New homes developing in Dovercourt

The East of England Co-op, most commonly known as a food retailer, is also a property developer and landlord. They own over £100million of investment property across East Anglia, letting around 500 properties to both commercial and residential tenants.

In partnership with the East of England Co-op, local principal contractors ForumContracts have seen successful growth in their business, allowing them to reach out from their Essex roots into Suffolk and Norfolk.

Most recently, ForumContracts have completed the build of five new homes in Dovercourt, Harwich. Work on the one to two bed flats began in November, with the conversion of vacant space above a convenience store and newly built extension. The properties will be available to rent, from the property owners the East of England Co-op, later this year.

As a local co-operative business, the East of England Co-op believe in supporting local businesses, creating new jobs and keeping money in the local economy.

ForumContracts employ over 50 people from the Norfolk & Suffolk area, which include apprenticeships for the younger generation in a move to give back to the local industries. Forum are committed to ensuring that they only source local suppliers for construction material. This not only helps the local economy flourish but saves on the environmental impact that the manufacturing and transportation of non-local materials would have if they were nationally or even internationally acquired.

Having seen successful growth in Suffolk, ForumContracts recently took up tenancy at the East of England Co-op’s head office Wherstead Park, in Ipswich. Home to P&O, Samskip and the New Anglia LEP, ForumContracts growth appears to be following a trend in Suffolk based businesses, with fellow tenants Ellison’s also announcing their expansion in the past month.

With the move into Wherstead Park, ForumContracts are pushing to expand operations throughout the Norfolk and Suffolk area -  Forum not only bring the opportunity to work with local businesses, but to take a lead role on delivering new projects and businesses to the local community.

They are dedicated to working in partnership with the East of England Co-op and have been involved in numerous projects that span across the retail, pharmaceutical, travel, residential sectors and various other concessions.  In addition to working with the Co-op, many different concessions have benefited with the successful delivery of numerous franchises across different stores in the East Anglia.

Forum Contracts also supported the East of England Co-op in creating their new generation supermarket in Woodbridge, Suffolk and are currently working with them on a similar project in Acle, Norfolk. 

Nick Denny, Joint Chief Executive at the East of England Co-op, said: “As a local business we’re proud to be investing over half-a-million pounds in the region. Working with local contractors and consultants we’re helping to protect and create new jobs, giving them the confidence to grow and invest in their business, whilst also providing new services and much needed housing for the local community.”  

For further information about the East of England Co-op and their property and development division, click here.