Orwell Housing Association should now be the new landowners of the housing development site at Mackenzie Place.

With all development projects there are always new challenges and problems to solve and overcome, and this month it was the issue of a pipe that was suspected to run underground across the length of the site.  Before we could complete on the purchase of the site from Suffolk County Council, we had to carry out some additional investigations to establish if the pipe was there, what it was, and if it was in use.  A number of engineers and surveyors visited the site, dug some holes, and established that the pipe was indeed there but that fortunately it was a redundant water pipe.  We are now just waiting for the solicitors to complete the purchase of the site.

We are also currently in the process of identifying a building contractor to work with to construct the first phase of the new homes.  It is our intention to build out the 18 affordable homes, rented and shared ownership first, along with some of the self build serviced plots.  We hope that work will commence on site in the autumn of this year.

The Parish Council have requested that I provide the village with regular updates on our progress towards providing the new housing at Mackenzie Place, and so I will be writing more articles for Green Links as the project moves forward.  This will include information for people who are interested in living at the new development and will explain how you could go about becoming a resident of the rented, shared ownership, self build or open market sale homes.

 

Dawn Edwards
Development Manager
Orwell Housing Association Limited/Orwell Homes Limited