Midas : Mi-space reaches major milestone at one of UK’s largest energy efficient housing developments

Nationwide Building Society's Oakfield marks a major milestone as its highest point was completed in a 'topping out' ceremony.

The £50 million Swindon project, which is delivering 239 homes built to leading environmental standards and future-proofed with a host of green innovations to help people live sustainably, will become one of the UK's largest communities built to such high standards of sustainability. It will also be one of the biggest off-gas housing developments.

It is hoped that the Oakfield community, which blends the best of green and intergenerational living, will become a blueprint of a modern, sustainably-built community - a place where younger generations can lay down their roots, families can grow together and older people can stay through later life.

The traditional 'topping out' celebration of reaching the highest point of construction was hosted by Mi-space and attended by project sponsor Nationwide alongside scheme development manager Igloo Regeneration and other project partners and members of the local community. The highest point will, once construction is completed, become 'the Hub' - a shared space for the community to meet, share and enjoy.

Sara Bennison, Chief Product and Marketing Officer, Nationwide Building Society, said: 'Reaching this point of construction and seeing Oakfield take shape is an exciting moment. Oakfield goes to the heart of our purpose as a building society. Through our mutual approach, and working with experts in the field, we're proving that homes can be more environmentally friendly and community focused.'

Steve Hart, Director at Midas, said: 'Reaching the highest point of construction for Oakfield is an exciting and proud moment as we support Nationwide in their mission to create a truly trailblazing development that will have a long-lasting green impact.

'This scheme promotes the highest standards of construction and energy efficiency and we are thrilled to be able to play our part in offering residents innovative properties which will hopefully become a benchmark for future developments across the country.'

Oakfield is aimed at becoming a blueprint to help housebuilders create energy-efficient homes and communities for the future, with Nationwide offering to share learnings. It will test how quality, sustainable, community focused homes can be built in partnership with the local community - enabled through Nationwide's mutual model, which allows it to take longer term decisions that benefit its members and society.

With just a fraction of new properties built nationally currently meeting EPC-A rated standards, all Oakfield properties are set to achieve EPC-A rating through a range of sustainable attributes such as air source heat pumps and photovoltaic solar panels. Of the 239 new homes, 71 will be available for affordable housing.

Oakfield forms part of Nationwide's commitment to help reduce carbon from homes across the UK. The Society is also using its expertise, partnerships, and innovation to help make millions of existing homes greener, more sustainable and fit for the future - highlighting the wider need to address the issue across both new and existing homes across the UK.

Nationwide, the world's largest building society, has worked together with the local community, businesses and existing community groups, every step of the way, to make sure that the Oakfield project meets their expectations and needs; building a new neighborhood that will both connect and benefit communities.

Work on the Oakfield development began on site in April 2020 and is being carried out by Mi-space, part of the Midas Group, one of the UK's largest independent construction and property services providers. Construction is expected to take about three and a half years, with a 'show home' opening towards the end of 2021 and the first phase of new homes being completed in Spring 2022.