Alongside our housing association partner, Aster Group, we have marked the official completion of Orchard Gate, a new affordable housing development in Dibden Purlieu, with a community celebration featuring local schoolchildren.
The event brought together delivery teams, local councillors, teachers and pupils from Wildground Infant and Junior Schools for the unveiling of a unique poetry project, celebrating what “home” means to children from the village.
As part of the project, pupils were invited to write traditional haiku poems reflecting on the idea of home. Four winning entries – selected by the site’s former landowner from pupils in Years 3 to 6 – have now been engraved onto plaques and installed on benches within Orchard Gate’s central landscaped green space, where they will remain as a lasting feature of the development.
Three of the four winning pupils: Harry from year 3, Rosie from year 4, and Jack from year 6, were photographed at Orchard Gate alongside their poems, which now sit at the heart of the new development.
Deborah Summers, Head of School (Infants) Wildground Federation, said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to think about what home means to them, and seeing their creative work displayed on benches in the development is something they are very proud of.”
David Cracklen, Director at AJC Group, added: “Orchard Gate is the first wholly affordable housing development in the village for decades, so it’s always been important to us to create a place that feels connected to the community. The haiku project was a special part of the journey, and it’s something residents will enjoy for years to come. We are incredibly proud to have delivered affordable homes that genuinely support the needs of local families.”
Delivered in partnership with Aster Group, Orchard Gate provides 25 much-needed affordable homes for local people, including a mix of affordable rent and shared ownership, helping people remain close to family, work and schools. The development was supported by grant funding from Homes England through the Affordable Homes Programme as part of its commitment to increasing the supply of high-quality affordable homes.
Amanda Williams, Chief Investment Officer at Aster Group, said: “Bringing everyone together to celebrate the completion of these 25 much-needed affordable homes has been really special. It’s been a true team effort – from colleagues at Aster Group, our delivery partner AJC, to the design team, New Forest District Council and our local councillors. A great deal of care and collaboration has gone into creating homes that we can all be proud of.”
She added: “Orchard Gate is a rare example of a 100% affordable housing development in Dibden Purlieu, offering real opportunities for local people at a time when renting or buying on the open market is simply out of reach.
“These aren’t just well-built houses; they’re homes designed to reflect the character of the area and support a strong sense of community and belonging. At a time when affordable housing is in short supply, these new homes really do matter.”
Located close to Dibden Purlieu village centre, Orchard Gate comprises a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom family homes, all with private gardens and arranged around a central communal green space designed to encourage neighbourhood connection.
Each home includes air-source heat pumps, solar PV panels, electric vehicle charging points and water-efficient technologies, helping reduce both carbon emissions and household energy costs. The development also supports local wildlife through features such as hedgehog highways, bat bricks, bird boxes and swift bricks.
The development forms part of our wider ‘500 in 5’ mission – to deliver 500 affordable homes within five years, supporting councils and housing associations across the Wessex region.