72 | BUILDING NZGBC: Southbank Properties Focused on creating healthy homes Karen Phelps Designs are driven by a passion for functional and contemporary living. Sustainability starts with the right design ethos, which is why Hamilton developer Leighton Fletcher, director of Southbank Properties, spends a lot of time during this stage of each project. “Our goal is to build high performing houses so the design phase is critical to achieving this,” he says. “We invest heavily at the start of each project to get this right. It’s about providing owners with exceptional value and well-designed spaces.” It was the desire to create healthy sustainable homes that saw Leighton, a civil engineer, make the shift to property development in 2015. Working on land development and construction projects as an engineer he had seen vast room for improvement towards high performing buildings. Southbank Properties now has a legacy of multitudes of successful projects across the city, which Leighton says he can feel proud to drive past. Most are medium density housing but all pay homage to the neighbourhoods in which they are located, he says. Unlike many developers Leighton does not seek to maximise his own returns but rather the return to his clients and always with an eye to sustainability. The company’s first project at 49 Anglesea Street is a good example. A large villa on the site was relocated to a heritage zone in Hamilton east as Leighton thought it important to preserve it. The design of the six two-bedroom single storey homes was a nod to the nearby rowing club with a boatshed type look including high pitched gables. Single storey was chosen for accessibility and, as the location was close to town, it meant people might prefer to walk. Most buyers were older people looking to downsize to a comfortable, warm, sustainable home. Leighton says his expertise in engineering and construction ensures each property is carefully designed and crafted using premium materials. Designs are driven by a passion for functional and contemporary living. This might mean cathedral or overheight ceilings and doors to create a feeling of spaciousness or future proofing features such as capability for electric vehicle chargers. As members of Registered Master Builders there is a firm commitment to high-quality workmanship. “We invest heavily at the start of each project to get this right. It’s about providing owners with exceptional value and well-designed spaces.” Leighton says there is no reason why a home cannot deliver high performance and be aesthetically pleasing at the same time. Southbank Properties has completed Homestar 6 rated homes and, in a bid to take things to the next level, is working on a Passivhaus project. Leighton is also looking at material wastage on sites and minimising this. “One good thing about material shortages is that it’s really made builders look at quantities of materials for their projects and minimising wastage. It’s about discussing how things will be built in advance and making good decisions early.” An example of a Homestar project is in Pukete in Balmerino Crescent, which saw Southbank Properties deliver two sets of two bedroom of duplex units. Wall thickness was increased to accommodate extra insulation and the homes included thermally broken double-glazing, energy efficient heating throughout, and provision for EV charging. At present Southbank Properties is completing five townhouses in Chartwell in Pickering Crescent designed by award winning South Architects. “We have really gone above and beyond on this project as the site has a beautiful north facing gully aspect,” says Leighton. A mix of two and three bedroom townhouses with internal garaging, open-plan kitchen and living, and contemporary design will be offered on freehold titles.
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