Futures and Lovell near completion of 109 affordable homes on Long Eaton lace mill site

Futures Housing Group and Lovell marked the near-completion last week of 109 affordable homes off Bennett Street in Long Eaton, on the former Britannia Mills lace works that had stood derelict since a fire in 2009.

The scheme, which Futures said has already seen families move in, is a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom houses and flats. Futures' project page lists the tenures as social and affordable rent, shared ownership and Rent to Buy, with homes also offered to people on the housing register.

Britannia Mills was built in the early 1900s for Derbyshire lace maker William Wallis, according to Futures. Erewash Borough Council said the industrial site was hit by fire in 2009 and remained derelict until housing was approved.

A change of contractor

Anthony Holt, Director of Development and Asset Maximisation at Futures, said the scheme had faced challenges, including a change of contractor: "We've had a few challenges along the way, including a change of contractor, but it's been great to work with Lovell and I'm proud of what we've achieved together."

Lovell was appointed to the scheme after the change of contractor. When work restarted in 2025, Futures said it expected the first homes to be ready from that summer and all homes on the development to be finished in 2026. No source gives a firm final completion date, and the association now describes the scheme as almost complete.

Beth Bundonis, Lovell Regional Managing Director for the East Midlands, said: "We were pleased to be appointed on this project, enabling the scheme to continue and, ultimately, reach completion."

Holt also thanked Erewash Borough Council and Homes England, which he said had supported Futures throughout and helped make a scheme of this size possible.

When the council announced the first move-ins in 2025, it said about half a dozen properties were occupied.

The canal bridge

The estate was also chosen as the site for a new bridge over the nearby canal, which opened this summer. Futures said the crossing saves residents a half-mile walk to reach the other side of the town.

Erewash Borough Council said the Britannia Mills Bridge cost about £2.1m and was built by Stepnell, which won the contract for the crossing.

The bridge is one of the projects under the Long Eaton Town Deal, which the council's own page says is funded by almost £25m of Government money. Other Town Deal projects listed on the council's page include Broad Street Bridge and Waterfront, Galaxy Row and High Street.

Cllr Becca Everett, Deputy Leader of Erewash Borough Council, said affordable housing in the borough was a council priority and that its teams had been closely involved in the project.

The developer

Futures is a not-for-profit housing association registered with the Regulator of Social Housing and holds the regulator's G1/V1 gradings. It owns more than 10,700 homes extending from Derbyshire down to the Daventry area.