Norfolk teenager's potting shed wins prize
Richard BatsonStudent Anthony Sexton wants to be a property developer - and soon he will see his first ever 'estate' development of 200 buildings on the north Norfolk coast.Richard Batson
Student Anthony Sexton wants to be a property developer - and soon he will see his first ever 'estate' development of 200 buildings on the north Norfolk coast.
They are humble potting sheds on new allotments sprouting up at Sheringham as part of an environmentally friendly community project.
But the 18-year-old from North Walsham, who is on a construction course at City College Norwich, is proud of his efforts, which also have an eco twist.
Eighty students rose to the challenge of designing some eco sheds for the venture, part of a Greenhouse Community Project that is providing new allotments, which could be linked to a supermarket and food academy if planning permissions are granted.
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But the allotments are happening anyway, and developer Clive Hay-Smith was keen to continue the theme of developing local skills for the future.
The students were given a �500 nominal budget for the sheds and asked to make them as affordable and sustainable as possible.
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Anthony explored technology such as grass roofs and solar panels but found they were too expensive, and did a 'quite traditional design' with locally source materials, a slanted roof and windows facing daytime sun for maximum light.
'I am really excited to have won. I want to be a property developer like my father. This will be good on the CV,' he added. The �1,000 prize-money will be used to repaint his classic 1961 Land Rover from black to grey and add a soft top.
Anthony is in the second and final year of a diploma in construction and built environment at City College, having previously studied at Paston College and Wood-Dene school in north Norfolk. Head of the college's technology school Richard Burley said the real project had provided students with invaluable work experience, motivation and insight into their chosen profession.
Work is progressing on the new allotments, with the new tenants - who will get a shed, water butt and composter as part of their �18 annual rental charge - expected to arrive on site early next month.
