Copper Beech View: Supporting the transformation of brownfield land

To make the vision for Copper Beech View a reality, housing developer, Ede Homes, had to negotiate several rounds of planning before gaining permission to demolish the former Newport Towers Hotel and replace it with 39 brand-new family homes.

Having stood derelict since 2007, and following two subsequent fires, the site was in desperate need of a new lease of life. Coined as “Gloucestershire’s biggest eyesore”, Berkeley Vale district councillor Haydn Jones said of the site: “The buildings have stood neglected and forlorn since doors closed in 2007 and have proved a magnet for anti-social behaviour. The community have really been very patient and everyone that drives through Newport will have seen the hotel gradually decaying.” 

While this presented an opportunity to transform unloved brownfield land into a new housing community, the developer had to create a scheme that would sit sensitively in its rural setting.

The regeneration of brownfield sites is an essential part of the government’s plans to meet the growing demand for new housing across the UK, with local authorities now encouraged to prioritise brownfield development. By using brownfield land, such as the Newport Towers site, for new housing, the need to build on greenfield sites can be reduced. This means the ability to transform unloved and unused sites into places where people want to live and work, while protecting our cherished green spaces.

Copper Beech View by Ede Homes is the perfect example of how an unloved brownfield site can be transformed into new homes. The development of 3- and 4-bedroom homes just 20 minutes from Bristol and nestled in the Vale of Berkeley has made for an attractive destination for families to call home.

Upholding the high standards of Ede Homes, the use of Redland’s Mini Stonewold tiles has helped to ensure consistently high levels of quality across the development, while equipping each home with a distinct character. For Bicester Roofing, working with a familiar tile that is designed to deliver on performance as well as being easy to install, meant that the project could be completed in line with development schedules.