Hello!
I am looking to buy a house in Little Stoke Bristol; I have been told that the construction type is Gregory Industrialised Non-Standard Construction. State Agency confirmed that the house is mortgageable and no need for specialist lenders, however I applied for a Mortgage with Santander which deemed the property had reduced marketability. I enquired if was because the property was non-standard and that was confirmed as yes.
For all I can find Gregory Industrialised is not considered defective. Is this in fact the type of property they listed as? I am struggling to find information or property images online for this, I can see more for regular Gregory. They also listed that the property is from 1967.
Is there a way to find an Official Document that states which kind of property this is? Or in general around Bristol, as it seems that a good percentage of housing in Bristol is non-standard.
This is a similar property for sale in that area https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/163832705#/?channel=RES_BUY
Picture shows street view of the properties, I assume they are all build in the same style.
Any help will be good, thank you!
Based on the location provided in the filename (Orion drive Bristol BS34) and cross-referencing with the non-traditional housing registers, the property shown is a Gregory (also known as Gregory Industrialised) house.
This specific street in Little Stoke, Bristol, is well-documented as containing this property type.
Identification Breakdown
Type Name: Gregory (or Gregory Industrialised System).
Construction Date: Typically built in the 1960s (post-war era).
Classification: It is classified as Non-Traditional Construction, specifically a Precast Reinforced Concrete (PRC) system.
Key Characteristics (Gregory System)
If you compare the photo to the "Gregory" entry in a standard BRE reference (like the one you attached), you will likely see these features:
Structure: It is constructed using storey-height precast concrete panels.
External Appearance: Originally, these often had a textured concrete finish, though many (like those on Orion Drive) may have been rendered over or re-clad, giving them a smoother appearance that resembles "Laing Easiform" houses.
Roof: typically a pitched roof with gable ends (as seen in the semi-detached and terrace examples on this street).
Why this matters (Mortgage & Lending)
As noted in local property listings for Orion Drive, this construction type is considered "Non-Standard".
Lending: Some high-street lenders will not lend on non-standard constructions, but others do. It is important to check the lending criteria of each provider, before applying for a mortgage.
Survey: A standard RICS Level 2 or 3 survey is essential to check the condition of the concrete panels and reinforcement.
There two distinctly different named Gregory housing systems that often get confused: The first being the Gregory system (which is classified as Defective and therefore un-mortgageable) and the Gregory Industrialised system, which IS NOT DEFECTIVE and potentially mortgageable with the right lender.
IMPORTANT: Gregory vs. Gregory Industrialised (THESE OFTEN GET MIXED UP- EVEN BY LENDERS)
Gregory (Defective):The original Gregory system is indeed designated as
defective under the Housing Act 1985 (specifically listed in the Housing Defects (Gregory Prefabricated Reinforced Concrete Dwellings) Designation 1984). This type typically suffers from carbonation and chloride attack in the precast concrete columns.
Gregory Industrialised (Not Defective): The Gregory Industrialised system (often just called "Gregory" by agents, confusing matters) is a later iteration or variant that is NOT designated as defective under the Housing Act.
Gregory Industrialised - The Property in the Photo (Orion Drive)
Based on the specific location (Orion Drive, Little Stoke, Bristol) and the visual evidence, these are widely confirmed to be Gregory Industrialised houses. This is a critical distinction because:
They are NOT "Defective": They do not require a PRC repair certificate to be mortgageable in the same way that a "Defective" property type would.
Lending is Easier (but not "Standard"): While not "defective" by law, they are still Non-Standard Construction. Lenders will not reject them automatically because of the Housing Act list, but they may still be cautious because they are not traditional brick and block.
Lenders for "Gregory Industrialised" (Non-Defective but Non-Standard)
Since the property is not defective, you do not need a PRC certificate. However, you still need a lender comfortable with concrete panel / non-traditional construction.
Likely Lenders for Gregory Industrialised:
Halifax: Generally very good with non-standard construction that is not defective. They assess based on the valuer's comments.
Santander: Often accepts non-traditional systems that are not on the defective list, provided they are in good condition.
Leeds Building Society: A strong option for non-traditional homes.
Barclays: Can be suitable, though they rely heavily on the surveyor's comments regarding resaleability.
Nationwide: Sometimes accepts them if the surveyor confirms the property is structurally sound and marketable.
Recommendation: When speaking to a broker or lender, emphasize clearly: "This is a Gregory Industrialised system, which is NOT on the Housing Act defective list." This prevents them from automatically ticking the "Defective" box and declining you erroneously.
I am trying to buy the exact house in this picture.
Nationwide would not lend on this property.
Going to look at other options
I own a house in Orion drive and had a mortgage with Halifax, I now rent it out so use Birmingham Midshires which is the buy to let part of Halifax. Interest in knowing who else has managed to get a mortgage with ?
Interesting, thanks for sharing! Curious to hear what others have done in similar situations.