Member Article

Dunelm Homes On Track With Nursery Gardens Artwork

North East homebuilder Dunelm Homes has unveiled a new piece of public art at its Nursery Gardens housing development in Stockton.

Local sculptor Andrew McKeown designed the imposing steel structure depicting a train and carriages which has been installed on the wall at the end of Spring Street by the railway bridge to highlight the railway heritage of the area.

Dunelm Homes funded the community artwork as part of wider works which have included contributing to the restoration works of Trinity Church, the painting of Oxbridge Lane railway bridge and improvements to the façade of Spring Street footbridge.

The artist worked with pupils from Bowesfield Primary, Mill Lane, Oxbridge and St Cuthbert’s schools who all designed individual conkers and leaves for the artwork, which when installed will look like pieces of coal and steam coming from the train.

Colin Willets, sales and marketing manager at Dunelm Homes said: “The artwork at Nursery Gardens is the perfect way to showcase the long-standing historical association that the railways have in this area. The evocative new artwork is complemented by the surrounding collection of family homes at Nursery Gardens and will beenjoyed for many years to come by visitors and residents alike.”

Visitors to Nursery Gardens will be able to view the new steel sculpture in all its glory following its unveiling. Councillor Steve Nelson, Stockton Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Community Safety, said: “Housing developments are about far more than just bricks and mortar. Creating clean, green and safe communities is at the heart of our regeneration schemes across the Borough.

“It is great to see public artwork being installed at Nursery Gardens and it is particularly fitting that pupils from the local primary schools have been involved. I hope they feel rightly proud to have played their part in creating a sculpture which can be enjoyed by so many people.”

The £30 million regeneration scheme at Nursery Gardens is a partnership between Stockton Council, Dunelm Homes (Esh Group) and Tees Valley Housing Group. The launch of the development took place in December 2007 and 82 properties have been constructed to date.

For further information on properties available at Nursery Gardens, please contact www.dunelmhomes.co.uk or call (01642) 678360. Showhomes are open Thursday to Monday from 10am to 5pm.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Colin Willetts .