Children from an Ipswich primary school were invited to join in the celebrations as new affordable homes were unveiled to Orwell Housing.

Ipswich-based builders SEH French handed over the keys to the 15 homes to Orwell Housing on Friday, May 24.

The development on the former Co-op site in Prince of Wales Drive comprises a mix of 15 houses and flats, four of which designated for shared ownership.

Pupils from the adjacent Halifax Primary School planted a tree to mark the handover.

Neil Pryke, Contracts Manager at SEH French, said: “This has been a very successful and rewarding project alongside Orwell Housing to deliver much-needed affordable homes on-time and on-budget.

“The homes have been completed to a great standard and we are proud to handover the keys and mark the occasion together with the children from Halifax. It’s a really nice touch to see off all our hard work.

“A huge thanks as always go to our suppliers and subcontractors for their help in making this project such a success.”

Plans to build the affordable homes were first lodged in 2020 to meet a rising demand in the town.

Dawn Edwards, Head of Development for Orwell Housing Association, said she was “excited” to announce the project’s completion.

She added: “This project is a great example of a brownfield site being brought back into use, while at the same time providing more affordable homes in the town to help meet the high level of housing need.

“We were also pleased to mark the completion with a celebration involving the local community. We believe that together, we are not just constructing buildings, but creating homes that complement the neighbourhood and community in which they stand.”

Mrs Anita Krishna, Headteacher at Halifax Primary School, said: "A big thanks to SEH French and Orwell Housing Association for inviting the children to join in the celebrations.

“They thoroughly enjoyed playing their part and we look forward to watching the tree blossom from across the road."

More information on SEH French and its projects across Suffolk can be found at www.sehfrench.co.uk.