Major south west developer helps out local parish council

One of the leading developers behind the Cranbrook expansion scheme has donated £1,000 to a local parish council.

Persimmon Homes South West selected Broadclyst Parish Council as one of its latest Community Champions winners after it applied for funding to set up a Little Free Library in Tithebarn, located at the entrance to the developer’s Cherrywood Grange site.

This is part of its ambition to create outdoor community assets across the parish, including in Tithebarn, to increase social cohesion, reduce isolation, and inequalities, as well as provide positive spaces for its newest residents to thrive.

The Parish Council already supports a Little Free Library in Westclyst, following the same ownership model, which has been very successful, and will aim to replicate it in Tithebarn.

The funding will also help the Council with a planned community garden and creating further volunteering opportunities to support the health and wellbeing development of Tithebarn.

Broadclyst Parish Council has already agreed to budget £500 towards the project, and further funding for outdoor community development projects is being sought from other Local Authorities and grant funders.

Persimmon currently has high-quality properties for sale at two sites in the area – two and three-bed homes are available for purchase from £249,995 at Cherrywood Grange in Tithebarn and Galileo at Cranbrook, with five-bed properties also for sale at the former.

The five-star, Exeter-based developer donates £700,000 each year to good causes and much-valued organisations across Britain. Recent local recipients include Broadclyst FC, Cranbrook Town Council, Hospiscare, and the English Riviera Airshow.

Commenting, Persimmon Homes South West Sales Director Stacey Harris, said:

“We have a significant presence in Cranbrook and Broadclyst so we’re always looking for strong applications from local organisations there to support.

“So, we were delighted to have had this proposal submitted by Broadclyst Parish Council because all our customers at Cherrywood Grange will be able to benefit from this scheme.

“This continues Persimmon’s strong streak of Community Champions donations in the area as we deliver a positive and lasting legacy alongside the much-needed high-quality homes we are building.”

Cllr Henry Massey – Chair of Broadclyst Parish Council – added:

“Broadclyst Parish Council strongly supports initiatives that bring community benefit, especially those which are free at point of use.

“The benefits of books in communities is well-known, with free books helping the cognitive development and positive mental health of children as they enjoy bedtime stories and fairy tales. The design of the Little Free Library is such that books can be displayed in children’s and adult’s sections, offering a range of reading material for all ages.

“We look forward to installing the Little Free Library shortly and are very grateful to Persimmon for its commitment to supporting our growing community at Tithebarn.”