MMC begins £16m Forest of Dean scheme

DEVELOPER MMC2 Land & Regeneration has awarded a £16m contract to Kier Partnership Homes (Kier) to develop the first phase of its major mixed-use schemes planned for the market town of Lydney in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire.

Kier will build 53 new homes which will be available on the open market and a further 80 affordable homes, which will be owned and managed by Wolverhampton-based social housing landlord Bromford Group, which is investing half of the £10m cost of building the properties. The remaining £5m for the social housing element is being provided by the taxpayer-funded regeneration body, Homes & Communities Agency (HCA).

Heywood-based MMC2 is executive developer of the 49 acre Lydney development, which is near to the Federal Mogul foundry.

The developer said that it has planning permission to redevelop a total of 10 acres of land in the area to create 600 new homes, employment spaces and new parks. It said the first phase of the scheme would deliver around 150 jobs in addition to the new homes, a new roundabout and a dedicated new spine road into the site.

Mark Russell, managing director of MMC2 Land and Regeneration, said: “I’m delighted to confirm MMC’s partnership with Kier and Bromford. This shows that we mean business and are forging ahead with this vital scheme for Lydney.

“Working alongside the HCA, we are now on-site and working hard to build these much-needed homes. Once construction is in full swing, there will be around 150 jobs created, providing a real boost to the local economy.

David Warburton, the HCA’s head of area, said: “It’s great news that work to provide much needed affordable housing in Lydney has now started.

“The Forest of Dean is not alone in having high demand for affordable housing, but the effects this can have on local communities can have negative impacts and force people to move away from areas because they cannot access a home.

“As well as helping to address this, the HCA’s investment is also helping to safeguard or create local apprenticeships.”

Bromford chief executive Mick Kent said: “We’re very proud to be working with the HCA, MMC and Kier on this key regeneration project and pleased the hard work is now starting to pay off.

“Our own investment of £5million to match the £5million received from the HCA reflects Bromford’s long-term commitment to improving the quality of life for people in the Forest of Dean and the rest of Gloucestershire.”