New affordable homes open in heart of Lowestoft town centre

New affordable homes - close to Lowestoft town centre - have been unveiled at a former brownfield site that had previously been used by a tool hire centre business.

Prospect House Lowestoft opening. Picture: Ross Dean, Orwell Housing Association (Image: Ross Dean, Orwell Housing Association)

Prospect House is now set to provide much-needed affordable housing - with 31 flats for social housing.

The former tool hire centre site in Lowestoft that has been transformed into new homes. Picture: Google Images (Image: Google Images)

The development was created with the goal of providing affordable, high-quality housing for individuals and families in the area who aren’t able to afford the high costs of a private rental property.

Work to create more than 30 affordable homes built at the former JD Power/Lowestoft Tool Hire centre site on Alexandra Road in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

East Suffolk councillors approved a scheme for the former JD Power/Lowestoft Tool Hire centre site on Alexandra Road in Lowestoft in September 2020 - after the business moved elsewhere in the town - and six months later, Orwell Housing Association "secured the purchase of land" with Wellington Construction Ltd appointed construction partner.

Dawn Edwards of Orwell Housing 'tops out' 31 new affordable homes at Alexandra Road in Lowestoft, watched by Paul Pitcher (centre) and Bob Dowler (left) of constructor Wellington. Picture: Newman Associates PR (Image: Newman Associates PR)

A traditional topping-out ceremony was held at the site last October, and now Prospect House has opened.

Greg Dodds, assistant director of development and growth for Orwell Housing Association, said: "We're thrilled to offer these flats to the local community.

"We know that affordable housing is a major issue for many people in Lowestoft, and we're committed to doing our part to help address this issue.

"We believe this development will be a major asset to the community."

During the build, a time capsule was installed in the walls to mark Orwell Housing Association's 60th anniversary.

Paul Pitcher, from Wellington Construction, added: "Not only is the scheme a credit to all involved, but it has also transformed a redundant brownfield site providing much needed homes in a sustainable town centre location".

Waveney MP Peter Aldous said: "There is an urgent need in both Lowestoft and across the country for more affordable homes to let and thus Orwell Housing, Wellington Construction and Homes England are to be commended for working together to complete this attractive and well-located development against the challenging backdrop that the Covid pandemic and its aftermath have created."