Village gets new community shop as part of £29m Hayfield development

Five-star housebuilder Hayfield has handed over a community shop after it worked with villagers to successfully relocate the store to a new £29m residential development.

Blunsdon Village Shop, which is run by volunteers, has been re-sited at the heart of Hayfield’s 70-home Hayfield Wood development, off Sams Lane in Blunsdon.

The new store was officially opened at a ceremony attended by Nick Knowles, star of BBC One’s DIY SOS, along with Blunsdon Parish Council chair Ian Jankinson and Nigel Beasant, Chair of the Blunsdon Community Shop.

Following its relocation, Blunsdon Village Shop also now boasts a café.

The properties at Hayfield Wood, which is built on 16 acres of land, include 21 affordable homes, constructed for Greensquare Housing Association.

Andy Morris, Managing Director of Hayfield, added: “Our priority with any of our developments is working closely with the community to ensure the scheme fits with its surroundings and enhances the community. Coming to Blunsdon, we knew that creating a development that helped the Village Shop to thrive was crucial.

“I’m proud that, working closely with Ian Jankinson and the community, we’ve been able to do that.”

Ian Jankinson from Blunsdon Parish Council said: “The shop has been at the heart of Blunsdon village life for almost two decades and has become a vital community asset. Hayfield understood its importance from day one and Andy and the team were clear that the shop would form a key part of the Hayfield Wood development.

“We’re delighted with the new shop and, with it also now housing a café, it’s set to be even more at the heart of our community.”

Nigel Beasant, The Chair of Blunsdon Community Shop, commented: “I am delighted that we have finally been able to open the doors on a fantastic new facility that will serve the shopping needs of our growing village of young and old residents for a long time to come and with the added bonus of a lovely café serving proper barista coffee.

“We have already had the first big influx of customers the second we opened and they have all remarked on the high quality of build.”

Solihull-based Hayfield builds homes across the south of England and the Midlands. Earlier this month the Home Builders Federation announced that Hayfield had been awarded its top-rated five-star housebuilder status.