A SCHOOLGIRL has finally visited the new Barratt Homes Hawk Rise development, on Leadon Way, more than two years after she won a competition to name the estate.

The delay happened after work on the 275 home estate halted in the summer of 2018, after a judicial review and concerns over noise levels from a nearby food factory.

However, planning authority Herefordshire council re-granted permission, with conditions last summer.

And in September a spokesperson for Barratt said construction work was “proceeding as normal” as the developer continued “to work closely with Herefordshire Council”.

The spokesman said: “A number of properties have been purchased and our show homes are now available to view.”

Layla Crickett, now 11, was a year five student at Ledbury Primary School back in 2017 when she entered the development naming competition, run by the housebuilder in preparation for the site’s launch.

Barratt Homes West Midlands, based in Halesowen, recently invited Layla to the development to see her given name for the estate for the first time.

Layla said: “I was really proud and excited when I saw my winning name at the Hawk Rise development.

"I was really happy to have won the competition and am pleased the name I gave the site will always be a part of Ledbury.”

Graydon Worthing, sales director at Barratt Homes West Midlands, said: “It’s important for our developments to be named something special, to ensure it is remembered by the surrounding community in years to come.

“We are delighted that Layla gave Hawk Rise its wonderful title.

“It was a pleasure to invite her to the development for the first time to see her winning name displayed across the site.”