The new developments, in Lowestoft and Ilketshall St Lawrence, are part of the Council’s comprehensive programme to deliver vital new housing in East Suffolk for the benefit of local communities.

In Ilketshall St Lawrence, planning approval has been given for 7 new homes, comprising semi-detached houses and bungalows. Planning approval has also been granted for 9 homes on a vacant brownfield site in Stanley Road, Lowestoft. This development comprises seven three-bedroom houses and two one-bedrooms flats.

The properties at both sites will be a mixture of shared ownership, affordable rent, and open market sales.

Cllr Richard Kerry, Cabinet member for Housing, said: “We are committed to providing new high-quality council housing and increasing the number of homes available for people in housing need in East Suffolk. These two new developments will provide a mixture of affordable housing options, including shared ownership properties which allow people to buy a percentage of the property and pay a low-cost rent towards the balance.

“As well as constructing more of our own housing, we are also working with private developers to secure more shared ownership properties and also have a three-year programme dedicated to bringing long-term empty homes back into use.”

In line with the Council’s environmental aspirations, the developments at Ilketshall St Lawrence and Stanley Road will incorporate sustainable design, including air source heat pumps, EV chargers and solar PV panels.

Planning approval was granted at a meeting of the Council’s Planning Committee North on 14 February. Construction is expected to begin on both sites later this year.