Building 47 new homes at Mill Place in Wells-next-the-Sea
Helping to meetthe housing need in Wells
We have started the first phase of delivering this new development of 47 high-quality homes, including 1.5 acres of recreational space, leading off Mill Road in Wells-next-the-Sea.
Through our bespoke Policy Plus Plus approach, we are aiming to help meet the local housing need by delivering a mix of tenures, focusing on affordable and rental properties, as well as smaller homes. You’ll find more detail on our Policy Plus Plus approach here.
Quality, craftsmanship and sustainability will be at the heart of all the homes at Mill Place. The scheme has been designed to complement the character of the local area, with the delivery of traditionally-designed homes that will meet the most up-to-date sustainable requirements.
Location
The site is located on land between Mill Road and Holkham Road. It is adjacent to existing homes on Mill Road, Bases Lane and Westfield Avenue, and covers a total of 15.5 acres.
More details
Quality, craftsmanship and sustainability will be at the heart of all our designs. We are building homes that benefit people who live and work in the local community and, through our Policy Plus Plus approach, 55% of the site will be allocated to local housing provision. This is 20% more than local policy dictates.
We are building 47 homes in a mix of tenures across two phases, including affordable housing, rental properties and private sales. 21 properties (45%) will be affordable and a further five (10%) will be retained for private rent. There will be a mixture of one to five bedroom homes including bungalows, houses and flats.
The visual impact of these homes will be minimised through substantial, habitat-rich planting at the site boundaries, also increasing natural capital. To help answer local demand for smaller, more affordable homes, 88% of the proposed housing mix will be one, two and three bedroom homes. The remaining properties will be a collection of four and five bedroom houses.
The scheme complements the character of the local area, with traditionally-designed homes that fulfil the most up-to-date sustainable requirements. All the properties will benefit from allocated parking that is suitable for the size of each home. Visitor parking will also be included.
In addition to the new homes, our plans includes 1.5 acres of public open space, providing a recreational area for residents and the local community. This provision of new public space will mitigate the impact of the proposed development on the existing recreational area. Where possible, we will protect and enhance existing hedgerows and trees and will also create new wildlife habitats within the development. In addition, we will provide off-site habitat improvements on land to the east of the town. Combined, this proposal will achieve 10% Biodiversity Net Gain.
Convenient and safe vehicular access to the new homes will be via Mill Road, whilst cycle and step-free pedestrian access will be via Holkham Road and Bases Lane, as well as the existing access via Westfield Avenue. A surface and foul water drainage strategy will be implemented, utilising Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS).
Site layout
Timeline of Activity
Please register your interest by completing the form below and we will be in touch soon.
Policy Plus Plus
Policy Plus Plus is our bespoke approach to help meet the housing need in Wells-next-the-Sea. By delivering a mix of tenures, our aim is to go beyond local policy and help provide suitable housing options for people currently living and working in the town.
The town’s popularity amongst holidaymakers has fuelled the purchase of second homes and holiday lets. This has led to an increase in house prices, making it unaffordable for many currently living and working in Wells-next-the-Sea to stay and find a new home.
According to a recent Housing Needs Assessment, there are four key issues with the existing housing mix in Wells-next-the-Sea. These are: a diminishing private rental sector, a need for more affordable rental, the under-occupancy of larger dwellings, and a lack of affordable home ownership products. Policy Plus Plus has been designed to help resolve these issues.
We plan to adopt a Policy Plus Plus approach at our proposed Mill Road site, meaning:
45% of the local housing provision will be affordable housing, including shared ownership, social rent, and intermediate rental options. Intermediate rental is that which should be made available to mid-income households and qualifying occupiers. Intermediate renters are often priced out of the few remaining open-market rental properties but are very unlikely to ever be eligible for social housing.
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Additionally, the Holkham Estate will retain 10% of the homes and rent them out privately, targeting people already living and working in Wells-next-the-Sea
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This means that 55% of the proposed new homes will be allocated to local housing provision
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The proportion of homes proposed for private sale is just 45%.
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By including affordable housing, intermediate rental properties and retaining some homes for private rent, as well as a mix of homes available on the open market, we are confident that our proposed development will help to meet the current housing need in Wells-next-the-Sea.
“We will be a force for good in helping local communities to thrive, by providing employment, homes, and support for local businesses and charities.”
One of Holkham’s five ambitions