30 / 10 / 2018

Ground has been broken to start construction of a new contemporary housing scheme which the borough council is bringing forward at Beacon Park – and people are invited to register an interest in buying one of the new homes.

East Wood is a distinctive scheme of 287 new homes, with a mixture of houses, flats and bungalows in a desirable woodland setting, close to the top-performing energy-related Enterprise Zone and James Paget Hospital.

Equinox Enterprises Ltd, the borough council’s trading company, is developing the first phase, comprising 56 homes, including six new council homes.

This week, the project partners gathered on-site with partnership homes specialist Lovell and a large digger for the traditional ground-breaking ceremony. The show home is expected to be ready within the next few months with the whole first phase completed by mid-2020.

To register an interest in off-plan housing sales for phase one of East Wood, simply email your name and contact details to [email protected] and a member of the team will be in touch.

Cllr Graham Plant and Cllr Trevor Wainwright, the political group leaders, said: “This distinctive scheme underlines the council’s priorities to support sustainable growth and work towards an attractive mix of good quality housing, which is fit for purpose for all and meets local needs. The council is helping to address our borough’s housing challenge very proactively by delivering homes on its own land.

The ground-breaking ceremony follows years of planning and is a significant moment for those who have worked together to get to this exciting point. Beacon Park is a major growth area for the borough and I look forward to seeing the site transformed over the coming years, expanding our existing community. If you would like to register an interest in off-plan housing sales, please get in touch via the email address.”

Lovell regional managing director Simon Medler said: “Our construction team are delighted to have begun work on this impressive development which is going to create a great place to live at the same time as it brings much-needed new homes to the area.

“Residents will be able to choose from a wide range of house styles and sizes with homes benefitting from an attractive woodland setting combined with a location offering excellent access to local services and transport. Our team has a strong record of working in partnership with local authorities to deliver high-quality homes and we’re extremely pleased to mark the start of work on this important project for Great Yarmouth Borough Council.”

Wendy Evans-Hendrick, CEO at Orwell Housing Association, said that the scheme was an important housing project for the region.

She said: “We believe in delivering innovative, affordable, sustainable and comfortable homes for the future and are delighted to have been involved in the master planning for East Wood. We successfully achieved outline planning permission for the 287 homes and detailed planning for the first phase.  It is fantastic to be offering our extensive project management skills as Orwell Project Management to oversee the project.” 

Phase one of East Wood comprises 50 homes for private ownership: five two-bedroom homes, 30 three-bedroom homes, 13 four-bedroom homes and two five-bedroom homes. There will also be six council homes: all two-bedroom flats, including two fully-accessible ground floor flats.

East Wood residents will benefit from enhancements to the existing woodland walk footpath and green space around the site, excellent transport connectivity, as well as other planned or existing facilities in this growth area.

This includes the A47/A143 link road and associated foot and cycleway, recent improvements to the A47 and Woodfarm Lane, footpath links to the hospital, proximity to the Enterprise Zone, and the planned local centre, primary school, formal open space and further business space.

photo of ground breaking phase 1 east wood