Colchester City Council’s ambition to provide more high-quality, council-owned, affordable homes has taken another step forward as two more developments complete.
The development at Cross Cottages, Boxted, comprises of four one-bedroom maisonettes, two two-bedroom bungalows and one four-bedroom wheelchair accessible home. The bungalows and ground floor maisonettes feature accessible wet rooms.
The development at Cross Cottages, Boxted, comprises of four one-bedroom maisonettes, two two-bedroom bungalows and one four-bedroom wheelchair accessible home. The bungalows and ground floor maisonettes feature accessible wet rooms.
The new development is called Silver Band Close, to help commemorate the band’s 125th Anniversary. Boxted’s Methodist Silver Band is the only surviving Methodist Silver Band in England.
At Veronica Walk, Greenstead, two two-bedroom houses and one three-bedroom house with an accessible ground floor wet room are being delivered.
These council-owned homes will be let to residents in housing need. The smaller units will be a good opportunity for applicants wishing to downsize their home, freeing up larger family homes in the area. They will be managed by Colchester Borough Homes.
Local firm, Rose Builders, are completing the development of both sites.
These schemes are a significant milestone towards the council’s commitment, made back in 2019, to build 350 new council-owned properties in the city by the end of 2024, to tackle local housing need. The completion of the 10 units, at Cross Cottages and Veronica Walk, brings the total to 288 homes delivered of the 350-target. Further homes will be delivered via other projects by the end of 2024.
Other key milestones included:
At Veronica Walk, Greenstead, two two-bedroom houses and one three-bedroom house with an accessible ground floor wet room are being delivered.
These council-owned homes will be let to residents in housing need. The smaller units will be a good opportunity for applicants wishing to downsize their home, freeing up larger family homes in the area. They will be managed by Colchester Borough Homes.
Local firm, Rose Builders, are completing the development of both sites.
These schemes are a significant milestone towards the council’s commitment, made back in 2019, to build 350 new council-owned properties in the city by the end of 2024, to tackle local housing need. The completion of the 10 units, at Cross Cottages and Veronica Walk, brings the total to 288 homes delivered of the 350-target. Further homes will be delivered via other projects by the end of 2024.
Other key milestones included:
- Delivering affordable homes across sites at Creffield Road and Military Road.
- Building new homes on former garage sites
- Buying back properties using the Right to Buy clauses on former council homes, and on the open market.
As part of the council’s commitment to tackling the climate emergency the homes will be built to Future Homes Standard, to reduce carbon emissions, and feature air source heat pumps, double glazing, LED lighting and increased insulation levels.
Cllr Paul Smith, Portfolio Holder for Housing, said: “It’s brilliant to see more new homes for those who need them. I’m particularly pleased that this tranche of homes includes a fully accessible property, adding to the stock we have available for those who need homes with accessible considerations. We are working hard to stick to our housing targets, and these homes are an important contribution to our commitment to new homes in Colchester.”
The programme is being supported through grant funding from Homes England and the council’s Housing Revenue Account. This is a ring-fenced account that can only be spent on improving or increasing affordable housing.
Page last reviewed: 22 April 2024