Taylor Wimpey has launched a new children’s book designed to give Guildford youngsters a sense of the excitement that moving to a brand new development can bring.
The book, ‘Bye House Hello Home’, tells the story of the first days of a young child’s new life in the sustainable new community proposed for the former Wisley Airfield.
Main character Albie gets to grips with leaving their old home, discovers their beautiful new house and a development with lots of exciting places to explore, and begins adventures with new and old friends alike.
Taylor Wimpey has submitted plans for 1,730 homes and a range of new community facilities on the disused airfield site. The housebuilder co-authored the book with planning and design consultancy and long-standing partner, Barton Willmore now Stantec, in order to convey the vision for the new community to local children.
The proposals include schools, shops and community buildings, large green spaces, play areas, habitats for wildlife, routes for walking and cycling and much more. The book aims to reassure young readers about moving home, whilst helping them to visualise the adventures they could embark upon as they move into the new community.
Taylor Wimpey will be sharing the book with schools and community groups local to the site in the coming weeks.
Antonis Pazourou, Community and Green Infrastructure Manager for Taylor Wimpey, said: “We are deeply proud to have collaborated on this innovative book as part of our community- focused approach to this development.
“We know that moving home can be a worrying time for children so we hope that this story provides reassurance and helps children to visualise the exciting new community that we are proposing, including the many benefits that it will bring to new and existing residents.”
Aaron Clarke, Graphic Communication Director at Barton Willmore now Stantec, said: “We were delighted that our friends at Taylor Wimpey asked us to craft and illustrate this story.
“As a business we are committed to designing with community in mind, and as graphic designers and communicators we are passionate about telling the stories of places and the people that live there. We hope that Albie’s story will connect with people of all ages and in doing so, highlight all that the proposals for the former Wisley Airfield have to offer.”
More information on the proposed plans can be found on the Wisley Airfield website, and the book can be read here.
Plot summary
The Book ‘Bye House Hello Home’ tells the story of young Albie, during their first week moving into their new home and exploring the wider community.
Through Albie’s eyes the reader experiences an exciting new world, with new and old friends alike. They undergo a true explorer’s expedition, going from school to the park, into nature and back through the community after spending the day roaming the development to look for wildlife as part of their homework assignment.
