At the new West Wood development in Sheringham, from left, EN Suiter & Sons managing director Nick Suiter and site manager Leon Calder, North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) deputy leader and portfolio holder for housing and people services Wendy Fredericks, Flagship Homes senior project manager Peter Waplington, NNDC community housing enabler Anna Clarke, EN Suiter managing quantity surveyor Steven Gould and NNDC chief executive Steve Blatch
The biggest affordable housing development in Sheringham for decades is nearly complete.
Developer Flagship Homes, part of Bromford Flagship, is building 24 homes at the site, called West Wood, next to The Reef leisure centre.
Peter Waplington, senior project manager at Flagship Homes, said the roofs had now been completed on the final few homes, marking the project’s ‘topping out’.
Mr Waplington said: “It’s wonderful to see these homes in place, with each one to mark a new beginning for a local family. We’re so happy to celebrate this milestone, and to recognise the hard work and dedication from all the local businesses who’ve helped bring West Wood to life.
“We began construction just over a year ago, so to have 24 homes come together in 12 months is incredible achievement for everyone involved.”
North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) deputy leader and portfolio holder for housing and people services Wendy Fredericks and others on a visit to the new West Wood affordable housing development in Sheringham
Of the homes, 18 will be for affordable rent (up to 80% of market value, capped at Local Housing Allowance) and allocated to families on the local housing register, and managed by Flagship housing association Victory Homes. The other six will be available through Flagship’s part-rent, part-buy shared ownership scheme.
King’s Lynn-based construction firm EN Suiter & Sons is the principal contractor on the project, which also received grant funding from Homes England.
Steve Gould, managing quantity surveyor at EN Suiter, said: “It’s been an absolute pleasure working with Flagship on another lovely scheme. We’ve worked through everything very well together, and it’s nice to see everybody so happy with these new homes.
“We’re also hugely grateful for the work from the local firms and tradespeople who have worked with us on this development.”
The West Wood development includes a mix of homes for affordable rent and others for shared ownership
Next to The Reef leisure centre off Weybourne Road, West Wood will boast views of the sea, the picturesque Sheringham Golf Club, and the North Norfolk Railway’s Poppy Line.
Councillor Wendy Fredericks, North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) deputy leader and housing portfolio holder, said she was delighted to see the progress of the development.
She said: “I am absolutely blown away with the quality of this site, with the homes that you’ve built here. They will be loved and adored by the people that move in, and it’s an ideal position so close to the local facilities for everyone to enjoy. I’m incredibly impressed and I want to see more like this built in North Norfolk.”
Steve Blatch, NNDC chief executive, said Sheringham’s popularity among holidaymakers, second homeowners and retirees meant there was a huge demand for affordable housing for locals.
Mr Blatch said: “Sheringham has a very strong sense of community, but there’s a lot of pressure on the housing market.“It’s great that we’re able to work with Flagship to provide housing that meets local need.
West Wood will welcome its first new residents in mid-May, with overall completion on the site expected towards the end of summer. To learn more about this and other Flagship Homes developments, visit flagship-homes.co.uk.
At West Wood, from left, Anna Clarke, Steve Blatch, Steven Gould, Leon Calder, Nick Suiter, Peter Waplington and Wendy Fredericks