Work is beginning this month on more than 100 new homes, to be constructed on former garage sites across Norwich.

The 108 affordable homes, to be built in partnership with Orwell Housing Association, are planned as a mix of flats and houses.

A number of the properties will feature roof-mounted photo-voltaic cells and rainwater harvesting and re-use systems - meaning they meet the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 standard.

The work will be undertaken by construction company ISG Jackson. The firm is already on site at the first of 18 individual projects and the final home of the final project will be handed over by summer 2012.

The largest site is on Bowers Avenue, where seven new houses and eight flats will be built. 12 flats are to be constructed on Exeter Street and a row of six terraced houses built on The Avenues.

The sites are scattered throughout Norwich in different areas, and each site has been designed differently by Orwell to reflect its surroundings and blend seamlessly with nearby properties.

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Norwich City Council’s groundbreaking partnership with the Homes & Communities Agency (HCA) - the government’s housing and regeneration body - is funding the work.

Leader of the council Brenda Arthur said: ”It is really good to see work starting on these homes. The demand for affordable housing is growing and these homes will be built to higher development and environmental standards than most private sector homes.

“During the course of the building work, training opportunities for new apprentices who want to learn construction trades will also be opened up on the sites.

“I’m proud the council is part of this innovative agreement, which gives us the chance to create both high quality lasting affordable housing and better employment prospects in our city.”

Both the HCA and the council have specified local skills must be used during construction of these new homes. By working with Norwich-based Construction Training Specialist, which trains and places apprentices for the industry, and the Norfolk Construction Forum, made up of industry experts, between six and ten apprenticeships will be created. In particular, there is a focus on apprenticeships for local young people who may be new to construction.

Mike Goulding, HCA area manager for Norfolk said: “Jobs and homes go hand in hand, so it’s really important that we make sure there’s provision for the local job market as part of this project.

"We are also delighted that the housing is underway as it’s an important part of the overall £8 million regeneration plan for Norwich.”

Norwich City Council was the first council in the country to enter into a strategic partnership with the HCA. The HCA invested £8 million into Norwich and the city council invested a number of sites for new homes around the city, which are being jointly developed. More than 1300 new homes and hundreds of new jobs are expected to be created over the next decade.

(GK)