Work set to start on revamp of Hillington Square King's Lynn

Freebridge Community Housing was given the go-ahead for the final phase of its redevelopment on Hillington Square in King's Lynn earlier this year.

The scheme involves the demolition of Chestnut House, Aitken House, Norris House and the Providence Street Community Centre, to make way for 65  affordable homes and new shops.

Now the social landlord, which operates around 7,000 properties, has applied to discharge planning conditions which needed to be satisfied before work can begin, including its demolition plan, details of landscaping, asbestos survey and archaeological studies of the site.

An artist's impression of the new development  (Image: Freebridge) Freebridge, which began modernising Hillington Square in 2012 with design guru Wayne Hemingway, has since finished works on four of its blocks of flats near Lynn town centre.

While earlier phases won an award, the final pieces of the puzzle proved to more problematic, with earlier proposals being thrown out after being labelled ugly and akin to designs from the Soviet Union.

The latest plans include landscaped public spaces including a new square and a tree-lined walk.

A planning statement said: "The proposals will deliver significant planning benefits, including high quality affordable homes, improved public realm and open spaces, new fit for purpose commercial and community accommodation, and high levels of energy performance utilising low and zero carbon technologies."

Hillington Square pictured in 2010 (Image: Newsquest) Hillington Square was built between 1967 and 1971 following slum clearance and comprised of 320 flats and maisonettes, along with a new community centre.

There was initially a waiting list of people wanting to move into what were then modern homes.

Over the years the box-like structures became less attractive and better known for crime despite their proximity to Lynn police station.