Askern’s last bathhouse may have disappeared in the 1960s, yet the South Yorkshire town still carries the quiet serenity of a historic spa resort, surrounded by lakes, woodland and open water that make it an appealing place for people to settle.
It is within this setting that Avari Homes set out to deliver Millside Lakes, a 191‑home phased development that needed to respect the character of its surroundings while meeting modern expectations for design, performance and long‑term quality.
Meeting the needs of a growing community
Millside Lakes sits within the countryside commuter town of Askern, blending connectivity with calmness, so the development needed to reflect this balance both inside the homes and out. Nowhere is this more evident than 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, and it was essential that the specification supported this sense of retreat.
To achieve this, Avari Homes partnered with the Ideal Standard, part of the Villeroy & Boch Group as the single supplier for all bathroom specifications, drawing on the company’s heritage of design‑led ranges to create cohesive, high‑quality spaces across all 191 homes.
A design‑led specification for modern living
Working closely with the developer, Mustafa Rahman, Residential Specification Manager at the Villeroy & Boch Group, curated a package built around Ideal Standard’s i.life collections. 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.
Designed in collaboration with renowned architect and designer Roberto Palomba, the i.life collections – which comprises three ranges A, S, and B and covers everything from vanity basins and units to shower enclosures and WCs – 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, bringing a calm, modern look that complements the development’s interior palette
The value of a single manufacturer
Millside Lakes marks the first time Avari Homes has partnered with a sole bathroom manufacturer. Previous developments highlighted how coordinating multiple suppliers can introduce unnecessary complexity, particularly when managing phased delivery programmes.
By choosing Ideal Standard, the developer gained dependable supply, clear specification control and a single point of contact throughout the project, supported by a robust aftercare team and engineers located close to the Doncaster, South Yorkshire site.
This joined‑up way of working was a major factor in securing the specification and maintaining consistency across every house type, while also giving Avari Homes access to Ideal Standard’s Singular™ approach, which helps simplify choices, streamline workflows and support seamless delivery across a development of this scale.
A specification built to last
“Our focus was to create a bathroom specification that felt cohesive and elevated, supporting the architectural character of Millside Lakes,” said Mustafa Rahman, Residential Specification Manager at the Villeroy & Boch Group.
“This development has presented an ongoing opportunity to demonstrate how a well‑considered specification can add long‑term value for both the developer and future residents. We look forward to continuing to work with Avari Homes in 2026.”
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.”
To find out more about the i.life solutions, visit: https://www.idealstandard.co.uk/products/collections/ilife