Southend-on-Sea Borough Council to deliver 4 units on disused garage sites

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council has reached another significant milestone in its delivery of high-quality affordable housing as its Saxon Gardens project has now begun on site. The Project, being delivered by local Essex based contractor Marfleet and Blythe, will deliver 4 units across 2 disused garage sites in Shoeburyness as part of a wider review of the council’s underused land.

The project will incorporate a range of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) techniques in order to deliver units on a site with challenging vehicular access. Utilising MMC ensures that the council is supporting the enhancement of local MMC skills and is continuing to drive towards its 2030 carbon neutral targets. Two of the units will be built to Zero Carbon standard and consist of a timber frame, whilst the other two units will use a timber frame. All 4 of the units have been designed in consultation with the Council’s Adaptations team and will be accessible and adaptable homes.

Construction began during August 2021 and the main contractor has now completed the ground works and footings on both sites. The project is targeted for practical completion in April 2022.

Other upcoming milestones in development:

In addition to this site, the Council are also perusing a wide range of avenues to increase the quantity and variety of it’s of affordable housing in the borough. Through Phases 3 and 4 of it’s Housing Revenue Account funded works, Southend Borough Council is aiming to build between 38-41 units across 2 further sites in the borough. These projects are currently in consultation and planning stages and will explore opportunities for delivering low carbon homes using renewable energy and enhanced insulation specifications.

A further low-carbon MMC project is also being explored on another site of disused land on Archer Avenue. A contract has been signed to develop this site with ZEDpods which will see shared accommodation modular MMC unit developed on the site.

In order to increase the variety of its Housing offer, the council, in partnership with the Hill foundation, has also just obtained planning permission to build 6 modular dwellings on a Juniper Road garage site which will offer transitional accommodation to rough sleepers. These units will be self-contained MMC units which, alongside a support package from the Salvation Army, will assist the residents to develop their independent living skills before moving onto permeant general housing accommodation.

These projects, alongside the councils Acquisitions portfolio and NSAP purchases (20 purchases with 19 already let), has led to the Council being on track to deliver 41 homes in the 2020/21 year.