The Gardens at Barlestone
On former farm land at Barlestone in Leicestershire, BREE Construction, then trading as Partner Construction, built ninety-nine new homes for Midland Heart under the name The Gardens at Barlestone. The scheme transformed a farmer's field off Bagworth Road into a substantial new neighbourhood, providing affordable homes including a shared-ownership offer for local buyers.
Owl Partnerships acted as developer, bringing the land forward and securing planning, while Midland Heart was the housing client, taking the completed homes into its affordable portfolio.
Homes and tenure
The development delivered ninety-nine homes with a mix that included shared-ownership properties, marketed plot by plot through schemes aimed at helping people buy a stake in their own home. The range of house types suited a variety of households, from first-time buyers to growing families looking to settle in the village.
Set on a generous site at the edge of the village, The Gardens at Barlestone was planned to integrate with the surrounding area, and the scheme was completed ahead of its original programme. The 99-home permission is referenced in the Barlestone Parish Neighbourhood Plan, underlining its significance to the village.
The Gardens at Barlestone was marketed under the Midland Heart brand, with shared-ownership homes made available through schemes designed to help buyers purchase a share and pay a reduced rent on the remainder, opening the development to households who might otherwise struggle to buy outright.
A partnership delivery
The Barlestone scheme followed a model in which several organisations contributed in distinct roles, with the development forming part of Owl's growing presence in the Midlands.
The project added a meaningful number of affordable and shared-ownership homes to Barlestone and demonstrated effective collaboration between developer, contractor and housing association.
