Teresa Turner is treasurer of the Taw Hill Residents Association. She moved in to her new house in Bryant Road two years ago with husband Neil and their two children Bethany, four, and James, six.

She said: "Without a meeting point such as the pub, it was hard at first to get a sense of community spirit going. All that's changing now. People have somewhere to go and meet new friends. It's great."

IT worker Stuart Newland, 36, lives with wife Sarah, a teacher, in Thetford Way.

He said: "The planning and involvement of the community here has been very good. There is an excellent community spirit here. The council planners have put the money in and got it right. They have built the services around the houses."

Civil servant Trudie Keene, 41, lives with husband Ian, 41, who works in internet computer sales, in Noyes Close. They have two children Freya, 15, and Kerrie, 13.

Mrs Keene said: "The building of the primary school is too late for us. But it's good to finally see the community take shape. The new pub is excellent and the owners make my whole family welcome there. I met a lot of my neighbours there, before then I didn't know they existed.

Royal Mail driver Robert Skinner, 42, moved to the area almost three years ago with wife Debbie, 39, a customer agent, and children Robert, 12 and Maria, six.

Mr Skinner said: "My wife and I are going to move our daughter to the new school in September. It is remarkable what they have achieved in such a short space of time. When we moved here there was nothing. They've done a great job."