Construction work has started on a new housing development on the outskirts of Ipswich.
Bellway Essex is building 190 homes in Whitton, on a 25-acre site off Old Norwich Road which will be known as Ridley’s Orchard, in tribute to the Ridley family’s apple orchards which were founded on land in Whitton.
The developer is to deliver 123 homes to be sold privately and 67 properties to be provided as affordable housing for rent or shared ownership.
Bellway will also create a large area of public open space and a children’s play area within the site.
Richard Burrows, managing director of Bellway Essex, said: “We have liaised closely with Mid Suffolk District Council over our plans for this development and are ready to start the process of delivering much-needed new housing to the area. Bellway is to deliver a mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes for the private market alongside affordable properties allocated for local people. The homes on offer should appeal to first-time buyers and growing families amongst others, while all the properties will be from our Artisan Collection – a range of designs which combine traditional craftsmanship with the latest construction techniques and which were created using years of customer feedback. We have named the development Ridley’s Orchard as a nod to the apple orchards which are part of the history of the area. This is testament to the fact that that we are building a brand-new community in a way that embraces the rural setting and its heritage. The site is just two miles from Ipswich so offers the best of both worlds by providing a countryside location but remaining within easy striking distance of the town centre and transport links to London for commuters. Work is progressing well at the site and we are hoping to be able to launch by the end of the year. There is a high level of interest in the development and we expect this to continue and increase once we can welcome visitors onto the site.”