SOD-CUTTING CEREMONY MARKS START OF £800,000 AFFORDABLE HOMES CONTRACT FOR LOWESTOFT-BASED WELLINGTON
Work has started on an £800,000 project to build six new affordable homes in Gorleston-on-Sea, following a ground-breaking ceremony today (Wednesday 8th March).
Paul Pitcher of Lowestoft-based constructor Wellington was joined by representatives from Great Yarmouth Borough Council and its wholly-owned trading company Equinox Enterprise Ltd, to cut the first sod at the site, on the council’s former housing repairs depot off Hertford Way, on the town’s Magdalen Estate.
The development comprises two one-bedroom flats, two two-bedroom semi-detached houses and two three-bedroom semi-detached houses, as well as on-site car parking and soft landscaping.
Wellington has been awarded the contract to build the new homes, which are expected to be handed over in spring 2018.
Paul Pitcher, managing director of the Lowestoft-based firm, said: “We are delighted to be breaking the ground at this site and starting to build these new homes in Gorleston.
“As a locally-based firm, we take great pride in building top quality affordable homes in the area, and we have done so at many sites across Norfolk and Suffolk. Not only is this providing much needed homes for local people, but it is also creating employment for local people.”
Cllr Penny Carpenter, chair of GYBC’s housing and neighbourhoods committee, said: “The borough council is committed to meeting the housing challenge for our residents and I am really pleased we are able to utilise this redundant space to deliver new council homes for tenants.
“The homes will be allocated to eligible tenants through the Housing Options service and I Iook forward to welcoming in the first tenants. The council is currently exploring other potential sites across the borough for further small-scale council house developments.”
Simon George, chairman of Equinox Enterprises Ltd, said: “We have worked very closely with the borough council to bring forward this high quality, sympathetically-planned development, which will help to meet local housing needs.
“The cleared site is currently hard surfacing but it will soon be transformed, with the new flats and houses taking shape. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the borough council and other partners on this and future projects.”