Blackwater, Grove Loweth

Project

Blackwater, Grove Loweth

Location

Truro, Cornwall

Client

LiveWest

Contract

£4.9m

Duration

71 weeks

No. of Units

XX units

Project Description

A local development between Truro and St Agnes, now known as Grove Loweth, centring on the comprehensive design and construction of 28 high-quality affordable dwellings, creating a diverse and sustainable residential community. To meet the varied housing needs of local families, the master plan carefully balanced density and functionality by delivering 24 houses alongside 4 modern, self-contained apartments. 17 of these homes are set aside for affordable rent and 11 for shared ownership.

The construction strategy utilised a high-performance, precision-engineered timber frame system for the core structure of each dwelling. This sustainable framing method reduced the onsite assembly timeline while providing thermal insulation properties. To ensure the new community blended with its surrounding regional aesthetic, the timber structures were finished with a robust, high-specification external stone skin – pairing contemporary energy efficiency with a durable, traditional visual appearance.

Beyond the structural delivery of the homes, the project required an extensive civil engineering package to build out the necessary internal estate infrastructure. The team managed the installation of all internal estate site roads and pedestrian footpaths, ensuring safe vehicular and pedestrian traffic flow throughout the surrounding community. The scope of works also incorporated comprehensive plot boundaries, installing high-quality timber fencing and structural screen walling to ensure resident privacy and site security. Dedicated residential parking areas were strategically distributed across the layout, complemented by a complete soft and hard landscaping scheme designed to create welcoming green spaces and enhance the local biodiversity of the development.

A major critical pathway for the project’s success involved executing highly regulated, extensive off-site infrastructure alterations and utility service connections. As the development required full future adoption by the local authority, the delivery team carried out off-site road alterations and successfully upgraded the existing main access highway to strict adoptable statutory standards.

Managing water infrastructure was a key component of the civil package. Engineers designed and installed complex main drainage systems, including the deep laying of new adoptable surface and foul water public sewers from the site boundary to connect into the main utility network. The team worked in continuous coordination with local council highways departments and utility providers to manage traffic flow during these off-site works, ensuring that service connections were completed seamlessly, on schedule, and with minimal disruption to the existing public highway.

Lucie Sominka, development manager for LiveWest, said: “It is a stunning development, and has proved very popular with local people. This is a fantastic example of how collaborative engagement between stakeholders can deliver a positive outcome. Working with Cornwall Council and our contractor Classic Builders, LiveWest has delivered fantastic, high-quality homes for rent and shared ownership in this stunning location, and in doing so, is helping to address the chronic housing need in Cornwall.”