Handford Homes, Ipswich Borough Council’s housebuilding company, has marked another key milestone in the construction of 26 new homes at its Hawke Road development.
A topping out ceremony has taken place on the former Diesco site today (Tuesday 27 May), celebrating significant progress on the homes built by Gipping Construction Ltd and designed by Ipswich based architects Barefoot & Giles.
The development will create a mix of housing and flats to suit families, couples and individuals, from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom houses. One of the flats is fully wheelchair accessible, with all the homes able to be easily adapted for wheelchair users in future. Once completed, the homes will be handed over to the Council, supporting the Council’s ambitions of delivering more affordable housing in the borough.
All the properties will benefit from solar panels and high-quality insulation, with access to electric vehicle (EV) charging points. Green space and landscaping are central to the development’s design, with existing trees retained where possible.
The development will also incorporate the current recreation area with a new ‘gas works’ ‘themed’ play area designed to reflect the area’s industrial heritage. Designed by the Council’s parks team, the new play space which focuses on imagination and inclusivity will feature dedicated zones for children aged 0 to 14 within a landscaped space that includes seating and pathways.
Councillor Alasdair Ross, Ipswich Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Housing, said:
“This year we’ve seen excellent progress from Handford Homes in helping us to deliver more affordable housing for Ipswich, and it’s fantastic to see this development on Hawke Road nearing completion adding to the number of quality homes available for people with a local connection.
“The former industrial site has stood empty for a number of years, so it’s positive to see the disused area being resurrected into a vibrant new neighbourhood in southeast Ipswich.
“I’m especially looking forward to the gasworks-themed play area — a thoughtful tribute to the site’s history and a fantastic new asset for the community.”
Colin Kreidewolf, Chair of Handford Homes, said:
“We’ve carefully designed this environmentally friendly development to support both the wellbeing of residents and the surrounding natural environment. Each home features high-quality insulation and a good-sized garden, while the wider development includes generous green spaces, extensive planting, and biodiversity-friendly features such as hedgehog highways between properties.
“From thoughtful environmental measures to vibrant play and recreational spaces, to dedicated parking for residents as well as spaces for visitors, this new development is set to become a thriving, family-friendly community.”