Legal & General Affordable Homes has partnered with Essex-based Rose Builders to construct 44 new affordable homes on Hart Road in Thundersley, marking its first foray into net zero carbon housing. This 100% affordable scheme is designed to address the acute local shortage of affordable housing and is closely situated to local amenities to foster community integration.
The project features 35 homes for shared ownership and 9 for affordable rent, including 19 two-bedroom and 25 three-bedroom houses, all with private gardens. The development is set to include new green spaces accessible to the public, and pathways to encourage walking and enhance biodiversity with native planting and a wildflower meadow.
Every home is planned to achieve an EPC A rating, featuring air source heat pumps, solar panels, and EV charging points, aligning with the Future Homes Standard and achieving 90% net zero regulated carbon.
Ben Denton, chief executive at Legal & General Affordable Homes, underscored the challenges in the housing market, saying: “The gap between supply and demand of affordable housing has never been greater, and, as the cost of living is rising, it’s getting more and more difficult to save for a deposit and buy a property outright.
“Our new scheme at Hart Road is solely affordable housing with a mix of affordable rent and Shared Ownership properties built to high sustainability standards, to not only help locals get on the property ladder but also keep costs down in the future.
“We are passionate about building good quality homes in great locations to help people and communities thrive and our latest scheme at Hart Road will go some way in achieving that.”
Sam Brown, development director at Rose Builders, expressed his company’s commitment to the project, said: “Rose is delighted to partner with Legal & General Affordable Homes to address the critical need for affordable housing in Essex.
“This project aligns with our core values of community service and sustainable quality development. We are committed to delivering new homes that not only meet the housing needs of residents but also contribute positively to the environment.
“Rose Builders, a fifth generation family firm, is committed to continuing to deliver excellence in all aspects of building, constructing and delivering new quality homes in Essex.”
Construction is expected to commence soon, with the first homes scheduled to be completed by April 2025.
