Higgins has been awarded a £24.5m contract to design and build 120 new homes off Barrow Hall Road in Great Wakering
Sanctuary Homes – the development arm of Sanctuary Housing Association – has appointed Higgins to provide 120 new homes in Great Wakering, Southend-on-Sea.
The new homes will consist of 110 houses and a range of apartments of different size and tenure to help meet local needs.
The project will also include the creation of play areas and publicly accessible open space, along with a new pedestrian and cycleway linking Barrow Hall Road with Southend Road.
Design
The buildings will be built to complement the local area with dark roofs with brick and occasional rendered walls and comply with Rochford DC Housing Design SPD Jan 2007 and The Essex Design Guide.
As part of the development, formal and informal landscaping will provide a variety of differing ‘character’ areas, including formal squares and a boulevard along the primary highway.
Hedgerows, which are important for wildlife species, will also be enhanced with new planting to provide ‘ecological corridors’ within the site and beyond.
Open swales, ponds and basins form part of the sustainable drainage system while a large wet feature within the public open space will be provided which will serve as an attenuation pond and encourage diverse wildlife.
A pumping station, which will be largely underground and hidden from view, will also be built.
The housing development has been designed by Chaplin Farrant Architects and engineer is Richard Jackson.
Boosting local housing
Steve Leakey, managing director of Higgins, said: “We are really pleased to be appointed by Sanctuary Homes to provide brand new homes at Barrow Hall Road.
“We have a wealth of experience providing high-quality housing and creating mixed-tenure developments that are inspiring, safe and enhance the local community.
“We look forward to starting on site in the coming months.”
Sarah Brind, Sanctuary’s head of development – South, added: “We’re delighted to be working with Higgins to deliver these much-needed new homes and strengthen our commitment to boosting the local housing market.
“The development will help address local housing needs, with a variety of homes available for affordable rent, shared ownership and outright sale.”
