Eastlight Community Homes and Rose Builders get to work building 18 affordable homes in Whatfield Road, Elmsett, between Ipswich and Hadleigh

Residents and councillors were granted a glimpse of a new housing project set to redevelop an ‘eyesore’ site in a Suffolk village.

Work on 18 affordable homes in Whatfield Road, Elmsett, began last month, with attendees given the chance to meet the team behind the project at a bricklaying ceremony on July 9.

The properties will be run by Essex-based Eastlight Community Homes and are currently being built by Rose Builders.

According to Andrew Allocca, Eastlight’s head of development delivery, the new homes will be built to exceed standards and be as sustainable as possible, in line with the firm’s development design guide.

Eastlight worked closely with local authorities to design the project, which it said had been ‘eagerly awaited’ by residents since 2018 due to the site being an eyesore.

Mr Allocca said the event allowed the firm to highlight and celebrate the ‘small but significant development’.

The project was supported via a £974,000 grant from Homes England, Mr Allocca said.

He said: “Our goal here is to address the pressing local housing need within Suffolk, and we chose Elmsett because of its unique potential to deliver a fully affordable scheme that local residents both want and need.

“Throughout this process, we have engaged in extensive communications and consultations with the local authority and parish councils.”

This included officials from both Elmsett Parish Council and Babergh District Council.

He said engagement was crucial to building better relationships in communities and ensuring plans aligned with their needs.

“This engagement has been crucial in building better relationships in our communities and ensuring our plans align with their needs and aspirations.

“By working closely with residents, we have tailored our approach to ensure the scheme delivers real and lasting benefits now and for generations to come,” Mr Allocca added.

As part of the project, the team built a new road to connect the site with Shrubland Nurseries, located at the back of the development.

Shrubland Nurseries is run by husband-and-wife duo Bill and Gill Stitt.

Gill said they were really impressed with the development so far, having welcomed the opportunity to visit the site.

“We very much appreciate the help we’ve had from Rose Builders in continuing to access our nursery,”

Justyn French, project director at Rose Builders, said the event was a fantastic opportunity to gather those involved in bringing the project to life.

Mr French added: “The site perfectly exemplifies how Eastlight reinvests every pound into providing urgently needed affordable homes across the East of England, in a way that respects the environment and enhances how people want to live now and in the future.”