Persimmon Homes has secured final approval from West Suffolk Council to build 139 new homes in Lakenheath, Suffolk, UK.

This project aims to provide 48% of the new houses needed in Lakenheath over the next five years, with 42 new homes also to be made available for shared ownership or have affordable rent via a housing association partner.

The project is set to generate a total of 262 new jobs, with 111 of them directly supporting the development of these new homes.

The first Lakenheath residences are expected to be ready for occupancy by the end of 2024.

Persimmon Suffolk managing director Ian Hamilton said: “We’re delighted to have received the approval from councillors for our high-quality scheme at Lakenheath.

“We’re proud of the environmental benefits our scheme will offer, and we also know that this site will make an important contribution to meeting the local housing needs of the area, helping families and first-time buyers to get their dream home.”

The project will see each home equipped with air-source heat pumps, more than 200 new trees planted on site, and a new 2.33ha off-site Breckland habitat developed for bird species and other wildlife.

The Breckland habitat will be developed near the Foxhole Heath SSSI at Gallow Bottom and is intended particularly for the stone-curlew bird population.

Hamilton added: “Lakenheath is an important site for us, and so we will be looking to start construction work right away.”

The company has also announced its plans to invest approximately £1m in the local community, with the majority of these funds going towards local schools and motorway upgrades such as the B1112 junction with Eriswell Road and Spark’s Farm.