Time capsule marks housing milestone
08/09/2009
Children from Bozeat Primary School buried a time capsule at a ceremony on 2nd September 2009 to mark the completion of work on the seven homes in Pit Field Close, off Harrold Road.
Containing items such as this year’s newspaper headlines and a parish magazine, the capsule was buried on land which is to be planted up as an orchard on the site.
The development by Northamptonshire Rural Housing Association (NRHA) aims to provide housing for people who have strong links with Bozeat but are unable to afford a property in the village.
Lorna Finch, who was born and brought up in Bozeat, was officially handed the keys to her new home in Pit Field Close by Paul Clark, CVO, Chief Executive of the Duchy of Lancaster, which owns the land.
Lorna, aged 28, said: “I had to move in with my parents after my divorce, as it was impossible for me to get back on the property ladder in Bozeat.
“This development has enabled me and my four-year-old daughter to have our own home in the village I love and grew up in.
“The house is beautiful, the garden is massive and it is a lovely spot. I am ecstatic to be moving in here – I can’t believe my luck.
“Developments like this are so important because they enable the younger generation to stay in their own village – it helps keep communities alive.”
The new housing development comprises five two-bedroom homes and one three-bedroom home for rent and a two-bedroom property for shared ownership – part buy, part rent.
It is an important milestone for NRHA as it brings the number of properties owned and managed by the housing association up to 500.
Wellingborough Borough Council made funding available for extra “ecomeasures”, so the new homes feature extra insulation and air source heat pumps, an energy efficient and money saving heating system.
NRHA chairman Jasper Hart said: “This project started in 2004 with a housing needs survey which identified a need for seven dwellings.
“It has taken a long time to bring to fruition and we need to thank our partners, including the Parish Council, Wellingborough Borough Council, East Midlands Housing, the Duchy of Lancaster and the Homes and Communities Agency.
“We look forward to providing other schemes in the borough – hopefully, we will be seeing similar success in the villages of Sywell and Little Harrowden.”