A housing developer has released the first computer-generated images of its development on Forster Country in Stevenage.
Miller Homes are building 396 homes on the site, now named Forster Park, with approximately 400 further homes to be constructed by Bellway, a separate developer.
The first properties from Miller Homes are expected to be available for sale before the end of this year, and a ground-breaking ceremony was held last month.
The development has proved controversial, and the Friends of Forster Country group sought to stop development on the land. It received the support of actress Emma Thompson and hundreds of local residents.
Forster Country lies within the St Nicholas Conservation Area and includes author EM Forster's childhood home Rooks Nest House, Grade I-listed St Nicholas Church and Grade II-listed The Bury.
Alastair Parsons, area sales director for Miller Homes Midlands, said: “With work now under way at Forster Park, we are keen to show both Stevenage residents and prospective customers alike what our homes are going to look like at the development, well in advance of releasing them for sale onto the market.
“The images we have released to the public demonstrate how our first phase of homes will look, featuring a contemporary style of new build housing, marking a distinct area of the site.
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"Future phases will also have a recognisable design theme running through them, becoming more traditional in style as we near EM Forster’s family home, something we’ve worked hard to achieve as part of our planning consent for the development.
“One of our principal design features is to create a sense of arrival for people when entering the development, which we’re implementing by using a contemporary style of home combined with buff brick and rendered elements to some of our housetypes within the first phase.
“Forster Park is located in a desirable part of Stevenage, which we hope to elevate even further with an attractive and sustainable scheme of new housing, public open spaces, amenities and facilities for residents new and old.
“We hope that when customers and ultimately homeowners arrive at Forster Park, they will appreciate the work that has gone into the site, with solar panels on roofs, as well as electric vehicle charging points, celebrating our green approach to new housing developments, standing side-by-side with our plans to create a country park to be enjoyed by all residents in Stevenage for many years to come.”
Stevenage Borough Council is due to vote on the proposed 93-acre country park later this year, which forms part of the plans at Forster Park.
Miller Homes and Bellway have agreed to contribute more than £1.1 million to the Stevenage community through a Section 106 agreement signed as part of the initial planning consent granted to the developers by the council.
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