Schoolchildren in Flintshire were given a sneak preview of our £5.6 million new building development currently underway for Wales & West Housing.
The pupils from Ysgol Glan Aber in Bagillt were invited to the new Wales & West Housing development, Tir Glas, at Greenfield, where Anwyl Construction are building the 58 new homes.
The first residents are ready to start moving into the properties and Wales & West Housings, Housing Officer Ann Marie Rastin said: “We are building a whole new community here with single people, couples and families with children ready to move in.
“We have a mix of one, two, three and four bedroom homes and some wheelchair adapted properties with low level cookers and other appliances.”
The visit by the school was the latest part of a campaign to involve the local community in the development following the successful poster competition which was run in conjunction Ysgol Glan Aber earlier in the development.
Ann Marie Rastin added: “The relationship Anwyl has built with the local schools has paid dividends in ensuring the site has remained safe.
“Children made posters for a competition ‘What’s my Ideal Home’ and the poster boards, which have been on display at the site entrance, will now be donated back to the school as a thank you for their support.”
Anwyl Site Manager Lee Hildebrandt, who has overseen the project said: “Construction sites can be like magnets to young children but by going to schools and inviting them on site under carefully controlled conditions we can educate them about the dangers posed by heavy plant, building materials and part-built properties.
“It is always a real pleasure to see a site get to the final construction phase and families begin to move in to the wonderful new homes we have built.”
Ysgol Glan Aber Year Five and Six teacher Jade Ashbrook said: “Wales & West Housing and Anwyl have worked really closely with the school to ensure site safety and engage with our pupils in a positive way.
“Children now understand the dangers and it’s also good they have had a chance to see and understand the building process from the start of construction to completion and families moving in.”
Pupil Stevie Duncan, 11, said: “I live nearby and have seen the houses being built from the start. I think they are brilliant homes, really modern and clean.
“I really like the low level cookers and other things for disabled people and to see the homes they have built is pretty amazing.
“It’s also good they came into school and talked to us about safety and why it’s important not to play on or near building sites. It really made us all think.”
Connor Poole, 11, added: “It’s amazing to see the homes finished and ready for people to move in.
“I enjoyed the demonstrations which showed us what the dumper trucks and forklift trucks can do and how dangerous they could be if you weren’t careful. It’s been amazing.”
Anwyl Construction Director Tom Anwyl said: “This site has been built due to the close working relationship forged between Anwyl, Wales & West Housing, the Welsh Assembly Government and Flintshire County Council.
“The partnership with Wales & West Housing has been vital in enabling us to offer employment and apprenticeship opportunities and making sure we have had local involvement in major projects which have provided major boosts to the local economy.”