Visit Bellway
Bellway hands over new car park to primary school in Herne Bay
15th Jul 2026
Staff, pupils and parents at Thornden Wood Primary School in Herne Bay are benefitting from a brand-new car park which has been provided by neighbouring housebuilder Bellway.Staff, pupils and parents at Thornden Wood Primary School in Herne Bay are benefitting from a brand-new car park which has been provided by neighbouring housebuilder Bellway.
The new 28-space asphalt car park has been created as part of Bellway’s 450-home Oxenden Park development which is located just down the road from the school.
Situated next to the new school playing fields which opened in 2024 and were also provided by Bellway, the car park is accessed from Hawthornden Street. It features dedicated drop-off and pick-up areas for parents as well as providing additional space for staff and visitors.
Ownership of the car park was transferred to Kent County Council last month and the school has been using it ever since.
Kate Espley, Headteacher at Thornden Wood Primary School, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this fantastic new car park, generously provided by Bellway. This significant improvement will make a real difference to our school community, enhancing safety for our pupils and families during busy drop-off and pick-up times, while also easing congestion around the site.
“It provides much-needed additional space for staff and visitors, supports better traffic flow, and helps create a calmer, more welcoming environment for everyone coming into school. We are extremely grateful to Bellway for their support and investment in our school, which will benefit our community for many years to come.”
Bellway has formed a close relationship with the school, previously known as Briary Primary School, since starting construction work at Oxenden Park in 2022. The housebuilder provided the new grass sports pitches and pavilion as part of a land swap agreement which allowed Bellway to build 52 of the new homes on the school’s former sports pitch land.
Bellway has also supported various projects within the school, including sending members of its site team to transform part of the grounds into a space for outdoor learning, donating prizes for an Easter Egg art competition, and donating money for a Christmas tree to celebrate the school’s first festive season under its new name.
And earlier this month (9 June), Bellway hosted a visit by two groups of Year 2 pupils at Oxenden Park. The children were given a fascinating insight into the world of housebuilding as they toured Bellway’s House to Home plot, a house which showcases various stages of the construction process.
Cheryl Ubsdell, Sales Manager for Bellway Kent, said: “We are extremely proud of our close and longstanding relationship with Thornden Wood Primary School which reflects Bellway’s ethos of supporting local communities.
“The new sports facilities and car park are already providing tangible benefits for staff and pupils, but our relationship goes much deeper than simply investing in new facilities. We are also committed to investing in the students by providing valuable experiences such as the recent visit to our House to Home plot which we hope has sparked an interest that may lead to some of them pursuing a career in construction when they get older.”
Bellway is building 315 properties for private sale and 135 affordable homes for rent or shared ownership at Oxenden Park, on land off Greenhill Road. For more information about the development, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/kent/oxenden-park or call the sales team on 01227 647968.
