Topping out the new £1.7m affordable housing development at Hall Lane, North Walsham.

A £1.7m scheme to provide 16 new affordable homes in the centre of North Walsham has been topped out – with the first residents due to move in the spring.

Wellington Construction managing director Paul Ollington (right) watches as Victory Housing Trust chief executive John Archibald tops out the new homes in the traditional way

The 12 flats and two bungalows have been built on Hall Lane in the town by Wellington Construction on behalf of Victory Housing Trust.

The development consists of four one-bed flats, eight two-bed flats and four two-bed bungalows, which will all be made available for affordable rental.

Managing director of Lowestoft-based Wellington Construction Paul Ollington and Victory chief executive John Archibald performed the traditional topping out ceremony by pouring beer over the new properties.

The development was made possible after Wellington acquired the site and approached Victory with the idea of using it to build affordable homes. Victory won £280,000 of grant funding from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), and contracted Wellington to build the new homes.

Mr Ollington said: “When we found the site we quickly realised that it would be ideal for this kind of housing.

“Being so close to the town centre meant that it was ideal for people who might not have their own transport, and the site lent itself to the kind of one- and two-bed homes which are so much in demand in north Norfolk.

“Victory agreed with us, and we were able to work together in partnership to bring in the new HCA money to make the scheme a reality. When we hand the new homes over in the spring, there will be accommodation for another 16 households currently on the north Norfolk housing list.”

The new homes are due to be handed over to Victory in March 2013.