Pupils bury time capsule to mark new Welwyn Garden City development

Primary school children have buried a time capsule containing their designs for homes of the future to mark the official beginning of Ascots Green, an exciting new homes development on the edge of Welwyn Garden City. Construction has now officially begun at the development created in a partnership between leading social enterprise Places for People and Gascoyne Estates, which manages the land and property interests of the Cecil Family on behalf of Lord Salisbury.  

Ascots Green is a carefully planned urban extension to the south of Welwyn Garden City on land owned by Hatfield Park Estate. When complete, it will deliver 340 much-needed new homes as well as green open spaces in a welcoming and sustainable community. The homes will offer traditionally inspired architecture whilst providing direct access to the countryside and incorporating the best in design to suit modern lifestyles.  

Places for People and Gascoyne Estates invited Year Six children from nearby Peartree Primary School to enter a “Home of the Future” competition, imagining how they think our homes might look 100 years from now. Futuristic technology was a strong theme in the winning designs, which included imaginative ideas such as an automatic pet-feeder, a drone charger, a turbine chimney and a hover-car wireless charging port. The six winners took part in the ceremony to bury the time capsule at Ascots Green on Monday 11th November. 

As well as the winning designs, the sealed capsule contained a copy of The Times newspaper, a Peartree Primary School lanyard, item of school uniform, pupil profile leaflet, postcard and sticker from the Head, architectural drawings of the development and a 2024 ‘What’s On at Hatfield House’ guide. The intention is that the capsule will be dug up 50 years from now, providing future generations with a glimpse into the hopes and ideas of today’s young minds. 

Andrew Usher, Group Managing Director for Developments at Places for People, commented: “We are proud to involve children from Peartree Primary School in marking the official beginning of Ascots Green because when Places for People builds new communities it is always with a focus on future generations. It has been fantastic to see the inventive ideas that the children put into their ‘homes of the future’ designs, which included all sorts of imaginative technology and eco-features. We are committed to creating sustainable, lasting legacies in the places where we build, ensuring both immediate and long-term value for customers and the wider area, so we are looking forward to continuing to work closely with local community as we realise the vision for Ascots Green.”  

Following the time capsule ceremony, Lord Salisbury, accompanied by Deputy Mayor of Welwyn Hatfield, Lynn Chesterman OBE, laid the foundation stone at Ascots Green on 18th November. This ceremony, attended by local stakeholders and representatives from Places for People and Gascoyne Estates, was an opportunity to showcase development plans and the vision for its future.  

Lord Salisbury commented: “We are delighted to mark this important milestone in the creation of Ascots Green, a vibrant new neighbourhood that seamlessly links with Welwyn Garden City’s heritage as a leafy, garden city. Working in partnership with Places for People, we are excited about delivering a range of high-quality homes at Ascots Green including affordable housing options, in our ambition to deliver an attractive new community.”  

For more information on Ascots Green, please visit: www.ascotsgreen.co.uk