Construction work has begun on 212 new homes in Upton Park in Northampton’s south west district, supported by Homes England.
The scheme, being built by Morris Homes, will form part of a wider 860 home development being overseen by the government’s housing agency, which has already invested £77m into infrastructure for the project including roads and parkland.
The mixture of apartments and two-, three- and four-bedroom houses will be joined by an expected further 1,400 houses at Upton Lodge, thereby delivering over 2,200 new homes for people in Northampton.
Stephen Kinsella, executive director for land at Homes England said: ‘The start on site at Upton Park marks the beginning of a new neighbourhood for Northampton.
‘The development will offer a range of homes to meet the needs of local people, building on the success of the new community at Upton.’
It is expected that the first phase of homes at Upton Park will be available for purchase or rent by spring of next year.
Homes England is currently seeking planning permission from Northampton Borough Council to build on the Upton Lodge site.
The Upton Park and Upton Lodge developments will sit alongside almost 1,000 homes which have already been built in Upton, a former hamlet now part of Northampton proper.
Martin O’Toole, regional managing director (Eastern) for Morris Homes, said: ‘We are delighted to be working with Homes England on this new phase of development in the village of Upton.
‘The Upton Park development will be a welcome addition to Northampton, and we are looking forward to it opening during summer 2019.’
Cllr James Hill, cabinet member for planning on Northampton Borough Council said it is ‘extremely important’ that the council supports the delivery of much-needed new housing in Northampton, particularly affordable housing.
Cllr Hill added: ‘These sites have been identified in our Local Plan as being appropriate for housing and we will continue to work with developers to ensure high-quality schemes are brought forward in a timely fashion.’