Work on a new publicly-funded mixed-tenure residential development for older and vulnerable people in Nettleham has now started, with the project’s Lincoln-based provider, Lace Housing (part of the Blue Skies Consortium), and Saunders Boston Architects ‘breaking ground’ at the Turning of the Turf ceremony.
Lace Housing is a voluntary, non-profit making association with charitable status, specialising in the provision of housing and support services for older and vulnerable people in the county of Lincolnshire and surrounding area.
Attending the ceremony on behalf of the project’s architectural firm, Saunders Boston Architects (SBA), Director Darren Heffer said: “Breaking ground is always one of the most exciting moments of the whole process as it marks that pivotal moment when our vision for the property, and its future residents, is set in action. From this point we are in touching distance of providing future residents with light and spacious homes which are also purposely designed to cater for their unique requirements. Residents or visitors using wheelchairs or with limited mobility will benefit from level access facilities, and our focus on providing safe and accessible spaces to enjoy each other’s company sees tailored communal facilities within the property and secure landscaped gardens developed with this in mind.”
The £4.8m development Nettleham development will provide a total of 32 independent living dwellings – 26 of which will be two bedroom apartments, and eight of which will be two bedroom bungalows. This development is just one of several that Saunders Boston Architects is designing for Lace Housing in the region. The first scheme, located in Washingborough, commenced on site earlier in 2018, and further projects are in the pipeline within Lincolnshire.
Local contractor Lindum Construction will build out the development. Thornton Firkin (Lincoln) is acting as Project Manager and Quantity Surveyor.
Simon Gregory, Managing Director of Lindum Construction, said: “We’re delighted to be working with LACE Housing again. It’s brilliant to be able to deliver housing like this in the wonderful county of Lincolnshire.
“The design of these homes is so important because houses that suit families have different priorities to those specially built for the over 55s. Our design team has worked tirelessly on providing suitable and attractive accommodation and I have to thank them for their dedication.”
Councillor Owen Bierley, Deputy Leader of West Lindsey District Council, said: “We all know that access to good-quality housing is the foundation upon which people can build happy and successful lives and communities. “Therefore, we are especially pleased to be working in partnership with LACE Housing.
The new homes will be available in 2019 to either rent or buy through a shared ownership scheme. This work is just part of the Government’s commitment to build 300,000 new homes per year by the middle of the next decade.