Homes built with spa town heritage in mind

Askern, located in South Yorkshire, retains the tranquil ambience of its former spa town, bordered by lakes, forest and open water. Although the final bathhouse vanished in the 1960s, its heritage endures. Avari Homes is constructing Millside Lakes, a phased scheme of 191 residences that honors the local character for future occupants and the broader community while satisfying contemporary standards for design, performance and lasting quality.

The development blends connectivity with calmness, reflecting the balance between the town’s countryside setting and its commuter appeal. This balance is evident in the bathroom spaces, which have evolved into everyday sanctuaries for busy households. The growing trend for spa-inspired interiors made the brief particularly fitting for a location with such a rich bathing heritage.

Meeting the needs of a growing community

Avari Homes partnered with Ideal Standard, part of the Villeroy & Boch Group, as the single supplier for all bathroom specifications. This partnership drew on the company’s heritage of design-led ranges to create cohesive, high-quality spaces across all 191 homes. The specification combined i.life S and B WCs and washbasins with i.life A vanity units and Ceraplan brassware, ensuring a consistent design language across the development.

The i.life collections, designed in collaboration with renowned architect and designer Roberto Palomba, offer a contemporary aesthetic while delivering the durability and ease of installation needed for a large-scale phased build. Homeowners at the Millside Lakes development can also benefit from a coordinated upgrade package, including a full black-finish option across brassware, wastes, showers, and bath screens.

A design-led specification for modern living

The value of a single manufacturer was evident in the partnership between Avari Homes and Ideal Standard. By choosing Ideal Standard, the developer gained dependable supply, clear specification control, and a single point of contact throughout the project. This joined-up way of working was a major factor in securing the specification and maintaining consistency across every house type.

Natalie Moore, Sales and Marketing Manager at Avari Homes, commented, “The quality of our homes should be reflected in every detail, including the fittings and finishes our customers use every day. Working with Ideal Standard has helped us achieve that, providing reliable, well-designed bathroom products that align with the standard we set across our homes. Their consistency and coordinated approach across the range has also made the specification and delivery process more efficient across each phase of the build, supporting a smooth and well-managed programme on site.”