CONSTRUCTION has begun on a new £700,000 work hub supporting small businesses.

Developer Bloor Homes is building the hub as part of a section 106 agreement for the 193-home development in Earl’s Garden, Sible Hedingham.

The two-storey building will provide 282 square metres of office and meeting space consisting of six offices, a shared meeting room and communal seating as well as parking spaces.

A new access point for vehicles will be created between the car park and the Earl’s Garden development.

Jaimie Wragg, design and technical director for Bloor Homes Eastern, said: “We’re delighted to have started building the new Work Hub, which will provide valuable office and meeting space for local businesses and organisations..

“At a cost of more than £700,000, the new Work Hub represents a significant financial investment in the infrastructure of Sible Hedingham, and demonstrates our continued commitment to supporting the community in the village.”

Work on the new building is expected to be completed by October and the facility will be handed over to Braintree Council after this. Bloor Homes has also begun work on creating a new footpath and cycle link through the Earl’s Garden development, which will connect with the existing path which follows the River Colne.

Last year, a series of sculptures and waymarkers commissioned by Bloor Homes to celebrate the industrial heritage of Sible Hedingham, were unveiled on the public open space at the development.

Bloor is also contributing £20,000 towards the refurbishment of the former NatWest Bank building on Swan Street.