THE construction of new council housing in the south of Uttlesford has been made possible thanks to a substantial government grant. Uttlesford District Council has received �225,000 as part of a national payout of more than �122 million to 73 councils acr

THE construction of new council housing in the south of Uttlesford has been made possible thanks to a substantial government grant.

Uttlesford District Council has received �225,000 as part of a national payout of more than �122 million to 73 councils across England.

The money will be put to good use developing a new scheme in Holloway Crescent, Leaden Roding, to provide much-needed council housing for elderly people in the village.

The scheme will comprise of five bungalows for rent, to be built on a piece of council-owned land that was previously used for parking. The total cost of the scheme is estimated to be around �500,000.

Uttlesford District Council applied for funding from the Department for Communities and Local Government in November last year, before learning this week that their application had been successful.

Although the construction process will be conducted in partnership with East Thames Housing Association, once built the council housing will be wholly under the control of the council.

It will be the first time in 20 years the council has been in a position to take sole ownership of a new housing block, rather than operating homes in partnership with a housing association.

Cllr Rod Chamberlain, chair of the community and housing committee, said: "Obtaining this government grant is a great achievement for the council and means we can now progress with our plans for Holloway Crescent.

"Councillors, officers and residents have worked together very closely to develop this scheme and the bungalows which will be built have been designed to provide spacious, modern accommodation for their inhabitants.

"It's very exciting indeed that the council is in a position to be able to create these new homes, and the success the council has had in obtaining this grant is testament to the hard work put in by everyone involved."

Construction of the new bungalows should begin in April; it is anticipated they will all be occupied by March 2011.