ESSEX County Council has released artist’s impressions showing how an empty council building will be transformed into much-needed homes as part of a wider £42m project to help tackle Essex’s housing shortage.

The county council has planning permission to turn the former library HQ and storage warehouse in Goldlay Gardens, Chelmsford, into 32 one and two-bedroom apartments.

The development shows Essex is ahead of the curve after the launch of the Government’s housing strategy, which describes the current housing market as ‘broken’, and sets out changes to the rules around development that put pressure on both councils and developers to build more new homes.

The new homes in Goldlay Gardens, including nine affordable units, will be built in three blocks - all with balconies or terraces, roof-mounted solar panels and car parking - around a central courtyard garden.

It is the first site to be developed by Essex Housing, the authority’s inhouse team that works with public sector partners countywide to identify surplus land for development and make the most of taxpayerowned assets.

John Spence, councillor responsible for housing, said: “The development of Goldlay Gardens represents a real milestone in our project to find idle pockets of public sector land and bring them forward for development to help tackle the county’s housing shortage.

“This is the first of many sites the Essex Housing team is bringing forward and will provide high quality apartments on surplus brownfield land in the heart of Chelmsford’s city centre.

“Land owned by the public sector is ultimately owned by the taxpayer, therefore it is incredibly important that we, as custodians, are making the most of these assets.”

David Finch, leader of Essex County Council, and Dick Madden, Chelmsford Central ward councillor, visited the site to watch the demolition on site, before construction work on the apartments begins.

Rose Builders Ltd has been chosen to develop the site, subject to the council’s call-in procedure.

Mr Finch added: “Essex County Council has agreed a £42m capital budget over the next five years for Essex Housing, in collaboration with local authorities countywide, to identify unwanted buildings and land to build more open-market, affordable and specialist housing.

“We hope this is the first of many projects as from 2019/20 Essex Housing aims to deliver at least 150 new homes every year.”

Feasibility studies are under way at another 10 sites to see if they are suitable for much-needed housing.