Cross Keys Homes, Peterborough

Project:                              Northminster, Peterborough
Sector:                               Build-to-rent
Client:                                Cross Keys Homes
Main Contractor:               Willmott Dixon
Architect:                          Corstorphine & Wright
Pod Type:                          Steel-framed bath and shower pods
Number of pods:              425

The Project

Developed by Cross Keys Homes, Northminster is a £70m flagship apartments development in Peterborough, which will provide 315 much needed affordable homes for rent.

Due for completion in Autumn 2024, this regeneration project will use innovative construction methods to minimise impact on the environment.

The offsite elements include the light gauge steel frame, brick slip cladding, and bathroom pods.
 

The Bathroom Pod Solution

Offsite Solutions are manufacturing 425 steel-framed bathroom pods in a £2.3m contract for a new build-to-rent scheme in Peterborough – our eighth pod project for Willmott Dixon.

See Cross Keys Homes' perspective on our pods for this scheme - and the benefits we are bringing to this project:
 

We have delivered over 1,700 GRP composite and steel-framed pods for Willmott Dixon to date for student, hotel, care home, and residential schemes.

This project for Cross Keys Homes follows the successful completion of two contracts totalling £3.5m for a major regeneration development at the Perry Barr Residential Scheme in Birmingham. The same pod design is now being used for Northminster.

Three Colour Palettes

Offsite Solutions will manufacture a combination of shower rooms and bathrooms using advanced pod technology and in three colour palettes in shades of grey, taupe, ivory and white for the porcelain wall and floor tiles.

The bathrooms and shower rooms for Northminster will be tiled and fully finished at our pod production centre in Highbridge, Somerset and delivered to site from the start of 2023 until the summer.

Each pod will be fitted with:

• Semi-recessed D-shaped hand basin
• Solid surface vanity top
• Large surface-mounted mirror
• Wall hung toilet
• Heated ladder towel rail
• Single towel rail.

The shower rooms will have a sliding shower door and there will be a sliding rail shower and shower screen for each bathroom.

The Customer Perspective

Chris Warren, Senior Operations Manager, Willmott Dixon:

“As a business, Willmott Dixon is committed to modern methods of construction and the benefits these bring in reducing carbon and increasing efficiency and certainty.”

“Bathroom pods generate less embodied carbon by optimising material use and reducing waste, vehicle movements, and labour on site. Fewer vehicle movements compared to in-situ bathroom installation also minimise disruption to the local community.”

“What would be complex sequencing for bathroom construction is reduced to a single supplier, reducing risk, and increasing efficiency. The process is simplified, safer, and far more robust by moving this part of the build offsite and into a factory.”

“This is the third time we have used this particular pod type, specification, and project team which has efficiency benefits and allows us to continually refine our processes. The pods are also contributing to an overall programme saving of around 30 per cent which reduces cost and allows a faster return on investment for Cross Keys Homes.”

“We have a good relationship with Offsite Solutions. Their team has a similar approach to quality and continuous improvement, and work with us in an open and collaborative way.”