Progress continues towards the delivery of 1500 new homes at the Severalls Hospital site in Colchester, Essex, following detailed approval of plans for the first phase of 248 homes at the Colchester Borough Council Planning Committee.

The former NHS hospital is jointly owned by the North Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), the national housing and regeneration agency. The 248 homes will be the first on the site which has previously stalled.

Mike Goulding, Area Manager for the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) said: "Following the downturn in the housing market, the economy and subsequently cuts to the public purse, we had our work cut out to get this site moving."

In the absence of a housing developer, the joint landowners firstly had to find a funding mechanism to deliver the infrastructure of roads and schools needed to serve a housing development of this size and then complete subsequent work to design the homes and prepare the planning application to enable the first phase to be delivered.

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Mr Goulding added: "We were disappointed that plans for the first phase of approximately 250 homes were deferred by the planning committee in March requesting that further work was undertaken on a number of areas.

"However, we've been working solidly with the local authority and the local community since then to find a solution regarding these matters of interest. It’s crucial to make sure that we have both the views of the community as well as the right delivery model to attract a developer. We are delighted to have been able to reach a solution that is appropriate and meets the needs of the local community."

The homes will consist of thirty 1 and 2 bedroom apartments, seventy two 2 bedroom houses, ninety six 3 bedroom houses and fifty 4 bedroom houses. Approximately twenty five percent will be available to those on the housing needs list. The homes will be a contemporary take on the traditional 'Essex' house design.

Andrew Geldard, Chief Executive, North Essex Partnership NHS Trust added: "I am very pleased at the progress we're making, it’s really great news. This land belongs to the NHS and its legacy must help patient care, especially in today's financial climate, and we've taken another big step forward towards achieving this."

The selection process for a developer is underway. Homes could start on site late 2011.

(CD)