Growing community: Havant Mayor plants tree at Harbour Place greenspace opening

Havant’s Mayor, Councillor Peter Wade, officially opened a 30-acre greenspace at Barratt Homes’ Harbour Place development in Bedhampton.

During the ceremony, Councillor Wade planted a tree, marking the beginning of a new community space that includes public areas, allotments, footpaths, lawns, a children’s play area, sustainable drainage features, and a protected wildlife area.

The opening celebration also featured a family fun day, drawing over 200 local residents who enjoyed various activities, games, and refreshments.

The new greenspace boasts 31,000 bee-friendly shrubs and trees, 15,682 sapling hedgerows, 9 acres of wildflower meadows, and six biodiversity zones with ponds. Additional features include insect hotels, ‘hogitats’ for hedgehogs, and swift bricks to attract native wildlife into residents’ gardens.

Barratt David Wilson Homes aims to achieve a Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) of at least 10 per cent on all developments, exceeding government targets. The Harbour Place development has already reached a 20 per cent BNG.

Councillor Wade said: “The ponds within the wonderful greenspace at Harbour Place will be hotspots for biodiversity, enticing lots of wildlife, as well as giving residents more ways to enjoy nature on their doorstep.”

James Dunne, Managing Director of Barratt Homes Southampton Division, added: “It was an honour to welcome the Lord Mayor of Havant to the opening of our extensive greenspace at Harbour Place today.

“At Barratt Homes, we do more than build modern homes and beautiful developments. We design sustainable and energy-efficient places to live that enhance and support the environment.”

• https://www.barratthomes.co.uk/