John Richards
Land & Planning Director
Cala Homes Thames is on an exciting journey to dramatically transform our business and embed a culture of sustainability in everything we do. Our team is empowered to help drive the changes we need to make. We recently launched our Urban Wildlife Strategy which outlines our plans to incorporate biodiversity improvement measures into each new home in the region. So, when we expand our portfolio in Hampshire or any other area in the Thames region, we leave a positive impact on local wildlife and communities.
Do you have land for sale in Hampshire? Over the coming months, we will continue to progress our ambitious expansion plans, with particular interest in land for sale in Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire. Our Land and Planning Team has extensive local knowledge, supported by decades of industry expertise thanks to Cala’s national presence.
John Richards
Land & Planning Director
Viv Hill
Head of Design
Kevin Flint
Senior Land Manager
Sam Thixton
Senior Land Manager
Hannah Russell
Senior Land Manager
Alison Thompson
Senior Planning Manager
Laura Bheenick
Senior Planning Manager
Joe Smith
Land Manager
Jack Luscombe
Design Manager
Zahra Waters
Planning Manager
Camille Soor
Planning Manager
Olly Martin
Land Buyer
Casey Finch
Land Graduate
Isabel Noonan
PA to Managing Director/Land & Planning Team
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The Cala Homes Urban Wildlife Strategy, a first for Cala Group devised by our Thames region, creates a design framework that establishes a biodiversity standard for every new home. The Urban Wildlife Strategy supplements the region’s objective for all sites to achieve biodiversity net gain and will be in addition to other planning requirements.
Situated on former NHS land at St Peter’s Hospital in in Chertsey, Surrey, St Peter’s Quarter comprises 212 homes alongside public open space, children’s play areas and a new 116-bedroom retirement home. The sale of the land to Cala has facilitated major upgrade works and extensions to the adjacent hospital.
Simon Seymour-Marsh, Associate Director of Property (Asset Management & Development, Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said: “After the site was sold in 2019, Cala Homes became a key partner in the St Peters Development Consortium working with the NHS and other interested parties locally to coordinate key work streams onsite. Given the importance of maintaining full operational capacity at the hospital site (including 24-hour A&E provision) it was imperative the service disconnection, demolition and construction phases were handled sensitively.
“Cala Homes managed this complex process efficiently with consistent communication and to date, our operations have been able to continue as required with minimal disruption.
“Despite being two very different types of organisations, we have been able to work collaboratively with Cala and have formed a strong working relationship from pre-contract stage through to construction onsite. I would have no hesitation in recommending Cala Homes Thames for a project of equal complexity, sensitivity and scale.”
Campbell Christie, Former Principal/ CEO Bracknell & Wokingham College, said: "Following a competitive market tender in 2015, the college entered into a ‘subject to planning’ agreement with Cala homes. The contract required Cala to secure a detailed planning permission maximizing the development potential.
“Cala led the planning process and engaged proactively with myself as lead contact for BWC, as well as wider stakeholders, including the primary school, the care home and many local residents. As I am learning is often the case, the planning journey was complex and multifaceted but Cala successfully navigated the local circumstances and politics to arrive at a scheme that gained Local Authority Planning Officer recommendation to grant planning permission, and secured a positive resolution at Planning Committee.
“When faced with the inevitable challenges most projects face, I felt Cala was transparent and fair in its handling of issues and demonstrated an ability to be flexible and a willingness to comprise. Ultimately Cala delivered on its promise and adhered to the terms of contract which enabled the delivery of the wider investment programme to upgrade/ refurbish the retained college campus. I would have no hesitation in recommending Cala as a development partner on a project of this nature.”