Why Southsea is the perfect place to call home

by | Nov 21, 2024 | Blog, Case Study, Community, Current Developments, Featured, News & Events, St. James Hospital, Portsmouth, Uncategorised

20
November, 2024

southsea, the perfect place to call home

Transforming the former St James Hospital might just be our favourite project so far ! 

Why Southsea is the perfect place to call home Transforming the former St James Hospital might just be our favourite project so far. The grand, gothic style Grade II listed buildings, now known as St. James Park, Southsea are being given a new chapter as we create new community of contemporary homes, with open green space and tranquil residents’ facilities. One of the biggest selling points for St James Park has to be its location in the stunning coastal town of Southsea. With its dynamic blend of natural beauty, independent spirit, and vibrant community, Southsea offers an enviable lifestyle. So, what makes this coastal gem such a desirable place to live? Beachside Bliss and Outdoor Spaces For those who love the outdoors, Southsea offers some of the most picturesque coastal views in the UK. The Southsea Beach stretches along the seafront, providing the perfect place for early morning strolls, paddleboarding, or simply watching the sunset over the Solent. The nearby Southsea Common, a vast expanse of green space, is a favourite for picnics, outdoor fitness sessions, or a quiet moment in nature. Living in Southsea means you’re never far from the refreshing sea air or the tranquillity of open spaces. Whether you’re walking along the pebbled beach or cycling around the leafy avenues, the blend of coastal and green spaces provides a wonderful backdrop for a balanced lifestyle.

Indie vibes and local treasures

Southsea is renowned for its laid-back, independent spirit, and the town’s high streets reflect that in spades. Quirky boutiques, artisan coffee shops, and bustling restaurants line the roads of Albert Road and Osborne Road, making it a haven for those who appreciate local craftsmanship and community.

For the coffee connoisseurs, Garage Lounge offers one of the best brews in town, while The Tenth Hole is a must-visit for anyone with a sweet tooth, serving cakes that are legendary among locals. The area also has an abundance of vintage shops, record stores, and galleries, adding to its eclectic charm. Southsea’s independent ethos is woven into its fabric, making it an exciting place to explore and discover something new around every corner.

Dining, nightlife, and retail hotspots

When it comes to dining out, Southsea has a thriving culinary scene that caters to all tastes. From casual, beachside eateries to high-end dining experiences, the area boasts an impressive range of options. Restaurant 27 offers fine dining with a modern British twist, while The Chambers is a local favourite for its atmospheric interior and globally inspired menu.

For those who enjoy a vibrant nightlife, Southsea doesn’t disappoint. Trendy bars like the Merchant House are perfect for craft beer enthusiasts, while Alchemist brings an innovative cocktail experience to the town. Retail therapy is also well-catered for, with local businesses and boutique stores offering everything from designer homewares to unique fashion finds.

Festivals and events: bringing the community together

One of the most exciting aspects of Southsea life is its packed calendar of festivals and events. The annual Victorious Festival, held on Southsea Common, is a highlight of the year, attracting international music acts alongside local talent. It’s not just about music though — throughout the year, residents can enjoy events such as the Southsea Food Festival, where local eateries come together to showcase their best dishes, or the Love Southsea Market, a bustling hub of local makers, bakers, and artisans.

These events highlight Southsea’s vibrant sense of community, offering both residents and visitors an opportunity to come together, celebrate, and enjoy the town’s creative energy.

A place to call home

Living in Southsea means being part of a welcoming, dynamic, and diverse community. For new residents of St James Park, this thriving coastal town offers not just a home, but a lifestyle. With its stunning natural surroundings, thriving independent businesses, and exciting cultural events, Southsea is more than just a location—it’s a way of life.

We look forward to helping you explore all that this wonderful town has to offer. Stay tuned as we spotlight some of Southsea’s best-loved businesses and local events in the coming months across our social media.

Discover more about what is available at St James Park. Call our sales team now on 0800 151 0960 and arrange your visit to the Marketing Suite or just pop on down to discuss information about our first phase releases, including CGIs, floor plans, and the rest of what’s on offer at St James Park.

For further updates make sure to register your interest here:

Register Your Interest
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Strengthening Partnerships and Expanding Horizons with Homes England

by | Oct 31, 2024 | Blog, Current Developments, Featured, New Properties, News & Events, P J Livesey News, Past Developments, Standish Hospital, Updates

30

October, 2024

Strengthening Partnerships & Expanding Horizons with Homes England

We recently welcomed Homes England to our Green Walk development in Standish

Our team recently welcomed Homes England to Green Walk Standish, a picturesque site that represents both our dedication to heritage restoration and the transformative potential of our partnership with Homes England.

The site tour was an invaluable opportunity to showcase our vision for sustainable development and discuss ways to strengthen our ongoing collaboration on future projects.

In June 2024, we were delighted to be appointed as a trusted partner on Homes England’s Delivery Partner Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS). As one of the largest residential land vendors in the uk, Homes England’s DPS offers us unique access to bid on valuable land across the country, so this partnership is a major milestone for us, reinforcing our dedication to quality, sustainable development.

Our discussions with Homes England during their visit emphasised our shared mission to meet the 2025 housing targets through thoughtful design and sustainable practices.

We’re excited about the road ahead and the potential to bring new life to even more sites. Our expertise in restoration and brownfield regeneration has resulted in some of the most unique developments nationwide, from revitalizing historic sites to creating modern, sustainable homes. Projects with Homes England to date include:

The Residence, Dartford, Wharfedale Park, The Residence, Lancaster and Green Walk, Standish.

Each of these developments reflects our commitment to delivering sustainable, high-quality housing that respects the past whilst also building for the future.

For a closer look at our work with Homes England, watch our short film.

If you have a suitable site with similar potential, contact our land and estates team to discuss opportunities to create exceptional homes together.

CONTACT OUR LAND AND ESTATES TEAM
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Didsbury Development Success

by | May 27, 2021 | Blog, Current Developments, Featured, News & Events

27

May, 2021

DIDSBURY SITE SUCCESS

Coming soon, the much-anticipated final phase of homes at 825 Didsbury

The PJ Livesey team has been dedicated to design and quality for more than 40 years, with recent success including five developments in Didsbury, leaving a lasting legacy.

Developments such as St. James Park, Needham Hall, Didsbury Gate and Green Walk have shown our skill and craftsmanship creating homes we’re proud to have in our portfolio and our 825 Didsbury site is no different.

Our passion to design and build homes of excellence continues and our 825 Didsbury properties have been greatly received by clients seeing success beyond what we had forecasted.

With all current availability – over 70% of the development – now reserved we are fast-tracking the final release at 825 Didsbury, the conversion of the exceptional Cedars building to keep up with demand.

The Cedars building is a historic Grade II listed villa first built in 1857, which sits at the heart of this stunning development. It’s brilliant white, grand 3-bay south façade stands proud within the mature parkland, set back from Wilmslow Road.

We have plans to transform this unique and historic building into a mix of 21 bespoke converted grand feature properties and newly built apartments. Many of the converted properties will include original features such as wood panelling, high

ceilings and large bay windows skilfully combined with contemporary design.

We’re excited to be releasing our off-plan preview information to our pre-registered clients shortly, ahead of the official release.

Situated just a stone’s throw from Didsbury village, now one of the country’s most sought-after locations featuring independent shops, bars and restaurants; top class schools and universities, parks and open space along with excellent transport links. Demand for the final release at 825 Didsbury is expected to be high with many pre-registered clients already keenly awaiting much-anticipated preview information.

If you are looking for a quality home in Didsbury, set within a fine period conversion and have flexibility with timings for your move – register your interest today to be added onto our exclusive mailing list and receive preview details.

Property Guide Pricing:
One bedroom apartments from £274,950
Two bedroom apartments from £324,950
Feature properties from £474,950

The PJ Livesey team has been dedicated to design and quality for more than 40 years, with recent success including five developments in Didsbury, leaving a lasting legacy.

Developments such as St. James Park, Needham Hall, Didsbury Gate and Green Walk have shown our skill and craftsmanship creating homes we’re proud to have in our portfolio and our 825 Didsbury site is no different.

Our passion to design and build homes of excellence continues and our 825 Didsbury properties have been greatly received by clients seeing success beyond what we had forecasted.

With all current availability – over 70% of the development – now reserved we are fast-tracking the final release at 825 Didsbury, the conversion of the exceptional Cedars building to keep up with demand.

The Cedars building is a historic Grade II listed villa first built in 1857, which sits at the heart of this stunning development. It’s brilliant white, grand 3-bay south façade stands proud within the mature parkland, set back from Wilmslow Road.

We have plans to transform this unique and historic building into a mix of 21 bespoke converted grand feature properties and newly built apartments. Many of the converted properties will include original features such as wood panelling, high ceilings and large bay windows skilfully combined with contemporary design.

We’re excited to be releasing our off-plan preview information to our pre-registered clients shortly, ahead of the official release.

Situated just a stone’s throw from Didsbury village, now one of the country’s most sought-after locations featuring independent shops, bars and restaurants; top class schools and universities, parks and open space along with excellent transport links. Demand for the final release at 825 Didsbury is expected to be high with many pre-registered clients already keenly awaiting much-anticipated preview information.

If you are looking for a quality home in Didsbury, set within a fine period conversion and have flexibility with timings for your move – register your interest today to be added onto our exclusive mailing list and receive preview details.

Property Guide Pricing:
One bedroom apartments from £274,950
Two bedroom apartments from £324,950
Feature properties from £474,950

Around the World for Ralph Update

by | May 13, 2021 | Blog, Featured, News & Events, P J Livesey News, Updates

13

May, 2021

UPDATE: AROUND THE WORLD FOR RALPH

We are now more than half way on our Around the World for Ralph fund raising expedition.

The PJ Livesey Team is walking, running, rowing and cycling our way around the world – covering a whopping 25,000 miles – to raise money for The Christie Charity.

with fundraising now topping £3,500 we have doubled our original target to £5,000. All the money will go to The Christie where our colleague Ralph, and many others, are receiving wonderful treatment and care.

It has been great to see so many of the PJ Livesey team recording their steps every day whether walking around on-site, getting some fresh air at lunchtime or hitting the spin bike at home. Special mention to Keiran Graham Who ran 50 miles from Manchester to Liverpool.

Thanks also to the litter pickers, the dog walkers, the weekend hikers and the rowers. Every mile counts.

After travelling West, we have finally reached Russia and are now heading home.

If you want to show your support for Ralph and the amazing work of The Christie the fundraising page linked below

To read more or donate click here

Recreating History at Storeton

by | May 4, 2021 | Blog, Current Developments, Featured, News & Events

04

MAY, 2021

RECREATING HISTORY AT STORETON HALL

The process of bringing a scheduled listed monument, back into use is a delicate one.

For more than 12 months our teams have been carefully removing new additions and taking it back to its original 14th century shell and it is now being rebuilt using many of the same techniques of the original craftsmen.

Our in-house heritage architect Bill Bayliss said: “It is always interesting to ‘read’ an old building and see how it has been adapted and changed over the centuries. The exterior wall we see now was once the interior wall of a grand hall that would have stood where the courtyard is now.

“There were new additions to the building in the 16th and 17th centuries and it is fascinating to see how techniques evolved.”

The original timber trusses remain intact and have been repaired and spliced where needed to show the modern intervention. The wooden lintels which had fallen victim to weather and were rotting have been replaced with stone.

The slate roof was in good condition and each tile has been carefully removed, checked and already replaced on one section of the hall while others are stored waiting to be re-used.

The second section is still scaffolded while stonemason Tony Gavin carries out the skilled job of repairing the end gable wall and re-instating a large medieval window.

Tony began his training as a stonemason when he left school at 15 and has worked on many of PJ Livesey’s most ambitions restorations including Halifax Royal Hospital, Dartford Hospital, Didsbury Gate and Lancaster Moor Hospital.

He said: “We have a workshop on site but the tools we use are the same tools they used 735 years ago when the Hall was first built.

“We took down one end of the hall stone by stone, drawing and marking it as we went to create a plan then rebuilt it with lime mortar and made new coping stones. The stone is a lovely mixture of reds and buffs and while every piece of stone on site is re-used we needed more and have been fortunate in that a local farmer had some which we have been able to acquire.

“It is a huge privilege to be able to work on a building like this, preserving history and seeing how your own skills can make it whole again. There are two tracery windows- originally carved back in the 1300’s – that I am really looking forward to working on.”

When Tony’s intricate restoration work is completed the current plan is to convert the Hall into two unique properties with double height spaces, the original oak trusses exposed and feature staircases although it could remain as one single property.

Group sales manager Gavin Pearce said: “At this moment there may still be the opportunity to keep the Hall as one magnificent property rather than divide subject to the relevant consents being obtained.

“The Hall has only just been brought to the market and is a very rare and special opportunity for the right client. We will continue to work closely with Historic England to ensure this unique piece of built heritage is preserved for the future.”

To discuss the opportunity of owning a property at Storeton Hall call and speak to Gavin on 0773 814 3109

Read more on the restoration of Storeton Hall’s ancient monument and P J Livesey’s future plans to ensure its longevity in the Liverpool Echo.

Read Article Here

For more than 12 months our teams have been carefully removing new additions and taking it back to its original 14th century shell and it is now being rebuilt using many of the same techniques of the original craftsmen.

Our in-house heritage architect Bill Bayliss said: “It is always interesting to ‘read’ an old building and see how it has been adapted and changed over the centuries. The exterior wall we see now was once the interior wall of a grand hall that would have stood where the courtyard is now.

“There were new additions to the building in the 16th and 17th centuries and it is fascinating to see how techniques evolved.”

The original timber trusses remain intact and have been repaired and spliced where needed to show the modern intervention. The wooden lintels which had fallen victim to weather and were rotting have been replaced with stone.

The slate roof was in good condition and each tile has been carefully removed, checked and already replaced on one section of the hall while others are stored waiting to be re-used.

The second section is still scaffolded while stonemason Tony Gavin carries out the skilled job of repairing the end gable wall and re-instating a large medieval window.

Tony began his training as a stonemason when he left school at 15 and has worked on many of PJ Livesey’s most ambitions restorations including Halifax Royal Hospital, Dartford Hospital, Didsbury Gate and Lancaster Moor Hospital.

He said: “We have a workshop on site but the tools we use are the same tools they used 735 years ago when the Hall was first built.

“We took down one end of the hall stone by stone, drawing and marking it as we went to create a plan then rebuilt it with lime mortar and made new coping stones. The stone is a lovely mixture of reds and buffs and while every piece of stone on site is re-used we needed more and have been fortunate in that a local farmer had some which we have been able to acquire.

“It is a huge privilege to be able to work on a building like this, preserving history and seeing how your own skills can make it whole again. There are two tracery windows- originally carved back in the 1300’s – that I am really looking forward to working on.”

When Tony’s intricate restoration work is completed the current plan is to convert the Hall into two unique properties with double height spaces, the original oak trusses exposed and feature staircases although it could remain as one single property.

Group sales manager Gavin Pearce said: “At this moment there may still be the opportunity to keep the Hall as one magnificent property rather than divide subject to the relevant consents being obtained.

“The Hall has only just been brought to the market and is a very rare and special opportunity for the right client. We will continue to work closely with Historic England to ensure this unique piece of built heritage is preserved for the future.”

To discuss the opportunity of owning a property at Storeton Hall call and speak to Gavin on 0773 814 3109

Read more on the restoration of Storeton Hall’s ancient monument and P J Livesey’s future plans to ensure its longevity in the Liverpool Echo.

Read Article Here

Love at First Sight for Giuseppe

by | Apr 13, 2021 | Blog, Case Study, Featured, News & Events, Standish Hospital

13

APRIL, 2021

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT FOR GIUSEPPE

Giuseppe Alfonso knew the moment that he walked onto our Storeton Hall development he wanted to live there. 

Giuseppe Alfonso knew the moment he walked onto our Storeton Hall development on the Wirral that he wanted to live there and reserved a property on the spot!

“I fell in love with it straight away and as soon as I walked in the show house I told Ryan to sign me up!” he said.

Giuseppe has lived on the Wirral all his adult life and loves that fact that the west side of the peninsular has a country / outdoorsy feel but is still handy for everywhere. He said: “Its seven miles in a taxi for a night out in Liverpool while Chester and Manchester are easy to get to but when you are here it’s really beautiful and peaceful.

“I’d been cycling past Storeton Hall for six years so knew the location and on the spur of the moment called in when I saw the sales launch sign.”

He bought a three-bedroom semi-detached property which looks across to the Listed Hall which is being converted to create two large properties.

Giuseppe said: “It is really nice being part of such a historical site and my house is lovely, really light with big rooms and finished to a really high specification.

“PJ Liveseys are doing it really well with lots of open space and a real mix of properties and the whole team has been wonderful to deal with – nothing has been too much trouble.

“It is not a big development and I think that once the site is finished it will be amazing. I feel very lucky to be living here.”

VIEW ALL TESTIMONIALS

Giuseppe Alfonso knew the moment he walked onto our Storeton Hall development on the Wirral that he wanted to live there and reserved a property on the spot!

“I fell in love with it straight away and as soon as I walked in the show house I told Ryan to sign me up!” he said.

Giuseppe has lived on the Wirral all his adult life and loves that fact that the west side of the peninsular has a country / outdoorsy feel but is still handy for everywhere. He said: “Its seven miles in a taxi for a night out in Liverpool while Chester and Manchester are easy to get to but when you are here it’s really beautiful and peaceful.

“I’d been cycling past Storeton Hall for six years so knew the location and on the spur of the moment called in when I saw the sales launch sign.”

He bought a three-bedroom semi-detached property which looks across to the Listed Hall which is being converted to create two large properties.

Giuseppe said: “It is really nice being part of such a historical site and my house is lovely, really light with big rooms and finished to a really high specification.

“PJ Liveseys are doing it really well with lots of open space and a real mix of properties and the whole team has been wonderful to deal with – nothing has been too much trouble.

“It is not a big development and I think that once the site is finished it will be amazing. I feel very lucky to be living here.”

VIEW ALL TESTIMONIALS