Developer Southern Grove to build 170 homes on Hemel Hempstead plot originally reserved for zero-carbon tower
Southern Grove is to build 170 affordable homes on the site of a much-heralded 17-storey eco-project in Hemel Hempstead that went into receivership before being built.
The developer has now appointed ECE Architecture to draw up a detailed scheme with the aim of submitting a planning application this summer for a block of around 13 storeys.
The site has an existing permission for over 270 luxury zero-carbon apartments aimed at London commuters, but a spokesman for the business admitted the “completely new scheme” now planned will not meet the same high environmental standards.
Southern Grove bought the site in Whiteleaf Road at auction after Lumiere Developments’ original scheme, branded “the Beacon”, fell into receivership. Lumiere had promised residents free energy for life on the building, which was to be clad in photovoltaic panels.
The site was marketed by auctioneers at £8.5m but Southern Grove has not disclosed how much it paid.
It said it will work with a housing association and make all the homes available either for affordable rent or for shared ownership.
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