Southend Fossetts Way flat-pack homes work to resume

In June last year, the Guinness Partnership confirmed that work on the 131 new half-pack homes on Fossetts Way had “paused” after its building partner, Ilke Homes, plunged into administration. 

No work has taken place since and the site has become a “ghost housing estate” since consisting of half-built homes surrounded by scaffolding. 

Yesterday, Guinness told the Echo that construction will resume in “early summer and in the meantime, the homes have been protected from adverse weather conditions”.

CGI - Meadow Grange (Image: The Guinness Partnership)

Daniel Cowan, Southend Council Labour leader, said: “It is good news that The Guinness Partnership is intending to complete the project.

“In terms of more housing, this is certainly needed but also, no one wants to see a ghost housing estate with half completed homes just left there in limbo.

“The fact the firm believes it can get on site in the summer is good news.

“Also, this is going to be a huge relief for so many people, not only for the community and those looking to find a property in Southend, but it is going to be a relief for those who have already sorted finances to what is going to be their dream home.

“I am really happy for the city of Southend that we are going to have a completed housing project in the future.”

Once open, there will be a collection of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes in a mix of detached, semi-detached and terraced form.

Also, they will be available to buy with shared ownership, which is a scheme that help singletons, couples and families to make the first step into buying a home they could not afford otherwise.

A spokesman for The Guinness Partnership said: “Construction is due to recommence in early Summer.

“In the meantime, the homes have been protected from adverse weather conditions.”

For more information about Meadow Grange, visit: guinnesshomes.co.uk/find-a-home/meadow-grange-southend-on-sea.