Allison Homes cash boost for Good Neighbour Scheme

We are delighted to have been able to provide a cash boost for a worthy cause close to the Pinchbeck Fields development. The Gosberton and Quadring Good Neighbour Scheme applied for cash from the Larkfleet Hones Community Fund and we were happy to answer the call.

The fund was set up to help community groups and ventures which support the Larkfleet vision of integrating new developments into the community. It supports charities like the Good Neighbour Scheme which are based within ten miles (16 kilometres) of any Allison Homes or Larkfleet Homes housing development.

We welcomed the application from the Gosberton and Quadring Good Neighbour Scheme because it supports residents and unites the community, and because it’s close to our development at Pinchbeck Fields, just north of Spalding.

The Good Neighbour Scheme is a national initiative being rolled out to villages in isolated and remote areas by voluntary services. It is aimed at assisting people who don’t have a support network and those who need help in times of crisis. The scheme helps people obtain services that would normally be inaccessible to them by providing them with transport and highlighting other local services that are available to them.

This initiative is designed to combat loneliness and isolation by encouraging its users to be socially active. Ultimately this will help to ease pressure on GPs' surgeries which have seen a rise in patients with no medical requirements attending clinics simply because they are lonely.

The Gosberton and Quadring Good Neighbour Scheme was launched at an event where a cheque from the Larkfleet Homes Community Fund was handed over by our own Charlotte Barber (pictured on the right holding the cheque).

It’s important to us that when we build new homes for people, we develop real communities. We are delighted to support charities and volunteer groups, like the Gosberton and Quadring Good Neighbour Scheme, in the areas where we are working. Groups like this are very often the backbone of the community and the value of the support which this funding offers to the people who use their services is immeasurable.

Jane Parker of the Gosberton and Quadring Good Neighbour Scheme told us: “As a community organisation we are passionate about bringing together a wide range of people from our community. It helps reduce isolation for some and helps others access services that they would otherwise not be able to.

“The money from Allison Homes and the Larkfleet Homes Community Fund will help to fund our core activities, including providing transport and companionship and helping with small household tasks.

“We also want to hold afternoon tea events and coffee mornings and to start up a lunch club and a walking group. This funding will help us to do that.”

Avoid the rush - Easter weekend supermarket opening times

As the Easter Bank Holiday weekend approaches some of us might be starting to panic that we haven't got enough provisions in the house - particularly if we're expecting family or friends.

Often, we go to the supermarket and it’s like the world is about to end. Everyone and their granny is battling around the shelves stocking up on ‘essentials’.

But there’s no need to worry. Most shops are still open. And although supermarkets run limited hours and are closed on Easter Sunday – when we were young they were closed every Sunday, go figure – a little planning will help you to keep the household running smoothly should you start to run out of the staples or you have forgotten the joint for Sunday lunch.

Here’s the low down on supermarket opening hours this Easter weekend:

ASDA
Good Friday 7am – 10pm
Saturday 7am – 10pm
Sunday CLOSED
Monday 7am – 8pm

Morrisons
Good Friday 6am – 10pm
Saturday 6am – 10pm
Easter Sunday – CLOSED
Easter Monday – 8am – 7pm

Sainsburys
Good Friday 7am – 10pm
Saturday 7am – 10pm
Easter Sunday – CLOSED
Easter Monday 9am – 7pm

Tesco
Good Friday 7am – 10pm
Saturday 7am – 10pm
Easter Sunday CLOSED
Easter Monday 9am – 6pm

Waitrose
Good Friday 8am – 8pm
Saturday 7am – 9pm
Easter Sunday CLOSED
Easter Monday 8am – 6pm

So, apart from limited opening on Monday, the shops are only closed for a day. Don’t panic! Just ‘keep calm and carry on’.

Happy Easter!

Allison Homes sponsors prestigious awards

Awards season is well under way. As well as receiving a few nominations – the Resis and the Best Society Awards spring to mind – the Allison Homes team is also doing its bit to support the industry by sponsoring a category in the First Time Buyer Awards.

The First Time Buyer Readers’ Awards take place in April and we are sponsoring The Best Estate Agency for First Time Buyers category.

These awards - some of the most acclaimed in the industry - are an annual celebration of some of the great lengths that housebuilders like us go to in order to help aspirational buyers on to the housing ladder. Now in their ninth year the awards exist so that the best in the business are recognised and rewarded for their hard work.

This year’s event will take place on April 20th 2018 at The Waldorf Hilton Hotel in London, where industry professionals will come together to find out the winners and highly commended of the 18 categories.

It’s a tough job but someone's got to do it. We will be on hand to present a gong to the Best Estate Agency for First Time Buyers – and get to meet Jonnie Irwin, host of A Place in the Sun, to boot.

Spring has sprung - at last!

It was the first day of Spring this week. The Vernal (Spring) Equinox – when the hours of day and night are roughly equal – was yesterday, Tuesday 20 March.

It couldn’t have come soon enough as far as we’re concerned at Allison Homes. And hopefully we’ve seen the last of the snow and the ‘Beast from the East’ too!

The improving weather and upcoming Easter holidays will hopefully encourage you out and about – perhaps to one of our show homes?

Some people reckon Spring had already Sprung – on 1 March. This is a construct of the weathermen designed to make it easier to describe the seasons for weather forecasting; Winter is December, January and February, Spring is March, April and May, Summer is June, July and August, and Autumn is September, October and November.

The astronomical seasons, which coincide with the Vernal and Autumnal Equinoxes and the Summer and Winter Solstice’s, are not quite as convenient. But we firmly believe that it’s true Spring.

To mark the occasion, we thought it would a bit of fun to have a look at some of the traditions that surround this celestial event and the coming of Spring.

Balance an egg
Following an ancient Chinese tradition, it is claimed by some that the Equinox is the only day of the year when an egg can be perfectly balanced on its end. Egg balancing is believed to bring good luck and prosperity.

New Year
In some parts of the world the equinox marks the start of the New Year. The Iranian New Year or Noruz has been celebrated according to Zoroastrian tradition for 3,000 years. Lasting for 12 days the celebrations include visiting friends and family and the exchange of gifts.

Moveable feasts
The Equinox plays a role in calculating the dates for Jewish Passover and Christian Easter. Passover is observed on the first full moon after the equinox. The date of Easter Sunday is usually the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring after the March equinox. Because this changes Easter can be as early as 22 March or as late as 25 April.

In many Christian cultures, eggs are closely linked with Easter. Also known as Paschal eggs, these are usually decorated chicken eggs that symbolize fertility and rebirth. Many Easter related events feature the Easter egg as the central theme. Traditional games like egg hunts, where children search for colourful Easter eggs; egg rolling, where eggs are rolled down a hill; and egg dancing, where eggs are laid on the floor and people dance while trying not to damage them, are held all around the world.

And don’t forget chocolate eggs!

House repair bills rising

One of the things putting most of us off repairing our homes is the cost.

As a result, British homeowners are storing up a list of repairs with a cost totalling on average more than £24,000, new research has found.



Worryingly, according to a poll undertaken by trades search website myjobquote.co.uk, over half the homeowners who responded said there were potentially dangerous risks in their homes that were not being addressed. The main reason for this with almost three quarters of homeowners is that they simply can’t afford the repairs, so they let them drift.

Problems cited were things like dodgy plug sockets, faulty electrical installations, leaking plumbing and broken windows.

It seems that many of us don’t look beyond the monthly mortgage repayments when it comes to managing the costs of our homes.

There is of course a straightforward way around this. Buying a new build home from a reputable housebuilder like Allison Homes means that there should be no repairs required. Everything is new and shouldn’t require repair or replacement for some time.

New build homes are also more energy efficient than older homes. According to Energy Performance Certificate data, more than eight out of 10 new builds have the top A or B rating for energy efficiency compared to just 2.2 per cent of existing properties. Government data shows that as a result, new homes are using on average 103kWh/m2 worth of energy compared to an average of 294kWh/M2 for existing homes.

This means that new build home owners will spend on average £443.30 a year (£276 heating/£108 hot water/£60 lighting), well under half of the £1,072 the owner of an older home can expect to spend – saving, on average, £52 a month, or £629 a year. 

You could spend the cash you’re saving on energy and repair bills or on something more interesting – a season ticket to your favourite football club or pay your broadband bills for example.

Spring into a cleaner, less cluttered home

In case you missed it we are currently in the middle of the Great British Spring Clean, a campaign organised by Keep Britain Tidy.

The campaign has a simple aim: to bring people across the country together to clear up the litter that blights our towns, villages, countryside and beaches.


The team at Allison Homes is doing its bit, by backing the Corby Clean and Proud campaign – a new initiative being led by the Great Oakley Group and the de Capell Brooke family. Allison Homes has worked closely with the Great Oakley Group and Alexander de Capell Brooke on the delivery of Oakley Rise, part of the larger Oakley Vale development in Corby.

The Corby Clean and Proud campaign is urging Corby businesses to pledge to keep the town’s streets clean and tidy.  Businesses are encouraged to take the CLEAN pledge and participate in the Great British Spring Clean. CLEAN calls for businesses to;

• Commit to reducing the litter local to the Corby community.
• Learn more about the impact of litter in our communities.
• Engage with fellow businesses for a collective effort to keep our area clean.
• Act as an ambassador in promoting waste reduction.
• Notify the council if you spot any excessive littering.

You will have heard the adage that charity begins at home. So should cleaning campaigns. The Great British Spring Clean is also an excellent time to tidy and declutter your own home, as well as your neighbourhood.

Here are some things you can do for effective spring cleaning:

• Declutter – go through your stuff, decide what you really need and what you can live without and get rid.
• Dust – break out the duster and the Mr Sheen and give your whole house a good dusting.
• Deep clean carpets and upholstery – if you have a deep cleaner use that. If not, consider getting a professional cleaner to really cleanse your home.
• Get rid of pet hairs.
• Give the oven a clean with bicarbonate of soda.
• Clean the fridge.
• Use the dishwasher to clean the kids’ plastic toys.
• Steam clean the microwave.
• Go through your wardrobe – if you haven’t worn something for some time the chances are you won’t for a while. Pare your wardrobe down to the essentials and discard the rest.
• Wipe over bathroom surfaces with white vinegar for a deep clean – soak tiles and shower heads in white vinegar over night before rinsing to remove lime scale and other stubborn stains.
• Make your home smell lovely with fresh fragrances and keep the place well-aired with cool wafts of air through open windows.
• Outside the home, keep the garden leaf-free.
• Why not 'go to town' on the car as well? Keep it as clean as your house and feel great every time you go for a drive.
• Don’t forget to give the windows a clean and clear away any cobwebs that may be hiding in the corners of the window frames.

When you have decluttered why not make a bit of extra cash by putting anything saleable on eBay or consider going to a local car boot sale. Or if you’re feeling benevolent take your old belongings to your favourite charity shop.

Enjoy a treat this Easter

Spring is just around the corner now and we are almost at Easter. With the end of Lenten abstinence, we can now turn our attention to the wealth of traditional Easter food treats that are waiting to be enjoyed – guilt-free.

One popular tried and tested Easter treat is the hot crossed bun, traditionally served on Good Friday.

This sweet and spicy treat is great toasted and served with butter. There are some luxury hot cross buns to be had. Asda’s offering got the ‘thumbs up’ from Good Housekeeping.

All the major supermarkets sell hot cross buns. Marks and Spencer luxury hot cross buns are also up there.

If you would like to have a go at making your own hot cross buns there are loads of recipes out there. The BBC website has this or this one. 

Paul Hollywood is hot right now. Why not give his recipe for hot cross buns a try? You can find it here.
 
Another traditional food served at Easter is the Simnel Cake. It is a fruit cake with a marzipan topping decorated with marzipan balls representing Jesus and the apostles. Traditionally served on the middle Sunday of Lent when the 40-day fasting rule was relaxed, Simnel cake is served toasted at Easter. Later, the cake was given by serving girls to their mums when they visited home on Mothering Sunday.

Again, there is a plethora of recipes for Simnel cake online. These two, one from Delia Smith the other from TV’s Paul Hollywood again, are as good as they get.

As well as buns and cakes there are also plenty of chocolate treats to enjoy at this time of year. Make ours a Cadbury’s Cream Egg.

It is also becoming popular to serve a special Sunday lunch at Easter. Usually, this might be ham or lamb. If you are stuck for ideas visit the BBC website for inspiration.

Finally, make the most of the improving weather to get out and about. If you are house hunting pay a visit to one of our show homes for inspiration. We look forward to meeting you.

Larkfleet Homes nominated for community work

Fabulous news. Our colleagues at Larkfleet Homes have been shortlisted to win a Better Society Award for philanthropy. We’re very excited for them and really pleased that the work which Allison Homes and Larkfleet do in the communities where we have developments has received national recognition.

Larkfleet was nominated for its Community Fund, which was set up to help communities in the areas where we and they are building. The fund supports charitable projects that enhance or develop a local community. It is part of our commitment to supporting the existing communities within which we and Larkfleet Homes are developing new homes. It also underlines our aim of helping the integration of our new developments within those communities. Any charitable cause or community project that operates within ten miles (16 kilometres) of any Allison Homes or Larkfleet Homes development can apply for grants of between £250 and £5,000 awarded quarterly.

The fund has welcomed applications from groups that promote the environment, support residents or bring communities together. In the most recent funding round grants were awarded to each of seven projects that have made a positive impact within their communities.

• Thorney Parish Council, for a zip-wire, trampolines, outdoor gym and swings for the older children of Thorney.
• Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust received a grant of £1,450 to provide wood-working equipment for retiree volunteers to produce signage for interpretation and education.
• Donnington Parish Council received a grant of £475 towards a garden shed, tools, a bird table, compost, plants and decking to form herb and wild flower beds.
• Families First Peterborough CIC received a grant of £1,000 to fund an arts and crafts workshop for young people /adults who are Care Leavers.
• Sawtry and District Bowling Club received a grant of £1,045 to provide two ramps to improve access to the bowling green and club house.
• Moulton Chapel Youth & Community Centre, to build a playground including inclusive play equipment for children of all abilities.
• Somerset Sight Limited received a grant of £5,000 to reduce isolation and loneliness by providing six additional outings for 12 sight impaired adults per outing.

The fund is open for applications on the Allison Homes website here.

In the meantime, we’re got our fingers crossed for Larkfleet Homes. The winners will be announced at an the awards ceremony on 24 May. We hope they win!

Moving to an Allison home? Now's the time to treat yourself to a new bed

March is National Bed Month. Organised by the Sleep Council, the month-long awareness campaign is designed to highlight how old beds are bad for us and that we should consider replacing our beds if they are seven years old or older.

If you’re moving into a new Allison Homes property, now’s the time to think about buying a new bed.

The Sleep Council’s sleep advisor Lisa Artis said: “We spend one third of our lives in bed so it’s essential it’s comfortable and supportive. This year, as part of National Bed Month, we are raising awareness of the importance of replacing your bed, ideally every seven years, and why old beds are bad for you”.

According to Lisa your current bed might not look worn out, but it won’t offer the same comfort and support as it did when you first bought it. Sleep Council research shows that sleeping on an uncomfortable mattress can rob you of up to an hour’s sleep per night so investing in your bed is essential to a restful night.

You may not realise it but an uncomfortable, unsupportive bed makes a difference to how well you sleep. According to research into replacing an uncomfortable bed, a new bed was associated with an increase of 42 minutes sleep – who wouldn’t want that?

And according to other research a 10-year old bed will have deteriorated by as much as 70 per cent from its new state. Not only that; Ohio State University experts report that a typical used mattress may have anywhere from 100,000 to 10 million dust mites inside it.

The National Bed Federation recommends that we should think about replacing our beds every seven years. There are a number of health reasons for this.

We lose up to half a pint (284ml) or more of fluid each night – which our beds have to absorb. We aslo shed around 1.3oz (10gm) of skin per week – that’s over 1lb (520g) in a year – much of into our beds. This combination of a warm, moist environment and a ready food source (those skin scales) makes our beds an ideal habitat for dust mites.

According to the Medical Entomology Centre, Cambridge, just two micrograms per gram (mcg/g) of dust mite allergen can cause hypersensitivity in asthma sufferers, while 10 mcg/g can pose a serious health risk. Around one in five aged mattresses can contain between two and 10mcg/g of the dust mite allergen and one in 20 has above 10mcg/g.

Four out of every five adults (80 per cent) will experience back pain at some stage in their life. A US study comparing sleep experience on a new mattress compared with mattresses five years and older found that participants with high back pain reported 63 per cent improvement in back discomfort.

Here is sleep guru Lisa’s advice on beds:

• Choose a reputable dealer with knowledgeable staff and do ‘try before you buy’.
• Remember, you get what you pay for, so spend as much as you can afford: every £100 spent will cost less than four pence a night over seven years.
• If you buy online, check the reviews and makes sure the seller offers secure credit card transactions, clear delivery prices and a returns policy.
• Stick to reputable brands such as National Bed Federation approved members – look for the NBF logo and its tick of approval.

Have a look at Pinterest  and Houzz for some ideas on new beds and design ideas for your bedroom.

Things to do in the garden in March

Although the weathermen like to start Meteorological Spring on 1 March, true Spring is still a couple of weeks away - 21 March to be exact.

Hopefully we’ve seen the last of the snow. The days are lengthening. Bulbs such as snow drops and early daffodils have emerged and are blooming.

The weather is starting to warm up, prompting life into dormant plants. Now that Spring is just around the corner, it’s time to catch up on some of those jobs in the garden so that things don’t run away with you when the growing season begins in earnest.

Here a few tips on what you should taking on now:

• Start preparing seed beds and sowing seeds
• Cut back winter shrubs
• Protect new shoots from slugs
• Trim lawn edges
• Mow the lawn on dry days as required
• Hoe beds regularly and mulch weeds to keep them under control
• Prune bush and climbing roses

If you are into growing your own veg there are lots of things you could be doing in the garden now that the days are getting longer, dryer and warmer.

• Cultivate and prepare seed beds
• Plant onions, shallots and garlic
• Chit early and main crop potatoes
• Sow seeds outdoors in mild areas for veg such as broad beans, carrots, parsnips, beetroot, summer cabbage – but only if the weather is suitable

For more gardening tips and details of what to grow visit the Royal Horticultural Society website.

Need inspiration? Visit a trade show

Are you thinking about renovating your house this spring but you’re getting stuck for inspiration? Why not have a day out and visit a trade show? You may find a wealth of inspiring ideas, help and advice all together in one place.

The Homebuilding and Renovating Show is held at different venues up and down the country throughout the year.

The next show is scheduled to take place at the NEC in Birmingham later this month.

Self-build specialists, renovation experts and leading brands are all under one roof. You can discover the latest DIY tools and products, understand how to maximise your budget or seek an architect's opinion for your project, whether it’s a small plot or big build, or you’re simply looking to redecorate a couple of rooms.

Whether you’re mid-way through a project or don’t know where to start, you will be able to swap months of scouring the internet for face-to-face consultations, specialist masterclasses and hundreds of product ideas.

You will find architects, builders, planning experts and designers on hand to offer you the latest tips and advice.

If you are intending to visit the show, which takes place 22-25 March, visit the website to plan your day out.

Happy birthday Larkfleet

Today (2 March 2018) is the 20th ‘birthday’ of what is now The Larkfleet Group of Companies, parent company of Allison Homes.

Larkfleet Limited, the first company in the group, was registered at Companies House on 2 March 1998 by current chief executive Karl Hick.


Today The Larkfleet Group of Companies is an award-winning housebuilding and development business employing more than 100 people and turning over more than £80 million per year.

As well as home-buyers, the group's customers include local authorities, housing associations and solar farm developers.

The group has a particular focus on sustainable development.

Karl Hick said: “We aim to achieve environmental best practice and sustainability in the projects we deliver for customers and also in our own business operations.

“Our investment in research and development will benefit future generations. Our current R&D projects could revolutionise the construction industry with innovative techniques for low-cost building and technologies which will permit house building in areas prone to flooding.

“Wherever possible we place contracts with local suppliers and employ local people. We support local communities through our Larkfleet Homes Community Fund, by working with local schools and charities and by sponsoring business awards which celebrate the achievements of local companies.”

Larkfleet is a major supporter of training initiatives and is a sponsor of the Greater Peterborough University Technical College.

The company’s ‘corporate mission' is “to produce high quality sustainable developments using innovative technology and construction methods, delivered to exceed our customers' expectations”.

The group will shortly be announcing a series of events and activities to mark its 20 years in business.

Ideas for Mother's Day from Allison Homes

Next Sunday – 11 March  – is Mother’s Day in the UK. It’s that special time of year when we all remember our mum. If they are around we give them flowers and chocolates, pamper them a bit. Perhaps we’ll take them out for a slap up meal.

Young families will make a fuss of mum, with handmade gifts and cards coming home in school bags.

It’s a bit of a moveable feast as it falls in the fourth Sunday of Lent, three weeks before Easter. It was originally the day that Christians visited their ‘mother’ church.  In our secular society it has become synonymous with celebrations honouring motherhood held on different days around the world.

It was also the day that girls in service were given the day off to travel home to their families. Unsurprisingly, Mother’s Day as we as celebrate it today in the UK is an American idea.

The World Wide Web is littered with websites offering ideas for gifts for that special mum. Here are a few of our favourites to give you some inspiration. And don’t forget – if you’re thinking about going out for a special meal, now’s the time to think about booking your tables before they run out of room at the inn.

• There is a whole range of gift options here. 
• Pinterest is always good for some original and creative ideas. 
• This newspaper ‘Top 10' list has some ‘classy’ ideas to impress mum.
• Expect ‘Cosmo’ to be right on trend with some special gifts.

If you can’t find anything in any of the lists above, department stores like John Lewis  and Marks & Spencer  are always great sources of inspiration.

Failing that, you could pay a visit to one of our show homes!

Whatever you do this Mother’s Day, the Allison Homes team wishes you and your family all the best.