Key milestone celebrated at Scarlett Mews

The roof trusses were last week lifted onto a new three-storey apartment block that will provide 16 high-quality new homes for shared ownership in Colchester.

The new block, that stands at the gateway to Scarlett Mews community in Tiptree, comprises eight one-bedroom apartments and eight two-bedroom homes.

Cllr Paul Smith, of Colchester City Council, visited the site to see the trusses arriving on site and hear how these high-quality new homes will help those whose needs are not met by the open market.

The homes will be taken on by affordable housing partner HSPG and made available for shared ownership, allowing buyers to own a share of their home and increase this in future years.

Cllr Smith said: “With ever-increasing demand for housing within Colchester, it is exciting to see these latest affordable homes coming forward. These apartments will give people a chance to take that first step onto the property ladder and offer them a safe place to call home.”

Dan Watson, Head of Acquisitions for HSPG, said: "We’re proud to work with Persimmon and Colchester council to bring these high-quality one and two-bedroom apartments to those in housing need.

“Shared ownership offers those who may otherwise be unable to buy their own home the chance to take that first step towards home ownership.”

Richard Hush, Managing Director of Essex, said: “We are delighted to have reached this stage and to see the final stages of the build taking place. These apartments stand at the gateway to Scarlett Mews and create a cornerstone to the new community we are building.

“Persimmon is committed to meeting a wide range of housing within the communities where we are building and these apartments help us to do that here in Colchester.”

Scarlett Mews is well situated within the historic village of Tiptree, with easy access to the A12 and to the city of Colchester. It will bring a total 130 new homes to the area, including 38 homes for shared ownership and affordable rent.