29 July 2014
Work on constructing ten custom build homes has begun on a former garage site in Walthamstow, North London.
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Circle Thirty Three Housing Trust, part of the Circle Housing Group, is delivering a mix of two, three and four-bedroom two-storey homes, designed by Jon Broome Architects. Contractor Kind & Co is building the shells in timber construction and the basic fitting out will be undertaken by self builders.
The project has evolved through campaigning by the Headway Self Build Group – formed by John Struthers, a local resident who become aware that the site had long been earmarked for a project such as this. Headway enlisted the help of the Community Self Build Agency to persuade the owners, Circle, and the local authority to support a scheme. Circle agreed to include the project in their affordable homes programme.
Three design options were considered: one grouped the houses facing into a shared open space; another had a small private patio at the back with a shared open space beyond; and, the third option had houses grouped around a cul-de-sac with conventional front and back gardens – the latter was preferred by Headway.
The original design included solar hot water heating but this was omitted in preference to PV panels at the contractor’s suggestion.
Members of Headway attended a training course at the local college and are about to start the custom build fit out stage under supervision from the contractor.
