Needham Market regeneration to continue following sale of former council offices

The sale has been agreed of the remainder of the former Mid Suffolk District Council office site in Needham Market to Hatch Homes.

The council’s ambitious vision of the regeneration of the town has already seen the award-winning conversion of the town’s former middle school site to include a mix of affordable housing for rent and purchase for local residents, as well as the retention of the Victorian former school building as a new library.

The council also successfully delivered the first phase of the transformation of its former council office site – creating 32 homes, including further affordable housing, plus a new retail unit, which the Co-op moved into in 2023.

The second phase of the project was due to include a further 48 homes for open market and the redevelopment of grade II listed Hurstlea House into apartments.

But when the council’s development partner took a step back from the project the remainder of the site went onto the open market in a bid to find an alternative developer.

Mid Suffolk District Council confirmed this week that Hatch Homes has now stepped in to deliver the site in line with current planning consent.

Mid Suffolk District Council’s cabinet member for Housing and Property Richard Winch said: “We’re delighted that Hatch Homes can take on this project. They have a proven track record of creating high quality and distinctive homes that are sensitive to their environment, and we look forward to seeing the delivery of the promised homes alongside the sympathetic conversion of Hurstlea House.

“As an added bonus, receipts from the sale of the land can also now be reinvested into projects which help us to improve the standards of our council housing across our district.”

Hatch Homes managing director Jack Pointer added: “This redevelopment represents a key milestone for Hatch Homes and an exciting opportunity to deliver sustainable growth through the creation of high-quality new homes in Needham Market, helping address the ongoing demand for well-designed housing in the area.

“Bringing forward this scheme for redevelopment allows us to transform a long-vacant and declining brownfield site into a positive residential scheme that will reinvigorate this part of the town.

“We are looking forward to working collaboratively with the council and the local community to deliver a development that not only provides much-needed homes, but also enhances the character, vitality and long-term sustainability of the area.”

Thomas Higgins, the associate in the development team at Savills, in Chelmsford, which advised Mid Suffolk District Council on the sale of the site and finalised the deal with Hatch Homes, said: “The development represents an exciting opportunity to deliver sustainable growth in the shape of high quality residential use in a popular town centre location, and will significantly contribute to the supply of much-needed new homes in the local area.

“We had strong interest in the site from a number of parties, but from the outset Hatch Homes demonstrated a capacity to meet the requirements of the council, and we’re delighted the agreement has now been finalised.

“It’s been a great project to be involved in and we look forward to seeing how the plans come to fruition.”

Work is expected to begin on site next month, with completion expected by 2029.