A HOUSING development has reached a major milestone.

A mix of one, two and three-bedroom flats are being built on the site behind Portslade Town Hall in Victoria Road, Portslade.

Brighton and Hove City Council say the development of 42 new council homes is part of its work to provide more low-cost housing in the city.

All the homes will be let to people on the council’s housing register.

Building work started earlier this year and is due to be completed next autumn.

A topping out ceremony, attended by Councillors David Gibson and Sirol Hugh-Jones, co-chairs of the Housing Committee, was held last week to mark the laying of the final beam on top of the structure.

The Argus: Councillors David Gibson and Sirol Hugh-Jones, co-chairs of the Housing CommitteeCouncillors David Gibson and Sirol Hugh-Jones, co-chairs of the Housing Committee

Cllr Gibson said: “It is exciting to see these new council homes becoming a reality.

“This is a groundbreaking project – the homes have been designed to go further than previous projects towards the council’s carbon neutral targets for 2030, including the first ground source heat pumps achieved on a council housing scheme.

“For the first time, we’re carrying out a full carbon assessment on this housing development and we’ll then be able to use the scheme as a benchmark to improve upon for our future council housing developments.

“When the flats are completed next year, the residents can look forward to low energy bills and high-quality homes.”

“As well as high sustainability standards, I am delighted that this innovative project provides a big boost of 42 additional affordable council homes - building on the 200 plus additional homes delivered in our first two years to help address the housing crisis facing low-income households in our city.”

The Victoria Road development will be the first new council housing project in the city with a ground source heat pump system to provide heating and hot water for residents.

There will be a landscaped communal garden for residents with raised planters, trees, a small orchard, seating, and grass amenity space, plus living walls on six elevations of the blocks of flats which will be watered with recycled rainwater.

The scheme will also provide a new civic outdoor space with trees and seating for people using Portslade Town Hall.

The flats are being built on the site of a former housing office and bowls club.

A new sports pavilion has already been built and opened nearby in Victoria Recreation Ground to provide a new home for Portslade Bowls Club.

Guy Hannell, area director for Morgan Sindall Construction, who have been working with the council on the new homes, said: "The topping out ceremony marked an exciting milestone in the Victoria Road project and it was a great opportunity to highlight the many benefits that this site will provide to the local area, both during its construction and once it’s complete.

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