AN innovative new 'home zone' scheme could soon transform a derelict depot in Lowestoft.Plans to build 28 houses on the former Essex and Suffolk Water land at St Margaret's Road have been on display at an exhibition was held at Lowestoft Town Hall.

AN innovative new 'home zone' scheme could soon transform a derelict depot in Lowestoft.

Plans to build 28 houses on the former Essex and Suffolk Water land at St Margaret's Road have been on display at an exhibition was held at Lowestoft Town Hall.

And with the proposed residential redevelopment of the former depot site coming under scrutiny, an outline planning application for the scheme will be submitted to Waveney District Council 'in the coming weeks.'

The site was formerly used by Essex and Suffolk Water as an operational site consisting of an above ground tanked reservoir, storage depot and associated buildings.

Measuring 1.167 acres, the majority of the site was cleared after becoming non-operational, but still today a few of the original buildings remain - including the former depot storage building.

With Savills acting on behalf of Essex and Suffolk Water, the associate director for the planning department at Savills, Andrew Hodgson, exclusively told The Journal: 'Essex & Suffolk Water is committed to the delivery of high quality redevelopment schemes on their sites, which are identified as being surplus to operational requirements.

'The St Margaret's Road site was identified as being one of these surplus sites and as it is situated within an existing residential area, a residential redevelopment scheme is considered to be the most appropriate option for this site.

'The innovative 'home zone' layout has been formulated by Urban Designers at Savills to meet both the planning requirements of Waveney District Council and the objectives of the water company's own 'Good Moves initiative' which sets out how its surplus sites should be redeveloped to leave a high quality sustainable development rather than just delivering a 'standard' housing scheme.'

The development is proposed to be predominantly two-storey consisting of possibly two-and-a-half storeys as well. The proposal will include 41 car parking spaces, and will link with Royal Avenue and Sussex Road routes providing pedestrian and cycle access for the site.