Mayor lays first brick for affordable new homes in Epsom

Orbit has begun laying the foundations for 30 new affordable homes on the site of a former council block of flats and shops in Hollymoor Lane, Epsom.

Orbit has begun laying the foundations for 30 new affordable homes on the site of a former council block of flats and shops in Hollymoor Lane, Epsom.

The 40,000-home housing association joined development partners Epsom & Ewell Borough Council and contractor United Living on site to mark the milestone event.

Once complete, the development will offer two five-bedroom houses, four four-bedroom houses, three three-bedroom houses and 21 two-bedroom flats.

Twenty of the homes will be available for rent and ten for shared ownership (part buy, part rent), with one of the flats designed to provide full wheelchair access. A small retail space will also be provided and occupied by long-serving lessees Mr and Mrs Patel.

Shina Olalekan, deputy head of development at Orbit said: “This project is a testament to the hard work and commitments Orbit, Epsom & Ewell Borough Council and United Living have demonstrated to provide much-needed affordable homes in the area and I look forward to seeing the vision come to life in the months ahead.”

Mayor for Epsom & Ewell Borough Council, Councillor Liz Frost said: “This development offers new flats and houses comprising of state of the art design for accessible living, providing our residents with homes that will transform the way in which they live their lives.

“None of this would be possible without the strong partnership that we have established with Orbit. Their approach to giving the community a development to be proud of, and in managing what has been at times a very difficult project, has been exemplary.”

Stuart Laird, chief operating officer at United Living said: “We are delighted to be working with Orbit on this important local project. Working together we will deliver much needed, high quality housing to local people. The result will be an exciting contemporary new-build scheme that residents will be proud to call home.”