Curo News

Collaborating to train the next generation of builders

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 10:00:00 Z

We’re proud to be working with local partners at Bath College and the University of Bath to help boost local skills in construction.

Construction is one of many industries crucial to the UK economy, but it’s also one of the hardest hit by recent labour shortages. In fact, it currently has the second-worst workforce shortage in the country. That’s why we’re committed to addressing this challenge by supporting local people into high-skilled jobs and sustainable employment.

Our employability service, Work Wise, connects local people with training and employment opportunities—including those at our flagship development, Mulberry Park. Since the site received outline planning permission in 2015, we’ve helped create 32 apprenticeships, 164 new jobs with local training, and 399 work placements in the community.

Over the last few months, we’ve welcomed students from the University of Bath’s Civil Engineering courses and Bath College’s Construction programme to Mulberry Park, giving them a first-hand look at a live construction site. These visits provide valuable insights into modern building methods and innovative design principles, showcasing the thought and care that go into creating neighbourhoods like Mulberry Park.

University of Bath students and lecturer, Gavin Knowles, in front of the latest phase of development

During the tours, students had the chance to see Phase 2 of Mulberry Park in progress. This next phase builds upon the existing amenities, which already include a primary school and community centre, and will soon feature shops and other facilities to enhance the neighbourhood even further.

Our Senior Site Manager, Alan Mapston, shared his thoughts: “It’s been fantastic to welcome students from Bath College and the University of Bath back to the site. Their enthusiasm for construction and architecture is always inspiring, and it’s rewarding to share our journey as Mulberry Park continues to grow. We’re proud to support future professionals in their learning and can’t wait to see the impact they’ll make in the industry.”

We’ve also had great feedback from our partners:

Gavin Knowles, Director of Studies in the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering at the University of Bath, said: “We are always looking for interesting Civil Engineering projects in the local area, and the Curo team at Mulberry Park have been so accommodating in showing our students around the site with so much enthusiasm. A live construction site is such a valuable teaching tool and shows our future Engineers how building designs go together both physically and logistically. We’ve really valued this continued partnership.”

Karen Simmons, Employability and Engagement Officer at Bath College, added: “Visiting a live site and talking to experienced people already working in construction really helps to bring the learning to life and inspire our students on their future career journeys. It’s a valuable asset to our courses, and we are very grateful to be working with Curo.”

Bath Rugby Stars Bring Community Together at Mulberry Park Christmas Light Switch-on

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 15:15:34 Z

The smell of mulled wine and hot chocolate drew the crowds to our Christmas light switch-on at Mulberry Park last week.

The Mulberry Park community came together to watch Bath Rugby stars Miles Reid and Tom Dunn flip the switch to illuminate the twinkling Christmas lights.

(Pictured: Bath Rugby players, Miles Reid and Tom Dunn, Curo Head of Construction, Paul Fackrell and Sales Manager, Jodie Winter)

As laughter and festive tunes filled the air, families, friends and neighbours gathered around the tree to enjoy mince pies and pizza provided by The Hub, Mulberry Park’s café and community space. To add an extra touch of magic, a snow machine dusted the neighbourhood, transforming it into a winter wonderland.

To add to the festive goodwill, we will give a special donation to the Bath Rugby Community Foundation. The foundation empowers vulnerable children and young people in Bath and the surrounding area to achieve success.

Jodie Winter, Curo Sales Manager, said, "The Christmas light switch-on marks the start of this special season and is a beautiful moment for the Mulberry Park community. We were thrilled to be joined by Miles and Tom, who helped bring a real sense of togetherness and holiday spirit.

"We are delighted to continue to support the Bath Rugby Community Foundation, which will join us in making a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable people in our community."

The Story of a Neighbourhood

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 16:52:31 Z

We're excited to share with you our commemorative booklet, "The Story of a Neighbourhood," as we celebrate a decade at Mulberry Park.

This booklet dives into the rich history of Mulberry Park and the people who have made it special. Discover how this former MOD site has transformed into a vibrant community over the years.

Through captivating storytelling and stunning photos, "The Story of a Neighbourhood" captures the essence of Mulberry Park—past, present, and future. It's a celebration of the milestones we've achieved and the rich history of Combe Down that continues to shape our community.

To make this journey accessible to everyone, we've made the digital version of the booklet available on our website below - take a look!

University of Bath students visit award-winning development from Curo

Tue, 09 May 2023 09:54:45 Z

Pictured: University of Bath students and lecturer, Gavin Knowles, in front of the latest phase of development

Mulberry Park, the award-winning residential development from Curo, recently hosted students from the neighbouring University of Bath as part of their education in civil engineering and architecture.

The students, led by their lecturer Gavin Knowles, visited Mulberry Park to learn about the innovative construction methods and housing designs featured in the development. The visit offered a unique opportunity to observe the latest building techniques and structural engineering practices in action.

The development has been designed with the needs of modern family living at its forefront; and the students had the opportunity to explore this concept first-hand. Of particular interest was the diverse range of homes at Mulberry Park, which range from semi-detached and terraced townhouses to smaller apartments and larger detached houses.

Curo is committed to supporting education and training opportunities in the local area and established a leading partnership with Bath College and local construction firms to provide accredited work placements and apprenticeships at Mulberry Park and across its housing and support organisation. By 2020, Curo had aimed to deliver 100 work and educational placements, 70 jobs with training, and 15 apprenticeships at Mulberry Park, and is pleased to report that it has achieved and exceeded these targets.

"We were delighted to welcome the Bath University students to Mulberry Park and share with them our innovative approach to creating a family-friendly, sustainable community," said Alan Mapston, Senior Site Manager at Mulberry Park. "It's always inspiring to see the next generation of architects and builders developing their skills and knowledge, and we look forward to seeing what they will achieve in the future."

Curo commemorates Remembrance Day at Mulberry Park

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 11:07:24 Z

A silhouette of the Unknown Tommy, and another commemorating women in war, mark Remembrance Day at Curo’s flagship development – Mulberry Park.

Purchased from the Royal British Legion (RBLI), the statues were hand-made by veterans employed at RBLI's social enterprise, Britain's Bravest Manufacturing Company. The statues serve as striking and enduring reminders of Britain’s fallen soldiers, as well as those who continue to serve in the armed forces.

Mulberry Park is rich in Britain’s military history – the site itself was built on the southern hillsides formerly taken over during World War II to create the Foxhill Ministry of Defence (MOD). Used throughout the Second World War and the Cold War, the site incorporates these historical links throughout its design. The names of the local men and women who dedicated their lives to the war effort are commemorated forever in the names of the roads that make up the neighbourhood.

Jodie Winter, Curo Sales Manager said “Mulberry Park is a development that holds so much history ensuring that we commemorate the lives served and lives lost, and show our continued support for the RBLI was at the top of our list this November. These fabulous statues help us highlight what’s really at the heart of Mulberry Park and how there is so much more to our community than selling homes to excited buyers”.

The Hub’s copper alloy façade has also been designed to be reminiscent of temporary ‘Mulberry’ Harbours which were formed to allow the quick landing of supplies onto beaches during the Allied invasion of Normandy. These Harbours were designed in the Foxhill Ministry of Defence (MOD) site in 1943, and have been heralded as one the greatest technological innovations of the War.

The Combe Down area is also known as the birthplace of local hero Harry Patch, "The Last Fighting Tommy," and other famous veterans. As a testament to the wonderful stories of the local men and women who are commemorated throughout the site, Curo is developing a booklet that will detail their histories – dubbed “the Story of a Neighbourhood” to be launched in the New Year.

Mulberry Park site manager wins prestigious building award for the second year running

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 11:03:53 Z

A Curo site manager has been awarded the National House Building Council’s (NHBC) 2022 Pride in the Job Award for a second consecutive year.

Alan Mapston, senior site manager at Curo’s flagship development of almost 700 homes in Bath, Mulberry Park, was recognised again this year for his leadership, dedication and commitment to build top quality homes for customers.

The Pride in the Job competition, which was launched more than 40 years ago, celebrates the role of site managers in making sure that homes are delivered on time, on safe sites and to the highest quality standards.

Alan is one of 443 people to have been honoured with the award this year, from a pool of more than 8,000 site managers from across the country.

Motorcycle and fishing enthusiast Alan is married with two children. He joined Curo three years ago and has been leading the site team at Mulberry Park ever since. Alan says: “I’m proud to be part of such a dedicated site team at our Mulberry Park development. It’s a privilege to see this large-scale brownfield regeneration project turning into an attractive, sustainable neighbourhood that puts residents and community first.

“I’m really pleased to have won this recognition for a second consecutive year, not just for myself but for the entire team here at Mulberry Park who are working hard to make our customers happy: our contractors, labourers and my assistant site managers Grant Wells and Lee Clarke.”

Mulberry Park is a contemporary development of high-quality homes, open spaces and community facilities in Combe Down, Bath. This thriving new neighbourhood has already delivered more than 500 homes and is due to complete in 2026.

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.

Supporting the community through the Coronavirus lockdown

Mon, 04 May 2020 10:23:38 Z

Image above: Hub Events Coordinator, Gemma, delivering hot food and groceries with Curo's electric pool car.

Since the start of the Coronavirus lockdown, The Hub at Mulberry Park has had to close its doors to protect public health. But while classes and meetings have been temporarily suspended, the Hub’s team have quickly adapted to the new ‘normal’ and found other ways to support the communities of Mulberry Park, Foxhill and the wider Combe Down.

Exactly one week after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the national lockdown, The Hub was launching its local delivery service of hot food and groceries.

Hub Manager, Lizzie Irvine, says: “We wanted to continue to support local residents and decided to bring our delicious Café products to their doorstep through a no-contact delivery service.

“We also knew that some of our community members may not be able to go out during this period and could be struggling to secure a delivery slot with the big supermarkets. That’s how we came up with the idea of adding a range of basic groceries, including fruit and vegetables, to our delivery service.”

Hub Facilities Manager, Richard, is also part of the delivery team during the Coronavirus lockdown.

To keep everyone safe, The Hub’s team are offering this service while strictly observing social distancing guidelines. Payments can only be made by card, over the telephone, and parcels are placed outside customers’ front doors.

There are two teams operating at The Hub on alternative days, to enable physical distancing and ensure deliveries can continue for as long as possible during lockdown.

The service has grown from three deliveries on the first day to more than 20 now, consisting of a mix of hot Café dishes and groceries.

Lizzie says: “The service has been very well received and is appreciated by the community. We’ve served a number of elderly members of the community who buy hot meals and groceries; one gentleman in Foxhill has been ordering something every day. Our most popular items are the hot special of the day, toasties and the groceries – particularly milk, butter, bread and eggs.”

Among customers there are also young families who can’t leave their homes, people self-isolating and key workers ordering lunch specials so they don’t have to cook after long shifts.

In addition, The Hub is now producing and delivering close to 40 hot meals every day to Curo residents in supported housing schemes in Bath.

The Hub is also supporting ‘Scrubs for the NHS’, providing a drop-off point for scrubs produced by members of the community for NHS workers. Volunteers help sort the scrubs in one of the rooms at The Hub, separate from any other people in the building.

Hub Manager Lizzie says they intend to keep these services going for as long as possible during the coronavirus crisis and are always looking for new and safe ways to support the community.

The Hub’s Café and groceries delivery service is available for local residents in Foxhill, Mulberry Park and Combe Down Monday to Friday, from 9am to 3pm. To place an order call 01225 436 869 - £5 minimum order, card payments only.

Our construction sites are closing Friday 27th March

Tue, 24 Mar 2020 15:33:34 Z

Updated 15:40hrs - 24th March

While the government guidance issued 23rd March is specifically allowing construction works to carry on, we’ve taken the decision to temporarily close all our sites as of Friday 27th March. We’re doing this to protect our colleagues, contractors and the wider communities against the spread of COVID-19.

The minimum number of colleagues will be present on sites until the end of the week, carrying out essential and necessary work to ensure the safe and secure closure of our sites.

This work is being carried out in the safest manner possible in keeping with Health, Safety & Environment (HSE), Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) and Build UK guidelines. Our construction colleagues are observing social distancing rules and are fully committed to supporting the national effort to minimise the spread of COVID-19.

This temporary measure will be in place for 3 weeks in the first instance. We will review and update this information regularly.

Ditch the diet! Free course at The Hub

Wed, 22 Jan 2020 11:03:15 Z

Fed up with diets? Learn how to manage your weight effectively at a free workshop at The Hub on Wednesday 29 January.

Laura Clark will host the session at The Hub, our community building in Mulberry Park.

Laura, a registered dietitian and regular guest on the BBC and ITV, explains: “Diets continue to be very popular and yet all too often they let us down. Despite lots of evidence that they don’t generally work, we are drawn into the promises they make.”

In the free session, Laura will explore:

The dieting cycle – why it happens and how to break free from it.
A different way to approach your weight management which takes care of your mental health and builds your confidence.
How to eat – what does the research (not the celebrities) actually tell us.
Free resources to download.

Laura adds, “Dieting can often have quite an impact on our mental wellbeing with incidences of depression, low self-esteem and anxiety being higher in those that are overweight. On the night we’ll be raising money for Bath Mind who support people to improve and maintain their mental health and wellbeing.”

The Hub are providing the room for free. Please bring a small donation for Bath Mind to cover refreshments.

Get your free ticket

Tickets are available via Eventbrite or by calling The Hub on 01225 436869.

Event details

Wednesday 29 January, 7:30pm - 9pm
The Hub, Mulberry Park, Mulberry Way, Combe Down BA2 5BU

More information

The Hub nominated for prestigious Bath Life award

Mon, 20 Jan 2020 11:15:58 Z

The Hub, Curo’s £10m community building at its Mulberry Park development in Bath, has been nominated for a prestigious Civic Award in Bath Life’s 2020 awards.

The Bath Life Awards celebrate the best of Bath. Their Civic Award highlights the contribution of an organisation or company which has improved Bath or committed to help develop others.

Launched in December 2018, The Hub has already been hailed as a trailblazer for future community buildings. As a Community Benefit Society, The Hub is run in partnership with residents and has been shaped by the community’s original vision of “a warm and beautiful place that the community can feel proud of.”

The Hub’s versatile and ultra-modern facilities are used by independent businesses, charities and health providers to host activities for all ages and interests. There are currently 23 classes every week from musical activities for young children, keep fit for parents and babies to over 50s art classes, gentle exercise for older people and everything in between!

Supporting the community

The small team at The Hub are dedicated to the local community and organise free activities during half-term holidays to support low-income families. As well as free activity days that bring the community together, The Hub also offer regular free taster sessions for residents to try out courses and activities.

The café at The Hub is passionate about providing value for money. It’s also become the main place for families to meet after the school drop-off and pick-up and is used by a variety of local businesses and organisations for work and meetings.

The Hub is also a drop-off and redistribution point for The Hygiene Bank, who collect and redistribute donated toiletries, hygiene, beauty and personal care items. The team are currently working with Bath Food Bank and the Genesis Trust to become a foodbank centre. From the end of January, The Hub will offer a unique Saturday service and will be Bath’s first weekend foodbank centre.

The Hub employs a number of local people, 53 per cent of the team live locally. An apprentice is due to start working in their café which also hosts a local man, with learning difficulties, who volunteers twice a week.

Lizzie Irvine, Hub Centre Manager, said “We’re very pleased that The Hub is up for the Civic Award in the Bath Life awards. The Hub is a true community asset - within a year, we’ve become a beacon for the Mulberry Park, Foxhill and Combe Down communities. It’s really great for our small team to be recognised for their dedication and support to the community.”

The winners of the Bath Life will be announced on 27 February.

What people say about The Hub

Cherie, Foxhill resident and café assistant

Noeline, class leader

Jane, chair of The Hub’s user group

Polly, Bath Dance

Find out more

Plans for new Bath park given the green light – but what should it be called?

Fri, 01 Nov 2019 13:47:28 Z

Image above: illustrative bird's eye view of the new park

Curo have secured planning consent to create a new park at their development of almost 700 homes at Mulberry Park in Combe Down, Bath. Now, the housing association and housebuilder is asking local residents to get involved in a competition to find a name for the new community open space.

This is the final major planning application to be determined by Bath & North East Somerset Council for Mulberry Park, after the fourth and last phase of development was granted detailed planning permission in July this year.

Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, says: “Local residents, stakeholders and B&NES officers have helped us to develop and refine proposals for a new park that is beautiful, inclusive and can be enjoyed by people of all ages; we’re delighted to be able to start works on the public open space soon.

“We want to continue the tradition we’ve established at Mulberry Park, of celebrating the area’s history, its people and their contributions to community and country and we’re inviting residents once more to choose a name – this time, for their new park.

“The development itself was named by local resident Ken Cookes in 2014, to reflect the city’s long military history and celebrate the Mulberry Harbours, designed in Bath by the Admiralty and used for the D-Day landings in World War 2 – while the streets in Phases 1 and 2 at Mulberry Park have been named after the young men of Combe Down who served in the First World War. We’re keen to continue working with the residents in naming these new local landmarks.

“So if you have an idea for a great name for the park, we’d love to hear from you!”

The new park will include an equipped play area for ages 2-11, as well as a picnic zone, flexible event spaces, areas of wildflower meadow, sensory planting, and hedge and tree planting to encourage biodiversity. Curo will also look at developing a centrepiece for the park, such as a bandstand, to support cultural activities.

In addition, footpath links will facilitate access to the park from the development and the wider area, while the Woodland Walk, which will be created north of the park, will connect the community to other places in Bath via Pope’s Walk.

The park, which was granted planning permission by B&NES officers via delegated decision, will open in 2022. The case officer’s report highlighted that “the proposed park will provide an attractive area of public open space with a mix of uses and activities which will cater to the needs of the newly established community at Mulberry Park.”

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.

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 at Mulberry Park wins prestigious award

Wed, 05 Jun 2019 10:17:24 Z

Photo: Rebecca Faith

The Hub at Mulberry Park, Bath

The Hub, Curo’s £10m community building at its Mulberry Park development in Bath, was crowned the winner of the South West Community Benefit category at the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Awards 2019.

The award recognises outstanding achievement in providing a facility which directly benefits the local community and can demonstrate its success through local community feedback.

The judges said: “The resulting facilities and designs met and exceeded the vision of Curo in bringing people together and delivering state-of-the-art facilities which include a nursery, café and flexible community and business spaces that can be adapted and evolve as the needs of the community change.”

RICS judges commended the project team – BDP Architects, housing association and house-builder Curo, Rydon Construction and surveyors Ridge & Partners – “for creating an exemplary community hub that is a trailblazer for future community buildings.”

Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, says: “We’re thrilled and very proud to win this award for The Hub, alongside our partners. It’s a fantastic recognition of the important role it already plays in bringing communities together, less than half a year since it officially opened its doors last December. Its success is firmly based on close collaboration with local residents who have helped us to create these iconic buildings – a place shaped by the community, for the community.

“So many people – not only from the local area, but from all across Bath – enjoy the family-friendly café at The Hub every day. This community building, with its versatile rooms and state-of-the-art facilities, is already a place of choice for business, meetings and events for many local partners, charities, health providers, politicians and local people and businesses offering a wide range of courses and classes.

“We’re looking for even more partners to bring much-needed services and activities to The Hub for the local communities of Combe Down, Foxhill and Mulberry Park. As a Community Benefits Society, The Hub is run in partnership with local residents and once in full operation, our vision is to transfer this fantastic building to the community to be run by and for the local people.”

One of the people using The Hub for her business is Noeline Beesley, who’s been running kindergarten music classes at The Hub since the first week it was open. She says: “The facilities are excellent, the room we use is lovely and big with lots of light, there’s an integrated music system and plenty of space for the children to sing, dance and express themselves. I love the fact that the staff are very accommodating, they can’t do enough for you - and the coffee is great too! It’s an amazing facility, there’s lots of space here for quality activities to go on and I’m thrilled to be able to say that I’m offering my classes here in Combe Down in such a fantastic building.”

Nick Fairham, Architect Director in international architectural firm BDP’s Bristol office, said: “It has been a real honour to work on a building, and with a team, that truly has the local community at its heart.

“It was clear at the outset that flexibility and adaptability would be crucial – so that over time, as the community changes, and what they want out of the building alters, the Hub can be adapted to suit that changing need. And the determination to create something really special that acts as a focal point and unites the neighbourhood was really inspiring. We hope the Hub’s unusual composition of cantilevered, overlapping ‘boxes,’ inspired by the site’s Ministry of Defence heritage, will do exactly that.”

Winners from all regions of the country will meet in London in October to find out who’ll take home the National RICS Awards trophies.

More than 200 people turn out to see plans for new Bath park

Fri, 26 Apr 2019 09:00:12 Z

More than 200 people visited an exhibition held by Curo last week to see the detailed proposals for the open space at Mulberry Park, which will be delivered as part of the housing development.

The open space will feature areas for events that are accessible for all, play and picnic spaces, sensory and edible planting and connections to other places like Springfield Park and the popular National Trust Skyline Walk.

Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, says: “This was a fantastic turnout and it shows that local residents are interested in the new open space and the facilities it will offer. Thanks to everyone who visited and gave us their feedback.

“We’ve designed the open space together with the local community as an opportunity to encourage and promote health and wellbeing. Our ambition for the park is to bring together existing, new and future communities and to connect our development at Mulberry Park with Foxhill, the wider Combe Down area and Bath. It will be an inclusive space, for everyone to enjoy.”

As well as viewing and commenting on the design for the new park, local residents also had the chance to trial some of the classes available at The Hub for free and enter a prize draw to win one of two £50 Love2Shop vouchers.

The lucky winners were Foxhill resident Kathryn Sinclair and John Brown, who lives at Mulberry Park. In her feedback form, Kathryn wrote: “I am very excited about a new play space being available on our doorstep.”

This is what John had to say: “We believe that the new park is being planned taking account of future changes in our society: cycle path, walking and enjoyment in imaginative plantings. It will be integral with the new development and allow people of all ages to enjoy and be enthralled by nature.”

Curo will submit a planning application for the open space to Bath & North East Somerset Council next month. Subject to planning permission, the new park will open to the public in 2022.

Proposals for new Bath park on display at The Hub

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 11:02:48 Z

Image above: Illustrative masterplan of the Mulberry Park public open space

On Tuesday 16 April, Curo will be hosting a public information exhibition to showcase the developed proposals for a new park in Bath.

At the exhibition, visitors will be able to see the detailed design for the main area of public open space and the woodland walk which will be delivered by Curo at Mulberry Park, alongside proposed improvements to Pope’s Walk bridleway.

Curo Chief Executive, Victor da Cunha, says: “We’d like to thank our stakeholders and residents in Foxhill, Mulberry Park and Combe Down who’ve taken the time to attend our previous workshops and exhibitions and helped us shape the plans for the new public open spaces at Mulberry Park.

“Alongside well-designed areas for events that are accessible for all, the park will also have play and picnic spaces, sensory and edible planting and connections to other places – for example, Springfield Park and the popular National Trust Skyline Walk.

“Together with The Hub, the park will be a focal point for the community to meet up, play sports, attend events and spend time together.”

It’s all about the community

The exhibition will take place at The Hub at Mulberry Park from 3pm until 7pm on Tuesday 16 April and will also offer residents the chance to trial free activities currently on offer at the community centre.

Manager of The Hub, Lizzie Irvine, says: “This event is all about the community, from getting involved in the plans for their new park to joining one of the free 30-minute taster classes offered by the fantastic instructors at The Hub.

“We’re offering something for everyone, from fitness to line dancing and Tai Chi and we look forward to welcoming as many residents as possible on the day.”

Revised activities table updated Tuesday 16 April

Curo will submit the developed proposals for the park to Bath & North East Somerset Council for approval in May. Subject to planning permission, the anticipated completion for the new park is 2022.

What?

Information exhibition of the developed plans for the new public open space at Mulberry Park
Afternoon of free activities at The Hub

When?

Tuesday 16 April

3pm to 7pm, drop in anytime

Where?

The Hub at Mulberry Park

Mulberry Way, Combe Down

Bath BA2 5BU

Free exercise classes for older people at The Hub

Tue, 02 Apr 2019 16:40:58 Z

The Hub is currently hosting Extend Exercise, an gentle upbeat class designed for older people or those with restricted mobility.

The free classes are funded by Curo through our Community Chest Grant scheme. The Community Chest provides grants to support initiatives that make a positive contribution to Curo neighbourhoods.

The classes are every Monday and run by Ketyn Jepson who explains “There's recently been a surge of interest in exercise sessions for over 60s. I’m very passionate about helping individuals to stay as fit, active and healthy as they can be for as long as possible.”

“The classes are for men and women over 60 or those with restricted mobility. You will spend an enjoyable hour with like-minded people and have fun exercising every part of your body from your fingers to your toes. We play familiar music from the 60s and 70s right up to modern day which will have you moving in no time!”

“We start with standing exercises and movement to music. At least 20 minutes of the class will be seated but you can use a chair for support for the whole class. We focus on balance and use resistance bands, light hand weights, squishy balls and scarves for strengthening exercises.”

What people say about the classes

“The session gives me a good stretch and wakes my whole body. It is really good for someone my age who has reasonable ability but needs pushing a bit. The exercises for balance are really important and helpful.” Marion, Bath

“It keeps me in touch with life in general. In other words – physically, mentally and emotionally fit.” Ann, Bath

“The exercises are well designed and thorough, although not vigorous. The teaching is gentle and careful. If I am not smiling it is because I am laughing.” Bill, Chew Magna

Book your place

To book your place visit the Hub, call 01225 436869 or email extendyourhealth@yahoo.com.

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.