HAPPY neighbours are counting down to moving in to new flats in Pinner after a topping out ceremony.

Mill Farm Estate residents, some of whom are also employees of housing group Catalyst, celebrated contractors reaching the highest point of the £22 million development with community activities on Thursday last week.

The new homes will house all families already on the estate and new people in 158 properties.

Six residents of Mill Farm Close have been employed during the regeneration in carpentry, plumbing and administration as part of a partnership between Catalyst Housing and Higgins Construction, contractors of the social housing project.

A bingo event with a fish and chip lunch was run by those benefiting from the housing employment scheme.

Mill Farm resident Anne-Marie Batchelor, who was employed by the housing association after being out of work for four years, said: “We are bringing people together with events like this.

“If everyone is involved with the project then when we move in we can keep a high level of respect for the estate. If people feel they are part of it there is greater reason for them to keep it tidy and to talk to each other.”

The 47-year-old, who lives with her daughter, said there was a lot more space in the new flats and people had been consulted about various design aspects of the new build.

The occasion marks the end of the first of three construction phases and the first wave of residents will be able to move in in February.

Portfolio holder for housing at Harrow Council Councillor Bob Currie added: “I am pleased that residents at Mill Farm have been closely involved in the regeneration, with a number of job opportunities and training schemes underway.”