Barratt Developments has started work on the construction of new homes in Cottingham, East Yorkshire. The new developments, Harland Park and Poppy Fields, will honour Hull’s wartime history, working in partnership with students from Cottingham High School to name streets in commemoration of the World Wars.
The joint development is respectfully named with the World Wars in mind, tying in elements of Hull’s wartime history. The first development, Harland Park, is named as a tribute to Harland Way Camp – a temporary site constructed in World War Two on the grounds where Cottingham High School and Hull University are now built. The second development, Poppy Fields, is inspired by the famous war poem, “In Flanders Fields”, written during the First World War.
To further amplify the sentiment behind the new developments, a group of students from Cottingham High School have been invited to name a selection of the new streets, researching local wartime history, war poems and Hull veterans to inspire their suggestions.
Peter Brookes, Area Improvement Leader for Humanities at Cottingham High School, commented: “Barratt Developments has presented Cottingham High School with a wonderful opportunity to take part in an educational, community project. Our Key Stage 4 students are currently studying the World Wars in depth to create a list of street name suggestions, taking inspiration from the Hull Pals, Hull Zeppelin Raids and war poetry.”
Harland Park and Poppy Fields are Barratt Developments’ most recent gesture to honouring the British military amidst a long history of continued support for ex-armed forces personnel. The housebuilder has a dedicated recruitment scheme that provides training and support to former military employees to assist them in working towards becoming a qualified Assistant Site Manager. Barratt Developments is also a proud supporter of the leading military charity, Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI), recently donating £750,000 to back a £14m campaign to create a specialist Centenary Village for veterans and their families.
David Thomas, Chief Executive of Barratt Developments, commented: “This is the largest donation in our company’s 60-year history. RBLI and Barratt have a lot in common, with both organisations providing housing, building communities, employing ex-armed forces personnel and marking significant anniversary milestones. This is why we wanted to support them as they look to build the Centenary Village.”