CONSTRUCTION has begun on a 122-home development at an eyesore site in Wickford marking the end of a 12-year long saga.

Plans to build two six-storey blocks with 122 flats and 113 parking spaces in Runwell Road, Wickford, are finally underway.

The site, which has been left empty and surrounded by hoardings for more than a decade, has been subject to a long-running battle between the council and potential developers.

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Basildon Council rejected several proposals for the site, with some schemes as large as 160 homes, before the current plans for 122 homes went before the council in 2020.

This plan was again rejected, however the developer took the council to a government planning inspector appeal in 2021 and won.

The initial bid had been made by Explore Living, but the scheme has since been taken over by Sanctuary, which operates under a not-for-profit umbrella, with surpluses reinvested into the provision of affordable housing.

Rayleigh and Wickford MP Mark Francois joined Sanctuary staff to mark the start of construction on the new development last week at a ground-breaking ceremony.

Mr Francois was given a tour of the Gateway House site and viewed plans for the new development which will provide a mix of one and two-bedroom affordable rent and shared ownership flats.

Bosses behind the scheme say the homes will boast an array of sustainability features, including air source heat pumps.

Mr Francois said: "This semi-abandoned site on the entrance to Wickford, has been an eyesore for years; so, I welcome this exciting new development by Sanctuary to provide more than 100 sustainable new homes, both for rent and sale in my constituency.”

Sanctuary group chief executive Craig Moule added: “We were delighted to welcome Mr Francois to our Gateway House site and see the exciting project we will be delivering.

“The development will deliver a mix of high-quality, affordable, energy-efficient homes for local people.”

The development has received grant funding from Homes England, the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, and is being built by Sanctuary’s appointed contractor Horizon Construction.