THE illustration here offers the first view of what a new �2.75m housing development, proposed for north Lowestoft, will look like.

Waveney District Council gave its approval last month to an application by Orbit Homes (2020) to transform the former waterworks site in St Margaret's Road by building 17 houses and 12 flats as part of a so-called Home Zone scheme.

Building work will be done by affordable housing specialist Lovell and will get under way next month.

Orbit says the development has been drawn up to address the high levels of affordable housing needed in the north of the town.

The 29 energy-efficient houses and flats will be offered for rent and shared ownership through the housing association.

Designed by architects at Ingleton Wood, the project will comprise nine two-bedroom and three-bedroom houses for shared ownership, plus eight two, three and four-bedroom houses and 12 one and two-bedroom flats for social rent. Work is due to be completed in May next year.

The Journal reported last month that the site had been designated as a Home Zone scheme, defined in planning documents as involving an area where pedestrians and cyclists have priority over motor vehicles and where there are good-quality shared spaces for play.

In 2004, there were protests when a similar scheme was created a short distance away in Cambridge Road and Oxford Road.

Orbit said this week that the properties would be 44 per cent more energy-efficient than housing built to current building regulations. Sustainable features would include photovoltaic panels that used sunlight to generate electricity. Homes would be built using a thin joint construction method that resulted in less waste and delivered high levels of insulation.

'We are delighted to be able to provide much-needed affordable housing in Lowestoft, which we believe will fit in well with the existing residential area and community,' said Orbit's assistant development director, Paul Bonnett.

'This is an excellent example of how partnership working can produce a fit-for-purpose development of affordable, mixed-tenure homes.'

Lovell business development manager Peter Graves said: 'We have extensive experience of building housing which delivers on national requirements for sustainability and carbon reduction, helping reduce energy bills for residents whilst also providing them with high-quality, well-designed homes. We are delighted to be continuing our strong working partnership with Orbit to create this new development and are committed to working closely with residents, the housing association and the community throughout.'