Redrow Homes is to invest over £6 million in community facilities as part of a new housing development in Essex.

The housebuilder has outline planning permission to build up to 750 new homes on a 36-hectare site at Lodge Farm in Witham.

'The Mulberries' development will benefit from a new primary school, an enterprise centre and various allotments, while 30% of the new homes will be made 'affordable'.

The overall local Witham area is to receive an extra £4.8m for education, £480,000 for transport, £350,000 for a community hall, £246,000 for healthcare, £225,000 towards sports and £20,000 for town centre improvements.


Carl Atkinson, land director for Redrow Homes (Eastern), said: "We're about more than just building new homes, we aim to create new communities with improved facilities, that benefit both new and existing residents.

"For example in Witham, land is allocated for a new primary school with early years childcare facilities. An enterprise centre will be created on up to two hectares of land, plus there'll be open space with play areas and allotments.

"We'll also be investing more than £6 million into the local area. The lion's share of that funding will be allocated to education, but we'll also be contributing to health care, transport and cycle improvements, a community hall and sports facilities."

The first homes at 'The Mulberries' are due to be available in early 2017.

(LM/CD)