Emh joins partners to celebrate the start of work on new affordable housing development in Nottingham

Representatives from emh joined with partners from East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), Owl Partnerships, Hamilton Russell Harper Wood, Nottingham City Council, and others to mark the start on site of the homes at the Nottingham War Rooms development.

The new homes are being developed on the land surrounding the Nottingham War Rooms; a vacant Grade II listed former Regional War Room and Cold War nuclear bunker in Beechdale. The development will feature 104 new homes, 62 of these homes will be for social rent and 42 for shared ownership, making the scheme 100% affordable.

Chris Jones Executive Director of Housing and Development at emh said:

“It’s fantastic to join our partners to mark the start of this ambitious scheme. The 104 new much-needed homes have been designed to be both high quality and energy efficient, helping to shape a thriving community around the transformed War Rooms. This site’s remarkable history makes the project truly special, and we’re grateful to everyone who has worked so hard to get us here. I’m excited to watch the development take shape in the months to come.”

Emh is working with Owl Partnerships to deliver these new high-quality homes. The new homes have been designed with energy efficiency in mind, and will create a thriving community with the redeveloped War Rooms at its heart.

Mike Kelly, Owl Homes’ Managing Director comments: “This event marks a major milestone in the ongoing regeneration of this fascinating, historic site and we’re proud to celebrate the official start on site alongside the wider project team. This unique scheme is one of our largest to date and we’re excited to be leading the build, uniting past and present to create affordable new homes and a vibrant community that will serve Nottingham for years to come.”

The development supports Nottingham City Council’s Local Plan allocation for residential development, and the city’s strategic priorities to regenerate brownfield land and address acute housing need. Emh has worked with the Council to ensure the new homes meet local housing needs, and in addition to the 2- and 3-bedroom homes, there will be six ground floor maisonettes suitable for older people and those with mobility needs. 

Councillor Jay Hayes, Executive Member for Housing and Planning at Nottingham City Council, said:

“This is great news for Nottingham and I welcome the development, which will deliver much‑needed homes for local people. It is encouraging to see the project now under way following the consultation we held with residents while the development was in its planning stage.”

The scheme has been made possible through funding from Homes England and EMCCA.

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, said: “With £2.1m from my Brownfield Housing Fund, this development will deliver more than 100 affordable homes – which simply would not have been possible otherwise.

“This project is a powerful example of how we’re turning our vision for inclusive growth into reality. Through our fund, we’re creating high-quality, affordable homes that meet the needs of local families while supporting greener, more sustainable communities. By investing in places like War Rooms Nottingham, we’re making the East Midlands a region that everyone is proud to call home.”

Homes England has supported the scheme through grant funding provided via emh’s Strategic Partnership, helping to secure the viability and delivery of new homes on this complex brownfield site. The organisation has also played a long‑standing role in the project, having previously owned the Nottingham War Rooms site, and has been instrumental in enabling its regeneration and future use.

It is anticipated that the new homes will complete in summer 2028. All homes will be provided by emh group, who will manage the sale of the shared ownership homes. Those interested in shared ownership homes can contact emh at sales@emh.co.uk or call 0300 123 0918. Once completed, the rented homes will be available through Nottingham City Council’s housing register – Homelink.