Colchester City Council has secured seven three-bedroom homes off Berechurch Hall Road, transforming properties originally intended for private sale into affordable housing for local families in need.
These homes will be allocated to households currently in urgent need of housing – offering the stability and security of a permanent home. Each property will be let at an affordable rent, capped at the Local Housing Allowance (LHA), ensuring they remain accessible to those who need them most.
This initiative is part of our wider commitment to deliver 290 additional affordable rented homes by 2030, helping to tackle the housing shortage and provide high-quality, energy-efficient homes for local families.
We also work with local developers and housing providers to deliver other forms of affordable housing, including properties for rent at below-market rates and homes for sale at a discount – often designed to help first-time buyers get onto the property ladder. Our goal is to make housing more accessible for local people who might otherwise struggle to find a safe, secure place to live.
Currently, around 2,500 households are on the waiting list for an affordable rented home, and more than 450 households are in temporary accommodation. While seven homes won’t solve the housing crisis overnight, every step counts - and this development will make a real difference for our community.
Councillor Julie Young, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing, said: “These homes will make a huge difference to families who need them most, and it shows our determination to keep Colchester a place where everyone belongs. The housing crisis is real, but small steps like this add up and help us move forward.”
Working closely with Colchester Borough Homes, we have a strong track record of delivering affordable homes. Recent developments at Silver Band Close, Veronica Walk, and Hedge Drive, provided 23 homes, including houses, bungalows, maisonettes, and flats.
As part of our ongoing commitment, we are currently consulting on plans for an affordable housing development on Military Road. The proposal aims to deliver 28 affordable homes, including family houses, wheelchair-accessible properties, and one- and two-bedroom homes. We invite residents to have their say and help shape the design and community features of this development.
Find out more and take part in the consultation here: 72–86 Military Road Affordable Housing Development
By working with developers, utilising council land, acquiring properties from the open market and acting decisively, we are turning challenges into opportunities and delivering on our promise to make sure everyone in Colchester has a place to call home.