HEREFORD schoolchildren have helped to choose a name for a new housing development in the city centre.

Year-four pupils at St Thomas Cantilupe C of E Primary School were asked to help housing and care provider, Sanctuary Group, to select a name for the supported living accommodation under construction in Coningsby Street.

The development – part of the wider regeneration taking place in Hereford city centre – will see Sanctuary Group build 10 one-bedroom apartments with construction partner Seddon in a £1.6m scheme part-funded by the Homes and Communities Agency.

Sophie Bell, Sanctuary’s project manager – development (Midlands), said: “Our Coningsby Street development is just a short distance from the school and so we have been keen to keep teachers, parents and children well-informed about the project from the outset.

“Our construction partner Seddon also visited the school to highlight safety near building sites and found the children very receptive, and so we decided to ask for their help in choosing a suitable name for the new homes.”

Children also looked at local history before voting for their favourite name.

They settled on Red Coat Close – which has links to the former Coningsby Hospital site close to the development.