A topping out event to mark the structural completion of new family houses and apartments in Colchester took place at Creffield Villas in Creffield Road, Lexden this week.
Cllr Adam Fox, Colchester Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Housing and Cllr Theresa Higgins, Portfolio Holder for Commercial Services celebrated the occasion with a tour of the site.
Colchester Amphora Homes Ltd (CAHL), the council’s commercial housing company, is managing the development — which is the company’s first mixed-tenure scheme providing affordable and private new homes.
Designed by award-winning architects Barefoot & Gilles, the development saw the sympathetic conversion of a distinctive Victorian villa into six apartments that combine contemporary styling, traditional materials and craftsmanship. A further two three-storey town houses were constructed within the property’s grounds, designed to complement the main building.
Located within a highly sought-after residential area of Colchester, the town houses and four of the apartments are now for sale via property agents Chewton Rose. They are the first of CAHL’s homes to reach market and profits from the sale will return to Colchester Borough Council for reinvestment into the delivery of council services.
Cllr Theresa Higgins said: “Congratulations to CAHL and T J Evers for this sympathetic restoration and build at Creffield Villas. It’s fantastic to see this inspiring collection of high-quality homes reach structural completion and ready for the property market.
“Our award-winning partnership with CAHL allows us to operate in a more commercial way and by generating healthy dividends puts us in a stronger position to face the significant financial challenges that lay ahead and better able to support frontline services for residents and businesses.”
To support local housing need in the borough, two one-bedroomed apartments will remain in council ownership under the management of Colchester Borough Homes.
Cllr Adam Fox commented: “I’m delighted to see this stunning development reaching fruition in what have been very challenging times and very much look forward to seeing the first residents move in from early summer. We continue to work closely with Colchester Amphora Homes to explore and develop more opportunities to expand our stock of well-designed, affordable homes.”
Colchester Amphora Homes Limited (CAHL) was established to provide high-quality new homes for market sale and affordable rent, with a focus on exemplar design and placemaking in support of Colchester Borough Council’s regeneration and economic development objectives.
