Witham mp boosts homebuilder’s fundraising on tour of award-winning site

On a visit to David Wilson Homes’ Mortimer Place development in Hatfield Peverel, Priti Patel MP added £8,000 to the leading developer’s fundraising for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The Member of Parliament for Witham was invited for a tour of the 100-home community on Birkdale Rise in her constituency, which received high praise earlier this year with an NHBC Pride in the Job Quality award.

Having followed the success of David Wilson Homes’ charity walk for Great Ormond Street Hospital on Tuesday 10^th October, Priti presented a certificate to Louise Hewitt and Sarah Tew who organised the fundraiser. The homebuilder’s Commercial Director, Dan Griffin, was also present to represent the winning team.

Priti also wore a pedometer during her visit to Mortimer Place and, having completed 1,588 steps, this meant that The Barratt Foundation match-funded an additional £8,000 based on the number of steps made by Priti. On top of the fundraising from the walk itself, this took the homebuilder’s contribution to its charity of the year to a fantastic £16,073.15.

Priti said: “Great Ormond Street Hospital do outstanding work saving lives and helping children with serious medical conditions, including my constituents. I was pleased to be able to support David Wilson Homes in its fundraising activities to help the Hospital and the children they care for.”

During her tour of the Hatfield Peverel development, Priti saw the properties under construction and the finished product in the show home, discussed the importance of quality family homes being built and developments providing investment in infrastructure and public services.

Priti added: “Hatfield Peverel has experienced high levels of new housing growth and while I know that some developments have been controversial, it is important to meet developers building these new homes and engage with them.

“When new housing is built it needs to bring in new investment in infrastructure and public services and I was pleased to be able to discuss with David Wilson Homes how it is working to deliver on these obligations and build a high-quality housing development.”

Priti also walked along the development’s trim trail during her time on site, which is a rural pathway along the eastern edge of the community, created by the homebuilder for the benefit of the village’s new and existing residents.

Tom Wright, Managing Director at David Wilson Homes Eastern Counties, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Priti to our Mortimer Place development, and we can’t thank her enough for supporting the fundraiser for our charity of the year, Great Ormond Street Hospital.

“Our charity walk not only raised vital funds for such a fantastic cause but, having taken place on World Mental Health Day, it also gave our colleagues a well-deserved break to take part in a range of exciting challenges along the walk with their peers.”

Mortimer Place has brought great investment to Hatfield Peverel with financial contributions via the Section 106 (S106) planning agreement, as well as approximately 200 new jobs for local people during the construction process.

Local contributions from David Wilson Homes include £100,000 for outdoor sports facilities and £60,000 for onsite play equipment, £70,000 towards community building, and £26,000 for improvements to public rights of way in the area. The 100 dwelling development also includes 40 affordable homes which are targeted to satisfy the need for local housing.

Part of David Wilson Homes’ funding was allocated to the brand new Strutt Memorial Recreation Ground, which was recently unveiled by Team GB gymnast Courtney Tulloch and Olympic champion Fatima Whitbread MBE.

There are just two properties remaining at Mortimer Place before it is completely sold out; a pair of four bedroom homes currently priced from £589,995. For more information about the properties available at any nearby developments, visit the website at David Wilson Homes in Essex.