A community that looks out for each other, shares tips and information, and makes time to stop and chat, has formed at a new development taking shape at Alkerden Heights in Ebbsfleet.

Nearly 150 households have now moved in at the development and on Saturday, November 30, many of the new residents got together to enjoy a Christmas party organised by homebuilder Bellway at its sales office.

At the event residents were served waffles as well as mulled wine or hot chocolate. There was also face painting, and singing around the piano, which was played by resident Eunice Lam, who is a piano teacher.

And sales advisor Jess Reynolds dressed up as an elf and brought along her Shetland pony Blackjack for the occasion.

Sales advisor Jess Reynolds brought her Shetland pony Blackjack to the festivities at Alkerden Heights.

placeholder image — Sales advisor Jess Reynolds brought her Shetland pony Blackjack to the festivities at Alkerden Heights.

Bellway Kent Sales Manager Yasmin Graham said: “What a wonderful community we are seeing at Alkerden Heights. There is such a friendly welcoming spirit here and that was very much evident at our fantastic Christmas party at the weekend.

“It was a great success with more than 50 people attending, and with the food and the Christmas songs it was very festive. By the end of it everyone there seemed to be happily singing along with the Christmas carols and songs, so thank you to Eunice for playing so beautifully for everyone.

“Many friendships have already been made here at Alkerden Heights and it is certainly an active and helpful community that future residents will find to be very welcoming.”

Earlier in the year residents organised a summer street party which cemented the neighbourly feeling of the new community.

Bellway sales advisors Tim Northover, far left and Mark Evans, back right, with some of the residents who organised the summer street party for residents earlier in the year: from left, Jaspal Cheema, Eunice Lam, Kuo-Ooi Soo, Bahar Davutoglu (with Mira Davutoglu, front) and Dawn Dunsford

Eunice, who moved into the development just over a year ago with her family, joined forces with her neighbour Dawn Dunsford to organise the summer party, and between 20 and 30 households came along.

“It was very joyous and full of laughter,” said Eunice. “People were sharing jokes and sharing about themselves, their work, their family, kids, and schools.”

The development has a community WhatsApp group that at the last count had nearly 90 members, so it was easy to spread the word about the summer get-together.

Neighbours all contributed some food or drink to the occasion. Eunice said: “We have people from many cultures and backgrounds here, so it was great to share our different cuisines. Not everybody knew everyone, but through food and drink it’s a great way to get to know each other and it’s nice to put a face to the names on the WhatsApp chat.

Pianist Eunice Lam with Isabelle and Kuo-Ooi Soo singing Christmas songs at the Alkerden Heights event.

“We look out for one another here. If we see something strange happening, people share it on the chat or when there were some nice rainbows or the Northern Lights, people put their pictures on there. And we share information about everything we need and ask for recommendations.

“I think there is a nice population here and there’s a nice warm vibe to everybody.”

Bellway is building 182 homes at Alkerden Heights, including 137 private homes and 45 affordable properties. Work started on site in 2022, and the first homes were handed over in July last year.

As well as 91 homes that have been sold and occupied, there are a further nine currently going through the purchase process, while approximately 45 of the affordable properties have been handed over to their new residents.

Bellway hosted residents at a Christmas event in the sales office of its Alkerden Heights development in Ebbsfleet

The wider Ebbsfleet Garden City project is creating 15,000 new homes near Ebbsfleet International railway station.

There’s currently a choice of one and two-bedroom apartments and four-bedroom houses available to reserve at Alkerden Heights, with prices starting from £265,995 for a one-bedroom Bellflower apartment.