Hermit Mews a milestone in city homes strategy
The project to build Lincoln’s first council homes since 2016 has been completed.
City of Lincoln Council has officially marked the completion of the Hermit Mews development with an opening ceremony (pictured above).
The project delivers high-quality, sustainable family housing in the heart of Lincoln with the final stages seeing the former garage site on Hermit Mews transformed, with the existing garage block and garages adjacent to the flats demolished.
Construction of the development began in October 2023, and it marks a significant milestone as the council’s first new social rent properties built since 2016. All new homes were handed over to tenants in October 2024.
The project, jointly funded by the City of Lincoln Council and Homes England’s ‘Affordable Homes 2021-2026 Programme,’ delivers 11 new council homes as part of the council's strategic 30-year housing plan to provide affordable housing.
The Hermit Mews development consists of five two-bedroom homes and ix three-bedroom homes, which were made available for bidding through the council’s Lincs Homefinder system and allocated through a local lettings plan. The council is pleased to confirm that tenants have now moved into these new homes, adding much-needed affordable family housing to the city’s housing stock.
In addition to the new homes, the development includes 31 parking bays and eight garages, which were available to let from mid to late October. These spaces were also allocated via the council's local lettings plan.
As part of the development, local schools and community groups were invited to participate in a competition to name the new street.
The winning name, ‘Hermit Mews,’ pays homage to the original Hermit Street and the legacy of Hermit the Horse, a renowned racehorse that won the 1867 Epsom Derby. Hermit’s owner, Henry Chaplin, lived in Lincoln and owned land in the area, further cementing the historical connection to the city.
This development supports the council's wider vision of providing sustainable and affordable homes for its residents. The new homes have been built to high environmental standards and include modern infrastructure such as new drainage, lighting, and utilities.
The project has also generated significant social value, including community engagement and educational opportunities.
For example, 100% of the supply chain spend was with micro, small, and medium businesses, role play equipment was donated to a local nursery for their outdoor area, pupils from two local schools were supported with transport to the construction week at Lincolnshire Showground and a wooden plaque was designed by a local social enterprise for the community garden on the corner of Hermit Street and Portland Street.
Cllr Donald Nannestad, Portfolio Holder for Quality Housing at City of Lincoln Council, said: “The completion of the Hermit Mews development is an exciting step forward for our housing ambitions in Lincoln. This project not only provides much-needed affordable homes for local families but also reflects our commitment to sustainable, high-quality housing.
“The involvement of local schools and community groups in naming the development adds a special connection to the area’s rich history, and we are proud to see these homes become part of the local community.”
Hermit Mews has achieved Secured by Design (SBD) Gold standard, in recognition of the high-quality security measures it incorporates, which help to reduce the risk of crime and improve peace of mind for residents.