DEMOLITION has begun to raze a piece of Harwich’s manufacturing history to the ground, paving the way for new housing.

Historical buildings that were once home to army uniform manufacturer Bernard Uniforms, some dating back to the 1800s, will be torn down and replaced by 27 homes.

On Friday, the diggers moved onto the site in Main Road, which has sat unused since the factory was closed in 2007 and had become a magnet for vandals.

Despite objections from residents, plans to replace the old buildings with homes for people on Tendring Council’s housing register were given the go-ahead in November.

It is expected work to demolish the dozen or so buildings will take several weeks.

Colne Housing Society plans to start laying foundations for its new homes in March, and said they would be let at an affordable rent, with priority given to those who have lived in the Tendring district for the past three years.

Nathan Cole, of Colne’s development partner Iceni Homes, said: “Since the work started many passers-by have told us they are happy to see the derelict buildings come down.

“We have worked hard with Tendring Council to provide much-needed affordable homes to the area.”

The developers aim to move new residents into the homes, which will be a mixture of one and two-bedroom flats and two and three-bedroom houses, in the summer of 2017.

  • Residents are being asked to name a street at the new housing development.

Sara Thakkar, chief executive of Colne Housing Society, is asking Harwich and Dovercourt residents to come forward with ideas for street names.

“These newhomes will be an attractive asset to the area and we are pleased that the local community have welcomed the regeneration of the site,” she said.

“It would be fantastic if local people could get their thinking caps on and use their local knowledge to put their stamp on this new development.”

To suggest a street name for the development, e-mail press@colnehousing.co.uk, including your name, address and phone number and why you have suggested the name.