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New Homes Handed Over to Freebridge

13/12/2011

Yesterday saw 12 new homes on Fernlea Road, Fairstead, King’s Lynn handed over to Freebridge Community Housing.

The new Freebridge homes have been developed on the former Fairstead pub site, bought in 2007 by the Borough Council as part of the Improving Neighbourhood Programme to remove an eyesore from the local community. The building of the new homes will see the land provide much needed housing on the Fairstead Estate.

The development includes two homes available for low-cost home ownership and ten properties for affordable rent.

Built on the site of a former pub, the development of one and two bedroom flats, and two, three and four bedroom houses has received funding of £486k from the Homes & Communities Agency (HCA).

The homes are today being handed over to Freebridge by the builders Hill Partnerships, and Freebridge plan to have tenants moving in over the following few days.

Tony Hall, Chief Executive of Freebridge Community Housing said : “Providing good quality, low cost homes in West Norfolk is an absolute priority for us and this scheme will allow us to bring new homes to a derelict site in Fairstead.

“We are delighted to be able to offer homes which are for rent and for affordable sale, which will help us to meet the needs of residents who are keen to find a new place to rent or buy in this part of King’s Lynn.

“Through working with our partners, and with funding from the HCA, we are able to build good quality, sustainable, affordable homes in this community.”

The development, which was completed earlier than scheduled, was developed by e², a consortium of locally based, independent housing associations which works to provide affordable homes in East Anglia, with the building work carried out by Hill Partnerships. The Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk also backed the scheme.

Nick Lockley, Area Manager for the HCA in Norfolk added: “It’s great to see this site being reused for something that is very much needed in the local area, and which in turn supports the provision of affordable homes for those on the housing needs list in King’s Lynn.”

Earlier this year, Freebridge was awarded £1.4m which will be invested in a total of 34 new homes, including the Fairstead scheme and 19 properties on the former Kia Garage site on Wisbech Road in King’s Lynn. Two flats are also being built on Lady Jane Grey Road in King’s Lynn, and one further property has been built in Walpole St Andrew.

Freebridge is contributing almost 50 per cent – around £2,300,000 - to the cost of the schemes. All of the homes will be built to Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3.

Freebridge’s Chairman Ray Johnson hands over the keys to a new tenant at Fernlea Road, Fairstead	Fernlea Road, Fairstead