Bellway supports Ancaster Cricket Club as sustainable housing development launched

A housing developer is supporting a cricket club as it launches new sustainable homes in a village.

Bellway has donated £300 to support Ancaster Cricket Club, as it launches a 96-home development called The Willows off Wilsford Lane.

The club, which is being sponsored by the homebuilder’s eastern counties division this summer, was invited to open the development – where all of the new homes will be heated by energy-efficient air source heat pumps.

Cricket club members visited the development off Wilsford Lane to cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony and mark their partnership with Bellway.

Anthony Richardson, Secretary of Ancaster Cricket Club, said: “Without the sponsorship of companies like Bellway, it would be much harder to achieve our mission which is simply to provide cricket to people of all ages and abilities at an affordable cost.

“Each of our matches costs an average of £120 to put on and our subscription fees can only raise £72 per game, so they do not even cover the costs.

“Funding such as this allows the club to invest in the facilities we provide to the local community – so this money has been gratefully received and we thank Bellway once again for choosing to support our cricket club.”

The first homes are now available to reserve at The Willows, where Bellway is building 67 three and four-bedroom houses for private sale, alongside 29 affordable homes available for local people to rent or purchase through shared ownership.

The development will also include open space with new tree planting and a new children’s play area.

Rachael Gatehouse, sales manager for Bellway Eastern Counties, said: “We were keen to support Ancaster Cricket Club because they are at the heart of the local community in the village and just down the road from The Willows.

“Our sponsorship will help the club continue to offer lots of opportunities to play and watch cricket in Ancaster this summer.

“Bellway recognises the role of grassroots cricket clubs like Ancaster in sustaining the sport by encouraging young boys and girls to pick up a bat and a ball, so we were particularly pleased to host club members as our VIP guests at the launch of our development.”