A HOUSEBUILDER invited an MP to officially open a new play area.

David Wilson Homes has asked North West Hampshire MP Kit Malthouse to officially open a new play area in a ribbon cutting ceremony at Locksbridge Park.

The event, hosted at the Locksbridge Road development, formally marked the opening of the local equipped area of play and gave Mr Malthouse the opportunity to see the other facilities being provided at the development, including a tennis court and football pitch.

The MP was also given a sneak preview of the new sports pavilion, which is expected to open to the public later in the year.

Mr Malthouse said: “I was delighted to join David Wilson Homes to mark the opening of the play area and look forward to seeing the rest of what the development has to offer. It’s vital that developments are great places with the necessary facilities to enable people to live and raise their children.”

Also in attendance at the event was Councillors Iris Anderson and John Cockaday from Test Valley Borough Council and Cllr Kirsty Locke from Hampshire County Council.

As part of the planning agreement with the local authorities, the housebuilder must contribute more than £400,000 towards sports facilities and nearly £650,000 towards the community in the area.

Paul Crispin, managing director at David Wilson Homes Southern, said: “With homes and local schools nearby, it’s important that we provide open spaces such as this so that the existing community and the new development can interact with each other and take advantage of the new area.

“We hope the residents of Picket Piece will enjoy the new facilities at Locksbridge Park for many years to come.”