WORCESTER MP Robin Walker planted a cherry tree to mark the completion of a £4.3 million development of affordable homes.

The MP met with Sanctuary’s Group chief executive Craig Moule for the completion of Sanctuary’s 34-home Cranham Drive development in Warndon. 

It was his third visit to the site, having seen the development at the groundbreaking phase and part way through the build.

The development includes 20 apartments and 14 houses for affordable rent. Part-funded by Homes England, it includes a mix of two, three and four-bedroom houses as well as one and two-bedroom apartments.

The development also saw Cranham Primary School get a revamped garden as part of Sanctuary's "MORE!" programme, which supports community projects in places where it is building new homes.

The school garden features a woodland area for ‘forest school’ sessions, along with recycling and composting zones where teachers can help the children connect with nature and understand more about the environment.

During this week's visit to the new homes, Mr Walker met staff involved in the construction and also senior environment officer Alice Lovatt, who joined Sanctuary through its graduate scheme in 2019. She spoke about the environmental benefits of the cherry trees that have been planted around the development.

Mr Walker said: “It’s great to see the realisation of all the hard work that’s taken place here and the delivery of new, affordable homes. 

“With all the challenges we’ve faced over the past two years, it’s wonderful to see a new part of Worcester’s community delivering homes that people really need.”

Mr Moule said: “I was thrilled to be able to show Robin Walker around Cranham Drive now we have finished work on site.

“He has shown a keen interest in the development from start to finish, so we found it very rewarding to be able show him the completed homes that provide much needed affordable housing in the area.” 

The site of the development, which is bordered by Rodborough Drive, Brookthorpe Close and Chalford Drive, had been left as waste ground after a care home there was demolished in 2015.