12 students from University College London (UCL) were welcomed to Graven Hill, the largest self and custom build community in the UK, to explore the site in action.
The Housing and City Planning students received a guided tour and educational talks by customer experience director, Gemma Davis and Susan Weston, a self-builder and customer journey project manager at Graven Hill. Topics included the site’s journey so far, the range of housing on offer, and the financial support available to residents, such as Help to Build. Susan also gave a firsthand account of her self-build experience, including the benefits of the site’s ‘Plot Passports’, which when followed can cut the planning permission process down to just 28 days.
Piquing the interest of the university, Graven Hill offers a variety of housing options, from new build homes and apartments to self and custom builds, all of which the students were able to see on the day. As an ongoing development, each stage of the construction process could be shown, providing valuable insight into the creation of a unique residential community.
Graven Hill’s goal is to break the mould of standard housing developments, offering an accessible way for people to own the home of their dreams. Whether that means building a home from scratch, adding personality without the heavy lifting via custom building, or simply wanting to be part of a like-minded community, Graven Hill believes all options should be within reach for everyone.
Gemma Davis, customer experience director at Graven Hill, said: “Graven Hill is a development unlike any other in the UK, with choice and individuality placed at the forefront. We believe that this is the way forward for housing, and we hope that the students from UCL were inspired by what they saw. They are the future of the housing industry, and we’d be incredibly proud if they apply any ideas sparked by their visit to their work in the years to come.”
Iqbal Hamiduddin, associate professor in transport, planning and housing at UCL, said: “Myself and the students had a superb visit to Graven Hill. We all got a lot out the presentations and the tour of the development, which is unique in so many ways. Despite its complexity, it is gratifying to see the progress that has been made to date – a scheme of real quality is emerging.”
For more information about the development, get in contact with the Graven Hill team.
