£21m land deal to create homes bid
A £21 million deal to build more than 100 homes on eight acres of redundant hospital land in Shrewsbury has been struck.
Plans are due to be expected imminently for the former Royal Shrewsbury Hospital South site in Mytton Oak Road after The Homes and Communities Agency and CALA Homes (Midlands) exchanged contracts for the development.
CALA will apply for detailed planning permission this month to build 112 one, two, three, four and five-bedroom homes on the site.
The deal, subject to planning approval, sees the national housing and regeneration agency and the housebuilder working together on the 7.89 acre brownfield site.
Wrekin Housing Trust will also be involved with the project which will feature 32 affordable homes as well as public open space and a children's play area.
CALA Homes plans to start building on site in the middle of next year, with the first new homes ready for occupation in early 2011.
Paul Spooner, regional director for the HCA West Midlands, said: "Through close partnership work with our development partner CALA Homes and the local authority we are delighted to support this high quality development that will help to address the local need for more affordable homes."
CALA Homes (Midlands) decision to purchase the land follows a strong performance, with sales running at more than one new home per week on each of its developments.
"Thanks to our brand and reputation for building quality new homes, we continue to sell strongly on our developments across the Midlands and we feel that the time is now right to start acquiring land again for future developments," said Darren Humphreys, managing director.
"We will build architect-designed, spacious and attractive family homes, which we know will appeal to people already living in the Copthorne area, and those looking to relocate there."
Matt Gallagher, land director for CALA, said the purchase was part of the company's strategy to replenish its land bank in the region.
By Russell Roberts
