West Suffolk Council welcomes Barley Homes Limited’s plans to build new homes in West Suffolk in Rougham and Great Barton, near Bury St Edmunds, and Mildenhall

A district council has welcomed new plans to build homes in West Suffolk.

West Suffolk Council’s housing development company Barley Homes Limited has now published its latest business plan which will see work begin in 2025 on a new site in the district.

Through the plan, the company will be facilitating the delivery of 13 homes (with planning permission) on sites it currently owns, with a further 80 homes at planning submission stage and 145 at a pre-planning stage.

A total of 63 homes have been delivered by Barley Homes and £2.1 million of income has been created, which is used to help support services.

The company is now focusing on preparation and the securing of land for development of a number of pipeline sites, including the next development in Rougham starting next year.

The development brief for the Triangle Site in Great Barton has been submitted and approved.

New plans also include working with a local registered provider on the College Heath Road site in Mildenhall in delivering a scheme that will help address local housing.

Although not all of the planned housing may come to fruition, multiple sites large enough for 156 homes are being explored as part of an ‘opportunities pipeline’.

This ongoing viable development pipeline enables Barley Homes to continue to utilise the agreed £14.25 million investment fund which then provides financial returns to the council through loan interest receipts and dividend payments following house sales.

Cllr Richard O’Driscoll, cabinet member for housing for West Suffolk Council, said: “Barley Homes Limited is a part of the wider jigsaw of how we provide affordable, available and decent homes.

“It plays a vital role in helping build homes, and as in Haverhill, rejuvenate plots that had been an eyesore before.

“It also brings millions of pounds of income for the council to support services and will help deliver our new Housing, Homelessness Reduction and Rough Sleeping Strategy.

“The challenges and downturn in building is a national problem and Barley Homes is planning accordingly making sure not only are we clear and confident on what we can deliver but working on a pipeline of other projects and on ambitions for building a higher performing development portfolio.

Cllr O’Driscoll added: “Finding the land, getting the necessary permissions, building and then selling the homes all takes time, which is why there are times when the company may not be building and will make its income as houses are sold.

“This is all included in the business plan and as opportunities arise they will be included.”