Construction has officially begun at a former school site in Rugeley where leading partnerships housing specialist Lovell is working to deliver 58 open market and affordable homes.

The brownfield land, which was previously the site of Aelfgar School until it was demolished in 2016, will become a new community named Farrier’s Fold offering a selection of two-, three-, and four-bedroom properties.

The development will see 29 homes created for open market sale via Lovell and 29 homes available for affordable housing – surpassing the government requirements for affordable housing provision on new build sites.

Working with Cannock Chase Council, the scheme includes some of the first homes built to Future Homes Standards and is expected to be completed in 2026.

Stuart Penn, regional managing director at Lovell, said: “This project exemplifies the potential of transforming neglected land into a vibrant community, with high-quality homes close to vital amenities. The site is expected to be hugely popular and, being 50% affordable, offers more options to buyers who want to live here.

“With 215,000 new homes needed by 2031 to support growth across the West Midlands, it’s great to see work underway to deliver this scheme. Farrier’s Fold also marks our first joint venture in home construction with Cannock Chase Council. Having collaborated on successful regeneration projects, we are proud to be strengthening this partnership and supporting more housing supply to meet the ambitious targets set for the region.”

Homes will be built in a range of house types including detached, semi-detached and terraced properties to support more buyer choice.

With the ongoing importance of sustainability, energy efficient design has been prioritised with the specification including key features like air source heat pumps, photovoltaic solar panels and battery storage technology to ensure all homes reach Future Homes Standard.

Stuart added: “Not only is it our duty as responsible developers to ensure new homes are futureproofed with sustainable measures, but we are also proud to be prioritising residents. These enhancements offer the potential for lower energy bills, better ventilation and warmer, more comfortable living. Over time this has been proven to have a significant impact on quality of life and mental health, which is what makes it such an important aspect of our work.”

Councillor Sue Thornley, portfolio leader for Housing and Corporate Assets, said: “There is a significant demand for affordable housing in the district. It’s fantastic to see a previously unused site being transformed to create more homes for local residents. These homes will be the first to meet the Future Homes Standard, ensuring lower living costs for our tenants.”

For more information on the development, visit: https://newhomes.lovell.co.uk/developments/farriers-fold/