A HOUSEBUILDER has handed over its first payment of £3.4 million towards community investment in Coggeshall.

Bovis Homes has handed over the first tranche of funding for infrastructure and facilities as part of the planning agreement for its Coggeshall Mill location.

Work on site started last year, with Bovis Homes building 161 new homes as part of a 300-home development including substantial public open space on land off Colchester Road.

Bovis Homes will contribute a total of £3.4 million towards the community as part of the outline planning permission for the development.

The housebuilder’s first payments totalling £753,000 have been made, with further payments of £708,000 to come in summer as the first homes are completed on site.

The wider development will generate investment of £6 million in the local area.

Sales and marketing director for Bovis Homes Jason Colmer said: “With work progressing well to deliver the new homes at Coggeshall Mill, we have made the first payments to the local authority to help improve facilities and services in the local area.

“Initial contributions included funding for Coggeshall Surgery, early years and childcare and primary and secondary education, as well as money for Natura 2000, a network of nature protection areas, meaning that residents within the wider community can benefit from the new homes being built here.

“The next tranche of money will see further investment in childcare and education, as well as funding for allotments.”

Over the course of construction at Coggeshall Mill there will also be payments to improve indoor and outdoor sports facilities, as well as additional funding for early years and childcare and primary and secondary education.