Former college site set for multi million pound overhaul

New homes are planned for a high profile location in Maidstone, Kent, after an award-winning housebuilder acquired the Senacre College site. Redrow Homes has bought the well-known site on Sutton Road from Kent County Council and plans to build approximately 350 dwellings ranging from one-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom family homes.

Forty per cent of the new properties are to be affordable units and will be developed in conjunction with Redrow's affordable housing partner, Orbit Housing Group, in a mix of rented and shared equity tenure.

The site features some stunning mature trees which are being respected in the new housing layout both to the boundaries and within the site.

In addition to providing social housing, Redrow has also pledged to provide a minimum 2.1 hectares (just over five acres) of open space as well as contributing to off-site highway improvements.

The area purchased already has outline planning consent for housing and, subject to detailed planning permission from Maidstone Borough Council, Redrow hopes to start building work in spring 2009.

Geoff Keer, development director for Redrow Homes (Eastern), said: "These are clearly challenging times for the housebuilding industry, but we are delighted to have acquired this excellent site and to be able to provide homebuyers in Kent with comfortable homes in a fabulous and sought-after area.

"It will be a development built for modern life in the 21st century and will suit a wide-range of homebuyers. The development will be built to comply with the Government's requirements for ‘Code 3' in terms of sustainability and the new homes will feature solar power renewable energy systems, low-use water management systems and low energy use fittings.

"The extensive mix of private sale new homes, together with the rented and shared ownership element of the scheme, means there will be a range of house types to suit all needs and budgets. The Senacre redevelopment will be a major contribution to Maidstone's housing stock and will help ensure a diverse and fully inclusive community.

"We are always on the look out for quality new sites to develop so we can continue to expand the company's portfolio of family homes, first time buyer properties and contemporary city centre schemes."

Redrow's properties in the East of England are among thousands of new homes built each year across England, Scotland and Wales. The Eastern office, in Basildon, Essex, currently manages developments in Ashford and Tonbridge, in Kent; Colchester, Heybridge and Loughton, in Essex and at Ipswich, Suffolk.

For information, log on to Redrow.co.uk.