I’m pleased to be writing again to provide you with a further update on progress of the housing development at Mackenzie Place.  The land transfer from Suffolk County Council completed at the end of March and Orwell Housing Association are now the owners of the land on which the properties and road will be constructed.

Today we received the first stage tender submissions from the shortlisted building contractors.  We will be analysing these submissions over the coming week, with the successful contractor due to be chosen and engaged by the end of May.  Work will then commence on the large number of tasks that need to be completed in preparation for construction.  This involves liaison with many statutory bodies and securing agreements with service and utility providers.

Since last writing, we have also been busy securing the grant funding that we need to finance the construction and we’re pleased to report that this is now in place.  The first phase of construction on the site is proposed to be the 12 affordable rented and 6 shared ownership homes, as well as the provision of the services to the 5 small self-build plots to the east of the site.  Construction is still planned to commence later this year and further information on how you can register an interest in these new homes will follow in future updates, so watch this space!

 

Dawn Edwards
Development Manager
Orwell Housing Association