Westlea celebrates 7000th home

Westlea Housing has celebrated reaching a major milestone this week – the housing association, part of the GreenSquare group, now has 7000 homes!

Westlea managing director Ann Cornelius marked the occasion by presenting a special cake to residents of a new Westlea housing development just completed at Easton Square, Sherston. The homes have been designed by Westlea's in-house team and built by local contractors RJ Leighfield and Sons, with funding from the Homes & Communities Agency.

Staff and Board members from Westlea and GreenSquare gathered with representatives from Wiltshire Council, and contractors Crampton Leighfield, to welcome Natasha Sherman and Patrick Coffin, and young son Harvey, to their new home at a ceremony this week.

"Westlea has existed for 15 years, and I am really proud that we have been able to keep to our promise of building more and more high-quality new affordable homes for local people during that time," said Ann Cornelius. "It's terrific to be celebrating our 7000th home milestone at a rural property that's been designed by our in-house design team too.

"As well as looking fantastic, these new homes will be cheaper to run because they have high levels of insulation, and a range of eco-friendly features such as air-to-water heat pumps, energy efficient lighting, and A+ rated appliances."

Ann presented the family with an electronic energy use monitor as a house-warming gift: "You'll be able to use this to see just how much money you're saving!" she said.

"I’m really happy to be here and it's such a lovely house," said new Easton Square resident Natasha Sherman, who moved in last month. “Living in a village is so different from a town – very peaceful!"

Wiltshire Council's housing portfolio holder, Cllr Howard Greenman, said: "Easton Square in Sherston is a good example of how we can all work together to help provide essential affordable housing for rural communities. Every development, no matter how small, helps to provide more affordable homes for people who would otherwise find it difficult to be able to afford to live in our towns or rural villages.

"I congratulate Westlea on adding their seven thousandth property to their portfolio. They have worked hard to ensure that they have a range of homes to accommodate people across the south west. The design and quality of these new homes in Sherston is a credit to them and the teams working to provide essential new housing."