Pupils from Martlesham Primary Academy have welcomed the opportunity to visit their neighbouring housing estate to learn more about the construction work and see the vehicles in action.
The affordable homes being built by Hastoe on Blacktiles Lane in Martlesham are expected to house some of the families and future pupils of schools in the local area including Martlesham Primary Academy. More than 80 children from the school visited the site of the housing development next door.
The visit was co-ordinated by Hastoe and Rose Builders which is Hastoe's contractor building the 47 affordable homes. Working with the Academy, Apprenticeship Co-ordinator Alan Bridgman and Site Manager Jonathon Crouch, developed a full programme of activities for the children including an introduction to health and safety, a talk on the development process and watching the operation of a digger, a dumper, and a forklift. Students ranging from 4-11 were also able to experience at firsthand what it was like sitting on some of the machinery being used on the construction site.
Martlesham Primary Academy itself is being refurbished in readiness for a potential expansion following an identified need by Suffolk County Council.
Works began on the site in October 2023 and the 47 homes are expected to be completed towards the middle of 2025. All homes are being built to a high standard of energy efficiency and will include renewable energy air-source heat pumps and electric car charging points.