Former Co-op site in Ipswich converted into affordable homes

Work on the Co-op site in Prince of Wales Drive began in 2021, after developers SEH French applied to Ipswich Borough Council to convert this building into 15 affordable homes. 

The development was accepted as at the time the council felt it was meeting a "huge demand" for affordable homes in the town.

The homes are a mix of flats and houses, and keys were handed over by the developers for this to the Orwell Housing Association on Friday, May 24.

The application to build these homes was accepted in 2020 (Image: Google Maps)

Neil Pryke, contracts manager at SEH French, said: “This has been a very successful and rewarding project alongside Orwell Housing to deliver much-needed affordable homes on-time and on-budget.

“The homes have been completed to a great standard and we are proud to hand over the keys and mark the occasion together with the children from Halifax.

"It’s a really nice touch to see off all our hard work."

Students from Halifax Primary School planted a tree to mark the occassion (Image: Paul Nixon Photography)

Halifax Primary School students attended the handover ceremony and planted a tree to mark the occasion.

Their headteacher Mrs Anita Krishna thanked both the developers and the housing association for inviting the children.

“They thoroughly enjoyed playing their part and we look forward to watching the tree blossom from across the road," she added. 

Dawn Edwards, head of development for Orwell Housing Association, said she was “excited” to announce the project’s completion.

She said: “This project is a great example of a brownfield site being brought back into use, while at the same time providing more affordable homes in the town to help meet the high level of housing need."