Work to build 183 new affordable homes on former Portsmouth prison site begins

Vivid Homes, together with Drew Smith Ltd, has started construction work on 110 new homes for social rent and 73 for shared ownership in the grounds of Kingston Prison in Milton.

This part of the £10m development will consist of five apartment blocks of one and two-bedroom homes along with parking and bike storage and is expected to take two years to complete.

Mike Shepherd, director of new business and development at Vivid, said: ‘Portsmouth is in urgent need of more affordable housing so we’re pleased to be delivering this exciting new development.

‘It will create a vibrant new community in an area so close to the city and all its transport links, amenities and employment opportunities.

'We want to reassure local residents that all works will be carried out following Covid-secure guidelines, in accordance with the latest government advice.

‘At a time when there’s increasing uncertainty for many people around job security due to the pandemic, we’re highly committed to using local labour and bringing employment opportunities as part of the construction as much as possible.’

It comes as work to convert the existing prison building into 76 homes by City and Country Construction Limited began earlier this year - several years after the company acquired the land.

Adrian Cator, managing director at Drew Smith added: ‘We are delighted to be working with our trusted housing delivery partner Vivid on this exciting project in Portsmouth which will see the provision of vital affordable homes for the area.

‘We have been undertaking site set up activity and carrying out initial preparatory works to ensure the site is ready for building work to begin.

‘The safety and wellbeing of our staff, subcontractors and local residents is our absolute priority in and around the construction site at all times.’

Vivid has secured a grant of £10m from Homes England to build the 183 affordable homes.

Details of the development can be found at vividhomes.co.uk/about-us/more-homes/developments

HM Prison Kingston was closed by The Ministry of Justice in 2013 and sold in 2014.

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