A CONTRACTOR has been appointed to build more than 50 sustainable homes to replace aging council houses in Taunton.

The scheme, in north Taunton, will see 47 Woolaway homes – deemed ‘defective by the Government – demolished and replaced.

Somerset Council has appointed Classic Builders (South West) Ltd as the main contractor for upcoming phases of the North Taunton Woolaway Project (NTWP).

Woolaway houses in Southampton Row, Hereford Drive, Oxford Place and Durham Place, demolished and replaced with the sustainable properties.

The new properties will consist of one and two-bed apartments, two-bed bungalows and two, three and four-bed houses, including three, three-bed, fully-wheelchair accessible homes.

The low-carbon houses are designed to Lifetime Home Standards to enable tenants to remain in their home as their needs change.

Classic Builders (South West) were appointed at a meeting of Somerset Council’s executive on March 6 following a procurement process.

The plans also include ecology-friendly measures such as bat boxes, bird boxes, bee bricks and hedgehog highways.

New homes already built to replace Woolaway properties in Taunton. Picture: Somerset Council

Cllr Federica Smith-Roberts, lead member for communities, housing and culture, said: “We’re pleased to appoint Classic Builders as our main contractor to continue the construction of this important local housing development.

“Their expertise and commitment will play a crucial role in bringing these much-needed homes to fruition for the benefit of Somerset residents.”

Adam Brimacombe, director of Classic Builders, added: “As a south west-based local contractor, we are delighted to have been appointed to work with Somerset Council once again to deliver this key project as part of their regeneration agenda.

“We are passionate about promoting sustainability within the industry and will bring our technical knowledge of sustainable construction methods and materials to the table on this project.”

Demolition work has started, being carried out by contractor, Hughes & Salvidge for Phases B, Ci and Di of the scheme, with the site being hoarded and properties prepared for demolition.

Once completed, the construction of the new homes will begin, with work expected to begin in the summer.

Woolaway homes were built using pre-cast, reinforced concrete (PRC) construction in the mid-twentieth century by the W Woolaway & Sons company in Devon, using concrete panels slotted into a concrete frame.

Despite housing thousands across the country, they were designated as defective under the Housing Defects Act of 1984, due to difficulty insulating them and the limited lifespan of the materials.

More than 150 Woolaway homes in Taunton are due to be replaced as a part of a major overhaul of the housing stock.