Mansell Homes, a Balfour Beatty company, has commenced work on its first ‘council-only’ family housing scheme at Duck Lane in Bournemouth, Dorset.
The £5.7 million project, which will deliver 50 homes for local authority tenants, is one of only a few such schemes being carried out in the UK and the first council-only development constructed in Bournemouth for twenty years.
Residents will benefit from low density housing and improved open space, with a locally managed community centre and a sunken skate park as part of general shared-use facilities.
Mansell Homes has built over 3,000 homes in the area in the past fifteen years and with its expertise in post-planning design, will be using its experienced off-site timber frame fabricator to help deliver value and meet a challenging timeframe. Its own team of environmental assessors will ensure the homes reach Sustainable Homes Level 4 with air tight structures giving high levels of energy efficiency and lowering long term running costs.
Councillor Robert Lawton, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “Providing more affordable homes in Bournemouth is a top priority for this Council. This is the largest house building development by the Council since the 1980s and will provide much-needed family accommodation for those residents currently on the housing register. This scheme will also give a boost to the local economy and provide jobs and apprenticeships.”
Guy Hayward, Mansell Homes Regional Director South said: “We are delighted to be working with Bournemouth Borough Council to deliver this landmark housing scheme. Our dedicated in-house design and quality assessment team will ensure these homes are among the most energy efficient local authority homes in the country. We are engaging closely with the local community and supply chain on the project to ensure it delivers sustainable outcomes for all involved.”
The houses, six two-bed houses, forty-two semi-detached three-beds and two detached four-beds, will be available to those currently waiting on the Council housing register. Construction is due to be complete in spring 2015.