Ellisons Solicitors has been instructed by Colchester-based housing association, Colne Housing, to assist with its ongoing ambitious development strategy to provide new, much needed and affordable housing in Essex.

Colne Housing and its development partner, Iceni Homes Limited has successfully negotiated the purchase of in excess of 250 new homes, which will be shared ownership or offered at affordable rents.

Contracts have been exchanged on a number of sites (a total of 240 homes) and the houses will be released to the market in phases between April 2018 and 2020. The sites include; Colchester, Great Chesterford and Stansted and have included working with some big names in construction, including Bloor Homes, Bellway and Kier and the local councils.

Helen Gregory, Operations Director at Colne, said: “Colne Housing is proud of what it continues to achieve by working in partnership with Ellisons and Iceni Homes. The partnership enables us to keep building much needed affordable homes, which meet the needs of people in Essex and Suffolk.”

Philip Roberts, Head of Ellisons’ Commercial Property team, alongside Lauren Philpot, Solicitor and Rachael Watts, Trainee Solicitor, have been working closely with both Colne Housing and Iceni Homes to ensure that the purchase and subsequent development of each site runs smoothly.

Philip Roberts said: “It has been an exciting task for the Ellisons team to work in partnership with Colne Housing and Iceni Homes. The housing shortage is a hot topic both nationally and locally and it is fantastic to see a locally based housing association able to secure local homes for local people.”

Ellisons Solicitors has worked with Colne Housing since its inception in 1973. As a firm we provide a variety of legal services for the property sector including; acquisition of sites for residential development for Developer Clients, contracts conditional on Planning Permission and the acquisition or disposal of all types of Commercial Property. For more information click here.

For more information on the shared ownership scheme provided by Colne Housing, please visit the website www.switchwithcolne.co.uk

For more information on the projects Iceni Homes has been working on and the services it offers please visit the website www.icenihomes.co.uk/projects.html