Eye’s St Peter and St Paul’s Primary School children showcase their imagination for homes of the future

Visions for homes of the future are being shared by schoolchildren from Eye as part of a competition.

The children, from St Peter and St Paul’s Primary School, will see some of their designs appear on the hoardings around the town’s Paddock House development.

A former care home, the site has laid dormant for the last 10 years, and was purchased by Mid Suffolk District Council in 2017.

It has been earmarked for the development of 16 affordable homes for the local community, comprising of 10 shared ownership properties and six affordable homes for rent.

Demolition is now complete, with a contractor set to be appointed by the end of the year.

In the meantime, hoardings are up to secure the site, with the children’s artwork – showing what they think homes will look like in – incorporated into the signage.

Richard Winch, cabinet member for housing and property, said: “I’m delighted to see the children’s work used to highlight the partnership working behind this development.

“The project has been the result of extensive consultation and engagement, and it’s great to see it starting to take shape.”

The winning entries were selected by district councillor Lucy Elkin, Eye mayor Clive Hill, town councillor Mary Ager and the school’s executive headteacher, Gemma Watts.

Ward councillor Lucy Elkin said: “The development of Paddock House will bring some much-needed affordable homes to Eye. The children at St Peter and St Paul’s Primary created some really wonderful artwork sharing their ideas about housing in the future.

“The winning paintings will really brighten up the fencing around the Paddock House site, giving us all something inspiring and interesting to look at while the building work is under way.”