Come and find out about our plans for the future!

The revised proposal for 16 new homes at Saffron Walden Almshouses will be on display at an information event on Saturday 20th April from 10am to 4pm and Sunday 21st April from 12 noon to 4pm. The event will be held in the Chapel at the Almshouses on Abbey Lane and is open to anyone who would like to learn more about Project Crocus, the much-needed replacement of seven existing bungalows on Primes Close. Trustees will also be on hand to answer questions about the new development and the positive impact it will have on local people struggling to find low-cost accommodation in the town. The drop-in event will include displays with architects’ impressions of the proposed new building, building programme and construction approach.

A planning application for the proposed £5m scheme to create a suite of modern, low-carbon sustainable units, which was submitted in April 2023, was withdrawn in October following feedback from UDC’s planning team and the almshouse charity’s own advisors. Having addressed the comments raised by UDC Planning a revised planning application will be submitted in May 2024. “Project Crocus is all about putting local people first,” says Chair of Trustees, Gary Hyams. “The Primes Close bungalows are no longer fit for purpose, we can no longer offer as many safe, affordable homes for people on low incomes with limited savings, and our vision is to increase the much-needed low-cost accommodation that we provide in Saffron Walden. We were disappointed that UDC Planning were unable to support our 2023 planning application and, having addressed some technical issues that UDC raised, we look forward with confidence to hearing later in 2024 the outcome of our re-application.”

For more information about Project Crocus and the different ways in which you can lend your support to the Saffron Walden Almshouses Charity, click here.