bpha Chairman, Paul Leinster and the Mayor of Bedford, Tom Wootton were joined by residents, colleagues and the MP for Bedford and Kempston Mohammad Yasin to celebrate the completion of the works at Ashburnham Court.

Guests were able to enjoy hot drinks and pastries while finding out more about the works which has improved the thermal efficiency of the building as well as making the block a more attractive and sustainable place to live.

Paul Leinster commented “I think that what makes Ashburnham stand out from other Housing Associations is the wide range of work undertaken to make the building work better for our customers. Such as widening lifts to help access, increasing CCTV to help combat crime and anti-social behaviour and converted balconies to winter gardens so that they are useful all year round. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the residents for their patience during the works.”

In his speech, the mayor said “It’s uplifting to see the improvements bpha and its partners have made to Ashburnham Court. It’s one of the first buildings that visitors see when arriving by train into the wonderful town of Bedford. Working with partners like bpha, my team and I will be working hard to make sure the people of Bedford are proud of their town and the place where they live. It was a pleasure and a privilege to be able to walk around and see all the positive changes that have been made.”

After the speeches guests were able to take guided tour of the building, highlighting the improvements, as well as speak to residents to understand what the experience has meant for them.