Redundant school site provides top class council homes

Mid Suffolk District Council purchased the redundant site from the local education authority to provide high-quality homes for lower income households, after the site was left empty by the closure of the school in 2015. 

Working in partnership with contractors Pentaco Construction Ltd, the council has now created 38 high quality affordable homes at the town centre site, offering a mix of affordable rent, social rent and shared ownership homes at below market value to meet a wide range of needs.

Cllr Richard Winch, cabinet member for housing and property at Mid Suffolk District Council was on hand with representatives from the council to receive the keys from Pentaco Construction and inspect the new homes – consisting of six one-bedroom flats, eight two-bedroom flats, 13 two-bedroom houses, 1 two-bedroom bungalow, eight three-bedroom houses and two four-bedroom houses. 

Of those, 14 homes have been made available for affordable rent (where tenants pay less than local market rent), ten for social rent and 14 shared ownership homes – supporting people to climb onto the first rung of the property ladder.

Cllr Richard Winch, cabinet member for housing and property at Mid Suffolk District Council said: 
“I am delighted that we have been able to breathe new life into this town centre site and the delivery of this stunning development in the town centre. This a major investment in the delivery of new homes and the sustainability of the town centre, supporting our residents and encouraging and developing thriving communities.”

In addition to the completion of this development, the council over the last 12 months has also secured 45 new homes across the district this year in Bramford, Debenham. Laxfield and Stowmarket via Section 106 contributions – legal agreements with housing developers to provide a certain amount of affordable housing as part of each development – meaning new council houses are built alongside private sale properties as part of new, growing communities.

This has provided a range of housing options including 1-bedroom flats, 2, 3 and 4-bedroom homes. 

Laxfield – Denbury Homes Development
•    5 Affordable Rent
•    3 Shared Ownership

Debenham – Denbury Homes Development
•    14 Affordable Rent
•    5 Shared Ownership 

Bramford – Bellway Homes Development
•    14 Affordable Rent
•    2 Shared Ownership

Stowmarket – Bellway Homes Development
•    2 Affordable Rent

Further plans are in the pipeline to ensure the delivery of more new council properties during 2024/25, meaning even more tenants can look forward to moving into their new homes in the year ahead.