St Anns development

Tenants move in to District Council’s showcase development in Bigbury

Transcript

00:00How important is this for Southampton District Council?

00:04It's important for the local area as much as it is Southampton. We at Southampton are

00:08looking to do more of this because that's what's on the priority list of Southampton

00:13District Council at the moment. When this is finished and sorted out then we move on

00:18to the next one.

00:20Now I know that there were delays in the handing of the keys and residents actually moving

00:25in. Originally it was intended that they would move in at Christmas last year. So what

00:33were the specific issues that held up the project's completion?

00:39I don't think there were any specific problems. It was just snagging as you normally get on

00:45most of these new estates. There was snagging. We didn't want to move the residents in to

00:51upset them and disrupt their life by doing it all afterwards. So we decided and we were

00:57in contact with them all the time to make sure they were happy that they didn't move

01:02in until all the snagging was taken care of.

01:12So Abby, congratulations on moving in. I understand you moved in last week?

01:16Yes, we got the keys on the 31st.

01:19Now there have been efforts to get people to move in before it was round about Christmas.

01:27How disappointed were you at the time when you couldn't move in then?

01:30Yes, I mean it was disappointing. We were hoping we'd be in by Christmas. There's no

01:36heating in our previous house as well so I was itching to get in but it's soon forgotten

01:43about now we're in. We're just enjoying it now.

01:46So how important is it for you and your family to move here to this village and to finally

01:53move in the house of your dreams presumably?

01:55Yes, it has been a dream come true. We live near to my sister now who is my support network

02:02here so it's amazing to live just down the road from her and in a beautiful place. It's

02:09a tiny development so it's lovely and quiet and gorgeous views as well and a lovely garden.

02:16So we're over the moon.

02:17And how much is that going to help your life and your work life as well being based here

02:24as opposed to where you were before?

02:25Yes, I mean it will absolutely all help in so many ways. Obviously it's much more affordable

02:32for us as well. Our rent was extortionate so that's been the best part for us really as well.