With a rich background in construction, design, and the innovative application of technology, Luca Calaraili offers a unique perspective on the future of housing development. He joins us to discuss a significant new project in Mastin Moor, Chesterfield, where 163 homes are just the beginning of a much larger vision. We’ll explore how this development aims to do more than just build houses, focusing instead on creating a truly integrated and sustainable community through strategic partnerships, thoughtful design, and a deep commitment to local engagement and opportunity.
Your goal is to build a “thriving, inclusive community.” Beyond constructing 163 high-quality houses, what specific steps will be taken during development to integrate the new residents with the existing Mastin Moor community and ensure friendships can truly flourish?
That’s really the heart of the matter for us. It’s one thing to build structures, but it’s another to foster a genuine community. We’re focused on creating shared spaces that encourage interaction from day one. This includes extending the existing community garden and developing extensive new parkland, which aren’t just afterthoughts but central to the plan. We envision these green spaces as natural meeting points for both new and long-standing residents. We’ll also work with local groups to organize community events during the construction phases, helping to build those crucial early connections so that when families move in, it feels less like they’re joining a new estate and more like they’re coming home to an established, welcoming neighborhood.
Sage Homes is focused on providing high-quality, energy-efficient affordable housing. Can you detail the process for allocating these homes to people on the local housing list and explain how your partnership ensures these specific energy and quality standards are met?
Our partnership with Sage Homes is fundamental to delivering on our promise of a mixed-tenure, inclusive community. The allocation process is managed in direct collaboration with the local authority. This ensures that the homes are offered to individuals and families who are on the official housing waiting list, prioritizing those with a clear local connection. As for the standards, our agreement with Sage is built on a shared commitment to quality. There is absolutely no difference in the build quality or energy efficiency between the affordable homes and the open-market ones. We use the same materials, the same construction teams, and the same rigorous quality checks across the entire site, which guarantees that every single resident benefits from a high-performing, comfortable, and affordable-to-run home.
This development is part of a wider 650-home masterplan. How does this second phase featuring your partnership specifically advance the overall vision, and what metrics will you use to measure the successful integration of the new parkland and local center with the community?
This phase is a critical catalyst for the entire 650-home masterplan. Kicking off these 163 homes demonstrates tangible progress and builds momentum, turning the blueprint into a reality. It’s the phase that establishes the core residential fabric and brings the first new families into the fold. To measure success, we’ll look beyond just completion certificates. For the parkland, we’ll monitor usage patterns and conduct surveys to see how it’s being enjoyed by everyone in Mastin Moor, not just our new residents. For the local center, success will be measured by foot traffic, the diversity of services it attracts, and feedback from the community on how well it meets their daily needs. Ultimately, our key metric is resident satisfaction and a sense of belonging across the entire area.
The project will use timber frame buildings for sustainability. Could you elaborate on the practical benefits of this construction method for future residents and outline your step-by-step plan for engaging local stakeholders to ensure the final neighborhood reflects their aspirations?
The choice of timber frame construction is a deliberate one that offers significant benefits. For residents, it means a home that is built to exceptional thermal standards, which translates directly into lower energy bills and a smaller carbon footprint. The precision engineering of timber frames also leads to a higher quality finish and faster on-site construction, minimizing disruption to the surrounding neighborhood. Our engagement plan with local stakeholders is continuous. It began before we broke ground, with consultations to understand their vision. Now that construction is underway, we will maintain regular forums and updates. We’ll solicit feedback on public spaces, landscaping choices, and amenities, ensuring that the community feels a true sense of ownership and pride in the neighborhood as it grows.
The wider site includes a Construction Skills Hub operated by Chesterfield College. How will this project directly create training or employment opportunities for local students, and what specific apprenticeships do you anticipate making available during the build?
The proximity of the Construction Skills Hub is a fantastic asset that we are determined to leverage. Our commitment is to create a direct pipeline from that hub onto our site. We’ll be working with Chesterfield College to offer work placements that give students invaluable hands-on experience, allowing them to apply their learning in a real-world environment. We anticipate offering a range of apprenticeships covering key trades like carpentry, bricklaying, and electrical installation, as well as opportunities in site management and surveying. This isn’t just about filling vacancies; it’s a strategic investment in developing the next generation of local construction talent, ensuring the economic benefits of this project are felt directly within the community.
What is your forecast for the future of large-scale, mixed-tenure partnerships in addressing the nation’s housing needs?
I believe these partnerships are not just the future; they are the most viable and effective solution we have right now. The scale of the housing shortage requires a collaborative approach that the public or private sector cannot solve alone. Partnerships like the one we have with Sage Homes bring together the development expertise and financial muscle of a major homebuilder with the social focus and affordable housing mission of a specialist provider. This model allows us to deliver diverse, high-quality, and financially accessible communities at a scale and pace that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. I foresee this becoming the standard for major strategic sites, as it’s the most powerful way to build balanced, resilient, and inclusive communities for generations to come.
