The ceremonial pouring of a bottle of beer has marked a milestone at a housing development near the north Norfolk coast.
A ‘topping out’ ceremony was held at the Flagship Homes site off Stiffkey Road in Warham, two miles east of Wells-next-the-Sea.
Stephen Jones, Flagship Homes senior project manager, did the honours with a bottle of Adnams beer. The grain for the beer is grown nearby on the grounds of the Holkham Estate.
Mr Jones said: “Topping out ceremonies are a longstanding tradition in the construction industry, marking the completion of a building's highest point.
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“It’s a chance to celebrate the hard work, dedication and craftsmanship that has gone into the project so far, and to look forward to its completion.
“It’s fantastic to see these homes taking shape – every single one will provide a new beginning for a local family.”
The 12-home project includes a mix of two-bedroom bungalows and two and three-bedroom houses for affordable rent.
They will be allocated to local people by the volunteer housing group Homes for Wells.
Norwich-based Munnings Construction is the main contractor on the project.
Richie Yallop, Munnings’ contracts manager, said: “This project has been a source of pride for our entire team. It's wonderful to see how our efforts are going to provide much-needed housing for the community.”
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The homes are being built in partnership with Homes England, North Norfolk District Council and the Sheringham Shoal Community Fund, which is contributing towards the cost of air-source heat pumps and solar panels.
The site will feature a large open space next to Stiffkey Road, which will be set aside for public recreation and a children’s playground. New trees will be planted around the site, and existing border hedgerows will be retained.
The houses are due to be finished early next year.
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