Project Overview:
Canary Quay is a four-phased £60m development of 323 high specification steel-framed riverside apartments on the River Wensum near the centre of Norwich. The development has been built by R G Carter (RGC) for Broadland Housing Association (BHA) who have over 5,000 social and shared ownership homes under management throughout Norfolk.
Phases 1-3 comprise 222 one and two bedroom apartments in three separate developments which were completed in May 2021. The remaining 101 apartments of Phase 4 are planned to complete in December 2022. Phases 1 and 3 are being offered as social housing and Phases 2 and 4 will be a combination of Broadland Housing tenants and private owners. BHA have contributed to all key decisions relating to this development including the critical selection of a Light Gauge Steel Frame as the basis of its construction. The
relationship and communication between BHA and RGC and the wider project team is excellent, with BHA attending all review meetings, making ad-hoc visits to site and being in daily email contact.
The relationship has positively impacted decision making and construction times, helping RGC to deliver all four phases on time and on budget. BHA have a commitment to its tenants and residents to provide a home that meets their needs. But this commitment goes beyond housing; they want to create thriving neighbourhoods and communities. This means offering a caring, effective and high quality service for all tenants where they have real choice and real control. This cannot be achieved simply through procuring the lowest price option across their activities, including construction.
Their procurement decisions are based on what will ultimately enable them to deliver the high quality, sustainable service and thriving communities they serve and this has been a value decision rather than purely a cost decision. In recognition of the skill and experience applied to this project, Canary Quay was visited in March 2022 by Caroline Gumble CEO of the CIOB who wanted to meet BHA and see an example of an exemplary project using a light gauge steel frame system. They wanted to understand more about the speed and efficiencies it has brought to the scheme and how it is helping to ease the housing crisis in Norwich. The spacious apartments all have balconies, river or garden views and are fitted with hi-spec bathrooms and kitchens. There is a critical need for housing in Norwich and Canary Quay will help to address the problem by providing high quality dwellings in an attractive and convenient location for those who need them most.
