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Time Capsule seals new homes at Gestingthorpe
8th July 2008
A time capsule containing 35 items reflecting everyday life in an Essex village has been buried at a special ceremony to mark the launch of a new affordable homes scheme.
The time capsule burial took place at a new village housing scheme on Sudbury Road, Gestingthorpe, as part of leading East of England housing association Colne Housing’s celebrations of its 35th anniversary year.
The edge-of-village scheme provides six new homes to give a chance of a village home to hard-pressed families who may not be able to afford market prices, to stay in their local community. There will be four semi-detached homes at affordable rents, two with two bedrooms and two with three bedrooms, and two other two-bedroom semis for shared ownership.
Priority will be given to people who live in Gestingthorpe, or who have a strong connection with that village, or another nearby.
The time capsule is the work of Gestingthorpe parish councillors and residents working with the local land owner and Colchester-based Colne Housing.
Each item in the time capsule reflected popular culture and includes a copy of the Halstead Gazette, local seeds and grains, plans of the property, a mobile phone, an MP3 player, food and utility bills, - and a model of the time traveller Dr Who. The capsule was buried under the footpath.
The six new homes are being built through a close partnership between Colne Housing, development company Iceni Homes, Gestingthorpe Parish Council, Braintree district council and the Rural Community Council of Essex among others.
Colne Housing Chief Executive Mark Powell Davies said: “We are aiming these new homes at local people who may have grown up in this village, or have close links with this village or one nearby, and who may now be struggling to find a home they can afford on the open market and which will enable them to stay in the village.
“Gestingthorpe does not want to see local families drift away from their home community because they cannot afford to buy a house.
“Although Colne Housing owns and manages more than 2,000 homes across Essex, the Gestingthorpe development is the first shared ownership scheme we have developed in this village.
“We anticipate high levels of interest in these homes and we are proud that the development marks another milestone in Colne Housing’s 35th anniversary year.”
The six new homes are being built through a close partnership between Colne Housing, development company Iceni Homes, Gestingthorpe Parish Council, Braintree district council and the Rural Community Trust among others.
Chairman of Colne Housing Bill Frame said: “Rural housing is vitally important and we at Colne are proud of this superb development as it provides excellent homes for local people and helps to keep the community alive with young families. ”
The project was co-funded by Colne Housing with the assistance of a £254,000 grant from the Housing Corporation.
Gestingthorpe villagers, or others nearby, who may be interested in the homes, or who would like further information, should contact Colne Housing on 01206 244700.
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