Elfreda House opens in Shrub End after four years of works

The £9.5million Elfreda house project, in Iceni Way, Shrub End, which was demolished and rebuilt over the last four years.

It finally opened at 10am this morning.

Opened by councillor Paul Smith the portfolio holder for housing and attended by mayor Lesley Scott-Boutell, tenants, and staff, the sheltered accommodation includes 36 self-contained one and two-bedroom flats.

Of these 22 of the flats are already occupied by tenants and all the homes come with a spacious bathroom, kitchen and living room.

Now open - Elfreda House (Image: Newsquest) Before it was demolished, the former Elfreda House was more than 55 years old, the new version contains communal spaces, roof top terraces, lounges, mobility scooter stores and a hair salon.

Tenant Malcolm Wood, 84, is originally from Aberdeen in Scotland and has lived in Colchester for years after working overseas.

Mr Wood discovered Elfreda House after a recommendation, and went into view the home.

Ribbon cutting - Councillor Paul Smith, Mayor Lesley Scott-Boutell, staff and tenants (Image: Newsquest) He said: “It’s wonderful, I am very happy on the second floor here, I am still working as a journalist, I couldn’t wish for anything better.

“The bus stop is only outside, so I can get the bus as I stopped driving many years ago.

“For me, it’s important to stop deterioration and to keep active.

“I couldn’t wish for better."

Fellow tenant Valerie Willis, 82, moved in four weeks ago after 49 years at her three-bedroom home. She is originally from Rochford and moved to Colchester when she was six years old.

Tenant - Malcolm Wood (Image: Newsquest) Tenant - Valerie Willis (Image: Newsquest) She said: “I had a three-bedroom house which I thought a nice family could live in and have the fun I had for 49 years.

“I feel so safe here, it’s lovely, a beautiful flat, it is unbelievable.

“The staff are wonderful, they are there at the ring of the bell, I can’t find any faults with this place.”

Mr Smith said he was “absolutely delighted” that Elfreda House is now open.

He said: "We’ve got the accommodation here for our elderly residents here in Colchester that is an extremely high standard.

Elfreda House - the communal lobby area (Image: Newsquest)

“These are properties anyone would be delighted with and gives people the real opportunity if they are thinking of moving out of a Colchester Borough Homes, such as three-bedroom family home, into something more manageable, this is an ideal property to move into.

“It has a great community, amazing facilities, hobby rooms, even a hairdressing facility, we are proud that Colchester Borough Homes and Colchester Council have been able to deliver this for the people of Colchester.”

You can view more photos below.

Elfreda House - another communal space (Image: Newsquest) Elfreda House - the hair salon room (Image: Newsquest) Elfreda House - a community space outside Elfreda House (Image: Colchester Borough Homes) Elfreda House - a showroom living room in Elfreda House (Image: Newsquest) Elfreda House - a spacious part of a flat (Image: Newsquest)