A major milestone in the construction of 26 new homes at a former industrial site in Ipswich has been marked with a topping out ceremony as the project nears completion.
The Hawke Road development, a mix of one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom houses, is being built by Gipping Construction Ltd on behalf of Ipswich Borough Council’s housebuilding company, Handford Homes.
The homes will be handed over to the council upon completion, supporting the authority’s ambitions to deliver more affordable housing in the borough for families, couples and individuals.
Colin Kreidewolf, Chair of Handford Homes, said: “We’ve carefully designed this environmentally friendly development to support both the wellbeing of residents and the surrounding natural environment.
“Each home features high-quality insulation and a good-sized garden, while the wider development includes generous green spaces, extensive planting and biodiversity-friendly features such as hedgehog highways between properties.
“From thoughtful environmental measures to vibrant play and recreational spaces, to dedicated parking for residents as well as spaces for visitors, this new development is set to become a thriving, family-friendly community.”
The new development, designed by Ipswich-based architects Barefoot & Giles, is being built on the former Diesco car repair shop site, which has since been demolished.
Every home will benefit from solar panels and high-quality insulation, with access to electric vehicle (EV) charging points.
One of the flats is fully wheelchair accessible, with all the homes able to be easily adapted for wheelchair users in the future.
The development will also incorporate the current recreation area with a new ‘gas works’ themed play area designed to reflect the area’s industrial heritage.
Designed by the council’s parks team, the new play space which focuses on imagination and inclusivity will feature dedicated zones for children aged 0 to 14 within a landscaped space that includes seating and pathways.
Councillor Alasdair Ross, Ipswich Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Housing, said: “This year we’ve seen excellent progress from Handford Homes in helping us to deliver more affordable housing for Ipswich, and it’s fantastic to see this development on Hawke Road nearing completion adding to the number of quality homes available for people with a local connection.
“The former industrial site has stood empty for a number of years, so it’s positive to see the disused area being resurrected into a vibrant new neighbourhood in southeast Ipswich.
“I’m especially looking forward to the gasworks-themed play area — a nice tribute to the site’s history and a fantastic new asset for the community.”
For more on Handford Homes, see here.