THE FIRST brick has been laid on the project to create flats for some of the district’s key workers.
The Warwick House building is a former headquarters of Stratford District Council but has remained empty for a number of years.
In December 2014, Orbit Homes put forward proposals to create 82 one- and two-bedroom flats at the site and the scheme was given the go-ahead just over six months later.
Orbit completed the purchase of the office building in January of this year and will manage the new accommodation while Stratford Town Trust is set to retain the freehold.
Work to knock down the existing building – on the corner of the Birmingham Road and Clopton Road – began in February.
And to mark the start of construction phase, Orbit and Stratford Town Trust were joined on site by partners Deeley Construction and ABD Developments recently.
Located in close proximity to the hospital and town centre, the apartments will be initially marketed to key workers employed in public services.
It is hoped the partnership will allow those such as teachers and NHS staff to privately rent in the town at a reasonable price.
Orbit director Adam Cooper said: “The apartments have been designed to a high quality and having seen a strong interest in the new homes over the last few months, the building is already an aspirational place to live in Stratford town centre.”
The project is scheduled for completion in summer 2017 and when the building re-opens it will be known as Fordham House.
The new name was suggested by Joan McFarlane and is designed to reflect the site’s history as the former location of Flowers Ales’ brewery, which was founded by Edward Fordham Flower in 1831.
She said: “Watching the laying of the foundations and marking the start of the construction of these new homes was an honour. “Having suggested the name Fordham House, it was an absolute delight to play a further role in the development’s history.”
And Martin Gallagher, managing director of Deeley Construction, added: “The demolition has gone to plan and work can now kick-start on the creation of Fordham House, which will be a landmark building for Stratford.”
