Broadland Housing has started work on 18 new family homes in Great Hockham. The scheme will include 8 affordable rent homes, prioritised for people with a local connection who are in housing need. There will also be 2 homes for shared ownership and 8 new open market homes.
Councillor Philip Cowen of Breckland Council and representatives from Great Hockham Parish Council, which has supported the project, were joined by Broadland staff and contractors at the sod-turning ceremony.
The £4.2 million project on Wretham Road in the village is due to be completed in February 2023.
We are delighted to be here in Great Hockham celebrating the start of construction of 18 much-needed new homes.
We are meeting a genuine need for housing in rural village communities, which will enable local people to find homes in those communities and thus stay close to their support networks and places of employment, and make villages such as Great Hockham more sustainable.
This kind of mixed-tenure development, with a blend of affordable homes and open-market homes, is increasingly the way forward, both because it makes such schemes financially viable, but also because it encourages a better integration within the community.
Michael Newey, Chief Executive of Broadland Housing, speaking at the ceremony
Rural communities in Breckland desperately need new housing.
Our own housing needs survey showed that providing new homes, including affordable homes, in Great Hockham will help the village become a community hub for the surrounding villages. This is an ‘exceptions site’ outside the current village boundaries, and as such the affordable homes will be prioritised for those with a local connection, which is important.
The way Broadland Housing has brought this project forward has been refreshing. They brought a real level of expertise in building local communities, they communicated and listened to local people, and they have been great to work with.”
Councillor Cowen, portfolio holder for finance, revenues and benefits / local ward councillor for Great Hockham
The 18 new homes have been designed by architects Ingleton Wood, and are being constructed by contractor Smiths of Honingham. We are grateful to Mr Trappes-Lomax, the Hockham Estate owner, for insisting on a project which will supply much needed affordable housing in the village.
We are delighted to once again be Broadland’s partner in bringing to life these new homes”
Jonathan Smith, Director, Smiths of Honingham