Lindum has started work on a development of new affordable homes on the site of a former dairy in Lincoln.
Longhurst Group is delivering the 36-home scheme at the former Boultham Dairy site on Boultham Park Road.
Lindum is building six three-bed townhouses, 12 three-bed semi-detached houses and 18 two-bed semi-detached homes.
Nineteen of the properties will be available on a Shared Ownership basis, with the remainder made available for affordable rent.
Nick Worboys, Director of Development and Sales at Longhurst Group, spoke of her delight at seeing work start on the project, which is estimated to complete in 2020.
She said: “This is a brilliant example of how Longhurst Group works in partnership with local authorities to respond to local need, by delivering affordable housing in areas where it is most needed.
“I’d like to thank City of Lincoln Council and Lincolnshire Co-op for their positivity and co-operation and support throughout the journey to this point, when we’re now able to start work on this fantastic development.
“The affordable housing that this scheme will provide is sorely needed in the city. We’re now looking forward to seeing it all come to fruition, thanks to the support of Homes England and our partners Lindum, with whom we continue to enjoy a fruitful relationship.”
Longhurst Group, which has a regional office in the city and manages thousands of homes across Lincolnshire, was recently confirmed as one of Homes England’s strategic partners.
The Boultham Dairy scheme, which received grant funding from Homes England, will see the Group increase its provision of affordable housing in a city where, according to the National Housing Federation, the average house price is seven times that of the average annual income.
Caroline Cormack, Homes England’s Head of Home Ownership and Supply for the Midlands, said: “It’s great to see work begin on these much needed new homes for people in Lincoln. Through our Shared Ownership & Affordable Homes Programme we’re working with ambitious housing associations like Longhurst Group to ensure more affordable homes are delivered more quickly where they’re most needed.”
Boultham Dairy was the main provider of dairy products for Lincoln and the surrounding area until its closure in 2012.
The full site has already been partially developed to provide a supermarket and a purpose-built mosque.
The site is currently being prepared by Lindum’s Plant division and director Edward Chambers said enabling works were expected to take around seven weeks to complete.
“We have been on site for three weeks and have cleared the area of rubbish and all the vegetation which gathered since the dairy closed,” he said.
“We filled many skips, all of which were taken to our Lindum Waste site in Saxilby, so all the rubbish could be recycled.
“We are also gathering up a large pile of all the old concrete, which will be crushed on site and then reused in the ground to bring the site up to the required levels.
“Once the enabling works are completed, the Lindum Construction team will move onto site and begin their work.”
