For too long, rural areas such as Mid Norfolk have been facing unprecedented pressure from aggressive ‘out of town’ developers intent on dumping copious amounts of houses on the edges of our towns and villages – creating issues not least with infrastructure and services.

That’s why we need good, responsible local housing developers who respect our rural identity and work to ensure they deliver high quality houses that add to local communities and their spirit, not undermine them.

I was delighted therefore to attend the official Opening Party of Abel Homes’ new development in Hingham, known as ‘the Hops’, this past Friday.

Tony Abel, a local man with strong family connections to Hingham (and Mid Norfolk as a whole), founded Abel Homes in the early 1990s and over the years has worked hard, together with his family, to provide fantastic homes for others in our area.

Friday’s event brought together residents from both the development itself and the wider town for a hog roast and the unveiling of a brilliant piece of art – designed by local stonemason Teucer Wilson. Indeed, every time Abel Homes officially open a new development they commission a one-off piece of art and host a celebration party to help foster and energise community spirit in the area – the perfect example of a committed local developer wanting to build #TheNorfolkWay and ensure that their new homes add to the rural heritage and identity of a community.

Well done Abel Homes!