THE first resident at Colchester Council’s newly-built Creffield Road properties has moved into their home.

Elizabeth Peacock, who moved from Clacton, is the owner of a new one-bedroom apartment in the former listed Victorian villa.

Ms Peacock was welcomed at the property and given a bouquet of flowers and a celebratory bottle of Champagne from Amphora Homes, Colchester Council’s commercial housing company.

The villa was converted into six apartments, alongside the construction of two three-storey townhouses within the property’s grounds.

Ms Peacock had expressed her excitement: “I’m thrilled with my new apartment and, as I work in Colchester, I am delighted to be able to walk to work every day and enjoy Lexden with all the town centre facilities on my doorstep.”

Read more >> Contractors begin work on converting Victorian villa into apartments

Work on the project started last July and was finished in less than a year.

Just one apartment remains available through Chewton Rose, while two of the six remain in council ownership to support local housing needs.

The property is part of Amphora Homes’ first phase of work to deliver 350 new homes across the borough by 2024. This is the first development to have reached market and all profits will be returned to Colchester Council for reinvestment into its core services.

Adrian Pritchard, managing director of Colchester Commercial, said: “Well done to the team at Amphora Homes for this outstanding redevelopment of what had become a shabby and derelict property.

“The council will reap high rewards from our partnership with CAHL, ensuring a commercial turnover that will sustain vital council services over the challenging economic months ahead.”

For more information visit: www.amphora-homes.co.uk