Development begins in Dogsthorpe

Development begins in Dogsthorpe

Work has begun to transform a brownfield site in Dogsthorpe into a 200 home development.

The site of the former John Mansfield School was acquired earlier this year by leading local housing association Cross Keys Homes (CKH) as part of their plans to bring more affordable homes to Peterborough. Working with national homebuilders, Keepmoat Homes, CKH will provide 81 homes available for affordable rent and shared ownership.

Today, representatives from CKH and Keepmoat Homes met with Mayor Palmer of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority and Councillor John Holdich, leader of Peterborough City Council, to discuss the plans for the site and the ongoing need to invest in affordable housing in the city and wider region.

Claire Higgins, Chief Executive of Cross Keys Homes, said: “We’ve been building new homes in Peterborough for over ten years now, so we understand the challenges of acquiring land and delivering great homes that people can afford to live happily in.

“Over the years we’ve been able to expand our development programme across the region and for the first time will this year be delivering more than 500 homes a year – both in Peterborough and beyond. Visiting the site today has been a fantastic opportunity for us to keep the conversation about affordable housing going.”

Mayor James Palmer of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, said: “Ensuring we have enough affordable homes to meets the need of our local community is critically important. From the very start, I have had a firm focus on accelerating house building rates to meet local and UK need.

“The investments we have already made in a range of different housing schemes – from affordable housing in Peterborough to Community Land Trusts in Haddenham – shows that we are prepared to in invest in the right solutions delivered by the right partners to tackle this issue head on.”

Keepmoat Homes will go on to deliver more than 120 further homes on the site which will be available for outright sale.

Mick O’Farrell, Regional Managing Director for Keepmoat Homes in the South, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Peterborough City Council and Cross Keys Homes on this exciting transformation, which will re-generate and bring new life to this previously derelict site.

“It’s been wonderful for all partners to come together and for us to be joined by Councillor John Holditch OBE and Mayor Palmer to celebrate the start of work on a new neighbourhood for Dogsthorpe that will support and grow the local community here.

“Keepmoat has a number of developments in Peterborough and is committed to regenerating areas and bringing new homes to people across the city. We plan to build 700 homes in Peterborough over the next 6 years.”

Councillor John Holdich OBE, Leader of Peterborough City Council, said: “We are actively working with our partners to provide quality affordable accommodation across the city, such as this exciting new development which I look forward to seeing completed.

“Peterborough is one of the fastest growing cities in the country and our challenge is to meet this high demand for properties with new accommodation. We have several plans in the pipeline which we will work to deliver over the coming years.”