just waiting to be inspired – we invite all home buyers to pop along to our new show home launch and discover what’s on offer at Mulberry Park.

“Visitors will also have the chance to experience the community Café’s delicious drinks and homemade cakes for free at The Hub with our complimentary vouchers which will be handed out and validated after the show home tour.”

To see the new show home at Mulberry Park, visit Curo’s Marketing Suite on Bradford Road (BA2 5BZ) on Saturday 28th or Sunday 29th September from 11am until 5.30pm. For more information, go to www.curo-sales.co.uk or call 0345 140 5050.

Here are all the drawings and paintings produced by children in Bumble Bee class, aged 5, Mulberry Park Educate Together primary school:

The orangutan (winning artwork)

A tree frog

The tiger

A panther

Gorilla and baby

Parrots

Another panther

The Hub is now open!

Thu, 13 Dec 2018 15:21:21 Z

Our brand new £10m community building in Combe Down opened on Saturday 8 December with a day of free activities that included an all-ages Bath Rugby coaching session.

The Hub is at the heart of the Foxhill, Mulberry Park and Combe Down community and was delivered by us as part of our 700 homes development at Mulberry Park. Our mission is to provide great homes, support communities and improve lives and The Hub is part of our ongoing investment in the local area.

Manager of The Hub, Lizzie Irvine said: “We’re really pleased so many people joined us to celebrate the opening of The Hub. We had more than 875 people through our doors on the day!”

Lizzie added: “The Hub is a new community space where people come together to have fun and try new things – and our open day reflected that. We had lots of activities, from interactive theatre to dance and storytelling. Bath Rugby held an all-ages coaching session and we also showcased some amazing art projects created by Made In Foxhill and local residents.”

BA1 Radio, a local volunteer-led radio station, were at The Hub all day and gave people the opportunity to try their hand at being a radio presenter.

Councillor Paul Myers, Cabinet Member for Economic and Community Regeneration, was given a tour of The Hub and said: “It was fantastic to see so many residents using the building and taking part in all the different activities. The Hub, with its state of the art facilities, is going to be a real asset for the Foxhill, Mulberry Park and Combe Down communities.”

Jane Hill, local resident and chairperson of the Hub user group, said: “It was a wonderful event that brought the community together, everyone had a happy and relaxing time. For many it was their first visit to The Hub and all who took part were so very impressed by the building, its design and the facilities it has to offer.”

The café at The Hub is open from Mondays to Saturdays from 9am until 4pm. In the new year the café will be open every day and from 8am on week days. To find out what’s on at The Hub or to book a room please call 01225 436869.

Curo scoops Developer of the Year 2018 title at Bath Property Awards

Wed, 05 Dec 2018 10:01:27 Z

Photo: Adam Carter; Curo colleagues from left to right: Sales Manager Susan Harrison, Planning & Technical Director, Sarah Maylor, Sales Director, Lisa Howells and Managing Director, Gerraint Oakley.

Bath-based housing association and house-builder Curo has won the Developer of the Year 2018 title at the inaugural Bath Property Awards, which celebrate the city’s dynamic property sector.

The ceremony took place at the Apex Hotel on Friday 23 November and brought together house-builders, architects, contractors, suppliers and professional services providers for the property sector.

The judges said: “Curo is out on its own in terms of what it does. ‘Profit for purpose’ flows through the business; exceptional year, balancing commercial opportunities with social responsibility.”

Curo managing Director, Gerraint Oakley, says: “We’re delighted and proud to win this recognition, having been shortlisted alongside some great Bath-based developers.

“Housing associations like Curo are making a significant contribution to solving the UK’s housing crisis. Our commercial activity – building homes for market sale - enables us to generate surpluses which we reinvest in creating more affordable housing for local people. This is what we call ‘profit for purpose’ and is the main reason we established our house-building business. Last year, we invested £17.1m in building new affordable homes.

“We’re best known for Mulberry Park, our award-winning project of 700 homes in South Bath, but we’re a multi-site developer with a number of schemes at different stages of development throughout the South West. Our housing delivery pipeline for the next five years will see the addition of more than 2,200 homes across the region.”

Curo was also a finalist in the ‘Residential Development’ category with its Mulberry Park scheme, which won the ‘Property’ accolade at the popular Bath Life Awards earlier this year.

Curo welcomes 100th family to Mulberry Park

Tue, 20 Nov 2018 13:29:51 Z

Curo has just welcomed the 100th homeowners at Mulberry Park, its award-winning development of 700 homes, community facilities and open spaces in South Bath.

Alicia, Ian and their two-and-a-half-year-old son Lucas moved in to a four bedroom townhouse on the main avenue at Mulberry Park last month.

Ian, a tennis coach at the University of Bath, says: “When we saw the homes at Mulberry Park we thought – that’s what we want - and knew that moving here was the right thing to do for our family. With a toddler and a new baby on the way, we couldn’t be happier with our choice, we’ve got lots of space and exactly the location we wanted.”

The family previously lived in a two-bed property in Oldfield Park. Alongside location and more bedrooms, their list of requirements for the new home included a level garden and a spacious kitchen/diner.

Alicia says: “I love cooking, entertaining and having people over and we needed a house that was spacious enough to receive all of our friends and their kids. We really wanted the kitchen/dining area to be at the centre of our family life and the layout and size of our new home work perfectly for us.

“Our son is sports-mad and it’s great that now we can watch him play in the garden while cooking dinner thanks to our large bi-folding doors.”

The couple are also looking forward to taking advantage of the facilities available at Mulberry Park, including a new primary school, nursery and The Hub - a brand new contemporary building for the whole local community to use, providing flexible spaces for activities and events from yoga and fitness classes to children’s stay & play groups, meetings and corporate events as well as a welcoming and family-friendly café on the ground floor.

Alicia says: “We’re excited about the new park and the fantastic community Hub and facilities already available right on our doorstep.

“We look forward to getting to know our neighbours and being part of this community and I think the Hub will help a lot with that.”

The family were welcomed at Mulberry Park by Curo Sales Director, Lisa Howells. Lisa says: “We’re delighted that our 100th customers have joined the thriving new community at Mulberry Park and wish the young family all the best for the future in their beautiful home.

“Homes at Mulberry Park range from one-bed apartments to four-bedroom detached houses, so we’re ideally placed to help families of any size find their perfect home in this vibrant, growing community.”

Mulberry Park properties are available through Help to Buy, the government’s Equity Loan scheme that lends home buyers up to 20% of the value of a new build home - interest-free for five years.

Lisa says: “We also offer a range of services specifically designed to make moving home more straightforward, like Swift Move, a scheme that provides a quicker way for homeowners to sell their property at market value, while saving money on estate agent fees and advertising.

“Our Smooth Move scheme makes it possible for homeowners to part-exchange their current home for a new one without having to sell their property first. So starting fresh in a new home at Mulberry Park couldn’t be easier for our customers.”

For more information about our homes at Mulberry Park, visit our sales website or call our award-winning team on 0345 140 5050.

The countdown to the big launch has begun

Wed, 17 Oct 2018 13:18:01 Z

The countdown to the launch of the new community building at Mulberry Park has begun. The Hub will open its doors to local residents on Saturday 8 December with a ‘Fun Day’ filled with creative activities for kids and adults.

The Hub is a brand new contemporary building for the whole local community to use, providing flexible spaces for activities and events from yoga and fitness classes to children’s stay & play groups, meetings and corporate events as well as a welcoming and family-friendly café on the ground floor.

Over the past few weeks, the new team at The Hub have started work, headed by Centre Manager Lizzie Irvine, with Dominique Bartels as Events Manager, alongside a team of reception and events colleagues.

The Hub is located between the brand new 210-place Educate Together primary school and the 70-place Happy Days nursery at Mulberry Park which both opened in September.

What’s next at The Hub?

A range of events are planned for the opening and in the months to follow. This will include Christmas carols, a series of informative talks and presentations on local interest subjects, art exhibitions and more.

If you’re interested in booking a room to hold an event or meeting, planning an ‘away day’, teaching a class or just curious to pop in and have a look, contact our Events Team at enquiries@mphub.co.uk.

We look forward to welcoming you to The Hub!

Curo up for double at national awards

Mon, 30 Jul 2018 10:49:39 Z

Bath-based housing association and house-builder Curo has been shortlisted for two national awards recognising the success of its sales team and flagship development, Mulberry Park.

Curo are finalists in the ’Home Ownership Team of the Year’ and ‘Best Large Development’ categories at the National Housing Awards, run by the National Housing Federation (NHF).

Lisa Howells, Curo Sales Director, says: “These awards recognise excellence, innovation and creativity in the housing sector and we’re delighted to have been nominated in two categories this year. Our customers are at the very heart of everything we do and we’re proud to help many families each year find their perfect home.

“Our sales people are experts in all housing products and schemes available, supporting customers through the process to homeownership whether they are at the start of their journey or looking to move up the property ladder.”

So far 84 families have started a new life at Mulberry Park, Curo’s development of 700 homes, open spaces and community facilities in South Bath.

Lisa says: “Housing associations are making a positive contribution to delivering new homes across all tenures. A recent Savills report confirmed that Curo are outselling our Bath competitors including national housebuilders, another endorsement of our ‘profit for purpose’ approach.”

Curo Construction Operations Director, Jonathan Poole, says: “We build high quality, energy efficient homes and we strive to use the latest house-building technologies for the benefit of customers. All homes at Mulberry Park are designed to ensure energy efficiency and low running costs for residents, incorporating features such as low energy lamps and built-in USB chargers as standard.

“In the third phase of the development, we’ll build our first certified Passivhaus homes - ultra-low energy, close to zero carbon status properties that require little energy for space heating or cooling.”

This is Curo’s third shortlisting for Mulberry Park this year, after becoming a finalist in the ‘Best design for three storeys or fewer’ category at the upcoming Housebuilder Awards and winning the Bath Life Awards in the Property category back in March.

Winners for the National Housing Awards will be announced at a gala dinner in London on 6 September.

It’s a hoot at Mulberry Park this summer

Fri, 22 Jun 2018 09:54:20 Z

This summer, Curo’s delighted to welcome Mulberry Park’s newest resident to the neighbourhood. Mowlberry Beak is coming to roost outside the marketing suite on Bradford Road as part of a city-wide sculpture trail.

Curo is proud to sponsor the Minerva’s Owls of Bath sculpture trail, which takes inspiration from the Roman Goddess Minerva, whose animal symbol was the owl of wisdom. The trail features over 80 individually designed owls displayed across Bath and the surrounding area from June to September 2018.

Mowlberry Beak is painted by local artist and children’s illustrator Beccy Blake. Beccy drew on the local area for her beautiful design which features a mulberry tree packed with details of life in Combe Down, Foxhill and Bath. Local historical figures, Harry Patch and Ralph Allen gaze out from Mowlberry’s eyes, while details from Combe Down’s stone mining past and its links with the military can be found among his feathers.

Beccy Blake said: “I was so excited and felt honoured to be chosen as an owl artist, it’s been great fun both researching all the lovely memories and historical facts from local Combe Down people to pencilling it out and finally painting it. I hope everyone enjoys Mowlberry Beak when on their Owl tour.”

Curo has also donated an owlet to Combe Down Primary school. Patch has been decorated by the school’s pupils in a beautiful patchwork design, inspired by Combe Down’s famous son Harry Patch, the last fighting Tommy. Patch will go on display on The Avenue in Combe Down village.

Curo’s sales manager, Susan Harrison said: “We’re delighted to be involved with this year’s Owls of Bath trail. It’s a fantastic way for people to explore our beautiful city and celebrate local communities like Combe Down. We look forward to welcoming Mowlberry Beak and lots of owl spotters to Mulberry Park during the summer.”

Owl spotters can pick up trail maps from the Bath Visitor Information Centre, Bath Aqua Glass by Bath Abbey and Waterstones in Milsom Street; or they can download the mobile app from the App store or at go.blispa.com/owls.

Curo has its roots planted in the local community, as a housing association and house-builder with 13,000 homes in the West of England. Its award-winning development at Mulberry Park has drawn inspiration from the local area, from the planting of over 6,000 native trees and shrubs to streets named after local residents who served in WWI. For more information about homes at Mulberry Park, call 0345 140 5050 or visit www.curo-sales.co.uk/mulberrypark.

Photo credit: Bath Chronicle and Paul Gillis

Curo gets the go-ahead for 16 new affordable homes in Midsomer Norton

Tue, 08 May 2018 11:25:20 Z

A total of 16 new affordable homes will be built at St Chads Green in Midsomer Norton by housing association and house-builder Curo after being granted planning permission by Bath & North East Somerset Council’s officers under delegated authority in April.

The existing buildings at St Chads are vacant and will be demolished and replaced with 15 houses with 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms and a one-bedroom apartment. Demolition works are expected to begin in June 2018 and will last approximately 3-4 months. Curo anticipates completion of the development in late 2019.

All of the new homes at St Chads will be available through affordable rent or to buy via the low cost home ownership scheme Shared Ownership. Affordable rents are usually around 80% of the local market rent; in Midsomer Norton, the average affordable rent for a 3-bed property currently sits at just under £155 per week.

Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, says: “We’re working hard to build more affordable homes in B&NES and we’re delighted that our plans for St Chads were approved by planning officers.

“We’re always looking for opportunities and partnerships that will enable us to deliver more affordable homes for local people. Social housing doesn’t just mean subsidised rent, it also offers secure long-term tenancies for customers, enabling them to put down roots and build a life in a stable home.”

The new homes will be delivered by Curo in partnership with Homes England who provided funding of £480,000 and B&NES, who have awarded a further £200,000 grant.

Cllr Paul Myers, Cabinet Member for Economic and Community Regeneration and ward councillor for Midsomer Norton, says: “The redevelopment scheme will provide much needed affordable new homes in the town for families currently on the Council’s waiting list and will also help local people to take a first step on the housing ladder with Shared Ownership.

“We’re pleased to support this scheme by committing £200,000 to it from the Council’s affordable homes capital budget, along with the further £480,000 subsidy from Homes England.

“We welcome considerate developments designed with local need in mind and I look forward to seeing the new homes at St Chads taking shape and welcoming their residents over the next 18 months.”

Curo has appointed local construction firm and Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) founding members, EG Carter & Co, to build the new homes. The works will be carried out following the Code of Considerate Practice, designed to encourage best practice over and above standard industry requirements and promote good neighbourly relations between developers and residents during building works. The CCS principles include: Care about Appearance, Respect the Community, Protect the Environment, Secure everyone’s Safety and Value the Workforce.

Victor comments: “The Considerate Constructors Scheme is a fantastic way of delivering new homes in a thoughtful manner and positively contributing to the communities we work in.”

Curo shares proposals for next stage of development at Mulberry Park

Thu, 25 Jan 2018 16:17:02 Z

On Monday 29 January, Curo is holding a public exhibition of proposals for the third phase of new homes at Mulberry Park.

At the exhibition, visitors will see details of the design and appearance of the homes. We’ll also show information about the road layout and the positioning of the homes.

Members of the project team and the architects will be available to answer any questions. Refreshments will be available.

If you’re unable to attend this exhibition, you’ll be able to view the plans online from 31 January via our website.

When: Monday 29 January 2018, 2pm - 7pm, drop in anytime
Where: St Andrew’s Community Church, Hawthorn Grove, Bath BA2 5QA

Topping out ceremony marks key milestone in development of £10M community hub

Thu, 14 Dec 2017 15:58:38 Z

On Thursday 14 December, Curo marked the latest milestone in the development of a new £10M community hub, primary school and nursery at Mulberry Park, Bath. A topping out ceremony celebrated the completion of the landmark building’s main structure.

Topping out ceremonies date back to pagan times. Traditionally to celebrate the building reaching its highest point, this ceremony is said to bring good luck and prosperity to all those who use the new building. An evergreen tree is hoisted over the building, which is said to ward off evil spirits.

At Mulberry Park, a Christmas tree was raised to the highest point of the building by the Mayor of Bath, Ian Gilchrist. Visitors were then given a guided tour of the new building, using virtual reality headsets to experience the completed rooms as they moved through the building.

The ceremony was attended by local residents and people from local groups and businesses who will use the new building when it opens in 2018.

Victor da Cunha, Chief Executive of Curo said: “It’s great to see the new community hub taking shape at Mulberry Park, underlining Curo’s ongoing investment in the local area. We’re really looking forward to seeing the building buzzing with activity when it opens in 2018.”

The community hub is being built by Rydon for Curo. Paul Barber, Rydon Construction’s South West Regional Director said: “The topping out ceremony is an exciting milestone to celebrate with our partner Curo for the Mulberry Park community hub. Our experienced team look forward to completing this project that will be a focal point – a place for local people to come together and enjoy a range of high quality public services and education facilities.”

Commissioned by Curo and designed by internationally renowned architects BDP, the community hub is ten times larger than that required under planning and will sit at the heart of Mulberry Park fronting onto a new public square, within easy reach for residents of Combe Down and Foxhill.

Named The Hub, it has been designed as a beacon for the local community and will include a café, meeting rooms, multifunctional spaces and an enterprise area with lettable space for a range of businesses. Curo is currently working with local agents, Carter Jonas to recruit partner organisations to run the café and enterprise space.

The celebration was also attended by Council leader, Tim Warren, Combe Down ward councillors, Cherry Beath and Bob Goodman and local residents who have worked with Curo to develop plans for the community hub.

The hub, primary school (run by Educate Together) and 70-place children’s nursery (run by Happy Days) will open at Mulberry Park in September 2018.

Paving the way to honour Combe Down’s fallen

Mon, 06 Nov 2017 14:28:39 Z

On Monday 6th November the first paving stones were unveiled at Mulberry Park, Bath to honour those from Combe Down who served in World War I.

Mulberry Park is Curo’s new development of 700 homes, community facilities and open spaces in southern Bath. Local group Combe Down Heritage Society suggested that the streets within the new development were named after the young men of Combe Down who served in World War I. Each street will be marked with a commemorative paving stone.

The first paving stones to be unveiled honour Henry John ‘Harry’ Patch, William George Chivers and Herbert Charles Windell. Harry Patch, "the Last Fighting Tommy", was the last surviving combat soldier of the First World War from any country. All three men grew up in Combe Down village.

Relatives of William George Chivers attended to see the stone which honours him. Jonathan Cope, who grew up in Combe Down said: “We’re really touched that our relative is being honoured in this way. Our family has a strong connection with Combe Down – my mother even worked on the former MOD Foxhill site. It is really important that future generations remember the sacrifices of those who fought in the world wars.”

Liz Potter, Chair of housing association and house builder Curo, said: “It’s a real privilege to work with the local community to honour these men. As Mulberry Park develops, we will continue to celebrate the history of the local area while looking forward to an exciting future for new and existing residents.”

Curo has worked with Combe Down Heritage Society and stone carving students from Bath College to create the commemorative paving stones that will mark each street. The paving stones were kindly donated by Forest of Dean Stone Firms. Stone carving student Jonny Stoker said: “It’s my way of paying respect to those who fought in the First World War, especially coming up to Armistice Day. I’m looking forward to visiting the site and seeing all the stones laid together in situ. I think that will give me a massive sense of achievement. Volunteering for projects like this gives me the chance to test what I’ve learnt at college.”

A ceremony to unveil the first paving stones was held on Monday 6th November and was attended by representatives of Combe Down Heritage Society, Bath College, the Royal British Legion and B&NES Council.

Photo (L-R): B&NES Council Chair, Cherry Beath, Curo Chair, Liz Potter, Bath College stone-carving student, Mo and Combe Down Heritage Society's Jacqueline Burrows.