Tracey and John Pickton receive the keys to their new home at The Sandpipers in Walcott from Victory’s new homes officer Emma Smith.
The daughter of a much-loved man who spent decades helping to protect his village from flooding has finally moved into a new affordable home there.
Tracey Pickton and her husband John had been on the local council housing register for 16 years before a home at the new Sandpipers development in Walcott, Norfolk, became available.
Mrs Pickton said: “I grew up in a cottage just down the road, so I’m very local. It’s lovely to be living here again, it’s close to my mum and my sister. It’s also lovely to be near the sea.”
A new road at the site was named Andrews Way, after Tracey’s dad Tony Andrews, a Walcott stalwart who served as a flood warden for decades.
Flagship Homes senior project manager Stephen Jones, left, with Emma Smith and Kyle Crush, Marfleet and Bradshaw construction manager, at The Sandpipers in Walcott
The Picktons and their two teenage children have a three-bedroom home at Sandpipers, a 23-home all-affordable development off Coast Road, built by Flagship Homes, part of BFL (Bromford Flagship LiveWest). The homes are available at affordable rent, set at 80% of open-market rent, and are allocated to families on the local council waiting list.
Emma Smith, New Homes Officer at Victory Homes, also part of BFL, has been handing over the keys to new residents. She said: “It’s nice to see local people moving in. Many have been living in the area and haven’t had the chance to come back to Walcott, but these new builds have given them that opportunity.
“The houses are well designed and the families moving in are really happy. It’s nice to see everyone with a smile on their face.”
New homes at Andrews Way in Walcott.
Among the Picktons’ new neighbours are engaged couple Lynette Palmer and David Hodgson, also in their 50s, who have moved into a one-bedroom flat at Sandpipers from their previous home in Bacton.
David works in ambulance transport while Lynette is a self-employed carer, and Lynette has family living locally.
Lynette said: “This is a dream compared to what we’ve had. It’s gorgeous.”
Sandpipers was built with funding from Homes England and North Norfolk District Council, and the principal contractor was Marfleet & Bradshaw. The homes have air source heat pumps, solar panels and EV charging points.
Kyle Crush, Marfleet and Bradshaw construction manager, said: “We’ve provided some top-quality local homes and made road improvements. We’ve had a lot of positive feedback from Walcott residents about how the project was managed.”